Performance
Thomas Tuchel reacts as ‘unlucky’ Chelsea suffer back-to-back FA Cup final defeats
Chelsea suffered late VAR heartache as they slipped to back-to-back FA Cup final defeats after a 1-0 loss to Leicester City, Youri Tielemans’ second-half strike proving decisive. In front of a reduced, yet undoubtedly noisy, Wembley crowd, it was Chelsea who made the brighter start, Timo Werner showcasing his electric speed to test the Foxes backline early on. Despite controlling the opening exchanges, the first real chance of the match fell to their opponents, Timothy Castagne getting in down the right and teeing up Jamie Vardy inside the area, the veteran striker’s effort well blocked by Reece James. At the other end of the pitch, Thomas Tuchel’s men almost fashioned a chance of their own, Thiago Silva’s dinked cross agonisingly evading the head of Cesar Azpilicueta at the back post, aft...
President Buhari lauds NDLEA’s performance, pledges to enhance operational capabilities
President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed the performance of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) especially the recent overhaul of its operations leading to the arrest of drug peddlers at the airports and other parts of the country. He has therefore pledged his administration’s readiness to further enhance the capabilities and potentials of the Agency whose Chairman, Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) was appointed in January. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), told newsmen that the President applauded the activities of the NDLEA at the Tuesday’s security meeting which he presided over. Monguno stated that he was able to brief the National Council of Security (NSC) meeting on the enablers of crime one of which is drug and the need t...
Dua Lipa wins album of the year at Brit Awards
Dua Lipa won the coveted British Album of the Year prize at the Brit Awards on Tuesday, in a ceremony that saw female artists dominate the mixed categories. Around 4,000 guests streamed into London’s O2 Arena for the biggest night in British pop music, as the ceremony welcomed guests for the first time in two years as part of the government’s pilot scheme easing coronavirus restrictions. The Brit Awards have been criticised in the past for nominations seen as skewing heavily male, but this year almost all of the main prizes went to female artists. Little Mix won best British group — becoming the first female act ever to do so. Singer and poet Arlo Parks took the Breakthrough Artist award, and best international group went to the American band HAIM. In another history-making moment, Taylor ...
Gombe eyes World Bank loan to address erosion at Federal College
Gombe State is considering taking a World Bank loan to tackle erosion at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Gombe. The state’s Deputy Governor, Manassah Jatau, made the declaration in Gombe on Tuesday when a Presidential Visitation Panel, led by Prof. Kenneth Okiongbo, visited the school. Jatau said notwithstanding the fact that the school belonged to the Federal Government, the state government was considering taking the loan because its people benefited the most from the school. He said the state government had earlier intervened in erosion control in the school through the diversion of some major structures at the Mega Park located very close to the school. He said the government was doubling its efforts to ensure speedy completion of work at the erosion sites. Jatau stressed ...
Elon Musk says he is first SNL host with Asperger’s syndrome
Elon Musk kicked off his “Saturday Night Live” debut by declaring himself to be the first person with Asperger’s syndrome to host the US comedy sketch show. “Or at least, the first person to admit it,” he said. In his opening monologue, the eccentric tech entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX offered an explanation for some of his past eyebrow-raising behavior. “Look, I know I say or post strange things but that’s just how my brain works. To anyone I’ve offended I just want to say, I reinvented electric cars and I’m sending people to Mars in a rocket ship,” he said. “Did you think I was also going to be a chill, normal dude?” Musk has previously drawn criticism for moves like publicly mocking the US Securities and Exchange Commission and calling a cave diver who rescued boys trapped in Thai...
NGX records N419 billion growth in April
The market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock (NGX) recorded a growth of N419 billion in April due to impressive first quarter results declared by some companies. Specifically, the market capitalisation which closed trading in March at N20.428tn rose by N419bn to close at N20.847tn in April. Similarly, the All-Share Index inched higher by 789.29 points to close at 39,834.42 in contrast with 39,045.13 recorded in March. Royal Exchange Assurance emerged the best performing stock for April in percentage terms, growing by 89.29 per cent to close at 58k per share against 28k recorded in March. Linkage trailed with 41.87 per cent to close at 85k in contrast with 60k posted in the comparative month. Speaking on the performance of the stock market, Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Office...
NNPC assures will continue to meet financial obligations to FAAC
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has clarified that the revenue projection contained in the letter to the Accountant General of the Federation being cited in the media pertains only to the Federation revenue stream being managed by the Corporation and not a reflection of the overall financial performance of the Corporation. A press release by the Corporation’s spokesman, Dr. Kennie Obateru, stated that the clarification became necessary in the light of media reports insinuating that the Corporation was in financial straits. NNPC maintains that it is conscious of its role and was doing everything possible to shore up revenues and support the Federation at all times. “The shortfall will be remedied by the Corporation as it relates only to the Federation revenue stream being...
CSCS reiterates commitment to deepening capital market
The Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) has restatement its commitment in repositioning business to efficiently play a more active and leading role in deepening the Nigerian capital market growth. Also, CSCS grew its profit after tax by 41.4 per cent for the year ended December 31, 2020. The company results showed that amidst unprecedented economic and financial market conditions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group grew total income by 31.3 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to N12.09 billion. Profit after tax grew by 41.4 per cent to N6.93 billion, translating to N1.39 earnings per share. The group delivered 20.3 per cent return on average equity for the 2020 financial year, compared to 15.3 per cent in 2019 full year. The company’s total assets stood at N41.42 billion, as again...
Big Sam backs Semi Ajayi to bounce back from error vs Aston Villa
Boss Sam Allardyce has backed Semi Ajayi to quickly bounce back from the mistake he made in the derby against Villa. The Baggies were 90 seconds away from beating Dean Smith’s side on Sunday but were ultimately held to a point after Kienan Davis fired in to level the scores at 2-2 in stoppage time. Villa’s first goal arrived after Ajayi – who had been recalled to the side at the expense of Dara O’Shea – gave away a needless penalty for a foul on Ross Barkley. Davis’ equaliser meanwhile arrived after Bartley – who has been in outstanding form in recent months – got caught in two minds when it came to clearing a cross. But while Allardyce was left frustrated by those individual errors, he refused to criticise his two centre-backs. And he has backed them and the rest of Albion’s squad to resp...
Ondo NUJ tasks Immigration Service on insecurity, passport
File Photo The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has appealed to the Federal Government to adequately fund the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to boost its performance. The union said that the funding would enable the agency to fully perform its primary responsibilities of providing internal security as well as to overcome challenges of issuing passports to citizens. The NUJ Chairman, Mr Adetona Aderoboye, made the appeal when he led members of the union executive council on a courtesy visit to the state Conptroller of NIS, Ibong Osato Aideyan, at her office on Wednesday in Akure. “In view of the current security challenges facing the nation, it has become expedient for the federal government to give adequate backing to the agency. “It is for it to be able to proper...
Naira stable at parallel, official market
Nigeria’s naira remained stable against the U.S. dollar at the unofficial market on Friday, data posted on abokiFX .com, a website that collates parallel market rates in Lagos showed. The data posted showed that the naira closed at N485.00 at the black market, the same rate it exchanged hands with the greenback in the previous session on Thursday. Similarly, the local unit remained stable at the official market. Data posted on the FMDQ Security Exchange window where forex is officially traded showed that the domestic unit again closed at N410.00 at the trading session of the NAFEX window on Friday. Friday’s performance came to be as forex supply slumped significantly. The naira experienced an intraday high of N394.00 and a low of N436.40 before closing at N410.00 on Friday, the same rate i...
Ryan Mason dedicates first Tottenham win to Ugo Ehiogu
Getty Images Tottenham Hotspur interim manager, Ryan Mason, has decided his first win in charge to former coach Ugo Ehiogu, who passed away four years ago. Ehiogu, aged just 44, suffered a cardiac arrest at Tottenham training ground, where we worked as Under-23s coach. Mason, who held the same position before being promoted to first-team duties, worked with Ehiogu while coming through the ranks as a Spurs player. Today marks the four-year anniversary of the tragic passing of our former Under-23s Coach Ugo Ehiogu. 🤍 Always in our hearts. His memory fondly lives on. pic.twitter.com/U1SOQ73zg6 — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 21, 2021 On the anniversary of Ehiogu’s death, Mason made a winning start to life in temporary charge of his boyhood club. “I want to dedicate that one...
