Author: David Great

The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) says the destroyed track access between Abuja and Kaduna has been restored. The Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr Fidet Okhiria, confirmed the development in a statement by Director Operations of the NRC, Mr Niyi Alli, on Thursday in Lagos. Okhiria explained that the south end of the tracks, destroyed by explosion, had been successfully joined with the north end. He said: “In our concerted efforts at restoring the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) tracks corridor for resumption of service, please note the latest updates as follow: “The connection of the AKTS line has been achieved.…

West Ham’s European dream is over as they were beaten in the Europa League semi-final by Eintracht Frankfurt, who will meet Rangers in the final. Defender Aaron Cresswell and manager David Moyes were both sent off on a heated night in Germany as West Ham failed to set up an all-British final. Moyes’ side lost their home leg 2-1 but started brightly until Cresswell pulled down Jens Petter Hauge, who would have been through on goal. He was initially shown a yellow card but it was upgraded to a red after a video assistant referee review. The German side -…

Leicester City was denied a place in the Europa Conference League final after losing 1-0 to Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in Italy. Tammy Abraham’s powerful header for the home side was the difference as Leicester struggled to make an impact at the Stadio Olimpico. The England striker’s goal was enough to prevent the Foxes reaching a first European final after the first leg finished 1-1 at the King Power Stadium. It will be the Italian side’s first European final since 1991, where they will face Feyenoord. Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said after Sunday’s Premier League 3-1 defeat to Tottenham…

Access Bank Plc has partnered the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to roll out a loan scheme for poor farmers aged 18 years to 55 years and other vulnerable groups. The bank’s Group Head, Emerging Businesses, Mr Ayodele Olojede, said this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos. Olojede said the initiative tagged the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP 2.0) would be implemented across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The GEEP 2.0 is a loan scheme designed by the Federal Government to provide financial inclusion and give credit access to poor and…

Roman Abramovich says he has not asked for his £1.5bn loan to Chelsea to be repaid when the club is sold. The Russian oligarch put Chelsea up for sale in March and was then sanctioned by the UK government following the invasion of Ukraine. A spokesperson said Abramovich “remains committed” to making sure the proceeds from the sale “go to good causes”. They added the loan funds were subject to European Union sanctions and would be frozen. However, they were “still earmarked for the foundation” Abramovich wishes to set up. Abramovich, who was disqualified as a director of Chelsea in…

Senator Ibikunle Amosun, representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, on Thursday joined the race for the presidency, promising Nigerians improved security. He made the declaration in Abuja to contest for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). “I am formally announcing my candidacy for the presidential ticket of our great party, the APC and the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “I do so conscious of the immensity of the tasks that lie ahead in our country and the magnitude of the sacrifices that anybody who wishes to lead our country into the next phase must make,” he…

The University of Jos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has established a bottled water and beverage facility in Jos. Speaking at the inauguration of the project on Thursday in Jos, Dr Lazarus Maigoro, chairman of the union in the university said the project was a brainchild of its Cooperative Investment Company Limited. He said that the initiative was aimed at providing essential services to the society, adding that it would also create job opportunities for young people. He explained that the initiative was to further tell Nigerians that the union is not just about strike, but…

Consumer prices in Turkey soared nearly 70% in April from a year ago, hitting a two-decade high, official figures show. Transport, food prices and household furnishings recorded the sharpest rise in annual inflation, with transport costs more than doubling over the year. Countries around the world are dealing with a growing cost of living crisis. But Turkey’s problems have been made worse by its president’s reluctance to raise interest rates – a commonly used tool to help cool inflation. The cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks saw an annual increase of 89.1%, while furnishings and household equipment were up 77.64%.…

The Covid pandemic has caused the deaths of nearly 15 million people around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates. That is 13% more deaths than normally expected over two years. The WHO believes many countries undercounted the numbers who died from Covid – only 5.4 million were reported. In India, there were 4.7 million Covid deaths, it says – 10 times the official figures – and almost a third of Covid deaths globally. The Indian government has questioned the estimate, saying it has “concerns” about the methodology, but other studies have come to similar conclusions about the scale…

Former Kano governor, Kabiru Gaya, has led supporters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to ICC in Abuja to pick his presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms. Gaya, a senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, assured supporters that victory is sure for Prof. Osinbajo who is meeting APC delegates in Cross River and Bayelsa states today. Gaya noted that a passionate team support groups and individual Nigerians from across the country raised the funds to support the purchase of APC nomination forms for the Vice President’s 2023 presidential bid. Support Groups raised N100 million for the Vice President’s APC presidential…