The President of the Senate Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has promised that the National Assembly will focus on passing all pending bills that affect youths, the economy and will create jobs.

Speaking during an interactive session with Nigerian Cohort of Obama Foundation Leaders Program, Saraki said that he would engage with the House of Representatives to pass the Sexual Harassment Bill as well as the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill.

In a series of tweets on his twitter handles: @BukolaSaraki and @SPNigeria, Saraki disclosed that he met with emerging leaders from all sectors; economy, including education, entertainment, finance, new media, renewable energy, entrepreneurs and the health sector.

I had a great time discussing new ways of making progress in our economy over breakfast with the Nigerian cohort of the Obama Foundation Leaders Program.

Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki)

The Meeting was attended by several young business owners and policy advocates, who discussed the bottlenecks involved in youth advocacy.

The attendees spoke about sector peculiar issues. From poor education curriculum to the ease of doing business, access to credit, Poor infrastructure, Nollywood grant, bottlenecks in exportation and high tariff for renewable energy

They discussed possible solutions to the peculiar problems in their sectors and implored the Senate President to follow up on the recommendations.

On Education, Mr Femi Taiwo the Executive director of LEAP Africa discussed the importance of changing the school curriculum and improving access to e-learning. He discussed the possibility of the NUC recognizing e-learning initiatives much more and to improve teacher training.

The Young leaders advised that the multiple agencies in charge of exportation be collapsed into one that can supervise and ensure transparency to reduce the bureaucracy involved.

Mr Ebuka Obi Uchendu of Multichoice Africa, Ms Oluyemi Ayeni, the founder of Pearl recycling, Mr Moses Enoleka, the CEO of Sonicare and a host of other emerging leaders in business were in attendance at the interactive session.

Ms Oluwaseun Ayodeji, the Executive director of the Stand to End Rape started the session by talking about sexual harassment in the workplace and society, she advocated for quick passage of the Sexual harassment bill in the Senate.

Dr. Saraki engaged the young leaders about the importance of creating opportunities by bridging the gap between the private sector and governance.

He wrote on his twitter handles: I had a great time discussing new ways of making progress in our economy over breakfast with the Nigerian cohort of the Obama Foundation Leaders Program.

We had an interesting session exploring innovative ways to tackle issues like ease of doing business, progressive leaderships at MDAs through oversight, and our education curriculum.

It is always refreshing to meet with forward-thinking and vibrant minds who have fully committed themselves to influencing national policy and taking advantage of legislative actions to further their combined agenda.

I am committed to follow-up with industry specific hearings to produce an action plan, he said.

Source: NAN

The Speaker, Zamfara House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, has said that 15 persons have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Saturday in Maradun Local Government Area of the state.

Rikiji told newsmen in Gusau on Sunday that the security situation in the state called for serious review.

This coming as President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, in the state.

The State Assembly Speaker recalled the ugly incidences recorded in the last two days in Zurmi Local Government Area where bandits took over three districts comprising over 18 villages and towns.

As I said yesterday in Zurmi the issue of insecurity in this state require general study system review to tackle the prolonged security challenges facing the state.

Security agencies should do more and more to deploy enough security personnel in Zamfara; we need permanent security stations in the affected area.

We thank the immediate intervention of the Federal Government to this issue. As I am speaking now the troops, security personnel, have been deployed to the affected areas in Zurmi.

They have started restoring normalcy in the area. We appeal to the people of the area to remain calm as government in collaboration with security agencies is working to maintain peace and stability in the areas, he said.

The speaker also thanked the Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, over his concern and commitment to the protection of his people.

Source: NAN

At least 16 Boko Haram terrorists have been killed by troops at the Mairari, a village in Mongno Local government area of Borno State.

The Deputy Director of Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said on Sunday that the success was recorded on Friday evening when the soldiers deployed in the Forward Operational Base (FOB) along Mairari in Monguno had an encounter with the insurgents and recovered two gun trucks from them.

The insurgents in three vehicles, including gun trucks, had infiltrated and attacked the community when troops at the FOB were alerted by locals.

The troops supported by the Air Task Force swiftly responded to the attack, killing 16 insurgents and capturing two gun trucks abandoned by the insurgents, as they tried to escape having been overwhelmed by the superior firepower from the troops, Nwachukwu said.

He added that the troops recovered 163 rounds of Anti-Aircraft Gun Ammunition from the insurgents.

However, he disclosed that four civilians and a soldier sustained injuries in the encounter.

He said the injured were promptly evacuated to a military hospital in the state where they were receiving medical attention.

Nwachukwu noted that the operational base was consequently reinforced with additional troops while fighting patrols were on the trail of the insurgents who fled the attack.

He added that normalcy has been restored in the village and urged the people of Mongonu LGA to go about their normal business without fear.

The army also urged the people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious person or activity to the nearest security agency.

Source: NAN

The 42-year-old Linus Chibuzor-Nwankwo, who died on Friday in South Africa has been confirmed was killed by a fellow Nigerian.

The Consul General of Nigeria in South Africa, Mr. Godwin Adama, has confirmed that Chibuzor-Nwankwo from Enugu State was killed, Mr. Lawrence Nwarienne from Anambra.

Adama, condemned the killing and expressed shock and dismay that a fellow Nigerian carried out the act.

Chibuzor-Nwankwo was shot by Nwarienne another Nigerian operating a bar in South Africa, in the early hours of Friday in Kempton Park, Johannesburg in South Africa.

The envoy said Nwarienne shot the deceased right at his bar for reasons not very clear adding that the suspect was however, immediately arrested by the police who had launched investigation into the case.

The High Commissioner and the Consul General are very concerned on this development. We condemn this dastardly act and do not expect it from our nationals who are supposed to protect each other.

This is a development that is becoming frightening and may make South African police authorities to blame other future killings on the same trend. We are taking it seriously, he said.

He said that the Mission was in touch with Nigerians and police authorities and encouraged them to properly investigate the murder and prosecute accordingly.

According to him, this is to discourage future actions of that kind by any person irrespective of his nationality.

We are monitoring the development and encouraging Nigerians to conduct themselves peacefully while we seek for justice.

Mission has been in touch with Nigerians on the unfortunate development.

Missions have already commenced discussions with Nigerian stakeholders to discourage this trend, he said

He said that the situation had been calmed down to avoid reprisal attacks from other Nigerian close relations and friends.

The case is being monitored by Nigerian community in South Africa to ensure justice is done to avoid future occurrences. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has said that he is confident that President Muhammadu Buhari would win the 2019 presidential election for a second term in office.

Akeredolu told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Atlanta, U.S. that Buhari has done well and deserved to be re-elected, in spite of obvious challenges.

I followed the achievements he (Buhari) has had within this four short years but hes not someone that is given to making noise.

A lot has changed in our country and theres need for continuity; no doubt, we have had our challenges.

No doubt, at the tail end, a number of challenges came about on security.

But that notwithstanding, to get us out of recession within a short time is not a mean feat; people dont just appreciate it.

To now talk about a number of other things; when you talk about light, where you have light, is anybody talking about it?

To talk about what we have been able to save in terms of cutting corruption, so many lives are affected by that.

So, I believe that within this short four years, President Buhari has done a lot, the governor told NAN.

He urged Nigerians to re-elect the president for another term to stabilise the economy and block leakages.

According to him, re-electing another person might lead to the reversal of what the president has done in the last three years.

He said: Let him (Buhari) continue and probably stabilise the economy more, and at least, block a few areas of leakages when it comes to corruption in this country.

Let him block it totally and make sure that we are on a sound footing to now move.

Somebody else can come but its not like now.

So for us, who are supporting him, we believe that in the interest of stability, continuity and for the progress of the nation, we need President Buhari to have another four years and then we can move ahead.

On the implications of the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leading to the defections by some National Assembly members and Benue Gov. Samuel Ortom, Akeredolu said there is no cause for alarm.

According to him, the defections were not because the politicians had any problem with Buhari but due to problems related to states.

President Buhari will win the election, let us leave what is happening here and there; he has captured it very well.

Look at the issue of the gale of defection that people are doing, he said most of them are not because of him, which is true.

We have States in which people have created problems and these problems now cascaded into the national level.

So, in that circumstance at the end of the day, when elections are held, President Buhari will win.

I am sure by the grace of God, we will win the election.

The only thing is that I dont know about senators, I cant talk about governors or some of the elections in the states.

But if its the election for the president, President Muhammadu Buhari, by the grace of God, will win. His chances are very bright, Akeredolu said.

Source: NAN

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has secured a $6 million (about N2.1 billion) worth of new medical equipment from MedShare, a U.S.-based non-profit organisation in Atlanta.

Akeredolu told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Atlanta that he ordered 20 containers load of new medical equipment from MedShare to strengthen the states healthcare.

NAN reports that the non-profit organisation had donated more than $40 million worth of new medical equipment to strengthen Nigerias healthcare systems in the last 20 years.

All the 19 northern state governments and the Federal Capital Territory have benefitted from the organisation while beneficiaries in the south include Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Enugu and Abia.

Akeredolu said the partnership with MedShare would see the state securing up to 50 containers load of equipment to equip all its hospitals and health centres with new state-of-art medical facilities.

The governor said when his aide secured the deal, he felt it was unbelievable, especially considering that in Nigeria, people believed used medical equipment could be shipped to the country.

I went there (MedShare) myself and found out that everything theyre going to ship down is new and a lot of our colleagues have benefitted from this; nobody has ever mentioned it.

I mean what I got from Nell (Diallo), the Vice Chairman of MedShare, is that initially she got the 19 states in the north to come and they all came and bought into it.

Babangida (former governor Aliyu) bought into it in Niger State.

Today, Bayelsa is doing a lot because it got people to sponsor them; Bayelsa is doing a lot of shipment.

I now said if this be the case and we never knew and not only that, the Federal Government of Nigeria has bought into it.

When we got into their storage facility, we saw a lot of packages ready to go to National Hospital, a lot are going to Bayelsa.

And I was saying wow, wow so we are missing out of these?

I said to them immediately, we are going to order for about 20 container loads to start with, Akeredolu said.

The module for receiving the container load of $300,000 worth of medical supplies and equipment involves the sponsorship of $25,000 for shipping logistics.

The governor said the bargain was too good and that the state government would source for funds immediately to pay the $500,000 for shipping logistics for all the 20 containers.

Akeredolu said: We will raise funds to make sure that we are able to pay for it so that we can equip our hospitals with necessary facilities, which have been lacking for long.

So my understanding with MedShare is for us to start with 20 container loads for now and then we proceed until we get to 50 (container loads).

If were able to do that, then Im sure all the medical equipment needs for all our hospitals in Ondo State, we will have covered it because everything we need, theyre all there.

Anyway, things that are not there (MedShare), the idea is for us to let them know and they will source it and send to us too. So this is a good idea.

Vice-President, International Development of MedShare, Ms Nell Diallo, described Akeredolu as a serious-minded leader, who wants to make lasting impact in the lives of his citizens.

I am happy to work with serious leaders like the Ondo state governor, who makes a difference, Diallo said.

NAN reports that MedShare is a Medical Surplus Recovery Organisation that collects and distributes surplus medical products to qualified healthcare facilities in medically-underserved communities around the world on an on-going basis.

The organisation was named a Four Star Charity for the 13th consecutive year by Charity Navigator, which designation recognises the top one per cent of U.S. charities based on the criteria of transparency, organisational accountability, and measurable impact.

Currently, in its 20th year of operations, MedShare has collected over $207 million worth of lifesaving medical supplies and equipment that has helped over 19 million patients in over 100 countries and territories.

It uses the World Health Organisations standard for accepting donations to go to underserved countries.

At any given time, it has roughly $25 million worth of materials ready to be shipped.

Nigeria has received the largest number and percentage of the containers in the NGOs 20 years of operation.

Source: NAN

Wayne Rooney opened his Major League Soccer account on Saturday, scoring in the first half in a 2-1 win against the Colorado Rapids but walked away from the Audi Field with a broken nose.

The D.C. United striker got on the board via a pass from Luciano Acosta, finishing low underneath another former Everton and Manchester United player, Tim Howard.

Wayne Rooney opens his MLS account! #DCvCOL https://t.co/XuKvh1sVea

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 29, 2018

The game marked the first for Rooney as D.C. United's captain after he was named the skipper earlier in the week.

Rooney was making his second MLS start and fourth overall appearance since signing for DCU at the end of June.

The 32-year-old bagged an assist on his debut on July 14, as he came off the bench in a victory over Vancouver.

Rooney nearly scored his second early in the second half, but Howard was up to the task the second time around, the shot off the far post before scrambling to collect it.

Howard with a big save on Rooney! #DCvCOL pic.twitter.com/69Yue8GysA

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 29, 2018

"Delighted to score my first goal for D.C. United last night and more importantly a big three points at Audi Field," Rooney wrote on Twitter, "and a broken nose and five stitches."

D.C. United entered the match in last place in the Eastern Conference, desperately needing the win against Colorado, who are second-bottom in the West.

Rooney's goal would not be enough, with the Rapids getting a goal from new signing Kellyn Acosta, who had missed a penalty early in the match, to pull level in the second half.

D.C. did find a winner though, with a stroke of good fortune handing the Eastern Conference club the win when Colorado's Niki Jackson, in an attempt to block a cross, turned home past Howard.

Chelsea beat Inter Milan 5-4 on penalties as goalkeeper Willy Caballero saved from Milan Skriniar in the shootout following a 1-1 draw in their opening game of the International Champions Cup.

Spain international Pedro struck after just eight minutes in Nice, slotting in a rebound after Inter keeper Samir Handanovic saved from a lively Alvaro Morata.

It was a second goal in as many games for Pedro, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Saturday, after he netted the winner in Monday’s 1-0 victory over Perth Glory.

Inter levelled early in the second half through Roberto Gagliardini, whose drilled shot proved too much for Argentina’s Caballero after fellow half-time substitute Tiemoue Bakayoko gave the ball away.

New Chelsea signing Jorginho nearly won it with a curling effort that forced Handanovic into a fine sprawling stop, while Tammy Abraham couldn’t hit the target as he tried to steer home an Emerson cross.

Twenty-year-old Argentine Lautaro Martinez, who joined Inter from Racing Club at the start of July, almost snatched a winner for the Italians in stoppage time when his sharp first-time strike was well kept out by Caballero.

Caballero, who was dropped at the World Cup following a 3-0 group stage loss to Croatia, saved from Skriniar with his legs in the shootout before Cesar Azpilicueta converted the decisive spot-kick.

Chelsea play Premier League rivals Arsenal in Dublin on Wednesday before wrapping up their pre-season campaign at home to Lyon on August 7, two days after facing Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Two of the nine Nigerians arrested by India’s Narcotics police in Mumbai
Nine knife-wielding Nigerians allegedly peddling drugs in Mumbai have been arrested by India’s Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC).

During the arrest on Friday night, police recovered 104 grams of cocaine and nine grams of mephedrone, all worth Rs 5.38 lakh, from the accused who attacked the cops with knives while resisting search.

According to reports, the accused were identified as Charles Ifini Ijia, 27, Okoro Jems Aja, 38, Mascells John Dino,32, Samuel Baju Okeni,30, Ken Kon Ishmel,37, Kofi Jems Romalik, 30, Chikku Fry, 43, Nanna Harisans Agvu, 28, and Joku Humai Vachuku Pais, 32.

The names were mangled by the officers as the Nigerians did not carry their passports on them, another offence, according to Indian law.

Investigators said three of the accused were also involved in an attack on officers of ANC’s Worli unit during an operation to nab a Nigerian national allegedly selling cocaine in Byculla on July 19.

Four police officers had sustained injuries in the attack.

While the attackers managed to flee then, a case was registered at the JJ Marg police station and night patrolling was increased based on Deputy Commissioner of Police Shivdeep Lande’s order.

“On Friday night, our officers, who patrolling the South Mumbai area, had neared the Eastern Freeway when they spotted some foreigners hanging around suspiciously under the bridge. The officers approached the group and was about to search them when two of them drew out knives and attacked them. While they attempted to flee, our officers, who had sustained minor injuries, managed to overpower them,” said an ANC officer.

During interrogation, three of the accused confessed to their involvement in the earlier attack in Byculla and revealed the identities of five others who were involved in the same.

“We are on their lookout,” said the officer.

“The accused obstructed police from discharging their duties and intentionally injured four personnel.

Emeka Ndukwu, 46, a Nigerian-American based in Bowie Maryland, has been sentenced to four years in prison for engaging in business e-mail scheme and conspiring to launder more than $900,000 proceeds of scams.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in a statement, said Ndukwu tricked seven companies in the United States and abroad into wiring more than $900,000 into accounts controlled by various co-conspirators.

“A co-defendant, Chuka Mbonu, 33, of Nigeria, remains at large,” the U.S. authorities said.

FBI said: “Ndukwu, a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria, pleaded guilty in April 2018 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of money laundering conspiracy.

“He was sentenced by the Honourable Timothy J. Kelly. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.

“The judge also ordered Ndukwu to pay $791,870 in restitution to the companies.

“Additionally, Judge Kelly ordered Ndukwu to forfeit a 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450 and to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $429,848, representing the share of the criminal proceeds that Ndukwu personally obtained”.

According to documents filed at the time of the plea, Ndukwu, who says he is from Warri, Delta state, participated in an ongoing conspiracy from 2013 through 2017 to receive and launder the proceeds of various cyber frauds, primarily arising from business e-mail (“BEC”) compromise schemes.

In a typical BEC scheme, a co-conspirator tricks a company into transferring large sums of money into accounts controlled by others participating in the scheme.

Using fake e-mails, often containing forged sender addresses, co-conspirators impersonate someone connected to the victim company and deceive an employee of that company into wiring funds.

Soon after the wire transfers are completed, the co-conspirators drain the bank accounts and launder the criminal proceeds.

“This particular conspiracy targeted at least seven companies in the United States and overseas, including victims in Texas, Illinois, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, and China.

“The victims were fraudulently induced into sending $916,056 in wire transfers to accounts controlled by Ndukwu and other co-conspirators.

“The funds were then laundered through transactions conducted in Washington, D.C. and other jurisdictions, including layering through shell company accounts and accounts controlled by co-conspirators,” the FBI said.

According to the court documents, Ndukwu used false aliases and forged Nigerian passports to facilitate these schemes, and he used encrypted messaging to communicate with co-conspirators.

Ndukwu was indicted in December 2017 and has been in custody since his arrest that month.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Brown and Michael Marando are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist C. Rosalind Pressley, while former Assistant U.S. Attorney Natalia Medina participated in investigating the case.