FIFA Rankings: Super Eagles Move Up Despite AFCON Miss

The Nigeria national team have moved up nine places in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday by the world football governing body. The Super Eagles are now occupying the 41st position in the world and seventh in Africa. This massive leap is coming despite the fact that the Eagles were conspicuously missing at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Gabon. Egypt, who were beaten in the AFCON 2017 final are the highest ranked team on the African continent at the moment and are 23rd in the word. Senegal, who lost in the quarter-final to eventual champions Cameroon, are second the Indomitable Lions are the third ranked team in Africa in the February rankings. Cameroon’s victory at the AFCON tournament actually helped them climb 29 places into 33rd position in the world. According to FIFA, a total of 60 matches counted towards the latest ranking. These included the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (32 games), the 2017 Copa Centroamericana (15 games) and international friendlies (13 games). The top five teams remain unchanged for the February ranking. Argentina (1), Brazil (2), Germany (3), Chile (4) and Belgium (5). The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 9 March 2017

Ministry Tourism, Arts And Culture: Lagos Unveils Statue Of First King And Prince Olofin

Lagos State Government has demonstrated commitment towards the promotion and development of cultural tourism in the State with the unveiling of statues of the first crown king of Lagos, King Ado and the legendary Prince Olofin Atekoye, referred to as the first migrant from Ile- Ife the cradle of Yorubas to settle in Lagos. The statues were unveiled today, Thursday, February 9, 2017 at Ijora Olopa and Moloney roundabout respectively. The Acting Commissioner/Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola said “the unveiling of the Statues validates His Excellency, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos State ’s vision of beautifying Lagos landscape with befitting monuments as the State marks 50 anniversary of her creation, tagged Lagos @ 50”. According to the Ag. Commissioner, the monument sites will continue to serve as a destination for tourists in need of historical information to enrich their knowledge of the Arts and Culture of Lagosians. Giving an insight into the history, Prince Olofin Atekoye was said to be the grandson of Oduduwa, a powerful hunter, warrior and a renowned blacksmith and the first settler in Lagos. The shrine of Olofin Atekoye still exists at Iddo where he first settled. The Children of Prince Olofin are today known as IDEJO’S who are the popular white cap chiefs of Lagos. King Ado was the first crowned King of Lagos, son of Asipa, a warrior that came to Lagos from Benin (the capital of present day Edo State). It is of note that the Oba of Lagos has remained in the lineage of King Ado, the first King of Lagos. Hon. Akinsola however, enjoined residents around monuments sites in Lagos State to take responsibility and ownership of the highly important sites. According to her “their cultural and historical value should not be eroded by vandals and miscreants”. Mr. Olurotimi Ajayi of OModupe Studio, head of the firm that sculptured the statues explained that the fiber glass that form the major component of the statues will last a century if well maintained. The unveiling was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Jamiu Adewale Ashimi alongside Directors and management staff of the Ministry.

Soldiers Raid Calabar Timber Market

Calabar — SOLDIERFS drafted from 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Calabar, Cross River State, have raided the Calabar timber market and carted away illegal wood brought into the market through illegal routes by timber merchants. The soldiers, who went into the market in four vans, were led by the Chairman of Cross River State Anti- Deforestation Task Force, Air Vice Marshall Eko Osim, who told Vanguard that the market was raided to enforce the state policy on zero logging of wood in the state. “Logging of wood is banned in the state and there is a law to that effect but some timber dealers aid illegal loggers to bring in fresh wood through hidden routes in ungodly hours of the night.” He said that the timber merchants were supposed to work in collaboration with the anti-deforestation task force to enforce the ban on logging of wood in the state but they were colluding with the illegal loggers to destroy the forests which are being specially conserved to provide biodiversity. “The market has not been shut down, what we are doing is part of the work and we do follow them to the jungle and the forests where they do the logging and if they escape our dragnet we confiscate the illegal ones here in the markets,” he said.

Kanu, Aiyegbeni Included On List Of 100 Best Foreign Premier League Players

Celebrated English football magazine Four Four Two has compiled a list of the 100 best foreign Premier League players ever, with three players of Nigerian descent mentioned. At this point, only numbers 61-100 have been revealed. Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor, who played for Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace is rated 62nd. Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who turned out for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers is ranked 76th. Ex-Nigeria striker Nwankwo Kanu played a key role for Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth clocked in at number 78 on the rankings. He won the Premier League and FA Cup with Arsenal twice each and is best remembered in England for netting a hat-trick in a Premier League game versus Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

FIRST BANK: Customer queries N50 stamp duty, failed money transfer.

First Bank of Nigeria Limited Hello Oyetunde Oyeleke, please send us a private message of your account number to enable us view and advise. Engr Akogwu Godwin M I don’t really know what this First Bank Facebook page is meant for because I laid a complaint here and up till now no response from anybody unlike other companies where once you complain they will pay attention to you. First Bank of Nigeria Limited Hello Engr Akogwu Godwin M, Kindly relay your complain again please. We are here to serve you. Engr Akogwu Godwin M I said that on 27th of last month month I reached my phone through my mobile app. The money was deducted from my account but the credit was not credited. Your Acct 310XXXX424 Has Been Debited with NGN500.00 On 27-JAN-2017 11:48:55 By AIRTIME/10942510999740/08062220474/MTNCR That was the message I received and it has not been credited back. I have called MTN they said that it is from my bank. First Bank of Nigeria Limited Hello Engr Akogwu Godwin M, thank you for your response. We will look into the matter. Farida Ibrahim I transferred money from my account to someone’s account. The money was deducted from my account and he did not receive it for about 2 months now and it is not a small amount. Please First Bank, what’s the problem. Every time I go to your branch, it is the same story. First Bank of Nigeria Limited Hello Farida Ibrahim, We are here to help! Kindly send us your account number, amount, date, beneficiary’s account number and bank through private message to enable us advise appropriately. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for banking with us Esiso Fredrick Mefenaye I used the mobile app to purchase MTN airtime on the 1st of February at about 9pm. I was debited N930 but my mobile number was not credited with the airtime. Secondly, I was charged transfer charge of N105 on 2nd of February at about 11am and the transfer was not successful due to insufficient funds. Kindly attend to these issues and ensure appropriate reversal of N1035 is made to my account as soon as possible. First Bank of Nigeria Limited Read m

Cameroon Came From Behind To Beat Egypt 2-1 And Seal A Fifth Africa Cup Of Nations In A Thrilling,

SERAP Writes Trump, Demands Return Of Nigeria’S Stolen Assets

A civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the US President Donald J. Trump urging his “Administration to attach and release to Nigeria some $500 million worth of US-based proceeds of corruption traced to former Nigerian dictator General Sani Abacha.”

The organization said that, “these proceeds are separate from the $480 million of Abacha-origin funds that have been forfeited to the US under an August 2014 US federal district court order. SERAP’s request is fully consistent with the UN Convention Against Corruption, which both the US and Nigeria have ratified.”

SERAP in the letter dated 3 February 2017 and signed by the organization’s US Volunteer Counsel Professor Alexander W. Sierck and executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, told Mr Trump that, “the US Department of Justice must promptly initiate civil asset forfeiture proceedings against these proceeds so as to fulfill several non-controversial commitments by the US to assist Nigeria in recovering assets looted by former Nigerian government officials.”

The letter, a copy of which was sent to the US ambassador to Nigeria Stuart Symington, and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, reads in part: “SERAP urges your new Administration to initiate discussions with the Nigerian government to fulfill these objectives within an agreed framework and timeline. Simultaneously, the Administration should instruct the Justice Department to initiate civil asset forfeiture proceedings in regard to the above-referenced $500 million in assets described above.”
“Any bilateral discussions between the US and Nigeria concerning these assets should include clear acknowledgement of the significant role that civil society plays in asset recovery matters.”

“To that end, the respective governments ought to commit to promptly sharing information with relevant civil society organizations on stolen assets of Nigerian origin located in the US or otherwise subject to US jurisdiction. This proposed commitment is similar to one between the US and Kenya as well as consistent with Articles 46(4) and 56 of the UN Convention Against Corruption.”

“SERAP notes that Article 51 of the UN Convention against Corruption provides for the return of “corrupt” assets to countries of origin as a fundamental principle. Article 43 provides likewise. Similarly, under Articles 47(3)(a) and (b) states parties have an obligation to return forfeited or confiscated assets in cases of public corruption, as here, or when the requesting party reasonably establishes either prior ownership or damages to the states.”

“In SERAP’s judgment, some or all of these requirements have been met with respect to the $500 million in proceeds described above. A resolution adopted by the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption in Panama in November 2013 reaffirms this obligation, by requiring state to make “every effort” to return such proceeds. to the victim state.”

“Nigeria’s Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption has recently informed SERAP that the US Government has identified another $500 million or so proceeds of Nigerian corruption subject to US jurisdiction.”

It would be recalled that last month the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay had raised the alarm that Nigeria risked losing another $550m recovered from the Abacha family to the government of United States.

Sagay said that the amount represented a separate tranche from the earlier $480m forfeited to the US following a court judgment. According to him, “Nigeria presently stands to lose another $550m recovered from the Abacha family to the US, contrary to the earlier promise by the US to return same to Nigeria.”

Hurray, Saidi Balogun Clocks 50 As Fathia Balogun Celebrate 48 Today

Saidi Balogun was born on February 5, 1967, in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria but hails from Oyo state, Nigeria where he had is primary, secondary and tertiary education. He graduated from Kwara State Polytechnic (now Kwara State University). He began acting in 1978, when he presented his first television program titled “Youth Today” onNTA.He produced his first film titled City Girl in 1989 but had featured, produced and directed several Nigerian films.
He has featured, produced and directed several Nigerian films over the years.

He was married to his colleague,Fathia Balogun and the union is blessed with kids. She was also born in Ikeja on February 5th 1969. She is a descent of Okpara, Ethiope East local government area of Delta State. She attended Maryland Primary School and Maryland Comprehensive High School in Lagos state, where she obtained the West African School Certificate before she proceeded to Kwara State Polytechnic where she received a diploma certificate.

She has starred and produced several Nigerian films over the years. In 2008, she won the Africa movie Academy Award for the Most Outstanding Actress Indigenous and her movie Iranse Aje won the best indigenous film of the year.On April 2014, she won theAfrica Movie Academy Award, having emerged as best actress of the year along with Odunlade Adekola who emerged as best actor of the year.
Saidi Balogun was born on February 5, 1967, in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria but hails from Oyo state, Nigeria where he had is primary, secondary and tertiary education. He graduated from Kwara State Polytechnic (now Kwara State University). He began acting in 1978, when he presented his first television program titled “Youth Today” onNTA.He produced his first film titled City Girl in 1989 but had featured, produced and directed several Nigerian films.
He has featured, produced and directed several Nigerian films over the years.

He was married to his colleague,Fathia Balogun and the union is blessed with kids. She was also born in Ikeja on February 5th 1969. She is a descent of Okpara, Ethiope East local government area of Delta State. She attended Maryland Primary School and Maryland Comprehensive High School in Lagos state, where she obtained the West African School Certificate before she proceeded to Kwara State Polytechnic where she received a diploma certificate.

She has starred and produced several Nigerian films over the years. In 2008, she won the Africa movie Academy Award for the Most Outstanding Actress Indigenous and her movie Iranse Aje won the best indigenous film of the year.On April 2014, she won theAfrica Movie Academy Award, having emerged as best actress of the year along with Odunlade Adekola who emerged as best actor of the year.

Ooni Wants Compulsory Teaching Of Culture In Schools

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II, has appealed to both Federal and state governments to make the teaching of culture a compulsory subject for students of primary and secondary schools as well as higher institutions.

“The learning of culture needed to be impacted on the younger generation right from when they are young so that it will become part of them,” he said.
Oba Ogunwusi stated this in his palace at Ile Ife Osun, that this would also allay the fears that the African culture was gradually going into extinction.
The monarch said that he was not ashamed to project his cultural heritage inherited from his forefathers to the world.
“I am proud of my cultural heritage and I am proud to showcase it to the world.
“ The river that does forget its source never runs dry,” he said.

He said that Africans were gradually killing their cultural heritage due to their embracing the western culture.
“ Nigerians should stop the habit of imbibing foreign cultures at the detriment of their own cultures.

“Africa has the richest and most valuable cultures in the world, especially, Nigeria to be precise, “he said.
Ogunwusi prayed that the cultural heritage Nigerians and Africans inherited from their forefathers would not go into extinction.
The Ooni also pledged to support the promotion of the ancient city’s traditional festivals a world class standard as part of projecting the Yoruba culture and tradition.
He said that was why he had commenced the on the beautification of 201 traditional shrines and heritage centres in the town.

“The only way we can sell our festivals, culture and heritage to the world is to give it a good packaging.
“ We are blessed with several cultures and festivals that can attract tourists and visitors into the country.
“Nigeria has the highest and richest cultures in the world but they require we give them the needed publicity and promotion,” he said.