The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said on Saturday that the Federal Government needed 700 million dollars to upgrade its refineries to produce at maximum capacities. Kachikwu, who is also the Group Managing Director of NNPC, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen during the re-inauguration of the Port Harcourt/Bonny Crude Supply Line at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), Eleme, Rivers. He said that due to the fact that the nation did not have such amount, advertisements had been signed for investors to come in. According to him, we are not inviting foreign partners to take over…
Author: David Folami
Governor Ayodele Fayose’s letter to the Chinese Government has been described as a display of foolishness by the youths in Ekiti under the name Ekiti Kete Youth Forum. The youth condemned the Governor’s letter to the Chinese government urging it not to issue loan to the Nigerian government led by President Muhammadu Buhari. A statement by group’s Director of Media and Publicity, Comrade Tope Idowu, read, “The decision of the governor to attempting frustrating the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in his effort to redeeming the political image and also resuscitating, restructuring and repositioning the battered economy of…
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday reassured Nigerians that the question of Change in the country was irrevocable and the present administration was completely committed to it. He spoke at a town hall meeting organised in Lagos by a group, United Action for Change, urging Nigerians never to lose hope. The VP re-emphasised that the Buhari-led administration was committed to changing the nation for the better. Osinbajo said that change was not a mere slogan as the country could not survive going the way it had always gone. “The question of Change is irrevocable,’’ he said, assuring Nigerians that things,…
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to fix Nigeria in other to woo investors rather than ‘globe-trotting.’ In a recent interview with Daily Independent Newspapers, the former Political Adviser to ex- President Goodluck Jonathan said the country needs to understand that running to different countries and seeking investors while discussing corruption will no solve the country’s problem. In his words, “Every Nigerian is saying that the President should stay back at home. Yes, we want investors but as I said if you fix your country, investors will run coming to you. We…
The Jigawa Government said it would complete the two abandoned Township Stadium projects in the state. The Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse. “This government is willing to support youths, especially in sporting activities, but that will not be possible without stadia and other sports facilities. “When this administration came on board, it met two uncompleted township stadia in Dutse and Kazaure. We have decided to complete those projects,” he said. Ibrahim said that the government would do everything possible to engage…
Gombe State Government has increased its nutritional budget from N50 to N120 million yearly, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The Chairman, Maternal and Neonatal Child Health Coalition (MNCH) Gombe, Malam Alhasan Yaya, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Gombe on Saturday during the meeting with stakeholders working on nutrition. He said that the aim of the meeting was to find a lasting solution to the challenge of malnutrition facing the state. “We are all aware that the issue of malnutrition among children is on the increase and bad across Gombe. We want to bring it down to…
Ex-Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo, has been reported dead at the age of 80-years old. A report by Nation Newspaper revealed that Jafojo, who served as deputy to Alhaji Lateef Jakande, died on Saturday, April 23, 2016 after a brief illness. Top dignitaries that have been spotted at his Lagos residence include his former boss, Lateef Jakande and deputy governor of Lagos state, Alhaja Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule. There are reports that Jafojo’s remain will be buried on Sunday, April 24, 2016 at 2pm according to Islamic rites.
There’s an unusual silence from the All Progressives Congress following the ‘witch hunting’ allegation leveled against the party by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. In a report by Punch Newspaper, the ruling party have kept mum on Saraki’s claims, which was made public in an article published in ThisDay Newspaper on Saturday, April 23, 2016. Saraki had attributed his trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal to political persecution for advising the party against a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the run-up to the 2015 presidential elections. It was further reported that attempts to get comments from the National Chairman APC, John…
Senator Nenadi Usman , the Director of Finance of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, has reportedly returned N23m to the coffers of the Federal Government after her arrest. Punch Newspaper reports that following her arrest on Thursday, April 21, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the senator has been cooperating with the agency. It was also reported that Usman has promised to return more funds to the FG after she has been alleged for receiving from N2.5bn arms deal fraud. Usman, was further reported to have told EFCC investigators that all she did was based on the instructions…
The Balm Empowerment Initiative Foundation has provided training and empowerment materials for over 25 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in Ehor, headquarters of Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo. The foundation on Saturday distributed the safety kits materials to be used during child delivery to beneficiaries. The coordinator, Mrs Favour Jolaoluwa, said many of the TBAs were exposed to dangerous practices like chewing herbs and spiting same on their hands believing that it would make the baby come out on time. Jolaoluwa said the foundation has taught them to take precautionary measures that even if they want to use herbs they…
Kelechi Iheanacho says it would be a “dream come true” to play for Manchester City against Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League. The striker scored twice in the 4-0 victory over Stoke City on Saturday as Manchester City strengthened their grip on a Champions League place for next season. Now the 19-year-old, who has 11 goals in 29 appearances in his debut season with the first team, is hoping he gets a chance to make an impact in the first leg against Madrid on Tuesday. Iheanacho told reporters: “I think I should dream about that because it’s…
Louis van Gaal hailed Manchester United’s “unbelievable” spirit after they beat Everton 2-1 to reach the FA Cup final — before admitting his continued uncertainty about his chances of still being with the club next season. Anthony Martial struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner at Wembley after Marouane Fellaini’s 34th-minute opener was cancelled out by a Chris Smalling own-goal 15 minutes from time. United had dominated the first half, with Everton then mounting a comeback during which Toffees striker Romelu Lukaku had a 57th-minute penalty brilliantly saved by David de Gea. The semi-final looked certain to head into extra time, but…
Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard has said nobody at Stamford Bridge wants Tottenham Hotspur to beat Leicester City to the Premier League title. Having recovered from a hip injury, Hazard scored his first Premier League goals of a difficult campaign as Chelsea beat Bournemouth 4-1 on Saturday to move up to ninth in the table. A disastrous first half of the season under former manager Jose Mourinho ended Chelsea’s hopes of retaining the title — but they can still have a huge impact on who wins it, with Tottenham and Leicester both to come in their final four fixtures. Spurs visit…
Wayne Rooney believes winning the FA Cup could be “the start of something special” for Manchester United. Anthony Martial scored an injury-time winner as United beat Everton 2-1 at Wembley on Saturday to reach the final, where they will play the winner of the second semifinal between Crystal Palace and Watford on May 21. Rooney has yet to win the FA Cup, with United lifting the last of their 11 cups in 2004. Since then they have been overtaken by Arsenal as the most successful club, the Gunners winning for a 12th time last year “I’ve played in two FA…
Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has told Tottenham Hotspur counterpart Mauricio Pochettino he will have to wait to win the Premier League title. Ranieri leads his side into Sunday’s game against Swansea at the King Power Stadium with a five-point advantage over Spurs, who host West Bromwich Albion on Monday night. The pressure is starting to build on the leaders, who are without suspended top scorer Jamie Vardy and then travel to FA Cup finalists Manchester United next weekend. But when asked if he had a message for Pochettino, Ranieri’s reply was clear. “Mauricio, you can wait,” Ranieri told reporters.…
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri expects a difficult match when the Serie A leaders travel to Fiorentina on Sunday. The reigning champions can take an important step toward the title at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, but Allegri believes Fiorentina will be desperate to spring a surprise. “We need to get a positive result against Fiorentina. They’ll be pumped up for it and we can expect a tough match,” Allegri said. “It will be a very intense match. They’re the side that has scored most often in the first 30 minutes. “But we go to Florence looking to bring three points back…
Manchester City thrashed Stoke City 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to leapfrog Arsenal into third place in the Premier League. City’s 19-year-old Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice, in the 64th and 74th minutes, and was brought down for the penalty in the 43rd minute from which Sergio Aguero scored has 16th goal in as many games this year. Fernando headed City’s opener from Jesus Navas’s 35th-minute corner. Stoke have now conceded four goals in each of their last three games. Iheanacho will be hoping to retain his starting slot for City’s Champions League semi-final first-leg game against…
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi reassured coach Laurent Blanc that will remain in charge of the French champions next season. PSG remain on track for another domestic treble after triumphing in Saturday’s Coupe de la Ligue final but Blanc’s future still remains uncertain despite four successive Ligue 1 titles and a new contract only signed in February. Jose Mourinho has been linked with a move to the French capital after Blanc was unable to prevent a fourth consecutive quarter-final exit in the Champions League. However, Al-Khelaifi insisted Blanc, 50, is going nowhere. “It [contract] was extended for two years, he…
Thierry Henry has warned Manchester City not to be “hypnotised” by Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in their Champions League semi-final. City host Madrid in Tuesday’s first leg at the Etihad Stadium, which will mark the Premier League club’s first semi-final appearance in the Champions League. Madrid’s presence in the final four alone is down to the heroics of Ronaldo, who scored a second-leg hat-trick in his team’s quarter-final against Wolfsburg, who lost 3-2 on aggregate, having won 2-0 in Germany. And while Ronaldo proved his match-winning capabilities once again on the big stage, former Arsenal and France international forward Henry…
Liverpool are in sparkling form ahead of their Europa League semi-final against Villarreal and already, manager Jurgen Klopp feels silverware is within the club’s reach. Klopp has only been at Anfield since October but he is confident he can establish the sort of title-winning prowess he had at Borussia Dortmund, who his side knocked out of the Europa League in the quarter-finals. “I feel there is a power at this club,” he said. “I felt it when we played Dortmund at Anfield and I saw it in the streets before the game. I believe that there are some clubs who…