- “NEW CHELSEA ASSISTANT MANAGER WILL COACH THE SUPER EAGLES SOMEDAY” -Westerhof Predicts If the newly appointed assistant manager of Chelsea Football Club of England, Nigeria’s Michael Emenalo keeps up with his growth rate in the game, he is sure to one day coach the Super Eagles of Nigeria. This was the submission of former Nigeria coach, Clemens Westerhof after te news broke that the top English side had named Emenalo as Assistant to Carlo Ancelloti. Westerhof who took Emenalo to the USA 1994 World Cup, believes that the former Super Eagles player will be exposed to more secrets and techniques of football management simply by the virtues of his new appointment. He…

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service sealed off six firms operating in the metropolis for failing to render their tax obligations to the government. - According to information made available to AfricaNews, the tax evaded by the affected companies amounted to N241.4 million [$1,600,265]. Jide Sosan, who led the team of the tax enforcer, told journalists in Lagos that the shut companies intentionally refused to pay their tax liabilities, covering the period between 2004 and 2008, to the pocket of the state government. He also claimed that the companies’ managements were not eager to repent, as they ignored the series of notices and warnings sent to them. “Several notic…

- by Oba' Adeoye Dog owners in Lagos, Nigeria are currently not in the best books of the state government, as it vowed on Tuesday to go tougher on residents who keep dogs as pets and yet remain lackadaisical in restraining their dogs from attacking members of the public. The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Enock Ajiboso spoke on behalf of the government while addressing a press conference. He said there had been an increase in cases of dog bite, especially by stray dogs in Badagry area of the state. Ajiboso cited the instance of a young boy, who died after a dog had bitten him in the ancient slavery town of Badagry. “A case in point was that of a young boy bitte…

- The just concluded 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa sure left a lot of records in its trail. It was the first time the global fiesta will be staged on the black continent, the very first edition that any European nation (Spain) will win outside the shores of Europe. This became a landmark when one considers that Europe has always been a leading footballing continent with world's finest players and top flight leagues dotting every spot of the continent. Expectedly therefore, Europe should have minimal difficulty producing champions anywhere, anytime on the global scene, but that has not always been the case, the best Europe achieved prior to the South African showing was to win t…

- "Rich Nigerians Will Always Travel Abroad For Medical Treatment" -Health Minister Nigeria's Junior Minister for health, Alhaji Sule Bello, has insisted that wealthy Nigerians will always travel to foreign countries to seek medical attention. Bello claimed that rich men and women in the West African country will never prefer foreign hospitals and Doctors to treat them particularly because they have the economic wherewithal to do so. Said he: “It is not that our medical facilities are bad. But even if you bring the best clinic to Nigeria, rich Nigerians will prefer going overseas for treatment,” The minister made the disclosure in Gusau, Zamfara state while rea…

Indications emerged that erstwhile number two man in Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, would on Sunday formally declare his presidential ambition for the 2011 presidential elections in the country. - An invitation supposedly signed Atiku's spokesperson, Shehu Garba states that the former vice president under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration would make public, his plans to return to the government house, but this time around, as the President. The document indicates that Atiku would address a world press conference on Sunday afternoon at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel to declare his plans. Although, it is not clear yet the platform on which the ex-custom boss would contest, stories…

The National Table Tennis players of Nigeria are in camp ahead of their preparations for the Commonwealth Games holding in New Delhi, India. - While the players have already started rigorous training sessions, the chairman of the technical committee of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), George Segun said the duo of Segun Toriola and Hakeem Hassan will not be part of the Commonwealth contingent due to injuries. The table tennis administrator revealed that regular mini-tournaments would be organized for the players to help the federation determine those that will eventually represent Nigeria in India. He noted the assessments would be completed this weekend in order to release …

- by Oba' Adeoye Almost a year after he ran away from the prying eyes of Nigerian anti-graft agencies for allegedly embezzling public funds lodged in his bank, former Group Chief Executive Officer of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, returned to the West African country on Tuesday. Akingbola was last year removed as the chief executive of the bank after the Nigerian Central Bank claimed he was involved in a grand fund embezzlement. He has since been declared wanted by major anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, prominent of which is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). It is alleged that Akingbola used his private companies and family members to laund…

- After playing a goaless draw with Saudi Arabia and managed a one-all draw with colombia last week, World cup bound Super Eagles of Nigeria will file out in international another friendly, this time around, against North Korea. The match which has been approved by the Federationa of international Football Association --FIFA, will come up on the 16th of June at the Makhulong Stadium, Tembisa Johannesburg. Super Eagles technical adviser, Lars Laggerback believes the match will be a good preparation for his boys ahead of their encounter against South Korea on the twentieth of June at the World cup. He says since the North Koreans are as fast-paced as their Southern kinsmen, his team w…

- The use of social internet websites like facebook and twitter to discuss the subject of amputation as a form of punishment has been banned in Nigeria. Last week, an islamic court issued a temporary ban on internet discussions in responce to an appeal filed by a pro-sharia group, the Association of Muslim Brotherhood of Nigeria, a pro-Sharia group based in the northern political capital of Kaduna which claims the internet sites would come handy for critics to mock islamic laws in the west african country. But on tuesday, the court permanently banned the civil rights congress of nigeria from holding an internet debate on amputation, used as a form of punishment under the sharia laws. Conf…

- The use of social internet websites like facebook and twitter to discuss the subject of amputation as a form of punishment has been banned in Nigeria. Last week, an islamic court issued a temporary ban on internet discussions in responce to an appeal filed by a pro-sharia group which claims the internet sites would come handy for critics to mock islamic laws in the west african country. But on tuesday, the court permanently banned the civil rights congress of nigeria from holding an internet debate on amputation, used as a form of punishment under the sharia laws. In year 2000, Buba Bello Jangebe became the first person to be amputated in Nigeria as a form of punishment. He was accused…

- Three months after a Nigerian young man, Farouk Abdulmutallab was accused of trying to blow up a detroit-bound plane in the United States, a top aviation officer in the country has hinted that the government has started the installation of body scanners at international airports. Though the idea of installing security body scanners at airports immediately after the Abdulmutallab’s episode has generated a lot controversies and protests by rights organizations, world over, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Aviation Authority, Akin Olukunle revealed that the installation has started in Lagos and will extend to other major airports across the nation. He said: "We've started…

- As the people and government of Lagos breathlessly wait to receive the world at this year's Lagos Black Heritage Festival in the ancient and historic city of Badagry, about 500 policemen have been told to warm up to provide adequate security for the global fiesta. Already, the state government has finalized plans to organize the 3rd edition of the premium jamboree which aims to reconcile Africans in diaspora with their roots and also to embalm events that characterized the slave trade era along the west African coastline. Local council chairman of the host community which also hosted the last two editions, Husitode Dosu said the security of this year's event will be watertight,…

Parts of the popular Eko bridge in Lagos, Nigeria may be closed temporarily in order to measure the impact of last Friday's fire incident which occurred at the Zone 2 Police Command Headquarters. - The Federal Controller of Works for the Lagos division, Ejike Mgbemena said the Onikan axis of the bridge has been severely destroyed by the fire and it became expedient for the government to rebuild it. He said to do this, there may be some form of inconvenience for users of the bridge as it will be shut to both human and vehicular traffic. The fire affected both the Command‘s Exhibit Room, which was located directly under the bridge and the Monitoring and Surveillance Department of…

The President of the senate of Nigeria David Mark has described the northern African dictator Col Muamar al-Gaddafi as a "mad man" after calling for the division of the West African country into two autonomous states in order to permanently solve its continued inter-ethnic and inter-religious crises. - The statement has sparked a diplomatic row between the two African countries. Nigeria on Thursday withdrew her ambassador from Libya. While addressing a group of international students in Tripoli earlier in the week, the ex-African Union chairman said the only solution to Nigeria’s serial violence where thousands of people have been killed since 2000 was to split the country…

- The Nigerian Federal Cabinet has been sacked. Outgoing Information Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili told state house correspondents that the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan dissolved the cabinet after the weekly meeting on wednesday. Although, the Minister said the Acting President did not give reasons for the dissolution, but political observers believe the action was in a bid to reshape the government and for Jonathan to assert his leadership of Africa’s most populous nation. Dr. Jonathan has since directed the council members to hand over their portfolios to the permanent secretaries in their respective ministries with immediate effect. Prof. Akunyili said with the ha…

- Reports coming in from Jos, northern Nigeria indicate that about 13 people have been killed in a renewed uprising. Witnesses said some Muslim herdsmen disguised as soldiers last night to gain entry into villages belonging to christians and in the process killing women and children. africanews.com shall keep you updated as events unfold in the northern Nigeria city.

The only solution to Nigeria's serial violence in Jos, where thousands of people have been killed is to split the West African country into two regions. This, according to the Libyan President, Muammar Gaddafi will put an end to the repeated bloodshed in the northern Nigerian city and elsewhere in the country. - Gaddafi gave the suggestion while addressing a group of students, some of whom were Nigerians in Tripoli on Monday. The President said the Nigerian people should follow the lines of religion to split the country into two --one, for the Christians and the other for the Moslems. He believes “Nothing else could stop the bloodshed.” In his speech, published by the …

- Police in South Africa say they have arrested a 59-year old man in pretoria for raping his 16-year old daughter. According to the law enforcement agency, two of the man’s daughters reported that he sneaked into their room while they were, and directed that one of them should join him in his room to help him apply body cream to his back. Police Inspector, Daniel Mavimbela says the chosen girl went to their father’s room with one of her sisters but the man told her to return later, unaccompanied by anyone. He also directed that the girl should change her clothes from the one she was wearing to something more revealing and seductive. But when it was obvious the girl was n…

- IF THE SUPER EAGLES TECHNICAL ADVISER, LARS LAGERBACK HAS HIS WAY, NIGERIAN BORN, MANCHESTER CITY DEFENDER, NEDUM ONUOHA WILL FEATURE FOR HIS FATHERLAND AT THE 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP IN SOUTH AFRICA. LARGABACK'S AGENT, EMEKA ENECHI REVEALS THAT THE FORMER SWEDEN NATIONAL TEAM COACH HAS CONTACTED ONUOHA AND IS STILL TRYING TO CONVINCE THE 23 YEAR OLD TO JOIN THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL TEAM FOR THE MUNDIAL. ENECHI SAYS LARGERBACK HAS COMPILED A LIST OF ALL NIGERIAN BORN PLAYERS IN EUROPE WHO ARE YET TO PLAY FOR THE TEAM BUT ARE STILL ELIGIBLE TO WEAR THE GREEN AND WHITE JERSEY. THE AGENT CLAIMS THE COACH WANTS TO REINFORCE THE TEAM'S DEFENCE WHICH WAS VISIBLY POROUS DURING THE LAS…