JAMB begins 2021 UTME registration, sets June 5 for examination, says NIN compulsory (Vanguard)
JAMB says it has started the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) registration.
A statement issued in Bwari, FCT, by its Head, Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr Fabian Benjamin, on Wednesday says all potential candidates must provide their National Identity Number (NIN) at point of registration.
“This is mandatory for participation in the 2021 registration exercise.
“Registration will take place in 700 centres across the country; the list is available in all the state offices of JAMB and on its website at www.jamb.gov.ng. Read more
200 level Otuoke University student commits suicide over academic failure (Guardian)
A 200-level student of the department of History and Diplomacy at the Federal University Otuoke (FUO) Bayelsa State, Arikekpar Lucky, has committed suicide to reportedly escape being tagged as a failure in academics by members of his family.
The Guardian gathered that the deceased, a one-time aspirant of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Student Representative, Central Zone, took his life at the wee hours of Monday.
The 27-years-old student who hails from Otuakeme, Ogbia Local Government Area, hung himself with a rope tied to a ceiling fan after locking the door and windows, behind him.
Sources in the university community, who preferred anonymity, said that this is not the first time the deceased had attempted to take his life, saying he had made such attempts twice last year. Read more
Tinubu donates N50m to victims of Katsina market fire (Nation)
National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Wednesday donated the sum of N50m to victims of the fire disaster which engulfed Katsina Central Market on Monday.
Tinubu paid sympathy visits to traders and other victims of the market in the company of the State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari.
While commiserating with them, the former Lagos governor advised that market activities should resume despite the level of damages and destructions recorded as the life he believes must continue.
He told reporters on the sidelines, that the purpose of his visit is to sympathise and commiserate with the victims, the governor and good people of the state particularly the market men and women devastated by the fire. Read more
132 paraded for impersonating PTF officials, murder, cultism in Lagos (Punch)
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, on Monday, paraded no fewer than 132 suspects for alleged murder, cultism, stealing and impersonation of the Presidential Task Force, and swindling unsuspecting members of the public out of their properties in different parts of the state.
Odumosu said nine of the suspects impersonated the National Security Adviser when they hijacked two containers loaded with goods, adding that they were arrested following a report of their illegal activities.
The suspects were said to have been operating with a branded Toyota Hilux with number plate KRD 990 AP with the inscription, ‘Presidential Policing Marshals, IMAN Special Taskforce’. Read more
FG justifies $100 charges, others imposed on Nigerians in diaspora (Punch)
The Federal Government has said charges and levies imposed on Nigerians in diaspora at the foreign missions are due to paucity of funds to run operations.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema; and Controller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, who both appeared before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs in Abuja on Tuesday explained how they were addressing issues affecting Nigerians in other countries.
At the two-day investigative hearing organised by the committee, which began on Tuesday, Onyema noted that the charges had been in existence and were only suspended. Read more
8 countries require NDLEA’s clearance for travellers, says agency (ThisDay)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has listed the eight countries which require that it gives a mandatory visa clearance to those intending to travel to their land.
The countries are: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Brazil, Pakistan, Philipines and Russia.
The NDLEA disclosed the name of the countries to debunk claims that it was introducing a levy on travelers, insisting that the requirement from the eight countries was not new as it had been in existence for 24 years.
A statement on Wednesday by Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said: “The attention of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has been drawn to some misinformation and misconceptions about a 24-year-old visa clearance policy, which requires Nigerians travelling to some countries to meet certain requirements before getting clearance from the NDLEA. Read more
Insecurity: your silence is too loud, PFN tells Buhari (Nation)
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has lamented continuous silence of President Muhammadu Buhari over the nation’s insecurity, saying that happening’s around the nation is disturbing.
PFN urged Buhari to as a matter of urgency address Nigerians on the palpable insecurity situation in the country and take necessary steps to find a lasting solution to the security challenges.
Speaking on Wednesday in Ibadan while receiving separately the Lagos, Ogun and Osun States’ Chapters of the PFN led by Apostle Enjimaya Okwuonu and Apostle David Otaru as well as Prophet Isaiah Adelowokan, respectively, who had come to felicitate with him on his emergence as the body’s President, PFN President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke said that silence of President Buhari over the security situation in Nigeria is deafening and it’s giving room for speculation and gossips that suggest the government has hands in the sickening situation by indulging and pampering the bandits and the killer Fulani herdsmen.
Wale Oke, who is the founder of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries and the Proprietor of the Precious. Read more
‘Keke’ drivers begin strike in Maiduguri (DailyTrust)
Hundreds of auto-rickshaw, popularity called Keke Napep, drivers went off the roads in Maiduguri, Borno State over allegations of harassment by public officials.
Many passengers were stranded while children had to walk for long distances to schools.
Fans React As Burna Boy Serves Music Video For Track ’23’
You are too slow, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed hits Buhari
One of the drivers along Baga Road, Usman Modu, said drivers paid N100 to the revenue officials as tax daily but “if payment is made after the stipulated time, an additional cost will apply as fine and if you cannot pay, they seize your key.
“They also harass us over dress code; if you wear a sleeveless top, for example, you will not be allowed to work that day. Read more
Ogun community accuses railway contractor of destroying roads (Punch)
Residents of Ori-Osoko in the Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State have accused the Federal Government of using the Lagos-Ibadan railway project to destroy the roads that linked the community to neighbouring communities.
The residents alleged that about eight major roads had completely been damaged by the contractor in charge of the project, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
The Chairman, Ori-Osoko Community Development Association, Egbeyemi Olakunle, lamented that the poor condition of the roads to journalists on Tuesday, adding that residents’ children could no longer go to school.
Olakunle further lamented that the residents could no longer take their vehicles out of their houses, especially during downpours. Read more
Couple confess love hours after first Zoom date, move in together and are engaged after 8 months (Metro)
A couple who met online confessed their love within hours of their first Zoom date, have only spent four days apart since, and are now tying the knot eight months after they met. Nyasha Pitt, 43, from Coventry, and Dwain Daley, 37, from Birmingham, arranged an online first date in July 2020, a few weeks after they matched on Bumble. Within two weeks, Dwain moved his belongings into Nyasha’s home, and in December, he proposed. The couple now hope to marry on March 29, the first day they can wed after lockdown. The romantic pair, both marketing consultants, believe the universe brought them together. Read more
Congo’s longtime president reelected in landslide win (VOA)
The Republic of Congo’s Interior Minister announced Tuesday longtime incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso has won another five year term.
Raymond Zephiri Mboulou said in a national address that Sassou Nguesso secured just more than 88 percent of the vote in Sunday’s election, extending his more than 36 years as leader of the Central African nation.
His main rival, Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas, who died suddenly as people were going to the polls, was a distant second, receiving less than eight percent of the vote. Read more
Massive container ship stuck in Suez Canal ‘partially refloated,’ traffic expected to resume shortly (RT)
A giant container ship that has been stuck across the Suez Canal for over a day, has been “partially refloated.” Maritime traffic through the important waterway is expected to resume as soon as the vessel is towed away.
The efforts to dislodge the Ever Given container ship from the Canal came to fruition on Wednesday afternoon. The news was broken by port agent GAC, citing the Suez Canal Authority.
“The grounded vessel has been partially refloated and is now alongside the Canal bank. Convoys and traffic are expected to resume as soon as vessel is towed to another position,” it said. Read more
Myanmar coup: 7-year-old shot ‘as she ran into father’s arms’ (BBC)
A seven-year-old girl has been shot dead in Myanmar, becoming the youngest known victim in the crackdown following last month’s military coup.
Khin Myo Chit’s family told the BBC she was killed by police while she ran towards her father, during a raid on their home in the city of Mandalay.
Myanmar’s military has been increasing its use of force as protests continue.
Rights group Save the Children says more than 20 children are among dozens of people who have been killed. Read more
Years-long US pressure campaign chokes Huawei’s growth (VOA)
When Joe Biden took office as president, the Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei Technologies saw at least a glimmer of hope that the US-led campaign to shut it out of international markets might be eased somewhat.
Once a global leader in smartphone sales, Huawei has seen its market share outside China plummet since the Trump administration began choking off its supply of technology key to producing modern 5G handsets. Likewise, the company’s business installing mobile telecommunications infrastructure, and especially new 5G-capable systems, has been severely damaged by a U.S. campaign against it.
Biden had not signaled that he would be particularly easy on China — his appointment of China hawk Katherine Tai as U.S. Trade Representative confirmed that. But Huawei and other Chinese firms thought that, if nothing else, the two countries could step back from a Trump-era trade war footing. Read more
Merkel cancels Germany’s draconian Easter lockdown after facing widespread resistance (RT)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pulled the plug on harsh Covid-19 restrictions planned during the Easter holiday, after the decree caused an uproar among the public as well as within her own party.
In a video call on Wednesday, Merkel told state premiers that she was dropping the five-day lockdown, which would have closed all businesses, with supermarkets only permitted to operate for one day during the period.
The planned restrictions also prohibited private gatherings of more than five adults from two different households, and called for Easter church services to be conducted virtually.
“This mistake is my mistake alone,” Merkel said, adding that the shutdown was “created with the best of intentions” but should not have been proposed because there was no way to properly implement it. Read more
Displaced Mozambicans optimistic about US support for counterinsurgency efforts (VOA) Mozambicans who have been forced from their homes because of the ongoing conflict in the northern part of their country say Washington’s pledge to train Mozambican security forces brings a glimmer of hope that their situation will improve.
Last week, the U.S. embassy in Mozambique announced plans to train Mozambican security forces to combat violent extremism in the country’s north. Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department designated an Islamic State (IS) affiliate in Mozambique as a foreign terrorist organization — along with another IS affiliate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Residents in the country’s northern Cabo Delgado province, a region rich in natural gas deposits, have been grappling with an Islamist insurgency there since 2017. Attacks claimed by the militant group known as al-Shabab have killed nearly 2,700 people and displaced 670,000 others, according to the conflict monitoring group Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project (ACLED). Read more
John Obi Mikel reveals details of bust-up with ‘disrespectful’ Antonio Conte that forced him out of Chelsea (Metro)
John Obi Mikel has lifted the lid on a furious bust-up with Antonio Conte that forced him to quit Chelsea. Mikel departed in Conte’s first season in charge at Stamford Bridge, joining Chinese club Tianjin on a free transfer in the January transfer window after being frozen out by the then manager in the first half of the season. Poor relations, according to Mikel, stemmed from him wanting to link up with Nigeria’s Olympics squad in Rio. Conte, who now coaches Inter Milan, wasn’t keen on him heading to the Olympic Games as it would disrupt Chelsea’s pre-season and he told the midfielder in no uncertain terms that he would not feature in his plans if he travelled to Brazil. Read more
Former Chelsea ace reignites racism row by refusing to apologise to ex-Premier League referee (RT)
Former Nigerian international John Obi Mikel has stated that he will still not apologise to ex-Premier League Referee Mark Clattenburg after a heated incident all the way back in 2012.
The events in question occurred when Chelsea midfielder Ramires accused Clatterburg of calling teammate Mikel a “monkey” during a 3-2 loss to Manchester United.
Speaking to the Athletic recently, Mikel said that even though he didn’t hear the slur being said, he still trusts his teammate’s accusation.
The incident inspired an aggressive confrontation between Mikel and the referee which led to a three-game ban and a £60,000 fine for the Nigerian. Read more
Iwobi, Aribo ready to rumble against Squirrels (Nation)
Everton of England midfielder Alex Iwobi cannot wait to be thrown into the game against Benin Republic in this weekend’s AFCON 2021 Qualifiers in Port Novo.
The former Arsenal striker said in Lagos yesterday that he was ready to play in any position assigned to him by coach Gernot Rohr.
“Anywhere I am told to play I am going to play,” he said.
He is optimistic that the Eagles can record victory away against the visitors while also looking forward to playing in Lagos when the Eagles welcome Lesotho to Lagos on March 30.
“We feel like we are ready to compete; we are excited especially playing in Lagos where we will have a few of the fans with us hopefully we can qualify that is the aim and we are confident we can do so,” he said. Read more
Miami Open: Venus Williams crashes out in first round (Punch)
Venus Williams crashed out of the Miami Open on Tuesday, losing her first round game in straight sets to Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan.
Diyas advanced to a second round meeting with Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic after completing a 6-2, 7-6 (12/10) victory in 1hr 28min on the Hard Rock Stadium’s Grandstand court.
The round of 128 defeat is the 40-year-old Williams’ earliest exit in Miami since she made her debut in the tournament in 1997. Read more
Manchester City on brink of Women’s Champions League exit (BBC)
Manchester City are on the brink of exiting the Women’s Champions League at the quarter-final stage after a miserable first-leg loss to Barcelona.
Asisat Oshoala opened the scoring in the 35th minute before Barca’s Mariona Caldentey netted a second-half penalty after Demi Stokes tripped Oshoala.
City’s Chloe Kelly missed a golden opportunity to halve the deficit seeing her 55th-minute penalty saved.
Jenni Hermoso tapped in a third late on after Alexia Putellas struck the post. Read more
Moussa Dembele collapses in Atletico Madrid training as medical staff rush to treat him (Metro)
Atletico Madrid star Moussa Dembele collapsed in training and appeared to lose consciousness during training, with medical staff forced to treat him on the pitch. The former Celtic striker was stretching on the field and suddenly fell backwards, hitting the turf. His concerned team-mates rushed to him and medical staff were on the scene moments later to examine the forward. They spent a number of minutes trying to resuscitate him, with Dembele lying motionless on the floor. Read more
Africa Cup of Nations: Burkina Faso qualify for Cameroon 2021 (BBC)
Burkina Faso qualified for the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon after drawing 0-0 in Uganda on Wednesday with one round of group games still to play.
The Stallions become the sixth team through to the finals, joining Algeria, Mali, Senegal, Tunisia and the host nation.
Burkina Faso’s nine points in Group B is one ahead of Uganda and two more than Malawi, who beat South Sudan 1-0 on Wednesday.Burkina Faso qualify as there is no scenario whereby both Uganda and Malawi can overtake them. Read more
