Author: Amina Mohammed

Real Madrid and Brazil winger Vinicius Jr has been crowned the Men’s Player of the Year at the FIFA Best Awards. The 24-year-old received the prestigious honor during the ceremony held in Doha, marking a triumphant comeback after he and his club boycotted the recent Ballon d’Or event, where Manchester City’s Rodri claimed the top spot. Vinicius played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s 2023-24 season, which saw them secure both the Champions League and La Liga titles. The Brazilian star contributed 24 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, underlining his importance to the team’s success. Earlier in the…

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday pleaded with other countries to “urgently” send more aid for Kyiv’s troops, struggling against better-equipped Russian forces on several parts of the front. He was meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, ahead of a meeting in Brussels with NATO chief Mark Rutte and several European leaders. Zelensky said the leaders would discuss “how to urgently strengthen Ukraine on the battlefield, politically, and geopolitically” in Brussels. Ukrainian troops, outmanned and exhausted, are struggling in the eastern Donetsk region. Russia on Tuesday claimed the capture of a new village in the region, near the resource-rich…

Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo SAN, OON, has issued a stern warning to land grabbers in the State, emphasizing the government’s determination to eradicate this unlawful activity. Dr. Ajulo revealed that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, by Executive Order 4-2024, has kickstarted war against land-grabbers as a task force will be commissioned to tackle illegal occupation of properties and other allied land disputes and irregularities. He warned offenders to resolve their illegal dealings or face severe legal consequences. Dr Ajulo made it clear that only legally constituted authorities have the right to adjudicate land matters…

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday disbursed a total of N50 million to 250 elderly vulnerable women and men drawn from across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State. Speaking at the second edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme, in Lafia, the state capital, Tinubu narrated that the programme was designed to support the welfare of the elderly citizens, aged 65 years and above in all the 36 states of the federation. She explained that a total of N1.9 billion had been earmarked for distribution to the aged women and men across the country…

The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to investigate the non-delivery of the Federal Government’s 2,000 tractors, 100 combined harvesters and other agricultural implements under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu. In November 2023, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security signed a 5-year agreement with a private company to supply 2000 tractors, implements and 100 combined harvesters annually, totalling $70,041,733.80 and N2,981,739,134.30. The move by the federal government is expected to reduce food inflation by increasing food production and reducing foreign currency expenditure on the purchase of ready-made equipment due to the growth of local production…

Gunmen have killed Fabian Chinedu, a staff member of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, in Anambra State. The official was shot dead by gunmen on Monday night at Aroma Junction in Awka, the police said. Police spokesman in the state, Ikenga Tochukwu, said the murderers made away with the official’s car, a Toyota Corolla 2006 model, Ash colour with an Enugu Plate number, UWN 158 AS. Meanwhile, the police have commenced investigation and have urged members of the public with relevant information to come forward. “To this end, the Command while commiserating with his family and friends, especially the…

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Monday approved the reconstruction of the long-abandoned Omenuko Bridge at Ozuabam in the Arochukwu Local Government Area of the state. The bridge serves as a link between Abia North and Abia Central Senatorial Zones. For decades, the dilapidated structure has posed a severe safety risk to commuters, with its narrow design allowing only one vehicle to pass at a time. During rainy seasons, the situation worsens as floodwaters often submerge the bridge, situated dangerously at the base of a hill and a sharp bend. Tragically, the bridge has claimed multiple lives, including students travelling…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed eight permanent secretaries in the federal civil service to fill existing and impending vacancies in some states and geopolitical zones. It was the second set of eight permanent secretaries appointed by the president, following those appointed last June from Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Jigawa, Ondo, Zamfara, South East and South-South. The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation recommended that the new permanent secretaries be appointed after diligent selection. A significant issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, listed names of the new Permanent Secretaries…

The Super Falcons have been named the Women’s Team of the Year at the CAF 2024 Awards for the second consecutive year. NFF President, Ibrahim Gusuau picked up the award and attributed it to the consistent and excellent efforts being put to develop women’s football in Nigeria. Stay tuned for more details….

The Federal Executive Council has given final approval to the 2025 budget to be presented by President Bola Tinubu. Speaking to State House correspondent shortly after the FEC meeting chaired by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Monday, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu said the total 2025 expenditure is projected at forty-seven trillion, nine hundred and sixty billion naira which is an increase of 36.8 per cent from the 2024 estimate. He said the 2025 Appropriation Bill is pegged on an Oil price benchmark of 75 dollar per barrel, oil production of 2.06 million barrels…