Mohamed Salah ensured Liverpools return to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in a decade as a 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday took them through 5-1 on aggregate and ended Manchester Citys European dream for another season.

On a night of high frustration for free-spending City, manager Pep Guardiola was sent off at half-time for taking his furious protests towards Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz too far.

City led the quarter-final, second leg 1-0 on the night at that stage after Gabriel Jesuss second-minute opener, but the hosts felt aggrieved after Leroy Sane had a second goal wrongly disallowed just before the break.

Salah ensured there was to be no stunning comeback when he coolly chipped home his 39th goal of the season 11 minutes into the second half before Roberto Firmino sealed a comprehensive aggregate triumph for the five-time winners.

Guardiola admitted beforehand that his side needed the perfect performance and the hosts got the perfect start as they opened the scoring after just 117 seconds.

Liverpool were unhappy at Mateu Lahoz in what was to be the start of a controversial night for the Spaniard when Virgil van Dijk claimed he had been pushed by Raheem Sterling in the lead-up to the goal.

The referee was unmoved, though, and with the Dutchman out of position, Fernandinhos through ball found Sterling and his low cross was swept home by Jesus.

Liverpool fans would have been forgiven if memories of their 5-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season came flooding back.

City were helped signficantly that September afternoon by a first-half red card for Sadio Mane and the home fans were screaming for the Senegalese to be dismissed again on 14 minutes for a late challenge on Nicolas Otamendi.

However, Mateu Lahoz settled for a yellow card and a booking for City goalkeeper Ederson, who rushed from his goal to push Mane persistently in retaliation.

Salah had been an injury doubt after limping off in the first leg, but Liverpool were unable to spring the Egyptian free in the first 45 minutes as City peppered the visitors box with crosses without finding the final touch.

Bernardo Silva saw a deflected effort spin just wide and then rattled the post with a deflected long-range strike.

Firmino seals it

The turning point came seconds later when Sane turned into an empty net after Loris Kariuss punch came back off his own player James Milner.

Mateu Lahoz wrongly ruled the goal out for offside, sparking City and, in particular, Guardiolas anger.

Liverpool could have delivered the knockout blow even before the break had Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain managed to maintain his balance instead of firing high and wide after rounding Ederson.

Guardiola ran onto the field to pull his protesting players away from the official before embarking on his own rant at Mateu Lahoz that saw him watch the second half from the stands.

City understandably failed to maintain the intensity of their first-half display in a third huge game in six days after also blowing the chance to win the Premier League in a thrilling 3-2 Manchester derby defeat on Saturday.

Unsurprisingly it was Salah who got the decisive away goal and in some style.

Just like his opener in the first leg, Salah followed up after Ederson had denied Mane with a wonderfully-judged chipped finish past the despairing Otamendi in the 56th minute.

City were condemned to a third straight defeat for the first time in Guardiolas near two-year reign 13 minutes from time when Otamendi was caught in possession and Firmino slotted in off the far post to the delight of the Liverpool fans gathered behind Edersons goal.
*Reported by AFP

Source: NAN

Some lawmakers in Oyo State have thrown their weight behind the governorship aspiration of Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari (APC-Oyo North), saying he possesses the necessary credentials to succeed Gov. Abiola Ajimobi.

Reps. Abiodun Olasupo(APC-Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola) and Segun Ogunwuyi(APC-Ogbomoso South/North/Oriire) made the disclosure in separate interviews on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Buhari, who hails from Ogbomoso area of the state is the Senate Committee Chairman on ICT and Cybercrime.

NAN reports that Buhari has declared his intention to succeed Ajimobi in 2019.

The lawmakers based their support for Buhari on his political experience, academic qualifications, exposure, success in private business and unparalleled human relations.

They stated that the qualities stood Buhari out from other aspirants jostling for the same position.

Olasupo said that Buhari is the most capable, qualified and accomplished on all fronts to continue the strides of the current Ajimobi administration.

We have so many people that have shown interest in becoming the next governor of the state. Among those persons, Buhari is the most qualified considering all criteria.

In terms of academics, exposure, he holds a PhD. He has travelled far and wide and is a successful businessman. He has served as Commissioner, Special Adviser, member of the House of Representatives and now a Senator.

He has accomplished a lot and if you place his pedigree side by side with every other aspirant, making fair judgement, Buhari stands out, Olasupo said.

Similarly, Ogunwuyi said Buhari enjoys good relationship with the party, politicians and people across the state.

Buhari as a politician is someone we can relate with. He has been in the legislature and the executive arm of government.

I dont think anyone can showcase the kind of credentials he has. I have no iota of doubt that he should be the next governor of Oyo state, Ogunwuyi said.

In his response, Buhari said he possesses the required ability to deliver good governance in the state as a governor.

He stated that he has served in both the legislative and executive arm of government, which he said has empowered him more than any of his co-aspirants.

I have offered myself to run and I am sufficiently experienced to be the next governor of Oyo state. If you have worked in both the executive and legislature, you already know the rudiments of what it takes to lead.

I hope and pray to God Almighty that I will excel in 2019 so as to contribute my quota to the development of our state.

Anybody can decide to run, to aspire, but the determination of who becomes what, lies with the people. I am only offering myself to the people of the state that I have what it takes to turn this state around, he said.

In another development, Segun Odebunmi, a member of the House of Representatives(APC- Surulere/Ogo Oluwa) has urged indigenes of Ogbomoso to be actively involved in mainstream politics by supporting the APC at all levels for continuity beyond 2019.

He urged Ogbomosho indigenes to back the political aspirations of fellow indigenes in the forthcoming elections, saying such would guarantee the zone better infrastructure, appointments and other dividends of democracy.

Source: NAN

Two political parties, Accord Party and the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo state are already day-dreaming about wresting political power from the All Progressives Congress(APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari, following Buharis declaration that he would run for a second term in 2019.

The secretaries of the two parties said Buharis announcement of his plan to to seek re-election has brightened the chances of their parties.

Mr Wasiu Emiola, the Secretary of PDP, said that President Buharis declaration has further made it easier for the PDP to defeat APC in the 2019 presidential election.

Mr John Igbinsola, the state Secretary of Accord party, described President Buhari as a joker.

Igbinsola claimed some cabals were pushing the president to re-contest because of their selfish interest.

President Buhari is acting the scripts of certain politicians that want to further enslave the masses through anti-people policies.

But Accord party will present credible presidential candidate that will wrest power from the APC government, come 2019, he said.

Emiola of the PDP said the APC led Federal government had lost its credibility due to its poor performance in the last three years.

He alleged that APC government was characterised by nepotism, adding that the anti corruption war of the Buhari administration was below the expectations of Nigerians.

President Buharis re-election bid will not get the support of the masses as against what it was in 2015. Emiola predicted

Meanwhile, Mr Emmanuel Ajayi, an Ibadan based lawyer, said that it is the constitutional right of the President to re-contest for second term.

Ajayi said the people have the voting power to choose who govern them and tasked opposition parties to do their homework effectively in choosing personalities that would slug it out with the ruling party.

He described the declaration as the beauty of democracy, saying the development would enliven political ambience towards the 2019 general elections.

The lawyer cautioned politicians against inciting statements that could heat up the polity. He urged them to play politics in accordance with the rules

Source: NAN

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The National Assembly has endorsed the commencement of Higher National Diploma course in Official Reporting at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

The programme will commence in June, following its approval by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The Institute is the research arm of the National Assembly.

Director General of NILDS, Prof. Ladi Hamalai, stated this on Monday while declaring open a two-week certificate training programme on Official Reporting.

The event was put together by the Institute for staff of Anambra and Ogun State Houses of Assembly.

Represented by the Director of Research and Training in the Institute, Adeyemi Fajingbesi, Hamalai said the training was specifically designed to acquaint participants with information, methods and modern tools to report parliamentary practices and proceedings accurately.

The DG said topical issues to be discussed at the training include: Principles and Elements of Speed Writing/Shorthand Development, Hansard Styles Manual, ICT in Official Reporting, Editing, Keyboarding as well as Record Management and Archiving of Parliamentary Reports.

The central role of the legislature in the overall development of the nation particularly in the areas of law-making for the good governance of the country, oversight of other arms of government and representation of their respective constituencies cannot be overemphasized.

The present certificate programme is therefore part of NILDS efforts to assist the State Houses of Assembly to develop skills of Official Reporters to meet the present global challenges especially in the area of the use of modern technology, Hamalai said.

Source: NAN

The Senate on resumption from its two-week Easter break suspended plenary in honour of its member, the late Mustapha Bukar who died on April 4.

Until his death, Bukar, 63, represented Katsina North Senatorial District in the Red Chamber and was Chairman Committee on Capital Market.

Leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, moved a motion for suspension of plenary.

A minute silence led by the President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki was observed for the deceased.

Saraki, thereafter, said a valedictory service would be held on Wednesday in honour of their deceased colleague who served the country immensely.

It is a great loss, Saraki said.

In separate interview, Sen. Abu Ibrahim (APC-Katina South) said every life will test dead.

We are in this world as actors on stage: we come and do our action and leave.

He was a prominent politician, a well known person, he was my in-law, my son is married to his daughter, he was a highly respected person, he said.

Similarly, Sen. Victor Umeh (APGA-Anambra) prayed God to spare the National Assembly of these deaths.

We carry a lot of stress , a lot of problems of Nigerians here.

These sudden deaths are signs that those who are in the National Assembly to take things easy.

Nigerians should pray for the members of the National Assembly, he said.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter to the Senate dated April 4, 2018 said I was saddened to receive the news of the deaths of Senators Ali Wakili and Mustapha Bukar.

He said their various contributions to the Senate deliberations and the wider democratic process in the country had been of immense values.

Please accept Mr Senate President, the expression of my deepest sympathy, Bugatti said.

Source: NAN

NAN Reporting

The Presidency has uncovered plans by those described as “Nigerian looters” to disrupt the ongoing official visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to London.

Sources in the presidency told State House correspondents on Tuesday night that the alleged looters and corrupt elements had rented motley crowd of professional demonstrators to protest against President Buhari on his arrival in London.

The sources said: “Barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari declared his intention to contest for another term in office as President of Nigeria, the camps of alleged looters and corrupt elements within and outside the country have been jolted.

“This has forced them to push panic buttons including renting a motley crowd of professional demonstrators to protest against the President on his arrival into the United Kingdom.”

According to the impeccable sources in Aso Villa and Britain, extremely corrupt Nigerians who are custodians of slush funds stolen from Nigeria, and hiding in UK or are resident cronies of such elements, have colluded to form a league of protesters.

The sources maintained that the protesters’ singular aim was to distract and disorganise the scheduled state visit of the President to England.

President Buhari is billed to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Theresa May and other dignitaries.

“Esteemed Nigerians home and abroad, friends and business investors in Nigeria, should please see through the veil of the motive behind the Abuja House, Kensington London demonstration.

“It was an orchestrated act of desperation and a ploy to blackmail and hoodwink the President from concentrating on his anti corruption campaign , which is fast gaining grounds locally and internationally,” our source stated authoritatively.

The source added that, “this unpatriotic act is not unconnected to the Federal government policies to name and shame corrupt citizens and looters; to collate database of Nigerians with homes in UK who are not paying the right taxes, and the hot drive to prosecute all financial defaulters through bilateral and multilateral means.”

A public affairs analyst who preferred anonymity also said “the protest was benchmarked on an assemblage of local grievances and national challenges which the government is already tackling head on.

“Such as the herdsmen versus agrarian farmers clashes, fuel scarcity which no longer exists and trumped up charge of hunger in the land at a time when prices of food items are beginning to drop and inflation on the decrease.”

His view was buttressed by our Presidency sources who further repeated the position of the President who famously said that “corruption is endemic and Nigerians need to kill it before it kills Nigerians.”

According to the source, it is obvious that this is a clear cut incident of corruption fighting back.

The source believed that many of the beneficiaries of corruption and slush funds could not withstand another devastating blow of Buhari’s anti corruption sledge hammer.

“Hence, they are resolute to derail the apple cart in order to save their ugly faces and sit back to enjoy the loot in their personal banks.

“Some of the protesters are not even Nigerians but hired hatchet men paid to do the dirty job.

“According to security sources, the protesters are said to be bent on embarrassing and humiliating the President throughout his stay in the UK.

“An insider vowed that they will take their demonstrations to the venue of CHOGM holding later in the month in Britain, which President Buhari is attending as a Commonwealth Head of State,” the source further revealed.

When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said while reacting to the London protest that the President would not be distracted from his mission in the UK.

Source: NAN

In a bid to defend her master, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders on Tuesday slammed American Urban Radio reporter April Ryan, during press briefing for asking if President Donald Trump hasthought about stepping down.

Ryan, asked: With all of this turmoil, particularly this last week, has the president at any time thought about stepping down before or now?

Sanders fired back, No, and I think thats an absolutely ridiculous question.

Ryan was presumably referring to reports that Trump has been especially upset since the FBI executed a search warrant on his lawyer Michael Cohen.

She tried to defend her question, but Sanders quickly moved on to the next reporter.

Were moving on, Sanders said before Ryan claimed, Its not ridiculous.

Ryan has emerged as one of the most combative members of the media when it comes to dealing with members of the Trump administration.

She famously sparred with former Press Secretary Sean Spicer, who once asked her to report the facts instead ofsticking to her agenda.

Social media quickly erupted with takes on Ryans question about Trump stepping down.

Conservative pundit Wayne Dupreetweeted that Ryanpicked the wrong person to ask a question like this!

Earlier in the day,Ryan tweeted, Oooh! Today today today!!!! What a newsy day!

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Source: NAN

The UN failed three times on Tuesday to take action over an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria, as the US and its allies consider taking military steps.

Russias veto of a US-drafted attempt in the UN Security Council to establish a new probe to assign blame for chemical attacks in Syria was followed by two Russian drafts, both of which were voted down.

The attempts to revive a probe that was disbanded last year come days after at least 43 people were killed in an attack on Douma, the last rebel-held suburb of the capital Damascus.

Russia accused the US, France and Britain of putting forward the text knowing Moscow would not agree so they could use the veto as a pretext for military action.

Russian ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia asked the US to refrain from the plans that youre currently developing for Syria after the third failed vote.

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, said Russias proposals were designed to give them veto power over the findings and staff of an independent investigation and thus protect Syrian leader and Russian ally Bashar al Assad.

US President Donald Trump cancelled his first trip to Latin America to focus on his countrys response, which he has warned would be imminent.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was consulting with the US and Britain and would announce a decision on a military response within days.

At the invitation of Syria and Russia, investigators from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) were en route to Douma on Tuesday to collect evidence of whether there was a chemical attack.

The watchdog said it has been analyzing information since the first reports of the alleged use of chemical weapons in the April 7 attack.

It is only responsible for determining whether chemical weapons were used not who used them.

The Syrian and Russian moves to involve the OPCW came hours after Trump described Saturdays attack in Douma as atrocious and warned of some major decisions over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Earlier, a French government spokesman would not be drawn on a timeline for any possible response, but said Trump and Macron had agreed to speak again within 48 hours.

Once again, its once the facts are established, Benjamin Griveaux said. I cannot tell you today if its a matter of hours or days.

Macron has repeatedly said that the use of chemical weapons in Syria is a red line that would trigger reprisals.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said she would be speaking to Macron and Trump on Tuesday.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the use of chemical weapons in the strongest terms.

This was a horrendous attack, which killed dozens of people, including many children.

It took place in an area where the Syrian regime operates.

It is an area where Syria and its allies Russia and Iran are denying access to international monitors, Stoltenberg added.

Meanwhile, pro-government forces were on alert across Syria and had evacuated some of their posts in anticipation of possible foreign strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor.

Syria agreed to give up its chemical weapons in a Russian-brokered deal in 2013, after hundreds of people were killed in a poison gas attack on rebel-held Damascus suburbs.

However, there have been repeated allegations of government chemical attacks since then, including the April 2017 sarin gas attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun.

Days after that attack, the US launched dozens of missiles on Shayrat airbase in central Syria in response.

Russia at the time called for an OPCW investigation, but then rejected the report of the joint UN-OPCW panel that blamed the government, and later used its veto to prevent the panels mandate being extended beyond November.

Source: NAN

By Prudence Arobani/New York

The National Population Commission (NPC) has put Nigerias current population at 198 million people with urban population growing at an average annual growth rate of about 6.5 per cent.

Chairman of NPC, Mr Eze Duruiheoma, stated this in New York while delivering Nigerias statement on Sustainable Cities, Human Mobility and International Migration at the 51st Session of Commission on Population and Development.

Duruiheoma said: Nigeria remains the most populous in Africa, the seventh globally with an estimated population of over 198 million.

The recent World Population Prospects predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world.

Over the last 50 years, the Nigerias urban population has grown at an average annual growth rate of more than 6.5 per cent without commensurate increase in social amenities and infrastructure.

It grew substantially from 17.3 in 1967 to 49.4 per cent in 2017. In addition, the 2014 World Urbanisation Prospects report, predicts that by 2050, most of the population 70 per cent will be residing in cities.

The 2010 human mobility Survey report revealed that 23 per cent of the sampled population were of more females than males.

He said the category of population mostly engaged in urbanisation and migration were young people of teenage and adolescents girls and boys, women of child bearing age and the working age population.

He said existing urbanisation trend coupled with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in cities, pose critical challenges to securing sustainability of our cities, including efforts to make them smart and responsive to human influx.

The Displacement Tracking Matrix round XXI of January 2018 identified estimated 1.7 million IDPs in over 321,580 households across six states of North-East Nigeria with 40 per cent residing in camp-like settings in urban areas plus 1.4 million returnees.

The number of IDPs represented 4.5 per cent increase compared to the 1,702,680 identified in Round XX (Dec. 2017).

Duruiheoma said like in other developing countries, Nigerian cities hosted wide spread poverty, under-employment and unemployment at an average of 18.4 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics 2017 report.

The NPC boss bemoaned the insecurity and inadequate and inequitable health care services for adolescents and women of child bearing age.

Nigeria continues to commit to solving the challenges of insurgents in the Northeast, which has induced a high number of internally displaced persons.

We acknowledge that women, children and particularly the girl child are often the most vulnerable in these displacements, and in this regard, we remain focused on the wellbeing of these vulnerable parts of our population.We are committed to providing adequate health care services, reducing maternal mortality, rebuilding safe schools and empowering our women, ensuring no one is left behind in terms of achieving sustainable development.

Duruiheoma said these challenges adversely impacted on the quality of life and standards of living of the urban populace.

According to him, Nigeria stays committed to the twin goals of the Habitat Agenda adequate shelter for all and the development of sustainable human settlements in an urbanising world. (NAN)

Source: NAN

A Brazilian judge on Tuesday denied former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva the right to receive a visit from nine regional governors and other politicians in the prison where he is staying in the southern city of Curitiba, the newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo reported.

Judge Carolina Lebbos pointed to an earlier order from judge Sergio Moro, who issued an arrest warrant for the popular politician and said he could have no prison privileges other than a television set in his cell.

The prison regime allows visits only on Wednesdays.

Lula arrived at the prison on Saturday, capping two days of drama over whether or not he would submit to the arrest warrant.

The 72-year-old is to serve a 12-year sentence following his conviction on corruption charges last year.

Lulas Workers Party meanwhile said he remained its candidate in the October 7 presidential elections and announced plans to move its leadership to Curitiba.

Lulas party comrade Dilma Rousseff, who succeeded him as president from 2011 to 2016, said the party would mobilize Lulas supporters to press for his freedom.

There is no plan B for the elections, we maintain Lulas candidacy, Rousseff said during a visit to the Spanish capital Madrid.

Hundreds of people were camping outside the prison Tuesday in a show of support for Lula.

Supporters regard the judicial proceedings as a plot to take Lula out of the presidential race, which he had been expected to easily win, while opponents say jailing him boosted Brazils fight against impunity.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN