Why Yahya Jammeh agrees to go into exile after election defeat

"I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation," Jammeh said on state television, wearing a white robe and looking tired.

Yahya Jammeh, who led his country for 22 years but refused to accept his election defeat to new President Adama Barrow last month, has agreed to step down and go into exile. He said his decision was taken in the national interest after prayer and said he was proud to have served the Gambian people, imploring them to work together as one nation.

It has not been specified where Mr Jammeh would go into exile.

The news came as regional armies, who entered Gambian territory late on Thursday, were poised to remove Mr Jammeh by force just hours after the army chief recognised Mr Barrow as commander-in-chief.

MALIAN DEFENCE CHIEF EXTOLS NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES – SOLICITS FOR COOPERATION

The Deputy Chief of Defence Staff of the Malian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Didier Dacko has eulogised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their exceptional role in peace keeping and high professional conduct in all military operations in the sub-region, Africa and around the globe.

Brigadier General Dacko made the commendation when he visited the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja. While praising the Nigerian Armed Forces for its leadership role in the West African sub-region, he stated that he was in DHQ to understudy the Nigerian Armed Forces winning strategy against the dreaded Boko Haram Terrorists so that his country can replicate same in tackling the security challenges in Mali.

PRESIDENT BUHARI REASSURES ECOWAS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA'S FULL SUPPORT

President Muhammadu Buhari and President of the
  ECOWAS Commission Mr Marcel Alain de Souza

President Muhammadu Buhari pledged on Thursday in Abuja that Nigeria will continue to meet all its obligations to the ECOWAS Commission.

Receiving the new President of the Commission, Mr Marcel Alain de Souza at the Presidential Villa, President Buhari assured him that Nigeria will go on playing its leadership role in ECOWAS.

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari told Mr de Souza that the Federal Government will also strive to show a good example to others by meeting all its financial obligations to the sub-regional organisation.

Climate Change: FG raises alarm as River Niger drying up

THE Federal Government, yesterday, raised talarm over imminent drying up of River Niger due to climate change and dumping of industrial waste. 

The Auditor General of the Federation, AGoF, Mr. Samuel Tyonongo Ukura, raised the alarm during a meeting with the Edo State Auditor-General and members of the Edo State Public Accounts Committee in his office in Abuja. Ukura, however, assured that Nigeria was in the process of conducting an environmental audit of the River Niger to determine its level of dryness.

NFF Unveils Super Eagles' Interim Managers

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Wednesday that Shaibu Amodu, the Technical Director of the NFF and Salisu Yusuf would take charge of the Super Eagles on interim basis.

This was part of the decisions taken after Wednesday's meeting of the NFF Technical Committee which took place at the NFF secretariat.

The appointment would see the coaches lead the Eagles to the two international friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg national team on May 27 and June 1 respectively.

NFF confirms Mali, Luxembourg friendlies for Eagles

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has announced that the Super Eagles will take on Mali and Luxembourg in friendly matches.Nigeria football senior national team, the Super Eagles will take on the Eagles of Mali and the Luxembourg senior national team in two international friendly matches in Europe.

This was confirmed via their official Twitter handle.

Nigeria, former African champions will take on Mali, ranked four places above them at 63, at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France on May 27. 

The Eagles of Mali have already qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals, having garnered 10 points from their first four matches of the qualification series.

U-17 ALL-AFRICAN FINAL: MALI VS NIGERIA

Defending champions Nigeria and impressive outsiders Mali overcame Mexico and Belgium respectively in the semi-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 to advance to the final.

In just their fourth appearance at this level, Les Aiglonnets have achieved a feat that no other Malian national side at any age category has ever managed: progressing to the showpiece match of a FIFA-run tournament.

They were made to work hard for their reward, however, as the Belgians went toe-to-toe with them for large portions of the match. Lady Luck also played her part in the Africans’ victory, when a seemingly harmless long ball bamboozled the Belgian goalkeeper and allowed them to take a 2-1 lead.

Boko Haram: Why Nigeria withdraws peacekeeping troops from Mali

The President of the Senate, David Mark, on Monday said activities of Boko Haram insurgents had compelled the government to withdraw Nigeria’s peacekeeping troops from Mali. 

He made the remark at a two-day retreat on Nigeria’s Foreign Policy jointly organised by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos. 

The Senate President said Boko Haram insurgency had become a major challenge to Nigeria’s efforts at forging relationships with her French-speaking neighbours.

Full Text of President Jonathan’s 2014 Democracy Day broadcast speech

Fellow Nigerians, I greet and felicitate with you all, today, as we mark 15 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in our beloved country. 

Our dear nation, Nigeria, has certainly come a long way and made notable progress since our first Democracy Day on May 29, 1999 when the military finally relinquished power and handed over to a democratically-elected government, marking the true beginning of a government of the people, by the people, for the people.” 

Although I have ordered a low-key commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day in deference to the current mood of the nation, there can be no doubt that the past 15 years, the longest period of sustained democratic governance in our country, have been a blessing to us, as a people. 

As we commemorate 15 years of our Fourth Republic today therefore, I believe that it is fitting that we pay tribute once again to all those who played a part in restoring our nation to the true path of democratic governance, built on the foundations of rule of law and freedom of expression. 

As a result of our collective efforts since 1999, democratic governance is now entrenched in our nation and institutions. I wholeheartedly believe that our people are the better for it. The scope of fundamental rights and liberties enjoyed by our people over the past 15 years has been expanded beyond measure. 

How Cameroon, Chad, Niger became a den of terrorists: Boko Haram get cross-border assistance for their operations

Take a very close look, if you have the heart, at the gory pictures of the wreckage at Nyanya Mass Transit Park, Abuja rocked by bomb blast in the early morning of Monday, April 14, 2014. About 100 people were killed, over 200 others sustained injuries, many maimed, burnt beyond recognition while nearly 18 high capacity buses, several smaller commercial vehicles and cars filled with passengers ready to leave, all destroyed in the explosion planned and mindlessly executed by Boko Haram Islamist insurgents.

Immediately following on the heels of the Nyanya deadly blast about 234 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, were abducted by the Boko Haram sect after sitting for the West African School Certificate (WASC) examinations. This has caused international outrage as USA, Britain and other western European countries have pledged to assist Nigeria in efforts to rescue the abducted school girls.

Boko Haram: Time for Muslims Leaders world wide to review their teachings

As condemnations trails the activities of the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram even from the Islamic international bodies and scholars across the globe. It seem very necessary for the Muslim society to re-exermine the teaching of Islam worldwide.

It is Time for Muslims Leaders world wide to review their teachings, they claim to teach peace but a large part of their followers do otherwise IN THE NAME OF THE RELIGION.

World Economic Forum: US Marines Already In Abuja

As the World Economic Forum summit kick off in Abuja, the Nigeria capital, US marines have been reported to have arrive the country to help the Nigeria’s security services tackle increasing threats as Nigeria is playing host to the 7th WEF in Abuja today amid heightened security challenges.

The US marines have already arrived the country, according to sources in the know of their movement.

WEF summit is expected to be attended by over 10 heads of state and government as well as over 900 delegates from 70 countries.

Presidents of Algeria, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Togo have confirmed attendance. Former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and former President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, are expected to attend. 50 chief executives of big global corporations have confirmed attendance.

200 School Girls: France President Francois Hollande to Send Troops for Rescue Operation

As the search for the Boko Haram abducted School Girls seem endless and hopeless on the part of the Federal Government of Nigeria, France on Wednesday offered to send security service agents to Nigeria to help recover more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Islamist sects.

French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius made the disclosure that the Government President Francois Hollande is ready to offer assistants in the rescue operation of the abducted girls. Adding that with more than 4,000 troops operating between Mali to the west and Central African Republic to the east, Paris has a major interest in preventing Nigeria’s security situation from deteriorating, having previously voiced concerns that Boko Haram could spread further north into the Sahel.

Morocco 2015: Super Eagles, Black Stars in Pot 1

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has put in motion the road to Morocco 2015 as the seeding for the potentials draws were made on Saturday.

CAF approved dates for the AFCON Morocco 2015 at its meeting at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. According to CAF, the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2015 will be played from 17th January through 8th February 2015. The distribution of groups between the host cities of the tournament was also formalized.

TERRORISTS: THE PAMPERED CHILDREN OF THE NORTH NIGERIA

by Emmanuel Chigozie Osuchukwu

Nigeria is presently in a dangerous impasse and there are many who believe that the country is on the throes of disintegration. If the mindless insurgency and bloodletting ravaging particularly the Northern part of the country is not enough evidence, the ongoing national conference is a clear indication that all is not well. The primary question is how Nigeria got to this dreadful position – to a point where it is safer to live in Afghanistan, Iraq or Somalia. Thanks to a new phenomenon called Boko Haram. Then we ask again, who or what is Boko Haram? I can only at this point say that it is a faceless organisation that we are unsure who they really are except that they are predominantly people drawn from the Northern part of Nigeria, with a clear proclivity towards Islamic fundamentalism and a violent disapproval of mainstream Nigerian, albeit western values. We could also say a sort of rebels without cause.


There is nothing really surprising about the emergence of Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria. Many commentators saw it coming and many were condemned for ever predicting that Nigeria will come to such a state. Hence today the Nigerian press is full of comments such as: ‘serves the North right’; ‘they should have seen it coming’; ‘they brought it on themselves’ etc. It is not that such commentators are not appalled by the wanton killing of innocent women and children or grieve over the senseless killing of now mostly Northern Nigerian youths who could easily have become tomorrow’s doctors, lawyers, teachers and footballers. But many Nigerians have grown up to believe that the North somehow does not disapprove of senseless killing of innocent lives and we have strong reasons stretching over many decades to assume so. The only surprise is that those who should have anticipated it are the very ones expressing surprise and blaming others for the pitiable state of particularly Northern Nigeria and the country generally. Some supposedly knowledgeable Northern opinions have gone as far as accusing the federal government of President Jonathan of masterminding the ongoing killings in the north. But let us put Boko Haram and the problem of the North in its true perspective.

Punch: I was chased out of Sudan when I raised the alarm about Boko Haram – Ambassador Bola Dada

Ambassador Bola Dada shares his experiences in international affairs as a former diplomat with ADEOLA BALOGUN and JESUSEGUN ALAGBE

When did you retire and how are you spending your time now?

I retired from the federal civil service in June 2009, and since my retirement, I have been working in the farm. I am a farmer as well as a consultant. I consult for people on oil and gas and on any business connected to any of the countries where I worked before. I provide information and materials to anybody who is interested in businesses in such countries like Iran, which is the last country I was posted to. I am now into snail farming.

Apart from Iran, where else did you serve?

Latest FIFA Ranking: Nigeria Eagles Move Two Positions Up

Super Eagles of Nigeria were ranked 47th in the last Fifa rankings following their goalless draw with Mexico in last month’s international friendly, while Europe occupies the top three places on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking after Portugal climbed third behind leaders Spain and Germany.

They are followed by four South American sides in Colombia, (4th, up 1), Uruguay (5th, up 1) and fierce rivals Argentina (down 3) and Brazil (up 3), who share sixth position. Just 12 points separate this quartet. Greece return to the top ten for the first time since October 2012, while Scotland moved up 15 places to the 22nd position in the world.

Nigeria , Other West African Leaders Disagree with EU Trade Plans

ECOWAS leaders has  disagree with the European Union free trade deals . Nigeria and the rest of the regional block refused to open their economies to free trade with the European Union at a summit on Saturday.

Nigeria, the regional heavyweight Nigeria voiced concerns which stalled the deal of any further negotiations over the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) since ECOWAS countries resisted lifting tariff barriers over fears that they could crush nascent industries unable to cope with European imports.

President Jonathan to attend ECOWAS summit in Cote D’Ivoire

Nigeria President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan will depart Abuja Thursday for Yamoussoukro, Cote D’Ivoire to participate in the 44th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government.

The summit will begin Friday 28 March and end Saturday 29 March, said Dr. Rueben Abati, the president’s media adviser in a statement.

The Conference which will consider several reports from the ECOWAS Commission, Council of Ministers and ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, will also be addressed by the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations to ECOWAS as well as the President of the African Union Commission.