Flowerbud News

Category: General News

  • $50,000 up for grabs as Africa Freestyle Football Championships debuts

    By Kemi Ajayi
    As the maiden Africa Freestyle Football Championships draws near, the organisers say they are dolling out prizes worth over 50,000 dollars.

    Valentine Ozigbo, the Chairman of Feet ‘N’ Tricks International, the organisers of the event, told a news conference on Monday that the event would hold from Sept. 13 to Sept. 15 in Lagos.

    Ozigbo, who said the competition was being conducted in partnership with the World Freestyle Football Association (WFFA), added that it would feature no fewer than 40 participants from across Africa.

    The chairman said that the success achieved at the 2017 Nigeria Freestyle Football Championship gave birth to the continental event.

    “The success achieved last year at the Nigerian competition gave birth to this African championships, and we are happy that freestyle footballers from across Africa will be in Nigeria for this event.

    “We are excited to pave a new dimension for the event in Africa because freestyle football home is Africa.

    “The prize money includes a brand new car and the winner will represent the continent at the Redbull World Freestyle Football competition in Poland later this year,’’ he said.

    Ozigbo said the body in conjunction with WFFA would continue to work on the development of freestyle talents and continually exploit all available resources to create more awareness.

    He added that Iya Traore, a Guinean footballer and freestyler, who has been featured in Guinness Book of Records, and Raquel Benetti, a famous female freestyle footballer from Brazil would be present to spice up the event.

    Ozigbo said that the competition would be broadcast live on Startimes, while international judges would be used to determine winners.

    “The event is being planned as a perfect fusion of freestyle football and entertainment as top music and dance artistes will be performing.

    “On the final day, two of the prominent freestyle footballers will also be on ground to support the event with their display,’’ he said.

    He commended the sponsors, including Heritage Bank, Sprite and Startimes for partnering with Feet ‘N’ Tricks to ensure the success of the event.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that freestyle football is the art and sport of juggling football using all parts of the body to entertain audiences and out-perform opponents.

    It is also known as Freestyle Soccer in North America, and is a fusion of tricks with a ball, dance and music. (NAN)

  • Facebook to double office presence in London

    Facebook said on Monday it would double its presence in London, acquiring nearly 600,000 square feet (56,000 square meters) of office space across two buildings in King’s Cross – enough for more than 6,000 workstations.

    Facebook shares drop on report of widened probe on data scandal

    The social network did not say how many jobs it would add in the British capital, where it expects to employ 2,300 people by the end of this year. It added 800 jobs in London last year.

    Steve Hatch, managing director for Northern Europe, said Facebook had developed many of its significant products – including its Workplace collaboration and apps for its Oculus virtual reality headsets – in London.

    “Today’s news reflects our commitment to the UK and our desire to grow our business and the UK economy,” he said in a statement.

    Britain to fine Facebook over data breach

    The announcement represents a vote of confidence in Britain at a time of uncertainty caused by its expected exit from the European Union next spring. Failure to agree on terms could trigger a ‘hard Brexit’, potentially hitting growth and jobs.

    Culled from The Express Tribune, Pak

  • Nigeria-China currency swap deal: CBN begins Chinese Yuan sales

    Nigeria-China currency swap deal: CBN begins Chinese Yuan sales

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday launched the sale of foreign exchange in Chinese Yuan (CNY) signalling the consummation of the Nigeria-China Currency Swap Agreement.

    The CBN acting Director,  Corporate Communications, Mr Isaac Okorafor, said that the sale would
    be done through a combination of Spot and Short Tenored Forwards.

    Okorafor added that the sale would be conducted through a Special Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) window.

    He explained that the window would be dedicated to the payment of Renminbi Denominated Letters of Credit for raw materials, machinery and agriculture.

    He said “due to the peculiarity of the exercise, CBN will not be applying the relevant provisions of its Revised Guidelines for the Operation of Inter-Bank Foreign Exchange Market, that is; the guidelines which direct that SMIS bids be submitted to CBN through Forex Primary Dealers.

    “The CBN will also not be applying the guidelines which provide that Spot FX sold to any particular end-user shall not exceed 1 per cent of the overall available funds on offer at each SMIS session.”

    On the bid period, Okorafor said authorised dealers were requested to submit their customers’ bids from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on weekdays.

    He said that any bid received after the stipulated time would be disqualified.

    On funding, he said that authorised dealers were to debit the customers’ accounts for the Naira equivalent of their bids.

    He added that the CBN would debit authorised dealers’ current account on the day of intervention to the tune of the Naira equivalent of their bid request.

    Okorafor explained that there would be no predetermined spread on the sale of CNY by authorised dealers to end-users under the Special SMIS-Retail window.

    He said that authorised dealers would, however, be allowed to earn 50 kobo on the customers’ bids.

    He advised customers who were not willing to accept the settlement terms not to participate in the Special SMIS – Retail.

    He added that Forward Bids would be settled through a multiple-price book building process and would cut-off at a marginal rate to be disclosed after the conclusion of the Special SMIS Retail process.

    He also urged customers who were not willing to accept the terms of the forward rate not to participate in the Special Chinese Yuan SMIS Intervention.

    Okorafor said that the CBN reserved the right not to make a sale if it had the impression that the exercise did not provide effective price for the determination of the CNY to NGN exchange rate.

    The Federal Government on April 27, signed a 2.5-billion-dollar Currency Swap Agreement with the People’s Bank of China.

    The primary aim is to provide adequate local currency liquidity to Nigerian and Chinese industrialists and also assist both countries in their foreign exchange reserves management.  (NAN)

  • 2019: APC throws fresh challenge at PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to drop its antics of seeking a new coalition and the desperate shopping for members ahead the 2019 elections.

    It said that instead of doing all that, the PDP should face the Nigerian electorate on its own merit.

    The APC gave the challenge in Abuja on Sunday via a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abudullahi.

    According to the statement, after three years of defeat, the PDP is understandably excited with the possibility of hiding its “irredeemably bad image under the heap of a new coalition”.

    It said that like the vulture, PDP saw every altercation as a potential opportunity for a feast, alleging conspiracies and threatening to boycott elections.

    It also accused the party of announcing fake defections.

    “What is clear with all these is that no matter how long a leopard lives, it cannot change its spots.

    “What President Muhammadu Buhari and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, our National Chairman, are doing, persuading every aggrieved member not to leave the party, is what responsible and sensible party leaders would do,” it said.

    The APC pointed out that party politics was a game of number.

    It, however, noted that if the PDP had the same presence of mind in 2015, perhaps the calamity that befell it, would have been averted. (NAN)

     

  • Customs re-directs strategy on rice anti-smuggling operation

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said the service had re-directed its strategy on rice anti-smuggling operation to boost revenue.

    Mr Joseph Attah, the NSC Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said the service had made tremendous efforts to deal with rice smuggling in the country, adding that the newly adopted strategy is aimed at deepening the success story.

    “We have re-sharpened our strategy on rice anti-smuggling. In recent past, 50 vehicles have been issued to the service by the Federal Government to curtail rice smuggling.

    “The federal government has also approved the purchase of another set of 68 vehicles to improve deployment and response time.

    “We are also aware that there is an ongoing effort to purchase another set of 70 vehicles for Joint Rice Anti-Smuggling Operation,” Attah said.

    Attah said the service had sustained crack down on suspected smugglers across the country because of the improved logistics.

    The PRO said a number of smugglers were arrested by the anti-smuggling team and they are presently under investigation.

    According to him, these smugglers are undergoing investigation surrounding their illegal border trade activities.

    Attah said the smuggling of rice had become one of the most challenging undertakings because of the searchlight the service placed on the illicit trade.

    According to him, tracking the smugglers is also a challenging task personnel face due to the porous nature of the country’s borders.

    He said the un-cooperating dispositions of neighbouring countries and attitudes of unpatriotic Nigerians at the border communities had made the fight more herculean. (NAN)

  • NASENI to train 20 Nigerians on solar panel design, installation

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is to train 20 people in the design and installation of solar panel to serve as an alternative source of energy in the country.

    The training is expected to be conducted from July 30 to Aug. 10.

    NASENI’s Training Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Ajayi, made the disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said the two-week training programme, scheduled to hold in Abuja, would be organised in collaboration with Cornell University Institute for African Development (IAD).

    Ajayi explained that the programme, designed to provide mentorship to 20 potential solar energy systems installers, would also encourage them to become solar energy enterpreneurs and service providers.

    “Solar energy system is becoming an important source of energy to the populace.

    “As the demand for solar electricity increases, so also is the demand for skilled solar installers,’’ he said.

    He expressed concern that activities of quack solar installers in the past marred the integrity of solar energy system in the country.

    “To avoid these types of challenges in the future of solar electricity, there is need to develop a critical mass of highly skilled solar systems installers,’’ he said.

    He added that the trainees would be exposed to practical field experience on how to design and install solar panel to power water supply systems in two rural communities.

    “The trainees will also be provided at least six months mentorship in their quest to becoming solar energy entrepreneurs and service providers,’’ he added. (NAN)

  • 2019 Elections: PDP deplores presidency’s funds request to NASS

    2019 Elections: PDP deplores presidency’s funds request to NASS

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday deplored the Presidency’s request for N242 billion for 2019 elections from the 2018 Budget, saying it constituted a threat to the polls.

    The PDP made this position known in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja.

    It said that the request on the National Assembly to vire funds already allocated to other issues in 2018 Budget smacked of a ploy to frustrate the conduct of the elections.

    According to it, the request to vire N242 billion already approved for other projects in 2018 budget, to finance INEC and other agencies ahead of 2019 elections is deliberately set to drag the elections into financial controversy.

    The party said that the request was capable of inducing disagreements in the polity, cause confusion in the electoral system and set the stage for a political crisis capable of frustrating the elections.

    It said that the request was not in consonant with constitutional provisions and extant rules guiding legislative virement of funds already meant for constituency development projects.

    The party advised that rather than such specific request, President Muhammadu Buhari should send “a fresh supplementary budget to the National Assembly for whatever amount he seeks for INEC instead of seeking for a controversial virement.”

    It said that Nigerians were eager to have the 2019 general elections, and were not ready for anything that would constitute threat to it.

    “We therefore urge the President to follow the rules and submit a fresh supplementary budget or seek other legitimate ways and means, devoid of bottlenecks, to finance the elections.

    “Nothing must stop the 2019 general elections and the process must be credible, free and fair,’’ it stated.

    The party counselled against actions capable of dragging the nation into unnecessary electoral crisis. (NAN

  • NFF appoints Ikpeme Acting Gen. Sec., postpones league resumption

    The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Chris Giwa, has appointed Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme Acting General Secretary of the football house following corruption allegation levelled against former General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the announcement was made on Tuesday night after an exhaustive meeting of the NFF Executive Committee at the football secretariat in Abuja.

    Sanusi had been mandated to step aside sequel to investigations into allegations of financial corruption levelled against him to give way for the appointment of an acting scribe pending when the Executive Committee will announce a substantive General Secretary.

    The Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee, Otunba Dele Ajayi, who addressed newsmen after their meeting, said the present NFF leadership had decided to restore match bonuses and allowances to all age group teams.

    “We are new in office, we have to collate records and when we are done with that we will let you know.

    “If we say we are restoring the match bonuses and allowances of all age group teams, it does not mean we will pay arrears immediately.

    “The board will meet to decide whether to pay outstanding debts to the teams or continue on a clean slate.

    “We will later fashion out a way to pay the outstanding debts and we are starting again to pay allowances to the age grade teams,” Dele Ajayi said.

    According to him, the teams in question are the U-23 team, Flying Eagles, Golden Eaglets, Falconets and the Flamingoes.

    He said the Giwa-led NFF had taken note of the various national teams preparations for Africa and World Cup qualifiers, noting that financial and moral support would be given to them to succeed.

    “The board notes the activities of NFF for the rest of the year which include the Flying Eagles qualifiers against Mauritania, as well as the Falconets World Cup preparation and tournament.

    “We have also noted the Super Eagles Nations Cup qualifiers against Seychelles in September and the Golden Eaglets African Nations qualifier in Niger Republic in September,” he added.

    The executive committee also resolved that the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) earlier scheduled to resume on July 18, be postponed by two weeks.

    It would be recalled the League Management Company had on Tuesday announced an indefinite suspension of the Premier League following the leadership crisis in the NFF.

    The Giwa-led board has also fixed an emergency congress on July 27 to find a lasting solution to the perennial crisis in Nigerian football. (NAN)

  • FG to assist, compensate victims of Jibia flooding- Osinbajo

    The Federal Government, on Tuesday pledged to assist victims of flood disaster in Jibia Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina state.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, made the pledge when he visited the scene of the disaster to commiserate with the victims in Jibia.

    “I am here on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari to commiserate and condole with the Katsina State Government and victims of the disaster.

    “The President asked me to assure you that everything will be done to ensure that every victim is taken care of and this never repeat itself again.

    “We are here with the Director General of National Emegency Management Agency (NEMA), to provide all the relief materials that will be needed.

    “As Nigerians, we deserve to live our lives happily, we deserve to be treated well,’’ Osinbajo said.

    He prayed to Almighty God to avert future occurrence of the disaster.

    “We will work with the state government where compensation is necessary, we will compensate and rebuild where necessary,” Osinbajo said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the disaster occurred last week, leading to the death of over 50 persons and rendering over 1,000 homeless.(NAN)