Friday, May 30, 2014
Video - President Goodluck Jonathan declares 'total war' on Boko Haram
Nigeria's president says he will crush Boko Haram, and rid the country of what he calls terrorists. In his annual "Democracy Day" address, Goodluck Jonathan insisted his government is doing all it can to rescue more than 200 girls abducted by the group.
Related stories: Four kidnapped schoolgirls escape from Boko Haram
Video - The state of Nigerian governance and Boko Haram
Western Union launches online service in Nigeria
World’s leading money transfer company, Western Union Co. (WU) has initiated its online service – www.WesternUnion.ng – in Nigeria with the debut of its online site.
This is Western Union’s first inward-remittance website across the globe. The service was launched with support from Interswitch Limited.
The website will enable Nigerians to move funds into a bank account with Guaranty Trust Bank, Skye Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Wema Bank.
Western Union already has a significant presence in Nigeria and provides mobile money remittance service in the region via eTranzact.
Western Union perceives Nigeria as an attractive market opportunity since the country topped the list of African countries for diaspora remittances due to the huge remittance it receives. As per data from World Bank, Nigeria received $21 billion in funds last year. Going forward, this region is expected to witness further growth in remittance.
Western Union is increasing its investments in high-growth electronic channels to build a world-class customer experience. These efforts are propelling rapid growth in digital, account-based money transfer, and mobile banking. Online, westernunion.com money transfer transactions grew more than 40% in 2013, while transactions for electronic account-based money transfer through banks surged over 50%.
Management is targeting $500 million in revenues from the digital business (westernunion.com/mobile) by 2015, which implies a 60% CAGR revenue growth through 2015.
Another money transfer company MoneyGram International Inc. (MGI) also provides services in Nigeria.
Western Union currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
However, other players such as Xoom Corp. (XOOM) with a Zacks Rank # 1 (Strong Buy) and Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) with a Zacks Rank # 2 (Buy) are worth considering.
ZACKS
Related story: Bitcoin interest grows in Nigeria
This is Western Union’s first inward-remittance website across the globe. The service was launched with support from Interswitch Limited.
The website will enable Nigerians to move funds into a bank account with Guaranty Trust Bank, Skye Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Wema Bank.
Western Union already has a significant presence in Nigeria and provides mobile money remittance service in the region via eTranzact.
Western Union perceives Nigeria as an attractive market opportunity since the country topped the list of African countries for diaspora remittances due to the huge remittance it receives. As per data from World Bank, Nigeria received $21 billion in funds last year. Going forward, this region is expected to witness further growth in remittance.
Western Union is increasing its investments in high-growth electronic channels to build a world-class customer experience. These efforts are propelling rapid growth in digital, account-based money transfer, and mobile banking. Online, westernunion.com money transfer transactions grew more than 40% in 2013, while transactions for electronic account-based money transfer through banks surged over 50%.
Management is targeting $500 million in revenues from the digital business (westernunion.com/mobile) by 2015, which implies a 60% CAGR revenue growth through 2015.
Another money transfer company MoneyGram International Inc. (MGI) also provides services in Nigeria.
Western Union currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
However, other players such as Xoom Corp. (XOOM) with a Zacks Rank # 1 (Strong Buy) and Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) with a Zacks Rank # 2 (Buy) are worth considering.
ZACKS
Related story: Bitcoin interest grows in Nigeria
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Video - Nigeria Super Eagles putting faith in young squad for 2014 World Cup
Ever since failing to earn a qualifying spot to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations final, Stephen Keshi has worked hard to turn around the Nigerian national team's fortunes. And the Nigerian coach's results seem to speak for themselves. The Super Eagles won their first AFCON title since 1994 and are one of the five African teams heading to Brazil for the World Cup.
Related stories: Nigeria draw with Scotland 2-2 in international football friendly
Nigeria vs Scotland international friendly marred by match-fixing claims
Four kidnapped schoolgirls escape from Boko Haram
Four of the more than 200 Nigerian girls kidnapped by militants in April have escaped their captors, a Nigerian Ministry of Information official confirmed to NBC News.
The schoolgirls have been missing more than a month since they were abducted by Boko Haram, an Islamist terror organization, which first vowed to sell them into slavery and then said it would free them only in exchange for the release of militant prisoners.
Education commissioner Musa Inuwa told Reuters by telephone the four girls had been reunited with their parents, but he declined to provide the wire service with additional details of their escape.
The reports of the kidnapping have sparked global outrage. The United States has deployed surveillance drones, spy planes and roughly 30 civilian and military specialists to aid Nigeria's security forces in the hunt for the missing schoolgirls.
Nigeria has said it knows the whereabouts of the abducted girls. But U.S. military officials were quick to say that they could not confirm the report.
NBC
Related stories: Nigerian military claims to have found location of kidnapped schoolgirls
Video - The state of Nigerian governance and Boko Haram
The schoolgirls have been missing more than a month since they were abducted by Boko Haram, an Islamist terror organization, which first vowed to sell them into slavery and then said it would free them only in exchange for the release of militant prisoners.
Education commissioner Musa Inuwa told Reuters by telephone the four girls had been reunited with their parents, but he declined to provide the wire service with additional details of their escape.
The reports of the kidnapping have sparked global outrage. The United States has deployed surveillance drones, spy planes and roughly 30 civilian and military specialists to aid Nigeria's security forces in the hunt for the missing schoolgirls.
Nigeria has said it knows the whereabouts of the abducted girls. But U.S. military officials were quick to say that they could not confirm the report.
NBC
Related stories: Nigerian military claims to have found location of kidnapped schoolgirls
Video - The state of Nigerian governance and Boko Haram
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Nigeria draw with Scotland 2-2 in international football friendly
Substitute Uche Nwofor's late strike denied Scotland victory against Nigeria at Craven Cottage.
Charlie Mulgrew skilfully diverted James Morrison's strike into the net to give Scotland the lead before Michael Uchebo levelled with a deflected shot.
An own goal by Azubuike Egwuekwe turned the match back in the Scots' favour early in the second half.
World Cup-bound Nigeria pressed for a second equaliser and were rewarded when Nwofor fired home on the turn.
Gordon Strachan's men were bidding to become the first Scotland side since 1951 to win four successive away matches.
And they started brightly at the neutral venue with Ikechi Anya firing a low drive on to the post via the heel of Kunle Odunlami.
Scotland's new-look back four, which included Dundee United's Andrew Robertson making his first international start, found themselves under pressure when they conceded possession to Uchebo but Allan McGregor saved the shot.
Having narrowly escaped on that occasion, Strachan's men sought to capitalise on a set piece and duly delivered.
Shaun Maloney and Anya teed up Morrison for a low shot that was looped over goalkeeper Austin Ejide by the outside of Mulgrew's left boot.
The ball was in the Nigeria net again when Grant Hanley rose to meet another Maloney corner but English referee Lee Probert awarded a foul against the Scotland defender for his challenge on Ejide.
Nigeria gradually worked their way back into the match and Shola Ameobi, recently released by Newcastle, volleyed Ejike Uzoenyi's into the hands of McGregor.
But the Scottish keeper could do nothing when Uchebo's shot spun into the net off Hanley.
In the first of many substitutions, Derby's Chris Martin made his Scotland debut at the start of the second half as a replacement for Steven Naismith.
McGregor got down well to block an Ameobi shot and Scotland once again found themselves ahead after an important save from the Hull stopper.
Hutton's driven cross was knocked back towards goal by Egwuekwe and Odunlami could not prevent the ball from crossing the line.
At the other end, substitutes Nosa Igiebor and Peter Odemwingie played a one-two before the former drew a save from McGregor.
Maloney then converted Hutton's low cross but was correctly flagged offside.
Chances continued to come Scotland's way and George Boyd, on for Morrison, set up Martin for a strike that Ejide blocked.
Martin's club-mate Craig Forsyth joined the fray for his Scotland debut when the impressive Robertson came off, while the introduction of Celtic's Efe Ambrose for Odunlami was Nigeria's sixth change.
Nwofor, who had replaced Ameobi, twice threatened with headers before he capitalised on some slack defending to net the final goal.
Hanley's attempted clearance ricocheted off Nnamdi Oduamadi into Nwofor's path and the Heerenveen forward drilled past McGregor from close range.
BBC
Related story: Nigeria vs Scotland international friendly marred by match-fixing claims
Charlie Mulgrew skilfully diverted James Morrison's strike into the net to give Scotland the lead before Michael Uchebo levelled with a deflected shot.
An own goal by Azubuike Egwuekwe turned the match back in the Scots' favour early in the second half.
World Cup-bound Nigeria pressed for a second equaliser and were rewarded when Nwofor fired home on the turn.
Gordon Strachan's men were bidding to become the first Scotland side since 1951 to win four successive away matches.
And they started brightly at the neutral venue with Ikechi Anya firing a low drive on to the post via the heel of Kunle Odunlami.
Scotland's new-look back four, which included Dundee United's Andrew Robertson making his first international start, found themselves under pressure when they conceded possession to Uchebo but Allan McGregor saved the shot.
Having narrowly escaped on that occasion, Strachan's men sought to capitalise on a set piece and duly delivered.
Shaun Maloney and Anya teed up Morrison for a low shot that was looped over goalkeeper Austin Ejide by the outside of Mulgrew's left boot.
The ball was in the Nigeria net again when Grant Hanley rose to meet another Maloney corner but English referee Lee Probert awarded a foul against the Scotland defender for his challenge on Ejide.
Nigeria gradually worked their way back into the match and Shola Ameobi, recently released by Newcastle, volleyed Ejike Uzoenyi's into the hands of McGregor.
But the Scottish keeper could do nothing when Uchebo's shot spun into the net off Hanley.
In the first of many substitutions, Derby's Chris Martin made his Scotland debut at the start of the second half as a replacement for Steven Naismith.
McGregor got down well to block an Ameobi shot and Scotland once again found themselves ahead after an important save from the Hull stopper.
Hutton's driven cross was knocked back towards goal by Egwuekwe and Odunlami could not prevent the ball from crossing the line.
At the other end, substitutes Nosa Igiebor and Peter Odemwingie played a one-two before the former drew a save from McGregor.
Maloney then converted Hutton's low cross but was correctly flagged offside.
Chances continued to come Scotland's way and George Boyd, on for Morrison, set up Martin for a strike that Ejide blocked.
Martin's club-mate Craig Forsyth joined the fray for his Scotland debut when the impressive Robertson came off, while the introduction of Celtic's Efe Ambrose for Odunlami was Nigeria's sixth change.
Nwofor, who had replaced Ameobi, twice threatened with headers before he capitalised on some slack defending to net the final goal.
Hanley's attempted clearance ricocheted off Nnamdi Oduamadi into Nwofor's path and the Heerenveen forward drilled past McGregor from close range.
BBC
Related story: Nigeria vs Scotland international friendly marred by match-fixing claims
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