Author: Damilola Olufemi

A new travel ban imposed by the United States of America’s President Donald Trump took effect at midnight on Monday, barring entry into the United States for citizens from 12 countries. The order marks a return to one of Trump’s most polarising policies from his first term, the BBC reports. The latest restrictions target nations such as Iran, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Libya—countries grappling with conflict or tense relations with Washington. Others affected include Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. In addition, the U.S. government has placed partial restrictions on travellers from six more countries: Burundi, Cuba,…

Maryam Abacha, wife of the late Nigerian military ruler General Sani Abacha, has strongly denied allegations that her husband looted the nation’s wealth, insisting instead that he saved money for Nigeria—funds she says vanished after his death. In an interview with TVC, the former first lady challenged the longstanding narrative surrounding Abacha’s financial dealings while in power from 1993 until his death in 1998. “Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed?” she asked. “Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad? And the money that my husband kept for Nigeria, in…

A tragic incident occurred during the UEFA Nations League final between Portugal and Spain in Munich on Sunday, as a fan died after falling from the stands, UEFA has confirmed to AFP’s German subsidiary, SID. The incident happened during the first half of extra time, when the individual fell from the middle tier of the stadium down into the press area located below. Emergency responders, including paramedics and police, quickly arrived at the scene to assist. UEFA later released a statement describing the incident as a “medical emergency,” confirming that a spectator had “sadly” passed away during the match. Following…

Portugal clinched their second UEFA Nations League title on Sunday night in Munich after a dramatic 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Spain, following a 2-2 draw in regular and extra time. Rúben Neves scored the decisive penalty, sealing the win after Spain’s Álvaro Morata saw his effort saved by Diogo Costa. It was a historic moment, marking just Portugal’s second competitive win over their Iberian rivals. The match saw Portugal come from behind twice. Spain took the lead in the 21st minute through Martín Zubimendi, who capitalised on slack Portuguese defending to smash the ball into the net after a…

The Ojude Oba Festival is a vibrant cultural spectacle celebrated annually by the Ijebu people in Ogun State, Nigeria. Regarded as one of the country’s most prominent cultural events, the festival blends tradition, religion, pageantry, and community pride. “Ojude Oba,” meaning “The King’s Court,” began as a simple gesture by Ijebu Muslims in the 19th century, who would gather shortly after Eid-el-Kabir to pay homage to their traditional ruler, the Awujale of Ijebuland. What started as a modest act of reverence has evolved into a nationally and internationally recognised event, drawing participants and spectators from across Nigeria and beyond. Under…

A fire broke out at a hotel housing 484 Nigerian pilgrims in Mecca on Saturday, according to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). The incident occurred around noon local time on Shari Mansur Street, however, no casualties were recorded. In a statement released by NAHCON spokesperson, Fatima Sanda Usara, the blaze was quickly brought under control thanks to the swift intervention of Saudi emergency services and the hotel management. All the affected pilgrims have since been relocated safely to Mina. “Thanks to the prompt response from Saudi authorities and hotel staff, the fire was swiftly contained, preventing further damage…

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has revealed that Nigeria lost approximately $450 million to petroleum subsidy fraud under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) between 2006 and 2012. In his new book, The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud, Bawa chronicles the extensive corruption that plagued the subsidy regime. He was a central figure in the EFCC team that investigated the fraud before becoming the agency’s chairman in February 2021. He served in that role until June 2023, when he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu. “Our investigations revealed that,…

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reacted to the deliberation of a single-term tenure for political office holders in Nigeria, proposing a five- or six-year term in place of the current two-term limit of four years each. Makinde, who is now in his second term, argued that a single, longer term would allow leaders to focus fully on governance without the distractions of re-election campaigns. The governor made these remarks on Friday at his Ikolaba residence in Ibadan while receiving Muslim leaders and political stakeholders after Eid-el-Kabir prayers. “I’ve spent six years in office, but when you think about it, 2020…

Cristiano Ronaldo has weighed in on the Ballon d’Or debate, suggesting that the prestigious award should go to a player who has helped their team win the UEFA Champions League. Speaking at a press conference in Munich ahead of the Nations League final between Portugal and Spain, the 40-year-old star emphasised the importance of team success in deciding individual honours. “In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d’Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League,” Ronaldo told reporters on Saturday. The Ballon d’Or, presented by…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw with Russia in a spirited international friendly at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Russia went ahead in the first half after a defensive miscue saw Nigerian centre-back Semi Ajayi inadvertently score an own goal. Russia hosted the Super Eagles on Friday evening, marking the first senior-level encounter between the two countries. Though a friendly on paper, the match shaped up to be a high-stakes encounter for both sides, navigating very different footballing landscapes. Despite the early blow, the opening half remained tightly contested, with both sides creating chances in an…