Author: Chief Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to go beyond his sympathy visit to Borno State and take decisive steps to end the killings in that state and other parts of the country. The party said the reaction of residents when the President visited on Wednesday was a clear message that Nigerians hold him responsible on the security of lives and properties in the country. In a statement on Wednesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the booing of the President also showed a loss of confidence in his administration and the…

MORE Houses of Assembly in the Southwest on Wednesday got the drafts of the Bill on Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Operation Amotekun. The drafts were transmitted by the executive arms in Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti states for legistive works and passage. The Osun State government, on Tuesday, sent the e-version of the bill to Speaker Sunday Owoeye, who promised that the memo would be given expedition consideration. The Ondo State Executive Council approved  the bill of the State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps at its meeting yesterday. It was learnt that the Council, in an exhaustive session, considered…

Olusegun Adeniyi According to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) statistics, there was a 94 per cent increase in the hacking and destruction of pipeline infrastructure across the country in November 2019. This report is coming at a time when Boko Haram insurgents are continuing to wreak havocs in the North-east, bandits are gradually seizing control in the Northwest and armed robbers and kidnappers are on the prowl in other parts of the country. To retrieve our country from these criminal gangs will require a unity of purpose that is in short supply, with the country sharply divided along ethno-religious lines.…

The six-year-old report of the Justice Idris Kutigi-led Constitutional Conference and the report of the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai-led Committee on Restructuring will form part of the documents to guide the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review in executing its mandate, the Chairman of the committee and Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has said. The outcome of the 2014 constitutional conference, which was forwarded to the National Assembly by the then President Goodluck Jonathan was never considered during the Seventh and Eighth Senate. The Ninth Senate is now ready to examine the report with a…

The Senate wednesday gave its support to the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari. It, therefore, lauded the on-going forensic auditing being carried out on the accounts of the agency by the executive arm of government which stopped the 15-man board of the Commission screened and approved by the Senate last November. The Senate had last December when President Buhari forwarded the 2019 budget of the agency for approval, ordered its committee to accord recognition to the approved board members for that purpose and not Interim Management Committee (IMC). President Buhari, while…

Mauricio Pochettino said he would “love” to work in the Premier League again as the former Tottenham manager continues to be linked with Manchester United. Pochettino led Tottenham to the Champions League final last season but was sacked in November and replaced by Jose Mourinho. Barcelona emerged as a possible destination for Pochettino until the LaLiga champions turned to Quique Setien, however, links to United refuse to subside. Pochettino is reportedly keen on the United job as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struggles at Old Trafford, where the Red Devils are eighth and six points adrift of the top four.…

In what came as heartbreaking news for both the Barcelona and France Football faithful, Ousmane Dembele has picked up a terrible hamstring injury which could see him out of action for approximately six months. The French prodigy’s spell at the Nou Camp has been marred by injuries and misfortune so far after a big-money move from Signal Iduna Park. Dembele picked up an injury of a similar nature in 2017 which led to him being out of action for 3-4 months. Lasse Lempainen, the Finnish doctor who oversaw Dembele’s surgery and rehabilitation at the time, has spoken of the latest injury picked up by the World…

Former Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre says he doesn’t know if Lionel Messi will renew his contract at the Nou Camp amid a cloud of uncertainty over the future of the club captain. There has been a lot of speculation regarding whether or not the 6-time Ballon d’Or winner could actually part ways with the Catalan giants. Messi’s current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2021 and over this, he reportedly has a clause in his contract which enables him to walk away at the end of any season. Speaking to Cope and Radio MARCA about Messi’s situation, Mestre said, “I have no idea whether he’ll…

Chelsea have agreed a deal for AFC Ajax forward Hakim Ziyech for a reported fee of €45 million, according to De Telegraaf. Frank Lampard, whose side have supposedly reached an ‘oral agreement’ with the Dutch giants, is desperate to land one of his long-standing targets as soon as the summer transfer window opens. Ziyech, 26, has emerged as one of the best creative midfielders across Europe in the last 24 months or so, playing a key role in Ajax’s Champions League and domestic success last season. Since 2017/18, the Moroccan has recorded 36 goals and added 47 assists in 98 outings for his club. …

•Blames state govts for insecurity As part of moves to halt an impending strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over its standoff with the federal government on the non-implementation of the February 2009 agreement and government’s insistence that the union members must enroll on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), leaders of the union and the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, have commenced fresh talks, THISDAY has learnt. The union has also accused the federal government of plotting to embark on what it called the “dilution” of the academic ranks of its members,…