FORMER Ministry of Petroleum Resources director of legal services Grace Taiga has been slapped with a 13-count corruption charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the resumption of her trial in Abuja.

NIGERIA'S former head of state  Chief Ernest Shonekan has passed away at the ripe old age of 85 today at a private hospital in the Lekki area of Lagos State after succumbing to a brief but undisclosed illness.

SUPER Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen is rumoured to have opted for a 4-3-3- formation in today's African Cup of Nations opener against Egypt  using Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho as his targetman in place of the absent Victor Osimhen.

STANDARD Chartered Bank has closed up to 50% of its Nigerian branches over the last few months as part of its ongoing digitisation programme that has seen it move the provision of many services online.

SUPER Eagles fullback Ola Aina could be on his way back to the English Premier League this month after Leeds United targeted him as one player the clubs needs to strengthen its injury-ravaged squad before the close of the January transfer window.

Ayo Akinfe 

[1] Basically, the biggest defect of the Nigerian economy is that we import too many consumer goods. We simply do not produce what we consume 

[2] Any Year One BA Economics student will reveal that this scenario is simply not sustainable. A nation will always have balance of trade and balance of payment deficits when it consumes more than it produces 

NIGERIA'S National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has urged all state governments to step up the mass vaccination of its employees against Covid-19 as part of a nationwide programme to curtail the spread of the virus.

NIGERIAN centreback Osaze Urhoghide is likely to be sent out on loan before the close of the January transfer window as Glasgow giants Celtic have received numerous offers for him from within the Scottish Premiership and the English Championship.

SECESSIONIST group the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) appears to have extended an olive branch to President Muhammadu Buhari by urging him to consider dropping all charges against their leader Nnamdi Kanu in exchange for an end to hostilities.

Ayo Akinfe 

[1] This me, me, me attitude. Our people have to learn the value of the principle of the common good 

[2] Fair play has been a key feature of European civilisation since World War Two. Although this is not extended to other peoples, that war taught Europeans to be fair with one another