Author: News Room

Former Manchester United captain, Gary Neville, has is sticking with his prediction that Arsenal will win the Premier League. Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, was adamant that the Gunners will not bottle it this time around. He predicted that Mikel Arteta’s men will extend their lead at the top in February and March. Mikel Arteta’s men are currently two points clear of Manchester City after the latest round of fixtures. Arsenal picked up a 1-0 win at Everton over the weekend after City thrashed West Ham 3-0. “I think Arsenal are in a good position. Coming out of the new…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has renewed hope for the creation of Ibadan State, describing it as “an incoming state—the only state in Nigeria that is needed to be created by popular demand.” He made the remarks during a visit to the private residence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Sunday. The PUNCH reports that Ladoja had previously appealed publicly for the creation of Ibadan State to President Bola Tinubu during his installation as the 44th Olubadan, following the death of the 43rd Olubadan on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Shodunke Simbiat, recovering cocaine worth about N5bn concealed inside her children at her Lagos apartment on December 9. In a statement on Sunday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said that following sustained intelligence gathering and surveillance, NDLEA operatives identified 39-year-old Simbiat as a key member and stash keeper of a trans-border drug trafficking organisation. The statement partly read, “A swift follow-up operation at their residence at Plot 24/25, OPIC Extension, Petedo Road, Agbara, Ogun State, led to the recovery of an additional eight blocks of the same drug…

The National Working Committee has approved the constitution of a Caretaker Committee to oversee the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party in Zamfara State. According to a public notice issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, and cited on the PDP’s official X handle on Monday, the committee is chaired by Hassan Muhammad Daudawa. “Other members are Hassan Muhammad Daudawa – Chairman, Shehu S. Fulani Member, Rabiu Illele Bakura – Member, Musa Mallaha – Member, Sani Lasisi Kaura – Member, Hajiya Hauwa Kulu Makkah – Member, Muhammad Danbuba – Secretary,” the statement said. The statement explained that ”’the Caretaker…

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicked off on Sunday in Morocco with Nigeria’s Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, joining global music stars at the tournament’s opening ceremony. Moments before hosts Morocco faced Comoros in the opening match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Davido, French Montana and RedOne headlined the ceremony’s flagship performance, titled Le Show. The performance stood out as one of the most visually striking opening moments in AFCON history, blending music, light, movement and symbolism in a carefully choreographed display aimed at a global television audience beyond the African continent. Davido…

Nollywood actor, IK Ogbonna, has thrown his weight behind his colleague and friend, Ini Edo, following criticism from the Christian Association of Nigeria over the title of her new movie, A Very Dirty Christmas. Ogbonna, in a statement shared on his Instagram story on Monday, expressed disappointment with CAN, accusing the body of raising concerns only after the film had been released and gained nationwide attention. According to him, the movie title had been publicly promoted for months without any objection from CAN, adding that the production proceeded after securing official approval from the National Film and Video Censors Board.…

Bitcoin (BTC) counts down to Christmas at a crossroads with bulls and bears locked in a struggle for control.Bitcoin price targets become increasingly divergent as frustration builds over the lack of a breakout.Japan ruffles feathers with record bond yields as gold and silver smash all-time highs.Bitcoin is no longer in price discovery mode as the Bull-Bear Market Cycle Indicator sees multiyear lows.The Coinbase Premium is back in the red, with US sellers staying strong.Sentiment bets give rise to calls for a contrarian market move higher.Bitcoin end-of-year breakout bets divergeAfter initially wobbling at the weekly close, Bitcoin saw some much-needed relief…

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater. Getty Images (2) Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s romance isn’t defying gravity, but it has turned heads from the start. Us Weekly confirmed in July 2023 that Wicked costars Grande and Slater were in a “fairly new” relationship following their respective breakups. News broke that same month that Grande and Dalton Gomez called it quits after two years of marriage. Slater, meanwhile, filed for divorce from wife Lilly Jay shortly after his romance with Grande made headlines. After keeping their relationship under the radar in summer 2023, Grande and Slater began stepping out together that…

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, which owns St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, has confirmed the release of a second batch of people abducted from the school on 21 November. The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on 21 December and signed by the diocesan secretary, Jatau Joseph. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the captives, including students and staff members, were released at a location around Nigeria’s border with the Benin Republic. Although the Diocese did not disclose the number of those released, government officials said 130 captives had regained their freedom and were being transported to Minna, the…

Professor Toyin Falola Professor Toyin Falola is an enigma within African scholarship who holds an uncommon position within the academic community. As one of the architects of Africa’s new intellectual, his commitment to reengineering the scope and modalities of how the continent’s past is taught, understood, and made available in public life is obviously a key indicator of his scholarly commitment to the continent. A notable historian with academic milestones, which include his role as the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin, in addition to decades of active lecturing, writing,…