Fire guts Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja

There was panic at the Federal secretariat, Abuja, on Thursday when fire engulfed the fifth floor office of the Ministry of Education.

It took the combined efforts of the Federal Fire Service and the FCT Fire Service to put out the fire which reportedly started around 1.45pm and spread to the sixth floor.

No casualty was recorded in the incident, but some files, furniture and other office equipment were destroyed.

Gov forum’s crisis paved the way for PDP defeat –Tinubu, Soyinka

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Thursday in Lagos said the 2013 Nigeria Governors’ Forum crisis paved the way for the end of the 16-year rule of the   Peoples Democratic Party.

They made the observation during the public presentation of ‘Dynamics of Change: The Amaechi Years,’ a book edited by a former Managing Director ofDaily Times, Yemi Ogunbiyi, and author, Chidi Amuta.

I haven’t got useful tips from Jonathan – Buhari

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has accused the outgoing Goodluck Jonathan government of not giving him “tips” on how to kick-start his administration on May 29.

He spoke on Thursday when a committee from the   Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, presented a five-point policy document to him at the Buhari Support Organisation office in Abuja.

THE ADVENTURES OF LARA Episode 2

Lara sprayed some perfume on her skippy nightie,

she walked to her mirror again.
“Hmm yummy! Plan number four on point!” she
laughed before proceeding to Tony’s room.
She opened the door gently, she peeped first before
walking into the room.
Tony was lying down on the kingsized bed, the
covers were drawn half-way stoping at his waist. His
chest was bare revealing his ‘Six-packs’ features.
She craved to touch, but that isn’t on her list.
She came here to discuss something important-their
marriage.

Champions League | GOAL SCORERS

Suarez set for Chiellini, Evra reunion

The Champions League final between Barcelona and Juventus on June 6 in Berlin will see the controversial Luis Suarez come up against two old enemies.

The Barcelona and Uruguay striker will be in direct opposition to Giorgio Chiellini and Patrice Evra in the Juve defense as the clubs battle it out to win the greatest prize in European club football.

Real reject Morata fires Juve into final

Juventus shattered Real Madrid's dream of a record-extending 11th European crown when Alvaro Morata scored against his former club to secure a 1-1 Champions League draw with the holders on Wednesday and send Juve into the final 3-2 on aggregate.

Cristiano Ronaldo netted a 23rd-minute penalty to give Real the upper hand before Morata stunned the Bernabeu when he rifled a shot into the roof of the net off goalkeeper Iker Casillas 12 minutes into the second half.

Enrique delighted as Barca reach final

Barcelona remain on course to win the treble after reaching the Champions League final by surviving a second-half, second-leg fightback at Bayern Munich, to the delight of coach Luis Enrique.

Neymar struck twice as Barcelona reached the Berlin final by beating Bayern 5-3 on aggregate in their semifinal despite losing Tuesday's second-leg 3-2 at the Allianz Arena having won 3-0 in Spain.

Messi is the best of all time - Pep

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the best player ever, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday after the Spanish side eliminated the Bavarians 5-3 on aggregate to reach next month's Champions League final.

"He is the best player of all time," Guardiola said. "I compare him with Pele. I am so happy to see this football."

Messi, who is enjoying a sensational season and has scored 10 goals in Europe's elite competition alone, destroyed Bayern in Barca's 3-0 first-leg win after scoring twice last week.

Barca in final despite loss at Bayern

Neymar struck twice as Barcelona reached the Champions League final by beating Bayern Munich 5-3 on aggregate in their semifinal despite losing Tuesday's second-leg 3-2 at the Allianz Arena.

Luis Enrique's Barca survived a Bayern second-half fightback to keep alive their treble dreams as they close in on winning the Spanish league and face Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Cup final on May 30.

Back in Action as 100 killed in Plateau, Taraba

No fewer than 100 people, including a pastor and three soldiers, were killed at the weekend and Monday in Plateau and Taraba states.

Seventy of the deaths were recorded in Karim Lamido and Takum local government areas of Taraba State and 30 in two villages at the Barkin Ladi LGA   of Plateau State.

It was learnt that suspected Fulani herdsmen   invaded Vat and Zakupang , killing Pastor Luka Gwom of the Church of Christ in Nation and 29 others in the early hours of Monday.

PDP NWC blames campaign team for Jonathan’s defeat … says hate statements cost party votes in the North

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has said the hate campaign against Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress by the President Goodluck Jonathan campaign team played a huge part in PDP’s woeful outing at the last general elections.

It also accused the   team of shutting out its members from Jonathan’s electioneering after receiving about N500m out of the N7bn generated from the sale of forms to the aspirants.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh,   told journalists at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, that apart from the N500m, the Jerry Gana -led fund raising campaign committee generated about N21bn which it spent without involving the NWC members.

Chams consolidates business, targets greater returns

Identity management company, Chams Plc, says it is shifting its focus to the creation of greater value for its shareholders, having completed the restructuring and consolidation of its operations.

The Chairman, Chams, Rev. Ayo Richards, who said this at the company’s 31st Annual General Meeting in Lagos, explained that the company was now in a great position to sustain its growth, a statement from the company said.

Richards told the shareholders that Chams and its subsidiaries, including ChamsAccess and CardCentre, had further entrenched their relationships with clients as well as local and international trade partners to ensure a sustained growth trajectory and market dominance in identity management.

Champions League | FIXTURES

Lewan trains, Bayern no fear for Barca

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski trained with a protective mask and could face Barcelona in Wednesday's Champions League semifinal, first-leg, despite a broken cheekbone, teammate Jerome Boateng confirmed on Monday.

"He moved well and made a good impression, it looks like he's fit and motivated to play," Bayern defender Boateng told reporters in Munich after training with Lewandowski.

"He didn't have any fear, he is very brave and he will get used to the mask, I don't think it'll be much of a problem."

The 26-year-old Lewandowski, the German champions' top-scorer with 23 goals, sat out Bayern's 2-0 league defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday to try and get him fit for the first leg at the Camp Nou.

Fire 4 Fire "Pepe relishing battle with Tevez"

Real Madrid defender Pepe said he was relishing the prospect of a battle against Juventus forward Carlos Tevez when the sides meet in Tuesday's Champions League semifinal.

Tevez has been revitalised since his move to Juventus two years ago and the battle between the feisty Argentine and the notoriously volatile Portugal defender promises to be one of the highlights of the first leg.

"Tevez is a top quality player, who likes to fight for the ball and battles a lot on pitch, and I enjoy it when it's like that," Pepe told reporters on Monday.

Vilified for his red card against Germany at the World Cup, Pepe has yet to be sent off this season, which critics say is a sign that the 32-year-old has mellowed and matured under the leadership of coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Yekini irreplaceable —Lawal, Ekpo

Ex-internationals, Garba Lawal, and Friday Ekpo, have lamented the fact that the late Nigerian football legend, Rashidi Yekini, has remained irreplaceable in the Super Eagles, since 1998 when he last played for the national team. The ex-internationals commented as Nigerians on Monday marked the third year of the death of Yekini.

The former Eagles’ midfielders, who spoke to our correspondent, in honour of the memory of Yekini, who died on May 4, 2012, noted with dismay that all Eagles forwards in the past 17 years, have failed to match Yekini’s goal scoring profile.Lawal said, “Yekini is a legend. There is no doubt about that, everybody knows. He is the best striker we’ve ever had in Nigeria and I don’t think we can, in the near future, get any other striker that will be as prolific as he was. He was one and only. I don’t know about the next generation anyway. He was a legend; a typical goal scorer.

Arsenal UCL qualification

Alexis Sanchez scored twice as Arsenal all but secured a top-four finish in the Premier League for the 18th consecutive season with a 3-1 victory at struggling Hull on Monday.

Arsene Wenger's side swept into a three-goal halftime lead thanks to Sanchez's double and a strike from Aaron Ramsey before Stephen Quinn pulled one back for Hull after the break.

Man blames Jonathan for pregnant daughter’s murder

The father of a 26-year-old pregnant woman, who was murdered in the Arepo area of Ogun State last week, has blamed President Goodluck Jonathan for the incident.

Mr. Babafemi Ojo, whose daughter Damilola Fajana, was killed on April 28, said this in a statement on Monday.

Ojo explained that his daughter was killed by a stray bullet during a gun battle between the members of the Odua Peoples Congress and pipeline vandals.

He said it was unfortunate that Jonathan could hire the services of the OPC and award the group a huge contract just because he wanted to win an election.

Buhari’s Chad Basin wild goose chase

THE plan by President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to commit resources to a renewed search for crude oil in the Chad Basin is a terribly bad idea and should be dropped. At a time of dramatic changes in the global oil and gas sector, featuring oversupply, falling prices and the emergence of many more producers, it is retrogressive to consider resuming the 40-year-old waste of public funds in a venture of uncertain benefits. Instead, Buhari should prepare a reconstruction plan for the North-East zone that would harness its untapped agricultural and solid minerals potential.