Breezy News

It got worse for Kano Pillars as they sank into the bottom of the three-week-old table. Abba Umar sent the home fans into jubilation as early as the third minute. Katsina United held on to that and recorded their first victory of the season, while Pillars remained one of the five sides yet to taste victory. It's such a horrible start for the former champions Kano Pillars, who are yet to fins the net in three matches; just as Sunshine Stars. The latter have however played a match less. The result threw Katsina United up from the relegation zone to No 15. In Ilorin, Abia Warriors forced Niger Tornadoes to a draw. Hammed Yakub struck in the 53rd minute to cancel Martins Usule's 34th minute goal for Tornadoes. With that outcome, both Abia Warriors and Tornadoes now have four points from three matches each and placed joint seventh. Remo Stars stood out as the only team yet to have their goal area breached. Matchday 4 comes up on Sunday, 2nd January.  Gombe United v Lobi Stars, Shoot...

Matchday 3 of the 2021/22 season will be concluded in the Nigeria Professional Football League Thursday evening with two matches in Ilorin and Katsina. Niger Tornadoes, who adopted Kwara Stadium in Ilorin as their home ground, are chasing their second win which will see them break into the top four. Head coach Abubakar Bala is familiar with that ground and the fans having left Kwara United in the same capacity two-and-a-half years ago. This is Bala's second time with the Minna-based team that returned to the top flight division at the end of last season. In the opening home match Tornadoes beat Plateaus United 2-0. But their lone goal defeat in Gombe to Wikki Tourists on Matchday 2 means that the  Ikon Allah  are now 11th on the log. Abia Warriors themselves have three points from two matches after losing 1-2 away to Enyimba in their season opener and piping Sunshine Stars 1-0 in the next fixture. Kano Pillars have not lived up to their pedigree, which makes this evening's mat...

Despite a barren outcome at their home ground in Ikenne-Remo, Remo Stars stay on top of the three-week table with a superior goal difference over title holders Akwa United and last season's runners-up Rivers United. Ubong Friday's 81st minute goal from the spot was all Akwa United required to retain second spot, while Rivers shocked Enyimba in Aba with Ishaq Rafiu settling matters in the 51st minute. With that shock result of the Matchday, Rivers United move from No 4 to become joint second with Akwa United as both teams share the same statistics, while Enyimba are dragged down from second to fifth on the log. For Kwara United, Ebuka Anaekwe's own goal in the 53rd minute gift the Harmony Boys maximum points to stay fourth. MFM finally get off the ground after losing their first two matches of the season. The Olukoya Boys have Precious Roland to thank for the goal in the 55th minute, which now sees them lifted from the bottom of the table to No 15. Failing to win at home, S...

Sensation Remo Stars are already pulling their weight just two Matchdays on in their return to the top flight. Two back-to-back wins in Lagos and at home in Ikenne-Remo have ensured that they lead the field. Hosting Nasarawa United, who are seeking their first triumph after two straight draws, the Gbenga Ogunbote squad will strive not to disappoint their fans and neutrals counting on them. Andy Okpe banged in two goals as the Sky Blue Stars pummelled Heartland 3-0 on Boxing day. Nasarawa United, on their part, could not hold on to their lone goal advantage as Gombe United rallied to draw level in the 90th minute two days ago in Lafia. The Solid Miners had forced Heartland to a 3-3 result on the opening day of the season in Okigwe. Enyimba have also acquitted themselves in the two matches but fell short of the top spot only on account of inferior goal difference to Remo Stars. George Finidi and his team achieved result in Enugu against perennial rivals Rangers on Boxing day and will be ...

Remo Stars have taken control of the fledgling Nigeria Professional Football League table for the season after the conclusion of Matchday 2. Gbenga Ogunbote's young squad who returned to the top flight this term recorded a back-to-back victory with their latest victims being Heartland.  Two earlier goals from Andy Okpe in the fourth and fifth minutes and Samuel Anakwe's in the 71st minute ensured the three points in the kitty of the Sky Blue Stars.  Enyimba also make it two wins out of two matches. But instead of Remo Stars'  plus five goal difference, Enyimba have plus two. Emeka Obioma recorded the lone goal in the 88th minute for the People’s Elephant against Rangers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.  Akwa United could not sustain Utibe Archibong's effort in the 29th minute as Shooting Stars redeem themselves at home in the 90th minute through Ayo Adetutu.  The draw means that United drop to third spot, while Shooting Stars fail to win in two strai...

Nobel Peace Prize  laureate , Bishop Desmond Tutu is dead. He died in Cape Town at age 90. This was announced on Christmas Day by an aide of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The world reknowned Anglican cleric and theologian was reputed for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was the Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then the Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996, in both cases being the first black African to hold the position. A Minister in the South African Presidency, Mondli Gungubele said in a statement that President Ramaphosa “expresses, on behalf of all South Africans, his profound sadness at the passing today, Sunday December 26, of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu. “President Ramaphosa expresses his heartfelt condolences to MAM Leah Tutu, the Tutu family, the Board and staff of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, the Elders and Nobel Laureate Group, and the friends, comrades and associates nationally and global...

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 21 Covid-19 fatalities on Christmas Day. The scary figure is the sixth highest daily deaths since the virus crept into Nigeria in February 2020. Before this, Nigeria had 93 deaths - the highest ever - on 27th August, this year, followed by 53 the next day, 31 on 4th September, 28 on 31st May and 27 on 29th January. But all 21 fresh deaths were backlogs from Imo (16) and Kaduna (4) and Zamfara (1). Nigeria had 1,305 fresh infections on Christmas Day, bringing the total to 236,014. With 120 new discharges, the total patients free from the virus is now 212,357, while 3,014 deaths overall (the new 21 inclusive) have been reported. Two deaths and 1,356 cases were recorded in the country 24 hours earlier, an indication that the fourth wave of the disease may portend greater danger than the first three waves. On Saturday, it was reported that Nigeria’s Presidential Villa is being ravaged by the pandemic with many top officials and aid...

Nigerian foreign-trained medical doctors who intend to practise in their country of origin by applying for the assessment examination from the  Mental and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)   will no longer pay a mandatory N900,000 fee. In a statement on Friday,  the Mental and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)  also said it had scrapped the earlier requirement for doctors trained abroad  to undergo a six-month mandatory attachment programme in teaching hospitals. Before now, while Nigerian citizens were required to pay a non-refundable fee of N900,000, non-citizens paid N1,400,000 for the programme. Following the outcry that trailed that decision in the wake of the massive emigration of health workers In Nigeria to other countries, the two chambers of the National Assembly  waded in . In the new directive, the MDCN said candidates who have paid the N10,000 registration fee will be refunded, while it would publish another curriculum for the trai...

Defending champions Akwa United have an epic clash in Ibadan in their determination to hold on to top spot at the end of the second week of the season.  On the opening day last Sunday in Uyo, the Promise Keepers walloped big side Kano Pillars 3-0, while their opponents this evening, Shooting Stars played quite frustrating match in Gombe which ended goalless against Gombe United, fellow promoted team. The supporters at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba will motivate their legendary team to their first win of the new term. The Oluyole Warriors are back to their familiar turf having played their home games at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode last season. But the Edith Agoye-led technical crew will have to contend with Akwa United's intimidating profile, having recorded the most away wins on the way to their debut title triumph last season. And they started their title defence like a house on fire by humiliating Pillars 3-0 last Matchday. Like Akwa United, Kwara United also ban...

  The female soldier detained for publicity accepting a marriage proposal from a national youth corps member has been ordered released immediately.  The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Faruk Yahaya said that reprieve for the soldier, Hannah Sofiat Akinlabi, a Private, was   in the spirit of Christmas. In a video clip that surfaced online, Sofiat had accepted a marriage proposal from a male corps member, simply identified as Remi at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Kwara State. She was subsequently detained for "violating military rules and regulations" by getting involved in a public display of an amorous relationship with a paramilitary trainee – a corps member. Her detention elicited reactions a section of the public, who believed she should not be denied the right to love. Several groups and individuals had urged the Nigerian Army authority to release the female soldier. The Army chief has now ordered her  pardon. The female sold...

Victor Osimhen will feature in his second Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next month. This is confirmed as interim manager Augustine Eguavoen announced Nigeria's final squad for the 33rd AFCON starting on 9th January.  Osimhen, who played only one match as a substitute in Nigeria's third placed match in Egypt 2019, has been missing for his club, Napoli since last month when he suffered facial injuries and a damaged eye socket during a Serie A derby against Inter Milan.  Due to return to action in three months. the 22-year-old however recovered faster than projected and resumed individual training a fortnight ago. Also in the squad is returnee, Odion Ighalo, the top scorer at Egypt 2019 with five goals, who had earlier retired from the team. He however made a sensational come-back in the close matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying group stage last month. With just two weeks to the tournament, the Director of Communication of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ademo...

The  Nigeria Centre for Disease Control  (NCDC) has urged security agencies to collaborate with religious bodies in the enforcement of Covid-19 safety protocols during the festive season. The new concern follows several disturbing factors, particularly the realisation that Nigeria is now the third ranked African country in Omicron infections, after South Africa (1,296 cases) and Botswana (291). NCDC says Nigeria has recorded 45 Omicron cases as of 20th December. On Friday, NCDC announced 1,356 fresh Covid infections which moved the total figure to 234,709. On hundred and ninety-seven Covid patients recovered on Friday to bring Nigeria's total recoveries to 212,237, while two fatalities were reported to take the figure to 2,993. In all, there are 19,479 active Covid -19 cases in Nigeria. NCDC said the first Omicron case in Nigeria was detected in a sample on 9th November. The variant, which was first detected in South Africa and Botswana, has spread to other countries. In its f...

Panic gripped some residents of Ilorin on Friday as  a gas truck travelling from Lagos lost control around “A” Division area of the Kwara State capital. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that residents and shop owners deserted their houses and facilities for fear of possible explosion. A combined team of the Police, Civil Defence Corps, Fire Service and State Road Maintenance Agency made efforts to contain the situation. The operatives also controlled the heavy gridlock by diverting motorists to alternative routes to ease traffic flow. The spokesman of state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle said the head of the truck “suddenly got detached on motion from its body which led to profuse leakage of the product”. He confirmed the deployment of firemen at the scene throughout the incident to prevent any fire outbreak until the whole siphoning process was done. He said the state Director of the Service, Falade Olumuyiwa has advised tanker drivers to be extra careful on the roads, espe...

President Muhammadu Buhari has again ordered the service chiefs to crush  the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), which has overtaken Boko Haram's  insurgency  in the North East sub-region. The order must be effected before he leaves office in May 2023 - 17 months away, the President said at the Security Council meeting in Abuja, which came a day after the terrorist group released rockets near Maiduguri airport in Borno State as he visited the city. Police Inspector General Alkali Baba Usman however said that some of the masterminds of the attack, which killed several people, had been eliminated. And while sending Christmas message to Nigerians on Friday, President Buhari told the people to invoke the “indomitable spirit in us and see the present order of things as a phase that will also pass, just like other unsavoury situations in the nation’s history". The President was said to have directed the service chiefs at the Security Council meeting not to allow any...

The Federal  and Lagos State governments have announced free rides this Yuletide and New Year season. From Christmas eve to January 4 next year, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) will provide free transportation on all its routes across the country. For Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu  approved free rides on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors on Christmas and New Year day in celebration of the festive season . NRC's Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria said, t he decision, which was made in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, is to ease movement of citizens during the yuletide. ”This is to help ease the cost of transportation and enable citizens to easily enjoy the festive period. ”Passengers are, however, advised to ensure they obtain their tickets from appropriate quarters at no cost, to enable them gain access and enter the trains. ”All passengers are also enjoined to observe and obey Covid-19 rules by wearing face masks, washing and sanitising of han...

Wednesday’s invasion of Magodo Phase 2 Estate in the Shangisha area of the Lagos State is illegal.   According to the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), the action was taken without the knowledge of the High Court of Lagos as required by law.   He said that the suspected land grabbers and their accomplices in the Police would be investigated and those found culpable would be prosecuted.   In a statement on Thursday, Onigbanjo the judgment of the Supreme Court, which the Chief Adebayo Adeyiga family relied on only related to “549 plots of land and not possession of any land”.   The Attorney-General recalled the attempts made by the state government between 2012 and 2016 to effect the judgment to re-allocate land to the family in Magotho Residential Scheme in the Badagry area and Ibeju-Lekki Coastal Scheme. of the state.   But all of these were rejected by Adeyiga.   Text of the Attorney-Ge...