Author: Chief Editor

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed Manchester United’s progress over the past year after a 2-1 win over Aston Villa took them level on points with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League. A year ago to the day, United lost 2-0 at Arsenal to fall 24 points behind the English champions, having played two games more. Another season contending just for a top-four finish looked in store for Solskjaer’s men after winning only two of their opening six league games. But as all the other contenders have stumbled in recent weeks, the Red Devils have now taken 26 from a…

Harry Kane and Son Heung-min were again Tottenham’s talismen in a 3-0 win over Leeds to kickstart their title challenge on Saturday but a third Premier League game this week was postponed due to coronavirus outbreaks. Burnley’s clash with Fulham, scheduled for Sunday, was called off due to a number of positive cases among the Fulham squad. Fulham’s trip to Tottenham was also postponed just hours before kick-off on Wednesday, to the frustration of Spurs boss Jose Mourinho. But even as his side ended a four-game winless run with a return to form against Leeds, Mourinho also lambasted three of…

The Federal Government has approved a replacement policy for subscribers whose Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) may have been lost, stolen, misplaced or damaged. Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Mr Kayode Adegoke of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), jointly made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. Adinde explained that the policy was part of the government’s efforts to reduce the burden on subscribers and simplify the exercise so as to enable telecommunications services to the public. He said that the Ministerial Task Force, under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Communications…

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has praised the young players in the Super Eagles squad for stepping into the shoes of Victor Moses and Stoke City’s John Obi Mikel. While Moses ended his international career a month after the 2018 World Cup, his former teammate at the Blues, Mikel followed suit a year later after captaining the Super Eagles at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. In addition, Manchester United’s Odion Ighalo is no longer available for selection after quitting the team last year. Rohr highlighted that his young team are on the brink of qualifying for the 2021 AFCON, needing…

Following yesterday’s reported arrest of human rights activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, along other activists allegedly by the police in Abuja, some Nigerians, including his colleagues, have shifted the battle to Twitter, alleging brutalisation of the arrested activists. SaharaReporters reported that Sowore and other activists were arrested while carrying out a peaceful procession to mark the New Year. The activists were almost done with their crossover procession when about seven loaded vans of the Nigerian security forces swooped on them, brutalising everyone at sight. The publication adds that eyewitnesses said police officers suspected to be the Rapid Response…

Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu yesterday re-entered his palace, about two months after a mob forced him to evacuate, during the ENDSARS protests The royal father, whose palace, Iga Idungaran, in Lagos Island was looted and vandalised by rioters, danced into the renovated facility, amid drumming, singing and chant of welcome in Yoruba, as captured in a tweeted video that has gone viral on the internet. The Oba, who wore a nose mask, was obviously performing a traditional rite, as he was guided by some palace chiefs and priests, who were bare-chested, wearing only white skirts.. In the heat of…

A Non-governmental organisation, Cleen Foundation, has stated that sexual exploitation and forced labour are the most prevalent forms of trafficking in persons and forced migration. It added that while an estimate of one in three women experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, which is a common feature of human trafficking, this undermines the health of victims, including sexual and reproductive health consequences, from continuous abortions and sexually transmitted diseases. This was disclosed at its public presentation of findings on the gender audit report of shelters and safe homes in Lagos, with focus on preventing forced migration and trafficking…

The Oyo State Government has warned purveyors of fake news to leave the state or risk sanctions. Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Seyi Makinde, said this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday. The statement was a reaction to some online publications speculating that the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) was burgled last week. The state government however described the report as fake news, stressing that there was no iota of truth to the claim in the story. It admonished newsmen to always seek clarifications from relevant authorities to avoid the…

Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi is now finally free to negotiate with foreign clubs with a view to a summer move. The 33-year-old looked set to leave for Manchester City before the start of the season, only for the Barca board and threat of a legal case to scupper his wishes, but will now be able to broker a switch. It’s the big story on Spain and Marca’s striking front page on New Year’s Day is emblazoned with the headline ‘Messi is free to negotiate’, as one of the biggest transfer sagas in recent history sparks back into life. The start…

• Bemoans President’s Failure To Articulate Specific Economic Recovery Blueprint • CAN Urges FG To Stop Attacking Critics, Address Insecurity • Don’t Be Discouraged By 2020 Challenges, Omo-Agege Tells Nigerians The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, urged Nigerians to urgently rescue the country from collapse on account of the “incompetent, uninspiring and lethargic leadership of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.” It described the President’s New Year address to the nation as “empty and directionless,” insisting that the speech confirmed that Nigeria had become a country without a leader. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party stated…