Author: Staff Reporter

The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) retailers against engaging in illegal sales of the product, as scarcity continues to plague the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and neighboring states. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has embarked on a crackdown on illegal petroleum product sales, particularly petrol in jerrycans. Retail outlets are advised to cease servicing black marketers, or face suspension of their licenses. Despite the warning, fuel scarcity persists in the nation’s capital, with most filling stations shut down. Only a few, including Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail…

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has heaped praise on 19-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, likening him to French football icon Zinedine Zidane. Mainoo burst onto the scene last season, breaking into Erik ten Hag’s first team and scoring in the FA Cup final win over Manchester City. He also played a key role for England in Euro 2024, helping the team reach the final. Scholes told The Guardian: “He’s the nearest thing I’ve seen to [Zinedine] Zidane in taking a ball, receiving the ball, cruising past people. I heard there was a young lad holding his own against Casemiro in training,…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed claims of discrepancies in the 2023 presidential election results, affirming that the declared results are “official and authentic.” This response comes after the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ) raised concerns about alleged inconsistencies in the results. Rotimi Oyekanmi, spokesman for INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated that there are no discrepancies in the number of polling units and registered voters. He emphasized that the total number of polling units and registered voters remains as announced by the Commission. Oyekanmi explained that election results may be cancelled due to specific reasons such…

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the seizure of Nigeria’s presidential jets by a French court, describing it as an international embarrassment. Obi attributed the development to failed leadership and poor attitude to the rule of law. The seizure followed Ogun State Government’s failure to honor a $74.5 million award granted to Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited by an independent arbitral tribunal. The Presidency accused Zhongshan of attempting to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government through subterfuge. Obi criticized the Federal Government’s insensitivity, citing the purchase of the jets despite economic hardship. He demanded…

A group of 63 retired Nigerian Army soldiers who fought in the Civil War are crying out for help, appealing to the federal government to pay their outstanding pension arrears. Despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of N134.7 billion for military veteran pensions in 2020, these retired soldiers, enlisted between 1967 and 1978, have not received their pension payments. Their documentation was verified by the Military Pensioner Board in 2023, but they are yet to receive their dues, leaving them struggling to make ends meet. The retired soldiers, aged between 76 and 85, are appealing to former presidents, the Senate, House…

The Take It Back Movement, a prominent rights advocacy organization, has vehemently rejected a controversial bill seeking to penalize Nigerians for not reciting the national anthem. The bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, proposes a N5 million fine or 10 years imprisonment for offenders. In a statement signed by National Coordinator Juwon Sanyaolu, the organization described the bill as a threat to fundamental rights and urged its withdrawal. “The bill should be discarded and not passed into law…the government should redirect their efforts toward tackling the underlying factors that contribute to discord and strife within our country.” The Take It…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the alarm over a significant surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths globally. In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, WHO reported that over 775 million confirmed cases and more than seven million deaths have been recorded worldwide since the pandemic began. According to WHO, the number of new cases and deaths increased by 30% and 26%, respectively, during the 28-day period from June 24 to July 21. This represents a significant rise compared to the previous 28-day period, with over 186,000 new cases reported across 96 countries and over 2,800 new fatalities…

Gombe State has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre following confirmed and suspected cases of diphtheria in Herwagana Ward, Gombe. The state Commissioner of Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, made the announcement, highlighting the severity of the vaccine-preventable disease. Diphtheria, caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, poses a significant threat to public health, particularly among children. If left untreated, the disease can lead to severe throat and respiratory infections, resulting in death. The state has recorded three suspected cases and one confirmed case, prompting urgent action. Dr Dahiru emphasized the availability of diphtheria vaccines at Primary Health Centres across Gombe State. He…

The Nigerian naira continued its upward trend against the US dollar on Monday, gaining N3.21 to trade at N1570.99 per dollar. This represents a 3.21% increase from the N1,574.20 exchanged on Friday. However, on the black market, the naira remained unchanged at N1,600 per dollar, the same rate as last Friday. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) recent introduction of the Dutch Auction System has been a key factor in the naira’s appreciation. The CBN sold $815.26 million to 26 banks at N1,495 per dollar in its latest auction on Friday. This move is aimed at managing the demand for…

The 2024 Paris Olympics came to a close yesterday, Sunday, August 11, with the USA emerging as the overall winner, topping the medal table with 40 gold medals. China followed closely in second place, also with 40 gold medals, while Japan and Australia secured third and fourth positions respectively. Host nation France slipped to fifth place, with 16 gold medals. However, it was a disappointing outing for Nigeria, who failed to win a single medal despite the efforts of its athletes. The closing ceremony, held at the Stade de France, marked the end of the athletic competitions, which saw the…