Author: David Great

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) spent 4.39 trillion naira ($9.7 billion) on a fuel subsidy last year, latest data from the state-owned firm showed on Friday, a cost the government has blamed for dwindling public finances. NNPC did not remit funds to federal accounts last year, its data showed, leaving a hole in public finances at a time when the government has been warning that low revenues and large deficits left it unable to stimulate the economy. Successive governments in Nigeria have tried and failed to remove or cut the subsidy, a politically sensitive issue in the country of…

Arsenal have announced the arrival of Belgium international winger Leandro Trossard on Friday on a long-term contract from Brighton & Hove Albion. They hoped the 28-year-old, who was in the Belgium squad at last year’s World Cup in Qatar and has made 24 appearances for his country, would be eligible for selection against third-placed Manchester United on Sunday. Trossard has scored seven goals in 16 league appearances this season, including a hat-trick against Liverpool at Anfield in October. Media reports said the deal was for four and a half years and would cost Arsenal 27 million pounds ($33.43 million) –…

The Northern Youths Conscience has blasted a faceless group that took a dig at President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other APC members over Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid. In a statement issued on Friday by the group’s director of media and publicity, Comrade Ibrahim Muazzam, said the comments made against the President and his deputy was unacceptable. “The attention of Northern Youth Conscience (NYC) has been drawn to a story published by an online medium and credited to the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum,” the statement read. “The so-called Forum in a statement by one Mr. Shettima made vague…

Atletico Madrid have signed Memphis Depay from LaLiga rivals Barcelona, the two clubs said on Friday, with the Netherlands forward penning a two-and-half-year contract. The 28-year-old took part in a training session with the Madrid club on Thursday with the permission of Barcelona. He will give Atletico more options up front after Portugal forward Joao Felix’s loan move to Chelsea earlier this month. In a statement, Barcelona said they will receive a fee of “3 million euros ($3.25 million) plus one million in variables.” Depay, who previously played for PSV Eindhoven and Manchester United, joined Barca on a free transfer…

Chelsea have had a £55m bid for 21-year-old Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo rejected by Brighton. (Athletic – subscription required)  Chelsea have made an inquiry about Tottenham’s Mali midfielder Yves Bissouma, 26, but have received no encouragement from Spurs regarding a deal that would send Morocco winger Hakim Ziyech, 29, in the opposite direction. (Telegraph – subscription required) Newcastle United have a nine-man transfer list, which includes Everton and England Under-21 forward Anthony Gordon, 21, and three Chelsea players: Ziyech and England midfielders Conor Gallagher, 22, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 26. (Telegraph – subscription required)  Newcastle have made a £13.5m bid for 18-year-old Flamengo forward Matheus Franca. (Mail) Wolves forward Goncalo Guedes, 26, is in his native…

Chelsea are close to signing winger Noni Madueke from PSV Eindhoven after agreeing terms with the Dutch club. The 20-year-old is expected to fly into London on Thursday night to complete the transfer, which is worth a reported £29m. Madueke will be Chelsea’s sixth signing of the transfer window following deals for Mykhailo Mudryk, David Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos and Benoit Badiashile, plus Joao Felix on loan. He signed for PSV in 2018 and has made 77 appearances, scoring 21 goals. He has played four times for England Under-21s.

Manchester City overpowered Tottenham with a stunning comeback at Etihad Stadium to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to five points. Spurs looked to be doing bitter north London rivals Arsenal a huge favour when they scored twice in the closing moments of the first half to leave Pep Guardiola’s side staring at a third successive loss. Dejan Kulusevski gave Spurs the lead seconds before the break after Rodrigo Bentancur robbed Rodri following Ederson’s poor clearance, then Emerson Royal headed a second after the City keeper could only push out Harry Kane’s shot. Most inside the Etihad Stadium…

VP receives Methodist delegation, Northern group at Presidential Villa Archbishop to VP: “we salute your visionary leadership, integrity, doggedness” Northern group says Osinbajo has “so much more to contribute, name written in gold” Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigerian elites from the political, religious to business leaders, all good people and individuals with a vision must come together to make a great difference for Nigeria. This was the central message Prof. Osinbajo delivered in separate meetings today at the Presidential Villa first with the new Methodist Archbishop of Abuja, the Most Revd. Michael Akinwale and the leadership of the Northern Reawakening Forum led by…

Three persons were injured after an explosion went off at an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally at the Rumuwoji Playground in Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Thursday. The injured persons were immediately rushed to the hospital where they received treatment. An eyewitness who identified himself as Isaac said, “We were at the Ojukwu field, Rumuwoji community waiting for the governorship candidate of the APC to address the people, when unknown person threw a ‘bottle bomb’ in the middle of the field. “The bottle bomb exploded, which made many people at the venue ran for their safety believing it was a…

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored for Paris St Germain and Riyadh Season Team respectively on Thursday in an exhibition match at the King Fahd Stadium. The Ligue 1 side won the the nine-goal thriller thanks to substitute Hugo Ekitike who earned 10-man PSG a 5-4 win over the Riyadh Season Team. Al Nassr’s Ronaldo captained the Riyadh Season Team – a combined Saudi Pro League XI featuring players from Al Nassr and Al Hilal in Riyadh. The PSG starting line-up starred France’s Kylian Mbappe and Brazil’s Neymar, as well as Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid team mates Sergio Ramos and…