Author: Vincent Osuwo

A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) led by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar has arrived in Niger for talks with the military officers who seized power and ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The arrival of ECOWAS delegates has also been confirmed by Niger’s ruling military council. The group arrived in Niamey, Niger’s capital, on Saturday, a day after ECOWAS military chiefs announced they were ready to act to restore constitutional order in the country. ECOWAS defense chiefs gathered this week in Accra, Ghana’s capital, to finalize plans for a possible military intervention to restore Bazoum if…

The executive governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has released the sum of N382,600 for the payment of outstanding scholarship allowances to ease the economic hardship on students caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.  Malam Bala Isa, Executive Secretary of the Borno State Scholarship Board, made the announcement during a media event in Maiduguri on Saturday. Isa added that Gov. Zulum made the allowances available to help parents cope with the economic hardship caused by the loss of fuel subsidy. Governors will hijack Nigerians palliatives – Labour faults FG According to him, the allowances that will help 14,416…

Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel praised Harry Kane after he scored on his Bundesliga debut. After a season of speculation, England captain Harry Kane left Spurs earlier this month for Bayern Munich in a £100 million deal. Kane made his Bundesliga debut with a goal and an assist as Bayern Munich defeated Werder Bremen 4-0 away from home on Friday night. Thomas Tuchel was not surprised to see Kane score and believes he makes his teammates better. “If you see him finishing in training, you know why he finishes in the matches because he does it all the time,”, the…

The Lagos State Government has announced Monday, August 21, as a public holiday day for all public servants in the state in commemoration of the 2023 Isese Day celebration, which will be held on Sunday, August 20. This is announced in a circular dated August 18, signed by the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola. Muri-Okunola stated that the declaration of Monday as a work-free day for public servants by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was “with a view to promoting our indigenous culture and tradition while preserving our heritage”. “In restating its commitment to continue to provide the necessary…

West African military chiefs indicated on Friday that the D-Day for an armed intervention in the Niger Republic had been determined but that a diplomatic mission over the weekend was feasible to keep discussions open. After generals deposed and imprisoned Bazoum on July 26, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger. ECOWAS defence chiefs gathered this week in Accra, Ghana, to finalise plans for a future military intervention to reinstall Bazoum if continuing talks with coup leaders fail. The military chiefs said “We are…

Nigerian Grammy-winning singer Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has reportedly lost his mother. Mrs. Jane Dolapo Balogun died at around 1.30 a.m. on Friday. Confirming her demise, Sunday Aare, his longtime manager, stated that Mrs. Balogun died in the early hours of Friday. Osinbajo mourns Odukoya’s death “Yes, she died this morning, at about 1.30 am,” Aare said. The late Balogun was the mother of two other children, Yetunde Balogun and Lade Balogun. More details later…

No fewer than 28 suspected internet fraudsters have been arrested by operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, in a sting operation in Enugu. This was revealed on Friday, August 18, 2023, in a press release signed by Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity, of the EFCC. According to the statement, the suspects are: “”Godwin Ogbonna, Bright Chidozie, Chukwuebuka Ugwu, Ifesi Isaac, Collins Nnachi, Micheal Nnamdi, Ikechukwu Derrick Anya, Nneji Onyebuchi, Nwali Chukwujekwu Chukwudi, Kenechukwu Barry, Ibe Chisom, and Godwin Okwuchi Promise. EFCC extradites Ogoshi brothers to US…

Luis Enrique, the head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, has praised Kylian Mbappe for returning to training ‘in a positive state of mind’ after being apprehensive about his future at the club. Mbappe was left out of PSG’s goalless draw with Lorient on the first day of the season. After refusing to sign a contract extension, the striker was forced to practise with PSG’s ‘undesirables’ away from the main group. His existing contract had less than a year remaining. However, he returned to first-team training last Sunday and could play against Toulouse this weekend. Enrique praised Mbappe’s mentality, saying he is…

FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, has advised women’s football to “pick the right battles” in the campaign for equal pay, putting the onus on women to implement the change. Infantino stated this ahead of Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final in Sydney that equal pay in men’s and women’s tournaments could only be a “symbol” and would not “solve anything” until extra development criteria are met. He then challenged women to push through doors that he claimed his organisation and those in charge of the men’s game had already left open. Infantino said: “And I say to all the women, and you…

The Plateau State Police Command arrested a herder on Thursday for chopping off the left hand of one Jeremiah Yan, a farmer in the state’s Lakushi town in Shendam Local Government Area. The police command’s spokeswoman, DSP Alabo Alfred, who identified the herder as Abdulrahman Kaila, said the event happened on Monday in the farmer’s land. According to the spokesperson, “When police got the news, the commissioner of police instructed the DPO to go after the perpetrator, and in a swift reaction of the DPO, the suspect was arrested, and he gave us his reason for cutting the hand of…