Author: Chief Editor

Barcelona was moving closer to appointing Xavi Hernandez on Thursday after the club sacked Ronald Koeman as coach. A 1-0 defeat by Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday left Barca ninth in La Liga, six points off the top four after winning only two of their last seven league games. Koeman’s dismissal was confirmed almost three hours after full-time, with club president Joan Laporta reportedly flying to Qatar on Thursday morning to finalise an agreement with Xavi. Xavi, Barcelona’s legendary former midfielder who won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with them as a player, left in 2015 for Al…

Barcelona is looking for a new coach after they sacked Ronald Koeman with the Spanish giants ninth in La Liga and third in their Champions League group. A dire financial situation has hung over the club in recent months, causing Lionel Messi to join Paris Saint-Germain in August. Barcelona are 1.35 billion euros in debt. Any successor would have to work within those economic constraints, bring back a more attractive style of football and significantly improve results. Most importantly, Barcelona president Joan Laporta will want to see greater assurances that the team will finish in La Liga’s top four. Failing…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says preparations have been concluded to start massive surveillance on drug hawkers in Kaduna State. Kaduna State Coordinator of the agency, Mr Nasiru Mato disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna. Mato said that drug hawking was of major concern to NAFDAC and the state. He said that the complete ban of drug hawking was still in force and all medicines must be kept at the appropriate temperature as prescribed by the manufacturer to achieve the desired efficacy, potency and…

The World Bank said Wednesday it has suspended aid to Sudan following the military takeover that deposed the prime minister. “I am greatly concerned by recent events in Sudan, and I fear the dramatic impact this can have on the country’s social and economic recovery and development,” World Bank President David Malpass said in a statement. It was the latest blow to the impoverished African nation that had just won its way back into good standing with major Washington-based development lenders after years in the wilderness. The military on Monday seized Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and briefly detained him in…

The federal government has expanded over N45 billion on various social intervention programmes in Katsina State to assuage the plight of vulnerable people in the state. The state Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, disclosed this yesterday when he inaugurated the Katsina State Health Workers’ Plaza and Guest House built by the state Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN). He explained that the social intervention programmes introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari had significantly tackled vulnerability and supported the most vulnerable families in the northern region of the country. According to him, “Going by our culture and tradition in the northern…

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has clarified that the impending state awards to be conferred on former Governors Ayodele Fayose, Niyi Adebayo, Segun Oni and 45 others, including a legal Icon, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has no political undertone. Justifying that the 48 awardees were picked on merit, Fayemi said the illustrious Ekiti indigenes were deemed fit for their contributions to the state’s development in all facets. Fayemi, who spoke through the Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Ayodele Jinadu, revealed this on Wednesday at a press conference heralding the maiden edition of a state honour tagged ‘Oni Uyi…

• 1,436 pupils, 17 teachers abducted from schools between Dec 2020 and Oct 2021 • 300 children call on world leaders to protect schools from attacks • Buhari pledges to end attacks on education • Issues of child rights, curriculum review, staff development top agenda at conference President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that the persistent attacks on educational facilities and abductions of students and teachers have left more than 12 million children currently traumatised and afraid of going to school, especially the girl-child. This is just as children are making a series of demands to world leaders, including requesting they deny armies access to schools and ensure paths to schools are…

The African Union said Wednesday it had suspended Sudan until civilian rule in the country is restored, saying it rejected the military takeover as an “unconstitutional” seizure of power. The continent-wide bloc said it “strongly condemns the seizure of power” and was suspending Sudan from all AU activities “until the effective restoration of the civilian-led transitional authority”. Sudanese General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Monday ordered the dissolution of the government and declared a state of emergency, sparking widespread international condemnation. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was placed under military arrest, along with his ministers and civilian members of Sudan’s ruling council,…

The National Security Adviser, retired Major General Babagana Monguno, has said those planning to destabilise the Anambra State Governorship election schedule to hold on November 6, should have a rethink. The security adviser, who said this during the general security appraisal committee meeting with services chiefs and heads of other agencies, assured that the security agencies would ensure that the people of Anambra State elect their next governor without any rancour Mungono also warned all security operatives to apply self-restraint in the face of provocation. He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari has been briefed on efforts to ensure a peaceful…

NIGERIAN fans have questioned the desire of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation to bring back striker Odion Ighalo to the Super Eagles. Ighalo quit the Eagles two years ago, after leading the team to a third-place finish at the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt, emerging as tournament top scorer with five goals. Pinnick, who visited England-based Super Eagles players, said stated on Instagram on Monday that he had appealed to Ighalo to reconsider his decision to quit the national team. “I had a long conversation with Odion Ighalo, personally I believe we need experience in our…