CAF President Ahmad To Review TV Deal And AFCON Timing

Ahmad appears determined to bring changes to CAF

Contentious decisions on African football's television rights and tournament hosting agreements will be reviewed in the coming months, new Confederation of African Football president Ahmad said on Friday.

Demand Booming On US College Campuses For Creative Writing

This April 5, 2017, self-made photo provided by Gil Moreno shows Moreno in Summit, N.J. Colleges across the United States are seeing a boom in demand for courses on creative writing, to accommodate interest that has been attributed to the rise of social media and a flourishing culture of self-expression. (Gil Moreno via AP)

Some credit the rise of social media. Others attribute it to a flourishing culture of self-expression. Whatever the reason, colleges across the United States are seeing a boom in demand for courses on creative writing.

This Oct. 25, 2016 photo provided by Sunday Swett shows Erica Wachs on the Yale University campus in New Haven, Conn. Wachs, a junior, junior specializing in creative writing, arrived at Yale thinking she would study either English or global affairs. She found her first writing classes, which included sessions with writers discussing their craft, to be exciting. Wachs now plans a career writing for the entertainment industry. (Sunday Swett via AP)

UTME: JAMB Registrar, Oloyede, Spent Night In Office, Says Mock Exam Now Free Of Charge

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed that Computer Based Test (CBT) centres should not collect any money from candidates who would be sitting for the nationwide Mock Examination for its 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) taking place today (Saturday).

Meningitis: NMA Condemns Government’s Delayed Response

• Imo ‘Records’ First Outbreak Of Disease • Death Toll Rises To 438 As Mass Vaccination Begins In Zamfara

Medical doctors under the aegis of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) have condemned the Federal Government’s handling of the Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) epidemic, which has affected 17 states and claimed no fewer than 330 lives.

FOR THE RECORD: 12 Things To Note About 2017 JAMB Examination — Registrar, Oloyede

Professor Is'haq Oloyede

INTRODUCTION
On behalf of the Management and staff of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, I happily welcome participants to this Strategic Planning Retreat on the Structure of Supervision and Evaluation of the Conduct of the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Osinbajo Inspects Abuja Airport, Says Runway 80% Complete

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the spot assessment at Abuja airport on Friday

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday embarked on a thorough inspection of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which lasted for over an hour.

UPDATED Kenyan Olympic Marathon Champ Sumgong Fails Dope Test: IAAF

Jemima Sumgong was the first Kenyan woman to win Olympic marathon gold when she triumphed at Rio in 2016 and is also the reigning London Marathon champion

Jemima Sumgong, the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold in the marathon when she triumphed in Rio last year, has failed an out-of-competition dope test, athletics officials said Friday.

Jemima Sumgong displays Olympic marathon gold

Climate Change Could Spur "Brain Drain" From Developing World — Researcher

People who are driven to migrate by floods, droughts and other disasters linked to climate change come overwhelmingly from middle-income countries, not the poorest parts of the world, as is commonly believed, new research finds.

Singapore Slashes Jail Term For Showbiz Pastor

City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee (R) has had his jail sentence for misusing church funds to boost the career of his pop-singer wife Ho Yeow Sun (L) reduced on appeal

The head of a wealthy Singaporean Christian church who spent US$35 million in congregation funds on a failed bid to promote his wife's music career had his jail term slashed on appeal Friday.

Nigeria Needs US$139/Pbl Oil Price For Balanced Budget — Fitch

Nigeria’s crude oil production reached two million barrels per day in January and February. Photo: nta.ng

International agency Fitch Ratings yesterday said that Nigeria needs crude oil price of US$139 per barrel to achieve balanced budget in 2017, adding this makes the country worst in oil break-even point among 14 top oil exporters.

US Authorities Bust Visa Fraud Scheme For Wealthy Chinese

FBI agents search the offices of the California Investment Immigration Fund during an investigation into an alleged US$50 million high-end visa fraud scheme involving as many as 100 Chinese nationals in San Gabriel

Federal agents in California on Wednesday raided two homes and a business allegedly connected to a US$50 million visa fraud scheme that benefited up to 100 Chinese nationals.

FBI agents remove documents from the offices of the California Investment Immigration Fund in an investigation into an alleged US$50 million visa fraud scheme involving as many as 100 Chinese nationals in San Gabriel, California on April 5, 2017

North Korea ‘Hacking Nigerian Banks’ To Fund Its Nuclear Programmme

Nigeria is listed among 18 countries where North Korean hackers have allegedly been attacking banks to get funds for sponsoring nuclear programme.

Missiles launch

Sanusi II Criticizes Buhari’s Economic Framework

The Emir of Kano and former governor of Nigeria's central bank, Muhammadu Sanusi, Thursday described the country's current economic model as impracticable, panning the government's excessive spending on debt servicing.

2-IN-1 STORY: No Meningitis In Bauchi — Commissioner; Meningitis Caught Us Off Guard, Says FG

Dr Halima Mukaddas, Honourable Commissioner for Health, Bauchi State

Bauchi State government, yesterday, debunked the rumours that there was an outbreak of Cerebro-spinal Meningitis, CSM, in the state.

Buhari Launches Nigeria’s Economic Recovery, Growth Plan

President Muhammadu Buhari has launched the Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP, which seeks to restore the nation’s economic status following the high rate of inflation and recession.

2-IN-1 STORY: Panic As Meningitis Spreads; Meningitis Punishment From God, Gov Yari Says

*Senate urges action on IDP camps, prisons, others *As death toll rises to 336; 2,997 suspected cases in 16 states

Apprehension has gripped Nigerians in the wake of the current outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis, CSM, in some parts of the country. Reports show that the outbreak, which has reached epidemic proportions in the last few days, has continued to spread.

Strike Force: World's Most Venomous Scorpion In Action

Deathstalker (Leiurus quinquestriatus) is the world's most lethal scorpion

The world's most lethal scorpion, the deathstalker, has been caught on high-speed camera for the first time lashing out with its lethal stinger, scientists reported Tuesday.

Deathstalker scorpion Image credit: YouTUBE

81 Young Innovators Win ₦756 Million Grant

Fourth left: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelama; Minister of StateIndustry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar; Minister of communications, Adebayo Shittu and some awardees, at the distribution of grants to Growth and Employment Project awardees during the Aso Villa Demo Day in Abuja on Tuesday (4/4/17). 02033/4/4/2017/Jones Bamidele/NAN

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has approved the sum of ₦756.3 million for disbursement to 81 Nigerian innovators as part of Federal Government’s economic empowerment initiatives.

Huge Protest At National Assembly Over Ndume’s Suspension By Senate

Image credit: PREMIUM TIMES

Thousands of protesters have blocked the entrance to the National Assembly in Abuja, demanding the immediate reinstatement of Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south in the Senate.

Image credit: PUNCH

South Africa Athletes Top Africa Doping Table

BBC Sport

More than 1,900 athletes were sanctioned for doping in 2015, new World Anti-Doping Agency figures show.

BBC Sport

Widal, Not Valid Test For Typhoid — Doctors

Image credit: Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals Limited

Medical doctors have said that Widal test, a popular laboratory investigation prescribed by many hospitals for the diagnosis of typhoid in Nigeria, is no longer valid for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Meningitis Spreads, Kills More, Lagos Denies Recording Any Case

Photo of a child suffering from cerebro-spinal meningitis Image credit:  VOA

• Vaccine for disease remains scarce, costly  •Nigeria needs ₦23.4bn to procure drugs •To begin immunization with .5m doses in Zamfara •Lagos alerts residents, denies recording any case

The scarcity of the needed vaccines to stem the growing epidemic of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) is causing more deaths and spread of the disease to more states.

South Sudan Drops Plan For US$10,000 Work Permit Fee

South Sudan has been embroiled in civil war since 2013, when President Salva Kiir fired his deputy Riek Machar. Getty Images

South Sudan's government has dropped plans to charge foreign workers a US$10,000 (£8,000) work permit fee, the Finance Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau announced, the Reuters news agency reports. 

Saudi Arabia Increases Fighter Pilots' Pay By Up To 60%

A Pilot readies a Saudi Arabia Army Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 Eagle Fighter Jet. Image source: AllPosters.com 

The Saudi cabinet announced a pay increase of up to 60 percent for air force pilots on Monday, state news agency SPA reported, as a military campaign led by the kingdom in neighbouring Yemen entered its third year.

Design by Farwa Rizwan/ Al Arabiya News

South Africa’s Deputy President Calls For 'Renewal' Amid Zuma Backlash

Ramaphosa says the moment to renew the country had arrived. AFP

South Africa's  Eye Witness News has shared an audio recording of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa calling for a renewal of the country and criticizing "greedy and corrupt people."

Anxiety As Withdrawal, Deposit Charges Begin

Central Bank of Nigeria

●Financial inclusion, cashless projects may suffer ●Banks to blame for parallel market rate rebound ●CBN to inject to more forex this week

There are concerns over the fate of the nation’s financial inclusion project as the first phase of planned full implementation of the accompanying cash-less projects take full course today.

Without NDLEA Clearance, You May No Longer Visit Indonesia

Nigerians with new passports seeking to travel to Indonesia will need to include a certificate of recommendation from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) among the documents needed to process their visas.

St. Petersburg, Russia, Subway Blast Kills 10, Injures 50

Two subway stations were hit by explosions with destructive elements in the Russian city of St. Petersburg

At least 10 people were killed and 50 others injured Monday when an explosion ripped through a subway train in St. Petersburg, the spokesman for the city's governor told Russian television.

An injured person is helped by emergency services outside Sennaya Ploshchad metro station, following explosions

Concerns Over Safe Drinking Water

Image credit: Mother Nature network

Water dispensed to the public by some state agencies may not be safe for human consumption, a federal government official has said.

Honduran Drug Lord Cuts Deal With US, Tells All

Handout photo chart courtesy of the US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control shows the 2013 Los Cachiros drug trafficking cartel

To hear him tell it in court, he has the blood of 78 people on his hands and allegedly shipped 20 tonnes of cocaine to the United States.

Disaster Looms As Illegal Filling Stations Liter Residential Areas

Blame Regulatory Bodies – LUPAN

Unless the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) moves urgently to clamp down on illegal filling stations littered around residential areas in the country, lives and property will continue to be in terrible danger.