Author: Ayo

US President Joe Biden has pledged to continue his bid for re-election, despite a growing revolt within the Democratic Party that has sparked speculation he may drop out of the race as soon as this weekend. In a statement from his Delaware beach home, where he is currently in Covid isolation, the 81-year-old president said, “The stakes are high, and the choice is clear. Together, we will win.” He also expressed his eagerness to return to the campaign trail next week, according to his doctor. However, Biden’s political health appears to be in jeopardy, with over 30 House Democrats and…

The Akwa Ibom State government has augmented the 24,000 bags of rice donated by the Federal Government with an additional 24,000 bags to support more families in need. Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Offiong Offor, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Uyo. The state government’s move aims to mitigate hunger, food unavailability, and poverty, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 1. Each of the 2,272 gazetted villages in the state will receive 20 bags of rice, while over 100,000 families on the social register will also receive free food items. The distribution of the Federal and State Governments’…

A major IT outage caused by issues with CrowdStrike software has caused havoc with computer systems around the world, with many countries and businesses reporting disruptions. The outage has affected airport check-in systems, banks, supermarkets, media companies and even telecoms. Microsoft has said it is taking “mitigation actions” in response to service issues, but it is unclear if this is linked to the global outages. The company says its services are still seeing continuous improvements. The outage has hit hard in the transportation sector, with major US air carriers grounding all flights on Friday over a communication issue. Flights were…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday resumed the sale of foreign exchange to eligible Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, amidst a decline in the value of the naira. The naira fell to 1,570/$ at the parallel market, down from 1,565/$ on Wednesday. The CBN sold dollars to BDCs at a rate of 1,450/$, with each operator entitled to purchase $20,000. The apex bank warned BDCs to sell to eligible end-users at a margin not more than 1.5% above the purchase rate from CBN. According to the President of the Association of Bureau de Change of Nigeria (ABCON), Aminu…

Former Manchester United player, Mason Greenwood, has officially joined Olympique Marseille, marking a significant milestone in his career. Renowned football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, confirmed the news on Thursday, stating, “Official, confirmed. Mason Greenwood signs in as new Olympique Marseille number 10.” According to Romano, the deal includes a €26m fixed fee, €5m add-ons, and a 50% sell-on clause for Manchester United. The transfer follows extensive efforts by Marseille’s management, with president Pablo Longoria and sporting director Mehdi Benatia working tirelessly to secure the deal. Marseille’s manager, Roberto De Zerbi, played a crucial role in convincing Greenwood to join the…

President Bola Tinubu has given Nigerian workers a reason to smile, approving a new minimum wage of N70,000. The President made the announcement during a meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday. According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu also promised to review the national minimum wage law every three years. The President further pledged to assist the private sector and sub-nationals in paying the minimum wage. Labour leaders praised the President’s “fatherly…

In a move aimed at promoting quality education and student development, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on Thursday announced a ban on admissions for candidates under the age of 18 into tertiary institutions in the country. Speaking at the 2024 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Mamman emphasized that the ban is effective immediately, starting with the 2024 admissions process. “JAMB is hereby notified that there is now a ban on underaged students, those under the age of 18, into our tertiary institutions from this 2024 admissions,” Mamman said. The minister revealed that the…

The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has disclosed the landing costs of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, contradicting the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) persistent denial of subsidizing petrol prices. According to MEMAN, the landing cost of petrol stands at N1,117/litre, diesel at N1,157/litre, and aviation fuel at N1,127/litre, significantly higher than the current pump prices. This revelation has sparked debate, with experts like Prof. Wumi Iledare and Prof. Adeola Adenikinju suggesting that the government is absorbing the difference, effectively subsidizing petrol prices. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also warned Nigeria to remove implicit fuel and…

Nigerian songstress Ayra Starr has showered encomiums on her colleague Rema, describing him as her closest friend and “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT). In an interview with Munch Music, Starr revealed that Rema inspires her greatly, citing his experience and success in the music industry as a motivating factor. When asked about her closest friend among famous people, Starr didn’t hesitate to mention Rema, praising his supportive nature and brotherly relationship. While acknowledging their similar career paths, Starr clarified that Rema’s guidance and inspiration are invaluable to her growth as an artist. With a shoutout to Rema, Starr affectionately referred…

Nigerian disc jockey, DJ Cuppy, has expressed her pride in the impressive performance of four Nigerian afrobeats artists at the 2024 Wireless Festival in London. Asake, Rema, Ruger, and Shallipopi thrilled the audience with their electrifying performances, making DJ Cuppy proud to hail them on social media. “I have to hail all my brothers o! Congrats to @asakemusik, @heisrema, @shallipopi_, and @rugerofficial for their stellar performances at #WirelessFestival,” she wrote on her X handle. “Proud to see our Naij boys shining on the global stage. Carry last for wherrrreeee?!” This comes on the heels of Ayra Starr and Burna Boy’s…