Author: David Great

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has issued a strong rebuttal to allegations made by former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar regarding the acquisition of OVH, the parent company of NNPC Retail Ltd. In a press release signed by Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, NNPCL refuted claims that the acquisition was a scheme to serve the personal business interests of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The controversy arose after Atiku, through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, accused President Tinubu and corporate cabals of “criminally hijacking” NNPCL. He further alleged that Mr. Wale Tinubu, who he claimed held a 49%…

Seaman Mariam Okoya, a sailor from Lagos, Nigeria, is serving the US Navy’s Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Okoya graduated from the Federal Girls Government College in Sagamu, Ogun State, in 2002. Mariam Okoya says the skills and values needed to succeed in the US Navy are similar to those found in Nigeria. “I learned the importance of hard work, perseverance, focus and being God-fearing,” Okoya told the Navy Outreach. Okoya joined the Navy two years ago. Today, Okoya serves as a logistics specialist. “I joined the Navy to be part of something bigger than myself,” Mariam Okoya told the Navy Office of Community Outreach. Mariam Okoya serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the…

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has lamented the rate at which bulk electricity consumers abandon the national grid to generate their own electricity. Adelabu emphasised that grid connection as a power source is more reliable than captive power plants currently being used by bulk electricity consumers. He regretted that despite generating a record 5,155MW, it is not being taken up. The minister spoke on Thursday at the Board retreat of the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company in Lagos. He said, “The majority of bulk electricity users, such as industries, are off the grid due to lack of trust and…

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Thursday, announced the death of a final year student of the Department of Foreign Languages, Esu Ema. Ema was reportedly killed by a driver, identified as Lasisi Sodiq, near the campus of the institution. A release by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olarewaju, said the deceased student with the matriculation number FRM/2019/041 was knocked down and killed by a Lexus car with number plate ABJ 427 LQ driven by Sodiq. Olanrewaju further explained that the student, who was said to be going to the campus to…

The Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday discharged and acquitted six men charged with breach of the public peace during the 2020 #EndSARS protest. They are Daniel Joyinbo, 31, Adigun Sodiq, 28, Kehinde Shola,32, Salaudeen Kamilu, 29, Sodiq Usseni, 33 and Azeez Isiaka, 34. The defendants had in a plea bargain agreement, pleaded guilty to a count charge of breach of the public peace preferred against them by Lagos government. After listening to the plea bargain agreement, the magistrate, Bola Osunsanmi, found the defendants guilty and convicted them of the offence. She, however, cautioned and discharged them, adding that they…

Norway midfielder Sander Berge has joined Fulham on a five-year contract from second-tier side Burnley, the Premier League club announced on Thursday. British media reported that Fulham had agreed to pay around 20 million pounds plus add-ons for the midfielder, whose acquisition strengthens their midfield following Joao Palhinha’s move to Bayern Munich. “It feels fantastic. It’s been a little bit back and forth the last few weeks but I’m finally sitting here in the shirt in this beautiful stadium, knowing that my future is here, which feels great,” Berge said. “The DNA of the club is to be dominant, aggressive,…

Thailand on Thursday confirmed Asia’s first known case of a new, deadlier strain of mpox in a patient who had travelled to the kingdom from Africa. The patient landed in Bangkok on August 14 and was sent to hospital with mpox symptoms. The Department of Disease Control said laboratory tests on the 66-year-old European confirmed he was infected with mpox Clade 1b. “Thailand’s Department of Disease Control wishes to confirm the lab test result which shows mpox Clade 1b in a European patient,” the department said in a statement, adding that the World Health Organisation (WHO) would be informed of…

U.S. Senator and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ben Cardin, has called on United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to take immediate and decisive action to address the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan. In a strongly worded letter sent on August 21, Senator Cardin urged the UN to bolster its efforts in response to the famine and widespread suffering caused by the ongoing conflict in the region. “The devastating famine in Sudan was both predictable and preventable. At a moment of unimaginable suffering, the international community cannot stand by,” Senator Cardin wrote, emphasizing the urgent need for an…

Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign England defender Ben Chilwell by Chelsea after the 27-year-old was told he does not feature in boss Enzo Maresca’s plans. (Talksport) Former England forward Raheem Sterling, 29, wants to remain in the Premier League after being told he has no future at Chelsea. (Sky Sports) Chelsea have completed the signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid with Conor Gallagher moving in the other direction. (Chronicle NG) Barcelona are considering a move for Juventus’ 26-year-old Italy forward Federico Chiesa. (ESPN) Manchester United are closing in on a deal to sign Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte, 23, from Paris St-Germain. (Sky Germany) PSG are not prepared to…

The Federal Government has approved an upward review of the fees for the Nigerian passport effective from September 1, 2024. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the spokesman for the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kenneth Udo, on the X handle of the NIS. The increment, according to the statement, aims to ensure the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Passport. The statement read, “As part of its efforts to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport, the Federal Government has approved an upward review of the fees for the passport, effective from September 1,…