2014 World Cup draw is here

The Nigeria national team, the Super Eagles has been drawn alongside football giant, Argentina, first timers; Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran in the group F of Brazil 2014 World Cup.

This would be the fourth time the Super Eagles will be drawn against Argentina in the first round of a world. Nigeria was draw against the same country in USA 94, Korea Japan 2002, South Africa 2010.



The Super Eagles has lost all their matches against Argentina in a World Cup match.

Below is details of draw:

GROUP A
Brazil
Cameroon
Mexico
Croatia

GROUP B
Spain
Chile
Australia
Netherlands

GROUP C
Columbia
Ivory Coast
Japan
Greece

GROUP D
Uruguay
Italy
Costa Rica
England

GROUP E
Switzerland
Ecuador
Honduras
France

GROUP F
Argentina
Nigeria
Iran
Bosnia-Herzegovina

GROUP G
Germany
Ghana
USA
Portugal

GROUP H
Belgium
Algeria
South Korea
Russia


Daily Post

Video - Boko Haram attack international airport in Northern Nigeria

In Nigeria, Boko Haram fighters have attacked the international airport and an airforce base in Maiduguri in Borno State. Military and government officials say dozens of people may be dead, including more than twenty of the gunmen. Three aircraft, two helicopters and several cars were hit in the pre-dawn attack.

President Goodluck Jonathan declares three days of national mourning for Nelson Mandela

 

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday arrived in Paris, France, to join other world leaders that are participating in a summit on peace and security in Africa.
Also the President has declared three days of national mourning for former South African President, Dr. Nelson Mandela who passed away yesterday.

Flags are to be flown at half-mast across Nigeria during the period and President Jonathan urges all Nigerians to unite in solidarity with the brotherly people of South Africa as they mourn the great liberator, freedom fighter and hero of the black race.

The President also calls for special prayers in mosques and churches in Nigeria during the period of mourning which begins today, for the peaceful repose of Dr. Mandela’s soul.
A special inter-denominational memorial service for Dr. Mandela will be held at the State House Chapel on Sunday.

The president and his entourage arrived at a Military Airforce Base in Paris at about 10.30 a.m.
Jonathan was accompanied by the First Lady, Dame Patience and some Presidential Aides.
He was received at the airport by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed, and the Nigerian Ambassador to France, Mr Hakeem Suleiman.

No fewer than 50 Heads of State and Government are participating in the Elysee Palace Summit being hosted by President Francois Hollande of France.

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, heads of European institutions and leaders of Africa’s sub-regional and continental organisations such as the AU and ECOWAS are also participating in the summit.

The summit is scheduled to discuss peace and security in Africa, economic partnership, sustainable development and climate change.
Hollande and Mrs Valerie Trierweiler are billed to host all heads of delegation to the summit and their spouses to a state dinner.

Nigeria’s first lady Patiece will participate in an advocacy meeting on sexual violence against women in conflict to be hosted by Trierweiler at the Orsay Museum in Paris.
It will be recalled that the president and the first lady had on Tuesday left Abuja for Paris, but had a stopover in Germany for a private visit.

Vanguard

16 pregnant women freed from baby factory in Nigeria

Nigerian police said on Wednesday that they raided a home and freed 16 pregnant girls and young women allegedly being forced to have babies to be sold.

"We carried out a raid on a residence in Owerri following an intelligence report and rescued 16 expectant mothers," Imo State police spokeswoman Joy Elomoko told AFP.

"The girls were between 14 and 19 years old and in different stages of pregnancy."

The male owner of the home, who was arrested, had registered it as a non-governmental organisation promoting women's and children's issues, Elomoko added.

An unlicensed automatic pump action shotgun was also recovered during the raid.

Elomoko said the rescued women and girls told officers that they were each offered 100,000 naira (632 dollars, 466 euros) to sell their babies after delivery.

An investigation was also under way over a case of a missing baby from the illegal home.

"We found out that the suspect could not explain the whereabouts of a baby that was recently delivered in the home," the spokeswoman said.

"We are suspecting that the baby might have been sold for (black magic) rituals," she said, adding that the suspect would be taken to court after police investigation.

Nigerian security agents have uncovered a series of alleged baby factories in recent years, notably in the southeastern part of the country.

Last month, six pregnant teenage girls were freed in a raid on an illegal clinic in the oil city of Port Harcourt.

Human trafficking is widespread in west Africa, where children are bought from their families to work in plantations, mines and factories or as domestic help.

Others are sold into prostitution, and less commonly they are tortured or sacrificed in black magic rituals.

AFP

Related story: Pregnant girls rescued from baby making factory in Nigeria

Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote issues N540 million grant to Nigerians

Dangote Foundation has commenced disbursement of N540 million micro grants to helpless women and youths in the three emergency affected states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe State.

The grants disbursement was flagged off by the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima and his wife Hajiya Nana Shettima, at Government House, in Maiduguri.

Beneficiaries totalled 700 people comprising widows, youths and physically challenged persons.

The governor commended Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Foundation for "standing by the people of the state in their hour of need.

He told the beneficiaries that the money was meant to reduce the hardship they are facing in the aftermath of the insurgency across the state.

He urged the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the money by going into petty businesses, improve the health of their families.

The Managing Director of Dangote Foundation,Dr. Adhiambo Odaga, said the president of the Group was concerned about the plight of the people especially in the insurgent ravaged areas hence the especial focus on the three states.

He disclosed that the Foundation is providing a one-off N10, 000 cash transfers to at least 1,000 poor and vulnerable Nigerians in each of the Nigeria's 774 local governments.

Vanguard