Author: Opalim Lifted

Claudio Ranieri has been appointed head coach of Roma until the end of the season – six months after announcing his retirement. Ranieri has also taken on a role advising the Italian club’s owners and will help in the search for a permanent manager. At the end of the season the 73-year-old will “transition into a senior executive role”, the club said. Ranieri, who has managed his hometown club twice before including a temporary stint in 2019, retired in May after guiding Cagliari to survival. His appointment comes after the sacking of Ivan Juric on Sunday. Claudio Ranieri open to…

The recently sworn in governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has narrated the spiritual battle he faced to win the governorship election in September 2024.  In a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Fred Itua, on Thursday, Okpebholo said that the grace of God, constant prayers, and the support of the people was responsible for his electoral victory. The governor spoke at his post swearing-in Thanksgiving Service held at the Samuel Ogbumudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State capital, where he urged Nigerians to trust in God alone irrespective of their challenges in life. Okpebholo remarked: “I want to…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited claimed it has reached the mark of 1.8 million barrels per day of crude oil production. The state-owned oil company, NNPC which made the announcement on Thursday, also stated that it is set to hit the two million barrels per day target set by President Bola Tinubu by December 2024. The company also revealed that it is now producing 7.4 million standard cubic feet of gas to power the gas infrastructure especially the AKK. This is an improvement from 6.1 mmscf earlier in the year. The NNPCL noted that the accomplishment which aligns…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active. The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear. At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired. “In that wise,…

The Nigerian Airforce (NAF) Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos has airlifted the remains of the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, en route to Abuja. At about 9:00 am, soldiers of the Guards Brigade solemnly received the body, preparing to pay their final respects to the fallen military leader. The late COAS body will be interned on Friday at the national military cemetery in Abuja. Chronicle NG reported that Lagbaja’s death was announced last week by President Bola Tinubu, who said the late COAS passed away in Lagos after a period of…

Influential Edo State politician Anthony Ojo has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo after being sworn in as the new Governor of the State. In his congratulatory message, Ojo expressed confidence in the abilities of Okpebholo to bring the dividends of democracy close to the people of Edo State. “The people of Edo State have total trust in your five-point agenda, capacity as a leader, and this is evident with their immense show of love. We have no single doubt that under you, this state will progress to the promised land,” the statement reads. Meanwhile, Anthony Ojo has confirmed his aspiration to…

Retired footballer Diego Forlan lost 6-1 6-2 in 47 minutes on his professional tennis debut in a doubles event in his native Uruguay. The former Manchester United and Atletico Madrid striker, 45, and Argentine partner Federico Coria lost to Bolivian pair Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos after receiving a wildcard for the Uruguay Open in Montevideo. The tournament was on the ATP Challenger Tour – the level below the main ATP Tour. Both Forlan and Coria and their opponents held serve to start the match, but Arias and Zeballos quickly pulled away after earning a break in the third game…

Darius Ishaku, the former governor of Taraba State, and Bello Yero, the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, will await the court outcome of their preliminary objection, which challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice S.C. Oriji, to hear their trial. The court made this decision on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, during the matter’s hearing. EFCC Spokesman Dele Oyewale disclosed this in a statement. The two former Taraba State’s top shots are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) through its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) has signed a Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE. NNPCL said the deal would see NGML supplying 100 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day (MMSCF/D) to the Dangote Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, for an initial period of 10 years. The company spokesman, Olufemi Soneye said the agreement was signed on Tuesday at Dangote’s Corporate Head Office in Lagos by NGML’s Managing Director, Justin Ezeala, and Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Group. Soneye noted…

Captain Harry Kane is unhappy with the number of players who have withdrawn from the latest England squad, insisting “England comes before club”. Nine players have dropped out of the squad for Lee Carsley’s final two matches as interim manager before Thomas Tuchel takes charge in January. “I think England comes before anything. England comes before club,” Kane told ITV Sport. “England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer and Gareth [Southgate] was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if, you know, that started to drift from certain players.” When asked if…