Sen Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, has congratulated Dr Dakuku Peterside on his election as the New Chairman of the Association of Africa Maritime Administrators (AAMA). A statement on the congratulation, signed and issued by his spokesman, Mr Parry Benson on Monday, was made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Peterside, who is the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was elected as the new chairman of AAMA at the end of the association’s annual conference in Abuja. Abe said that Peterside displayed leadership qualities, enterprising nature…
Author: David Folami
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Monday deployed 95 personnel to beef up security at Minna High Court as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) looked set to arraign former Gov. Babangida Aliyu on Tuesday. Aliyu, who served between 2007 and 2015, would be arraigned for five billion Naira scam and abuse of office during his administration. Mr Philip Ayuba, NSCDC Commandant, disclosed this in an with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna. Ayuba said that the Corps had been directed to beef up security in and around the court premises where the former…
The Presidency has condemned retired Col. Dangiwa Umar’s media attacks against the ongoing anti-corruption campaign of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. A presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, made the condemnation in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday. Shehu was reacting to a statement issued by Umar in which he accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of being unfair in the war against corruption. He, however, warned that the Buhari’s administration would neither succumb to media attacks nor would it be deterred by false accusations, adding that it would not be quenched by disgruntled elements. “The war against corruption…
Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, has said the Chief Security Officer to the President didn’t consult with him before expelling Punch reporter. According to tweets from Adesina, the media office of the President was neither consulted before the CSO took the decision nor does President support the act. Adesina tweeted, “We weren’t consulted in the media office by the CSO before he expelled The Punch reporter. President Buhari is committed to press freedom. “An amicable solution would be found to The Punch reporter matter. President Buhari does not intend to muzzle the…
Ander Herrera has billed Manchester United’s Premier League trip to Manchester City as a potential make-or-break “game of the season.” Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have endured topsy-turvy first campaigns in the north west and are now vying it out for Champions League qualification. Europa League glory would offer United a route back to the continent’s top table, but they are also fighting desperately for a top-four finish having narrowly missed out to City last term. Premier League matters are all that Guardiola’s men have to focus on after Sunday’s chastening FA Cup semifinal defeat to Arsenal — a loss…
Petr Cech believes Arsenal have disproved accusations they lack leaders by beating Manchester City and reaching the FA Cup final. But Cech has warned his teammates winning the FA Cup for a third time in four years would still not excuse them failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Arsenal will face Chelsea in the final at Wembley on May 27 after goals from Nacho Monreal and Alexis Sanchez sealed a 2-1 win in extra-time against City, who had earlier led through Sergio Aguero. City were dominant for the best part of an hour at the national stadium but…
Wayne Rooney made his 551st Manchester United appearance and scored his 251st goal for the club in a 2-0 win at Burnley on Sunday. No player has scored more in United’s 139 year history, while only five footballers have played more games for the club — all of them, unlike Rooney, youth-team graduates. It was a good day for Rooney and it was a good day for United. Rivals Liverpool and Manchester City both lost. They’ll both finish this season empty-handed, while United will make it three trophies (albeit that one is the Community Shield) if they can overcome Celta…
Antonio Conte has backed newly-crowned PFA Player of the Year N’Golo Kante to emerge as a leader at Chelsea in the coming seasons, though he admits that the France international has a different personality to departing captain John Terry. Kante saw off competition from teammate Eden Hazard to claim the award in a ceremony on Sunday, with fellow professionals rewarding the 26-year-old for helping to propel Chelsea clear at the top of the Premier League after powering Leicester City to a fairytale title triumph last season. Conte revealed last week that he is searching for new leaders within his Chelsea…
Jurgen Klopp is in a strange position at Liverpool. On the one hand, he has managed to take arguably the weakest squad in the Premier League’s top six to the brink of Champions League qualification. But, on the other, he is in danger of seeing reality bite over the final four games of the season, with the end result seeing his team slip out of the top four and finish up fifth. Fifth, after trailing in eighth last season, would be progress for Klopp and Liverpool, but it will not feel like it if that elusive Champions League place slips…
Antonio Conte has claimed that Chelsea’s climb to the top of the Premier League this season is proof that spending the most money is no guarantee of success. Chelsea spent £123.45 million on four players last summer, of which three — N’Golo Kante, David Luiz and Marcos Alonso — have become key contributors to a team that remains on course to win a Premier League and FA Cup double this season. But the Blues were only the Premier League’s third-highest spenders last summer, with Manchester City (£174.05m) and Manchester United (£149.55m) both struggling to secure Champions League qualification despite significantly…
Nollywood actress Stella Damasus is a year older today, April 24, 2017. Her husband, Daniel Ademinokan took to Instagram to celebrate her with touchy-feely words. Daniel who caught the love bug wrote, “I can never have enough words to express what I feel for you or what you mean to me. My best friend, confidant, prayer partner, co-conspirator, baby mama, wifey, personal motivator and leader of my cheerleading squad. Stellz, as you celebrate this new age, the heavens are definitely rejoicing with you because they are fully aware you’re stepping closer to that divine destiny mapped out for you from…
The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Monday called for sustained investment in the education and development of out-of-school children in the country. The president’s wife made the call at the sideline of the just concluded 50th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, (UNFPA) in New York. The theme of the event was: “Investing in out-of-School-Teenage Girls, a priority for achieving demographic dividend and sustainable development goals in Africa.’’ The programme was organised by UNFPA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nation. It was to showcase Nigeria’s rich experience…
Nigerian singer Davido is currently heartbroken over the death of his uncle, Senator Isiaka Adeleke. The music star took to his various social media accounts today, April 24, 2017, calling him his hero. “Heartbroken.. Rest In Peace My dear uncle …. SHERUBAWON,” he wrote on Instagram. Meanwhile, the government of Osun has said it is still in shock over the sudden death of the first civilian Governor of the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke. The government described as a nightmare, the news of the death of one of the illustrious sons of the state. In a statement signed by the Director,…
Television host and actress, Marcy Dolapo-Oni is going to be a mum soon! The media personality is expecting her first child with husband, Prince Adegbite Sijuade and she is rocking her bump in style. The Sijuade princess was seen glowing over the weekend at Schick magazine launch on Saturday, April 22, 2017. Marcy announced she was pregnant on Sunday, March 26, 2017 via an Instagram post. Oni wrote tagging her husband Prince Sijuade with a simple caption, “God has blessed us @thegbi #AwesomeGod,” accompanied by an image with a baby feet. The parents to be got hitched in October 2015…
The Chief Security Officer to President Muhammadu Buhari has been reportedly barred from the Presidential Villa also known as the Aso Rock. According to TheCable, Olalekan Adetayo, the state house correspondent of The Punch Newspaper was expelled over a story on the state of the President’s health. It was further reported that Adetayo’s expulsion from the state house in Abuja and other activities in the Villa is not unconnected with the detailed report which Sunday Punch ran on the absence of the president in some key occasions since he returned to the country on March 10, 2017. There had been…
Manchester United will monitor Ander Herrera’s fitness ahead of the Manchester derby this week, sources have said. Herrera played 90 minutes as United beat Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor on Sunday, but he was left hobbling by the end of the game after taking a heavy knock on his ankle. The midfielder is set to be assessed on Monday, although United are hopeful he will be able to shake off the problem in time to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday. Manager Jose Mourinho is facing an injury crisis ahead of a game that could see United…
The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called for comprehensive educational system reform aimed at meeting the demands of employers in the public and private sectors. Saraki said this statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu on Monday in Abuja. Saraki said such reform became necessary to ensure that Nigerian students and schools engage more in global competition. “What we all want to see is an educational system that is meeting the demands of the employers in both the public and private sectors. “Considering the economic situation in the country, and the…
Michael Keane is on Manchester United’s radar ahead of Jose Mourinho’s summer rebuild but they face the prospect of losing out to Liverpool, sources have said. Keane has impressed enough for Burnley this season for Mourinho to ask United to monitor the defender’s situation. The 24-year-old, who made his England debut in March, is expected to leave Turf Moor at the end of the season, and United are in the running to bring back a player who left Old Trafford permanently in 2015. However, they will have to beat any offer Liverpool make to secure a deal. Sources have said…
Gerard Pique says there is no question Sergio Ramos deserved to be sent off as Barcelona beat Real Madrid in Sunday’s Clasico, with Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez calling for Ramos to face an investigation for the way he reacted to his 77th-minute red card. Referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez took the decision to dismiss Ramos after he lunged in two-footed on eventual match-winner Lionel Messi by the halfway line. Ramos didn’t go quietly, though, and left the Santiago Bernabeu pitch gesturing, applauding and directing comments at someone. “I am sure when he gets home he will realise it was…
Juan Mata has hinted that he could return to the Manchester United team before the end of the season. Mata underwent groin surgery last month and has missed the last seven games. Jose Mourinho had suggested Mata would not be fit to return until the end of May, ruling him out of the bulk of the run-in. But the 28-year-old is hopeful he may be able to play some part as United chase the Europa League and a place in the Premier League’s top four. He wrote on his blog: “As you can imagine, this month has been a bit…