Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has expressed his intention to return to football in January having received “enquires from all over the world”.
The 68-year-old ended his reign at Arsenal last season after a disappointing end to his time at the Emirates, but he feels re-energised and ready to take up a new challenge.
“From my 22 years at Arsenal, I have big experience on different levels. There are enquiries from all over the world,” the Frenchman said. “There are associations, national teams, it could be in Japan.
“I believe that I will start again on January 1st,” said Wenger, who joined Arsenal from Japanese club Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1996.
The former Gunners boss has been linked to the Japan head coach job, and more recently to a boardroom position at French giants PSG, but Wenger explained he does not know what role he will take up, SkySports reports.
“I feel rested and am ready to work again. But where? I don’t know yet.”
Wenger also addressed the issue of Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil calling time on his international career with Germany following their disappointing World Cup, and his falling out with the national federation.
“I believe that Germany needs Ozil. I hope that Joachim Low (Germany boss) can convince him that he will come back,” Wenger said.
“Ozil is a super football player, who was not the worst in the World Cup. I did not love that he left the German national team.
“I love it when the players are as good as possible. He loses a bit if he does not play at an international level.”
Tag: January
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I'll return to football in January – Wenger
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Mobile phone subscription in Nigeria hits 147m in January – NCC
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said that the country’s phone subscriptions have reached 147 million as at January 2018.
The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta disclosed this during the NCC Special Day at the ongoing 29th Enugu International Trade Fair.
The fair was organised by the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture (ECCIMA).
Danbatta who was represented by the Director of Public Affairs, Mr Tony Ojobo, said that the country’s social media space had continued to thrive.
“Our statistics continue to show positive movement in the provision of services with internet and phone penetrations standing at over 100 million and 147 million subscribers respectively in January 2018.
“With broadband penetration of 21 per cent, Nigeria’s social media space has continued to thrive and citizens are enjoying access to modern ways of interaction in the cyberspace,“ he said.
Danbatta said that Nigerians were not left behind with services and innovations that abound in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) industry.
“It is our commitment to keep the nation abreast of developments in telecommunications industry through innovative and world class regulatory processes,” he said.
He said that commission would soon issue directive to service providers to give 14 days’ window to subscribers to enable them roll over their unused data.
“In other words, this will stop the current practice where subscribers lose unused data even if they fail to renew on the date of the expiration of the current subscription.
“We have already put the service providers on special notice about our current monitoring of user experience relating to poor reception, wrong billings and deductions and will call them to account in due course,” he said.
Earlier, the President of ECCIMA, Mr Emeka Udeze, said that the presence of the commission at the fair was a well thought out strategy to interact with its various public in the South East.
He said that a whole lot of positive changes had taken place in the ICT sector which had accentuated the pace of socio-economic development of the nation.
“Yet, there remains a lot more that needed to be done to fully tap the potentials in this sector and for customers of the various networks to fully maximize the benefits of optimal service delivery,” he said.
Udeze observed that the NCC day remained one of the most crowd-pulling, exciting and colourful special days at the fair.
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Over 54 Nigerians died from Lassa fever outbreak since January – NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said that so far, some 54 Nigerians have died in the seven weeks of the Lassa fever outbreak which hit the country early 2018.
The NCDC in its weekly epidemiological report for week seven, released on Wednesday, disclosed that a total of 913 suspected cases of the disease have been reported across 17 states. The states are: Edo, Ondo, Kogi, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Plateau, Gombe, Kaduna, Taraba, FCT, Oyo, Delta, Nasarawa, Anambra, Osun Benue and Lagos
According to the health agency, 272 cases of the disease have been confirmed positive and 54 deaths recorded, giving a case fatality rate of 21 per cent.
Some of the states most affected by the outbreak are Edo, which has recorded the highest number of suspected cases, Ondo and Ebonyi. Most of the patients are also being managed in the three states.
According to the agency, the most critical aspect of an outbreak response is coordination of all activities.
Since the outbreak of the disease, response activities have been carried out in all affected states and coordinated nationally by NCDC, the report stated.
The report also stated that Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) have been set up in states where outbreaks have been reported.
“The EOC serves as the command centre for all activities during the outbreak,” the report stated.
NCDC said in this current outbreak, the National Lassa fever EOC operates on six major pillars: coordination, surveillance/epidemiology, case management/infection prevention and control/safe burial, risk communication, logistics and supplies and laboratory.
The members of the EOC are drawn from various ministries including the ministries of agriculture and environment as well as partner agencies.
As the outbreak continues with more states reporting confirmed cases, NCDC also encourages all states to set up state-level EOC for proper and better management response activities.
Currently, Lassa fever testing is carried out across three laboratories in Nigeria. Theses laboratories are: Institute of Lassa fever Control located in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua, Edo State; National Reference laboratory (also known as the NCDC laboratory), Gaduwa, Abuja; and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
The NCDC has also provided support for all testing laboratories with provision of reagents and other consumables.
The first Lassa fever case this year was confirmed in Ebonyi State when four people including three health workers died from the disease.
Health workers are most times secondary victims who get infected while treating patients with the disease.
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Federation revenue declines as federal, state, LGs share N635.55bn in January
The Federal, States and Local Governments on Thursday shared N635.55 billion as revenue generated in January which showed a decline of N19.6 billion when compared to what was generated in December.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, while briefing journalists in Abuja on the outcome of the monthly FAAC meeting, highlighted several factors that impacted negatively on the month’s income.
“Operational challenges caused a decrease in crude oil export by 0.36 million barrels which reduced revenue from export sales for the federation by 113.86 million dollars.
“However, the average price of crude oil increased from 56.83 dollars to 57.71 dollars per barrel during the period.
“Other major issues that impacted negatively on operations were the shut-ins and shut-downs of production at various terminals for repairs and the Force Majeure declared at Bonny Terminals,” he said.
Idris said that the income from Petroleum Profit Tax and Companies Income Tax also decreased in the month under review.
He said that there was however, significant increase from oil royalty, Value Added Tax (VAT) while revenues from Import Duty increased marginally.
Giving a breakdown of the revenue generated, Mr. Idris said that N404.79 billion was generated as mineral revenue while N134.11 billion came from non-mineral revenue.
To this end, Idris said that federal government received N249.3 billion, States, N126.48 billion and the Local Governments, N97.51 billion.
He said that N52.04 billion was also shared among the oil producing states, representing 13 per cent of the oil revenue generated in the month of January.
Idris said the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) still remained 2.317 billion dollars while the balance in the Excess Petroleum Profit Tax account stood at 133 million dollars.
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Aguero emerges player of the month for January
Sergio Aguero has won his fifth Premier League player of the month award, claiming the prize after scoring five goals in four Manchester City league appearances during January.
Aguero has thrived in the injury-enforced absence of fellow forward Gabriel Jesus, with his goals ensuring City are on track to romp to the Premier League title.
The 29-year-old began 2018 with a goal in a 3-1 defeat of Watford, following up with a brace against Burnley in the FA Cup and a late headed winner in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final against Bristol City.
Aguero was not on target in City’s 4-3 loss at Liverpool – their first domestic defeat of the season but he scored a perfect hat-trick in a 3-1 home win against Newcastle United.
With five Premier League player of the month awards to his name, Aguero is just one behind the joint-record holders, Spurs striker Harry Kane – the December winner – and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
Aguero, rapidly closing in on 200 goals for City, has continued his blistering form into February, scoring four goals in Saturday’s rout of Leicester City.
The Argentina international was also on target in City’s last match, a 4-0 demolition of Swiss side Basel in the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday.
January’s managerial prize went to Eddie Howe after Bournemouth climbed out of the Premier League’s relegation zone and into the top half during the month, ending Pep Guardiola’s run of four successive victories.
Willian claimed the goal of the month award for Chelsea’s superb team effort in a Premier League win at Brighton and Hove Albion.
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Inflation drops to 15.1 per cent in January – NBS
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday confirmed that inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), has further dropped for the 13th consecutive month to 15.13 per cent in January from 15.37 per cent recorded in December, 2017.
The NBS disclosed this in its CPI report for January 2018 released on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation, started the year 2018 increasing by 15.13 percent (year-on-year) in January 2018
According to the bureau, this is 0.24 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in December (15.37 per cent).
It stated that the rate recorded made it the twelfth consecutive disinflation (slowdown in the inflation rate though still positive) in headline year-on-year inflation since January 2017.
It, however, stated that increases were recorded in the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP) divisions that yield the Headline Index.
On a month-on-month basis, the report stated that the Headline index increased by 0.80 per cent in January 2018, 0.21 per cent points higher from the rate of 0.59 per cent recorded in December 2017.
The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve-month period ending January 2018 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve-month period was 16.22 per cent.
It stated that the figures showed 0.28 per cent point lower from 16.50 per cent recorded in December 2017.
Meanwhile, it stated that the Urban inflation rate rose by 15.56 per cent (year-on-year) in January 2018 from 16.78 per cent recorded in December 2017.
The report stated that the rural inflation rate also eased by 14.76 per cent in January 2018 from 15.02 per cent in December 2017.
On month-on-month basis, the bureau stated the urban index rose by 0.83 per cent in January 2018, up by 0.17 from 0.66 per cent recorded in December 2017.
It stated that the rural index also rose by 0.77 per cent in January 2018, up by 0.23 per cent when compared with 0.54 per cent in December 2017.
According to the report, the corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index is 16.55 per cent in January 2018.
It stated that this was less than 16.92 per cent reported in December 2017, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in January 2018 was 15.89 per cent compared to 16.10 per cent recorded in December 2017.
The CPI measures the average change over time in prices of goods and services consumed by people for day- to-day living.
The construction of the CPI combines economic theory, sampling and other statistical techniques using data from other surveys to produce a weighted measure of average price changes in the Nigerian economy.
Key in the construction of the price index is the selection of the market basket of goods and services.
Every month, 10,534 informants spread across the country provide price data for the computation of the CPI and the market items currently comprise of 740 goods and services regularly priced.
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Lassa fever: Nigeria records 67 cases, 16 deaths in January – NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said so far, in January 2018 alone, Nigeria has recorded 16 deaths from 61 confirmed cases of Lassa fever across the country.
The NCDC in a press statement released on Wednesday said a total number of 107 suspected cases has been recorded in ten states across the country.
The states are Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Imo and Lagos.
According to the health agency, as at January 21, ten out of the 61 confirmed cases were health care workers from four states Ebonyi- 7 , Nasarawa -1 , Kogi- 1 and Benue -1 out of which four are now deceased.
Health workers are most times secondary victims who get infected while treating patients with the disease.
Between 2005 and 2018, the infection claimed over 40 health workers in Ebonyi according to the state chapter of the Nigerian medical Association, NMA.
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on Tuesday warned all health professionals to investigate every case of fever before treatment.
Mr. Adewole said every fever must be investigated properly and treated appropriately. He said no one should treat malaria without diagnosis.
The Executive Director, NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu also advised health workers along same line urging them to practice standard precautions at all times.
He said health workers should maintain a high index of suspicion while treating patients with aliments which presents malaria symptoms because Lassa fever appears initially like any other disease, causing a febrile illness such as malaria.
Mr. Ihekweazu said Rapid Diagnostic Test, RDT must be applied to all suspected cases of malaria.
“When the RDT is negative, other causes of febrile illness including Lassa fever should be considered. Accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment increase the chances of survival,” he said.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents.
Person-to-person transmission can also occur, particularly in hospital environment in the absence of adequate infection control measures.
Lassa fever can be prevented through practicing good personal hygiene and proper environmental sanitation.
Effective measures include storing grain and other foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers, disposing of garbage far from the home, maintaining clean households, and other measures to discourage rodents from entering homes.
Hand washing should also be practiced frequently.
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Lagos Assembly to pass 2018 budget in January
The Lagos State House of Assembly is to pass the state’s 2018 Budget Bill before the end of January.
The Acting Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Publicity, Mr Tunde Braimoh, gave the assurance in an interview in Lagos on Monday.
“We are working round the clock; we have denied ourselves holidays, even weekends, to see that we bring to bear our impact on the budget for quick passage.
“We are, however, embarking on careful scrutiny, consideration, repositioning and re-aligning of the budget where necessary.
“We want to see that we consider every kobo in the budget for the benefit of Lagos residents.
“We are going to be assiduous, meticulous and circumspect to ensure that the budget is adapted for the betterment of Lagosians,’’ he said.
The lawmaker also said that the assembly would break new grounds in 2018 to bring more dividends of democracy to Lagos residents.
He said that the House would show greater understanding with the execute arm to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
Reports say that the House had on Dec.18 set up a seven-man committee to scrutinize the state’s N1.046 trillion budget proposal.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode presented the proposed `Budget of Progress and Development’ to the Assembly on December 11.
The budget size, which represents a 28.67 per cent increase over the state’s 2017 Budget of N812 billion, had a capital expenditure of N699 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N347billion.
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N748m SP’s Mansion: David Mark presents health excuse certificate, to resume interrogation January
Former Senate President, David Mark has presented the health excuse certificate to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow him attend to his health before appearing for interrogations in the ongoing probe of the purchase of a N748million Senate President’s official mansion in Abuja.
He also said his health was not stable enough to enable him write a statement on issues connected with the purchase of the official residence of Senate President.
He asked the anti-graft agency to allow him to attend to his health and return on or before January 11 for interrogation on the said property.
But he told the EFCC detectives that he bought the quarters with a loan and promised to present relevant documents next year.
These claims are contained in a fact-sheet by the EFCC on the investigation of the ex-Senate President.
According to the document, Mark has three cases before the EFCC which are being handled by separate teams of detectives.
The other cases are N550m arms procurement cash from ONSA and N2.9billion curious payment into the account of the National Assembly’s account and shared to Senators during Mark’s tenure; and his role in about N2billion campaign funds meant for Benue State.
The document said Mark was expected to respond to the following issues:
- The property was unlawfully acquired in 2011.
- Didn’t the buying of the house amount to an abuse of office?
- Whether or not the purchase of the property was not a violation of Part 11 (b) of the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2008 otherwise known as the Remuneration Act, 2008
- Did the process of acquisition of the house comply with Section 15 (1) of the Procurement Act, 2007;
- Was the sale of the house gazetted by the Federal Government?
A top source, privy to the investigation, said: “When Mark met with our team of detectives on the N748million, he only presented a health excuse certificate.
“Later he said he could not write any statement to respond to issues isolated for him because he said he was unstable. We accorded him enough respect befitting of his status.
“He told our team verbally that he bought the house with a loan and pleaded with the EFCC to allow him to return on or before January 11, 2018 to come for grilling on the property.
“Having asked him to deposit his passports, we are expecting him to come for interrogation in January.”
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Falz joins Segun Obe, Iyanya, others for Alibaba’s January 1st concert
Nigerian rapper and actor, Falz has been listed as one of the artistes who will performing at Alibaba’s annual ‘January 1st Concert’ . Also slated to perform at the event are Segun obe, Iyanya, Tiwa Savage and Kenny Blaq.
The highly anticipated concert will be an impressive upgrade over the previous editions as it is scheduled to hold at Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Lagos on January 1st, 2018.
The comedian-actor assured fans online there are numerous segments of the concert; which have been specially put together for the utmost amusement of the audience. Numerous fans have since shared their enthusiasm following the initial announcement of the concert which was made on Instagram.
Alibaba wrote: “The #January1stConcert2018 has actually added value to the celebration of the New Year. Until this concert, not many can think back to whatever they were doing to celebrate the past New Year day celebrations. Used to be an uneventful day after the crossover hangover wears off. Not anymore.”
Alibaba moved on to share several other photos regarding the concert on social media, further instigating anticipation from thousands of fans, including branded BRT buses, necklaces, hats, tees and more.
Alibaba has urged fans to take pictures of the branded BRT buses whenever they are spotted in public, post the pictures and tag him to stand a chance to win tickets to the highly anticipated concert.
Recall that the 2017 edition of ‘January 1st Concert’ was a star-studded affair; featuring several unforgettable segments, including comedy competition for budding comedians ‘Spontaneity’ where the winner went home with a brand new car, another segment featured fast-rising fashion designers in a contest where they were required to design attires for some members of the audience and the winner went home with a brand new sewing machine worth N100,000 along with N300,000 cash prize; just to name a few.
‘January 1st Concert’ is produced by Bunmi Davies. The show debuted in 2015, and it has grown over the years to become one of the most anticipated annual events in the country, featuring the industry’s biggest names, which include comedians, music stars, dancers, and others.
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