Author: David Great

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is expected to be finished in the middle of September, according to Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, years after development on the heavily used route began. The minister said so on Tuesday while touring the locations of finished and continuing federal government projects in the state of Lagos. After multiple missed deadlines, construction is still continuing on along the last section of the freeway on both sides. The inspection visit began at outer Marina Road at Victoria Island, a Federal Government project built using the SUKUK funding option. He next went to the recently restored Eko Bridge,…

Fulham have signed Timothy Castagne from Leicester City on a four-year deal with an option for another 12 months, the London club said on Tuesday. The 27-year-old right-back, who has 33 caps for Belgium, has reportedly moved from the Championship club for around £15 million pounds and will wear the number 21 shirt. Castagne started his career at Belgian Pro League side Genk before moving to Serie A side Atalanta in 2017. He joined Leicester in 2020 and helped them win the FA Cup in 2021. The defender said, “I feel very good. It’s been a long transfer window, but…

Al-Ittihad are ready to test Liverpool’s resolve with a $162m (£129m) bid for Mohamed Salah, despite the Reds insisting the 31-year-old Egypt forward is not for sale. (CBS Sports) Manchester United have inquired about Brentford’s English defender Rico Henry, 26, as they consider options to replace injured England left-back Luke Shaw, 28. (Mail) Manchester United are considering a surprise move for Tottenham’s 28-year-old Denmark midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. (Telegraph – subscription required) Bayern Munich are looking to secure a loan deal for Manchester United’s Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 26, and could allow Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, 21, to move to Old Trafford on loan. (Bild – in German) United are set to reject West Ham’s latest offer for…

Chelsea have agreed to loan of Belgian international striker Romelu Lukaku to Serie A side Roma, Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Monday. According to the Italian sports daily, Roma will pay the London club 5.8 million euros ($6.2 million) and the player will receive an annual salary of 7.5 million euros. Gazzetta said Lukaku is due to arrive in Rome on Tuesday to undergo a medical. At Roma, the Belgian will be reunited with Jose Mourinho, who previously coached the striker at Chelsea and Manchester United. The belgian returned to Chelsea in 2021 for 115 million euros from Inter Milan.…

The Spanish football federation’s regional presidents asked suspended chief Luis Rubiales to resign on Monday after he forcibly kissed Women’s World Cup player Jenni Hermoso on the lips, sparking worldwide outrage. “After recent events and the unacceptable behaviour that has seriously damaged the image of Spanish football, the presidents request that Luis Rubiales resign immediately as president of the RFEF,” said the federation (RFEF) in a statement following a meeting between the regional presidents. The presidents said they backed interim chief Pedro Rocha, who called the meeting, to lead the organisation into “dialogue and reconciliation with all football institutions”. The…

Donald Trump will stand trial in March 2024 for trying to overturn his 2020 presidential election defeat, one day before Republican voters in more than a dozen U.S. states will decide whether to give him a chance to recapture the White House. U.S. Judge Tanya Chutkan on Monday set a trial date of March 4 for the federal case in Washington, one of four criminal prosecutions the former president faces. That is one day before “Super Tuesday,” a potentially decisive date in the Republican presidential nominating contest, when states from Maine to California will hold their nominating contests. Opinion polls…

The Nigerian Army has announced that troops of the 144 Battalion have successfully freed 25 hostages held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists. In a clearance operation at Gobara village in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno state on Saturday, August 26, 2023, the military, working with a hybrid force, freed 14 hostages, according to a statement made by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the army’s spokesperson, on Monday. Six women and eight children were among the people who had been saved, he claimed. The Army spokesperson reported that on August 27, 2023, in a related operation, members of the 82 Task…

Edo state deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, on Monday, angrily stormed out of the location of a government event after security personnel barred several of his aides from entering. Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, hosted a colloquium to commemorate the Midwest Referendum’s 60th anniversary. The Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, located on Airport Road in Benin City, the state capital, hosted it. While the governor was giving his introductory remarks, Shaibu and a few of his aides arrived at the location, but some security personnel at the entrance to the hall prevented the deputy governor’s aides from entering the room.…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on August 24, 2023 arrested five people for allegedly using forged letterheads of the Offices of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice to fraudulently obtain money from unsuspecting members of the public. The suspects are Mr. Yakubu Hamza Mohammed, Mr. Bashir Ladan, Mr. Adamu Ibrahim, Mr. Steven Anom and Mr. Mohammed Bello. The anti-graft agency said that the quintet allegedly conspired and used the letterheads to produce fake employment and recommendation letters for a fee, to unsuspecting members of the public. EFCC…

Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has earned applause from Nigerians over his highlighted seven promises that would transform the Ministry of Interior and its agencies. Highlighting the promises, a prominent blog, Instablog listed the minister’s agenda with many reacting to his proactive agenda. The seven key promises are, “a.) Development of technology to enhance border security; b.) Removal of bottlenecks in the acquisition of passports and other immigration documents; c.) Tackling insecurity and effective protection of critical national assets and infrastructures; and d.) Ensuring the timely passage of the New Fire Act. Other promises are, e.) Correctional service reforms…