Global Naija Info

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (4th right), with Managing Director, FCMB, Mr. Ladi Balogun (3rd right); Ex-Nigerian Footballers, Victor Ikpeba (2nd right); Mutiu Adepoju (bending in front); On-Air Personality, Mr. Frank Edoho (left); President-General, Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo (2nd left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports, Mr. Deji Tinubu (4th left); Ex-Nigerian Footballer, Victor Agali (behind), others during the Opening of the 2016 COPA Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday said the numerous world class sporting events taking place in Lagos has clearly showcased the State as the next destination for sports in Africa. Speaking to reporters at the opening ceremony of the 6th Edition of Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament held at Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island, Lagos, Governor Ambode said being a sports lover himself, the State Government would co

New UN Secretary-General, António Guterres UN Secretary-General-designate and former Prime Minister of Portugal, António Guterres, will be sworn-in on Monday, Dec. 12, as the next secretary-general. A statement issued by Mr Dan Thomas, Communications Director and Spokesperson of the President of the General Assembly, said António would be succeeding outgoing secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, who steps down on Dec. 31. Guterres, 67, was Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015. He will become the world’s top diplomat on Jan. 2017, and hold that post for the next five years. He was formally appointed by the General Assembly on Oct. 13, in what was the culmination of an historic process Member States set in motion late last year. The historic process for the selection of a new UN Secretary-General, traditionally decided behind closed-doors by a few powerful countries, for the first time in history involved

The burning Shopping Mall Few days to Christmas, goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in an early morning fire which gutted Phill-Hallmark Supermarket, one of the leading shopping malls in Benin, Edo State. The fire which began at about 12 am on Sunday, completely destroyed the four floors of the main building, while an extension of the mall was partly burnt. Governor Godwin Obaseki inspects the burning Shopping Mall. The supermarket with over 50 employees, has several sections, including a boutique, bakery, food and beverages as well as home appliances‎. It was recently renovated. The fire was still raging at about 9 am of Sunday, as officials of Edo State Fire Service were seen battling to put it out‎. ‎Reinforcement by the fire service personnel of the Nigerian Airforce and the University of Benin, NPDC and IDSL, finally helped to extinguish the fire at about 11.30 am. Governor Godwin Obaseki arrives at Phil Hallmark Shopping Mall. The incident attracted a larg

It’s a lie, no plane crashed in Nigeria – NAMA The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has debunked rumours making the rounds on social media of the crash of an aircraft belonging to a particular airline in Nigeria. Mrs Olajumoke Adetona, Ag. General Manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, on Sunday in Lagos, said such rumours were baseless, unfounded and therefore not true. She said: “NAMA can authoritatively inform the Nigerian public that there is no missing aircraft whatsoever within the Nigerian airspace. “The agency therefore uses this opportunity to assure all Nigerians of the safety of the nation’s airspace as all necessary measures are being put in place to ensure seamless, efficient and safe flight operations in Nigeria.” Dana Air, whose aircraft was allegedly involved in the incident, had earlier debunked the claim. The airline in a statement signed by its Communications Manager, Mr Kingsley Ezenwa, said the report was entirely false and malicious, as it carried picture

Senator Magnus Abe The senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers South East, Senator Magnus Abe, has won the legislative rerun election in his senatorial District. The Returning Officer, Professor Gideon Onukwuisi, declared Abe winner on Sunday after announcing the result at the collation centre in Bori, Khana Local Government Area. Abe polled 125,938 votes to beat his opponent from the Peoples Democratic Party, Olaka Wogu, who got 25,394 votes. Onukwuisi explained that out of the 154,703 votes cast, 152,706 votes were valid while 2,627 votes were invalid. Dedicating his victory at the poll to God, Abe, who later addressed journalists, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the election. The senator-elect also expressed gratitude to his party supporters for having confidence in him and pledged to give them a better representation. Punch

The suspected leader of the syndicate The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command has discovered fake embassy operating in Lagos where many innocent members of the public had been swindled. The Policemen attached to the squad swooped on them; two Chinese and two Nigerians were apprehended during the raid on their office situated inside an hotel, Golden Point and Suite, on Duduyemi Street in Ejigbo, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. The Chinese: Liu Honyang, 47, Sun Xinai, 49; and their Nigerian collaborators, Oriyomi Olawale, 47 and Desmond Chinedu, 25, conspired and swindled Nigerians who had planned to travel out of the country to seek greener pastures. It was gathered that the operatives acted on the intelligence reports received from members of the public about the illicit act of the Chinese using Nigeria citizens as cover. Our sources revealed that the Policemen lodged in the hotel for two days monitoring their activities before eventual arrest. After the arres

Mamelodi Sundowns defender Wayne Arendse watches on as Kashima Antlers’ Yasushi Endo celebrates his goal The African champions, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, lost 2-0 to Japanese side Kashima Antlers in the quarter-final of the Fifa Club World Cup in Osaka on Sunday. Sundowns were making their debut in this tournament having qualified for Japan after winning the African Champions League for the first time in their history in September. But the South Africans’ hopes of progressing were dashed by two second half goals from Yasushi Endo (pictured) and Mu Kanazaki. In the first half, Sundowns dominated and were at the heart of the action with their Zimbabwean star Khama Billiat coming close. But Kashima, who beat Auckland City 2-1 in the tournament’s opening match on Thursday, were gifted their opening goal by Sundowns’ Ugandan goalkeeper Denis Onyango in the 63rd minute. Latching onto a knock-down from Shoma Doi, Endo scuffed his left-foot shot which somehow squeezed under Ony

Gov Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday called on Muslims to offer special prayers for greater peace, unity and continuous progress of Nigeria, as they join their counterparts across the world to celebrate Eid El Maulud, which is the birth of Prophet Mohammed. The Governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, enjoined Muslims to follow the exemplary leadership of the Holy Prophet by promoting peaceful existence. While imploring Nigerians to shun ethnic, political and religious differences and work towards building a safer and better Nigeria, Governor Ambode said the celebration of the birth of the Prophet should renew the faith and bond of unity as one people and one nation irrespective of diversity. “On the occasion of the commemoration of the birth of the holy Prophet, it is imperative to reflect on his teachings and uphold his legacies of unity, integrity, peaceful coexistence and love for one’s n

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode will on Tuesday host the 10th Edition of the Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security under the auspices of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). The Town Hall Meeting, which would hold at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, would focus on the theme: “Optimizing Security Funding in a Recession.” Executive Secretary/CEO of the LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, in a statement on Sunday, acknowledged the remarkable achievements made in the outgoing year by the Fund owing to the massive support from donors and partners, a development he said has continued to put Lagos as the cutting-edge in urban crime fighting. Balogun, however, noted that sustaining the funds in the face of recession might be a tough task, hence the need to fashion out new strategies to help donors and partners continue to see the need for supporting the organization. According to him, these strategies will form the thrust of this year’s meeting, with discussions cen

Henrikh Mkhitaryan scores United’s only goal Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s first Premier League goal gave Manchester United victory over top-four rivals Tottenham. United, still six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, led when Mkhitaryan raced on to Ander Herrera’s through ball and hammered into the roof of the net. Victor Wanyama should have levelled with a header from six yards out, although visitors Spurs created few chances despite plenty of possession. Paul Pogba almost made it more comfortable for Jose Mourinho’s side when he hit a free-kick against the post, but United ended a run of three games without a win in the league. The game ended in disappointment for Mkhitaryan, who was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury in the final 10 minutes at Old Trafford. Spurs missed the chance to replace Man City in fourth and remain fifth, three points above United.

APC The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Maurice Pronem, has been pronounced winner of the Saturday Rivers State rerun election in Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after defeating his closest rival Dumnamene Dekor of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. The INEC returning officer, G.O Osuagwu, made the announcement on Sunday after counting the votes as Pronem polled 68,219 to win Dekor who secured 20,329 votes. Results from other local governments are still being collated as at press time

Bishop Oyedepo Bishop David Oyedepo, General Overseer, Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), said that Nigeria would still experience gross darkness in sometime to come and called for special prayers to overcome the difficulties. Oyedepo, who was quoted in a live streaming broadcast, described the economic downturn in the country as a holocaust. He noted this at Canaan Land in Ota, Ogun, during the annual Winners Chapel prayer convention, Shiloh 2016, tagged “My Case is Different’’, taken from Genesis Chapter 47 Verses 15 to 27. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual programme which had ended was a mountain of divine encounter for salvation healing and deliverance and a time of astounding miracles. The yearly programme was also a time of testimonies of liberation in all facets of human existence that focused afflicted, battered, beaten and tattered destinies as a result of pains, pangs and crying. He also encouraged Christians in the aspect of giving, adding th

Diego Costa Chelsea moved back to the top of the Premier League on Sunday and made it nine successive league wins as Diego Costa scored the winner against West Brom. The Spain striker punished a hesitant Gareth McAuley in the 76th minute to rob the defender of possession and curl a brilliant left-foot shot past Ben Foster. West Brom had looked like earning a point after restricting the Blues to just one other shot on target, a 30-yard David Luiz free-kick. Chelsea also came close through an N’Golo Kante shot that deflected off Pedro and rolled just wide of the post. The Baggies had early chances through a Chris Brunt shot that fizzed wide and Salomon Rondon shooting across goal. Chelsea have now moved three points ahead of Arsenal while West Brom stay ninth.

The Police in Akwa Ibom Police has confirmed that 27 persons lost their lives in the Reigners Bible Church building collapse in Uyo on Saturday. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Murtala Mani, disclosed on Sunday that the casualty figure was collated at the end of evacuation exercise late Saturday. Mani also said that 37 persons who sustained injuries were receiving treatment in designated hospitals. “For now, we can confirm that 27 persons died during the church building collapse on Saturday. “We have concluded rescue operation but we are monitoring the situation to see what happens further,” Mani said. The victims evacuated from the collapsed church along Uyo village road near Government House, were receiving treatment at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, St Lukes Hospital, Ibom Specialist Hospital and Lifecare Hospital. The state Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Aniekeme Uwah, said that a total of 22 corpses were deposited at the University o

Nigerian soldiers The Nigerian Army on Sunday denied reports of killing of some people and mass arrest during Saturday’s legislative re-run election in Rivers. Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Port Harcourt, denied the reports in a statement issued in Port Harcourt. Abdulkarim also denied claims that the army connived with some politicians to influence the outcome of the just concluded legislative elections in the state. “The allegation that soldiers carried out killings and mass arrest in Tai and Gokana Local Government Areas during the legislative rerun election is false. “In addition, the allegations made by some respected politicians regarding deep involvement of soldiers during the elections were aimed at tarnishing the positive image of the army. “These people (politicians) allegedly accused soldiers of snatching ballot boxes, illegal escort of some politicians and arrest and detention of voters during the elections which is to

•Oritsejafor: Are churches above the law It’s all the rage now; every Tom, Dick and Harry is becoming a pastor, setting up their own churches and making lots of money, so why not you? The late L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the controversial church of Scientology, famously once said that ‘if you want to get rich, start a religion!’. You don’t need any formal education even though a grasp of the English language and the ability to read the Bible will be an advantage. You don’t need a ‘calling’ from God or have to endure years of studying in a seminary or university. You can pick up a certificate online that will enable you to call yourself a ‘pastor’, ‘bishop’ or ‘prophet’ for next to nothing from the very many fake Bible colleges or universities. You don’t even need to prepare your own sermons – there are online Christian organisations that will send you a ready-made sermon, every day for free, if you register your email address with them. But the one thing you will need is to be a p

Pope Francis, for your consideration please Reverend Father Gabriel Ngbe of Akwangwa Catholic Church, in Nasarawa State, on Sunday canvassed the need for the Catholic Church to incorporate polygamy and some good aspects of African culture in its doctrine. The Catholic Priest made this known while celebrating Acculturation Mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Akwanga. Ngbe insisted that the Catholic doctrine must be amended, especially in the African Catholic churches in order to accommodate every member of the Church. “The Whiteman that brought Christianity to us mixed the religion with his culture and Africans just accepted it like that at the expense of our culture. “If we did not incorporate parts of our culture into the way we worship God, our culture would in no distant time go into extinction,” he said. Ngbe explained that local foods should henceforth be used for communion in the Catholic Church instead of using products imported from Europe. The priest also said meanin

Dr Iyi Uwadiae, Registrar, West African Examinations Council. Dr Iyi Uwadiae, Registrar, West African Examinations Council (WAEC), says there are no “miracle’’ or “special’’ centres used anywhere for the council’s examination as speculated by some members of the public. Uwadiae made the assertion at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum on in Lagos. According to him, rather than say there are miracle or special centres, it is convenient to say that there are examination malpractice prone centres. He noted that such centres where students indulge in collation, exchange ideas and help each other was what led to candidates in a particular centre performing exceptionally than expected. The registrar said that such a development, when they go unreported and students perform high was what the public term as being a miracle centre. “Agreed, we will not dispute the fact that some locations are prone to examination malpractices. “Take the riverine areas for instance; we all know that it

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in furtherance of its safety oversight, has suspended the medical certificates of five cabin crew members over alleged drug related offences. The NCAA announced this in a statement by its General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye, on Sunday in Lagos. Adurogboye said the crew members (names withheld) tested positive to marijuana (Tetra Hydro Cannabinol – THC) during a Multi- Drug Screening Test (MDST). He said the test was conducted on participants of the Cabin Crew Training Basic Course – 30 (CCTB – 30 ) at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, Kaduna State on June 2. “Upon receipt of the test result from NCAT Zaria where they went for training before they got involved, NCAA issued a letter of investigation (LOI) to the involved crew members and they responded. “The authority accordingly considered their responses which were in writing after it had been duly establi

Kemi Adeosun, Nigeria’s Finance Minister The President Muhammadu Buhari’s led federal government has presented a 10-point fiscal roadmap to reset the economy on the path of growth. The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun revealed the outline when she represented Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the annual dinner of the Lagos Business School. Speaking at the session she said, “The Federal Government’s fiscal policy roadmap is addressing barriers to growth that will drive productivity, generate jobs and broaden wealth creating opportunities to achieve inclusive growth.” According to her, ”Buhari administration is determined to convert Nigeria to a productive economy rather than one that is consumption driven. To do so, government would tackle the infrastructure deficit to unlock productivity, improve business competitiveness and create employment. Adeosun stated that government would actively partner with the private sector to achieve this by the use of a number of new funding pl

The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) has employed 100 medical doctors to boost manpower and enhance quality healthcare services in the state. Dr Ibrahim Kuburu, the UMTH President of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) disclosed this in an interview on Sunday in Maiduguri. Kuburu said medical doctors in various fields, including surgeons, optomologists, pathologist, paediatricians and radiologists, were employed to fill the gap of shortages of health providers. “Some of the major challenges that confronted the health sector were the increasing demands of not only health services but social services in general. “In the past, during the heat of Boko Haram insurgency, the hospital was confronted with the challenges of handling mass casualties with various degrees of injuries from bomb blasts. “The care for such patients is a specialised care that posed a great challenge in the state. But despite these challenges, the ARD have remained resilient and committed to prov

Barack Obama Outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama has disclosed that he ‘absolutely’ suffered racism in office, adding Americans’ ‘primary concern about me has been that I seem foreign’. “The concept of race in America is not just genetic, otherwise the one-drop rule wouldn’t have made sense”. “It’s cultural. It’s this notion of a people who look different than the mainstream, suffering terrible oppression. “But somehow being able to make out of that a music and a language and a faith and a patriotism,” Obama said, in a special looking back on his legacy with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. “I think there’s a reason why attitudes about my presidency among whites in Northern states are very different from whites in Southern states. “Are there folks whose primary concern about me has been that I seem foreign, the other? Are those who champion the ‘birther’ movement feeding off of bias? Absolutely.” Obama said the colour of his skin had ‘absolutely’ contributed to white Americans’ negative

File Photo: 4 suspected suicide bombers and 2 local vigilante die in early morning explosion in Maiduguri recently Three persons have been confirmed dead in Sunday’s bomb explosion in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. An official of the local vigilante called Civilian-JTF, involved in the rescue and evacuation of victims of the blasts, confirmed the death to journalists. “So far, three persons are dead,” Bello Danbatta told journalists on phone. “It was a suicide bomb attack, we are trying to ascertain the actual number of those injured in the hospital now,” he added. An official of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, also confirmed the casualty. NEMA’s national spokesman, Sani Datti, said “three of the dead persons are female bombers, while 17 persons that were injured have been evacuated to hospitals in Maiduguri.” PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported the two explosions on Sunday morning which occurred in a crowded area near Maiduguri’s main market. The two blasts oc

Ramos Sergio Ramos headed in another dramatic late goal as Spanish leaders Real Madrid created a new club record of 35 matches unbeaten with a barely deserved win against Deportivo La Coruna. La Liga leaders Madrid, without the rested Cristiano Ronaldo, fought back from 2-1 down in the final six minutes to restore their six-point advantage over arch-rivals Barcelona. Zinedine Zidane’s side laboured in an uninspiring first half which saw Depor midfielder Celso Borges head against the post. Striker Alvaro Morata’s 20-yard drive shortly after the restart appeared to ease the tension among the home fans. However, Depor substitute Joselu – on loan from English Premier League side Stoke – swung the match dramatically in favour of the visitors. Joselu rifled in the equaliser with a rising drive into the top left corner after ex-Aston Villa midfielder Carles Gil dispossessed Madrid’s Casemiro on the edge of his penalty area. And Joselu, who came through the Bernabeu ranks, increased th

Explosion in Istanbul stadium A suspected car bomb outside an Istanbul soccer stadium on Saturday killed at least 13 people, police sources said. Broadcaster NTV said 38 people had been wounded but gave no details of any death toll. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu earlier said around 20 people had been wounded and that there was no immediate information on any deaths.

Electoral officials at a polling unit Mr Austin Okojie, a Supervising Resident Electoral Commissioner has announced the suspension of re-run legislative election in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area. Elections scheduled to hold in five units of Ward 12 in the area could not hold. Okojie told newsmen at Abonnema, head quarter of Akuku-Toru Local Government on Saturday that the decision to suspend the election was taken after a meeting with representatives of parties. He said the election would be held on Sunday. He said INEC did not continue with the exercise because ad-hoc staff and corps members complained of lateness. Meanwhile, representatives of the APC and PDP have expressed mixed reactions to the suspension of the election. Mr Tonye Alalibo, Care Taker Committee Chairman of the Local Government, said that the suspension would allow a rival party manipulate the process. Alalibo said the PDP was ready for the elections but INEC decided to suspend the process. Mr Isobo Jack