The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Karim Benzema to leave Real Madrid ahead of Saudi Arabia move

    Karim Benzema to leave Real Madrid ahead of Saudi Arabia move

    Karim Benzema will leave Real Madrid when his contract expires this month to join Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, sources have told ESPN.

    ESPN reported earlier this week that Benzema was offered a two-year contract worth €400 million to move to Saudi in January, the same deal as Cristiano Ronaldo who joined Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United.

    The centre-forward, 35, has spent 14 seasons at the Bernabeu, becoming the club’s second-highest goalscorer and winning five Champions Leagues, four LaLiga titles and the 2022 Ballon d’Or.

    Benzema had been expected to stay at Madrid for one more season until June 2024, but has opted instead to accept a new challenge. Madrid are in advanced talks to sign Joselu on loan to replace Mariano Diaz but they will look for someone else to bolster the attack.

    Read Also: Real Madrid targets Mato as backup for Benzema

    Madrid’s club captain has had an injury-hit season — missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a hamstring problem — but still scored 18 goals in 23 LaLiga appearances, as well as four goals in the Champions League knockout stage.

    Benzema joined Madrid from Lyon in 2009 as one of Europe’s most highly rated young forwards. He initially had to compete with Gonzalo Higuain for a place in the side, before becoming a part of Madrid’s iconic “BBC” forward line alongside Gareth Bale and Ronaldo.

    Benzema evolved into the team’s main goal threat with the departure of Ronaldo in 2018. He had a career-best season in 2021-22, top scoring in LaLiga with 27 goals and scoring another 15 in the Champions League, form which won him the Ballon d’Or in October 2022.

    Benzema will leave Madrid having won a total of 24 trophies: four LaLiga titles, five Champions Leagues, three Copas del Rey, three Spanish Supercopas, four UEFA Super Cups and five FIFA Club World Cups. His 353 Real Madrid goals — more than club legends such as Raul Gonzalez and Alfredo di Stefano — are only surpassed by Cristiano Ronaldo, the club’s all-time record scorer, with 450.

    He retired from international football in December following France’s World Cup final defeat to Argentina, having been left out of his country’s squad by coach Didier Deschamps after failing to recover from injury in time for the start of the tournament.

    (ESPN)

  • NLC rules out strike action on Friday

    NLC rules out strike action on Friday

    The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) has said it has no plans to commence industrial action on Friday to protest increase in the prices of premium motor spirit otherwise known as petrol. 

    The Congress however said it would hold organ meetings tomorrow to deliberate on the price increase. 

    It promised to keep Nigerians informed on its next line of action after the meetings.

    Head of Information and Public Affairs, NLC, Benson Upah said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), on Wednesday jerked up the pump prices of premium motor spirit otherwise known as petrol (PMS) by over 200 per cent bringing the price of fuel to between N488 and N557 per litre.

    Read Also: BREAKING: FG meets NLC, TUC over fuel subsidy 

    The Congress rejected the new pump prices announced by the NNPCL, saying it was against the interest of deregulation. 

    The meeting between the delegation of the Federal Government on Wednesday and organised labour ended in a deadlock. 

    The statement by NLC reads: “Our attention has been drawn to stories circulating in the social media space claiming that the Nigeria Labour Congress would commence protest action tomorrow (Friday, June 2nd) against the increase in the pump price of pms. 

    “Inasmuch as we are outraged by this mindless price increase which is intended to bring untold hardship to ordinary Nigerians, we have no plan to start any action tomorrow.

    “What we do have for now are organ meetings slated for tomorrow, Friday, June 2nd, 2023 to deliberate on the price issue.

    “We promise to keep Nigerians informed on our next line of action after our meetings.

    “In light of this, we advise the public to disregard these stories. They did not èmanate from the Congress.”

  • Seyi Vibez slams Zinoleesky, unfollows each other on Instagram

    Seyi Vibez slams Zinoleesky, unfollows each other on Instagram

    Singers Seyi Vibez and Zinoleesky appear to be on collision path after unfollowing each other on Instagram.

    Seyi Vibez  released a snippet of his new song ‘Amdallah’ on his social media page.

     Shortly after, Zinoleesky teased fans with the snippet of his song, asking if he should drop it to cause trouble in the music industry.

    Read Also: Seyi Vibez shows off new house

    He said: “Just waking up, what’s happening? My people, should I scatter everywhere? Should I post this snippet? Let me post this snippet.”

    Though Zinoleesky did not mention any names in the video, Seyi Vibez felt it was a subtle attack at him since he just released his music snippet.

    Responding to Zinoleesky, Seyi stated that he does not care if he releases his snippet because he is not in competition with anybody.

    Seyi Vibez also bragged about being an independent artist who doesn’t need a record label to be successful in the music industry.

    He said: “I didn’t say y’all shouldn’t drop Snippet, I’ve got a lot of songs, no competition. You can even drop for your Record Label. I’m independent.”

  • Why I hardly hang out, by Wizkid

    Why I hardly hang out, by Wizkid

    Singer Wizkid has given reasons for always staying indoors.

    In a recent interview, Wizkid said he will rather stay indoors with his child than hang out. 

    He said: “I am an introvert man, I stay indoors. I don’t like to do a lot and I don’t hang out. I used to love all that in the past but I am no longer interested in such. 

    Read Also: It’s not easy to work with Wizkid, says DJ Tunez

    “I think that staying indoors really comes from my age and my personal experience, not how people perceived me.

    ” I’m getting older and getting smarter with my decision. As you grow older you just know what you want more, I don’t want to be at the party and I don’t want to hang out. 

    “The thought that I could just be home with my child having fun make such a situation a big deal.”

  • Why I quit my 25-year-old marriage, by Shaffy Bello

    Why I quit my 25-year-old marriage, by Shaffy Bello

    Veteran actress Shaffy Bello has explained why she left her 25-year-old marriage to ex-hubby, Akinrimisi.

    She explained that though her estranged hubby was a great father to their kids, somehow, she got to the point in her life where she found herself yearning for more than the union offered her.

    She also noted the marriage, being a long-distance union since the ex-hubby was based in the US, compounded the matter, making her to opt out.

    Speaking in a chat with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the thespian stated: “He (my ex-husband) was a good father to his children.

    Read Also: At 55 I don’t want to be alone – Shaffy Bello

    “But I got to a place where I wanted more. And I would always travel back and forth. But I knew at a point that if I really want this, it came with a sacrifice.

    “It wasn’t a sacrifice of marriage, but then, he being there and the distance didn’t help.”

    A few months ago, Bello bared her heart about the desire to have a man in her life for companionship.

    During her appearance on Mercy Johnson-Okojie’s cook show, ‘Mercy’s Menu’, the entertainer revealed she desired to return home to a partner after all the day’s work.

    The 52-year-old film star well-known for her role as Joanne Lawson in Africa’s most popular soap opera “Tinsel,” while describing herself as a ‘one man king of women’ suggested she wouldn’t want to remain single at 55.

  • CBN seeks fiscal, monetary sectors synergy for accelerated economic growth

    CBN seeks fiscal, monetary sectors synergy for accelerated economic growth

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has called for increased cooperation between the fiscal and monetary sectors of the economy to accelerate economic growth and price stability.

    Dr Kingsley Obiora, Deputy Governor, Economic Policy of the CBN said this on Thursday in Abuja, in his opening remarks at the Fiscal Liquidity Assessment Committee (FLAC) Retreat.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the retreat was “Post-Pandemic Fiscal Stress and Monetary Policy Management in the digital age.

    Read Also: Naira not devalued to N630/$1, says CBN

    According to Obiora, FLAC is a committee that the CBN created to improve the level of cooperation between fiscal and monetary arms of economic policy.

    He said that the fiscal stress experienced by the country as a result of dwindling revenue and rising expenditure also makes a case for such cooperation.

    “Before the COVID-19 pandemic we were already in some economic difficulty.

    “The pandemic started as a health crisis but quickly metamorphosed into an economic crisis. It was affecting the lives and livelihood of people,” he said.

    He said that the Federal Government did the Economic Sustainability Plan that responded to the pandemic.

    He said that the monetary authorities always reacted to what fiscal authorities did, thereby necessitating strong cooperation between both authorities.

    According to Dr Hassan Mahmud, Director, Monetary Policy Department at the CBN, FLAC is a strategic committee of the apex bank which provides avenue for monetary and fiscal authorities to interact.

    Mahnud said that it was important to bring all agencies of the committee together to provide strategic responses to addressing liquidity challenges in the face of emerging global and domestic issues.

    “It is noteworthy that this gathering is at a time when the country is contending with several headwinds, including rising consumer prices, high public debt, dwindling revenues and weak economic recovery.

    “These challenges require innovative and strategic responses to address them, ” he said.

    He said that the CBN would continue to implement various “quasi-fiscal” measures to support the Federal Government ‘s effort to manage the general economy.

    He said that the theme of the retreat highlighted the need for a reappraisal the prevailing macroeconomic policy mix and its effectiveness within the context of emerging digital transformation.

    The Permanent Secretary of the  Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Malam Aliu Ahmed, commended the CBN for enduring partnership with the fiscal authority, especially during the pandemic.

    Ahmed said that the apex bank responded to Covid-19 by embarking on a stimulus programme of unprecedented magnitude by intervening in critical sectors of the economy to support economic growth and development.

    “The fiscal authority, on its part, implemented far-reaching expenditure measures to contain the adverse impact of the pandemic on citizens, particularly the poor and vulnerable and to resuscitate the economy,” he said.

    He said that swift and sustained policy support led to the gradual resumption of many economic activities which saw growth rebound and sustained at positive territories.

    (NAN)

  • Reps member confident of Nigeria’s transformation under Tinubu

    Reps member confident of Nigeria’s transformation under Tinubu

    Mrs Regina Akume, the elected member of the House of Representatives for Gboko/Tarkaa Federal Constituency has expressed confidence in the ability of President Bola Tinubu to transform Nigeria.

    Mrs Akume said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Makurdi.

    According to her, Tinubu’s antecedents while governor of Lagos state will guide him in changing the face of the country.

    “It’s a new dawn and a new hope. The APC has produced a government that will address untold hardship, untold hatred and unite all Nigerians.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu holds first meeting with security, intelligence chiefs

    “We pray for God to give His favour on this new government. God will give him knowledge, wisdom and vision to succeed”.

    She also urged Nigerians to support the administration to succeed.

    “God has brought him this time around to reposition Nigeria at a larger scale, and I have the confidence, I am optimistic, I am very sure that he is going to do the best”.

    Mrs Akume also prayed for the success of Benue Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.

    “My prayer is that Fr. Hyacinth Alia should not disappoint God, his priesthood where he comes from and the entire people of Benue.

    (NAN)

  • Messi confirmed to leave PSG

    Messi confirmed to leave PSG

    Lionel Messi will leave Paris St Germain at the end of the season, manager Christophe Galtier has confirmed.

    The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will make his last appearance for the club in their final Ligue 1 outing of the campaign against Clermont on Saturday.

    The 35-year-old’s departure after two years at PSG had long been anticipated and it was officially communicated by Galtier at a press conference on Thursday.

    Read Also: Lionel Messi set to decide on future

    “I will take away that I have had the privilege of coaching the best football player ever, Leo Messi,” said Galtier in remarks published on the club’s website, psg.fr.

    “Saturday will be his last game at the Parc des Princes. I hope he will be welcomed in the best way possible.”

    Messi left Barcelona for PSG amid a financial crisis at the Catalan club in 2021.

    The Argentinian World Cup winner has helped the Parisians to two Ligue 1 titles but, despite some impressive statistics this season, his relationship with the club appeared to have soured.

    Last month, he was suspended for two weeks after making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.

    He has since been linked with a future move to the Middle East country, as well as the United States and a return to Barcelona. 

  • I’m made to love multiple women- Hermes

    I’m made to love multiple women- Hermes

    Ex-BBNaija housemate Hermes has spoken out he was made to love multiple women.

    Hermes announced this on BTS Reality Show where he appeared as a guest and talked about his personality.

    Read Also: BBNaijaS7: I was named after gods with siblings – Hermes

    He made it clear that he is in a relationship with two self-aware women.

    The reality Tv star portrayed himself as a prostitute who is unable to focus on a single woman.

    Hermes said that his women were free to have other lovers because he had learned how to deal with jealousy in relationships

  • Group backs Akpabio for Senate presidency

    Group backs Akpabio for Senate presidency

    A socio-political group Asiwaju/Shettima Great Minds (ASGM) has declared support for Senator Godswill Akpabio to emerge the 10th Senate President

    Its National Secretary Hon.Yomi Adamson, said: “It will be a political  masterstroke to cede the Senate president to the oil-rich region which has not produced a Senate president in the political history of Nigeria.”

    He added: “Senator  Akpabio’s uncommon leadership trajectory and development stride when he held sway as the Executive Governor  of Akwa Ibom state and his legislative brilliance at the 8th Senate has convincingly placed him in a vantage position to lead the 10th Senate.”

    Read Also: Senate job: Foundation drums up support for Akpabio

    Convener of the group, Hadjia Aolat Sule, said:  “With Senator Akpabio,  Nigerians should expect a Senate President who will; serve all Nigerians regardless of party affiliations, tribe, creed, social standing and religion whilst also ensuring that the country generates required revenues to service her debts. 

    “He has demonstrated that he’ll be a great Senate President by travelling to all the six geopolitical regions of Nigeria for consultations and supports from great Nigerians (Monarchs, Politicians, Technocrats, Intellectuals and many 

    other reputable leaders).

    “He will be a great Senate President and a formidable asset to the new government.God helping him!”