African Development

Napoli Completes Club Record €50m Deal for Nigerian Striker Osimhen from Lille
African Development, Employment, Finance, News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Napoli Completes Club Record €50m Deal for Nigerian Striker Osimhen from Lille

Napoli has completed the club record signing of Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen from Ligue 1 side, Lille. Osimhen who bagged 18 goals in 38 appearanced for Lille in the just concluded 2019-20 season joins Napoli for a club record €50 million (£45m/$59m) fee. Speculations had linked the forward with several top European clubs after his topnotch form in front of goal, including scoring against Premiere league clubs Arsenal and Liverpool but Osimhen has opted for the Serie A side. Osimhen has scored four goals in 10 appearances for the super Eagles of Nigeria. He first moved to Europe in 2017 with Wolfsburg in German Bundesliga, before joining Charleroi in Belgium on a initial loan deal which was later made permanent. He was prolific in Belgium as he scored an impressive 36 goals...
Ethnic Groups in Taraba task Ishaku to Address Injustices
African Development, Corruption, Crime, Economy, Environment, Human Rights, Justice, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Safety, Security, Youths

Ethnic Groups in Taraba task Ishaku to Address Injustices

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has been issued a 30-day ultimatum by four aggrieved ethnic groups in the state to address lingering injustices meted out to them by successive administrations. In a joint world press conference in Jalingo on Saturday, the ethnic groups comprising of the Minute, Fulani, Kuteb and Tiv claimed that successive administrations in the state have subjected them to injustices. Mr Obed Ameh, spokesperson of the group, disclosed that the injustices held sway in chieftancy matters and local government creation. Referencing the stool of Ukwe Takum which has been unoccupied since 1996 after the death of Alhaji Ali Ibrahim, Ameh said the delay in appointing a new Ukwe Takum was a calculated attempt to deny the Kuteb of the stool. He further lamented th...
Buhari Reacts to NDDC, EFCC Probes, says it’s an Abuse of trust
African Development, Corruption, Crime, Economy, Finance, Human Rights, Interview, Judiciary, Justice, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Press Statement, Religion

Buhari Reacts to NDDC, EFCC Probes, says it’s an Abuse of trust

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday reacted to corruption allegations rocking the Niger Delta Development Commission and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He said that some of his appointees have betrayed the trust reposed in them. The president disclosed this in a chat with reporters after observing Eid Mubarak prayers at the forecourt of the presidential villa.   He said, “There has been abuse of trust by people trusted by previous administration and this administration.” Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has being quizzed by a presidential panel over allegations of corruption and abuse of power. The interim management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by Kemebradikumo D...
Obaseki Felicitates with Akpata on Emergence as NBA President
African Development, Judiciary, Justice, Legislature, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Obaseki Felicitates with Akpata on Emergence as NBA President

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has felicitated with Olumide Akpata on becoming the new President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). In his congratulatory message, Obaseki described Akpata as a lawyer who has achieved tremendous feat and is worthy of the new position Obaseki said in his statement, “I congratulate Olumide Akpata on his emergence as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association. A versatile lawyer, Akpata is sure to bring to the leadership of the Bar his unique acumen and zest as a lawyer to steer the Bar to glorious heights. “There is no denying that different professions face quite peculiar challenges with the advent of Information Communication Technologies and the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, but I am confident in the capacity of Akpata to depl...
Edo Election: Wike, Ize-Iyamu in a War of Words as Election Draws Closer
African Development, Economy, Interview, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Youths

Edo Election: Wike, Ize-Iyamu in a War of Words as Election Draws Closer

Wike describes Ize-Iyamu as unmarketable bad product Power to decide resides with Edo people, Ize-Iyamu retorts Nyeson Wike, Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Edo State Governorship Campaign Council, has tagged Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), in Edo State governorship election as a bad product which cannot marketed to decisive people of Edo state. Wike’s claim was, however, opposed by Ize-Iyamu, who said the power to decide a competent candidate resides with Edo State electorates and not Governor Wike. Ize-Iyamu said in a statement, “When did I become a bad product? When I left PDP as their gubernatorial candidate and became an APC member? ”It is not Wike who will determine who is a good product....
Enugu State’s Civil Servants to Resume Work August 3 -Governor Ugwuanyi
African Development, Covid-19, Economy, Education, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Safety

Enugu State’s Civil Servants to Resume Work August 3 -Governor Ugwuanyi

The Governor Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has asked all civil servants in the state to resume work on Monday, August 3, 2020. The directive was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya. In the statement, the state government advised returning civil servants to observe all Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols for containment of the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), “including hand washing with soap, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, compulsory use of face shield/mask and maintaining social distancing”. It would be recalled that following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the Enugu State Government, directed all civil servants in the state to work from their homes since March 23, 2020, as part of meas...
Ogun plans August 14 Worship Centres Reopening, Schools to Resume  August 4
African Development, Covid-19, Economy, Education, Employment, Finance, Interview, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Religion, Safety, Youths

Ogun plans August 14 Worship Centres Reopening, Schools to Resume August 4

The Ogun state Government plans a conditional approval for reopening of places of worship  across the state from August 14, 2020 in absolute compliance to COVID-19 safety guidelines. The state government also disclosed that schools will resume August 4,  for students preparing for the recently approved senior school certificate examination organised by West African Examination Council (WAEC). In a chat with journalists on Wednesday in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun said his administration took the decision to reopen schools and worship centres after diligent consultation with relevant stakeholders. He acknowledged the effort of League of Imams and Alfas as well as the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for standing on t...
Ohanaeze, Afenifere Chide Daura Over Comment on 2023 Presidency
African Development, Economy, Interview, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Ohanaeze, Afenifere Chide Daura Over Comment on 2023 Presidency

The apex Igbo and Yoruba socio-political groups in Nigeria on Wednesday chided Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew over his remark on the zoning of presidency in 2023. The groups – Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere in different interviews on Wednesday said Buhari was a beneficiary of zoning in 2015 when he emerged the country’s president. They said Buhari was not the most qualified for the position if he were to be judged based on merit as Daura posited, given his handling of the country’s affairs. In line with Daura’s submission, pan-northern socio-political organistion, the Arewa Consultative Forum, said the country’s constitution does not recognize zoning. Daura in an interview with Hausa Service of the BBC, on Tuesday said the presidency had rotated thrice in Nige...
FG Announces Dates for NECO, NABTEB, National Common Entrance Examinations
African Development, Economy, Education, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Youths

FG Announces Dates for NECO, NABTEB, National Common Entrance Examinations

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) organised by the National Examination Council (NECO) will start on October 5 and end on November 18, 2020. Ben Bem Goong, Director of press and public relations, Ministry of Education announced the date on Wednesday. The statement said that the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba disclosed the date on Wednesday on Wednesday after concluding meeting with head of examination bodies in Nigeria. Nwajiuba said the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for JSS 3, which is equally organised by NECO, will commence on August 24 and end September 7, 2020 while the date for the beginning of West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination will commence in A...
Protest in Zimbabwe: US Summons Zanu-PF Spokesperson Over Comments
African Development, Corruption, Economy, Human Rights, Justice, News, Safety, Security, Zimbabwe

Protest in Zimbabwe: US Summons Zanu-PF Spokesperson Over Comments

The United states has summoned spokesman of the ruling Zanu-PF party in Zimbabwe after his disparaging comments about the US ambassador in Harare. Patrick Chinamasa, spokesperson of the ruling Zanu-PF party, on Monday labeled US Ambassador Brian Nicholls “a thug” and threatened to expel him. He accused the US envoy of inciting anti-corruption protests in the country. Tibor Nagy, top US diplomat for Africa said, “Comments from Zanu-PF — while sadly not surprising — are deeply offensive.” “We have summoned the ambassador of Zimbabwe to explain,” he wrote on Twitter. The administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been battling with a host of protesters who took to the streets after a call for demonstrations on July 31 in Zimbabwe. In the course of cracking down, the gov...