Author: Chief Editor

The Nigerian government has added South Africa to the list of countries barred from entering the country due to the spread of COVID-19 in their countries. Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who have visited South Africa within 14 days will not be allowed in the country. Secretary to the Nigerian Government and chairman of the Presidential Commission on Combating COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, announced the ban at a press conference held by the committee in Abuja. “A few weeks ago, we announced additional measures to be met by passengers arriving from Brazil, Turkey and India,” Mustapha said. “This action was due…

South Africa’s highest court on Tuesday sentenced ex-president Jacob Zuma to 15 months in jail for failing to appear at a corruption inquiry, as Zuma appeared to run out of options in his battleto escape prosecution. The former leader failed to appear at the inquiry led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo in February, and the inquiry’s lawyers approached the constitutional court to seek an order for his imprisonment. “He has depleted all his (legal) options because there is no higher court to appeal to. The constitutional court is normally the last stop,” Amanda Gouws, a professor of political science…

Calls for equal freedom, rights for all Nigerians The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday accused those he labelled as tribal politicians of working for the disintegration of the country, under different guises. The sultan, in a speech at the Northern House of the Representatives Caucus retreat on the Petroleum Industry Bill, said in Abuja that they were promoting divisive agenda despite the fact that the country was passing through multiple challenges and the government trying its best to improve the situation. He added that Nigerians must enjoy equal freedom and equal rights to live peacefully and pursue…

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the federal government is encouraged by the resilience and innovation of young Nigerians across different sectors and is committed to doing more to support their growth and prosperity. He spoke yesterday in Abuja, at the 4th National MSME Awards, which was the climax of a week-long celebration of excellence, hard work and innovation in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector in Nigeria. Twelve MSMEs won awards in different categories, while Gombe State was recognised as the best state in the ease of doing business rankings. Osinbajo, who reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment…

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo said on Monday he was “proud” of holders Portugal’s efforts despite bowing out of Euro 2020 after the weekend’s 1-0 last 16 loss to Belgium. “We did not get the result we wanted and we leave the competition sooner than expected,” the 36-year-old Juventus star and five-time Ballon d’or winner admitted as his side failed to match their 2016 exploits. “But we are proud of our showing. We did everything we could to retain the title of European champions and this group proved it could still give the Portuguese people much joy,” the former Manchester United and…

England captain Harry Kane will wear a rainbow armband in support of the LGBTQ communities during Tuesday’s Euro 2020 last-16 tie against Germany. It will be the first time Tottenham striker Kane will wear the rainbow armband while playing for England. Germany skipper Manuel Neuer has worn the rainbow armband in every match his side have played in June in honour of Pride Month. The goalkeeper first wore the rainbow armband against Latvia on June 7 and then during his country’s three group matches against France, Portugal and Hungary. UEFA investigated whether it could be viewed as a political statement…

Kogi State Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, has restated his faith and commitment to the unity of Nigeria, saying the country can never disintegrate. Bello said this at the Abia Government House, Umuahia when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. Bello, who was in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, for a burial ceremony of the mother of one of his friends, Chief Emenike Ugochi, paid a courtesy call on his colleague in the spirit of brotherliness. “I have always maintained this position that Nigeria can never divide; we can have differences, skirmishes here and there which by the…

The efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to reclaim old grazing routes for herdsmen may be hampered by the building of roads, hospitals, schools and other public utilities on the ways carved out for feeding cattle in the 1950s, THISDAY investigation has revealed. Contrary to the clamour for an end to open grazing and the need to adopt modern ranching techniques to curb incessant clashes with farmers, Buhari has insisted that the federal government will reclaim the old grazing routes for free movement of herders. However, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed that the grazing routes have been taken over, over the…

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the forthcoming election in Anambra State, Mr. Obiora Emmanuel Agbasimalo, has rallied the people of the state to vote for his party, as the party has concluded plans to finally address the foundational challenges in the state. He added that he and his party have developed strategies to use the abundant human and non-human resources in the state to industrialise Anambra and make it the envy of other states. According to him, “I would effectively harness all the state’s resources to create a well-structured entity with strong institutions; a state where…

Portugal coach Fernando Santos said his players were crying in the changing room after their “unfair” 1-0 defeat by Belgium at Euro 2020 on Sunday. Thorgan Hazard’s swerving shot from 30 yards proved the winner in Seville, where Belgium contained Cristiano Ronaldo and knocked out the reigning champions to book a quarter-final with Italy on Friday. “I think it’s an unfair result but they scored and we didn’t,” said Santos after the game. “They had six shots, one on target. We had 29 and couldn’t score even once. They had a shot from nothing. “We came back and thought we…