Global Naija Info

Ronaldo wins FIFA best player award Cristiano Ronaldo was named the world’s best player at the inaugural Best Fifa Football Awards in Zurich. Real Madrid and Portugal forward Ronaldo, 31, beat Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann to the prize. Ronaldo also won the Ballon d’Or in December, with both honours recognition for success in the Champions League with Real and Euro 2016 with Portugal. Carli Lloyd of the United States was named the world’s best female player. Leicester’s Claudio Ranieri was named best men’s coach, ex-Germany boss Silvia Neid won the female coach award, while Penang’s Mohd Faiz Subri received the Puskas award for the best goal of 2016. For the past six years, the world’s best player has received the Fifa Ballon d’Or award. A version of that prize has been awarded by France Football magazine since 1956, but last year world football’s governing body ended its association with that honour. Instead, it introduced the Best Fifa Foot

Buhari and Obazee President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the Executive Secretary of the board of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRN), Jim Obazee and ordered his replacement immediately. Obazee’s decision to enforce the FRCN regulation on churches led to Pastor Enoch Adeboye appointing a New General Overseer for the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, on Saturday in the person of Pastor Joseph Obayemi. The president ordered the reconstitution of the board and the replacement of Obazee with Mr Adedotun Sulaiman, as Chairman. This is contained in a statement issued on Monday by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public. According to the statement, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate removal and the replacement of the Executive Secretary and the reconstitution of the board of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRN). He has appointed a Chairman and a new Executive Secretary for the council. “The new Council a

Musa Olawale Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has appointed his Principal Private Secretary, Musa Olawale as the new General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA. Olawale takes over from the former LASTMA GM, Bashir Braimoh, who has been redeployed to a yet to be known ministry. The new General Manager resumed work on Monday at the Oshodi headquarters of the traffic Agency. Addressing officers of LASTMA, Olawale pledged his commitment to staff discipline as the bedrock of ensuring motorists discipline and free flow of traffic on Lagos roads. According to him, he would ensure a highly mobile, efficient and effective traffic management system in the state. Olawale said he would ensure that the agency worked in line with the best global practices, urging every LASTMA official to demonstrate discipline on duty, shun corruption, dedication to duty and adequate respect to road users. He called for the cooperation of motorists and members of the public in go

Putin and Obama Russia says US allegations that it ran a hacking campaign to influence the American presidential elections are “reminiscent of a witch-hunt”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Moscow was tired of the accusations. He said a report released by US intelligence agencies detailing the allegations was groundless. It is the first official reaction from Russia since President-elect Donald Trump received the report on Friday. The unclassified report contains allegations that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered the hacking of Democratic Party emails to damage Donald Trump’s Democrat rival, Hillary Clinton, and influence the election. In his comments on Monday, Mr Peskov said Russia “categorically denied that Moscow had been involved in any hacking attacks”. “Groundless accusations which are not supported by anything are being rehearsed in an amateurish, unprofessional way. We don’t know what information they are actually relying on.” The claims amou

Dr. Jide Idris, Lagos State Commissioner for Health The Lagos State Government says there is no going back on the planned implementation of the Health Insurance Scheme, HIS, in the state this year. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris disclosed this in an interview in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, saying that government would soon begin sensitization of the HIS among the populace, adding that for residents to subscribed to the scheme, they must possess the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) card. According to Idris, the HIS is compulsory for all residents of Lagos State in a bid to bring affordable healthcare scheme to the people, especially the less privileged in the society. The commissioner explained that government had realized that if it was to continue to provide free healthcare in basic areas, it would cost government about N8 billion annually, saying that the HIS would easily addressed this. “The Health Insurance Scheme will address equity and the poor will

Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has disclosed that the Federal Government of Nigeria is on standby to evacuate its citizens in The Gambia if the need arises. Tension is building up in The Gambia following the refusal of President Yahya Jammeh to step down after losing the presidential election. Supporters of Adama Barrow, the winner of the election have vowed to swear him in on January 19 when Jammeh’s tenure will elapse. The Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the situation in The Gambia. Responding to a Twitter user’s question on Monday, Dabiri-Erewa said Nigeria was prepared to relocate its citizens should the need arise. According to the twitter handle @Darafat710, he twitted thus,“@abikedabiri Please what is the government doing to evacuate Nigerians in Gambia? They will

Brigadier-General Sani-Kukasheka-Usman, Nigerian Army spokesman The Nigerian Army has advised members of the public to be wary as suicide bombers have devised a new method of carrying out their nefarious acts. Col. Mustapha Anka, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 7 Division, Maiduguri, gave the advice in a statement on Monday. “This is to draw the attention of the general public to recent trend used by desperate remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT). “Recently, two female suicide bombers knocked at the door of one Bulama and Usman about 200 meters apart in Kalari general area of Maiduguri. “The daughter of the Bulama opened the door, while the Usman himself opened his own door immediately the suicide bombers detonated their suicide vest, in the process killing the unsuspected little girl, Usman and the two female suicide bombers. “The general public is hereby advised to be cautious and wary of strange persons knocking on their doors. “Security is a collective respon

College basketball teams have traditionally enjoyed the best home advantage across sports, but there's been a big drop-off this season. Why? from Latest News http://on.si.com/2juYS9M via IFTTT

Korodo Except the federal government intervenes, another round of petrol scarcity is looming in the country. The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says there is no going back on its planned warning strike scheduled to commence on January 11. Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Zonal Chairman of the union revealed in Lagos on Monday that the union had mobilised its members for the strike. He said that the union was determined to forge ahead with the planned warning strike, which would take place on from January 11 to January 13. “The warning strike notice had been given since the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that was held in Port Harcourt in December and we picked second week of January which commences from January 8. “As I am speaking to you now, all zones including Lagos have mobilised to ensure the success of the strike as directed by NEC body of NUPENG. “We are having another NEC meeting in Abuja on January 10, to appraise the preparat

FILE PHOTO: A compromised oil pipeline in the Niger Delta Mr. Lawal Haruna, Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers Command, has advised oil pipeline vandals to shun the practice and engage in legitimate businesses. Haruna said this during the handover ceremony of the management of the command in Port Harcourt, on Monday. Lawal took over the management of Rivers command from Mrs. Helen Amakari, an Assistant Commandant-General (ACG)) of Corps. The new commandant advised vandals to abandon the creeks and live a normal life like other Nigerians. Haruna, who was in charge of Anti-vandal in NSCDC Headquarters, Abuja, urged the vandals to be engaged in meaningful and legal businesses. He noted that Rivers had stabilized and attributed the feat to his predecessor. The new commandant said he would build on the foundation laid by Amakari and noted that she had laid a solid foundation for the command. Amakiri had earlier said the command under her watch had

FILE PHOTO: NUPENG Protest Photo: Idowu Ogunleye The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says there is no going back on its planned warning strike scheduled to commence on Jan. 11. Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Zonal Chairman of the union told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that the union had mobilized its members for the strike. He said that the union was determined to forge ahead with the planned warning strike, which would take place on from Jan. 11 to Jan. 13. “The warning strike notice had been given since the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that was held in Port Harcourt in December and we picked the second week of January which commences from Jan 8. “As I am speaking to you now, all zones including Lagos have mobilized to ensure the success of the strike as directed by NEC body of NUPENG. “We are having another NEC meeting in Abuja on Jan. 10, to appraise the preparation for the planned strike and meet the go

court-of-law A 44-year-old woman, Nneka Ilokw, who allegedly assaulted her 16-year-old step-sister with a red-hot iron, was on Monday in Lagos released on bail in the sum of N50,000. An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court which gave the ruling, also granted the accused two reliable sureties as part of the bail condition. The Magistrate, Mrs. O. Sule-Amzat, said the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and deposit N30,000 each into the Chief Registrar’s account. The accused, who resides at Olowora-Berger on the outskirts of Lagos, had pleaded innocence of the offences of assault and causing grievous harm. The accused committed the offences on Dec. 26, 2016 at her residence, the prosecutor, Sgt. Ihiehie Lucky said. He said the incident was reported at Ketu Police Station on Jan. 3 by a neighbour. He alleged that the victim, who has been living with the accused since 2012, had suffered serious maltreatment in the hands of the woman. “She always beat up t

pension Pensioners in Osun, under the aegis of Forum of 2011/2012 Group of Retirees, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, on Monday demanded the payment of their 18 months’ half-pension arrears by Gov. Rauf Aregbesola. The pensioners made the demand in Osogbo during a special prayer session organized to usher in the New Year. The chairman of the forum, Mr. Omoniyi Ilesanmi, in his address said pensioners in the state were living in pathetic conditions due to the non- payment of their full pension arrears by the state government. According to Ilesanmi, the pensioners are demanding the payment of their gratuities from 2008 to 2012 and the stoppage of half-payment to them. They also wanted the state government to commence of the full monthly pension payment to them. “We also call on the state government for the immediate payment of the balance of our 18 months’ half-pension and the stoppage of any form of taxation on our pension because our pension is not subjected to taxation.” he said

FILE PHOTO: Frustrated teachers. Thousands of teachers in public primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Kwara say they have embarked on fasting and prayer to ensure payment of their six months’ salary arrears by state government. The Deputy Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Alhaji Toyin Salihu, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in llorin on Monday. Salihu, who also the Principal of Sheikh AbdulKadir College, llorin, said that the teachers’ action was for God’s intervention for the payment of their salary arrears. He said that though the fasting and prayers were voluntary for both Christians and Muslim teachers, it would continue until God accepts their request. The NUT Deputy Chairman said that the government had commenced full monthly payment for the teachers’ salary, but that they were yet to receive their six months’ salary arrears. Salihu said that the unpaid six months arrears had added to the unto

court A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday varied the bail conditions of a former Branch Manager of Finbank now (First City Monument Bank), Rosemary Usifo, charged with N30 million fraud. Usifo was arraigned by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigerian Police Force on Dec. 5, 2013, on a one-count charge. She was charged alongside her bank. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty. Following a bail application moved by defense counsel, Justice Saliu Saidu had granted the accused bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum. The judge had added that one of the sureties must be a blood relation with a landed property in Lagos while the other surety must be a public or civil servant of grade level 15 and above. The judge ordered her remand at the Kirikiri Prisons pending the perfection of her bail terms. When the case was mentioned on Monday, Usifo’s counsel, Mr. Olu Akanbi, informed the court of a motion seeking a variation of the bail conditions granted to

snake in plane An Emirates flight from Oman to Dubai was cancelled after staff found a snake on the plane. Flight EK0863 from Muscat was grounded after baggage handlers found the serpent in the cargo hold. A spokesperson for the airline, quoted by Dubai-based media, said the snake was found before passengers boarded the plane. The aircraft was searched before re-entering service and arriving at its destination several hours later. Emirates did not specify the species of snake, nor whether it was potentially dangerous. Comparisons with the 2006 Samuel L Jackson thriller Snakes on a Plane, which sees passengers battle hundreds of highly poisonous snakes in mid-flight, inevitably emerged on social media. But it’s far from the first time a snake has tried to travel free of charge on planes from warm climates. WorldNews Feed reports that in November last year, passengers on a Mexico domestic flight were panicked by the appearance of a metre-long snake which dropped from the overhe

Faith Philips, former Miss Gbagy Nigeria Miss Faith Philip, the former Miss Gbagy Nigeria, has urged the Federal Government to invest more in the girl-child education and entrepreneurial development to promote gender equality. Philip, a 2015/2016-Gbagy-beauty-pageant queen, gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Bwari. She said that inadequate funding of the girl-child education had impacted negatively on the teaching and learning processes of female children when compared to their male counterparts. According to the former beauty queen, the girl-child forms a critical element of the teeming youth population and urged the government to invest in them to reduce gender disparity in the country. “Poor funding of the girl-child education limits them from expressing their rights, especially, in a society where there is gender inequality and women are struggling for dignity. “Capacity building of the girl-child will enable them to grow up to be

President Muhammadu Buhari and some ECOWAS leaders in Abuja Some West African leaders including President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja met behind closed door to discuss the political impasse in The Gambia. The Presidents of Liberia and Senegal, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Macky Sall as well as ex-Ghanaian President John Mahama are attending the meeting. The representative of the United Nations to West Africa and The Sahel, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas is also attending the meeting while the Vice –President of Sierra Leone is still being awaited as of the time of filing this report. The meeting which is being held at the new Presidential Banquet, Aso Villa, followed the one in Accra on the sidelines of the inauguration of President Nana Akufo-Addo, on Saturday. The meeting of the West African leaders is aimed at avoiding violence and preserving democracy in The Gambia. Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said the Abuja talks would discuss further steps to be taken. “There

Senator Dino Melaye Senator Dino Melaye Lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial district in the National Assembly, yesterday celebrated his birthday in an old school style. He shared epic pictures from the event with his family and friends to mark his new age. See photos below: Dino Melaye Jennifer Okundia

Nigerian-Senate The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, has described the death of Mrs. Aisha Ogedengbe, a Videographer with the Africa Independent Television (AIT) as a huge loss. Reacting to the death of Ogedengbe, Abdullahi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that the deceased, who was attached to the Senate, was an industrious young lady. Ogedengbe, who had worked in the Senate for more than five years, died on Friday, Jan. 7 and would be buried in her hometown, Okene, on Jan. 13, according to Christian rites. Abdullahi said her death had left a vacuum, adding that it was a loss to the Senate, the organization she worked for and her family. He said that the deceased was a very hard working and active young lady. “She was a female photojournalist in the midst of men but you would never know. I am saddened by the news of her death. “She was somebody I knew very closely, very amiable and very friendly. “It is a hu

The Presidential Amnesty Programme Office says it plans to establish 10,000 farms with an expected total revenue generation capacity of N58 billion annually under its agricultural programme for 2017. This was disclosed by the Coordinator of the programme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd) in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja. According to Boroh, If 10,000 Ex-agitators are successfully trained to be farm owners, they can employ 40, 000 farm workers and a logistics Processing Value Chain of 30, 000 Jobs across the Niger Delta. “The impact of this initiative on the economy is that if each of the 10,000 ex-agitators are gainfully trained, they may generate N240 million yearly which will amount to N240 billion. “While the 40,000 farm workers will in return also generate N600, 000 each which is N24 billion, while Logistics/Processing will yield N360,000 for 30,000 workers yearly which will amount to N14.8 billion. “You can see that the agricultural sector

Senator Dino Melaye Senator Dino Melaye Lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial district in the National Assembly, yesterday celebrated his birthday in an old school style. He shared epic pictures from the event with his family and friends to mark his new age. See photos below: Dino Melaye Jennifer Okundia from Entertainment – P.M. NEWS Nigeria http://bit.ly/2jkNZDf via IFTTT

Peter Cook, Pentagon Press Secretary. The U.S. has condemned Sunday’s vehicular attack on Israeli soldiers, saying it is ‘horrific’. The U.S. Department of Defence said the country remains committed to Israel’s security and will stand by it to combat all forms of terrorism. A statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook expressed condolences to the victims. “We condemn in the strongest terms possible today’s terrorist attack that targeted Israel’s defense forces and express our deepest condolences to the victims. “The United States remains committed to Israel’s security and will stand with Israel to combat all forms of terrorism,” the statement read. The Deputy Spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Mark Toner, also in a statement, said terrorism must never be tolerated. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms today’s horrific vehicular attack by a terrorist in Jerusalem.‎ “There is absolutely no justification for these brutal and senseless attacks. “We‎ c

Asisat Oshoala The Chairman of FCT Coaches Association, Godwin Bamigboye, on Monday in Abuja urged national female players to emulate Super Falcons’ Asisat Oshoala so as to flourish in their football career. Bamigboye said Nigerian female players also needed to be determined and focused to excel. “Asisat stood out to be the best African female footballer of the year with the Super Falcons’ excellent performance during the 2016 Women’s AFCON in Cameroon. “But this was because she was well composed, disciplined, determined and focused throughout the competition. She is a well-mannered, disciplined and hard working lady. “However, I am not surprised that she is doing well in her England-based club, Arsenal Ladies FC. “I advise other players to emulate her if they want to be recognised for such great awards,” he said. Oshoala won the 2016 Women’s Player of the Year Award at the Glo-CAF Awards ceremony in Abuja on Thursday. It capped an exciting year for the former Liverpool Ladie

auto crash The Police Command in Enugu State has confirmed that nine people are in critical condition in two hospitals in Nsukka, after an auto crash on Jan. 8. The command’s spokesman, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said in Enugu on Monday that hospitals were Enechi Hospital Ukehe-Nsukka and Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, Enugu State. Amaraizu said that auto-crash occurred at about 5 p.m. on Enugu-Makurdi expressway at Umuoka in Udi Local Government Area. The spokesman said that there was a collusion between a Toyota Hiace bus ENU 681 XA and a Toyota Carina car CG 25 ENU. “It was further gathered that following the collision, no fewer than nine persons comprising the drivers and the conductor of the Hiace bus with other occupants were critically injured. “However, the police patrol team on the road was on hand to evacuate the injured victims on time to Enechi Hospital, Ukehe-Nsukka and Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka for medical attention and also clearance of obstructions to avoid fu

Boko Haram members There are reports that eight people were killed and score injured when multiple explosions hit Maiduguri, the Borno state capital Sunday night. The Nigerian Police has confirmed the attacks. According to a source, the first occurred at Muna garage area when a female bomber blew up herself while two other suspected insurgents with two AK47 attacked CJTF check point. The civilian JTF successfully killed the attackers. “We killed the two attackers with AK47 raffles and female bombers killed self.” The CJTF source disclosed. Also, another two bombers stormed Kalleri ward and knocked at people’s door to detonate their IEDs, killing at least five people. Alhaji Mala, a resident told Daily Trust that ” we lost three people in Kalleri last night to the bombers; they would knocked on the our doors when we open, they quickly grabbed people and detonated IEDs The PPRO Borno Command DSP Victor Isuku confirmed the attacks. “Preliminary info available is that the explosio

Kim Kardashian West French police arrested 16 people in the Paris region early Monday over the robbery of US reality TV star Kim Kardashian in Paris last year, police sources said. Kardashian was tied up and robbed of jewellery worth around nine million euros ($9.5 million) when a gang of armed and masked men burst into the luxury Paris residence where she was staying during Fashion Week in October. The 36-year-old, who is married to rap mogul Kanye West, finally broke her silence about the incident this weekend, saying she feared she was going to be killed by the robbers. “They’re going to shoot me in the back,” Kardashian, 36, tells her sisters in a promotional clip for the new season of her hit reality TV show. “There’s no way out. It makes me so upset to think about it.”

Kim Kardashian West French police arrested 16 people in the Paris region early Monday over the robbery of US reality TV star Kim Kardashian in Paris last year, police sources said. Kardashian was tied up and robbed of jewellery worth around nine million euros ($9.5 million) when a gang of armed and masked men burst into the luxury Paris residence where she was staying during Fashion Week in October. The 36-year-old, who is married to rap mogul Kanye West, finally broke her silence about the incident this weekend, saying she feared she was going to be killed by the robbers. “They’re going to shoot me in the back,” Kardashian, 36, tells her sisters in a promotional clip for the new season of her hit reality TV show. “There’s no way out. It makes me so upset to think about it.” from Entertainment – P.M. NEWS Nigeria http://bit.ly/2iUFZvI via IFTTT

Fox sports mic'ed up a pair of women's basketball coaches and offered viewers rarely seen access in the process. Also: Chris Berman's departure from Sunday NFL Countdown and notes on the World Junior Championships broadcast. from Latest News http://on.si.com/2iSX8pW via IFTTT

File photo: Another accident involving Dangote cement trailer The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Zamfara State Command has confirmed 15 persons dead in a ghastly accident which occurred along Gusau-Tsafe road in the early hours of Sunday. Sector Commander, Amos Thilizer disclosed this on Sunday. He said the accident was caused by Dangote cement trailer driver, who lost control and ran into a Toyota Hiace, killing all the passengers. The sector commander further said that three other persons who were in the trailer sustained various degree of injuries and had being taken to General hospital Tsafe for medical care. He said 15 corpses were later deposited at the Tsafe general hospital mortuary while efforts were being made to contact their relatives. He said the bus was coming to Gusau from Kano, while the trailer was on its way to Zaria. He advised motorists to avoid over speeding which he said was largely responsible for the road crash. He reminded road users of the need to a

Obama-Trump US President Barack Obama said in an interview broadcast Sunday that he has tried to impress upon president-elect Donald Trump that running the White House is different from any other job. The main thing he’s tried to convey is that there’s a difference between governing and campaigning, Obama said in the interview with ABC News. “What he has to appreciate is as soon as you walk into this office after you’ve been sworn in, you’re now in charge of the largest organisation on Earth,” Obama said. He has told Trump the operation can’t be managed like a family business, and he will have to have a strong team around him. “You have to have respect for institutions and the process to make good decisions because you are inherently reliant on other folks,” Obama adds. The interview comes as Obama prepares for a farewell address scheduled to take place Tuesday evening and as he prepares to leave office on January 20, the same day Trump will be inaugurated. Obama added that he

Late Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani died Sunday in Tehran at the age of 82, Iranian state media reports said. Rafsanjani had been admitted to hospital in the Iranian capital during the morning with cardiac arrhythmia. The cleric was one of the architects of the Islamic Revolution that deposed the shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in 1979 and established a religious state. Considered a moderate and mentor of current President Hassan Rowhani, Rafsanjani served as president between 1989 and 1997. He was also one of the richest men in the country. Born in 1934 in Bahreman in the south-east of the country, the cleric worked his way up the political ladder to become chairman of the parliament, before achieving the presidency. When he left the presidency he successfully campaigned for reformist Mohammad Khatami to replace him, setting him on a collision course with the hardline elements in government. In 2005, he stood again for the presidency, b

Yahya Jammeh, Gambia’s ex president President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday host four West African leaders to a meeting aimed at averting violence and preserving democracy in The Gambia. A statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said the meeting was in furtherance of Buhari’s mandate as mediator in the political impasse in The Gambia. Shehu said the meeting in Abuja followed the one in Accra on the sidelines of the inauguration of that country’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, on Saturday. He maintained that the Accra’s meeting expressed the readiness of the leaders of the sub-region to continue the pursuit of dialogue with the leaders of The Gambia. “The Presidents of Liberia and Senegal, the Vice President of Sierra-Leone and ex-President Mahama are expected at the meeting,’’ he said. Shehu said Buhari and the immediate past President of Ghana, John Mahama, as Mediator and Co-Mediator respectively

General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. Former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, said on Sunday that the sudden death of former Governor of Niger State, Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure came to him as a great shock. Babangida in a condolence to the family of the deceased, government and people of Niger, said as a believer, “all souls must taste death sooner or later”. “My amiable friend and companion is gone. We that were left behind are on transit sooner or later, we will go.” He prayed for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness for the late Abdulkadir Kure and urged the family, people of Niger and Nigeria at large to take heart. Kure died on Sunday in a German hospital at the age of 60.