Author: Ismail Hammed

Prof. Akpa Ekpo, a renowned economist and former director of the West African Institute of Financial and Economic Management, has urged the federal government to prioritize the implementation of a currency swap agreement with the People’s Bank of China. According to him, this action seeks to reduce our reliance on the dollar in international trade. On Saturday, Ekpo expressed his concern about Nigeria’s foreign exchange crisis, which originates from an excessive reliance on the dollar in international transactions. The current state of the foreign exchange market emphasizes the importance of implementing the currency transfer agreement with China. This strategic action…

Late last night, the NBA stirred controversy by featuring singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, at their 2023 Annual General Conference, drawing sharp criticism from netizens. This unexpected inclusion has raised questions about the association’s reputation and its commitment to professionalism. Why Portable Performed The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) swiftly responded to the public outcry, explaining that Portable’s presence at the event was not a paid performance. Instead, it was linked to entertainer Obi Cubana’s partnership with the conference as the headline sponsor. Cubana Group, which is associated with Portable as a brand ambassador for Odogwu Bitters, was responsible…

In an unexpected turn of events at the Big Brother Naija All Stars pool party on Thursday night, housemates Alex and Ike Onyema took centre stage. The evening took a dramatic twist when Alex, while playing in the pool with Ike, suddenly began throwing punches, sparking a commotion. Details Unveiled: Neo Akpofure and Mercy Eke, fellow housemates, swiftly stepped in to defuse the tension and prevent the situation from escalating further. As the pool party came to an end, Alex explained that her actions were a response to what she perceived as Ike’s attempt to “drown” her during their playful…

Remo Stars are out of the CAF Champions League after losing a penalty shootout 3-2 against Ghana’s Medeama SC. The team led by Daniel Ogunmodede won the second leg of the preliminary round contest with a 1-0 score. During the match, Medeama SC’s goalkeeper accidentally pushed the ball into his own net from a corner kick, giving Remo Stars the lead in the 72nd minute. Despite Samuel Anakwe’s attempt to secure the win with a goal in stoppage time, the goal was disallowed due to offside. Since the aggregate score was tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the game proceeded…

Kalu Emetu, the spokesperson for the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has clarified the reasoning behind the N25,000 fee charged to motorists for replacing faded number plates. Emetu emphasized that this fee aligns with the agency’s legal obligations and can be justified. Emetu shared these insights on Sunday in Abuja, shedding light on the rationale behind the controversial fee. He highlighted the importance of recognizing that the agency cannot provide free replacement of faded number plates to motorists who have utilized them for a certain duration. This clarification comes as a response to…

Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, has clarified his net worth. Despite online reports pegging his value at $22 million (₦16.8 billion), he stated that his actual net worth surpasses that figure. He made these statements during a recent interview with the American media outlet, Complex. During the interview, Burna Boy was presented with the information that a quick Google search indicates his net worth is $22 million. The Nigerian singer responded, “Hahaha. Let’s not talk about it. Well, I prefer they to that way. That is cool. But it’s inaccurate. They are way off.”…

Super Falcons midfielder Rita Chikwelu has signed with Saudi club Al Shabab. Chikwelu, aged 35, made this move from the Spanish team Levante Las Planas. Having spent one season at Levante, she participated in eight league matches. Her football journey began at the Nigerian club Akwa Starlets, and in 2006, she transferred to the Finnish club FC United. Chikwelu also showcased her skills in Sweden, playing for Umea IK and Kristianstad. In 2022, the talented midfielder joined Levante after her time at another Spanish club, Madrid CFF. Despite her prowess, she was left out of Nigeria’s squad for the 2023…

Big Brother Naija All Stars housemate Lucy has expressed her readiness to continue participating in the reality show. Lucy was introduced along with other housemates, KimOprah, Prince, and Omashola, last Sunday. During her diary session on Tuesday, Lucy mentioned feeling frustrated and wanting to leave. She cited the chaos in the House as the cause of her discomfort, which gave her a headache. However, Biggie assured her that the matter would be addressed. On Wednesday, Lucy informed Biggie that she had changed her mind and now wishes to remain in the house and try to enjoy her time there. In…

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has changed the dates for its primary election ahead of the upcoming local government election. Daily Stand Nigeria recalls that the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) had initially set April next year for the local government election. However, the APC recently adjusted the schedule for its primary involving chairmanship and councilorship candidates. New Date Several expressions of interest prompted this modification. According to a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the primary originally planned for this Thursday will now take place on Friday (August 25) and Monday…

John Owan Enoh, the recently appointed Minister for Sports, has refuted claims that he sought President Bola Tinubu’s favour to secure the role. Enoh addressed criticisms about his lack of experience in the field of sports. Despite his non-sports background, Tinubu appointed him as the 36th Minister of Sports. Enoh, formerly involved in farming, maintains that he is quickly adapting to his new responsibilities. In an interview with Daily Trust, the 57-year-old Nigerian Minister revealed that, “I didn’t lobby to be sports minister. “President Bola Tinubu saw me fit and decided to put the task of building sports in Nigeria.…

The French Football Federation has named Former French striker Thierry Henry as the new head coach of the country’s Under-21 team until 2025. Henry was assigned as the new head coach, according to a statement released by the French Football Federation on Monday. However, the Arsenal legend will lead the team at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris next year. He is taking over from Sylvain Ripoll, who got dismissed after France’s early exit at this year’s European Under-21s. Gerald Baticle, the former Angers manager, will join Henry’s staff as an assistant coach. Having scored the second most goals for…

The Enugu state government has donated ₦5 million to the NYSC in the state. The announcement came from Gov. Peter Mbah during a ceremony for 2,345 Batch ‘B’ Stream ll corps members in Awgu. Mbah, represented by Chidiebere Onyia, the Enugu state government secretary, also promised electricity, two boreholes, toilets, and an access road for the camp. He added, “We will also approve the construction of access road leading to the camp and continue to strengthen security in the state.” Additionally, lyod Ekweremadu, commissioner for youths and sports, warned against tarnishing family and institution’s image. He emphasized obeying rules and…

As a result of sharing a video clip showing a romantic relationship with actor Zubby Michael, rising Nollywood actress Chioma Nwaoha has stirred up online discussion. The clip revealed numerous sweet and intimate moments between the two celebrities. Chioma’s caption revealed how Zubby played a crucial role in helping her move on from a toxic past relationship. The video also hinted at the possibility of a marriage between the two stars. A scene in the clip showed Zubby and Chioma holding hands, while another depicted a sensual hug, indicating their status as a couple. View this post on Instagram A…

Tottenham kicked off their new season without Harry Kane in an exciting match, drawing 2-2 against London rivals Brentford. The club’s new coach, Ange Postecoglou, urged the team to be more creative after his Premier League debut. He’s eager to avoid Spurs not winning their first two league games, something that hasn’t happened since 2015/16. Head-to-head This task seems tough since Manchester United has beaten Tottenham 39 times (at Tottenham Stadium) in PL history, more than any other opponent. Spurs have only won one of their last nine head-to-head matches and haven’t defeated United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (D2,…

Nigerian singer Burna Boy has boasted that he influenced Grammy’s creation of the “Best African Music Performance” category. The self-proclaimed ‘African Giant’ won “Best Global Music Album” for ‘Twice As Tall’ at the 63rd Grammy Awards. In a recent interview with Los Angeles Times, he said he feels responsible for the new category but questions its prestige. The singer wonders if it’s a consolation prize and awaits its significance. “I do feel somewhat responsible for the new ‘Best African Music Performance’ category, which is nice. At the same time, what is it really? Is it a consolation category? Will it…

Famous Nigerian chef Hilda Baci has sparked conversations online after sharing a post that brought back memories for many. The famous chef announced a celebrity Inter-House sports game on her page to raise charity funds. In the post, Hilda disclosed that she’s on the Red House team along with Mr. Macaroni. Other celebrities featured in the trending post include her friend Enioluwa, BBNaija’s Beauty Tukura, Jemima Osunde, Shank Comics, Kie Kie, Ehiz, and BBNaija’s Saga. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hilda Baci (@hildabaci)

Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne will be sidelined for several months due to a serious injury. The setback occurred during Manchester City’s Premier League opener against Burnley, as De Bruyne had to be substituted due to a hamstring injury. City’s boss, Guardiola, has now revealed that the club will make a decision about whether De Bruyne should undergo surgery. In a recent press conference, Guardiola shared, “We have to decide [on] his surgery… We will decide in the next days. Surgery is surgery, three or four months out.” This injury is a significant setback…

Ezekiel Tamara, a former Shooting Stars midfielder, recently joined the Bendel Insurance team in the Nigeria Professional Football League. Tamara claims that he decided to sign a two-year contract with the Benin Arsenals last month for the upcoming NPFL season because of the team’s cohesion and ambition. He spoke highly of the club’s positivity among players and coaches, and their successful performance during the 2022–23 NPFL season caught his attention. In his statement; “Bendel Insurance is an ambitious club,” he told the club’s media.“A lot of positivity among the players and the coaches which really makes me attracted to the…

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2023–2024 Season has been postponed by two weeks. The Interim Management Committee (IMC), which is in charge, has announced that the season will now start on September 8th through 10th instead of August 26th as originally scheduled. The IMC explained that the extension was necessary to ensure proper preparation for a complete season, as it won’t be played in a shortened format. Daily Stand Nigeria recalls that club owners previously rejected the committee’s proposal to follow the structure of the recently concluded season. IMC noted that the newly launched NPFL Live app, commissioned just…

According to The Athletic, renowned surgeon Manuel Leyes has successfully operated on Real Madrid’s Arda Guler. The 18-year-old had surgery after club meetings analyzed all the data and choices. Dailystand reports that Guler, who joined Real Madrid from Fenerbache, will need about a month to recover, possibly returning after the September international break. The young player injured his right knee during training on the U.S. pre-season tour and has not been training with the main team since July 21. He did not play in any of the four pre-season games. However, Real Madrid’s next match is against Almeria on Saturday.…

Bayero University, Kano’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu-Abbas, has revealed that the institution now has a job plan for students. Under this scheme, students perform various tasks for the university and receive a monthly payment of N15,000. He discussed this during a recent meeting with the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) at the university’s main campus in Kano. Professor Adamu-Abbas explained, “The university equally introduced a kind of job scheme for students, whereby they were engaged to render some services to the university and they were paid N15,000 monthly. “This does not affect their normal learning because it does…

Enugu All Progressives Congress chieftain Osita Okechukwu has urged President Tinubu to keep El-Rufai’s cabinet post despite Senate delays and resignation rumours. Amidst controversy, Osita Okechukwu, an APC leader, implores President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to abandon Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s cabinet role. El-Rufai, the former Kaduna governor, faces a Senate holdup due to a security report and is rumoured to decline the ministerial position. Okechukwu, a foundation member of the APC and Voice of Nigeria’s Director General, spoke in Enugu on Sunday, emphasizing El-Rufai’s potential contributions as minister. Highlighting El-Rufai’s expertise in the power sector, Okechukwu argues that his exclusion…

Anthony Joshua, the two-time heavyweight champion, shared what he said to Robert Helenius, the late substitute for Dillian Whyte, after knocking him out at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday. Originally set to face British rival Whyte in a rematch, Joshua’s plans changed when Whyte failed a drug test a week before the fight. Finland’s Helenius stepped in at the last minute, but he couldn’t match Joshua’s prowess. In the match, Joshua controlled the early rounds and finished off Helenius in the seventh round with a powerful right punch to the jaw. Speaking with DAZN post-fight, Joshua commented, “Helenius, I told…

Barcelona is getting closer to securing Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo. The La Liga team has been working on this deal since July but needed to sell players first. Ousmane Dembele has moved to Paris Saint-Germain, and Franck Kessie went to Saudi Arabia, freeing up money and space. This Portuguese player, who returned from a loan at Bayern Munich in 2023, might not be in City’s plans. According to Relevo journalist Matteo Moretto, Barcelona is close to agreeing on a loan for Cancelo, and City is okay with it. However, if Cancelo moves, City won’t let Barcelona sign Bernardo Silva, and…