Nigerians in the Transfer Scene | Ighalo Won't Say No to United

Nigerian hot-shot, Odion Ighalo, is quite certain that despite his 14 goals in the English Premier League, he would not be moving from Watford in this January window.

But the Super Eagles forward added a caveat, "But I'm not sure I could say no if United called".

"They were my team growing up. I loved watching Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. They were my idols and playing at Old Trafford has always been a dream," he added.

Lukman could be the new Dele Alli

Just as Tottenham unearthed Dele Alli from MK Dons, another player of Nigerian heritage, Ademola Lukman, has appeared on their radar.

Spurs signed the then unheralded Alli in January 2015 for £5million and loaned him back to the Dons, which he helped gain promotion to the Championship.

The midfielder then moved to White Hart Lane last summer, with many expecting another loan stint but the 19-year-old has since grabbed a starting berth under Mauricio Pochettino and has also earned five England caps, scoring a spectacular goal against France.

Lukman is also a midfielder, currently with Charlton Athletic, with Crystal Palace already running the rule over him.

According to Sevenoaks Chronicle, the 18-year-old is highly regarded and scored his first senior goal for the club against Brighton in December.

Another Nigerian in the news is 17-year-old Tolaji Bola, who has agreed his first professional deal with Arsenal. Bola has impressed Arsene Wenger playing for the U-18 over the past two seasons and has thus been rewarded with a professional contract.

Nigeria's Necessity for Better Government Communications Management

One point the managers of information in this government must come to terms with is that government policies would, on the short run, be unpalatable. Many citizens would therefore resist and denounce them. It is therefore imperative for the information managers to provide the required information, regularly, accurately, precisely and timely, lest they find themselves always coming behind to deny rumours and speculations. That means they have to focus on the important issues, rather than dissipate energy fighting unnecessary 'wars' on social media and making unwarranted comments such as referring to critics as 'wailing wailers'.

It is more than two full weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari presented the proposed 2016 budget to the National Assembly. Yet, the full document has not been uploaded to the appropriate websites of government. This is a marked difference from the previous years when the detailed breakdown of the budget proposal was often in the public arena for debate.

The widespread debate and discussions of public budgets in the past were made possible by the increase in economic literacy facilitated by various civil society groups since the present democratic experience began in 1999. The country has, in fact, benefited from in-depth analyses of budget proposals over the years, even if some of the discussions may seem pedestrian to some, especially as the budget had been demystified by the civil society. Even the legislature has, on many occasions, had to rely on the expertise provided by many within the civil society. This is because such experts often draw attention to anomalies in the allocations, query the necessity of some allocations, and raise questions about some apparently spurious and dubious proposed spending. To be useful, such analyses must be based on official documents, not those obtained through unofficial means or arrived at by ways of speculation.

Egypt: 14 Terrorists Killed, 13 Suspects Arrested in Sinai

As many as 14 terrorists were killed and 13 suspects arrested as part of operation "Martyr's Right" in the cities of Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid, the Armed Forces announced on Friday 8/1/2016.

In a released statement, the Armed Forces said the operation was carried out by joint troops from the Second and Third Field Armies, and policemen.

Security forces seized also nine firearms, two explosive belts and a huge amount of explosive materials.

Three cars and 13 motorbikes were destroyed in the crackdown.

Chad: UN Provides Emergency Funds for Tens of Thousands Displaced By Boko Haram Violence

With nearly 200,000 people in Chad in need of urgent aid - 50,000 of them uprooted by Boko Haram terrorists from Nigeria - the United Nations emergency fund today announced a $7 million grant, the second in five months, and called on international donors to provide much more.

"This funding is crucial, because in spite of all the efforts made by humanitarian actors since the beginning of the year 2015, the situation remains of deep concern," UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Chad Director Florent Méhaule said.

"The humanitarian response faces several challenges, including difficulties in accessing the populations in need due to insecurity, as well as a lack of resources," he said.

The funds come from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), set up 10 years ago to provide immediate financing for both sudden-onset and long-festering crises, which in August awarded $21 million to UN partners in Sudan and Chad to sustain basic services and protection for millions of people who have fled Sudan's strife-torn Darfur region.

The new aid will assist over 50,000 Chadians forced by violence and insecurity to flee the islands of Lake Chad over the past six months for refuge in dozens of displaced people's sites, villages and districts in the prefectures of Baga-Sola, Bol, Daboua, Kangalom and Liwa.

In addition, 15,000 Chadian returnees from Nigeria, 14,000 Nigerian refugees and over 700 third-country nationals need urgent aid. The displacements have also affected vulnerable host communities, among whom 112,000 people are in need of assistance.

"Our priority through this CERF funding, is to bring life-saving assistance to the people mostly affected by this crisis: displaced persons, refugees, and vulnerable host populations, whose livelihood activities - fishing, agriculture, and pastoralism - are limited by insecurity," Stephen Tull, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Chad, declared.

With nine CERF-approved projects over the next six months, UN agencies along with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and State services will provide food, protection, health, and education.

The funds will be managed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The situation remains very volatile in the lake region, where over 16,000 newly displaced people, not covered by this CERF allocation, have been identified in the western area due to the latest military operations.

"CERF is the main donor for this crisis," Mr. Tull said. "Considering the severity of the situation, this funding alone will not cover all needs. Broader donor mobilization is essential in order to respond to most urgent needs and also - in medium and long term - to support the development of this region, including access to basic services and the strengthening of livelihoods."

Mali: Swiss Missionary Abducted for Second Time in Timbuktu

A Swiss citizen known for professing her Christian faith in Mali has been kidnapped for the second time in four years. The Swiss Foreign Ministry said it had warned her of staying in the West African country.

Armed men on Friday abducted Swiss citizen Beatrice Stockly from her home in the northern Malian city of Timbuktu, marking the second time the missionary had been kidnapped in four years, according to Swiss and Malian sources.

The German cabinet has approved the deployment of hundreds of Bundeswehr troops to Mali. The German army is also expanding its training mission for Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq.

"I confirm that a European woman was kidnapped in Timbuktu at 3:30 a.m. (03:30 GMT). A neighbor alerted the security forces around 6 a.m.," said Souleymane Maiga, a Malian army spokesperson.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry on Friday also issued as statement, saying it was "aware of the apparent kidnapping of a Swiss woman in Mali."

Swiss authorities said they "formed a task force immediately after the kidnapping incident was announced," adding that it was "committed to achieving the release of the Swiss citizen in good health."

In 2012, militants kidnapped Stockly from her home in Timbuktu, after which she was held by the Ansar Dine rebel group, known for its affiliations with Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). After two weeks in rebel captivity, she was handed over to a special forces unit from Burkina Faso.

However, Stockly was released on condition that she never return to Timbuktu to proselytize, reported Swiss news agency SDA.

"After the kidnapping of 2012, the ministry had pointed out to the affected Swiss national the high personal risk in Mali ... and strongly discouraged her from another stay in Mali," the Swiss Foreign Ministry said.

Following a military coup in 2012, Tuareg and Islamist rebels formed a loose alliance during a campaign that resulted in the capture of large swathes of Mali's northern desert, including Timbuktu.

The rebel forces were pushed back in 2013 following a French-led military intervention. France maintains a counterterrorism force in Barkhane with some 3,500 troops. The UN also has a force of 10,000 peacekeepers stationed in the West African country.

Malawi: Gay Fears Murder If Deported to Malawi From UK - Gets Removal Directions

A Malawian gay asylum seeker in the UK says he fears he will be killed if deported to his home country following a politician public appeal to kill the LGBTI people.

The Malawian who spoke to Nyasa Times from his detention centre in Oxford, said he is facing deportation to Malawi - because he doesn't have enough 'proof' of his sexuality.

The former resident of Wolverhampton, Chiyembekezo who asked for his surname to be shielded, told Nyasa Times that his boyfriend is in England and that UK Hom Office has issued him with removal direction and that his flight is on this weekend.

"My claim for asylum was refused because they say my case is not provable that I am gay. But I am proper gay with a recognisable boy friend," said Chiyembekezo, 25.

He told Nyasa Times that he fears he would face jungle justice for his sexual orientantion in Malawi following comments made by Ken Msonda, spokesperson of the opposition People's Party in response to the government's decision to put a moratorium on the anti-gay laws, after an international outcry over the arrest of two gay men in December.

'Arresting them won't address this problem because sooner or later they are being released on bail. The best way to deal with this problem is to kILL them!' Msonda wrote on Facebook.

'It is pathetic to see our media houses parading these dogs on TV and newspapers hiding behind human rights -- human rights my foot! The devil has no rights!'

But now the Malawi Law Society - an umbrella organization of all lawyers in the country - has said Msonda's words constituted hate speech and called on the Human Rights Commission and police to investigate.

'This irresponsibility takes an unacceptably different turn when political leaders and opinion makers take the lead in inciting actual violence against fellow citizens,' it said in a statement.

'Calling on members of the LGBTI community to be killed is hate speech and is not protected by the Constitution. It is in fact criminal.'

And presidential spokesman Gerald Viola told a local radio that President Peter Mutharika wants gay rights to be protected awaiting review of the laws.

Campaigners in Malawi say homophobic legislation is driving gays underground, making them hard to reach with information that could protect them from Aids.

Libya: Security Council Urges Libyan Parties to Come Together Under New Political Deal to Combat Terrorists

Strongly condemning yesterday's terrorist attack on a security training centre in Zliten, Libya, and in the wake of that deadly incident and the recent attacks on the country's oil infrastructure, the United Nations Security Council has urged all Libyan parties to joint together to combat terrorist threats by implementing the recent agreement on a unity government.

In a press statement, the Council expressed its deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery to those injured in the incident, which, according to media reports, left nearly 50 people dead and wounded many others yesterday morning when police recruits gathered at the training centre in Zliten, a coastal town between Tripoli and the port of Misrata.

Also condemning the recent attacks on Libya's oil infrastructure by a group that has claimed allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (or ISIL, also known as Da'esh), the Council urged all parties in Libya to join efforts to combat the threat posed by transnational terrorist groups exploiting Libya for their own agenda, by urgently implementing the Libyan Political Agreement.

The Council also urged Libyan parties to work swiftly towards the formation of the Government of National Accord "that will work for the benefit of all Libyans and the finalisation of interim security arrangements necessary for stabilizing Libya."

Underlining the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice, the Council stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.

Council members in their statement went on to reaffirm "grave concern" about ISIL, groups that have pledged allegiance to ISIL - which includes foreign terrorist fighters who are in Libya, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with ISIL and Al-Qaida operating in Libya - and the negative impact of their presence, violent extremist ideology and actions on the country's stability, as well as neighbouring countries and the region, including the devastating humanitarian impact on the civilian populations.

They reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the UN Charter, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

The members of the Security Council stressed the need to take measures to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, terrorist organisations, and individual terrorists in accordance with resolutions 2199 (2015) and 2253 (2015).

South Sudan: Sudanese People's Liberation Movement Resolves Conflict

Pretoria — Conflict within the ranks of the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) has now come to an end, says South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The Presidency on Friday said this followed consultations between Deputy President Ramaphosa, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and leaders of the SPLM (former detainees) and SPLM (in opposition), Taban Deng and Deng Alor, on Thursday in Juba in South Sudan.

Deputy President Ramaphosa was in South Sudan representing President Jacob Zuma at the Extra-Ordinary National Convention of the SPLM held in Juba from 7 - 8 January 2016.

The Presidency said during the Deputy President's consultation with the leaders of the opposition, who had taken a decision not to attend the convention, he persuaded them to attend the Extra-Ordinary Convention as part of confidence building measures aimed at the reunification of the SPLM.

The Presidency said the two leaders attended the Extra-Ordinary Convention, a decision that went well to foster unity and reunification of the SPLM.

"We can truly say that indeed the conflict that engulfed the SPLM has today come to an end and the guns of war have now been silenced. Taban Deng said there is no more going to war, which means that there is a permanent ceasefire," said the Deputy President.

He attended and addressed the convention alongside the representative of the Tanzania's ruling party as co-guarantors of the Arusha Reunification Agreement.

The Extra-Ordinary National Convention was convened specifically to incorporate provisions of the Arusha Agreement, signed in January 2015, into the constitution of the SPLM.

During the visit to Juba, Deputy President Ramaphosa also paid a courtesy call on President Kiir.

"During his consultations, Deputy President Ramaphosa was informed that substantial progress had been made in negotiations between the various factions of the SPLM and the government, regarding the formation of the government of national unity.

"In this regard, President Kiir is expected to announce the government of national unity by decree," said the Presidency.

Deputy President Ramaphosa also held bilateral consultations on the margins of the SPLM's Extra-Ordinary National Convention with Botswana former President Festus Mogae, who is the Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, established under the Compromise Agreement.

Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to return from Juba to South Africa later today, ahead of his planned attendance of the Official Provincial Funeral of the late Indries Naidoo, a veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle, scheduled for Sunday.

Central African Republic: First Round of Elections in the Central African Republic

Washington, DC — The peaceful conduct and high turnout in the first round of presidential and parliamentary elections in the Central African Republic are clear signs that Central Africans seek a new beginning for their country, and a future based on democratic governance and free from the violence and instability that have plagued the country for far too long.

We commend all Central Africans who, with support from international forces, ensured the vote on December 30 was peaceful and secure. As the Central African Republic moves towards the second round of elections in the coming weeks, we reiterate our desire to see this spirit of peace, tolerance, and free expression.

And we strongly urge all parties and their supporters to peacefully address any disputes with yesterday's announcement through the Central African legal system.

These elections are an historic opportunity for Central Africans to build a united, prosperous, and democratic future for their country and establish a government that reflects the country's rich geographic, ethnic, and religious diversity. In that effort, they will find a steadfast supporter in the United States.

The United States stands with the Central African Republic at this critical moment and will continue to be a strong friend and ally of the Central African people.

Tanzania: Post-Election Stalemate in Zanziba

More than two months after Tanzania's general elections, Zanzibar's political parties are still arguing over who won. The spat is affecting the economy badly and there is in sight.

#WhatWouldMagufuliDo - two months on the Twitter hashtag remains popular. On the Tanzanian mainland, the younger generation is still celebrating President John Magufuli's somewhat unconventional efforts to encourage Tanzanians to lead a more simple and modest life.

Magufuli won the presidential elections which were held on October 25, 2015. In his first weeks in office, he slashed what he called unnecessary expenditure, such as business class flights for cabinet members and lavish Independence Day celebrations. As a result, Tanzanians spent their independence day sweeping the streets, tidying up hospitals and literally cleaning the country.

But, Zanzibar remains in limbo. Zanzibar is an archipelago and its two largest islands are Unguja and Pemba. Although part of Tanzania, it has a semi-autonomous status. At elections Zanzibaris vote not only for a national Tanzanian president, but also for a Zanzibari president and assembly. Until now, the post of the president was always occupied by a member of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). The main opposition party, the Civic United Front (CUF) has been a junior coalition partner in Zanzibar's government since 2010.

Election irregularities

After Zanzibaris went to the polls on October 25, the region's electoral commission annulled the vote, citing election irregularities. Commission chairman Jecha Salim Jecha reported that the number of votes exceeded the number of registered voters in some polling stations. Election observers were prevented from monitoring the counting and there were claims that the opposition CUF manipulated ballot papers in Pemba.

A day after the elections, CUF leader Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad declared himself the winner. It was the fifth time that the 72-year-old had run for the presidency. In 2010 he was defeated by CCM candidate Ali Mohamed Shein by a small margin. The two candidates faced each other again in this latest poll.

Diplomacy tested

While CUF is still insisting it won the poll and has threatened to boycott any fresh elections, CCM is calling for a re-run. Negotiations between CCM's Shein and CUF's Seif Sharif Hamad have been going on for weeks without producing any results. Voters are being kept in the dark about what is going on behind the scenes. After weeks of silence, Shein publicly declared that he was still Zanzibar's president, while Seif Sharif Hamad says that Shein's mandate expired on November 2.

What happens when there is no winner? Unfortunatley the constitution offers little in the was of guidelines. The CUF could go to court, but concerns that any legal action may go against them has probably stopped them from taking this step. "To me, it seems as if Shein is telling us Zanzibaris that he has the monopoly of power and we can't do anything against him," the Zanzibari lawyer Fatma Karume told DW. "He is giving us the impression that our votes don't matter".

The political crisis is a test of the archipelago's political stability. Elections in Zanzibar have repeatedly sparked clashes between the supporters of CCM and CUF since the 1990s. A government of national unity was formed after the 2010 election in order to defuse tensions. "If they cannot come to a diplomatic solution, we might once again see violence and deaths," warned Hubertus von Welck who was in Zanzibar as an election observer from the German Friedrich Naumann Foundation. He said diplomatic channels must be kept open.

Food prices rise

The mood in Zanzibar is still calm. Tanzania's President Magufuli met with opposition leader Seif Sharif Hamad at the end of December. Since then soldiers have disappeared from the streets. Local administration is still functioning, although the CUF has withdrawn its ministers. Zanzibar has not had a parliament since November.

Zanzibar's economy is however suffering. Beans, potatoes and tomatoes are all imported from mainland Tanzania. They have become scarce and prices have risen. Tanzania's government blames this on mismanagement by the traders, poor infrastructure and red tape. Zanzibaris fear traders have been disconcerted by the political uncertainty on the archipelago.

Central African Republic: Citizens Urged to Vote in Presidential Run-Off

Political change is gathering pace in Central African Republic, where two ex-prime ministers will be vying for the presidency in a run-off poll. Opponents' charges of first round 'irregularities' are subsiding.

Former premiers of the Central African Republic (CAR), Anicet Georges Dologuele and Faustin Archange Touadera, are expected to compete in a race to become the country's new democratically legitimized president, replacing interim incumbent Catherine Samba-Panza, in a second round run-off on January 31.

Dologuele won 23.7 percent in the first round of voting on December 30, trailed by Touadera who garnered 19.4 percent.

The provisional first round results, announced on Thursday (07.01.2016), have yet to be confirmed by the Constitutional Court. The court also has yet to formally endorse January 31 as the date for the run-off.

Dologuele urged Central Africans to go out and vote in the run-off in three weeks time. "I'm pleading with the people of CAR to keep on doing what they did in the first round. I'm the only candidate who obtained votes from all sides. I think there is general confidence in me and I promise to prove that I deserve it," he said on Thursday.

The 58-year-old economist spent more than a decade outside CAR before returning to its political scene in 2013. He served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001 under the government of President Ange-Felix Patasse, who was deposed in a 2003 coup by Francois Bozize. Bozize remained in power until 2013 when he was overthrown by rebel forces.

Dologuele's rival, Touadera, who is also 58, said he could "see the enthusiasm of the CAR people" to get out and vote in the run-off and that this indicated how much people "wanted peace and wished to escape from the present predicament."

Touadera, who a holds a doctorate in mathematics, served as prime minister under Bozize from 2008 until early 2013.

Other candidates dropping complaints

Protests by other candidates about the conduct of the first round of the election in December 2015 appear to have subsided. 28 out of 30 candidates have indicated that they "want to make sure that the election process carries on" and would only use legal means to express any complaints.

20 candidates had previously urged the authorities to halt the vote count because of what they termed irregularities in the ballot. Since Tuesday, at least five have publicly reversed their position.

Dologuele had 259,211 votes, while Touadera garned 222,391. No other candidate had more than 135,000 votes.

One diplomat in CAR, who asked not to be named, told AFP there had certainly been fraud in some areas and there have been huge logistical glitches which have disrupted the process "but massive fraud is unlikely."

Fears that the poll would be marred by violence appeared to be largely unfounded.

This is seen as a significant achievement in a country where Muslim rebels and Christian militias have frequently targeted civilians and in which one fifth of the country's population of 5 million have been forced to flee their homes because of the violence.

CAR's transitional authority assumed power in 2014. This came after rebel leader Michel Djotodia, the country's first Muslim president, stepped aside less than a year after his forces overthrew Bozize and his government.

The December 2015 elections, presidential and legislative, and the January 2016 run-off are part of a UN-backed effort to install democratic governance.

South Sudan: 'Alarming' Outbreak of Violence in New Area of South Sudan Uproots 15,000, UN Reports

Fighting between armed groups and Government soldiers and an apparent breakdown in law and order in South Sudan's Western Equatoria state, with hundreds of houses burned down or looted, has uprooted 15,000 people over the past five weeks, and 500 a day are now pouring into Uganda, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.

"Sporadic gunfire is commonplace, and there has also been an increase in crime involving car-jackings, attacks on Government property, looting of civilian homes and sexual assaults reportedly by armed youth," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Adrian Edwards told a news briefing in Geneva.

"Overall, these are alarming developments for a region of South Sudan that has until now been relatively stable," he added.

The country, which only gained independence in 2009 after breaking away from Sudan, its northern neighbour, was thrown into turmoil when conflict erupted between President Salva Kiir and his former Vice-President Riek Machar two years ago, killing thousands, displacing over 2.4 million people, 650,000 of whom fled abroad, and impacting the food security of 4.6 million.

Just last month the Security Council increased the strength of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) by over 1,000 to a ceiling of 15,000 troops and police, citing protection of civilians "by all necessary means" as its top priority after repeated ceasefire violations by both the Government and opposition undermined UN and regional efforts to restore peace and stability.

Mr. Edwards reported that a recent UN mission to Yambio, 300 kilometres west of Juba, the capital, found nearly 200 houses burnt down and several hundred others looted. People have taken refuge in the town centre or moved to nearby villages. UN estimates put those displaced in Western Equatoria's Yambio and Tambura counties at 15,000 since the start of December.

The violence is also driving people to flee hundreds of kilometres to the southeast to neighbouring Uganda where 500 refugees have been registered every day since the beginning of this week - a quadrupling in recent numbers. As well as the violence, refugees cite food insecurity due to failed crops as a reason for their flight.

Last month, UNHCR reported that fighting in Western Equatoria, which until then had been spared much of the violence that has hit other parts of the country, had displaced over 4,000 people into a remote region of north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

As of 6 January, registered new arrivals, most in the Dungu area, had risen to 6,181, some 4,164 of them South Sudan nationals and 2,017 Congolese, who had been living as refugees in South Sudan. The influx there has continued into 2016 but at a much reduced rate, with the Government refugee agency recording 268 in the past week.

The implications for humanitarian access to an estimated 7,400 refugees living in Western Equatoria are very worrying, Mr. Edwards said. UNHCR is in contact with Government authorities regarding the security of those refugees and has agreed on additional UNMISS force protection through increased patrols as well as support to relocate refugees to safer areas.

International Monetary Fund head: Cameroon economy on the right path

Speaking in Cameroon during a regional tour, International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde said growth in the resource-rich CEMAC bloc – comprising Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon – slowed in 2015 to around 2 percent and will increase only slightly this year.

“My visit to Nigeria has been extremely fruitful and informative”, Lagarde said. “The prolonged slump in oil prices presents a new reality for CEMAC”, she said while meeting with officials from the Cameroonian government and CEMAC.

This has led to sharply lower export earnings and government revenues.

Lagarde said her visit to Nigeria was not to negotiate a loan for the country, contrary to the widespread speculation, but rather to discuss how the most populous African nation could overcome the economic challenges caused by dwindling global oil prices.

CEMAC sub-region growth is expected to hit 3.5 percent in 2016, still far below the growth of previous years.

The non-oil sector has also been affected. This includes focusing on the critical area of infrastructure, where power, transportation, and housing are especially key.

“I complimented the authorities on their efforts to address corruption, particularly the decision to publish monthly data on the finances and operations of the National Petroleum Corporation”.

She explained that “transparency and the rule of law will be crucial in reducing constraints to the country’s growth”. She is also billed to hold talks with Nigerian legislators, senior leaders, prominent businessmen and women, and representatives of the civil society.

In conclusion, she thanked the government and people of Nigeria for their welcome and warm hospitality. She said the International Monetary Fund will audit Buhari’s current budget “to assess whether the financing is in place” and “whether the debt is sustainable, borrowing costs are sensible, and what must be put in place in order to address the challenges going forward”.

South Africa: Governing Party Celebrates 104 Years Amid Growing Disaffection

South Africa's governing African National Congress celebrates its 104th birthday in 2016. In keeping with tradition, the party's president Jacob Zuma will deliver the annual January 8 statement, mapping out the party's main activities for the year ahead.

Historically, the statement has set the tone for government and informed the president of the country's annual state of the nationaddress, at the opening of Parliament in February.

The event will be keenly watched to, among other things, gauge what the party considers to be the main challenges facing the country; and how it plans to lead in navigating them.

Among the reasons Zuma's speech will be closely watched include:

• It comes in the same week that racism dominated national discourse. There have been numerous calls for it to be either criminalised or punished more harshly.
• The devastating blow to the economy caused by his recentfiring of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene. Zuma's handling of the issue saw mounting calls for his dismissal.
• Upcoming municipal elections, which come amid declining electoral support.
• Rising disaffection with the slow pace of change, as shown by soaring popular protests about poor delivery on key socioeconomic issues. Unemployment, poverty and inequality remain stubbornly high.
• Growing anger at rampant government corruption, culminating in marches by civil society.
• Recent student protests against rising university fees as well as against racism and vestiges of colonialism in curricula.
• Stubbornly high inequality, poverty and unemployment.
• Rising factionalism that has weakened the governing tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party.

Italian fashion house, Dolce & Gabbana launches line of high-end Hijabs and Abayas

Italian fashion house, Dolce & Gabbana launched high end hijabs and Abayas which features primarily black, white and beige styles. Some of the outfits are embellished with patterns of lemons, flowers and lace, mirroring the label's 2016 spring-summer collection. More photos after the cut...

Scott Disick takes new gf to one of Kourtney K's fave spot

Scott Disick is taking his "casual" relationship with his new lady Lina Sandberg out of the shadows and throwing some subtle shade at his ex-girlfriend in the process.
Kourtney Kardashian's former boyfriend and the Swedish model were spotted leaving the Polo Lounge together in Beverly Hill. Situated inside the A-list Beverly Hills Hotel, the restaurant is frequented by some of Hollywood's biggest names, including the mother of his 3 children.

"It's very telling he took Lina to the Polo Lounge," a source told E! News. "Aside from the fact it's very public, it's somewhere Kourtney always goes for lunch, both on her own and with the kids. She's there a lot."

Could this just be a simple coincidence? Not likely.

"I would say he's sending her a message," the source added.

Khloe Kardashian looks slimmer in new photos

Khloe K who is now a fitness aficionado looks kinda slimmer in new photos she shared. More photos after the cut....

Mum 'died of heroin overdose' in baby's hospital room while Dad was passed out

A mother died of an apparent heroin overdose in front of her seven-month-old daughter while inside the baby’s hospital room. Nearby the girl’s father was found unconscious after he too took the drug while visiting.

The death of Mary Ann Landers has shocked the small town of Trinity, Alabama, where she and her husband where known as doting church-going parents.

Just hours before the 32-year-old died on Wednesday the couple had taken to Facebook to update the progress of their daughter who had undergone surgery.
The mother was later found slumped on the floor at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre and her husband Wesley Landers was discovered unconscious in nearby room.

He was found with a heroin syringe in his arm and revived with Narcan. Another two syringes were nearby on the bathroom counter, documents state.

The father has since been arrested and faces charges of possession of drugs, carrying a concealed weapon, having weapons while under disability and possessing drug abuse instruments.
A judge ruled for his bond to be set at $500,000 (£344,000) bond.

“It just goes to show you how strong the grip is of drugs,” said Hamilton County Coroner Dr Lakshmi Kode Sammarco.

She added that in just the last two weeks, her office has investigated more than 20 overdose related deaths.

“There is just something inherently wrong with bringing a child to a very specialised medical centre, one of the best in the world, and then making a really bad mistake and losing your own life,” Dr. Sammarco added.

The Landers daughter had been admitted to the hospital in Cincinnati for a trachea reconstruction surgery.
Officials said the surgery went well, and the baby is recovering.
Police continue to investigate the incident.

"I've got to say now nothing really surprises me,” said Chief Tom Synan of the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition. "It is shocking where it happened, how it happened. You're right there with your child.”

Mirror online