Author: Dave Oludare Oso

Chidimma Adetshina, Nigeria’s representative at the 73rd Miss Universe competition, is full of joy after finishing as the first runner-up at the prestigious global pageant held in Mexico on Sunday. The final moments of the prestigious event at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, early Sunday morning, saw an electrifying face-off between Nigeria and Denmark, as the two women stood poised to claim the crown. Ultimately, Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, won the crown, taking over from Miss Universe 2023, Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua. Adetshina expressed excitement and pride in an interview following her success and shared on X.com by…

There are indications of a looming debt crisis as Nigeria’s external debt may rise to $45.1 billion by the end of 2024, with the Federal Government planning to secure additional external funding. This follows a report from the Debt Management Office (DMO), which revealed that the country’s external debt stock increased by $780 million in the second quarter of 2024, growing from $42.12 billion in March to $42.9 billion by June 2024. Last Thursday, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a $2.2 billion external borrowing plan as part of the Federal Government’s 2024 Appropriation Act financing programme. Speaking on the…

Gunmen suspected to be cultists have reportedly killed a soldier and four people at North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State. This dastardly act occurred on Friday night. In the past few weeks the North Bank area of Makurdi has been embroiled in rival cult clashes that has claimed several lives and properties. Eyewitness accounts disclosed that two yet-to-be-identified young men killed on Friday night were not members of any confraternity but victims of rampaging cultists. The chairman of the vigilante group known as Operation Shara in the North Bank, Nura Umar, said that four…

The national security adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, on Friday handed over 58 persons rescued in joint security operations to the Kaduna State government. Per NAN, the NSA handed over the victims to the chief of defence staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, who presented them to representatives of the Kaduna State government. The chief of staff to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Sani Limankila received the rescued victims on behalf of the state government. The CDS said no ransom was paid to secure the victims’ freedom. Gen. Musa said, “The rescue is a result of the combined efforts of the military…

Mexico national football team coach, Javier Aguirre suffered a head injury after being hit by an object late in the quarter-final match from the League of Nations against Honduras on Friday, reports AP. At the end of the match, which Mexico lost 2-0 in San Pedro Sula (Honduras), Aguirre went to congratulate Colombia coach, Reynaldo Rueda when he was hit by an object, apparently a beer can, which cut him and left his head bleeding. “Nothing, it’s just football, the match was difficult, they played better. I don’t need to mention the incident, I’m not one to complain. It’s just…

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Kyiv would like to end the war with Russia next year through “diplomatic means” as both countries prepare for President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House. In an interview with the Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, Zelenskyy said he is certain that the war will end “sooner” than it otherwise would have once Mr. Trump becomes president. “It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House. This is their approach, their promise to their citizens,” Zelenskyy said. The prospect of Trump…

Caroline Leavitt, a 27-year-old former campaign aide for Donald Trump, has been appointed as the new White House press secretary. This makes her the youngest person to hold this position in the history of the United States, unseating Nixon administration’s press secretary Ron Ziegler who was 29 when he served from 1969 to 1974. Leavitt previously served in Trump’s first administration as assistant press secretary and launched a congressional campaign in 2022. The blonde lady was the spokeswoman for his election campaign and endeared herself to Trump with her fiery defence in interviews and her knack for keeping calm. ”I…

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Saturday morning apprehended a suspected vote buyer in the ongoing Ondo governorship election. According to Cable News, the man was nabbed on election day at ward 4, polling unit 007, outside St Stephen’s Primary School, Akure. The report said television footage showed the operatives and passers-by bellowing on the man to open the boot of his Toyota Camry car. Once he did, two ‘Ghana-must-go’ bags were seen sitting pretty.The bags were not opened before the cameras as a mob encircled. The operatives then shoved the man into a white bus and…

The hopes of Ghana to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco were dashed after a 1-1 draw against Angola on Friday. The result ends a streak of continuous AFCON appearances dating back to 2006, marking a major disappointment for the Black Stars. Jordan Ayew provided an early spark for Ghana, delivering a brilliant free kick in the 18th minute that left Angola’s goalkeeper helpless. Ayew’s goal offered a glimmer of hope in what has been a challenging campaign for the Black Stars. Ghana maintained control in the first half, thanks in part to goalkeeper Manaf…

The Nigerian military presented Alice Loksha, who had been a health worker for the UN children’s agency, UNICEF in the northeast of the country to reporters, Thursday at a military base in the northeastern city of Maiduguri. Loksha was taken on March 1, 2018 when fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group staged a deadly raid on a humanitarian camp housing 60,000 displaced people. Three more UNICEF health workers were killed in the attack, along with eight Nigerian soldiers. Loksha was taken along with two Nigerian midwives, Saifura Khorsa and Hauwa Liman, who had been working for…