Chimamanda Adichie makes Time magazine's 100 must influential people list

Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been listed by Time magazine as one of the world's 100 most influential people. 

Three other Nigerians - Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, and #BringBackOurGirls campaigner Obiageli Ezekwesil - also appear on the list.

Ms Adichie, 37, is hailed by the US magazine as a "creator of characters".

The four Nigerians appear with three other Africans on the annual list.

They include Sudanese aid worker Mustafa Hassan, Liberia's Ebola-fighting doctor Jerry Brown and Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi.

Ms Adichie is described in the US magazine as "rare novelist who in the space of a year finds her words sampled by Beyonce, optioned by Lupita Nyong'o and honoured with the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction".

"With her viral TEDxEuston talk, We Should All Be Feminists, she found her voice as cultural critic," wrote Radhika Jones, a deputy managing editor of Time.

BBC

WAEC trains over 400 teachers to curb mass failure rate of Nigerian students

The West African Examination Council has organised a training for over 400 secondary school teachers from public schools in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

The training was on how to improve teaching and learning in these schools.

Speaking at the opening of the training​, ​jointly organised by WAEC and the FCT Education Secretariat, the Head of National Office, WAEC, Charles Eguridu, said the council was concerned about the poor performance of candidates in West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

Mr. Eguridu said an in-depth research revealed a number of factors responsible for the worrisome trend.

The Deputy Registrar, Patrick Areghian, who represented Mr. Eguridu said there have been a gap in the interpretation of the curriculum with relation to the examination syllabus.

He explained that an inappropriate implementation of the syllabus was another reason why candidates performed woefully in the council’s examinations.

“Rarely do teachers cover the syllabus,” he said. “Whereas, the WAEC, for example, sets questions on all aspects of the syllabus. This, no doubt, puts candidates at a great disadvantage.”

Mr. Areghian said the training was designed to highlight the evil of examination malpractice. He noted that there was a need to avoid or curb it as well as maintain the validity and reliability of WAEC examinations and up-hold the integrity of certificates awarded.

He said the training was intended to correct the imbalance and enhance the quality of teaching and learning in schools and the performance of candidates.

He added that the council had also identified the gap between teacher-made tests and standardized tests, like WAEC tests. He noted that even when students exceled in the internal examination, they failed woefully in the external examination.

“The reason for this is not farfetched,” he said. “It is because they are not being exposed to the nature of standardized tests.”

He assured that the training would equip teachers with item-writing skills with a view to closing the gap between teacher-made tests and standardized tests.

Premium Times

Video - Aljazeera speaks with the few schoolgirls that escaped from Boko Haram

Nigerians are attending vigils to mark the anniversary of Boko Haram's abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in the country's northeast.

Alleged drug dealer Buruji Kashamu electected senator in Nigeria

A man indicted in America for allegedly smuggling heroin in a court case that was the basis for the TV hit "The New Orange is Black" has been elected a senator in Nigeria.

Buruji Kashamu was little known before he returned home in 2003 from Britain despite a U.S. extradition order to become a major financier of President Goodluck Jonathan's party.

Election results posted late Wednesday identify Kashamu as a senator-elect in southwest Ogun state. Opponents are challenging his victory in court, saying ballots were rigged.

Kashamu, 56, hung up the phone twice when the AP called for comment on Thursday. Kashamu has said the 1998 indictment by a grand jury in the Northern District of Illinois for conspiracy to import and distribute heroin in the United States is a case of mistaken identity, He has said Chicago prosecutors really want the dead brother he closely resembles. A British court refused a U.S. extradition request in 2003, ruling there was uncertainty about Kashamu's identity.

A dozen people were long ago tried and jailed in the case, including American Piper Kerman, whose memoir about her jail time became the Netflix hit "Orange Is The New Black."

A Nigerian federal court last year ordered Kashamu's extradition, an order upheld by an appeals court. But Nigeria's government has not extradited him.

That failure to act caused Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president, to warn that "drug barons ... will buy candidates, parties and eventually buy power or be in power themselves."

Jonathan's perceived protection of Kashamu was a factor that led Obasanjo to defect before recent elections to the opposition that won most votes in Obasanjo's home state of Ogun. The results included the governorship and eight of 11 seats in the House of Assembly.

Kashamu is suing Obasanjo for libel over statements that Kashamu is a fugitive from U.S. justice. He had won a court order halting publication of Obasanjo's autobiography but a judge this week rescinded it, saying Kashamu had misled the court. Obasanjo's lawyer argued that the truth cannot be libel.

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, a former military dictator, has promised to wage war on corruption.

AP

Related story: Video - How ex-governor of Delta state James Ibori started as petty thief in London

Video - Bring back our girls - London March

Similar marches were held in London to commemorate the 1st Anniversary of the Chibok Abduction. Protesters are showing again their concern for the victims of Boko Haram.

Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote transforming Nigeria into an export nation

 The reputation of being the largest economy in Africa is worth almost nothing, if Nigeria perpetually remains a consumer nation, not producing finished goods for export.

For decades, Nigeria was a pathetic case of a mass market providing socio-economic advantage for many foreign nations but none for itself.

Thailand, india and other nations in south-east Asia put millions to work in their countries taking advantage of the mass market provided for their rice in the 170 million strong Nigerian market.

Turkey, China among others also recorded significant industrial growth, exporting cement to Nigeria at a time when the largest nation in Africa held the ignoble reputation of one of the largest importers of cement in the world.

Nigeria suffered a similar fate in the case of furniture importation, despite being a nation with some of the largest rain forests in the world, with wood from trees in abundance. The case was not different for petroleum products importation, wheat, automobile, fish and vegetable oil.

It is therefore exciting news to learn that apart from become self-sufficient in cement production and consumption within Nigeria, the largest local manufacturer of the essential product, Dangote Cement plc, has also begun massive investment in other countries and exportation to foreign nations.

Cement Export to Gambia, Mali

A few weeks ago, Dangote Cement plc opened up the channel of cement exports to Mali, the Gambia and other African nations in that region. This initiative followed massive investment in cement production in many other African nations, after the investment in Nigeria had reached an advanced stage.

Country Head, Dangote Industries, Senegal, Luk Haelterman, who provided the information at the opening of the new $250 million Dangote Cement factory in Senegal, hinted that the initial volume of cement export was pegged at 2 million metric tonnes.

''Because of over capacity in the new plant in Senegal, Dangote Cement exports 2MT to Mali and the Gambia through rail,'' Haelterman said.

According to Haelterman, the plant has taken roughly $250 million so far, while actual production and sales started January 10, 2015.

''In this country, Dangote will not only stop at producing cement, we also have helped beyond cement. Which is the idea of the owner, to become a pan-African enterprise.

''Senegal is a market with over-capacity of cement (only 14m people), because it had two cement factories before now. But today, Dangote has become the biggest and best because we have and produce the 42.5R only, which is better than what we met on ground, which is the 32.5R.''

Sales and Marketing Director, Serigne M. Dieng said: ''Senegal with 14 million people and a GDP of 4 per cent (2013) has cement market of 3MT pa and consumption rate of 230kg.

Haelterman said the market despite being a saturated one has potential for growth both for local consumption and export, with the introduction of the new cement grade in the region.

"The last few years has seen the company overcoming a lot challenges in the country, especially those related to the smear campaign on environmental impact of the factory in the country. It's a saturated market with Dangote being the third entrant in the market after two other cement manufacturers. What has kept us going is the competitive edge that our 42.5 grade of cement has given us in offering consumers fine quality of cement.

"Our corporate social responsibility activities have improved and we believe that the plant would exemplary to community matters", he added.
Also, Chief Operating Officer of the plant, Athanasios Bampos, said the location of the factory was not only rich in limestone but also in clay and laterite, which are the major components needed in cement manufacturing. ''The only component other Dangote cement plants import, gypsium is being sold by a local firm, ICS Chemical Company, which is about 45 kilometres from the factory,'' he said.
Nigerian ambassador to Senegal and Mauritania, Katyen C. Jackden, used the opportunity to thank the Senegalese government and its people for the support and opportunity given to a foreign investor like Aliko Dangote, saying
''Dangote has been able to bring cohesion among African nations with his investments.''

New Development in Cameroun

Following the ban of cement importation in Cameroon, Dangote Cement Plc has expressed optimism of consolidating its Pan-African growth while effectively harnessing export opportunities to other regions.
Already, the company with a capacity utilisation of about 80 per cent in its cement plant in Douala, Cameroon, hopes to deepen its market penetration in the country as well as the Central African region through innovative product offering.
Unveiling the company's plans, General Manager, Dangote Cement, Cameroun, Abdulahi Baba, noted that the plant has a production capacity of 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum with expectations to achieve full capacity utilisation by 2016.

He explained that the plant possessed one of the most recent facilities of ensuring that there are no dust emission during production.

The General Manager stated that the company put strategies in place to achieve 30 per cent market share, noting that there were also plans of achieving 30 per cent export of total production.

He stated: “We are set to achieve stability of operations in 2015 Q1, pursue aggressive market penetration and consolidation through appropriate above-the-line and below-the-line activities. 170 distributors have been selected after the interview process. 85 distributors will start, while the number will gradually increase with increasing production.”

“Mines at Tombel have been opened up and it is under exploitation. The Mines at Batoke would soon become operational. Exploration licence for Foumban deposit has also been secured. Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) and other activities for securing mining lease are being being processed. About 5,000 MT of pozzolana is stockpiled at the living area," he stated.

Baba noted that the company's ex-factory price is the cheapest in Cameroun when compared to other products in the camerounian market, stressing that Dangote Cement's 42.5 grade is cheaper than the 32.5 grade that is sold in the open market.

A distributor, Fonoggi Serge, noted that the product is of a very high quality but sold at a very affordable rate.

“Consumers and other dealers are already making demand for the commodity. I sell 20 tonnes daily and the acceptability of the product is rapidly increasing and it goes for between 4,000 – 4,500 CFA", he stated.

A block maker, Kamdoum Rodrigue, certified that the product is of very good quality, stressing that it takes a shor period to dry when used for block making.

“Before now, we used to stay for one week waiting for the blocks to dry, but with this new product, we only stay for two to three days and our blocks are ready for supply. Now we meet our customers demand earlier than we used to,” Rodrigue stated.

Expansion to South Africa

Dangote formally increased its stake in Sephaku Cement Limited, which is based in South Africa, from 19.76 per cent to 64 per cent. The transaction, which comprises a R779 million investment into Sephaku Cement by Dangote, is the largest ever foreign direct investment (FDI) by an African company into South Africa.

The dea was concluded at the shareholder general meeting of Sephaku Cement in October 2010 and formally announced to the media and investors later.

President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited and the new Chairman of Sephaku Cement, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, commended the transaction as taking place “at a crucial moment in the history of cement demand and supply, and at a crucial moment in terms of Dangote’s pan-African ambitions.”

“We are immensely excited about the future prospects of this transaction and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Sephaku Cement,” he added. “This investment is an important milestone for Sephaku, for the Dangote Group of Companies and for South Africa, as the first clinker producing project since 1934.”

According to Dangote, the pace of development at Sephaku will increase in view of the project completion timeline set for 2012. He said the Dangote Group will bring its full experience and resources to the project, having completed other large scale cement projects in Nigeria and with similar projects currently underway in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Senegal and Zambia.

“We are strong believers in the future growth of the South African economy and of continued growth across the whole of Africa,” he said. “The level of our investment here and in other markets is testament to that. We have embarked on an investment programme that will create modern cement plants in strategic locations as we seek to leverage both the local production deficit and increasing infrastructure investment.”
He said Africa is growing, as significant investments are being made to improve infrastructure, by both governments and the private sector, stating that the intention of the group is to consolidate its cement assets into one company that will have the scale and resources to compete globally.

“This growth in infrastructure will only increase demand for cement,” he said. “Our development plans are designed to address the current gap between supply and demand and provide additional capacity to ensure that the two remain closely aligned over the coming years.”

Also commenting on the transaction, Sephaku Cement CEO, Mr. Pieter Fourie, said: “Our partnership with Dangote reflects the attractiveness of South Africa to foreign investors and we are firmly committed to bringing a new entrant into the South African cement market for the first time in over 70 years. Construction is underway at both Aganang and Delmas we are on track to enter the market in 2012.”

With this development, Dangote is set to commence construction at its key projects. In terms of the agreement, Dangote has received 217,597,765 ordinary shares at an issue price of R3.58 per share, an agreement which increases the company’s interest in Sephaku Cement from 19.76 percent to 64 per cent, at an average price of R4.47 per share.

This further investment follows an initial R350 million of equity funding concluded in March 2008, making the R1.129 billion total investment the largest ever foreign direct investment into South Africa by an African company. The remaining 36 percent will continue to be held by Sephaku Holdings.

Congo Cement Project
The Republic of Congo and Dangote Group stated that the company’s cement project in the country was making good progress and would commence production soon.

Dangote Group recently extended its Pan-African cement investment to the Republic of Congo in Central Africa, with a $350 million Investment Agreement signed between the group and the Federal Government of Congo.

While President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, signed the agreement on behalf of his company in Brazzaville, the Minister of Planning, Economy, Integration and Coordinator of the Economic Pole Mr. Pierre Moussa, the Minister of Industrial Development and Private Sector Promotion Mr. Rodolphe Adada, and the Minister of Mines and Geology, Mr. Pierre Oba, all endorsed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Congo.

Adada, who spoke on behalf of the government, hailed Dangote’s move to invest in the country and pledged full support of the government for the project. According to him, Dangote is a symbol of the emancipation of the African continent with this significant investment in to Congo.

“The Dangote project is important to our people and our economy as it enables us achieve President Denis Sassou Nguesso’s vision for a robust and diversified economy.

“The project will help the country significantly reduce the imports of cement and even enable us become a net exporter of cement while boosting economic growth, development, job creation and income generation”, he added.

“We are proud to have Dangote in Congo and it is a demonstration of an excellent relationship between the governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Congo,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Dangote said the intention of the company in its foray into Congo was not just to make profit but also to further empower the people of Congo, create new jobs and wealth.

“We are committed to our business all over the world and Congo will be no exception. We are going to invest $350 million in the construction of a fully integrated cement factory with an installed capacity of 1.5 million metric tonnes per year within the next three years and transform Congo into a net exporter of cement,” Dangote said.

According to him, this investment would serve as a launch pad into other sectors of the Congolese economy.

The factory would be located in the territory of the administrative district of Bouenza in the southern part of the Republic of Congo. As a fully integrated plant the facility would process local limestone and other raw materials.

Dangote assured of a successful delivery of this project, which is one of many other successful projects in 14 other African countries, where the company has invested.

He said he believed that this investment would further strengthen the bilateral ties between both countries.

“This indeed, shows that Africa is gradually taking its destiny in its own hands rather than wait for investors from outside. Investment in the real sector of the economy is the only way that our continent can achieve the much desired accelerated growth and development that we have yearned for,” he said.

“It is obvious that African governments alone cannot hope to meet this demand due to the various competing needs in other aspects of the economy. This is why private companies are needed to complement the government’s efforts. It is in this light that we have decided to invest in Cameroon,” Dangote explained.

“We are motivated to create an African success story because we believe that entrepreneurship, especially our own home-grown African entrepreneurship, holds the key to the future economic growth of the continent. The fact that Africa offers one of the highest returns on investment (ROI) in the world is an additional incentive for any discerning investor, who can take calculated risks,” he added.

“As a company, we have always been conscious of the need to give a little of our profits back to the society as a guarantee for sustainable business success. This has been our guiding business philosophy. In all our host communities where we operate, we have a robust CSR strategy in place, for translating this philosophy into projects and actions that touch positively on the citizens,” Dangote noted.

“With the cooperation of our host communities, we will create employment opportunities and help small businesses to grow in Congo,” he assured.
He hinted that the long term ambition of his company is to develop 50 million metric tonnes of cement production and terminal capacity in Africa by 2015, stressing that they want to become a truly pan-African champion in the sector, capable of competing globally with the largest cement companies in the world.

“We quite understand the dynamics of doing business in Africa because we are Africans. We respect the people and their cultures anywhere we operate in Africa and for us this is an undeniable edge,” he said.

Written by Crusoe Osagie

This Day

Related story: Video - Aljazeera speaks with Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote

Nigeria signs deal with Russia to build 4 nuclear power plants

Nigeria is now one step closer to building as many as four nuclear power plants costing some $80bn (£54.7bn, €75.7bn).

The West African nation has signed an agreement with Russia's Rosatom to cooperate on the design, construction, operation and decommissioning of an atomic power facility, according to Franklin Erepamo Osaisai, chairman and CEO of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission.

The first nuclear plant will be operational in 2025.

It will be increased to four plants with a total capacity of 4,800 megawatts by 2035, with each facility costing $20bn, according to Osaisai, Bloomberg reported. One megawatt can power 2,000 average European homes or nearly 333 in Japan.

Majority stake

Rosatom will hold a majority stake in Nigeria's nuclear facilities while the rest will be owned by the state, with roles to be defined in contractual agreements, Osaisai said.

The plants will be financed by the vendor, which will then build, own, operate and transfer them to the government, he added. The Nigerian government "will enter a power-purchasing agreement for the nuclear plant".

"A joint coordination committee is in place and negotiations are ongoing for financing and contracting. We are meticulously implementing our plans," Osaisai said at a conference in Kenya's Kwale coastal region.

Nigeria's peak electricity output is about 3,800 megawatts, with another 1,500 megawatts unavailable because of gas shortages.

IBT

One year later - Over 200 kidnapped schoolgirls still missing in Nigeria

Ceremonies are to be staged around the world to mark one year since more than 200 girls were abducted by Nigerian militant Islamist group Boko Haram.

A procession is being held in the capital, Abuja, with 219 girls taking part to represent each missing girl.

The abduction of the girls in Chibok in north-eastern Nigeria sparked global outrage, with nations such as the US and China promising to help find them.

There have been sightings of the girls reported, but none has been found.

Boko Haram say the girls have converted to Islam and been married off. One witness told the BBC that she saw more than 50 of them alive three weeks ago in the north-eastern town of Gwoza.

t has been a whole year of agony for the relatives of the missing 219 Chibok girls. There have been a few sightings of some of the abducted students but very little official information from a government that has long promised to rescue them from the clutches of Boko Haram.

One mother told the BBC she sometimes arranges her 19-year-old daughter's clothes in the hope that she is about to return home.

The scale of this conflict is so grim that the Chibok girls represent just a fraction of those seized by the jihadists. Many have escaped partly thanks to a recent military offensive - but not the Chibok girls.

High-profile figures such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and US First Lady Michelle Obama were among those who drew attention to their plight on Twitter last year under the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag.

Since then, the activists who began that campaign have spoken of relatives' anguish at still not knowing what happened to the girls, and have criticised the Nigerian government of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan for not doing enough to find them.

"Our president has said the girls are alive. Our question is: 'Where are our girls?'" Aisha Yesufu, a spokeswoman for the group, told the BBC.

Mr Jonathan told the BBC's Newsday that political rivalries had hampered the federal government's ability to grasp the scale of the Chibok attack and respond to it, as the government of Borno state, a Boko Haram stronghold, was run by an opposition party.

Nigeria's incoming president, Muhammadu Buhari, said his government would "do everything in its power to bring them home" but said he "cannot promise that we can find them".

The six-year Boko Haram insurgency in the north has left thousands dead.

Amnesty International say the militants have abducted 2,000 girls and women since the start of last year, using them as cooks, sex slaves and fighters.

BBC

Video - Nigerian army retakes northern towns from Boko Haram

As Nigeria goes to the polls again, there are still some concerns about the Boko Haram insurgency. While latest reports indicate that the country's military backed by regional troops have ousted Boko Haram fighters from all major towns and forest camps in most of northern Nigeria, there is still evidence that the militants have the power to carry out brutal attacks on civilians.

APC defeats PDP in state polls

 The party of Nigeria's incoming president has won a landslide in elections for powerful state governors, ending the former ruling party's dominance.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) won 19 of the 29 governor posts in Saturday's elections.

It is the biggest defeat for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since military ruled ended in 1999.

It lost the presidential poll last month for the first time.

APC leader Muhammadu Buhari will be inaugurated on 29 May, after he defeated President Goodluck Jonathan.

The PDP's decline has been reinforced by results from Saturday's elections for governors and state assemblies, reports the BBC's Bashir Saad Abdullahi from the capital, Abuja.

The party lost for the first time key northern states like Kaduna and Katsina. However, it managed to hold on to Rivers State, Nigeria' s oil hub.

The PDP won nine governorships, while the election in Imo state was declared inconclusive, because the number of spoilt ballot papers was larger than the margin of victory.

Elections were not held in seven states.

Nigeria's 36 governors enjoy wide powers and are extremely influential. Some, especially in oil-producing areas, control bigger budgets than those of national governments in some neighbouring West African countries.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) reported 66 violent incidents at polling stations - higher than in the presidential poll.

Most of the violence took place in Rivers and other southern states, where voting at some polling stations had to be extended.

On Sunday, Inec also announced that the APC had retained power in Lagos state.

It means that when Gen Buhari takes over the presidency it will be the first time that the party of the president has controlled Lagos - the commercial capital - since the advent of multi-party democracy in 1999.

Our correspondent says the PDP will have to go through a period of introspection, and then rebuild itself under a new leader.

The party was in power for 16 years, and voters felt that it was time for change, he says.

It had been hit by the defection of governors and MPs to the APC ahead of the elections.

The PDP also faced widespread allegations of corruption during its rule, and was accused of failing to enough to end an Islamist-led insurgency in the north-east where it suffered huge defeats.


BBC

Video - Vice News covers the fight against Boko Haram

Since 2009, the militant Islamist group known as Boko Haram has wreaked havoc in northern Nigeria. Instilling terror through bombings, abductions, and beheadings, Boko Haram is fighting to create an Islamic state in the most populous country in Africa.

VICE News traveled to Nigeria to embed with the country's army as it ramped up its fight against Boko Haram, whose rise has caused a state of emergency. As the only journalists on the front line in northern Nigeria, we witnessed the beginning of the largest military insurgency to date.

In part one of a three-part series, VICE News correspondent Kaj Larsen visits the site of a recent Boko Haram attack, interviews refugees and victims of the militant group, and heads to the front lines of the ongoing conflict.

Nigeria's FIFA world ranking drops

Nigeria has dropped from the 41st position to 45th in world football ranking, the April FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking released on Thursday has shown.

This plunge is as a result of the country's team performance in two recent friendly matches played against Uganda and South Africa.

The Super Eagles lost 0-1 to Uganda in Uyo and drew 1-1with South Africa in Nelspruit.

Algeria also dropped from 18th to 21st position, while African champions Cote D'Ivoire plunged from 20 to 23, and Ghana dropped two places to 26.

Tunisia dropped five places to 30th position in the ranking.

Other African teams ranked higher than Nigeria are Senegal (36), Cape Verde Islands (37) and Guinea (41).

The top 10 African countries are Algeria, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal, Cape Verde Islands, Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon and Congo.

In the ranking, Belgium achieved its highest-ever position in FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

Belgium is third in world ranking following two wins in qualifying matches for UEFA EURO 2016.

Belgium is now placed third in the ranking, behind the unchanged leading duo of Germany and Argentina.

Brazil moves up from sixth position to fifth and the Netherlands is occupying sixth position from fifth.

Switzerland is up three positions to 9th and Spain is up one position to 10th.

France and Italy are 11th and 13th, down three steps respectively, while Wales is up 15 positions to 22nd, and Belarus 15 positions from 83rd.

Iraq is now 86th, Azerbaijan 115th, Syria 126th, India 147th, Nicaragua 154th, Gambia 156th and the Cayman Islands 191st.

Most of these teams were victorious in one or more qualifying matches in recent weeks.

Bhutan, who beat Sri Lanka twice in the Asian qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, is now ranked 163rd in the world.

In addition to Belgium and Bhutan, Wales, the Faroe Islands (102nd, up 3) and Timor-Leste have all achieved their highest-ever position since the ranking was introduced in 1993.

A total of 135 international "A" matches have been taken into account for the latest edition of the ranking, while the total number of matches evaluated is 217.

Of the new matches, 25 were qualifiers for EURO 2016, 26 for 2018 World Cup qualifiers (in CONCACAF and AFC) and 84 were friendlies.

Vanguard

UN launches $174 million appeal for refugees of Boko Haram violence

The United Nations launched an appeal on Thursday for $174 million in what it called "life-saving aid" for almost 200,000 Nigerians who have fled the country due to brutal attacks by Boko Haram jihadists.

The insurgents, who are seeking to create an Islamic state in the country's predominantly Muslim north, have killed up to 15,000 people since 2009, according to the UN.

"Displaced people in north-eastern Nigeria and across borders are in a very dramatic situation," Liz Ahua, west Africa representative for the UNHCR, the organisation's refugee agency, said.

"They continue to fear for their lives, and are at this point unable to return to their homes."

Some 192,000 people have fled over Nigeria's borders into Cameroon, Chad and Niger seeking refuge from relentless violence, according to the UNHCR.

*Displaced children scrambling for food at an IDPs camp in Maiduguri... How safe are they?

A further 1.2 million have been displaced within Nigeria as a direct result of the bloodshed, the agency said at the launch of the Nigeria Inter-Agency Regional Refugee Response Plan.

Staff and volunteers in 23 aid organisations and UN agencies say they are struggling to provide shelter, food, education and sanitation for the refugees.

Robert Piper, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel region, said more than 7,300 civilians had been killed since the start of 2014 in the three states of the northeast, including 1,000 already this year.

"Gross violations of human rights, including sexual violence and child trafficking, are frequently reported. Education and health infrastructure has been decimated.

"The majority of victims have found makeshift shelters in schools, with their neighbours and relatives... They have lost everything -- their homes, their livelihoods, their families."

The UNHCR showed a video of refugees in Minawao camp, Cameroon, featuring a boy called Ibrahim, whose village in Nigeria's Borno state was over-run by dozens of heavily-armed Boko Haram fighters.

The 10-year-old recounts watching in terror as the Islamists cut his father's throat before turning on him with a machete and burying him alive.

"When I heard the gunshots I was afraid and my father told me to run. When they saw us, they shot him and he fell down," says Ibrahim.

"They killed my father. I was crying, and they brought out their machetes and cut me on the head."

Assuming he was dead, the insurgents threw Ibrahim into a pit which they filled with sand. He remained buried for two days, petrified but able to breathe, before he was rescued by his 13-year-old sister.

Largely peaceful presidential elections on March 28 saw Goodluck Jonathan lose to challenger Muhammadu Buhari in Nigeria's first ever democratic transfer of power.

But security fears remain high ahead of this weekend's regional elections.

Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon last month launched an unprecedented joint campaign against Boko Haram after the militants widened their offensive with attacks in the neighbouring countries.

Chadian President Idriss Deby vowed on Wednesday to "wipe out" the organisation and called on its commander Abubakar Shekau to give himself up, warning that he knew where the militant leader was hiding.

The UN is in talks to set up a multi-national force with African Union backing to defeat Boko Haram, which is estimated to have around 20,000 fighters.

"It is clearly going to be a mission with a strong anti-terror mandate. It will have an aggressive mandate (and) rules of engagement to combat Boko Haram," Piper told reporters.

He said his office was pressing the Security Council to take "every possible precaution to minimise the impact of its operation on civilians".

He added that he was urging the council to keep the combat force separate from other activities to protect the integrity and impartiality of the humanitarian mission.

Vanguard

Video - Nigerian gets accepted to all 8 Ivy league Universities he applied to

Nigerian Harold Ekeh in the U.S. has shocked many after he got accepted by all Universities he applied to. The boy got acceptance letters from all thirteen universities of choice which include eight Ivy League schools. 

Fortune magazine lists Okonjo-Iweala in top 50 greatest world leaders

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been named one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world by globally-acclaimed Fortune Magazine.

Occupying the 33rd spot on the list, the minister was recognised alongside the Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf; Catholic Pontiac, Pope Francis; Chinese President Xi Jinping; Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi; Bill and Melinda Gates as well as Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerburg and Apple Chief Executive Officer, Tom Cook.

In the latest edition of the magazine, the minister was described as “a fearless promoter of sound economic policies”, and was also singled out for working hard to usher in a decade in which Nigeria’s GDP trippled.

Fortune Magazine’s annual list celebrates men and women who are transforming lives in all spheres, including government, business and philanthropy.

In compiling the 2015 list, the magazine explained that it gathered advice from more than 24 of the world’s best minds. The leaders were judged by their actions within their professional domain, industries or governance.

“To make this roster, it was not enough to be brilliant, admirable or even supremely powerful. We set out to find singular leaders with vision who moved others to act as well, and who brought their followers with them on a shared quest.

“We looked for effectiveness and commitment and for the courage to pioneer,” the magazine said.

Okonjo-Iweala graduated from Harvard in 1976 and holds a Ph.D in Development Economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – 1981.

As two-time Finance Minister of Nigeria, she has helped to lay a solid foundation for the Nigerian economy, which is currently the biggest in Africa at $510 billion.

This Day

Related story: Okonjo-Iweala is Africa's finance minister of the year

People's Democratic Party promises to cooperate with the president elect Muhammadu Buhari

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) said it would cooperate with the in-coming All Progressives Congress (APC) government for improved development of the country.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that PDP would be an opposition that would offer alternative programmes and ideas to the new government and would not be involved in abuses.

"We promise that in the course of this, we will work with the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to move the country forward as a nation.

"We will cooperate with him in terms of promoting the values of our country and progress all indices for national growth and foster national unity and the development of the country and its democracy.

"We will not engage in any activity that will destabilise the nation or the polity or distract the President-elect from offering Nigerians good leadership," Metuh assured.

He said that the party was adopting the position because the interest of Nigeria was more important than that of a political party or any individual.

The PDP spokesman, however, said that being in opposition was not being out of power, adding that the party would return to power in 2019.

He stressed that while in the opposition, PDP would conduct its affairs with all decency, maturity, civility and the forthrightness it could muster.

He said that the PDP would be the ideal opposition it had always wanted the APC to be, stressing that with cooperation, the two parties would salvage the country`s democracy.

He stated that the legacy of the PDP in its 16 years in government was the sustenance of democracy, which, he said the party would do everything to sustain.

According to Metuh, in spite of some irregularities in the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, the PDP will do everything to ensure that the President-elect succeeds in office.

This, he explained, was because of the party’s belief in the sustenance of the country's democracy.

He, however, hinted that the party would not condone any form of intimidation of its key officials and appointees by the APC or any plan to destabilise it.

He disclosed that the party was in the process of rebuilding its fold "on justice, fairness and equity to enable it return to government".

On the impeachment notice served on Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, Metuh said that though the PDP was worried by the development, it would not interfere in the matter.

"We will not interfere with the duties of the legislature under the Constitution, but we believe that our governor will respond accordingly once the legislators follow due process," he said.

News24Nigeria

Report says that the 200 kidnapped schoolgirs taken by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria may possibly be dead

An official of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Mr. Raad Zeid al Hussein, believes that the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram a year ago may have had a sad ending.

He premised his verdict on the fact that the girls may have been part of the women who were murdered by the insurgents before they fled from Bama and other towns in Borno State just before the Nigerian military and allied forces from Chad and Niger recovered the territories.

Scores of abducted women who had been forcibly married by Boko Haram fighters were slaughtered last month as the military advanced towards Bama and other towns to recapture the territories.

Eyewitnesses said that the women were killed by the insurgents to prevent them from getting remarried to what they termed “infidels” after their release.

Aligning with the report on the murder of scores of women, Al Hussein said last week that Boko Haram murdered people who were captives, including women and girls who were taken as “wives” in their flight against the advancing forces.

According to the senior official with the UNHCR, various reports which arrived at his department in Geneva showed that the recent recovery of territories in northeastern Nigeria “has brought to light macabre scenes of mass graves and more obvious signs of killings by Boko Haram”.

These reports include the “...murder of the wives of combatants, women and girls actually held in slavery,” he said without elaborating.

The use of children by Boko Haram as “expendable cannon meat” and human bombs could, if confirmed, constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, the official added.

Al Hussein also said there are “persistent and credible reports” of serious violations by the Nigerian security forces and other countries in their fight against Boko Haram, and called for “complete and fully transparent investigations” by the authorities.

The report by UNHRC may explain the mystery surrounding the whereabouts of the Chibok girls despite the recapture of Gwoza, the de facto headquarters of the terrorists’ caliphate, as well as the disappearance of the sect’s leader Abubakar Shekau.

Military sources, who spoke to THISDAY at the weekend in Maiduguri, said neither the girls nor Shekau had been sighted since the liberation of Gwoza, which was the epicentre of the sect’s operations.

The Nigerian military on the eve of the presidential and National Assembly elections had announced the recapture of the strategic town but was silent on the abducted Chibok girls and seemingly elusive Shekau.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, had in a joint press conference with the spokespersons of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, confirmed the recapture of the former terrorist stronghold.

Many were however disappointed to find out that contrary to expectations before the liberation of Gwoza, there was no mention of the girls or Shekau who is believed to be on the run.

Military sources, who spoke to THISDAY, said the mystery surrounding the Chibok girls was yet to be unraveled.

However, the strongest lead now is that the girls might have been amongst the unfortunate women who were slaughtered and dumped inside wells in Bama.

“As for Shekau, you are aware that the man suspected to have been killed or fatally wounded two years ago and his double was confirmed killed a year later, and this current impostor is yet to be fully unmasked.

“Unfortunately, on the Chibok girls, there is a strong lead that they might be among the women who were slaughtered by the fleeing terrorists and dumped into those wells in Bama.

“Remember the girls were said to have been forcibly converted to Islam and married off as trophies to those terrorists. We have a strong suspicion that they are part of those women butchered in Bama and other parts of the territories, which were under their captivity.

“Also, some of these terrorists are currently retreating to the border towns and some have successfully mingled into various towns and villages,” the source said.

Another senior military officer also informed THISDAY that while the troops had freed some women from Gwoza and other surrounding towns, they could not however ascertain if any of the Chibok girls were among them.

He said interrogations were ongoing, as there were other women who were released from the towns recaptured from the Boko Haram terrorists other than the Chibok girls.

He also explained that it is proving difficult to ascertain if the women massacred and dumped in the wells were actually the Chibok girls because the bodies were in various states of decomposition by the time they were discovered.

“Even other communities whose women and girls were kidnapped are not comfortable with the attention being given to the Chibok girls, while leaving their cases in the dark,” he said.

Last week, the Nigerian military confirmed the rescue of a large number of vulnerable women and elderly locked up by the retreating Boko Haram terrorists in the liberated town of Gwoza.

Similarly, THISDAY learnt that sustained aerial surveillance of Gwoza and other liberated areas, as well as intensive mop-up operations to clear out the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents was ongoing.

On Sunday, there were several aerial operations in support of the ground troops to consolidate the liberated towns and villages.

In this regard, Sambisa forest which straddles four liberated local government areas of Bama, Mongonu, Konduga and Gwoza, was being bombarded from the air to knock out any terrorist camp and installations.

“What I can tell you is that there is very little presence of the terrorists in those areas but we have intensified the bombardments,” a military source revealed.

Despite the bombardment of Sambisa forest, at least four people were killed Saturday when suspected Boko Haram fighters raided a local market in a village near Maiduguri, security sources said.

Scores of Boko Haram gunmen stormed Kayamla village, 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) from Maiduguri, capital of restive Borno State, and opened fire on a weekly market, killing four traders, a senior security official in Maiduguri told AFP.

“It was obvious they were looking for food to replenish their supplies because they didn't target residents as they normally would,” the official said.

The attack on the village was the sixth in as many months, according to vigilantes in the area.

Troops and vigilantes mobilised from the nearby town of Konduga to the village but the attackers left before the troops arrived, said Abubakar Sani, who was among the vigilantes that accompanied troops to the village.

“When we reached Kayamla the gunmen had left,” Sani said.

“We found four dead traders in the deserted market and we were told by residents that the attackers took away food supplies and livestock,” he said.

This was the first Boko Haram raid in a few days, although an explosion outside a bus station in Gombe State on Thursday that killed 10 people was blamed on the Islamists.

Sweeping offensives against the Islamists by a regional coalition involving troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroun appear to have substantially weakened Boko Haram’s capabilities.

Meanwhile, leaders of Central and West African states will hold a summit on April 8 to try to draw up a joint strategy against the threat posed by Boko Haram, a statement from the organisers said on Sunday.

It will be the first meeting of its kind since Nigeria’s election a week ago which was won by Muhammadu Buhari, a former military leader who has vowed to rid his country of the “terror” of Boko Haram.

The meeting in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, is being jointly organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

“In the face of the mounting and increasingly bloody attacks by the fundamentalists against Nigeria, Niger, Cameroun and Chad and the serious consequences for these countries, and the real risk of destabilising Western and Central Africa, the two organisations have decided to take action,” the ECOWAS statement said.

It was not immediately clear if Buhari would be attending, as he will not be sworn in as president to succeed incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan until May 29.

This Day

Boko Haram militants disguised as preachers kill 24 near mosque

Islamist Boko Haram militants disguised as preachers killed at least 24 people and wounded several others in an attack near a mosque in northeast Nigeria's Borno state, a military source and witness said on Monday.

The attackers arrived in cars late on Sunday and gathered people at a mosque in the remote village of Kwajafa, pretending to preach Islam. They then opened fire on them, witness Simeon Buba said.

The group's six-year insurgency, and President Goodluck Jonathan's failure to end it or protect civilians, were factors in the victory of opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari in last week's election.

The group fighting for an Islamic state has killed thousands and kidnapped hundreds, although a military operation against them by Nigeria and neighbors Chad, Cameroon and Niger in the past two months has wrested back much of the territory it controlled.

"People didn't know the Boko Haram men came for attack because they lied to our people that they came for preaching," said Buba in a telephone conversation.

"They opened fire on them and killed many people," he said, adding that houses were set on fire.

Some people were being treated for gunshot wounds and burns at a hospital in the Borno state town of Biu on Monday, a source there said.


Reuters

Video - Nigeria's President elect Muhammadu Buhari urged to rescue kidnapped schoolgirls

Campaigners pushing for the rescue of 219 girls kidnapped in Chibok have stepped-up pressure on Nigeria's President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to make their safe return a top priority of his new government.

Nigerian gay rights activist loses asylum battle in the U.K.

Prominent United Kingdom-based Nigerian lesbian and gay rights activist, Aderonke Apata, had her lengthy legal tussle to claim asylum in the country thrown out of the highest court of the land, the Royal Courts of Justice, RCJ, on Wednesday.

Justice John Bowers QC (Queen's Counsel, equivalent of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN) dismissed her appeal, on the grounds of dishonesty, her criminality and that she is not actually a lesbian, even though she might have engaged in same sex relationship and gone further to produce DVDs of herself engaging in lesbianism with her partner, Happiness.

Apata, twice married and mother of two, was told by the judge that he would have to agree with the March 3 submissions of the State lawyer, Andrew Bird, who argued that the ruling and findings of the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) in 2012, are binding on the RCJ, because FTT is the one charged by Parliament with the jurisdiction to make fact findings and also equipped to do so by means of the facility to hear oral evidence and cross- examination. Bowers took sides with the submission , despite Apata's lawyer arguing to the contrary during the said hearing on March 3.

In handing down Wednesday's ruling, which Apata misled activists not to attend, Bowers made reference to Bird's submission that: "The Secretary of State contends that the Claimant has, for 10 years, played the system by repeated and different applications, dishonesty made and that ' she has ... ..made false asylum claims. She has pursued an appeal claiming that she was in a subsisting relationship with an EEA national, when she was not. She overstayed, worked illegally and studied illegally" as the FTT concluded at paragraph 114."

Even though Apata's lawyer had submitted to the court that she faces the risk of persecution and imprisonment if returned to Nigeria, because of last year's Anti- LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transexuals) Law, the judge is of the view that she is not actually a lesbian, and as such, is not covered by the Refugee Convention Article 1A (2). Bowers cited Bird's submission of the FTT ruling, which said, " we have concluded that the (Claimant's) change of image is entirely due to a false claim of lesbian sexuality... ... Despite claiming that she cannot bear to be in a relationship with a man, she has engaged in long-term relationships with Mr. Alima and Mr. Bamidele (both European nationals) and has declared her love and commitment to them openly in letters ... "

Her case on the grounds of Human Rights and fear of persecution were also dismissed, so also was it dismissed on the basis of having a mental illness -- and that she won't get adequate medical treatment in Nigeria, if deported. When The Guardian contacted Apata on Saturday, for her reaction, she didn't reply the correspondence. However, prominent black gay activists, including Davis Mac-Iyalla, have reacted to the ruling after The Guardian contacted them at the weekend.

Mac-Iyalla, an openly gay Nigerian in London, said, "I have always known that asylum is not for everyone, but those who are honest and are at risks should be given protection."

Black Pride's lady Phyl Opoku, also spoke to The Guardian, but was of the view that Apata is, indeed, an activist. Of the ruling, she said, "this is very sad and disappointing," because Apata " has been graceful and very visible in our (LGBT) community.


The Guardian


Related story: Gay Activist confronts Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan on Homophobic Law

Video - President elect Muhammadu Buhari's profile

It's his fourth attempt, and Muhammadu Buhari has finally made it to the Nigerian presidency - but who is the general? Susan Mwongeli takes a look at Nigeria's incoming president.

Nigeria President elect Muhammadu Buhari to "spare no effort" squashing Boko Haram

A day after becoming the first politician in Nigerian history to succeed a sitting leader by ballot, president-elect Muhammadu Buhari promised on Wednesday to "spare no effort" to defeat Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

The 72-year-old general, who first came to power three decades ago via a military coup and campaigned as a born-again democrat, also promised to tackle graft in Africa's largest economy.

"Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our collective will. We should spare no effort," Buhari said in his first formal speech since winning the election. "In tackling the insurgency, we have a tough and urgent job to do."

The group has killed thousands in its push to carve out a caliphate in northeastern Nigeria.

Despite the killing of more than a dozen voters by Boko Haram gunmen - who had pledged to derail the poll - the election was one of the most orderly in Nigeria's history.

Buhari won the election with 15.4 million votes to outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan's 13.3 million, a margin wide enough to prevent any challenge.

In an unprecedented step, Jonathan phoned Buhari to concede defeat and urged his supporters to accept the result, a signal of deepening democracy that few had expected in Africa's most populous nation.

Buhari congratulated Jonathan for peacefully relinquishing power on Wednesday.

"President Jonathan was a worthy opponent and I extend the hand of fellowship to him," Buhari, wearing a black cap and kaftan, told reporters and supporters to loud applause.

"We have proven to the world that we are people who have embraced democracy. We have put one-party state behind us."

The rules state that Jonathan must officially hand over on May 29.

His People's Democratic Party (PDP) has been in charge since the end of army rule in 1999 but had been losing support due to oil sector corruption scandals and the government's lack of success in combating Boko Haram.

"President Jonathan has placed his country's interests first by conceding the election," U.S. President Barack Obama said.

Nigeria's main stock index soared 8.3 percent, posting its single biggest gain this year, and Nigerian dollar-denominated bonds climbed too on relief at the absence of the violence and fraud that has blighted previous elections.

"The context has changed ... There have been 16 years of democracy, there's a constitution, there are legal safeguards," British High Commissioner Andrew Pocock told BBC radio.

Investors are also cautiously optimistic that any crackdown on corruption by Buhari will stimulate investment and boost flagging growth in the oil-dominated economy.

NORTHERN CELEBRATIONS

Cities in the largely Muslim north, where Buhari's core support base lies, erupted in celebration.

Jonathan's appeal to his supporters that "nobody's political ambition is worth blood" meanwhile helped calm their frustrations, reducing the chance of post-election violence that blighted the 2011 poll when Buhari lost to Jonathan.

Buhari took power in a 1983 coup only to be thrown out 18 months later by another general. He subsequently embraced democracy, running in several elections and despite losing always bouncing back.

"I ask that we all be circumspect, respectful and peaceful ... We must begin to heal the wounds," he said.

Nigeria remains a complex ethnic mix of 170 million people, split between Muslims and Christians, with more than 500 languages. Though they mostly live side by side in peace, many harbor disputes that politicians have often used to stoke violence that has worsened over the years.

Buhari must also deal with the fallout from a dive in global oil prices in the last eight months which has hammered state revenues and forced two de facto currency devaluations.

"He's a man with a strong sense of mission and he has clear ideas about what he wants to do with Nigeria, on corruption, on restoring national discipline," Pocock said.

But analysts say cracking down on graft in a country where it is so endemic could take decades.


Reuters

Nigerians stock surge 16% after Muhammadu Buhari wins presidential election

Nigerian stocks surged Wednesday, as investors cheered that country’s recent election results.

The Global X MSCI Nigeria ETF NGE, +15.73% was up 16% at last check. It’s gained 27% over the past month, as shown in the chart below, though the exchange-traded fund is coming off a slump of 43% last year.

Investors are betting that president-elect Muhammadu Buhari, who defeated incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, will deliver improvements to Africa’s largest economy, which has been hammered by crude oil’s crash and other factors. Economic growth may be limited in 2015,writes Barron’s Dimitra DeFotis, citing Simon Freemantle, economist at Standard Bank.

It is worth noting that the Global X ETF provides exposure to 20 public companies based in or dependent on Nigeria. It is the only Nigerian exchange-traded fund, though it competes with broader plays like the Market Vectors Africa ETF AFK, -0.69% and the iShares MSCI Frontier 100 ETF FM, +3.23%.

Market Watch

Video - Nigerians celebrate President elect Muhammadu Buhari's win

Nigerian opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari has won the country's presidential election as the incumbent Goodluck Jonathan apparently conceded defeat.

Nigeria President elect Muhammadu Buhari praises Jonathan for peaceful handover

Nigerian election winner Muhammadu Buhari congratulated outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan for peacefully relinquishing power on Wednesday, a day after becoming the first politician in Nigeria's history to unseat a sitting leader at the ballot box.

In an unprecedented step, Jonathan phoned Buhari to concede defeat and urged his supporters to accept the result, a signal of deepening democracy in Africa's most populous nation that few had expected.

"President Jonathan was a worthy opponent and I extend the hand of fellowship to him," Buhari, wearing a black cap and kaftan, told reporters and supporters to loud applause.

"We have proven to the world that we are people who have embraced democracy. We have put one-party state behind us."

The 72-year-old general, who first came to power three decades ago via a military coup, campaigned as a born-again democrat intent on cleaning up Nigeria's corrupt politics.

The margin of victory - Buhari took 15.4 million votes to Jonathan's 13.3 million - was enough to prevent any challenge.

Nigeria's main stock index soared 6.7 percent, posting its single biggest gain this year, and Nigerian dollar-denominated bonds also climbed amid relief at the absence of the violence that has blighted previous elections.

Investors are also cautiously optimistic that any crackdown on leakage and corruption by Buhari will stimulate investment and boost flagging growth in Africa's biggest economy.

The rules state that Jonathan must officially hand over on May 29.

His People's Democratic Party (PDP) has been in charge since the end of army rule in 1999 but had been losing support due to several oil sector corruption scandals and the government's performance in combating Islamist Boko Haram militants in the northeast.

"You voted for change and now change has come," Buhari said.

Cities in the largely Muslim north, where Buhari's core support base lies, erupted in celebration.

Jonathan's appeal to his supporters that "nobody's political ambition is worth blood" meanwhile helped calm their frustrations, reducing the chance of post-election violence that blighted the 2011 poll.

Despite the killing of more than a dozen voters by Boko Haram gunmen - who had pledge to derail the poll - the election was one of the most orderly in the country's history.

Buhari took power in a 1983 coup only to be thrown out 18 months later by another general. He subsequently embraced democracy, running in several elections and despite losing always bounced back.

He acknowledged the hard work ahead in building bridges.

"I asked that we all be circumspect, respectful and peaceful ... We must begin to heal the wounds," he said.

Oil-rich Nigeria remains a complex ethnic mix of 170 million people speaking more than 500 languages, split between Muslims and Christians. Though they mostly live side by side in peace, many harbor disputes that politicians have often used to stoke violence that has worsened over the years.

As well as the Boko Haram insurgency Buhari must deal with the fallout from a dive in global oil prices in the last eight months which has hammered squeezed state revenues and forced two de facto currency devaluations.

Reuters

Muhammadu Buhari wins Nigeria's presidential election

Nigerian presidential poll has been won by Muhammadu Buhari, in the country's first election victory by the opposition.

His opponent, Goodluck Jonathan, has conceded defeat and called Gen Buhari to congratulate him on his victory.

Gen Buhari was ahead of Mr Jonathan by at least three million votes.

Observers have generally praised the election but there have been allegations of fraud, which some fear could lead to protests and violence.

This is a hugely significant moment in Nigeria's history - never before has a sitting president lost an election, the BBC's Will Ross reports from Abuja.

For the first time, many Nigerians feel they have the power to vote out a government that is not performing well, our correspondent adds.

BBC

Video - Nigerians waiting for presidential election results

Nigerians have been urged to be patient for the past three days. And when the election result finally comes, to accept it - peacefully. Many though are anxious - about what the next few hours may bring.

Muhammadu Buhari taking the lead in Presidential election results

Partial results from Nigeria's election give ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari a narrow lead over the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan.

With more than half of Nigeria's 36 states declared, Gen Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) is ahead by half a million votes.

A victory for Gen Buhari would make President Jonathan the first incumbent to lose an election in Nigeria.

Correspondents say it is likely the loser will allege foul play.

More than 800 people were killed in protests after Mr Jonathan beat Gen Buhari in the previous election.

Gen Buhari's lead was cut from two million votes, after Mr Jonathan gained a landslide in Rivers State, where there have been widespread reports of irregularities and a curfew imposed.

Electoral commission (Inec) chairman, Attahiru Jega, said the fact-finding team sent to the state found there were some voting irregularities with the poll but not enough "to warrant a cancellation of the election".

However, many of the states still to declare are in the north, where Gen Buhari is seen as favourite.

Earlier, the announcement of results was disrupted when an agent of Mr Jonathan's People's Democratic Party (PDP) launched a tirade against Mr Jega in Abuja.

"We have lost confidence in what you're doing, we don't believe in you any more," Elder Orubebe said.

Rejecting the allegation, Mr Jega replied: "Let us be careful about what we say or do and let us not dispute a process that has begun peacefully."

Gen Buhari has won the two biggest states, Lagos in the south and Kano in the north, while Mr Jonathan won a huge majority in his home state of Bayelsa, as well as Rivers.

The candidate with the most votes will only avoid a run-off if they gain at least 25% of the votes in two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states.

BBC

Nigeria awaits presidential election results

Nigeria's election body says it expects to announce the first results of Saturday's keenly contested presidential poll on Tuesday.

Incumbent Goodluck Jonathan is facing a strong challenge from former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.

The UN has praised the poll despite technical hitches, protests and violence linked to Boko Haram.

Voting spilled into a second day in some parts of Nigeria after problems with new electronic card readers.

Follow live updates here as the results are announced.

President Jonathan was among those whose registration to vote was delayed by the technology, which was introduced to prevent fraud.

His Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which had opposed the card readers, called it a "huge national embarrassment".

Election commission chief Attahiru Jega said only a fraction of the 150,000 card readers being used nationwide had failed.

The presidential and parliamentary elections had been delayed by six weeks because of the insurgency by Boko Haram militants.

The Islamists attacked polling stations in north-eastern states, with a curfew declared in Bauchi State after fighting between the security forces and the group.

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised the "determination and resilience" of Nigerian voters, despite the reports of attacks by Boko Haram and others.

He said in a statement voting had been "largely peaceful and orderly".

His comments have been echoed by the regional bloc Ecowas, which urged Nigerians to accept the result.

But there has been tension in the southern Rivers State, where thousands protested against alleged killings of opposition workers and voting irregularities.

Inec said it was "concerned" by the complaints, adding that one of their offices was set on fire during the unrest.

Results of the voting were expected to arrive overnight but so far there is no official indication of which party is in the lead.

The PDP has dominated Nigerian politics since 1999, but Gen Buhari's All Progressives Congress is viewed as a serious challenge.

Voters are also electing members of the house of representatives and the senate.

BBC

Boko Haram Headquarters retaken

The Nigerian army says it has retaken the north-eastern town of Gwoza, believed to be the headquarters of militant Islamist group Boko Haram.

"Several terrorists died while many are captured," a tweet from the defences forces said.

Mopping-up operations are ongoing in and around the town, the military said.

News of the recapture comes a day before presidential elections, which were postponed by six weeks because of the offensive against Boko Haram.

Thousands of people have been killed since 2009, when the group began its insurgency to create an Islamic state.
'Major milestone'

Since a regional force began helping Nigeria take on the insurgents this year, many towns have been retaken.

The most recent military briefing said that only three districts, including Gwoza, remained under Boko Haram's control, down from 14.

After his fighters captured Gwoza in August 2014, the Boko Haram leader declared a caliphate in areas under his control.

"Troops this morning captured Gwoza destroying the Headquarters of the Terrorists self styled Caliphate," a tweet from Nigerian armed forces said.


BBC

Nigeria presidential candidates sign peace deal

Nigeria's two main presidential candidates have signed an agreement to prevent violence in tightly contested elections due on Saturday.

Ex-military ruler Abdulsalami Abubakar brokered the deal in talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and his main challenger Muhammadu Buhari.

The two promised to respect the outcome of a credible poll and urged their supporters to refrain from violence.

Some 800 people were killed after the 2011 contest between the two rivals.

Mr Jonathan is facing a strong challenge from Gen Buhari, with some analysts predicting a photo-finish.

Thursday is the final day of campaigning and the government has closed its land and sea borders to ensure a peaceful election.

'Embrace peace'

The meeting between the two candidates came after Nigeria's National Peace Committee, chaired by Gen Abubakar, warned on Monday that campaigning had been marred by hate speech that could trigger a crisis in the oil-rich state.

The BBC's Tomi Oladipo reports from the capital, Abuja, that both candidates shook hands and hugged.

They called on their supporters to embrace peace, regardless of who won.

But concern remains in Nigeria over whether the electoral commission is ready for the huge logistical exercise in sub-Saharan Africa's most populous state, our correspondent says.

The polls were due on 14 February, but were postponed to 28 March to give the commission more time to prepare for the polls and for regional forces to regain territory from militant Islamist group Boko Haram in the north-east.

Campaign group Human Rights Watch says Boko Haram had killed some 1,000 people this year alone.

On Wednesday, army chief Kenneth Minimah said adequate security arrangements had been made for the polls.

Anyone who caused conflict would meet "organised violence" from the security forces, he added.

Meanwhile, Doha-based al-Jazeera reports that two of its journalists, Ahmed Idris and Ali Mustafa, have been detained by government forces in the city of Maiduguri, the former headquarters of Boko Haram.

It quoted the military as saying the journalists, both Nigerian nationals, were operating without "protection, accreditation or due clearance".

Al-Jazeera said both men had been accredited by the electoral commission to report from anywhere in Nigeria and it demanded their unconditional release.


BBC

Video - 40 percent of children in Nigeria's capital Abuja don't go to school

For many Nigerians, education should be the key issue of this election. A massive revamp of state schooling has been underway in recent years.
But parents, teachers and pupils are desperate for more.Even in cities like the capital Abuja, at least 40% of children don't go to primary school.

Nigeria 2015 Presidential election set to be closest contest

Nigeria is bracing for a turbulent few days ahead. The country is due to vote for a new president next weekend. It'll be Nigeria's fifth election since its return to democracy in 1999 - and it's tipped to be the closest contest so far.

President Goodluck Jonathan hopes all Boko Haram captured territories will be retaken in a month

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has said he hopes that all territory seized by Islamist militant group Boko Haram will be retaken within a month.

"They are getting weaker and weaker by the day," he told the BBC.

But the president - who faces elections in a week - admitted the response to the insurgents' initial advance in north-east Nigeria had been too slow.

The army has claimed recent victories over Boko Haram in a conflict that has killed thousands since 2012.

Backed by neighbouring countries Chad, Niger and Cameroon, Nigeria's military says it has recaptured 11 of the 14 districts which had been under militant control.

On Thursday, however, Boko Haram attacked the town of Ngala, killing 11 people, after the army said it had retaken it.

President Jonathan's government has been heavily criticised for its failure to end the insurgency.

The government has made similar claims in the past about defeating or driving back Boko Haram within a specific period - but these have not been borne out by events.

The Nigerian insurgents this month pledged their allegiance to Islamic State militants, who control large parts of Syria and Iraq.


BBC

Presidential candidate Buhari says missing kidnapped schoolgirls greatest embarrasment for Nigeria

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Mohammadu Buhari Wednesday tasked the federal government on the over 200 missing girls, saying the ill development was the greatest embarrassment Nigerian has received since independence in 1960.

Buhari also said that his regime in 1983 built refineries that could produce 50,000 to 450,000 barrel of oil per day with money realized from the Nigerian economy without borrowing a dime from external sources.

The candidate who spoke at a town hall meeting on security in Abuja on Wednesday as part of the electioneering campaign said that his party had identified three key areas which had become the core problems starring the country in the face.

His position was a response to questions raised by some participants to the meeting.

According to buhari, the problems were insecurity, destruction of the economy and corruption which he said has become vicious.

He faulted the federal government's approach in fighting the insurgency in the north east in the absence of comprehensive welfare policy or plan for the soldiers in the battle field.

He said that no one should expect any soldier to perform miracles in the battle field when there were no good welfare packages for them and their families.

He said: "I have said that the APC as a party has identified three fundamental problems in this country. You cannot repeat them so often because everybody talk about them. They are insecurity, the destruction of the economy and corruption which has become a vicious.

"The state of insecurity as we said when the election was extended by six weeks is that if the Nigerian government and the military could me not tame Boko Haram for five years, what will they do in six weeks. But I think that some positive moves have been made, but we are still at it.

"The first thing they should have done is to make sure that you have a good plan on the ground to take care of the welfare of the law enforcement agents.

"You can't send someone on an operation for months when his family is living in wants without medical care, no school and no good neighborhood and you want him to serve the country. So, if you get disappointed now that soldiers on road block have started saying "wetin you chop remain" as many of their colleagues were doing many years ago.

Vanguard

Video - Schools re-open in Adamawa, Nigeria

Militant group Boko Haram has killed thousands and kidnapped hundreds during a six-year campaign to carve out an Islamist state in northern Nigeria. The insurgency has been a major blow to education in the north east. In Adamawa state however- a territory retaken by the Nigerian military from the control of the militants, are slowly returning to the classroom.

Canada selling most weapons to Nigeria

A report released on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows a growth in the number of countries supplying arms and weapons to Nigeria and Cameroon to aid their fight against Boko Haram. Canada has been found to be the top seller among those nations.

The report listed Canada as the world’s 13th-biggest arms exporter over the past five years. It was the 14th-biggest weapons exporter in the previous five-year period.

According to the list, Canada facilitated the sale of 40 armoured vehicles to Nigeria in 2013 and 2014. It wasn’t detailed if all came from private companies. Two of those companies were identified as the Streit Group and INKAS.

Founded in Canada in 1992, the Streit Group said it has sold at least 12,000 armoured vehicles worldwide, and just recently, Nigeria bought one of its Spartan armoured vehicles. On the other hand, INKAS, according to Peter Wezeman, a senior researcher at the Stockholm institute, has sold light armoured patrol vehicles to Nigeria. The vehicles were produced from a plant located right in Nigeria.

While Wezeman did not condone Canada’s shipment of arms and weapons to Nigeria, he told The Globe and Mail, the North American country should at least be sensitive on dealings regarding the matter. He said Canada should ensure it “understands the risks involved in arms exports” and should try to help Nigeria to deal with Boko Haram “in a way that involves the minimum amount of violence needed.”

“Just allowing the supply of weapons is not enough,” he said, noting that it comes with a moral responsibility that the arms should not be used by the Nigerian government other than for the purpose it was bought.

Boko Haram is an Islamist terrorist movement based in north-east Nigeria. It is also active in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon. The group had pledged formal allegiance to the ISIS Daesh in March 2015 and has killed over 5,000 civilians between July 2009 and June 2014, including at least 2,000 in the first half of 2014.


IBT

Electricity bills in Nigeria cut by half

Nigerians’ electricity bills will be cut by as much as half after the regulator said on Tuesday it banned distribution companies from charging consumers for losses caused by billing mistakes.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who is standing for re-election in a postponed vote scheduled for March 28, pledged to improve Nigeria’s chronically unreliable power supply in his administration’s current term in office. South Africa, with a third of Nigeria’s population, has eight times more installed capacity.

“Removing the collection losses will lead to lower tariffs for consumers,” Sam Amadi, chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, said in a statement posted on the Abuja-based agency’s website. “The removal of collection losses from customer tariff has reduced tariff by more than 50 percent in some places.”

Peak electricity output in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, reaches about 3,800 megawatts, with another 1,500 megawatts unavailable because of gas shortages, the NERC said this month.

“While the move will be welcomed by many, low levels of electrification in Nigeria will limit its economic impact,” John Ashbourne, an Africa economist at Capital Economics in London, said in an e-mailed note on Wednesday. “Fewer than half of Nigerians have access to electricity, and spending on power tariffs makes up a tiny fraction of consumer spending.”

In 2013, Nigeria broke up the state electricity monopoly and sold power utilities to companies including Korea Electric Power Corp., and Siemens AG, in an effort to bring in much-needed investment. In September, authorities set up a $1 billion bailout fund to help generation and distribution companies pay off gas-supply debts. They also raised the price of gas supplied to power stations in order to encourage more gas to flow into the system.

The move to cut electricity bills “will be a boost to both consumers and commercial users, and has been conveniently announced only 10 days before President Goodluck Jonathan faces a close re-election battle,” Ashbourne said.

Bloomberg

Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote's oil refinery to go online in Nigeria by 2017

Outside Boko Haram carnage and pre-election tension and fears, here is at least some good news from Nigeria.

A new $9 billion oil refinery producing 500,000 barrels per day being developed by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is expected to come onstream in Nigeria by 2017, a senior Dangote Group official said Tuesday.

The refinery, to be located in Lagos, will cut reliance on international markets for Africa’s largest oil producer, which imports more than 80 percent of its fuel needs.

The lack of sufficient refining capacity is a major handicap in Africa’s biggest economy.

“By the third quarter of 2017, we expect to be looking at commissioning,” Mansur Ahmed, Dangote Industries Ltd’s executive director of stakeholder management and corporate communications, told Reuters at an African refiners conference in Cape Town.

The refinery is being designed to process Nigerian crude mix and produce products conforming to Euro V fuel specifications, as fuel demands across the continent are forecast to rise rapidly with many countries enjoying strong economic growth.

Poor infrastructure, competitive global markets and financial constraints have traditionally held back Africa’s refining capacity, while fuel subsidies in Nigeria are also an issue, said Ahmed, who spoke on behalf of Aliko Dangote.

Ahmed said the refinery, which is being funded by debt and equity, including a $3 billion commitment from Dangote himself, could list in future should additional capital be needed.

“In the past when we have reached a point where we feel we need to increase capital we have listed,” Ahmed said.

“We have listed our cement business, we have listed our sugar business and our salt business… and, if you like, history is the best teacher.”

The Dangote Group has interests ranging from cement to basic food processing to oil and gas.

A boost to its refining capacity would be a blow to European refiners and oil traders, which make huge profits bringing gasoline into the country.


The News


Related story: Video - Aljazeera speaks with Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote

Nigerian government denies hiring mercenaries to fight Boko Haram

The Nigerian government has not hired any foreign mercenaries in its battle to defeat the Boko Haram insurgents, an official said on Sunday.

Mike Omeri, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, stated this on Sunday when he paid a courtesy call to PREMIUM TIMES head office in Abuja.

The official’s statement comes amidst reports that the Nigerian military hired mercenaries from South Africa and other countries since the renewed offensive against the insurgents began on February 14. Several territories initially captured by the insurgents have since been retaken by Nigerian soldiers working with soldiers from neighbouring West African countries. Mr. Omeri said a lot of Nigerians mistake consultants helping in the deployment and use of newly acquired military hardware as mercenaries.

“When our weapons were acquired recently, we needed training because training component came with the people who supplied these weapons,” he said. “It is therefore easy to see a white man where these things are happening like in Maiduguri and elsewhere and conclude that we have mercenaries.”

“What we have are trainers who came from security companies to help us manage and learn how to use some of the much more modern weapons because there is no time; we are in a war situation and we need the capability to use the weapons immediately.”

Mr. Omeri, who coordinates the National Information Centre, where Nigerians are briefed on the progress made in the fight against Boko Haram, also questioned why some Nigerians appeared more concerned with the presence of mercenaries to the neglect of the insurgency.

“Why are we leaving the issue of fighting insurgency and concentrating on the issue of mercenaries, when the use of mercenaries by governments the world over, including the United States has been on since the 1840s,” he said.

“Mercenaries such as the foreign legion in France, Gurkhas in the UK, and even the US Marines are foreigners. They are mercenaries. It is at the completion of their terms that they are made either citizens through green cards or passports.

“They recruit them give them very hard training and send them to the toughest of battles and they are mostly foreigners.” Mr. Omeri said the Nigerian government has not hired any mercenary, despite having the right to do so.

“If Nigeria wants to recruit mercenaries, there are legitimate ways of doing it and this government knows how to do it and it would have gone that way to do it and to inform citizens appropriately,” he said.

Premium Times

Nigeria is PayPal's second largest market in Africa

PayPal has revealed that Nigeria has become its second biggest market in Africa, less than one year after formally launching its services in the West African country.

Malvina Goldfeld, PayPal’s Head of Business Development, sub-Saharan Africa, recently made the revelation to tech news site IT Web Africa, while expressing satisfaction with PayPal’s overwhelming success in Nigeria since it officially launched in July last year.


“We are very happy to see that PayPal has been widely welcomed by Nigerians since the launch of the service in the country last year,” Goldfeld said.

South Africa is PayPal’s largest market in the continent, with more than one million active accounts; Nigeria and Kenya follow closely.

Goldfeld said PayPal is meeting the needs of Nigerians that purchase goods and services on foreign platforms.

“There are millions of people in Nigeria who are eager to engage in online commerce and our goal is to help them make payments more easily and securely. Currently, we offer Nigerians the opportunity to register for free for a PayPal account to make payments on overseas websites,” she said.

But PayPal’s relationship with Nigerian users is one-sided. Nigerians are only allowed to send payments abroad through the platform. Users are currently unable to receive money, and even though Nigerian internet users have continuously demanded for this service, PayPal and Goldfeld have been elusive as to if and when the service will be accessible to Nigerians.

“Nigeria is a very interesting market and over time we may expand our presence, but for now we are satisfied to help Nigerians register for free for a PayPal account and make payments on overseas websites,” she told ITWeb Africa.

When PayPal opened up its services to Nigerians last year, it signed up tens of thousands of users within its first week as consumers scrabbled to purchase goods from foreign e-commerce sites. Before then, PayPal was inaccessible to Nigerians even though much smaller African countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Chad and Mauritius were included in PayPal’s network. It is generally believed that the online payment processor avoided Nigeria for many years owing to its reputation as a hub for internet-related fraud.

Last year, PayPal made its entry into Nigeria and 9 other countries – Belarus, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Monaco, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe and Paraguay, bringing the total number of countries under the PayPal network to 203.

Forbes


Related stories: PayPal signs "tens of thousands" in first week of launch in Nigeria

Bitcoin exchange market coming to Nigeria