Oliseh calls for patience

Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has called for patience from fans as he begins preparation for Nigeria’s next Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations game. Nigeria travel to Tanzania on September 5 to face the Taifa Stars – and confront Burkina Faso over two legs in October for the Africa Nations Championship qualifiers. And the Eagles will play their first game in the second round of the African qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in November. Oliseh told thenff.com, “We have no choice but to hit the ground running. “Jean Francois (his assistant) and I have been busy combing and tracking players in Europe, while Salisu Yusuf has been doing same with the home-based stars. According to thenff.com, Alloy Agu, who is the national Under-23 team goalkeeping coach, will move to the Eagles after the team’s 2016 Olympic Games qualifier against Congo. Oliseh added, “We have to cover all grounds and be adequately prepared for all the competitions we are involved in, whether it is CHAN, AFCON or the World Cup qualifiers. “Our list of invited players for CHAN will be out in the first week of August, while that of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania should be out in mid-August. “We urge everyone to continue to support the team and join their efforts with ours in ensuring that the Super Eagles succeed on all fronts.”

No regrets moving to UAE – Emenike

Nigeria striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has said he has no regrets leaving topflight European football for a loan spell in the United Arab Emirates. Emenike joined UAE champions Al-Ain from Turkish giants Fenerbahce on a one-year loan deal on July 8. He replaces Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan, who earned legendary status at the club with his goals. “Every move I have made in my career has always been great; this one to Al Ain will be greater. Since my days in South Africa, Turkey, Russia and back to Turkey, it has always been a wonderful experience. I have never regretted any decision I took in my career and I am very confident that this is another greater moment for me,” Emenike said in an interview with Africanfootball.com. Last season, the 28-year-old struggled at Fenerbahce but he is hoping to score loads of goals at his new club. Emenike added, “This move has a lot to do with my career and I am ready to work hard and get back to my scoring best. “Of course, I am ready for that. I did it with Fenerbahce. I have no other mission here at Al Ain than to score goals and win titles. The expectation is obviously high and I am looking forward to justify the trust they have in me. “I have come here to deliver, nothing will change it. But I cannot do it alone. I am a team player and I will love to get going with my teammates and also get the cooperation of everybody. I am not going to speak about my ability but my legs should be able to do a lot of things about my coming to Al Ain.” Emenike said he was not under pressure to take over from Gyan, who made a huge impact in three seasons at the club. The Ghana captain helped Al-Ain to three straight titles during his time at the club and emerged as top scorer in the UAE Pro League 201/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons. He was also the AFC Champions League top scorer and AFC Foreign Player of the Year in 2014. “I am not under any pressure, I am good to go. I have scored goals in Europe, I know what it takes and it’s not a big deal coming to play for an ambitious club like this,” Emenike said. “Leaving Fenerbahce does not mean I must prove them wrong. I am focusing on how I will score beyond expectations. And for Gyan, I am not here to fill his shoes or be Gyan. He’s a fantastic player, one of the best in Africa and he left Al Ain with a good record. I have come to make my own impact. “It is not something that I must do under pressure. I am a natural striker and I will justify the confidence of the club and everybody.”

Prosecute our members if found corrupt, PDP tells Buhari Prosecute our members if found corrupt, PDP tells Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party has called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to hesitate to investigate and prosecute any of its members found to have corruptly enriched himself. The party said because of its integrity, it would neither condone nor albeit corrupt persons. The call followed the statement made by the President in which he said he had started receiving some documents which indicted some former ministers and other top government officials of massive fraud, including oil theft. The affected ministers and presidential aides were said to have served under former President Goodluck Jonathan. The Bayelsa State-born politician is a member of the now opposition party, the PDP, and was also its presidential candidate during the last election. But in prosecuting the affected members, the PDP however said that the Federal Government must adhere to the rule of law. National Publicity Secretary of the main opposition party, the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated the party’s position in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja. Metuh said that as a policy, the party would not hesitate to condemn anyone found to have flouted the law of the land. He said, “They (any PDP members found to be corrupt) should be investigated and prosecuted according to the law of the land. All we want is that the law of the land must be followed. “We will, however, insist that there must be respect for the human rights and that the rights of the individuals must not be violated. “The law assumes everyone to be innocent until proven otherwise. With this, the government must not see anyone to be corrupt first. They are innocent until found guilty by court of law.” He also added that it would be wrong for the government or anyone to see members of the PDP as criminals, even when there was nothing incriminating found with them. Metuh said everyone, including suspects, must be seen to even be innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. Metuh called on the government to also beam its searchlights on members of the ruling APC, adding that the fight against corruption must be holistic. “We as a party will support the fight against corruption. However, the fight must be holistic and there mustn’t be any sacred cow,” he added. Meanwhile, governors of the PDP under the aegis of the PDP Governors’ Forum on Wednesday night in Abuja, expressed concern over the current spate of Boko Haram attacks in the North-East and asked the military to wake up. The governors, after their meeting, expressed concern that in spite of the security measures by the Armed Forces, “the sect seems to be intensifying its attacks.” The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said even as they met, the Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, received a call over another attack in his state. Emmanuel, while calling on the Armed Forces to step up their operations, also lamented the state of the Internally Displaced Persons. He said, “We actually call on the Armed Forces to step up their security measures to see how they can stem the tide of this menace. “It is really a thing of concern to the PDP government that in spite of all the efforts in the Armed Forces, these guys are still proving to be more formidable. “So, we are sure if the Armed Forces step up a little bit, they should be able to curtail it.” Referring to the situation in Gombe State, he said, “We received another report of another attack. These are things we believe we should rise up as a country and curtail it.”

Tompolo calls ex-militants to ‘crucial’ meeting

ONE of the top ex-militants in the Niger Delta, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), on Thursday called the commanders of militant groups in the oil rich region to an urgent and “crucial” meeting. Tompolo called the meeting via an electronic mail for 2pm on Saturday at Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. The invitation, a copy of which was made available to one of our correspondents, read, “My dearly beloved Commanders and Leaders of various wings of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, I greet you all. “It is my pleasure to humbly invite you to a very crucial and urgent meeting as follows…” A source confided in The PUNCH that Tompolo and members of his group had allegedly been meeting in the last six days. It was learnt that the situation among former militants in the Niger Delta came to a head on Wednesday, when Buhari threatened to probe the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan over oil theft. It was also gathered that the leaders of MEND were bitter because of the termination of contracts they were executing for the Federal Government in the oil industry. Efforts by one of our correspondents to speak with Tompolo on his mobile phones proved abortive as none of his two lines were connected. But one of his aides, who did not want his name mentioned, said, “Oga dey vex, we will do something very soon to surprise the nation. We cannot be ignored at all; instead somebody is talking about probe”. The statement calling the ex-militants to the ‘crucial’ meeting was signed by Tompolo. The Jonathan administration had a few years ago awarded a contract for tracking ships and cargoes as well as enforcement of regulatory compliance and surveillance of the entire Nigerian maritime domain to GWVSL. The company, which was said to be owned by Tompolo, was expected to execute the contract in partnership with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. The recently-sacked Director-General of NIMASA, Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, had defended the contract, saying N124bn would be generated for the Federal Government by the GWVSL Before approving the contract, Jonathan had sent a memo to the National Assembly, urging it to discountenance an earlier one submitted by the late Yar’Adua. Yar’Adua, had sought to create a coastal guard, comprising all security agencies, to man the country’s maritime domain.The alleged neglect of the Niger Delta amnesty programme by President Muhammadu Buhari and his plan to fish out oil thieves might have triggered clandestine meetings of members of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta. One of our correspondents learnt that there had been tension among the Niger Delta ex-militants because of their belief that the President might have abandoned the amnesty programme. The amnesty programme was negotiated under the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua for militants who surrendered their arms and made themselves available for rehabilitation. The suspicion of the militants that the President had left them in the cold was said to have been reinforced by non-payment of stipends and training allowances of ex-militants since May when Buhari assumed power. The PUNCH learnt that the ex-militants, at their meetings, threatened to make worse the insecurity in the country. It was gathered that the ex-militants were also angered by the fate of trainee pilots under the amnesty programme. The trainee pilots were said to be facing eviction in their institutions in foreign countries because of failure of government to pay their fees. The Head, Media and Communication, Amnesty Office, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, confirmed to one of our correspondents on the telephone that the salaries, allowances and stipends of the delegates had not been paid for May and June. He said that the issue of the salaries and allowances was being handled at the Presidency. Alabrah said that the office was optimistic that the President would look into the matter very soon, explaining that the new government would need to understand the operations of the programme. “The salaries for May and June and in-training allowances have not been paid. “The matter is being handled at the State House. We are expecting something positive. We empathise with the delegates; it is a new administration, they really want to understand how the programme is being run. Action would be taken very soon,” he said. Meanwhile, a former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, has called Buhari’s attention to the imminent danger facing the amnesty programme. He said that N5.3bn was still with the Amnesty Programme Office. He therefore called on the President to urgently appoint someone into office for the management of the fund. Clark, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, said that lack of replacement for Kingsley Kuku, who was chairman of the amnesty programme in the last regime, was causing ripples in the Niger Delta region. He said, “I wish to bring to the attention of Mr. President the imminent danger facing the amnesty programme. “I have received a series of delegates from our people on the same matter and I have appealed to them to remain calm and continue to maintain the peace.” He said there had been series of demonstrations by youths and mothers as a result of dismissal of 13 ex-militant youths being trained as pilots by the Lufthansa Airlines Training School in Frankfurt, Germany. The trainees, he added, claimed that they were being deprived of their training and sent packing by their various institutions in South Africa, Russia, Ukraine and other countries in Europe, due to the failure of the Federal Government to pay the Amnesty Training Fees and scholarship grants. Clark said that it was unfortunate that this happened not because of lack of funds, but because of who to disburse it. He said, “From my investigation, I’m reliably informed that lack of funds is not the problem, but the authority to operate the account. “I’m also reliably informed that there is an amount of N5.3bn left for the execution of the Amnesty programme.” He reiterated the importance of peace in the oil rich Niger Delta region to the country’s economy. SOURCE: PUNCH

NYSC bars nursing mothers from national service NYSC bars nursing mothers from national service

The National Youth Service Corps has barred prospective corps members that are pregnant and nursing mothers from participating in national service across the country. Also affected are students undergoing postgraduate studies in institutions of higher learning in the country. The Director-General, NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, who gave the hint in Kaduna on Thursday, emphasised that those affected needed not bother to enlist for service “until they are free to participate effectively.” ADVERTISEMENT The DG said the scheme would no longer mobilise pregnant women and nursing mothers for service in the scheme established in 1973 by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon administration. Olawumi noted that the exemption of pregnant women and nursing mothers as well as postgraduate students from national service was because they could not undergo the four cardinal programmes of the NYSC. The four cardinal programmes, according to him, include mobilisation, orientation, primary assignment and winding up/passing out parade. The DG said for prospective corps members to qualify to receive certificates of national service, they must go through the four stages of the national service. The NYSC DG, in a resolution of the workshop with the theme, “ICT and NYSC mobilisation process: Towards eliminating identified challenges,” insisted that henceforth, pregnant women and children would no longer be allowed into orientation camps across the country. He said prospective corps members must be ready to fully participate in all the cardinal stages of the scheme without “which the cerificates of national service will not be released.” He said, “It was further resolved that pregnant women, nursing mothers or students engaging in postgraduate studies should not bother to enlist for service, until they are free to participate effectively.” Meanwhile, the resolutution of the 2015 ‘B’ pre-mobilisation workshop added that henceforth, documents for concessional posting request on marital or health grounds would be forwarded online as against the old practice of bringing such to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja. It noted that prospective corps members would henceforth be given the opportunity to make their choice outside their socio-cultural and linguistic areas, using ICT solution. This, according to the NYSC, is in a bid to tackle the problem of deluge of concessional requests with which the agency was being inundated. The resolutions read in part, “With effect from the Batch ‘B’ mobilisation exercise, issues associated with the issuance of ‘exclusion letters’, graduate of part-time programmes shall go online to register without JAMB number and print the exclusion letters online once the processes are concluded. “Students Affairs Officers are to ensure that the lists of part-time graduate are submitted at the same time with the Senate/Academic Board list of the graduates for the full-time programmes. This is to enable the part-time graduates register online. “That with effect from Batch ‘B’ service year, graduates who made First Class honours degree/distinction shall be posted to serve in the institutions of higher learning in their states of deployment for effective utilisation of their knowledge and possible employment at the end of the service year. “The workshop resolved that prospective corps members should be ready to participate in all the four cardinal programmes of the scheme without which the certificate of national service will not be released. “It was further resolved that pregnant women, nursing mothers or students engaging in postgraduate studies should not bother to enlist for service until they are free to participate effectively.”

CBN adjusts rate as naira falls to 244

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday adjusted its exchange rate peg to N197 against the United States’ dollar from the N196.95 it set last week, data on the bank’s website showed. This came on the heels of a further decline in naira to 243 against the dollar at the parallel market on Thursday. The persistent decline of the naira in the parallel market followed the introduction of new measures by the central bank last month, restricting access to hard currency at the interbank in a bid to conserve dwindling foreign exchange reserves. The forex rate adjustment on Thursday was the fifth since the CBN introduced tight controls on the forex market in February, Reuters reported. The bank said at the time that it would sell dollars only at N198 to customers through the interbank based on direct orders by banks. The naira traded at 199.50 to the dollar on the interbank market on Thursday, compared to the 197 per dollar rate at which it closed on Wednesday. Forex dealers said the outcome of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting of the CBN due on Friday (today) could affect the naira. “We are very optimistic that the central bank would come out with some measures to support the naira at the end of its MPC meeting on Friday,” the Acting President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, told our correspondent. He also said the association had met with the CBN in Abuja on Thursday to discuss the need to reverse the recent policy requesting BDCs to collect prospective customers’ Bank Verification Number before selling forex to them. A Reuters poll showed the bank could hold interest rates for now. The Head, Investment Research, Afrinvest West Africa, a research and investment advisory firm, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, and his team, predicted that the MPC would take some key decisions at the meeting. In its report on the MPC meeting, the team said, “We imagine the MPC will favour one of the following possible scenarios: Leave all policy rates unchanged and continue to adopt administrative measures to curb naira volatility while rebuilding external reserves; or increase the naira intervention rate in the interbank market and raise cash reserve requirements to 35 per cent to reduce naira liquidity that could spur FX speculation; or increase monetary policy rate by 50bps to attract foreign portfolio investment, while subsequently loosening restrictions on FX trading. “We place a 70 per cent probability on scenario one, 20 per cent probability on scenario two and 10 per cent on the third scenario.”

Cut-off mark: Candidates, parents head for court

Parents and candidates of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, set to be stopped from sitting the forthcoming post-UTME, University of Lagos, by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, are dragging the board to the court today (Friday). They will be praying the court to stop further sale of post-UTME form in public universities. Hundreds of UTME candidates had on Wednesday stormed UNILAG to protest against the decision by the institution to stop them from sitting for the post-UTME. ADVERTISEMENT The candidates alleged that the authorities of the university, in liaison with the JAMB, had rolled out a new admission procedure that prevented them from taking the examination to secure admission into the ivory tower. UNILAG and JAMB had defended their different involvements in the exercise. While the Head of Public Relations, JAMB, Dr. Benjamin Fabian, said the board did not intentionally exclude any candidate, the Registrar, UNILAG, Dr. Taiwo Ipaye, said the university was only working with the post-UTME screening list sent by JAMB, adding that only candidates whose names were forwarded to UNILAG by JAMB were eligible for the 2015/2016 post-UTME screening. The President, Association of Tutorial School Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Sodunke Oludotun, who led the Wednesday protest to UNILAG premises, told our correspondent in an interview that the affected parents and students had agreed to seek redress in court on the matter. He said their lawyer would file the suit against JAMB at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi today (Friday). Oludotun said, “We have decided to go to court. We will be in court on Friday. Mr. Femi Falana is aware. Our lawyer too is going to file the court process on Friday. “On Friday, all the students and their parents are following us to the court in Ikoyi. We are going to protest there. On our way to the court, we are going to block the Third Mainland Bridge before getting to the court. “Our lawyer said all the people that heard of the case in the court were very angry when he went there today (Wednesday). It is annoying. That is one step we are going to take.” He added that the protesters would also involve Falana, a human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the matter. The protesters had on Wednesday alleged that the university raised its cut-off to 250 marks against the recommended 180 marks by JAMB. JAMB had, on July 14, after its sixth consultative meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, pegged the cut-off mark to 180 for candidates seeking university admission and 150 marks for those seeking places in polytechnics and colleges of education.

Okada riders protest extortion by govt officials in Ondo

Hundreds of commercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada, trooped to the streets of Akure, the Ondo state capital, on Thursday to protest against alleged extortion by the officials of the Ondo State Ministry of Transport. The Okada riders, who marched on major streets and roads in Akure, called on the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to reverse a new order directing them to obtain new number plate on each of their motorcycles at the rate of N10,000, describing the new number plates and other charges by the state government as “barbaric and exploitative.” Armed with placards with various inscriptions such as, ‘Mimiko must go; we are tired of this government’, ‘ Tofowomo is a thief’, among others, the okada riders started the demonstration from the entrance of the Ministry of Works on Oyemekun Road. For several hours, business activities were totally paralysed as the popular Oba Adesida, Oluwatuyi and Hospital Roads, among others, were blocked by the protesters, causing traffic logjam. It was said that all efforts made by the state Chairman of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Jimoh Obabi, to calm the protesters were turned down. They said he had been allegedly compromised. However, the chairman of the association was not available for comments during the protest and his telephone lines were not going through at the press time. One of the protesters, Akiola Olumide, who spoke with our correspondent, explained that the government had come up with a policy banning all number plates used by commercial motor bikes that were not from Ondo State. “They say we can no longer use plate numbers from other states but the one designed in the state with a red line. That means those who are arrested with such number plates are being made to pay N5,000, a compulsory N2,000 for ‘Card Igbeayo’ and another N700 before the bike will be released. “Our leaders have been trying to get the government to change the policy, but they refused, “ he said. In his reaction, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Union Matters, Mr. Dayo Fadahunsi, said that the state government took the decision for security reasons, following the spate of kidnapping and robbery incidences in the state capital. He explained that the decision was agreed upon during a meeting with the leaders of the association, adding that the government had ordered the release of all seized Okadas and has given the operator till next week Friday to get the new commercial number plates. He however described as blackmail the allegation that they were made to pay N17,000 to get a new number plate, saying a new commercial number plate was N6,000.

Kim Kardashian Speaks Out on Sandra Bland’s Death: “We Need Answers!”

Kim Kardashian-West isn’t just all about the fame, fortune, and fashion. We’re getting to see another side of the Reality TV star, as she recently showed her concern for human rights issues, by tweeting about Sandra Bland.

Abacha's Wife University Degrees Not Recognised – says NUC

The National Universities Commission has handed down a hard knock on degrees obtained online from any institution outside the country, saying henceforth such certificates would not be recognised as a means of seeking employment or doing other legitimate business in Nigeria. The commission also slammed Maryam Abacha University, in Niger Republic, saying it has been inundated with enquiries from some Nigerian students who had been offered admission into the university. “We wish to restate that as the only quality assurance agency for universities in Nigeria, the NUC is maintaining its stand that degrees from Maryam Abacha University will not be accepted in Nigeria.” The NUC which also discredited all part-time cross boarder education in Nigeria, therefore warned citizens against patronising online universities which offer academic programmes without physical contact with their students. According to NUC, Nigerian constitution has no backing or recognition for such degrees obtained online, insisting that students look for cheap means of acquiring qualifications to avoid competition at home. “Nigeria will not recognise online degrees. Online degrees are not accepted in Nigeria at the moment; the Nigerian constitution does not even give recognition to such degrees. Those who ran out of Nigeria for study outside this country are those looking for cheaper degrees. It is either they cannot pass the examinations or they do not possess the minimum entry qualifications.”

Ijaw Leader E.K. Clark writes Strong Letter to President Buhari

I laughed hard when I saw this letter. This same man was the small lord in Abuja, screening people and some times collecting "stuffs" from them to be appointed by Goodluck Jonathan. Now he talks corruption. Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has raised alarm over the level of corruption in the country and the economic crunch which have all combined to stagnate the progress of Nigeria over the years. He warned that if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to deal severely with those who ruined Nigeria over the years, the country would sink. In a six-page letter to President Buhari which was read to journalists at his Asokoro residence, in Abuja, Clark urged Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, Appoint a new Chairman for the Amnesty Programme as a replacement for the immediate past Chairman of the programme, Chief Kingsley Kuku, adding that he would be a sad man if the Amnesty programme fails. According to the Elder statesman, the President should know what it means to Nigeria as a country to have peace in the Niger Delta, just as he stressed that quick appointment of a new Chairman even in acting capacity would help stop the imminent disintegration of the programme that has kept the peace in the region. The Ijaw leader said that the vacuum already created following the absence of Kuku’s successor was creating tension and if not managed immediately, it would lead to that era when the activities of the militants in the creeks, contributed to crude oil fall to about 7,000 barrel per day, compared to the present situation of 2.5 million barrel per day, adding that the problem with the programme at the moment, was lack of an authority to operate the account of the programme. According to him, “the economy of the country and the eradication of corruption which has become systematic and endemic that has stagnated the progress of this country over the years and the culprit if not severely dealt with will sink the country. We, therefore, pray the Almighty God that these discussions will materialise and achieve the desired result. “Secondly, I now respectfully wish to bring to the attention of Mr. President the imminent danger facing the Amnesty programme. It would be recalled, that the former chairman of Amnesty programme and Adviser to Mr. President on Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Kingsley Kuku has since vacated his office as a result of change of government, but unfortunately, he has not been replaced by an appointee even in acting capacity by Mr. President, and as a result, the whole programme for now, is without leadership, and no one has the authority to operate the account of the Amnesty programme.” - I guess this is all about amnesty money.

What Buhari Government Found Shocked Us

The All Progressives Congress has said it was shocked at the magnitude of cases of corruption it has so far unearthed while going through the records of the previous administration. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Lai Mohammed, said this in a telephone interview with Punch in Abuja, on Thursday while reacting to the statement by President Muhammadu Buhari that officials of Goodluck Jonathan administration were involved in stealing one million barrel of crude oil daily. Lai Mohammed said, “We are not just shocked but taken aback by what we have found. We have always known that there was monumental corruption under the previous regime but we did not know it was this huge...

“Anybody who calls the questions we are asking a witch-hunt is a person who condones corruption, and again, when we were raising the alarm over this level of corruption they were engaged in, they said we were crying wolf where there was none. “They said it never happened. They even went as far as manufacturing figures to cover up. We must ask questions so that whoever is coming into government will know that it cannot be business as usual and that he/she must be prepared to answer questions after they leave office.”

Powell proves form ahead of worlds

Jamaica’s Asafa Powell continued his build-up to the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China next month with his 88th sub-10 seconds clocking in the 100m, winning in 9.87 seconds (0.0m/s) at the Galà dei Castelli Bellinzona in Switzerland on Tuesday. Powell got off to a slow start on the six-lane track but caught the field midway and eased away to win before being escorted around the track on a lap of honour, according to Jamaica Observer. Compatriot Nesta Carter was second in 10.05 seconds with St Kitts and Nevis’ Kim Collins third in 10.13 seconds. Two other Jamaicans, Kemarley Brown and Andrew Fisher, both of whom have applied for a change of allegiance to Bahrain, were timed in 10.21 seconds for fourth and fifth, respectively. Powell’s time broke the record for the meeting, as he went below the 10-second barrier for the 90th time in his career. Powell, 32, will spend time training in Austria before moving on to Beijing for the world championships, which run from August 22 to 30. Tyquendo Tracey was second in the B race in 10.23 seconds (-0.1m/s), beaten by Turkey’s former Jamaican Jak Ali Harvey in 10.03 seconds, while Michael Frater and Winston Barnes finished in fifth and sixth places, respectively. Christania Williams was second in the women’s 100m in 11.29 seconds behind American Tianna Bartoletta in 11.09 seconds, while World University Games silver medallist Simoya Campbell failed to finish the 800m, stepping off the track after 400m.

Foreign athletes arrive for Warri Relays

Athletes representing the United States, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Great Britain have arrived in Warri, Delta State for the Warri Relays and the Confederation of African Athletics Grand Prix holding on Friday. This event, which has a CAA Golden Label, is organised by the Delta State Government, the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and Soloo Sports Management and Marketing. The CAA Grand Prix will feature the men’s 100m, 400m, long jump, triple jump, 400m hurdle and 800m, while the women’s category will include the 100m and 400m, 100m hurdles, long jump, 400m hurdle, 800m. Former world and Olympic champion Maurice Green, who acts as coordinator of the Nigeria relay team, arrived in Warri on Tuesday alongside top Nigerian athletes, which included Olivia Ekpone and Gloria Asumnu. Athletes from Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Gambia, Mozambique, Senegal and Cameroon are still expected to arrive today for the event. The Warri Relays will be followed by the All Nigeria/Cross River Athletics Championships scheduled to hold in Calabar next week. The national championships will serve as trials for the All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo, in September.

Barca must win everything – Suarez

Luis Suarez said Barcelona must look to “win everything” again as he plays a full part in preseason training for the first time in six years. Uruguay international Suarez missed the opening months of last season as he served out a FIFA ban for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, only making his Barca debut in October, according to ESPN. He also missed out on the chance to play for Uruguay at this summer’s Copa America as the FIFA punishment included a nine-game international suspension. ADVERTISEMENT That meant the former Ajax and Liverpool star was able to play a full part in Barca’s preparations this summer, having missed out on preseason training in the past as the result of suspensions, transfers and international commitments. “The motivation to be able to take part in preseason is different, without a doubt,” Suarez said in an interview with AS. “I think it has been six years since I last took part in a full preseason. “I wasn’t able to train and play with the team last season for several months. We have a good group that is leaving everything it has on the field in each training session for the good of the team.” Suarez scored in Barca’s first preseason game, a 2-1 win over LA Galaxy in Tuesday’s International Champions Cup clash at the Rose Bowl in California. He said his preparations this summer should see him start the 2015-16 campaign in great condition. “Last season I lacked rhythm in my first few games and I hope that this year that doesn’t happen,” he said. “I’m working very hard to be in shape and enjoy a great season at Barcelona with the rest of my teammates.” Suarez, who helped Barca to success in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in his debut season, has a reputation for his commitment in training.

Oliseh lacks experience to manage Eagles – Izilein

Godwin Izilein has expressed his surprise that the Nigeria Football Federation decided to appoint Sunday Oliseh as the new manager of Super Eagles. Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner Oliseh last week penned a N5m-a-month deal with the NFF to manage the Eagles for three years, following the sacking of Stephen Keshi, after the ex-Togo manager breached his contract by applying for the vacant Ivory Coast coaching role. And ex-Golden Eaglets coach Izilein condemned Oliseh’s appointment, saying the ex-Ajax player, who has only managed Royal Cercle Sportif Vervietois, shouldn’t have been given the job. Oliseh coached the Belgian third division outfit from 2008 to 2009. ADVERTISEMENT Izilein expressed doubts about the future of the Eagles under Oliseh, saying the NFF should have appointed an experienced coach to manage the team after sacking Keshi. “Oliseh is a newcomer. He has no experience in coaching,” the former Sharks manager, who guided the Super Falcons to their fourth African Women’s Championship glory in South Africa in 2004, told our correspondent on the telephone on Wednesday. “You must have experience to manage the national team. Oliseh doesn’t have experience in coaching. “Coaching is different from playing the game. Yes, he was a good player. But he has not coached a big team to gain experience. You can’t compare a professor to a Lecturer 1 in the university. It’s the same with coaching.” Izilein lamented Oliseh would earn a much higher monthly salary than the NFF Technical Director Shaibu Amodu. Former Eagles coach Amodu, who was confirmed as the NFF Technical Director recently, is said to be earning N800,000 monthly. Izilein frowned upon the pay gap between Oliseh and Amodu, saying “Amodu should earn more than coaches under him”. “I’m shocked to hear that Oliseh will earn far more than Amodu,” the ex-Nigeria attacker said. “As the technical director of the NFF, Amodu should be paid very well to enable him to concentrate on his job. “He oversees the training of the coaches, including that of the Super Eagles coach. It’s a taxing job and he should be treated with respect. “Amodu has done a lot for the country. He’s an experienced coach and he has an impressive track record as coach. “The NFF should increase his pay. In fact, Amodu should earn more than Oliseh.”

Admission crisis worsens as candidates, parents confront UNILAG

High number of candidates forces top universities to adopt very high cut-off marks, reports CHARLES ABAH, who witnessed a stakeholders’ protest at the University of Lagos on Wednesday The President, Association of Tutorial School Owners of Nigeria, Mr. Sodunke Oludotun, looked agitated on Wednesday morning as he led hundreds of parents and candidates to storm the gate of the University of Lagos. The expression on his face showed a man who carried a heavy burden on his shoulders. ‘Despondency’ and ‘dejection’ were two of the words that could aptly capture the way he felt. Even with the cool breezy weather in Lagos on Wednesday morning, the ATSO helmsman still sweated profusely. Dabbing his face with several handkerchiefs, he declared, “I wonder where this nation is heading for. How can one explain the fact that the Federal Government will make one pronouncement today and the next day, one of its agencies jettisons the directive? How can you explain that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, two weeks ago, rolled out the cut-off marks for the 2015/2016 admission, only for parents and candidates to face rejection in schools?”

Oludotun is not alone in the community of people who demonstrated this seeming hopelessness. Ekiti State-born Ifeoluwatayo Martins, who wants to study Law at the university, was in a similar dilemma. In fact, the youngster faced a bigger predicament. He could not comprehend how, having scored 233 marks in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, he would not be allowed to sit for the post-UTME at UNILAG. He lamented, “Uncle, I cannot understand this. Do you know that I visited a cybercafé more than 15 times yesterday (Tuesday) trying to download information from the UNILAG website on my post-UTME status, all to no avail? For the many occasions that I tried it, I could not access the portal. I tell you, it got to a level where I felt that the UNILAG admission link – admissions.unilag.edu.ng – looked like a fake one to me.” Indeed, the story of Oludotun and Martins are a microcosm of the hopelessness witnessed at the gate of the 53-year-old citadel of learning on Wednesday morning. As early as 7am, many parents and children had converged on the gate of the university to protest against a policy, which they claimed would frustrate many candidates seeking admission to the nation’s universities this year. According to them, the authorities of JAMB will use UNILAG as well as five other old generation universities to further exploit and frustrate candidates seeking university admission this year. The other universities are Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State; the University of Ibadan; the University of Benin; the University of Ilorin; and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Oludotun, who led the protest, particularly noted that of the more than 33,000 candidates that applied to study at UNILAG this year, only about 9,000 candidates had been shortlisted to sit for the post-UTME. However, findings from JAMB’s 2015/2016 admission document showed that 62,473 candidates applied to the university this year. Oludotun queried, “What is the fate of the remaining 24,000 candidates who applied to study in the university this year? Why has JAMB, all of a sudden, decided to change the directive it released barely two weeks ago? What we hear now is that if a candidate does not score up to 250 marks, s/he cannot sit for the post-UTME at UNILAG. “I suspect something fishy. I have a feeling that the JAMB Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, wants to use this platform to satisfy the whims and caprices of his cohorts, especially those operating private universities in the country. “You know many of these private universities are not getting enough candidates. So, he wants to force parents and their children to go to these universities. This cannot work. The board cannot force any candidate to attend any university that he/she does not want. The issue of admission borders on choice and I believe, and strongly too, that individuals should be allowed to make their choices.” In fact, the tone of the protest at UNILAG, which lasted for almost four hours, conveyed this sense of disillusionment. It also mirrored their “feeling” about the Ojerinde-led admission body. While many of the protesters sang anti-JAMB songs and lyrics, others displayed placards that painted the nation’s admission ombudsman as a man that has no feeling for candidates. Some of the placards read, “Why is JAMB posting candidates from six federal universities to private universities without the candidates’ consent?” and “No PDP policy again, Buhari save us.” Others include “UNILAG VC, save us from Dibu”, ‘’Wow! With 250, we cannot sit for post-UTME, incredible’’; “Dibu must go” and “Dibu, don’t toy with our destiny.” But even as the protest and the songs of solidarity went on, some of the candidates who had surfed the Internet gathered adjacent the UNILAG gate bemoaning their fate. For instance, while Abigail Oluwadamilola and Edu-Uthman Adeniyi, who scored 203 and 204 respectively, were at a corner weeping and narrating the uncertainty that befell them, a parent, Mr. Idowu Adewale, drew the attention of our correspondent to other candidates who scored above 250 but could not access the UNILAG’s qualifying form. In fact, Oluwadamilola applied to study Accountancy, while Adeniyi applied to study Insurance. For Adewale, there is no justification for this arbitrariness. Questioning the rationale for upping the cut-off marks from 180 to 250, Adewale urged the Buhari-led administration to intervene urgently in the matter. According to him, JAMB’s recent policies are not only destructive but also inimical to the growth of university education in the country. Adewale alleged that his relations who visited UNILAG on Tuesday to download and print their “payment advice” could not do so, as JAMB reportedly did not forward their names to the university. He added, “Many candidates could not print their payment advice from the bank to access the UNILAG post-UTME form. Without this form, they cannot do anything, as it empowers them to sit for the qualifying examination. “Again, the implication is that such candidates will have to stay at home for another year due to no fault of theirs. We, therefore, demand equality in this matter. There is need to give all candidates equal playing ground to test their abilities. JAMB announced 150 cut-off marks for polytechnics and colleges of education and 180 for intending university candidates. Why change the goal post mid-way into the game? “UNILAG needs to throw open the opportunity. Otherwise, no less than 24, 000 candidates will be unable to sit for this post-UTME in the university.” Adewale, who also accused the examining body of making candidates to buy change of institutions form for N4, 500 two months ago, noted that parents and the leadership of ATSO were planning to drag JAMB to court. Don’t blame UNILAG – Registrar However, the UNILAG Registrar, Dr. Taiwo Ipaye, told our correspondent that the university should not be blamed for the development.

According to her, JAMB determines the eligibility of post-UTME screening to the nation’s universities, including UNILAG, and so the university can only work with data from the body. Ipaye, who confirmed that many candidates applied to study in the university this year, noted that the examining body had forwarded the details of 9,000 candidates for the post-UTME exercise. Beyond the registrar’s clarification, authorities of the university, in a statement on Wednesday, absolved themselves of blame. Part of the statement entitled, ‘Important Notice on New Policy on Eligibility of Candidates for the 2015/2016 Admission Exercise’ read, “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board at its Combined Policy Meeting held on July 14, 2015 in Abuja, announced the adoption of a policy whereby candidates of universities with surplus applicants for the Unified Matriculation Examinations are reassigned to other universities with lower numbers of candidates than their capacities. “According to the Registrar/CEO of JAMB, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, the policy portends two benefits: (1) It will be beneficial to ‘needy universities’, that is universities with lower numbers of candidates, than their capacities, as this will ensure that these universities will have more candidates to admit. (2) Candidates will have better chances for admission in the universities they are re-assigned to, contrary to situations where they would await admission in the universities of their first choices until the admission exercise closes and they forfeit admission in that session. “This policy has been implemented with immediate effect. Consequently, the eligibility for post-UTME screening in the University of Lagos, like other universities in Nigeria, has been determined by JAMB. In effect, only candidates whose names were forwarded to the university by JAMB are eligible for the 2015/2016 post-UTME screening. “This means that only candidates whose details have been forwarded to the university by JAMB and published on admission.unilag.edu.ng are eligible for the 2015/2016 post-UTME screening. “Ineligible candidates would have been re-assigned by JAMB to other universities. Such candidates should contact JAMB for assistance.” We can’t take 180 as cut-off mark – OAU The Public Relations Officer of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, has said that the institution cannot adopt the JAMB’s cut-off mark of 180.

Presco declares N1bn dividend, posts N2.6bn profit

Presco Plc on Wednesday received the approval of its shareholders to pay the sum of N1bn as total dividend proposed by the company for the year ended December 31, 2014. The dividend, which was unanimously approved at the 22nd annual general meeting of the company in Benin, Edo State, translates into 100 kobo per share as a payout to the shareholders. The Chairman, Presco, Mr. Pierre Vandebeeck, disclosed that the firm had a turnover of N9.1bn in the year under review, as against N8.4bn in 2013, and a profit after tax of N2.6bn, which is 53.8 per cent higher than the N1.2bn declared in the previous year. He also noted that the turnover, gross profit and profit before tax were higher than the previous year by eight per cent, 39 per cent and 47 per cent, respectively. He described the year under review as “mixed” and “even more challenging than 2013,” adding that the company, however, “navigated it very well.” Vandebeeck said, “The performance of the year 2014 was very good. We achieved a total of fresh fruit bunches production of 162,076 per metric tonne as against 125,481 per metric tonne in the previous year; crude palm oil produced was 27,586 per metric tonne, compared with 27,585 per metric tonne of the year 2013, and refined, bleached, deodorised oil of 25,279 tonnes compared with 26,055 tonnes of the year 2013,” he said. The chairman said that the firm maintained its community relations by focusing on education, roads, water, electricity and support for growers, while promoting research for the development of new planting material. “We envisage increasing challenges in market and macro-economic conditions in 2015. We will concentrate on efficiencies in the management of operations across our value chain and continue with our planned long-term industry leadership-focused expansion programme,” he said.

Flour Mills full-year profit drops by 6% Flour Mills full-year profit drops by 6%

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc posted a full-year profit before tax of N7.72bn, down by six per cent from N8.22bn the previous year. The company’s profit after tax however grew by 57.87 per cent to N8.47bn on the back of what analysts described as a tax credit of N738m and positive surprises of N395m and N542m on the other comprehensive income and minority interest lines. The company’s unaudited results for the year ended March 31, 2015, which it filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, showed that its gross earnings fell to N308.76bn in the year to March 31, compared with N325.79bn in the previous year. Flour Mills of Nigeria had last week said it planned to raise N40bn through a rights issue to existing shareholders. It said the plan had been endorsed by the company’s shareholders. The Chairman, Flour Mills, Mr. John Coumantaros, was quoted as saying at an extraordinary general meeting in Lagos that the funds would help the company to reduce its debt burden, lower its interest charges and augment its working capital. Analysts at FBN Capital Limited, while commenting on Four Mills’ results for the three months ended March 31 2015, said the results showed that the PBT improved markedly to N4bn, compared to N624m in the fourth quarter of 2014 due to a one-off gain of N14.2bn on disposal of investments (basically divestments of the FMN’s 15 per cent shares in UNICEM). “Excluding this gain, the FMN would have reported a pretax loss of N10.2bn. Thanks to a tax credit of N1.1bn and a positive contribution of N1.2bn on the minority interest line, PAT grew 59 per cent year-on-year to N6.7bn. “Again, if we strip out the extraordinary gain of N14.2bn from the sale of investments, the company would have reported an after-tax loss of N7.5bn for the quarter (vs. -N10.0bn in Q4 2014). Further up the profit and loss account, although sales declined by six per cent y/y to N64.5bn, gross profits grew by 19 per cent y/y to N13.1bn because of a gross margin expansion of 420bp y/y to 20.2 per cent. “However, excluding one-off gains, the gross margin expansion would have been completely offset by a 59 per cent y/y and 80 per cent y/y rise in interest charges and other operating expenses. “A negative surprise of -N1.1bn on the investment income line would have also weighed heavily on pretax earnings. Sequentially, while sales fell by 18 per cent quarter on quarter, the PBT and PAT of N4.0bn and 6.7bn improved over the –N2.1bn and –N1.3bn that the company reported in Q3 2015 (end-Dec).”

Stock market falls after two-day rise Stock market falls after two-day rise

The Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index closed lower on Wednesday, snapping a two-day gain on the back of losses by 32 stocks. The NSE ASI had on Tuesday begun the week on a positive note, extending the gain recorded at the close of trading last week after 11 consecutive days of losses. Trading resumed on Tuesday on the floor of the NSE after public holidays on Friday and Monday. But the index shed 0.21 per cent or 64.88 basis points on Wednesday to close at 31,267.25 basis points. The market capitalisation of the listed equities on the NSE fell by N22bn to N10.703tn, compared to N10.725tn on Tuesday. The index of the 30 most capitalised stocks on the floor of the bourse, which was up by 0.93 per cent to close at 1,424.77 basis points on Tuesday, fell to 1,421.38 basis points. The banking index fell by 1.33 per cent to close the day at 339.89 basis points; the industrial index shed 0.21 per cent to close at 2,183.88 basis points, while the pension index dropped by 0.42 per cent. Thirty-two stocks recorded price losses on Wednesday, with the Cement Company of North Nigeria Plc leading the pack as it lost 8.90 per cent to close at N7.29 per share. It was followed by the FCMB Group Plc and Trans-Nationwide Express Plc, which shed 6.33 per cent and 5.94 per cent, respectively to close at N2.81 and N0.95 per share. Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc led 21 stocks on the gainers’ table on Wednesday, with a 9.02 per cent rise to close at N1.45 per share. Other gainers were Honeywell Flour Mill Plc, P Z Cussons Nigeria Plc, Beta Glass Company Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc and Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc, among others. Honeywell appreciated by 8.57 per cent to close at N3.04 per share, while PZ gained 7.60 per cent to close at N30.00 per share. In all, 329.289 million shares valued at N2.581bn were traded in 4,457 deals on Wednesday, compared to 1.056 billion shares worth N15.780bn in 3,468 deals on Tuesday.

Stakeholders disagree over security of Nigerian waters

Following a report on maritime security in Nigeria, stakeholders are agitated about the current state of the country’s waters, COMFORT OSEGHALE writes Recently, Dryad, a maritime risk and intelligence gathering agency in the United Kingdom, published its second quarter report on maritime crime figures. As with previous reports, Nigeria stood out in the Gulf of Guinea with the highest number of confirmed pirate attacks. While piracy seems to be on the decrease in the South Western part of the country, as in the previous quarter, most reported incidents of piracy and kidnap recorded took place in the Brass region in the South-South, regarded as the hotbed of piracy. ADVERTISEMENT The region, which includes areas from Bayelsa to Calabar, is said to be no go areas not just for fish trawlers but also oil vessels due to the level of insecurity in the waters. However, there was a slight decrease of piracy incidents recorded in Nigeria for the second quarter compared with reported incidents for the same quarter last year. Overall, there were 16 confirmed incidents reported during the second quarter of 2015, a slight increase over the 15 confirmed incidents reported during the same period last year. Between April and May 2015, at least 20 mariners were reportedly taken from five vessels off the shores of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. The Dryad’s Chief Operating Officer, Ian Millen, said, “There have been no incidents of cargo theft in West Africa since MT Mariam was hijacked off the coast of Warri on January 11. This form of piracy in the region has reduced in frequency since two tankers were hijacked in June and July of 2014 off the coasts of Ghana and Togo. Compared with the results of the first quarter of the year, a slight decrease in piracy incidents was observed in the second quarter of 2015. There were 18 confirmed incidents were reported during the first quarter of 2015 compared with 22 incidents for the same quarter last year. Surprisingly, Bayelsa State, an area notorious for piracy activities, recorded just one attack offshore this year, with none occurring during the last quarter. Millen described kidnapping of crew for ransom as the most significant threat to mariners in the Gulf of Guinea. He said, “In March 2015, eight crew members were taken in three separate incidents off the shores of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states in Nigeria. Three mariners have since been released from captivity after being taken from MT Kalamos on March 3, 2015. Unfortunately, a crew member died by gunfire during the incident. “Another five crew members were kidnapped in attacks on vessel MV Maridive 603 and floating storage tanker MT Yoho.” In late January, a Nigerian naval rating was shot and killed during an attempt by pirates to seize MV Jascon 24 and take the crew for ransom. The attack occurred in the Brass region. The threat of kidnap in both regions of Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom’s offshore waters is said to be present, and further attacks are likely. The Chief Executive Officer, Morbod Group and former President of the Nigeria Trawler Owners Association, Mrs. Magaret Onyema-Orakwusi, said although piracy was not peculiar to any part of the country, it had always been prevalent in the South-South region. She said, ‘There are several reasons for this; one is because the South-South region is mostly the route to international waters where fishing expeditions take place. “Secondly, this is the same region where the problem of militancy began years ago. Presently, it has become difficult to have a clear cut demarcation between the militancy and piracy. However, other regional areas are being attacked; the only difference is that the attacks have probably reduced a little bit.” Despite reported success by the Nigerian Navy in apprehending pirates and foiling their attacks on vessels, Onyema-Orakwusi said the security of Nigerian waters was yet to improve. She said only when vessels were able to ply the waters without being attacked would she say the situation had changed. She said, “I don’t think the situation has improved because not everyone reports a pirate attack. It depends on who is reporting the incident or wants to report it and who is tired of reporting it. The fact that one does not get reports this week does not mean that attacks have not gone on this week. “I can only say the situation has improved when companies that have left the country because of these attacks come back. We want to see an effective rebuttal of all their plans. We want to also see that security is on the increase just to give comfort to the operators and to put fear in the minds of the criminals.” Onyema-Orakwusi said operators in the maritime domain could only have confidence to send their vessels out to sea when they were sure that their equipment and employees would be safe. The Secretary General of the Nigerian Shipowners Association, Mr. Tunji Brown, noted that the frequency of pirate attacks on the vessels of its members was not as high as it was in the past. He said, “I believe the Nigerian Navy has reduced the level of pirate attacks to the barest minimum. The navy has been very active now concerning that; that is our observation. It was reported recently that some pirates were caught in Bayelsa State; so, we are not getting these attacks on our vessels like before. As for the prevalence of piracy in the South-South, you know the pirates mostly stay in the creek. The truth is that due to the surveillance of the Nigerian Navy, the pirates are being restricted to that part of the country and are unable to move around the Atlantic Ocean or down to Lagos unlike in the past.”

Ambode scraps Lagos finance dept

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has scrapped the Finance and Administration Department in the state’s civil service, renaming it the Administration and Human Resource Department. A circular by the Head of Service, Mrs. Shade Jaji, on Wednesday, explained that the decision was made to ensure an organised public service. The circular said, “With the commencement of the professional human resource management practice in the state public service, the hitherto Finance and Administration Department, which was the core of every ministry, department and agency of government, will now be known as the Administration and Human Resource Department charged with the sole responsibility of ensuring the effective and efficient professional running of all MDAs towards realising the goals and objectives of the government.” ADVERTISEMENT It added that the department would comprise five divisions, namely Administration, Workforce Planning and Recruitment, Learning and Development, Employee and Industrial Relations and Human Resources Performance Measures. The circular enjoined agencies in the state public service to commence a review of their current Finance and Administration departments to conform with the new human resource management initiative.

B’Haram burns down Chief of Army Staff’s home

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have burnt down houses, including the family home of the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in his village in Borno State. At least, two people were killed and eight injured during the attack on Buratai village on Tuesday, sources told our correspondent in Abuja. It was learnt that the terrorists killed two auto mechanics and torched some houses during the attack on the community. ADVERTISEMENT “What really happened was that Boko Haram went there. They killed two motorcycle mechanics and torched some houses. It is not a massive attack. It was an isolated opportunistic attack, but the Army is on top of the situation. Troops are on the ground now,” a source stated. Meanwhile, additional roads have been cleared of landmines by troops for use by commuters in compliance with the directive by the CAS to troops in the 3 and 7 Divisions of the Nigerian Army. The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement that the road linking Biu-Sabon Gari to Damboa in Borno State has been cleared of landmines. “The public are encouraged to use the road as adequate security measures have been put in place for their safety,” Usman said.

EFCC Invites Saraki’s Wife & Yar’Adua’s Daughter for Questioning

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) has reportedly invited Senate President Bukola Saraki‘s wife, Toyin Saraki, and late former President Umaru Yar’Adua‘s daughter, Zaina Dakingari, for questioning. According to Punch, Saraki will be questioned over alleged shady contracts awarded during her husband’s tenure as governor of Kwara State. Dakingari, who is also the wife of a former Kebbi state governor, will be interrogated over alleged misappropriation of N2 billion state funds. The report further states: Toyin Saraki was said to be under probe in relation to several contracts executed by companies said to be linked to her while her husband held sway as the Kwara governor. A source at the EFCC, who confided in our correspondent in Abuja, said, “The commission has invited the wives of two former state governors, Toyin Saraki and Zaiba Dakingari. “Dakingari was supposed to have appeared before the commission on Wednesday (yesterday) but she sent a message that she was outside the country and would honour the invitation on July 27, 2015. She is to provide an explanation in relation to N2 billion state funds. The commission is expecting Saraki on July 28, 2015. The exact amount of money involved in her matter is not stated for now but she is to be quizzed in relation to various contracts executed in Kwara State when her husband was governor of the state.” Photo Credit: Punch

IMOH: “WHY I DUMPED QATAR’S MILLION DOLLARS FOR BELGIUM!”

VIDEO
Super Eagles of Nigeria’s fringe player Imoh Ezekiel reveals why he returned to the Belgium Jupiler Liga at the expense of multi-million dollars deal in Qatar…

10 Fun Facts About Sunday Oliseh

Completesportsnigeria.com’s JOHNNY EDWARD fishes out 10 things you may or may not have known about new Super Eagles manager Sunday Oliseh…
 1 Sunday Oliseh was born in Ojota Lagos in 1974; his father is a business man, while his mother is   a           staunch Catholic and a retired business woman.
2 He played for eight clubs during his career in Europe. They are Juventus, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Bochum, RFC Liege, Reggiana, FC Cologne and Genk.
3 He retired from active football with Genk in 2006.
4 He won four major trophies as a player at club level: a domestic cup double for Ajax in the 1997-98 season, KNVB Cup 1998-99 season and the Bundesliga title with Borussia Dortmund 2001–02.
5 He scored a with thunderbolt when he came on as a substitute in Julius Berger’s 1-0 win over Insurance of Benin at the Onikan stadium in 1989. Interestingly, it was his performance on that day that caught the eye of the Italian scouts in the stands. Those scouts, completesportsnigeria.com can report, were in Nigeria to watch Jide Oguntuase.
6 He became friends with Atlanta ’96 teammate Dosu Joseph after they faced each other in a Principals Cup game involving Igbobi College and Methodist High School in the 1980s. Dosu was in goal for Igbobi College while the Oliseh brothers Churchill (in goal) and Sunday starred for Methodist. The match ended 2-1.
7 He is blessed with one sister (Tessy) and three brothers Churchill, who owns FC Ebeidei; Azubuike and Egutu who are footballers. Tessy, is a designer and the creative genius behind Tesslo Concept. She is married to Ohimai Amaize.
 8 He won Olympic football gold (1996), Africa Cup of Nations gold (1994), silver (2000) and bronze (2002) and played in two FIFA World Cups (1994 and 1998).
9 He was turned down when he applied as a coach with Ajax and Borussia Dortmund in 2013.
10 After missing out on 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, Oliseh retired from international football in June 2002 after 12 years with the national team. He made his debut for the three-time AFCON winners in a 6-0 win over Ethiopia.

Siasia Orders U23 Players Back To Camp Wednesday

U23 Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has ordered players he gave permission to travel after the match against Congo, to report back to camp on Wednesday (today), Completesportsnigeria.com reports. This was revealed by the Media Officer of the Dream Team, Timi Ebikagboro. According to Ebikagboro, failure by the players to report on Wednesday as instructed by Siasia, will see them being axed from the team. Ebikagboro wrote on his twitter handle: "Coach Siasia has directed all players given permission to travel after game must report to camp today Wednesday, or forget about the team." The Dream Team, beat Congo 2-1, in the first leg of the Africa U23 Championship qualifier billed for Senegal this year. Junior Ajayi struck twice for the Dream Team before Moise Nkounkou grabbed a vital away goal for the Congolese.

Mo Abudu, Lara Fortes, Adams Oshiomhole & More Attend Pres. Buhari’s Meet & Greet in US – PHOTOS

A meet and greet event was held in Washington, DC on Tuesday in which President Buhari and young professionals in the diaspora got a chance to interact and discuss issues related to Nigeria’s governance. The president’s VIP entourage including Adams Oshiomhole, his wife – Lara Fortes, Rochas Okorocha, and more also attended the event. Media mogul, Mo Abudu was also present. Here are some photos from the event:

Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Ade Adefuye with President Buhari and Mo Abudu

Jemimah-Nikky Jates: Wheelhouse of Worry

Much as I have tried, I am just my mother’s daughter and worrying comes easily to me. I worry about the ozone layer one day totally wiping away leaving us to scorching sun rays. I worry about water body all over the world being polluted and mankind thrown into suffering. I worry about bizarre things like waking up one day realizing that my life for the past 5 years was a dream. I worry about friends I hadn’t heard from in a while; are they alive? Are they doing well? Are they happy? I worry about very mundane things like what color of nail polish to apply to fit my mood, what to wear on a first date. I don’t want to appear stuffy as though i put too much of an effort. Not too simple, less I appear undervalued. Yada yada yada, I reel out so many things to worry about. Very simply put, I am a worrywart. I have come to accept it, this is my cross to bear. But somehow I was able to come up with something that helps me stay focused. The other day, my close friend needed a sounding board for the myriad of things she had going on in her life. Work wasn’t what she expected, problems on the home front, failings of relationships, contraptions of society, nosy neighbor’s wahala and the piling bills. To top it all, she added to her personal worry, those of a friend who has having a really difficult time figuring out how to go about a major life-changing decision. It seemed to way so heavily on her that she began to have a headache. My friend came to me with all these issues and even though all she needed was for a pair of ears to listen and then at the end maybe say “Hmm, e go better, all will be well”, she unwittingly unburdened her load and somehow in a way only I know how to, I picked it up and slugged it over my shoulders. When I realized I was beginning to get too emotionally connected, I pinched myself and shared with her my simple Worry-Wheel approach. It came pretty simple to me as soon as I had come to terms with the fact that worrying is right at the top in my wheelhouse. However, now I do have a say in determining what is worth worrying about and what is merely a reason for concern. So I decided, why not compartmentalize my worries and then approach them from a suitable angle one after the other? This is what I do, I mentally- or at times pen down a list of my worries in order of priority (and sometimes not necessarily so, but just as it comes to mind). Doing this ensures I avoid waffling over my worries,and instead figure out what ways to address such woes that take the front burner and those to be tossed to the back burner. Picking one out, I mull it over, look at the pros and cons, maybe sleep on it, trash it out and arrive at a conclusion. One by one, they get ticked off, at my own pace and some get carried over to a better time when I am either more rested or more clear-minded or after I have gathered information on the best line of action. After all, the gospel says “sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (quoting it a bit out of context). When I was done reeling out to her how I spin my way through worry filled days, she laughed so hard- tipping over- and I could just read in her mirth “how typical of Jay to dredge up a pattern for something as mundane as worrying”. But then she sobered up, thought it over and admitted to me that she had never quite seen it that way. That somehow she always finds herself dragging all the weight of her worry all over the place, until she breaks down. So she said she might give my worry-wheel a try. And so I figured, if someone thinks my idea isn’t totally bollocks maybe I have made a somewhat valid point and maybe someone will benefit from it, hence my sharing it with you. However, I would really love to hear how you rid yourself of worry or in the least what you do to manage it. Photo Credit: Dreamstime | Andre Nadeau

CLEARING & FORWARDING AGENT

HerosPlus International limited a leader in Freight, Sea and its associated services in Nigeria. We boast a team of dedicated professionals with strong and technical understanding of the Aviation and Maritime industry. We are certified with all the necessary organizations to operate effectively both within the shores of Nigeria and internationally. Total Quality Management (TQM) and Quality of Service (QOS) is our watchword in terms of prompt service delivery and client satisfaction. Our team employs scientific and technological methods to ensure that services are delivered within local and international standards. We pride ourselves as the heroes that bring the plus to your business.  
Services:
 Shipping Agent
Haulage and Equipment Leasing
Insurance
Packaging and Removal Services
Fairs and Exhibition
Consulting

Visit: www.herosplusintl.org for more info

Nicki Minaj Reacts to ‘Feeling Myself’ Not Being Nominated for 2015 MTV VMAs | Full List of Nominees

Meek Mill is not the only artist who isn’t too happy with the way things are going in the International music industry. His girlfriend Nicki Minaj also went on a Twitter rant after the nominee list for the 2015 MTV VMAs was released yesterday. The MTV VMAs, set to be hosted by Miley Cyrus this year, is one of the biggest award shows of the music industry. Nicki Minaj was nominated in 3 categories but she was especially pissed at the fact that her song ‘Feeling Myself’ with Beyoncé was not nominated in the Video of the Year category.

Tiwa Savage and Tunji ‘Tee Billz’ Balogun are Parents! – See First Photo

We are super excited and happy for industry couple Tiwa Savage and Tunji ‘Tee Billz’ Balogun as they welcome their first child, a baby boy. The couple announced their pregnancy news as we welcomed in the New Year in January (click here if you missed it) and we have been keeping you updated about Tiwa’s pregnancy journey. Tee Billz shared a photo of the new addition to their family on Instagram a few minutes ago. He captioned it ‘Thank You Jesus’. Congratulations to the Tiwa & Tunji. See the first photo of their baby below.

Don Jazzy and Korede Bello congratulated the new parents

Botched Butt Implants and Alterations

When it comes to cosmetic surgery there are a few procedures, that while strange to some, are essential to others. Butt implants is just that type of surgery. There are a few different things to consider when thinking about this procedure. First, it is very similar to a breast augmentation, a silicone implant is placed inside the fatty tissue of the behind and is then positioned. This can either create a natural looking backside that is much fuller, or it can go horribly wrong. Here are 8 examples of augmentation and implants that did not go the way the individual planned.