Author: Akintayo Adams

Defending champion Marketa Vondrousova (25) suffered a surprising first-round exit at Wimbledon on Tuesday, becoming the first female title holder to fall at the opening stage since Steffi Graf 30 years ago. Czech player Vondrousova, who famously won the title last year as an unseeded player, experienced a disappointing defeat with a score of 6-4, 6-2 against Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 83rd in the world and having won just one tour-level match this year prior to Wimbledon, secured her first victory in a Grand Slam by hitting a decisive backhand down the line. The Spaniard hit the…

A Lagos Federal High Court on Monday learnt how former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki paid ex-Ekiti State Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose ₦1.2 billion in cash. Former EFCC investigative officer Abubakar Madaki revealed that Dasuki paid Fayose in cash to obscure the source and erase all traces. Madaki informed Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke that this was uncovered during an EFCC probe. The EFCC found that the funds came from Dasuki’s office and were earmarked for purchasing arms, contradicting claims it was for a presidential campaign. The EFCC brought Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited to court on 11 charges, including breach…

The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said no life was lost in the building collapse which occurred overnight in the Garki area of Abuja. The Acting Director-General of the agency, Florence Wenegieme, stated that the collapsed four-storey building was originally undergoing renovations. Eyewitnesses informed Channels Television that most of the construction workers had already finished their work for the day when the building collapsed. Officials from the emergency management agency attributed the collapse to the contractor’s failure to heed directives from the Abuja Development Control Authority to halt construction. According to the agency, three individuals were rescued from the site…

The Oyo State Government, in partnership with private investors, has come to the aid of Inukan Local Council Development Area with a Solar Hybrid Mini Grid, ending residents’ long-standing struggle with nighttime darkness. Previously reliant on candles, lanterns, and costly generators, the community now enjoys stable electricity, thanks to Governor Seyi Makinde and a team of renewable energy experts. The project, soon to be commissioned by the governor, integrates solar and diesel power to provide a reliable energy source. It features a 100 kW solar panel, a 100 kVA diesel generator, and a distribution network covering multiple communities including Otefon,…

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has suspended the planned power outage on the Osogbo/Akure and Ado-Ekiti 132KV lines. Initially scheduled for two months, the outage is now postponed until further notice, as announced by Evelyn Gbiwen, Head of Branding and Corporate Communications for BEDC Electricity Plc, on Tuesday in Benin. “We wish to announce that we have just received a further update from TCN to the effect that TCN has suspended the planned outage on Osogbo/Akure and Ado-Ekiti 132KV lines. “The planned power outage which was previously scheduled for July 1 to August 31, has been suspended till further…

The Federal Government has paid up the backlog of debts to European airlines to the tune of $850m. The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, revealed this at the 9th edition of the Nigeria-EU Business Forum in Abuja on Tuesday. She commended the government for clearing the backlog and removing foreign exchange restrictions on the import of 43 items. Isopi noted that Nigeria remains the EU’s largest trading partner, with trade relations worth about 35 billion euros last year. She also highlighted that the EU is Nigeria’s biggest foreign investor, with investments valued at 26 billion…

Twice Wimbledon champion Andy Murray (37) pulled out of the singles competition but will play doubles alongside his brother Jamie in what will be his farewell appearance at the Grand Slam, his management team said on Tuesday. Murray, who recently underwent surgery to remove a spinal cyst compressing his nerves, leading to loss of control and power in his right leg, decided his recovery wasn’t sufficient for singles play. “Unfortunately, despite working incredibly hard on his recovery since his operation just over a week ago, Andy has taken the very difficult decision not to play the singles this year,” Murray’s team…

Southwest governors have unveiled plans for massive food production across the six states to counter the high price of staple foods, it was learnt yesterday. Reminiscent of the pre-independence period and the First Republic when agriculture was the mainstay of the regional economy, the states are prioritizing rice, maize, cassava, and poultry farming. Additionally, moribund dams in the region will be revitalized for irrigation. President Bola Tinubu, a week ago, had given governors one week to come up with a realistic template on how they intend to boost food production in their states. Investigation by The Nation revealed that governors…

At least 30 people were injured after a flight encountered “strong turbulence” and made an emergency landing in Brazil. The Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was en route from Madrid to Montevideo when the incident occurred mid-air. Flight UX045 was rerouted to Natal Airport in northeastern Brazil while heading to Uruguay’s capital, according to the airline’s statement on X (formerly Twitter). The airline mentioned that injured passengers were “receiving attention.” With 325 passengers on board, the aircraft encountered turbulence over the Atlantic just before reaching the Brazilian coast, as per an Air Europa spokesperson. The plane landed without issues and…

Social media giant, Meta, has announced that Nigerian and Ghanaian content creators with 5,000 followers would, henceforth, earn money on Facebook starting from July 1, 2024. The company also rolled out monetization features, In-Stream Ads on Facebook and Facebook Ads on Reels June 30. According to a statement released by Meta, the two features will enable creators to earn money for crafting original videos and cultivating community. The statement read: “To use either product, creators must pass and remain compliant with Facebook’s partnership monetisation policies and content monetization policies and they must be at least 18 years old. “Additionally, for…