ECOWAS Leaders Call For West African Birth Rate To Be Halved

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are urging the member states to encourage family planning in local communities, to help control the birth rates

Senior politicians in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday called for measures to cut the birth rate in the region in order to bring the population explosion there under control.

Maiduguri: A Humanitarian Hub In Boko Haram Territory

A sack of rice that once sold for ₦8,000 in Maiduguri's markets now costs ₦17,000 because shortages have forced up prices. Nigeria's presidency has admitted that nearly half the food sent for victims of Boko Haram never reaches them because of profiteering and corruption

Mangoes and watermelons, prayer mats and Chinese-made utensils are again filling the stalls of Maiduguri's markets, as they recover after years of Boko Haram violence.

Food may be returning to Maiduguri's markets, but they still have to be imported and prices have shot up

2-IN-1 STORY: Governors’ Forum Raises Panel To Consider State Police; Nigeria Not Ripe For State Police — I-G

L-R: Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of NGF, Mallam Abdulaziz Yari and Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State

• Stop using our name for illegalities, DSS warns operatives 

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has resolved to constitute a six-man committee to consider the vexed issue of state police in the country in a veiled backing for restructuring.

Trump Legal Team Gets Shake-Up As Investigation Deepens

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller is leading the US probe into whether President Donald Trump's associates colluded with Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election

A key member of Trump´s legal team said he resigned his post Friday, a shake-up as Trump drew fire for apparent efforts to influence a former FBI director's probe into collusion with Russia.

Lukaku, Rashford On Target As Manchester United Down City

Soccer - International Champions Cup 2017 - Manchester United vs Manchester City

Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford were on target as Manchester United defeated Premier League rivals Manchester City 2-0 in their International Champions Cup pre-season clash on Thursday.

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford (R) fights for the ball Kyle Walker of Manchester City, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on July 20, 2017

Why e-Commerce Matters To Africa

E-commerce is growing across the continent. EPA

The business world is watching with interest as e-commerce giant Jack Ma tours East Africa on a mission to inspire young entrepreneurs.

Government Reinstates Christian Religious Knowledge and Islamic Religious Knowledge As Separate Subjects

REJECTED: NERDC’s Religion & National Values ‘concoction’ which lumped CRK and IRK together roundly rejected

• Water and oil were merged and it is not working, says minister 

The Federal Government yesterday ordered the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to make Christian Religious Knowledge and Islamic Religious Knowledge distinctive subjects in the basic education curriculum.

'Killer Pitch' And Food Poisoning Haunt Asia Football Tours

With the searing heat, tropical downpours and long-haul flights, it is easy to see why Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was left wondering aloud this week whether pre-season tours of Asia are worth all the aggravation

There was the infamous Hong Kong "killer pitch", an 11th-hour cancellation of a Manchester derby in Beijing and now Arsenal players struck down with food poisoning in Shanghai.

Jeffrey Schlupp (C) of Crystal Palace controls the ball between Adam Lallana (L) and Mohamed Salah (R) of Liverpool FC during a 2017 Premier League Asia Trophy fixture at Hong Kong Stadium

Kenyan Cattle Herders Defend 'Necessary' Land Invasions

Cattle herders in Kenya's central Laikipia highlands say they invade private land simply out of the need to graze their cattle.

Close by a narrow, rickety bridge in Kenya's central Laikipia highlands two herders sit on blistering hot rock next to the muddy trickle of the Ewaso Nyiro river to explain why they routinely break the law, invading private land to graze their cattle.

Too many people with too much livestock have rendered Laikipia's rangeland unliveable for the growing population, exacerbated by climate change.

2-IN-1 STORY: Radical Changes Proposed To Nations Cup; CAF Explains 24-Team Nations Cup Proposal

Dramatic changes to Africa's top competition now await rubber-stamping by the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after recommendations made at a conference in Morocco on Wednesday.

Senate Probes Sale, Use Of ‘Kidney-Killer’ Malaria Drugs

●Passes whistleblower protection bill ●Reverses self on screening of nominees ● Decries suspension from Egmont Group

The Senate yesterday directed its committee on health to urgently investigate an allegation that 42 anti-malaria drugs banned by the European Union (EU) in all countries are still being stockpiled, sold and consumed in Nigeria.

Egmont Group Headquarters

UK Universities And Colleges Awarding More Firsts To Degree Students

The findings are likely to spark fresh debate about grade inflation

The proportion of firsts handed out by UK universities has soared, with a third of institutions now grading at least one in four degrees with the top honour.

An exam in progress sign as findings are likely to spark fresh debate about grade inflation

FOR THE RECORD: Liberia Shuts Down Bottled Water Companies

Sachet water is now going to be harder to find in Liberia's capital. AFP

The authorities in Liberia have closed down more than 55 companies selling drinking water in bottles and plastic sachets.

LASG To Connect Ikorodu With Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

The Lagos State Government says it has started the “long awaited road project,” which will connect the Agric area of Ikorodu to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway through the Arepo area of Ogun State.

Anonymous Nigerians Own, Operate 200 Private Jets Locally — The Guardian Investigation

●Over 120 registered in Europe, others ●Experts warn of security risks
A plan by the Federal Government to go after wealthy tax defaulters is faced with some hurdles in the aviation sector as most private jets in the country could hardly be traced to individuals using them.

Major Prize For African Malaria Researcher

Dr Alassane Dicko, Africa Prize Medallist 2017 - Royal Society

Malian research scientist Alassane Dicko has won this year's Royal Society Africa prize for his work on malaria control.

Call For Boko Haram Peace Talks Masks Ethnic Tensions

Burnt livestock and litter left behind after an attack by Boko Haram on the mainly Shuwa Arab village of Mairi in northeast Borno state, epicentre of its bloody eight-year insurgency

A group of community elders in northeast Nigeria where Boko Haram has waged a bloody eight-year insurgency are urging the Islamists to enter peace talks, a move some see as motivated by ethnic self-interest.

Hot, Dry Weather Threatens Global Supply Of Top-Quality Wheat

Heads of wheat and unprocessed wheat grains (Triticum species) Image source: britannica.com

Droughts are shrivelling high-quality wheat crops across the globe, sending prices to multi-year highs as bread makers scramble for supplies.

Frankie Fredericks Suspended By IAAF Over Disgraced Diack Payment

Former Olympic sprinter Frankie Fredericks of Namibia has been suspended from his role as member of the IAAF's ruling council amid a probe by the integrity unit

Former world champion sprinter Frankie Fredericks has been provisionally suspended from his role in athletics pending an ethics investigation, the IAAF said Monday.

2014 Confab Recommendations ‘Unrealistic,’ Falana, Others Say

Femi Falana

A group of Nigerians led by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has said that the recommendations reached at the end of the 2014 National Conference are unrealistic.

Scam Which Saw Horse Meat Served Up As Beef Burgers In Britain Is Busted As 65 Are Arrested In Europe-Wide Operation

A scam which saw horse meat served up as beef burgers in Britain has been busted after 65 people were arrested in a Europe-wide operation. Police in Spain are pictured during a recent raid carried out in conjunction with Europol

●Police in Spain busted gang with help of Europol in eight countries including UK ●Network made 20m euros trading unfit horse meat across Europe, police claim●Alleged leader linked with scam which caused burger scare in Ireland in 2013●The affected burgers were also found on sale in Britain, it has been reported

A scam which saw horse meat served up as beef burgers in Britain has been busted after 65 people were arrested in a Europe-wide operation.

Government Admits ₦2.7tr Legacy Debts Created NPLs In Banks

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, admitted that these debts need not be prolonged anymore, as the oldest is dated 1994, while the obligations include money is owed to state governments, contractors, oil marketers, as well as power generation and distribution companies.

The Federal Government has admitted that the backlog of contractual debts and outstanding welfare issues like pensions valued at ₦2.7 trillion contributed the worsened Non-Performing Loans in the nation’s banking industry.

Boris Becker 'Lost His £100m Fortune Investing In Nigerian Oil Firms That Plunged In Value'

Becker struck the deal in 2013, which contributed to his recent bankruptcy

●Becker struck the deal in 2013, partly brokered by a Nigerian employee of his ●But the investments tanked and last month he was declared bankrupt ●His lawyer told a London court that he is not financially 'sophisticated' ●Becker is bankrupt, and owes undisclosed sums to London bankers 

Wimbledon legend Boris Becker lost a huge part of his £100million fortune in dubious investments in Nigerian oil firms, it has been claimed.

Wimbledon 2017: Roger Federer Beats Marin Cilic To Win Record Eighth Title

Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after defeating Croatia's Marin Cilic to win the Men's Singles final match on day thirteen at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London Sunday, July 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Roger Federer became the first man to win Wimbledon eight times and extended his record to 19 Grand Slam titles with victory over Croatia's Marin Cilic.

Switzerland's Roger Federer kisses the trophy after defeating Croatia's Marin Cilic to win the Men's Singles final match on day thirteen at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London Sunday, July 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Lesotho's Economic Woes Create Generation Of Migrants

The African Centre for Migration and Society said that remittances -- transfers of migrants to their home country -- make up to 30% of Lesotho's economy.

In a cottage in rural Lesotho, Tisetso Litheko lays out six full passports packed with immigration stamps showing his constant movement across the border to neighbouring South Africa.

The red tape of South Africa's immigration system, where officials frequently have a reputation for demanding bribes and causing long delays, has exposed desperate Lesotho job seekers to exploitation and cheap labour