Sweden can no longer guarantee accommodation for asylum seekers

Persons who may be eyeing to go for asylum may have to look elsewhere as Sweden on Thursday said it could no longer guarantee accommodation to asylum seekers.

Justice and Migration Minister, Morgan Johansson, said that future arrivals might have to decide whether to return to countries like Denmark or Germany or try to find housing on their own.

``We also have a limit for what we can handle," he added.

Sweden has seen a record influx of asylum seekers, with an estimated 40,000 people arrived in October alone.

Johansson said large numbers of people have transited from Germany where capacity is also stretched, tiring of waiting for approval there or unwilling to live in tents.

He also said that in addition to limited housing, Sweden's capacity to process asylum applications was stretched.

"It will soon be two years," he said, estimating the waiting time for a decision on asylum to come through.

Sweden, a country of almost 10 million people, has along with Germany and Austria, been among the top destinations in Europe for people fleeing conflict in countries like Syria and Iraq.

Meanwhile, the Migration Agency said it urgently needs 20,000 temporary places, and was preparing makeshift sleeping arrangements in some of its offices. (dpa/NAN)

2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup: Mali overcome Belgian challenge to breeze into finalMali U-!7

African champions Mali on Thursday in Chile reached their first ever FIFA U-17 World Cup final, courtesy of a resounding 3-1 victory against Belgium.

Mali U-17 World cup team.

The Europeans had taken the lead through Dante Rigo, but Boubacar Traore's swift response was followed by second half goals from Sidiki Maiga and Sekou Koita.

Belgium took the lead through a sumptuous through ball by Jorn Vancamp who found space in between the Malian midfield and defence.

He lofted a pass with the outside of his right foot to the onrushing Rigo who showed great composure to finish for his second goal in two games.

The midfielder’s effort ended Mali's run of over 300 minutes without conceding at Chile 2015.

But the Malians struck back swiftly, with Aly Malle matching Vancamp's assist with a delicious cross of his own with the outside of his left foot.

The ball missed everyone but Traore followed in, lashing home from inside the penalty area.

The remainder of the first half saw the two sides exchange attacks, and it was clear for all to see that these teams knew each other inside out.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they had met in Talca on Oct. 18 in their opening Group D fixture, with the game ending goalless.

There was however an element of fortune to the goal which gave the west Africans' the advantage after the break.

A long clearance pumped upfield by the Malian defence was misread by Teunckens, and with the bounce deceiving the goalkeeper, Maiga nipped in to nod home.

The win was rubber-stamped in the closing stages as Koita, the youngest player on either side, showed composure beyond his years.

He received the ball in the Belgian penalty area on the right-hand side and slammed a finish across Teunckens into the far corner.

Mali's historic victory means they will face Nigeria, who later emerged victors of the second semi-final match against Mexico, on Sunday.

NAN reports that Belgium will face Mexico in the play-off for third-place earlier the same day in Vina Del Mar.(NAN)

Osimhen equals FIFA U-17 World Cup goal scoring record

Golden Eaglets’ striker Victor Osimhen on Thursday at Concepcion in Chile equaled the long-standing FIFA U-17 World Cup scoring record of nine goals in a tournament.

Osimhen

He achieved the feat after his goal in the 4-2 defeat of Mexico at the Estadio Municipal.

The record was previously jointly held by Frenchman Florent Sinama Pongolle and Ivorian Souleymane Coulibaly.

They were top scorers at the global cadet championship at Trinidad and Tobago in 2001 and Mexico in 2011 respectively.

At Chile 2015, Osimhen had earlier achieved a rare feat of equaling the seven-goal scoring record earlier achieved.

The likes of Nigeria’s Macauley Chrisantus (2007), Spain’s David (1997), Ghana’s Ismael Addo (1999) and Sweden’s Berisha (2013) had earlier achieved this.

NAN reports that Osimhen is Golden Eaglets’ leading scorer, going into Chile 2015 with a remarkable 41 goals in 73 international and domestic matches.

The striker had opened his Chile 2015 account with a goal in the 2-0 win over U.S. on the opening day.

He continued with a brace in the 5-1 defeat of hosts Chile.

Osimhen was also Nigeria’s scorer in the 2-1 loss to Croatia to round off the group phase.

He was also in superb form at the commencement of the knockout stage, by grabbing the first hat-trick of Chile 2015 in the crushing 6-0 defeat of Australia in Round 16.

The striker followed up his act with a goal each in the 3-0 and 2-1 win against Brazil and Mexico respectively in the quarter and semi-finals.

With the final match ahead, Osimhen is now on the threshold of history to break the record of most goals in a single tournament at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Top three scorers since 1985

1985-China

8-Marcel Witeczek (Germany)
5-William (Brazil)
4-Bella Momoh (Nigeria)

1987-Canada

5-Yuri Nikiforov (Russia)
5-Moussa Traore (Guinea)
4-Sergei Arutyunian (Russia)
4-Philip Osondu (Nigeria)

1989-Scotland

3-Fode Camara (Guinea)
3-Tulipa (Portugal)
3-Khaled Jasem (Bahrain)

1991-Italy

4-Adriano (Brazil)
4-Nii Odartey Lamptey (Ghana)
3-Jorge Toledano (Mexico)

1993-Japan

6-Wilson Oruma (Nigeria)
5-Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)
5-Manuel Neira (Chile)
5-Peter Anosike (Nigeria)

1995-Ecuador

5-Daniel Allsopp (Australia)
5-Mohamed Al Kathiri (Oman)
4-Fernando Gatti (Argentina)

1997-Egypt

7-David (Spain)
5-Hashim Saleh (Oman)
4-Seydou Keita (Mali)

1999-New Zealand

7-Ismael Addo (Ghana)
4-Waleed Rasoul (Qatar)
4-Leonardo (Brazil)

2001- Trinidad & Tobago

9-Florent Sinama Pongolle (France)
5-Femi Opabunmi (Nigeria)
4-Caetano (Brazil)

2003-Finland

5-Cesc Fabregas (Spain)
5-Carlos Hidalgo (Colombia)
5-Manuel Curto (Portugal)

2005-Peru

5-Carlos Vela (Portugal)
4-Nuri Sahin (Turkey)
4-Tevfik Kose (Turkey)

2007-Korea Republic

7-Macauley Chrisantus (Nigeria)
6-Ransford Osei (Ghana)
5-Toni Kroos (Germany)

2009-Nigeria

5-Borja (Spain)
5-Sani Emmanuel (Nigeria)
5-Sebastian Gallegos (Uruguay)

2011-Mexico

9-Souleymane Coulibaly (Cote d’Ivoire)
6-Samed Yesil (Germany)
5-Adryan (Brazil)

2013-UAE

7-Valmir Berisha (Sweden)
6-Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria)
6-Boschilia (Brazil)(NAN)

Why Senate shut down for Saraki’s trial, by Na’Allah

Leadership of the Senate on Friday said it shut down activities on Thursday in solidarity with its President, Bukola Saraki, because of circumstances surrounding his ongoing assets declaration trial.
Deputy Leader of the Senate, Ibn Na’Allah, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the senate believed that rather than prosecution, Saraki was being persecuted, hence the level of solidarity from the lawmakers.

Senate President, Dr. Saraki in the dock at CCT, Thursday.

According to Na’Allah, majority of the senators believe that the trial of the president of the senate by the Code of Conduct Tribunal is in no way a prosecution.
``You see, it is a matter of belief and I am going to tell you in very clear language.
``The belief of the 8th Senate and substantial number of the senators is that the trial of the President of the Senate is persecution rather than prosecution.
``If it is persecution, we believe that we have a responsibility to stand by him.
``But if it is prosecution, every senator of the federal republic believes and rightly so, that this government must be given all the necessary assistance it requires to fight corruption,’’ he said.
He argued that Saraki’s trial for alleged offences he committed 13 years ago was more of a political move than a legal or anti-corruption matter.
Maintaining that the senators felt that Saraki was on political trial, Na’Allah said that all the senators could not be wrong at the same time.
``Let me be honest with you; from the little that I know, the senate sees the trial as more of a political trial than a trial intended specifically for the purpose for which it should be done.
``It may be wrong, it may be right, but the circumstances of the trial and for the reason that the subject matter of the trial occurred about 12 or 13 years ago, you cannot fault the senators if they come to that conclusion.
``I am not so sure that you can say that the substantial number of people who believe that this trial is wrong can, at the same time, be said to be wrong.
``We keep on hoping that those who want to assist this government honestly and sincerely will see the wisdom in portraying this government in the best tradition of democratic society,” he said.
The senate leader, however, said that he was sure that President Muhammadu Buhari meant well for Nigeria, with the intention of shifting from culture of impunity to that of adherence to the rule of law.
He decried that Nigerians, most times, did not like to hear the truth on issues, and would label somebody as ‘’bad’’ no matter how many times the person testified to his innocence.
``It is in the overall interest of everyone who loves this country to assist this government in doing everything in accordance with the dictates of our Constitution,” he said.
He urged Nigerian to desist from the habit of always treating actions of people in authority with suspicion, adding that citizens must also learn to speak well of the country in every circumstance.
``We must, as citizens of this country, decide whether we will hang ourselves on the landing of unquestionable acts or we imitate our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.
‘’These are people who have seen good in themselves, in their leaders and in their country, and who have become patriots of their nations rather than patriots of myopic thinking,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Thursday’s suspension of plenary over Saraki’s assets declaration trial was the third time the senators shunned sitting over the matter. (NAN)

Magufuli sworn in as Tanzania's president

Tanzania's new President, John Magufuli, has promised to unite the country, create more jobs and drive up economic growth.
"It is now time for us to unite and put our ideological differences aside," Magufuli, 56, told thousands of supporters during his swearing-in ceremony at the country’s National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, on Friday.
"I will work hard for all Tanzanians regardless of their tribal, religious or ideological affiliations," he said.
Magufuli took over from Jakaya Kikwete, who served two terms.
The ruling CCM party, which had governed the East African country since independence in 1961, faced its toughest electoral challenge in years after the main opposition parties united for the first time around a candidate, Edward Lowassa.
Lowassa, 62, a former prime minister who defected from the ruling party in July, rejected the electoral commission's declaration, claiming that he won the presidential polls.
Both candidates had promised to speed up development in a nation that has vast agricultural land, a wealth of mineral resources and huge gas reserves but remains impoverished.
Magufuli secured 58 per cent of the votes, while Lowassa had 40 per cent.
But, his victory was overshadowed by a political crisis in Tanzania's semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago.
Guests at the swearing-in included South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn and Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe.
The main opposition coalition, which contested the Oct. 25 poll results, boycotted the inauguration and threatened to hold nationwide demonstrations. (Reuters/NAN)

Eaglets rally from behind to stop Mexico and stay in line for record 5th title

It is 4-2 against Mexico

Title-holders, Nigeria on Thursday in Chile reached their second consecutive final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, after a thrilling 4-2 victory against Mexico in Concepcion.

Eaglets celebrating their victory  over Mexico, Friday morning in Chile.

Mexico opened the scoring through Kevin Magana, with stunning efforts from Kelechi Nwakali and Orji Okwonkwo seeing the African side ahead.

While Diego Cortes's remarkable solo effort leveled matters, Osinachi Ebere and Victor Osimhen's late record-equaling penalty kick however saw the Golden Eaglets into an all-African final against Mali on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mexico controlled the ball in the opening stages of the match, and took the lead early on.It 

Kevin Lara beat his man on the Mexican right and delivered a teasing cross into the middle and, while Aguirre tried to control with his chest, Magana took charge and fired home.

Emmanuel Amuneke's side began to grow into the game, with Kelechi Nwakali hitting a low drive from the edge of the Mexican penalty area with his venomous drive.

The game see-sawed back Mexico's way, with a free-kick from the Mexican left headed goalwards by Jose Esquivel.

The chance forced a superb point blank stop by Akpan Udoh, onto the crossbar and eventually cleared behind.

Nigeria rode their luck, with a couple of good Mexican opportunities and, after riding the storm, managed to level things up, thanks to the superb technique of their captain.

Nwakali lined up a free-kick from around 25 yards, and curled a perfect effort into the bottom left-hand corner, with goalkeeper Romero standing no chance.

Amuneke's charges sensed their opponents were on the back foot, and Okwonkwo took advantage, producing one of the moments of the tournament to see his side ahead.

He cut inside from the left onto his right foot and thumped an effort in off the crossbar.

After the break, Mexico took time to reassert their rhythm after the shock of going behind.

Cortes then stepped up to score what must be considered one of the best goals ever scored in the Estadio Ester Roa.

He picked up the ball on the Mexican right just inside the Nigerian half and proceeded to dribble past five players, showing incredible close control before slotting calmly past Udoh.

Nigeria were undeterred by Cortes and struck back, with Ebere finding space on the Nigerian right just inside the Mexican penalty area after a long through ball.

His right-footed effort was too strong for Romero, who got a hand to the strike but could not keep it out.

John Lazarus was taken down in the Mexican penalty area, giving Osimhen the chance to score his ninth goal of Chile 2015.

He slotted home with ease, adding gloss to the Golden Eaglets victory, as he went level at the top of the all-time FIFA U-17 World Cup goal scoring charts.

Nigeria now head to Vina Del Mar on Sunday for an all-African final against continental champions Mali.

NAN reports that Mexico will face off against Belgium in the match for third-place earlier at the same day.(NAN)

GTB Asaba, customers complain against shoddy treatment over BVN

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            Pregnant woman collapses, revived following long wait, while standing

The strain and stress of Bank Verification Number (BVN) continued to be felt in Asaba, as enforcement of the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) got underway following the expiration of the time allowed for bank customers to register their names and collect their numbers.

IN particular at the GTB, Nnebisi Road, Asaba, Delta State, it was a different kettle of fish as most customers who came to withdraw money through the ATM were denied access to their accounts and money allegedly that they did not have BVN. But, the customers who complained bitterly at the bank’s treatment to them said they had long ago visited the GTB and filled the form where they indicated their BVN.

They expressed surprised and were greatly embittered that staffers of the bank who gave them forms into which they filled the BVN did nothing about the information provided to them.

Most of the affected customers poured invectives on the GTB staffs for being shoddy in their work, and for undermining the effect their nonchalance would have on customers when they come to withdraw money from their account. Many of the GTB customers said they came to provide the bank with information on their BVN as long as six and four months ago when they filled the forms, and their fingerprints and passport photographs taken.

“Workers of this bank are unfair to their customers”, one of the visibly angry customers hollered from the crowd. “This is rubbish,” another said, pointing out that it shows the quality of service that the staffs of the bank are rendering to customers. “Why should I be denied access to my money when I filled the BVN form about four months ago?” a customer said.

Meanwhile, a pregnant lady collapsed, and fainted following the effect of the long wait on queue with no seat provided for customers should the need to seat arise. It took the intervention of other customers who rushed quickly to her aid and revived her, thereafter, a call was pull through to her husband who came in to take her away.

The GTB, Asaba experience of customers Tuesday was quite harrowing, and greatly unbecoming. Most customers who needed money urgently were in disarray when their accounts were sealed off. But utterly amazed were customers who could not understand why they should be subjected to that type of humiliation when they had actually filled the GTB form months ago, where they actually provided information about their BVN.

The situation indeed, provided opportunity for the obviously exasperated customers to look critically at the bank’s working environment and crack jokes at the nature of staffing at the bank. For instance, a customer got everyone laughing when looking closely he observed that the bank is not gender friendly. In the banking hall down, out of no fewer than 14 women staffers, only one man was in their midst. “They don’t like men as workers in this bank,” the customer said.