Sharparena.com: November 2018

Thursday, November 29, 2018

JAMB Announces 2019/2020 UTME registration date

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Thursday announced that registration for 2019/ 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will commence in December.

The Head of Media of the Board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, announced this while addressing newsmen during the conduct of promotion exercise for the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), at the board’s Computer Based Test (CBT) Centre in Abuja,NAN reports.

According to Benjamin, no specific date has been fixed for the commencement of the registration yet.

He, however, said that plans were underway to do so as soon as possible as the board was initially waiting for the pronouncement of the presidency on the reduction of the examinations fee, which was formally announced on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the downward review of the examination registration fees from N5,000 to N3,500 effective from January 2019.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, announced this after the meeting.

Benjamin said it was commendable what the President had done as he was someone, who had always had the interest of the masses at heart and would prove to ensure that no Nigerian was deprived of tertiary education.

”The president has overtime, expressed concern that the charges were high.

”Our consistent remittance has proven that something could actually be done and even if charges are reduced, examinations can still be conducted with no service suffering any issue of funding.

”The president has taken this bold step, we will see what happens after this reduction and if need be for further reduction, Mr President will do so in no distant time because he has concerns for the ordinary Nigerian on the streets. ”

people's Democratic Party (PDP) names 154 member campaign council

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday in Abuja inaugurated its National Campaign Council for the 2019 election.

The council has the major task of ensuring that its presidential candidate and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, emerges winner.

Atiku will slug it out with President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 16, 2019.

Campaign for the elections were lifted on November 18.

Details later…

Why US govt. Should not issue visa for Atiku- Buhari govt.

The Federal Government has told the U.S. to be cautious in granting visa to the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in order not to create the impression of endorsing him for the 2019 election.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the government position at an interactive session with media executives in Abuja on Thursday.

Mohammed said that the government was aware of the move by the former Vice President to lobby the U.S. to lift the visa ban imposed on him.

He said while the U.S. has the prerogative of whom to issue visa, it should be mindful of the timing, in order not to give the impression that Atiku has been endorsed by the U.S. government.

“We understand and appreciate the fact that it is the prerogative of the U.S. to grant a visa to anyone who applies.

“However, we want the U.S. to be neutral and be wary of taking any decision that will give the impression that they are favouring or endorsing one candidate over the other

“Impression must not be created that the U.S. government is endorsing one particular candidate over the other,’’ he said.

The minister recalled that for years, there has been a kind of congressional bi-partisan investigation on corruption against certain individuals which had made it difficult for Atiku to secure a U.S. visa.

“I am sure you will all recall the Jefferson’s case and the cold 90,000 U.S. dollar in fridge.

“We are not unaware that Atiku has engaged the services of some lobbyists to persuade the U.S. to issue visa to him.

“Our position is that if the former Vice President is seeking the U.S. visa we have no problem about it.

“However, we want the U.S. government not to create the impression that it is endorsing one candidate over the other,’’ he said.

Speaking on security, the minister insisted that despite the recent set back brought about by attacks on the military, the Boko Haram insurgents had been largely decimated.

He recalled that when they took over in 2015, Boko Haram was active in 10 states including the FCT where they chose where and when to attack

The minister said that 20 of the 27 Local Government Areas in Borno were under the insurgents where they hoisted their flags collected taxes and deposed the Emirs.

He said since they took over, no inch of Nigeria territory is under the control of the insurgents who now operated in the fringes –Lake Chad Island- to launch guerilla attacks.

“What happened was a set-back and it is not enough to say that we are losing the war against the Boko Haram.

“We want to appreciate the gallant military who are sacrificing day and night and those who have lost their lives to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty,’’ he said.

The Minister added that the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Borno and his ongoing visit to Chad were indications of renewed vigour to end the war.

Mohammed also denied the allegations that the government was closing media space against the opposition.

South Africa mercenary says Buhari is at fault for the killing of Nigerian's Army

… Said Buhari requested his men out of Nigeria notwithstanding progress in flushing out agitators … South African hired soldier stands up after Boko Haram carnage

AFP: A South African hired soldier who battled Boko Haram jihadists in Nigeria stood up on Sunday against President Muhammadu Buhari’s treatment of the Islamist rebellion, faulting “poor political choices” for an upsurge in brutality.

In an announcement presented on Facebook on Sunday, Eeben Barlow reprimanded Buhari for guaranteeing that Boko Haram is “in fact vanquished” and said the jihadists are “causing various setbacks and catching huge measures of hardware and ammo.” The previous South African Defense Force administrator said that Buhari’s administration stopped his agreement after his organization STTEP — which represents Specialized Tasks, Training, Equipment and Protection — recovered swathes of an area once again from Boko Haram at the pinnacle of the nine-year Islamist rebellion in 2015.

“Weight constrained just a little piece of the battle to be effectively executed before we were requested to pack up and leave,” Barlow said. “A considerable lot of the men we prepared as a component of 72 Mobile Strike Force have stayed in contact with us (STTEP), arguing for our arrival to Nigeria,” he said.

“They have additionally disclosed to us that they have been utilized to a point of weariness.” Despite Buhari’s administration saying that Boko Haram is near thrashing, the jihadists have driven various attacks against the military as of late, featuring their proceeded with danger to Nigeria and the more extensive Lake Chad area. “Northeastern Nigeria is a case of what can happen when knowledge is dismissed for a false story,” Barlow said.

“Try not to accuse the military when poor political choices result in the passings of individuals.” Barlow’s announcement comes after troops battling on the cutting edges of the contention discharged a video guaranteeing somewhere around 100 officers kicked the bucket in an ongoing assault on a base in Metele.

It underscored developing edginess among troops, who in June challenged at being redeployed to the remote Lake Chad area in the wake of battling for a considerable length of time without alleviation. The Nigerian military ended its quiet late Friday night to affirm that the Metele construct had been assaulted with respect to November 18, however did not give a loss of life. AFP has announced no less than 17 endeavors to overwhelm armed force bases since July.

Many have been guaranteed by the IS-associated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a group of Boko Haram. In excess of 27,000 individuals are thought to have been executed in the Islamist insurrection that has set off a helpful emergency and left 1.8 million individuals without homes.

I am convinced that PDP will win 2019 general election- Atiku Abubakar

The flag bearer for the 2019 presidential election under the People's Democratic Party (PDP) said he is convinced that his party will win the election, he said this during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

He also said that working together of the party leaders will help the party to have an upper hand in the upcoming election.

Atiku Abubakar also said he is ready to face the incumbent president, President Muhammed Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The senate president Dr. Bukola Saraki who was also present at the meeting said it has shown in the party convention that the presidential post is for the people's Democratic party.

"They call me ronaldinho" Mane says

The Senegal star is currently one of the best players in his position, his moniker from young, however, gave a hint into how good he would become

Liverpool and Senegal star Sadio Mane has revealed that he was nicknamed Ronaldinho as he was a young footballer in his village, where he became well known due to exhibiting similar ball skills to the Brazilian wizard.

Sédhiou-born Mane, 26, revealed how his skills earned him admirers nationwide.

"I was well known in my village because everyone used to say that I played very well and like Ronaldinho, and they even called me Ronaldinho in my village!" Mane says

"Also, people came from Dakar, the capital. Finally, I got to go to the capital and I’d hear how people were talking about me, and they’d come to watch me to try to know me and of course, I was famous!”

The Senegal international has since gone on to greater things since being captured by Liverpool in a big-money move from Southampton in 2016. Such was his importance in world football that he has been strongly linked to Real Madrid, prompting the Merseyside giants to tie him down to a long-term extension.

However, doubts as to whether he could make it as a professional were prevalent as a young player who emerged from a village in Senegal.

“Honestly, they never thought I was going to be football player. I understand them because before me the village had some great players and no one had the chance to become a football player,” he continued.

"Those people who were very good at football finally lost everything because they gave everything to football and at the end they missed out on the chance to do other things. So, in this case, it’s why my family didn’t want me to follow in the same way.

"They wanted me to do something else. That’s why they were thinking I was crazy for saying I wanted to be a football player.

"They gave me the example of the players who were better than me and today they have nothing because they were following football, football, football until they got old.

"But I’m very glad that in the end I was able to make it and my family could see that for me it was the right decision to follow my dreams."

Manchester united extend goal keeper's contract till 2020

Manchester United have triggered the one-year option on goalkeeper David de Gea's contract to avoid any uncertainty over his future heading into the January transfer window.
Spain international De Gea, 28, joined United from Atletico Madrid in 2011.
His contract was due to end in the summer, allowing him to talk to overseas clubs from 1 January and sign a pre-contract agreement.
This was confirmed by the club manager Jose mourinho after a 1-0 defeat to young boys on tuesday, Manchester united is keen to holding the keeper after winning them the player of the year award four times in the pas five seasons.

A strange owl found in Akwa ibom house of assembly

Strange Bird(Owl called Nkirikid) found inside the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Chamber. They are now going diabolical, # OnlyGod will continue to protect his own.”

An eyewitness wrote on social media.

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