Xtra.net - Breaking News, Latest Stories & Top Headlines Today

Chief Okey Ahiwe, who served as Chief of Staff under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, has been declared the winner of the governorship primary election held by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Okey Ahiwe emerges Abia PDP governorship candidate

The Labour Party (LP) candidate for president, Mr Peter Obi, said yesterday that he would turn the Sambisa Forest in the Northeast into a huge farmland that could help the economy of the country.

Peter Obi: I’ll transform Sambisa forest to farmland

Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has promised to end the petrol prices subsidy if elected.

2023: Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar bicker over new naira policy

Latest

Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, has fired one of his secretaries for making homophobic remarks that he called outrageous.

Japanese premier dismisses aide over homophobic comments

Senator Smart Adeyemi has criticised the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, saying that the redesign of the Naira was done to make life hard for innocent people.

Smart Adeyemi: Naira redesign deliberate attempt to inflict pain...

President Muhammadu Buhari has told Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), that he will do everything he can to make sure Tinubu wins the presidential election on February 25.

2023: Muhammadu Buhari vows to campaign for Bola Tinubu’s...

Afenifere

Afenifere: Muhammadu Buhari’s seven days request to fix naira...

At least three police officers were killed on Sunday when gunmen stormed a roadblock in Enugu State, according to authorities and locals. This is the latest violent incident in an area where separatist tensions are high.

Anambra: Gunmen kill two vigilantes

Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, has said that he will stop campaigning because of the ongoing fuel and new naira-note crisis.

Fuel, Naira crisis: Oyo governor suspends campaign activities

News

Rotimi Akeredolu

Ondo governor swears-in new chief judge, four high court judges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, arrested 18 people for allegedly scamming people over the internet.

EFCC nabs six ‘internet fraudsters’ in Benue

When contacted by newsmen, on Monday, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State police spokesman, confirmed the finding.

Police: Hoodlums plotting attacks on Kwara banks over new naira policy

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State has urged Christians to secure Nigeria's future by electing only patriotic politicians in the 2023 general election.

Benue: Samuel Ortom alleges being targeted over anti-open grazing law

Business

In the latest round of big tech layoffs, the online payment company PayPal said it will cut 2,000 jobs worldwide.

PayPal to let go 2000 employees

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ordered deposit money banks (DMBs) to start paying out the new Naira notes over the counter, with a limit of N20,000 daily.

CBN orders banks to new naira notes over-the-counter

The long-term issuer ratings of the Government of Ghana have been lowered by Moody's from Caa2 or further junk status to Ca, with a stable outlook.

Moody’s: Nine Nigerian Banks downgraded over ‘operating...

A person holds a new 1000 Naira note as the Central Bank of Nigeria releases the notes to the public through the banks in Abuja, Nigeria, December 15, 2022. REUTERS-Afolabi Sotunde

CBN: POS agents making it difficult for new Naira notes to...

Politics

A few days after Nasir el-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State, blamed "fifth columnists" for the lack of fuel and naira, Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo State and chairman of the Southern Nigeria Governors' Forum, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to fix the problem before it gets worse.

Rotimi Akeredolu backs Nasir el-Rufai on naira policy, fuel scarcity

Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa

2023: Attahiru Bafarawa raps Nasir el-Rufai over comments on Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid

Chris Azubogu, a member of the House of Representatives, had his nomination as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the Senate seat representing Anambra South Senatorial District invalidated by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

2023: APGA denies collapsing structure into SDP

A judge in the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, on Thursday, scheduled a hearing on a petition filed by Mr Jimi Lawal, a candidate for governor who lost the Ogun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary poll on May 25.

Imo government denies vote buying claim by opposition PDP

Lifestyle

Mason Greenwood is a striker for the English club Manchester United, which competes in the Premier League. He is a professional footballer from the United Kingdom. Mason Greenwood was born on October 1st, 2001 and his full name is Mason Will John Greenwood.

Manchester United star Mason Greenwood’s attempted rape...

Murja Ibrahim Kunya, a popular Tiktok user, has been sent to prison by a Kano State Sharia court in Filin Hoki, Kano. She is accused of breaking Islamic law and threatening people on Tiktok.

Nigerian popular tiktoker sent to prison

Temilade Openiyi, better known by his stage name Tems, a famous Nigerian musician, has been nominated for an Academy Award in the 95th annual ceremony, which will take place on March 12, 2023.

Tems becomes first Nigerian Oscar nominee

Mike Tyson was almost ironically knocked out, after comically falling off a skateboard in front of skateboard icon Tony Hawk.

Mike Tyson faces $5 million lawsuit for ‘rape’

Football

Bruno Fernandes said that Erik ten Hag helped turn around Manchester United's fortune after the team made it to the League Cup final.

League Cup: Bruno Fernandes hails Erik Ten Hag as Red Devils reach final

Raphael Varane

Raphael Varane quits international football

Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, a midfielder for the Super Falcons, has joined Club Levante Las Plans on loan for the rest of the season.

Super Falcons star joins Spanish club

Rudi Garcia, manager of Al-Nassr, has predicted that Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Europe after a brief stint in Saudi Arabia.

Roy Keane: Cristiano Ronaldo exit ‘good’ for Manchester United

Sports

Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua's promoter, has stated that the next time the boxer competes, the future of Anthony Joshua's career will be on the line.

Boxing: Eddie Hearn wants Francis Ngannou, Anthony Joshua bout

In 2023, boxing will include a new category for transgender competitors.

Boxing to add transgender category in 2023

Rafael Nadal, the top seed, was eliminated from the Australian Open by No. 65 in the world, American Mackenzie McDonald, in straight sets (6-4, 6-4, 7-5).

Aussie Open: Unseeded Mackenzie McDonald stuns Rafael Nadal

The No. 1 seed for the United Kingdom, Emma Raducanu, was eliminated from the Australian Open in the second round on Wednesday after a tough match against the teenager, Coco Gauff.

Aussie Open: Coco Gauff ousts Raducanu in second round

The Buzz

Ibrahima Bamba

Who is Ibrahima Bamba? What You Need To Know About Italian Footballer

Funke Akindele, known as Jenifa, is a Nigerian film actress, politician, and producer. She was born on August 24, 1977, and her full name is Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele-Bello.

Who is Funke Akindele? Everything You Must Know About Nigerian Actress & Politician

Frank Mba is a member of the Nigerian police force and also works as a lawyer. He is now serving as the Commissioner of Police.

Who is Frank Mba? All You Need To Know About Nigerian Police Commissioner

Malo Gusto is a French footballer who plays professionally. He is a member of the Lyon team that competes in Ligue 1 and plays right back.

Who is Malo Gusto? All You Need To Know About French Football Star

Infobox

Nigeria's coat of arms features a black shield with a white, wavy pall that represents the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers in the city of Lokoja.

Current Affairs

Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022

The National Universities Commission (NUC) is a government commission for promoting quality higher education in Nigeria.

List of Universities in Nigeria by States

Federal Polytechnic Nekede

List of Polytechnics, Monotechnics & Other Tertiary...

Technology

The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has said that a provision to tax bitcoin and other digital assets will be included in the 2022 finance bill.

Arizona senator proposes Bitcoin legal tender bill

Starting from March 2023, Netflix will implement a policy that prevents members from sharing their account credentials with anyone outside their immediate home.

Netflix bans password sharing starting March 2023

Officials in the United Kingdom couldn't agree on whether or not individual investors should be barred from purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives and exchange-traded notes (ETNs).

British policymakers disagree on prohibiting crypto investments

(FILES) In this file photo taken on June 27, 2022, a worker walks along a path at Google’s Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. – Google’s parent company Alphabet announced about 12,000 job cuts globally on January 20, 2023, citing a changing “economic reality”, becoming the latest US tech giant to enact large-scale restructuring. The layoffs come a day after Microsoft said it would reduce staff numbers by 10,000 in the coming months, following similar cuts by Facebook owner Meta, Amazon and Twitter as the previously unassailable tech sector battles a major economic downturn. (Photo by NOAH BERGER / AFP)

Google laying off 12,000 employees as tech woes get worse

Opinion

Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has promised to end the petrol prices subsidy if elected.

What’s Bola Tinubu’s tangible worth?

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the head of Nigeria's electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said that 50 INEC facilities have been attacked around the country during the previous four years.

INEC boss Mahmood Yakubu’s speech at Chatham House – full...

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP), had a lawsuit filed against him seeking his disqualification thrown out Wednesday by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Peter Obi’s speech at Chatham House — full text

Danladi Bako, the Kogunan Sokoto, is the Deputy Spokesman of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.

The fallacy of ANAP/NOI polls