Author: Amina Mohammed

Super Falcons of Nigeria have crashed out of the Paris 2024 Olympics after losing 3:1 to Japan on Wednesday. Japan raced to two goals up by Maika Hamano and Mina Tanaka in the opening minutes before wrapping up the victory with another goal by Hikaru Kitagawa after Jennifer Echegini thought she had given the Nigerians a lifeline. Nadeshiko Japan finished as Group B runner-up, two points behind World Champions, Spain who beat Brazil 2:0.

Novak Djokovic beat the punishing heat and Germany’s Dominik Koepfer on Wednesday to set up a mouthwatering Olympic quarter-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas as he hunts an elusive gold medal. The Serbian top seed, who crushed Rafael Nadal in the previous round, came through 7-5, 6-3 in sweltering conditions in the first match on Court Philippe Chatrier. “I’m soaking wet, honestly,” he said moments after his win. “It’s a very, very humid day as it was yesterday. I just hope it rains so it cools down the temperature a bit and the air. “But it is what it is. You have…

The Senate on Wednesday, urged Nigerians and promoters of the nationwide protests to shelve their plans in the interest of the nation. President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, made the call during plenary after a closed-door session of the senators in Abuja. Various groups in the country are planning to stage a nationwide protest from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10 against President Bola Tinubu’s government following an alleged rise in the cost of goods and services, poverty and hunger in the country. Akpabio said: “The Senate in a closed-session deliberated on issues bothering on its workings in particular and the…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has approved the promotion of 1,018 senior and junior staff of the Federal Capital Development Authority. The Executive Secretary of FCDA, Mr Shehu Ahmad made this known in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday. Ahmad said that the promotion was for officers on Grade Level 7 to 15, covering 2022 and 2023. He explned that the 1,018 senior and junior staff were successful in the promotion exercise conducted in April, 2024. He added that The minister also approved the immediate review of the Conditions of Service and Operations Manual…

The Independent National Electoral Commission has promised journalists unimpeded access and enhanced security for voters and personnel in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. INEC has scheduled the Edo State governorship election for September 21, 2024, and the Ondo State election for November 16, 2024. INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said this during INEC’s quarterly consultative meeting with media executives on Wednesday in Abuja. He urged journalists to continue combating fake news ahead of the elections. He stated, “It is now 51 days to the Edo State Governorship election coming up on Saturday 21st September 2024. Our preparations are going…

As the hunger protest is set to begin on Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has made light of the event, suggesting that the organisers should proceed with their demonstration while he and others continue to eat. Akpabio made these remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with delegates from the Niger Delta Development Commission in Rivers State. Expressing dissatisfaction with the planned protest, Akpabio referenced the comments of the commission’s Managing Director, who stated that the Niger Delta region is not seeking a change in government. “All of us feel the impact of the current situation, but we understand it will…

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has urged Nigerians to shun the proposed nationwide protests and instead pursue peace, dialogue, and collaboration in addressing the country’s challenges. The SGF made this statement during a press conference with journalists and media executives at the Radio House in Abuja on Wednesday. He acknowledged the right to protest but expressed concerns about the planned protests being hijacked “by bandits, insurgents, and other criminals”. “We, therefore, appeal to Nigerians of whatever persuasion, belief, demography, gender, and status to shun calls for protests against hunger by prioritising peace and progress.…

Health and food safety officials in Singapore are investigating a case of food poisoning that has affected 60 staff of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance. According to BBC, they showed symptoms of gastroenteritis on Tuesday. 57 of them were treated in hospital. Also, dozens of the parent company of TikTok staff were hospitalised over the food poisoning outbreak. ByteDance has also said it is looking into what caused its employees to fall ill. Meanwhile, no food is prepared or cooked at the ByteDance offices. It uses third-party caterers to supply food. Ambulances Seventeen ambulances were sent to the building in Singapore’s…

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Brigade/ Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have neutralised a notorious terrorist, recovered arms and ammunition and dismantled a terrorist hideout in Taraba State. This was disclosed in a statement via the Nigeria Army’s X handle,on Wednesday, July 31. The statement reads:“In a decisive operation against banditry, terrorism and other sundry crimes, troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/ Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have successfully neutralized a wanted notorious terrorist, recovered an AK 47 rifle, ammunitions and several other items following an intense firefight in Taraba State. “The operation, which was conduucted on…

A heavy security presence has been established in and around the National Assembly Complex in Abuja as lawmakers hold an emergency plenary session today. Contrary to the usual practice, the Sergeant-At-Arms has barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly, requiring identification cards for entry at the MOPOL Gate. The heightened security is allegedly intended to prevent protesters from gathering at the venue. The Red and Green Chambers had announced an emergency session for Wednesday (today) on Sunday. According to a statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Rotimi Akin, the Wednesday plenary will focus on…