The debate on Nigeria's debt debacle appears an endless cycle. Available statistics on the spiralling figures do not add up with reasons adduced in government circles. While government claims the various loans, both domestic and foreign, were to facilitate the provision of basic socio-economic infrastructure that would make for qualitative living standard for the people, Nigerians do not seem to…
30 January 2011 Real Madrid hope their new loan signing Emmanuel Adebayor can help them topple champions Barcelona in the league, although they need their rivals to start dropping some points. Real trail Barcelona by four points in the Spanish first division and hope to get back to winning ways away from home when they travel to face Osasuna in…
30 January 2011 There have been some big scorelines in the preliminary round, first legs, of the African Champions League played so far this weekend. Raja Casablanca humiliated Tourbillon of Chad 10-1 in their encounter in Casablanca after leading 6-0 at halftime. Striker Hassan Tair netted a hat-trick for the three-time champions, while there were further goals from midfielder Abdessamad…
30 January 2011 Bukola Babes are the biggest revelation of the Nigeria Premier League this season after they beat Heartland 1-0 to shoot to third place on the table. The NPL new comers, whose top stars earn a monthly salary of about $200, have thus recorded 23 points from 13 matches. Bukola Babes would maintain third spot if closest rivals…
29 January 2011 Morocco was awarded the hosting of the 2015 African Nations Cup and the 2017 edition will go to South Africa, where last years World Cup was held, the Confederation of African Football decided on Saturday. The two countries were the only two candidates left in the running for the two tournaments after the withdrawal from the race…
29 January 2011 TP Mazembe goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba was the hero in a 9-8 penalty shootout to win the CAF Super Cup at the expense of FUS Rabat of Morocco at the Stade de la Kenya in Lubumbashi on Saturday. The 34-year-old shot stopper saved FUS effort in sudden death before he then put away the all-important kick to give…
The contentious primaries of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN), in Edo State is causing a lot of ripples. Just a day after two commissioners and the Head of Service resigned their appointments, another commissioner has also resigned from the cabinet of the ‘Comrade Governor’. Commissioner of Agriculture, Tunde Lakoju did not just resign from the government, he also quit…
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has declared Friday as public holiday to allow more people in the state to register for the 2011 general elections. Mr Fayemi in a statement on Thursday signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mojeed Jamiu, said the holiday would enable civil servants in the state to go to their various towns and villages…
While the Dutch parliament yesterday held a public hearing on Shell activities in Nigeria, the company denied allegations by human rights and environmental groups. On Tuesday, Amnesty International and Friends of the Earth International said that it will file an official complaint against the company for breaches of basic standards for responsible business set out by the Organisation for Economic…
The decision to focus more attention on domestic sources to raise funds for its services, rather than relying on external sources is responsible for Nigeria’s burgeoning debt profile, the Debt Management Office said. Abraham Nwankwo, the director general, said in Abuja on Tuesday, in an interview with journalists. “A strategic decision was taken in the course of debt management situation,…
The Dutch parliament yesterday placed the Royal Dutch Shell before the mirror in a groundbreaking act of scrutiny over the severe environmental and social footprint of the oil giant on the Niger Delta. Shell may be the only one being grilled but that does not by any means suggest that the likes of Chevron, Exxon, ENI and Total are not…
29 January 2011 Barcelona were in fine form as they thrashed Almeria 5-0 in the Kings Cup semi-final first leg at the Nou Camp on Wednesday to put one foot in the final and now face the only side to beat them in the league this season. Promoted Hercules stunned Barcelona with a 2-0 win at the Nou Camp just…
29 January 2011 Hosts for next months Championship of African Nations (CHAN), Sudan, have picked defending champions DR Congo as still the team to beat in the tournament exclusively reserved for players in the various local leagues on the continent. DR Congo won the inaugural tournament in Cote dIvoire two years and according to Sudan coach, Mohamed 'Mazda' Abdallah, they…
A former senate president has said that the Arewa Consultative Forum (AFC), is a minority that cannot speak for the whole of northern Nigeria because it represents few of the 19 states that make up the region. Ameh Ebuteh of the Congress for Equality and Change, said at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday that the publication in some daily…
Medical doctors in the public and private hospitals in Oyo State have threatened to stay off their duty posts if the state government refuses to accede to the request of their striking colleagues in the next few days. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) gave the warning in Ibadan yesterday. Addressing a press conference at the state secretariat of the NMA…