Following last Monday's meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU), the latter has come under mounting pressure to call off its four-month-old strike.

The federal government had promised to inject N1.1 trillion into public varsities in the next five years.

A zonal chairman of the union who spoke on condition of anonymity said the union has come under pressure to end the strike. He said some of the zonal chairmen feel the union would lose public sympathy if the strike is not called off after the offer by President Jonathan.

He said, "Most of our members don't trust the government. They don't want any more promises. Though the president has given his word, our members are waiting to see the money released. Though somebody had deliberately leaked to the media that the government will give N1.1 trillion to ASUU and this has put more pressure on the union, but also remember that the 2009 agreement is for N1.3 trillion."

Meanwhile, parents and students who spoke to journalist said they expect ASUU to call of the strike following the meeting with President Jonathan.

Mrs Evelyn Isuku, an Abuja resident said, "I expect ASUU to call off the strike before the end of the week. At least the government has promised to heed to their demands. What else are they waiting for?"

00:53

Amnesty says oil companies often blame oil spills on sabotage in order to get out of paying compensation when in fact corroded pipes are the cause. The report says the process of cleaning up the oil spills is completely discredited. Shell said it "firmly rejects unsubstantiated assertions". It highlighted the issue of theft of crude oil, which it said "remains the main cause of oil pollution in the Delta". Oil spills are having an appalling environmental impact on the Niger Delta and they are happening at an alarming rate, says the BBC's Will Ross in Lagos. In its report, Amnesty identifies a "staggering" 474 spills in 2012 in one area alone, operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company - a subsidiary of Italian firm ENI. Agip's head of operations in Nigeria, Ciro Pagano, told the BBC's Newsday programme that all the spills were recorded so there was little room for dispute. He also said that Eni paid all compensation due to local communities, according to Nigerian law. Working with a local human rights group, Amnesty studied the oil spill investigation process in Nigeria over six months. It claims there is "no legitimate basis" for the oil companies' claims that the vast majority of spills are caused by sabotage and theft.

22:31

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arrested Alahaji Ishola Salawudeen, landlord who defrauded over 100 prospective tenants at 89, Oriola Street in Alapere Ketu of N37 million. He was whisked away by the anti-graft agency immediately after court sitting at the Ebute Metta Magistrate's Court. At the resumed hearing of the matter, yesterday, it was discovered at that Salawudeen, was also facing similar charges at Lowa Street, Ikorodu on the platform of Shotex Construction Investment, his company, though which he also fraudulently collected money from 33 tenants with pretext of giving them accommodation. The court was also told that the case of the defendant with the 33 tenants has been going on for two years now. Salawudeen, who is standing trial before Magistrate Dami Ajayi, of Court 5, was also said to be having a similar case in court 10 at Ebutte Metta. It was gathered that the defendant had issued various receipts to the tenants through Segun Afolabi who was his secretary and receiver of the rents paid. Magistrate Ajayi noted that it was a serious case that had to be dealt with and that she will see to it that justice is done that the matter will not be swept under the carpet. She, however, stated that what matters most to the tenants is how they will retrieve their money, so it will be better for the defendant to discuss with them if they would like to settle out of court. The counsel to the 33 prospective tenants whom he defrauded in 2011, Johnson Onyeji told the court that the defendant defrauded the new prospective tenants, just like he did to tenants in his Alapere building. According to him the case was reported at Ogudu Police and was transferred to Panti Police Station and from where it was charged to Ebute Metta Magistrate's court. Ajayi, told the defendant's counsel, Oladele that he would have met with the tenants to know if they want to settle out of court yesterday when the case came up before the court. Oladele said he was not prepared for the case because the defendant travelled out of the country, to Mecca. The Magistrate said if no agreement is reached, after both parties have met, then they should appear before the court on the 23 of December. She said: "From findings today, there are two cases against Alhaji in Court 10 and Court 5, and also Alhaji wants to settle few out of the hundred of people he defrauded." The over 100 tenants' representative, Moses Ezeigbo said they do not want to settle out of court, that the defendant should pay their money completely.

22:25

To cheer Eaglets to victory in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup final against Mexico tomorrow at the United Arab Emirates, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday constituted a delegation headed by the Senate President, Senator David Mark to represent the Federal Government. [image]Other members of the delegation, according to a statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, include the Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe and the Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide. The President charged the delegation to ensure that the Golden Eaglets receive all necessary support and motivation for victory. To this end, he told the delegation to reassure the Golden Eaglets and their handlers of his personal confidence and expectation that they will maintain their excellent track-record in this year's Championship and crown their winning performances with another victory against the Mexicans tomorrow (today). He also conveyed to the Eaglets, through the delegation, the best wishes of all Nigerians for their victory and promised the team that together with all other patriotic Nigerians, within and outside the country, he will be cheering them on to victory during the match. He said he is looking forward to receiving them at the Presidential Villa and showing them the full appreciation of the nation when they return in triumph to Nigeria.

22:20

"When an investment no longer generates viable returns, difficult decisions have to be made to contain costs,"Chief Executive Officer Ian Moir said in an e-mailed statement."The Woolworths clothing and general-merchandise business in Nigeria has not been successful, despite several attempts to improve performance." The decision doesn't signal a change in the retailer's African strategy,Moir said. Woolworths, which has 59 stores in 11 African countries outside its home market, will continue to expand on the continent, he said. Woolworths opened its first two Nigerian stores in Lagos in March last year, followed by a store in Enugu in October 2012, as South African retailers battled increased competition and shrinking domestic consumer disposable incomes. Woolworths becomes the latest retailer to acknowledge struggles to expand in Africa's most populous country. Truworths International Ltd, South Africa's largest listed clothing retailer, has no plans to expand beyond its four Nigeria stores, Chief Executive Officer Michael Mark said in an interview at the company's annual general meeting in Cape Town today. Massmart Holdings Ltd, the South African food and goods wholesaler owned by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., has said it faces electricity shortages there. "Nigeria is particularly difficult, but retailers such as Mr Price that have lower price points and are cash based are likely to be more appealing,"Roger Tejwani, a retail analyst at NOAH Capital Markets, who has a sell recommendation on Truworths, said by phone from Cape Town. Truworths' Mark said that while its Nigeria stores are loss-making, two of its outlets there have three-year leases and the company will see out the contracts. Truworths expansion in the rest of Africa is "on balance" profitable, he said.

22:16

The NFF need at least 50 million Naira for a November 16 playoff for a place at next year's World Cup in Brazil. This cost has been reduced because of the part sponsorship from the Cross Rivers State Government. This will be to cover match bonuses as well as the return ticket refunds for the team and also logistical costs. "We will again be forced to borrow to fund this match," a top NFF official told M TNFootball.com "We are seriously broke as we only receive a monthly subvention of 52 million Naira from government and this is far from adequate to cover our many costs." We was told by officials that NFF finances took a direct hit when the over 700 million Naira spent for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations was removed from the federation's annual budget by government. "It was to have been a special grant but government later decided it should come from our budget," another top official said. Nigeria have a foot at Brazil 2014 after they beat hosts Ethiopia 2-1 in the first leg of the playoffs last month.

22:13

Barely few years after she ventured into the Nigerian music terrain, this scintillating singer is gradually moving up. The Delta state born, rapper, Eva Alordiah, a.k.a, Eva, in this revealing interview, talks about her love for dogs and rats; her challenges as a female rapper and other personal issues.

My name is Eva Alordiah, I am an Isoko girl from Delta state. I am from a very simple Christian family, I am a lover of animals. I am a Computer Science graduate. I have always loved music and I think doing music now will not be a surprise especially, to my parents. This is something I have always loved. I am also, a professional make- up artiste.

I have my own make- up outfit here in Lagos. I am currently doing music and make- up together. I wanted to be an animator because of my love for cartoons. I also love to draw and that was why I studied Computer Science. What I really wanted to do was computer animation but the course was not in any Nigerian University curriculum.
So, I decided to start with a first degree in Computer Science,hoping to move on from there to study Computer Animation abroad. I am still in love with that and it is something I would do at a later stage of my life. Right now, the part of me that likes to draw, I have converted it to make- up artistry. You know it is all about drawing and painting. I have not dropped any album yet but I have dropped a free tape last year because, my fans wanted that. I am seriously working on my first full album.
I just finished working with Femi Kuti and Darey Art-Alade. I chose music because, music is life. Working with Femi Kuti was a wonderful experience. He is an amazing friend. We were friends for a while before we even thought of working together. Connecting with somebody from that lineage is very imperative. I think Femi Kuti is such a great mentor to have.

23:18

The last word is yet to be heard on the riveting BMW armoured car scandal involving Nigeria's aviation minister, Princess Stella Oduah, the National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Coscharis Motors.

Later this week, the panel set up by President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to submit its report, but the investigation by the House of Representatives has gone much further, unearthing mind-blowing facts.

One of them was that the two BMW armoured cars sold to the NCAA by Coscharis Motors were not on the list of 300 vehicles imported by Coscharis for the use of Lagos State Government, as host of the 2012 National Sports Festival. The Finance Ministry gave duty waivers for the 300 vehicles last year. This week, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala testified before the House panel that the waiver she gave did not certainly cover the BMW cars.

Lagos State Government, embarrassed that its name was being mentioned in the scandal, also issued a public statement explaining the agreement it had with Coscharis Motors on vehicles to be supplied for the 2012 Games.

23:11

A 26-year-old woman, an employee of an old generation bank in Ondo State, southwest Nigeria, has been apprehended by the police at Onikan division, Ikoyi, Lagos. She faces charges of withdrawing N24 million from the bank customers' accounts. Alabi Joy Omotayo was arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates' Court, Lagos on a five-count charge of felony to wit, stealing. The arrest followed a complaint filed by the management of the bank's headquarters in Lagos. It was stated in the application that the accused, a customer service care officer at their Ondo branch office, had illegally obtained N24 million. The bank officials stated that the fraud was discovered after the audit of their account had been edited. It was revealed in the course of investigation that Omotayo, a resident of Ondo State, allegedly gained unauthorized access via bank's computers to the data of her employees and customers. She withdrew sums of N10.5 million, N4.5 million, and N9.1 million from customers' accounts. The suspect pleaded not guilty to the charges. The presiding Chief Magistrate admitted her on bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. She was, however, transferred to Kirikiri Prison, Apapa, Lagos, pending when she will fulfill the bail conditions. The matter was adjourned till 15 November, 2013 for mention

21:26

Borussia Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski has confirmed that he has decided who he will be playing for next season. The Polish star has long been linked to Bayern Munich and he is widely expected to move to the Allianz Arena next summer. Last month, Lewandowski stated he still has a desire to play in England and that he was yet to choose his next club, but he now says that his decision has been made. "I will reveal my future next year. No one needs to get in touch with me anymore," he told Sport-BILD weekly. "I have decided what I am to do. I simply want to have a new challenge next season, despite the fact I am feeling very, very happy being at Borussia Dortmund." The 25-year-old joined Borussia in 2010, but he is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning he is able to leave on a free transfer in the summer. Where do you think he is going to ?

21:21