Groups in Kano State, on Thursday organised special prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari and the maintenance of peace and unity in the country. The event, held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, was led by the state Chairman, Juma’at Mosques Committee, Sheik Fadhlu Danalmajir. The crowd later went to the Government House, where they were received by Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, who praised them for their prayers and best wishes to the nation. He said that the people of the state were so behind President Buhari, adding that other Nigerians should support the administration to bring about the desired change to make…
Author: David Folami
The Federal Government on Thursday instructed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to sanction any radio or television station that broadcasts hate speech. The minister said that the directive was part of efforts to stem the growing tide of hate speech in the country. “As a matter of fact, the challenges facing the NBC have never become more daunting, considering the increasing propensity of some radio and television stations across the country to turn over their platforms to the purveyors of hate speech. “It is the responsibility of the NBC to put these broadcast stations in check before they set the…
Rauf Aregbesola has been described as the best governor that continues to be a reference point of human capital development by the international community. A United States’ economic consultant made this assertion on Wednesday, August 24, 2017, while speaking on “Media and Diversity Reporting” organized by journalists in Lagos. “Osun and Lagos states remain the most cited examples of good and quality leadership among the 36 states of the federation in international economic and political circles in terms of management of human and material resources in West Africa. “Osun is of particular importance because it is an agrarian state with…
A sect of Northern youth groups has withdrawn the quit notice given to the Igbos in the region, reports have said. The youths were said to have suspended the quit notice recently at a press briefing at the Transcorp hotel in Abuja. According to them, the ultimatum was a reply to the Biafra agitation by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB). The Federal Government and many popular Nigerians have blasted the quit notice to the Igbos.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently signed instruments of ratification for a number of bilateral agreements to strengthen the government’s anti-corruption fight on August 24, 2017. The agreements signed by the president covered Anti-Corruption, Tax Administration and Intellectual Property Protection. After the signing, the president’s Twitter handle (@MBuhari) posted, “I have directed all relevant Government agencies and bodies to commence immediate implementation of these Agreements.” The president did the signing in his home office where he is temporarily working while his official office gets renovated after a
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has approved the recruitment of 150 men into the State Fire Service. The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Oluseye Oladejo, said that plan for the recruitment was already in progress. “We are aware of old hands leaving the service, they may be retired but not tired. We can call them to service anytime and they would be rewarded. “The recruitment would be across all categories. As old ones are retiring, There has to be replacement of the retired men. “There is also plan to add to the facilities…
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar said on Thursday that the traditional institution was in full support of the recent move by the Federal Government to criminalise hate speech and fake news. He said that the traditional institution was not against the recent declaration by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as Acting President that “none will be allowed to get away with making speeches that can cause sedition or that can cause violence’’. The monarch said that the rate of hate speech and fake news has reached an alarming state and decisive action should be taken by the government. “Shortly…
The Minster of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu,on Thursday asked financial institutions and stakeholders to support the expansion of the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund. Kachikwu said that the fund would help to help some local Nigerian experts who wanted to invest in some areas but lacked sufficient funding. “As small as the fund might be, 200 million dollars is to ginger everybody to begin to look at how to expand this fund. “My goal for this fund is at least one billion dollars and not 200 million dollars. “So once the fund is launched, we will work internally…
The Oluwo of Iwo, Adbulrahsheed Akanbi has declared that those calling for Buhari’s resignation shall fall sick. “All those who are wishing him dead and those who are clamouring for his resignation shall fall sick.” The traditional ruler also said that he is ready to bear the sickness troubling the President. Akanbi said this while hosting religious leaders who came to pray for Buhari’s health in his palace. “It is painful that those who launched that campaign of ‘Resume or Resign’ are not patriotic as they claimed. “They politicised the campaign which shouldn’t be. Buhari is my son and I…
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has asked his Lagos state counterpart, Akinwumi Ambode to release the 180 Ebonyi indigenes reportedly held for illegal hawking. Umai, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe said “The 180 victims were accused of contravening a law of the Lagos State Government on street trading, but the intriguing aspect is that they had been incarcerated before the law was enacted. “Most of them had spent over two years in incarceration before the law was enacted, but they were unfortunately charged under the same law. “I will immediately consult and interact with…
To shock the entire footballing world, Wayne Rooney, England’s all-time top scorer, has announced his immediate retirement from international football. England manager Gareth Southgate called Rooney on Tuesday to say he wanted to include the striker in his upcoming squad after his start to life back at boyhood club Everton. However, the Manchester United legend will no longer feature for his country after informing Southgate of his decision to quit international football for good in the same phone conversation. Rooney said: “It was great that Gareth Southgate called me this week to tell me he wanted me back in the…
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as the UEFA Player of the Year after he aided Real Madrid to win the Champions League for a second successive time last season. Ronaldo was shortlisted along with Gianluigi Buffon and Lionel Messi for the award, which was created in 2011. He scored five goals in the quarterfinal victory over Bayern Munich, with a hat trick in the second leg at the Bernabeu. Another treble followed in the first leg of the semifinal against Atletico Madrid, and two more goals came in the final success over Juventus. Barcelona’s Messi scored 54 goals for his…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed that he had “upgraded” his Manchester United shirt number to 10 after agreeing to Romelu Lukaku’s wish to wear No. 9. Ibrahimovic will be back for United later this season after signing a new contract at the club, despite the striker being currently sidelined by a knee ligament injury sustained in April. “Lukaku called me and said: ‘Bro, can I get the No. 9 shirt?'” Ibrahimovic said. “I said: ‘I’m not on that level that I will make it difficult for you, I just want you to feel happy and feel welcome, so I give you…
Neymar has filed a claim to FIFA against Barcelona for an unpaid renewal bonus as the war that erupted since his world-record transfer to PSG continues, world football’s governing body has confirmed. The wing wizard believes he is entitled to €26 million which Barca were due to pay him this summer as the second part of a bonus for the contract renewal he signed last October. However, the Spanish giants announced after his move to PSG that they would not be paying the rest of the bonus as the requirements of the contract had not been met. Neymar replied by…
Juventus’ general manager Beppe Marotta believes Barcelona are no longer a force the Turin-based club must fear like they would have done few years ago after being drawn with the Catalans in Group D of the Champions League. He said “Every group has its dangers and it’s important that you are in form when you play those games, but Barcelona have weakened now that they have lost Neymar, even if they are still dangerous,” he told Mediaset television. “We’ll have to see how they replace him, but they are bound to have a quality team.” Juve will also battle Olympiakos…
Ronald Koeman praised Gylfi Sigurdsson’s “incredible” goal after the Iceland international aided his side into the group stages of the Europa League after a 1-1 away draw with Hajduk Split. Wayne Rooney was back in action a day after announcing his retirement from international football with England, but it was the home side who threatened early on. The Stadion Poljud was buzzing just before half-time when Josip Radosevic reduced the deficit with a 30-yard effort. The home fans, though, were left in sad silence less than a minute after the restart when midfielder Sigurdsson — who completed his £45 million…
Jurgen Klopp has come out to say that teams in the Champions League will fear Liverpool after they were drawn with Spartak Moscow, Sevilla and Maribor in the group stages. When asked by the club’s website whether teams in Europe would be fearful of his side, the Reds boss replied: “In this moment, for sure. “But it depends on our performance. We had a nice sign last night [in the second leg against Hoffenheim on Wednesday] — the first 20 minutes were probably part of the best pieces of football I was ever part of. That was really impressive. “But…
Manchester City have dashed fans’ hopes about big money moves for Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe before this summer’s transfer window closes. Director of football Txiki Begiristain says neither will join City before the Aug. 31 deadline, but hasn’t ruled out other deals happening. Messi’s contract extension remains unsigned and reports has spread in Spain that he could be interested in reuniting with former boss Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. “Come on, it’s impossible,” Begiristain said. “He will stay at Barcelona.” “We are out of the race — it is impossible to do it with the time remaining,” Begiristain…
Barcelona have reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund for the €150 million transfer of Ousmane Dembele, according to multiple reports, although Borussia Dortmund’s chief executive has refused to confirm them. A base fee of €120 million was first reported on Thursday by BeIN Sports, and French newspaper L’Equipe, German outlet Bild, and Spanish reporter Guillem Balague all said the deal would reach €150m, with €30m of that in bonus payments. Joachim Watzke however said the club would not be saying anything on the Dembele situation ahead of the Champions League draw in Monaco on Thursday and cast doubt on the…
Crucial contributions from summer signings Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jordan Pickford ensured a 1-1 draw for Everton at Hajduk Split and progress to the Europa League group stages. This was a case of mission accomplished with Everton through and with tougher tests ahead. As much as football can the most important, some things are more key. When the club announced in May that midfielder Aaron Lennon was receiving treatment for a stress-related illness, it brought into focus the human aspect and the pressures of the game. While the former Tottenham winger briefly featured in preseason, this game saw Lennon return to…