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As prospects for growth in low income countries become more challenging, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has introduced zero interest rates on all its concessional facilities until 2018. The Managing Director, IMF, Ms Christine Lagarde, disclosed this on Thursday at the ongoing IMF/ World Bank 2016 General Meeting in Washington D.C. The theme of the meeting is: “We can end poverty together, global problem and global solutions’’. She said that after the duration (2018), IMF would maintain low interest rates around the world. This is good news for the Buhari administration’s efforts to borrow from multilateral lending institutions like the IMF. The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun has been negotiating to borrow from multilateral institutions like the IMF and the World Bank to fund capital projects in the country. Adeosun reiterated the country’s plan to get cheap loans to bridge the nation’s infrastructure deficit in critical sectors. So now, Nigeria alongside others with ec...

The Minister of Sport and Youth Development, Mr Solomon Dalung, said the seeming crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may not be unconnected with 2019 elections. Dalung said this on Thursday in Abuja while briefing newsmen after visiting the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, at the secretariat. According to him, most of the challenges inherited by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration were also causing unrest. Solomon Dalung Signs of cracks in the APC emerged recently when a national leader of the party, Alhaji Bola Tinubu, called for the resignation of national chairman following the outcome of the party’s governorship primary in Ondo state. The minister pointed out that APC was a party that embodied diverse interests, started out as an amalgamation of different political groups and graduated into a political party that formed a government. “Now, the management of that interest is very critical, but the challenge the party is facing, an...

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic has told manager Antonio Conte that a January move for Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci could be on the cards. According to reports from the Telegraph, the Russian businessman is prepared to bankroll a number of new signings in the New Year as the Blues look to retain the Premier League trophy. Bonucci would command a world-record fee for a defender, expected to be in the region of £50 million, should he move to Stamford Bridge.

Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are both demanding £250,000 a week as part of protracted contract negotiations with Arsenal, according to The Times. As exclusively revealed by Goal, the Gunners are confident of tying down the star duo to fresh terms - with Ozil and Alexis's deals set to expire in 2018. However, it is understood that Arsenal may have to fork out an extra £36 million in order to keep them at the club. Talks between the three parties reportedly started 12 months ago but have stalled since then.

Wayne Rooney needs a change of scenery to revive his career and would be a useful signing for Arsenal or Chelsea, according to Harry Redknapp.  The England captain's form has come under scrutiny this season and he has started Manchester United's last three matches on the substitutes' bench.  Redknapp, however, believes Rooney could "tip the balance" for one of the Red Devils' Premier League rivals if he was given a fresh start away from Old Trafford. "He's suffered with his form and I hope he revives himself at Old Trafford but if not a change of scenery could do him good," Redknapp wrote in the Evening Standard. He added: "It was a different level to Wayne, of course, but Paul Merson transformed Portsmouth for me. He arrived back in 2002, the lads loved him and he was a good player given a fresh test of his character. "There are certain players who thrive off that and Wayne might just need a new challenge. ...

Marcos Rojo has dismissed suggestions he has a difficult relationship with Jose Mourinho and is determined to fight for his place at Manchester United. Rojo The Argentina international has yet to feature in the Premier League this term and reports in England suggest Mourinho is ready to offload the left-back in the January transfer window. Nevertheless, Rojo is adamant there are no problems between him and the Portuguese. "There has been a lot of talk that Mourinho did not need me," Rojo is quoted as saying by AS. "But he told me right from the first day he arrived at Manchester United that I was part of his plans and that he was counting on me. "He is a very good coach. He is very demanding, but I like the way he thinks and deals with his players. "I have to keep on working in order to get more playing time. That is all I want." The 26-year-old has a contract with United until June 2019.

Rivers United defender Sope Hameed has urged his side to emulate Enyimba's feat of winning the Caf Champions League. Stanley Eguma's men were beaten to the Nigeria Professional Football League title by Enugu Rangers, but got a ticket to the continent's premier club competition as compensation. And he believes his side can silence doubters by putting up an awe-inspiring display in their debut in the competition. “No one has heard about Rivers United on the continent but a few years ago, that was the case with (two-time African champions) Enyimba," said Hameed. “With hard work, focus and early determination, we can achieve what Enyimba did some years ago in the Caf Champions League. “A lot of people felt we would be relegated when the season started but we knew what we were about and kept our eyes on the prize.”

Germany head coach Joachim Low believes Pep Guardiola's track record with young players gives him peace of mind with regards to Leroy Sane's development at Manchester City. Sane (l), Germany Coach, Low (r) The 20-year-old joined City for a reported £37 million during the close-season after a breakthrough campaign in the Bundesliga with Schalke made him one of the most sought-after young players in Europe. Some suggested Sane might end up getting lost amongst the attacking talent at the Etihad Stadium and subsequently hurt his international standing, but Low believes Guardiola is the ideal man to nurture his talents. "With Pep Guardiola we know that he has taken care of young players," he told RND. "He does not burn them out and operates with them with clear analysis. "There is a clear plan for Leroy." Unlike Sane, Borussia Dortmund's Gonzalo Castro missed out on a call-up to Low's Germany squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against...

Some three million people on the US southeast coast faced an urgent evacuation order Thursday as monstrous Hurricane Matthew — now blamed for more than 100 deaths in Haiti alone — bore down for a direct hit on Florida. Up and down the coast, highways clogged as people fled inland to escape the storm, which blasted its way through the Caribbean starting Tuesday. Poor and vulnerable Haiti remained essentially cut in half. Interior Minister Francois Anick Joseph said at least 108 Haitians have died, with 50 killed in a single town in the south where the coastline was described as wrecked. In its latest target, the storm slammed the Bahamas Thursday, blowing off roofs, downing trees and knocking out power. Weather forecasters working out of Nassau airport had to flee for their lives. A hotel employee in Nassau described the whole glass entrance of the building being blown in by fierce 100 mph (160 km) winds. “You could see the wind was pushing it and pushing it, and it was shaking,” s...

The Archbishop of Ibadan Diocese, Most Rev.Joseph Akinfenwa, has said that if there must be a change in the country,it must come from the top. Archbishop Joseph Akinfenwa Akinfenwa said this in a church service at the Cathedral of St. James The Great, – Bola, Ibadan, on Thursday to mark 2016/2017 legal year in Oyo State. In his sermon at the service, he commended President Muhammadu Buhari for offering the Presidential jet for sale . Akinfenwa said, “let the changes we are talking of start from the top, in the midst of change, we all want to sell our asset, what will government do with the money”. He said assets sold many years ago, what did they do with the money? “if government really is to sell asset, the one in East, West and others, who will want to buy them and from what region of the country? “Our problem in Nigeria is that as long as there will not be equity, fairness in the country, there is going to be a revolution,” Akinfenwa said. He asked “what examples the Senators ...

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Alhaji Ahmed Raji has warned the Federal Government of Nigeria to respect and obey the judgment of the Economic Community of West African States’ Court of Justice which on Tuesday ordered the release of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki from detention as failure to do this could scare foreign investors away. Recall that Dasuki has been in the custody of the federal government since December last year over an alleged charge bordering on illegal arms deals that led to the death of many and fuelled terrorism in Nigeria. Col. Sambo Dasuki (r)  However, Dasuki, Tuesday, got a reprieve from the regional court which also imposed a fine of N15m on government for illegal and arbitrary detention of the applicant. Raji who spoke in a media-chat in Abuja said that Nigeria as a respected member of ECOWAS and the International Community is expected to honour its obligations to the protocols establishing the court by complying with ...

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has saluted Barcelona and Dutch legend Johan Cruyff as the inspiration behind his incredible success. Guardiola  Guardiola has established himself as one of the finest managers of his generation after winning a host of trophies with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The 45-year-old played under Cruyff when the Dutchman was in the process of becoming one of Barcelona’s most iconic coaches and Guardiola believes the lessons he learnt from that period laid the foundations for his own impressive achievements in the dug-out. Cruyff died of lung cancer in March, but his legacy lives on in former players such as Guardiola, who have captured his purist principles in their own teams. “I was a lucky guy, I coached City, Bayern and Barca because I met him,” Guardiola said, speaking at the London launch of the autobiography “Johan Cruyff: My Turn”. “I thought I knew about football but when I met him, a whole new world opened in front of me. “He taught us —...

The Governor Ayodele Fayose led-Ekiti State Government has begun administering oath of secrecy to its workers as part of effort to check indiscriminate divulging of information to the public. Ayo Fayose The State Head of Service, Dr Gbenga Faseluka, who, administered the oath in Ado-Ekiti said the revival of the oath of secrecy was a way of returning to the rudiments and the foundation of the civil service. The event took place at a two-day workshop organised for members of staff of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Development, Ado-Ekiti. Faseluka stated that the oath of secrecy does not contradict the provisions of the Freedom of Information law which grants the public access to government information. He said most of the workers were ignorant of the provisions of Public Service Rules until the introduction of competitive promotion examination which its syllabus included the knowledge of the rules. “Ekiti is one of the States in Nigeria to have domesticated the Freedom of Inf...

The Russian Defence Ministry on Thursday warned that it could shoot down U.S. missiles in Syria if they were used against the Syrian government forces. “One should really be aware that crews of Russian air defence systems are unlikely to have time to clarify via a direct line the accurate flight programmes of missiles and who their carriers belong to,” the ministry’s spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. Putin Earlier in the day, the U.S. media reported that Washington is considering plans to launch air strikes against the Syrian government army. Konashenkov said that the Syrian army now have effective Russian-made S-200, Buk and other air defense missile systems, while the Russian forces have deployed in Syria the advanced S-400 and S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, “the range of which may come as a surprise to any unidentified flying objects.” He added that any missile strikes against territories controlled by the Syrian government might present a threat to Russian...

The Nigerian Army is confident that Boko Haram terrorism in northeast will end soon following successes in recent operations against the insurgents. Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, said in Maiduguri that the capture of the terrorists’ last stronghold in Northern Borno was a pointer to the level of success recorded by the army. “As you know, Malamfatori is in our kitty; our troops are consolidating on the capture of Malamfatori, Abadam and Gashigar. “The last time we met I told you that we were looking forward to capturing these areas which were the last strongholds of the Boko Haram terrorists, that we have done successfully,” he said. Irabor said that since the Sept. 27 capture of the areas, the army had consolidated its position by keeping the place safe. He, however, expressed regret that the army lost few equipment during the battle for the areas. “Let me state that our capturing the area is not without cost, we have lost both lives and...

The National Working Committee of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Thursday suspended its national Chairman, Mr. Victor Ike Oye for gross misconduct. Rising from its monthly meeting in Abuja, the NWC told the media that the suspension of the national Chairman was in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution, following what it called immense constitutional breaches and inordinate practices of the chairman and other national officers. Speaking on behalf of the NWC, the deputy national secretary of the party, Chief Jerry Obasi said the suspension was necessary in order to save the party from impending destruction and reposition it to greatness, given the circumstances surrounding the party under the leadership of the suspended chairman. Among those also suspended by the NWC include: the deputy national chairman (North), Alh. Abubakar Adamu and deputy national chairman (South), Chief Uchenna Okogbuo, who were also indicted for several constitutional breaches. Some of...

The Move by the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reconcile with the disputed National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has been hailed. Arising from a caucus meeting, the extended national caucus of the party endorsed the peace move says the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye. Adeyeye said that the purpose of the meeting was to brief the caucus on the move and get its endorsement. The caucus is made up of governors, National Assembly caucus, Board of Trustees and other stakeholders of the party. “Members of the caretaker committee are not there on their own, they were appointed by the party and they have to carry the party along in all they are doing. “The peace move has been finally endorsed and supported by members of caucus without any dissent voice,” he said. Adeyeye, however, said there were no factions in the party but aggrieved members. “We don’t have factions in PDP. There are some ...

Top Nollywood and Ghollywood actor Majid Michel is now a minister of God. Not only is he constantly sharing the word of God on his IG page, he now goes from church to church to minister. On October 4, the Ghanaian actor was seen ministering at a Church – Zoe Sanctuary where he performed deliverance.

U.S.A presidential candidate Donald Trump has pledged to bring long lost American manufacturing jobs back from China. But he may be too late even for products that bear his family name. A Chinese company that makes shoes for his daughter’s fashion line is moving production to Africa, where labour is much cheaper. Donald Trump The billionaire tycoon has frequently accused China of stealing US jobs through unfair trade practices and currency manipulation, while simultaneously relying on the country to make Trump-branded goods. But the kind of work that goes into making such products may never return to America, the president of major footwear producer Huajian Group told AFP. “Some manufacturers can’t even survive in China anymore,” Zhang Huarong said, speaking in his office in the southern factory hub of Dongguan. His company has made about 100,000 pairs of Ivanka Trump-branded shoes over the years, according to spokesman Liu Shiyuan. In August it filled an order for 20,000 — just ...

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has accused western powers of being a stumbling block to Nigeria’s plan to improve power output through the use of coal. Kemi Adeosun Adeosun said this on Wednesday in Washington during a discussion on the importance of addressing infrastructure gaps in developing countries at the World Bank, International Monetary Fund General Meetings. She said that improving power supply was the corner stone of the current administration’s goal towards economic development, yet finding it difficult to get support from western community. “We want to build a coal power plant because we are a country blessed with coal, yet we have power problem. So it doesn’t take a genius to workout that it will make sense to build a coal power plant. “However, we are being blocked from doing so, because it is not green. This is not fair because they have an entire western industralisation that was built on coal fired energy. “This is the competitive advantage that was ...

A US flight was evacuated prior to takeoff when a passenger’s Galaxy Note 7 — reportedly a replacement in Samsung’s global recall — caught fire, landing the company in new controversy. Samsung has been struggling with a recall of 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 handsets due to complaints of exploding batteries, a problem the replacement phones are supposed to fix. But on Wednesday, a Southwest Airlines flight leaving Louisville, Kentucky was evacuated after a passenger’s new Samsung phone began emitting smoke. Brian Green, the owner, told tech news website The Verge that the phone was a replacement, which he picked up on September 21. He also provided a picture of its box, which has a black square symbol indicating that it was a replacement. Some 60 percent of US consumers had swapped their devices for replacements by the end of last month. The Verge reported Green had powered down the phone for takeoff, an account The New York Times confirmed through other eyewitnesses. The heat damage...