Author: Seyi Godwin

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has attributed the recent increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) to the influence of Foreign Exchange and unrestricted free market forces. According to a statement by NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, the Executive Vice President of Downstream of the Company, Adedapo Segun, made this disclosure while speaking on TVC News’ “Journalists’ Hangout” show on Thursday. Segun explained that the current fuel scarcity was expected to “subside in a few days as more stations recalibrate and begin selling PMS.” He stressed that Section 205 of the Petroleum Industry Act, which established…

The naira’s woes continued on Wednesday as it fell further against the dollar in the foreign exchange market, with FMDQ data showing a depreciation of N14.54. According to the data, the naira exchanged for N1625.88 per dollar on Wednesday, down from N1611.34 on Tuesday. The market indices also revealed that the highest exchange rate on Wednesday was N1,640, while the lowest was N1,400. In the black market, the naira also slumped, closing at N1645 on Wednesday, compared to N1640 on Tuesday. This represents a further decline in the value of the naira. Meanwhile, foreign exchange transactions dropped to $205.76 million…

The nominees for the Yashin Trophy 2024, an award that recognizes the best goalkeeper in the world, have been revealed. The award, introduced by France Football in 2019, is voted for by past Ballon d’Or winners and has been previously won by Alisson Becker, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Thibaut Courtois, and Emiliano Martinez. A total of 11 goalkeepers have been shortlisted for the prestigious award, including Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), and Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa). Other notable contenders include Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid), and Mike Maignan (AC Milan). The Yashin Trophy is named after…

Chidimma Vannesa Adetshina, the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, has shared her emotional experience in South Africa, where she was forced to withdraw from the Miss South Africa pageant due to controversy surrounding her nationality. Adetshina revealed that she was rejected by South Africans because of her name, which they felt was not “South African enough.” She described the experience as “horrible” and “heartbreaking,” especially since she had lived in South Africa for 23 years. When asked about the allegations of identity theft leveled against her mother by the South Africa Home Affairs, Adetshina declined to comment, citing that it…

Nigerians are bracing themselves for harder times as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has increased its pump price to N855 per litre, sparking widespread concern and frustration. The sudden price hike has led to the reappearance of fuel queues at filling stations across the country, with many motorists stranded and forced to wait in long lines for hours. The NNPCL management has confirmed that it is facing a debt challenge of $6 billion from its supply chain abroad, which has impacted supply sustainability. This admission has raised questions about the government’s claims of not subsidizing petroleum products. The…

Former Manchester United full-back Alex Telles has had his contract terminated by Al Nassr, just a year after joining the Saudi Arabia Pro League side. Telles’ departure comes as a surprise, having only played two matches into the new campaign. According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Telles has agreed to tear up his contract, bringing an abrupt end to his stint at Al Nassr. The Brazilian defender reportedly fell out of favour with manager Luis Castro, leading to his swift exit. Telles had joined Al Nassr last summer in a £4 million move, hoping to link up with fellow countryman…

A looming showdown is expected between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meets on Wednesday. The meeting is expected to address the ongoing political conflict between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, both PDP members, which has caused a split in the state House of Assembly. Despite mediation efforts by President Bola Tinubu and other prominent figures, the conflict persists, with factions engaging in legal disputes in Port Harcourt and Abuja courts. The PDP governors have expressed support for Fubara, urging the…

Prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have dismissed threats by former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to “put fire in states” of PDP governors who support Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Wike’s comments were seen as an attempt to assert control over the party’s structure in Rivers State. Ibrahim Abdullahi, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, described Wike’s comments as “personal opinions” that pose no threat to the party. “No single individual has the capacity to terminate the life of this party, PDP,” he said. Oladele Olabamiji, Osun State PDP Director of Media and Publicity, urged Wike to face his duties…

In a triumphant return to Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina has emerged as the winner of the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant. The 23-year-old law student was forced to withdraw from the Miss South Africa 2024 competition due to xenophobic backlash over her nationality. The grand finale of the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant was held at Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos on Saturday night. Guy Murray-Bruce, President of Silverbird Group, announced Adetshina as the winner, beating 24 other contestants. Adetshina represented Taraba State in the keenly contested competition, showcasing her talent, beauty, and poise. Her victory is a testament to…

Aerial strikes on Russian and Ukrainian border cities have escalated, resulting in significant loss of life and property. On Friday, a Russian aerial strike on Kharkiv killed seven people, including a 14-year-old girl, and wounded 77 others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western backers to increase support and provide long-range capabilities to combat the strikes. Across the border, Russia reported that Ukraine had fired cluster munitions on the city of Belgorod, killing at least five and wounding 37 civilians. Both Belgorod and Kharkiv have been repeatedly hit with aerial strikes throughout the war. In a significant military development, Ukraine’s…