Global Naija Info

Early voters going to vote in US Millions of Americans have already cast their votes for the next U.S. president, more than two weeks before Election Day on November 8. New data from the Pew Research Center indicated that more than 4 million ballots had been cast by Saturday, and that before November 8 arrives, the advance voting total may well swell beyond 50 million, the most ever. That would be a significant proportion of the overall voter turnout, which probably will be at least 130 million ballots. In 1996, about 10 percent of voters used alternative voting methods, either voting early or casting absentee ballots, according to U.S. census data. Four years ago, in the last presidential election, that proportion was nearly 33 percent. And in some states, that percentage is much higher. More than half of ballots cast in the 2012 election in Nevada, Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, Montana, New Mexico and Tennessee were either early or absentee, according to Pew researchers. Unli

The scene of the disaster More than 70 people were killed and over 600 injured when a packed passenger train crashed in Cameroon on Friday, the president announced on Saturday, declaring a national day of mourning to commemorate the dead. The packed Camrail train had been traveling from the capital Yaounde to the port city of Douala. It derailed at around 11 a.m. local time (1000 GMT) near the station in the town of Eseka, 120 km west of the capital, causing carriages to overturn. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the Camrail train derailment in Eseka. Over 70 passengers died and 600 wounded in the accident,” President Paul Biya, who is travelling abroad, wrote on his official Facebook page. “I instructed the government to provide full assistance to the survivors, while investigations will be made to determine the cause of the derailment.” The death toll, put at 55 late on Friday, rose after some injured victims later died, Communications Minister Issa Tchiro

Lionel Messi scored an injury-time penalty as Barcelona came from behind to beat Valencia and go top of La Liga. Messi had given Barca a controversial lead after offside Luis Suarez jumped out the way of his low shot. Valencia then fought back to take a 2-1 advantage with fine goals from Barca loanee Munir el Haddadi and Rodrigo. But Suarez equalised for the visitors when he arrived at the back post, before winning a penalty in added time which Messi confidently converted. The result takes Barcelona a point ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who face Sevilla on Sunday. Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves has developed a reputation as an expert at keeping out penalties, having saved 17 of his past 35 spot-kicks before this game. So when Uruguay striker Suarez was brought down inside the penalty area by Aymen Abdennour deep into injury time the pressure was on Messi. But he kept his nerve in front of goal and took his tally to 19 goals in 21 games against Valencia – having only f

Arsenal’s Petr Cech made three goods saves against Middlesbrough Arsenal’s six-match winning run in the Premier League came to an end against Middlesbrough but a point was enough to move them top of the table. Manager Arsene Wenger – celebrating his 67th birthday – watched his side dominate possession but underwhelm in the final third. The Gunners managed five efforts on target, but only one worried Boro keeper Victor Valdes when he pulled off a great one-handed stop to deny Alexis Sanchez. Aitor Karanka’s side defended brilliantly and, despite conceding much of the possession to the home side, created the better chances. Arsenal keeper Petr Cech blocked Gaston Ramirez’s header, twice denied the outstanding Adama Traore and also saved from Alvaro Negredo. The home side briefly thought they had won it in injury time but Mesut Ozil’s effort was rightly ruled out for offside. Despite remaining in 17th place, Boro should be buoyed by the display and unexpected result. The invitati

Philippe Coutinho’s goal was his fifth of the season in all competitions for Liverpool-Reuters Liverpool secured a deserved victory over West Brom, but conceded a late goal to miss out on going top of the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp’s team dominated at Anfield and took the lead as Sadio Mane steered in Roberto Firmino’s dinked cross. Philippe Coutinho added a second when he picked up the ball from Mane, cut inside Baggies defender Gareth McAuley and shot into the bottom corner. A two-goal victory would have taken Liverpool top, but McAuley denied them first place when he smashed in a late goal after the hosts failed to clear a corner. Nevertheless, the victory extended their unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions to leave them second in the Premier League table, behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference. Liverpool have now scored 20 times in the Premier League this season – more than any other team – despite England international Daniel Sturridge failing to score in his

Minna fracas The Niger Police Command has confirmed that one person was killed and another seriously injured following a misunderstanding between two transport unions at the Abdulsalam Abubakar Motor Park, Minna. The misunderstanding was between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria. ASP Bala Elkaina, Police Public Relations Officer of the command, confirmed the death on Saturday in Minna. He said that the injured person was currently receiving treatment at Minna General Hospital. Elkaina said that the police had invited the two leaders of the union for thorough investigation in order to bring the culprits to justice.

Donald Trump Donald Trump vowed Saturday to sue the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct in recent weeks. “Every woman lied when they came forward to hurt my campaign,” Trump said during remarks in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. “Total fabrication. The events never happened. Never. All of these liars will be sued after the election is over.” He added that a “simple phone call” to major news outlets “gets them wall-to-wall coverage with virtually no fact-checking ever.” In the last two weeks, at least 10 women have come forward accusing Trump of inappropriately touching them. Their allegations came after a 2005 videotape surfaced of Trump bragging about being able to grope women and get away with it. Trump often threatens to file lawsuits without actually doing so. Earlier this month, he threatened to sue The New York Times when it published assault allegations against him, but nearly two weeks later, he has declined to follow through. Trump went on to suggest Saturday tha

Ahmed Musa scoring against Crystal Palace Ahmed Musa scored his long-awaited first goal for Leicester City as his side trounced Crystal Palace 3-1 at the King Power Stadium, England on Saturday. The English Premier League (EPL) match played in front of 31,969 spectators saw Musa open scoring in the 42nd minute. Algerian Islam Slimani played a one-two with Shinji Okazaki before providing the assist for Musa who riffled home from 20 yards to put Leicester in front. Leicester dominated possession in the second half as Okazaki made it 2-0 in the 64th, while, Christian Fuchs added a third from a superb volley in the 80th minute. Musa was replaced by Demarai Gray in a tactical substitution in the 81st minute as Coach Claudio Ranieri looked to preserve the 3-0 lead. The visitors however piled on the pressure and got a consolation goal in the 85th minute through Yohan Cabaye after an assist from Wilfried Zaha. In other Premier league matches played on Saturday, Alex Iwobi’s Arsenal we

AAU No fewer than 8,692 graduates on Saturday bagged diplomas and first degrees at the 20th convocation of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, who presided over the ceremony, said the graduates were drawn from the 2013/2014 and the 2014/2015 academic sessions. He said that the university also conferred degrees on 492 post graduates in the two sessions. The Vice Chancellor said that since the inauguration of the university’s governing council in 2013, 14 of its programmes had got full accreditation, eight interim while six were denied. Onimawo, however, said that the areas of shortfall had since been remedied and the university was ready for re-assessment in these areas. He also disclosed that 136 academic staff, 276 senior non-teaching staff and 443 junior staff had been promoted. In his opening remarks, the chancellor of the university and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar, said that education was a system t

CBN Prof. Charles Ayo, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota in Ogun, has advised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to use fingerprint scanner to check Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) frauds. Ayo gave the advice at the seventh inaugural lecture organised by the institution to mark its 14th Founder’s Day on Saturday in Ota. The lecture is entitled: “Deconstructing the National Development Agenda; The Role of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs)’’. The former vice-chancellor said that the policy do not require any special design as the current system could accommodate the proposed features at minimal cost. “The fingerprint authentication will be a cheaper alternative than to relocate all ATMs to safer premises. “The introduction of fingerprint scanner will further boost the apex bank’s policy in addressing frauds in the country,’’ he said. Ayo attributed frauds and other related social vices like cultism, insurgency and militancy to negligen

President Muhammadu Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday reiterated that the era of wasteful spending was over and advised Nigerian universities to plough available resources into teaching, research and productive activities. The president, represented by Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, Executive Director at the National University Commission, spoke in Ilorin at the 32nd convocation of the University of Ilorin. According to him, it is the expectation of government that in the near future, universities should be self-reliant and provide substantial portion of their needed funds. Buhari also said that government was deeply concerned about developments in the nation’s universities. “Government is uncomfortable that our citadels of learning which should be training grounds for probity, social justice and decorum have become havens for gross indiscipline, cultism, sexual harassment, immorality, indecency, violence, unnecessary demonstrations and all forms of anti-social behaviours.”

A 51-year old woman, Rose Edward, is in police net for allegedly buying a 2-month-old baby for N450,000. Mr Murtala Mani, Akwa Ibom Commissioner of Police, disclosed this on Saturday in Uyo, while briefing newsmen. Mani who spoke through ASP Cordelia Nwanwe, the Akwa Ibom Police Command’s spokesperson said that a homeopathtic doctor, Eneyo Nyang, was arrested in connection with the crime. He said that Edward from Rivers confessed to have bought the baby because she needed a baby of her own. Confessing to the crime, the mother of the baby, Comfort Effiong, said that she sold her baby because there was no one to take care of her. “I sold the baby because of help; I don’t have anybody to help me. My father is late and my mother is sick and I don’t have anybody to help me,” Effiong said. Mani assured Akwa Ibom people that the command would not relent in its effort to curb crime in the state. He warned members of the public wishing to adopt children to follow due process.

INEC The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been urged to block any loopholes that could compromise the integrity of the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, Mr Samson Itodo, Executive Director, Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), made the call when he visited Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akure. Mr David Oluwaseun, Media Manager, of YIAGA, said in a statement on Saturday that politicians were capable of lobbying the staff of INEC. Itodo said their team would fully participate in the governorship election as observers, and forward their findings and recommendations to the commissioner “INEC should ensure that any loophole to compromise the integrity of the process is discouraged.’’ He added that 300 observers would be deployed across the 18 local government of the state. The REC in the state, Olusegun Agbaje, according to the statement, said the new procedure for conducting election had drastically

3-year-old-golfer A three-year-old boy, Lewis Dandyson, became the cynosure as he thrilled golfers and spectators alike when he made an unexpected entry into the ongoing 3rd Awa Ibrahim Junior Golf open Championships. The young golfer accompanied by his mother, Noble Dandyson to the Ikeja Golf Club venue of the championship left many astonished with his displays. The young golfer, according to his mum, is said to have taken interest in the game when he was brought to the golf course by his father early in the year. The championships are open to children from ages five to 18 and is organised to celebrate a golf icon, Alhaji Awa Ibrahim, whose birthday is on Oct. 19. However, the tournament took a new twist as the young Dandyson was led to the golf course by the mum on Saturday, claiming that he was ready to take up the challenge of the older kids. Young Dandyson in turn did not disappoint as he played 64 in 4 holes to the surprise of the spectators on Saturday. On the motivati

kogi-state-govt Kogi State Government has pledged to assist women farmers to embark on mechanised farming as part of the state’s agricultural road map toward food security. The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Tim Diche, made the pledge at the bi-monthly meeting of the state Agriculture Vision Group, Core Delivery Team, Agriculture Innovative Team and key stakeholders in Lokoja on Saturday. The meeting was facilitated by Synergos, a global Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), partnering with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), on the State Partnership for Agriculture (SPA), project. Diche said women farmers had a lot to offer in realisation of the agricultural road map for the attainment of set goals and objectives in agriculture. ”The participation in agriculture generally by our female farmers is on the increase day in day out and by the time we are able to assist them with mechanisation, we will be there,” he said. The commissioner, represented by Dr Isah Ochep

Nigeria-police The Police in Kaduna State on Saturday said it arrested seven suspected armed robbers terrorizing residents of Kaduna. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Aliyu Usman,said in Kaduna that the suspects were arrested at Unguwar Sarki and Narayi all in Kaduna metropolis. Usman said victims reported to the police on Oct. 8, while the seven suspects were arrested on the Oct. 13 and Oct. 14, by the command’s State Intelligence Bureau. According to him, one of the suspects is still at large and efforts are on to arrest him and other accomplices. “Four plasma television sets and three mobile phones were recovered from the suspects. “The suspects confessed to have committed the crime. Investigation is still ongoing and they will be charged to court for prosecution”, Usman said. He assured residents of their safety adding that the police were committed to protect the lives and property of everyone. “We call on the public to give the security operatives m

Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, Enugu State Police Commissioner, The Police in Enugu, on Saturday, said they have smashed a highway robbery syndicate disguising as military officers at the Nsukka axis of Enugu-Makurdi road. The police said they recovered two double barrel guns fabricated as AK 47 rifle, money, a pair of boots and torches, among others. The police spokesman in the State, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said in Enugu that the hoodlums were dressed in military camouflage. “The Police Counter Terrorism Unit Axis received a distress call on Thursday that hoodlums had blocked the road by Inyi in Igboeze North and wreaking havoc on their victims. “The unit swung into action promptly which resulted in exchange of fire. “One of the hoodlums was fatally injured and later confirmed dead by a doctor. “Another hoodlum identified as Godwin Okpe from Ogbadigbo in Benue dressed in camouflage is also fatally injured and being revived to aid operatives in their investigation. “Others escaped with bull

If you compare sales people and project managers you may conclude that you wouldn’t want your project managers going out selling and writing bids and you wouldn’t want your sales people running your biggest projects. That’s a huge generalization and probably not fair to the many exceptions to the rule, however, writing sales documents is a different type of writing that many inter nally focused staff aren’t familiar with. But the point is that quite often, sales people aren’t the best at planning and managing detail, especially when it relates to project plans and the like. There’s a good reason for this – they are often out on the road, visiting clients, managing relationships and don’t have time to micro-manage a complex development project…even if that project is a written proposal. Plus, dealing with the detail isn’t what drives sales people. With the advent of proposal centers and bid team support in many organizations the onus has been taken off a lot of sales people when it c

Aliko Dangote, President Dangote Group The current economic situation in the country certainly affects everybody and everything, even Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is groaning. Investigations at one of Dangote’s companies, Dansa Foods Nig. Ltd off Lagos-Badagry expressway revealed that workers have not been paid their salaries for the past six months. The company which produces Dansa juice and other goods, it was learnt, has laid off more than half of the workforce following dwindling sales and high cost of production caused by high exchange rate of the Naira. The company, it was learnt, has suspended the production of Dansa juice and other products. ”We are only producing Mowa bottle water now,” a source at the company revealed. But the workers are not taking it kindly with the management of the company and have insisted that their six months unpaid salaries be paid to them. To this end, the workers have embarked on strike to press home their demand. One of the workers

The scene of the disaster Fourteen people remained trapped on Friday under the wreckage of a packed passenger train that derailed en route between Cameroon’s two largest cities, killing at least 55 and injuring 575, the government said in a communique read on state television. The Camrail inter-city train was traveling from the capital, Yaounde, to the port city of Douala when the accident occurred around 11 a.m. local time (1000 GMT) near the train station in the town of Eseka, around 120 km west of the capital. “There was a loud noise. I looked back and the wagons behind us left the rails and started rolling over and over. There was a lot of smoke,” said a Reuters journalist travelling in a wagon near the front of the train. Before its departure from Yaounde, he said that a railway employee said additional wagons had been added to the train to accommodate extra passengers, though it was unclear if that played a role in the accident. The collapse of a section of the main highway

Donald Trump, official Republican Presidential nominee Popular online news portal Huffington Post now runs a caveat on US Republican candidate, Donald Trump. Every story now published by the platform has a footnote from the editor that further dents Trump’s voter appeal and warns would be voters about Trump’s character. The note says: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar,rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S.” It even has a video of Trump’s lies. It was not clear when the newspaper decided on this course. But last year, as the Republicans began the nomination race, Huffington Post editors said that they would consign Trump political stories into the entertainment section of the portal. Washington bureau chief of the paper, explaining the decision then said Trump’s campaign ‘will be a side show’. Trump however went on to

Ladipo-Ajayi Jamiu Yisa The immediate past Managing Director of LASACO Assurance Plc, Ven. Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, has revealed how he was dazzled by different challenges immediately he took over at the helms of affairs of the insurance company. Speaking with PM News at the occasion of his retirement lecture/ 60th birthday celebration held in Alausa, Lagos, Ladipo-Ajayi said despite the enormous challenges, he never at any time felt like chickening out of the job. “When you are called to the position of responsibility, it is not intended to be easy and that is why they called it position of responsibility. i never knew that the challenges of LASACO were as much as they were when i got there. “I knew there were issues, problems and challenges but the reality on ground surpasses my wildest imagination. If anybody knew how bad LASACO was at that time and still voluntarily went into it, it would be like committing suicide. I have always believed in God and also believed he led me there

The much talked about movie, 93 Days, premiered at the highly rated Chicago International Film Festival on Thursday, October 20. Notable Hollywood actor Danny Glover graced the event alongside executive producers of the film, Bolanle Austin Peters, Steve Gukas and Dotun Olakunri. Danny Glover who played the role of Dr Benjamin Ohiaeri in the box office hit movie said many good things about the movie and Nollywood in general. Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago from Entertainment – P.M. NEWS Nigeria http://ift.tt/2egiLAx via IFTTT

The accused The trial of former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu retd., and 10 others was on Friday stalled before a Federal High Court in Lagos, following the demand of a witness’ international passport. Amosun is charged alongside two other officers of the Air Force – Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and Air Cdre Gbadebo Olugbenga. Also charged are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil and Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, and Fonds and Pricey Ltd. The accused are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Mohammed Idris. They were arraigned on June 26 and had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The judge had then granted them bail in the sum of N500 million each with two sureties each in like sum. On Friday, trial of the accused was stalled due to the demand by one of the defence counsel, Mr Norrison Quakers (SAN) that a prosecution witness, one Mojeed Olatunji should produce his internatio

The much talked about movie, 93 Days, premiered at the highly rated Chicago International Film Festival on Thursday, October 20. Notable Hollywood actor Danny Glover graced the event alongside executive producers of the film, Bolanle Austin Peters, Steve Gukas and Dotun Olakunri. Danny Glover who played the role of Dr Benjamin Ohiaeri in the box office hit movie said many good things about the movie and Nollywood in general. Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago Screening of 93 Days in Chicago

VP Yemi Osinbajo and founder of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola The Federal Government on Friday said a new strategy would be employed to fight the dangerous dimension that corruption appears to be assuming in the country. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the declaration, in an address delivered at the 7th Founders Day and 4th convocation Ceremony of Afe Babalola University of Ado Ekiti(ABUAD). According to him, higher institutions, such as ABUAD are great places to be used, in a national re-orientation programme being contemplated to fight the menace. He said none of the arms of government is immune from the scourge of corruption. He however said the Buhari government is ready to combat it, right from the school level. “All institutions of government are under the threat of corruption. “You will please recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, had himself warned on several occassions that if we don’t fight corruption, corruption will fight us ‘“We are thinking of using national re-or