Messi's matured a lot since World Cup, says Martino

Lionel Messi has matured a lot since the last World Cup, according to Argentina head coach Gerardo Martino.

The Barcelona forward skippered the national side to the final of the tournament in Brazil, with his goals in the group stage proving particularly important.

Messi will be back in international action this summer at the Copa America in Chile, this time under the guidance of Martino – his former Barca boss who replaced Alejandro Sabella after after the Albiceleste's loss to Germany in the showpiece.

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HAPPY NEW MONTH

With let’s twist a fresh sheet
with the perfume of fresh rainwater.
Let’s overlook earlier period errors
making punishment for this month.
Transfer you these good wishes
to carry you trust and joyfulness
Happy New month!

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Lagos Govt to provide Wi-Fi services for residents (in parks only)

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos state Ministry of Information Communication Technology, ICT, Mrs Nike Animashaun, has revealed plans by the state government to provide Wi-Fi services to residents of the state. Speaking at the state ministerial briefing in Alausa recently, Mrs Animashaun said the first phase of the Wi-Fi connectivity would be installed in parks within the state. She listed the first parks to benefit from the WiFi installment as Oshodi, Alausa and Ajegunle parks.

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GEJ sacks NHIS CEO, confirms Gwarzo as DG SEC & Peter Obi as chairman of SEC

State House press statement

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has relieved the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas of his appointment with immediate effect. The President has also approved the appointment of Mr. Olufemi A. Akingbade as Acting Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the NHIS.

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Boko Haram is a fraud - Buhari

A statement from Gen Buhari signed by his media aide, Shehu Garba.

"The fraud called Boko Haram can be defeated by denying it a recruitment base," General Buhari told visiting leaders of Nassarawa State who came to congratulate him on his emergence as President-elect. No religion allows for the killing of children in school dormitory, in markets and places of worship. They have nothing to do with religion. They are terrorists and we are going to deal with them as they deal with terrorists anywhere," he announced.

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FG names major streets & roads in Abuja after GEJ, Sambo, Atiku, El Rufai, others

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has revealed plans to rename some major streets and road in the FCT after some prominent Nigerians.

In a statement released today April 27th by his spokesperson, Nosike Ogbuenyi, the ministersaid those to be honored with street names include President Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President, late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, former Speaker of House of Representatives and Katsina State Governor-elect, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Dahiru Musdapha, Business moguls, Femi Otedola, Aliko Dangote and several others.

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Arsenal need a new spine to win the Premier League - Henry

Thierry Henry believes Arsenal need to sign four players if they are to challenge for the Premier League title next season.

The Gunners drew 0-0 with Chelsea on Sunday and currently sit 10 points behind Jose Mourinho's side with the season drawing to a close.

Henry believes the Gunners should replicate the recruitment strategy employed by the Blues, with the club' record goalscorer claiming that they need a new "spine" as they look to win their first league title since 2004.

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NFF's new Nike deal worth $3.75m (743m Naira)

The Nigeria Football Football Federation has revealed that it would earn $3.75m (743m Naira) during its three-and-half-year partnership with Nike and a $500,000 (99m Naira) bonus if the Super Eagles qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia among other perks.
The contract is worth $750, 000 (148m Naira) in its first year and would rise to $1million (198m Naira) each year from 2016 till 2018.

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Race For Lagos Speakership Begins

With the conclusion of the 2015 general elections across the country except for few states where there would be re-run elections in some categories, the next item on the agenda is the election of principal officers of the state assemblies, when they are inaugurated in June, 2015. Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani writes on the race for the Speakership of the Lagos State House of Assembly

For the Lagos State House of Assembly, electing the next Speaker might not be as easy as it may appear.

The calculation of most keen watchers of events and the assumed plan of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has since produced 32 out of the 40 members of the Assembly as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won eight seats, had been that the out-going Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Musibau Kolawole Taiwo (HKT) from Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency 01 would be the next Speaker of LSHA as he has been a member of the Assembly since 1999, when the new democratic dispensation in the country started.

It was gathered that he was being positioned by the leadership of the House as the most experienced lawmaker in the Assembly, who has paid his dues since the current Speaker of the House, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who contested for the governorship position of the state at the primaries level, would not be returning to the House.

But, this has since changed as HKT painfully lost his seat to the PDP candidate in the area, Mr. Dayo Famakinwa, who reportedly had bulk votes from a ward in Ajegunle area of the constituency thus nullifying the results from other wards, where Taiwo was having upper hand.

With the defeat of Taiwo, ranking lawmakers, especially those from Lagos Central Senatorial District, which is said to be favoured to produce the next Speaker of the Assembly, are said to be warming up for the contest.

The calculation, sources said, is that since the Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is from Lagos East Senatorial District and the Deputy Governor-elect, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, is from Lagos West, then it is automatic that the Speaker of the Assembly should come from Lagos Central.

Investigations revealed that Taiwo would have been given a waiver on this, but that the opportunity has now eluded him and the party leadership are said to be getting set to go the way of the assumed calculation.

Those close to the lawmakers revealed that some of the contenders for the plum job are Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti Osa Constituency 2), Hon. Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland 2), Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Ikorodu 1 in Lagos East, Hon. Dayo Saka Fafunmi from Ifako/Ijaiye 1 in Lagos West, Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 1, Lagos East) as well as Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho (Mushin 1, Lagos West).

One other name that is on the card is that of the lawmaker elect from Lagos Island Constituency 1, Hon. Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun.

However, the issue with Eshinlokun is that his candidature is being challenged by the incumbent lawmaker from the area, Hon. Akeem Masha, who had protested against the election of Eshinlokun at the primaries.

Wasiu Eshinlokun was in the Assembly from 1999 to 2003 before he left to become the Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government. His name came into public domain last year as the candidate from the area, who would become the next Speaker of the Assembly as it has been zoned to Lagos Central, where he came from. He was even said to have told those close to him that his main agenda of going to the House is to become the Speaker as the leadership of the party has told him to get set for the job.

Hon. Yishawu Gbolahan, who is going to the Assembly for a second term, is said to be a top contender for the post based on the fact that he is from Lagos East Senatorial District and his brilliant performance in the 7th Assembly.

Apart from initiating a Bill on Anti-Smoking, which has since become a law, Yishawu is said to be one of the most performing lawmakers in the Assembly, who contributes brilliantly to debates and has come up with many progressive motions despite the fact that he has just spent a term in the House.

For Hon. Moshood Olanrewaju Oshun, the argument of those that are supporting him is that he is a ranking member of the House, who has been in the Assembly since 2007.

Oshun, who happens to be the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, is seen as someone that has learned much about legislative matters over the years and who has travelled all over the state in the course of performing his oversight functions in his committee. His opponents are however saying that he might have problems with some of his colleagues, who feel the position might be too demanding for him.

Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho is not new to the business of law-making in the state. She got into the House in 2003 and she was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the House during her second term of office in 2007, but she was impeached over issues bothering on gross misconduct in August 2009.

One lawmaker that we can call an engine room of the House is Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, who was recently awarded as the Best Lawmaker At Plenary by the correspondents covering the House under the auspices of Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA).

The pendulum might also swing in the direction of Hon. Dayo Saka Fafunmi from Ifako/Ijaiye Constituency 1. Fafunmi has been in the Assembly since 2007 and he has been one of the assets of the Houseover the years. Son of a politician, Fafunmi also contributes brilliantly to debates and he is the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) Local through which he has worked for the development of the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas across the state.

The last man standing amongst the principal officers in the House, Hon. Rotimi Abiru, is also being considered for the job. Abiru, who has, won election into the House for the 3rd term, used to be seen as the barometer of the House based on the way he articulates issues, which changes the directions of debates. He is from Lagos East .

The whole thing appears to be dicey at the moment, but the issue would definitely be sorted in the coming days or weeks and it would certainly be what and how the leadership of the APC wants it to be.

Certainly, they would have no choice, but to carry the elected lawmakers along so that the House can work in tandem with the in-coming government to further make Lagos State the centre of excellence.

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Desperate Housewives get Nigerian edition

The local adaptation of the multiple award-winning ABC television drama hit series is set to launch in Nigeria. This launch is to be preceded by a premiere in Lagos by the end of this month where the new Desperate Housewives of Africa will be introduced in person along with the all-African suburban ‘Wisteria Lane’ neighborhood where the series will be based.

L-R: Linda Osifo as Rhetta Moore; Michelle Dede as Tari Gambadia; Omotu Bissong as Funke Lawal; Marcy Dolapo Oni as Rume Bello; Kehinde Bankole as Kiki Obi; Nini Wacera as Ese De Souza

Whilst the set location is still under wraps for the time being, it can be confirmed that ‘Desperate Housewives Africa’ will closely reflect the original multi-award winning American version with a uniquely African flavour. Viewers can look forward to an enthralling and spell-binding homegrown pilot that takes the ‘Desperate Housewives’ format as you once knew it to scandalously new dimensions.

It is based on an outwardly successful neighbor, Rume Bello, played by Marcy Dolapo Oni, who succumbs to death. Her friends continue to deal with their everyday lives and, as seen through Rume’s eyes, the story mysteriously unravels in a dramatic, comedic whirlwind which will have you at the edge of your seat calling for more.

Michelle Dede portrays the character, Tari Gambadia. Her ultimate desperation is unknown at first as she competes for the attention of a new hunky neighbour who has his own ulterior motives?

Nini Wacera, portrays Ese De Souza, a housewife who struggles with maintaining the perfect family but her outward impression of perfection successfully mask the disturbing dysfunction in her household. Kehinde Bankole, as Kiki Obi, continues a rather sordid and sleazy love affair.

According to Christine Service, Senior Vice President and Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa comments, “We are very excited that one of ABC’s hit television series is being made for African viewers.  This is a first for the continent of Africa and we could not be more proud of what we have seen so far of ‘Desperate Housewives Africa’.”

Mo Abudu, Executive Chairman and CEO of EbonyLife TV, has this to say about the production. “Once again, I am pleased to say that we are extremely excited to bring this rich, thrilling and captivating drama to our local and global audiences. We have put in a lot to maintain our premium homegrown quality of  production and our viewers can absolutely look forward with great delight to watching a most riveting adaptation of the multiple-award winning version from Africa; one with a uniquely African essence that closely mirrors the format and storylines of the multiple award winning American version.

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The Argentine hailed his players' efforts despite Atletico going out of the Champions League against their city rivals

Diego Simeone felt his Atletico side were in control of the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid until Arda Turan’s red card swung it in the hosts' favour.

Turan was dismissed for a second yellow card with 14 minutes to go at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the tie goalless and seemingly heading for extra time.

The sending-off rejuvenated Madrid who grabbed an 88th-minute winner through Javier Hernandez to squeeze Carlo Ancelotti's men into the semi-finals.

And while Simeone refused to criticise Turan for the red card, he admitted it was a game-changer.

“There’s no sense in talking about Arda’s red card, it will change nothing,” he said at the post-match press conference. “But until then we were controlling the game.”

Despite the defeat, Simeone was full of praise for his players.

“We competed well, I am proud,” he added. “We have a team of men who work, have pride and I am very grateful. Except the first 10 minutes when we did not play well, I don't think it was a bad game. The other team had the ball but we had the feeling we covered the gaps very well.

"If you lose giving everything then you must be happy. When the team works like today, I have nothing to say. There are many coaches that envy me for having this team. We congratulate our rivals and now we have to think about the game against Elche on Saturday."

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Woman Hires Assasins to Kill Husband

A 57-year-old man, Solomon Fasade, has pleaded with an Iyana-Ipaja Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his 17-year-old marriage to Abosede.
Mr Fasade, who lives in Ayobo, a Lagos suburb, is accusing his wife of waywardness and threatening his life.
He claimed that she brought another man to their house.
“Two years after I was robbed, I later got to know my wife arranged armed robbers to my house and went as far as asking them to kill me,” he said.
When the court’s President, Mrs Shalewa Banjoko, asked him how he got to know this, he said: “It was a neighbour who told me the insect that eats up a leaf lives on the leaf. I was confused and shocked.”
The defendant, Mrs Fasade (43), said the only reason her husband thinks she is a flirt is because she sells alcoholic drinks.
“I sell alcoholic drinks in front of my husband’s house but I am not an harlot,” she said.
She said she never planned to kill her husband.
“I will never kill him because he has been responsible for the upkeep of the children I had from my previous marriage. If it was my intention, I would have succeeded in doing so because I cook for him and we sleep together on the same bed. I will never do such. I still need my husband because he is a good man,” Mrs Fasade said.
Banjoko ordered the couple to be peaceful and adjourned the matter till Thursday.

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Cholera Disease Outbreak Killed 10 Ebonyi State Students

Cholera Disease

At least 20 people have reportedly died of choleraoutbreak in seven local government areas of Ebonyi State.

The local government areas affected include Izzi, Ebonyi, Abakaliki, Ohaozara, Ebonyi, Ohaukwu, Ishielu and Ezza North.

The state Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Dr. Chris Achi, who disclosed this to newsmen, said the state government had taken measures to contain the spread of the disease.

Achi stated that one of the 10 undergraduates of the Ebonyi State University, affected by the disease had died.

The nine others and 15 students of Girls’ High School, Azuiyiokwu, who were also affected were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki for medical attention, he said.

He also disclosed that the disease was recorded in 12 Apostle College Sharon and Annunciation Schools, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Kpirikpiri, Abakaliki.

Achi explained that those who died resorted to self-medication, resulting in renal breakdown before being taken to hospitals for treatment.

He urged residents of the state to refrain from defecating indiscriminately around their vicinities and drinking contaminated water. He also advised those seeking accommodation to ensure they lived in houses with toilet facilities.

Achi enjoined the people to ensure personal hygiene and desist from eating food they were not sure of where it was prepared to avoid contracting the disease.

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Photo: Former IGP Suleiman Abba hands over to new IGP, Arase

Former Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, who was sacked yesterday April 21st by pres. Jonathan handed over to the newly appointed IGP Solomon Arase at the police headquarters in Abuja today April 22nd. I like the way he's smiling despite the circumstances.

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I’ve stepped on toes, but won’t flee Nigeria –Diezani

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, on Wednesday  debunked rumours that she has fled the country following the failure of President Goodluck Jonathan’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to secure a second term.

Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison Madueke

Emerging from the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, the Minister said she has no regrets stepping on toes of members of a powerful cabal in the nation’s oil and gas industry who are now feeding the rumour mills with maliciously false reports about her.

She also used the opportunity of addressing State House correspondents after the meeting to also refute allegations that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) refused to remit to the $1.48 billion (N294.5 billion) uncovered by a recent forensic audit to government. She also said the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) would refund the money.

According to Mrs. Allison-Madueke, “the PriceWaterhouse Cooper forensic audit that was done few weeks ago in its recommendation mentioned that $1.48 billion was owed by Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) for a block that had hitherto been assigned from the NNPC to which is its subsidiary and they felt that the right process would be that NPDC will refund that money to the Federation Account.

“NPDC has apparently started those refunds and it is also in discussion with NNPC (Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on same. So the refund has actually began.”

She acknowledged that “during our time there are gaps in the NNPC and I said that openly. But I can also say that there is no time in Nigerian history in the oil and gas that the NNPC has been as open and audited as it is today.

“It has been positioned to go forward in the industry, it is true that the revenue profile is not sustainable. But we have done our best and the Nigerian oil and gas sector is today in a better shape than it has ever been in terms of achievements that we have recorded.

“So let me state it clearly for the records that Nigeria is my country and am not going anywhere.

“I love my country and I do think that I have done the best for my country and I would also like to point these malicious, malevolence, vindictive libels…

“We have done enough for this industry, we cannot please everybody. Yes, we have stepped on toes but we did that in the best interest of Nigeria and we have opened up the oil and gas industry to all Nigerians, thousands of Nigerians have benefitted from our reforms in the system.”

On the persistence of fuel queues, the Minister blamed it on the petroleum products distributors, insisting that there was enough petroleum products available for Nigerians.

According to her: “We have kept queues to the bearest minimum. We have moved away from the challenges of the past and ensured through our various flexible product arrangement that we kept Nigeria wet with fuel supply.

“Unfortunately, you are coming into a transition, whenever certain things are happening, intruders will hijack the process and certain amount of hoarding taking place for various reasons, this is what we are experiencing and there is no reason for this because our reserves are enough to keep the country wet with products throughout this period.

“I will plead with marketers to please make the fuel available. PMS is available, make it available to Nigerians, we have worked so hard to build the system and we don’t want it distracted in these later days”.

She said the allegations of corruption and negative stories against her were the handiwork of vested interests opposed to her opening up the oil and gas sector to hitherto less privileged Nigerian investors. Despite such blackmail from detractors, she said a lot of firsts had been achieved in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector in the last four years.

The Minister also denied reports that she was running from pillar to post seeking intervention from influential Nigerians, including ex-head of state, Abdusalami Abubakar, to prepare a soft landing for her to escape possible probe or prosecution.

She said President Jonathan has already answered that and called it unnecessary mischief and I will ask that the media do its research properly and deal with the  facts.

“I have the privilege of meeting with many senior statesmen during the course of my job in the Federal Executive Council and I was surprised that he should be singled out in any such form.

“The short answer is no. I have not sought such assistance because I am not aware that I have been indicted of any crime that I will need a soft landing.

“Over the last four years, I have been severally and unfortunately accused and labelled in so many malicious and vindictive ways. I have explained these things and pushed back robustly on these accusations and I have even gone to court on many of them. Yet they keep being regurgitated.

“And I think it is unfortunate, particularly when we are moving into a transition period and looking forward to an incoming government which is coming to take over where we have ended.

“For everything that has a beginning there is an end and that is not a surprise. What is the surprise is the sort of malevolence bordering on personal malicious libel to my person during this period of time.

“I do believe that I have done the best for Nigeria in this job and I have attained many firsts in the history of oil and gas especially in the reforms that we have done.

“In this period of time, I have stepped on many big toes particularly the feet of the cabals that where in the industry when we came in.

“This is because I have said severally that we will open up the industry to all Nigerians and we have but that is not to the pleasure of certain cabals.

“And I have been continuously maligned because of this and we have taken millions and in fact billions of dollars out of the hands of some multinationals and their subcontractors and put them in the hands of Nigerians through Nigerian Content (Act).

“Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have come into the oil and gas industry because of our reforms.

“Quite frankly, I think as unprecedented as it is, it does not please everybody and that cannot be helped but let us remember the unprecedented reforms that have happened in the oil industry during our time, such as major gas reforms, the Petroleum Industry Bill, which has been completely revised, reformed and put into the hands of members of the National Assembly where it has languished for two years in the National Assembly.

“In that bill are all the reforms needed to tear NNPC apart, make it a National Oil company, an equity share company through transparency, accountability and responsibility and reduce corruption in the industry.

“We did all these and we put them in place to reduce corruption; So, for me to be tagged with various tags of corruption like $10 million jet purchases, who buys jet for $10 million dollars for goodness sake?”

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