Oil militants attack suburb in Lagos, Nigeria

Residents say a boatload of armed oil militants attacked an outlying suburb of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, looting and firing into the air as people fled.

They said police and soldiers responded, using drones to track the attackers while a helicopter hovered overhead. A gunbattle ensued.

The official News Agency of Nigeria quoted police Superintendent Dolapo Badmos as saying gunmen invaded the Igando neighborhood but police "swiftly moved in and foiled the attack."

Residents said at least two police officers were wounded. They spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

It was the second such attack this month in Lagos.

Militants have threatened to attack Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria's capital, to press demands for a greater share of wealth for residents of the oil-producing south suffering oil pollution.

New York Times

Nigeria's football future is bright - Infantino

FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has said that Nigeria will become one of the top footballing nations in a few years.

Infantino argued that Nigeria’s current position in FIFA ranking, does not reflect the massive pool of talent in the country. He insisted that the future will be better.

“I have seen that Nigerians’ passion and love for football is high, high up there and with the developmental programme the Nigerian football authorities have in place, I see Nigeria moving up to challenge the best in the world,” the FIFA boss stated.

“As World Cup Under-17 defending champions, Nigeria’s future is very bright if the talents are properly monitored and managed. I see a bright future for the game in Nigeria and I also believe the managing of the game is in good hands with the present leadership of Nigerian football”, he added.

Daily Post

Nigerian diplomats fail to recite National anthem during senate screening

Two longstanding Nigerian diplomats nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday failed to recite the country's anthem and pledge, leaving lawmakers and journalists at a senate hearing in laughter.

The recitals are taught in primary schools across the country, and are performed daily by students throughout their secondary school study.

The two diplomats, Vivian Okeke and Ibrahim Isah, were nominated by President Buhari alongside 45 others as prospective envoys to different countries, where they would promote Nigeria's culture, ideals and values.

At a dramatic session Tuesday, members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, vetting the diplomats' qualifications, unexpectedly asked Mrs. Okeke and Mr. Isah to recite the national anthem and pledge.

While Mrs. Okeke mumbled the words of the anthem, Mr. Isah floundered and could not proceed with the pledge after introducing himself.

Mrs. Okeke was later aided by James Manager, a Senate committee member, as she murmured through the second stanza of the anthem.

Both nominees have been in the Nigeria's Foreign Service since 1983 - already raking in 33 years of experience each.

Mrs. Okeke currently serves at the Nigerian embassy in Washington, United States. In 2013, she was the minister (trade and investment) at the mission. She is from Anambra State.

Mr. Isah, who began his career as Third Secretary in the African Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, currently serves in Ankara, Turkey, as Charge D'Affairs of Nigerian mission in the country.

He had headed the chancery at the Consulate-General of Nigeria in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, and was also Chief Airport Protocol Officer responsible for seeing off and receiving foreign leaders who visited Nigeria.

Mr. Isah told the screening committee that Nigeria must block foreign goods from entering the country "like China" to come out recession.

It wasn't the first time a would-be envoy would fail the national anthem test.

In March 2011, Ijoma Bristol failed to recite the anthem and could not also name the capital of Jigawa State during her screening before Jubril Aminu-led Foreign Affairs Committee of seventh Senate.

She was however cleared, with then Senate President, David Mark, saying "her case is a case of poor pass".

All Africa

Nigerian bank denies link to failed Turkey coup

One of Nigeria’s top banks has been named in the failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15.

A report by Yeni Safak, a Turkish daily, claims funds used to finance the coup, pegged at $2 billion, were kept and routed through United Bank for Africa (UBA), a leading Nigerian bank operating in 19 African countries. The paper names a John F. Campbell, a retired US general, as the supposed “organizer” of the coup, with access to the funds.

“The Nigeria branch of the United Bank of Africa (UBA) was the main base for the last six-months of money transactions for the coup plotters,” the report claims. “Campbell also managed more than $2 billion money transactions via UBA Bank in Nigeria by using CIA links to distribute among the pro-coup military personnel in Turkey,” it added. Both UBA and Campbell have vigorously denied the report’s claims.

In its response, UBA, which is controlled by well-known Nigerian tycoon Tony Elumelu, described the the report as “spurious” and said it had “no involvement with or connection to” the coup. UBA is Nigeria’s third largest bank with assets of some $14 billion on Mar. 31.

Banks in Nigeria have hit a rough patch over the past year with declining profits amid tough economic realities in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy. But regardless of the current strain, the Central Bank of Nigeria, according to reports, maintains that it is unlikely that UBA was involved in the alleged transactions given regulatory checks in place.

In the aftermath of the failed Turkish coup, authorities have launched a large-scale crackdown. Banks, hospitals and charity organizations have been forced to close while thousands of people have been arrested.

Quartz

Video - Nigeria gearing up to promote local industry

Nigeria's the government is gearing for campaign to promote domestic market for locally manufactured products. The campaign dubbed buy Nigeria is part of efforts to boost the economy and reduce hard cash expenditure on imports.