Cameroon captain, Benjamin Moukandjo is confident that they will beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Cameroon and Nigeria face off in a doubleheader in August/September for the top spot in Group B of African qualifiers. Cameroon are second in the group after two games with two points while Nigeria top with six points. The Indomitable Lions just left Russia, venue of next year’s FIFA World Cup where they played in the FIFA Confederation Cup. “We showed that we’ve got quality, but obviously, we’ve still got work to do if we’re going to…
Author: David Folami
Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be the latest high-profile player making a move to China. Aubameyang is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer and has been linked with the likes of Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Real Madrid. According to SportBild however, the Gabonese forward is a subject of a huge bid from Tianjin Quanjian. Dortmund CEO Joachim Watzke has made it clear that they will not let their star striker leave for less than £63million. The bid from Tianjin seems to be in the excess if £70million and they are also ready to pay the 28-year-old a…
The market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last week bowed to profit taking losing N583 billion with loses by some blue chips. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation which opened at N11.691 trillion lost N583 billion or 4.99 per cent depreciated by 4.99 per cent to close N11.108 trillion. The All-Share Index dipped by 1688.42 points or 4.99 per cent to close at 32,122.14 against 33,810.56 achieved in the corresponding week. NAN reports that 23 equities appreciated in price during the week under review lower than 38 equities in the previous week, while…
In Ondo State, five people have been reportedly infected with the deadly Lassa fever. this was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Taye Oni, who spoke with journalists in Akure on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. Oni confirmed that the disease had affected two people in Owo Local Government and two people in Akoko North-West Local Government. Oni said, “Of the cases recorded by the state government, we have a 56-year-old male, a 47- year-old female and another two people in Akoko South-West. This is not the usual time it occurs in Ondo State. It…
Prof. Charles Nwaekeaku of Nassarawa State University, says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) interventions in the Foreign Exchange Market (FOREX) is a temporary relief. Nwaekeaku, a lecturer at the Pubic Administration Department, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that CBN might not be able to sustain the interventions. “CBN’s intervention in the foreign exchange business is a welcome development but it is a temporary relief because the money CBN injects into the foreign exchange is money derived from oil.” “That means that anytime the price of oil falls again the money will vanish and we do…
Dr Daramola Tayo, Chief Consultant and Head of Behavioural Medicine, Karu General Hospital says an estimated nine million Nigerians may be suffering from depression. Tayo disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a health talk on depression organised by the Public Health Department, Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA. The psychiatrist said depression could be described as a mental disorder resulting from long lasting low mood affecting one’s ability to do things, to have pleasure or have interest in activities one used to enjoy. “It also reflects on the loss of interest in sexual activities among others. “The prevalence has…
Labour leaders in the agencies under the ministry of health have disclosed plans to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption. The agencies include the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). The decision was sequel to a resolution by the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services to either suspend the NHIS and amend the act setting up the scheme. Speaking in Abuja, chairman of the committee, Chike Okafor said the scheme have become a ‘conduit pipe’ for…
The Ondo State Government on Thursday called on residents to improve on their personal and environmental hygiene to prevent further spread of Lassa fever. The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dr Taiye Oni, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen on in Akure. “Following the outbreak of Lassa fever in Owo and Akoko Southwest Local Government Areas, the Ondo State Government is ready to nip it in the bud and the residents should not entertain fear.” “We appeal to residents not to panic but to intensify personal and environmental hygiene, wash hands regularly, get…
The Federal Government is to compensate Ebonyi poultry farmers affected by the December 2016 Avian Influenza attack on poultry farms in the state, from July 5. Mr Uchenna Orji, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, disclosed this on Monday in Abakaliki during a training programme for poultry farmers in the state on ways of preventing and handling incidences of the disease. According to Orji, a Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development team would arrive the state on July 5, to conduct necessary assessment and other procedures before the compensation. “20 poultry farmers would benefit from the compensation…
Mr Jelili Kilani, Chairman of PSN FCT Branch, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday to mark International day of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The day is marked on June 26 annually by the United Nations and the 2017 theme is ‘Listen first’. Kilani noted that listening to children and youths was the first step to help them grow healthy and safe. Kilani, who is also the Assistant Director, Drug Information Services and Pharmacovigilant Activities, National Hospital, identified drug trafficking as detrimental to health and society at large. He…
The Katsina State Government says it will immunise no fewer than two million children during the next round of Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs). Mr Abba Musa, the Assistant Health Educator, Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, made this known on Saturday in Katsina at a media focus group meeting. Musa said that the exercise meant for children below five years, would be conducted between July 8 and July 11 across the state. The health official said that the team of vaccinators would be going from house-to-house to administer the Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) to the targeted children in all the…
The Kogi State Government on Sunday said a special healthcare package had been approved to give free medical treatment to over 50, 000 patients across the state. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja that the initiative entails a medical outreach for patients in five designated centres across the three senatorial districts of the state. “About 50,000 patients are expected to benefit from the following services: free major and minor surgical operations, free medical treatments and eye care (surgeries and distribution of free glasses). “Others are free paediatric care, gynaecological…
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has declared the country’s recent meningitis outbreak over. The agency’s CEO, Chikwe Ihekweazu disclosed this in a statement on June 24, saying the Type C meningitis has been in decline over the past eight weeks as fewer new cases are reported in affected states. Due to the decline of the outbreak that claimed 1,166 lives all over the country, the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), established by the agency to respond to it, has stepped down. In his statement, he noted, “No local government area has reached outbreak alert threshold. By the 16th of…
Unitaid is to roll out a generic version of the latest AIDS drug that can improve and prolong the lives of tens of thousands of people who suffer severe side effects and resistance to other treatments in Nigeria. Unitaid, a global health initiative said a generic of Dolutegravir (DTG), first approved in the U.S. in 2013, is being given to 20,000 patients in Kenya before being rolled out in Nigeria and Uganda later in the year. DTG is the drug of choice for people with HIV in high-income countries who have never taken antiretroviral therapy before and for those who…
Mr Chris Giwa, ACN candidate for the Plateau governorship seat in 2011, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Giwa, proprietor of Giwa FC of Jos, who was received at the party’s secretariat in Jos on Thursday, said that he opted for the PDP because he was convinced that it held the key to a better Nigeria. “Nigerians have tested and tasted the PDP and the APC; from experience, the average Nigerian believes that PDP is a better option. I have opted to go with the majority,” he said. Giwa, who said that he had “no immediate ambition”, promised…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has acknowledged receipt of the petition for Senator Dino Melaye’s recall. The Electoral body also said that it will verify if the petitioners are registered voters in Kogi West Senatorial District. According to a statement sent to Pulse News, INEC revealed that it has also notified Melaye of the petition against him. The statement was issued by Mallam Mohammed Haruna, the National Commissioner & Member, Information and Voter Education Committee on Thursday June 22, 2017. INEC said “In accordance with the INEC guidelines for the recall of members of the National Assembly, the Commission…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti state says Governor Ayodele Fayose has no other business and cannot survive outside politics. The APC stated this in a reaction to Governor Fayose’s presidential ambition. The state publicity secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun described Fayose’s presidential ambition as a pipe dream to ‘further divert the attention of Ekiti people from his fraudulent administration.’ “Having known Fayose as a political merchant who always contests elections without spending his personal money,” the statement said. “We now know the reason why he has borrowed N42b to finance projects which costs have spiraled without much progress in those…
The Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) has backed the call to restructure Nigeria, saying it will end agitations by ethnic nationalities and youths across the country. Interim Chairman of the party in Anambra, Chief Obunike Ohaegbu, said in Nnewi on Tuesday that a united Nigeria that was discussed and restructured would be a better for everyone. He urged the Federal Government to address the issues that were giving rise to the tension in the country. As panacea, Ohaegbu suggested that the government should make public the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference and allow citizens decide on it. “APDA is…
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has decried Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s call on Anambra people to shun forthcoming gubernatorial poll in the state. The party, in a letter to Kanu, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Ifeatu Obiokoye, and made available to the media in Awka on Monday, said the call was irresponsible and devoid of intellectual focus. It said that Kanu had no authority to speak for the Igbos of the South-East, although APGA acknowledged him as the leader of IPOB. It explained that Biafra’s concept was a metaphor for the demand for…
The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has said that Nigeria’s president in the 2019 election will be of northern origin. The group comprises of the national executive committee of NYLF, the state chairmen and secretaries of the 42 affiliated northern organizations, were unequivocal in their demand for a northern presidency come 2019. Addressing journalists at the weekend, NYLF chairman, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, noted that the North ‘will not allow the presidency move to the South in 2019.’ “We want to reiterate and clearly warn that the North will not and will never allow the presidency to move to the South…