Author: Vincent Osuwo

The vice president of Zambia said she and seven other individuals were unharmed after their chopper crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday while campaigning for next month’s election. Zambia heads to the elections on August 13, with President Hakainde Hichilema anticipated to win a second term as president of the country, which is one of Africa’s leading copper producers. Vice President Mutale Nalumango, 71, told Diamond TV online that the chopper crashed as she and her entourage were leaving a campaign rally in Nakonde, in the north-east. “After we lifted off, I don’t know whether it was a minute or…

France has called on its football fans to be responsible as their team prepares to meet African champions Morocco in a World Cup quarterfinal on Thursday, following previous high-profile matches that sparked turmoil. Morocco gained independence from France in 1956 and now maintains a mainly peaceful relationship with the former colonial power, which is home to hundreds of thousands of Moroccans and French nationals of Moroccan heritage. This year’s Moroccan national squad includes several players born in France who play for French clubs. Achraf Hakimi, the team captain, was born in Spain but now plays for Paris Saint Germain. France…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party will struggle to win a presidential election until it rebuilds its internal institutions and addresses persisting internal conflicts. Wike made the statements during a media briefing on Thursday, arguing that political parties cannot expect to win the president unless they first clean house and build their grassroots institutions. He also criticized the rising belief that Nigeria’s democracy is only dependent on the participation of a few notable opposition figures. “The only way people now say there is democracy is if the ADC or NDC…

The minister of defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that Nigerian soldiers now get a minimum monthly wage of N100,000 as a result of the federal government’s recent evaluation of their welfare. Musa revealed this in an interview with News Central on Wednesday, which will air on Friday’s NC Exclusive programme. The former Chief of Defence Staff also noted that the military remained underfunded, despite improvements in personnel welfare. When asked if the present defence budget was adequate, the minister responded, “It’s not enough.” He, however, stated that the federal government had significantly improved soldiers’ salaries. “When they started, a soldier…

The Allied People’s Movement (APM) has urged President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress administration to provide Nigerians with a detailed account of the trillions of naira generated by the removal of the fuel subsidy since May 2023, insisting that the government explain how the funds were spent amidst worsening economic hardship across the country. According to a statement issued on Thursday by the APM’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the APC government’s claims that the proceeds are being invested in critical sectors, without providing concrete figures or identifying specific projects and programs, are unacceptable and fall short of the transparency…

The US has released an updated deportation list featuring 124 Nigerians convicted of various crimes. This was announced in a statement on the website of the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday. The DHS reported that these individuals have been placed on what it described as its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register. While the names and photos of the criminals have been made public, the timeline for deportations remains undisclosed. However, US immigration authorities noted that the deportations are part of continuing immigration enforcement, emphasizing that those identified were convicted of serious crimes, but declined to disclose more information about the offenses…

Barcelona has submitted a bid to Borussia Dortmund for winger Karim Adeyemi, transfer journalists Fabrizio Romano and Gerard Romero have reported. Romano, in a post on X on Thursday, said negotiations between the two clubs were ongoing, with Adeyemi keen on a move to Camp Nou. “Karim Adeyemi agreed to terms with Barcelona and informed BVB he only wants a Barça move. “Adeyemi is out of contract in June 2027 and not planning to sign a new deal,” Romano said. He stated that Barça had made an offer and was awaiting Dortmund’s decision. The move comes after Barcelona finalized the…

Christopher Musa, the minister of defense, has said that the terrorists who kidnapped students and teachers from schools in Oyo State threatened to kill them if security personnel approached their position. Musa stated this in a teaser clip of an interview with News Central, which was released on Wednesday ahead of its broadcast on the NC Exclusive show on Friday. He explained that the terrorists were using the youngsters as leverage to win the release of their commanders from military detention. “For whatever reason, they are looking for leverage because we have some of their commanders with us and they…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition factions disputed the assertion made by Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate for the Nigerian Democratic Congress, regarding potential threats to his life, with the ruling party labeling the claim as unfounded. The Nigerian Democratic Congress, the Obidient Movement Worldwide, and a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party claimed the federal government is targeting opposition leaders and cautioned that it would be accountable if anything were to happen to the former Anambra State governor. The responses came after Obi’s comments in an interview with media figure Chude Jideonwo, where he asserted that the…

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists set fire to a police outpost, a primary healthcare center, and two schools in Logomani, Ngala Local Government Area, Borno State. According to our source, the terrorists recently attacked the community late night, shortly after beginning an assault on the forward operating base in Logomani, in which one soldier was killed. The attackers reportedly scattered residents with intermittent gunfire before torching the facility. Capt. Muhammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer for Headquarters Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin Kai, acknowledged the attack in a statement on Thursday, stating that two gun trucks and some combat enablers…