Author: Festus Adeloye

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc announced a loss after tax of $519.1 billion for the first half of 2024, attributing the decline to soaring inflation and a weakened naira. In its financial results for the period ending June 2024, the company highlighted the challenging macroeconomic environment in Nigeria. The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria commented, “Nigeria has faced significant economic challenges during this period. Rising inflation and the continued depreciation of the naira against the US dollar and other currencies have impacted our financial performance.” He noted that the inflation rate reached 34.2 percent in June, with an average rate…

US presidential hopeful Kamala Harris launched a searing attack on Donald Trump Tuesday, telling her biggest campaign rally yet that the momentum was shifting in the White House race and daring the Republican to debate her face to face. Vice President Harris’s trip to Atlanta, Georgia, comes as reenergized Democrats regard the swing state as being in play again, after it looked beyond hope under President Joe Biden before his shock withdrawal from the 2024 election. The presumptive Democratic nominee is aiming to expand the party’s 2024 battleground map and appeal to young Black voters, delivering a firm, 20-minute speech…

In honour of its late President General, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo yesterday, held a meeting at its National Headquarters and opened a condolence register for him. Ohanaeze Ndigbo announced that its late President General would be buried on September 25, 2024. After the meeting, the Secretary General of the Igbo apex socio-cultural body, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, who presided over the meeting led other members of the executive committee to sign the condolence register. Signing the register, Emuchay expressed sadness over the sudden death of Iwuanyanwu. He described the late Iwuanyanwu as “an exceptional diplomat and a tenacious…

Organisers of the nationwide protest against hardship have listed points of convergence for public meetings, rallies and processions across the country. But a Lagos High Court has restricted protesters in Lagos taking part in the proposed August 1 nationwide protest to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and Peace Park, Ketu area of the state. Recall that Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had asked organisers of the protest to submit to Force Headquarters contact details of those organising the protest, as well as designated points and routes of the protest. This is even as they asked the Chief of…

Legendary Nigerian singer and actress, Onyeka Onwenu has reportedly died at the age of 72. She was said to have died on Tuesday night at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the birthday party of Mrs Stella Okoli. TheNiche reported that an eyewitness who was at the party confirmed the news. “It is very sad. Onyeka Onwenu just performed at the birthday of Mrs. Stella Okoli today (Tuesday, July 30, 2024), and after performing, she slumped. “She was taken to Reddington Hospital and she couldn’t make it,” the eyewitness said. However, the deceased’s family has yet to announce…

Disorder erupted Tuesday night outside a mosque in Southport, UK, following a knife attack that left three girls dead in the Merseyside town. A police van was set on fire, and officers were injured during the chaos. A group of masked men in hoodies clashed with officers, chanting “English till I die” before violence ensued. Police suspect the men are affiliated with the far-right English Defence League. The disorder comes after the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper urged social media users not to spread “false information” about Monday’s attack or the suspect online. A 17-year-old boy has been arrested for the…

Chelsea Football Club has announced the signing of Danish goalkeeper, Filip Jorgensen, from Villarreal. The 22-year-old has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues and joins up with his new teammates during their summer tour of the USA. A statement issued by the club on Tuesday, quoted Jorgensen as saying, “This move is a dream come true. I am very excited to have signed for Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I can’t wait to get to know everyone and to start playing with all my new teammates.” Born in Sweden, Jorgensen joined Villarreal at 15 years…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has dismissed reports of fast-track fees collection allegedly imposed on applicants for Nigerian passports in United Kingdom and some foreign countries. The Service said there was no iota of truth in the report more as some interest group accused the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo of being behind the fees. The NIS said in a statement by its spokesman, Kenneth Udo that there was nothing like fast track fees in the procurement of passports, let alone to link the Minister to it. “The Service wishes to state categorically that, the Minister is only charged…

A large crowd of anti-Muslim protesters clashed with police on Tuesday in a northern English town where three girls were stabbed to death and five other children critically wounded during an attack at a dance event on Monday. Police said they were supporters of the English Defence League which has previously staged often violent demonstrations against Islam. The police have not given any details about the 17-year-old male suspect, beyond saying he was born in Britain, but hundreds of people gathered in the town on Tuesday The suspect is in police custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after…

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) has struck out a subscription price hike case instituted against MultiChoice Nigeria. A three-member tribunal struck out the suit following a request by the claimant, Festus Onifade, to withdraw his case against MultiChoice. Onifade who made an oral application for the withdrawal said he no longer intends to proceed with the matter. He also expressed the view that MultiChoice would leverage the period of the court’s annual vacation to argue its appeal at the Court of Appeal and frustrate his case. “I am abandoning this matter. I am withdrawing this case,” he said…