Liverpool 2-0 Man U ( Europa League)

Liverpool and Manchester United, one of the two greatest clubs in Britain continued their rivalry tonight as they played out an entertaining match in the Europa League round of 16.

Van Gaal put faith in the young trio of Depay, Martial and Rashford to lead the line, while Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool coach started with Sturridge and Firmino as his focal point in attack.

Liverpool started the match with a lot of aggression in the first five minutes, but Man U got control of the game and asserted their possession based football as the game wore on.
In the 18th minute, the referee made a some what controversial decision by awarding a penalty kick to Liverpool after Man U attacker Memphis Depay slightly tripped Nathaniel Clyne in the penalty box, Daniel Sturridge rightly placed the penalty and Liverpool were up 1-0.


Liverpool after scoring romped up more pressure on Man U, the United defenders looked confused and agitated as Liverpool's attackers held more of the ball and they had goalkeeper David De Gea to thank for making a quick fire save that would have resulted in another goal for the home team.
Liverpool had 73% possession against Man U with 15 minutes of the first half to go, a first for any team against Man U this season, such was their swagger on the ball. Firminio, Lallana and Sturridge were controlling game play and De Gea had to make string of saves for Man U, but Liverpool were still in the ascendancy as half time approached.




Man U began the second half with pace, panache and perseverance on the ball but had no end product o how for all their ball control and tactical game-play.
Jurgen Klopp introduced Joe Allen for Daniel Sturridge with less than 30 minutes of normal time to go , hoping to get some stability on their midfield line which was now being hung out to dry by a reinvigorated Manchester side.

A quick counter from Liverpool resulted in a goal by Firmino after a mistake from Carrick resulted in the Brazilian being clear on goal to slot in. 2-0.

Man U knowing now they needed an away goal quickly, still fumbled and made a lot of incomplete forward passes much to the dismay of Man U fans in the away end of the stadium.


Bastian Schweinsteiger, a champions league and World Cup winner was introduced into the game with 15 minutes to go, with United still trailing by two goals.

Herrera was also introduced, United mustered little effort, but Liverpool ran out happy and well deserved winners in this first leg clash.

Minister Wants Telecom Operators To Roll Over Unused Monthly Data

The Minister of Communications in Nigeria, Adebayo Shittu, has asked Telecom operators to roll over subscribers’ unused monthly data to the new month.

Mr Shittu made the request on Wednesday at a meeting with the operators in Abuja.

The Minister also urged the operators to desist from fraudulent and unauthorised charges or risk sanctions from the Ministry.

He explained that many Nigerians had sent in petitions to his Ministry over unauthorised charges or deduction for unsubscribed or unsolicited messages.

The Minister also frowned at the poor quality of service across all networks and cautioned against wiping out unused data of subscribers.

Mr Shittu also expressed concerns over the disengagement of Nigerian employees through outsourcing to foreign companies and discrimination against them by operators.

Samson Siasia Criticises Eagles’ Defeat To National U-23

Coach Samson Siasia is not pleased with the home-based Super Eagles’ defeat to the National Under-23 team in the second test game between both sides in Abuja.

The Nigeria U-23s avenged a 2-0 defeat they suffered on Tuesday by beating the senior team by same score line-width.

Siasia said that the players still need to work more ahead of the crucial two-leg qualifier against the Pharaohs of Egypt.

The home-based eagles are intensifying preparations for the African Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt, while the Olympic team would face Brazil in a friendly, later this month.

Kano APC Threatens To Suspend Senator Kwankwaso

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso might be suspended over allegations of misconduct and political conspiracy to tarnish the image of Governor Ganduje during Kwankwaso’s recent visit to Kano.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, North West Nigeria said at a joint press conference by the party’s leadership that it would take drastic measures concerning the allegation.

Party Chairman, Umar Doguwa, said that Senator Kwankwaso had violated the party’s rules and regulations by allegedly hiring thugs to mock the current Governor, party leaders and members of the State Executive Council during a condolence visit to Ganduje village, the home town of Governor Ganduje who recently lost his mother.

According to the party’s leadership, Senator Kwankwaso’s alleged conduct during the visit is unacceptable and would not go unpunished. They said that a committee has been set up to determine the appropriate punishment for the senator.

On March 7, Senator Kwankwaso was on a condolence visit to Governor Ganduje who recently lost his mother.

His visit reportedly attracted a large number of mostly the Kwankwasiyya sect followers who were said to have been dissatisfied with the leadership of Governor Ganduje.

There were also reports that the situation could have degenerated into a major political face off but this was averted.

The leadership of the APC in Kano insisted that the unity of the party is non-negotiable and must be protected by all card-carrying members of the party.

Senate Reveals New Fine Proposal Between MTN And FG

The Senate Committee on Communications has revealed an ongoing N300 billion proposal between MTN and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, over the N780 billion fine imposed on the network by Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

At an investigative hearing in the National Assembly, the Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, produced a proposal by MTN where the network provider insisted that it could only pay the total of N300 billion out of the N780 billion fine imposed.

The breakdown of the proposal, which was forwarded to the ministers of communications and finance by the solicitor-general as well as NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Umar Dambatta, consists of a N50 billion already paid by MTN into a recovery account of the Central Bank of Nigeria in good faith and another N100 billion to be paid via electronic transfer between December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2020.

The Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, expressed concern that the Attorney General of the Federation and the Presidency kept NCC and the Minister of Communications in the dark in the negotiations with MTN over the fine.

NNPC Is Not Unbundled But Reorganised – Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, says the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has not been unbundled.

Addressing reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday, the Minister said the corporation was only being reorganised.

He said NNPC had five business entities – upstream, downstream, refineries, gas and power – with focus on business and that they were there before.



“We did not unbundle NNPC. The NNPC is still a whole, but there are companies that were not having proper stewardship.

“They are run by individuals who report to the Group Managing Director and therefore needed to be looked at,” he said.

Dr. Kachikwu admitted that the engagement, “perhaps has not been good enough”, promising to discuss with stakeholders and resolve the issues.

He said he was concerned that the industry had been shut down, assuring reporters that the issues would be resolved.

Seven Sub-divisions

He had on Tuesday announced the creation of seven sub-divisions which the NNPC would be broken into in the coming days.

Dr. Kachikwu said that the NNPC would not be unbundled into 30 subsidiaries as reported in the media, but will rather be broken into upstream, downstream, refineries, gas and power, ventures, finance and corporate services.

Dr. Kachikwu’s statement is aimed at addressing issues that had started after media reports quoted him to have said that the NNPC would be unbundled.


Refineries have been shut down, as unions express displeasure with the purported unbundling of the NNPC
In reaction to the purported statement, the National Union Of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) asked their members at various refineries in the nation to down tools.

In compliance, Port Harcourt Refinery and all NNPC facilities in Rivers State have been shut down.

The unions said there were not just concerned about the purported unbundling process which lacked due process, but other labour matters that needed the attention of the Federal Government.

Also in response to the purported unbundling, the House of Representatives has also mandated a joint committee of the House to prevent the Minister from usurping the powers of the legislature by attempting to unbundle the NNPC without legislative approval.

The motion, sponsored by Honourable Agom Jarigbe, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to send an executive bill to the National Assembly if he intended to unbundle the NNPC or carry out any fundamental reforms in the oil and gas sector.

NUPENG, PENGASSAN Suspend Strike

There is a big relief nationwide among citizens, following the suspension of national strike embarked upon by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

The PENGASSAN President, Comrade Johnson Francis told Channels Television on Thursday, that the action was taken after the intervention of the Presidency and the clarification made by the Petroleum Ministry.


PENGASSAN’s acting General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa adds that the decision was taken after 10 hours of talk, ending at about 3am between the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, NNPC Executives and union officials.

“Management agreed that there would be further collaboration … with a view to considering any suggested amendments. Our input would be taken into consideration,”

The unions have been directed to resume work and ensure that there is adequate supply of fuel.

Mr Johnson also called on Nigerians to bear with the unions, assuring that everything is under control to ensure the fuel crisis do not linger for long.

On Wednesday, Oil workers shut down operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) nationwide until further notice following the unbundling of the corporation.

This decision was reached at a meeting of the Group Executive Councils of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which held on Tuesday, March 8.

After “extensively discussing the pronouncement”, they “observed that the GMD/HMSP totally disregarded due process and failed to engage stakeholders.

“Hence, from midnight today (Tuesday, March 8), all NNPC locations will be shut down completely until further notice. Further directives will be communicated accordingly”.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Channels Television, President of NUPENG, Mr Igwe Achese, said the unbundling process was not transparent.

MUSIC: Reminisce – “Asalamalekun” (Prod. By Sarz)

REMINISCE new heat is wavey, This is a jam for real hip-hop fans, ASALAMALEKUN is an introduction to the next project (new album) produced by Sarz.

This joint has a remix with Wale (Maybach Music), video shot on location in South Africa.


Listen up, video release is UP NEXT!!!!!!!!



Reminisce – “Asalamalekun” (Prod. By Sarz http://net.tooxclusive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Reminisce-Asalamalakun.mp3 )

Osun Renames Institutions After Bola Ige; Lawrence Omole, Other State Icons

Assassinated Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Late Chief James Bola Ige, was on Wednesday honoured as the visitor to the Osun State University and Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola named the state-owned university after him.

This was part of a sweeping renaming of all the state’s tertiary institutions, which was announced at the university’s convocation.

Oil magnate and founder of the Rose of Sharon Foundation Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija was unveiled as the Chancellor.

Other institutions renamed were: Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke will now be Bisi Akande College of Technology; Osun State Polytechnic Iree now, Sunday Afolabi Polytechnic; College Of Education, Ila Orangun now Adeyemi Oyeduntan College of Education and the College of Education Ilesa which will now be Lawrence Omole College of Education.

Others are UNIOSUN C‎ollege of Law, Ifetedo now Kayode Esho College of Law;‎ College of Social Sciences and Management Okuku, now Olagunsoye College of Social Sciences, Okuku; C‎ollege of Agriculture Ejigbo, now Isiaka Adeleke College of Agriculture, Ejigbo; ‎College of Education Ipetu Ijesa, now Ezekiah Oluwasanmi College of Education and C‎ollege of Humanities and Culture, Ikire, now Eniola Atanda College of Humanities and Culture‎.

Alakija described her conferment and the Award of Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration as another glass ceiling broken by womanhood.

2016 JAMB Change of Course/Institution Full Procedure

This is to inform all the candidates that attempted the 2016 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) via CBT mode of testing that that they can now do their change of course or institution.


The 2016 JAMB change of course/institution can only be effected by JAMB Authorised registration centres alone. Meaning, it can’t be done by cybercafes or business centres or individuals not certified by JAMB.

You can also go to JAMB Office to carry out the change.

How to Apply for JAMB Change of Institution and Course.

Go to commercial banks or JAMB Offices to get the change of course/institution scratch card which goes for N2,500 (two thousand five hundred naira only)

After acquiring the scratch card, proceed to http://www.jamb.org.ng/unifiedtme3/regCentreLogin.aspx to effect the changes.

Note: As earlier specified, change can only be effected by JAMB authorised centres.

Closing Date.

Not yet announced.

NECO Records Over 60% Credits In Maths, English – 2015 GCE

The National Examination Council (NECO) has released the 2015 November /December External Senior School Certificate Examination results.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NECO, Prof. Promise Okpala, who announced this in Minna, said 50,060 candidates registered, out of which 47,507 sat for English Language while 47,554 sat for Mathematics. Out of the number that sat for English,29,718 representing 62.55 per cent obtained credit pass while 32, 484 that sat for Mathematics representing 68.30% passed at credit level.

Out of 39,389 candidates that sat for Biology, 17,227 or 43.73% obtained credit pass, while in Chemistry, out of 22,284 candidates that sat for the examination, 11,951 representing 53.63% made it at credit level.

Similarly, out of 22,201 candidates who sat for Physics, 818 or 3.68% passed the subject at credit level.

In Geography, 19, 781 candidates sat for the examination, and 3,851 or 19.46% passed at credit level.

The performance of candidates in Government indicates that out of 23,497 candidates that wrote the subject, 10,226 or 43.52% made it at credit level.

In Economics, 39,406 candidates sat for the examination and 23,991 or 60.88% passed the subject at credit level.

Analysis of students’ performance at state level with five credits and above, including Mathematics and English shows Delta State topping the chat with 83.51 per cent, Edo, 83.42 per cent and Lagos 82.39 per cent. Those with the least performance are Zamfara, 38.58 per cent; Katsina, 45.77 per cent; Jigawa, 46.52 per cent; Kebbi, 46.52 per cent and Niger, 57.57 per cent.

The Registrar explained that “in view of the fact that the examination was for private candidates who were no longer in the school system and looking for one or two credits, the desperation to engage in malpractice was high. This led to an increase in the percentage of candidates involved in malpractice, compared to the figure for 2014.”

Garba said that the NECO was devising more ways to reduce malpractice in the examinations in order to counter the various illegal strategies adopted by candidates.

He said that malpractice was on the increase, adding that a comparative study showed an increase between 2014 and 2015 in most subjects.

“A comparative analysis of malpractice cases by subject revealed that while 635 cases were recorded in English Language in 2014, 1,075 cases were recorded in 2015.

“Also, in Mathematics, 634 cases of malpractice were recorded in 2014 while 1,799 cases were recorded in 2015.

“In Economics, 570 cases of malpractice were recorded in 2014, while 880 were recorded in 2015. In Government, 363 cases were recorded in 2014 while 564 were recorded in 2015,” he said.

9 reasons Buhari’s body language has gone foul

No doubt, there is growing discontent in the country presently, what with the non-availability of fuel, and electricity, plus the economy taking a dive owing to the fall in value of the naira.
The optimism that heralded the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari seems to be fast disappearing, giving way to gloom.
Immediately after swearing in, Nigerians attributed every little improvement in services in the country to the ‘body language’ of Mr President while every form of dissent or criticism was attributed to the ‘wailing wailers’.
What happened to the ‘body language’?
As months went by, the miraculous body language of Mr President started losing steam as the situation of Nigeria and Nigerians started taking a turn for the worse. His speeches and actions started to flip flop; denying promises made, trying to explain why it can’t be feasible, or either making a turnaround from statements that had been credited to his administration.
Here are nine flip flops the Buhari administration and his party, the APC, has exhibited since taking over governance:

1. Many believe the APC was eager for power, but unready for it. The party and its leadership had stayed for too long in the opposition that they became more like activists who were properly primed for critical opposition rather than the finesse and tact needed of leaders of a complex nation like Nigeria.

An example of these is the fact that the APC government has continued to see and blame the opposition PDP, for virtually everything. Things may have been done badly before now, but Buhari was elected because he promised change, not to identify problems and lay blames.

2. Buhari’s election campaign promises made to Nigerians are being either denied or swept under the carpet. They may be proving right, Nigerians who were of the opinion that Buhari and the APC were unnecessarily over ambitious in their campaign promises.

Not a few Nigerians, especially unemployed youths looked forward to receiving N5000 monthly stipends promised them by the APC and President Buhari. They were however shocked when the Presidency disowned it, saying the President never promised that.  According to Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, this is nothing but political fraud, a classic case of obtaining votes under false pretence.

3. Presidential double speak is another low point in the current administration of President Buhari.

One thing that has defined his administration, is his penchant for making major pronouncements outside the shores of Nigeria and most times, embarrassing himself, his party and Nigerians.
While visiting Saudi Arabia, the President told the Saudi King that Nigeria would not be part of the Islamic Coalition against Terrorism, only to turn around during an interview with Al Jazera, conducted in Qatar, that the country is a member. When reminded that some Christians in the country were uncomfortable with the decision, the President replied:  “Why can’t those Christians that complained go and fight terrorism in Nigeria or fight the militancy in the South. It’s Nigeria that matters, not the opinion of some religious bigots.”

4. The handling of the forex issue for Nigerian students studying abroad is another change in Mr. President’s body language. The President, whose Central Bank officials had consistently said the bank would continue to make foreign exchange available for students studying abroad, said it would not happen again.

Reminded that his own children are studying abroad, the President replied that it was because he could afford it. Mr. President forgot that the issue is about availability not affordability of Forex. Parents of these students wouldn’t have sent them out there if they couldn’t afford it. And in any case, some of these parents are better positioned when it comes to the issue of affordability  compared to the President, who gave the impression that he was a poor man before the election.

5. The war against corruption and alleged abuse of the rule of law is yet another low point. There is no doubting the fact that Nigeria needed to tackle corruption frontally and save the country from the scourge, but it must be done within the ambits of the law and must be seen to be fair and inclusive.

There is credibility in allegations that only opposition figures are being hounded for corruption or corrupt practices. President Buhari must come clean on the allegations that he is shielding alleged corrupt elements in his cabinet and party while hounding the opposition.

6. During the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian economy officially became the largest and fastest growing in Africa.  It was also the 26th in the world. On coming of Buhari, a number of miscalculated policies, or lack of it, ensured a gradual but sustained drop in the value of the naira and divestment by foreign investors.

As the economic crisis continued, with workers both at the federal and state levels crying over unpaid salaries, President Buhari and his team seem not to have any immediate answers, neither are they able to offer any form of palliative that can ease the pains Nigerians are going through.

7. Constant electricity supply, and availability of fuel, which was a major anchor of the election promises has become a luxury to be hard earned, when they are available.
8. In all of these, the ruling APC has maintained a worrying silence over the many gaffes of Mr. President and the state of the Nigerian economy.  This is a disservice by the party to millions of Nigerians that voted for it. It is a let- down that may prove costly in the near future.
9. The presidency has adopted a retinue of baggy shorts-wearing, bagpipe-playing menfolk, alien to any known Nigeria culture or ethnic group, but synonymous to Scots, to welcome the president or visiting dignitaries to the country.

How this helps to project Nigeria to the outside world is anybody’s guess, given that the country is one of rich, diverse and interesting cultures.
…. In from Timothy Enietan-Matthews

SOURCE:
RipplesNigeria