Global Naija Info

NAN MD, Mr. Bayo Onanuga Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, has urged his staff to live up to the challenges of re-positioning the agency. Onanuga made the call in Bauchi on Saturday while addressing staff of Bauchi zone of the agency, comprising Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Jigawa states. He said NAN needed to move with the fast changing practice of journalism occasioned by advancement in information technology, if it was to remain relevant. According to him, lackadaisical attitude to work will no longer be tolerated, just as hard work will be appropriately rewarded. He revealed plans to roll out some services to clients of the agency, with a view to giving them maximum satisfaction. The Chief Executive assured staff that they would be provided with facilities necessary for the discharge of their duties. In his remarks, the Editor-in-Chief, Alhaji Ado Lawal, lamented the poor attitude to work of some staff and called for change. He ...

Donald Trump Donald Trump has jumped ahead of Hillary Clinton nationally in the race for the White House, according to a new poll. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has 40 percent support to Clinton’s 39 percent, according to a poll by the right-leaning Rasmussen Reports released Thursday. Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson got got 7 percent, and Green Party nominee Jill Steins got 3 percent. Last week’s edition of the same poll showed Clinton, the Democratic nominee, ahead by 4 points, 42 percent to 38 percent. Clinton’s support is down 5 points from a high of 44 percent in the Rasmussen poll taken in early August, shortly after the Democratic National Convention. Clinton has led in nearly all recent polls. But the race has tightened in recent days, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls. Clinton still leads Trump by 4.6 points nationally, according to that average. Rasmussen Reports conducted its poll of 1,000 likely voters via online and telephone interv...

Cardinal Adewale Martins Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has advised Christians to desist from the use of phones in places of worship as a sign of respect for God. Martins made the call in his sermon at the dedication of the Catholic Church of Visitation, Festac Town, Lagos on Saturday. The cleric said that introduction of the phone technology had made people lose their sense of humility and reverence for God while in Church. “Some Christians have turned their phones to Holy Bible, reading scriptures, news and researches with their phones during sermons. “ They have turned a positive invention to misplacement of priority; such an act does not show reverence to God and should be banned in places of worship,’’ he said. Martins said that the inventor of the Facebook, who recently visited the country, displayed humility which should be emulated by users of these technologies. The bishop, however, commended the priests and parishioners of the church f...

Train carrying cattle arrives Lagos The Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) says train carrying about 500 cows which left Gusau on Thursday arrived Oko-Oba, Lagos on Saturday hours ahead of schedule. This information is contained in a statement issued by the organisation’s Coordinator, Research and Strategy, Mr Bello Abba, on Saturday in Abuja. The statement quoted the Managing Director, Mr Aliyu Abdulhameed as describing it as a pleasant surprise. According to him, it is a good omen for the innovative project of moving cattle from the North to the South by rail. “We are indeed happy to hear that the wagons had arrived ahead of schedule. “We are very delighted that the historic train has arrived earlier than projected. “It is a source of encouragement as we strive towards improving and deepening our Farm to Market Scheme,” he said. NIRSAL, two days ago in Gusau, launched the commencement of its National Farm to Market Scheme. The scheme aim...

Lil’ Dizzie Hip-Hop artist/disc-jockey, MajorSlim_DJ, who hails from Limpopo Thohoyandou, South Africa, teams up with Nigerian-born rapper/lyricist, Lil’ Dizzie, and top beat-maker, J.Fitts, from Raleigh, NC, USA; with only a few weeks gone by since the release of his Sizzy and AJ-featured tune titled “Skeem Saam.” MajorSlim_DJ sure sets the pace rolling with this new collaboration with the collective effort from the Nigerian-featured act, Lil’ Dizzie, who’s already known for carving out a niche for himself on the fast-growing Nigerian Hip-Hop scene. Titled “Ballin’,” this J.Fitts production boasts of an electrifying head-bopping instrumentation of the Trap/Hip-Hop genre and Nigeria’s very own, Lil’ Dizzie, sure got a tight spin in on this with his subtle lyricism, encompassing key elements to delivering the perfect lines in his verse and punching in an overall brilliant performance; listen up and share your thoughts.

Obasanjo and Modu-Sheriff after the meeting Factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, on Saturday visited the hilltop residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State to seek his support in the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Though both Obasanjo and Sheriff did not disclose the outcome of their one hour meeting, a source at the residence said Sheriff came to seek Obasanjo’s support for his faction. The source did not disclose whether he got the elder statesman’s support or not. Both Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi are locked in a bitter struggle for the control of the former ruling party which was defeated in national elections last year. Obasanjo had consistently stated that he was done with partisan politics after he publicly tore his membership card of the PDP. Attempts by various politicians to bring back to politics had been unsuccessful as the former president said he preferre...

Nigeria’s Super Eagles The Manchester City young sensation’s brilliant strike handed coach Gernot Rohr a winning start in charge of the Super Eagles on Saturday in Uyo Nigeria claimed the first win of his tenure on Tuesday as they saw off Tanzania in a 1-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. Kelechi Iheanacho’s lone strike was all new coach Gernot Rohr needed to record a hard fought winning start in charge of the Super Eagles in a dead rubber encounter on Saturday in Uyo. In a surprise fashion, the visitors posted some troubling threats inside the hosts’ half in the opening five minutes, but Rohr’s team reclaimed possession with Odion Ighalo’s effort gone wide. The Eagles kept their composure as well as dominance, and Victor Moses’ free kick went inches wide, but Charles Mkwasa’s men were collectively bright to severally stop the Nigeria attacks. The visitors had an appeal for penalty waved after keyman Mbwana Samatta troubled the Eagles’ defence before Mikel’s close ...

President Barack Obama of United States A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Saturday morning near Pawnee, Oklahoma, and rattled through at least six surrounding states in the US heartland, according to the US Geological Survey. The earthquake was also felt in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, and Iowa, according to USGS geophysicists. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission, a regulatory agency that examines the state’s fuel, oil, gas, public utilities and transportation industries, is “reviewing disposal wells in the vicinity of the earthquake near Pawnee,” Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said via Twitter. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is checking bridges for damage and structural engineers are assessing building safety according to Fallin. The earthquake damaged at least one historic building in Pawnee, Oklahoma, city officials told CNN. “It’s an old historical building about 100 years old. It’s still standing but some of the outer layers of sandstone fell, it could...

Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi have commended the Lagos State Assembly for promoting and preserving the rich Yoruba cultural heritage. The monarchs gave the commendation when the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa led other members of the House on a courtesy visit to the monarchs’ palaces in Oyo and Ile-Ife. The Alaafin of Oyo, who commended the lawmakers for conducting their Thursday plenary session in Yoruba Language, urged the Yoruba to unite in order to ensure growth and development of the race. Adeyemi, who said that the mastery of the Yoruba language helped in proficiency in other languages, admonished Yoruba youths never to neglect their culture for a foreign one. The traditional ruler, who would clock 78 years in the next few months, said that God had blessed the Yoruba race in several ways. The monarch, who had spent 46 years on the throne, maintained that the Yoruba people were the fi...

Delegates voting In Ondo State APC primary elections in Akure on Saturday The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced its primary election in Ondo State for the Nov. 26 governorship poll, amidst tight security and peaceful environment. The election commenced at 12:15 p.m after the accreditation, which started at 7 a.m ended. The APC has 24 governorship aspirants and 3,000 delegates participating in the primary election. The APC Primary Election Committee was chaired by the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar. Abubakar urged the delegates to be orderly and stressed the need to end the process on time and peacefully. INEC officials and the party chieftains were all present at the primary election with security personnel provided by the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Some of the aspirants such as Mr Olusola Oke, Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, Victor Olabimtan and the only female aspirant, Mrs Olajumoke Anifowose-Ajasin and other...

Mr Steve Ayorinde, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Kazeem Ugbodaga The Lagos State Government on Saturday said owners of the buildings demolished in Ikoyi were duly served with contravention, removal and quit notices before the exercise was carried out, just as it vowed to intensify efforts to rid the State of illegal structures. In a statement issued by the Commissioner, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the government said it had noted with dismay, the flagrant disobedience of building regulations, and had therefore resolved to ensure removal of all structures that were in contravention of the law. Speaking against the backdrop of recent demolition of some illegal structures in Ikoyi, Ayorinde reiterated government’s determination to rid the State of illegal developments, saying: “In our effort to maintain a sustainable, organized, liveable and friendly environment, the government will not renege on its declared stance of zero tolerance for stru...

Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, on Saturday, said that the state government had procured three tree-planting spades, to guarantee the sustainability of its greening programme. Adejare in Lagos said that the tree-planting equipment could also be referred to as ‘The Big John Transplanters’. According to him, the spades are for the sole purpose of transporting matured trees to new locations of need. “With the help of the equipment, the incidence of indiscriminate tree felling will be drastically reduced. “And to ensure that the whole country benefits from the Big John Transplanters, the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) has put in place necessary machinery for its commercialisation,” he said. Adejare said the equipment had been used in Calabar to move 50 matured trees to other suitable locations within the state. He said that LASPARK had moved matured trees to and f...

Mr Taye Adeuti, on Saturday, emerged as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the Nov. 26 governorship election in Ondo State. Adeuti emerged with unanimous voice votes after the second aspirant, Mr Gbenga Ojo, withdrew his candidacy when both men were nominated as aspirants for the primary election. Adeuti, 63, from Idanre Local Government Area, is an economist and marketer with a Masters degree in Business Administration. In his acceptance speech, Adeuti thanked the party members and the chairman of Congress Committee for finding him worthy to carry the flag of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. “I will do my best, we all want to work for the development of our state, and I am very happy to lead this famous party, our goal is November 26. “Ondo is an enlightened State with educated people, so the development of this state is my major project and we shall achieve it together,” he said. Earlier, the State Chairman of LP, Mr Wale Gbakinro, said...

A legal practitioner in Ilorin, Mr. Jude Obi, has blamed parents for indecent dressing that he describes as rampant among ladies across the country. Obi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Saturday, noting that parents were the major cause of the rampant indecent dressing, especially among ladies. He added that most parents taught their daughters indecent dressing by pampering them right from childhood. The lawyer noted that most parents would go to the market to buy dresses that were transparent for their daughters to celebrate. “This had changed the mentality and mode of dressing for many females on the street; the parents are only misleading them. “That is why many ladies dress indecently when they grow up and then it will be difficult for them to change their method of dressing,” he said. Obi observed that indecent dressing had made many ladies become victims of rape and sexual harassment from men. He, however, advised parents to che...

Erik Solheim, Head UN Environment Programme. UN Environment Programme Head Erik Solheim says the agreement of China and the United States (U.S.) to ratify Paris Climate Agreement is crucial to moving the agreement forward. Reacting to the announcement in a statement on Saturday, Solheim said: “This announcement is hugely important. The leadership of China and the U.S. is crucial to taking the Paris Climate Agreement forward. “They bring significant additional momentum to keeping global warming less than two-degree-Celsius. “By putting the well-being of our planet at the top of the agenda, the two largest economies in the world are also showing that our economic future is low-carbon and green. “The fight against climate change remains difficult and urgent, but having heavy-hitters such as China and U.S. on your side is extremely heartening.” China’s state media announced early Saturday that its National People’s Congress had approved the ratification of the agreement at the clos...

Polling center Rev. Jacob Bada, Bishop of Etsako Diocese of the Anglican Communion, has urged politicians in Edo to avoid violence in the Sept. 10 governorship election in the state. Bada made the call at the opening session of the third Synod of the diocese held at All Saints Cathedral, Auchi, Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2016 Synod has the theme “The Power of Vision in Leadership.’’ Bada called on candidates taking part in the Edo governorship election to promote peace, urging the electorate to also exercise their franchise without selling their conscience. “The synod calls on all aspirants and their supporters to play the game according to the rules and eschew violence. “We encourage men, women, natives and non-natives to be active in the forthcoming election. “You all must go out to vote and vote your conscience. May the best candidate who will take Edo to the next level be elected,” he said. The bishop said t...

Poultry farmers in Plateau say they record low patronage and experience hike in the price of feeds in recent times. Mr John Dasar, the Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria in the state, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Jos. “This period is, indeed, tough for us; the sale is low, while cost of production is high; government must step in to help us,” he said. He attributed the low patronage to the poor purchasing power of most families occasioned by the worsening economic situation nationwide. He explained that low patronage had also led to an excess in supply of poultry products, particularly eggs, compared to the demand. “Most farmers cannot cope and have shut down their farms. The price of egg has gone so down that many of us cannot stay afloat. “A crate of egg, which used to sell for between N800 to N900, is now N600; in contrast, a bag of feeds goes for N2, 600, which is two times its price in February. “When you do the mathematics, you will see t...

Governor Adams Oshiomole Five hundred men and women are to benefit from a free medical treatment sponsored by Yakson Initiative Organisation in conjunction with Shifaah Foundation. The founder of the organisation, Dr Yakubu Musa, made this known at the inauguration held at the Otaru palace in Auchi, Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo on Saturday. Musa said the organisation was offering free screening for patients with diabetics, hypertension, sugar test, high blood pressure test, HIV test and people with eye problems. He added that those treated would be given free drugs. “We are collaborating with Shifaah Foundation to organise this one-day programme; we are targeting 500 vulnerable men and women to benefit from this gesture. “We will also be offering free drugs to patients,” Musa said. Musa said the programme was initiated to provide medical treatment and counselling for age-related ailments like diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, dental treatment, eye proble...

Bishop Chamberlain The bishop of Grantham has become the first Church of England bishop to say that he is gay and in a relationship. Bishop Nicholas Chamberlain, a suffragan in Lincoln diocese, was consecrated last year by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby-who has said he knew about the bishop’s sexuality. He was in a “long-term and committed” relationship, Archbishop Welby said. Bishop Chamberlain says he obeys Church guidelines which say gay clergy must remain celibate. The archbishop also said: “His appointment as Bishop of Grantham was made on the basis of his skills and calling to serve the Church in the Diocese of Lincoln. “He lives within the Bishops’ guidelines and his sexuality is completely irrelevant to his office.” ‘Not secret’ A Church of England spokesman said: “Nicholas has not misled anyone and has been open and truthful if asked. The matter is not secret, although it is private as is the case with all partnerships/relationships.” Bishop Chamberlain made t...

Nigeria Air Force emblem The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has urged its officers and soldiers to keep fit and be ready for deployment or redeployment to various operational theatres to protect the territorial integrity of the nation. The Commander, NAF Base Services Group, Enugu, Air Commodore Ebenezer Alade, gave this charge after the `3rd Quarter 10 Kilometre Route March’’ of all NAF personnel in Enugu on Saturday. Alade said that officers and soldiers should brace up for massive and tasking deployment. He noted that officers and soldiers of NAF must live up to meet the demand of various theatres of operations in the North East, South-South, South-West (Lagos and Ogun States) and Jos. “I implore you to always and constantly keep fit even in your own time. “Many of you will be deployed and redeployed to various NAF’s operational theatres that are ongoing in the country. “Our sole mission is to protect and safeguard the territorial integrity of the country. “Remember, that we all ...

FRSC Boss, Boboye Oyeyemi and other corps marshalls The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Plateau Command, has convicted 25 motorists in Jos over various road traffic offences. The Corps Public Education Officer in the state, Mr Andrew Bala, disclosed this on Saturday in Jos. Bala said that the offenders were apprehended via a Mobile Court exercise carried out by its officers and men on patrol. He said the exercise took place on some highways within Jos-Bukuru metropolis. According to him, mobile court has become one veritable tool that the corps uses to curtail the many anomalies on highways, especially as the “Ember” months are here. “Our men on patrol actually apprehended 32 motorists, but seven were discharged and acquitted while 25 were found guilty and convicted. “We mostly use the mobile courts these days because we feel there is the need to give motorists fair hearing, and for me it is a better deal. “The most prevalent offences these motorists were convicted inc...

Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, National Secretary, APC The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated caretaker officers for the Gombe State chapter of the party. This is contained in a statement issued by the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, on Saturday in Abuja. Buni said in the statement that the NWC had relieved Mr Muhammad Doho and Mr Dauda Manu as state chairman and state legal adviser respectively. The APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Lawal Shuaibu, who inaugurated the officers on behalf of the NWC, urged the officers to be steadfast. He said the terms of reference directed the officers to steer the affairs of the party diligently. “Lead the members of the State Working Committee of the party in your respective capacities. “Take stock of all officers of the party to ensure they are in tandem with the outcome of the nationwide congresses held in 2014, using the authentic list given to you by the Nation...

A development economist, Dr Chidi Onuoha, says the solution for Nigeria to come out of the current economic recession is investment in renewable energy. Onuoha, National President, Sustainable Energy Practitioners Association of Nigeria (SEPAN), made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday. He said that policymakers had not discovered the secret in renewable energy and how it could help to restore the economy. The development economist said that the association would educate the policymakers on how to utilise the country’s renewable energy potential. “What we are doing now is to educate them that money should be appropriated toward renewable energy and that renewable energy are not cumbersome. “The technology is not expensive; the price is coming down now; so, it is good for us to invest in it to boost the economy,” he said. He spoke on the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) report which stated that South Africa had overtaken N...

2016 G20 Summit to hold in China Some Nigerians have appealed to world leaders attending the forthcoming G20 summit in China to consider the development of Africa as a priority in the interest of global peace. They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday. Sunday Adebayo, who runs a business centre in Abuja, stressed that “Africa has been left behind for too long” Adebayo, however, attributed some of the current global challenges to the long-time neglect of Africa. He suggested that the world leaders should come together and place Africa in the front burner, adding that the world stood to gain from the development of Africa. Felicia Agunbiade, a public analyst, who also spoke with NAN maintained that “the G20 summit presents another opportunity for the world leaders to correct the mistake of the past” According to her, the global peace will continue to be threatened if a particular continent is not at par with others. S...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accredited 44 observer groups for the Sept.10 gubernatorial election in Edo. The INEC Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs Prisillia Sule, confirmed this in Benin on Saturday. Sule said the commission accredited 37 domestic observer groups and seven foreign observer group that would participate in the poll. The spokesperson, however, urged all the accredited groups to deliver credible and reliable information to members of the public during and after the election coverage.

James Wharton, UK Minister for International Development. The United Kingdom will assist Nigeria to overcome its current economic and security challenges, UK Minister for International Development, James Wharton, has said. Wharton told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Abuja that he was in Nigeria to assess some of the definite challenges. According to him, Nigeria in spite of the challenges has great potential in human and natural resources as well as opportunities to overcome the current challenges. “This is clearly a country with incredible opportunity with amazing people, with a real deep, strong link and friendship with the United Kingdom but which faces challenges. “The Government of the United Kingdom must help Nigeria to overcome some of the challenges in the overall interest of the people of Nigeria and the UK. “There are the security and humanitarian issues in the North-East, there are clearly economic challenges, the price of oil hasn’t helped,” he ...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried the reduction of the Federal Government’s allocation to the education sector from 11 percent in 2015 to 8 percent in 2016. The ASUU Sokoto Zonal Coordinator, Dr Lawal Argungu, made this known at a Press Conference in Sokoto on Saturday. “The way FGN treats the funding of education in this country makes it difficult for ASUU to believe the sincerity of the government in reforming the education sector in Nigeria. “It is certainly quite possible for us to reposition our educational sector appropriately if we put our priorities right in this country in spite of the apparent economic hardship. “The union is willing to use every legitimate instrument at its disposal to ensure government fund universities as contained in the valid agreements, Argungu said. He expressed regrets that out of the over N1.3 trillion earmarked for the revitalisation of the Nigerian universities in 2013, there was still an arrears of N605 billion. Ar...

Nigeria Police emblem The Abia State Police Command have arrested two teenage girls identified as Esther Odum and Ebere Ejimadu for allegedly attempting to sell their unborn babies. The state Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Leye Oyebade on Thursday paraded the teenagers before newsmen while saying they were arrested along with one Oluchi, the wife of the owner of the alleged baby factory where they planned to have the babies and later sell them. Oyebade said, “The command got information that the suspect, Ifeanyi Agbasonu and his wife Oluchi, were operating a baby factory at No. 2 Bridget Road Aba. “It was there that the two pregnant girls, Esther Odum and Ebere Ejimadu, were arrested.” Speaking to newsmen, Oluchi said she knew her husband to be a homeopathic medicine practitioner adding that she was surprised to see policemen at the medical centre. “When I asked them their mission, they said I was under arrest. I asked why? They said I would know when I reach their station,” O...

Hussain Emmanuel 19-year-old Hussain Emmanuel, from Bauchi State says his eyes were removed by people who wanted to use them for ritual purposes. According to Hussain Emmanuel, who is being treated in hospital in Bauchi city, the attack happened two weeks ago in his village in the remote Tafawa Balewa area. He said he was lured by two acquaintances in Marti village to a nearby river to go swimming. Mr Emmanuel, a self-employed motorbike mechanic, said he was hanging out with the two men because one of them had promised him a job in southern Nigeria. But when they got to the river they attacked him, attempted to strangle him with a chain and knocked him unconscious. When he woke up, he couldn’t see and began screaming until he was rescued by some passers-by who found both his eyes were missing. BBC reports that the police say they are investigating the case and have not commented on the motive of the two suspects who are yet to be apprehended.

Mrs Binuyo Basira Iyabo Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), recently arrested a 55-year-old female pilgrim to Saudi Arabia, Mrs. Binuyo Basira Iyabo with cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Iyabo tested positive to narcotic ingestion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja. NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mitchel Ofoyeju, in a statement, said the suspect had so far excreted 76 pellets of substances found to be cocaine. Also at the Murtalla Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, NDLEA officials also intercepted a 37-year-old father of three children going to China for inserting seven wraps of cocaine weighing 355 grammes inside his anus. Both suspects were going to Saudi and China respectively where drug trafficking is punishable by death. Hamisu Lawan, NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport said that the female suspect was still under observation until she expelled all the ingested pellets of drugs. Accord...

Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has insisted that he was not kept in the know as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) appointed Gernot Rohr as the new Super Eagles coach. The German has since been named Sunday Oliseh’s replacement on a two-year deal, but Dalung says he does not recognize him. “We have a German-born coach but that is not official to me anyway because I have only been reading about it online,” Dalung told News Agency of Nigeria. “However, I will continue to maintain that we need to develop our own. “There is no better way of making progress than to develop our own indigenous coaches.”

Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has announced Monday, Sept. 12 as the Eid-El-Kabir Day, 1437 AH. This followed the declaration of Saturday, Sept.3 as the 1st of Zulhijja, 1437 AH. This is contained in a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council of Sokoto and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto. “The committee in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee had received reports from various Moon sighting committees across the country. “The reports confirmed the sighting of the New Moon of Zulhijja,1437 AH, on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, which was the 29th day of Zulka’ada, 1437 AH. “The Sultan and President, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), accepted the reports and accordingly declared Saturday, Sept. 3, as the first day of Zulhijja, 1437 AH. “Therefore, Monday, Sept.12, which will be equivalent to 10th Zulhijja, a...

Hilary Clinton Hillary Clinton repeatedly told the FBI she couldn’t recall key details and events related to classified information procedures, according to notes the bureau released Friday of its July interview with the Democratic presidential nominee, along with a report on its investigation into her private email server. Clinton told the FBI she “could not recall any briefing or training by State related to the retention of federal records or handling classified information,” according to the bureau’s notes of their interview with Clinton. The documents indicate Clinton told investigators she either does not “recall” or “remember” at least 39 times — often in response to questions about process, potential training or the content of specific emails. Much of the report reiterated what FBI Director James Comey testified in open hearings before Congress, including that more than six dozen email chains contained classified information at the time they were sent and that there appeare...

Messi said in June that he would not play for Argentina again after the team lost to Chile in the final of the Copa America Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s 2018 World Cup qualifier in Venezuela on Tuesday after injuring his groin in Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay. The Barcelona forward scored on his return from international retirement to send Argentina top of the South America qualifying group. Messi said after the game that his groin had been “hurting a lot”. Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza said: “He won’t be able to play. We can’t take any risks. We must take care of him.” After seven of the 18 qualifying games Argentina lead Uruguay, Colombia and Ecuador by one point with Brazil a point further back in fifth. A top-four finish will secure automatic qualification for Russia 2018, with the fifth-placed side facing a two-legged play-off against a team from Oceania – New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands or Tahiti.

UNILAG gate Forget the attempts by some students to defame; University of Lagos is indisputably school of first choice and nation’s pride It is ideal to bask in the euphoria of having one’s education in the first Nigerian University established by the Act of Parliament but time and again when the institution make bold its superiority in admissions, endowment funds, and the excellent way its students go out to add values to the larger society, reality can creep in. The “first choice” accolade alluded is not just another empty nomenclature christened to make students’ heads swell when resonated, but rather its knack for being first among contemporaries in innovation, reaching new frontiers and competing with world leading universities as pronounced in its mission and vision statements. It would be recalled that the University became the first In Nigeria to erect an edifice worthy of a proper Senate building. History also recorded it as the first to establish a university radio and te...

Donald Trump Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has pulled into an effective tie with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, erasing a substantial deficit as he consolidated support among his party’s likely voters in recent weeks, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos national tracking poll released Friday. The poll showed 40 percent of likely voters supporting Trump and 39 percent backing Clinton for the week of Aug. 26 to Sept. 1. Clinton’s support has dropped steadily in the weekly tracking poll since Aug. 25, eliminating what had been a eight-point lead for her. Trump’s gains came as Republican support for their party’s candidate jumped by six percentage points over the past two weeks, to about 78 percent. That is still below the 85 percent support Republican nominee Mitt Romney enjoyed in the summer of 2012, but the improvement helps explain Trump’s rise in the poll. The Reuters/Ipsos poll is conducted online in English in all 50 states. The latest poll surveyed 1,804 ...