Arsenal FC, England partners MTN Nigeria

Arsenal Football Club has entered into a partnership with MTN, Nigeria’s largest mobile network operator. MTN will become Arsenal’s Official Mobile Telecommunications Network partner in Nigeria.The partnership will see MTN offer a number of exclusive Arsenal related benefits to the club’s large following in Nigeria as well as to MTN’s vast subscriber base. MTN will offer its customers access to a range of match and player exclusive content including match highlights, club news, interviews and club imagery.Arsenal’s Chief Commercial Officer, Vinai Venkatesham, said: “Arsenal has huge support in Nigeria, in part due to Kanu Nwankwo and the recent emergence of Alex Iwobi into the first team. This partnership with MTN will really help us engage with these passionate fans on a regular and personal basis.We are expecting MTN’s Arsenal exclusive content to be very popular among our supporters, as well as followers of football generally. This is our second regional partnership in Nigeria and fifth in Africa. It really underlines our commitment and the level of support we have on the continent.”Also speaking on the partnership, MTN’s General Manager, Consumer Marketing, Richard Iweanoge said that the partnership is another way MTN is connecting with the passion of Nigerians.“We are excited to announce our partnership with Arsenal and look forward to engaging with sports enthusiasts beyond the current traditional broadcast of matches. Not only this but also digitally with access to exclusive contents that will be delivered via our network. This partnership is a demonstration of our long-standing support of sports which fosters unity amongst Nigerians.“This partnership will also contribute to sports talent development across the country and we look forward to welcoming Arsenal-trained coaches to Nigeria soon in this regard. Football lovers across the country can be rest assured of an exciting partnership that will bring unrivalled money can’t buy international football experience to Nigeria,” he declared.

Ronaldo is 2016 highest-paid sportsman

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the world’s highest-earning athlete for the first time, becoming only the second individual from a team sport to lead the Forbes rankings since they began in 1990.Ronaldo, who turns 32 on Sunday, climbed to the top of the list by earning $88 million in 2016, ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in second place with $81m and NBA star LeBron James in third with $77m.Introducing the research, Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes said that Portugal captain Ronaldo had overtaken boxer Floyd Mayweather and golfer Tiger Woods to become the first footballer ever to be named the highest earner across all global sport.“With Mayweather hanging up his gloves and Woods hampered by injuries, there is an opening at the top. Filling the gap is the biggest star in the biggest sport on the planet,” Badenhausen wrote.“This year, soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $88m over the past 12 months from salary, bonuses and endorsements. Ronaldo is only the second team athlete after Michael Jordan to rank as the top-paid since Forbes began tracking athlete earnings in 1990.”According to Forbes, Ronaldo’s total income rose marginally in 2016, up to $88m from $80m the year before. However, the retirement of boxers Mayweather ($300m in 2015) and Manny Pacquiao ($160m in 2015) helped him to take over at the head of the list.Other footballers to appear towards the top of the rankings are Barcelona star Neymar in 21st place ($37.5m), Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic at 23 ($37.4m), Madrid’s Gareth Bale at 25 ($35.9m) and Wayne Rooney of United at 49 ($26.1m).

Naira slides to N500/$ at parallel market

The Naira on Friday depreciated further to N500 to a dollar at the parallel market after it had remained stable for nearly three weeks. The Pound Sterling and the Euro traded at N616 and N530 respectively at the open market.The Nigerian currency, however, remained stable at the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment of the market exchanging at N399 to a dollar, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N617 and N527, respectively.The Naira also remained stable at the interbank window exchanging at N305.25 to a dollar.Traders at the market said that the scarcity of the greenback was far from being over. Reports have it that in spite of the weekly sale of forex to BDCs by the apex bank, the Naira could not resist the temptation to fall.

Apple to start iPhone assemblage in India

Apple will begin assembling iPhones in India’s tech hub of Bangalore over the next few months as the US company makes inroads into one of the world’s fastest growing mobile markets.“Apple will put together its phones here.“This should happen in the next three to four months,” Priyank Kharge, Karnataka state’s information technology minister, told dpa by phone on Friday.Kharge met Apple executives in January and said his government welcomed their proposal to commence initial manufacturing in the state.“Apple’s intentions to manufacture in Bangalore will foster cutting-edge technology ecosystem and supply chain development in the state, which is critical for India to compete globally,” he wrote on Twitter.Apple’s spokesman declined to provide an official comment but pointed to government statements on the matter.The agreement is not yet final, as permissions and taxes still to be sorted out with the federal government, broadcaster NDTV reported.Apple will likely partner with Taiwan manufacturer Wistron for its Indian operations, according to the report.Apple’s iPhone is currently manufactured in China and Taiwan.Kharge told local media there were “no teething issues,” indicating Karnataka had taken up the requirement for incentives with the federal government.Apple just has a two percent share of the smartphone market in India as its devices are considered expensive for a majority of consumers.India’s smartphone market grew nearly 30 percent in 2015, with sales of 104 million units.

Ibadan Mayhem: Oyo Police arrest ‘One Million Boys’ leader, 166 other suspects

A notorious leader of the dreaded cult group, ‘One Miýllion Boys’ that has been terrorising Ibadan lately, Moshood Oladokun, aka Ekugbemi was among the other 166 suspects paraded by the Oyo State Police Command on Friday. The suspects were arrested between late 2016 and early this year for various heinous crimes, recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition, recovery of stolen cars, motorcycles, electronics, cash, weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, fake currencies, and other valuable properties.Parading the notorious gang leader, the state Commissioner for Police, Samuel Adegbuyi said he was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command, adding that he was responsible for the spate of violence in places like Beere, Born Photo, Isale-Osi, Mapo, Idi-Aro and other parts of Ibadan metropolis. “During such violence, the group led by the suspect, caused unimaginable violence leading to arson, looting, destruction of valuable properties, maiming and senseless murder using various dangerous weapons with the miscreants iýnflicted pains and caused apprehension to innocent people in the affected areas.On September 15, 2016 around 2pm, two rival cult groups, one led by Ekugbemi from Born Photo and another group led by Alaba aka Ojoweliweli from Foko area clashed during a carnival held at Born Photo. “During the clash, the hoodlums attacked and robbed innocent victims of their valuable properties, shops were broken, properties looted and two men, Kazeem Omoleý and Opaleye Farouk were killed.The police reacted and brought the situation under control. Some suspects were arrested in connection with the violence and were subsequently arraigned in court after being found culpable. Leaders of the rival cult groups and their hatchet men escaped afterwards and had since been very elusive. “However, through intensive investigation arising from high level intelligence, Ekugbemi was located in his criminal hideout at Ajah area of Lagos.In a well coordinated operation carried out by the Special Anti-robbery Squad of the state command around 8pm on December 23, 2016, the notorious kingpin of the cult group and his cohorts were arrested during a shootout while others escaped with bullet wounds. His cohorts arrested are, Mutiy Lawal (22), Habib Oladiti (26), and Akinkunmi Abioye (35). Exhibits recovered from them includes, a burnt bajaj motorcycle, expended catridges, and 20 pellets, ” he said According to him, during interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and series of other criminal ýactivities carried out in various parts of Ibadan and environs.In an interview with Ekugbemi, the 32 years old notorious kingpin dispelled all the allegation, stressing that he is only from a masquerade family in Born Photo area of Ibadan. “It was during a masquerade carnival ýthat some drunk hoodlums entered into our family house at born photo and started beating our mothers and elderly ones. That was why we faced the cult group which later claimed that we are also part of their cult group.I work in Lagos as a commercial bus driver, but only come to Ibadan once in a while for the Masquerade festivals because am from that family house. I have never killed anybody before,” he said Also, ýa suspected ritualist, Saheed Adeyemi (33) was arrested with human head along with one, Michael Edemba (60) around 5:30pm on February 2, 2017. He said the arrest of the suspect was made possible following a tip off by members of the public. “Adeyemi walked into the ambush laid by the police while trying to remove the exhibit wrapped in a black polythene bag and hidden beside a shop at Abidogun junction, Omi-Adio.His arrest led to the second suspect while preparing to escape from the town when he knew the first suspect had been nabbed. During interrogation, both suspects confessed to the crime. “The first suspect who is an herbalist resident at Awonsonso village, Apata, disclosed that he bought the human head for N15,000 from a-yet- to be identified woman, now at large for the purpose of making money rituals for the second suspect who was passing through hard times as a result of financial difficulty.” he said.

Police, Tuface reach truce on protest

The Lagos State Police Command yesterday rescinded its threat to stop the anti-government protest slated for Monday by pop star TuFace .The two sides met yesterday and resolved to modify their hard line positions,according toPolice Commissioner Fatai Owoseni.Owoseni explained that the police were concerned about the safety of residents of Lagos , including the protesters and would not want anything untoward to happen to them.He said: “We had a meeting with the protesters and we explained to them why we advised against the protest. A pro-government group wants to protest that same day and we don’t want a situation where there would be friction.“We also don’t want hooligans to hijack the process and injure the protesters.“ After explaining to them, they said they will go back and discuss with others. They said if they decide to go ahead, they won’t demonstrate but would assemble at a point and read their demands.“That notwithstanding, we have resolved to provide security for them. It is our responsibility and we won’t shy away from it. We will ensure trouble makers do not hijack the process.”The Presidency also declared that it has nothing against the protest and that Tuface and other Nigerians are entitled to express themselves in peaceful protests.The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Mr. Laolu Akande said on his Twitter handle that the Buhari Administration ”will not prevent Nigerians from expressing themselves in peaceful protests, it’s a fundamental right of the people.”He added: “No govt has ever laid out the kind of Social Investment Prog, the Buhari govt is now running across the nation, that will touch millions.”Meanwhile,Afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti has denied insinuations that he is against the TuFace protest.Kuti made the clarification via his Twitter handle when he posted: “Contrary to reports I DID NOT blast 2face. I saw a report pic below saying protest was kicking off @ d Shrine I said I was NOT INFORMED.“B4 protest date was changed it was meant 2kick off d Shrine I said I was weary as y wud a protest b announced @ d Shrine wtout my knowledge.“I mean I wasn’t informed It sounds fishy to me Next I will hear the Shrine has been closed for disturbances”.According to Femi, the eldest son of late Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, 2Baba is a friend of the Afrika Shrine and he would never tell him off publicly.

Nothing has changed in US visa policy for Nigerians-Ambassador

The United States (U.S) government has allayed the fears of many Nigerians over the Executive Immigration Order.According to the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, no Nigerian will be discriminated against on the basis of the order.Trump had signed an executive order barring citizens from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan from entering the country for 90 days and also suspended the admission of all refugees for 120 days.Symington stressed that the Nigeria-U.S relationship is a strategic one that must be sustained; adding that the connection between our two countries has been strong today and will continue to be strong tomorrow.He however stressed that in granting of visas, the full process must be followed and not religion.The envoy therefore emphasized that should there be any rejection, it should not be construed to mean discrimination, as every single conversation will be part of the process.Symington who briefed newsmen on the Executive Order on ‘Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorists Entry into the United States’ said relating to Nigeria, nothing has changed.He also said that contrary to the report making the rounds, U.S has not reduced the visa time frame for Nigeria, saying that the two years multiple entry visa policy is still in place.Besides, he said those with valid visas have nothing to fear, as the validity of the visa will remain until the expiry date.Also, for a Nigerian with dual nationality affiliation with the seven affected Muslim countries, the ambassador said he or she would not be banned from entering U.S.“Security is not the job of only one country. Let me reassure Nigerians that every single action the US takes would be on the basis of legality and due process no one will be discriminated against. No Nigerian would be denied visas because he or she is from a particular region of the country.“The new order now is for the US government to cross check as many that are coming into the US before issuing visas; we will not discriminate on the basis of religion in issuing visas to Nigerians. The two years visa is still valid contrary to reports we have heard in the media.“Nigeria’s leadership role is crucial in the world and Nigeria cannot be blacklisted. The importance of Nigeria in the world is legal.”Meghan Moore, Head of Consular U.S Embassy, Abuja explained that, “the idea of how the US government decide the duration of Visa issuance is based on Nigeria government treatment to US travelers to Nigeria. The US government generally issues multiple entry non-immigrant visas with a validity of two years to eligible individuals who are travelling with the Nigeria passport. We issue as a general rule a two year visa and that has not changed. There can be some exception based on some specific individuals.”What has changed, according to her is the period for visa renewal.“It used to be 45 month for visas renewal before now, but as a result of the new order, it’s now 12 month to renew visas. If not, registration and visa interview has to be carried out,” she explained.“Nigerians can use the DHL renewal process if their visas expire within 12 month. If not, they have to schedule another interview with the embassy,” Moore said.

APC Musicians Forum shuns Tuface planned protest

The APC Northern Musicians Forum on Friday said it would not participate in the planned protest by Nigerian music icon , Tuface Idibia , over alleged sufferings in Nigerian .The Chairman of the Forum, Haruna Ningi , who made the remark at a media briefing in Kaduna , said that the protest was different from the ideology of the forum .He, however, agreed that Nigerians were suffering , but insisted that the present administration met nearly an empty treasury and had to increase savings, to get Nigerians out of the present situation.Ningi urged Nigerians to be patient with the present administration , adding that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government would get the country out of the present difficulties .He said , “ There is hunger in the land and the president is going to give us a life -saving change that our sufferings will not come back again .“But they need time for the change to come . ”Ningi debunked the claim that the forum was influenced by politicians .He said , “The president has integrity and will not pay any musician to sing for him. ”He said that the forum was meant to mobilise the electorate through music at the grassroots to disseminate correct and factual information on national challenges .He said , “ Such songs in hard times will imbibe in the minds of common men that they have a role to play in the journey of change . ”

Buhari not dead – Minister

The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu , on Friday dismissed speculations on that President Muhammadu Buhari is dead .Shittu , who represented Buhari in Ilorin, at the formal opening of the 31 st National Qur ’ anic Recitation Competition , said : “ President Buhari is not dead . ’’The minister advised Nigerians to continue to continue to pray for the president.“There is need to pray fervently for economic recovery . President Muhammadu Buhari is not dead , he deserves prayers for sound health as well as for the entire growth of the nation , ” Shittu said .The minister commended Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, for organising the event nationwide in the last 31 years .He noted that the competition would further boost the spiritual inclination of the entire Muslim Ummah .Shittu also lauded the Kwara governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed , for accepting the hosting responsibilities for the 2017 edition of the competition .In his address , the governor commended the organisers for granting the hosting right of the event to the state .According to Ahmed , “ It is pleasing to note that this year ’ s National Qur ’ anic Recitation Competition has brought together Muslim Ummah from far and wide to demonstrate our reverence to the Almighty . ’’

Trump slaps sanctions on Iran as tension mounts

USPresident

US President,  Donald Trump slapped fresh sanctions on Iran's weapons procurement network Friday, provoking an angry response from Tehran in what is an increasingly tense stand-off.

Officials said the new measures were in response to Iran's recent ballistic missile test and its support for the Huthi rebels in Yemen, who recently targeted a Saudi warship.

The new sanctions do not yet mean that the US has abandoned commitments it made under the deal to lift measures aimed at Iran's nuclear program, officials said.


"Iran is playing with fire -- they don't appreciate how 'kind' President Obama was to them. Not me!" Donald Trump tweeted Friday ©Brendan Smialowski (AFP)
But Trump has made no secret of his contempt for that accord, which his predecessor Barack Obama approved in July 2015, and officials said Friday's measures would not be the last.

"Iran is playing with fire - they don't appreciate how 'kind' President Obama was to them. Not me!" Trump tweeted.

Underlining what he sees as the tougher stance under Trump rather than Obama, hardline US National Security Adviser Michael Flynn drew a stark line in the sand.

"The days of turning a blind eye to Iran's hostile and belligerent actions toward the United States and the world community are over," he said.

"This behavior seems continuous despite the very favorable deal given to Iran by the Obama Administration. These sanctions target these behaviors."

Iran reacted angrily to the sanctions, vowing to impose "legal limitations" on Americans that Tehran alleges are involved in creating and supporting "extreme terrorist groups."

US intelligence and Treasury officials are constantly scrutinizing Iran's networks, looking for evidence of extremist funding and advanced weapons procurement.

- 'Strategic review' -

The immediate trigger for the sanctions was Iran's test, on Sunday, of a ballistic missile that US officials judge to have been capable of one day carrying a nuclear warhead.

But the latest detailed list of designations has clearly been in preparation for some time, and the White House says "nothing is off the table" -- even military action.

"We are undertaking a larger strategic review," a senior US administration official told reporters. "The launch of the missile was the triggering event."

Washington is also concerned about attacks by Huthi rebels, a powerful faction in Yemen's civil war which US intelligence believes is armed and supported by Iran.

This week Huthi forces attacked a Saudi warship operating off Yemen and on Friday, a US official said: "We're very concerned about freedom of navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb area."

The senior official said Iran was "not necessarily responsible for every tactical decision" made by Huthi forces, but that it will be made to bear responsibility for its "proxies."

The United States has already protested about Iran's missile test at the United Nations, arguing it was "inconsistent" with UN Security Council Resolution 2231.



But Russia, which is allied with Iranian forces in its defense of Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime, is unlikely to allow new international sanctions to target Tehran.

US Treasury officials hope that preventing Iran's networks in Lebanon and China from buying US goods or using the US financial system will curtail their activity.

Nevertheless, Trump's pronouncements on the 2015 nuclear deal, and Iran's angry response that his taunts are "baseless" and "provocative," have raised fears of an imminent showdown.

The nuclear deal obliged Iran to curtail its nuclear program and halt any nuclear weapons research in exchange for relief from US and international sanctions targeting the sector.

It was agreed between Tehran and six powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US -- and Obama's White House hailed it as a blow against nuclear proliferation.