The new Super Eagles coach will be named latest Thursday, the Nigerian Football Federation has said.
The president of the country’s football body, Amaju Pinnick, told a local media that Portuguese born Jose Peseiro is one of the leading contenders.
The NFF had sacked Gernot Rohr in December 2021 after failing to meet expectation. He was with the team for 64 months.
The NFF appointed Austin Eguavoen who led the Super Eagles team that finished in third place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt back in 2006 as interim Technical Adviser.
The governing body of the NFF had in December last year picked Peseiro as the new coach, but Eguavoen was retained to lead the Eagles to the African Cup of Nations and World Cup Qualifiers where the team lost both.
“All the minister wants is fair play and not just Peseiro, he wants us to weigh other options and we will be announcing the new Eagles coach latest by Thursday,” PUNCH quoted Pinnick.
He added, “I don’t know who that will be yet, because we are talking to many of them and we’ve had zoom meetings with them.”
Big names like ex- Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde, ex-PSG and France coach Laurent Blanc, former PSV Eindhoven manager Phillip Cocu and former Sampdoria and Cagliari manager Walter Zenga are Rohr’s likely replacement.
At least seven personnel of the Nigerian Army reportedly died in the late-night bomb explosion that rocked Jalingo, Taraba State capital on Tuesday, May 11.
Naija News had reported earlier that citizens of Taraba State were thrown into fear on Tuesday night after a loud sound suspected to be a bomb explosion was heard in Jalingo.
The explosion is said to have occurred a few metres away from the military base located in the Jalingo metropolis.
A source had told Daily Post that the explosive was thrown into the military base by a passerby.
An updated report on Saharareporters, however, revealed that seven soldiers died in the attack.
The report had it that gunmen suspected to be terrorists launched an ambush on the convoy of the commanding officer of the 93 Army Battalion in Takum.
The media organisation quoted military sources as saying that the Brigadier General was on his way to Jalingo on Tuesday when the incident happened.
One of the sources said the “whereabouts of the senior military officer and his orderly are unknown hours after the attack”.
“Brigadier General was in the convoy”, said another source who was unsure of the situation.
He, however, confirmed that his official vehicle was among those attacked.
The latest attack on the Nigerian Army men came barely two weeks after some fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram in Borno State were neutralized by troops of the Nigerian Army (Operation Desert Sanity).
The Nigerian Army had disclosed that it killed the Amir (commander) and spiritual head of Galta, close to Mandara Mountain in the South of Borno.
The spiritual head of the terrorist group was killed during an operation around Manjo Ali Qere in the state.
The army in a post on its Twitter account in April noted that arms and ammunition were recovered during the operation.
Transcorp Hotels Plc pushes on with outstanding Q1 performance as PBT rises by 624.4% and revenue grows by 77.4%
…Hospitality giant reports revenue of N7bn and gross profit of N5.1bn
Transcorp Hotels Plc, Nigeria’s top hospitality company and a subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc. (Transcorp Group) has ended Q1 2022 with an impressive result, reporting a 77.4% growth in revenue to N7.04 billion from N3.97 billion in the same period in 2021. The hospitality company which owns the iconic Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Transcorp Hotels Calabar and online booking platform aura by Transcorp Hotels, also recorded more than 600% growth in profit before tax (PBT) to N1.067 billion from a loss of N203.7 million in the same period last year.
The result is contained in the Company’s Unaudited Financial Statements for the period ended 31 March 2022, published on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX).
Commenting on the results, Mrs Dupe Olusola, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels Plc, expressed confidence in the Company’s ability to sustain its growth trajectory.
“Our first quarter performance was driven by our relentless innovation in all facets of our business, creating new and tailored business and leisure offerings, while consistently improving guest experience to ensure maximum value for every spend. This has seen us record continuous growth from January through March. Our leisure business remains strong on the back of strategies employed following the pandemic, even as our International Business Travellers continue to show impressive recovery. Q1 ended with a RevPAR growth of 74.4% when compared with Q1 2021, and an ADR growth of 19.1%, even as we continue to outperform industry average,” Dupe Olusola said.
Looking ahead, we expect to continue to see improvements through the second quarter, as we remain committed to delivering exceptional services and increase access to luxurious hospitality, in keeping with our mission of redefining hospitality in Africa. Also, as COVID-19 restrictions continue to reduce, we expect business travel to accelerate which would further supplement the buoyant leisure business,” the Managing Director/CEO added.”
In her comments, the Chief Finance Officer, Mrs. Oluwatobiloba Ojediran, highlighted the outstanding performance of the Company, stressing that the Group was able to strategically contain costs of operation to achieve the optimal results.
“A notable level of operational efficiency was witnessed during the quarter, as the operating expense margin reduced from 58% in Q1 2021 to 45% Q1 2022, despite the impressive 77% year-on-year growth in Revenue. Also, the Gross profit margin was sustained at 73%,” Mrs. Ojediran said.
“This is amidst Nigeria’s inflation rate which climbed to 15.92% in March 2022, from 15.6% in December 2021, the fastest rise in consumer prices since last October 2021. Also, prices of diesel, which is used to power most businesses, more than doubled within the same period.
As demand continues to rise, the hospitality company has disclosed plans to expedite the commencement of planned developments in Lagos and Port Harcourt, even as it continues to expand its reach via its online booking platform, aura by Transcorp Hotels, which allows people to book hotels and short let apartments, experiences, and order food anywhere in Nigeria. The Company is also developing a world-class event center at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Dortmund, Erling Haaland, has reportedly completed and passed medicals at Manchester City.
The English Premier League top club are keen to receive the 21-year-old striker at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola’s side is said to have complete all necessary arrangements for Haaland’s move and an official announcement will be made soon.
Haaland has long been linked with a transfer to one of the European elites, but Man City made a smart move for the forward to beat other competitors.
Renowned football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, on Monday, confirmed that Haaland completed his medical assessments by City before returning to Dortmund.
An official announcement is expected to be made before the week runs out.
Reports had claimed Haaland’s contract would be sealed with a payment of around £64m, but according to Romano, the actual cost is a fair bit cheaper, at roughly £51m.
Haaland has scored 85 goals in 88 appearances for Dortmund since his arrival from Red Bull Salzburg back in the January transfer window of 2020. And he now looks set to follow in his father’s footsteps, with Alf-Inge also previously representing City.
With Haaland’s move to City, Guardiola’s side would further be a threat to the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and more in the chase to win the Premier League in seasons to come.
A prominent spiritual leader, Guru Maharaj Ji, has alleged that the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who recently joined his ancestors, was poisoned.
Guru Maharaj Ji in an interview with BBC News Yoruba, published on Tuesday, however did not mention those behind the alleged poisoning.
The spiritual leader said that he is deeply pained by the monarch’s demise adding that Oba Lamidi must be resurrected.
Recall Alaafin died at the age of 83 on the 22nd of April 2022 at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti in Ekiti State. His reign of 51 years is the longest reign of any Alaafin of Oyo in modern recorded history.
Lamidi Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970, during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, after the end of the Nigerian Civil War.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has again fixed 12,13 October for arraignment and trial of former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah and eighth others following its dissatisfaction with a second letter from the chambers of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Oduah, Gloria Odita, Nwobu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Limited; Crystal Television Limited, Sobora International Limited and China Civil Engineering Construction Company Limited (CCECC) were on 16 December, 2020, sued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 25 count charge bordering on fraud and financial misappropriation to the tune of N5b.
On November 22, 2021, when the defendants were to be arraigned, one of their lawyers, James Onoja, had raised an objection in open court contending that the EFCC refused to return the case file to the AGF (for review of the case) as requested.
Trial judge Inyang Ekwo had declined taking their plea then because of the AGF’s letter.
At the resumed sitting on Tuesday , EFCC’s counsel, Hassan Liman informed the court that the AGF had acknowledged receiving the case file and in a letter dated May 6 ,2022 , directed that the case continues.
“My lord, the charge in this matter was filed on the 16 December 2020, since, then the plea of the defendant has not been taken.
“On the last adjourned date, on February 2021, this court, upon my undertaking, I confirm that I will bring a response from AGF.
All the defense counsels said they didn’t have the letter from the AGF.
Meanwhile, Justice Inyang Ekwo read from the letter where the AGF stated that he was considering the appeal made to him, but that ” trial can proceed. “
Ekwo said he was not satisfied with the AGF’s response and that he should either write that parties should stop or proceed with the case.
However, Liman insisted that the EFCC does not need an approval from the AGF to go ahead with prosecuting a matter.
He said that plea should be taken first before any objection
“I submit with the greatest respect, with or without the letter of the AGF, the charge was filed by the EFCC,” he said.
But Justice Ekwo adjourned and directed the EFCC to get a definite response from the AGF.
“I am going to give you a date for trial, in which there is definite response from the chambers of the AGF.
“I am not satisfied with the second paragraph.
“I am adjourning this matter to October 12,13 for plea and trial,” the judge said.
Oduah, a Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District had on August 26, 2021 defected from the People’s Democratic party to the All Progressive Congress.
Former undisputed world super welterweight boxing champion, Floyd Mayweather met with 2023 Presidential Aspirant and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Monday.
Mayweather is currently in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital since Sunday, May 8, to promote his exhibition match in Dubai.
He held a news conference alongside his opponent in his upcoming boxer, Don Moore. Mayweather said the visit to Nigeria was part of plans to promote the sport of boxing in Africa.
He also revealed plans to establish a boxing academy in Nigeria.
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Former Lagos state Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclosed 5 things he will focus on if he becomes President in 2023.
Speaking to party delegates on Monday in Katsina, Tinubu stated that he has all it takes to be the President of the Country.
He explained that he possessed all the requisite qualities to be seen as a potential president of Nigeria due to his wide knowledge and experiences as well as his track record of achievement in governance.
He added that as president, he would;
Unite Nigerians and give them more hope irrespective of tribe or religion.
2. Develop a new strategy and commit enough resources to fight banditry and other related crimes if voted as president.
3. Focus on Economic Development
4. Focus on Education
5. Infrastructural development to get Nigeria working again.
In his words; “I come to unite Nigeria and not to divide it; I come to bring you hope, prosperity, happiness, job and stability. Though tongues may differ, the brotherhood will stand; you are my brother and together we will defeat poverty.”
“Anybody that wants it can run, but not everybody can become the president,’’ he said.
Responding, Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State said Nigeria needed a leader like Tinubu with wide experience in governance. He expressed the belief and confidence that Nigeria would certainly overcome the challenges confronting it soon.
Ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan may have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as a coalition of northern groups on Monday reportedly bought the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms valued at N100m to enable the former leader to run as president in the 2023 general elections.
The President of the 9th Senate, Ahmed Lawan, on Monday expressed his intention to battle for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress.
Lawan joined the long list of presidential aspirants under the ruling party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The Senate President becomes the 24th presidential aspirants to pick the N100m APC expression of interest and nomination forms.
He would be hoping to clinch the presidential ticket of the party ahead of the national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and others on the 30th of May.
A group of his friends led by Chief Sam Nkire, a member of the National Caucus of the party and 15 other Senators, purchased the form for him at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Naija News had earlier reported that the presidential intention of Lawan has caused a crack in the Senate caucus of the APC over the alleged move to endorse him as the consensus presidential candidate of the parliament.
Some lawmakers had earlier expressed their support for other presidential aspirants in the party ahead of the 2023 race.
For instance, the lawmaker representing Borno South in the Senate, Ali Ndume is leading the campaign for Rotimi Amaechi, and the lawmaker representing Borno Central senatorial district, Kassim Shettima, is playing a key role in Bola Tinubu’s campaign.
