Nedu Echianu's Blog

With a statement on their official website, Italian Serie A club Napoli have finally confirmed the signing of Nigeria international, Victor Osimhen. The financial terms and length of contract signed by the former Lille striker have not been disclosed by the two-time Serie A champions. However, Italian transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio earlier informed that Osimhen has signed a five-year deal, with Lille pocketing 50 million euros from the deal and the Super Eagle set to earn 20 million euros over the duration of the contract. A product of Ultimate Strikers, Lagos, the 21-year-old had a breakout 2019-2020 campaign at Lille, scoring 18 goals in all competitions and providing six assists spread across 38 matches in all competitions.

Former Cameroon captain Stephen Tataw died on Friday at his home in Yaounde at the age of 57. The right-back was most famous for playing every minute as he led the Indomitable Lions to the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. That run included wins over Argentina, Romania and Colombia as Cameroon became the first African side to reach the last eight. Cameroon were eventually beaten 3-2 in extra-time by England. Four years later in the United States it was not such a fairytale as they were knocked out in the first round. That campaign in the USA included a 6-1 thrashing by Russia after also being beaten by Brazil 3-0. His club career saw him play for Cameroonian sides Tonnerre Yaounde and Olympic Mvolye before ending his playing days in Japan with Tosu Futures. After the 1990 World Cup he had trials with Queens Park Rangers in the (then) First Division, later recalling he was told by manager Don Howe "I was good - excellent - but he was full up." He passed away on Fr

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has called for the suspension of his successor, Gianni Infantino, by the global football body after criminal proceedings were opened against Infantino in Switzerland. Swiss authorities said on Thursday that proceedings had been launched against the current FIFA boss by a special prosecutor looking into meetings he had with the Swiss Attorney-General, Michael Lauber. Lauber and Infantino have, however, denied any wrongdoing. “For me, the situation is clear that the FIFA ethics committee has to open a case against Mr Infantino and so it has to suspend him,” Blatter, 84, said in a statement to Reuters. FIFA did not immediately reply to a request for comments on Blatter’s statement. Blatter, who was FIFA president for 17 years, himself was suspended and later banned by FIFA’s ethics committee after he became the subject of criminal proceedings in Switzerland in 2015. The investigation is still ongoing and Blatter, who has denied any wrongdoing, has not be

Senator Mohammad Danjuma Goje (APC  Gombe Central), has called on Nigerians to remain United at this time of Eid-del-Kabir celebrations  and in the face of various  challenges facing the country. Senator Goje in a Sallah message signed by his Media aide, Lillian Nworie in Abuja Friday, rejoiced with Nigerians, particularly the Muslim faithful on the occasion of the Eid al Adha. Goje who is the Chairman of the North East Caucus in the National Assembly, enjoined Muslims in the message to seize the blessings of the season and pray fervently for the progress of Nigerians and Nigeria. He implored Nigerians to embrace one another and shun any form of discrimination amongst themselves. "At this feast of sacrifice , I call on Nigerians to be their brother's keeper at all times in providing the unity that can move the country forward and frustrate the nefarious activities of criminals among us ", he said. He however urged Nigerians  to celebrate the Sallah in conformity with COVI

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has felicitated with the Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general on the occasion of 2020 Eid-el-Kabir. Lawan, in a message to the Muslim faithful on Thursday in Abuja urged them to be mindful of the COVID-19 pandemic and celebrate responsibly in line with the general dictates of the faith. According to him, the celebration, which is Islam’s feast of sacrifice, is very significant to the faith of Muslims, as it reminds them of the imperative of unconditional obedience to Allah, the Most Merciful. “Through total submission to His will, we can confidently confront our challenges as individuals and as a nation, assured that Allah will intervene decisively at the most appropriate moment. “As people of faith, therefore, let us continue to seek the face of the Almighty in our various national wars. “War against insecurity or the COVID-19 pandemic, or as we strive to make Nigeria a comfortable home for all citizens. “As we celebrate the feast of sacri

...Urges Respect for Covid-19 Guidelines In a goodwill message to mark the Eid El-Kabir festivities, Senator Omo-Agege called for celebrations that must necessarily include cautiousness about the lingering Covid-19 pandemic, adding that there is hope for humanity to prevail over the disease as well as other challenges that continue to ravage countries across the world. The Senator also emphasized the significance of having a strong belief in God's words, adding that as Muslims across the world come together to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, it is an opportunity for Christians to celebrate with their compatriots. “Eid el-Kabir or Eid al-Adha is another name for the "Festival of the Sacrifice", also called the "Sacrifice Feast" or "Bakr-Eid"; it honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his only son, Isma’il (Ishmail) as an act of submission to God's command. “God intervened through His angel Jibra'il (Gabriel) and informs him that his s

Muslims have been enjoined to be cautious of the fact that the ravaging Covid-19 is still much around as they celebrate Eidul Adh'a. In a congratulatory message he signed, Senate Spokesperson, Dr Ajibola Basiru, felicitated with the Muslim World and particularly his constituents on this year's Eidul Kabeer. Reminding the people that the big  Islamic celebration teaches piety, patience and endurance, Dr Basiru called on muslims to let the lessons reflect in their daily activities. "With patience and endurance, whatever we besiege Allaah for will be done,and with the two virtues combined with piety,Nigeria will scale hurdles in all spheres of development." "As muslims, we must always remember that Islaam emphasizes cleanliness and hygiene,therefore,as we rejoice in this festive season, we should follow strictly all safety regulations to keep Coronavirus at bay." Assuring his constituents that he would continue to be at their beck and call,the Senate Spokespers

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has sent warm felicitations to Nigerian Muslims on the occasion of Eid-El-Kabir, urging them to pray for the peace, unity, and security of the nation. This was even as he called on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to end the killings in the country, warning that Nigeria was fast becoming a killing field. Ekweremadu stated these in his Sallah message to the Muslim faithful signed by his media adviser, Uche Anichukwu in Abuja. Ekweremadu wished Nigerians a happy Sallah celebration, charging them also to stay safe while observing the protocols and guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Below is the complete text of the statement: Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has sent warm felicitations to the Nigerian Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Eid-El-Kabir, urging them to pray for the peace, unity, and security of the nation. This was even as he called on the Federal Government

...Says Constitution Amendment Exercise to Start After Sallah The Sexual Harassment Bill recently passed by the Senate is not targeted at lecturers in higher institutions of learning but meant to flush out the few bad eggs tarnishing the image of their colleagues, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has said. This comes as Senator Omo-Agege who chairs the Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution, disclosed that work on altering the constitution would commence in full swing after the Sallah break. He stated this in Abuja on Tuesday when two groups - Women Education Advocacy and Development Initiative (WEADI) and League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) - paid him courtesy visits. According to a statement signed by his media aide, Yomi Odunuga, the Delta Central lawmaker regretted that few educators are soiling the image of their colleagues, majority of whom he described as '’decent’'. He commended the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan for prov

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has replied to the National Assembly denying he said that the lawmakers got 60 per cent of the contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission. The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who announced the receipt of Akpabio’s response, said the minister claimed to have referred to old contracts awarded by the NDDC which had not been paid for and some of which are part of the constituency projects of the lawmakers. Gbajabiamila said Akpabio’s response would be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to look at the merits of the minister’s arguments. The minister's response came after Gbajabiamila said the lawmakers would sue him for failing to prove that NDDC awarded contracts to them.

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the recent murder of five staff of humanitarian agencies in Borno State, who were kidnapped by Boko Haram Terrorists a month ago. The president, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday, sympathised with the families of the five aid workers. He prayed that God would comfort them for their irreplaceable loss. He assured that the government would continue to do all it could to ensure that “every remaining vestige of Boko Haram is wiped out completely from North Eastern Nigeria and that the perpetrators of this atrocity face the law.’’ Buhari also condoled with the State Emergency Management Agency, Action Against Hunger, Rich International, and International Rescue Committee, whose staff have suffered this gruesome fate. He thanked them for their continued dedication and service to the victims of Boko Haram in North Eastern Nigeria. He also assured them that security agen

Burson Cohn and Wolfe (BCW), a global communications agency,  in its  Twiplomacy findings, ranked President Muhammadu Buhari as the most followed Sub-saharan African leader on Twitter with 3,121,169 followers. The company made this known in its newly released 2020 Twiplomacy Study. According to the  study, Muhammadu Buhari, the president of Nigeria is by far the most followed Sub-Saharan African leader with 3,121,169 followers ahead of Paul Kagame the President of Rwanda with 1,910,159 followers. It also says that Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa has seen the biggest growth over the past year with  his followers reaching 1,386,849. The Twiplomacy study noted that for  the fourth year running, U.S. President Donald Trump was the most followed world leader on Twitter, with 81.1 million followers on his @realDonaldTrump account which has grown by 33 percent year-over-year. It also says that the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has moved up into second position with