FOR THE RECORD: States’ Debt Repayment Deferral Not Bail-Out — Adeosun

Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun

The federal government has clarified that putting on hold deductions from the monthly allocations to states in respect of repayments for their salary assistance loans should not be mistaken for a bail-out.

Buhari Rejects Budget Changes

President Muhammadu Buhari submitting the 2016 Budget to the National Assembly

...N/Assembly leaders to meet president

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday rejected the budget passed by the National Assembly last month, faulting the inclusion of ₦40 billion projects in the works ministry, 386 projects in agriculture and removal of the Lagos-Calabar rail project, among others by the lawmakers.

More Than 170 States Set To Sign Landmark Climate Agreement

In this Dec. 12, 2015 photo, French President Francois Hollande, right, French Foreign Minister and president of the COP21 Laurent Fabius, second, right, United Nations climate chief Christiana Figueres and United Nations Secretary General Ban ki-Moon applaud after the final conference at the COP21, the United Nations conference on climate change, in Le Bourget, north of Paris. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

More than 170 countries are lining up to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change Friday as the landmark deal takes a key step toward entering into force years ahead of schedule.

US Ambassador To The UN In Nigeria

Ms Power has been meeting regional troops and refugees who have fled conflict AP

The US ambassador to the UN is in Nigeria to show solidarity with the government in its efforts to defeat militant Islamist group Boko Haram.

UK Crowds Greet Queen Elizabeth II At Windsor, England On 90th Birthday

The Queen was dressed in what was described by Buckingham Palace as a 'spring grass green' wool and silk weave coat and dress with hat to match adorned with flowers by her dressmaker Angela Kelly for her birthday appearance on the sunny but chilly day

The Queen has celebrated her 90th birthday by greeting well-wishers outside Windsor Castle.

Blatter Claims Role In Trying To Remove African President

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter poses with copies of the book "Sepp Blatter: Mission and Passion Football", during the book presentation in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday, April 21, 2016. The book was written by his official spokesman Thomas Renggli. (Walter Bieri/Keystone via AP)

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter was asked by Switzerland's foreign ministry last year to help persuade an African president to leave office.

FG: No Decision Yet On When 2016 Budget Will Be Signed

L–R , Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of State Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu addressing the State House Correspondent after the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja … Godwin Omoigui

*Fuel scarcity ends next week, says Kachikwu *Onyema: Agreements with China will cater to Nigeria’s interest

The federal government has said that talks to reach a truce between it and the National Assembly on grey areas in the 2016 budget were still ongoing, adding that it could not give any definite date as to when the budget would be signed into law.

Fulani Herdsmen Crises: Falana to Take Case to ICC, ECOWAS Court Monday

Chief Femi Falana (SAN)

Human rights lawyer, Chief Femi Falana (SAN), will next Monday file a case of genocide and ethnic cleansing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague, Netherland and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court against Fulani herdsmen for their alleged massacre of the innocent people and farmers in Jukunland of Southern and Central Taraba State.

President Buhari, Senators For Talks To Resolve Budget Crisis

Nigeria's National Assembly

Senators yesterday resolved to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari next week to end the budget row—amicably.

Suspected Herdsmen Invade Oyo Farms, Shoot Guard

Wounded security man, Jimi Aido, attached to one of the affected farms, Ardis Farm, attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen at Lagun, Lagelu Local Council of Oyo State…yesterday Photo: Najeem Raheem

• Farmers flee as gunmen cart away money, foodstuffs

About 18 persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have invaded farms in Lagun Village, Lagelu Local Council of Oyo State and shot a chief security guard, Jimmy Aido. They also robbed the residents of the farms, carting away an undisclosed amount of money in the process.

Gabriel Agbonlahor Had Been Out Of The Immediate First-Team Picture At Aston Villa

Aston Villa suspend Gabriel Agbonlahor and launch probe into off-field conduct

Aston Villa have suspended striker Gabriel Agbonlahor pending an investigation into off-field matters.

Ecuadorean Pulled From Rubble Won't Need Coffin His Wife Bought

Bogota firefighters rescued alive Pablo Cordova from the Gato de Portoviejo Hotel rubble in Portoviejo Cuenca Image source: Gisella Bayona ‏@gisella_bayona

Despite the grief roiling this earthquake-stricken town, Pablo Cordova has something to be thankful for: He can return the coffin his wife had obtained for his funeral.

Pablo Cordova shakes hands with one of the Colombian firefighters who rescued him, at the Verdi Cevallos Balda hospital in Portoviejo, Ecuador, Monday, April 18, 2016. IMAGE: AP Photo/Emilio D. Garcia

Kenya Caught Age Cheating In Under-20 World Cup Qualifiers

Kenya used five overage players in qualifying for the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations

Kenya have been thrown out of the under-20 World Cup qualifying competition for the 2017 finals in South Korea for fielding five over age players, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Wednesday.

EFCC Vows ‘Stern’ Action Against Officer Who Named Ekweremadu ‘Anti-Corruption Ambassador’ (THIS OFFICER HAS GONE ROGUE!)

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it will take “stern administrative action” against its National Assembly liaison officer, Suleiman Bakari, for bestowing an unauthorized award on Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy senate president.

Corruption & Bribery Rife In United Kingdom, 28% Of Bosses Say

© Pascal Rossignol / Reuters

Corruption and bribery is widespread in Britain, according to more than one in four top corporate bosses in a survey conducted before the Panama Papers leak, which exposed the depths of tax avoidance among the British elite.

Chinese Man Sentenced To Death For Leaking State Secrets

President Xi Jinping has overseen a sweeping revamp of the security apparatus, aimed at combating threats both at home and abroad

A Chinese man has been sentenced to death for leaking more than 150,000 classified documents to an unidentified foreign power, state television said on Tuesday, offering unusual details of a kind of case rarely mentioned in public.

Pension: EFCC Arrests Suspended DG, Others For ₦2.5bn Fraud

Suspended Director-General, of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, Nelly Mayshak

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the suspended Director-General, of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, Nelly Mayshak, and three others, Yoab Youssoufou, Patricia Iyogun, and Ruth Imonikhe for a ₦2.5bn fraud.

Nationwide Blackout Looms As TCN Locks Out Workers

Omotosho Power Plant

The Transmission Company of Nigeria on Wednesday locked out workers from its headquarters in Abuja over a disagreement with the management and the Federal Ministry of Power, spiking fears that the nation may be plunged into a total blackout in the coming days.

Soldiers Arrest 92 Armed Herdsmen In Abuja

A herdsman with his cattle in Enugu

The soldiers of the Guards Brigade of the Nigeria Army have arrested 92 Fulani herdsmen in Abuja.

Boris Becker Critical Of Andy Murray's Comments On Doping

Boris Becker, pictured, is unhappy with Andy Murray's comments on suspecting opponents of drug use

Novak Djokovic's coach Boris Becker has criticized Andy Murray for airing his suspicions that some of his opponents may have used performance-enhancing drugs.

Trial Forces Saraki From Senate Duties

Bukola Saraki has been accused of false declaration of assets while he was governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011

A tribunal ruled Monday that the fraud trial of embattled Nigerian Senate president Bukola Saraki will continue on a daily basis -- meaning he will be unable to preside over Senate sessions until the proceedings are over.

Oil Plummets On Doha Failure

The collapse of talks in Doha sent oil tumbling ©Haidar Mohammed Ali (AFP)

Oil plunged Monday a day after top producers failed to reach a deal in Doha to cap output, fanning fresh fears over a supply glut that has plagued the market.

Nigerian Soldiers, Boko Haram Insurgents In Fierce Gun Battle In Borno

Boko Haram notorious camp besieged by the Nigerian Military

Troops of the Nigerian Army and Boko Haram fighters are currently engaged in a fierce gun battle in Borno state, North East, Nigeria.

Police Await Complainants As Jobs Scammers Step Up Their Games — The Nation Investigation

Separating Job seekers from their cash: A man walks past a promotional banner in Lagos, Nigeria Image source: wsj.com

After weeks of undercover reporting, Assistant Editor Sina Fadare reveals the secrets of phoney companies fleecing job seekers.

Sports Betting Spikes Crime In Kaduna

A sports betting centre in Kaduna

Sport betting has been around in Nigeria for a long time. In the past, it was referred to as "pool". Until recently however, it was the elderly and some specialized interest groups and individuals who mainly engaged in it. Pool betting had also been popular among the middle aged.

Oil Producers Meet Amid Saudi-Iran Row Over Output Freeze

Oil prices tumbled on Friday as traders bet that the meeting in Doha will yield no effective measures to curb the global oversupply.

World oil producers gather in Qatar Sunday to negotiate an output freeze to boost prices as a row between regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran threatened to overshadow the talks.

2015 Polls: EFCC Arrests REC, 4 Others Over ₦650m Scam

•Anti-graft agency probes large scale bribery

Alleged corruption in the 2015 general elections is back in the news following the arrest   of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River State, Gesila Khan and four others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Chess' 1st African-American Grandmaster Enters Hall Of Fame

In this April 12, 2016 photo, chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley talks during an interview at Chess Forum in New York. The Brooklyn resident has been inducted to the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Maurice Ashley was 14 when he saw a high school friend playing chess and challenged him to a match. He lost badly, but it sparked a love affair that started him playing nearly non-stop ever since.