Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Bitrus Bewarang, is optimistic that Everton new kid on the block Ademola Lookman will pledge his international future to the Super Eagles rather than his country of birth, England.

The new Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, has described his elevation as a demonstration of the supremacy of his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, saying there was now no excuse for the party’s caucus in the Senate not to perform, given the fact that the contending forces have sheathed their swords.

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has appointed Uwakwe Ukuta Azikiwe, son of the former Premier of the Eastern Region and Nigeria’s first President, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, as Special Adviser on Special Duties.

IT was a hectic one-day visit to Delta State for Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as he witnessed the explosive nature of the region, yesterday, with the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups disagreeing on the ownership of the site of the Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko, whose take-off is a major demand by the Ijaw of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

The Lagos State government yesterday allayed fears of residents over suspected explosive substance which was allegedly dropped in a manhole in one of the Streets in Agege area of the State, saying that the development was nothing to worry about.

MANCHESTER City striker Kelechi Iheanacho has missed out on an endorsement deal with American sportswear giants Nike that would have seen him net a contract worth £200,000 (approximately N120 million).

Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan Ali (retd), has reiterated the determination of the military to rescue the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, saying that the capture of Camp Zero in Sambisa forest was only a mission accomplished and not the end to the campaign against Boko Haram.

ONE person was shot and wounded in another gun battle, Sunday, between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities in Warri South-West and Udu Local Government Areas, Delta State.

OIL prices slipped yesterday over doubts that large oil producers will reduce production as promised and on expectations that United States production would increase again this year.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has confirmed nine deaths and 20 cases of Lassa Fever in seven states since the beginning of the dry season in December 2016; even as it commences implementation of its plan to strengthen nationwide response capacity to anticipated Lassa Fever cases.

THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has ranked Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) second, out of the eleven distribution companies, DisCos, in the country on its performance metrics for third quarter 2016, Q3’16.

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has directed Ganza Engineering Ltd, the company handling the N3.98 billion Ukawu water scheme in Okawu, Onicha Local Government Area to immediately return to site.

THE Federal Government, yesterday, inaugurated 21-man steering committee for restructuring and recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture, BoA, in line with the diversification policy of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

THE Senate, yesterday, said it would soon uplift the standard of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, through necessary legislations to enable it compete favourably and be at par with similar universities in the world.

LAGOS—A senior Pastor at the Ministry of the Holy Ghost, Joe Akan, and four other suspected members of his gang have been arrested in connection with a robbery operation in Agege area of Lagos State, where a Toyota Highlander SUV was snatched from its owner.