A new-look Ivory Coast will defend their Africa Cup of Nations title while the hosts’ lightning-quick striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leads the cast of superstar names as the 2017 tournament begins in Gabon on Saturday.

LEADERS of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday, directed members nationwide to go ahead with the three-day warning strike from today.

Members of Uganda’s parliament will donate a percentage of their January salary to help the team at the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

NATIONAL Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Oye, has said there is no crisis in the party ,adding the party is the most peaceful in the country.

The African Development Bank, AfDB, will partner with the Sokoto State Government in its plans to establish an agro-industrial park for the North-West geo-political zone, its President, Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina, has said.

Nigerians in the Diaspora, who are desirous of investing in the $300 million Diaspora Bond would have the privilege of doing so in March, when it would be rolled out.

Kebbi State Government, yesterday, said it had spent N500 million on checking the activities of cattle rustlers and kidnappers in the state.

The Ogun State Government yesterday demolished a Primary Health Centre at Obada in Ijebu Igbo in Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state. The facility was said to be undergoing renovation without approval by the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Senator Buruji Kashamu, which necessitated its being pulled down by the agents of the state government.

THE Minister of State, Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said grains hoarders were doing themselves harm over piling the produce with hope of selling at an inflated price to the government.

THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed January 28, 2017, for the conduct of the by-election for Etsako federal constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives.

Theophilus Afelokhai has said he does not hope to sit on the bench for Ghana goalkeeper and Enyimba star signing Fatau Dauda.

Dealers in substandard and adulterated products have been described as terrorists in view of the danger their activities pose to the security of lives and properties of Nigerians.

DELTA State Police Command, yesterday, said it apprehended nine leaders of Ogbe-Ijoh, Isaba and Aladja communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State and Udu LGA of the state, to forestall the escalation of the ethnic feud among the Ijaw and Urhobo communities.

THE Supreme Court decision on December 16, 2016 voiding the sack, on October 29, 2010, of the 16 local government councils in Ekiti State was unarguably the best breather for democracy at the grassroots.

THE founder and General Overseer of the collapsed Reigners Bible Church, Uyo, in Akwa Ibom State, Apostle Akan Weeks, has absolved himself of any blame in the tragic event of December, 10, 2016, which claimed several lives.