THE vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Datti Baba-Ahmed, says if he and Peter Obi are elected into office in February, their administration will take sports, especially football, seriously. Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, were knocked out of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon in 2022 and failed to make it to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losing the spot to Ghana. Baba-Ahmed spoke during an appearance alongside the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on The Peoples Townhall, a live event organised by Channels Television and its partners on Sunday. He said they would…
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THE Edo State Police Command has revealed that the gunmen, who invaded the Train station in the State on Saturday, have started making contacts with families of some of the kidnap victims. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chidi Nwabuzor, disclosed that a family of one of the kidnap victims was at a Police Station to report that the kidnappers contacted them to pick up some of their relatives that were earlier kidnapped. He stated that though, on getting to the said place and waiting for several hours, the family members did not receive their loved ones as said…
FORMER military president, General Ibrahim Babangida IBB has travelled to Germany, our correspondent gathered yesterday. It was learnt that IBB travelled yesterday with his second son, Aminu and a security aide and will return after the general elections. It was also learnt that the former leader took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja with all his other children at the airport to bid him farewell. A close family source told LEADERSHIP that IBB had sought to travel as usual to evade any controversy ahead of the general elections and also undertake his usual medical checks. The source said; “His…
Man City 4 vs Chelsea 0 MANCHESTER City cruised into the FA Cup fourth round with a routine victory over a desperately poor Chelsea at Etihad Stadium. This was a far cry from what has traditionally been a hugely competitive meeting between two Premier League giants as City wrapped up a tie with either Oxford United or Arsenal in the next round by the interval. City’s win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday was hard-fought but this was a stroll, Riyad Mahrez setting them on their way with a brilliant 23rd-minute free-kick before World Cup winner Julian Alvarez scored…
CAMEROON’s Under-17s face a race against time to field a team for regional African Cup of Nations qualifiers after more players failed age tests ordered by Samuel Eto’o, president of the country’s governing body, Fecafoot. The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker’s insistence on using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) screening saw the squad ravaged at their training camp in Mbankomo, on the outskirt of Yaounde. Of the initial 30-member group, 28 failed the tests. But News Point Nigeria now understands Cameroon have suffered a fresh setback as 15 new players also failed tests on Tuesday making the number 43, with…
FORMER Belgium manager Roberto Martinez is on the brink of becoming the new boss of Portugal. The Spaniard has been in talks to replace Fernando Santos, who stood down as manager after Portugal’s quarter-final loss to Morocco at the World Cup. Martinez also left his role with Belgium following the team’s group-stage exit in Qatar. The former Everton and Wigan manager was appointed in 2016 and was out of contract after the World Cup. Belgium, who claimed third place in 2018, went into the tournament as the world’s second-ranked team by Fifa. Listen on Sounds banner.
ON 6th of January, 2023, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, along side Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Engr.Sulaiman H. Adamu formally flagged off a multi-billion Naira water project in a bid to end the age-long water supply challenges in Gombe Metropolis and environs. The project commenced with the signing of memorandum of understanding between Gombe State Government and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in August 2021. The physical implementation of the project commenced with the award of contract in May 2022 to Jidadu Ventures Nigeria Limited at the total contract sum of 11.492 billion naira and engineering consultancy services to…
ATTEMPTS by elements of Organised Criminal Groups to use various disingenuous modes of concealment to import consignments of illicit substances into Nigeria and export same to the United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirate through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja and Tincan seaport in Lagos have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. No less than 37.5 kilograms of such illicit consignments were intercepted in the past week, with the arrest of 11 suspects in interdiction operations that led to the seizure of almost four tons of skunk in Kaduna, Kano and Lagos state.…
ANTHONY and Danielle Wilson awoke at their Essex home to find their Range Rover had vanished. The vehicle was later found loaded on a container at a UK port bound for the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa. The Wilsons’ experience, police warn, is becoming increasingly common. It took thieves just 63 seconds to steal the Wilsons’ Range Rover Sport from their gated home in a village near Bishop’s Stortford. The theft was caught on the family’s CCTV system. It shows two people involved – one stealing the Wilsons’ car and another driving the vehicle they arrived in. “You…
MALI’s junta leader has pardoned 49 Ivorian soldiers arrested in July and accused of conspiring against the Malian government, the presidency said in a statement on Friday. The soldiers’ arrest sparked a diplomatic dispute between Mali and neighbouring Ivory Coast, and widespread condemnation from regional leaders against a country already at odds with the international community. They were arrested at the airport in Mali’s capital Bamako last July. Malian authorities said the troops were acting as mercenaries, while Ivory Coast said they were part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali. Three who were women were later released, while…
WIKIPEDIA’s parent company has denied claims the Saudi government infiltrated its team in the Middle East. Two international human rights groups said Saudi officials had altered or deleted content on the website. The claims came after Wikimedia carried out its own investigation and suspended 16 users for “conflict of interest” editing in the Middle East. Wikimedia said “material inaccuracies” had been published but no evidence of Saudi infiltration was found. Wikipedia relies on teams of volunteer administrators and editors for its content. A statement by Smex and Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn) accused the Saudi government of using…
ANA Montes – among the best-known Cold War spies caught by the US – has been released from prison after more than 20 years in custody. The 65-year-old spent almost two decades spying for Cuba while employed as an analyst at the Defence Intelligence Agency. After her arrest in 2001, officials said she had almost entirely exposed US intelligence operations on the island. One official said she was among “the most damaging spies” caught by the US. Michelle Van Cleave, who was head of counter-intelligence under President George W Bush, told Congress in 2012 that Montes had “compromised everything -…
THE Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment said the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) can’t just go on strike without notifying the ministry. The spokesperson for the ministry, Olajide Oshundun, made this known in an interview with journslists in Abuja on Saturday. Oshundun, said, “Normally, they are to notify the ministry but I don’t think they have done that. However, they have a national body they report to, so they will take care of the matter. They can’t just decide to go on strike, there is a process to it.” The Petroleum Tankers Drivers, a branch…
THERE were giant-killings, late goals and much more to savour as the FA Cup third round continued apace on Saturday. Championship sides Blackpool, Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday all knocked out Premier League opposition, while National League Wrexham produced what may prove to be the shock of the round by defeating Coventry of the Championship in a thrilling tie. Elsewhere, non-league Chesterfield were denied a famous win by a late West Bromwich Albion equaliser, and World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister enjoyed a sparkling cameo on his second Brighton appearance since returning from Qatar. Newcastle have enjoyed an outstanding campaign so…
BURNLEY and Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst has emerged as a surprise loan target for Manchester United. Weghorst is currently on loan at Besiktas in Turkey, where he has scored eight goals in 16 appearances. The 30-year-old’s latest came in a 2-1 win against Kasimpasa on Saturday, after which he appeared to wave goodbye to Besiktas’ fans. It is understood there is no break clause in the loan from Burnley, so talks would involve all three clubs. Erik ten Hag has made no secret of his desire to bring in striking reinforcements following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the United…
REAL Madrid slipped to just a second La Liga defeat of the season as they missed the chance to go back to the top of the table by losing at Villarreal. Yeremy Pino put the hosts ahead but a dubious handball call against Juan Foyth allowed Karim Benzema to level. Foyth then won a penalty of his own at the other end as David Alaba handled and Gerard Moreno slotted the winner. Real remain second, level on points with leaders Barcelona, who visit Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Villarreal climb to fifth after a deserved third successive win, having created the…
JUVENTUS edged past Udinese to secure an eighth consecutive Serie A victory and move second in the table. Brazil international Danilo scored the only goal four minutes from time, tapping in from close range following Federico Chiesa’s cutback. Massimiliano Allegri’s men face a huge match on Friday away at Napoli, who are four points clear at the top. Inter Milan lie in fourth place, seven points adrift of Napoli, after being held to a 2-2 draw at Monza. Former Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian scored the opener before Patrick Ciurria equalised for the hosts. Argentine World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez…
TWO men have been hanged in Iran for allegedly killing a member of the military during nationwide protests. Mohammad Mahdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini were found guilty of “corruption on earth” over their alleged involvement in the death of a paramilitary officer. Human rights groups have denounced what they described as a “sham” trial. The family of 22-year-old Mr Karami say they were not permitted to meet him before he was killed. Prosecutors claimed paramilitary officer Ruhollah Ajamian was stripped naked and killed by a group of mourners paying their respects to a recently-killed protester. Protests against Iran’s clerical…
A SIX-year-old boy opened fire in an elementary school classroom in the eastern US state of Virginia on Friday, seriously injuring a teacher, police said. No students were hurt in the incident at Richneck Elementary School in the coastal city of Newport News. “The individual is a six-year-old student. He is right now in police custody,” local police chief Steve Drew told a news conference, adding that “this was not an accidental shooting.” Police said that the victim was a teacher in her 30s and her injuries were believed to be life-threatening. “I’m in shock, and I’m disheartened,” said the…
DIDIER Deschamps said on Saturday he will remain France coach until the 2026 World Cup after leading the team to the final of the last two editions. Deschamps’ contract expired after the World Cup in Qatar where defending champions France lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout after a thrilling final on December 18. It had been reported that French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet only wanted to give Deschamps a two-year extension until the 2024 European Championship but the 54-year-old coach had insisted on staying in charge until the next World Cup in the United States, Canada…