Santiago Solari proved the perfect caretaker but his debut as permanent coach of Real Madrid on Saturday ended in a disastrous 3-0 defeat at Eibar.

Four wins while in temporary charge earned Solari a contract until 2021 over the international break, only for Real to revert to the kind of chaotic display that cost his predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, his job.

The defeat also brought into focus the mindset of Madrids players, after their captain Sergio Ramos faced allegations of an anti-doping violation on Friday night from German magazine Der Spiegel. The club denied any breach.

Eibar were stronger, more aggressive and, worryingly for Solari, appeared clearer about the plan they wanted to carry out. Marc Cucurella, brilliant down the left, teed up all three goals, scored by Gonzalo Escalante, Sergi Enrich and Kike Garcia.

Reals loss halts their revival under Solari and cost them a golden opportunity to make up ground on Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, before the pair face each other at the Wanda Metropolitano later on Saturday.

Eibar shoot up to seventh, a reward for their first ever victory over Real Madrid at the 11th attempt.

Ramos was not noticeably below par at Ipurua, but perhaps allegations that he failed to list the correct medication after the Champions League final in 2017, proved enough of a distraction for his teammates.

Solari, meanwhile, must now reset his team ahead of Tuesdays Champions League game against Roma, which is likely to decide the winner of Group G.

Real started well enough and Gareth Bale looked in the mood when he swivelled and sent a stunning shot into the top corner from 25 yards, only to be ruled offside.

Karim Benzema went close, his finish cleared off the line by Jose Cote, but after surviving the early pressure, Eibar grew in confidence.

Kike made the woodwork shake with a drive from 25 yards, with replays showing the dipping shot had been diverted by an excellent finger-tip save from Thibaut Courtois.

Madrids goalkeeper came to their rescue again in the 16th minute, denying Enrich from Cucurellas cross, but this time Escalante was on hand to bundle in the rebound ahead of the stumbling Dani Ceballos.

Referee Juan Martinez consulted the video assistant referee but the delay only earned a repeat of home fans cheers.

Bales free-kick was pushed wide and then he was booked for dissent as Madrid looked to be running out of ideas. Solari gave his first half-time team talk with his team behind, but their situation deteriorated in the second half.

Toni Kroos misjudged and misdirected crossfield pass exposed the unfortunate recipient Alvaro Odriozola. Cucurella pounced, pushing Odriozola off the ball and delivering for Enrich to score.

Odriozola was forced off injured.

Five minutes later it was three, this time Raphael Varane was at fault, allowing Kike to nip in and convert another whipped Cucurella cross.

Madrid had more than half an hour to respond but it was Eibar who looked more likely. Fabian Orellana nutmegged Ceballos and drew a smart save from Courtois, before Charles Dias flicked an audacious volley, again blocked by the Belgian. By the end, Madrid were thankful it was only three.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has told a delegation of APC that he had no preferred ethnic or religion group and would deal with leaders and public officials who embezzle public funds and deny workers their benefits.

I assure you that my main interest is all Nigerians in all parts of the country, President Buhari told the delegation of All Progressives Congress (APC)from Benue state led by Senator George Akume.

Therefore, if anybody tries to create any impression that I prefer any group across ethnicity or religion, let him dare me by being caught red-handed stealing public funds. I will deal with him, President Buhari said.

He said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had been monitoring the plight of workers across the country and utilisation of the bailout and Paris Club funds by some states.

According to him, the Federal Governments bailout to states and the payment of Paris Club refunds to them were basically to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

Despite the bailout, several states still owe workers and pensioners, a development the President is unhappy about.

I honestly dont know how people sleep when workers have not been paid. The workers have to pay rent, buy food, send their children to school and they have healthcare to take care of, he lamented, describing misappropriation of the funds as unjust and unfair to workers.

Apart from the issues of workers welfare and corruption, President Buhari informed the delegation that the Federal Government had made significant progress in diversifying the economy.

This, he explained, was achieved through investment in agriculture and the encouragement of more individuals and entrepreneurs to go into farming.

He is optimistic that Nigeria would soon become self-sufficient in feeding its citizenry as a result of the investment in agriculture.

We are proud of what we have achieved with resources at our disposal, he said, listing ongoing road, rail, seaport, airport, and power projects as hallmarks of his administrations commitment to improving lives.

Condemning the orchestrated attacks in Benue as ungodly, the President assured the Benue APC leaders that efforts were being made to bring the perpetrators to justice and appealed for patience while the progress is on.

We know about herders. The ones we knew carried sticks, and sometimes cutlasses to cut foliage for their cattle. We now have people who carry AK 47s and pretend they are herdsmen.

We are working hard to secure our borders. We are going to see how the old cattle routes can be opened. We will control movement. Please beg our people to be patient.

The President pointed out that security personnel were already uncovering the network of the killers and arresting them.

The leader of the APC delegation and former Benue State Governor, Akume, said the APC stakeholders had faith in the President.

Mr President, we know your commitment to Nigeria. We know how much you love the country and will be ready to die for the good cause, Senator Akume said.

He assured the President that APC members had started sensitisation and mobilisation of voters for the 2019 elections, noting that more had accepted the party and its manifesto in the state.

Senator Akume also praised President Buhari for the flag-off of the dualisation of the Abuja-Keffi-Lafia-Makurdi road.

He, however, called for more attention for the Makurdi-Otukpo road and the water projects in Gboko and Otukpo.

You have worked hard to stop herdsmen and farmers clashes in Benue. It is important to note that many people used religion and ethnicity to score cheap points. Religion was used in Benue for sinister purposes, he added.

The Senator also praised the President for the war on corruption, insisting that his administration has made a significant difference by tackling perpetrators.

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking an order to allow its candidates to participate in the forthcoming general elections in Zamfara State.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the party further applied for an order of perpetual injunction to restrain INEC from giving effect to the content of a letter with Reg. No. lNEC/SEC/654/1/330 and dated October 9, which foreclosed it from presenting candidates in Zamfara for failing to conduct its primaries within the stipulated time.

The court has fixed December 11 to commence hearing on the matter.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu okayed the case for hearing on Friday after she joined the governorship aspirant of APC in the state, Senator Garba Marafa and a senatorial aspirant, Alhaji Siraju, as well as seven other chieftains of the party, as defendants in the suit.

APC, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1279/2018, prayed the court to declare that INECs letter purporting to exclude the party from presenting and submitting the list of its candidates for the forthcoming election in Zamfara state scheduled for 2019, is null, void, ultra vires and of no effect having regards to the provisions of sections 31(1) and 86(2), (3) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

A declaration that by virtue of section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and section 31(1) of the Electoral Act (as amended), the defendant lacks the power to refuse to collect the name of the plaintiffs candidates for Zamfara state presented and to be submitted to it not later than 60 days before the election scheduled for February 2019.

*Reported by Vanguard

Source: NAN

*But first, she seems to like Nigerias jollof rice

American Super Model, Angela Renee White a.k.a. Blac Chyna who is set to launch a whitening cream, she does not use, has arrived Lagos with a taste of Nigerian Jollof Rice which she said was the best.

The former Stripper was ushered into Lagos at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport with maximum security.

The 30 year old mother of two (King in 2012 with rapper, Tyga and Dream in 2016 with Rob Kardashian) took to her insta-story to share the picture of the plate of Nigerian Jollof Rice with a caption:

Nigerian jollof is so bomb.

The super model reportedly does not use the cream she proposes to launch in Nigeria on Sunday. She is only a promoter, paid to do so, according to reports by celebrity website TMZ.

This has triggered many reactions from Nigerians including threats from some quarters not to step her foot into Nigeria to offer Nigerian ladies her bleaching cream.

The model cum rapper had announced earlier on that she will be in Nigeria on Sunday, Nov. 25 for the launch of “Whitenicious X Blac Chyna Diamond Illuminating & Lightening Cream”.

Equipped with a Swarovski-crystal studded jar, the cream is said to increase “moisture for a brighter beautiful comfortable feel” according Whitenicious official Instagram page @whitenicious.

The company described the cream as the key to “less discolouration and unevenness while SPF protection minimises future damage.”

The cream is supposedly said to go for a whopping $250 dollars per jar, that is about N90,750 a bottle.

According to reports she has been using Whitenicious dark spot corrector for a few years to deal with her hyperpigmentation.

However, the model who is also an entrepreneur is partnering with Whitenicious by Dencia to roll out the beauty product.

In December 2013, she launched her online boutique entitled `88fin’ filled with new clothing and products from her clothing line of the same name.

That same month, Chyna launched her own brand of adhesive eyelashes called “LASHED by Blac Chyna’’.

Also in February 2014, the model who graduated from JLS Professional Make Up Artist School purchased a beauty bar in Encino, Los Angeles, offering makeup course.

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen kidnapped 15 girls overnight in a village near Toumour, southeastern Niger, the local mayor said on Saturday.

Boukar Mani Orthe, the mayor of the town in Nigers Diffa region near the border with Nigeria, said about 50 unidentified armed men seized the girls in a village about nine kilometres from the town centre.

On Thursday suspected Boko Haram fighters killed eight people working at French drilling company Foracos water well site in Toumour.

Boko Haram has been waging an insurrection since 2009 aimed at establishing an Islamic state in northeast Nigeria. It has launched repeated attacks into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

The violence has killed thousands of civilians and forced millions to flee their homes in the large Lake Chad basin region.

Kidnapping of schoolgirls has been a Boko Haram horror mark, since its fighters in 2014 kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, in Nigeria.

It also staged this year, another major kidnap of schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe state.

In Mali, French forces said they put out of action some 30 Islamist militants, possibly including veteran Malian jihadist leader Amadou Koufa, during a raid in the central Mali region of Mopti.

The French army, which has about 4,500 troops in West Africa battling Islamist militants, did not specify whether the jihadists had all been killed or taken prisoner. The operation took place with air support on Thursday night, it said.

At this stage of the evaluation of the operation, it appears that about 30 terrorists were put out of action, the army said in its statement on Friday, adding that Koufa and other prominent militants were probably among them.

Koufa, a radical preacher, inspired the Massina Liberation Front (MLF), a group blamed for a wave of attacks that has shifted Malis six-year-old Islamist insurgency from the remote desert north ever closer to its populous south.

Source: NAN

A hat-trick from Asisat Oshoala helped Nigerias Super Falcons to a 6-0 whipping of Equatorial Guinea to advance to the semi-finals of the 11th African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Ghana.

The Super Falcons progressed with South Africa, which drew 1-1 with Zambia to top Group B.

On Friday, hosts Ghana were sent packing from the , finishing third in Group A as Mali made a first-ever semi-finals appearance after six attempts.

Group leaders Cameroon who finished with seven points joined Mali with six points to the next round.

Ghana who obtained four points and Algeria with no point are eliminated after three matches each.

Cameroon drew 1-1 with Ghana while Algeria succumbed to a 2-3 loss to Mali in their last group games played simultaneously at the Accra Sports Stadium and Cape Coast Stadium respectively.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep shock over the killing of military men in Metele village of Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists.

He also gave an assurance that immediate measures are being taken to ensure that the loopholes which led to the fatalities are blocked once and for all.

In a reaction to the tragic incident on 18 November, the President said that his administration remains ever committed and focused on the security of military personnel and other citizens.

No responsible Commander-in-Chief, Buhari said would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of its military personnel and other citizens. Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support in terms of equipment and manpower to succeed in ending the renewed threat.

In the coming days, I am engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.

The President noted that fighting terrorism has taken a global dimension, which necessitates international collaboration among states facing similar security challenges.

President Buhari reassured Nigerians of his continued commitment to their security and of his efforts to sustain the momentum in the previous significant successes recorded against the terrorists.

He advised Nigerians against making a political capital out of national tragedy, stressing that members of the armed forces are one family who are commonly committed to the security and safety of all Nigerians.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has called on relevant authorities and the security agencies to conduct themselves in a way that would promote the nations democracy, rather than putting it in jeopardy.

Dickson made the call when he received, the Ijaw National Leader and Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who paid him a condolence visit over the death of his mother, Mrs GoldCoast Dickson, at his Official Residence in Abuja.

Dickson, in a statement issued on Saturday, by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr Fidelis Soriwei said there was need for professional conduct among security agencies as Nigeria prepare for 2019 General Elections.

He said that professional conduct among security personnel was also critical to maintaining National and economic stability.

He said that Nigerians and lovers of democracy were concerned and watching the conduct of security agencies ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He added that an abuse of the security forces would, however, constitute a threat to the security and stability of the country.

We urge the security agencies to conduct in a way that would stabilize democracy.

The greatest challenge we have ahead of the 2019 of election is the the conduct of the security agencies.

That is the concern of Nigerians.

Politicians and people in government need to know that there is a country to govern after elections.

Let us not in the quest for election to destroy these critical agencies of state and the career and reputation of these officials,

When you politicize these agencies, you threaten the careers of these people who are professionals in their own right.

The Governor condemned the recent assassination attempt on the Deputy Senate President, Prof. Ike Ekweremadu, saying it is totally reprehensible.

I also condemn the attack on the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. It was an invasion of the Democratic order.

Dickson also expressed concern about the recent positing of eight police commissioners to Bayelsa within a period of three months.

It wont take you long to know that there is a sinister game going on to destabilize and create instability in the state that we have worked so hard to stabilize.

It also quoted Clark, stressing the need for professional conduct among security agencies to promote credible elections in 2019.

The elder statesman also condemned the frequent change of police guards in Bayelsa.

He cautioned a former governor who he alleged of being behind the instigation of the politics in police postings to the state to have a rethink.

Clark said he was not surprised about recently invasion of his Abuja house at 91, by the men of Nigeria police in a purported search for arms.

Source: NAN

Some soldiers who survived the attack by Boko Haram on the military formation in Metele have sent an SOS to President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to probe the quality of weapons procured by the military authorities and save them from further avoidable deaths.

In a video sent to journalists in Maiduguri, the soldiers accused the military authorities of providing them with obsolete weapons, which they said are grossly inadequate to effectively confront the insurgents in the ongoing counter insurgency campaign in the Northeast.

In the amateur video footage, the soldiers also levelled allegations against the military authorities accusing them of negligence which resulted into the death of scores of their colleagues in a series of attacks coordinated by the Albarnawi faction of the Boko Haram at Metele in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno.

Foreign wire agencies reported that dozens of soldiers were killed when the insurgents attacked Metele military base on November 18.

In the video, two soldiers, who claimed to be among the survivors of the attack, narrated the precarious condition of the troops and obsolete equipment which made it difficult for them to repel the insurgents attack.

The video footage showed the level of destruction of military equipment and makeshift shelters, while soldiers were seen packing their luggages, apparently preparing to live the camp.

In the video, the soldiers appealed to President Buharithey repeatedly appealed to him to intervene to save the situation from deteriorating.

See what the Nigerian Army has been doing to us, they brought us here. See how they killed our fellow soldiers, they burn them inside the tanks, a narrator in the video said.

They are using us to make money; why? Are we not human beings? They can kill soldiers inside a tank; if Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) can penetrate M-RAG vehicle, what of a fellow human being?

This is the location called Metele, This is a place they (the insurgents) took over 40 barrel and these people want to use us, and within one week they killed over 200 soldiers and we are now 147, they want to waste us here. It is a lie, our blood is not here.

This is a Third World vehicle, a tank manufactured in 1972; and Albarnawi broke all of it.They want to use us and we are not getting anything from them.We want to tell the government of our condition.

Please; the Federal Government should intervene before the insurgents come and kill us. They mocked us and said we are Zombies; animals, we do not know our rights, any order given to us we will follow.

We are millennium soldiers, most of us are graduates.

Look at what they did to this T12 tank; it is obsolete. It was a 1983 Czechoslovakian tank procured during Shagaris regime. Is this the money the Federal Government provided to procure weapons?

All the equipment are not working. When it fired two shots it stopped. All the weapons are obsolete and bought during Shagari(1979-1983).

We know about the money the Federal Government gave to them but the Nigerian Army had turned us into a business.

All the money federal government gave them to buy weapons Nigerian Army is buying INNOSON. All these are obsolete Oyinbo came here and said they are obsolete. All these weapons were bought during the Shagari regime in 1983. They have turned us to business. Federal Government you will hear about it. All these weapons are not genuineif you fire two times you have stoppages.

This is 1983 when Shagari was head of state Federal Government give them money, they go and buy INNOSON, Nigerian made Federal Government please help us help us.

The Nigeria Army on Friday, confirmed on its Twitter handle the attack on 157 Task Force Battalion at Metele, on November 18 by Boko Haram insurgents.

However, the military authorities response, which came five days after, was short on details and the extent of casualties.

The army said that it has laid down procedures for reporting incidents that involve its personnel who become casualties in action, as a form of respect to the families of the gallant troops.

It noted that the families were first to be notified before any form of public information so as to avoid exacerbating their grief were they to discover it from unofficial sources.

It is suffice to observe that several social media, print and online publications have been brandishing false casualty figures as well as circulating various footages of old and inaccurate Boko Haram terrorists propaganda videos, and alluding it to be the attack on 157 Task Force Battalion.

While; it is understandable how such misinformation can spread in this era of social media frenzy, the spurious circulation of some of these videos only contribute to further propagate the propaganda intent of the terrorists, misinform the populace and portray themselves as what they are not?

So far, the situation in the location is under control as reinforcing units had been able to repel the terrorists and stabilize the situation.

In his reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed deep shock over the killing of military personnel in Metele village by Boko Haram terrorists.

He gave an assurance that immediate measures are being taken to ensure that the loopholes which led to the fatalities are blocked once and for all.

Reacting to the tragic incident, the President said that his administration remains ever committed and focused on the security of military personnel and other citizens.

According to President Buhari, No responsible Commander-in-Chief would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of its military personnel and other citizens. Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support in terms of equipment and manpower to succeed in ending the renewed threat. In the coming days, I am engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.

The President noted that fighting terrorism has taken a global dimension, which necessitates international collaboration among states facing similar security challenges.

President Buhari reassured Nigerians of his continued commitment to their security and of his efforts to sustain the momentum in the previous significant successes recorded against the terrorists.

He, however, advised Nigerians against making a political capital out of national tragedy, stressing that members of the armed forces are one family who are commonly committed to the security and safety of all Nigerians.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army has threatened to sue purveyors of fake videos and other images, in connection with the recent Boko Haram attack on troops at Metele in Borno State.

It was the second response by the army in 24 hours since the attack on 18 November.

The army in a Facebook post expressed concern over indiscriminate circulation of series of fake video footage on social media platforms, an action which creates fear and unrest in the society.

It dismissed the videos as false, explaining that they do not portray the situation on ground, stressing that such videos served the purpose intended by the insurgents to misinform; spread panic, hatred, religious intolerance and undermine national security.

The Nigeria Army has continued to observe with great dismay the myriads of photos and video clips being recklessly distributed on various social media platforms by different caliber of persons.

It is indeed shocking to see how these well doctored propaganda materials from enemies of the state succeeded in creating fear and unrest in the polity.

These doctored materials are obviously serving the purposes intended by the terrorists to misinform the populace; spread panic, hatred, religious intolerance and undermine national security.

The Nigeria Army wants to categorically state that the videos and images making rounds as the purported attack on Metele base are false and do not in any way portray the reality of the situation on the ground, it said.

The Nigerian Army headquarters lamented that many do not know that in discretionary posts and comments from a citizen that is supposed to be solidly behind its military in trying times could dampen troops morale.

The Army reiterated its commitments to the protection of the nations territorial integrity, maintaining that the sanctity of the Nigerian state would not be undermined by detractors or tacit supporters of the enemies.

It warned that it would not condone act of spreading fake news as it violate the provisions of the cyber crime laws.

While appreciating the concerns of well meaning Nigerians, who genuinely care for the well being of military personnel, the Nigerian Army wants to draw the attention of its detractors to the fact that spreading fake news is an offense and violation of Section 24 (1) (a

Over 1000 workers will be employed for the Warri-Itakpe standard gauge rail corridor, Mr Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said.

Its about 320km, about 12 stations and we have to engage people that will maintain the tracks, people that will work in the stations and sell tickets.

Also, technicians that will examine the train. So, we are going to engage close to over 1000 to maintain about 320km track, both junior and senior.

New employees cant just be sent there; they must be trained.

In order for them to be trained, we will be moving people from the existing staff, but we have to replace them. So we have to fill up those positions before the new people will be trained and certify to be part of the train operations, he said.

NAN reports that NRC operates one year training programme for graduate staff and three months for the junior staff.

According to Okhiria, the 12 stations for the train service are still under construction, adding that temporary stations would be used pending completion.

He, however, assured that the stations would be completed by the first quarter of 2019, noting that some of the houses at the railway village were renovated recently for workers.

Okhiria said that a lot has been achieved, especially in the rail system under the current administration, with the purchase of more rolling stock and wagons.

Source: NAN

By Lucy Nwachukwu

Mr Ben Ujoatuonu, Managing Director, Universal Insurance Plc, on Thursday said with increased public awareness and prompt settlement of claims by policy holders, Nigerias Insurance sector would thrive.

Ujoatuonu, said this at the inauguration of the Retail Insured Family Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), with a theme Enhancing Insurance Confidence in Nigeria: The Role of Policy Holders in Abuja.

According to him, Nigerias insurance sector has great potential due to its huge population but is best be described as struggling, with less than one million adults having a form of insurance.

He said: Beyond restoring insurance industry confidence, there is need to further deepen insurance penetration in Nigeria.

The insurance industry must rise up to exploit Nigerias huge population to advantage; for a meaningful result, there should be coordinated approach in creating awareness in the grass root.

On a broader perspective, synergies should be created between the regulator, operators and aggregators also, schools awareness campaign is another major way to `catch them young.

Mr Lawrence Dafiode, Managing Partner, Carmel and Associates, Risk and Management Consultant, who chaired the event, commended the players in the insurance sector, while urging them to do more to drive the sector.

He said: We can all testify to the facts that the insurance industry in Nigeria has been performing below its potential and expectation.

While many, at different times, have identified the challenges facing the industry, not much has been done to address them.

It is for this purpose that I am happy to be part of this occasion as we inaugurate an organisation that aim at improving the performance of the industry by focusing on its retail end.

Mr Akin Bello, National Chairman, RIFAN, in his address, expressed the associations continued desire to partner stakeholders in the sector to increase insurance awareness at the grassroots and enhance overall public confidence in insurance.

Bello said: RIFAN commends the efforts of the insurance industry at various levels, to improve the image of the insurance sector in Nigeria.

We wish to identify with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) for being proactive in seeking partnership with the various states through the new State Insurance Producers (SIP) model.

RIFAN hereby pledges her commitment to continue to support NAICOM in this direction, he said.

According to him, RIFAN is registered under the laws of Nigeria as a free association of insurance policyholders in Nigeria with a mission to create awareness, increase public confidence and ensure prompt claims payment.

He said the association was working at having members in all the 36 states of the federation and would leverage a robust information technology platform to guarantee protection of members interest.

Mr Rotimi Ayeola, a representative of NAIC, urged the association to also reach out to farmers in the country while carrying out its mandate of public awareness of insurance.

He also expressed NAICs desire to support RIFAN in taking care of the policy holders, adding that NAIC would play the role expected of it to drive insurance penetration.

Representatives of Leadway Assuarance Plc, GNI and Veritas insurance all commended the management of RIFAN for taking the bold initiatives and pledged their commitment to support the association in every way possible.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Police Force has pointedly told Senate President Bukola Saraki not to entertain any sense of relief over the death of Michael Adikwu, a major suspect arrested in connection with the deadly multiple robberies in Offa last April.

Police said the five suspects arraigned in court in Ilorin, Kwara State, had already given them enough clues about Sarakis involvement in the robberies and they were determined to prosecute him.

Police gave this position in a response to the statement by Yusuph Olaniyonu, Senate President Bukola Sarakis spokesman.

Olaniyonu called for a probe of Adikwus death.

But the police appeared to have ruled out a probe of the death, saying that the the 30 year-old suspect slumped and died in detention.

There is a post-mortem examination result in respect of the death of Michael Adikwu, police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood said.

In any case, he went further, Adikwus death did not exculpate the Senate President, who was allegedly indicted by the five suspects now on trial in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Adikwu was a dismissed policeman, who in the course of interrogation admitted killing 22 persons, including pregnant women and nine policemen, police claimed. He was also the man who led the police to the other suspects and the recovery of 22 AK 47 Rifles carted away from the police.

The law must take its course, the police said, as they insisted that the arraigned suspects will provide enough testimony to prosecute the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.

The Police also dismissed political motive in the case they have against Saraki and explained why they were determined to prosecute Saraki for the crime committed.

It should be of serious concern to all, that human life is sacrosanct and where investigation has been concluded and suspects arraigned in Court, judicial process must be exhausted and not hindered for the law to take its course in ensuring justice for the families of more than 33 innocent persons including pregnant women that were gruesomely murdered in cold blood.

Here is the edited version of the police statement:

The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to the innuendo in the media on the death of a sectional gang leader Michael Adikwu M 30Yrs, a dismissed policeman and an ex- convict, who confessed to have killed Twenty Two (22) persons including pregnant women and Nine Police personnel and carted away of 22 AK 47 Rifles at the Offa Police Divisional Headquarters during Offa Bank Robbery on the 5th April, 2018. It is therefore imperative that the Nigeria Police Force respond to the publication and set the record straight.

The Nigeria Police Force is conversant and mindful of contempt of Court in commenting on cases already before the Court of competent jurisdiction.

However, the Force is constrained and compelled to respond to the statement from Mr. Yusuf Olaniyonu, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and not on the Court processes and proceedings on the case of Offa Bank Robbery for which Five principal suspects are now standing trial in a State High court in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The police insisted that the five suspects now in courtAyoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery and the gruesome killing of 33 innocent persons, indicted the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.

The Five suspects admitted in their confessional statements to the Police investigators that they were political thugs of the Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The Five (5) gang leaders further confessed during investigation that they are political thugs under the name Youth Liberation Movement a.k.a Good Boys they also admitted and confessed to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles, such as a Lexus RX 300 Jeep with Reg. KWARA, KWA 143 RM with inscription SARAKI on a sticker attached to the vehicle and Mercedes Benz Compressor Reg. LAGOS, LT 496 KJA.

These two Vehicles were used for the Offa Bank Robbery by the five gang Leaders. The first vehicle was later registered after the Offa Bank Robbery to divert attention while the suspects were in detention.

These confessions were made before the media and the public on the 3rd of June, 2018. It is therefore, evidently clear that the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki has case to answer in the whole matter.

It was also discovered during investigations that three gang leaders who participated actively in the Offa Bank Robbery, Viz: Ayoade Akinnibosun aka AY, Ibukunle Ogunleye aka Arrow and Adeola Abraham followed the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki to Olofas Palace when the Senate President paid a condolence visit to Offa after the bank robbery.

Further investigation into the matter revealed that all the Five gang leaders namely; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran have direct connection to the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki as a picture of one of the five gang leaders when paraded by the Police was in Aso Ebi (trouser) used during the Senate President daughters wedding.

The Five gang leaders further admitted that they attended the Senate President daughters wedding held in Abuja.

Consequent on all the above, a thorough and discreet investigation was concluded by the Police into the matter and all the five gang leaders arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery that indicted and implicated Senator Bukola Saraki, Senate President in the Offa Bank Robbery are alive and now in Court.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Election Debate Group has fixed Jan.19, as date forpresidential debate that will see candidates of different political parties unveil their plan for country ahead of the 2019 general election.

The groups chairman, Mr John Momoh who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference said thevice presidential candidates would slug it out on Dec. 14, 2019.

Momoh who is also the chairman of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), noted that the debates would hold at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja and would be broadcast live by all BON member stations.

NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar with Mr Peter Obi as his running mate.

Source: NAN

U.S. Presidenthas dismissed as feelings the CIAs assessment that Saudi Crown Princehad ordered a journalist killed last month at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

They didnt conclude,told reporters at his Florida resort, taking a break for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

I am sorry. No, they didnt conclude. They did not come to a conclusion. They have feelings certain ways. They have not concluded, I dont know if anyones going to be able to conclude the crown prince did it.

s remarks echoed his controversial statement Tuesday saying of the conclusionordered the killing of journalist, maybe he did and maybe he didnt

, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, went missing after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

After initially saying he had left the consulate alive, weeks later the Saudi administration admitted he was killed there, blaming a rogue group of Saudi operatives.

told reporters the Saudi crown prince denies the killing vehemently.

His father denies it, the king [], vehemently. The CIA doesnt say they did it, they do point out certain things and in pointing out those things you can conclude that maybe he did or maybe he didnt, said the president.

Read More at

Source: NAN

Samsung Electronics apologised Friday to workers who developed cancer after working at some of its factories, finally ending a decade-long dispute at the worlds top chipmaker.

Campaign groups said that about 240 people have suffered from work-related illnesses after being employed at Samsung semiconductor and display factories, with around 80 of them many of them young women dying.

The father of a dead 22-year-old worker and the companys co-president Kim Ki-nam signed a formal settlement agreement in Seoul as other disabled ex-employees looked on.

We sincerely apologise to the workers who suffered from illness and their families, said the firms co-president Kim Ki-nam. We have failed to properly manage health risks at our semiconductor and LCD factories.

Samsung Electronics is the worlds biggest mobile phone manufacturer and chipmaker and the flagship subsidiary of the Samsung Group, by far the biggest of the family-controlled conglomerates that dominate the Souths economy.

Samsung currently operates vast semiconductor production compounds in Suwon as well as the cities of Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, as well as Xian in China.

Under a deal announced earlier this month, Samsung Electronics will pay the groups employees compensation of up to 150 million won ($133,000) per case.

It covers 16 types of cancer, some other rare illnesses, miscarriages and congenital diseases suffered by the workers children. Claimants can have worked at plants as far back as 1984.

The scandal emerged in 2007 when former workers at its semiconductor and display factories in Suwon, south of Seoul, and their families said that staff had been diagnosed or died of various forms of cancer.

A series of rulings and decisions by courts, Seouls state labour welfare agency and a mediation committee followed over more than 10 years, culminating in Fridays announcement.

Hwang Sang-ki, who signed the agreement on behalf of the workers and their families, told reporters he was glad to have fulfilled his promise to his daughter, who died of leukaemia in 2007, to prove Samsung was to blame for her death.

But he went on: The apology honestly was not enough for the families of the victims but we will accept it.

No amount of apology will be enough to heal all the insults, the pain of industrial injuries and the suffering of losing ones family.

I cannot forget the pain she and our family went through. Too many people have suffered the same fate.

Little is known about possible connections between the production process in the factories and the workers illnesses, as Samsung has refused to disclose what specific chemical substances it uses, describing the information as a trade secret.

Hwang and other relatives have sought a court order to compel it to release the details.

Compensation for industrial injury is important, but whats more important is prevention, said Hwang, whose story was made into a movie in 2013.

Samsung has played a key part in the Souths rise to become the worlds 11th-largest economy, but it is also the focus of resentment over the power and influence of the chaebols and has faced accusations of murky political connections.

Its de facto leader Lee Jae-yong was found guilty of bribing former president Park Geun-hye as part of the corruption scandal that brought her down, and he spent almost a year in prison before most of his convictions were overturned on appeal and he was released.

The cancer scandal is one of the worst instances of industrial injuries in the South, where safety standards sometimes belie its advanced technological status.

Two months ago, two subcontractors were killed in a carbon dioxide leak at Samsung Electronics Suwon chip plant.

In January, four workers suffocated due to a gas leak at a steel factory owned by Posco the countrys top steelmaker in the southern city of Pohang.

Source: NAN

By Solomon Asowata

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it will divert all flights operations from the D Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos to the E Wing of the airport on Saturday.

FAAN made the announcement in a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu in Lagos on Friday.

According to a statement signed by the general manager, Corporate Affairs Yakubu Henrietta, the diversion is due to routine maintenance schedule at the MMIA.

Yakubu said, FAAN hereby notifies airlines, passengers and the general public that between 10 a.m. and noon on Nov. 24, that we will embark on a routine maintenance at the D Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Consequently, all flight operations at the Wing will be diverted to E Wing while the maintenance work would last.

She said that the maintenance was in the best interest of the flying public, stressing that FAAN remained committed to its core values of safety, security and comfort. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Stakeholders have engaged in conversation to fashion out ways to facilitate the development of sexual offenders register in the country.

The stakeholders consultation held in Abuja was facilitated by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme of the British Council and funded by the European Union.

Mrs Amina Salihu, consultant to RoLAC, said the development of sexual offenders register was crucial in advancing the implementation of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015.

Salihu, who expressed worry over incidences of sexual assault in the country, said the register would serve as a measure to stop and prevent sexual offences as it intends to name and shame offenders.

According to her, it will serve as a source to verify profiles of would be employees in sensitive positions such as child care.

She explained that the register would provide biometric database that would share verifiable information of offenders in order to prevent repeat offending.

On her part, the Component Manager of RoLAC, Mrs Priscilla Ankut, said that while the register would go a long way to assist in tracking offenders, it would also protect victims of violence.

The reason we are here is to make sure that National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Act should maintain and display publicly sex offenders register.

This is to name and shame offenders and to create database for different agencies to track offenders and to deter those who practice sexual assault in our society.

What we have today is a template of what sexual offenders register should look like and what we will do with the information that are contained in it, she said.

Ankut further explained that information contained in the register would provide victims the needed guide to know where to go for succour.

What that register seeks to do is to ensure we collate data of all the relevant agencies, put it out in the public so that people will know where they need to go if there is violation.

And if they go there, they are treated in confidence, they get the kind of treatment they need and resources are available to provide them the needed assistance.

There are those that are confident enough to pursue a legal track and there are those who need legal help so this register will help victims to know where they go to get such help.

Representative of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs Ezinwa Obiajunwa, canvassed for the establishment of a special court for speedy dispensation of justice on cases of violence against persons in the country.

The VAPP Act 2015 prohibits all forms of violence against persons in private and public life, and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders.

Development of sexual offenders register is a provision of the VAPP Act designed to aid in preventing some violence against persons, including rape, willfully placing a person in fear of physical injury, coercion and harmful widowhood practice.

Others are stalking, abandonment of spouse, children and other dependents without sustenance, among others.

Source: NAN

By Raji Rasak

The Nigeria Police in Badagry, said it had arrested seven customs officers over the killing one Mrs Patience Oni and injuring an innocent man at Forte Oil Filling Station near popular Badagry Roundabout in Lagos state.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Badagry Police Station, Mr Samson Akhiromen, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Badagry that the men of customs were arrested for indiscriminately shooting and killing of innocent people.

According to the DPO, the customs officers, under the code name Anti-flying, were raiding an illegal rice depot near a filling station around 12 noon on Tuesday, when they started shooting.

They started shooting indiscriminately to scare away traders and residents from the area.

During the shooting, the bullets from one of the officers hit two people, one died immediately, while the other one is receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

The husband of the woman killed is a police inspector serving in Area K Police Station, Morogbo, he said.

The DPO said that he arrested the officers with his team of officers when the situation was getting out of hand.

He, however, said the arrested officers had been handed over to the SCIID Panti for further investigation and prosecution.

Source: NAN

By Naomi Sharang

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it had relocated itsData Centre tothe commissions headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, following Mondays fire at its Wuse office.

Also relocated to Jabi, according to acting Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, MrTony Orilade, is the Inter-Agency Task Force.

He made this known in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

It would be recalled that officials of Federal Fire Service battled to put out the inferno that almost razed the building.

It was learnt that the fire started in a room serving as storage for ICT equipment and consumables that were retrieved from the commissions former offices in Abuja.

Orilade said that the value of the damaged items, mostly Information Communication Technology (ICT) consumables, is in a few millions of naira.

However, a detailed analysis is being awaited.

Source: NAN