Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka retired with an injury during her third-round match against Belinda Bencic on Friday in Melbourne. Osaka needed treatment on her stomach at 6-5 in a first set which she went on to lose on a tiebreak to her Swiss opponent, before shaking hands and leaving the court. Osaka had a troubled build-up to the first Grand Slam of the year, retiring from the final in Auckland with an abdominal injury. The Japanese star also revealed last week that she and her rapper boyfriend Cordae, the father of her daughter Shai, had split up. But…

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano dual carriageway will be ready for use in 14 months. Idris made this known at the inauguration of the rehabilitation of section 1 of the road (Abuja to Kaduna) rigid pavement on Thursday. While Section 1 of the road is from Abuja to Kaduna, Section 2 is from Kaduna to Zaria, and  Section 3 is from Zaria to Kano. The description and scope of works include scarification and pulverization of existing bituminous surface as sub-base material and filling of embankments. Others are the provision of approved…

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has advocated a multi-faceted approach with intelligence-driven strategies in combating drug abuse. Otti spoke on Thursday when he received a delegation of the new State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nnadi Wilfred, in Nvosi in the Isialangwa South Local Government Area of the state. He frowned at the evolving nature of the drug menace and its impacts on criminal activities in the country. The governor also underscored the need for collaborative efforts between government and security agencies in combating all forms of crime and drug-related offences, assuring that the state government would give the…

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called for increased investments in surveillance systems, enhanced maritime law enforcement, and improvements in aquaculture, fishing ports, as well as efforts to combat illegal and unregulated fishing activities. A statement released on Wednesday by the Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Anastasia Ogbonna, highlighted the vast potential of the marine and blue economy. It underscored its ability to support economic growth, job creation, and environmental stewardship, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Oyetola noted that resources should be directed towards strengthening Nigeria’s maritime domain. “There is…

Music executive, Ubi Franklin, has responded to allegations made by singer, Spyro, who accused him of using Davido’s name to secure a performance deal and failing to pay him after the event. Spyro, in an interview that went viral on Wednesday, claimed that Ubi leveraged Davido’s name to persuade him to perform at a birthday party in Ghana. He also alleged that Ubi did not pay him the amount promised, supposedly from Davido. Reacting to the accusations, Ubi dismissed Spyro’s claims as misinformation and manipulation aimed at damaging his reputation. In an Instagram live on Wednesday, Ubi countered with his…

The Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has commended the security agencies in the state for maintaining the peace and keeping the state safe for economic activities to thrive. The governor stated this at the grand finale of the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, held at the Remembrance Arcade, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan. Governor Makinde, while addressing journalists at the end of the event, expressed appreciation to the officers and men of the Armed Forces for their dedication and for securing the state. He urged them not to relent in their efforts. The governor assured that his administration would continue to…

The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has announced an immediate ban on the use of drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles across the North-East region, citing serious security concerns. Air Commodore U. U. Idris, the Air Component Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, issued the directive on Wednesday, stressing that unauthorised drone operations in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states posed significant threats to safety and security. Idris expressed concern over the proliferation of drones for domestic and commercial purposes, including their use by government agencies and private individuals without proper authorization from the Air Component. The statement read, “The…

The National Bureau of Statistics has reported that Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 34.80% in December 2024, reflecting a slight increase from the 34.60% recorded in November. According to the latest Consumer Price Index report released on Wednesday, the marginal rise of 0.20% has been attributed to heightened demand for goods and services during the festive season. On a year-on-year basis, the December inflation rate marked a significant increase of 5.87 percentage points compared to 28.92% in December 2023. This highlights a continued upward trajectory in consumer prices, driven by economic challenges such as currency depreciation, high energy costs, and…

Fire has gutted parts of Focus Holiday Inn, a popular hotel in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The fire which reportedly started in the early hours of Wednesday, January 15 2025, was later put out by the combined efforts of staff and good Samaritans from the neighbourhood. When Channels Television crew arrived at the hotel premises, the gates were shut, and the hotel security guards denied the crew access into the premises of the hotel. They, however, confirmed to our reporter that operations at the hotel were on hold owing to the incident. Focus Holiday Inn is situated in…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has denied claims that a suspect under investigation for an alleged N6bn fraud, Jonathan Okunbor was a witness in the ongoing Edo State election tribunal. According to the commission, the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Asue Ighodalo, had claimed that the suspect was one of his witnesses in the tribunal. In a statement on Wednesday by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, stated that Okunbor is the prime suspect in a case of alleged misappropriation of funds involving all 18 local government areas of Edo State. Oyewale said, “The…