Author: David Great

An appeals court in Milan on Friday rejected Nigeria’s $1.092 billion compensation request against Italian energy group Eni and Shell in civil proceedings relating to a $1.3 billion oilfield deal. The decision was read out in court. In July, prosecutors had dropped related criminal proceedings, clearing Eni and Shell, as well as managers including Eni Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi, in one of the oil industry’s biggest alleged corruption cases. Eni could not immediately be reached for a comment on Friday’s ruling. The main case revolved around a deal in which Eni and Shell acquired the OPL 245 offshore oilfield in…

FG, United Nations, EU, private sector partners kickoff 20k annual jobs programme for Nigerian graduates The first set of beneficiaries of the Federal Government backed Jubilee Fellows Programme have now been assigned their one-year paid jobs, just as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo explained that the Programme is a part of the Buhari Administration’s continued efforts to address the challenge of youth and graduate unemployment in the country. Prof. Osinbajo stated this today at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, in his keynote address at the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) onboarding event for the first batch of beneficiaries who have been matched…

Arsenal have made a bid for Shakhtar Donetsk’s 21-year-old Ukraine winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is also of interest to Juventus. (Calciomercato – in Italian) Southampton will pay Championship side Luton Town more than £4m in compensation for manager Nathan Jones, who replaced the sacked Ralph Hasenhuttl on Thursday. (Telegraph – subscription) Aston Villa will target an ‘A-list’ forward in the January transfer window, while Villarreal’s Spain defender Pau Torres, 25, is also of interest to recently appointed manager Unai Emery. (Football Insider) Roma will turn their attention to Barcelona’s Spain right-back Hector Bellerin, 27, with Portugal’s Diogo Dalot, 23, now a key part of Manchester United’s plans. (Calciomercato – in Italian) Barcelona could allow Netherlands…

The Nigerian government says fake news has increased on Twitter since eccentric billionaire, Elon Musk acquired the social media platform for $44bn. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Thursday in Abuja at the third edition of the “President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration (PMB) Scorecard 2015-2023” programme, stressed that, the West African country will not allow any social media platform to plunge Nigeria into crisis. PMB Scorecard initiative is organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture to showcase the achievements of the administration in the last seven years. The third edition featured the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika,…

The National Universities Commission (NUC), has issued a provisional licence for the establishment of the University of Ilesha in Osun. The executive secretary, NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, while issuing the licence to the Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun said the establishment of the university would make it the 60th state university and 220th in the country. Rasheed said that the establishment of University of Ilesha was one of the important legacies any leader would give anywhere in the world. He commended the governor for this gesture saying the university would focus on Agriculture and Health Sciences in order to produce…

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on Thursday said the act of bypassing electricity meters was responsible for estimated billing, otherwise known as “crazy bill” in most communities. Dr Tinuade Sanda, Managing Director, EKEDC, made this known at a customer engagement forum organised by the Disco on Thursday in Lagos. NAN reports that customers at the forum were drawn from various areas under Orile District, including Surulere, Aguda, Coker, Orile, Ikate, Animashaun and Doyin zones. Sanda, who was represented by the company’s Chief Finance Officer, Mr Joseph Ezenwa, said the essence of the meeting was to collaborate with customers. She…

Morocco included Hakim Ziyech in their World Cup squad as coach Walid Regragui gambled on the fitness of several players and sprung some surprises when he named his 26-man selection on Thursday. Ziyech has started only twice for Chelsea this season but is one of nine players who return for a second successive World Cup after being included in the squad in Russia four years ago, where Morocco were eliminated in the group stage. Ziyech had been the subject of a dispute between the Moroccan federation and previous coach Vahid Halilhodzic after the Chelsea winger and Bayern Munich defender Noussair…

Germany handed a surprise call-up to Borussia Dortmund teenager Youssoufa Moukoko in their World Cup squad on Thursday as 2014 World Cup winner Mario Goetze marked a sensational return to the national team set up after five years. Germany coach Hansi Flick announced his 26-man squad for the tournament in Qatar starting on Nov. 20, with the 17-year-old Moukoko, who has scored six times in the Bundesliga this season, included. “Youssoufa is lively and quick player. We are really happy for him,” Flick said. Werder Bremen forward Niclas Fuellkrug also earned a spot after a stellar season with 10 goals…

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has included injured striker Romelu Lukaku and playmaker Eden Hazard in his 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar, saying he will give the former “every second” to regain his fitness for the tournament. Lukaku has been suffering with a hamstring injury which, coupled with a thigh problem earlier this season, means he has played just twice since August and is currently sidelined for his club Inter Milan. But Martinez has previously stated that as long as Lukaku could feature in one of the team’s Group F games against Canada, Morocco or Croatia, he would…

Leicester midfielder James Maddison has been included in England’s 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Manager Gareth Southgate has also picked Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford and Newcastle striker Callum Wilson, Manchester City full-back Kyle Walker and Arsenal defender Ben White. But AC Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori, Brentford striker Ivan Toney and West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen miss out. England face Iran in their World Cup opener on 21 November (13:00 GMT). They are joined in Group B by Wales and the United States. Ben Chilwell an England doubt for England Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, despite…