Author: Press Room

Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench to inspire Middlesbrough to a narrow 1-0 victory over Derby County in their English Championship clash at the Riverside Stadium, Soccernet.ng reports.  The Sevilla loanee was introduced in the 72nd minute with the game still goalless after Boro had spurned several scoring chances. Iheanacho’s presence injected urgency into Michael Carrick’s side, and the breakthrough arrived in the 80th minute when his overhead kick was blocked into the path of Finn Azaz, who slapped home the rebound. The win lifted Middlesbrough back to eighth place, just two points behind West Brom in the final playoff…

The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has commended the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, for his leadership in tackling insecurity across the country. The organisation particularly noted that recent military operations across the country have led to a decline in the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast and oil theft in the Niger Delta. MOSIEND’s National President, Amb. Kennedy Tonjo West gave the commendation during a leadership session for the executives of the Abuja and Northern chapters of the organization in the…

Pope Francis, who has been in hospital for two weeks with double pneumonia, is in a “stable” condition, with no recurrence of the previous day’s breathing crisis, the Vatican said on Saturday. The 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church is still receiving oxygen but has no fever, has been eating, is alert, and praying, the Holy See said in its regular evening update. His haemodynamic parameters—those relating to the flow of blood—are also stable, and he does not have leukocytosis, a high white blood cell count that often indicates an infection, the Vatican added. “The clinical conditions of the Holy…

Last summer saw several high-profile Nigerian transfers, with Super Eagles star and former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen moving to Galatasaray, while Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Ejuke joined Sevilla, Soccernet.ng reports. Amid these blockbuster moves, Uchenna Ogundu’s transfer to Turkey flew under the radar. The teenager left Nigeria for the first time in his life to join Şanlıurfaspor, a club competing in the second tier of Turkish football, the 1. Lig. A product of the renowned Diamond Academy in Nigeria, Ogundu embraced the challenge of moving abroad, signing his first professional contract with Şanlıurfaspor. The club, keen on…

No fewer than 20,197 Nigerians stranded in various countries have voluntarily returned to their homeland. According to data collated from various repatriation exercises facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration, the stranded Nigerians The stranded Nigerians returned to their country under the IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme, which involved intervention from the Federal Government and various Nigerian missions abroad. Women and girls constitute nearly 88 per cent of the returnees, while men account for 13 per cent. Most VoTs fall within the age bracket of 18 to 39 years, with those aged 18 to 25 being particularly susceptible…

  As the economic hardship persists, many Nigerian youths are turning to marijuana as a means of escape. Many of them are resorting to the use of edibles infused in pastries and other foods which are offered to friends, minors and even unsuspecting people, leaving behind a trail of consequences in their wake, writes VICTOR AYENI Mark Osagie, 33, with a warm smile extended a welcoming handshake as he gracefully opened the door and gestured for our correspondent to enter. Osagie’s friend, Joe, sat on one of the couches, half-absorbed in a Netflix action movie, its booming soundtrack filling the…

Femi Branch, the actor synonymous with furrowed brows and stern expressions, has once again captivated audiences, this time as the formidable Bashorun Ga’a in the historical drama, House of Ga’a. The actor, known for his roles in TV series like Domino, has seemingly perfected the art of portraying characters on the edge. Social media has been abuzz with praise for Branch’s performance, with many users comparing his latest role to his previous, more comedic outings. While some have jokingly suggested that Femi Branch is simply acting out his real-life persona, others have applauded his versatility as an actor. Interestingly, the…

It wasn’t a pleasant Blackburn home debut in the EFL Championship for Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Dennis, as he was sent off against Norwich City, Soccernet.ng reports. The 27-year-old versatile attacker joined Rovers on a six-month loan from Nottingham Forest, after failing to feature for the Reds in over a year. Since moving to Ewood Park, he’s been largely a fringe player, as he continues his journey of a return to full fitness. However, his home debut lasted less than thirty minutes as he was given his marching orders in front of the home fans. Blackburn Rovers forward Emmanuel Dennis…

The Oyo State Government has commenced investigation into a stampede that occurred at a carnival in Ibadan, the state capital. Many children were said to have died in the process with Governor Seyi Makinde commiserating with the parents who have lost their children. The governor in a personal message on X on Wednesday said his administration has arrested the organisers of the programme and will ensure that those responsible are prosecuted. “While investigations are ongoing, the primary organisers of the event that led to this stampede have been taken into custody,” Makinde said. “I want to reassure our people that…

Fraudsters have stolen N329m by using static images to register for Bank Verification Numbers. This is according to a new report by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, which outlines emerging fraud trends in Nigeria’s financial sector. According to the report obtained by Sunday PUNCH, some unscrupulous BVN enrollment agents facilitated the scheme by registering still images of individuals, both Nigerians and foreigners, as live enrollees. The BVNs were then used to open fraudulent accounts across microfinance banks, mobile money operators, and payment service banks. The fraudulent scheme enabled transactions involving the N329m just days after the BVNs were generated and…