Author: Vincent Osuwo

Man City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted concerns about the club’s potential failure to qualify for the Champions League amid a worrying drop in form. Speaking ahead of Man City’s Boxing Day clash against Everton, Guardiola emphasised the financial and sporting implications of missing out on Europe’s premier competition. “Financial is an issue, of course it is,” he said, “but it’s not just that. Now we’re at risk, of course we are, definitely. When I said before [this could happen], people laughed. It’s presumptuous: us winning the Premier League,” The Guardian UK quoted him as saying on Thursday. He added,…

A fire incident has reportedly razed the Federal Institute of Industrial Research office in Oshodi, near Cappa Bus Stop, Lagos State. According to reports, men of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, in collaboration with the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), are currently on the ground to contain the incident. Speaking about the cause of the fire, a LASEMA official told Tribune Online that “Investigations are still ongoing to determine what triggered this unfortunate incident.” No casualties have been reported so far, but the inferno has extensively destroyed property worth millions of naira, and rescue operations are still…

President Bola Tinubu has condoled with Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi on the death of his mother, Maryam Namadi.  Maryam passed away on Wednesday, December 25, and was buried in the governor’s hometown, Kafin Hausa, according to Islamic rites. In a statement issued on Thursday by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president paid tribute to the deceased, highlighting her commitment. The President recognised her as a community pillar and urged the family to take comfort in the long-term impact of her good works. “Hajiya Maryam’s life was marked by service to her community, and I…

Betty Akeredolu, widow of Rotimi Akeredolu, the late former governor of Ondo State, has rejected the state government’s planned memorial lecture in his honour.  The lecture, set for Friday in Akure, is part of a series of events marking the first anniversary of Akeredolu’s death on December 27, 2023. The state government announced that famous lawyer Femi Falani (SAN) would deliver the lecture, with Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa serving as chairman of the Akeredolu Leadership Lecture Series. However, Betty Akeredolu took to her X account on Wednesday to disassociate herself and her family from the incident. She accused the state administration…

A Nigerian Air Force airstrike, intended to neutralise Lakurawa terrorists, marred Christmas celebrations in Sokoto State on Wednesday as it inadvertently hit two communities in Silame Local Government Area of the state, killing several residents. This comes as militants attacked a military base in Borno State using armed drones, injuring five servicemen. According to eyewitness accounts, the unintentional bombing at Sokoto killed at least ten villagers and injured several others. The impacted settlements, Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa, are close to the Surame forest, which is a popular hideout for the Lakurawa sect and robbers. Malam Yahya, a resident of Silame, …

No fewer than 35 people are feared dead after an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed on Wednesday in western Kazakhstan. Azerbaijani authorities announced that 32 people survived the Embraer 190 accident near the city of Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the Caspian Sea’s eastern shore. Azerbaijan Airlines said that 67 persons were on board, including 62 passengers and five crew members, and that 35 may have died in the disaster. The plane was flying from Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital on the Caspian Sea’s western bank, to Grozny, Chechnya, in southern Russia. “A plane on the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the…

The Gombe State Police Command confirmed that a tragic accident occurred during a Christmas procession on Wednesday, when an unidentified driver rammed into participants, injuring many near the Women’s Centre, opposite Orji Estate, along the Gombe-Bauchi motorway. The procession is an annual tradition where the Christian community during Christmas, pays homage to the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, and Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya. “I think what happened was an accident. The Sharon vehicle involved was overloaded with grains. On the rooftop, it had bags of grains. To say it’s a massacre means it was a deliberate attempt,” Abdullahi stated.…

Governor Umar Namadi of Jiigawa State confirmed the death of his beloved mother, Hajiya Maryam Namadi Umar, on Wednesday.  According to a statement made by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Hamisu Gumel, Hajiya Maryam Namadi Umar died in the early hours of today. Her death comes as a huge shock, as it coincides with the governor’s official trip to China, where he is working to strengthen economic connections and encourage investment in Jigawa State. The governor’s absence during this deeply personal bereavement calls into question his capacity to attend today’s burial. Despite being gone from home, Namadi expressed his…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has unveiled the Production Monitoring Command Centre, an initiative designed to revolutionise hydrocarbon operations and drive increased production. The initiative, led by NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, aims to improve monitoring, operational efficiency, and production, building on the success of the Command and Control Centre. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., stated that the PMCC aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s policy to increase efficiency and boost production in the industry. A text and video statement were also published on the company’s website on Wednesday. “The PMCC serves as a unified…

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori sent a message of hope, unity, and goodwill to the state’s people on Christmas. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, on Wednesday, the governor emphasised the virtues of love, peace, and harmony. Oborevwori wished all Deltans and Nigerians a joyous Christmas season. “Christmas is not just a time for merriment but a season of reflection and renewal. It reminds us of the boundless love and selflessness Jesus Christ demonstrated during his time on Earth. “As we celebrate this season, I urge all Deltans to embody these virtues in their daily…