Sports ministry refunds Mikel’s $4,600

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports has refunded the $4,600 paid for the team in São Paulo on their way to Salvador by the Dream Team’s captain, Mikel Obi.

The ministry also assured players and officials of the team that they will be given all that is due to them.

The Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Chinyeaka Ohaa, said this while addressing the players and officials after the 2-0 defeat of Denmark in Saturday’s quarter final match in Salvador.

He said, “I am happy to be a Nigerian, because in spite of all the challenges, you have taken the world by storm; you have by your performance given happiness to more than 160 million Nigerians. Football is the biggest unifying factor in Nigeria today. From Mr. President to the average Nigerian you have made everyone proud today.

“I am humbled by your efforts, your commitment, your patriotism. I want to assure you that your sacrifices will not be in vain. Aside whatever the NFF have for you, we will as much as possible make you happy, if only you will be patient with us. Today, with your performance, I am convinced that you will get that gold.”

In his response, Mikel said, “We want to thank you for your fatherly support. In truth, there have been a lot of challenges, but every time we go onto the field, we forget about everything and make sure our fatherland comes first.

“We have done that so far and we will continue to do that, but we need more motivation.”

Bristow Helicopter to assist,survivors,deceaseds' families of air mishaps

Ikeja – Bristow Helicopter Limited on Thursday promised to assist survivors and families of the dead victims of its ill-fated chopper that plunged into the lagoonon Wednesday in Lagos.
Bristow Regional Director for Africa Duncan Moore made the pledge in a statement in Lagos.
“Our thoughts are with those affected by the unfortunate accident. We regret the loss of lives in the air crash and we are ready to assist them with our full resources.
“Our highest priority is to take care of our crew and clients and their family members and provide them with any assistance needed.
“Our personnel are currently working to confirm the number of people on board, their identities and the extent of any injury,” he said.
Moore said the company was fully co-operating with appropriate authorities that were investigating the incident.
“The company is fully cooperating with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Nigeria Police
“Preliminary information indicates that the aircraft carried 10 passengers and a crew of two, subject to confirmation.
“The company is in the process of collecting pertinent information and we will release more details as soon as it is available.
“At this time, the full resources of Bristow Helicopter’s incident response team are being mobilised,” he said.
AIB had earlier said in a statement on Wednesday said it had commenced investigation into the Bristow helicopter that crashed into the lagoon in Lagos.
The bureau’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Tunji Oketunbi, said the investigation had commenced with the AIB Commissioner, Dr Felix Abali, leading the team.
The statement said 12 persons were believed to be on board.
The helicopter, with tail number 5N-BGD, was involved in an accident at about 3:30 p.m on approach to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The aircraft, a Sikorsky S-76C+, was returning from a drilling rig.
The Public Relation Officer, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-West had earlier confirmed four dead while six survivors have been taken to the hospital and two were still missing. (NAN)

Chilling moment two lions attack & kill an Antelope while tourists watch from their cars [Dramatic Photos]

The moment two lions pursued an antelope from the bushes into a road at a game reserve in South Africa was captured on camera by British tourist, Carolyn Dunford. And amazingly, the tourists who were passing through in a convoy when the incident happened wound down their car windows to watch the spectacle.
This is surprising to say the least because just recently, a tourist was attacked and killed when a lion jumped into her car from her open car window at a Games Reserve. Guess these ones didn’t hear that story. Anyway, the lions did kill the Antelope. See the dramatic photos below…

FG slashes import licenses to oil marketers from 43 to 29

The Federal Government has issued licenses to import refine petroleum products to 29 marketers in a bid to end the fuel scarcity witnessed across the country.
The third quarter approval for import allocations to 29 marketers signaled a significant reduction in the number of marketers previous issued with such allocations.
Previously, 43 marketers were given import allocation but the significant reduction may be seen as a way of blocking leakages in oil and gas sector as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The 29 marketers include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which in the last couple of months struggled to sustain supply.
It was gathered that the approval was given by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to allow NNPC and other oil marketers to import fuel into the country this quarter.
The third quarter import allocation is thought to be around 1.6 million metric tonnes of petrol, a source in PPPRA disclosed. NNPC, NIPCO Plc, Oando Plc, Conoil, Mobil Oil, Masters Energy, Techno Oil and Folawiyo Oil and Gas, Total Nigeria Plc and Mobil Oil Plc are some of the companies granted imported allocations.
Although the PPPRA was yet to issue an official statement on the third quarter import allocation, another source in PPPRA said the agency now expects major oil marketers to resume importation of petrol after extracting a promise from the government that outstanding claims on subsidies will be paid.
An industry source who pleaded anonymity confirmed the allocation to the Tribune Online in a telephone conversation. "We got our allocation on Friday and I'm sure there are 29 of us as against the previous 43 marketers issued licenses to import," he said.

Buhari sacks Bianca Ojukwu, Maduekwe, other Ambassadors

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked all ambassadors appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

They were recalled home Friday night by Buhari after three years of service abroad.

Topping the list of the disengaged envoys are a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe (Canada); Chairman of the Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2011 election, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida (UK); Professor Ade Adefuye (USA); widow of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca (Spain); and former deputy governor of Oyo State, Mr. Taofeek Arapaja (Jordan).

Others include, a former aviation minister, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze (Switzerland); ex-General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ibadan, Mr. Yemi Farounbi (Philippines); a one-time governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Mr. Olatokunbo Kamson (Jamaica); a PDP front liner in Ondo State, Mr. Cornelius Oluwateru (UAE); Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Bunu (Saudi Arabia); a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in Benue State, Mr. Chive Kaave (Argentina); a former financial secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Tukur Mani (Iran); and former permanent secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA Biodun Nathaniel Olorunfemi (Namibia).

Also on the list are: Chief Asam Asam (SAN), (Russia); Mr. Okwudili Nwosu (Burundi); Mr. Okeke Chukwuemeka (Vatican); Mr. Eric Aworahbi (Italy); Dauda Danladi (Pakistan); and Mrs. Katherine Okon (Czeck Republic); Mr. Nwofe Alexander; Princess Victoria Bosede Onipede (Republic of Congo); Senator Haruna Garba (Kuwait); Mrs. Nonye Rajis-Okpara (Singapore); Chief Eddy Onuoha (Hungary); Mr. Adamu Babangida Ibrahim (Syria); Dr. Sam Jimba (Poland)
They were among the 93 envoys posted out in June 2012.

Nation reports that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had communicated the President’s directive to the affected ambassadors.

They were told to hand over to the highest ranking officer in their various locations.

According to a source: “the President has issued a directive to the Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Foreign Affairs to recall all the political appointees currently serving as ambassadors in all parts of the world. It doesn’t matter whether they have just few months to the end of their tenure”.

“I am sure the envoy in Saudi Arabia is already on his way and quite many others should be reporting to the ministry by Monday. I really don’t have a comprehensive list of the number of people that are affected but they were posted in different continents mostly in key European, Asian and American countries,” the source said.

Buhari rejects N400m “Greek”car Gift, To Start Probing Ministries

President Muhammadu Buhari has turned down a proposal to buy new cars for his use. He will stick to the vehicles he inherited from former President Goodluck Jonathan, The Nation has learnt.
The proposal from the Aso Rock bureaucracy is for Buhari to approve the purchase of five customised armoured Mercedes Benz S-600 (V222) cars at about N400 million.
It was learnt that President Buhari rejected the proposal on Wednesday when he received briefings from the Permanent Secretary (State House), Mr. Nebolisa Emodi.
The President has been receiving briefings from permanent secretaries since the beginning of the week on the activities of the ministries.
He directed that the proposal, which was first made to ex-President Jonathan, be dropped.
Jonathan had advised that the plan be left for Buhari to approve since it was made in the twilight of his administration and the cars would be due for delivery till after he might have left the office.
Buhari, according to a sources, told the permanent secretary that the cars he inherited from the Jonathan administration were good enough for him.
“I don’t need new cars. The ones I’m using now are just fine,” the source reported the president as saying.
He however approved the plan of the Permanent Secretary to reduce the operating costs of the State House and strengthen its Finance and Accounts Internal Control Mechanisms.
Buhari told him to capture all State House expenses within the approved budget, to avoid the frequent recourse to “Presidential intervention funds,” as it was rampant in the last administration.
When he visited the United Kingdom in May, shortly before his inauguration, the then president-elect rejected the exotic cars made available for his use by the Nigerian High Commission.
When he arrived at Heathrow Airport, he turned down the Rolls Royce brought by the High Commission by telling High Commissioner Dalhatu Tafida, that his visit was strictly private and he had made arrangements for all his needs in the UK.
A presidential spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu said “in keeping with his commitment to prudence in the management of national resources, President Buhari will continue to use the cars left behind by President Jonathan.”

Permanent secretaries in the ministries of Works, Justice, Trade and Investment, also briefed the president at the Aso Villa yesterday.
The Justice ministry’s Permanent Secretary Alhaji Abdullahi Ahmed told reporters at the end of the briefing that his ministry will work closely  with others to facilitate trial of those found wanting.
“If the ministry receives investigations concluded by the responsible agencies, we will play our part.
“We will play our part in the prosecution of whoever has been found wanting and the security agencies have concluded their investigation on them.
“At the moment, the ministry is not in receipt of any report concerning anybody in that regard.“
Ahmed said the ministry would continue to cooperate with the President to ensure that all the promises he made to Nigerians relating to the Rule of Law were kept.
“We have briefed the President on how we conduct ourselves concerning the maintenance of the Rule of Law in the country.
“As you know, Rule of Law is one of the cardinal policies of this administration and we have given him a rundown of what we have been doing from 2011 till now.
“We also pledged to him our continued cooperation to ensure that all the promises he has made to Nigerians – as far as they relate to the Rule of Law are achieved.“
Amb. Abdulkadir Musa of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment said his meeting with Buhari centred on job creation.
Musa said the administration was working assiduously to attract more investments to Nigeria and encourage business.
According to him, the President has given him the mandate to discuss with the relevant people that will assist in driving the agenda.
Mr. Dauda Kigbu of the Ministry of Works, said the Federal Government was considering funding road construction outside the annual budgetary allocations with the Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
He said: “I took the President through the activities of the Ministry of Works. As you may be aware, 90 per cent of the ministry’s mandate is mainly on roads.
“I went through all the major projects across the country and I emphasised the need of seeking other windows of funding outside of the national budget, particularly looking at PPP model as well as looking at various support, like multilateral supports from agencies, such as the World Bank.” He said

Boko Haram Member Who Disguised As A Woman Apprehended In Yola (Photo)

A male Boko Haram member who disguised as a woman was apprehended in Yola, Adamawa state this afternoon.
After interrogation and torture, he confessed to being a member of the sect and said that there are 29 other members of the sect currently in Yola.