₦airaland Forum

I would bet on Algeria, but the Elephants are still hoping for their grand victory... Tonight's is the last day of group stage (see calendar) and Cote d'Ivoire meets Cameroon...

Do you know Eve Online, the spaceship combat game? One of the most complex games ever designed, it boasts one of the largest if not the largest player-run economy. Oh, and scams within the context of the game are actually authorised... it's a ruthless environment. You have player-run space empires, spies, scoundrels, pirates, explorers, miners, traders, diplomats, space truckers...

The latest trailer

France needs respect, they have very good players. But the Super Eagles deserve their spot in this match too.

http://en.starafrica.com/football-score/world-cup/round-of-16/match/235912/france-nigeria/live
Full coverage: http://en.starafrica.com/football/rio-2014-france-vs-nigeria-live.html

Up Super Eagles!

It's been a hectic half-hour. You can find the full list of the matches here. Nigeria was lucky, not so much Ghana.

A handy list of groups!
https://en.starafrica.com/football/files/2013/12/world-cup-draw-live.jpg

Havilah93: He looks old.

Football: a sport of young men running, run by old men
Live report of the draw

Mandela forever... A great man.

Grand game! LIVE

Up Golden Eaglets!
Live comments

There will be live comments of the final tomorrow on StarAfrica.
Also: can't wait for some more Kelechi Iheanacho brilliance. No wonder Arsenal is scouting him up.

What about a smile?

Ruling party palaver, 2014 budget, soldiers’ deployment lead newspapers

The denial of a deal with President Goodluck Jonathan by the splinter group of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the declared benchmark for the 2014 national budget and the deployment of soldiers to quell the ethnic crisis in Nasarawa state were the major highlights in Nigerian newspapers on Thursday.

The Guardian declared “No deal with Jonathan on 2015, says new PDP” and reported that far from the position of the Bamanga Tukur‘s group, the Alhaji Abubakar Baraje-led PDP has not reached any agreement with Jonathan on re-election in 2015.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Baraje’s group, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, Wednesday urged Nigerians to ignore all reports that had been published to create the impression that the group had reached accord with Jonathan on 2015, the paper said.

“2015: We have no pact with Jonathan –New PDP” was the headline in The National Mirror which pointed out that there seems to be no end in sight to the crisis rocking the party, as the Abubakar Baraje-led faction denied reaching any agreement with Jonathan on the 2015 presidential election.

Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio, had on Monday claimed that the seven aggrieved PDP governors had dropped their demand that President Jonathan should not seek re-election in 2015, stressing that his aggrieved colleagues had consented that the Nigerian leader’s unofficial ambition to run for another term in 2015 was not negotiable.

But the New PDP stated that Akpabio was not saying the truth, in his claims that the aggrieved governors and other members of the new PDP accepted that President Jonathan should contest the 2015 presidential election and that most of their demands were being met.

The Vanguard newspaper took another angle to the story declaring: “Presidency jittery over impeachment fears“. It said that barely 48 hours after a free-for-all ensued at the National Assembly, following the visit of the splinter PDP, indications emerged last night that the Presidency was jittery over the implications of the lawmakers’ action.

It quoted sources close to the Presidency hinting that its strategists were worried that the lawmakers could easily effect a change in the leadership of the national legislature and get at President Jonathan.

The projections in the 2014 budgets were highlighted by some newspapers, including This Day.

“2014: FG Projects N4.5tn Budget, Sets Oil Benchmark at US$74 per barrel” was the headline it carried revealing a federal government plan to propose a budget of N4.495 trillion for the fiscal year 2014 that will be predicated on an oil revenue benchmark of $74 per barrel.

While the proposed budget projection translates to a N492 billion reduction from the N4.987 trillion appropriated by the National Assembly in the 2013 budget, the 2014 oil benchmark of $74 per barrel also marks a reduction of $5 per barrel from the $79 in the 2013 budget.

The Punch newspaper carried the same story declaring: “Federal Government proposes N14tn budget for three years …sets oil benchmark at $74 for 2014“.

“Ombatse violence: Federal Government deploys hundreds of troops to Nasarawa” was the caption in The Daily Trust which disclosed the deployment of troops to Nasarawa state to battle the menace of Ombatse cult group.

It said that hundreds of soldiers have been deployed to the state to contain a wave of deadly violence blamed on the Ombatse militia, which broke out days ago.

Source

Newspapers spotlight MPs clash, soldiers, Islamists deaths

The Nigerian press on Wednesday led their stables with the clash in the House of Representatives by factions of the embattled ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), stories on the killing of 150 Islamists and 15 soldiers in a renewed onslaught in crisis ridden Borno State.

The Guardian story screamed with the headline “Reps clash, seven PDP governors restate grievances against Presidency” explaining that despite the on-going peace talks within the PDP, the splinter group is nursing its grievances and was not ready to give up its stance soon.

This indication emerged as supporters of both PDP’s groups in the House of Representatives clashed on Tuesday and crisis broke out when members of the Bamanga Tukur-led faction stormed the venue of a meeting and disrupted an address by the splinter group leader, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

The Vanguard newspaper also led with the story, “Representatives fight as Baraje’s nPDP visits Tambuwal“.

The battle against Boko Haram claimed more than 150 members and 15 soldiers as reported by This Day newspaper with the caption, “Army: Over 150 Boko Haram Insurgents, 15 Soldiers Killed in Borno“.

It said that the Nigerian Army has rebuffed claims by some online media websites that it lost over 40 soldiers, while 65 others were missing in a surprise ambush by insurgents at Kafiya Forest of Borno State.

It ran a statement by the army saying during the incident, over 150 members of the sect were killed while 15 soldiers and one officer died in action, with nine others missing.

Attahiru described Abba Goroma a chief insurgent commander who was killed as a high value target, on whose head had been placed a N10-million bounty.

“Army kills 150 Boko Haram insurgents, 15 soldiers killed” was the headline in The Nigerian Tribune.

The re-introduction of car and housing loans to workers also attracted the Guardian newspaper with the caption, “Jonathan reintroduces car, housing loans for workers“.

It said that for public and private sector workers in the country, the days may soon be back when they can walk to their banks, auto shops and drive away in brand new cars or become house owners by just filling in a mortgage form.

In fact, from next year, this package is part of the 2014 fiscal plan being worked out by the Federal Ministry of Finance. President Goodluck Jonathan gave a glimpse into the budget in Abuja on Tuesday.

Source
See also on StarAfrica Nigeria:
Super Eagles fans wary of Ethiopian threat
MPs brawl

Ethiopia vs Nigeria !

First leg match on October: Cote d'Ivoire hosts, vs Senegal

live stream: http://en.starafrica.com/football/live-video-stream-final-round-draw-of-the-2014-world-cup-preliminary-matches-monday-september-16th.html

The draw about to begin, for real...

The live stream of the draw is available here, starting at 11AM (10AM GMT)!

Hi,

For your information, the live video stream of the match will be available tomorrow on StarAfrica Nigeria: http://en.starafrica.com/football/nigeria-malawi-live-video-stream-of-the-world-cup-qualifier-match-comments-saturday-7-september.html

Regards!

No TV? Do you want to watch the matchs?

Ghana – Zambia LIVE video stream of the World Cup qualifier match, with live comments, on Friday 6th 4PM GMT (NOW) viewable from Nigeria (here's the trick: but NOT from Ghana)

Nigeria – Malawi LIVE video stream of the World Cup qualifier match, with live comments, on Saturday 7th viewable from Ghana (unfortunately NOT from Nigeria)

Enjoy!

Also: Nigeria Football Page

U.S prescriptions to deal with militants, standoff involving INEC, more

The United States’ prescriptions to Nigeria on how to tackle Islamist militants, the threats by 20 de-registered political parties to field candidates in apparent defiance of the electoral commission, and the government’s planned prosecution of oil thieves are the major stories headlined in Friday newspapers. “How to end Boko Haram terrorism” was the headline in The Guardian which reported Washington’s advise on the imperative of tackling terrorist group in Nigeria such as Boko Haram, warning the government in Abuja that until it successfully overcomes the terror group, peace and protection of its citizens should be its paramount objective.

The paper quoted the US Under Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, during the opening session of U.S.-Nigeria Bi-national Commission’s Regional Security Co-operation Working Group in Abuja, as saying that the most populous African nation’s success was important to his country.

She said that the U.S. would continue to invest in Nigeria’s institutions, people and businesses for the mutual benefit of both countries.

According to her, Nigeria faces several challenges to national and regional stability.

Her words: “The largest of these challenges is, of course, the Boko Haram-led insurgency operating in the country’s North-East that has created widespread insecurity across northern Nigeria, increased tensions between various ethnic communities, interrupted development activities, frightened off investors and generated concerns among Nigeria’s northern neighbours.

This Day newspaper also reported the same story under the headline “US: Boko Haram is Exploiting Religion to Make Nigeria Ungovernable” pointing out that the insurgency was undermining practical solutions to the challenges of development in the north of the country.

The story indicated US concern that militants have taken advantage of popular local frustrations, religious differences as well as economic and social difficulties to undermine the Nigerian state aside from exploiting religious differences to create chaos and render the country ungovernable over the last four years.

It also reported the United States assessing the Nigerian government’s strategies in the fight against terrorism advocating for the introduction of a new approach that would complement its counter-terrorism strategy in place. The US believe an effective economic recovery strategy would attract young people in the north away from such subversive activities.

“U.S. to Nigeria: capture Boko Haram leaders,” is the caption in the Nation newspaper with details indicating that the United States advising Nigeria to hunt down, capture and prosecute leaders of Boko Haram.

The Vanguard newspaper focused on the threat by 20 de-registered political parties to field candidates in future elections with the caption, “20 de-registered parties dare INEC; vow to field candidates in Anambra, Ekiti polls”.

The newspaper reported that the parties de-registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have vowed to field candidates at the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State and the Senatorial election in Ekiti State in apparent defiance.

Operating under the aegis of Coalition of Concerned Political Parties, CCPP, the affected parties are demanding the immediate dismissal of the commission’s chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega after they accused him of going against provisions of the constitution.

The coalition at a briefing said that INEC must declare whose interest it was protecting by deliberately flouting the ruling of the court on party de-registration, the paper reported.

The plan to prosecute oil marketers over stolen fund is the main story carried by the Nigerian Tribune newspaper with the caption “Federal government to prosecute indicted oil marketers over $1.5bn stolen funds”.

According to the newspaper, oil marketers found culpable in the oil subsidy scam will soon face prosecution, as the federal government vowed to recover the more than $1.5 billion in excess payments made to them.

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance was quoted in the report at the just-concluded National Council of Finance and Economic Development summit (NACOFED) in Minna.

Source
See also: Women take over Abuja in peace rally
New voters’ cards “will prevent irregularities”
Everything Nigeria on StarAfrica

Over 300 editors will be gathering in Asaba for the 9th All Nigerian Editors’ Conference to brainstorm on the country’s overreliance on oil and how to reduce this dependence. The four-day conference organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) will centre on “Nigeria: Beyond Oil: Role of the Editor” and would hold from August 21 to 24, a statement from the secretary of the guild, Mr Isaac Ighure on Thursday said.

According to the statement the last day of the conference would be dedicated to “Life After The Chair: The Editors’ Colloquium”.

Internationally renowned business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will give the keynote address while the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku be available as special guest of the conference which would be rounded off with an investiture of new fellows and induction of new members of the guild.

Source, StarAfrica Nigeria

Newspapers scream Boko Haram killings, security meeting

Nigeria’s main newspapers on Tuesday screamed with headlines spotlighting the killing of 60 people in village mosques by Islamists and the summoning of a meeting over the security situation in the country.

This Day newspaper declared, “Gunmen Kill 60 in Attacks on Borno Villages” and said that despite the assurance by the federal government that it is winning the war against terrorism and has successfully dislodged members of the outlawed terrorist sect Boko Haram, 60 people were killed by assailants suspected to be members of the group at the weekend in villages in Borno State.

The attacks, which also led to scores of others being injured, occurred between Saturday and Sunday in Ngom, Maisarmari and Mailari in Konduga and Mafa Local Government Areas of the state.

The rising spate of attacks, especially in Borno and Yobe States, may have formed the main item on the agenda during a meeting on Monday between President Goodluck Jonathan and some service chiefs and members of the cabinet behind closed doors.

The Guardian newspaper captioned it, “Gunmen in military, police uniforms kill 31 in Borno” and expatiated that no single shot was fired. Yet, after the invaders left three Borno communities, 31 people were found killed.

The throats of the victims were apparently slit, thus not attracting the attention of security operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

Some sources blamed the attacks in homes and mosques on Boko Haram.

Meanwhile, the Boko Haram leader, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, on Monday vowed to fight what he called infidels and the federal government until an Islamic country is established, as directed by Allah in the Quran.

The claims of the JTF and the police on the killings and destruction of their training bases, according to Shekau, are false and misleading.

Shekau spoke on Monday on a video e-mailed to reporters in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The Vanguard newspaper reported, “44 massacred in Borno mosque” and said the victims were killed as they were praying at a mosque in Konduga town, some 22 miles outside Maiduguri, Borno state, apparently gunned down by suspected Islamic militants.

A Department of State Service, DSS, agent and a member of a civilian vigilante group working with the military said they counted the bodies at the mosque after last Sunday morning’s attack.

The Nigerian Tribune newspaper also reported the same incident , putting the deaths at 63 killed and 26 injured.

Punch newspaper also carried the story but emphasized the emergency security meeting summoned by President Goodluck Jonathan on the issue which it captioned, “Jonathan, security chiefs meet”.

It said that Jonathan again on Monday met the nation’s security chiefs behind closed-doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja but the agenda was not made public. He said the meeting, which lasted for about three hours, was called to appraise the security situation in the country “across all spheres and assessed the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states as well as the raging issue of oil theft that has depleted the nation revenue base.

The Nation newspaper also focused on Boko Haram’s leader, who released a video claiming the upper hand in the conflict.

The newspaper said: “Boko Haram leader Shekau dares Obama in video” and said that despite being declared a global terrorist and a US$7million reward placed on him by the United States (US), Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau is still talking tough.

Shekau, in a video yesterday, dared US President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to come for him, saying: “They are no match for me.”

Source
See also: Mosque attack raises questions over army offensive
US vows to fight Nigeria’s war on terror
Women’s 200m race in Moscow: pundits tip Blessing Okagbare for a medal in 200m

IFC $2b investments, child marriage, petroleum crisis dominate newspapers

International Finance Corporation (IFC) and World Bank’s proposed $2 billion investments in Nigeria in 2014, Christians attack on Senate over child marriage, crude oil production and pipeline vandalism, and President Goodluck Jonathan’s query to the Central Bank Governor are major stories in newspapers on Wednesday.

“IFC Plans $2bn Investments in Nigeria by 2014” is the caption of This Day newspaper with a report that the IFC, the World Bank’s private-lending arm has disclosed plans to raise its investments in Nigeria by 25 percent to $2 billion by next year.

The funds are to be raised directly by the IFC or mobilised from other sources and would be targeted at industries that offer competitive advantage to the West African nation.

The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had said in May the country needed to invest $10 billion on infrastructure annually to keep up with its rising population and expanding economy.

The attack on the Senate by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on the controversial passage of a constitutional clause allowing child marriage was the focus of the Nigerian Tribune newspaper with the caption “Child marriage: CAN president plans to mobilise Nigerians against Senate”.

The newspaper reported that the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, had threatened to mobilise Nigerians against the Senate if it fails to rescind its position on child marriage.

CAN president, who issued the threat in an interview in Jos shortly after an interdenominational service organised by North Central CAN, also charged politicians to stop overheating the polity ahead of 2015 and concentrate on good governance.

He pointed out that marriage should not be for immature people, stating that such people will find it difficult to handle the challenges of marriage.

The production and the crisis in the oil industry was shared by the Guardian and National Mirror newspapers with the latter captioning the story “NNPC expects crude oil production to hit 2.50 million barrel per day soon”.

The Guardian newspaper reported that Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) expects the country’s crude oil production to hit 2.50 million barrels per day (mbpd) with the completion of Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL), in the next few weeks.

Besides, the corporation has faulted Royal Dutch Shell’s claims that it lost $700 million in its global earnings in the second quarter of 2013 due to operational challenges in Nigeria.

The Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Tumini Green, who made this disclosure in a statement, said that in a fortnight, repair works on the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL), which has a daily capacity of 150,000bpd, is expected to be completed.

The National Mirror newspaper declared in its headline “NNPC pipelines vandalised, supplies to Warri, Kaduna refineries cut”. The newspaper said the fears of a possible shut down of Warri and Kaduna refineries has heightened as the pipeline which conveys crude oil to the two plants were damaged at several points by vandals.

The pipeline, known as System 2C, runs from the Escravos location of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State to Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, and Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company KRPC.

Spanning about 60 kilometres to WRPC, it was damaged in the creeks of Kokologbene community in Warri South- West LGA.

The Punch newspaper reported President Goodluck Jonathan’s query to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the bank’s audited account with the caption, “Jonathan queries Sanusi over CBN 2012 account”.

It said the president had complained to the Governor Lamido Sanusi, over some items in the apex’s bank’s 2012 audit report.

A confirmation of the query was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, when he was contacted by a journalist for a reaction to a publication (not by The Punch) on Tuesday over the report.

Although Abati was not specific in his response, he claimed he was aware that “some issues” came up and the CBN governor was asked to offer further explanations on them.

Source
See also: Prolonged curfew in Postiskum as Nigerian military fight Islamists
Jonathan congratulates Mugabe over re-election

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIbIewxHQrk
Saki Mafundikwa: ingenuity and elegance in ancient African alphabets

Nigerian newspapers focus on PDP's reconciliation, African gas company, child marriage

Nigerian newspapers on Tuesday directed attention to the move by the embattled ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) to reconcile the warring factions, the losses suffered by West African Gas Company to the pipeline shutdown, and the Senate's denial of approving child marriage.This Day newspaper reported that, ``Bayelsa Governor Heads 30-man Panel to Reconcile PDP Members'', with details that the crisis-ridden party has launched a fresh bid for peace in the party with the setting up of a National Reconciliation Committee (NRC), headed by Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson.

The constitution of the 30-member committee, which has been saddled with the onerous task of harmonising all interests and achieving genuine reconciliation across the board, was announced yesterday in Abuja.

The party also yesterday resolved the crisis of confidence between its National Working Committee (NWC) and the Special National Convention Planning Committee, headed by a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana,

The Punch newspaper also reported, ``Crisis: PDP sets up reconciliation panel'' and said that Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State was on Monday named as the Chairman of the 30-man Peoples Democratic Party National Reconciliation Committee.

The newspaper reported that the PDP became more polarised since the conduct of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) election, which the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, won with 19 votes to 16.

The setting up of the committee came few days after some PDP governors visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where they complained about happenings in the party.


Also on the crisis in the party, five Northern governors visited two former presidents of the country to find a way out, a story the Nation newspaper captioned, ``Our fears, by five governors''.

It said that five governors yesterday pleaded with two former Heads of State -Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar - to prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan to guarantee a free political space for democracy to thrive.

They said their concern was not about which zone will produce the president in 2015, but how to get to 2015.

They urged the two leaders to link up with other statesmen to save the nation's democracy.

The Daily Independent newspaper which also had the stories highlighted the plights of the West African Gas Pipeline Company with a caption, ``West African Firm loses N27 billion to pipeline shutdown''.

It said the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAGPCo) said on Monday that it lost N27.176 billion to shutdown of its pipeline, which transports gas from Nigeria to Ghana and two other West African countries.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Charles Adeniji, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, said the amount represented loses in the 344 days of facility shutdown between August 28, 2012 and July 11, 2013.

The company announced the shutdown of its pipeline system 10 months and 14 days ago, after experiencing loss of pressure around the Lome segment of the pipeline, in Togo.

The denial of the Senate that it endorsed child marriage was the focus of the National Mirror newspaper which captioned it, ``Senate denies endorsing underage marriage''.


It said that senators Atiku Bagudu and Akin Odunsi yesterday denied that the upper legislative house had endorsed child marriage, insisting that what they voted for was the process of renouncing Nigerian citizenship.

But another senator, representing Ondo Central Senatorial district, Ayo Akinyelure yesterday wept publicly over his role in voting in favour of child marriage just as he explained that he voted in error.

Reacting to the controversy generated by the voting on some of the proposals contained in the draft amendment bill of the 1999 constitution last week, the senators said that the matter had been blown out of proportion.

Source: http://en.starafrica.com/news/nigerian-newspapers-focus-on-pdps-reconciliation-african-gas-company-child-marriage.html

Also: Mass wedding for 1,100 widows planned in Kano
Over 40, 000 ghost workers in government payroll
Nigeria trade statistics down in first quarter

LAGOS (AFP)

When university student Ayodeji Adewunmi faced daunting hurdles in starting his own business in Nigeria, he turned to an unlikely source of inspiration: the country’s huge youth unemployment problem.

“Our mission was to have the largest active job list in the country,” he told AFP.

He may have accomplished the goal. Adewunmi’s now claims to be the leading job-finder site in Africa’s most populous country, with a staff of more than 50 and some 9,000 companies posting positions.

Interview of Ayodeji Adewunmi

"We are under siege" -includes statement by Senator Kabiru Gaya

Otelemaba Dan-Amachree reacts:
"As far as this House is concerned, the leadership of the House has not changed. I’m the Speaker of Rivers State House of assembly and all the other officers and the clerk are here with me. The leadership of the House is intact and what Evans Bipi told you is pure fallacy, lie."

Full interview, more info, pics about the House of Assembly brawl over there.

Late Abacha’s loot, HIV/AIDS funds, external reserves lead newspapers

The controversy surrounding the recovery of monies stolen by Late Gen. Sani Abacha, the investigation into the looting of HIV/AIDS fund, the stagnation of external reserves and the impasse caused by presidency’s board appointments were some of the stories featured by major newspapers in Nigeria on Friday.

The Vanguard newspaper reported “Nigeria yet to get €175m Abacha loot from Liechtenstein – Adoke”, quoting the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, as saying that Nigeria was yet to receive about €175 million starched in a foreign account by late military leader, General Sani Abacha.

Adoke, who spoke at the 2013 ministerial press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday to highlight the mid-term achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, said government had intensified its efforts to trace and repatriate Nigeria’s stolen assets abroad.

He said: “In this connection, we have maintained effective liaison and communication with targeted jurisdictions to keep pace with asset recovery proceedings in those jurisdictions.”

On the part of the Nigerian Tribune newspaper, “Federal Government recovers N5.5 bn Abacha loot”, quoted the same Adoke that the government had recovered over N5.5 billion Abacha loot and that negotiation is almost completed to recover another N36.7 billion from two of his associates.

The newspaper also reported that close liaison and negotiation with the Island of Jersey led to the recovery and repatriation of the sum of UK £22.5 million confiscated by the Royal Court of Jersey from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of General Sani Abacha, on account of his money laundering transactions from Nigeria.

The looting of donor funds for HIV/AIDS intervention attracted the attention of the Nation newspaper “Reps investigate HIV/AIDS funds’ diversion by NGOs”.

The House of Representatives is probing possible pilfering of foreign donations meant to tackle Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV/AIDS, in the country, the newspaper said.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, declared the probe on Thursday after the opening of an investigative hearing on the need to check the activities of governmental and non-governmental organisations working in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in Nigeria.

The House said the investigation should not be seen as an attempt to restrict or control the activities on NGOs.

“The menace of HIV/ AIDS affects all Nigerians, as such all efforts must be made to work collectively to tackle the disease.”

This Day reported “Board appointments by Jonathan polarize Senate”, explained that fresh nominations by President Jonathan into some boards and federal government agencies Thursday divided the Senate President, Senator David Mark and his colleagues during plenary.

At the confirmation of nominees into the boards, some senators alleged lopsidedness in the appointments, saying it did not reflect the Federal Character principle.

They were angry that some zones were left out in the appointments while a number of the senators argued that Jonathan flouted Federal

Character principle as spelt out in Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Mark and few other senators reasoned differently.

The Daily Independent newspaper harped on external reserve “External reserve stagnates at US$48 billion”, for over three months this year after months of declining growth, according to data by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The mid-week level represents a decline of US$174 million or 0.36 per cent, compared to the US$48.41 billion reported for May 31, 2013, as the CBN continues its defence of the Naira against major currencies, resulting in an increased Dollar sale at the bi-weekly foreign exchange auction.

At the auction held earlier this week, the apex bank sold $500 million, up by $200 million or 66 per cent, when compared to the $300 million sold at the previous auctions.

Source: http://en.starafrica.com/news/late-abachas-loot-hivaids-funds-external-reserves-lead-ng-newspapers.html
Also: Nigeria, Niger hamonises livestock vaccination to curtail diseases
Business leader calls for US engagement rules with Africa to change
Nigeria to create industrial parks in nine oil-producing state

Corruption in electoral body, oil discovery, British visa bond lead newspapers

The admittance of corruption in Nigeria’s electoral agency, the discovery of oil in commercial Lagos, and Britain reconsidering its plan to float £3,000 visa bond on visitors from some countries are the major stories in newspapers on Thursday.The Vanguard lead with “Jega admits presence of corrupt staff in INEC’.

The newspaper reported that the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has admitted the presence of corrupt officials and staff who aid and abet rigging and other electoral malpractices during elections.

The admittance came as a reaction to various knocks given Jega by some political parties and stakeholders, who converged on Abuja on Wednesday to witness the unveiling and public presentation of Strategic Programme of Action of INEC covering 2012 to 2016.

According to Jega, many staff of the commission who compromised standards, have been either prosecuted or dismissed from their duties. He, however, said the exercise was done without usual media hype.

The Guardian newspaper captioned the same story “Jega admits rot in INEC, unveils 2015 plan”, noting that though INEC was supposed to be an unbiased umpire as regards electoral matters, the body is to some extent bogged down by electoral malpractices.

According to the INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, electoral fraud is perpetrated by officials of his agency in connivance with politicians.

The reconsideration of the visa bond by Britain led This Day newspapers which captioned “Britain reconsiders 3,000 pounds Visa Bond”. It explained that British Prime Minister David Cameron has halted the controversial plan by his country to demand a £3,000 bond from each visa applicant from “high risk countries”.

Under the proposal canvassed by Britain’s Home Secretary, Theresa May, as part of efforts to cut immigration and abuses of the system, first time visitors from Nigeria, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Pakistan and India from November will be required to pay the £3,000 visa bond before they would be allowed to enter Britain.

It said Cameron had told May that he would not sanction any policy that undermines his growth agenda or the “open for business” message he delivered on a recent trip to India.

“The prime minister has not cleared this policy,” said one ally. “He doesn’t want to do anything that cuts across the message he took to India.”

Also the discovery of oil in the nation’s commercial capital, Lagos, was reported by the Vanguard with the headline “Oil discovered in Lagos”.

It said Lagos is on the verge of joining the country’s oil-producing states with the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities in the coastal state.

Afren Plc and its partner, Lekoil Limited, announced significant oil discovery offshore Dahomey Basin in Lagos, according to the London Stock Exchange.

The Daily Independent newspaper also reported “Optimum, Afren make new oil discovery offshore Nigeria”, writing that the nation’s reserves of crude oil may have received a boost with the discovery of a significant light oil accumulation at the high impact Ogo-1 well located on the Oil Prospective Lease (OPL 310) offshore Nigeria.

The discovery, the said in a statement, is based on the results of drilling and wireline logs.

This Day newspaper also reported the confession of Boko Haram suspects “Boko Haram Suspect Confesses to Killing 23 in 48 Hours”.

It said in a chilling tale, a suspected member of the dreaded Boko Haram sect who was arrested by volunteer armed youths, popularly called Civilian JTF, shocked everyone when he confessed to killing 23 people within 48 hours.

The suspect was arrested by the youths on Tuesday evening at Ngomari ward ‘Bakin Borehole’ in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and subsequently handed over to the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state, Operation Restore Order.

Source: http://en.starafrica.com/news/corruption-in-electoral-body-oil-discovery-british-visa-bond-lead-newspapers.html
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According to Keshi, 'injuries, finishing cost Nigeria'.

I lost four, five key players in the team at the last minute. And today I lost one of my key players at centre-half, which is damaging. But it’s football. You have to live with it.