Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has clarified he did not approve the use of Eagle Square for any event, prompting enhanced security measures to protect national infrastructure. Wike said this while responding to questions from reporters after inspecting an ongoing road project connecting two communities in Abaji. He said: “We don’t want to take anything for granted; we want to make sure that security is tight and intact. “I never approved the use of Eagle Square for anybody, which likely informed the security measures to ensure all public areas are well protected. We will not…

Manchester City have been fined by the Premier League for 22 breaches of kick-off rules across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. The Premier League have confirmed they have agreed sanctions with City over multiple instances of delaying first and second-half kicks-offs without just cause. A statement on Wednesday read: “The Premier League and Manchester City FC have entered into a sanction agreement after the club accepted it had breached Premier League Rule L.33 relating to kick-off and re-start obligations. “The breaches relate to a number of Premier League matches during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. “Rules relating to kick-offs and…

Newcastle United midfielder Jacob Murphy led the visitors to a 4-1 victory Wednesday in a preseason match against J-League powerhouse Urawa Red Diamonds. The Premier League side demonstrated their preparedness for the upcoming season with England goalkeeper Nick Pope repeatedly blocking attacks by the 2022 winner of AFC Champions League. Manager Eddie Howe said his players showed a “good attitude” as they fended off Urawa’s challenges at Saitama Stadium. Sweden international Alexander Isak opened the scoring just three minutes into the match, dribbling solo in front of the Urawa box, taking steps to deflect three rushing defenders and firing a…

It was a rowdy scene at the emergency plenary session called by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Wednesday. The debate centred on a bill seeking to raise the Ways and Means cash advances from the Central Bank of Nigeria from five per cent to 10 per cent. This followed the consideration of “A Bill for an Act to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 to increase the Central Bank of Nigeria’s total advance to the Federal Government from five per cent to a maximum of 15 per cent and for other related matters.”…

Nigeria faces an annual funding gap of $200m for immunisation, Director General of the Budget Office, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, revealed on Wednesday. Speaking at the Multi-Stakeholders Technical Workshop for the Optimisation of Immunisation Financing in Nigeria, organised by the Vaccine Network for Disease Control in partnership with GAVI and the Global Health Advocacy Initiative, Yakubu emphasised the need for increased public sector funding to address the financial gaps in immunisation. “Nigeria faces an annual funding gap of $200m out of the required $580m for immunisation. However, considering the public sector’s contribution of only $150m, the actual funding gap is more…

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has queried the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) for taking money from the budget for its operation without authorisation. Chairman of the Committee, Ademorin Kuye, queried the agency as its Managing Director, Dr Armstrong Takang, appeared before it to give an account of their activities. He said, “In your report, we would like you to refer us to the section of the law where you are permitted to take money from the budget. How you have been getting funded since you came into office?” According to Kuye, the agency wasted the Committee’s…

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has postponed all examinations scheduled for August 1st and 2nd until further notice, in response to reports of a planned protest. The announcement was made in a press release issued by the institution on Wednesday, July 31. The release advises all members of the university’s three campuses to remain security conscious and calm, as the management has implemented precautionary measures to ensure the safety of lives and property. Members of the institution are encouraged to continue their legitimate activities, and new dates for the rescheduled exams will be announced in due course. The statement read:…

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the United States was “not aware of or involved in” the killing of Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. “I can’t tell you what this means. I can tell you that the imperative of getting a ceasefire, the importance that that has for everyone, remains,” Blinken said in an interview with Channel News Asia in Singapore. “This is something we were not aware of or involved in,” he said of the killing. Haniyeh was in Iran to attend the inauguration of Iran’s new president when he was killed by an…

The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board has announced the results of its computer-based teacher recruitment tests. Executive Chairman Nureni Adeniran revealed that a 50% cut-off mark has been established for progression to the next stage of the process. Candidates are encouraged to check their results via the Board’s online portal. With 52,423 applicants competing for 7,000 primary school teaching positions, Adeniran emphasized the Board’s dedication to improving educational infrastructure and services in the state.

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has assured youths across the country that the Commission is working hard and tirelessly to secure their future from the grip of fraudsters who are bent on tarnishing the image of the country and ruin the future of the next generation. He gave the assurance in Abuja, on Thursday, July 25, 2024 while receiving the Engineering and Computer Science Students of Citi Polytechnic, Abuja at the corporate headquarters of the Commission. Speaking through the Head, Creative Communications Unit, CCU, of the Commission, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE…