Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, says his ministry has delivered visible and qualitative achievements to Nigerians since his appointment in November, 2015. Fashola said this on Monday in Abuja at a media briefing to give the third year progress report of the ministry under his watch. He said the ministry had in a statement titled “Setting the Agenda for Delivering Change” in December 2015 set out what it inherited, plan to do and what Nigerians should expect from it. According to him, as at May 2015, many contractors have stopped work because of payment and many…
Author: David Folami
Ibrahim Magu was taken aback when a question on Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s alleged bribery videos was thrown at him by a journalist. In a series of video clips released by an online news platform, DailyNigerian, Governor Ganduje was seen collecting bundles of dollars believed to be kickback from contractors for projects in Kano state. While the Kano State House of Assembly was investigating the matter, some civil society organisations had expressed concerns over the “silence” of the EFCC, an anti-graft agency, on the allegation. During a press conference at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, November 12, 2018, Magu…
Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his frustration with public officials who loot Nigeria’s treasury and stash their loots abroad to deny Nigerians of viable resources that could develop the nation. The president made this known while addressing the Nigerian community in Paris, France on Monday, November 12, 2018. He’s currently in the European nation with other world leaders for the first edition of the Paris Peace Forum. “I am doing my best now to utilize our resources to develop the country. We are already getting results on road, rail and power. My frustration is that some people still have plenty stolen…
Yemi Osinbajo believes that the the country is in a battle between good and evil and not necessarily between religions. He said this while speaking at a public lecture organised by the Council of Chief of Imams, Ikeja Division in Lagos State on Saturday, November 10, 2018. During the leacture, titled “The role of Muslim leaders in the South-West towards achieving peaceful and successful 2019 elections”, the vice president said corruption is a major challenge that’s perpetrated by people of all religions. “I want to say to you that it’s a battle between good and evil. What we are fighting…
Muhammadu Buhari has advocated for more than jail terms for people who loot their nation’s wealth, noting that full asset recovery will serve as a more effective deterrence. The president said this while addressing world leaders at the first edition of the Paris Peace Forum in France on Sunday, November 11, 2018. He called for a harder crackdown on perpetrators of illicit financial flows to discourage more public officials from mismanaging their nation’s resources to the detriment of poor and vulnerable populace. During his statement on “Illicit Financial Flows (Iffs) and Corruption: The Challenge of Global Governance”, he said the…
The Atiku/Obi Advocacy Group has flayed the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) for accusing the leadership of the Senate of playing the script of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, by its decision to probe the Social Investment Programme. The pro-Atiku group described the statement by the BMO as vacuous and crass, saying it reeks of desperation to blackmail, to distract, and to stoke controversy. In a statement issued by its chairman, Fredrick Nwabufo, the group said the Social Investment Programme lacked sincerity and transparency. The Buhari administration claims it has spent more than N66bn feeding…
The former spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank has called on Vice-President Osinbajo to resign. His call is coming on the heels of a House of Reps report that faulted the Vice-President’s disbursement of N5.8b as emergency food intervention for the North-East in June 2017, when he was acting President. According to reports, Frank also called on the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Osinbajo. The former APC spokesman, in a statement which he issued to newsmen in Abuja, said that the House of Reps report shows that President Buhari’s administration is deep in corruption. He…
Dr Oby Ezekwesili has expressed disappointment with Nigeria’s dismal status in world affairs, vowing to rescue the country from mediocrity if she’s elected president. The former Minister of Education said this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, November 11, 2018. She said unlike the bulk of the political class that are also in the race, she’s only after rescuing Nigeria from its perpetual state of underperformance. The candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) said Nigeria is in a very terrible situation and that Nigerians cannot afford to keep waiting while the political class…
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win the 2019 presidential election overwhelmingly. Ortom stated this on Monday in Makurdi when a former governorship aspirant on the platform of PDP, Mr Dave Iorhemba visited him. “PDP will not only win in Benue but will win majority of the elective positions during the 2019 general elections. The party will also win the presidential election. “We will support both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government in order to have credible elections. “We will also guard against electoral manipulations. Nobody will be allowed to…
Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili, the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, has identified and proffered solutions to seven “monstrous challenges” facing Nigeria. This was part of her policy speech, which she read out to the media, on Monday in Lagos. Ezekwesili, who was Nigeria’s former Minister of Education as well as Solid Minerals, also reiterated her call on Nigerians to reject the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019. She said, “There are seven monstrous challenges that I see holding us down. To solve each of them would need bold, visionary leadership and hardwork from…
It was by no means remarkable or unexpected that Manchester City should dominate the derby against United. The gulf in class is evident, and as Paul Scholes pointed out afterwards, his United side never faced a City team that was this good. Still, the fact that nine of United’s starting XI predate Jose Mourinho at the club is an eyebrow-raiser and further confirmation of how much water has been treaded at Old Trafford. (The two who weren’t, Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic, aren’t much to write home about.) It also felt as if City never quite got out of third…
Massimiliano Allegri has been named Serie A’s Coach of the Season for the 2017-18, beating former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri, now at Chelsea. Allegri guided Juve to a seventh straight title, his fourth since replacing Antonio Conte, to win the award for a fourth time, gaining 17 votes from Serie A and B coaches. Sarri, who led Napoli to second place, four points behind Juve, received eight votes — the same number as Simone Inzaghi, whose Lazio missed out on qualification for the Champions League after losing to Inter Milan on the final day of the season. “I would like…
Fernandinho has said that Manchester City are trying to give him as much as rest as possible with no direct alternative for his holding midfield role. Pep Guardiola wants two players for every position and had wanted to bring in Jorginho in the summer but missed out when the Italy international followed manager Maurizio Sarri to Chelsea from Napoli instead. City have been looking at alternatives, with Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Wolves’ Ruben Neves scouted as potential long-term replacements. But Fernandinho, 33, has revelled in the extra responsibility this season and was again outstanding in the 3-1 derby…
Pep Guardiola has been asked for “his observations” following his recent comments about referee Anthony Taylor, the English Football Association has confirmed. The City boss said the offical would “try to do his best job” when asked the decision to appoint the Manchester-based official for Sunday’s Manchester derby. An FA spokesman said: “The FA has sought observations from Pep Guardiola regards his pre-Manchester derby media comments. He has until 1800GMT on Thursday to provide them.” The appointment of Taylor — a supporter of non-league club Altrincham, which is based in Greater Manchester — was criticised because he comes from the…
Nemanja Vidic has said he would like to become the club’s manager one day. Vidic, who ended his playing career in 2016, has been taking his coaching badges at Ajax after organising a spell at the club through former United teammate Edwin van der Sar. “To be honest, in the future, I would like to be the manager,” he told beIN SPORTS after United’s 3-1 derby defeat at Manchester City on Sunday. “For me to criticise Jose Mourinho, as someone who is maybe going to become the manager in the future, is not right and it’s not fair. He is…
Daniel Sturridge has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of the English Football Association’s rules on betting. The Liverpool striker has until 6 p.m. local time on Nov. 20 to respond to the charges. “Daniel has given his full and unequivocal cooperation throughout this process and has assured the club he will continue to do so,” a Liverpool spokesman said of the charge. “Daniel has also stated categorically that he has never gambled on football. “As with any issue of this nature, we will allow the process to be concluded in its entirety before making any further…
Benni McCarthy has said he looks no further than the methods of his former boss Jose Mourinho when gauging the great managers of the world as he plots his own coaching path at Cape Town City. McCarthy recently gained his UEFA Pro License, putting him on a par in terms of qualifications with managers across Europe’s elite leagues, and recently collected his first piece of silverware with the MTN8 in September. The former Bafana Bafana striker played under Mourinho at FC Porto and was part of the 2004 UEFA Champions League-winning side that not only stunned world football, but also…
Real Madrid have filed papers to appoint Santiago Solari as permanent first-team coach, the Spanish FA (RFEF) has said. The club are now expected to confirm the 42-year-old, who has won all four of his games in caretaker charge, as first-team boss until at least the end of the season. Solari, who had been coaching the club’s Castilla youth side, stepped up when Julen Lopetegui was sacked after the 5-1 Clasico defeat at Barcelona in October. However, league rules state that an interim coach can do a job for only two weeks — a period that ends on Monday –…
Major League Soccer announced on Monday that LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has won the league’s Newcomer of the Year award for 2018. The award recognizes the season’s most impactful new player who has prior professional experience. Ibrahimovic made his Galaxy debut on March 31, scoring twice in a come-from-behind 4-3 win over LAFC in the first ever meeting of the Los Angeles clubs. Even after such a strong first impression, the former Sweden international would only get better. By season’s end, he’d compiled 22 goals and 10 assists in 27 appearances. He’s just the third ever player to record…
Lionel Messi has said he is relishing the competitiveness of La Liga this season after being named the league’s best player of the 2017-18 campaign by Marca at an awards ceremony in Barcelona on Monday. Messi, 31, returned from injury to score twice as Barca were beaten 4-3 at home to Real Betis on Sunday. The Catalans remain top of the table with 24 points from 12 games but are just one point ahead of Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Alaves. Real Madrid, meanwhile, are sixth with 20 points and just eight points separate Barca and 12th-placed Betis. “It’s good that…