Titleholders Real Madrid and English Premier League winners Leicester must both wait to take their place in the last 16 of the Champions League after they could only manage draws on Wednesday on a night which saw just Dortmund advance. Leicester, who had previously rattled off three wins in this their debut season after their unlikely Premier League title success, could only secure a goalless draw at Copenhagen. That points left the Foxes’ three points clear of Group G rivals Porto who saw off Club Brugge 1-0 in Portugal with a Tomas Silva goal. In Group F, Real Madrid were…
Author: David Folami
Real Madrid blew a two-goal lead and the chance to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Legia Warsaw behind closed doors in the Polish capital. Gareth Bale fired home Madrid’s fastest ever Champions League goal after just 55 seconds before teeing up Karim Benzema for Real’s second. However, Legia launched a stunning fightback as goals from Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe, Miroslav Radovic and Thibault Moulin put the Polish champions on the verge of a famous victory. Mateo Kovacic salvaged some pride and a now 27-game unbeaten run for the European champions when he…
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has said that he’s yet to decide who will take over from him. Okorocha however added that he will not be succeeded by his deputy, Eze Madumere. The governor made the comments on Thursday, October 6, during the launch of a book titled: “Eze Madumere: A True Manifestation of a Loyal Prince” in Owerri. “I have not decided who will be the next Governor of Imo state. I want to also tell you that, this is not a launch for a path for Madumere as the incoming governor of the state,” he said according to…
The Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha has been in the news lately for his efforts at mending the cracked fences in the All Progressives Congress (APC). He revealed that the party has not managed the 2016 election victory very well, adding that there is still hunger in the land. Okorocha also said that nobody can bully the APC Chairman, John Oyegun out of the party. You will recall that Oyegun and the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu were at loggerheads following the outcome of the APC governorship primaries in Ondo state. Also, Timi Frank, the APC Deputy National Publicity…
The crisis currently rocking the Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) seems to have taken a new dimension. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the APC had called for the resignation of the national chairman of the party, John Oyegun. Oyegun replied by saying that allegations levelled against him by the APC national leader were reckless and baseless. There were also allegations that a certain cabal had taken over powers from President Muhammadu Buhari, which was part of the reasons why Tinubu had been sidelined. The First Lady, Aisha Buhari seemed to have supported this allegation when she…
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday advised those agitating for anything in the country to shun violence. The Vice President gave the advice at a Presidential dinner in honour of some outstanding granduands of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) at the State House, Abuja. He also urged them to seek ways to engage robustly with the administration and to avoid things capable of destroying their future. According to the Vice President the federal government is committed to the PAP in order to give the young people the opportunity to succeed. He said the administration was building six technology…
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that no fewer than 800 suspected violent herdsmen have been arrested across the country by security agencies. Osinbajo said this in Houston, Texas in the U.S. on Friday at a Townhall event where he interacted with US-based Nigerians, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr Laolu Akande. The Vice President fielded about 30 live and internet questions at the event moderated by Mr Rudolf Okonkwo of Sahara Reporters and Prof. Nimi Wariboko of Boston University. On the herdsmen attacks in certain states across the country he said the Federal Government was acting…
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is to lead a 30,000-man prayer convention to pray for Nigeria’s economic recovery, slated to hold in Abuja from Nov.16 to Nov. 19. Mr Cosmos Uzodinma, member, 2016 Africa Convention Abuja (ACA), said the convention is being organised by the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International-Nigeria (FGBMFI). Uzodinma, via a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, said that the convention would hold at the National Stadium, Abuja. According to him, the convention is designed to contribute to the ongoing spiritual, social and economic reengineering of the country. “It will attract participants from over 30…
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan was not committed to defeating Boko Haram. He said GEJ’s administration and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claimed that the sect was sponsored by the Northern political leaders to discredit his government. Osinbajo also said Jonathan’s government became unpopular when it dismissed the abduction of the Chibok Girls, alleging it was a plan by the opposition. The VP said GEJ’s administration only began to take Boko Haram serious when there was an attempt on President Buhari’s life. According to Punch, Osinbajo also said “Secondly, the ruling party also somewhat…
The Senate has on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for approval to borrow $29.6 billion. According to multiple reports, the matter was rejected by several Senators who voted Nay to the approval sought when it was brought forward. It was further reported that the sole reason many senators turned down the external borrowing request was the “lack of documents supporting the request as referenced in the letter” by the President. Though President Buhari had said that the need for the external loan was to promptly implement projects that cut across agriculture, health, education, and water supply,…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it understands the pains Nigerians are going through as the Naira continues to depreciate in value at the interbank and parallel markets. Nigerians are grappling with an economic recession following a plunge in the global price of oil. Many businesses have closed shop and commodity prices have since hit the roof. Nigeria runs an import dependent economy. At a Forex policy dialogue in Lagos put together by the British High Commission, Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the CBN Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Ukeje said “the CBN doesn’t take selfish decisions. We are all…
A total of $7 billion (N2.1 trillion) is said to have been lost to the activities of militants and vandals in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This revelation was made known by The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, on Friday, October 28, 2016. At the 2016 Fiscal Liquidity Assessment Committee Retreat in Abuja, Baru said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Nigerian Government lost the sum to the activities of militancy groups and oil pipeline vandals. Baru also said that apart from security challenges in the region, politics, judiciary, oil prices and production cost continued to impact…
President Buhari met elders from the Niger Delta region on Tuesday, November 1, 2016. This is in a bid to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis and alleged degradation of the environment in the oil rich region. Speaking to newsmen on the meeting, the Minister of state for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu said negotiations will continue to ensure that militancy in the region stops. According to Punch, Kachikwu said “The threat to the nation’s gas supply from militants and insurgency in the Niger Delta were critical and thought-provoking, stressing that the government was trying to address the situation and…
Niger Delta stakeholders on Tuesday, November 1, presented 16 requests to President Muhammadu Buhari in a bid to bring lasting peace to the violence-ridden region. The stakeholders made the presentation at a closed-door meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. According to Punch, the Niger Delta leaders demanded the allocation of oil blocks and awards of contracts to indigenes of the region. They also want a review of the amnesty programme, de-militarisation of communities in the region and relocation of operational headquarters of oil companies to the region, among others. The requests were presented by the Amanyanabo…
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his commitment to making life better for Nigerians, noting that any Nigerian who has another country to relocate to is free to leave. The President said this on Tuesday, November 1 while addressing Niger Delta stakeholders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. “We are determined to make life comfortable and affordable to all Nigerians. If anybody has a country to go to, let him go, we will stay here and salvage our country,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu. It said the President told the Niger Delta…
The Nigeria Police Force has expressed readiness to work with the Ministry of Information to enforce the ‘Change Begins With Me’ initiative of the Federal Government. Speaking at a meeting with the Ministry in Abuja, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said the police has all it takes to help achieve the campaign objectives. He urged Officers to be committed and loyal in carrying out their duties with regards to the initiative. Idris said: “We have decided, as the top management, to invite the minister to pass this message to the top officers of the Nigeria Police Force because…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Lagos State Council, on Wednesday condemned the dismissal of Ogun State chairman of NLC and 15 others by the state government. Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the Lagos State Council Chairman of NLC, made the condemnation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. NAN reports that Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun on Monday approved the dismissal of the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Akeem Ambali, his deputy, Comrade Dare Ilekoya, and 14 others. The dismissal of the labour leaders was contained in a report of a panel of inquiry set up…
150 students of the Command Science School, Lafia, will get automatic admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) upon graduation, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has said. According to a report by Leadership Newspaper, Buratai made this known on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 in Lafia during commissioning of the school. Buratai stated that the project, Command Science School will further enhance military/civilian relationship. Represented by the head of administration in his office, Major General Bello Abubakar, Buratai, Buratai explained that the project which started in July 2014 is a collaborative effort between the Army and the…
Former Governor of Akwa-Ibom state and serving Senator, Godswill Akpabio has denied sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). Akpabio said “It is a fabrication from the pit of hell from those who are profiteering from the crisis in the Niger Delta and would wish no end to it.” The former Governor described the allegation as a politically motivated propaganda by those who seek to profit from the crisis in the Niger Delta. Akpabio also warned that the issues in the oil rich region should not be politicised by anybody. The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) named Akpabio, former President Goodluck…
There are allegations that Ibanga Akpabio, the younger brother of ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio, has been arrested for defrauding a member of the House of Reps. According to a report by SaharaReporters, Ibanga, the current Deputy Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom state, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. It was further reported that EFCC sources said Ibanga was detained at the Zonal office of the EFCC in Port Harcourt for defrauding Honourable Robinson Uwak. Operatives are also said to be investigating Ibanga for allegations of fraud and money laundering. Senator Godswill Akapabio has also…