Author: Lanre Akilu

Oshoala’s remarkable bicycle kick during Barcelona’s 5-0 victory over Benfica in the group stage secured her the accolade, with Barcelona eventually securing their second consecutive Champions League title that season. In the midst of Barcelona leading 4-0, Oshoala received a pass from Jonatan Giráldez and wasted no time in showcasing her skill, sealing the match with a spectacular goal – her sole contribution to the competition. Following her outstanding performance, Oshoala made a mid-season transfer to Bay FC in the United States. UEFA announced on Monday that Oshoala’s goal had been chosen as the best among several outstanding contenders. “The…

The UK Home Office faces criticism following the death of Sudharsan Ithayachandran, a Sri Lankan man deported to his home country. Ithayachandran, 41, confessed to using false documents and working illegally at the British multinational retailer Tesco. He was deported from the UK on December 24, 2019, leaving behind his deaf wife, Subatra, and their two children, aged eight and nine, all of whom are British citizens. Tragically, the deportation date coincided with his wedding anniversary. Ithayachandran hailed from the Tamil heritage in Sri Lanka. A report by the International Justice and Truth project titled “Disappearance, torture and sexual violence…

The naira appreciated to 1,339.33/$ at the close of trading on the official window on Monday, gaining 9.68 per cent over Friday’s 1,482.81/$. According to FMDQ data, which houses the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, the daily turnover dropped to $180.80m from $556.25m on Friday, indicating a 67.50 per cent decline. At the official market, the naira traded at an intraday high of N1,501 and an intraday low of N1,310 to the dollar on Monday. At the black market, the naira traded at N1,520, indicating a 1.32 per cent depreciation from N1,500 exchanged on Friday. The local currency on Friday…

The ruling All Progressives Congress has criticized former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s remarks concerning the current administration’s handling of ongoing reforms and the coup d’état in Niger Republic. Obasanjo had voiced his disapproval of President Bola Tinubu’s actions regarding the removal of subsidy from petroleum products and the floating of the naira. Over the past months, there has been widespread discontent among the populace due to the escalating costs of food items and inflation following the removal of fuel subsidy and the naira’s floatation under the Tinubu government. In a statement released to the press on Sunday by his Special Assistant…

The Federal Executive Council, led by President Bola Tinubu, has approved 51 contracts totalling N6.27 trillion for the procurement, construction, and development of various infrastructure projects across Nigeria within eight months. These contracts, awarded between October 16, 2023, and May 14, 2024, aim to advance infrastructure across crucial sectors such as road construction, bridge building, railway systems, and airport infrastructure. Notably, the contracts include 43 road projects and three airport developments, among others. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) serves as the highest executive body in Nigeria’s federal government system, comprising senior officials, ministers, and high-ranking cabinet members. Its constitutional role…

Tiwa Savage, the popular singer, recounted her early struggles upon returning to Nigeria from the United Kingdom to pursue her music career. She detailed how she faced obstacles in performing at concerts due to her outfits being deemed “too risqué.” Speaking in a recent interview with BET, the ‘Koroba’ hitmaker disclosed that some of her earlier music videos were also not broadcasted for being considered indecent. “When I first moved back,” she explained, “I would turn up at a show and they would say I can’t perform because my outfit was too risqué. It was a cultural issue. Even some…

The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has called for better pay, insurance cover and pension for journalists across the country. Ajaero made the call when he visited the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Dr Chris Isiguzo in Abuja. He explained that while journalists played significant roles in the fight for independence and the current democracy Nigerians are enjoying, it is unfortunate same people are begging for their salaries to be paid. The labour leader said that journalism is getting worse by the day, though technology has enhanced the practice. “The welfare of journalists is being…

Authorities fear a second landslide and a disease outbreak are looming at the scene of Papua New Guinea’s mass-casualty disaster because of water streams and bodies trapped beneath the tons of debris that swept over a village, a United Nations official said Tuesday. A mass of boulders, earth and splintered trees devastated Yambali in the South Pacific nation’s remote highlands when a limestone mountainside sheared away Friday. The blanket of debris has become more unstable with recent rain and streams trapped between the ground and rubble, said Serhan Aktoprak, chief of the International Organization for Migration’s mission in Papua New…

Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, has clinched the prestigious title of ‘Best Banking CEO of the Year in Africa’ at the International Banker 2024 Banking Awards, securing the accolade for the second consecutive year. This recognition, featured in the Spring 2024 edition of International Banker Magazine in the United Kingdom, coincides with Dr. Onyeagwu’s culmination of his five-year tenure as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer on May 31, 2024. Expressing gratitude for the award, Dr. Onyeagwu extended appreciation to the publishers of International Banker, remarking, “It is indeed an honour to be…

Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta North) has lambasted the recent dismissal of 317 employees from the Central Bank of Nigeria, urging the Senate to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday, Nwoko condemned the abruptness of the sackings, underscoring the necessity for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding them. He alleged that the apex bank proceeded with the terminations without consulting relevant stakeholders, including labour unions. “The Senate should mandate its committees on Employment, Labour and Productivity, as well as that of Public Service Matters, to investigate the terminations. “The…