CHILE 2015: Golden Eaglets To Face Mexico In The Semis

The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria continue their effort to retain the FIFA U17 World Cup as they face the South American power-house, Mexico, at 12:00am Friday, November 6 (Nigerian Time).
Goals from Claudio Zamidio and Bryan Salazar helped Mexico proceed to the Semis as they beat a very entertaining Equador 2 – 0 in the quarter-finals.

• 
  

Mexico players celebrate a goal

The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria reached this stage of the tournament after they humiliated Brazil 3 – 0 in the quarter-finals.
The Nigerian team have scored 17 goals so far in the tournament with striker Osimhen getting 8 and hoping to meet and possibly surpass the goal record of Florent Sinama Pongolle of France who scored nine goals in the U-17 World Cup staged in Trinidad & Tobago in 2001.

Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Nwakali, Udochukwu Anumudu all congratulate eachother after the match against Brazil.

The Mexicans proceeded to the knockout stage having topped Group C with 7 points. The Latin Americans have so far, won 4 of their 5 games with their only draw against Australia in the group stage which ended 0 – 0.
The teams’ strength lies in their defence having scored 10 goals and conceding just two. The Eaglets need to watch out for Bryan Salazar and Venegas in the attack.
However, Coach Emmanuel Amunike had revealed that Nigeria’s thumping of Brazil will go a long way in boosting the confidence of his players.
“It’s not like we scored three goals and that was it. Before that, our side had 15 very good minutes, when they moved the ball around as we knew they could,” he started.

Amunike passes instruction to a player.

“You have to give credit to my kids, who were tranquil and kept their cool to deal with the Brazil pressure and then scored at the right time. For them, to beat Brazil is a big confidence boost. We still have a long way to the title, though,” he said.
A win for Nigeria against Mexico will expose the team to a possible defence of the title which they won 2 years ago.
The second semi-final match will see another African team, Mali which will slug it out with Belgium for a place in the finals.

Buhari Reportedly Saved Billions Of Naira

President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to rid Nigeria of corruption appears to be yielding results.
The Daily Times reports that President Muhammadu Buhari’s implementation of a Treasury Single Account (TSA) for all government revenues, incomes and other receipts has saved Nigeria billions of naira.
The president briefly after taking office ordered every federal government ministry, department and agency to commence paying into a TSA.
A huge amount of N8 billion was exposed through the implementation of the TSA in a single account in an old generation bank.
The amount is said to be functioned in the name of a defence operation account.
However the group head of marketing and corporate communications of the bank, and Garba Shehu, the presidential aide denied speculation regarding the issue.
Buhari had earlier promised state governors at the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Council in June, that all revenues arranged for lodgment into the federation account will be treated as such under his watch and that he will guarantee strict compliance with all related laws on accounting, allocation and disbursement.
Since then, the presidency has cooperated with appropriate agencies of the federal government to change this policy directive.
A Treasury Single Account is a public accounting system under which all government revenue, receipts and income are collected into one single account, usually maintained by the country’s Central Bank and all payments done through this account as well. The purpose is primarily to ensure accountability of government revenue, enhance transparency and avoid the embezzlement of public funds. The maintenance of a Treasury Single Account will help to ensure proper cash management by eliminating idle funds usually left with different commercial banks and in a way enhance reconciliation of revenue collection and payment.

Trade Fair Takes Place In Lagos

The Lagos International Trade Fair, the foremost International Trade Fair in Nigeria is taking place in Lagos in the month of November. The spectacular 10-day event that has held since  1981 holds between November 6th — 15th 2015.

The Lagos International Trade Fair official 2015 poster

The event is put together by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The organisation is the  which is the oldest and highly influential in Nigeria, has been organizing the fair since 1986.

Trade Fair 2015 holds at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos

Over the years, the Lagos International Trade Fair has grown tremendously in popularity to become a leading forum for trade and business promotion in Nigeria, and African continent.

Shoppers at the last fair

In recognition of the growing importance of the fair, increasing numbers of exhibitors and visitors from all over Nigeria and the world at large are participating in the annual event.
The fair holds in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial and financial heartland. The accessibility of Lagos by air, sea and land makes it a choice location for the fair.

The Fair has attracted both local and foreign exhibitors over the years. .In recent years, the Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island or the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along Lagos Badagry Expressway have hosted the event. This year, it will be held for the fourth consecutive years, at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

The fair provides opportunities for various trade groups and professionals to present new products and new ideas. Also, our foreign visitors have the privilege of visiting places of interest in the country through our hospitality and tourism programmes.

Moreover, eminent dignitaries and decision makers from all over Nigeria visit the Fair on a daily basis throughout its duration.The Fair brings into focus the full potentials and business opportunities existing in Nigeria.

Presidency Seeks Kachikwu’s Replacement

The presidency has reportedly started looking for a candidate to replace Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, the group managing director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Kachikwu, who was appointed NNPC GMD in August 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari, has been recently confirmed as a ministerial designate.
Daily Times reports that a source from the presidency has disclosed that Buhari is looking for Kachikwu’s replacement as he cannot be a minister and still hold the position of the NNPC boss.
According to Daily Post, the president has already picked out three candidates, including deputy managing director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Isa Mohammed Inuwa, who used to work as a group general manager of corporate services in the NNPC.
The race to succeed the NNPC boss began after the president had sent his name as a ministerial nominee to the Senate. After the successful screening, Kachikwu is expected to emerge as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, a ministry that Buhari will keenly supervise.
In August, Kachikwu was competing with two other candidates (Inuwa and Ahmadu-Kida Musa, the general manager of Total E&P Nigeria Limited) for NNPC GMD post.
Buhari has reportedly added one more name to contest with Inuwa and Musa for the top job.
Meanwhile, the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has been mandated to review the profiles of the three nominees and make a recommendation to the president.

T.B Joshua' Holy Water Heals Ebola Virus In Sierra Leone?

Mrs Kargbo Fatmata, a key figure in Sierra Leonean politics , has made claims that the arrival of 4,000 bottles of TB Joshua’s holy water to her country,  was the secret to the eventual decline of the deadly Ebola virus.

Kargbo Fatmata says T.B Joshua’s annointing oil was the key to a reduction of the Ebola attacks in Sierra Leone.

Fatmata made this disclosure in Lagos, Nigeria, at the Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), on Sunday, November 1.
The politician who holds the position of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sierra Leone, said she had been very disturbed and have had sleepless nights for not giving the testimony earlier.
She said: “When T.B. Joshua announced his desire to send Anointing Water to the countries affected by Ebola, I immediately contacted the presidency,” she explained, adding that, “after the government accepted his offer, she was appointed to head the team that would receive the blessed ‘water’ with alleged healing powers.”
“I received the Anointing Water at the airport and submitted the consignment to the President,” Fatmata revealed.
Daily Post reports that the civil servant faced strong opposition from internationally renowned medical organizations, even after obtaining presidential approval to commence the distribution of the ‘Anointing Water’ to the most affected districts.
She said: “Medically, they said there was no scientific proof that it could cure Ebola. Some of the water bottles were even confiscated by medical personnel.”
“The patients who received the Anointing Water testified that the symptoms disappeared almost immediately,” she emphatically stressed.
Fatmata further said that there were sharp contrasts between zones where the anointing water reached and places where it didn’t. Noting that the Ebola virus continued to spread in regions where the special water did not get to.
According to the BBC, if no new Ebola cases are recorded, then Sierra Leone is expected to be declared Ebola free this week.
It would be recalled that a prophecy disclosed via SCOAN’s television station- Emmanuel TV, stated that prophet Joshua had allegedly prophesied in August 2014 that his ‘Anointing Water’ had the ability to cure the deadly Ebola virus which had ravaged several West African countries.
In the same vein, there are claims that T.B Joshua prophesied the crash which occurred in Egypt on Saturday, October 31.

Our Plans To Take Over Rivers, Akwa Ibom — Rochas

In preparation for the Rivers and Akwa Ibom states rerun governorship elections, the Imo state governor and chairman of the All Progressives Congress governors’ forum, Rochas Okorocha, has disclosed that plans are on to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party in both states.

Rochas Okorocha

The governor made this known in Owerri in his chat with newsmen noting that Rivers and Akwa Ibom are very strategic to the ruling APC, Vanguard reports.
The governor did not say exactly what the party’s strategies are in a bid to unseat the former ruling party but stressed that plans were on to actualize the target.
Okorocha was also reported to have said that the electorate in the two states voted overwhelmingly for the APC.
The governor said: “Rivers and Akwa Ibom States are very strategic to the APC. The electorate in the two states voted overwhelmingly for the APC but their votes were stolen by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through various forms of electoral malpractices.
“I stand vindicated following the eventual victory of President Muhammadu Buhari during the last general election.
“I appeal to Ndigbo to avoid unnecessary bickering and antagonism with the North, West and other parts of the country, so as to brighten the prospects of a president of Igbo extraction in future.”
Further in the chat with journalists, Governor Okorocha spoke on why his administration was yet to appoint commissioners and special advisers.
The governor said it has enabled him save money for the state, for capital projects.
He explained: “If I appoint them now, they will start demanding for imprest, traveling allowance, hazard allowance and this is outside their monthly pay. This has enabled me save some money for the state, for capital projects.”
Okorocha also threw light on why all public taps in the state had dried up. He noted on that regard that he preferred sinking water boreholes for communities instead of procuring chemicals, maintaining machines and other facilities.
Meanwhile, the PDP had recently sought for the intervention of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on what it described as “present and imminent miscarriage of justice” with regards to Rivers state governorship election tribunal judgement.

Buhari Receives List Of Confirmed Ministers

The Senate president Bukola Saraki has visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock presidential villa in Abuja on November 3, Tuesday

• 
  

President Buhari finally received the formal report of the screening of ministerial nominees that ended last week.
Saraki arrived for the meeting scheduled for 3pm around 2.55pm and was escorted into one of the halls inside Buhari’s office.

He was accompanied by the president’s two senior special assistants on legislative matters, Ita Enang (Senate) and Suleiman Kawu (House of Representatives).
President Buhari was also joined by some of his assistants comprising the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; and the special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina.

The meeting commenced with Buhari’s arrival at about 3.01pm. After the ceremonial presentation of the list to the president, all security and political aides excused the two leaders who met behind closed-doors before coming out for group photographs.
The Nigerian Senate has concluded the screening of ministerial nominees sent to it by President Buhari last week when the leader of the nation was in India.
Buhari is likely to inaugurate his cabinet tomorrow, November, 4.