Asari-Dokubo establishes own university

The leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Mr. Muhajid Asari-Dokubo has joined the swelling rank of private university proprietors with his establishment of a university in the neighbouring Republic of Benin, PREMIUM TIMES reported on Friday.

Asari-Dokubo, who already owns a soccer academy in the West African country and another one in Abuja, Nigeria, said the university, which will be known as King Amachree African University, KAAU, had already been accredited to commence degree programmes beginning September 2014.

According to PREMIUM TIMES, Asari-Dokubo disclosed in an interview in Abuja that the proposed university, named after his ancestor, was a product of his two existing institutions in Benin Republic, namely King Amachree Automobile/ICT Royal Academy and King Amachree Arts Academy. Both of them, he added, currently award Diploma to their students.

Most Nigerian men aren’t romantic — Chelsea Eze

Nollywood actress, Chelsea Eze, tells Ademola Olonilua about her career and love life

Asides movies what do you have a passion for?

I have a passion for movie production and singing. As someone in the arts, it is necessary to master a few other things relating to the arts, for instance other languages, martial arts, singing  and many more. So yes, I think singing would come in handy for me as an actress at some point.

Would you say you are a better singer than an actress?

I can’t really say. In fact,I wouldn’t know.

We have seen actresses delving into music, is such in your future plans?

It is not a Plan B per se. It is just an area I think I might want to explore.

If you were to choose a male Nigerian singer to do collaboration with, who would you choose?

I certainly would choose M.I and it is because I like his versatility. I like soulful music, techno and even country music. But I have no streamlined genre for now.

'Pilot error caused Associated Airlines plane crash' - AIB reveals

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has revealed that the October 3rd Associated Airlines crash that killed 14 people was caused by pilot error. The agency explained that the preliminary readout and analysis of the flight recorder indicated that the right engine of the aircraft was faulty.

The agency also said that preliminary investigation indicated that the captain-in-command of the ill-fated aircraft, Abdulrahman Yakubu, ignored the warning from the onboard computer voice.

This was disclosed to journalists by the Commissioner for AIB, Capt. Usman Muktar, while reading out the preliminary readout and analysis of flight 361’s flight recorders in Abuja yesterday.

He said the investigation was done in AIB laboratory in Abuja in conjunction with international flight recorder experts from Canada, who designed the laboratory.

Photos: Julius Agwu shows off his new born son...

Julius and his wife Ibiere welcomed their second child, a son named Zadok Chubuike Julius Agwu, on Monday October 7th. Julius was in Nigeria when his wife gave birth in a hospital in the US.

Eid-el-Kabir: FG declares Tuesday, Wednesday holidays

THE Federal Government has declared Tuesday and Wednesday, October 15 and 16 respectively, as public holidays to mark Eid-el-Kabir sallah celebration.
Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, made the declaration on behalf of the government, in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Fatima Bamidele, in Abuja, on Thursday.
He congratulated the Muslim faithful and enjoined them and all other Nigerians to join hands with President Goodluck Jonathan in his sustained efforts to raise Nigeria to the next level of development.
He further urged all Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for peace and unity across the nation.
Moro, in the statement, “wishes all Nigerians a most rewarding and peaceful celebration.”

Why I went to the Synagogue-Jim Iyke

AFTER the video showing Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke, in a deliverance session at the Synagogue Church of all Nations went viral, several people have been reacting to the incident. While some thought it was a movie, others thought it was a mere publicity stunt by the church.
Ace filmmaker, Charles Novia, reacted to the deliverance session thus: ‘Jim has my best wishes. Good actor, he is. So, Jim Iyke got ‘delivered’ of an evil demon in a popular church recently? Mmn. Chai! Strange things happen. We go through a mid-life crisis one time or the other.
Genuine God discovery helps. For those sending me hateful tweets over this deliverance issue, you know the way to the church for yours.
I’m unfazed .
I do think, though, that Jim was brave to go for deliverance. It is a first step to a total recovery. I wish him well. Honestly, I do.”
Jim Iyke, however, did not feel comfortable that it went on the cameras and tweeted ‘I’m not insulting anyone. I just feel that ‘deliverance’ issues are personal, not with cameras and klieg lights. These Nollywood stars and the rush for ‘deliverance’. Dem need am sef. God save us producers from some of the demons we cast.

Countdown to Ethiopia/Nigeria World Cup play-off: Nigeria storms Addis Ababa tomorrow

Nigeria’s delegation to Sunday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup final elimination fixture, first leg encounter between the Super Eagles and Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia will arrive in Addis Ababa on Saturday morning.
NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu disclosed on Thursday that the Boeing 787 jetliner, which has been chartered for the trip, will depart the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 1.40am on Saturday and touch down at the Addis Ababa Airport minutes after 8am, Ethiopian time. Ethiopia is two hours ahead of Nigeria.
The delegation will comprise 23 players, four coaches, eight backroom staff, members of the NFF Executive Committee, officials of the National Sports Commission, members of the National Assembly, NFF management and some secretariat staff, stakeholders, media representatives and members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, all totalling 263 persons.

Nollywood now a mixture of prostitutes and professionals - Mariam Bakare

Despite her passion for acting, she has added another feather to her cap as the publisher and the CEO of Central Star magazine. Mariam Omolara Barake, actress, is a mother of three. In this interview with SEYI SOKOYA, she speaks on why she ventured into magazine production, her take on the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) crisis and her fashion preferences. Excerpts:
Why I kept a low profile.
I agree with you that I kept a low profile in recent time. It was my decision to focus on another things and I don’t have any regret that I am still in the industry. I think it was high time for me to take such step since I had already registered my face in the minds of my fans and it was a thing I have been longing for years back. To me, what I am doing at present is still part of entertainment. I now produce a magazine called ‘Central Star magazine’. Despite all odds, the outcome is really impressive. The magazine focuses on the entertainment industry, both up-and-coming and stars, legends of the industry, entertainment events, behind the scenes, culture and tradition among others.

Ibadan is ready forBob Fitts

Gbenga Kotila is the  convener of the yearly Ignite Concert series. The man, who brought Don Moen to Ibadan last year reveals to ROTIMI IGE, why gospel music evangelist, Bob Fitts, is coming to Ibadan today.  Excerpts
Ignite 2012 was an immense success, especially after being hosted by the wife of the Oyo State governor. Tell us how exactly it went last year?
We give all glory to God and appreciate the committee that gave a strong drive to the actualisation of the vision. And a great thanks also to the First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, for hosting Don Moen to a breakfast at the State House and the different support she gave us towards the realisation of the vision.

How did you go about bringing Don Moen, a revered gospel musician,  to Nigeria.
It was just God who made everything possible. I cannot explain how it happened but God did it all. All glory to Him. In 2011, I started a network, “Living for Meaning” in which we hosted a meeting tagged; “Maximizing your living.” As we proceeded into the 2012 edition, Pastor Ayo Oloyede suggested that we bring Don Moen, and we went ahead.

25 killed in fresh attacks in Plateau, Nasarawa

NO fewer than 21 people were killed, while four other sustained injuries in the early hours of Thursday, when some group of people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded a village in Barkin-Ladin Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Also, suspected Fulani herdsmen, on Wednesday evening, invaded Rijaya-Giwa village in Azara development area of Nasarawa State, killing four persons, with many others left injured.
A source close to Kakuk village, where the Plateau incident occurred, said the Fulani herdsmen, numbering about 30, with sophisticated weapon, invaded the village at about 1.00 a.m to rustle cows.
According to him, the rampaging Fulani herdsmen stormed the house of one Tsok Gwom and opened fire on the residence, leaving nine members of the family dead and four others injured.
Those injured were said to have attempted to run away from the house when the incident happened.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that the youth within the village quickly mobilised for counter-attack and, in the ensuing melee, 12 Fulani herdsmen were killed, while some others escaped with varying degrees of injuries.
Those who sustained  injuries during the attack are receiving treatment at Plateau State Specialist Hospital, with two of  them at the intensive care unit of the hospital.

38,000 PHCN workers get entitlements Nov 1 –BPE

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo

The Bureau of Public Enterprises has said that 38,000 workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria may get their full entitlements before the physical handover of the already sold power generation and distribution companies to their new owners on November 1, 2013.

According to the bureau, the Federal Government had successfully verified 38,000 workers out of the over 45,000 employees of the power firm.

The Deputy Director, Electric Power Department, Mr. Amaechi Aloke, told our correspondent that the government was working hard to ensure that the new investors did not face the problem of settling the workers.

Aloke stated this on the sidelines of a workshop organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission for purchasers of the PHCN successor companies and other stakeholders in Abuja.

Boy,9, becomes Nigeria’s youngest Microsoft certified professional

PUNCH - A primary six pupil of Role Model School, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, has emerged one of the youngest pupils to obtain the Microsoft Certified Professional certificate, SAMUEL AWOYINFA reports

A nine-year-old pupil of Role Model School, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, Jomiloju Tunde-Oladipo, has emerged the youngest Nigerian Microsoft certified professional.

He came tops among 21 pupils who sat for the professional examination in Lagos.

He is now a Microsoft office specialist in office word 2010.

Jomiloju scored 769 out of 1,000 in the examination held in August.

In his examination score report, the slim-built boy performed well in Sharing and Maintaining Documents, Formatting Content, Applying Page Layout, and Reusable Content, among other subjects.

By the feat, Jomiloju has joined the league of young Microsoft certified professionals, including Nigeria’s 10-year-old Anjolaoluwa Seyi-Ojo;  an eight-year-old Indian, Lavishnashree, and two Pakistanis, named Arfa and Thobani.

I’d love to marry Genevieve –D’banj

Dapo Oyebanji, aka D’banj, speaks with JAYNE AUGOYE about his career and relationship with the popular Nollywood actress

Singer, Dapo Oyebanji, aka D’banj, finally opened up on his love life in a rare meeting with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday.

The self-styled Kokomaster was clearly in his elements as he talked at length, amid occasional bouts of laughter, about his career and other issues that were important to him. One of the subjects was about his rumoured relationship with Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji.

Judging by the manner in which the actress’ name kept popping off his lips, it was obvious that D’banj had a very soft spot for her.

Aware that the grapevine had bristled with the rumour that he was romantically involved with Genevieve, ever since she appeared in the 2010 video of his hit song, ‘Fall in Love’, the singer said the actress had played a role in his success.

Rebel governors, others suffer double setback

The New Peoples Democratic Party  has suffered a double blow  as its quest to have  Dr. Bamanga Tukur sacked and be recognised by the authentic PDP have been rejected by the Independent National Electoral Commission and a Lagos High Court in Ikeja.

While INEC said it would not withdraw the recognition already given the National Working Committee of the Tukur-led  PDP,  the Lagos High Court  on Thursday said it lacked  the jurisdiction to entertain a suit in which the New PDP sought an order stopping Tukur from parading himself as the authentic chairman of the ruling party.

The commission  was responding to two separate letters dated  September 1  and 23, 2013 by the  Alhaji Baraje-led  New PDP   asking  that it should be   recognised as the real PDP.

US debt crisis may affect Nigeria –Okonjo-Iweala

The current budget row and the possibility of debt default by the United States portend serious danger for Nigeria as the country’s cost of borrowing from the international financial market will likely rise significantly, the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said.

She said this while addressing a world press conference on the outcome of the meeting of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers with the leadership of the World Bank and IMF in Washington DC, United States, on Thursday.

Okonjo-Iweala said the crisis in the US would not be favourable to yield and interests accruable on two of the nation’s sovereign debt instruments currently being traded in major financial centres across the globe.

According to her, the stalemate will make it more expensive for the country to borrow from the international financial market.

Solomon Lar dies at 80, Jonathan, govs mourn

First civilian governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar, is dead. Lar passed on in a US hospital of what family sources described as old-age related ailment on Wednesday. He was aged 80.

Commissioner for Information, Mr. Abraham Yiljap, who confirmed his death, told our correspondent that the family had contacted Governor Jonah Jang to inform him about Lar’s demise.

Jang, in a statement signed by the Director of Press Affairs to the Governor, Mr. James Mannok, said that Jang was shocked when he received the news.

He described the elder statesman as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria.

The statement partly reads, “It’s  with great sadness that the Government of Plateau State received the death of Chief Solomon Daushep Lar the first civilian Governor of the state  and the first National Chairman  of the Peoples Democratic Party, who passed away in the United States of America.”

‘Antelopes can’t stop Emenike, Moses’

Super Eagles assistant coach Daniel Amokachi is backing  Nigeria for victory against Ethiopia  in  their  first leg 2014 World Cup qualifying playoff in Addis Abba on Sunday.

Amokachi believes  the  Walya Antelopes can’t withstand the calibre of  players Stephen Keshi has  invited for the encounter.

The return match  takes place in Calabar   on November 16 and the aggregate winners  qualify for Brazil 2014.

Victor Moses converted from the spot twice to help Nigeria  beat plucky Ethiopia  2-0  in their group stage match at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on January 29, but the Walya Antelopes  maintain  they  have learned from the defeat and are ready to deny the Eagles   a chance to play at the World Cup for the fifth time.

Afrocandy poses with dollars

The superstar shared this pic with caption "You wanna know why you don't see me in pictures posing with other celebs? It's cos I don't do GROUPIES. I'm a one man squad kind of BOOS !!

Landlord’s daughter abducted, impregnated by tenant

The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended a 37-year-old man, Ajibola Idowu, for allegedly kidnapping the daughter of his landlord for three years. The suspect was also said to have forcefully impregnated the victim, Modupe Brown, during captivity.

The police told PUNCH Metro that after Brown had given birth to the child, Ajibola refused to allow the child access to immunisation.

As a result, the child was said to have contracted polio disease and subsequently became crippled.

Lagos Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Damasus Ozoani, told PUNCH Metro that Ajibola, was arrested along with his mother, Ebun, who allegedly conspired with him to commit the act.

He said, “Brown, a 400 level student of Business Administration at the Lagos State University, was kidnapped by Ajibola who kept her in captivity with his family for “three years between 2010 and 2013.

“On September 19, 2013, policemen from Area E Command, went to the Sagamu area of Ogun State to rescue the victim and also arrested the mother of the abductor, who watched over the victim. Ajibola was later arrested in the Idumota area of Lagos Island.

180 B’Haram insurgents killed by Cameroonian soldiers – Military

A fierce gunfight launched  against the fundamentalist Islamist group, Boko Haram, by Camerounian soldiers has led to  the killing   of no fewer than 180 insurgents and two gendarmes  around a Nigerian  border with Cameroun.

It was gathered that during the battle which took place on Tuesday evening, many of  the wounded insurgents   were also arrested.

About 200 rifles, 70 machine guns and heavy military hardware were said to have been  recovered from the insurgents by the soldiers.

A reliable military source confirmed the development  to our correspondent shortly after the the Nigerian Army in Kano State disclosed that it  had foiled a plot to bomb Kano during the forthcoming  Sallah festival  by uncovering  a bomb factory in Gezawa Local Government Area.

Funny - A Man Woos His Lady Using Only Bible Verses

This is a fun read, and especially for the ladies who want a god-fearing man. If a guy walks up to you like the guy below and responds to all your conversation with bible verses, wouldn't you just fall in love with him? Some lines in the Bible sure are toast-worthy. Read, memorize and share :)

Boy: Do you have a boyfriend?
Girl: Nope;I don’t want to have a boyfriend.
Boy: Gen. 2:18 The Lord God said,“It is not
good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Girl: But I don’t love you.

Fani-Kayode should hide himself in shame – Aviation minister

The Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, on Tuesday hit back at Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, describing  him  as an ignorant individual, who “should hide his head in shame.”

Fani-Kayode, a former minister of Aviation,  had criticised the Peoples Democratic Party for expressing confidence in Oduah despite the air crashes that had happened during  her tenure as  minister.

“How many more people have to be killed in air crashes before our President (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan)  realises that he needs a new Minister of Aviation?” Fani-Kayode had asked.

But Oduah said  in Abuja that Fani-Kayode was misleading innocent Nigerians and needed sympathy.

She spoke at an aviation safety event organised by the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation and hosted by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

Mikel, 17 others train for Ethiopia

The Super Eagles began  their  training  ahead of Sunday’s  World Cup qualifying playoff  against Ethiopia on Tuesday with  Stephen Keshi putting Chelsea midfielder star Mikel Obi and 17 other invited  players through their paces at  Abuja National Stadium.

Five players: Liverpool’s Victor Moses, Dynomo Kiev’s Brown Ideye, Fenerbhce’s Emmanuel Emenike, Real Betis’ Nosa Igiebor and Newcastle’s Shola Ameobi were absent from training.

But  spokesman  for the Eagles Ben Alaiya told our correspondent on the telephone that Moses, Ideye, Igiebor and Emenike were expected to arrive at the camp late in the evening.

Ondo govt denies hiring crashed Associated Airline plane

Ondo State Government on Tuesday said it was not involved in the hiring of Associated Airline plane,  which crashed in Lagos last Thursday while conveying the body of the late former Governor Olusegun Agagu to Akure.

The state also said that the airline was not on the list of airlines earlier listed and presented to the burial committee set up by the government to organise a befitting burial for the deceased.

These clarifications were contained in a statement by the Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade.

A spokesman for the Agagu family, Femi Agagu, had reportedly said in a statement on Monday that the family did not hire the crashed plane.

Akinmade said the clarification became necessary in order to correct erroneous representations in media reports.

Mikel, 17 others train for Ethiopia

The Super Eagles began  their  training  ahead of Sunday’s  World Cup qualifying playoff  against Ethiopia on Tuesday with  Stephen Keshi putting Chelsea midfielder star Mikel Obi and 17 other invited  players through their paces at  Abuja National Stadium.

Five players: Liverpool’s Victor Moses, Dynomo Kiev’s Brown Ideye, Fenerbhce’s Emmanuel Emenike, Real Betis’ Nosa Igiebor and Newcastle’s Shola Ameobi were absent from training.

But  spokesman  for the Eagles Ben Alaiya told our correspondent on the telephone that Moses, Ideye, Igiebor and Emenike were expected to arrive at the camp late in the evening.

Ogu, Ideye target victory

Portugal-based midfielder John Ogu  and Ukraine-based striker Brown Ideye are  optimistic that the  Super Eagles will qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria face Ethiopia in  the first leg  World Cup qualifying playoff in Addis Ababa on  Sunday with the return match in Calabar   on November 16.

Ogu and Ideye said the Eagles would aim for victory in Addis Ababa in order  not to come under intense  pressure to deliver in  reverse fixture.

Ogu, who was one of the 18 players that trained in Abuja ahead of the encounter on Tuesday, promised that the team would fight throughout the Addis Ababa crash.

“We (the players) have resolved to give  our all to make sure that the country’s flag flies in Brazil come 2014,”   Academica de Coimbra star Ogu was quoted by supersport.com as saying.

“It’s something we have been discussing among ourselves since the draw was made  and we know what is at stake.

“We didn’t come this far to turn back. It’s now or never. All our hard work over the past 10  months will only count if we beat Ethiopia, and that is what we are aiming for.”

LG Unveils Curved Handset Display for November Launch

LG Electronics Inc's display unit said on Monday it will start mass production of curved smartphone displays as the South Korean phone maker plans to launch a smartphone with the new screens next month to catch bigger rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.
Samsung said last month it would introduce a smartphone with a curved display in October as the world's top handset maker seeks to set the pace of hardware innovation amid slowing growth in the high-end smartphone market.

Curved displays are in the early stages of development and allow bendable or foldable designs that could eventually allow mobile and wearable gadgets to take new forms that could radically change the high-end smartphone market.

Oyedepo, Dangote, Adenuga to pay N400m luxury tax on private jets

According to a story by Encomium magazine, Bishop David Oyedepo, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Dr. Mike Adenuga are among the top 10 Nigerian billionaires who will pay hundreds of millions of naira annually as luxury tax due to the imposition of a whooping $4,000 luxury tax by Aviation Ministry on private jet owners and operators per departure.

Some of these super rich Nigerians make use of their jets 3/4 times in a week either within or outside Nigeria and for every trip, it's a cool $4, 000 tax.

Senate summons Oduah, others over plane crash

The Senate on Tuesday summoned the Minister of Aviation,  Ms. Stella Oduah, and heads of agencies under her  ministry, to  explain the real state of the nation’s  aviation industry.

The invitation followed Thursday’s Associated Airlines plane crash in which  about 15 out of the 20 passengers and crew on board, had been confirmed dead.

The 23-year-old aircraft  was conveying the body of a former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, to Akure, when it crashed  barely a minute  after take-off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport in  Ikeja, Lagos.

Hours  after the accident, a Saudi Arabia-bound  Kabo Air plane with 400 passengers on board made an  emergency landing in Sokoto on Friday  when it lost its two main body tyres.

The decision to summon Oduah was taken after the Senators exhaustively discussed a motion moved by Senator Hope Uzodima. In the motion, the lawmaker drew the attention of his colleagues to the   Associated Airlines plane crash and  expressed serious concern that the incident  had underscored the need for the country to re-examine its aviation sector.

Jonathan, three PDP govs meet over ministerial nominees

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday entered into a marathon meeting with three Peoples Democratic Party state governors loyal to him.

The governors include Akwa Ibom’s Godswill Akpabio, Cross River’s Lyel Imoke and Bayelsa’s Seriake Dickson.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, also joined them at the meeting.

The meeting, which was held inside the President’s office came about 24 hours after Jonathan and his loyalists met with four rebel governors – Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State;  Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State; and Babangida Aliyu of Niger State-in a bid to restore peace to the already factionalised ruling party.

Ex-Corps member rape: Court frees Osun monarch

A High Court sitting in Ikirun, Osun State, on Tuesday discharged and acquitted the Alowa of Ilowa Ijesa, Oba Adebukola Alli of rape allegation leveled against him by a former member of the National Youth Service Corps, Miss. Hellen Okpara.

Justice Oyejide Falola, while delivering the final judgement in the case which was instituted about three years ago, said that the plaintiff failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the monarch raped her as she claimed.

The corps member, who served in Alli’s domain between 2010 and 2011, had told  the court that the monarch took her to his private residence in Osogbo, the state capital where he forcefully had sex with her.

But the monarch denied the claim saying the ex-corps member was  his girl friend.

Jonathan, three PDP govs meet over ministerial nominees

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday entered into a marathon meeting with three Peoples Democratic Party state governors loyal to him.

The governors include Akwa Ibom’s Godswill Akpabio, Cross River’s Lyel Imoke and Bayelsa’s Seriake Dickson.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, also joined them at the meeting.

The meeting, which was held inside the President’s office came about 24 hours after Jonathan and his loyalists met with four rebel governors – Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State;  Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State; and Babangida Aliyu of Niger State-in a bid to restore peace to the already factionalised ruling party.

Ethiopian altitude, pitch can’t stop Eagles – Egwuekwe

Despite concerns ranging from high altitude to a bad pitch at the 35,000-capacity Addis Ababa Stadium, Nigeria defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe, says the  Super Eagles “have a big heart” to weather the storm in their first leg final African qualifier for the Brazil 2014 World Cup on Sunday.

While Nigeria are out to achieve a favourable result at an altitude of 2,400m in Addis Ababa, the Eagles also have the rough and bumpy pitch of the stadium and highly fanatical fans to contend with.

The Ethiopia Football Association has also moved the kick-off time from 4pm to 2pm as the North-East Africans try to apply all tactics to emerge victorious in the first leg, but Egwuekwe is confident that won’t pose any problems for the African champions.

Ethiopia players complain

Ethiopia players  are unhappy with the win bonus approved for Sunday’s World Cup playoff against Nigeria, saying it cannot motivate them.

Details of the bonus are still not known, but several of the players insist they deserve more.

“We deserve better than what the government has promised us. It seems we are not appreciated by our government,” said one of the  players.

For the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, the team were reportedly supported by the country’s richest man, Mohammed Al Amoudi.

This comes at a time when the Walya Antelopes are sweating on the fitness of their star striker Getaneh Kebede.

Kebede, who has formed a superb strike force with Saladin Said, is nursing an ankle injury and was rested by his South African club Bidvest Wits on Saturday.

He is therefore a major doubt for Sunday’s showdown.

However, team spirit must have been lifted with the arrival of three of the country’s foreign-based stars.

Dangote to chair World Economic Forum

President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has been appointed a co-chair of next year’s annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Kloster, Switzerland.

The Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, Prof. Klaus Schwab, in a letter inviting the business mogul to co-chair the sitting, said the WEF was of the belief that Dangote’s participation would contribute significantly to the substance of the discussions.

Schwab said in the letter, “The discussions aim to stimulate an unparalleled global dialogue among the relevant leaders from the government, business, academia, civil society and the media.

Air accidents inevitable – Minister of Aviation

Four days after a tragic crash involving an Associated Airline plane killed 14 people in Lagos, Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, on Monday described accidents as God’s will that are  inevitable.

She said notwithstanding this reality, the Federal Government would continue to ensure there were no accidents.

Oduah made the submission while fielding questions from State House correspondents on investigations into the Thursday  Lagos crash, the safety of the nation’s airspace and the suspension of Dana Air’s operations, among other issues.

While reacting to a comment that the latest crash had  made nonsense of  government’s much-talked about reforms in the aviation sector, the minister said, “We do not pray for accidents  but they are inevitable. But we will continue to do everything to ensure that we do not have accidents. But an accident is an act of God.

“Again, we do not speculate on the cause of accidents.  Until  they happen, you cannot  say this is the cause or that is not the cause. But what is obvious and is the truth is that, in aviation, there are shared responsibilities, starting from the man that carries your luggage to the man that makes sure that your boarding pass is issued to you.

I saw policemen kill my dad – Six-year-old girl

A six-year-old girl, Mariam Adeniji, is currently in shock after witnessing the killing of her father, Rafiu Adeniji, who was allegedly shot dead by policemen on Sunday.

The little girl, who spoke to PUNCH Metro while trying to fight back tears, said her father was killed after challenging policemen over an accident along the Mangoro end of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

She said, “My daddy was driving home when someone hit his car. He went to see the policemen; they just brought out their guns and shot him. They then ran away.”

Another occupant of the vehicle, Lateef Okesola, who expressed shock at the incident, said it occurred in broad daylight.

He said, “Adeniji, Mariam and I, were all in his Honda car; Adeniji was driving. We were headed towards Agege when we saw a white police patrol vehicle with the inscription, OPS Attack, chasing a commercial bus. So, Rafiu swerved to the side and allowed the vehicle to pass.

Christians protest merger of schools by Aregbesola

Christians in Osun State, especially members of the Osun Baptists Conference, on Monday protested against the attempted merger of Muslim students wearing hijab with the Baptists High School, Iwo, under the new education policy introduced by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Aregbesola last week inaugurated a new education policy in Osun, which the governor said had necessitated re-classification and merger of public schools in the state to reflect the new education system.

The governor, who expressed worry about the protest, however, urged the people to cooperate with the school restructuring, saying the policy was introduced as part of transformation of the education sector by his government.

Aggrieved Christians armed with Holy Bible and Hymn books trooped to the Baptists High School as early as 7:30am and dislodged the students and prevented teachers from entering the school premises.

They said that the merger of the schools, if allowed to succeed, would obliterate the Baptist heritage and that they would not allow hijab-wearing students in a school founded by Christian missionaries.

The Christian protesters defied the presence of armed security operatives and insisted that they would not allow the merger to work.