Tuesday, 23 August 2016

Researchers have combined satellite imagery with AI to predict areas of poverty across the world

Researchers have combined satellite imagery with AI to predict areas of poverty across the world.
There's little reliable data on local incomes in developing countries, which hampers efforts to tackle the problem.
A team from Stanford University were able to train a computer system to identify impoverished areas from satellite and survey data in five African countries.

The results are published in the journal Science.
Neal Jean, Marshall Burke and colleagues say the technique could transform efforts to track and target poverty in developing countries.
"The World Bank, which keeps the poverty data, has for a long time considered anyone who is poor to be someone who lives on below $1 a day," Dr Burke, assistant professor of Earth system science at Stanford, told the BBC's Science in Action programme.
"We traditionally collect poverty data through household surveys... we send survey enumerators around to houses and we ask lots of questions about income, consumption - what they've bought in the last year - and we use that data to construct our poverty measures."

Night lights

However, surveys are costly, infrequent and sometimes impossible to carry out in particular regions of countries because of, for example, armed conflict.
So there is a need for other accurate measures of household consumption and income in the developing world.
The idea of mapping poverty from satellite imagery is not completely new. Recent studies have shown that space-based data that capture night lights can be used to predict wealth in a given area.
But night lights are not such a good indicator at the bottom end of the income distribution, where satellite images are dark across the board.
The latest study looked at daylight images that capture features such as paved roads and metal roofs - markers that can help distinguish different levels of economic wellbeing in developing countries.
They then used a sophisticated computer model to categorise the various indicators in daytime satellite images of Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Malawi."If you give a computer enough data it can figure out what to look for. We trained a computer model to find things in imagery that are predictive of poverty," said Dr Burke.
"It finds things like roads, like urban areas, like farmland, it finds waterways - those are things we recognise. It also finds things we don't recognise. It finds patterns in imagery that to you or I don't really look like anything... but it's something the computer has figured out is predictive of where poor people are."
The researchers used imagery from countries for which survey data were available to validate the computer model's findings.
"These things [that the computer model found] are surprisingly predictive of economic livelihoods in these countries," Dr Burke explained.
The researchers say their ambition is to scale up the technique to cover all of sub-Saharan Africa and, afterwards, the whole of the developing world.
In a perspective article in the same issue of Science, Dr Joshua Blumenstock, an expert in development economics and data science, who was not involved in the study, said there was "exciting potential for adapting machine learning to fight poverty".
The assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley, wrote: "For social welfare programmes, some of which already use satellite imagery to identify eligible recipients, higher-fidelity estimates of poverty can help to ensure that resources get to those with the greatest need."

Facebook launches Lifestage app for school teens

Facebook has launched a new social media app aimed at school teenagers.
Members of Lifestage, currently only available on Apple devices in the US, upload pictures and videos based around feelings, likes and dislikes. These are then turned into video profiles.
All posts are public and there are no options to restrict viewing. The idea is to connect members of the same school, its creator said.
One expert told the BBC the lack of privacy settings was a concern.
School members can view each other's profiles once the individual school has registered 20 members or more.
Users aged more than 21 are only able to view their own profiles, reports the Tech Crunch website.
However the app warns that it cannot guarantee whether all its users are genuine.
"We can't confirm that people who claim to go to a certain school actually go to that school. All videos you upload to your profile are fully public content," it says.
Lifestage has no messaging functionality but users can display contact details from other sites such as Snapchat and Instagram.
The app currently has a 2.5 star rating on the iTunes store with comments describing it as "kinda sorta creepy" and "confusing".According to statistics website Statista only 8% of Facebook's US users are aged 13-19.
It has been designed by Facebook product manager Michael Sayman, who is 19 years old.
In a Facebook post he wrote that the app was based around the original social network's early days.
"Back in 2004, Facebook was all about 'who I am'. I could post my relationship status. I could share what my favourite music was. And it was all about expressing myself," he said.
"Today as Facebook has grown into so much more, we see the opportunity to explore that concept of 'who I am' once again, but for Generation Z in 2016."

Pushing boundaries

Dr Bernie Hogan from the Oxford Internet Institute told the BBC the app's lack of privacy settings could prove unpopular.
"The lack of privacy settings on this app in its current state is indicative of Facebook ideology - which is to stay open and connected as much as possible," he said.
"From their point of view that's a great idea but sometimes being so open can get in the way of getting connected. They already know this as people become reluctant to share things online if they have to share them with everyone.
"It seems yet again that they are trying to push the boundaries of what we think is appropriate to share online and then walking back when they face public criticism."

Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria air strike 'kills commanders'

Nigeria's army says it has killed several commanders of the Islamist group Boko Haram in an air strike and seriously wounded its disputed leader.
An army spokesman told the BBC's Hausa service that Abubakar Shekau's shoulder was badly injured in the strike on Friday in north-eastern Borno state.
There has been no independent confirmation of the strike.

Monday, 1 August 2016

PDP chair manship: I can’t step down for George –Dokpesi

CONTRARY to specula­tions that media mogul and business umpire, Chief Ray­mond Dokpesi, might have stepped down for elderly Chief Bode George in the race for the national chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), the ex-chairman of Daar Communications has denied surrendering his ambi­tion of becoming the national leader of the party to the latter.
Dopkesi, who took his cam­paign train to the 17th state of the federation in Ekiti dur­ing the weekend, said his as­piration to lead the PDP and revamp the party is much stronger for him to consider stepping down for George. He boasted that he is more vibrant, energetic and strong enough to rebuild, re-struc­ture and re-unite the party.
“I have been a member of this party since 1998 and I have never come out to con­test for any position in the party or for any elective post. After we lost in the last general elections, I thought I was go­ing to retire for some less chal

Fleeing B’Haram relocating to border areas –MNJTF

SOME Boko Haram disguis­ing as civilians have fled to remote communities in the border areas following their dislodgment from Damasak, Borno’s northern town and recapturing of the town by the military troops.
Spokesman for the re­gional military force; Multi- National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Col Muhammad Dole said the force bombard­ment and eventual liberation of Damasak, a Boko Haram stronghold, last Thursday had compelled the insur­gents to flee to communities around the Lake Chad. He said the terrorists also dis­guised as displaced civilians to take refuge at the border area.

Rio 2016: Siasia names Mikel captain of Nigeria U-23

HEAD Coach of the Nigeria Olym­pic team, Samson Siasia has ap­pointed Chelsea midfield ace, John Mikel Obi as the captain of the team going into the men’s football tourna­ment of the 31st Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Making the announcement on Saturday, while meeting with play­ers and other officials, Coach Siasia said the choice of Mikel Obi was automatic as he is the captain of the Super Eagles and also the captain of Team Nigeria to the Games. “It’s just natural for me to pick Mikel as our captain. Aside the fact

Breaking News: Militants attack SPDC trunk line in Delta

WARRI- SUSPECTED militants on Sunday attacked a major crude oil exports trunk line close to Odimodi community in Delta State. It was gathered that the trunk line, Trans Ramos, belongs to the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC. Confirming the incident n Sunday night, on phone to Vanguard, a resident of the community, Endoro New-world said: “The incident occurred at about

Friday, 29 July 2016

Army to move troops, heavy military weapon in S-South


The Nigerian Army said last night that its training exercise for the Niger Delta code named “EXERCISE CROCODILE SMILE” in 82 Division and part of 2 Division areas of responsibility traversing the South-South geo-political region will commence this weekend. “The general public is please requested not to panic on the sight of unusual movement of large number of troops, heavy military weapons and equipment in these areas” a statement signed by Col Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations said. “The aim of the exercise is to practice our Special Forces and

law-land-touts-

Recently, the Lagos State House of Assembly passed a Bill which criminalises the activities of land touts and grabbers popularly known as “Omo Onile’s” or “Ajagungbale’s”, an action which has understandably been hailed in many quarters. The reason for this is not far-fetched. These hoodlums have been making life hell for landowners and property developers in Lagos State. They have, over the years, earned their notoriety through such criminal actions as forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent extortion of property developers, selling a piece of land to two or more, different, individuals leading to clashes and litigations among the buyers, amidst  other acts of land touting. They also indulge in the sale of properties without the knowledge of the real owners. What many find baffling is the fact that they have always acted with impunity, arrogantly giving the impression that they are above the law. The reality of the menace of Omo Onile to property owners in Lagos is evident in the disputes over land as well as warning notices such as: ‘This Land

Buhari Appoints Heads Of 5 Strategic Health Agencies

Conveying their appointments in a statement, the Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, disclosed that the health agencies with new heads are the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
  • CDC – Dr Chikwe Andreas Ihekweazu, until his

Tuesday, 26 July 2016

Why Post-UTME test should not be cancelled

The discussions around the conduct of the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination test within the university admission structure had brought to the fore again how controversial, many policy prescriptions and implementation can be in Nigeria. There have been several conflicting information on the process and procedure for admission into universities for the next session. Unfortunately, most of the issues raised appeared to be based on emotions, whims and caprices of the discussants. When emotions underlie policy prescriptions and actions, then the probability of wrong judgment becomes inevitable. It is my belief that unless we discuss the real issues facing the universities’ admission, it will become difficult to solve the problem.

Saturday, 23 July 2016

Andre Gomes seals Barcelona transfer from Valencia for £41.7m


Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Portugal international Andre Gomes from Valencia for £41.7m.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder had been linked with Real Madrid and Manchester United after impressing in his two seasons at Valencia having joined them from Benfica.

But the Catalan club have confirmed on Twitter that they have secured a deal.
"Agreement with Valencia for Andre Gomes. The player will both sign and be presented as a new Barcelona player next week," Barca tweeted.

James Rodriguez determined to fight for place with Real Madrid

James Rodriguez insists he is determined to stay and fight for his place at Real Madrid after revealing the club received a huge offer for him.

After a hugely successful debut campaign at the Bernabeu in which he managed 13 goals and 13 assists, Rodriguez struggled to break into the starting line-up last season.

Head coach Zinedine Zidane favoured a 4-3-3 formation with Casemiro deployed as a holding midfielder, and Luka Modric and Toni Kroos either side of him.

Massimiliano Allegri confirms Juventus in talks to sell Manchester United target Paul Pogba

juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that the club are in talks with a club over the sale of Manchester United target Paul Pogba.
The France international was the subject of a £85m bid from United with Sky in Italy revealing Pogba has already agreed personal terms with his former club.
Juventus and United manager Jose Mourinho have refused to confirm whether United are interested in signing the 23-year-old, but Allegri did admit the club were in transfer negotiations.

Rio Olympics: Ministry denies asking athletes to buy air tickets

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development says it did not direct foreign-based athletes going to the Olympic Games in Rio to buy their own air tickets.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, made the clarification on Saturday in Lagos in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Nneka Anibeze.

Mourinho relaxed despite Dortmund thrashing

Jose Mourinho said he would not be rushing into judgement on his players as a result of Manchester United’s 4-1 drubbing by Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on Friday.

“Unfair to make any decision. Day by day they are starting to win my trust,” Mourinho said of his players, who only returned to pre-season training 10 days ago.

Dortmund have been back for a month already, and it showed with superior levels of fitness in

CBN orders fund transfer operators to sell forex to BDCs

AS past of efforts to ensure the stability of the naira exchange rate and to encourage all criti­cal stakeholders to participate in the foreign exchange market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), yesterday directed authorised dealers who are agents to approved international money transfer operators, to sell foreign currency accru­ing from inward money remittances to licensed bureau de change operators in the country.
The bank in a circular referenced, TED/FEM/ FPC/GEN/01/004, dated July 22, 2016, and signed by Acting Director, Trade and Exchange department, W.D. Gotring, directed that all in­ternational money transfer operators will be re­quired to remit foreign currency to agent banks for

Sunderland appoint Moyes coach

Sunderland have appointed former Manchester United manager David Moyes to replace Sam Allardyce as boss at the Stadium of Light, the Premier League club said on Saturday.

The 53-year-old Moyes signed a four-year contract with the Black Cats and was chairman Ellis Short’s “first choice” to take over after Allardyce was named the new England manager this week.

Moyes, who was sacked from Old Trafford in the immediate post-Alex Ferguson era and then had

Friday, 22 July 2016

Rio 2016: Argentina takes game two against Nigeria

. As Brazil arrests 10 in alleged Olympics terror plot
Argentina took its pound of flesh against Nigeria’s D’ Tigers in game two of her two leg friendly international matches ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as they hit back with a vengeance in the second game winning 101-79 after their 96-92 points loss earlier.
Nicolas Laprovittola underlined his importance to the team, stepping out of the shadow cast by his more famous teammates by pouring in 24 points for the winners. He hurt Nigeria with 3-point shooting and overall play.
Captain Luis Scola and fellow veteran Andres Nocioni contributed 16 and 14 points, respectively.

CAF lands Total sponsorship for AFCON, others

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), yesterday announced  multi -national oil company, Total as the new title sponsor of  African football for the next eight years.
According to a statement  from the continental soccer ruling body,  CAF and Total reached an agreement under which Total will support CAF’S 10 principal competitions, beginning with the Gabon 2017  AFCON, which would be renamed the Total Africa Cup of Nations.
The sponsorship also covers the women’s AFCON, U17, U20, U23 AFCONS, the CHAN as well as the CAF Champions League, Confederation Cup and Super Cup.
CAF President, Issah Hayatou, described the partnership as a milestone aimed at accelerating African football’s development.
“This partnership is a major milestone in our ongoing search for additional resources to accelerate African football’s

We are not in talks with FG – Avengers

The Niger Delta Avengers on Friday denied claims by President Muhammadu Buhari that his administration was holding talks with the militants for possible compromise.

The militants had claimed responsibilities for series of attacks on oil facilities across the region in recent times.

 A statement issued by the group’s spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, the group was not aware of any ongoing peace talks.



It said the militants would only hold peace talks with the government if the international community were involved.

Forget Le Guen, give Amuneke Eagles job –Ida Peterside

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peterside Ida has called on the Nigeria Football Federation leadership to forget the hiring Frenchman, Paul Le Guen as Super Eagles technical adviser and hand the job over to coach of the current Flying Eagles Emmanuel Amuneke.
Peterside, speaking from his base in South Africa told Daily Sunsport that had told the leadership of the NFF two months back to hand the job over to former Barcelona winger because he is the best coach in Nigeria at the moment.
“Long after the short spell of Samson Siasia as Eagles coach, I had during a meeting with the leadership of the NFF advised that Nigeria stands a good chance of moving her football to the next level with a coach like Emmanuel Amunike.
“Having followed his matches from the U17 to the Flying Eagles, I have come to realise that he holds the ace for our football. Looking at our current coaches, he stands head and shoulders above the others. “More importantly, he is a level headed coach who knows what he is doing. He understands his players very well and they know what he wants. Amunike has played the game for Nigeria at the highest level which is the World Cup in 1994 and also played with top European champions Barcelona. The cap fits him,” Peterside stressed

Avengers give foreigners, NUPENG, PENGASSAN quit notice

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) yesterday warned all foreign firms and their expatriates operating in the Niger Delta region to leave the area or face the consequences of staying put.
Also on the warning list of the militants are the two unions in the oil and gas industry, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) which the Avengers are imploring to “leave all oil fields and terminals” in the region because it is going to be dirty very soon.
A statement by the group’s spokesman, Muddoch Agbinibo gloated over various attacks being carried out on oil installations by the militants and denied that the Nigerian Navy arrested the NDA’s logistics supplier.

NIGERIA: Is Salisu capable of coaching Super Eagles – Disu

Former Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Tunde Disu, has urged Nigerians to give the interim Coach of the Super Eagles the chance to lead the team.
Disu made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria after the friendly match between the Flying Eagles and Remo Stars of Shagamu at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Nigeria and Russia to Sign Nuclear Agreement – Is It The Right Move??

As part of effort to create a scientific and industrial base in Nigeria, Russia and the Federal Government are expected, this month, to sign a bilateral agreement on the creation of a multifunctional scientific and research nuclear center in Nigeria.
Also, Moscow has expressed its readiness to help Nigeria resuscitate the Ajaokuta Steel Plant. This was disclosed by Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Nikolay Nikolayevich Udovichenko while addressing the Congress of Soyuznik Alumni Association Nigeria (The Association of Nigerian Graduates Trained in the Former Soviet Union and Commonwealth of Independent States) and invited guests in Lagos.

NIGERIA:I’ll reposition economy with technology, agriculture – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday promised that his administration will continue to welcome innovative ideas in the gas, technology and agricultural sectors as ways of repositioning the nation’s economy.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke while receiving the Letter of Credence of the High Commissioner of the Republic of India, Mr. Nagabhushana Reddy, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Thursday, 21 July 2016

NIGERIA Presidency/ Senate face off: DOGARA WEIGHS IN, AS SEX SCANDAL PANS OUT

IN the past few weeks, the House of Representatives has been in the news for the wrong reasons. The US ambas­sador to Nigeria, James Entwistle in a letter dated June 9, 2016, addressed to Speaker Yakubu Dogara
Alleged that, Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bau­chi), Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue) had during a recent visit to the US been in­volved in sexual misconduct. The envoy in his letter said Gbillah and Ikon asked a staff of the hotel to engage prostitutes on their behalf and Gololo attempted to rape a housekeeper. The allegations led to a deluge of criticism for the House and many would say that the two-week break lawmakers commenced on by June 23rd presented an opportunity for respite which the House grabbed with­out apologies.

N1.2bn deals: EFCC freezes Obanikoro daughter’s account


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen an account linked to Shalewa Obanikoro, the daughter of a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

According to EFCC investigators, about N1.2bn passed through the account which belongs to an oil firm.

Shalewa, who is a signatory to the account, was said to have personally mandated Fidelity Bank to transfer N800m from the account to another account within the bank

Manchester United vs Manchester City under threat as bad weather hits Beijing Monday's pre-season fixture could be cancelled as thunderstorms hit the Chinese capital

Manchester United’s showcase friendly against Manchester City in Beijing next Monday is under threat of being cancelled due to torrential rain in the Chinese capital.

The Manchester neighbours are due to play in front of a sell-out 91,000 crowd at the Bird’s Nest Stadium – the host venue of the 2008 Olympics – as part of the two clubs’ International Champions Cup (ICC) programme this summer.

But organisers now fear that the game could fall victim to the weather due to thunderstorms and more rain forecast on Monday ahead of the 8pm local time kick-off.

"It is a concern,” said ICC spokesman Xiaozheng Ben. “The weather has been really bad.

Iheanacho makes City’s tour

Kelechi Iheanacho has been included in Manchester City’s squad for their pre-season tour of China.

There were suggestions the 19-year-old Nigeria striker would not be able to travel due to visa issues.

Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling, members of England’s Euro 2016 squad, are also in a 34-man playing group, as are new signings Oleksandr Zinchenko and Nolito.

Manchester United transfer news: Jose Mourinho clears out the kids to pursue £100m Paul Pogba bid

Manchester United have been left a clear run in their push to sign Paul Pogba with Real Madrid’s interest in the French midfielder fading and a £100m Old Trafford bid for the 23-year-old now imminent.

United manager Jose Mourinho has made it very clear that he does not have faith in the same young players as his predecessor Louis van Gaal, with James Wilson, Tyler Blackett and Guillermo Verela all omitted from  the club’s pre-season tour squad that embarked for China on Tuesday and now likely to be offloaded.

Manchester United news: Jose Mourinho promises to help new England manager Sam Allardyce 'in the best way' Mourinho and Allardyce clashed last season but the Manchester United manager has said he is happy to work with Allardyce as the national team manager

Jose Mourinho has backed Sam Allardyce’s imminent appointment as England manager, but warned that the country must support the 61-year-old if he is to end the 50-year wait for international success.

Sunderland manager Allardyce is set to be ratified as Roy Hodgson’s successor at an FA board meeting later today after being interviewed last Tuesday.

The former Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn and West Ham manager has seen off competition from Jurgen Klinsmann and Steve Bruce to become England boss, but Mourinho, speaking in Shanghai on Manchester United’s two-game tour of China, insists Allardyce needs help to succeed in the job.

Market in confusion as naira exchanges at N373 to dollar

There was confusion in the market yesterday as the naira slumped to a new low in both the official and parallel markets, exchanging at N292.90 and N373 to the dollar.

The local currency however closed at 292.90 to the dollar on the interbank rate after just one transaction was carried out, with dollar supply drying up and no intervention by the CBN, traders said. Traders had expected the CBN to intervene to ease dollar shortages, but that did not materialise.

The naira’s free fall surprised many stakeholders, whose thinking is that the new flexible forex

Lagos plans digital library

The Lagos State government has commenced work on an online knowledge database that would serve the needs of various levels of learners.
Speaking on the digital library project at the Ministry of Education conference room last Thursday, the Special Adviser on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said the database would be accessible free of charge on computers and other digital devices with internet connection from all over the country.
He said the portal, to be called www.educatelagos.com, would contain e-books, 1,600 videos covering English, Mathematics and Sciences for all

Ex-Nigerian Pres. Jonathan Chosen As "Keynote Speaker" To Nigerian Lawyers Association Merit Awards Dinner In New York







Former Nigeria President, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, will give the keynote speech of the United States Nigerian Lawyers Association (NLA) Merit Awards Dinner, scheduled for October 29 in New York.  An announcement signed by Nexus U. Sea, President of the association, said tickets for the event at on sale on the NLA website
rmer Nigeria President, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, will give the keynote speech of the United States Nigerian Lawyers Association (NLA) Merit Awards Dinner, scheduled for October 29 in New York.

BREAKING: Fresh attack in Plateau community

A fresh attack has occurred in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau state, where a first class traditional ruler was murdered by unknown gunmen on Monday afternoon.
The latest violence took place on Wednesday night in Danan, a settlement within Bokkos LGA.
In response, youth of the local government area barricaded all access routes to the council Thursday morning.
The convoy of the Plateau State commissioner of police, Adekunle Oladunjoye, which was on its way to the area, was stopped.
Mr. Oladunjoye had to plead with the angry youth at three barricades to allow police have access to

Paul Pogba to Man United finally agreed? Liverpool move for Wijnaldum

it's over, finally, with Paul Pogba seemingly ready to rubber-stamp his move back to Old Trafford. The Daily Mirror reports that the Red Devils have agreed to stump up £100 million for the France international. Astonishing wages of £210,000 per week after tax already have been finalised, too, in a deal that will send waves around European football.

Wednesday, 20 July 2016

JAMB Admission Posting Is Not The Same as Admission List or Admission Letter - Prof. Dibu

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has stated that the recent list of candidates sent to tertiary institutions contains just the names of candidates who met the national cut-off point within the set criteria and hence qualified for screening in their respective institutions based on the institution's capacity and it's not in any way an admission list.

This was disclosed by the JAMB registrar Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, in a statement on Sunday.

UNDEDSS tasks Buhari on renewed militancy in Niger Delta

A civil society group, United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy(UNDEDSS) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to adopt the same approach used by former President Musa Yar’ Adua to contain militancy in the Niger Delta, to stem renewed insurgency in the area.
In a statement issued by UNDEDSS Secretary General, Mr. Tony Uranta, the group said in adopting the Yar’Adua template, the Federal Government should appoint a credible Special Adviser on the region and re-establish the Niger Delta Committee/Council that operated five sub-Committees to proffer a holistic and sustainable solution to the challenges identified in the region.

Le Guen rejects Eagles job over Russia 2018 target

French tactician, Paul Le Guen has chickened out of the Super Eagles job that was offered him on a platter of gold on Monday by the nation’s soccer governing body, NFF.
Le Guen, according to the NFF declined to accept the offer on the grounds that he does not want to be given any target in spite of the 44 thousand euros he was to pocket as monthly wages. The NFF had as part of the contract terms insisted on a clause that Le Guen must not only qualify the country for the Russia 2018 World Cup, but reach the last eight of the mundial with the Eagles.
Apart from the target clause, Le Guen also wanted to play another Oliseh as he said he would not be living in the country as Eagles manager.
The NFF in a release signed by its media committee chairman, Suleiman

Guardiola drops Iheanacho from City squad

Kelechi Iheanacho has been left out of Manchester City’s provisional pre-season tour squad.
City manager, Pep Guardiola, has named a 32-man traveling party for the tour to Germany and China and Iheanacho is conspicuously missing.
But the squad list is subject to change due to visa applications.
It is not yet clear of this latest development will open up an opportunity for Iheanacho to represent Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
City blocked Nigeria’s attempts to include Iheanacho in their Olympic squad, with Guardiola insisting on the striker joining him for pre-season, rather than taking part in the Rio Games.
The 19-year-old will be given the chance to establish himself as Sergio Aguero’s

Varsities, others confirm receipt of JAMB’s provisional list

Some universities, polytechnics and colleges of education have confirmed receipt of the provisional admission list forwarded to them by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for consideration for admission.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, had on Sunday told newsmen that the board has forwarded the provisional to the individual universities in accordance with their capacity. The lists, Daily Sun gathered contained names of candidates who passed the national cut-off mark (180) and were eligible for screening by the individual institutions.
He asked institutions whose lists were not sufficient to use the omnibus printout earlier sent to them by the board.
“Institutions are advised to source from the omnibus printout earlier sent to them by the board in the event that the list is not sufficient for the need of the institution. The candid intention of the board is to ensure that available spaces are adequately utilised,” he said

LASU suspends 25 students for exam malpractices

The Senate of the Lagos State University (LASU) has approved the suspension of 25 students over alleged involvement in examination misconduct during the 2015/2016 academic session.
A statement from LASU Centre for Information Press and Public Relations (CIPPR) made available to Daily Sun disclosed that the students were suspended for failing to appear before the examination misconduct panel set up by the university, to consider cases of examination misconduct allegation levelled against them.
“The university Senate on the recommendation of the

Behold, Federal Cattle Territory, FCT:Herdsmen invade Abuja, terrorise residents, motorists

In mid-April, 2016, soldiers of the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army arrested 92 Fulani herdsmen in Abuja. The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the brigade, Captain Bashir Jajira, after the arrest, had revealed that 36 of the suspects were arrested at a military checkpoint between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State.
The suspects were said to have told the soldiers that they were on a mission to recover their stolen cows. About 56 others who were also armed were arrested by the soldiers at a military checkpoint at Dantata, on the Abuja Airport Road. One pump action gun, 19 cartridge dane guns, 118 cartridge ammo, 28 cutlasses, three jack knives, 14 sticks, seven torch lights, certificate of occupancy, assorted charms and hard drugs, were recovered.

Declare emergency in agriculture sector, Fayose urges Buhari

Ekiti State e Governor Ayodele Fayose, yesterday urged the
Federal Government to declare emergency in agricultural sector to show its seriousness in diversification of the economy.
Fayose, who said declaring emergency on the sector becomes imperative in view of the dwindling revenues from the oil sector, urged the federal government to devote more funding into agriculture, particularly food production.
Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh and the founder of Afe Babalola University, Chief Afe Babalola, said the country could only have economic

Nigeria loses N127bn yearly to cybercrime – Minister

The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, says Nigeria is losing about N127bn which is 0.8 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Products, to cybercrime yearly.
Shittu said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the opening of the 26th National Conference and Exhibition of the Nigeria Computer Society.
According to him, “our growing dependence on digital infrastructure introduces and poses grave threats to national security.’’