The Managing Director of the National inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Hajia Inna Ciroma, on Wednesday tendered her resignation letter, with effect from May 28. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Tayo Fadile, the authority’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja.

Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner said on Wednesday he was innocent of any charges relating to a US Justice Department probe into conspiracy and corruption at the heart of football’s world governing body over the last two decades. The Trinidadian’s name was on a list of nine current or former FIFA officials and five business executives who allegedly “abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks,” US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in New York.

“A declaration that arrangements being made by the defendants, in collusion with United States’ security operatives in West Africa and his political opponents led by General Olusegun Obasanjo to abduct him and forcibly transport him to the United States of America on the basis of allegations which have been the subject of an investigation by the Interpol and litigation in competent court in United Kingdom and concerning him, which he had been exonerated, are illegal, unlawful, ultra vires and constitute a breach of his fundamental rights to freedom of movement as enshrined in Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.”

Niger has extended for three months the state of emergency in its southeastern Diffa region where the army has been battling Boko Haram militants since February, authorities announced Wednesday. “Boko Haram elements are there,” Daouda Malam Marthe, first vice president of parliament, said on state radio. “The prolongation of the state of emergency is a necessity.”

The current and former presidents of CONCACAF, Jeffrey Webb and Jack Warner, are among 14 defendants accused of masterminding a 24-year-old multimillion-dollar kickback scheme on football marketing contracts.

European football body UEFA on Wednesday expressed astonishment and sadness over the arrests of leading FIFA and other football officials in Zurich. UEFA said in a statement in Warsaw that it was now waiting for additional information. It said its executive committee would hold an informal meeting in Warsaw later in the day, before the Europa League final between Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Sevilla.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Wednesday assured that it would continue to reward deserving, to make life more meaningful to them after retirement. The Head of National Office of the council, Dr Charles Eguridu, gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen. He was speaking on the sidelines of a send-off party for seven retiring deputy registrars of the council in Lagos. Eguridu described the retiring officers as vital to the council’s operations.

The Senate on Tuesday received the report of the National Conference from President Goodluck Jonathan for consideration. The letter accompanying the report, which was read by the President of the Senate, David Mark, indicated that the conference report had been deliberated upon and approved for implementation by the Federal Executive Council.

Burundi’s main opposition parties said Wednesday it was now “impossible” to hold free and fair elections next week and that the result should not be recognised if they take place. The opposition said plans for polls to go ahead despite widespread civil unrest in the capital was tantamount to an “electoral hold-up” by President Pierre Nkurunziza, whose controversial bid for a third consecutive term has plunged the central African nation into a deep political crisis.

Kangiwa said the potential benefit of migration to national development, therefore, spurred the need to elaborate on a National Migration Policy to provide coherence on migration issues. She explained that the Federal Executive Council had, on May 13, 2015, approved the National Migration Policy. According to her, the approval of the policy comes at a time when the global community is yearning for constructive migration policies that promote the rights of migrants.