A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
The Nigeria Police in Lagos State, on Thursday said three more buildings housing 81 police families would be pulled down at the Highway Police Barracks, Ikeja due to structural defects.
Mr Maigari Dikko, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), in charge of Works disclosed the plan to newsmen while inspecting a building that collapsed in same barrack where two persons lost their lives.
A Sergeant and a civilian lost their lives on Christmas Day when part of the toilet collapsed while they bathed.
That building was later pull down on the instruction of the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Fatai Owoseni.
The DIG works said he was instructed by the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris to visit the scene of incident and also to commiserate with the families of those that lost their lives.
"We have told some of them to vacate the buildings. The buildings are defective; they have been served quit notice to leave for a long time.
"We have asked Commissioner of Police in charge of Lagos command and the works department to enforce the relocation. We do not want a repeat of the incident in the barracks.
"The officers affected are not being evicted. They are asked to relocate for obvious reason of safety.
"Prevention is better than cure. The force headquarter is not sitting idle.
"We are working out a plan for a better rehabilitation of all defective buildings in all barracks across the nation. We are going to use our professionals to carry out the works.
"We are using direct labour to rehabilitate police barracks. The project will commence as soon as the government releases the needed fund'', Dikko said.
The DIG said that all police officers affected would be given lodging allowance for relocation as soon as the government released the fund.
"That is the best we can do for them; we will not just throw them out, we will ensure they have something to relocate", he added.
Some of the officers affected, who spoke with newsmen on condition of anonymity, were happy about the peomise of lodging allowance for their relocation.
"We will be happy if we have money to move to another accommodation. We are not against the rehabilitation plan of the force.
"We will also be happy to be re-allocated our apartments after the rehabilitation because barrack is safer for our families'', they told NAN.
Each block of the two storey buildings accommodated 27 police families of rank and file, and some ASPs.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 2, Mr Kayode Aderanti and Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni accompanied the DIG on the inspection.
There was a pandemonium at the Federal College of Education (FCE), Yola, on Thursday over a bomb scare following the sighting of a strange bag in front of the school.
The development which obstructed traffic along the Jimeta-Yola Road for more than an hour, caught the attention of a team of policemen and soldiers.
The policemen from the Adamawa Anti-bomb Squad, who went into action immediately, however, discovered that the bag did not contain any explosives.
Addressing newsmen on the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Adamawa Police Command, SP Othman Abubakar, said that the bag contained waste materials.
Abubakar, however, commended members of the public for their vigilance and urged them to always alert the police whenever they sighted any suspicious object.
The Chief Security Officer of the college, Mr Salihu Muhammed,who reported the incident to the police, said that the suspicious bag was abandoned by unknown persons and that was why they immediately alerted the police.
Muhammed dismissed rumors circulating that the bag was found in the school premises saying; " it is completely untrue, the bag was abandoned outside the college".
In his commitment to the promotion of music, member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Kelechi Nwogu, on Thursday night, hosted two international musicians, Banky W and Davido at his Port Harcourt residence.
Nwogu also assured the international musicians that the Wike Administration will continue to invest in the development of the entertainment industry, pointing out that the State House of Assembly will look into the issue of regulation by the State Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Kelechi & Davido
He assured that whatever misunderstanding that may have arisen from the press statement by the ministry, would be resolved amicably.
Rt Hon Kelechi Nwogu noted that he will continue to support the growth of the entertainment industry in the state.
He said that he will always collaborate with established musicians to build budding musicians in the state.
Kelechi & Banky W
The State Lawmaker said: “My commitment to building the entertainment industry in the state is total. I will continue to work with established stars to encourage our musicians in the state “.
Rt Hon Kelechi Nwogu is reputed for his investments in the entertainment industry, which stands him out in the state.
The musicians commended him for his love and promotion of music.
They urged him to work towards prevailing on the State Ministry of Culture and Tourism to take steps that will develop the entertainment industry.
They appealed to him to also prevail on the House of Assembly to look into the press statement by the State Ministry of Culture and Tourism to regulate the entertainment industry and enforce certain regulations regarding the hosting of events in the state.
Enugu – The Enugu State Police Command on Thursday appealed to residents and community leaders of the state to report any shortlisted candidate for police recruitment with questionable character to the command.
The command's spokesman, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, made the appeal in a statement issued in Enugu.
The list of successful candidates in the just-concluded police recruitment was released about three weeks ago.
Amaraizu said that any member of the public with genuine and verifiable objections as to the character of any candidate shortlisted in the recruitment should present to the police command.
"Religious and traditional rulers as well as community leaders, NGOs and members of the public with genuine and verifiable objections as to the character or conduct of any candidate should write to the Inspector-General of Police through state commissioners of police,'' he said.
The spokesman advised shortlisted candidates to check their names on the notice board of the Police Public Relations Department, State Headquarters in Enugu.
"The training for successful candidates who have been shortlisted will begin on Dec. 31, 2016 in three centres.
"These centres include Police Staff College, Jos in Plateau State; Police College, Ikeja in Lagos State, and Police College, Oji-River in Enugu State.
"All shortlisted candidates are expected to report to the centres with original certificates and credentials as well as evidence of medical and physical fitness,'' he said.
By Rotimi Ojomoyela Ado-Ekiti-The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said the serial media attacks on Pastor Enoch Adeboye was the handiwork of Governor Ayodele Fayose, saying blaming the attack on APC was attempt to set Nigerians, particularly Christians of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, against the party and its leaders.
The party had a few days ago refuted a media report linking it with a report castigating Adeboye for praising Fayose during the visit by the man of God to the state.
Few days later, another press statement by a faceless group but ascribed to Hakeem Jamiu, who is an aide of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, also railed against the religious leader, calling him a money-monger working for Fayose after collecting cash.
But APC scoffed at the “fraud”, saying such malicious report purportedly by APC followed the same pattern of alleged Fayose’s subterfuge to “criminally” set the public against the party for undeserved public sympathy.
Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said in a statement in Ado-Ekiti that the serial media attacks on Pastor Adeboye were orchestrated “by a criminal gang working for Fayose to always set communities against communities, individuals against individuals, and individuals against institutions”.
The statement alleged that Fayose’s media aides led by Lere Olayinka had issued two damaging press releases against Adeboye but ascribed them to APC in a “criminal conspiracy to paint the party in bad light to incur the wrath of Redeemed Church members and general public”.
He said: “We want to make it plain with all sense of responsibility that APC is not the author of the two press statements as we have utmost respect for men in God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye in particular.
“The two press statements bear the footprint of Fayose in his characteristic manner to push fictitious and damaging press releases in the media against individuals and institutions and ascribe them to his opponents to incur public opprobrium.
“Nigerians should remember that this same Fayose criminally printed posters in Chief Afe Babalola’s name in 2005 purporting that the innocent elderstatesman wanted to contest election against him, hence the incessant criticisms of his government by the innocent Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
“He did the same to Fayemi’s wife with a press statement that the innocent woman called Ekiti people ingrate and hungry people, the same way his media crooks cooked different anonymous groups in the name of APC and used their names to lie and abuse APC leaders in order to tear the party apart and in fact the same these crooks wrote on my behalf in the media that I accused Mrs Aisha Buhari of complicity in the Harliburton scandal and that I asked her to defend herself.”
Explaining that the latest press statement alleging that APC described Pastor Adeboye as a money-monger is one in the series of evil plots by Fayose to set Nigerians against the party, Olatunbosun said: Pastor E.A. Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God and Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye at the RCCG 2016 Holy Ghost Congress. Photos: Lamidi Bamidele. “The lid of this media conspiracy has been blown open by their latest press release condemning Pastor Adeboye as a money monger.
“They posted the press release to media houses in the name of one Oluwole Ogunlola with the email address ekitinews2014@gmail.com, an email address that belongs to Ekiti State Government.
“Besides, there is no member in the APC media team called Oluwole Ogunlola; in fact all APC press releases are signed by Taiwo Olatunbosun and sent to the media through his email address.
“The last two press releases against Adeboye, which they alleged were written by the State Chairman of APC, Jide Awe; and Fayemi’s Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, Hakeem Jamiu, were neither sent to the media through Olatunbosun’s email and nor signed by him.
“Their latest attempt to paint APC leaders, such as Awe and Fayemi, in bad light in the eyes of Pastor Adeboye, fell flat on their face when reputable media houses refused to use the story because it did not originate from Taiwo Olatunbosun’s email address neither was the story signed by him as is the practice in APC’s communications to media houses.
“We agree that Fayose and his media aides are a perfect match in integrity deficiency, the experience of Ekiti people and indeed Nigerians in Fayose and his aides’ hands is a direct consequence of placing the serious business of running the administration of a state in the hands of irresponsible people.
“We appreciate the Nigerian media for their display of professionalism and pursuit of truth as enshrined in the media code and practice by refusing to publish Fayose’s malicious and dangerous press release capable of causing social discontent in the Nigerian society.
“We believe that Pastor Adeboye worships and serves true God and it is on the strength of this that we invoke Psalm 52 on the writers on those press releases attributed to APC for devising mischief, doing evil, lying and working deceitfully against the righteous.
“We believe that Pastor Adeboye has an anointed tongue and so we say that may the curses from Pastor Adeboye’s mouth and wrath of the Great Lord he serves be upon the writers of those damaging press releases against him.”
He added that Fayose’s latest veiled attack on Pastor Adeboye had confirmed his serial disdain for the men of God after he recently insulted a renown Muslim cleric, Sheik Muyideen Bello, when he angrily snatched a microphone from him at a public function in a mosque in Ado-Ekiti for telling him the truth.
While many music acts had a swell time during the Yuletide, enjoying themselves and bringing happiness to many homes,one act indeed stayed away, insisting that he would not be part of the celebration. And that music act is fast rising reggae star, Kingsley Eno Osagie popularly known as Winning Jah.
Winning Jah explained that he decided to ignore the celebration because "millions of families in Africa, precisely Nigeria are passing through hardship."
" Some couldn't afford a bag of rice, too many homeless Children in Africa, disables without proper care, social difference and discrimination of race, sex and religion provoked my mood of not celebrating Christmas this year,''he added.
Winning Jah
The fast rising reggae star, who recently led a campaign against the arrest and imprisonment of marijuana smokers in the country,believed that it does not make sense to him, that while some people are celebrating, others not.
He urged the government to help eradicate poverty in the society, adding that his song titled "Homeless World" is packaged to bring hope to all humans.
Winning Jah, is a Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter, born in Kano state and raised in Edo -State, Nigeria. He started his musical career playing percussions in the Edo state King's Palace, Cultural centres, leading all traditional events organised by his mother with artists such as Kizito, Molar, Chief Priest Osevbengie Ebohon. He founded his record Label, Enorecords in 2003, releasing ” Amour Imposibile” starring Ebere Chi, under the outfit Winning Jah became a protégé of Enorecords after collaborating with Naxis DG on his song “To Whom It may Concern”. In June 2015, and released his Studio debut Album "Nouveau Business" in 2016
The Abia House of Assembly on Thursday, elected a news Speaker, Mr Kennedy Njoku, representing Osisioma-Ngwa North Constituency.
Njoku's election followed the removal of a former Speaker Chief Martins Azubuike, representing Isialangwa North Constituency.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe, who presided over the plenary, said that 20 out of 24 members signed the impeachment notice against Azubuike.
During the election conducted by the Clerk of the House, Mr John-Pedro Irokansi, Njoku, polled 17 votes to defeat Chief Chikwendu
Kalu, representing Isialangwa South Constituency, who polled three votes.
The Deputy Leader of the House, Chief Solomon Akpulonu, representing Obingwa East Constituency, who moved the motion for Azubuike's removal, gave reasons for the action.
Abia Assembly
Akpulonu said that Azubuike "failed to ensure equitable distribution of positions and powers among members," adding that he was
"insensitive to the rights and needs of members and general staff of the assembly."
He further said that "his autocratic practice has brought the assembly on collision course with other arms of government and agencies of the state government.
"He has abused the office of the Speaker by using same for personal and private political interest.
"Therefore, pursuant to Section 92 (2c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. We, the members of the House, resolved to remove and hereby removed Martins Azubuike as Speaker," Akpulonu said.
In his acceptance speech after his swearing in, the new speaker thanked members for the confidence reposed in him.
Njoku gave assurance that the House under his leadership would make laws for the good governance of the state.
He said that the task ahead of the House was challenging adding that he appreciated the circumstances surrounding his emergence.
In a brief interview with newsmen, Njoku also promised to give every member a sense of belonging and avoid ''the banana peels'' that swept off his predecessor.
Akpulonu told newsmen that all efforts made to persuade Azubuike to change his autocratic leadership style failed, hence the decision to remove him from office.
Effort made by newsmen to get Azubuike's reaction on his removal was unsuccessful as he was said to have left shortly before they arrived at his official lodge on Okpara Avenue, Umuahia.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said that the “suspected fake rice” also said to be plastic rice is contaminated but not plastic rice.
This was made known in Abuja, during a joint press briefing by NAFDAC and the Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday.
The seized consignment
Speaking at the briefing the Ag. Director General, NAFDAC, Mrs Yetunde Oni said that following the reported seizure of the “suspected fake rice”, by men of Nigeria Customs Service, the Agency swung into action by sending team of inspectors to the office of the Customs Area Comptroller, Federal Operations Ikeja, Lagos to draw samples from the seized consignment for Laboratory analysis.
According to Oni, preliminary result of the analysis of the product, branded as "Best Tomato" in 25kg pack size, without NAFDAC number, no batch number, no date markings and no details of the manufacturer showed the follows:
1. Floating – Negative 2. Sedimentation – Positive 3. Cooking. – Normal 4. Odour. – Normal 5. Colour. – Off-white grains 6. Moisture. – 13% (within specification) 7. Pre-ashing. – Normal 8. Ash. – 0.6% (within specification) 9. Lead and Cadmium – Not detected 10. Aerobic mesophillic count – 2.8×105 cfu (above maximum limits) 11. Mould – 5.1×103 cfu – (within specification) 12. Coli form – 7.5×103 cfu (above maximum limits) 13. E-coli. – 14. Packaging. – Does not conform to NAFDAC pre- packaging Food labeling regulations 2005
“Based on the above Laboratory result, the product is not plastic but rice contaminated with microorganisms above permissible limit, hence the seized rice consignment is UNSATISFACTORY and therefore unwholesome for human consumption.
“I wish to thank the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service and his men for the timely interception of this unwholesome rice. NAFDAC in collaboration with Nigerian Customs Service will continue to intensify vigilance and surveillance activities at all entry ports and boarders.
“May I use this medium to appeal to the General Public to report any suspicious case(s) about all NAFDAC regulated products to any of the NAFDAC offices across the Nation for prompt regulatory action. I appeal for continued support and cooperation of all Nigerian to team up with NAFDAC in our concerted effort to deliver on our mandate of safeguarding the health of the Nation.”
Meanwhile, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), at the joint press conference, said Customs operatives in Lagos intercepted the consignment of Rice, based on credible intelligence.
Ali, who was represented by Deputy Comptroller-General, Umar Iya, said Customs action was based on an earlier intelligence received from Office of the National Security Adviser, alerting the Customs operatives and other frontline agencies that large consignments of plasticized rice were said to be shipped from the Far East to Africa.
He said: “As the largest market for imported Rice in Africa, Customs took the alert seriously and charged Officers to watch out for such imports that do not conform with regulatory requirements.
“When the consignments of Rice in question were brought to Customs Warehouse, our apprehension became heightened when we observed glaring lapses in the packaging. The bags of Rice had no NAFDAC Number, batch number, manufacturing or expiry dates.
“We could also not see any detail about the manufacturers on the bag. We were left with no option than escalating our findings to the Agency that is statutorily charged with the responsibility of confirming the true status of the import.
“As required by the law, officials of NAFDAC were invited to draw samples for laboratory analysis. However as we know how social media works in our clime, the outcome we are about to hear today was pre-empted.
“Irrespective of the outcome of the laboratory analysis, Customs will remain vigilant and alive to its responsibilities. We are still guided by the intelligence we have which indicate that several metric tonnes of expired and dangerous rice are still lying in wait at warehouses in neighboring Countries.
“The target of these products is Nigerian markets. We will therefore intensify our patrols to ensure that economic saboteurs do not succeed. We will urge Warehouse owners across the country not to accept such smuggled products in their facilities. We enjoin transporters to reject moving such products as under the law, both smuggled products and the means of conveyance are liable to seizure. We will rely on the synergy with NAFDAC and other Agencies of Government to ensure that only rice that is certified fit for human consumption is allowed on our shores.
“We also like to use this medium to commend the determination of Nigerian Rice Producers who have taken the challenge of addressing the rice sufficiency gap very seriously. We commend the various State Governments whose decisive interventions have led to the present bumper harvest of local Rice. While this may lead to significant revenue reduction for Customs in the short run, the multiplier effects of increased local production of Rice in terms of job creation in the value chain will benefit the economy in the long run.
“Once again, we want to commend the Acting Director-General of NAFDAC, Mrs. Yetunde Oni for this partnership. We appreciate the dispatch with which the laboratory analysis is being handled, so that we can quickly address this topical issue.”
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging more than N2 billion fraud against the management of the University of Ilorin.
The petition was jointly signed by the Ibadan Zone Chairmen of ASUU, Dr Ade Adejumo, and the University of Ibadan, Dr Deji Omole.
Others are Dr Biodun Olaniran of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Dr Dauda Adeshina, Kwara State University, and Dr Kayode Afolayan of the University of Ilorin.
ASUU, in the petition, said the former Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isiaq Oloyede, and the incumbent Abdulganiyu Ambali, were involved in a fraud totalling more than N2 billion.
ASUU described the University of Ilorin management as one of the most corrupt in any higher institution.
According to the petition, the institution has been operating under the pretext of keeping stable academic calendar to silence whistle blowers while perpetrating enormous fraud.
The allegations listed in the petition included pension fraud, unremitted deductions, extortion from students, contract inflation and kick-backs; as well as unlawful payments to ex-principal officers of the university.
Adejumo urged the EFCC to investigate the "monumental fraud perpetrated by the past and present administrations of the university.''
They said the former vice chancellor, in 2011, doubled the amount of pension being deducted from staff under the pretext that the previous deductions were lower than prescribed in law.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the legal minimum prescribed by Pension Act at the time was 7.5 per cent of emoluments and staff were paying even above this minimum.
"By way of comparison, in federal universities such as University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, the sum of N20, 124. 62 is deducted from each professor as pension contribution per month.
"However, in the University of Ilorin, the sum of N40, 206. 42 is deducted monthly for the same pension contribution contrary to law'', it stated.
The petitioners also alleged a fraud of N1.5billion jointly perpetrated by the immediate past vice chancellor and the incumbent on fraudulent and unremitted deductions from staff salaries.
"Our preliminary investigations revealed that billions of naira have been extorted from population of about 35,000 students including Sandwich students over the past years.
The union, therefore, called on the EFCC to do a diligent and thorough investigation of the allegations, adding that if such was done, the anti-corruption agency would discover a can of worms.
A copy of the petition was stamped by the EFCC as received and dated 29th December, 2016.
Governor Ayodele Fayose, of Ekiti State asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign because he has failed Nigerians and that the President has become directionless, cluelessness and old age that has foisted a purposeless leadership on the country.
He said that Nigerians must begin to speak out now before the country is completely destroyed by this directionless federal government."
The Governor said that the exchanged rate is now $1 for N500 under Buhari and that there "is unprecedented hunger in the land" as Nigerians were being killed in Southern Kaduna and other places.
"It is better for the president to resign because he appears not to have capacity for positivity. If all the presidents that ruled before Buhari had behaved like he is behaving now, he himself will be in jail."
Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said, "If the President and his hatchet men in the DSS, EFCC and other federal government agencies do not know what to do other than to record phone conversations of their perceived political foes, they should just resign and save the country from this harrowing experience."
Lere Olayinka further said that the DSS recording telephone conversations of Nigerians and leaking them to Sahara Reporters to publish as the height of the political rascality, manipulation, oppression, suppression and irresponsibility by agents of the federal government that are trying so hard to cover up the crimes they perpetrated against the people of Rivers State.
"They should even go beyond taping of my lines and come to live with me in Ekiti government house so that they can do per second live recordings of whatever I say because in the year 2017, by the grace of God, I will still say more without apology," he said.
On Monday the governor had said that what Nigerians are now desirous of hearing from President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government is the defeat of hunger and untold hardship ravaging the country and not recycled stories of defeat of Boko Haram insurgents, which is as usual, aimed at diverting the attention of Nigerians from the fact that there is ravaging hunger at this time of the year.
The governor said it has become predictable that whenever Nigerians cry of the pains and sufferings they are going through, the federal government will come with stories like; "20 Chibok girls found," "$1 billion found in Mr A, B or C bedroom," "Boko Haram technically defeated," "We have captured Sambisa forest," etc just to divert attention.
The release also signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka read thus "It is painful that Nigeria under President Mohammadu Buhari has become directionless either due to the cluelessness of the president or his old age that has foisted a purposeless leadership on the country.
"This year's Christmas is the worse in the history of Nigeria. People cannot afford to celebrate and enjoy themselves due to the hardship caused by the APC government. To make matters worse, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also created artificial scarcity of cash, such that people could not access their hard earned money in the banks as most banks in the country do not have cash to pay their customers."
"Like I have maintained, the main issue confronting Nigerians now is hunger and hunger does not speak the language of political propaganda that is being used by the APC led federal government. It is therefore no longer about diversionary news, it is about preventing Nigerians from dying of hunger,".
"The only solution to the myriad of problems facing the country is for those holding power in Abuja to face the sad reality that it was the hard stance of the president, his statements against Nigeria and its people both at home and abroad coupled with his demonstration of hatred against some sections of the country and desperation to crush his perceived enemies that led us to where we are today.
"It was the president that went to foreign countries to de-market Nigeria by calling all Nigerians thieves and dishonest people. He was the one who created atmosphere of economic and political instability in the country by his acts of nepotism and vindictiveness?
"Things were never like this at any time in the history of Nigeria apart from 1984."
"They are not running the economy of Nigeria by the open participation of Nigerians but by some cabal, who see themselves as superior to others. By their failure to involve those who know more than them, they have succeeded in creating unemployment instead of three million jobs that they promised Nigerians per year. They have taken Nigeria back to the Stone Age and it will take several years for the country to recover, if it will ever recover."
"With every means of livelihood of the common people taken away from them, free; fair and credible elections becoming a mirage, Nigerians must begin to speak out now before the country is completely destroyed by this directionless federal government."
Boko Haram's elusive leader, Abubakar Shekau has appeared in a new video clip on Thursday disputing a claim by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian army that the jihadist group had been routed from its Sambisa Forest stronghold. In the video, Shekau ridiculed the army and the President, saying they are telling Nigerians lies about the true state of the group. Read full text here
Real Madrid will be without midfielders Lucas Vazquez and Mateo Kovacic when the team returns to action in 2017 after picking up injuries in their successful Club World Cup campaign.
Vazquez suffered a right leg injury in the 4-2 final win over Kashima Antlers in Japan and will be sidelined for up to four weeks, according to Spanish sports daily As.
He is likely to miss the Spanish Cup last-16 game against Sevilla on January 4 and 12 as well as three La Liga matches.
Croatian midfielder Kovacic will miss the first leg of the cup clash with Sevilla with a leg ankle knock also picked up in the tournament in Japan.
Residents of historical Lagos town, Badagry have started looking forward to exponential growth and development in the area's entertainment sector as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, has promised to build a state-of-the-art cinema in Badagry within the next 18 months.
Ambode and artists at the fourth day of One Lagos Fiesta held in Badagry
This was revealed when Governor Ambode visited the town on Wednesday, December 28, 2016, for the fourth day of Nigeria's biggest crossover celebration, One Lagos Fiesta.
According to Ambode, the construction of the cinema would create employment opportunities for Badagry youths, while also boosting the tourism potential of the region which is already popular for foremost tourist sites such as the Slave Museum, The Agia Tree, Nigeria's first storey building and many more.
The governor further encouraged young entrepreneurs in the state to take full advantage of the Employment Trust Fund made available by his administration, as well as seeking constant opportunities for education and self-enlightenment.
Ambode, who was accompanied by members of his Excos, commended the crowd at the stadium as he adjudged them the largest he'd seen so far in all the three venues (Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry) he had visited.
Also, the governor enjoined the people to be peaceful and law abiding for the remaining 4 days of the fiesta.
An array of artists who performed on the night include; CDQ, Mayorkun, Jazzman Olofin, Dremo, Eedris Abdulkareem, Olu Maintain, Dammy Krane, Minjin, Konga, and traditional theatre troupes who entertained the large and ecstatic crowd, giving them a memory to cherish for a long time.
The Nigerian army has dismissed a video making the rounds wherein, the alleged killed Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau resurfaced and claimed that the terrorist group has not been routed as claimed by the Nigerian government and the army.
In a statement made available to newsmen by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, it dismissed the video as a mere propaganda.
President Buhari, Buratai and troops
"The attention of the Nigerian Army is drawn to a video clip released by Boko Haram Terrorist group from an undisclosed location a while ago, showing its purported leader, making spurious claims."
"While effort is on going to subject the video for further forensic analysis, the Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that it has captured and occupied the last known stronghold of the terrorists group in the Sambisa forest."
"We would like to reassure the public that this video is nothing but mere terrorists propaganda aimed at creating fear in the mind of people and to remain relevant."
"Therefore, there is no cause for alarm, more so as concerted effort in clearing the vestiges of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding is still ongoing."
"Our gallant troops deployed in various parts of the north east have continued to intensify search for all persons associated with Boko Haram terrorist group with a view to bring them to justice."
"Consequently, the public are hereby enjoined to go about their normal lawful business, remain vigilant and security conscious."
"They should also report any suspicious person or group of persons to security agencies.
Thank you for your kind cooperation."
Recall that in the video footage, Boko Haram's leader, Shekau debunked the claims by both the Nigerian government and the army, saying his group is very much safe and uncrushed. He also accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of lying to the people.
The Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, has described the capturing of 'Camp Zero', the Boko Haram's stronghold in the Sambisa forest by the Nigerian Army as the defeat of the insurgents.
Dambazau
The minister made this remark in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Mr Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, on Thursday in Abuja.
Dambazau congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Armed Forces and the good people of Nigeria on the dismantling and incapacitation of the insurgents.
He said the victory had shown the president's resilience and commitment to fulfilling the promise he made to Nigerians, that he would bring the terrorist group to its knees.
Dambazau recalled that the insurgency had claimed the lives of innocent Nigerians as well as impeded the nation's growth.
He, however, called on Nigerians to expect the delivery of more promises in the coming years, as the best of President Muhammadu Buhari administration had yet to come.
The minister also lauded the performance of all security agencies during Christmas, which he said ensured a peaceful and conducive environment at yuletide.
He, therefore, tasked them to redouble their efforts in 2017 and called on the Nigerian citizens to be on the watch of people with criminal intentions, who might be a threat to peace and security.
The minister stressed the need for internal security and directed the Nigeria Police, as part of the ministry's strategy of "winning the peace" to maintain vigilance.
According to him, the police will deal appropriately with anyone, who intends to breach the security of the nation.
He specifically charged the police to deal with all reported cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling and other violent crimes.
The minister also directed the police and NSCDC to deploy more personnel to liberated areas in the North East to install civil authority in order to win the peace, while protecting IDPs and critical infrastructure.
He warned people, who might be in possession of firearms illegally to return same to the nearest police station and collect an acknowledgement receipt or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.
Dambazau pledged the Federal Government's commitment to peace and security, adding that internal security remained "a major government priority'' in 2017.
The Presidency has refuted media reports that President Muhammadu Buhari will conclude the appointments of members of the Federal Governmdent's Boards, Parastatals and Agencies by January, 2017.
Buhari
Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, made the rebuttal in his Facebook page on Thursday.
He said: "We wish to rebut the above tabloid headline which has been trending in the last 48 hours.
"That President Buhari will make full board appointments in January 2017 as published did not come from us. In the interaction between myself and some State House correspondents in which I tried to clear a few issues that they raised, here is what I said:
"You know that the reconstitution began methodically, from sector to sector. You should expect that to resume at the beginning of the New Year.
"The President has given directions on what to do.''(NAN)
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Thursday, that the Federal Government would in the new year release a calendar of festivals across the country.
Mohammed made this known in Offa, Kwara State at the 2016 Edition of the "Íjakadi Festival", a traditional wrestling event, which started in the 14th century.
Lai Mohammed,
The minister said that the aim was to attract tourists and enable them plan their trips around the festivals.
"We believe that this is one of the best ways to attract global visitors to our festivals and help to make them viable entities," he said.
The minister, represented by Mr Raphael Arulogun, General Manager of NTA Ilorin, said the government was also working with the private sector to make major festivals attractive to domestic and foreign tourists.
He said the government also planned to leapfrog the major events to the top cadre of global festivals, adding that the starting point would be to train the managers of the festivals.
"As you may be aware, the training of festival managers is contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that we signed with the British Council.
"Also included in another MoU, which we signed with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, is the need to ensure that festivals like Ijakadi are not just a mere jamboree but also a source of economic empowerment for the people.
"It will help to inject foreign exchange into the economy and create jobs, especially for the communities in which such festivals are situated," the minister said.
Mohammed said the beneficiaries of the partnership with the private sector would include major festivals like the Abuja Carnival.
He said the training would bring out their full potentials and become household names like the Edinburgh International Festivals, the Rio Carnival in Brazil and the Notting Hill Festival in London.
"Our ultimate aim is to ensure that our festivals are among the top 20 festivals in the world," he said.
The minister lauded Offa Descendants Union (ODU) , the organiser of the "Ijakadi Festival" for reviving and sustaining the age-long event.
He said the festival "reinforces the community's tradition of strength and determination and addresses the notion of equality among all the indigenes of Offa."
Kwara Governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed also commended the organiser for reviving Ijakadi Festival, adding that it will go a long way in uniting the community.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Otunba Taiwo Joseph, said the state would partner with the community to make the festival a tourist attraction.
The National President of ODU, Alhaji Najeemdeen Yasin, said the Offa community is known with a popular slogan "Ijakadi Loro Offa', meaning Ijakadi is the tradition of the Offa people.
"This slogan does not translate to the ordinary meaning that the Offa people are pugnacious or that they fight for no cause, rather it depicts the struggle to achieve or excel.
"Offa people are always on top of whatever challenges that confront them and they fight and find solutions to such problems.
"This concept is now demonstrated in two wrestlers trying to defeat each other,'' Yasin said.
According to him, the festival is a forum to bring the sons and daughters of Offa together to work for the progress and development of the community.
The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick has re-affirmed the Federation's support for the Nigeria Pitch Awards. He noted that the annual Awards have become an anniversary of some sort staged to identify, honour and celebrate Nigeria's talented football players and other officials like referees, clubs/teams, coaches and journalists among others.
Pinnick praised Matchmakers Consult International, organisers of the Awards, and also commended the various State Governors who have at various times identified with and supported the Awards.
Pinnick
The NFF President noted that the Awards, which inaugural edition took place in Calabar in 2013 have been credible, transparent and widely accepted. "My interactions with some football stakeholders and football journalists across the nation, have convinced me that the Nigeria Pitch Awards is one of the legacies we can bequeath to the next generation," Pinnick said.
Pinnick also stated that the Nigeria Football Federation had been partnering with the organisers because the Awards have been spot-on with regards to integrity. "We enjoin Nigerians from all walks of life to continue to give support to this cause. We also encourage all voters across the length and breadth of the nation to continue to participate and support the Nigeria Pitch Awards."
Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, expressed the desire of the organizers to continue to uphold the noble ideals of integrity and credibility that have endeared millions of people to the Awards.
Meanwhile, Matchmakers Consult International in conjunction with all award partners, have scheduled a media parley for Friday, 13th January 2017 in Lagos. The event will be an opportunity for the organisers to interact with and celebrate their winners and voters.
Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has presented a 2017 budget estimate of N135, 064, 529, 461 to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The governor presented the appropriation bill tagged: "Budget of Introspection and Sustenance" to the House on Thursday.
He said the budget showed an increase of N23, 682, 157, 934 representing 21.2% over the 2016 revised budget.
According to the Gov Ahmed, the sum of N57, 479, 632, 894 representing 42.5% was earmarked as recurrent expenditure.
He also told the House that N70, 986, 667, 592 representing 52.5% of the budget went to capital expenditure, while N6, 798, 228, 975 representing 5% of the total budget is for public debt service.
Under Sectoral allocation, Ahmed said that Economic Affairs took the lion share of N35, 437, 302, 393 representing 26% of the total budget, followed by Education with a sum of N29,936,179,606 representing 22% of the total budget.
General Public Services came third with the sum of N26, 497, 822, 611 presenting 20% of the 2017 total budget.
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State
The Governor said the 2017 budget was anchored on current economic realities and determination to look inwards for sustained prosperity and development.
"Mr Speaker, Honorable Members, the 2017 Budget proposal builds on the prevailing macroeconomic realities in the country as a result of
"We have therefore maintained a prudent approach to estimating revenues for the 2017 financial year in order to cushion the economy from possible fiscal shocks that may arise.
"Mr Speaker, Honorable Members, in formulating the 2017 Budget proposal, we maintained a zero based budgeting to arrive at our projections," Gov Ahmed added.
According to him, the 2017 budget was based on oil price benchmark of $42.5 per barrel, oil production of 2.2 million barrels per day, average Exchange Rate of N1 to 305/$ and inflation Rate of 10.28% .
The Governor said the 2017 appropriation bill is expected to be financed through Federal Allocations to the state, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Value Added Tax (VAT).
Ahmed also said the budget would be funded through Capital Development Fund Receipt/Aid and Term Loan facility from Financial Institutions.
The Governor told the House that about N23, 703, 893, 175 representing 17.6 percent of the budget would be sourced from Federation Account, while IGR would fetch N29.3 billion, representing 21.5 percent.
Gov Ahmed reassured the people of the state of the commitment of his administration to implement result oriented policies and programmes that will boost economic activities, unlock growth and create jobs in the 2017 financial year.
"All on-going capital projects under the General Public Service Sector will be accorded the highest priority to ensure their completion in 2017 financial year.
"The State government will continue to accord high premium to the wellbeing of its workers in all ramifications", the governor said.
He stated that more qualified youths will be engaged to address staff shortage created by voluntary retirement and resignation in 2017.
Ahmed also said that attention will be given to provision of operational vehicles to all MDAs in the 2017 fiscal year.
The Lagos State Police Command may have been subjected to intense pressure by the State Government to fish out the killers of an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Surajudeen Olatunji Bakare who was brutally killed by irate mob in Apapa on December 15, 2016.
Credible sources in the State Ministry of Justice confirmed on Thursday that the government has already written to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni demanding the arrest of the culprits.
The letter was said to have been written following the failure of the police to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act despite the fact that the video had already gone viral on the internet with faces of the culprits. Late Bakare Bakare, a level 14 officer, was said to have been attacked by the irate mob who removed his two eyes and stabbed him after which he was stoned to death.
A source who does not want to be named confirmed the existence of the letter, saying that it was dated December 28 and written by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem.
According to the letter which was obtained by our Correspondent on Thursday, Kazeem said it was important for the police to promptly fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act and turn them in to face neccesary legal action.
Kazeem said: “The late Bakare was a LASTMA official who was in Apapa area of the State executing his lawful duties and it was in exercising this duty that he was attacked and murdered by persons that have apparently been visually recorded and same circulated on social media.
“This is a crime that is clearly an affront to civilization and the sustenance of law and order which the administration of His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has sworn to uphold.
“The Lagos State Government demands that the perpetrators of this dastardly crime be arrested, investigated and the case file promptly sent to this office for Legal Advice,” Kazeem said.
He added that his office, as usual, would be available to provide any assistance required by the police, but requested that the matter be treated with the urgency that it demands.
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