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Category: General News

  • Para-soccer at 30: Lagos to host Polio Day Championship, says Federation President

     

    Championship

    By Abolade Ogundimu
    Abuja, Oct. 7, 2018 (NAN) The Para-soccer Federation of Nigeria celebrates 30th anniversary of the Nigeria-invented game with the 6th Para-soccer World Polio Day Championship in Lagos from Oct. 18 to Oct. 24, says Musbau Didi, the federation’s President.

    Didi made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Abuja.

    NAN reports that Oct. 24 has been declared by United Nations (UN) as World Polio Day to remind the world of the danger in Poliomyelitis which affects children from 0-5 years and how to kick it out of the human world.

    NAN also reports that Nigeria is almost out of the polio endemic countries list through sustained advocacy and vaccination by the government and donor organisations, especially, Rotary International.

    According to Didi, the choice of Lagos for the 2018 edition is to celebrate three decades of para-soccer and to sustain sensitisation of the public across the six geo-political zones on the need to fully kick out polio.

    “Survivors of poliomyelitis spread across the country and we are using the championship to achieve our goals.

    “We use the annual competition to sensitise the public on the consequences of polio attack on their children.

    “Also, to show the world that survivors can still engage in any healthy sport peculiar to them.

    “Coincidentally, para-soccer was invented by myself and few other polio survivors in Lagos 30 years ago and it has been gaining popularity till date and hopefully, it will soon become an continental sport.

    “It is already being embraced in Ghana and others are still coming, which shows that polio survivors around the world are willing to be united through sports like their able-bodied counterparts,” he said.

    On how the game has developed over the last three decades, the federation’s president said it had been continuously evolving.

    “In the last 30 years, para-soccer has become a national sport in Nigeria where paraplegic persons in all the states now compete with one another.

    “Through our commitment to development of the game, we now have a national league like any other sport in the world.

    “Also, we now have zonal leagues which makes it possible to engage our athletes as professional players, many of whom are now being employed by state governments because they are good players.

    “Para-soccer is just being included in the National Sports Festival (NSF) for the fourth time which is one of the requirements for it’s inclusion as a continental sport.

    “I thank Solomon Dalung, Minister of Youths and Sports Development, for considering our inclusion, and I also thank the Permanent Secretary of the ministry,” he said.

    However, Didi lamented the challenges of the sport, saying appropriate funding and national support would greatly help in surmounting them.

    “We are yet to get sponsors for the game and that is seriously hindering our efforts to take the game to continental level.

    “There are many corporate organisations in the country, they should help to elevate para-soccer to global heights, government funding alone cannot help in achieving that.

    “We have wonderful players that can show the beauty of the game to the whole world for subsequent adoption and inclusion into continental and global sports.

    “Ghana recently adopted the game and it has got sponsors who are fully funding the game to the extent of having lots of competitions in and outside their country,” he said.

    NAN reports that the 2018 edition of the national league was postponed till 2019 due to paucity of funds.

    However, Didi said International Federation of Skate Soccer (IFSS), an NGO based in Ghana should rather collaborate instead of trying to reinvent the wheel in invention of para-soccer.

    “Ghana needs to collaborate with Nigeria and ensure that the name given to the game remains unchanged.

    “Changing rules of the game should be in agreement with Nigeria as the founder and not unilaterally by another country.

    “We founded the game 30 years ago and we have been nurturing it since then before they saw us and adopted it,” he said.

    PFN boss promised to resolve the issue of para-soccer’s continental adoption with IFSS but if it refused to yield, it would be resolved through Nigeria-Ghana bilateral relations.

    Binatone, an electrical appliances manufacturers fully sponsors the game in Ghana, while Nigeria has yet to get sponsors.

    NAN also reports that a recent CNN documentary on the game in Ghana acknowledged it emanated from Nigeria. (NAN)

  • Ajimobi clinches Oyo South Senatorial ticket…Promises to surpass his governorship achievements at Senate

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has clinched the All Progressives Congress ticket for Oyo South Senatorial District in the primary election conducted by the Chief Ademola Seriki-led electoral panel. (more…)

  • Yobe; Minister defeats son to clinch APC Reps ticket

    By Mohammed Mamman/Ahmed Abba

    Hajiya Khadija Ibrahim, minister of state foreign Affairs, has defeated her step son Mohammed Ibrahim to clinch the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Damaturu/Gulani/Gujba/Tarmuwa, Yobe federal constituency.

    Prof Abba Gambo, the returning officer of the election which ran into the night announced on Wednesday that Khadijah polled 1,295 votes to defeat Mohammed who scored only 15 votes.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that in spite of pressures mounted on Mohammed to step down for his father’s wife, he refused.

    NAN reports that two other contenders including the serving representative Alhaji Abdullahi Kukuwa and Alhaji Ahmed Buba stepped down for the minister.

    The minister commended Abdullahi and Ahmed for withdrawing from the race to support her win the election.

    Senator Bukar Ibrahim who stepped down his re-election bid against Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, did not attend any of the party primary elections including the one contested by his wife and son.

    Meanwhile, some delegates condemned the inability of Khadija Ibrahim to settle her differences with the step son at home, to avoid running against each other.

    Mairo Shuaibu, a delegate from Tarmuwa local government told NAN that “the inability of the family to settle their differences, for the son to step down for his step mother speaks of the instability in the house.”

  • Parents forget 5-year-old daughter at German airport

    Police in Germany say a couple left their five-year-old daughter behind at the airport after returning from a holiday.

    Reutlingen police said that officers spotted the child wandering aimlessly and alone around the terminal at nearby Stuttgart Airport late Monday.

    Fox News reports that the girl was taken to the airport police station but her mother called shortly afterward, to ask whether her daughter had been found.

    Police said the mother explained to officers that the family had driven home in separate cars and each believed the girl to be with the other parent.

    The child was eventually handed over to her father, who had returned to pick her up.

    It wasn’t clear how long the child had been abandoned at the airport by her parents.

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  • Oil, Gas export sales up to $416m

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says a total of crude oil and gas export sales of 416.07 million dollars was realised in June, which is 35.78 per cent higher than the previous month.

    The details of the figures was contained in the June 2018 edition of the Monthly NNPC Financial and Operations Reports, released in Abuja, on Thursday.

    It noted that the crude oil export sales contributed 274.95 million dollars which translated to 66.08 per cent of the dollar transactions compared with 244.72million dollars contribution in the previous month.

    According to the report, the export Gas sales for the month amounts to 141.12million dollars.

    The report noted that the corporation undertook the repairs of ruptured gas pipeline which supplies gas to most thermal electricity generating plants in the country.

    “In all, a total of 744million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd) was delivered to the gas fired power plants in the month under review,” it said.

    This, it said generated an average power of about 2,970MW compared with the May, where an average of 742mmscfd was supplied to generate 2,940MW.

    “A total of 211.51billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas was produced in the month of June translating to an average daily production of 7,056.22mmscfd.

    “For the period between June 2017 and June 2018, a total of 3,080.90 bcf of gas was produced, representing an average daily production of 7,826.41mmscfd.

    “During the period under review, production from Joint Ventures, Production Sharing Contracts and Nigerian Petroleum Development Company contributed about 69.35 per cent, 21.77 per cent and 8.88 per cent respectively, to the total national gas production,” it added.

    The report further noted that out of the 209.55bcf of gas supplied in June, a total of 113.08bcf of gas was commercialised, comprising of 36.23bcf and 76.85bcf for the domestic and export market respectively.

    This, it said translated to a total supply of 1,207.74mmscfd of gas to the domestic market and 2,561.70 mmscfd of gas supplied to the export market for the month.

    The supply, the report said implied that 53.96 per cent of the average daily gas produced was commercialised while the balance of 46.04 per cent was re-injected, used as upstream fuel gas or flared.

    “The gas flare rate was 10.33 per cent for the month under review, that is 721.83mmscfd, compared with the average gas flare rate of 10.4 per cent, that is, 813.37mmscfd for June 2017 to June 2018,” it said.

    In the downstream sub-sector, 1,194.93million litres of petrol were supplied into the country through the Direct-Sale-Direct-Purchase (DSDP) arrangements as against the 1,096.45million litres of petrol supplied in May 2018.

    It noted that the petroleum products (petrol, diesel & kerosene) production by the domestic refineries in the month under review amounted to 205.73million litres compared to 161.91million litres in May 2018. (NAN)

  • PDP Convention: 5 persons hospitalised due to rush to enter venue

    PDP Convention: 5 persons hospitalised due to rush to enter venue

    Five persons have been rushed to Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium clinic due to rush for entry into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention venue, the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the health cases arose from the rush at the entry /exit point of the convention arena.
    The security personnel had a Herculean task preventing hoodlums from taking advantage of the over crowdedness at venue, to enter into the arena.
    The hoodlums unwittingly made things difficult for the genuine delegates to gain entry into the venue and this led to rush every now and then.

    Reacting, Dr Malcolm Brisibe, SA to Gov. Siriake Dickson on Public Health and State Emergency who is at the venue with his medical team, said that out of the cases, some were treated at the clinic and discharged.

    Brisibe said that the serious ones with complications were referred to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for further medical attention.
    Brisibe, who declined mentioning how many patients were referred to UPTH,said that his primary function was to take care of Bayelsa delegates.

    ”I came here (convention) to take care of the Bayelsa delegates but when the health challenges escalates, I opted to assist in the medical sub-committee’s work at the convention.

    ”Definitely in a gathering like this, there is bound to be casualties because of the presence of people with different health challenges
     ”But our primary function is to take care of the any health issue of delegates from Bayelsa,” he said.
    NAN reports that many ambulances were positioned at strategic points at the venue of the convention in case of emergency.(NAN)
  • President Buhari assures Nigerians he will not disappoint if re-elected

    President Buhari assures Nigerians he will not disappoint if re-elected

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigerians that he will not disappoint them if he is re-elected as President in 2019.
    He gave the assurance after being declared as the APC presidential candidate at the party’s National Presidential Convention which ended in the early hours of Sunday at the Abuja Eagle Square.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari scored a total of 14,842,072 votes at the party’s recent presidential primaries held across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as announced by Dr Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governor-elect, to emerge as the party’s candidate.
    Fayemi, who was the Chairman,APC Presidential Primary Committee, later asked the no fewer than 7,00 delegates from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to affirm the president’s candidacy through a yes vote, which they did.
    Aside the statuary delegates, the delegates who were drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, were made up of three from each Local Government Area.
    They were elected at the party’s State Congresses held earlier in the year.
    President Buhari specifically thanked all other eligible candidates within the party who deferred their aspirations because of him in the interest of the party’s unity and overall national stability.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, members of APC. I thank you deeply for your support and confidence in me. I will not let you or the people of Nigeria down.
    “Fellow party members, it is with a deep sense of humility that I stand before you today to accept the nomination of our party, the APC to be its candidate and flag-bearer in the 2019 presidential elections.
    “As I stand today before you, there is no honour greater than the confidence given to me by all of you when you affirmed my nomination.
    “I accept this honour as a tribute and mark of confidence to carry the responsibility as we all join hands to continue the good work of the APC government to 2023 and beyond,”he said.
    He thanked the party members for their support and guidance and for staying committed to the change agenda.
    The president expressed gratitude to the party’s National Chairman,Mr Adams Oshiomhole, and members of the National Convention Committee for planning and conducting the convention.
    He also appreciated the chairmen of National and State Executive Committees of the APC, saying:” I thank you very much for doing a difficult job well”.
    President Buhari, however, noted that the result of the APC presidential primaries was different this time, because he was the only candidate.
    The president, while recalling the achievements of the APC-led Federal Government, said the party was very proud of its records from 2015 to date, adding that it had arrested and checked the slide to anarchy on the security and economic fronts.
    He added that Boko Haram under the government, had been reduced to attacks on soft targets as normalcy had returned to much of North-East and neighbouring North-West states.
    The president also noted that the country’s currency had stabilised while its reserves was now $44 billion, a lot higher than it was in 2015 when the APC Government came into power.
    “Power generation capacity has reached 8,000 megawatts as against less than 4,600 when we came into office.
    “As we invest in new power generation infrastructure, we are strenuously working to address the legacy deficiencies and challenges of transmission and distribution networks across the country.
    “We are executing Independent Power Projects in nine Federal Universities to deliver uninterrupted power supply and we intend to expand to a total of 37 Universities,”the president said.
    He added that the Government through its Anchor Borrowers Programme and other incentives had empowered more than two million farmers to go back to agriculture.
    He further added that the country now produces 80 per cent of its rice requirements as many farmers who nearly lost hope were now millionaires.
    Buhari said the APC-led Federal Government had also introduced primary school feeding programmes to encourage attendance and enrollment and had introduced the conditional cash transfer.
    This, he said, was to help small and medium businesses, men and women and young people who drove our economy.
    He said the Government had repaired and was repairing major arterial roads and starting major railway projects with the aim of linking the 36 states with efficient road and rail transportation systems.
    The president maintained that the Government was attacking corruption head-on, with international support, saying that it was presently recovering Nigeria’s stolen assets and applying same to infrastructure development.
    “Today the corrupt are facing the wrath of the law and leakages have been generally blocked.We can be proud of our achievements, change has come,”President Buhari stressed.
    He, however, charged  Nigerians to think of how much the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Government earned between 1999 and 2015  that it was in power and what it did with it.
    The president recalled that under the PDP Government, infrastructure and security was down while 18 Local Government in the North-East were under control of Boko Haram.
    He said under that Government, the country’s reserves were depleted and bankruptcy was around the corner, adding that Nigerians should ask the PDP what it did with the national treasury.
    He added that Nigeria was now respected internationally, saying that the international community was very supportive of the APC-Government’s efforts to put the country in order.
    NAN further reports that the convention was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, some APC governors, members of the National Assembly and other stakeholders of the party from across the federation. (NAN)

  • EFCC arraigns Saraki’s aide, others, over N3.5 bn fraud

    A Federal High Court Lagos, on Wednesday, ordered the remand in custody, of Gbenga Makanjuola, an aide to Senate President Bukola Saraki, over alleged N3.5 billion fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had preferred an 11 count charge against Makanjuola, Obiorah Amobi and a company, Melrose General Services Ltd, bordering on fraud allegations.

    They however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Following their arraignment, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Ekene Iheanacho, asked that the accused be remanded in prison, and also sought for a trial date.

    Responding, Makanjuola’s lawyer, Mr Paul Erokoro (SAN) drew the court’s attention to a bail application on behalf of the first accused.

    He said that the application has been served on the prosecution and sought the court’s permission to move it.

    Similar request was also made by other defence lawyer.

    Arguing his application, Erokoro said that the accused was a former member of the House of Representatives and as such prepared to face trial.

    “My client is a full-time staff at the Senate and is not a flight risk.

    “He was a member of the House of Representatives; I urge the court to grant him bail to prepare for his trial”, he said.

    Other defence counsel also pleaded with the court to admit the other accused to bail on liberal terms.

    Meanwhile, in his response, EFCC’s lawyer, Iheanacho, urged the court to dismiss the bail applications on the grounds that the accused constitutes flight risks.

    “One of the defendants have absconded; the chances that the other defendants will abscond are now higher with their arraignment.

    “We urge the court to refuse the defence requests for bail,” he said.

    After listening to the submissions of counsel in the matter, Justice Babs Kuewumi adjourned the case until Oct 9. for ruling on the bail applications.

    He, however, ordered that the accused be remanded until determination of their bails.

    In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offence in December 2016.

    They were said to have conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of the sum of N3.5 billion paid into the account of Melrose.

    According to the prosecution, the accused took control of the sum which was transferred from the Nigeria’s Governors Forum account, into an Access Bank account operated by Melrose.

    The prosecution said that the accused ought to have known that the sum represented proceeds of unlawful activities.

    The offences contravenes the provisions of sections 15, 15 (2), 15(3), 18, and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act 2011. (NAN)

  • Ambode retraces step, congratulates Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday afternoon retraced his step by congratulating the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. (more…)