About Nigeria

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has been appointed into FIFA’s Organising Committee for Competitions. Before now, the world football governing body, had different committees for organization of its several competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Confederations Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFA U20 World Cup, FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA U17 World Cup, FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Pinnick was a member of the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. However, the model of the standing committees was reviewed at FIFA’s 66th Congress in Mexico City last May and the number cut from 26 to 9. The new model has only the following committees: Governance, Finance, Development, Member Associations, Referees, Players’ Status, Football Stakeholders, Medical, Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions. “We are very pleased to inform you that you have been appointed member of the Or...

The police in Abuja late Thursday released the PREMIUM TIMES Publisher and a journalist that were arrested on Thursday afternoon. Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of the newspaper, was arrested alongside the judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu, at around 5:00 p.m. They were released on bail and instructed to report at the FCT Police Command Headquarters by 8:00 a.m. Friday morning. But a highly-placed police source said the invitation could be a ploy to detain the journalists for an extended period. The police source said there are chances that the two could be taken before a Magistrate’s Court. Their arrest sparked widespread condemnation, with the Amnesty International promising to launch an investigation into the motive behind it.

The Lagos state government through the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budgeting has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Save the Children, an international NGO on reducing infant mortality in the state. The MoU was set out to improve the predictability of behaviuor of both sides to achieve the overall goal of reduced mortality rates in children under five years through intervention programmes in nutrition, child survival, education, children protection and better support for health workers. The five year MoU will also serve as an endorsement for health initiatives and expansion of SC’s activities to reach more citizens. The Director, Development partnership, Ministry for Economic Planning and Budgeting, Mr. Oduntan Bankole urged Lagosians to support the group to achieve more, noting that the state would monitor their annual work plan to ensure it spreads across the state. "Lagos state is one of the states that coordinates the activities of all development pa...

The Presidency yesterday said that government will not release the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigerian (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, for now. A top presidency source who pleaded anonymity told New Telegraph that the continued detention of El-Zakzaky was in public interest for security reason. The source said the “major constitutional policy objective of government as stated in section 14 (2) (b) is public and not individual security.” According to the presidential source, “The issue of the release of El-Zakzaky is not exclusively legal, and cannot be singly treated as such; it has security and public interest as against individual interest undertones. “Public interest and national security implications must be factored into consideration in line with international practices that conventionally place national security and public interest above any other individual claim of right.” The Federal Government, the source noted, is looking into the case of El-Zakzaky with the public...

South-south under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party, have formed a new group, “PDP Southern Leaders Consultative Forum’’ as a force ahead of the 2019 elections. Members of the movement have started meetings to discuss critical issues affecting the party, and how the southern zone would position itself in terms of power sharing ahead of future elections. According to Dailytrust newspaper, the party stalwarts from all the states in the South-West, South-East and South-South regions met in Abuja, Wednesday night, at the residence of Chief Tom Ikimi, where they deliberated on issues till the early hours of Thursday. Chief Ikimi, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) told newsmen after the meeting that the forum had constituted a 7- man committee to be chaired by a former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, to propose its structure. He, however, said the meeting was not to divide the party or to form a forum against the North. “A motion was moved for the for...

Frustrated by his inability to ‘get help’ a Nigerian participant in Ponzi scheme, MMM, has threatened to kill its founder, Sergey Mavrodi. The participant who claims that his father is a native doctor threatened that his father will kill Mavrodi if his money is not paid in the coming two weeks.

West African armies late Thursday halted an operation in Gambia aimed at installing the country’s new president, Adama Barrow. The decision is to enable regional leaders make one last attempt to convince longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh to step aside. “We think that up until the last minute there is still a solution through dialogue,” said Marcel de Souza, head of the ECOWAS commission, explaining the decision to suspend the advance to reporters in Dakar late on Thursday. The advance will resume at noon (1200 GMT) on Friday if Jammeh still refused to leave, he said. Barrow will return to Gambia once the operation is over.

President-elect Donald Trump has asked roughly 50 senior President Barack Obama administration appointees to remain in their posts after his inauguration to ensure continuity in government, his incoming White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, said on Thursday. The officials include the highest-ranking career officials at key national security agencies like the Pentagon and State Department. Deputy Defence Secretary Robert Work and America’s third-ranking diplomat, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon, will serve as acting chiefs of their agencies until successors for the top jobs are confirmed by the Senate, Trump’s spokesman said. Trump’s selection for the Pentagon, retired Gen. James Mattis, is expected to be confirmed on Friday shortly after the inauguration ceremony, along with retired Gen. John Kelly for Secretary of Homeland Security. Senate debate on Trump’s choice for the CIA boss, former Rep. Mike Pompeo, is expected to start on Friday. It is...

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has emerged as the new Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum. The Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon Serake Dickson announced this to News men in Abuja on Thursday night. Addressing News men shortly after the Forum's meeting, Dickson stated that the forum decided to settle for Fayose based on his record of performance and as the most Senior Governor under the platform of the Party. Flanked by other Governors present at the meeting and the leaders of the party, Dickson said that the Choice of Fayose was a collective one among the Governors. Dickson played glowing tributes to the out gone chairman of the Forum, Dr Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state for his immense contributions for the development of the Party during his tenure In his acceptance speech, Fayose described his election as call to service and promised not to let the party down as the Chairman of the Forum. Fayose said that he was out to pull down the wall of Jericho surrounding t...

Embattled Gambian leader, Yahya Jammeh has become a lone man as he fired the remaining cabinet members in his team. Jammeh, who was hit by mass resignation on the eve of his 22 years ruled sacked 3 remaining cabinet members. The Senegalese troops have moved into The Gambia and waiting on order to oust the rebel leader. President Adama Barrow has urged the army and police force in the tiny West Africa nation t co-operate with the new government.

Gambia’s new president Adama Barrow took the oath of office in the country’s embassy in Senegal on Thursday. Barrow was sworn in days after seeking shelter in Dakar with incumbent Yahya Jammeh still refusing to stand down after losing a December election.

IGP Ibrahim Idris was at the National Assembly, to answer to the call of the House of Reps, on the issue of funds diversion. Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris was alleged to have diverted N1.2billion, which was meant for the purchase of 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers for the Nigeria Police.He was said to have allegedly diverted the money for other uses. The lower chamber also alleged that the IGP bought 64 Toyota Hiace vehicles with N1.2bn without the National Assembly’s approval.

A lawyer who represented Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh in his attempt to overturn the results of last month presidential election at the Supreme Court has called on him to relinquish power in the interest of peace and love for Gambians. Edward Anthony Gomez who fled the Gambia into neighbouring Senegal after mounting fear and rapidly increasing tension, said Mr Jammeh should accept that everything except God’s Kingdom, comes to an end and should not allow his legacy to be described as one where “pen of the sword dipped in innocent blood writes its history on the rough page of tyranny”.

President Muhammadu Buhari writes Senate seeking a ten days LEAVE between 23rd January to 6th February 2017. Not working leave. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to serve as Acting President in Buhari's absence as @MBuhari writes Senate seeking 10 days leave.

Monday, 16th of January was really a sorrowful day for the Corpers in Etinan LGA, Akwa Ibom state as two female corps members lost their lives in a ghastly accident on their way to uyo to use the ATM. Chidinma (Sandra) and Awulika, the memories you have created will linger on forever.

The Federal Government, yesterday, concluded plans to disburse N140 billion to petty traders nationwide to improve the Nigeria’s economy. The initiative to be championed by the Bank of Industry, BOI, will benefit petty traders, artisans, enterprising youths as well as small scale farmers across the country. To this end, BOI had employed the services of market aggregators to train, identify and monitor those that will benefit from the programme to ensure that the money is paid back in 24 weeks. Speaking at the training of super agents, who are the foot soldiers for the effective implementation of the programme, in Abuja, the market aggregator of the Propoor Gate Foundation for the North, Yunusa Gafai, explained that the N140bn for the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, GEEP, under its special intervention programme on social investment is to empower the beneficiaries economically. According to him, the loans to be given to them range from N10,000 to N100,000 with no...

I didn’t know my mouth was suspended in great surprise until my nephew slightly nudged me to consciousness. I smiled, closed my mouth and continued to listen to the tale of...is it woe? Ella spoke without waiting to swallow the spittle that had gathered in her mouth. I turned to look at my nephew, her husband too and his head was bent in dejection. After a while Ella came to a stop and quickly wiped the tear that ran down her face. I was dumbfounded and could only sigh and sigh and sigh! “Like seriously!” I exclaimed when I eventually found my voice They both nodded like confused Agama lizards I clapped my hands together in amazement PDA is bad? I was just hearing that for the first time ever! I had always thought it was great, it was a great sign and all but what the heck did I just hear? Ah! The couple had entered into my office this morning looking so pale and sad and so worried that something was wrong with the unborn baby in my nephew’s wife, I was troubled and jum...

5 Time Ballon D’or winner, Lionel Messi, has heaped praise on his rival, four time Ballon D’or Winner and one time FIFA ‘Best’ winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, saying Ronaldo has achieved many things and he has mutual respect for the Real Madrid man, dispelling the myth that the pair are huge rivals who resent one another. Messi, who missed out on FIFA’s ‘The Best’ Awards gala last Monday, citing match preparation duties, also took out time to praise England’s all time record goalscorer Wayne Rooney, saying he has always respected the Manchester United captain, who is just one goal shy of breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s all time goal scoring record for Manchester United. Speaking to Coach Mag, Messi said: “There is a mutual respect. I view him as a great player who has achieved great things because that is exactly what he is. My motivation, though, has always come from wanting to do well for Barcelona and Argentina, and the fans.” “Over the years we have faced many British teams in Euro...

This might sound absurd but believe me this man drove me from Eko Hotel to Ojodu berger with a manipulated pedder system, we were almost at Iyana Oworo before I discover the wonder behind the driving,his driving was smooth and fast,it will only a very observant person to notice this.This man deserves to recognise for taking up the challenge instead of begging and using his condition as an avenue to extort more or seek for alms.

An official of the National Judicial Council, Mr. Eugene Odukwu, said before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, on Wednesday, that a petition accusing a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, was dismissed by the council. Odokwu, who is the Director of Administration of the NJC, said this while appearing as the fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing joint trial of Justice Ademola; his wife, Olabowale and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Joe Agi, on charges bordering mainly on receiving of gratification. The said petition in question was sent to the NJC, by a former Director, Pension Accounts Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Sani Shaibu Teidi, alleging that Justice Ademola demanded N25m as bribe from him while standing trial before the judge in 2013. The petition was signed by Teidi’s wife, Fatimah. Teidi’s trial before Justice Ademola in 2013 had to do with his (Teidi’s) alleged involvement in pension...