President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Shanghai, China, said his administration would give priority to the building and development of resilient and viable cities comparable with other developed cities across the globe. This is contained in a statement issued by Mallam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President. According to the statement, Buhari stated this at separate meetings with the Mayor of the Chinese city of Shanghai, Mr Yang Xiong and the Director of Shanghai Free Trade Zone, Liu Fangzhou. Buhari said the Federal Government would give full support to Free Trade and Export…
Author: David Folami
Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said that there was no political will to save during the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Okonjo-Iweala made the comment on Thursday, April 14, 2016, while speaking at George Washington University, The Cable reports. The former minister also said that Nigeria was able to save $22 billion under former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. “We saved $22 billion because the political will to do it was there. And when the 2008 /2009 crisis came, we were able to draw on those savings precisely to issue about a 5 percent of GDP fiscal stimulus to the economy and…
The Lagos state government is planning to build a 4th Mainland Bridge to boost the economy of the state. This was disclosed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday, April 14, 2016 during a town hall meeting in Ikorodu. According to a press statement released by his media aide, Habib Aruna, Ambode said: “Many investors have shown interest in the actualization of our dream for the 4th Mainland Bridge which will run from Ajah to Ikorodu to Isawo and berth at Ojodu, Ikeja back to the Ibadan expressway. By the grace of God, we will sign an MoU and commence action…
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has said that governors of South-East are not taking advantage of regional integration to grow the zone’s economy. Ngige made this known at the Enugu State Investment Summit on Friday. He said that the region was economically backward due to lack of visionary leadership and commitment to the masses by political leaders. According to him, the current economic uncertainty offers everybody, including the government, opportunity to look inwards and diversify the economy. “For those of us who go into government, we are not in government to serve ourselves. Unfortunately, people go…
The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to stop the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). The decision was reached by Justice Abdul Kafarati on Friday, April 15, 2016, The Cable reports. “It appears to me all that the applicant is trying to do is to stop his criminal trial at CCT. The CCT is a competent court to try the criminal matters,” the judge said. “This court cannot interfere with the case at the tribunal which has power to try cases. It is not appropriate for the applicant to approach this…
The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has said that Nigerians must be disciplined before order can come into the country. Adesina made the comment in reference to his trip to China with the president. Read his article, titled “Despatch From China: What order, discipline did to China” and published on Vanguard, below: Like a troubadour traversing the land, we set forth at dawn, leaving Beijing for Shanghai, China’s economic nerve center. It was 8 a.m when we headed for the airport, meaning time was 1 a.m in Nigeria. Every honest Nigerian (except those…
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his government will build resilient and viable cities in Nigeria. Buhari made the promise on Thursday, April 14, 2016, during meetings with the Mayor of Shanghai, Yang Xiong and the Director of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, Liu Fangzhou. Accoridng to a statement released by presidential media aide, Garba Shehu, Buhari said: “We have already identified the development of infrastructure, which will bring industries that would create jobs and help us to diversify the economy.” “We are going to work hard to achieve these within the period we have to be in office. Nigerians…
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that the suffering being faced by Nigerians will soon be over. Mohammed gave the assurance on Thursday, April 14, 2016, during a town hall meeting in Enugu, Punch reports. “There will be employment, school meal programme, scholarship and expansion of small-scale investments in the country, and many more. Our message is that the hardship will soon be a thing of the past,” the minister said. “The President is committed to strengthening the electoral process and the Nigerian economy,” he added. Mohammed had earlier also apologized to Nigerians for the hardship caused…
US Presidential candidate and former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has expressed her sadness at the fate of Nigerian children who have been kidnapped by Boko Haram. Mrs Clinton made the comments on Thursday, April 14, 2016, in a statement to TIME in commemoration of the second anniversary of the Chibok abduction. “My heart aches for the hundreds of boys and girls who have been kidnapped by Boko Haram over the years. No child should have to endure these atrocities,” she said. She also said that the Chibok girls’ case shows that there’s still a lot of work to be…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged the a Lagos High Court in Igbosere to to dismiss the application of the embattled Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Rickey Tarfa, challenging the agency’s power to prosecute him. The anti-graft agency stated this on Friday, April 15, while opposing the application to drop the charge against Tarfa. The EFCC arraigned Tarfa on March 9, 2016, on a 27-count charge bordering on refusal to declare assets, making false statement, offering gratification to public officer, failure to declare his assets in the Assets declaration Form. Tarfa’s counsel had, Mr Anthony Idigbe, had…
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, who is currently in China, has been the subject of ridicule since photos of him supposedly addressing the Chinese business community were released online by his loyalists. According to report, he gave a speech at the Multinationals Sourcing Service Centre, PAzhou Trade Complex, Guangzhou, China, canvassing for the support and empowerment of Nigeria. Fayose had on Tuesday, April 12, written a letter to the Chinese government not to borrow Nigeria $2 billion in loan, for which purpose President Muhammadu Buhari is in the Asian country – the All Progressives Congress (APC) described the move…
Former Barcelona captain Xavi says he misses being around the club after leaving the La Liga outfit at the end of last season. Xavi, a Barcelona academy graduate, ended his 25-year association with the Catalans in 2015 after signing with Qatari club Al Sadd. However, after almost a year away from Spain, Xavi revealed he is missing Barca. “I miss the dressing room of FC Barcelona, the jokes, the circle and the level of football,” the 36-year-old told Movistar+. “Barcelona is the best club in the world and the only ones who are close to them are Bayern [Munich].” Xavi…
Remembering the victims of the Hillsborough disaster “far outweighs” the importance of Liverpool’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Borussia Dortmund, according to manager Jurgen Klopp. Friday marks the 27th anniversary of the disaster, which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans, and a minute’s silence will be observed ahead of Thursday’s match at Anfield. “Finally, I turn to a topic that far outweighs any football match or any football competition,” Klopp writes in his programme notes. “It will be a privilege to attend the service on Friday as the manager of Liverpool Football Club. “It will be a privilege…
Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater can be key men for England at Euro 2016 if they can replicate their club form, according to Leicester City team-mate Shinji Okazaki. Vardy has scored 21 Premier League goals this season to spearhead Leicester’s phenomenal title charge and opened his England account by netting a wonderful backheel in the 3-2 win over Germany last month. The striker was also on target in the subsequent friendly versus Netherlands at Wembley , where the 26-year-old Drinkwater impressed on his international debut in defensive midfield. “If both are able to play like when they play for Leicester,…
NAC have agreed a formal partnership with City Football Group that will allow them to sign Manchester City youngsters on loan. Discussions began in January 2015 when then NAC coach Robert Maaskant inquired about the possibility of signing City players on loan and have been intensified in recent months, eventually leading to a formal partnership that will last for five seasons. “It took us months to prepare this partnership,” sporting director Hans Smulders said on the NAC website. “We are proud that one of the biggest clubs in the world eventually chose to work with NAC. Both clubs have a…
Nine first team stars will be leaving Arsenal this season as Arsene Wenger plans a major clear-out. The Gunners are set to finish the season without a trophy after starting with lot of promises. Having won back to back FA Cup trophies, Arsenal were favourites to win the Premier League this season. With Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United stuttering this season, Wenger’s men had just Leicester City and Tottentam to challenge for the title. They are however 11 points off league leaders, Leicester and seven behind Spurs. Wenger according to reports feels let down by a host of his…
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the Premier League had set a dangerous precedent in replacing referee and Leicester City fan Kevin Friend for Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League clash with Stoke City on Monday. Neil Swarbrick will instead referee the fixture as second-placed Spurs, who are chasing a first league title since 1961, look to close the seven point gap on leaders Leicester City. “I am surprised and disappointed. It questions the integrity of the referee and sets a dangerous precedent,” Wenger told reporters on Friday. “The solution is you don’t look where they come from and who they support, you…
After being handed a Champions League semi-final tie against Real Madrid, Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain is confident his club can upset the odds. City progressed to the last four of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time with a 3-2 aggregate win over Paris Saint-Germain, while Madrid’s comeback against Wolfsburg saw them reach the semis for the sixth year in a row. Against a firmly established European superpower, Begiristain knows City have their work cut out against the 10-time champions, but is optimistic they can prevail over two legs. “We’re delighted to be in the semis…
Emilio Butragueno says Real Madrid cannot afford to underestimate Manchester City in the semi-finals of the Champions League after stumbling at the penultimate hurdle last season. Zinedine Zidane’s men avoided Bayern Munich and domestic rivals Atletico Madrid during Friday’s semi-final draw, but former striker Butragueno, now a director at the Santiago Bernabeu, has warned his club City will pose a stern test, too. “It will be a very even tie. We are talking about two clubs with players of the highest level,” Butragueno was quoted as saying by AS. “Manchester City are a very dangerous opponent and they will be…
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will face Villarreal in the Europa League semi-finals, while champions Sevilla were pitted against Shakhtar Donetsk in Friday’s draw in Nyon. A stunning late fightback saw the Reds progress to the final four at the expense of Klopp’s old club Borussia Dortmund and they must now find a way past La Liga opposition to reach the May 18 final at Basel’s St Jakob-Park. The first legs – which see Shakhtar and Villarreal as the home sides – will take place on April 28, with the return matches a week later. Liverpool scored four second-half goals to oust…