TRENDNOBS

The Nasarawa State chapter of the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions (JUTI) has appealed to the state government to put in place modalities to ensure the accreditation of all courses in its tertiary institutions. The Chairman of the Union, Mr. Samuel Bashayi, made the call today in the state capital - Lafia, when officials of the union paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner for Education, Ahmed Tijani-Aliyu. He said if all the courses offered in the institutions are given full accreditation, it will enhance the quality of education in such schools. He pointed out that the non-accreditation of some courses was militating against the advancement of the institutions. The Chairman identified Nasarawa State Polytechnic and College of Agriculture, both in the state capital as worst hit by the non-accreditation of their courses – stressing that the implication was that certificates issued to graduates from unaccredited courses cannot stand the test of time. He appealed to the...

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has accredited 15 courses, offered at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger state. Making this known today, the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Abubakar Dzukogi, gave the breakdown of the course approved to include; Building Technology, Quantity Surveying and Survey Geo-Informatics. Others are Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology, Soil and Water Engineering, Public Administration, Chemical Engineering Technology and Science Laboratory Technology. The rector said the accredited courses would be due for re-accreditation in September, 2021.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has revealed that the Chinese government has placed demand for dry yam from Nigeria to meet industrial and domestic needs. Making the revelation while inaugurating a technical working committee to fast track the exportation of yam by July 2017 in Abuja, the agriculture minister said the country remained one of the world’s largest producers of yam – which accounts for 61.7 per cent of the global production of the crop. Chief Ogbeh assured that local production and consumption of the commodity would not be affected by the planned exportation, rather government would scale up yam production. While noting that high level of yam production was ongoing in Zakibiam, Benue State, the Minister said the government would leverage on it and also spread production across the entire country. He however lamented that Ghana, which produces far less than any yam producing state in Nigeria, had taken over the European market ...

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board JAMB has disclosed that effective from this year, candidates awaiting O’level results will no longer be offered or recommended for admission by any institution. In a statement issued today in Abuja by the Board’s Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the examination body also stated that it had concluded restructuring and reforms and is now ready to commence sales of its application form next month. The organization said the restructuring aimed to expand the opportunities available to candidates as almost all the public universities do not consider candidates on the second choice list because they hardly exhaust their first choice. JAMB said it took the decision after it found out that many institutions had offered candidates admission in the past on merit only to discover that such candidates do not have qualified O’level results for the admission – forcing the institutions to delete such candidate’s name and ...

The Senate has disclosed that it will screen the Acting Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen on Wednesday. Making the disclosure today, Senate President, Bukola Saraki said the exercise would be conducted during plenary tomorrow and urged senators to be present for the session which is slated to commence at 11am. Senate President Saraki had earlier read a letter forwarded to the Senate by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, requesting Onnoghen’s confirmation as CJN.

The Presidency has assured Nigerians that the country’s economy is coming out of recession. The statement was made today following the report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) after a review of the country’s economy. The Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu in a statement said there were indications that the economy was on its way out of recession considering the 2016 and last quarter Gross Domestic Product reports. A review of the recent GDP figures released by the NBS showed a contraction of minus 1.30 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016, translating into an estimated economic growth rate of minus 1.51 per cent for the full year. Dr. Dipeolu said the Nigerian economy actually performed better overall last year as the growth rate was higher with contraction at minus 1.5 per cent than the minus 1.8 per cent predicted by the IMF. He said the report had raised the hope that Nigeria was gradually coming out of recession with t...

The Turkey-backed Free Syrian army has said it will continue to attack regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) southeast of their positions in Al Bab following Syrian army advances south of the city.  On Monday,   Syrian regime forces advanced southeast of FSA-held Al Bab reaching areas under the control of the SDF and  as a result, the FSA factions, part of Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield, are encircled by regime forces and the US-backed SDF to the east and south and are unable to proceed towards ISIL-held Raqqa, which Ankara had identified as a major goal of its operation. According to an FSA commander, who spoke on condition of anonymity, ISIL withdrew from its positions southeast of Al Bab allowing the regime forces to capture 20 villages, including Aran, Al-Barij, and Abu al-Jibar.  The FSA commander added that the establishing of this territorial connection will increase the coordination between the regime forces and the SDF, which wi...

The World football governing body, FIFA, has placed a two-year suspension on its former executive committee member Amos Adamu after concluding investigation into a proceeding opened against him last year. According to the football governing body adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee, Amos Adamu violated the apex football body's rules bordering on loyalty and conflicts of interest under its code of ethics following "his involvement in the organization of an event in 2010, while being a member of the (then) FIFA Executive Committee. Details of the case were not specified by FIFA as Adamu will now have to stay away from "football-related activity" in his country and in the World in the wake of the ban. This is the second time Adamu is being placed on a worldwide ban from football-related activities by FIFA. In 2010, he was banned for three years and that led to him losing his position as an executive committee member at FIFA and CAF. Accor...

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has reiterated that President Muhammadu Buhari is neither critically ill nor in life threatening situation. The minister stated this in Umuahia at the second town hall meeting for the south-east and the launch of national reorientation campaign, “Change Begins With Me’’ . The minister who was asked to clear the air on the health condition of the president as well as state if there was need for a regular briefing on his health,… stressed that there was no reason for such briefings. He disclosed that the president had recently spoken with him adding that there was no cause for alarm. It is worthy to note that President Buhari has been out of the country, for 39 days. Due to medical reasons

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has called for an emergency meeting with the executive board members of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), which is scheduled to hold on the 28 th of February 2017 in Abuja. This follows the controversy surrounding the elections into the Confederation of African Football (CAF), scheduled to hold on March 16, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The minister will state Nigeria’s position in the choice of candidate between incumbent CAF President, Issa Hayatou and his challenger, Ahmad Ahmad from Madagascar. Meanwhile, the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, is also competing for a post in the CAF Executive Committee from the West B Zone.

The Minister of Defense, Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali, has pledged the readiness of the Federal Government to establish a naval war college in Akwa Ibom State. While responding to a request by the state Governor, Udom Emmanuel, during the opening ceremony of the 11th Nigerian Navy Games at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the minister assured that the request for a Naval war college in Akwa Ibom State has been granted. In his response, the governor promised to partner the military in ensuring the maintenance of peace in the state and thanked the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff as well as the Chief of Army Staff for the establishment of the 2 Brigade in Uyo, He attributed the relative peace in the state to the synergy between the military and the state government and commended the troops for exhibiting professionalism in combating militancy and other forms of insurgency in the country. Speaking of the 11th Nigerian Navy Games, He described...

The Gambia’s new president, Adama barrow has fired the head of the national prison system, for his alleged participation in abuses under the former regime.     According to government sources, the sacked director-general of the Gambia Prison Service, David Colley, had run the penitentiary system nearly non-stop since 1997 under Yahya Jammeh, the longtime leader of the tiny West African state who was forced out of power last month after losing an election.      It would be recalled that the United Nations and rights groups had repeatedly condemned The Gambia’s security services under Jammeh, blaming them for arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings and torture.

Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello has announced a sum of 500,000 naira reward for any resident who provides the state authorities with “useful information” that will lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of those who spread rumors to cause public disorder.      A statement from the governor’s office signed by Chief Press Secretary, Petra Onyegbule, explains that the decision became necessary due to recent   increase   in   dissemination of   inaccurate   information       The statement which further explained that the development was geared towards the reduction of crime and criminality in the state as well as curb the attitude of some politically sponsored persons,….. added that a sum of 500,000 naira is guaranteed for citizens who reports anyone that deliberately orchestrates circulation of unfounded claims with a view to causing untold damage to lives and properties.

The Niger state government says it will continue the payment of West African Senior School Certificate Examination fees, for best performing students in the state. Disclosing this to newsmen in Minna, the Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Fatima Madugu stated that the payment of examination fees would henceforth be based on the criterion that only the best performing students would be selected as beneficiaries. The commissioner who further explained that only students, who pass the secondary school final examinations with six credits, including Mathematics and English language, would henceforth be paid for,…added that the development aims at encouraging other students to improve on their performances. She also noted that the state government gives utmost priority to education so as to produce quality people for the state.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has sealed the first major silverware of Jose Mourinho's Manchester United reign and broke Southampton's hearts as the Swedish star's late goal clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory in League Cup final. Ibrahimovic was one of Mourinho's marquee signings in the close-season and he repaid his manager's faith with a typically dominant display on the big occasion today at Wembley. The 35-year-old opened the scoring with a blistering free-kick before Jesse Lingard doubled United's lead. Manolo Gabbiadini sparked a thrilling Southampton fightback, scoring just before halftime and again early in the second half. But Ibrahimovic had the last word as his 87th minute header ensured Mourinho joined United legend Alex Ferguson and Nottingham Forest great Brian Clough as the only managers to win the League Cup four times.

Zimbabwe's President   Robert Mugabe   has marked his 93rd birthday with lavish celebrations, addressing his own mortality in a speech, but showing no signs of quitting politics. Thousands of government supporters, some wearing clothing adorned with Mugabe's image in younger days converged in Matabeleland for Saturday's birthday bash and show of strength for the ruling ZANU-PF party. Also wearing a multi-colored suit emblazoned with his own image and dark glasses, Mugabe,  the world's oldest head of state, told the crowd he had no intention of stepping down. Speaking for over an hour, Mugabe said he would not impose his successor and that if ZANU-PF party felt he should retire, it would hold an extraordinary congress to choose a new leader. His hands gripping the podium, Mugabe spoke slowly saying at times he felt alone, but that he has a mission and mandate as   Zimbabwe   's leader and appealed for the ruling party to overcome its divisions...

Harry Kane has hit a first-half hat-trick as Tottenham stormed up to second in the Premier League with a 4-0 home demolition of Stoke . Kane's treble today took his tally to 17 league goals this season, while his first of the day at White Hart Lane was his 100th club goal. The England forward, age 23, who also scored three against Fulham in the FA Cup a week ago, capped an outstanding all-round display by setting up Dele Alli for the fourth. That helped Alli to draw a line under his dismissal performance against Gent that contributed to Spurs' Europa League exit on Thursday. Tottenham's victory took them above Manchester City and closed the gap on runaway leaders Chelsea to 10 points.

The House said the extension of the tenure of the caretaker incumbent TIC chairmen were inaugurated on the 12 th of November, 2016 after the expiration of the three years term of the elected council chairmen. The chairmen were appointed to administer the council’s affairs for the next three months, which ended on the 14 th of February, 2017. The state governor Abdulfatai Ahmed had written to the State Assembly requesting it to approve the tenure of the TIC chairmen by three months, pending the conduct of the Local Government election. The Speaker, shortly after deliberation on the request, said the House had approved the request and urged the TIC chairmen to deliver on the mandate given to them. committee by another three months was in order.

No fewer than five shops were razed in a fire outbreak, which occurred in Suleja, Niger State. The fire which started from a shop in the old Minna garage area of the town yesterday destroyed property worth several millions of naira. Reports say sympathisers had sent distress calls to the Niger State Fire Service but that there was no response as all its fire-fighting vehicles were not serviceable. However, an eyewitness said he suspected some chemicals were being mixed in one of the shops, which might have been responsible for the explosion that occurred.

An explosion has taken place at Gari village market near Kontagora town of Niger State, killing three people and injuring four others. The police Public Relations Officer DSP Bala Elkana, who confirmed the incident yesterday, said the explosion was as a result of mishandling of an explosive device by a newly-recruited soldier who just returned from Maiduguri where he was involved in the fight against the insurgents and gave the name of the soldier as Private Tanko Damina. DSP Elkana who said that the explosives went off in the market place, killing Damina, two others and injuring four others, thanked God that it was not a market day; the casualty would have been very high. The police spokesman noted that the force and the Army have dispatched anti bomb experts to the home of the deceased to check if there were other IEDs in the residence as the incident was said to have created panic in the village.

The National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) has made a call for more sponsorship of government officials and civil servants to the holy land to raise the moral standards in their service for the country. The Executive Secretary of the commission Mr Tor Ujah, who made the observation at a meeting with some Nigerians about to embark on pilgrimage to the holy land, also urged the Federal Government to fix the lapses in the aviation sector for prompt air lifting of pilgrims. While many believe that pilgrimage serves as a tool for moral building, there are hopes that this would be reflected in the lives of those performing the holy trip, which should in turn, translate in better socio-economic development for the country.

Several stakeholders across the globe have also welcome the development with ICC Ghana Secretary General, Mr. Emmanuel Doni-Kwame saying that ICC Ghana with the support of AGI, World Trade Centre Accra, GUTA, Ship owners Association of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, FAGE, Ghana Employers Association, Ghana Journalists Association, West Blue Consulting, Ghana Shippers Authority and the BUSAC Fund encouraged the Ministry of Trade and the Parliament of Ghana to ratify the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  This goal was achieved in January when Ghana became the 104th member country to ratify the TFA. The chief executive officer (CEO), West Blue Consulting and a member of ICC Ghana, Valentina Mintah said the Ghana National Single Window, a trade facilitation programme, plays a key role in the execution of the TFA with up to 15 Sub Articles covered by the programme. According to her, with the entry into force of the TFA, we are confident of achieving a further reducti...

Local operators involved in the illegal refining of crude oil in the coastal communities of the Niger Delta have commended the acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo over the planned liberalization of modular refineries in the region. The operators, formerly known as illegal refinery owners described the proposed liberalization as a welcome development that would encourage local participation, massive employment of youths and increased production of petroleum product for the nation. The operators under the aegis of the Izon-Ibie Modular Refinery Association, in a letter to the acting President, signed by Clever Uyabara and Okia Pere, Chairman and Secretary respectively, adding that the success of the proposed modular refinery was dependent on the openness of the policy and should not be politicized.

Following the planned closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport from March 8, the Federal Government has concluded plans to provide medical services facility on the Abuja-Kaduna express-way. The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the ministry has requested for funds to enable it provide the centres with medication  needed for  infrastructural  upgrade. Dr Ehanire, however, did not disclose what it would cost the government to provide the intended services, while reiterating that  the ministry started working on the programme about a year ago. Meanwhile the minister  added that six health centres have been identified for upgrade and full staffing to enable the facilities provide 24-hour services at every 30-kilometre of the road.

A  Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has given an interim order for the forfeiture of 17 vehicles found in the warehouse of former Controller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko Inde to the federal government. In his ruling, Justice Shuaibu held that the vehicles which are now in the custody of the economic and financial crimes corruption as attached to the affidavit in support of the application are hereby forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria in the interim pending conclusion of the investigation. I is worthnoting that the Operatives of EFCC had on February 20 stormed the warehouse of the former Customs boss on Nnamdi Azikwe Street, Kaduna and discovered 17 exotic vehicles worth hundreds of millions of Naira, suspected to be proceeds of crime .

As part of efforts to address challenges of housing shortage, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris says 25,000 new houses will be built for police personnel across the country. Revealing this today in his address to new recruits at the Police Training School (PTS) Sokoto, the IGP stated that the houses would be provided in partnership with some private developers, and,… an arm of the African Union. The police boss who described accommodation as key to motivating officers and men to be more diligent, patriotic and productive, further explained that the move was part of efforts geared towards making police barracks more habitable. He also advised men of the force to shun corruption in all ramifications, adding that the force headquarters had set up a special squad to combat the menace internally. On his part, the Commandant of the Sokoto Police Training School, Mr. Aliyu Sa'idu assured that standards and discipline would be maintained in the school,.. in which ...

The National Space Research and Development Agency says there will be a partial solar eclipse on Sunday the 25 th of February 2017. A statement made by the agency’s Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, reveals that the eclipse would be visible across the country, with different degrees of totality adding that there is no cause for alarm. The statement also revealed that the highest degree of obscurity during the natural occurrence would be observed in the southern part of the country, particularly in Port Harcourt, Uyo and Calabar, where it is expected to have about 33 per cent obscurity... while the lowest degree would be about nine per cent in the Northern part of the country, particularly Kebbi State.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, has expressed delight over the meeting held by some world leaders in Oslo, the capital of Norway. in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, the speaker stated that the meeting which saw donors pledge 672 dollars to tackle food crisis in the North-East for the next three years was a heartwarming development. The speaker who also used the medium to call for the convocation of a bigger donor summit that will enhance the rebuilding and rehabilitation of the north east,..confirmed that the event which was jointly hosted by the Norwegian, Nigerian, German governments and the UN, will boost relief efforts in the next three years

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina for resisting dishonest statements being perpetrated by mischief makers. Confirming this development on social media handle, the special adviser who stated that the president had in a phone call,.. assured him that there was no cause to worry,…added that he also received commendations for resisting dishonest statements being perpetrated by mischief makers. It is worthwhile to note that Mr. Femi Adesina is the latest person the president has spoken with as he also had similar phone conversations with governors of Kano and Katsina states, this week. Meanwhile Many Nigerians have also embarked on prayer sessions in mosques and churches for the quick recovery of the president, who is on bed rest in London. 

Following his shock dismissal, Claudio Ranieri has visited Leicester City’s training ground to bid farewell to his former staffs and players. The former Leicester City’s boss who had earlier visited the club’s headquarters to clean out his office on Friday, returned today to bid farewell and express gratitude to staffs and players who helped him become a Leicester legend during last season’s Premier League title-winning campaign. It would be recalled that Leicester club Thai owners reached a decision to lay off Claudio Ranieri after the club slumped into relegation dogfight with five successive league defeats. 

  A female reporter working for an Iraqi Kurdish channel has been killed in a roadside bomb attack while covering clashes between government forces and ISIL in Mosul. A statement posted on her media group website revealed that The 30-year-old reporter, Shifa Gardi who was reporting on the heavy clashes between the advancing Iraqi forces and the ISIS militants was killed by a roadside bomb explosion in Mosul. The statement also confirmed that Her cameraman, Younis Mustafa, was also wounded in the attack. The operation to retake Iraq's second-largest city from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) was officially launched in October last year, and in January its eastern half was declared "fully liberated". However, Mosul is ISIL's last major urban stronghold in Iraq, but the battle to retake its western half is expected to be the most challenging yet, since the streets are older, narrower and is densely populated with an estimate...

The UN human rights office says the 18-month jail sentence handed down to an Israeli soldier for killing a wounded Palestinian man is excessively lenient and unacceptable.   The Israeli soldier Elor Azaria, who shot Abdel Fattah al-Sharif Elor in the head after he was incapacitated following a knife attack in March 2016, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment.   Responding to the sentence, the UN human rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani stated that the international body was deeply disturbed at the lenient sentence given by the Tel Aviv Military Court earlier this week to an Israeli soldier convicted of unlawfully killing a  wounded Palestinian in an apparent extrajudicial execution of an unarmed man who clearly posed no imminent threat. She further stated that the 18 months’ sentence is a breach of confidence in the justice system as Manslaughter carries a maximum punishment of 20 years under Israeli law,  

Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello has commissioned a police station at Yakila village in Rafi Local Government. While delivering his speech at the ceremony, the governor noted that the station, which cost 19 million naira, would help beef up security in the area adding that the station would provide a conducive office accommodation for policemen working and make them more organized and mobilized to discharge their duties effectively,” He also disclosed that the neighboring Pandogari and Kusheki police out-posts would be upgraded to Divisional Police Stations in order to checkmate cattle rustling.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has advised the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sustain its current directive on forex sales in order to increase output by manufacturers. Disclosing this to newsmen the president of the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Frank Jacobs, stated that the advice is significant as the directive would help in strengthening the naira for production purposes. According to him, the policy will, in the long run, make machinery and other  items more affordable for manufacturers, which in turn will lead to cheaper goods. It would be recalled that the CBN had on the 21 st of Febuary 2017 directed all banks to open outlets for sale of forex at all airports to ease forex purchases. The directive has gradually strengthened the naira, making it exchange at 495 naira against on the 23 rd of February 2017 against the 520 naira sold on the 20 th of February 2017 at the parallel market.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resolved to discipline its 25 personnel who were charged for misconduct during the Rivers state re-run elections held on the 10 th of December 2016.  Revealing this to newsmen, the INEC National Commissioner, Solomon Soyebi, stated that internal disciplinary measures would be taken against the indicted members of staff adding that they would be also prosecuted by the police for their alleged role in the re-run. The national commissioner who further stressed the Commission would not shield any of its staff that engages in any conduct which undermine the integrity of the electoral process... also expressed his gratitude to academic staffs of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike who served in Rivers West and East Senatorial Districts as well as corps members who served as presiding officers

French side football club Bastia have been ordered to close part of its stadium for three matches and given a suspended one-point deduction by a Ligue 1 disciplinary committee after some supporters racially abused Nice striker, Mario Balotelli. the sanctions were imposed for "shouts with racist connotations towards Balotelli, use of pyrotechnic devices and intrusion of supporters". The development was a follow-up of racial abuse reports made by the Former Manchester City and Liverpool player Balotelli, following Nice 1-1 draw against Bastia in last month after which Balotelli expressed his grievances on social media.

The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) has called on the federal government to review its economic policies by making it people-driven. This was contained in a statement made by the NLC president, Ayuba Wabba who noted that the congress had observed that the ongoing economic recession was not only due to the resultant effect of corruption,… but the continued implementation of policies imposed by “neo-liberal institutions”. The labor president who called for a total economic review noted that it could be made possible through encouraging the growth of the informal economy, resumption in local production of petroleum products, development of solid minerals and tourism, among others. He further stated that the labor movement could not afford to remain indifferent in the face of the overwhelming challenges,.. but call on the government to do more.

Abraham Poincheval is no stranger to daring performance art, but his latest project is probably the toughest one yet. The French artist will spend eight straight days sealed in a human shaped hole carved out inside a giant boulder. The purpose of this unusual performance – “to find out what the world is”. On February 22, 2017, 45-year-old Poincheval was sealed in this carved out stone sarcophagus at Paris’s Palais de Tokyo gallery, where he will allegedly spend eight straight days, until March 1st. His temporary prison, a large boulder split in two with just enough room to fit the artist’s body in sitting position, and enough food and water to keep him in good physical condition over his eight days of isolation. His only connection to the outside world is a ventilation duct that keeps him from suffocating in the tight space. “The purpose is to feel the aging stone inside the rock,” told media reporters. “There is my own breathing, and then the rock which lives, still...

Claudio Ranieri has been sensationally sacked as Leicester city manager. The brutal decision to dismiss the man who lead them to arguably the greatest triumph in English football history was made after Wednesday's 2-1   Champions league defeat in Seville. The club confirmed his departure on Thursday night, calling the decision 'painful' but 'necessary'.   Assistant Manager Craig Shakespeare and First Team Coach Mike Stowell will be in charge until a replacement is found, starting with the upcoming game against Liverpool at the King Power Stadium on Monday. The 65-year-old's appointment was met with criticism when he replaced Nigel Pearson in July 2015 but he sensationally inspired a team which had narrowly escaped relegation to their first-ever Premier League title. His remarkable achievement with a squad worth just £55million saw him named FIFA Coach of the Year. But the Italian was unable to replicate his success this season.  While Leice...

No fewer than 1,000 returning Internally Displaced Persons in Gwoza local government of Borno State, have received free medical treatment from the Nigerian Air Force. The health intervention dealt with issues which include eye related problems, deworming of children, general checkup for nursing and pregnant mothers as well as distribution of free mosquito nets. Confirming the free medical treatments to newsmen, the Director Humanitarian Services of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Harold Onyechi noted that the outreach programme would be continious.    The IDPS, who were mostly elderly people, expressed delights over the efforts of the Air Force which supplement the overstretched resources of a team of community health workers operating in Gwoza. Also speaking to newsmen, the commanding officer of the composite group medical Centre, wing commander Solomon Irmiya, disclosed future health intervention plans to be embarked by the Nigerian air force.   It i...

Bayern Munich manager, Carlo Ancelotti faces charges by a German football association after admitting putting his middle finger up at Hertha Berlin supporters. League leaders Bayern drew 1-1 at Hertha on Saturday but Ancelotti was left furious by the conduct of the Hertha fans and was caught on camera appearing to raise his middle finger in their direction. The club manager who made the offensive gesture at home fans, claimed it was in response to being spat on during a Bundesliga match. Meanwhile the German Football Association is set to contact the former Chelsea, Paris St Germain and Real Madrid boss for his views on the matter.

The federal government has called on the African Union and the South African government to take decisive and definitive measures to protect  Nigerian citizens and other Africans within South African borders. The call was made today by the Senior Special Assistant to President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, following reports of renewed violence against Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa. The senior special assistant who described the xenophobic attacks as an “unnecessary setback” advised Nigerians to be extra cautious, adding that the attention of the African Union has been called over reports of planned attacks against foreigners on the 22 nd and 23 rd of February 2017. While Confirming the attacks and looting of Nigerian-owned businesses in Pretoria, The Nigerian Community in South Africa led by Ikechukwu Anyene called on Nigerians in South Africa to be vigilant in the face of renewed xenophobic attacks. attacks against foreigners on...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will soon release its decision on the applications received from associations that applied for registration as political parties in the country. Revealing this today in Abuja today the INEC Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi stated that the commission was already processing applications adding that the commission would register any association that meet the criteria provided by the law and Electoral Act. The Director of Publicity however declined to comment on the proposed mega party stating that he was not aware if some of the applications had mega in their proposed names. It is worthy to note that that more than 60 political associations have submitted applications to the commission,.. seeking to be registered as political parties in the country.