Nigeria Sparrow

  I don’t doubt that Victor Osimhen wants to play for Chelsea. The passion is there, the ambition is clear, and as a fellow Nigerian, I’m proud of how far he’s come. But in today’s football business, passion isn’t enough. Wages, tax systems, and financial regulations now dictate the terms of every transfer. And from what I can see, Osimhen’s salary expectations might be too heavy for Chelsea or almost any Premier League club at the moment. Here’s why:  Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli. According to multiple verified sources, he’s earning a net salary of €6 million per year, which translates to about €115,000 per week take-home pay. Napoli balances it up. Before this, when he signed a contract extension with Napoli in December 2023, he was earning roughly €12.8 million per year gross; that’s about €246,000 per week gross. Now let’s do the math from Chelsea’s point of view. The UK’s tax rate on top earners is 45%, not including National Insurance and other...

Poland - Chelsea Football Club etched their name into the annals of football history last night, becoming the first team ever to win all major European trophies. Their 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the Conference League final, held in Poland, sealed their place in the record books and sparked jubilant celebrations amongst Blues fans worldwide. Facing a spirited Real Betis side, Chelsea initially found themselves a goal down, raising concerns that the European dream might be dashed. However, the London club demonstrated their resilience and championship pedigree, staging a remarkable comeback fueled by a stellar second-half performance. Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez ignited the turnaround with a well-taken goal, leveling the score and injecting renewed energy into the Chelsea attack. The momentum swiftly swung in the Blues' favor, and Nicholas Jackson soon added a second, putting Chelsea in the lead. The scoring didn't stop there. Jadon Sancho, on loan from Manchester Uni...

I try to keep these topics pretty mellow and light-hearted, but every once in a while it’s important to discuss the more intense issues that some of us face in relationships. Lately, there’s been a ton of media attention glamorizing domestic abuse. Those who aren’t in such situations never understand why some women stay in them, hence the classic question: Why on earth do women go back to men who hurt them? It’s a complicated answer, and females caught up in bad romance often don’t know how to get out until it’s too late. It’s not like this is a new phenomenon. Women have been sticking with men who abuse them for centuries. Even today, with all the available support that we couldn’t get access to in the past. That just proves how mental abusive relationships are, and usually, it’s our own traumatic histories that cause us to keep seeking the wrong things as adults. Let’s delve a bit deeper… Humans are such tortured creatures. Everyone I know–no matter their race, fortune, or lo...

  Yesterday, the social media, especially among Cross Riverians, was agog with discussions concerning the removal of the member representing Yakurr 1 constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Cyril Omini, popularly known as CY, as Chairman of the Finance committee in the CRSHA over misconduct. Hon. Omini has been a dominant force since he was elected a House of Assembly member. He was seen to be very rich and benevolent to his constituents and even his colleagues, and this brought him so much influence and power.  He is also allegedly very close to the first family of the state, which had further enhanced his influence and power, and last year, he single-handedly master minded the impeachment of the Speaker, Hon. Elvert Ayambem, and it took the intervention of the governor for the speaker to retain his seat. His removal as the Chairman of the Finance Committee came as a rude shock to onlookers and political pundits across the state because, before this time...

  A tragic road accident has claimed the lives of four Catholic seminarians and left nine others injured near the Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State. The victims, all members of the Enugu Catholic Diocese, were on an excursion to the ranch when their vehicle reportedly suffered brake failure. The incident occurred on Saturday at the Ikwette community, located near the bottom hill area outside the main ranch premises. According to eyewitness accounts and preliminary reports, the group had just concluded a guided tour of the popular Obudu Mountain Resort and were descending the hill when the accident took place. The bus, which belonged to the Enugu Catholic Diocese, was carrying thirteen individuals at the time. Emergency services from the Ranch Resort, supported by personnel from the Nigerian Army, responded promptly to the scene, providing immediate medical assistance and helping to transport the injured to nearby medical facilities. The Diocese has confirmed that the group wa...

  Suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has continued to release bits of evidence to prove her sexual harassment allegations levelled against the Senate President, Godswill Akapbio. Natasha, who earlier in the month was suspended for six months, has insisted that the action was a punishment for daring to expose the prurient disposition of Mr Akpabio. In her latest release, she alleged that the Senate President asked her to finger herself and also meet him at Transcorp Hotel. She also alleged that on a particular night, Akpabio credited her account with Five Million Naira (N500,000,000.00) meant for a road project in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Hear her: "In December 2024, around 9 pm Akpabio called me on the phone and asked where I was. I told him I was at home, in my bedroom. He then asked if I was wearing nightclothes. I said yes. Next, he asked what colour they were, and I simply replied, “red,...

 When Royal meets Rhythm: Davido’s Music Wins King Charles III’s Heart British monarch King Charles III  has expressed his admiration for Nigerian music sensation Davido,  revealing that the artist’s music sparked his love for Pidgin English.  The King shared his enthusiasm and a strong desire to speak Pidgin on his next visit to Nigeria.  The monarch made this surprising revelation on the new Apple Music show, The King’s Music Room,  which premiered on Monday. During the show, King Charles showcased his diverse musical taste, naming Davido’s hit song “Kante”,  featuring Fave,  as one of his favorites.  In response, Davido took to his Instagram story  to repost the video and extended a heartfelt shout-out to the royal family.    This unexpected connection between Nigerian music and British royalty highlights the global influence of Afrobeat and the cultural bridge music continues to build across nations.

  The former kaduna state governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai made this known on his official Facebook page today. He wrote... As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC. It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and that of the APC will continue to align up to the time I choose to retire from politics.  Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party.  On my part, I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party. Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish.  Founders rightly feel att...

  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Brigadier General Kunle Nafiu as the new Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Bri. Gen. Nafiu, until his appointment, was the Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, having also served in the same capacity with the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Raised Abiodun Lagbaja. A Member of 47 Regular Course, Nafiu is an Artillery Officer who graduated from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College and the US Army War College. Before he was appointed Chief of Staff to the COAS, he was a Directing Staff at the Army War College, Nigeria. The new NYSC DG hails from Ileogbo, Aiyedire Local Government Area of Osun State. Nafiu, whose appointment is immediately effective, replaces Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed.