Kenya is facing the risks of suspension from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) after disregarding its rules on importation of Sugar.

The drama surrounding Kenyas sugar imports is dragging as regional players kick.

The controversial importation of an unknown quantity of sugar which has raised a storm in Kenya, with claims of the commodity being contaminated was done without the approval of Comesa.

Under the rules of the 19-member trading bloc, any sugar imports from outside Comesa attract a common external tariff (CET) of 25 per cent.

Goods qualify for preferential tariff treatment only if they originate in the member states and are traded within the bloc.

Kenyas move has not been well received and could hurt its trade relations with other member states.

Ironically, the country enjoys a Comesa Safeguard Measure, which limits the amount of sugar that can be imported duty-free from the blocs members. This special consideration was made in 2002 to give the country time to make its sugar production competitive, as it was feared imports from the bloc would kill local manufacturing.

The safeguard, which restricts duty-free sugar imports from the Comesa member countries to 350,000 metric tonnes per year, expires in February 2019.

The government is therefore keen on an extension after failing to meet key conditions including privatisation of its ailing state-owned millers.

With its outright disregard of Comesa rules, Kenya now risks being denied more time to limit the amount of cheap and duty-free sugar brought into the country to protect its ailing sugar sector.

Suspension from the bloc would deal the country a heavy blow as the rest of the members consume about 12 per cent of Kenyas total exports, including tea, coffee, and horticulture, articles of apparel and clothing accessories and iron and steel.

Comesa rules allow member countries to import goods from non-member states, on condition that the goods attract duty. However, it is understood that Kenya unilaterally passed a domestic law to allow the importation of sugar duty-free.

Kenya should have told other Comesa countries before passing a law to import sugar from the rest of the world because failure to do this caused challenges and we had to step in as the Secretariat to explain their action.

The way this law was communicated was not effective, said Francis Mangeni, Director in charge of Trade and Customs at the Comesa Secretariat.

While allowing importation of duty-free sugar opened the door for all countries to sell sugar to Kenyas importers, the Kenya Revenue Authority is said to have blocked sugar from some Comesa member countries, such as Mauritius, prompting the intervention of the Secretariat.

It is alleged that Kenya has also denied Mauritius a licence to export sugar to the country pending the conclusion of investigation into adulterated sugar in the local market.

Kenya is understood to have requested a discussion of its sugar issues during the 20th Comesa Heads of State and Governments Summit scheduled to take place from July 9 to July 19 2018 in Lusaka, Zambia.

Read more:

Source: NAN

Nigerian banks have restricted cash withdrawals from overseas Automated Teller Machines (ATM) only to those whose cards are linked to their domiciliary accounts funded locally.

The banks have therefore suspended such withdrawals and encouraging travellers to open and fund dollar accounts.

According to the , lenders are also raising their card spending limits on Point of Sale (PoS) and online card transactions abroad, an indication of increased dollar liquidity and rising exchange rate stability.

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and First City Monument Bank (FCMB), it said, at the weekend raised their monthly card spending limit on overseas PoS and online transactions from $1,000 to $3,000 and around $2,000 to $5,000.

We would like to inform you that our monthly spending limit on your GTBank Naira MasterCard has been reviewed to $3,000 from $1,000 for your international online and PoS transactions. Kindly note that international ATM cash withdrawal is still restricted, GTBank said.

Clothing, shoes, electronics, bookswhatever your needs are FCMB Naira Debit Card gives you instant full access to $5,000 monthly to shop online, FCMB said in an email sent to its customers at the weekend.

GT Bank had nearly two years ago during the height of the dollar scarcity limited monthly transactions on PoS and online transactions using cards to $100, British Pounds Sterling 90, Euro 130 and Canadian Dollar 360. The prevailing dollar scarcity at that time made it difficult for travellers to pay their hotel bills and make reservations and other transactions using their debit cards.

Many banks which announced the suspension of their overseas ATM card services in October 2016 have all lifted the suspension and raised monthly transaction volumes for customers on foreign currency-denominated deals, including those conducted on PoS machines and online.

The dynamics changed in April last year when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the Investors

A Kenyan referee who had been due to officiate at the ongoing World Cup in Russia has been handed a life ban after being caught in a bribery sting.

Aden Marwa was filmed receiving a 600-dollar bribe during Confederation of African Football (CAF) assignment in Ghana.

He is one of 22 referees sanctioned by CAF in an unprecedented clean up, announced at the weekend.

Marwa, who was a reserve at the 2014 finals in Brazil, had earlier been removed from the list of match officials due to officiate in Russia.

The life ban was handed out by CAF’s disciplinary board, which also banned 10 other referees for between two years and 10 years for similar offences.

A further 11 persons have been suspended pending an appearance at the board in August.

African football has long been plagued by allegations of bribery but never before has CAF banned such a large number of officials.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday arrived in Maiduguri, Borno, to attend the celebration of Army Day in Monguno.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari arrived the Maiduguri International Airport at 10.30 a.m. in company of his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari.

Buhari was received by Gov. Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar as members of the National and State Assemblies.

Army Day Celebration holds in Borno – 02:48
— News Agency of Nigeria

The president proceeded to the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Munguno, about 150 kilometres from Maiduguri to participate in the activities lined up to mark the 2018 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).

The week-long event was designed to celebrate the soldiers fighting the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East and other security challenges in the country.

NAN reports that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had on Thursday, attended the military exhibition and trade fair in Monguno in line with the activities marking the week.

Buratai had earlier conducted environmental sanitation at Gudunbali, one of the communities currently resettled, and donated tractors to the returning farmers.

The army also conducted medical outreach to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri, Bama, Dikwa and Monguno.

Source: NAN

The President of the Senate Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has commended the Supreme Court for its verdict which upheld the Code of Conduct Tribunal’s ruling clearing him of all 18 count charges bothering on assets declaration.

In a statement personally signed by Saraki, he said that the nation’s apex court had rekindle his strong confidence in the judicial process and the ability of the Judiciary to do justice to all manner of men and in all circumstances.

According to him, the judgment of the Supreme Court which upheld the earlier decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal discharging and acquitting him of all 18 charges instituted against him, Saraki expressed gratitude to all Nigerians who have supported him since the case commenced three years ago.

Saraki wrote: “At the end of a tortuous journey of 1018 Days counting from September 22, 2015 when the case began at the Tribunal, I am happy that I have been vindicated. The Supreme Court has affirmed that there is no evidence of false declaration of assets.

“The court also observed that certain agents took over the responsibility of the Code of Conduct Bureau in this trial, and one can infer that this was done towards a pre-determined end.

“This outcome has gladdened my heart and further strengthened my belief in this country and as well as my faith in Almighty Allah, who is the righter of all wrongs. God has vindicated me today before the judgment of man, and I am most thankful and humbled at His grace and infinite mercies.

“Through it all, I refused to be shaken, knowing, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, that the arch of the moral universe may be long, but it bends towards justice. I knew the day would come when justice would prevail and I would be exonerated.

“I have always believed in the infallibility of our Judiciary, secure in the knowledge that our courts – the last refuge of the oppressed – would never condemn the innocent. This outcome is also a vindication of my belief in the rule of law.

“As I said in my first appearance at the CCT, this is a politically motivated case. The case was trumped up in the first instance because of my emergence as the President of the Senate against the wishes of certain forces.

“Ordinarily, I doubt anyone would be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over 15 years ago.

“What we have seen is the opposite. Instead of working together in the interest of the nation and to seek to do better for our people, we are fighting one another and using legal instruments to mount baseless accusations against one another.

“Instead of exhibiting the need for unity and working day and night for that purpose, we are stoking the fire of division and rancour. I maintain that, above all else, my CCT trial has been a flagrant vilification of my person, and shows that some people are after their personal interests rather than the national interest.

“As a result of the war of attrition, various arms of government have wasted resources needlessly. It has been three wasted years across board in this country. Three years that would have been devoted to tackling issues affecting Nigerians, including: economic recovery, insecurity, youth unemployment and strengthening national institutions – were wasted on malicious prosecution.

“People were ready to trade off three years that would have been devoted to fostering cooperation, unity and economic progress for their selfish ends. It is my hope that those who are behind my persecution will see the handwriting on the wall and leave me to do the work for which I was elected, so I can continue to give my all to this great country of ours.

“As many have rightly observed, it is plain to see that the anti-corruption fight is being prosecuted with vindictiveness, to target perceived political opponents. I believe in the need to fight corruption, but I will never be party to the selective application of the law or the rhetoric of an insincere anti-corruption fight.

“I believe in fighting corruption and I have made my own humble contributions to the fight against corruption in this country. As a presidential aide, I initiated the process that led to the enactment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. I was the first governor to establish the Price Intelligence Unit which later metamorphosed into the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) at the federal level. In the history of this country, the highest fraud, the most brazen corruption has been the Fuel Subsidy scam.

“No one wanted to talk about it or confront entrenched powers. As a Senator on the platform of the ruling party at that time, I sponsored a motion on the floor of the Senate calling for investigation that led to the unprecedented exposure of the massive corruption in the fuel subsidy regime. That was my only point of departure with the former President. My antecedents speak for themselves.

“I thank Nigerians for standing by me through the difficult period of this trial. The support of ordinary Nigerians and their faith in me, as well as their sophistication and discernment in seeing this case for what it was, has been a source of strength to me.

“I am most grateful for the support of my Distinguished Colleagues and the Honourable Members of the 8th National Assembly for their unflinching support and regular attendance at the various proceedings.

“They were unfairly criticised for accompanying me on court appearances, but it is now clear that they did so because they believed that injustice to one, is injustice to all. They have been the true embodiment of esprit de corps. I thank them for banding together in the face of an unconscionable attack on the institution of the legislature.

“I thank my legal team for their determined and principled stance, and for their knowledge and diligence, which saw this case to its just conclusion. My gratitude to all my friends, political associates, supporters and the good people of Kwara State – all of whom have been solidly behind me.

“I thank my family for enduring this trial with their usual grace and fortitude. My immense gratitude also goes to the international community for their interest in this case. The Nigerian press have kept watch and I appreciate their vigilance in ensuring that all the facts were held up to scrutiny.

“To my supporters, yes, there is a reason to rejoice, but our celebration must be tempered with the sobering lessons of the attempted injustice from Day One of this trial. We all have to canvas for fairness in the fight against corruption. We should see this verdict as an inspiration to champion the rule of law, promote democracy and its institutions as well as tolerance of divergent views.

“The overwhelming support of so many, and the insistence on ensuring that due process and truth prevailed, has made this verdict possible,” he stated.

I found this interesting

A Pakistani court on Friday sentenced ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to 10 years in prison for corrupt practices linked to his familys purchase of upscale London flats, in a major blow to his party ahead of general elections on July 25.

The guilty verdict in absentia against Sharif, 68, threatens to end the career of one of Pakistans most high-profile politicians of the last four decades, a political survivor who was prime minister three times.

A political ally said Sharif would return to Pakistan from London to file an appeal, facing arrest on arrival just before the election, in which his party is in a close race with opposition figure Imran Khans party.

Todays verdict shows that these Avenfield apartments were purchased using corruption money, prosecution lawyer Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi told reporters, citing the name of the apartment building in London.

Sharifs daughter, Maryam, widely seen as his chosen political heir, was sentenced to seven years in prison. Maryams husband and PML-N lawmaker Muhammad Safdar was handed a year in jail, he said.

The people of Pakistan and PML-N reject this decision, said Sharifs brother Shehbaz, who took over as PML-N president after his brother was banned from holding office for life, and is expected to be its prime ministerial candidate.

This decision is based on injustice.

Sharif and his daughter were in London on Friday with Sharifs wife, Kulsoom, who is being treated for cancer and is in a coma after suffering a heart attack last month.

Both denied wrongdoing and will appeal the decision, said Sharif ally Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, adding that the former premier would return to Pakistan before the election.

The NAB court ordered Sharif to pay a fine of 8 million pounds ($10.6 million) and fined Maryam 2 million pounds, while ordering the confiscation of the London properties on behalf of the Pakistani government, Abbasi said.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court accused Sharif and his family of money laundering and being unable to legitimately show the money trail for the purchase of several luxurious properties in London, mostly in the mid-1990s.

A copy of the verdict said the Sharif family had failed to prove a legal source of income for the purchase of Avenfield apartments in 1993, 1995 and 1996.

Sharif was ousted by the Supreme Court in July 2017 and barred from politics for being dishonest by failing to report a monthly income of 10,000 Emirati dirhams ($2,723) from a company owned by his son. He denies drawing the monthly salary.

But he has kept de facto control of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party that he founded.

The decision comes at a time of growing suspicion of military meddling in politics ahead of the polls, as well as media complaints of being muzzled.

Sharif had denounced the court proceedings against him as politically motivated and a judicial witch-hunt, often suggesting the military was to blame.

Justice has been massacred, Maryams husband Safdar said after the verdict.

Pakistans military, which has ruled the nuclear-armed country for almost half its history, denies involvement in civilian politics. But the military ended Sharifs second stint in power in 1999 in a bloodless coup.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says active mobile telephone lines in Nigeria has increased to 162 million.

This figure is close to the nations population figure which is now put at 195 million.

It said in its monthly Subscribers Operator Data posted on its website on Friday that the mobile lines figure was as at the end of May, adding that it rose from 160 million recorded in April.

With 162, 075,116 lines in May and 160, 081,051 in April, the increase in the number of lines was 1,994,065.

However, the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) for active mobile lines had 217,566 users in May, same as in April.

The report said that the number of fixed wired/wireless for active mobile lines in May was 137, 010 compared to April, which had 136, 496 lines, indicating an increase of 514 lines.

According to NCC, the number of Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) was 93,080 in May compared with 89,477 recorded in April, representing a rise of 3,603.

It also revealed that Teledensity rose by 143 in May to 11,609 as against 11,466 in April.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Teledensity is the number of telephone connections for every 100 individuals living within an area and it varies widely across the country.

NCC also said that the number of connected mobile lines in May increased to 240,259,751 from 238,032,318 in April, recording an increase of 2, 227,433.

The CDMA for connected lines for May was 3,586,095, the same figure with April, the subscribers data revealed.

The report said the number of fixed wired/wireless for connected lines in May was 345,210 compared to April that had 344, 892, an increase of 318 lines.

It also showed that the number of VOIP for connected lines in May was 611,376 as against 575,712 in April, rising by 35,644 lines.

Source: NAN

The Niger Delta Youth Council(NDYC) says the Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, needs the support of everybody ethnic nationality in the region.

This appeal is conveyed in a position paper drafted after NDYC stakeholders meeting held in Abuja.

The paper was jointly signed by Comrade Jator Abido, NDYC Coordinator and Comrade Kede Michael, Secretary.

We appeal to all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region to be calm and support our own, Dokubo.

To stop the castigation, falsehood and blackmail against Dokubo in all ramifications.

We should learn not to wash our dirty linen in public and desist from the act of pulling those that meant well for our region. Niger Delta must be united

We should learn to channel our grievances and all other matters through the appropriate leadership organs.

We should learn to support our own to achieve successes in their primary place of assignment, they said.

NDYC urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call on the various security agencies to do their job effectively in order to curb the high spate of insecurity in the nation.

Source: NAN

A teenage girl has sacrificed her life to save her younger sister from falling down a North Carolina waterfall in the United States (U.S.), during the July 4 holiday.

HMoney Siu, 16, of Charlotte, and her sister, 11, had fallen into a river 120 to 150 feet above Rainbow Falls in Transylvania County, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman said.

She tried to help her younger sister get out of the river, but fell down the waterfall.

An older family member managed to grab the other girl, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman said.

Multiple news outlets reported the fall occurred around noon.

More than 40 agencies, including forest services and multiple volunteer fire departments, aided in the search for the girls body.

About 100 people were evacuated from the river below the falls during the search.

Divers recovered the body around 5 p.m. from a pool about 25 feet deep.

Sius accident marks the sixth waterfall-related death in western North Carolina this year.

Safety officials have urged visitors and hikers to exercise caution around the dangerous falls.

Rainbow Falls are about 150 miles from Sius familys home in Charlotte. They are originally from Vietnam.

Source: NAN

The Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated Enugu State Governor Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki on their victories at the Supreme Court on Friday.

Ugwuanyi was having a legal battle with Sen. Ayogu Eze over election primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 governorship poll in Enugu State.

Ekweremadu said that Ugwuanyi was an agent of peace and development in Enugu.

On the victory, he said, this is victory, not just for Gov. Ugwuanyi, but more importantly, a victory for peace, equitable development and unusual transformation in Enugu State.

I believe it is a motivation for the governor to do more and a veritable launch pad into the 2019 general elections for the PDP in the state.

It is instructive that the three senatorial districts of Enugu State have already endorsed him unanimously for a second term in office because he has justified our decision in electing him in 2015.

On Sarakis victory Ekweremadu said the apex courts unanimous decision, dismissing the assets declaration charges against him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) was avictory for the legislature and democracy.

Ekweremadu said: I salute the courage of the Supreme Court jurists.

This decision has no doubt strengthened faith in the Judiciary as a sanctuary of justice and defender of rule of law.

It has, once again, distinguished the judiciary as the bastion of democracy and last hope of the oppressed.

He added that it was victory, not only for the President of the Senate, but for the National Assembly, our democracy and every Nigerian, who stood up against all forms of political intimidation, high-handedness and impunity.

I salute the President of the Senate for his resilience, courage and undying commitment to the immutable democratic principles of the rule of law and separation of powers as well as the integrity and independence of the legislature.

Source: NAN

The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolori has said that legislatures across the globe face a common problem of public perception .

The CNA who stated this in his key note address at a 2-day workshop on State Legislatures and Public Engagement organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies ( NILDS), said the perception problem arose as a result of lack of required engagements from time to time .

According to him, the public are neither knowledgeable about nor particularly satisfied with workings of the legislatures and unless the public are informed about what parliaments are doing , they cannot influence the institution and unless they can influence the institution they cannot hold it and their elected members fully to account .

He said that it was for the reason that the workshop had become more apt, stressing that with more of such engagements as have been exemplified by NILDS, the public can become more knowledgeable of the working of the legislature and appreciate them better.

He explained that at the national level, the National Assembly has taken active measures to engage more with the public through information provision and involvement in legislative processes .

To further open the legislature to the public at the National level, he disclosed that National Assembly in consolidating legislative openness and in line with international best practices , will for the first run an open week 16th to 19th of this month .

This , he explained, is to further open the legislature to the public , foster interaction between the public and their elected representatives and deepen public understanding of the workings of the National Assembly in promoting accountability and good governance .

In making the public engagement robust, the Speaker called on the civil society organizations to see the legislature as partners in the quest for good governance anchored on transparency and accountability and not as a body to be attacking all the time .

More often than not, CSOs constitute themselves as opposition to the legislature rather than as partners . Such disposition is not helpful to consolidating democracy that CSOs seek to achieve in the first instance .

In the long run, there can be no genuine democracy without the legislature . Indeed , it is arguably not in the extreme to postulate that the presence of legislature is the democracy , he said .

In her remarks at the occasion, the Director General of NILDS, Prof. Ladi Hamalai said the essence of organising the workshop for Clerks of State Houses of Assembly, was to replicate public engagement moves being made at the National Assembly at the state levels.

Source: NAN

The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) says it will ensure Nigerian umpires are recognised by the world body especially in the officiating of international competitions.

BFNs President, Francis Orbih, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the federation had started the move with the umpires course held at the National Stadium, Abuja.

Orbih said the course which held between July 2 and July 5 for 67 umpires was designed to expose them to the latest developments in the game.

He said the course was also organised to build the capacity of the match officials and prepare them for international assignments.

I can tell you that for any championship, if the standard of officiating is poor, it can mar the game. We feel that our umpires should be grounded in the rules and technicalities of the game.

As we are today in Nigeria, we do not have one single referee in Africa; there is no Nigerian referee recognised by the world body.

So, we think and feel strongly that with the level the game has reached in Nigeria, we should have our umpires participating in international competitions.

It is not only our athletes that should be excelling at international events, our umpires should excel too; we want a situation where other African countries will come to Nigeria and employ coaches.

We want to train our coaches and umpires to that level. We want to have as many referees as possible recognised and invited by the world body to officiate matches, Orbih said.

According to Orbih, the umpires course will make more meaning to the federation when the match officials are invited to officiate at the highest level.

He said: When you have people at that highest level it means that there is no aspect of the game that they do not know.

But first and foremost, we want to make sure that we organise national championships for them before we begin to look at sending them on international training.

It is the number of games an umpire officiated that add up to qualify him or her to be invited for African championships.

When I addressed the umpires during this course, I told them that if they do not have competitions where they will go and practice what they have learnt, then, we have wasted our time.

From the response we have received, we are going to have a second batch of this course after the Lagos International Badminton Classics this July; we have seen that we need to do more.

Akinyemi Akindele, the Chairman, Caretaker Umpires Committee of BFN, said 67 participants from 27 states including Army, FRSC and Prisons attended the course.

We had this course last in 2003 because the people there before did not deem it fit to conduct it. But when we came in last month, we pleaded with BFN to assist us financially to organise the course.

Our aim is that since we are getting old, we are supposed to leave officiating for the younger ones and that is basically why we are organising it.

The new BFN board is working hard to ensure that they take one umpire to every competition who will later impact the knowledge learnt on others, Akindele said.

Akindele noted that Nigerian umpires would be the toast of other African countries if the federation continued with the current trend.

He said the umpires committee had pegged the age limit for entry point at between 20 and 40 years.

Source: NAN

The World Cup bursts back into life on Friday as tournament favourites Brazil take on a Belgium side brimming with talent while a young France team face battle-hardened Uruguay.

The first match Uruguay-France, will take place at 3pm Nigerian time and the second at 7pm.

Neymars Brazil are aiming to win a record-extending sixth World Cup at Moscows Luzhniki Stadium on July 15.

But first, the worlds most expensive player and his star-studded supporting cast have to get past Belgium, who boast an array of their firepower, to reach the semi-finals.

In a Kazan Arena expected to be dominated by yellow-clad Brazil fans, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne have a chance to prove they can cut it at the highest international level.

They will have to be wary of attacking threats coming at them from every direction.

Individually, Brazil are the strongest team in this World Cup, said vastly experienced Belgium defender Vincent Kompany.

But it doesnt affect our chances against them. None of us are going to sleep at night thinking We have already lost to Brazil.

We are going to look them in the eye. But if we make this a match of individuals, then well lose, he said.

Brazil coach Tite said he was desperate to win the match without resorting to the horror of penalties after three of the last-16 ties were settled by spot-kicks.

A football match should never be settled with the horror of penalties. I dont see that as a valid result, Tite told a packed press conference on Thursday. For me, there has to be another way.

Brazil made a slow start in Russia but hit their stride with an impressive performance to shut down Mexico in the last round, even though Neymar was roundly criticised for once again play-acting at the merest contact from an opponent.

If I seem more relaxed, its because the players have put me in this position by playing better, said Tite.

France overran Argentina in a last-16 match that appeared to signal the passing of a torch to a new generation of superstars, as 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe scored twice to outshine Lionel Messi and dump the 2014 finalists out of the competition.

Uruguay have so many assets, so many qualities, said France coach Didier Deschamps. They defend as a unit, they play together and they love to do that.

Uruguay are crossing their fingers that prolific striker Edinson Cavani will recover from the calf injury he sustained in his impressive two-goal performance that ended the hopes of Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal.

Cavani was back in training on Thursday and France are acutely aware of the threat posed by the man who plays his club football for Paris Saint-Germain.

I am preparing my team for if Cavani plays, Deschamps said, although he suggested Uruguay were keeping their cards close to their chest: If he plays or not, I will only know 90 minutes before the game.

In England, World Cup fever is building as hopes rise that Gareth Southgates young team can beat Sweden on Saturday and reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1990.

Even Bank of England governor Mark Carney is getting swept up in the excitement, saying that if the Three Lions were to win the tournament for the first time since 1966, it would be an unalloyed, unadulterated, absolute good.

Coach Gareth Southgate has urged his young squad to seize their chance.

Its a great opportunity, and although our team will be individually better in two years, we might not have this opportunity again, Southgate told the BBC.

In Saturdays other quarter-final, host nation Russia will hope to keep their rollercoaster ride through the finals going when they face Croatia.

Written off as no-hopers before the tournament, Russia are now within reach of their first semi-final since 1966.

Source: NAN

Mr Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives (APC) has reiterated his appeal to aggrieved members of the party to be patient with his leadership, in an apparent response to the emergence on Wednesday of a rebel group, Reformed APC(R-APC)

My appeal to all those who are aggrieved is to be patient, Oshiomhole said.

However, former Senate leader and the Senator representing Southern Borno, Alhaji Ali Ndume, dismissed the new group, saying that only God and time could determine the direction of the APC in 2019.

Oshiomhole spoke to newsmen after receiving the report of the partys just concluded National Convention Appeal Panel Committees report on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alhaji Buba Galadima who is the National Chairman of the Reformed APC, announced its formation at a news conference at the Sheraton Hotels in Abuja on Wednesday.

The assurance is that under my leadership, we will make honest mistakes and once our attention is drawn, we will find courage to make up for our mistake.

Some people say how can people eat their words, for me, I will eat my words if it is nutritious enough and if that is what I have to do to have peace in the family, Oshiomhole said.

He expressed appreciation to members of the party for his election and for entrusting with him, the responsibility to pilot the partys affairs at this time.

He acknowledged that he new of the partys challenges before accepting the task, saying that it wasa huge opportunity for him and other newly elected executives of the party to make a difference.

This, Oshiomhole said, was not only for the party, but for the country generally.

So, I appeal to people to realise that a blind man can redeem his eyes if he applies the correct medication, but you cant force it to open over night, he said.

He added that forcing the eyes to open over night, would create more problems and damage the eye the more.

The APC national chairman maintained that he would do everything possible to sustain confidence and trust, adding that everybody was important in the party.

He also said that everybody in the party matters, adding that he would run an inclusive party.

I pray for wisdom and courage and I believe that we have it and we will deploy it for peace within the APC family,Oshiomhole said.

Senator Ali Ndume, in a separate interview dismissed the new group.

He said the threat by the R-APC and nPDP to leave the APC would never spell doom for it, but only God and time would tell.

The Senator who admitted that politics is all about interest, said there was however, nothing wrong if an aggrieved group voices out its displeasure.

He added that movement from one political party to another is normal in politics.

What is happening is part of politics, especially now in our political days, all of us are Nigerians and we know what is happening.

So, politics is about interest and if somebody feels that his or her interest will be more protected by voicing out his dissent, it is Ok.

This party is a party of time, decided by Nigerian masses and it is only God that can decide the time of a political party: God and Nigerians know that APC government is the light at the end of the tunnel,the Senator said.

Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, APC National Publicity Secretary was more laconic in his reaction. He said the party leadership would get the full details of what happened.

Source: NAN

By Naomi Sharang

A member of National Assembly, Sen. Ali Ndume, has urged the Federal Government to concentrate on intelligence-gathering in its effort to win the fight against insurgency in the country.

Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District at the Senate, made the call when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

He suggested that security agencies should collaborate with various communities in troubled areas to gather intelligence on where explosive devices used for suicide bombing were manufactured.

Everybody in Borno knows that the major black spot of Boko Haram is Sambisa and the Lake Chad Basin fringes.

Ndume expressed dismay that many people still did not understand what people in the North-East were passing through with regards to the humanitarian crisis.

Many people are under-rating and under-estimating the humanitarian crisis in the North-East. People dont know and are under-estimating the level of destruction to infrastructure, to ecosystem and to the people.

There are many children out of school in Borno for nine yearsthat were not able to go to school. Many children dont know where their parents are.

The institution of government is not working; so, since Im here to represent my people I shouldjust keep quiet and concentrate, he said.

The lawmaker, however, said that the action of government in the fight against insurgency was commendable, adding but we are not there yet.

We, as citizens, are expecting peace that we know to be back, he said.

On the grants given to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Ndume said, I am on the financial tracking system of the US.

The international development partners have contributed 740 million dollars; if you convert that to naira it translates to N280 billion or more.

Out of the 740 million dollars, they spent close to 80 percent on overhead and it is only 20 per cent that went to the people.

He, however, decried existing situation where there was no synergy between the 75 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in the state.

It is not that they are not doing anything at all, but when you look at the money, 740 million dollars, if you decide to give the displaced persons conditional cash transfer, they would have settled themselves.

He commended the World Food Programme, saying it was visible when compared with others.

Source: NAN

Opposition politicians and some past leaders have been accused of holding secret meetings within and outside the country to plan how to cause disorder in Nigeria .

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) on Thursday alerted Nigerians on the plan.

The Chairman of BMO, Mr Austin Braimoh, said the meetings were parts of their alleged agenda to cause public disaffection and disorder in the country.

According to him, the primary objective of the sponsors is to stop the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general election.

This group of Nigerians were powerful in the past and misused the opportunity of running the affairs of this country while in position of authority.

They are opposed to the anti-corruption action of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari because they directly or indirectly contributed to the economic adversity of the country, he said.

The BMO chairman said that instead of these questionable leaders to apologise to Nigerians on the ignoble roles they played in ruining the economy, they have chosen to embark on campaign of calumny and mis-information against the country, under the guise of exercising their freedom of expression.

It is ironic that while President Muhammadu Buhari is working hard to rebuild the economy, restore the image of Nigeria in the international community and take its rightful place in the comity of nations,

These politicians are out there portraying the country in bad light, be-littling its status as a medium power in the world and discouraging foreign investors, Braimoh added.

While advising them to retrace their steps, he described such plans as regrettable that people of their calibre have chosen to downgrade their status by their action.
He also urged those involved in the perpetuation of this evil to support the current administration in its ongoing serious infrastructural development effort aimed at repositioning the country for the benefit of all Nigerians. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By EricJames Ochigbo

The House of Representatives on Thursday mandated its Committee on Public Accounts and its Finance counterpart to investigate Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) expenditure on Information Technology (IT).

This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Iboro Ekanem (PDP-Cross River) at plenary.

Moving the motion earlier, Ekanem said that the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) reported that MDAs spent about two billion dollars on IT projects annually.

He said that the huge expenditure was without commensurate results in the activities of MDAs.

The lawmaker said that it had also been reported that the demand for public funds to pursue IT projects had become a means to siphon public funds by corrupt individuals.

He said that a recent investigation carried out by NITDA showed that many IT projects were riddled with poor conceptualization and without clear sustainability plans.

He said that such situation of led to duplication of projects, waste, redundancies and a conduit pipe to siphon public funds.

Ekanem alleged that the nations financial resources were being hoarded to the benefit of a few individuals, thereby damaging the economy and reputation of the country.

According to him, if no attention is given to this matter, it may pave way for corrupt practices to increase among MDAs, using lCT platform as a ground for official theft, breach of trust and misappropriations.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the house, Mr Yakubu Dogara, mandated the committees to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

Source: NAN

The National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday dismissed the so-called Reformed APC and its sponsors, saying reports that the party has broken up are far from the truth.

Who are the people? I dont know about Galadima, Oshiomhole said when asked whether he would be the splinter group back into the APC.

Oshiomhole spoke in an interview with the newsmen shortly after a maiden meeting with the APC caucus in the House of Representatives that lasted for about three hours in Abuja.

Responding to questions, Oshiomhole disagreed that the party was in a crisis.

There is no breakup in APC. If one Galadima of no particular political address says he is not happy, that is fine. He has the right not to be happy.

And if he chooses to call himself what he wants to call himself, I wont miss my sleep over that.

We know those who are in the system. Those who are in the politics for bread and butter, that is their problem, he said.

There is no breakup in APC. If one Galadima of no particular political address says he is not happy, that is fine. He has the right not to be happy. And if he chooses to call himself what he wants to call himself, I wont miss my sleep over that.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a rebel group in the party, the Reformed All Progressives Congress (rAPC), under the leadership of Alhaji Buba Galadima, emerged on Wednesday in Abuja.

Announcing the formation of the group at a news conference in Abuja, Galadima said the group had activated its parallel structures from the national to the ward levels.

He further stated that the new leaders at the ward levels would soon be made public.

The news conference was attended by many APC leaders, including the former National Chairman of the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

Oshiomhole said the party is in talks with the real stakeholders in APC.

I mean between the executive and the two arms of the National Assembly, we have very important, influential leaders and we are engaging them.

Now, if you have people who are being sponsored by those who thought that our convention would be a failure and they were expecting implosion.

If you review the headline before the convention, there were stories like Oh people are going to walk out of the convention, Oh people will boycott the convention.

In the end, they were shocked to find that president was seated, the Vice-President was seated and Senate President was seated.

Speaker of the House was seated, the national leaders were seated, the then national chairman was seated, and all the governors were seated.

So they were like, what do we do next. They couldnt stop what God has willed.

So if thereafter, after two weeks of wriggling in pains that they were disappointed, you find mercenaries who are willing to be hired for a purpose, it is their right to be so hired, he said.

The APC chair said the development would not cause any distraction within the core party leadership.

And I met with the Senate leadership, with the Senate president in attendance, I have just met with the House of Reps, with the Speaker in attendance.

Of course, I have had series of meetings with various party leaders

I have had meetings with governors elected on APC platform, everybody that matters in APC is here and our members just expect that with the new leadership, a couple of things will be done differently.

And we are obviously going to do a couple of things differently because as it is said, you can be doing the same thing the same old way and expect different outcome.

I am convinced that there are many things that we could do differently, he said.

According to him, although there are worries, there are also hopes.

He dismissed insinuations that the crisis might jeopardise the partys chances in the 2019 elections.

If people choose to be detained by fear, it is their choice. I am inspired by hope of the infinite possibilities for the future.

On whether he intends to bring the splinter group together, Oshiomhole asked: Who are the people? I dont know about Galadima.

He said he was at the National Assembly to thank the House caucus of the party for its support at the convention.

Earlier at the meeting, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, had said that it was only by enthroning justice and equity that the APC would be able to silence voices of dissent and opposition.

He said although there is no human endeavour that is perfect, the APC lawmakers only expected justice which is indivisible and universal.

In every family, whether it is a nuclear, extended or an organisation, there is bound to be problem and that is because we humans are running those institutions are not perfect ourselves.

So we dont expect perfection in from any quarters.

Our only expectation is the issue of justice and justice is indivisible. What is justice to the executive should be justice to the legislature and it should be justice to the judiciary, Dogara said.

Source: NAN

By Lucy Osuizigbo

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Thursday described the death of former Finance Minister, Malam Adamu Ciroma, as a great loss to Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ciroma, an elder statesman, died in an Abuja hospital on Thursday after a protracted illness.

The deceased was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and also the finance minister during the first term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was 84 years old.

In a statement issued by his Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman in Lagos, Tinubu said the country had lost an illustrious leader who played politics with a commitment to serve the people and change society.

He said that the late Ciroma was a consummate politician and an accomplished public servant.

Malam Adamu Ciroma was one of the illustrious leaders this country has produced. He was a politician of note.

You cannot but recall his days in the Second Republic National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and in the PDP where he was one of the partys founding fathers.

He also made name as an experienced technocrat and skilful public servant particularly as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor and in later years as Minister of Finance.

He was a fine man who played politics with a commitment to serve the people and change society.

This did not come as a surprise given his background honed by sound education at the popular Barewa College and University of Ibadan and his nationalistic worldview.

My condolences go to the Ciroma family and the people of government of Yobe State. May his soul rest in peace, Tinubu said (NAN)

Source: NAN

Malam Adamu Ciroma, the former finance minister and governor Central Bank of Nigeria, took the final bow today, amidst an outpouring of tributes by politicians and friends.

Ciroma, aged 83 died today at Nizamiyye Hospital Abuja. He had been missing from the political circuit for months before his death. He is survived by Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma and three Children

According to Islamic tradition, his funeral held today, with Senate President, Bukola Saraki, among the dignitaries who attended the prayers.

President Muhammadu Buhari led the condolences for the family of the elder statesman.

The President in a message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Thursday, condoled with the Ciroma family, the government and people of Yobe.

The President believed that Ciroma as a political leader and federal cabinet minister for Industries, Agriculture and Finance, at various points in his remarkable life, would be long remembered for his remarkable service and dedication to the countrys unity, progress and stability.

President Buhari also affirmed that the late former CBN Governor would be honoured too for his contributions to promoting democracy in Nigeria.

According to him, Ciromas legacies should be a constant reminder to politicians who wish to work for the good of their communities and the nation.

President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, expressed sadness over Ciromas death.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja on Thursday, Saraki said with the death of Ciroma, Nigeria had lost one of its illustrious sons and highly respected elder statesmen.

Although death is painful, but it gladdens my heart that late Ciroma lived a worthy and successful life.

As a public servant, late Ciromas integrity was unparalleled; as a politician, he was unblemished and as a journalist, he was among the finest breed.

Indeed there is no word or adjective that will be enough to describe late Ciroma, considering his invaluable contributions to the development of the country.

We have lost a detribalised Nigerian, bridge-builder and a strong pillar for nations unity. He will surely be remembered for his forthrightness and integrity. We shall miss him greatly, he said.

Dogara said late Ciroma was one of the nations shining stars and frontline statesmen who demonstrated passion for the unity, progress and development of Nigeria.

He said the late statesman was an icon of transparency and an epitome of integrity who lived an incorruptible life.

Indeed we lost a great man, a patriot, leader par excellence and a shining star.

Malam Adamu Ciroma was one of the few surviving close associates of the late Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu also described the death of Ciroma as a great loss to Nigeria.

In a statement issued by his Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman in Lagos, Tinubu said the country had lost an illustrious leader who played politics with a commitment to serve the people and change society.

He said that the late Ciroma was a consummate politician and an accomplished public servant.

Malam Adamu Ciroma was one of the illustrious leaders this country has produced. He was a politician of note.

You cannot but recall his days in the Second Republic National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and in the PDP where he was one of the partys founding fathers.

He also made name as an experienced technocrat and skilful public servant particularly as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor and in later years as Minister of Finance.

He was a fine man who played politics with a commitment to serve the people and change society.

This did not come as a surprise given his background honed by sound education at the popular Barewa College and University of Ibadan and his nationalistic worldview.

My condolences go to the Ciroma family and the people of government of Yobe State. May his soul rest in peace, Tinubu said

The Ex-minister was a title holder of Dallatun Fika, Galadima of Fika and currently Madaki of Fika respectively.

He was born on November 20,1934 from the Royal family of Ciroma, in Potiskum Town, Yobe State was a founding member of People Democratic Party (PDP).

He was educated at Barewa College and University of Ibadan.

He served at various times as minister for finance and agriculture.

Source: NAN