Author: Gbenga Oluranti Olaleye

Frustrations are running high among Nigeria’s Super Eagles as players express their desire to return home following a harrowing travel ordeal. The team, which arrived in Libya for the second leg of their AFCON qualifiers against Libya, faced significant delays after being diverted from their intended destination of Benghazi to Al Abaq. Stranded at the airport for over 15 hours, the players have voiced their concerns on social media, with many indicating they no longer wish to participate in the upcoming match. Victor Boniface captured the sentiments of his teammates when he tweeted, “This is getting scary now. You guys…

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pulled the Super Eagles out of Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya, following a frustrating 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport. The Nigerian delegation, en route to Benghazi for the crucial match, encountered unexpected difficulties when their chartered aircraft was diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport primarily used for hajj operations. Upon arrival, the team was left stranded without assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to arrange any transportation. In a statement released on Monday, the NFF explained that the Super Eagles were stuck in…

The House of Representatives has taken initial steps to provide free internet services in selected public places throughout Nigeria. This move is designed to bridge the digital divide and ensure that more Nigerians have access to essential online resources and information. The proposal addresses growing concerns over disparities in internet access across various regions of the country. The initiative aims to create inclusive environments where citizens can connect to the Internet without financial barriers by targeting public spaces such as parks, libraries, and community centers. One of the program’s primary objectives is to ensure that underserved communities, particularly in rural…

The National Assembly is deliberating on a bill that proposes raising the Value-Added Tax (VAT) from the current rate of 7.5% to 10% by the year 2025. The executive bill, which was reviewed by TheCable, outlines a gradual increase of the VAT rate to 12.5% by 2026 and maintains this rate until 2029, before potentially escalating to 15% from 2030 onwards. This initiative follows comments from Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, who stated on May 8, 2024, that an increase in the VAT rate is necessary to bolster the nation’s fiscal…

Gustavo Alarcón was sworn in as the new mayor of Chilpancingo on Thursday, just days after his predecessor, Alejandro Arcos, was brutally murdered and beheaded. Alarcón, a doctor and alternate candidate elected alongside Arcos in June, assumes leadership in a city rife with violence and drug gang conflicts. Arcos, who had only taken office on October 1, was found dead in a pickup truck on Sunday, with his head placed on the vehicle’s roof. His death has highlighted the severe security challenges facing local officials, particularly in a city dominated by rival drug gangs, the Ardillos and the Tlacos. During…

Liverpool FC defender Joel Matip has confirmed his plans to retire from professional football following the conclusion of his contract with the club this summer. The announcement, made via a post on Fabrizio Romano’s X handle, comes after a challenging period for the 33-year-old Cameroonian, who has been sidelined for most of the 2023 season due to a severe injury. Matip’s injury not only impacted his playing time but also meant he was unable to contribute to Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour, as the manager stepped down after a successful tenure with the club. With the expiration of his contract, Matip…

The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NIHRCO) has called on President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action in response to recent death threats against Folakemi, the daughter of prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana. The group emphasized that any attack on Falana represents an assault on Nigeria’s civil rights movement, describing him as a “storming icon” in the fight for human rights in the country. In a statement released on Thursday, October 10, signed by NIHRCO official Taiwo Adeleye, the organization condemned the threats as a “historical challenge” for Nigeria. They urged President Tinubu to take leadership in identifying those responsible…

In a significant shift within the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Bishops David Abioye and Thomas Aremu, two of Bishop David Oyedepo’s long-serving deputies, are set to retire next week after decades of dedicated service. Sources within the church confirmed this development on Thursday, October 10, with the retirements aligned to recent changes in the church’s operational manual, known as The Mandate. The new policy, which lowers the retirement age for church leaders from 60 to 55, has prompted the upcoming departure of both bishops. Bishop Abioye, 63, and Bishop Aremu, 67, will be honored with farewell services in their…

Opposition against the hike in petrol price by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, yesterday, swelled as the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, civil society organizations, CSOs, among others, insisted on the immediate reversal of the price increase to the old regime. Recall that Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Baptist Conference, and Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, ASSBIFI, among others, had earlier demanded for the immediate reversal of the hike This came as Chairman,…

Pay-TV operator MultiChoice Group has announced significant updates to its SuperSport channels, unveiling a new channel and renaming three others across its DStv and GOtv platforms. The changes took effect on Wenesday, October 9, 2024, as part of MultiChoice’s strategy to enhance its sports offerings. In a statement released on Thursday, Tope Oshunkeye, Executive Head of Marketing at MultiChoice West Africa, detailed the transformations. The former SuperSport Select Channel has been rebranded as SuperSport Africa, while a new channel, SuperSport Action, has been introduced. This channel aims to provide a broader spectrum of sports content, including exciting UFC matches and…