On the occasion of the first IWA Development Congress,www.iwa2009mexico.org UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education will donate two full 18-month fellowships to allow developing country water professionals to participate in the 2010-2012 edition of UNESCO-IHE’s international MSc programme in Municipal Water and Infrastructure.

Details on the eligibility and application procedure for these fellowships will be announced at the time of the Mexico congress. UNESCO-IHE’s gesture is the first step towards establishing an IWA/UNESCO-IHE Water Supply and Sanitation Fellowship Scheme and Fund.

By making donations to this fund, IWA members and other interested organisations will be able to contribute to water supply and sanitation capacity building in developing countries, by facilitating more individuals to study at UNESCO-IHE.

Details of the Fellowships will be announced on Tuesday 17 November 2009.

 The Democratic Peoples’ Alliance (DPA) is drawing the attention of Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola  and Commissioner of the Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, to a looming epidemic around the Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, where a neighbouring acreage has been converted into a refuse dumpsite.

DPA warned that the operations could contaminate the Igando water-table and the surrounding air (more…)

Iran football team will arrive Nigeria on Thursday for the  2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup championship.

Iran has been drawn along with Gambia, Colombia and the Netherlands in Group C.

A total of 24 teams have been divided into six groups each consisting of four teams.

The top two places in each group plus the four best third-placed teams will advance to the knockout phase.

This World Cup is the thirteenth tournament of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Championship.

EFCC Chair : Farida Waziri

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned the first batch of 100 bank debtors to appear at its office in the commercial hub Lagos today in hopes of recovering some of the $2.6 billion owed to Bank PHB (BPHB.LG), Equitorial Trust Bank, Spring Bank (SPRN.LG), Wema Bank (WEMA.LG), and Unity Bank (UBPL.LG).

“Effective from today, they will need to start paying. There will be no deadline but they will have to commit to paying,” said EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi. (more…)

 The New Zealand under-17 soccer squad completed their preparation for  next week’s World Cup in Nigeria beating the Victorian Institute of Sport 3-0 in their final warm-up match at Melbourne last night.

Left winger Michael Built was outstanding, scoring the opening goal and setting up the other two for striker Andrew Bevin.

New Zealand open their World Cup campaign against Costa Rica at Enugu on Monday.

The World Food Programme for West Africa has expressed concern about a warning from Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency about drought in northern parts of the country

Crop failure and food deficits in Nigeria could have a serious impact on the region because half of all the cereals produced by all 15 member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) come from there.”Claude Jibidar, deputy regional director of the World Food Programme for West Africa said,

“If Nigeria has a deficit in cereals production it represents large quantities, and Nigeria in its search for food will probably draw from other countries. That could represent a major food security risk for lots of countries in the region, starting with Niger not to mention Mali and even Mauritania,” said Jibidar

Oando Plc has signed an agreement with Russia’s OAO Gazprom to collaborate in oil and gas projects

The two companies have agreed “to jointly develop projects in multiple sectors of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry,”

 They will also work together on hydrocarbons assets and infrastructure in the Gulf of Guinea and the entire West Africa, it said.

Oando and Gazprom were among 15 energy companies selected by the Nigerian government in March as potential investors to help develop gas projects.

Gazprom and Nigeria agreed in June to develop jointly natural gas infrastructure with a combined investment of at least $2.5 billion, including production and transportation facilities.

The Federal Government is planning to spend 10 percent of its oil and gas ventures in the Niger Delta in the area, says Emmanuel Egbogah, Special adviser on oil to President Umaru Yar’Adua

Nigeria’s Bayelsa United suffered a 1-0 defeat in the hands of Algeria’s ES Setif in the return leg of the semi final of the CAF Confederation Cup, played Saturday

The North Africans thus qualified for the final of the continental competition on a 2-1 aggregate as they forced Bayelsa to a 1-1 draw in Nigeria two weeks ago.

Algerian goal-machine Abdul-Malek Ziaya scored the winner to send his side through and take his tally in the competition to 13 goals.

Setif now await the winner of the other semi-final tie between Mali’s Stade Malien and ENPPI of Egypt.

Harambee Stars striker Allan Wanga has said beating Nigeria on the final day of the World Cup qualifiers would be like qualifying for the Africa Nations Cup.

Wanga, who spoke to The Standard before returning to Angola where he plays for champions Petro Atletico, said he would relish a Super Eagles defeat in Nairobi, adding that it would compensate them if Stars missed the ticket to Angola. (more…)