Author: Festus Adeloye

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said financial sustainability rules must be changed to discourage clubs from cashing in on academy graduates as Conor Gallagher looks set to join Atletico Madrid. The England international would join Mason Mount, Lewis Hall, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ian Maatsen and Callum Hudson-Odoi as products of the Chelsea youth system to be sold over the past two years, while Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah are also expected to leave before the end of August. Chelsea have needed to recoup funds after splashing well over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in the past four transfer windows to revamp the squad…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concerns that those currently profiting from Nigeria’s profitable fuel importation sector may seek to undermine the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. This statement follows allegations by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, who has accused certain ‘mafias’ of attempting to sabotage his $20 billion refinery project. The refinery has not started buying crude oil in naira yet, even though President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to do so. In an interview with the Financial Times, Obasanjo suggested that if the refinery succeeds, it could boost investment from both…

On Tuesday, a UK regulator said it proposed to fine three of England’s biggest water suppliers a combined £168 million ($214 million) for failure over sewage management. Ofwat said that Thames Water, Britain’s biggest supplier, was struggling to stay afloat financially and could be fined the largest amount at £104 million. The regulator’s decision comes as Britain’s water industry faces huge scrutiny, including from the new Labour government and environmentalists, over the pollution of rivers and other waterways. “Ofwat has today proposed that three water companies will be fined a total of £168 million for failing to manage their wastewater…

Western powers called Monday for calm in Bangladesh after long-ruling leader Sheikh Hasina fled, with the United States saluting the military for forming an interim government rather than cracking down further on protesters. Sheikh Hasina, who had particularly close relations with regional power India, enjoyed a mostly cooperative relationship with the West during her 15 years in power but had increasingly drawn criticism for her authoritarian turn. The United States called on all sides in Bangladesh to “refrain from further violence” as bullet-ridden bodies were strewn across hospital floors and looting swept the capital Dhaka. “Too many lives have been…

Acting Governor of Katsina State, Faruk Jobe has approved the review of the 24-hour restriction of movement order imposed on Dutsinma Local Government Area and other 33 Local Government Areas of the state. Jobe granted the review of the Dutsinma curfew after receiving a report of an improved security situation in the area. He had placed the LGAs on a 7:00 pm to 7:00 am curfew. The Acting Governor who chaired a meeting of the State Security Council on Monday evening, directed the ban on unusual gatherings and all types of protests to remain imposed throughout the state. He appreciated…

Tropical Storm Debby drenched Florida on Monday, killing at least four people and threatening southeastern US states with heavy rainfall and catastrophic flooding. A 13-year-old boy died when a tree was blown onto a mobile home in Levy County, the sheriff’s office there said, after Debby made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast earlier Monday as a Category One hurricane. Authorities said a truck driver was killed after his 18-wheeler plunged into a canal in Hillsborough County, while a 38-year-old woman and 12-year-old boy died in a car crash in Dixie County. The storm moved into Georgia overnight and is expected…

Nigeria’s Favour Ofili was in tears after she stormed to the final of the 200m race in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ofili qualified for the final after picking up the second automatic spot in the race on Monday, reigniting Nigeria’s hopes for a medal at the Games. She finished with a season’s best of 22.05s, falling behind St Lucia’s Julien Alfred – the 100m champion – who crossed the line in a time of 21.98s. The United States Mary Long was in third, finishing in 22:30s. Ofili is the first Nigerian to reach the milestone since Mary Onyali raced to…

The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has arrested some tailors suspected to be mass-producing the Russian flag in Kano State. In a statement on Monday, the DSS said some of the sponsors have also been apprehended. The agency posted on its X handle, that the “Service has apprehended some tailors in Kano State responsible for making Russian flags being distributed in the area. Some of their sponsors have also been picked. An investigation is ongoing.” It also denied arresting the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign Adaramoye Michael Lenin who strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s address to…

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Mustapha has cautioned those flying the Russian flag, saying it is a treasonable offence. Some #EndBadGovernance protesters in the northern region of the country have been spotted waving the Russian flag as the demonstrations entered Day 5. That has sparked a wave of comments from several quarters including the CDS who described the move as unacceptable. “All of us have seen where foreign flags have been flown within the sovereignty of Nigeria, and that is totally unacceptable. We are warning in clear terms and the President has also said we should convey…

…Signs Executive Order 2, 2024 to establish Investment Agency ….Assures reduction of cost of living in the State. Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has declared that Rivers State is open to robust investment climates for prospective investors to explore with guarantee of safety for their investments. Governor Fubara made this known at Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday, while signing into law Executive Order 2, 2024, establishing the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency as part of the recommendations of the Committee that handled the Rivers State Investment Summit organized on the 22nd and 23rd of May 2024. The Governor…