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Russia downs 77 Ukrainian drones overnight 
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:54:42 +0000

Russia downed 77 Ukrainian drones overnight, its defence ministry said Thursday, two days after Kyiv carried out its largest direct strike on Moscow during the three-year war. Thirty drones were intercepted and destroyed over the western Bryansk region bordering Ukraine while 25 more were downed over Kaluga, the ministry said in a statement. More drones

PDP alleges N200m bribery as four lawmakers defect to APC
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:25:26 +0000

The Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that four members of the Edo State House of Assembly received N200m each as inducement to defect to the All Progressives Congress. The lawmakers— Donald Okugbe (Akoko Edo Constituency II), Bright Iyamu (Orhionmwon South Constituency II), Richard Edosa (Oredo West Constituency), and Sunday Ojezele (Esan South East)—on Wednesday officially

Kenyan firm denies stopping late Nigerian TikToker from travelling home
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:18:01 +0000

A subcontractor for TikTok, Teleperformance Kenya, has denied claims that it barred a Nigerian content moderator, Ladi Olubunmi, from travelling to Nigeria before her death. PUNCH Metro learnt from ABC News on Wednesday that Olubunmi’s decomposing body was discovered in her apartment last week, three days after she had allegedly died. The company told The

Lassa fever: FG tracks 357 suspected patients after UK returnee’s death
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:17:15 +0000

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has listed 357 persons for follow-up over the possibility of being infected with Lassa fever, The PUNCH reports. This is following the death of a 31-year-old physician who returned from the United Kingdom on February 27, 2025, and died of Lassa fever on March 1, 2025. The

‘Gangs of Lagos’ producers to apologise over Eyo portrayal
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 03:39:20 +0000

The Isale Eko Descendants Union has expressed satisfaction with the court ruling ordering producers of the movie ‘Gangs of Lagos’ to apologise to the union for how Eyo masquerade was portrayed in the popular movie. A Lagos high court approved the settlement terms between the IDU and the producers of  the movie over the controversial

Dangote refinery loses N32bn after petrol price cut
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 04:53:56 +0000

The Dangote oil refinery will lose up to N32.5bn from 500 million litres stock of premium motor spirit following the recent price cut, The PUNCH reports. A few days before the refinery announced a price slash, the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had told newsmen that the refinery had over 500 million

Protesters barricade East-West road as herdsmen cut off man’s hand in Delta
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 04:40:39 +0000

Aggrieved people of the Uduophori community in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State on Tuesday barricaded the East-West road in protest against the amputation of a 28-year-old resident by suspected killer herdsmen said to have besieged the locality. For several hours, the protesters halted vehicular movement from Bomadi and other neighbouring coastal communities as

32 convicted of internet fraud in Oyo
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 04:37:12 +0000

No fewer than 32 individuals have been convicted of Internet fraud by various courts in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The convicts were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zonal Directorate, on separate one-count charges bordering on impersonation and cyber-related offences. Delivering judgments on Wednesday, Justices Ladiran Akintola, O.S. Adeyemi, K.B. Olawoyin,

Northern Nigeria enjoying 52% of ongoing road construction – Umahi
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 03:38:17 +0000

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that 52 per cent of the ongoing road construction projects initiated by the current administration are concentrated in Northern Nigeria. He commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the necessary funding and providing leadership for the construction of the 1,068km Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway. He made this statement during

Atalanta raise Lookman asking price
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 03:36:15 +0000

Italian Serie A club Atalanta have increased their asking price for Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman from €50m to €60m amid growing interest from Juventus and other suitors following his stellar performance in their recent encounter. The reigning African Footballer of the Year played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s emphatic 4-0 victory over the Turin

2,056 athletes to participate in MTN Champs season 3
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:17:22 +0000

The founder and Chief Executive Officer, Making of Champions, Bambo Akani, on Wednesday, said that 2,056 athletes have registered to participate in the MTN Champs Season 3 in Benin. Akani, who disclosed this during a media briefing to herald the three-day track championship in Benin, said that Season 1 of the competition also took place

Onyedika’s exit ends Nigerians’ UCL quest
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:16:20 +0000

Nigeria’s last representative in this season’s Champions League crashed out on Wednesday night as Raphael Onyedika and Club Brugge suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park, crashing out 6-1 on aggregate at the round of 16 stage. The Belgian champions’ fate was effectively sealed after just 17 minutes when defender Kyriani

Pinnick loses seat on FIFA council
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:14:18 +0000

Former president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has lost his seat on the FIFA Council after falling short by just one vote during elections held at the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football in Cairo, Egypt. Pinnick, who was seeking re-election to the 37-member FIFA Council, garnered 28

Senior team debut call-up thrills Bankole
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:08:28 +0000

Super Eagles and Remo Stars goalkeeper, Kayode Bankole, has expressed delight after being included in Eric Chelle’s final 23-man squad for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The 22-year-old NPFL standout was named alongside Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali and Singida Black Stars’ Amas Obasogie as one of three goalkeepers selected

Playing at 2026 W’Cup our priority — Osimhen
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:07:20 +0000

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has declared that qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is a top priority for the Nigerian national team as they look to avoid missing out on consecutive editions of the global showpiece. “Playing at the World Cup is a priority and we must make it happen this time around,” the

Introducing Chelle’s newest Eagles
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:06:32 +0000

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle released the final 23-man list for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday, with four potential debutants. ABIODUN ADEWALE profiles the new players ahead of the clash against Rwanda and Zimbabwe Tolu Arokodare (Genk) Genk striker Arokodare finally gets his call-up in his best season in Europe, where he

Netflix bids for potential Joshua vs Fury rights
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:05:30 +0000

Streaming giant Netflix has entered the bidding war for broadcast rights to the potential heavyweight showdown between British boxers Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, as the fight that fans have anticipated for years edges closer to reality.  The platform, with its massive global subscriber base of over 300 million, is reportedly willing to pay a

Aruna crashes out after devastating loss at WTT tourney
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:04:52 +0000

Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna has crashed out of the WTT Champions Chongqing 2025 after suffering a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to world number two Wang Chuqin of China in their round of 32 clash on Wednesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.  The Nigerian, currently ranked 19th in the world, was overwhelmed by his Chinese opponent

ECOWAS @ 50: Triumphs, trials, fight for regional unity
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:59:38 +0000

As the Economic Community of West African States marks its 50th anniversary, GIFT HABIB reflects on its journey from an economic union to a regional powerhouse, navigating both triumphs and trials in its quest for unity and integration Almost fifty years ago, on May 28, 1975, the Economic Community of West African States was birthed,

Motsepe re-elected for second term as CAF president
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:57:19 +0000

South African mining magnate Dr Patrice Motsepe has been re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term as president of the Confederation of African Football at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo on Wednesday where FIFA president Gianni Infantino was in attendance. The 63-year-old, who has been at the helm of CAF since 2021,

Bank wins appeal in $2m loan dispute
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:42:26 +0000

The Court of Appeal Lagos Division has ruled in favour of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, overturning a Federal High Court judgment in a dispute over a $2m loan granted to Origin Oil and Gas Limited. In a unanimous decision, the appellate court allowed Union Bank’s appeal and set aside the lower court’s ruling.  Justice

El-Rufai: Benue gov, ex-minister deny SDP defection move
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:40:06 +0000

Amid speculation of political realignments ahead of 2027 general elections, Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and a former Minister of State for Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, have denied reports suggesting they are set to defect to the Social Democratic Party alongside former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. The rumors gained traction after a viral video

Explosion: Technician, three others killed in Lagos mechanic village
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:33:30 +0000

At least, four persons, including an auto technician named Rotimi Adeleye, lost their lives, and over 16 vehicles were burnt in a tanker explosion on Tuesday night at the Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. While some residents and shop owners claimed that emergency responders recovered more than 10 bodies on Wednesday, others confirmed that

Examining military’s onslaught against oil theft in Niger Delta
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:28:19 +0000

DELE OGUNYEMI examines the military’s renewed crackdown on Niger Delta oil theft and illegal refineries to boost crude production to between 2.5 and 3 million barrels daily and strengthen the economy In a renewed push against crude oil theft, the Nigerian military forces have intensified action to ensure a crackdown on all illegal refining sites

NIWA Lagos Manager wins award
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:27:05 +0000

The Lagos Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Sarat Braimah, has won the Most Influential Woman Award organised by the Commonwealth Business Women Africa. In a statement on Tuesday, the organisers stated that the award was in recognition of her immense contributions to the maritime sector. According to the statement, the award also

Maritime group unveils digitalised cooperative society for women
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:26:04 +0000

A maritime non-profit organisation, MMS Woman of Fame Hall of Fame Initiative, has unveiled a digitalised corporate society to empower women. In a statement on Wednesday, the founder of the MMS WoFHoF, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, expressed optimism that MMS Multi-purpose Corporative Society “would enable women to access affordable basic human needs products and service experience.”

NIWA boasts waterways safety with new buoys
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:25:02 +0000

Determined to enhance navigational safety on the nation’s waterways, the National Inland Waterways Authority said it has laid water buoys from Gbajibo in Niger State to Gbajibo-Mundi in Kwara State. NIWA announced in a statement on Tuesday signed by its spokesperson, Suleiman Makama. Makama explained that the number of buoys used was 10 red and

LASWA removes dredging pipe on Lagos waterways
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:24:01 +0000

Determined to ensure safety on Lagos waterways, the Lagos State Waterways Authority said it has removed a dangerously installed dredging pipe. LASWA, in a statement on Wednesday by its Public Affairs Unit, added that the pipe posed a significant threat to ferry operators and waterway users along the power line en route to the Ikorodu

Dessers unfazed by Nigeria snub
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:23:35 +0000

Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers remains undeterred despite being overlooked for the Super Eagles’ upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The 30-year-old forward, who has contributed 10 goals and three assists in his last 13 games for the Scottish giants, was surprisingly left out of coach Eric Chelle’s final 23-man

Customs train stakeholders in automated transire processes
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:23:25 +0000

The Nigeria Customs Service has commenced training and sensitisation for officers and stakeholders in Zone A on its new Automated Transire Process. The service added that the training and port stakeholders’ engagement, which took place at the Apapa Customs Command, is expected to reduce cargo clearance time, minimise opportunities for human contact and corruption, and