Govt may sack more heads of departments, agencies

LESS than 24 hours that saw the sacking of about 26 chief executives of parastatals by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, indications have emerged yesterday that more directors-general may soon be removed from office, The Guardian reported.

A source said that about 20 more directors- general are slated for removal due to reports indicating widespread mismanagement of their agencies as well as financial malpractices.

The report indicated that before now, President Buhari has been under intense pressure from the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus to sack all heads of Federal Government parastatals to create job opportunities for party members who worked to ensure the success of the party at the 2015 polls.

“Those affected in Tuesday’s shakeup are cited as Grade A agencies while the sweeping broom will reach Grade B and C agencies soon”, the source said.

Nigerian Troops Intensify Efforts Of Clearing Remnants Of Boko Haram Terrorists

Troops of Nigerian Army in various sectors in Operation LAFIYA DOLE have been carrying out raids, patrols, cordon and search operations in a bid to clear remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in their respective areas of operations.

According to Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director Army Public Relations, said one of the patrol teams of 254 Task Force Battalion carried out clearance operation at Kubwa village, Borno State in which they arrested 2 suspected Boko Haram terrorists hiding among the community.

Also another patrol team of the same unit, carried out clearance operation at Yakshari village, off Wajiroko along Ajigin-Talala road and proceeded to Korode. It was here also that some suspected Boko Haram elements on sighting the troops, ran and abandoned 6 motorcycles and beans looted from the inhabitants of the area.

He said the same team also recovered 21 motorcycles and Boko Haram terrorists flag at Korode abandoned by the fleeing terrorists. Similarly, a civilian vehicle encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the area which badly affected it. The troops also discovered another IED at Mauvi village which was safely detonated.

‘In their efforts, troops of 7 Division Garrison, 112 Battalion, Army Headquarters Support Group and elements of Armed Forces Special Forces conducted a joint fighting patrol to suspected Boko Haram terrorists enclave in Gajibo, Maula, Gamai, Gamare, Maiwa, Warsale, Tangli, Tushi, Sowa, Hasanari, Changuwa, Malamaja and Marya towns in Mafa and Dikwa Local Governments Areas.

In the encounter, 5 Boko Haram terrorists were killed, an AK-47 rifle, 10 motorcycles and 1 logistic truck belonging to the terrorists were recovered. The troops also rescued 350 people held hostages by the terrorists. Among those rescued were 5 girls abducted from Cameroon.

In order to boost troops morale and to see things for himself, the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brigadier General VO Ezugwu visited 26 Task force Brigade and commended troops of 121 Task Force Battalion for the successful joint clearance operations at Kirawa and Ngoshe with Cameroonian forces.

PDP Picks Ali Modu Sheriff As National Chairman

The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) on Tuesday appointed Senator Ali Modu Sheriff the party’s new national chairman, Channel News report.

The decision was reached in a meeting of the NEC held at the opposition party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

The decision of the NEC followed the nomination of Senator Sheriff by the National Caucus, a body with membership drawn from the forum of PDP governors, members of the National Assembly, Board of Trustees and National Working Committee of the party, in the report.

Following other nominations at the NEC meeting, Senator Sheriff emerged the new National Chairman, with 60 out of 71 votes of the NEC members present.

The new National Chairman was sworn-in by the PDP lawyer, Mr Emeka Etiaba, in a short ceremony.

The appointment was in keeping with section 47 (6) of the PDP Constitution, which empowers the NEC to fill a vacant position with a person from the zone where the officer originated from.

Members of the party were earlier divided over the choice of the new leader.

Some believed the choice of sheriff would not promote the party’s agenda of strengthening and galvanizing its membership.

After his leadership approval, Mr Modu Sheriff promised to reform the party, defeated in the March 2015 general election after holding power for 16 years.

Senator Sheriff, a former Governor of Borno State, is replacing Ahmadu Mu’azu, the former chairman who resigned shortly after the polls that saw the All Progressives Congress taking hold of most states previously ruled by the PDP.

Mr Uche Secondus has been the acting chairman of the party since Mu’azu’s resignation.

Cristiano Ronaldo walks out of Real Madrid news conference

Ronaldo is the Champions League's all-time top scorer with 88 goals in 121 appearances

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo walked out of a news conference on Tuesday after being questioned about his record in away matches this season.

Ronaldo, 31, has scored 32 goals this season but has not netted away from the Bernabeu since 29 November.

"Who else has scored more goals away from home than me since I arrived in Spain?" said Ronaldo, the all-time top scorer in the Champions League.

"Name one player who has scored more than me. No answer? OK. Thank you."

Ronaldo was speaking at a news conference before the first leg of Real's Champions League last-16 tie against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.

In December, the Portuguese became the first player to score 10 goals in the competition's group stage.

Eleven of his goals this season have come away from home, but he has not scored in his past four away games.

"It's understandable that people have doubts," said Ronaldo. "It's like with a son when you give him everything and then when you take it away, he cries.

"I hope that I can keep this 'bad form' up until the season's end."

Morocco unveil Frenchman Herve Renard as coach

Frenchman Herve Renard has won the Africa Cup of Nations twice

Former Ivory Coast boss Herve Renard has been appointed as the new coach of Morocco on a three-year deal, replacing Badou Zaki.

Renard led Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2015, three years after winning it with Zambia.

After his Nations Cup victory with the Elephants Renard left to take over at French club Lille in May but was sacked in November.

Zaki left as coach of the Atlas Lions by mutual consent on 10 February.

As well as the full national team the Morocco football federation have announced that Renard will coach the one for locally-based players and oversee the Olympic side.

He has been set the targets of reaching the semi-finals of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon as well as qualifying for the World Cup a year later in Russia.

Renard will have two assistants, one is his long-time deputy Patrice Baumel and the other is the former Morocco international Mustapha Hadji.

Their first competitive games will be home and away Nations Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde at the end of March.

The two sides are currently top of Group F having won both their matches so far, Libya and Sao Tome are the other teams in the pool.

The Atlas Lions have also progressed to the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.