President Muhammadu Buhari is not a multi-millionaire in cash, but has millions of supporters, Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network, a group that paid N45 million for the nomination forms for the president, has declared.

President Buharis supporters came together to pay for his nomination forms as well as for the expression of interest for his re-election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC).

The National Co-coordinator of the Group, Mr. Sunnsi Musa, said: It is my singular honour and rare privilege to present to you a cheque of N45 million as payment for the expression of interest and nomination forms for President Muhammadu Buhari.

According Musa, the group embarks on the project based on the recognition that the President has started laying a foundation for a better Nigeria.

The National Co-ordinator said that there was need to consolidate on the gains so far made by the present administration in the country.

We have no doubt that Mr President has both in action and word been working to lay a foundation for a greater and prosperous nation that our generation and future generation will be proud of.

Under his administration, Nigeria has become a country sought after for investments in the world and has assumed its leadership role in not just Africa but also the world.

Today, Nigerias moribund infrastructure is being revived. There is no state in Nigeria that does not have several major Federal Government infrastructure projects, either completed or being executed under President Buhari.

We have a stable and steadily growing economy that is departing from the monotonic oil dependence. Agriculture is now an attractive venture as farmers are becoming multi-millionaires.

Nigeria is now an exporter of agricultural products as opposed to what it was three years ago, he said.

He noted that for the first time since the return of democracy, Nigerians had a president who could beat his chest and state that he had never stolen government funds.

According to Musa, Buhari is not among presidents who meet at night to strike shady personal deals.

He added that the President was poised to ensure that every agreement entered into by Nigeria was in the interest of the people and the country and its unborn generations.

This he noted had indeed boosted the confidence of investors into the country and the inflow of direct foreign investment into the country.

Looted funds are being recovered and ploughed back to develop our country deficit infrastructure.

Almost a million farmers under the Anchor Borrowers Programme are benefiting from low interest loans and 500, 000 previously unemployed graduates are now employed under the NPower Scheme.

He also noted that 400, 000 extremely poor families were already receiving N5, 000 monthly stipend while over 8 million children were being fed daily in public schools across the country as promised by the Buhari-led administration.

Today, and for the first time in our history, we have a government that is honest and sincere in investing in the poor, the masses and the underprivileged.

Musa maintained that his group could not fold its hands and watch while the foundation laid by the Buharis administration would be destroyed by some other persons.

We cannot afford to destroy the future of our children. The foundation laid by President Muhammadu Buhari, must be reinforced.

It is for this reason, Mr Chairman, that we have decided to pull our meagre resources together to purchase the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for President Buhari.

He has presented himself to our party members to be chosen as their candidate for the 2019 general elections.

The Chairman of the party Adams Oshiomhole, who received members of the group, thanked them for the gesture and for believing in President Buhari and the APC administration. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Austrian Dominic Thiem became the first tennis player in 14 years to hand a bagel to World Number one, Rafa Nadal in a marathon match that ended in Nadals favour at 2am New York time on Wednesday.

American Andy Roddick was the only other player who performed the feat at the same arena in 2004.

Thiem who was doubtful about his capacity to prevail over the defending champion, shocked him in the first set by preventing him from winning a game. But Nadal fought back to claim the next two sets and the decider, winning 0-6 6-4 7-5 6-7(4) 7-6(5).

Nadal won just 40 percent of his first serves in the first set as he struggled with the high humidity on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

Its been a great battle, an exhausted Nadal said. The conditions were tough, very humid for me.

For Thiem: the defeat will stay with me forever.

Thiem, who lost to Nadal in the French Open final but who has beaten the Spaniard three times in 10 previous meetings, struck 74 winners, including 24 with his stylish single-handed backhand, to keep the champion under constant pressure.

Im very sorry for Dominic, Nadal added. Hes a close friend on tour, a great guy and I wish him the very best He is young and has plenty of time to win tournaments.

After Nadal roared back to take a 2-1 lead, the fourth set went to a tiebreak. Thiem raced to a 3-0 lead before Nadal fought back, but the Austrian held his nerve to level the match.

There were no breaks of serve in the deciding set and a second tiebreak ensued. The two were neck-in-neck at 5-5 when Nadal carved out a match point with his forehand.

Thiems wayward overhead smash handed the match to Nadal, who stood midcourt with his head thrown back and arms raised in the air in celebration.

Thank you very much everybody for staying here tonight, Nadal said after the four hour, 49 minute marathon.

Its been an amazing feeling. Im playing a lot of hours this year at this beautiful stadium.

Next up for the top seed is a semi-final clash with big-serving Argentine and third seed Juan Martin del Potro.

Source: NAN

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Committee on Ethics and Fair Play has bannedSuper Eagles Chief Coach Salisu Yusuffrom all footballrelated activities for one year with immediate effect.

The four-man committees decision was announced in a statement by Ademola Olajire, NFFs Director of Communications and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Members of the committee were Malam Nuhu Ribadu (Chairman), Mainasara Illo, Rev. Justin Okoroji and Mr Joshua Onoja (Secretary).

He also saidthat the coach had been directed to pay 5,000 US dollars as a fine to NFF within three months.

According to him, this decision wassequel to a complaint forwarded by the NFF as well as the Coachs defence against a documentary in which he was seen accepting 1,000 US dollars from an undercover reporter disguising as a players agent.

Olajire said that the Ribadu-led Committee made the following submissions:

Established from the admission of Coach Yusuf and also found as a fact from the documentary and video evidence before it, that he accepted the cash gift of 1,000 US dollars offered by Tigers Players Agency, an undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of Players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, for their inclusion in the list of players for 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco.

The Committee found as a fact that it was not an error of judgment on the part of Coach Yusuf but a conscious and deliberate decision to have accepted the cash gift of 1,000 US dollars from the decoy player agent/undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of Players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, even though the evidence before the Committee did not establish that his conduct influenced the choice of the two players.

That the two Players could have made the team to 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco on the basis of their talent and performance.

That Coach Yusuf did not accept the offer of 15 per cent of the anticipated transfer fees of the said players, as there was no followup action on the promise.

That the act of the Coach, which was widely published on the British Broadcasting Corporation, has a damaging effect on the reputation and integrity of Nigerian Football, as he ought to have conducted himself more professionally in line with the Code of Conduct signed alongside his Contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, as his conduct in public and in secret should be exemplary, since coaches are role models.

That the FIFA Code of Ethics, NFF Code of Ethics and FIFA Disciplinary Code, did not contemplate negligence or error of judgment as a defence to violation of any of the provisions as contained therein, as punitive measures must be adopted to serve as deterrent to other intending offenders, even though, that he is a first time offender.

Olajire also said that the Committees decision was as follows: In accordance with Art. 22, FIFA Disciplinary Code, he is hereby banned for the period of one year, from partaking or involvement or participation in any football related activity, effective from the date of this decision.

He is also fined in the sum of 5,000 US dollars to be paid within three (3) months beginning fromthe date of this decision.

He noted thatthe ethics committee also ruled that an appeal against the decision can be made to the NFF Appeals Committee.

The NFFs spokesmanquoted the committee as saying that it passed its verdict on the defendant based on Article 20, 21 (1) and 21 (3) of the NFF Code of Ethics.

He explained that it also made reference to Article10 and 11 of the FIFA Code of Ethics in arriving at its verdict.

Source: NAN

Two-time champion Novak Djokovic ended John Millmans fairytale US Open run on Wednesday, beating the 55th-ranked Australian in straight sets to book a semi-final clash with Japans Kei Nishikori.

The Serbian star, who ended a 54-week title drought with his 13th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, defeated the tenacious Aussie 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach his 11th US Open semi-final in his last 11 appearances.

He lifted the trophy in 2011 and 2015.

Nishikori, the 21st seed, advanced with a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4 victory over Marin Cilic the man who beat him in the 2014 final.

Millman, who stunned five-time champion Roger Federer in the fourth round, kept Djokovic running and was kept running himself for 2 hours 49 minutes on another hot, humid night on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

You survive on the court then thrive with a win, said Djokovic, who converted just four of his 20 break points and made 53 unforced errors before he was finally able to accomplish what Federer couldnt in seeing off Millman.

Very tested, said Djokovic, who admitted that like many he was surprised to find himself facing Millman, not Federer, across the net.

But Millman is the kind of a player that makes you miss the balls, makes you win the point, earn the point.

He doesnt miss a lot himself, so he just runs left, right, gets a lot of balls. Tactically, youve got to find the right balance between being patient but constructive in the point, but at the same time, be aggressive and take the chance when you have a shorter ball. Its easier said than done.

It was clear that it could be a long night when the players battled for more than 15 minutes in the sixth game of the opening set, Millman saving four break points.

The Aussie saved another four in the opening game of the second set and as the duel continued both players were clearly feeling the effects of long, entertaining rallies.

Millman, his clothes soaked, made the unorthodox request to go change after the fourth game of the second set Djokovic agreeing.

He was apologizing he felt very sorry that he has to leave the court and change. I said, Man, go ahead.

I needed that rest, said Djokovic, who finally gained the decisive break in the penultimate game of the final set then served it out at love.

I gave it a crack, said the 29-year-old Millman, who has battled a litany of injuries in his career.

I definitely left it all out there today and pulled up a bit short. Novaks a champion. Hes played a lot of Grand Slams and he knows how to win them.

Japans Nishikori, who missed last years US Open after a season-ending wrist injury, joined compatriot Naomi Osaka in reaching the semis the first time that a Japanese man and woman have reached the last four in the same Grand Slam.

Nishikori stunned then-world number one Djokovic in the semi-finals in 2014 to become the first man from an Asian country to reach the championship match of a major.

But he hasnt returned to a Grand Slam final since, falling in the US Open semis in 2016.

Against Cilic he laboured for 4 hours and 8 minutes.

I dont know why but its always a battle with Marin, said Nishikori, who stretched his career record over the seventh-seeded Croatian to 9-6.

Nishikori appeared to be in control of the fifth set with a break for a 3-1 lead.

He had two game points for a 5-2 lead but a double fault and a backhand wide opened the door for Cilic, who stormed through, shouting Got it! when he secured the break to narrow the gap to 4-3.

But Nishikori broke Cilic in the final game, capturing the match with a blistering service return.

I try to fight every point, said Nishikori, who boasts an impressive record in decisive sets.

Especially in the end I really focus on every point, he said but added: I wish I dont go to five sets every time.

*AFP

Source: NAN

Former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, who once reached a career-best ranking of No. 4, has announced her retirement from tennis at the U.S. Open.

I arrive (at) this decision to say goodbye to the tennis with my heart, said an emotional Schiavone, who became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam when she captured the 2010 French Open.

Because my head, when I arrive here, says, Please go to the court, fight, because I can beat many other players.

But my heart says that I am (at) peace like this, that I am very happy about my career, my life, and everything.

Schiavone, 38, hangs up her racket with eight singles titles, three Fed Cup championships for Italy, a 614-479 singles record, a 105-69 showing in Grand Slam singles events and more than $11 million in prize money.

When I was 18 years old, I had two dreams, Schiavone said on Wednesday. The first one was to win Roland Garros, and the second one was to become Top 10 in the world. And I completed them, so Im very, very happy, and lucky.

Schiavone won the 2010 French Open as the No. 17 seed, beating Li Na, Maria Kirilenko, Caroline Wozniacki and Elena Dementieva before defeating Samantha Stosur 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the final. At the time, Schiavone was just shy of 30 years old and had never advanced to a Grand Slam semifinal in her previous 38 majors.

Schiavone was also successful on the doubles circuit, winning seven WTA titles and reaching the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

After 20 years of career and life, I have new dreams, said Schiavone, who added shed like to return to the U.S. Open and other events as a coach.

Schiavone, who is 3-9 this season and has watched her ranking fall to 454th, won the longest Grand Slam womens singles match, outdueling Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 in 4 hours, 44 minutes in the fourth round of the 2011 Australian Open.

Schiavones last match was a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Stosur in the Round of 32 at the Ladies Championships at Gstaad, Switzerland in mid-July.

I look sad, but I am happy, too, Schiavone said during the news conference. Tonight, I will drink a good Champagne, for sure.

Source: NAN

He said that as the United Nations had committed to working with civil society organisations as well as internally displaced persons, victims of mostly sexual abuses and organ harvesting.

Source: NAN

Indias Supreme Court has legalised homosexuality and gay sex and decriminalised Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, holding out promise of a new dawn in personal liberty and sexual orientation.

The five judge-bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra delivered the much awaited verdict on Thursday, according to

Chief Justice Misra observed that, LGBT Community has same rights like any ordinary citizen. Respect for each others rights, and others are supreme humanity. Criminalising gay sex is irrational and indefensible.

No one can escape from their individualism. Society is now better for individualism. In the present case, our deliberations will be on various spectrums, CJI Misra said.

Sustenance of identity is the pyramid of life, CJI Misra added.

No one can escape from their individualism. Society is now better for individualism.Indias chief justice

Indias Supreme Court had in 2013 restored Section 377, a British-era law that bans gay sex. It had overturned a landmark judgement by the Delhi High court in 2009 which had ruled that consenting intercourse between two adults was not illegal.

The position of the court then was that overturning the outdated law was the job of Parliament, which can decide on scrapping laws.

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code bans carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal.

Gay sex is punishable by up to 10 years in jail under the 1861 law. Prosecution under Section 377 is, however, not common, but activists complain that authorities use the law to harass or scare gay people.

After the 2013 verdict, five high-profile petitioners Bharatnatyam dancer Navtej Johar, documentary filmmaker Sunil Mehra, restaurateur Ritu Dalmia, hotelier and historian Aman Nath and business executive Ayesha Kapur challenged it and became the human faces of this battle.

Before their entry, the battle was fought since the early nineties by NGOs, the Naaz Foundation being one of them.

While reserving the verdict on July 17 this year, Misra and Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra brushed aside as far-fetched the arguments from opponents of decriminalisation of Section 377 that it could also legalise incest, group sex and sodomy.

The top court had also said, no one should have to live in fear because of their sexuality.

The five petitioners had argued that Section 377 violates rights principles enshrined in the constitution, like equality before law, no discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth and freedom of speech and expression.

Source: NAN

By Felicia Imohimi

The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) has inducted 45 foreign graduates of Medical Laboratory Science.

Mr Tosan Erhabor, Acting Registrar of the council while inducting the professionals in Abuja said the graduands were inducted having scaled through the seven months pre-qualification training and examination.

Erhabor, who described the induction as third in the series noted that no fewer than 179 foreign trained scientists have so far been inducted by the council since the commencement of the pre-qualification training programme and examination.

While congratulating the inductees for their success Erhabor described them as the future of the profession.

He, however, urged them to brace up for the challenges ahead in order to move the profession to an enviable height.

In spite of how profound or robust your training or the pedigree of your training or sophistication of training apparatus, MLSCN still owed it a duty to ensure you went through the process of adaptation, and integration as part of prerequisite for licensure.

Act 11, 2003 Section 4a empowers the council to determine from time to time the standard of knowledge and skills to be attained by persons seeking to become medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians and medical laboratory assistants.

Section 4 empowers it to assess, evaluate and register foreign graduates of Medical Laboratory Science, Erhabor noted.

Erhabor tasked the inductees of ideal teamwork, efficiency, dedication, due process among other elements that would ensure international best practices.

He reminded them that the council had zero tolerance to all forms of professional misconducts adding that such could bring disrepute to the profession and cherished families.

Erhabor said: The profession needs your services at every level of healthcare delivery and you must profitably harness your full potentials as young scientists.

It is expected of you to bring ideal teamwork, efficiency, dedication, adherence to due process, respect for self and others; and other elements of international best practices as you have imbibed in the course of your training overseas.

If you are unable to make a difference through exemplary conduct, you would be contributing to the sad narrative of those who failed to live up to their full potentials,

One of the inductees, Oyinloye Olayemi, who spoke on behalf of the inductees, thanked the Almighty God and the council for deeming them fit for the induction.

She further appreciated their parents for investing in their academic pursuit in order for them to actualise their dreams and aspirations. (NAN)

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Beijing won the crucial support of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, for the countrys aspiration to build the 3050 Megawatts Mambila hydroelectric power project.

The two countries also signed the agreement of $328m for the Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase II (NICTIB II) project.

four airport terminal projects as well as the Abuja light rail project.

President Buhari told his Chinese counterpart that since his last visit to China in 2016, the brotherly relationship between both countries had continued to flourish.

According to the President, in the past 24 months, the Chinese Government has provided humanitarian aid to our conflict-affected areas, scholarship to Nigerian youth, military training and security support to our personnel and agricultural modernization training.

President Buhari noted that in the period under review, China had provided concessionary loans to fund critical infrastructure projects in Nigeria, adding that these interventions have positively impacted millions of Nigerians and will continue to do so for generations to come.

Mr President, as we celebrate these successes, I would like to once again solicit your support for the Mambilla Hydropower Project which remains a key priority for my government. Our hope is to fund the project with concessionary loans from China as any alternative funding arrangement will adversely impact the projects viability.

We have been informed that our submission on this project is undergoing assessment by the relevant Chinese agencies. We hope with your kind intervention, this assessment will be expedited. Your Excellency, Mambilla is Nigerias equivalent of the three gorges dam. My wish is that you join me for the groundbreaking ceremony of this project in the not too distant future, President Buhari said.

On Lake Chad Basin, the President thanked China for accepting to support the international efforts to recharge the Lake.

The inclusion of this project in the FOCAC Action Plan 2019 to 2021 will go a long way in supporting our efforts to rehabilitate and resettle the conflict-impacted North East region, he said.

On people-to-people relations, President Buhari told his host that in the course of his visit, he interacted with Nigerian students and entrepreneurs living in different parts of China.

I was very pleased to hear about the positive experiences these hard working and law abiding citizens are having in their host communities. I also had the pleasure of meeting young Chinese students learning three Nigerian languages.

We must continue to support such exchange programmes to enhance our people-to-people contacts, he said.

Similarly, President Buhari noted thateasy movement of citizens of both countries would complement the currency swap agreements recently signed by the central banks of both countries.

Since our last meeting two years ago, Nigeria has relaxed its visa requirements to Chinese citizens. Today, I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that Chinese citizens receive Nigerian visas in less than 48 hours.

Another measure that will improve our trade volumes will be to introduce import duty waivers on Nigerias commodity exports to China. Today, our commodities such as sesame seeds, hibiscus and cassava amongst others attract import duty in China, he said.

The Nigerian leader also lauded Chinas support for two permanent seats for Africa at the United Nations, noting that the reform of the Security Council would ensure equitable representation for the continent.

In his remarks, President Xi who commended Nigerias fight against terrorism and the progress that has been made so far, promised Chinas support in capacity building and intelligence sharing.

He also pledged 50 million Chinese Yuan support to Nigerias military, noting that Buhari is as decisive in dealing with terrorism as China.

President Xi said China would import more agricultural products from Nigeria and expressed gratitude to President Buhari on Nigerias interest to participate in the forthcoming Chinese Import Fair.

The relationship between Nigeria and China is as best as ever, especially given the deepening mutual trust. China will continue to stand with Nigeria, he said.

On Mambilla, the Chinese leader told President Buhari: We understand how critical the project is to your country and we will take a serious look at it and ensure that it succeeds because of its social and economic benefits.

Meanwhile, at a separate meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, President Buhari reaffirmed Nigerias commitment to expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

Source: NAN

By Olayinka Owolewa

Workers of Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Kwara, on Thursday continued their strike, insisting that government must sack their Sole Administrator, Dr Muideen Akorede.

The workers had embarked on the strike on Wednesday over lack of operational equipment and poor staff welfare.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited the radio station on Thursday, reports that the premises located on Police Road in Ilorin metropolis were still under lock and key.

NAN also reports that the workers used their vehicles to block the main entrance of the station, completely preventing access to the premises.

The workers also denied the General Manager of the station, Alhaji Adedeji Adebowale, entrance into the premises as he remained inside his official vehicle when NAN visited the radio station.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Chairman of Radio Kwara chapel of Radio Television Theatre and Art Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), Rasaq Aremu, said the strike would continue as long as Akorede remained in office.

Our main agitation, for now, is for the Sole Administrator to be removed.

If he is removed right now as I speak with you, we will resume and continue further deliberations with the government.

His removal will bring peace and sanity back to the station because he is running his administration all alone without consultation with our management and staff.

He knows little about broadcasting, what is the point if we are not being carried along?

There has been no improvement since he came.

Anyone can just come and see our premises, we want Akorede to go, Aremu said.

He further said that the agitation was not about salary alone, insisting that the workers were also protesting the lack of operational equipment in the media outfit.

Aremu questioned the propriety of workers collecting salaries without justifying it due to no fault of theirs.

He urged the workers to remain resolute until Akorede, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, was removed.

But Akorede had in a statement on Wednesday confirmed the release of N5million as part of the subvention for the radio station.

He said that he had always engaged the management of the station and its union leaders on issues regarding their operational expenses.

Akorede added that the delay in releasing funds to the station was due to the economic challenges the country was facing.

He said the monthly allocation to the state was received on Monday while salaries and overheads of parastatal agencies, including Radio Kwara, were expected to be paid before the end of the week.

Akorede stressed that like other parastatal agencies, subventions to media houses were being paid regularly.

Subvention, he said, was always released directly to the station and disbursed based on the budget and operational needs as approved.

He said the state government had prioritised payment of salaries as first line charge followed by operational expenses of parastatal agencies.

Source: NAN