By Afolabi Adetunji Lagos, Nigeria.

Claudio Raneiri was made redundant of his role as a manager barely nine months after he had lifted the Premier League trophy with his team.

So quickly, things have changed for the team, fans and for the club owners. The one time celebrated manager is now rejected and shown the exit door. Absolving him of his role as the manager of Leciester simply implies that irrespective of a manager’s past success or great achievements, He can notwithstanding be subject to blame or criticism. Change is constant and inevitable. Last season, Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal was sacked soon after he had lifted the long-awaited F.A cup title for the club.

Leciester city squad’s senior players said to the club’s owners that they were “unhappy” with the dismissal of Raneiri. Let me go off on a tangent. Would this “unhappy” state of mind of the players likely affect their remaining matches of the season most especially the Uefa Champions League?. Information reaching Scroll Report stated that Raneiri spent just under 45minutes at Leciester’s training ground on Saturday for a final talk with his ex-staff.

Raneiri released an emotional statement on Friday evening saying his “dream has died”. Soon his former club goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel posted on his Instagram to show his gratitude to his former manager. Raneiri later said on Saturday during his departure that ” I feel good because of what we have achieved at the club and i hopes it happens again but it will be very difficult”.

Immediately Claudio Raneiri left the training ground, the clubs owners arrived in a Helicopter to the training camp to have their own talks with the team players and caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare.

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By Afolabi Adetunji Lagos, Nigeria.

Following the sudden sack of Claudio Raneiri on Wednesday by the club owners, Social Media has globally reacted to this, some football fans and football experts support the decision taking by the club owners as the rightful and needed step for the progress of the club while others suggest that perhaps it was a harsh and unfair treatment from the club owners on Claudio Raineiri.

In a statement from Leicester’s Vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha on Thursday night, He utterly ignored the effort of Raineiri. He did not mention Raineiri’s effort to dramatically secure for the team the English Premier League last season and his effort in Europe this season, helping the team overcome the group stages of the Uefa Champions League. And currently having their place in the round of 16 against Sevilla. He said ” It was never our expectations that the extraordinary feats of last season should be replicated this season”. He purposefully and utterly avoided the extraordinary achievement of Raineiri.

Although there is no denying that Leciester this season has performed below expectations in the Premier League. Some fans say that Claudio Raneiri had lost the dressing room and also the confidence of his players. Some stated that Raneiri sale of his strongest midfielder during the transfer market had a huge blow on his performance this season. Therefore, attributing the major weakness of the team to the central midfield role. While some of Leicester fans have mixed feelings and two minds about the exit of Raneiri, they made some emotional remarks. ” Claudio will never be forgotten. Last year will never be forgotten. Vardy, Mahrez, Kante, Andrea Bocelli, 7 May 2016, never forgotten. Be assured nothing will ever change or taint that for us. Claudio will forever be with us at the King Power”. Said Dan Greenwich a fan of Leciester City.

Was sacking of Claudio Raneiri a good decision for the progress of the club?

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By Yemi Babalola Lagos, Nigeria.

The league of champions which delight football fans, kicked off its round of 16 fixtures on February 14, a day significant to lovers in major parts of the globe. The day was one filled with surprise as well as the usual footballing antics. This stage usually characterized as where the boys are separated from the men, which has been a pitfall for teams like Arsenal who for over 10 years have not progressed beyond this stage.

Matches took off with the fixtures of the night where Portuguese side Benfica hosted their German counterpart Borussia Dortmund to the Estadio da Luz. The match entertained viewers as Konstantinos Mitroglou put the host ahead in the 48th minute of the match. At exactly 10 minutes after the goal Dortmund could have equalized but Pierre Emerick Aubameyang lost his team’s crucial penalty and that was the end of the story in Portugal where Benfica won by a goal to nil (1-0) against Borussia Dortmund.

Exactly at the same kick-off time on the same day, at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint Germain (PSG) welcomed Barcelona and it was a night to forget for the Spanish big guns as they were defeated four goals to nil (4-0) by the host, courtesy of goals scored by former Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria who scored a brace on the night, as well as Julian Draxler and Edison Cavani who capped up the night for PSG.

The next day, February 15 was another thrilling day for football lovers, but one of continuous misery for Arsenal football team and their fans, as they were whooped five goals to one (5-1) at the Allianz Arena in Germany by home team Bayern Munich. The night was one where most football faithful’s expected to see a different Arsenal side who for once would stand up to be counted considering they have been making this competition mostly all through the Arsene Wenger era of the club. Sadly that was not to be seen, though as of half time, the match was one all (1-1) apiece courtesy of Arjen Robben’s opener and Alexis Sanchez equalizer after his missed penalty. Coming into the second half one would have assumed the Gunners would hold firm but goals from Robert Lewandowski, a brace from Thiago Alcantara and Thomas Mueller sealed the victory of Bayern over their familiar foe Arsenal.

While, on the same night at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Spain, Real Madrid hosted SSC Napoli of Italy. The match was quiet lively as Napoli took the early lead through a Lorenzo Insigne 8th minute goal. But Karim Benzema opened scoring for the Blancos, before Toni Kroos and Casemiro sealed the win for Madrid. This saw Real Madrid winning the match by three goals to one (3-1). One synonymous fact of the first four matches of the round of sixteen was that all the home teams (Benfica, Paris Saint Germain, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid) won their matches.

A week after the first four matches, on February 21, the second batch of round of sixteen matches kicked off as Bayer Leverkusen welcomed last season’s finalist Atletico Madrid to the Bay Arena in Germany. Atletico took the early lead on the night through Saul Niguez’s goal in the 17th minute, and Antoine Griezmann’s 25th minute goal and in fact dominated all through the 90 minutes. Bayer tried to come back in the 48 minute when Karim Bellarabi pulled one back for them but Kevin Gameiro’s penalty kick in the 59th minute killed that dream. Though Stefan Savic 68th minute home goal should have given them the confidence to do more but Fernando Torres sealed the fate of the home team with his 86th minute goal, which wrapped up the night. Bayer Leverkusen lost by two goals to four (2-4) at home to Atletico Madrid.

On the same night, Manchester City hosted Monaco at the Etihad stadium and the host took the lead, when Raheem sterling scored the first goal of the night in the 26th minute of the match, but Radamel Falcao equalized for the visitors and youngster Kylian Mbappe Lottin put Monaco in front in the 40th minute of the match and it looked like another disappointing night for English football but the tide turned when Falcao lost a crucial penalty in the 50th minute of the match and in the 58th minute Sergio Aguero put the score line equal once again. The resilient Monaco side came back through a Radamel Falcao goal in the 61st minute but the home team kept up the pressure and were rewarded as Sergio Aguero in the 71st minute equalized for the host once more, and John Stones in the 77th minute put the host in front, while Leroy sane sealed the win for City in the 82nd minute. The match ended 5-3 in favor of Manchester City.

FC Porto and Juventus on February 22 kicked off the final set of matches in the first leg of the round of 16 matches. Porto welcomed The Old Lady to the Estadio do Dragao in Portugal. The match was lively among both sides until Alex Telles of Porto picked up a red card in the 27th minute after picking up his second card of the night. This led to the change of pace of the match, but it took 72 minutes before Juventus could take the lead via a Marko Pjaca goal and
Daniel Alves doubled their lead two minutes after. The match ended 0-2 in favor of the visiting Italian side.

Sevilla on the same day, hosted English champions Leicester City in Spain, Sevilla dominated the match largely and could have taken an early lead but Joaquin Correa missed a penalty in the 14th minute, but Pablo Sarabia put the host ahead in the 25th minute and Joaquin Correa redeemed himself in the 62nd minute with a goal. But Leicester did not give up as they put in pressure and it yielded in the 73rd minute when Jamie Vardy scored a crucial away goal for the English champions. The match ended 2-1 in favor of the host team.

The second leg and reverse fixtures would be played between, March 7 -15, 2017. It is worth noting that teams like PSG and Bayern have made their qualification into the final 8 easier with the result of the first leg they played. Likewise, teams like Leicester City, FC Porto and Dortmund cannot be written off despite the results of their first leg matches. But teams like Arsenal and Barcelona, clearly need a miracle to see them progress into the final 8 of the UEFA Champions league.

By Tayo Joseph Lagos, Nigeria.

There is an immiinent mass protest slated to hold on the 6th of March. In a statement signed by Sanyaolu Juwon, secretary of the Coalition , the mass action was resolved at a meeting convened by the Alliance of Nigerian Students Against Neoliberal Attacks (ANSA) at the Lagos State University (LASU) on the 18th of February 2017 to demand the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of Comrade Adeyeye Olorunfemi (The National Secretary of ANSA and active member of SAYASI) as well as the UNILAG 10.

The meeting witnessed the active participation of NANS JCC Lagos, SAYASI, TASUED SUG, ERC Lagos, NANS VP External and other well meaning radical Students’ Activists of LASU. It was however the resolution of the above stated broad coalition to declare March 6 as a day of action in demand for the reinstatement of the politically victimized comrades of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). It will be recalled that the students of the University of Lagos protested the bad welfare condition of the campus for three consecutive days.

The protest started on the 6th of April 2016 before it was forcefully repressed on  April 8. While the management has till date remained recalcitrant and unrepentant in the aim of strangulating the welfare condition of students, they have rather been swift and astute in repressing constructive dissent channeled at demanding modern living condition for the general studentry.

The management immediately rusticated the students perceived to be forerunners of the struggle and subsequently placed the Students’ Union under ban; a tactic which does not only reflect a flagrant display of impunity but a characteristics that can only be attributed to feudal dictatorship. Today, the institution that prides itself as one of the best University in the country cannot boast of six hours of steady power supply neither has water supply deviated from being persistently epileptic.

The fraudulent imposition of N4000 laboratory fee has done nothing to eradicate the obsolete condition of the University Laboratory; it has in fact complicated the antiquated situation of the supposed research room. The management of the institution has continued to give no relevance to constructive dissent and freedom of speech as the administration of the campus has taken a ridiculous dimension of a Russian ancient prison. The campus has in general bided farewell to humane welfare since the protest that consumed UNILAG finest.

The events in the University of Lagos have not only confirmed the correctness of the students’ struggle of April, it has as also re-enforced the apt necessity to take up an active struggle against the aforementioned myriads of crisis that currently belittles the institution as a University that has only succeeded in advancing a little above the renaissance. It is on this basis that we re-emphasize our call for the immediate reinstatement of the 11 victimized students’ activist, democratic restoration of the Students’ Union and pro-student living and learning condition.

We demand an end to arbitrary imposition of fees and a right to free, quality and accessible education for all students. We forthwith enjoin mass of students, activists, civil societies, NANS, students’ unions and organized labor, to join us in Lagos on 6th of March 2017 as we collectively reject this aggravated trend of undemocratic management of our universities.

By Tayo Joseph Lagos, Nigeria.

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has urged the country’s research and academic institutions to close ranks and evolve pragmatic strategies for the development of agriculture to enhance food sufficiency and job creation. The governor gave the advice while addressing a delegation from the Michigan State University, United States, led by the institution’s Director of Agriculture and Youths Laboratory, Dr. Julie Harward, in his office, in Ibadan, on Wednesday.

The governor said that the reputation of the Michigan State University in technology was reassuring, adding that a synergy between the college and the state’s academic and research institutions would be beneficial to the youths in the area of job creation, especially in the agricultural sector.

He said, “A synergy with the Michigan State University by research institutions and our college of agriculture will go a long way to maximize the job creation drive of our administration, especially in the agriculture sector.

“Oyo State is blessed with a vast landmass, good population and the presence of agricultural research institutions like the IITA, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Forestry Research Institute and Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation.

“These institutions are capable of helping to train our younger ones in the college of agriculture through crash programmes of six to eight months.

“The possibility of a network among these institutions will be to our utmost advantage as these young undergraduates would have had enough training before graduating. I, therefore, urge them to close ranks to boost the agriculture sector and help the country attain food sufficiency.”

Ajimobi disclosed that the state had developed its own agric programme, tagged Agric-Oyo, which, he said, was targeting over two million jobs for the youths, stating that agriculture was the current flagship programme of the administration.

He said that the ongoing repair works on the Lagos-Ibadan express way and the proposed rail project would boost agriculture production and the transportation sector across the South-West in particular and the country in general.

In her response, Harward, who led the delegation, said that the Michigan State University would be excited with the possibility of training ten thousand youths towards youths on empowerment and enterprise. She said that the institution’s intervention was aimed at reducing poverty and restiveness among the youths through productive engagement and training for self sustenance.

Harward said, “We all know that youths in their large number would contribute greatly to the economy of the country if they are empowered through training to be self-sustained in enterprise and agriculture.

“We are happy about the developmental strides of the state, especially in the area of job creation for the youths. Without doubts, creation of two million jobs through agriculture would go a long way to reduce the level of dependence on government.”

By Tayo Joseph Lagos, Nigeria.

More unregistered products allegedly brought in by TRS the controversial Indian garri producer have been discovered. One of them is “Plum Peeled Tomato” with no signs that it was subjected to any form of content or health checks. Another one Basmati Rice, also without NAFDAC number.

By Adebisi Adeyemi Lagos, Nigeria.

The Nigerian government will be seeking global support for its effort to arrest and end the humanitarian challenges in the North east of country and the surrounding Lake Chad region at a two-day international conference opening in Oslo, Norway, on 23 Feburary.

Norway is organizing the conference jointly with Nigeria and Germany, and in close collaboration with the United Nations. Foreign ministers of countries in the affected region, representatives of the African and European Unions, representatives of donor countries, and heads of United Nations bodies are also attending the conference.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who is attending the conference, explained that in recent years, violent conflicts and human suffering have left a devastating mark on north eastern Nigeria and parts of Niger, Chad and Cameroon, leaving the affected areas with degraded infrastructure and serious humanitarian challenges.

“The need for all of us to work together to assist the governments of the region salvage the situation cannot be over emphasised. The Government of Nigeria and the rest of the International community need to pull resources to assuage the situation, to bring to an end this humanitarian crisis,” she stressed.

According to the Minister, the festering humanitarian challenges resulted from a lack-lustre approach to the developments in the region over a long period. In the last quarter of 2016 however, the Nigerian Government, together with partners, came up with the Humanitarian Needs Overview(HNO)for Nigeria , which led to the development of the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and subsequently the Nigeria Mirror Image (NMI) custom-made to assist the government with budgetary allocations and mobilisation of domestic resources.

Given the debilitating nature of the crisis, the Minister said $, indicating however that less than 10%  of it is currently being funded,1.054 billion will be requried to fund the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) sign-posting the need for concerted fund-raising to meet targets.

The Nigerian Government, including the six North Eastern States, has already made a provision of N792,685,898,375 (about USD2.6 billion) in the 2017 budget proposals to address, among others, the problems of health, nutrition, education, security and also the reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed during Boko Haram attacks in the region.

She said in 2016, $2.77 billion worth of budgetary resources were earmarked for the same purpose, with needs still remaining high. “The total amount required to fund the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is $1.054 billion. Currently, less than 10% of the plan has been funded, thus highlighting the need for rigorous fund-raising in order to meet targets.”

While she noted that an unprecedented upsurge in humanitarian operations between October and December 2016 saw significant achievements, the Minister also pointed out that there are still some significant challenges including the critical issue of funding. “What we need to succeed in 2017 is sustained engagement and support from all humanitarian actors, improved communication at all levels, access facilitation, human resources and sufficient funding to cover the cost of implementing the HRP”.

Pointing to Nigeria’s commitment to the project, she said further budgetary provisions have been made for 7.1 million people through Ministries, Departments and Agencies. “In addition to that, the Joint Humanitarian Response Plan for Nigeria 2017 Partners will work to alleviate the most life-threatening needs of 6.9 million people located in the three most affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (the BAY states) of North-East Nigeria. The BAY states have an estimated 8.5 million people in need”, she added.

She disclosed that the UN is in the process of establishing a country-based pooled fund (CBPF) – multi-donor humanitarian financing instruments) for Nigeria. Donor contributions to the CBPF are un-earmarked and allocated by the Humanitarian Coordinator through an in-country consultative process. CBPF’s allocate funding based on identified humanitarian needs and priorities at the country level.