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EPL: Arsenal Secured A Thrilling 1-0 Win Over Crystal Palace

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In a nail-biting clash at Selhurst Park, Arsenal clinched their second consecutive victory in the 2023-24 Premier League season, narrowly defeating Crystal Palace 1-0.

This exhilarating match saw a confident penalty from Martin Odegaard as the deciding factor, but it also witnessed the Gunners enduring a relentless Eagles onslaught during the final 30 minutes, triggered by the controversial sending off of Takehiro Tomiyasu.

A noteworthy decision by Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, was to keep Gabriel Magalhaes on the bench for the second game in a row.

Instead, Tomiyasu stepped in to replace the injured Jurrien Timber on the left-hand side.

Despite Arsenal’s dominance in possession, Crystal Palace, displaying commendable defensive organization, initially held Arteta’s men at bay.

Arsenal orchestrated several passes around the penalty area, but that elusive killer ball remained elusive.

Palace sought opportunities on the counter-attack, keeping Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, on his toes.

In the 15th minute, Ramsdale was called into action, palming away a Jordan Ayew cross to the edge of the box, where neither Eberechi Eze nor Cheick Doucoure could unleash a shot before Odegaard seized the moment.

Barely a minute later, Eze forced a comfortable save from Ramsdale during a positive spell for Palace.

Arsenal, however, gradually began creating openings for Eddie Nketiah, who regrettably squandered two golden opportunities to put the Gunners in the lead.

With 29 minutes elapsed, the 24-year-old Nketiah struck the post after a precise pass from Saka.

Seven minutes later, he found himself in a similar position on the right-hand side of the box, courtesy of Rice, but his attempted chip sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.

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Odegaard attempted a long-range shot in the 42nd minute, but Sam Johnstone, Palace’s goalkeeper, tipped the dipping effort over the bar, preserving a clean sheet for the first half.

However, this clean sheet was short-lived, as Arsenal broke the deadlock just eight minutes into the second half.

A quick free-kick from Gabriel Martinelli to Nketiah caught Palace off guard, and the Englishman skillfully poked the ball beyond Johnstone before being fouled by the Eagles’ goalkeeper.

Odegaard stepped up to take the penalty and calmly sent Johnstone the wrong way.

Following Odegaard’s goal, Arsenal seemed to be in control, but their fortunes took a turn in the 68th minute.

Tomiyasu, who had already been booked for time-wasting, was sent off for a second bookable offense, halving Arsenal’s strength on the pitch.

Replays indicated minimal contact between Tomiyasu and Ayew, but the Japanese defender’s needless yellow card for time-wasting worked against him.

Arteta swiftly bolstered his defense by bringing on Gabriel for a frustrated Martinelli.

Predictably, Tomiyasu’s dismissal breathed new life into Palace.

In the 72nd minute, Palace fervently appealed for a penalty when Eze went down under Thomas Partey’s challenge, but the officials waved away their claims.

In the closing stages of the match, Palace relentlessly attacked the 10-man Arsenal, with every Arsenal player behind the ball.

In the 86th minute, Odsonne Edouard had a chance to equalize, but he couldn’t adjust his body in time, and the ball struck his chest before trickling wide.

As injury time ticked away, Mitchell continued to lead the Palace charge and had the hosts’ best chance for a last-gasp equalizer, but his volley from a tight angle sailed over the crossbar.

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Arsenal celebrated the full-time whistle with the relief of a team that had put in a monumental defensive effort.

Their next challenge is to maintain their perfect start in another London derby against Fulham on Saturday, while Palace will travel to fellow capital rivals Brentford in five days’ time.

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Accident claims 7 lives on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

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April 5, 2025

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No fewer than seven persons died in an early morning accident at NIPCO filling station axis on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Saturday.

The Spokesperson, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, Mrs Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident in a statement in Abeokuta.

Okpe stated that the crash, which occurred at 7:00a.m., involved a Mack truck marked SEY 363 YY, a tanker with registration number T2900LA and a bus marked LSD 180 YA.

The FRSC spokesperson said that 15 people were involved in the accident, comprising 13 men and two women, adding that four persons were injured while seven people died.

She said that the accident occurred due to speed and loss of control by the driver of the Mack truck, which rammed into the two other vehicles.

” The injured victims were taken to Divine Touch Hospital and Glory Center Hospital, Ibafo, while the deceased were taken to Idera morgue Sagamu,” she said.

The Sector Commander, Mr Akinwumi Fasakin sympathised with the families of the crash victims.

He urged those whose family members were on the road early in the morning, but had still not arrived their destination to contact FRSC for more information. (NAN)

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Navy confiscates vessels carrying illicit arms, crude oil in Niger Delta

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April 5, 2025

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The Nigerian Navy has apprehended some vessels carrying illicit arms and stolen crude oil and destroyed several illegal refining sites through its Operation Delta Sanity II in the month of March.

The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Adams-Aliu said the troops had on March 7, uncovered and destroyed an illegal refinery site laden with about 5,500 litres of stolen crude oil, and 2,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), at Oteghele community in Warri, South-West Local Government Area of Delta.

He said the site also contained one oven, nine dugout pits, 15 polythene sacks of illegally refined AGO, 13 sacks of stolen crude oil, and one pumping machine.

He added that a big wooden boat laden with 40,000 litres of crude oil was seized around Okrika and Ogajama general area in Rivers on March 8.

“On March 9, a seagoing vessel, MFT Olokun VIII with IMO Registration N0: 8778275 was arrested around Saint Nicholas River in Bayelsa, with illegal arms and ammunition onboard.

“The arms included one G3 Rifle, one pump action gun, 20 rounds of 762/51mm ammunition and seven live cartridges.

“Two suspects linked to the illegal firearms were also arrested and will face prosecution,” he said.

The naval spokesman said the troops had on March 10, discovered and deactivated three illegal refinery sites, with three ovens, seven dugout pits, and eight sacks with 3,700 litres of crude oil around Obodo Omadino in Warri, South-West Local Government Area, Delta.

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He added that 23 polythene sacks with 1,900 litres of illegally refined AGO was also discovered at the site.

According to him, a vandalised wellhead, eight illegal refinery sites, 55 ovens, 12 reservoirs and 30 dugout pits with about 55,000 litres of stolen crude oil and about 4,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and seized around Ohaji/Egbema West in Rivers on March 13.

“On March 14, two wooden boats laden with over 5,000 litres of stolen crude oil, and two drums were seized along Dodo River in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

“On March 15, a fibre boat laden with 1000 litres of stolen crude oil was seized around Bille/Krakrama waterways in Rivers.

On March 17, three Illegal Refinery Sites, two ovens, 10 dugout pits, three sacks with about 2,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 18 polythene sacks of about 1,900 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and deactivated around Obodo Omadino in Warri, South-West Local Government Area of Delta.

“On March 20, two wooden boats actively siphoning crude oil from a wellhead, two drums of stolen crude oil and one cooking oven were discovered and seized around Clough creek and Dodo river in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

“On March 23, two illegal refining sites, 2 ovens, 10 dugout pits, 13 polythene sacks, three drums, with 2,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,200 litres of illegally refined AGO were seized around Oteghele, Obodo Omadino general area,” he added.

Adams-Aliu said the troops also seized a wooden boat laden with 1500 litres of crude oil was around Bille and Krakrama creeks in Rivers and another boat with about 100,000 litres of crude oil was around Egbessan oilfield, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

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According to him, a wooden boat laden with 30,000 litres of illegally refined PMS was seized at Okirika axis in Rivers.

He said the troops had on March 27, uncovered and deactivated a suspected cultist/kidnappers camp, four vandalised wellheads, eight illegal refining sites containing 40 ovens, 30 reservoirs, 50 dugout pits, with about 70,000 litres crude oil, 25,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 15,000 litres of illegally refined kerosene.

He added that a storage facility with 15 jerrycans (30 litres) of illegally refined AGO was discovered around Bigimi, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, among others during the month.

“The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, hereby reiterates that the Nigerian Navy ,will continue to intensify its operations in support of Nigeria’s economic activities, particularly the mandate to improve crude oil production as directed by President Bola Tinubu,” he said. (NAN)

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President Tinubu Has Lots Of Passion For The Wellbeing Of Nigerians-Goronyo

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April 5, 2025

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BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

Barrister Muhammad Bello Goronyo, the State Minister for Works has reassured  that President Bola Ahmed Tinunu has uncommon love and passion for the wellbeing of Nigerians.

Goronyo, who stated this in Sokoto, also affirmed that the President is doing much hence deserve a second term to consolidate on the numerous developmental initiatives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

While noting that aside being a very committed patriot, the President is also down to earth and listens to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, Goronyo admonished Nigerians to give the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu all the needed support to enable continue  delivering the good governance, he has started.

“”President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must be commended for the loud initiative of engaging every stakeholder in the business of making Nigeria great once again. This has gone a long way to show that his government  is a serious one and it’s truly a government of people. A government that listens to the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

“”This is the government that came with a renewed hope agenda, and the renewed hope agenda is all about putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians. You have seen it all in so many areas such as the rule of law, fighting insecurity, fighting corruption , promotion of economic growth, inclusivity, access to capital, improvement of infrastructure as seen in many gigantic projects. Especially, in the area of roads where we have four coastal highways like Illela -Sokoto-Lagos- Badagry which is almost 1058 kilometers, the Calabar coastal highways which is 758 kilometers, the trans-sahara route that is linking Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi up to Gombe””.

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Drawing reference from the numerous ongoing projects of the President in less than two years, the Minister said, “”I am soliciting that all Nigerians should support Mr President so that when he is coming 2027 what will remain is to consolidate on our gains and move forward.

“‘Nigerians should be proud to have a President like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinibu who is a patriot, a passionate leader, a man who has committed himself to the service of the nation and doing it to best of his ability””.

According to the Minister, President Tinubu inherited over 36,000 kilometers of roads on assumption of office with some of the roads in delabatated condition because they are ashfat and constructed over  years ago.

Noting that, ashfat roads can not last more than 15 years before it gets exhausted, the Minister said, President Tinubu
reawarded the contract for the reconstruction of Kaduna-Abuja-kano expressed way which will be completed within 14 months and a 30 percent mobilisations fee  paid to  the contractor.

This expressway is going to be on a rigid concrete which is going to last not less than 50 years or above, even though it is costlier, Mr president choose that project should be on concrete because he wants the best for Nigeria.

‘””And above that, we have seen the reconstruction of Sokoto -Gusau- Zaria which is also going to be on concrete and the job has started.

“”Last month, I went round with some of your media team, from Sokoto to Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna just to show the sincerity of Mr President to Nigerians that no project which he started will be abandoned””,  Minister Goronyo enthused.

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