Adam Lallana says Liverpool were quick to retrain their focus on Europa League success following their League Cup final disappointment. The Merseysiders were beaten by Manchester City in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley on Sunday after a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time. Lallana was one of three Liverpool players to miss a spot-kick, along with Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva. But the England international believes Jurgen Klopp’s side must use the disappointment of losing as motivation to triumph in the Europa League, in which they face Manchester United in a mouthwatering last-16 tie. Lallana told the club’s…
Author: David Folami
The governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of plotting to turn Nigeria into a solely Islamic country. The governor attacked the President again while speaking at the Thanksgiving and Supreme Court victory celebration of Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike. He described Nigeria as a free society that would not be taken as an Islamic nation irrespective of the motive or plans of the President. “I want to reveal one secret here; they have started subtle moves to make Nigeria an Islamic nation. But God will not allow it. This was done in 1984, but it…
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has revealed how he created over 125,000 direct jobs in the state within nine months of taking reins of power. El-Rufai made this disclosure during his sixth town hall meeting with the people of Kaduna in Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area on Saturday, February 27, 2016. He revealed how the state school feeding programme, school uniforms, school rehabilitation, toilets constructions, solar boreholes had created jobs for several people in the state. In his words, “The job impact of ongoing interventions is over 125,000 direct jobs in Kaduna State within less than one year of the…
The Sokoto state Government has suspended the Principal of Government Secondary School, Isa in Isa local government area of the state, Alhaji Garba Illo, over alleged irregularities of feeding of students. This is contained in a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Senior Secondary Schools in the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Abdullahi Altine, and issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Saturday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the axe fell on Illo sequel to numerous other related alleged offences in managing the affairs of the boarding school. It said that Illo has been directed…
Senate President, Bukola Saraki has defended the acquisition of his official cars valued at N330m. In a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki explained why office recently took delivery of the cars. Saraki explained that only the 2016 model Mercedes Benz S550 valued at over N49m was changed while the cars in his convoy were inherited from his predecessor. The statement reads, “Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has said only his official vehicle, a Mercedez Benz, was changed and that the spare car in the convoy is the old one he inherited and has…
The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has taken a bold step in punishing suspected individuals responsible for padding the 2016 budget. According to a report, the President has ordered security operatives to fish out those involved in the doctoring of the document for punishment. It was further learnt that plain cloth detectives had since swooped on the Department of Budget and some ministries, departments and agencies in a bid to uncover those involved in the embarrassment. A source in the report said, “For two days, the detectives have been working in the Budget Department but we do not really know what…
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa has criticised the President Buhari led government with the current state of the Nigerian economy. In a recent interview with Vanguard Newspaper, he said, “The economy is still in a very bad state and not close to getting better as the APC promised during the campaigns.” Continuing, he said, ‘And to make matters worse, the government wants to borrow to fund the 2016 budget. This administration seems to have forgotten what we went through concerning our past debt burden.’ On the fight against corruption, Balarabe Musa said, ‘It is obvious that this government…
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Sunday said his ministry would work with the relevant agencies of government to tackle piracy facing the entertainment industry. The minister who said this while meeting with some stakeholders in the movie industry in Lagos, also promised that the Federal Government would establish a national endowment fund for the art sector. The event attended by popular Nollywood actors and actresses was held at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Media Centre, Iganmu-Lagos. “There is no doubt that piracy has become a monstrous disincentive not only to you, film-makers, but also…
The Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ahmed Marafa, on Sunday provided various empowerment packages to 400 youths in his constituency. Marafa said at the ceremony in Minna that the gesture was in fulfilment of his campaign promises. According to him, 250 of those supported are students, 50 petty traders and 100 others who were earlier trained in different skills. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the beneficiaries were given cash, motorcycles and start-up business packs. Marafa pledged to support youth in the area willing to pursue their educational carrier, adding, “no amount of money…
Ex-Member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ahmed Wadada has joined a list of dignitaries that have been appealing to Nasarawa state governor, Gov. Umaru Al-Makura over the sack of Ruqaiyyat Tijjani-Usman. In an interview with newsmen, the ex-lawmaker urged the governor to rescind his decision to sack Miss Tijjani-Usman, over her comments on her Face book page. Tijjani-Usman’s appointment was terminated on Thursday, February 25, 2016 for allegedly criticising the government for not doing enough to fight Lassa fever outbreak in the state.
President Muhammadu Buhari has announced that members of Boko Haram are no longer threats to the country and world at large. Admitting that the sect’s activities had led to loss of many lives and displacement of innocent people in the country, Buhari said his administration had cleverly reduced the havoc wrecked by the terrorists. Speaking on Sunday, February 28, 2016 in Qatar, President Buhari addressed conflicts in Syria and Yemen saying Qatar has a genuine intention in solving the issues. “The conflicts in Yemen and Syria with their attendant humanitarian crisis need genuine international effort to solve,” he said. Speaking…
Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has declared his unflinching support for a two-state solution to the Israel- Palestine conflict. According to a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, Buhari made the statement during a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim Bin Hammad Al-Thani, on Sunday, February 28, 2016. In his words, “I want to assure you that we will stand side by side with you, until our brothers and sisters in Palestine achieve their desired objectives.” Continuing, ‘Our support for various Security Council resolutions restoring and respecting 1967 boundaries with Jerusalem as capital of Palestine is firm and unshaken.’ “As…
The Federal Ministry of Finance says it saves the Federal Government N2.29 billion monthly since December 2015 by eliminating 23,846 ghost workers from its payroll. This is contained in a statement on Sunday in Abuja by Mr Festus Akanbi, Special Adviser, Media, to the Minister of Finance. It stated that the salary bill for February 2016 had reduced by N2.293 billion when compared to December 2015. According to the ministry, the figure represents a percentage of the number of non-existing workers who had hitherto been receiving salary from various ministries, departments and agencies. According to the statement, its findings are…
Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki said the frivolous petition bill seeking to gag social media users is dead on arrival. The Senate President stated this during his speech at the Social Media Week in Lagos. He said the National Assembly believes the social media has a role to play in the development of Nigeria. He said section four of the frivolous petition bill won’t even be considered if at all the Senate will consider the bill. “The frivolous petition bill, just like every other bill that must go through process should be something Nigerians should not fear. Let me tell…
Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki cannot be removed from his present position, reiterates the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye. Dino, who spoke at the Social Media Week in Lagos, described Saraki as irremovable from the office of Senate President. “Saraki is irremovable,” Dino said, “Politicians get attacks from every corner of the social media but Nigerians should be able to verify information before attacking someone.” Dino said, “Few days ago, I was attacked on Social Media for driving recklessly in Port Harcourt and I was in Abuja. Some people sit in their bedrooms…
Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said that his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) is an act of persecution. Saraki made the comment today, February 26, 2016, while speaking at a Social Media Week event in Lagos. “It is not a fight against corruption, it is more about being persecuted,” the Senate President said when he was asked by Declan Galvin of Sahara Reporters why he had refused to resign. “We are public servants and you must fill your asset declaration form when you get in office and I did mine 13 years ago. “The charges have…
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu Sheriff has said that the party has suffered enough for its mistakes. Sheriff made the comment on Thursday, February 25, 2016, during a meeting with a delegation of the Arewa Social Media Forum (ASMEFO) in Abuja, The Cable reports. The PDP Chairman also reportedly said that he would not work with “recalcitrant and unrepentant party members”. “We have the mandate of the party members and leaders to re-position the party and we will not work with anyone who will create crisis or violence in the party, no matter their positions,”…
The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Oyegun, today, February 26, says President Muhammadu Buhari is “an international salesman” marketing Nigeria abroad. While defending the continued foreign trips of the President, Oyegun said the travels are opening up the country to more investors, noting that the move is “necessary at this point in time”. The APC leader was speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja. He assured that Nigerians will reap the dividends of the trip by the time it starts manifesting in the coming months. Oyegun said Buhari’s current visit to the Middle East…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disassociated itself from a fake online portal opened in the name of the party. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Richard Ihediwa, Special Assistant to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metuh, on Saturday in Abuja. It stated that the fake online portal: www.pdpmembership.org/register; was demanding Nigerians to register as members of PDP through an electronically guided form. “The PDP states categorically that this online portal does not belong to it; is not associated to it, and has nothing to do with it at any level and in anyway whatsoever.…
The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, on Friday urged political leaders and government officials to entrench good governance and shun all forms of corruption. Adebule gave the advice while speaking with journalists at the funeral service of the late Mrs Olayemisi Johnson, wife of the former administrator of Lagos State, retired Brig. Gen. Mobolaji Johnson. She appealed to those in authority to always uphold the trust reposed in them and ensure transparency in the running of government affairs. Adebule described the late Johnson as a worthy role model, a mother of all, and a woman of high integrity…