Super Eagles Technical Adviser to be announced in August - NFF

Following the rejection by Paul Le Guen, Nigerian Football Federation, NFF has said that it will appoint a substantive technical adviser for the Super Eagles in August.

The Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Chief Chris Green disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

His words:
“We are working to ensure that we finish with the other incidentals, because as at the last time we didn’t do that.

“We left it for the executive to do, which ordinarily should be their responsibility.

“But when they now asked us to go and do it again, they now told us to complete everything with the incidentals and send recommendations.

“It’s based on that, that we are doing this now; we don’t want a situation where somebody will come out again and say this and that.

“As I speak with you, we have made contacts, we have done interviews, we have asked questions and the rest of them – even verifying from every other person.

“We have considered at a lot of people, but we have zeroed in on one person.

“It may not be from the former list; it’s a different exercise entirely, because as I speak to you, even when we have closed entries, some people are still applying,’’ he said.

NAN

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Boko Haram: troops liberate more towns in Northeast

Troops on counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast have continued to liberate more towns in the region.

A statement issued by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman said that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, M-NJTF during the week cleared more towns of Boko Haram terrorists.

"In continuation with clearance operation of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hibernating in remote border towns and villages, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE have cleared Kareto town since Monday 25th July 2016.

"The gallant troops are stabilizing the immediate environment, while others are maintaining blocking positions at various areas. In the same vein, today, troops of Operation GAMA AIKI under the auspices of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), have successfully cleared Dutchi and Damasak towns.

"In due course, the troops of both Operation GAMA AIKI (MNJTF) and Operation LAFIYA DOLE would link up with each other to continue the clearance operations."

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IAAF bans Nigerian female relay team from Rio 2016 Olympics

The International Association of Athletics Federations, IAAF has banned a Nigerian athlete Tosin Adeloye for testing positive to drugs.

Consequently, the Nigerian 4x400m women’s relay team of which Adeloye is a member has been banned from participating in the 2016 Olympic Games holding in Rio, Brazil, next month.

The IAAF said that the female team was banned because one of them, Tosin Adeloye tested positive to drugs during the Confederation of African Athletics, CAA Super Grand Prix/Warri Relays in Warri, Delta State on July 24th last year.

Adeloye was been banned for eight years by the IAAF and all her results from both individual and joint events will be ignored.

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Army moving heavy weapons in S/South, urges calm among public

The Nigerian Army has announced the commencement this weekend of a training exercise in the Niger Delta code named “EXERCISE CROCODILE SMILE” involving the 82 Division and elements of the 2 Division.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Army spokesman, Col Sani Usman.

“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.

“The aim of the exercise is to practice our Special Forces and other units of the Nigerian Army in Amphibious and Internal Security Operations in riverine environment and also check criminal activities like kidnapping, militancy and piracy and other forms of criminal activities in support of the civil authority,” the statement said.

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UN suspends aid to Borno over attack on convoy

Following Thursday's terrorist attack on its convoy which had gone to deliver aid materials in Bama, Borno State, the United Nations has temporarily suspended the delivery of humanitarian aid in the state.

Nigerian Army spokesman had said in a statement that a UN convoy escorted by soldiers had run into an ambush in which 5 persons were injured.

Also, Reuters quoted the UNICEF as saying that its convoy was attacked on its way back to Maiduguri from Bama after delivering humanitarian aid to IDPs. It said that a UNICEF employee and an International Organisation for Migration contractor were wounded in the attack.

“The United Nations has temporarily suspended humanitarian assistance missions pending review of the security situation,” it said.

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Buhari felicitates with Fr Mbaka on ordination anniversary

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministries on the 21st anniversary of his priestly ordination.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina, the president described the fiery priest as a wise counselor and teacher.

“President Muhammadu Buhari felicitates with Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, Director of Adoration Ministry, on the 21st anniversary of his ordination to priesthood in the Catholic Church which comes up Friday.

“The president extends his best wishes to Fr. Mbaka’s family, congregation and well-wishers as they celebrate this special occasion with him in his continued devotion to the well-being of others as a father, wise counselor, teacher and guardian.

“The president commends Fr. Mbaka’s steadfast devotion to his vocation and ministry, amply demonstrated in his love and service for his people, nation and God.

“President Buhari prays that God Almighty, who has given the cleric the strength to devote his entire life to service in the vineyard will continually bless and prosper his ministry,” he said.

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Sheriff vs Makarfi: Court cancels PDP National Convention

Ousted National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff has secured an order of a Federal High Court in Abuja cancelling the national convention of the party scheduled to hold in August this year.

Sheriff had approached the court, seeking an order to cancel the convention which is being organized by the Makarfi faction of the PDP on the grounds that the May 29th Port Harcourt convention which ousted him was illegal.

In his ruling on Thursday, Justice Okon Abang concurred with the position of the plaintiff.

“The convention was unlawfully held and the caretaker committee was unlawfully constituted. If the Markarfi-led faction, as an apostle of impunity, missed its way to the Port Harcourt division of the FHC, the court cannot be said to have acted within its legal jurisdiction in entertaining the matter,” he said.

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