₦airaland Forum

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the names of five candidates with exemplary performance in the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The top five in the examination that involved more than 1.3 million candidates are Galadima Zakari from Biu in Borno State, who sat for the examination in Ogun as the candidate with the highest score of 364.

Adekunle Jesufemi from Ogun State sat for his examination in Abeokuta and scored 358 to come second and the third position went to Alikah Oseghale from Edo State who sat for the examination in Ekpoma with a score of 357.

The fourth is Ademola Adetola from Ogun State who sat for the examination in Lagos with a score of 355, while Akinyemi Paul from Ogun state, who wrote his examination in Lagos, Ape Moses from Benue who wrote the examination in Makurdi and Obi-Obuoha Abiamamela from Rivers who wrote the examination in Port Harcourt came fifth with a tie score of 354.”

The board’s Head of Media, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said in a statement on Sunday, in Abuja said that the information became necessary and to put the records in proper perspective following a circulated misinformation in some quarters.

According to him, the attention of the board is drawn to publications that Ape Moses from Benue came top in the entire exercise. The report, he said, was untrue and incorrect. He, however, explained that Moses with 354 score was the highest scorer from Benue State and the entire North Central.

Benjamin added that it was imperative to set the records straight in order to ensure that the public was not misled by unverified report.

"The Board appeals to all interested individuals and organisations who would want to use its data for research, reportage and other national necessary disposition to always contact it for accurate and up to date information. ” This is so as not to misdirect the public into taking wrong and misleading conclusions. ” Our doors are always open to any request especially when the nation would be the ultimate beneficiary.”

Mode of 2018 Admissions Exercise
i. The 2018 Admissions Exercise should be conducted on the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS);
ii. The Principal Participants on Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) are:
i. The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB);
ii. Heads of Tertiary Institutions;
iii. Director of Admissions (JAMB);
iv. Admissions Officers of Tertiary Institutions;
v. JAMB Desk Officers; and
vi. Candidates.
iii. 1st Choice Admissions Exercise should be conducted from 2nd July to 16th October, 2018;
iv. 2nd Choice Admissions Exercise should be conducted from 17th October to 17th December, 2018.

F. Documents for the 2018 Admissions Exercise
1. The following documents should be used for the conduct of the 2018 Admissions Exercise:
i. the 2018 UTME/DE results;
ii. 2018 Admissions Quota as prescribed by the Regulatory Agencies namely: NUC/NBTE/NCCE;
iii. the 2018 UTME Brochure;
iv. the Guidelines on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions as prescribed by the institutions' Proprietors (Federal, State and Private); and
v. Policy decisions on 2018 Admissions Exercise.

2. Upgrade to DE from UTME
i. A candidate who obtains A/L qualifications after the close of sale of application can seek upgrade from UTME to DE.
ii. He/She logs into his/her profile, chooses upgrade and completes the process free of charge.
The platform allows him/her to change programme or/and institution at no cost.
iii. Once it is done, 'U' is automatically added to his/her original registration number and his/her uploaded result is automatically made available to the institution through CAPS.
iv. The Upgrade can be done before or after Post - UTME but the candidate must notify the institution in order to update their download list from CAPS.
Procedure for the Admissions Exercise

1. Recommendations and Approval
Institutions should recommend candidates for admissions after having presented to the Board the following information through CAPS:
i. the approved general quota for each institution and the distribution to the various programmes;
ii. Minimum UTME score for each programme;
iii. Minimum DE qualification grades for Direct Entry Candidates;
iv. Components of Cut-off marks and the allotted score for each component; and
v. Other admissions criteria (if any).

2. Step by Step in the Admission Process
For a candidate to be registered in an institution from 2018 Admissions Exercise, the candidate must have:
i. been recommended by the institution;
ii. been approved and admitted by JAMB;
iii. accepted the offer online on JAMB’s website at no cost;
iv. printed both Result Slip and Admission Letter directly from JAMB’s website;
v. presented the two (2) documents in (iv) above to the Institution; and
vi. been screened and presented acceptable credentials including those in (iv) above.

3. Documents
To register admitted candidates, institutions should receive from each candidate and file the following:
i. JAMB original Result Slip;
ii. JAMB original online Admission Letter; and
iii. Copies of candidates’ credentials.
4. Verification
Each institution is to:
i. verify the characteristics (given by JAMB) e.g. Registration number is water marked across each of the two (2) documents;
ii. download the Mobile App (JAMBMOBILE) on Android phone or similar devices and use it to verify the security features on the documents such as
Name, Registration Number, Institution/Programme. The JAMBMOBILE App should be downloaded from Google Store;
iii. check the candidates status on CAPS; and
iv. at the point of registration, download list of candidates offered provisional admissions from CAPS and it should be indicated against each candidate, whether the Result Slip and Admission Letter have been printed or not. (CAPS USER GUIDE 2018 is attached as Appendix I.)

5. Frequent Downloads and Portal-Closure
i. Since candidates continue to change courses and institutions until the close of portal of the institution, it is mandatory for institutions to daily update their downloads to be current so as not to recommend a candidate that has changed to another institution or lose a new qualified candidate.
ii. Each institution is to notify JAMB when it is closing its portal and will no longer accept new candidates. However, candidates can still change from such institution.

H. Minimum UTME Score for the 2018 UTME Admissions Exercise
1. The Admissions Exercise should be guided by the approved Institutional/Programmes Cut-off Marks and minimum UTME scores as submitted by the Institutions;
2. The minimum UTME score for admission should be as prescribed by each Institution subject to the respective National Minimum UTME Score;
3. Cut-off Mark for admission should be determined by the following:
i. Minimum UTME score/DE Grades;
ii. PUTME scores (if applicable);
iii. Weighting of Senior School Certificate (SSCE) Grades (if applicable);
iv. Interview/practical scores (if applicable); and
v. The percentage (%) allotted to UTME score should range from 50% to 100%.

4. No institution can consider for admission any candidate whose score in UTME is below the Institution’s specified minimum UTME score.

5. No institution is allowed to consider any candidate whose UTME Score is below (whichever is higher) of its own specified minimum UTME score or for:
Degree Awarding - 140 
National Diploma (ND) - 120 
National Innovation Diploma (NID) - 100 
Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) - 100

6. Institutions are to adhere to Institutional/Programme cut-off marks and comply with entry requirements as documented in the Board’s Brochure.

I. Implementation of Science/Art Ratio
i. All Institutions are to adhere to the Federal Government’s directive on ratio of Admissions into the different disciplines as indicated below:
60:40 Science/Art for conventional Universities/Colleges of Education 
80:20 Science/Art for Specialised Universities
70:30 Technology/Non-Technology for Polytechnics and Monotechnics

J. Review and Update of 2019 Brochure
i. The Board has streamlined and automated the review of Brochure and Syllabus with the introduction of the Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS);
ii. Update of Brochure is online and automated;
iii. Request for changes to the Brochure is subject to being within the approved guidelines of the respective Regulatory Agencies; and
iv. The request must be made for 2019 Brochure on or before 30th August, 2018 (due to delay in Implementation).
A Webinar (online conference) is scheduled for Friday 3rd August, 2018 at 10.00am, Nigerian time. It will last till 11.30am for both the initiator (Director Planning or anyone designated by the Institution) and the reviewer (Head of Institution). It is advisable that both should actively participate. An Advisory on the process is hereby attached as Appendix II. The advisory includes the process of participation.

K. Deadline for 2018 Admissions Exercise
i. The 2018 Admissions Exercise to Public Universities for First Degree ends on 17th December, 2018;
ii. The closing date for Admissions to Colleges of Education, Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Innovation Enterprise Institutions for NCE, ND and NID respectively is 31st January, 2019;
iii. The closing date for Admissions to Private Institutions is 28th February, 2019.

L. Consequences of Violation of Admissions Schedules
i. Every institution must adhere to Admissions Schedules as agreed at the Policy Meeting; and
ii. Any institution that violates the Admissions Schedules and Timelines will have candidates that have expressed preference for it pulled out of The Institutions Profile on CAPS and be made available to other willing institutions in the market place.

M. Problems of Deletion and non Acceptance of Admission on CAPS
A number of candidates complained of inability to print admission letters of previous session. It must be noted that any admission not accepted on CAPS before closure of admission for the year is an incomplete exercise which cannot be resuscitated. Institutions are reminded of the process and procedure for deletion and rejection which is again attached as Appendix III.

N. Exemption of Certain Category of Candidates from Post-UTME Test
i. Candidates who sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Foreign countries, Prisons, Blind and Deaf Candidates should be exempted from Post-UTME Test. The list of the respective candidates in this category would be made available to the various Tertiary Institutions for guidance and necessary action.
ii. This should be treated by the Board and Institutions under affirmative and inclusive actions for the accommodation of this category of candidates. The Board and the Tertiary Institutions are to ensure that this category of candidates who meet minimum requirements are admitted and their progress monitored in the various institutions for the purpose of confirmation of the effectiveness of the policy.
iii. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has put in place a mechanism that would prevent any candidate from taking undue advantage of this exemption. For instance, only candidates who are either foreigners or Nigerians who are confirmed residents in foreign countries and are products of foreign school system can enjoy this privilege in the interest of internationalisation of the Nation’s Tertiary Institutions.
A Nigerian with less than six (6) month-stay in a foreign country is disallowed from taking the UTME in any foreign country.
All institutions are required to comply with the above decisions.
Thank you.

Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, OFR, FNAL Registrar July, 2018

Although I've read through their FAQs, please I still want to read from a Glo Yakata user what the package is all about, ie how it works. I just don't want to rely on what Glo says, but what's actually available for the customer to enjoy. Thanks

Could this be result of over-excitement, an error, or illiteracy?

The President and the Coach weren't left out

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Congratulations France

The Akwa Ibom police command has arrested two men believed to be brothers for allegedly killing and beheading their own brother over land dispute.

The incident reportedly occurred in Ibiono, Akwa Ibom state. They were forced to bring out the head from inside the bush where they had buried it.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed dates for the 2018 Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) tests.

The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede disclosed this at the Policy Meeting held at Gbongan, Osun State.

In attendance were all vice chancellors of universities, rectors of polytechnics and provosts of colleges of education.

At the meeting, Oloyede said, “The leaders of the institutions agreed that the First Choice Admission Exercise would be conducted from July 2, 2018 to October 16, 2018; while the Second Choice Admission Exercise would be conducted from October 17, 2018, to December 17, 2018.”

The board, along with tertiary institutions pegged the cut-off marks at 140, 120, 100 for universities, polytechnics and colleges respectively.

According to the registrar, not less than 414,696 candidates out of the 1,603,181, who sat for the 2018 UTME, scored above 200.

According to Oloyode, 558,673 candidates scored above 190; 739,490 above 180 and 956,937 above 170 marks.

He said the scores released by JAMB were not the cut-off marks, adding that they were the minimum marks required.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has warned that it would sanction any tertiary institution which charges more than N2,000 for Post-UTME.


http://sunnewsonline.com/jamb-tertiary-institutions-peg-cut-off-marks-at-140120-100/

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�� 2002: France OUT in Group Stage

�� 2006: Italy WIN World Cup
�� 2010: Italy OUT in Group Stage

�� 2010: Spain WIN World Cup
�� 2014: Spain OUT in Group Stage

�� 2014: Germany WIN World Cup
�� 2018: Germany OUT in Group Stage

asuustrike2009:
Op what of state universities?
Secondly your source of information

http://www.jamb.gov.ng/home.aspx
Find the link to download the registrar's presentation

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) during the 2018 JAMB Admission Policy meeting held yesterday disclosed the top ten universities, polytechnics, Colleges of Education and IEIs that were picked most by candidates as their first choice institution during the 2018 JAMB registration.

Below is the list of top universities, Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and IEI's picked by candidates as first choice in the 2018 JAMB UTME Registration.

Top Ten Universities Selected As First Choice By Candidates

University of Ilorin (UNILORIN - 86,401
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) -74,635
University of Benin (UNIBEN) - 70,322
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) - 66,486
University of Lagos (UNILAG) - 62,436
Bayero University Kano (BUK) - 56,261
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)-48,646
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK) - 48,554
University of Ibadan (UI) - 47,544
University of Jos (UNIJOS) - 46,082

Top Ten Colleges Of Education Selected As First Choice By Candidates

Federal College of Education, Zaria -2,836
Federal College of Education (Tech.), Potiskum -2,244
College of Education, Akwanga - 1,950
Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare -1,652
Federal College of Education, Kano -1,559
Federal College of Education (Tech.), Gombe- 1,453
College of Education, Gidan-Waya -1,303
College of Education, Waka-Biu -1,022
Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsinma -968
FCT College of Education, Zuba -945

Top Ten Polytechnics And Monotechnics Selected As First Choice By Candidates

Yaba College of Technology, Yaba - 5,275
Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro -5,258
Federal Polytechnic, Offa -4,456
The Polytechnic, Ibadan -4,075
Federal Polytechnic, Ede- 4,047
Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna -3,922
Lagos State Poly, Ikorodu -3,629
Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin -3,041
Federal Polytechnic, Oko- 2,781
Federal Polytechnic, Nekede -2,529

Top Ten Innovative Enterprise Institutions (IEIs) Selected as First Choice By Candidates

Pefti Film Institute, Lagos, Lagos State- 26
Global Maritime Academy, Ogoni-olomu, Ughelli South, Delta State -25
Conarina Maritime Academy, Oria, Abraka, Delta State- 24
Unicem Community. Dev. Initiative Train. Inst. Mfamosing, Cross River State -21
Complete Computers And Tech Institute, 11 Adesuwa Grammar Sch Rd, Gra, Benin -18
Mario Institue Of Hospitality Mgt And Entrepreneurship Educ. Nsukka, Enugu State- 15
National Film Institute, Jos, Plateau State 13 8 Nigerian Television Authority, Television College, Ray Field, Jos, Plateau State -10
Ibrahim Shehu Shema Ict And Business Institute, Katsina, Katsina State -9
Digital Bridge Institute, Oshodi, Lagos State -5

http://www.jamb.gov.ng/home.aspx
Find the link to download the registrar's presentation

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According to an eyewitness account, a Customs officer stopped a taxi carrying bags of rice in Uya Oron, Akwa Ibom State. The driver refused to stop and the officer shot one of the taxi tyres. The taxi then lost control and veered off lane to collide and eventually kill a cyclist.
Youths in the area mobilized and attacked the Customs officials who escaped leaving their vehicle behind. The youths then descended on the abandoned vehicle

One

Comedian Ime Bishop alias Okon Lagos today dedicated his daughter. The family posed for these beautiful pictures.

The event which took place at Insight Bible Church, Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo had in attendance comedian cum actor AY, John Okafor aka Mr Ibu, Francis Duru, Klint d'Drunk, AGN President Emeka Rollas, former AGN President Ibinabo Fibresima, and a host of other dignitaries.

The home-based politicians shuttled between Bishop's event and the 40th birthday Thanksgiving of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke which was a stonethrow away at Full Life Christian Centre, Uyo.

The baby is named Zoe Ime Umoh. Reception is currently taking place at Emerald Events Centre, Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed candidates for the 2018 UTME to start printing their examination notification slip from March 6.

The board's Head of Media and Information Department, Fabian Benjamin, said in Lagos on Sunday that arrangements had been concluded for the successful conduct of the exam scheduled to hold from March 9 to March 17.

"We have successfully conducted the Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Monday, February 26, and based on that, we can confidently say, we are good to go.

"The mock UTME was to expose the candidates to the process as well as test the level of preparedness of the various centres.

'Candidates can now go ahead and print their examination notification slips from Tuesday.

"These candidates must ensure that these slips are printed before Friday, March 9 in order to farmiliarise themselves with the examination schedules as no form of excuse for missing the examination will be entertained.

"We want to warn that the board will not reschedule any examination for anybody and so any candidate that fails to adhere strictly to the examination schedule as stated in their slips should have himself or herself to blame," he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mr. Benjamin, however, warned candidates not to go to their respective centres with prohibited items such as telephones, wristwatches, pens, and other devices.

NAN reports that over 1.6 million candidates are expected to write the examination in 602 centres across the country.

Samsung R220... Choi!

Once an adulterous man, always an adulterous man. Marriage might not change this man.

Arsenal have conceded three goals in the first half of a Premier League home game for the first time ever.

Manchester City have now scored with each of their last six shots on target against Arsenal in all competitions.

Leroy Sane has provided 11 assists in the Premier League this season; only his teammate Kevin De Bruyne (14) has made more.

Manchester City have lost just one of their last 35 Premier League games, winning 29 and drawing five.

Manchester City have saved 11 of the last 19 penalties they have faced in all competitions (excludes penalty shootouts).

Manchester City have now registered the most points (75) by a Premier League side at this stage of the season (28 games).

They have also matched Arsenal's total points tally from last season.

Arsenal goals conceded per game in Premier League

Average Arsenal PL season - 0.96

2017-18 - 1.39
2011-12 - 1.29
1994-95 - 1.17
2016-17 - 1.16
1999-00 - 1.13
2010-11 - 1.13
2002-03 - 1.11
2013-14 - 1.08
2009-10 - 1.08
2000-01 - 1.00
2008-09 - 0.97
2012-13 - 0.97

Arsenal have lost more matches in all competitions in 2018 than any other Premier League team (7)

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Thursday released the results of the just-conducted Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The board's Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with the Newsmen on Thursday in Lagos.

According to him, candidates are to check their results on line by visiting www.jamb .org.ng with their registration numbers.

Benjamin described the conduct of the examination nationwide as hitch-free.

NAN reports that a total of 245,753 candidates registered for the mock examination which took place on Monday.

Mock UTME is optional for UTME candidates.

The main UTME is expected to hold from March 9 to March 17.

A young man and his girlfriend have just lost their lives in a fatal motorcycle accident while reportedly returning home after a Valentine's Day outing Nung Udoe Itak in Ikono local government area of Akwa Ibom

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board said yesterday it would end the sale of this year’s unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME) forms today.

The board gave candidates, who desire to write this year’s examination to purchase the form before the close of work today.

Once closed, the board said the forms would not be available for purchase again.

The agency’s Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said this yesterday in a telephone interview in Abuja.

He, however, said the board has not taken decision on the deadline for registration of candidates for the examination.

“No extension for now. We have not closed registration. Candidates can register for now.

“We are supposed to close everything today. But we are salient on registration. We are closing sales of forms tomorrow (today). We are closing sales of form by 12 midnight tomorrow,” he said.

He added that 1.4 million candidates had so far registered for the examination, which would hold on March 7 across 649 computer-based test centres.

President Buhari writes

I wrote to the President of the Senate, outlining the several actions we have taken in response to the killings in Benue State. Let me again assure all Nigerians of my commitment to ensuring that justice is done and that Nigerians are kept safe and secure.

https://statehouse.gov.ng/news/press-release-president-buharis-letter-to-senate-president-on-benue-killings/

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A Facebook user posted this. At the moment, no one could ascertain what the creature is, and what happened to it

HeyCorleone:
Makes life easy..


All those Cyber Cafe men that collected money those days.

Nothing has really changed. Remita won't register you. CBT centres worse than cafes

Anti-SARS campaigners have rejected the directive of the Inspector-General of Police for the reorganisation of the embattled anti-robbery department, saying it is a measure a little too late.

Ibrahim Idris issued the directive on Monday afternoon for all police commissioners to cease issuing orders to SARS operatives at state level across the country, three days after Nigerians flooded the social media with grievous allegations of criminal conducts by SARS personnel.

Under the new arrangement, SARS officers will now be controlled by officers between the rank of a superintendent of police to chief superintendent of police at state level, according to details of the directive distributed by police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, Monday afternoon.

A commissioner of police will have the overall supervision of the department from the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The squad has also been moved from Force Criminal Investigation Department to Department of Operations. All changes are effective immediately, Mr. Moshood stated.

All complaints against SARS officers will be investigated and errant officers will face disciplinary action, the directive promised.

But Segun Awosanya, one of the lead campaigners against alleged infractions by SARS, welcomed the move, but said it fell short at satisfying their demand.

“We thank the IGP for at least showing that he has the ears of the masses,” Mr. Awosanya told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Monday afternoon. “But he should realise that the police cannot be the judge in its own case and this matter is beyond him.”

Mr. Awosanya said Nigerians have long suffered a myriad of brutal assaults by SARS personnel, and nothing but an absolute closure would make up for its alleged atrocities.

“Based on all the evidence we’ve gathered over the years, it’s very clear that SARS cannot be redeemed,” he said. “You can’t just reshuffle men whose only approach to policing is brutality and expect them to change overnight.”

“A new special squad that would tackle armed robbery should be formed and new personnel with modern training be put in charge,” he added.

Mr. Awosanya and his team met with Speaker Yakubu Dogara in September to submit a petition which contained alleged abuses by SARS operatives. A copy of the petition was also delivered to Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Both men have promised action, Mr. Awosanya said.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar weighed in on the campaign on Sunday, expressing his sympathies for Nigerians, especially the youth, who have fallen victims of SARS operatives’ alleged uncivilised conduct.

On Monday, Mr. Abubakar, a 2019 presidential hopeful, said he had looked into all complaints which citizens raised on social media and vowed to take drastic measures if elected president.

“I spent last night reading the stories on this #EndSARS hash tag. I am deeply saddened and will do everything I can to help,” Mr. Abubakar said.

Mr. Awosanya said the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari must address the matter before the #EndSARS campaign would be relaxed.

Mr. Awosanya and others are planning a nationwide protest as part of the citizen-led initiative to end widespread impunity in the police.

In their statement Monday, the police rejected some of the allegations as untrue, insisting that SARS cannot be scrapped as demanded by citizens.

A security analyst, Mike Ejiofor, warned on Sunday that scrapping SARS as demanded by the campaigners could complicate insecurity challenges in the country.

He, however, admitted that a sweeping reform is necessary to make SARS operatives more civil, effective and professional in their conducts.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has swept the 31 chairmanship elections conducted by the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) on Saturday.

The party also swept all 329 ward councillorship positions in the 31 Local Government Areas also announced by the commission.

According to a statement released by the Commission’s Chairman, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak and made available to PDP NewsFlash, the party floored 11 other political parties in the Council polls held across the State.

He declared: "the said election was contested by twelve (12) Political Parties and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the 31 Chairmanship and 329 Councillorship seats respectively. This statement confirms the announcement/declarations made by the authorized returning officers in various wards and local government areas."

Mr Ikoiwak said the details of scores as submitted by Field Officers will be made available by the Field Operations/Logistics Department of the Commission.

He expressed appreciation to the Stakeholders and the good people of State for the orderly conduct exhibited during and after the polls.

Meanwhile, the 31 Local Government Chairmen-elect and the 329 Councillorship-elect have been invited to collect their certificates of return at the AKISIEC Office along Udo Udoma Avenue by 12.noon.

World Cup groups in full

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Group F: Germany, Sweden, Mexico, South Korea
Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

Who got the hardest draw?

There is not one group that obviously stands above the rest as being the toughest.

In terms of rankings, Group B looks the most difficult.

European champions Portugal, ranked third in the world, have been drawn with neighbours and 2010 World Cup winners Spain. Iran, who are unbeaten in 1- Asian qualifying matches and Morocco, who topped a group featuring Ivory Coast, make up the rest of the group.

Group F also looks tricky for the reigning champions. Germany, who beat Argentina 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, will likely face three robust examinations against Mexico, Sweden and South Korea as they try to retain the title for the first time since Brazil did so in 1962.

Resurgent Brazil - thrashed 7-1 in the 2014 semi-final in Belo Horizonte - have also been drawn in what looks like a quietly exacting group.

Alongside Neymar's Brazil in Group E are Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia while Lionel Messi and his Argentina team-mates play debutants Iceland - who reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 - Croatia and Nigeria.

World Cup stats

Germany will look to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil in 1962. A win would take them level with Brazil on five World Cups.

The last two defending champions have been knocked out in the group stages (Italy 2010, Spain 2014).

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Australia's Tim Cahill, Mexican Rafael Marquez and Spain's David Villa have all scored in three World Cups. The record is four - jointly held by Brazil's Pele and Germans Miroslav Klose and Uwe Seeler.

Marquez could equal the record of five World Cups played in by fellow Mexican Antonio Carbajal and Germany's Lothar Matthaus. Gianluigi Buffon went to five, but did not play in 1998.

Iceland and Panama are the only nations to make their debuts in the competition. Slovakia were the last debutants to reach the knockout stages in 2010.

Germany's Thomas Muller will be the top finals scorer at this World Cup with 10 goals (five in 2010 and then 2014). The overall record is Klose's 16.

Only once have the World Cup hosts not reached the second round - when South Africa went out in the 2010 groups. Some 30% of World Cups have been won by the hosts.

All 20 World Cups have been won by teams from Europe (11) or South America (9). Brazil - the only team to play in every tournament - have won 25% of them.

Portugal will attempt to become the fourth nation to win a back-to-back European Championship and World Cup (following West Germany, France and Spain).

Mexico have qualified for the World Cup the most times without ever winning it (16).

All 20 World Cups have been won by a manager with the same nationality as the winning team.