TRENDNOBS

President Muhhamadu Buhari has sent the names of Professor Stephen Ikani Ocheni and Mr. Suleiman Hassan as Ministerial nominees for screening and subsequent confirmation. This was contained in letter from the number one citizen and read by Senate President, Bukola Saraki during plenary today. If confirmed, Professor Ikani Ocheni from kogi state would replace former Minister of state, Labour and Employment, Late Barrister James Ocholi who died in a road accident along Kaduna- Abuja road on the 6 th of March, while Mr. Suleiman Hassan from Gombe would replace former Minister for Environment Mrs. Amina Mohammed who had gone to serve in the United Nations as a deputy Secretary General. The list of ministerial nominees is coming at a time when the Senate resolved on issuing a 2-week suspension of President Buhari request for the screening of Resident Electoral Commissioners, based on what the lawmakers termed as disregard for its resolutions. 

Niger State government says it aims to generate a monthly internal revenue of not less than 1 billion naira for the 2017 fiscal year.  Revealing this today to newsmen in Minna, the Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Alhaji Jibrin Ndace noted that the 2017 budget being worked upon by the state House of Assembly was calculated on the premise that government would generate N1 billion internally monthly. He also added that the new chairman of the state Board of Internal Revenue, Alhaji Yusuf Habibu, had been tasked on achieving the target as well as surpass it.

The Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Ali Ndume for six months. The suspend lawmaker was accused of bringing unfounded and unverified allegations against the Senate President and Senator Dino Melaye. The decision to Suspend the former majority leader was taken by the Senate after considering the report of its Committee on Ethics and Privileges which was directed to investigate the matter. The report submitted by the committee recommended that Senator Ndume be suspended for 181 sitting days, for bringing dishonor on the senate but a Federal lawmaker appealed that he should be suspended for six months instead. It would be recalled that Senator Ali Ndume had recently called for the investigation of Senate President Bukola Saraki over allegations of importing a bullet proof range rover with fake duties document as well as senator Dino Melaye over allegations of university certificate scandal.

The Madeira Airport in Portugal has been renamed “Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo” in honor of the Real Madrid superstar. The renaming of the airport is a follow-up of Portugal’s 3-2 victory over Sweden in Madeira’s capital, Funchal, where Portugal had not played for 16 years. The ceremony also featured the unveiling of Ronaldo’s bust statue, which has been heavily criticized for bearing no resemblance to the Portugal captain. Present at the renaming ceremony were Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Antonio Costa, friends and family as well as Hundreds of locals, including school children.

Zlatan Ibrahimović has confirmed that talks are ongoing with Manchester United regarding the extension of his contract beyond the current season. The striker, who has scored 26 goals for United since he joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain is eligible to extend his one-year deal for 12 months. The 35-year-old has already won the League Cup and Community Shield with Manchester United. Meanwhile Manchester united is in the last eight position of the Europa League and chasing a top-four spot in the Premier League

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has triggered the formal two-year process of negotiations geared towards starting the exit of Britain from the European Union (EU). A letter invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and officially notifying the EU of Britain's decision to withdraw from the bloc was hand-delivered to European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels by British Ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow. Britain voted to leave the EU last June, after a campaign that divided the country as results of the votes revealed that 52 percent voted for Brexit, while 48 percent wanted to stay in the EU. Scotland and Northern Ireland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, while England and Wales, with a much larger combined population, voted to leave.

The Management of the University of Jos says the 67 percent increment in fee charges, from 27,000 naira to 45,000 naira, was a directive from the Federal Government. Revealing this in a statement, the university’s Registrar, Mr. Monday Danjem, stated that the university received the directive to review the charges from the National Universities Commission (NUC) in January 2015, and presented it before the Governing Council and Senate, who both ratified it for implementation. The Registrar who further denied students claims that the increment in fee charges was singularly done by the university, noted that the management consulted widely before implementing the new charges, adding that it held three meetings with the students union before taking a final decision.

The Nigeria Customs Service has released three telephone numbers that could be used for immediate confirmation of Customs duty papers by members of the public. This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah. The statement which revealed that the telephone numbers could be used in verifying the genuineness of papers for those who intend to buy vehicles from dealers, added that the Nigerian Customs Service, under the present management is determined to explore ways of easing Customs processes and procedures for the interest of the general public. Details of the telephone numbers can be obtained from our news archive on the search FM mobile app for android and blackberry The numbers according to the service are; 094621597, 094621598,094621599.

Nigeria's friendly against Burkina Faso, scheduled for next week in London has been cancelled. This was made known by the NFF who explained that the cancellation was due to visa issues affecting travelling players. It revealed that seven Burkinabe players failed to secure British entry visas, forcing Monday's match at Barnet in north London to be cancelled. The friendly match is part of preparations geared towards preparations for remaining qualifiers which include the 2018 World Cup and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.                    

Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak has been released from detention after being cleared of inciting the killings of hundreds of protesters in 2011. Hosni Mubarak was cleared for release earlier this month after the country's highest appeal court acquitted him of any involvement in the deaths of nearly 900 Egyptians during the uprising between the 25 th of January to the 11 th of February 2011. The 88 year old left a military hospital in Cairo's southern suburb of Maadi where he had been held in custody for Six years and was taken to his home in the upscale Heliopolis district, under heavy security.

The Federal Government says it will support power companies in resolving problems of generation. This assurance was given by the Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola during a tour of Olorunsogo Power Plant in Abeokuta, Ogun state. The minister who noted that companies are faced with different problems, called on them to present comprehensive reports to be presented before the Federal Executive Council for consideration and appropriate action. He also expressed optimism that the gas programme recently initiated by the Federal Government would address the challenges of gas supply to the generation companies.

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has held talks with the club’s senior officials, over a new two-year contract. According to sports media, the discussions were held among majority shareholder, Stan Kroenke and other members of the club’s hierarchy. Although, Wenger is spending the international break in Paris, he has been in regular contact with Kroenke, who wants him to continue at the club and oversee a rebuild this summer. The Frenchman has reportedly agreed to the new deal verbally, but nothing has been signed yet. The club chiefs will also spend the next two years trying to find the right successor for Wenger.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dissociated itself, from the failure to stream the international friendly between the Super Eagles and Teranga Lions on Thursday.                                                                                                           While Responding to criticisms meted on the federation by fans who paid 500 naira to a fake site for live streaming, the NFF Director of Media and Communications, Ademola Olajire, explained tha...

The Naira has further appreciated against the dollar at the parallel market. The Nigerian currency on Friday afternoon exchanged between 380 Naira and 390 naira respectively which is stronger than N400 recorded on Thursday, while the pound sterling and Euro closed at N490 and N430. At the Bureau, De Change window, the Naira was sold at N399 to the dollar, while the pound sterling and the Euro were sold at N500 and N400. The Nigerian currency also appreciated at the interbank market, closing at 307 naira to the dollar, from 308 Naira recorded on Thursday. Meanwhile traders at the market have ascribed the gains to the liquidity boost at the interbank market by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Northern leaders under the umbrella of the Arewa Consultative Forum have expressed shock and fear over renewed attacks by insurgents in the Northeast. A statement signed by the Forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, condemned the recent multiple bomb blasts in Maiduguri and called on the Nigerian military to be relentless in its flushing out remaining insurgents. It also express confidence in the capability of the military and other security agencies to bring to an end to insurgency in the Northeast region as well as commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his condemning the attacks which had led to loss of lives and properties

Republicans in the US House of Representatives have withdrawn a healthcare bill drafted to repeal and replace "Obamacare". Confirming the withdrawal, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he recommended the withdrawal of the bill following shortage of votes to pass it and permission from President Donald trump. President Trump who had earlier demanded a House vote stated that he would move on to other issues if the bill failed. He however blamed Democrats for the failure to pass the legislation as well as expressed surprise and disappointed over the opposition from a group of conservative Republicans who led the resistance against the legislation. Democrats, on the other hand, have described the failed bill as a "victory" for the American people.

The Super Falcons have moved up to the 34th position in the latest FIFA world rankings. The Nigerian Women team amassed 1,613 points in the rankings released on Friday, to maintain their place as the highest-ranked country in Africa. Meanwhile Cameroon, who lost to the Falcons in the final of the 2016 African Women Championship are 47th on the rankings while Equatorial Guinea are slightly below at 50 th position. Germany has replaced USA as the number one team in the overall rankings, which is the first time since March 2015 that USA has been replaced at the top.

President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to visit Sambisa forest on Monday the 27 th of March 2017. Disclosing this during a press briefing in Maiduguri, the Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Army, Major General David Amadu revealed that the President will be at the forest to declare open the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship. According to him, the championship aims at testing and shaping the intelligence and professional capacity of the Nigerian Army officers and soldiers as well as equipment. The number one citizen will be accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Alhaji Mansur Ali and Service Chiefs.

The Federal Government says the whistle-blower policy which commenced in December 2016 has yielded 2,251 reported cases. This was contained in a statement made by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and issued by her Media Adviser, Mr. Festus Akanbi. According to the statement, 1,550 reports were made through phone calls, 412 through text messages, 195 through emails while 95 were done through the whistle-blower website. The statement further revealed that a total of 282 tips were provided by members of the public, of which 154 were actionable, adding that the tips comprised matters which include contract inflation, conversion of government assets to personal use, ghost workers, payment of unapproved funds, embezzlement of salaries, improper reduction of financial penalties, and diversion of funds meant for distribution to a particular group of farmers There were also tips on the diversion of funds to personal commercial bank accounts to earn interest, non-remittance of pen...

 WWE legend  Glenn Thomas Jacobs  known best as KANE is  running for office!! The 7-foot, 323-pound wrestler is planing to run the political position as mayor of Tennessee. he is a Republican and filed paperwork earlier this month, kick-starting the campaign process. The election won't take place until May 2018. As a member of The Authority, Kane was voted Most Hated Wrestler of the Year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 2013. Better hope those voters don't live in Tennessee.   src:tmz

Thin tall tony, who was nominated for eviction alongside Tboss, Efe and Debbie Rise, has been evicted from the Big Brother Naija house. Thin Tall Tony The married father of two's eviction, read more left Bisola who he had a romantic relationship with while still in the house very emotional. He's been asked to meet Ebuka at the stage. Recall that Big Brother In a diary session had offered Thin Tall Tony N1 million which he rejected insisting he will win the show. When asked if he will take a million naira and save himself the stress of remaining in the house, he replied,  “No. I don’t want it. “I have a policy in life that i don’t give up. “If I have taken that long time ago I won’t be here.”

Isabelle Adesina, a Nigerian-American certified dietician says that using detoxifying tea for weight loss does more damage to the body. Adesina, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, said that detoxifying tea, also known as detox tea was becoming trending among young adults who want to lose weight. According to the dietician, the internet health trend, which has become a lucrative business, is not sustainable. She said that internet health could cause major health problems for people who relied on it for weight loss. Detox tea is usually taken by some people for weight loss. “There are various detoxifying tea brands circulating the market and trending on social media. “Paid celebrities usually help promote these tea brands on their websites, even as they themselves don’t use the products. “The contents of some of these tea brands are dangerous to the health of the consumer,’’ he said. According to her, the tea normally requires the consumer to ingest...

  Manchester United have been fined 20,000 pounds by the Football Association for failing to control their players in last Monday's FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Chelsea. Revealing this in a statement, the football association stated that Manchester united accepted the standard penalty. The charge was a followed misconduct by Manchester united players’ who surrounded referee Michael Oliver following the dismissal of midfielder Ander Herrera.

The Israeli army says its aircraft have carried out air strikes in Syria prompting the country forces to retaliate with ground-to-air missiles. The air strikes are one of the most serious incidents between the two countries, which remain technically at war, since civil war broke out in Syria in March 2011. Israeli media sources report that the Syrian government deployed air defense systems and fired a number of missiles towards Israeli jets in response to the attacks. Meanwhile Syria's army high command have confirmed that the Israeli jets which breached Syrian airspace attacked a military target near Palmyra,.. describing the attack as an act of aggression that aided ISIL which is fighting against the Syrian government.

President Mohammad Buhari has recommended that any traditional chieftaincy title holder caught indulging in corrupt practices should be stripped off of his traditional title. The President who was represented by the minister for youths and sports development, Solomon Dalung made the recommendation at Wukari Local Government Council of Taraba state on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Aku-Uka of Wukari, Dr Shekarau Angy. The number one citizen who stressed that traditional institutions must be the vanguard of the anti-corruption crusade added that his administration will not condone monarch treading the path of corruption. He also commended the Aku-Uka who is the chairman of council of chief in Taraba State and urged citizens  to join hands with his administration to wipe out corruption from the country.

Niger state chapter of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), says it has concluded arrangements to train 1,232 youths under its Youth Employment and Social Support Operation. Revealing this to newsmen in Minna, the state National Directorate of Employment coordinator, Mr. Abdullahi Mohammed, said the directorate has finalized plans to train 1,232 youths from Chanchaga and Bida Local Government Areas of Niger state for nine months. The coordinator who explained that the training would focus on skills acquisition, internship and apprenticeship added that t the directorate would collaborae with a private organisation to give adequate orientation to selected beneficiaries. He further revealed that orientation courses for participants from Chanchaga would run between the 20 th of March and 21 st of March 2017 at the UK Bello Arts Theatre, Minna,..While Participants from Bida would, assemble at the Bida Town Hall between the 23 rd and 24 th of march  2017

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals to call off its indefinite nationwide strike. The order was given by Justice Benedict Kanyip, who restrained the union from carrying on the industrial strike action, pending the outcome of a substantive suit filed by the Federal Ministry of Health. While presenting the case before court, the ministry’s lawyer, Lloyd-Benson Iboroma, stated that the striking workers perform essential services adding that the industrial action is detrimental to the nation. The ministry lawyer who noted that series of meetings had been held with the union to prevent the strike action and ensure that their demands were met added that the defendant was duly served notices to appear in court, but failed to be present in court. It is worthy to note that Members of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals who commenced indefinite strike on the 6 th of March 2017 include dental therapists, m...

The Federal Government has announced plans to resettle Internally Displaced Persons from Bakassi. Making the announcement at the Cross-River State Government House, the federal commissioner for refugee, migrant and internally displaced person, Hajiya Sadiya Farauk, revealed that the Federal Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and ECOWAS on the statelessness of the IDPS. On his part, the Cross-River State Governor, Ben Ayade, commended the initiative but appealed for a quick process that will ensure the reunion of displaced people with their loved ones.

Popular Nollywood actress and producer Kemi Afolabi recently experienced an assaulted by thugs on a movie set in Ikorodu. The thugs, not only disrupted the set of her movie, Esan but allegedly beat the actress up.  Her movie director, Ijaduade Azeez said;  ”One of the thugs who attacked them on Sunday hit Kemi afolabi on Stomach and since then she has been bleeding seriously .” According to a source, the actress who was pregnant with her second child for UK-based lover, Wale Adesipe, lost the pregnancy following the incident that left her bleeding. ‘Kemi is still in the hospital, she couldn’t walk and she’s lost her pregnancy,’  an insider revealed. The actress’ spokesperson earlier revealed to a source that Kemi is currently in an undisclosed hospital in Victoria Island where she’s currently receiving treatment.

Cameroon’s victorious players were still dancing on the field at the Stade de l’Amitié in Libreville, Gabon, when Issa Hayatou — African soccer’s apparently unassailable kingpin — decided he deserved a moment of triumph, too. He was present, at the final of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, to hand out medals to the winners and to offer a consoling hand to the losers. It was a role he had come to know well over the course of the 29 years he had spent as president of the Confederation of African Football, African soccer’s governing body. That did not stop him from breaking just a little with protocol. Standing on the podium that had been constructed in the center of the field, Mr. Hayatou briefly clasped the trophy with both hands, held it aloft, and turned, beaming, to the crowd. Mr. Hayatou, 70, had every reason to be happy. He had just witnessed his homeland beat Egypt to win his tournament, the competition he had transformed, in a stadium and a country he had all but handpicked to ...

The Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda (IBB) University in Lapai, Niger State, has made a major breakthrough with the discovery of large quantity of crude oil deposit at Bida Basin. The Head of Research and Development, Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda (IBB), Lapai In Niger State, Prof. Nuhu Obaje, on Thursday, said the institute has discovered large quantity of crude oil deposit at Bida Basin. He disclosed that the institution had made its findings known to both the Federal Government as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). According to DailyTrust, Prof. Obaje said that the management of the university was ready and willing to assist government in further exploration of crude in the area. This is even as he said that University Research department has also introduced a technology for quick crude oil discovery and drilling. The Director of the research centre, Prof. Nuhu Obaje, made this disclosure at the exhibition of raw materials and local products, held at Landmark Ce...