Forex Crisis: Nigerian Students Abroad Apply To Home Universities

Many parents could no longer afford the huge exchange rate

Many Nigerian students studying abroad have been seeking transfer to Nigerian universities to complete their education at home because of the scarcity of foreign exchange.

Melaye Wants ‘State Of Origin’ Scrapped

Senator Dino Melaye

Dino Melaye, chairman of the senate committee on federal capital territory, wants the country to abolish the use of ‘state of origin’, especially in determining the eligibility of citizens for political offices.

Russia's Athletics Ban Remains Following Unanimous Vote Of IAAF Council

Dmitry Shlyakhtin, the president of Russia's Athletics Federation (ARAF)

Russia's athletics team remains banned from global competition after the sport's governing body voted unanimously against lifting the suspension for systemic doping.

PDP Governors Insist Sheriff Is Out, Supporters Fight With Machetes

Senator Ali Modu Sherrif (middle) at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Headquarters with his supporters addressing the press, during a protest in Abuja Photo: Ladidi Lucy Elukpo

• His removal is valid, court told

The battle for the control of the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) became fiercer yesterday.

₦42b ‘Fraud’: EFCC Holds Ex-Customs Chief Dikko

Former Customs Chief Abdullahi Inde Dikko

Former Customs Chief Abdullahi Inde Dikko is being held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was yesterday quizzed over an alleged ₦42 billion fraud.

No Winners For 'Outstanding African Leadership' Prize

Sudanese-born telecommunications entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim. Reuters/Irada Humbatova

Organizers of a US$5-million prize for former African leaders which aims to shine a spotlight on democracy and outstanding leadership again failed to find a winner after no one met the criteria.

162 ‘Stranded’ Nigerians Return From Libya

Nigerian returnees from Libya on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos yesterday. One of the returnees attended to by NEMA officials Photo: NAN

162 Nigerians who were said to have been stranded in Libya have returned to Nigeria, it was learnt.

2-IN-1 STORY: Militancy Only Feeds Few Elements In Niger Delta — Netherland Activist; Ex-Militants Give Oil Firms 14-Day Eviction Notice Over MoU

Militancy disrupts Nigeria's crude supplies to the global oil market.

A prominent Netherland based environmental rights activist, Mr Sunny Ofehe, on Thursday, said there was no time militancy benefited or better the lots of the oil-rich Niger Delta people, saying that only a few elements use such means to enrich themselves at the detriment of the entire region.

Electricity Supply: ‘Why Power Supply Can’t Improve’

Power Transmission Lines Image credit: www.sciencegrid.org

*Militants destroy 23 gas pipelines, threaten extra 2,000mw target *National grid records eight systems collapse in one month *Reps probe Manitoba over alleged corrupt practices

Faced with militants’ near-unrestrained successes in blowing up gas facilities in the Niger Delta, the Federal Government’s plan to add another 2,000 megawatts (MW) by July may not be realized.

Sex Scandal: US Govt Cancels Three Reps’ Visas, Dogara Orders Probe

Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday, directed the investigation of three members of the House for alleged improprieties while in the US on training.

Retirees Shut Down Imo Over Six-Year Unpaid Pensions

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha

Business and social activities came to a halt at Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Wednesday as hundreds of aged retirees defied the early morning downpour to protest against the non-payment of their pensions.

34 Migrants, Including 20 Children, Found Dead In Niger Desert

Migrants on pick-up trucks leave the outskirts of Agadez, Niger, heading across the Niger desert towards Libya and, ultimately, Europe ©Issouf Sanogo (AFP)

The bodies of 34 migrants, including 20 children, who were abandoned by people smugglers while trying to reach neighbouring Algeria were found in the Niger desert last week, authorities said.

Nigeria Lost Over US$9 Billion In Stolen, Unremitted Oil Money In 2013 — NEITI Boss

Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Waziri Adio

The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Waziri Adio, says Nigeria lost at least US$9 billion in 2013 to sharp financial practices in the oil and gas sector.

FOR THE RECORD: Nigeria Unveils New Forex Policy, Removes Controls On Naira

Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on Wednesday formally unveiled the much-awaited flexible foreign exchange policy, saying it would launch a forex interbank trading window that will be purely market-driven.

Farmers In Dilemma As FG Delays Farm Inputs

A group of women working on a ginger farm in Jere, Kaduna State

…Say we want action not talk …Distribution starts this month – FG

Farmers across the country are lamenting the delay in the 2016 distribution of farm inputs including fertilizers to them under the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) started by the immediate past administration.

Broke Team Nigeria Can’t Pay Visa Fees For Athletes

Okagbare, others may miss pre-Olympics Championship in Durban

The ‘poor’ preparation by Team Nigeria for this year’s Rio Olympic Games has taken a new dimension if the revelation by an official of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) yesterday is anything to go by.

World Population Is Set To Hit 9.7 Billion By Year 2050

African region population believed to get doubled

UN REPORT: World population has been increasing since a very long time. The new research studies have finally revealed a conclusion to their report: world population would comprise approximately 9.7 billion people by year 2050, where India would be the second largest country after China in terms of population.

Operators Want Lagos To Slash Telecoms Levies By 60%

ATCON claims voice revenue growth slows

To improve on infrastructure rollouts in Lagos and other parts of the country, telecommunications operators have called for a further downward review in the levies being charged.

CAN Elects New President

Rev. Samson Olasupo Adeniyi Ayokunle

– CAN has elected a new president to represent Nigeria’s Christians  – Baptist Rev. Samson Olasupo Adeniyi Ayokunle will now lead the organization  – The association represents five of Nigeria’s main Christian groupings

The Christian Association of Nigeria has elected a new president.

Fake Doctor Ran Abuja Hospital For 10 Years Undetected

Victor Moffat Akpan

Investigations by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) led to police arresting a man who ran a private hospital for 10 years in Gwarimpa area of Abuja, where he offered surgeries and antenatal care, using forged certificates.

500,000 Teaching Jobs’ Portal Gets 35 Million Hits

•403,528 applicants registered in 36 hours

Thirty-five million applicants have hit the Federal Government’s social investment teaching job website since it became operational on Sunday.

NFF Official Re-Ignites 'Lesbian' Claims In Women's Football

NFF 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi at the 66th FIFA Congress.

A senior Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official has blamed lesbians for recent poor performances of the country's women's team, repeating a claim that FIFA has previously condemned.

‘I Did Not And Will Never Condemn The Niger Delta Avengers’ — Annkio Briggs

Annkio Briggs, an activist, is the convener of Niger Delta Self-Determination Movement. 

Annkio Briggs, a well respected leader of the Niger Delta struggle for human rights and environmental justice has debunked a report, carried out by an online Newspaper, Premium Times, which they stated that she lambasted the Niger Delta Avengers.

Ankio Briggs Blasts Niger Delta Avengers, Says Members From Somalia

From Left: Guest Speaker, Ayo Adebanjo; Founder Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), Elliot Uko; Former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife; former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and Guest, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo during the 17th IYM Annual Convention In Enugu on Sunday (12/6/16). 4200/12/6/2016/MAG/HB/NAN/

A prominent female activist from the Niger Delta, Ankio Briggs, on Sunday condemned the Niger Delta Avengers for attacking oil and gas pipelines and installations in the region.

50 Killed In Florida Gay Club Shooting, Worst In U.S. History

Omar S. Mateen, a 29-year-old Florida resident and U.S. citizen (centre) identified as shooter (Images credit/graphics: Daily Mail UK)

A gunman armed with an assault rifle killed 50 people at a packed gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on Sunday in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history which authorities described as a possible act of terrorism.

FOR THE RECORD: Why Anxiety Over Buhari’s Health Is Unnecessary — Bishop Kukah

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Archdiocese, Mathew Kukah

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Archdiocese, Mathew Kukah, has called on Nigerians to avoid making the health of Nigeria’s public figures a subject of political discourse or speculations.

Economic Crisis: We Won’t Bail Out Banks With Public Funds — FG

Central Bank of Nigeria Headquarters, Abuja

The Federal Government has ruled out any possibility of providing bailout funds to banks to boost their operations, following the gale of job losses in the banking sector in the last two weeks.