Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Germany veteran Toni Kroos said Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham can handle the pressure of carrying England’s Euro 2024 expectations. Still just 20, Bellingham comes fresh off a Champions League victory at Wembley and did not play as England lost a warm-up match 1-0 against Iceland. Asked if the pressure was too much for Bellingham at his age, Kroos said the England midfielder was not like most 20-year-old footballers. “I’ve had a year with Jude and had to ask how old he really is. He’s 20 but – and particularly off the field — he feels to be a fair…

The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has said former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has lost over 70 per cent of his political followership in the state. The Secretary of the State APC Caretaker Committee, Eric Nwibani, stated this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Nwibani further said aside from losing his support base, Amaechi, a former Governor of the State, has also lost three election circles from 2015 to 2023 despite being what he termed ‘a super minister’ and an influential member of the former President Muhammadu Buhari kitchen cabinet as a two-time Director General…

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has written a complaint letter to the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, requesting that action should be taken against the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ambassador Ibrahim Adamu Lamuwa over alleged sexual harassment of a married female staff, Mrs Simisola Fajemirokun. The letter signed by the Foreign Affairs Minister, reads: “I am compelled to write to inform you of a formal complaint against the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Ibrahim Adamu Lamuwa on allegations of sexual harassment. “Bearing in mind the gravity of the matter,…

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has expressed the commission’s determination to conduct Nigeria’s 2024 bid round in a transparent manner. Mr Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of the commission, gave the assurance on Tuesday during the 2024 Pre-bid conference in Lagos. Recall that the theme of the conference is, “Unveiling Nigerian Energy Development Strategies: 2024 Licensing Round”. He said that the bid would be in accordance with Section 76 (1) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Komolafe said said that Nigeria is an attractive jurisdiction for investment, adding that the country has a stable regime, driven by laws.…

The Senate on Tuesday, June 11, adjourned plenary session to July 2, 2024. The recess is to enable the lawmakers to participate in the activities marking the 2024 Democracy Day as well as well as its end of session break. The 10th National Assembly will be one year in office on Thursday, June 13. Stay tuned for more details…

The Senate on Tuesday, June 11, passed the sum of N98.5billion as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2024. The passage of the Bill was a sequel to the consideration of the report of the Senate committee on FCT during plenary. The Senate had last week stepped down the Bill, saying the details of the budget needed to accompany it. The vice chairman of the committee, Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP-Enugu West) presented the report on behalf of the chairman of the Committee Senator Bomai Mohammed (APC-Yobe South) who was absent during the plenary.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will promise voters “financial security” and tax cuts when he unveils his Conservative party manifesto, following a disastrous week that even led to rumours he might quit. “We Conservatives have a plan to give you financial security,” he will say, according to extracts of his speech released in advance. “We will enable working people to keep more of the money you earn because you have earned it and have the right to choose what to spend it on,” the speech added. Polls have predicted for many months that Sunak will lead the Conservatives to a…

The Nigeria Premier Football League has handed down a N5 million fine to Rangers International FC for multiple infractions during the Match Day 35 fixture against Enyimba International FC, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Sunday, June 9. In a letter dated June 10, and issued to Rangers by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league outlined several breaches of its rules committed by Rangers during the ill-fated encounter. On Sunday, there was drama in Enugu during the highly-anticipated game between Enugu Rangers and reigning champions Enyimba, as the game was abandoned deep into stoppage…

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Tsoho, has announced the 2024 Annual Vacation and Roster for Vacation Judges of the trial Courts in the country. Justice Tsoho, in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, through the Federal High Court, Assistant Director Information and ICT, Catherine Christopher, stated that the annual 2024 vacation is slated to commence Tuesday, July 23, 2024, and billed to come to an end Friday, September 13, 2024. According to the CJ, this is by the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4 (d) of the Federal High…

A move to boost food production has been ignited in the Southwest. The objective is to cut the prices of food items which remain high in the country despite ongoing efforts to bring down inflation. Governors in the six Southwest states yesterday gave a marching order to commissioners of agriculture to begin the process that will lead to food security in the geo-political zone. They said: “On food security, the forum acknowledges the efforts of the Federal Government and decides that the Honourable Commissioners for Agriculture of all the states should begin to meet and set up a working template,…