Author: David Great

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of 19-year-old Brazilian forward Marquinhos from Sao Paulo. The Gunners say the Brazil Under-17 international has joined the Premier League club on a long-term contract. The Sao Paulo youth product made his first-team debut as an 18-year-old last July before helping them win the regional Campeonato Paulista in 2021. “He is still very young, so he is a player for the future,” said Arsenal’s technical director Edu. Arsenal to sign Brazilian teenager Marquinhos He scored four goals in 41 appearances for Sao Paulo and has also represented Brazil at Under-16 level. “Marquinhos was a player…

Gunmen have demanded the sum of N80 million after they abducted three pastors who were on their way to a crusade. The clerics were reportedly kidnapped on Friday along the Ochadamu-Okele-Ejule Road in the Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi state while going to minister at a three-day crusade. One of the kidnapped clerics has been identified as Pastor Sunday Emmanuel Abbah from Olamaboro Local Government Area of the state but he resides Lokoja, the state capital. Gunmen behead Anambra lawmaker, place head in motor park A family source of one of the abducted clerics confirmed that the kidnappers had…

The national grid crashed from 3703mw to just 9mw on Sunday, figures from the Nigeria Electricity System Operator (NESO), an arm of the Federal Government’s power transmission company shows. Data from NESO on Monday in Abuja showed the performance of the national grid on Sunday, indicating that the peak generation on Sunday of 3,703MW was recorded at 5am. This crashed to 9MW at 7pm on Sunday, according to the NESO, leading to the eventual collapse of the national grid. Chronicle NG reported a nationwide blackout after Abuja Electricity Distribution Company announced that the national grid has collapsed yet again. The…

The spokesperson of National Consultative Forum, Yinusa Tanko on Monday disclosed that there is an ongoing plan to merge the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso to form a formidable force. Tanko, who made the disclosure in an interview on Arise TV, suggested that the arrangement will help strengthen the national spread of both candidates in a bid to produce Nigeria’s next president. Asked to confirm if there were plans to bring together Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP, Tanko noted that both parties are…

Manchester City will push to sign a midfielder, with Leeds United and England international Kalvin Phillips, 26, the preferred target. (Times, subscription required) Manchester United have opened talks with Barcelona for Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong, 25, but will not pay over the odds with the Spanish club wanting 100m euros (£85.7m). (Manchester Evening News) Tottenham want to sign Everton and Brazil forward Richarlison, with the Toffees wanting £50m for the 25-year-old. (Telegraph, subscription required) Liverpool and Manchester City are tracking Barcelona and Spain midfielder Gavi, although the 17-year-old’s release clause in his contract has now risen to 100m euros…

By Etim Etim It’s a few days after the APC presidential convention, and I will like to commend Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for conducting a decent and effective presidential run that has inspired so many young people and motivated millions of others. Although the VP was not declared winner, there is no doubt that he’s won the hearts of millions of Nigerians across the country. It is obvious to me that APC will never win the presidential election unless Osinbajo’s supporters are in full support of the campaign. It’s therefore in Tinubu’s interest to rein in on his over exuberant…

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Africa’s developmental aspirations can be actualized by deepening cooperation and collaboration with the rest of the world. Prof. Osinbajo stated this today while speaking at the opening panel of the ongoing Africa CEO Forum holding in the Ivorian city of Abidjan. The panel was themed- “Economic Sovereignty: From Ambition to Action.” The Vice President who had arrived in Ivory Coast last night was welcomed at the Felix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport by the Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr Patrick Achi. Other speakers at the opening panel were, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana; the Managing Director…

Dr Omale Amedu, acting Director-General, the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC), has urged Nigerians to regularly donate blood to improve their health and be able to conceive. Amedu stated this in an interview with NAN in Abuja, ahead of the forthcoming World Blood Donor Day, celebrated annually in June 14. The day is aimed at raising global awareness on the need for safe blood production for transfusion. According to him, regular donation does not only saves lives but also enables the donor to obtain good health and renewed system. “Blood donation has so many advantages as it will make one…

The Federal Government says it is targeting 70 per cent of broadband penetration and not more than N390 per gigabyte by 2025. The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, said this while delivering a keynote address at a conference and exhibition of Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), in Abuja. NAN reports that the programme was tagged “National Strategic Mobilisation for the Actualisation of National Broadband Target of 70 per cent Conference and Exhibition”. It had the theme, “Realising the New Set Target of 70 per cent of Broadband Penetration”. Pantami, who was represented by the…

There are more people in Newfoundland and Labrador who are highly satisfied with their lives than anywhere else in Canada, while British Columbians are the least likely to be so bullish, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The report, released Thursday, found that 61.7 per cent of people in Newfoundland and Labrador considered themselves very satisfied with their lives, while 46.5 per cent who considered their lives very satisfying lived in British Columbia. But don’t you pack your bags for the East Coast just yet. “It isn’t the geographic coordinates that matter, it’s what’s there,” said University of British…