Author: bukoye

In a revealing Q&A session with TNT Sports, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has named Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk as the toughest opponent he has faced in the Premier League. Odegaard, who has established himself as one of the top midfielders in the league, has faced numerous tough opponents since joining Arsenal from Real Madrid. However, Van Dijk stands out as the most formidable foe, according to Odegaard. When asked to single out his toughest ever opponent, the 25-year-old Norwegian midfielder replied: “I think Virgil is a really tough one.” Odegaard’s admission is a testament to Van Dijk’s reputation as…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, after he presented himself at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. This development comes after months of Bello shunning repeated invitations from the EFCC. According to Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Bello was arrested by the Commission’s chief security officer. “It is true that we have him in our custody. The operatives of the Commission arrested him,” Oyewale said. Bello’s detention is connected to allegations of misappropriation of funds levelled against him. The EFCC had declared him wanted on April 18,…

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has taken significant steps to mend relations between the state government and the Benin Traditional Council. In a statement released on Sunday, Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, announced that the governor has restored the full statutory rights of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. Okpebholo also backed the Federal Government’s recognition of the Oba’s palace as the custodian of repatriated Benin artefacts looted during the 1897 British colonial expedition. The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Samson Osagie, noted that the governor’s gesture signals the resolution of the crisis between…

Nigerian music sensation, Wizkid, has made history with his newly-released album, ‘Morayo’, which has broken multiple records on Spotify Nigeria. The album has garnered an unprecedented 12 million streams on Spotify Nigeria, shattering the previous record held by Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’. According to Spotify’s latest figures, ‘Morayo’ earned a staggering 16.27 million streams in its first full day of release, marking the biggest debut of any African album on the platform. This achievement is a testament to Wizkid’s immense popularity and the album’s widespread appeal. Furthermore, Wizkid has also broken the record for the most single-day streams for a song…

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has assured that Rivers State will continue to receive its federal allocations, despite the ongoing legal battle over the state’s financial entitlements. According to Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, the office will adhere to court orders regarding the disbursement of federal allocations to Rivers State. “We are going to obey court order. Since there is a notice of appeal, the notice of appeal has overridden the earlier court judgment. So far, it is a court order that we will obey; if there is a notice…

In a shocking revelation, Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Phyna, has publicly disowned her family and announced her decision to drop her surname, Otabor. The Edo-born reality star took to her verified X handle on Thursday night to disclose the difficulties she has faced in her personal life. Phyna lamented that her family has never been supportive towards her since childhood, leaving her feeling lost and uncertain. In an emotional post, Phyna wrote, “I am publicly dropping my family surname Otabor… It has been proven that I actually have no family and nobody knows how I came about… I’m…

The Labour Party has called on the National Assembly to pass a bill that would bar ageing politicians from running for presidential, governorship, and other political positions in the 2027 elections. This demand was made by the party’s National Youth Leader, Kennedy Ahanotu, and LP lawmaker Benedict Etanabene, at the 2024 Annual Meeting and National Youth Conference in Abuja. Ahanotu argued that a 70-year-old candidate has no business running for elective office, citing the Federal Government’s age restriction on civil servants. He emphasized that this would free up positions for younger generations to take up national responsibilities. “Any politician from…

In a significant development, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commenced exports of refined petroleum products to neighboring West African countries, potentially disrupting regional fuel markets. According to Bloomberg, a tanker, CL Jane Austen, has shipped over 300,000 barrels of gasoline from the refinery to Togo’s coastal waters. This move follows Ghana’s consideration to import petroleum products from Dangote to reduce expensive European exports, which cost the country $400m monthly. Ghana National Petroleum Authority Chairman, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, emphasized the benefits of importing from Nigeria: “If the refinery reaches 650,000bpd capacity, importing from Nigeria will reduce prices by removing freight costs.” Newsmen…

In a significant development, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the immediate payment of N70,000 as the new minimum wage for all administration staff. This move follows President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the Minimum Wage Bill into law in May 2024. The approval comes after months of negotiation with organized labour and the threat of a nationwide strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress. The unions had alleged the Wike-led administration’s failure to meet with them since his inauguration in August 2023. According to the Press Secretary to the Head of the…

In a significant development, Dangote Refinery and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have signed a groundbreaking agreement for the supply of 60 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) per week. The deal has already started yielding positive results, with IPMAN confirming a marginal reduction in fuel prices across its member filling stations nationwide. According to IPMAN Spokesperson, Chinedu Ukadike, the prices have dropped by between N10 and N50. Ukadike revealed that Dangote Refinery has committed to supplying IPMAN members with 60 million litres of fuel weekly. “While the discussion is still ongoing, Dangote has offered to…