Egypt 2023 U-20 AFCON: Thirty Five Players Jostle For Selection In Nigeria’s Quest For Title

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January 7, 2023

Isah Ladan Bosso, Head Coach of Nigeria’s U20 boys, has invited 35 players to resume camping in Abuja on Monday as preparations for this year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations begins in earnest.

Goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu, who is also number one choice for the Olympic Eagles, is at the top of the roster alongside midfielder Daniel Daga and forward Promise Bernard. Training sessions will commence on Monday as Bosso looks to pick his final squad for the tournament that also serves as the qualifying tournament for this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Indonesia.

There are also goalkeeper Chijioke Anigboso, defenders Benjamin Frederick, Nathaniel Tambe and Hassan Shaibu, midfielders Ibrahim Yahaya and Muhammad Aminu, and forwards Adams Olalekan and Ayuba Francis.

Seven-time champions Nigeria will do battle with host nation, Egypt, Senegal and Mozambique in Group A of the 12-nation tournament taking place in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Ismailia, 19^th February – 11^th March. All four semi-finalists at the championship will fly Africa’s flag at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup.

Uganda, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Congo are in Group B, while The Gambia, Tunisia, Benin Republic and Zambia will slot it out in Group C.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Nathaniel Nwosu (Water FC); Chijioke Anigboso (Giant Brillars); Saheed Akanbi (Adoration FC); John Otunbulon (Mavloon FC)

Defenders: Benjamin Frederick (Nasarawa FC); Adedoyin Odole (36 Lions); Daniel Bamaiyi (YumYum FC); Femi Abubakar (Madiba FC); Nathaniel Tambe (Box2Box FC); Solomon Agbalaka (Broad City); Aminu Yusuf (Lobi Stars); Hassan Shaibu (Smart City); Augustine Njoku (Abia Warriors)

Midfielders: Daniel Daga (Dakkada FC); Ogbelu Onoche (Nasarawa United); Frederick Godwin (City FC); Jonathan Nicholas (Simoiben FC); Muhammad Aminu (Mailantarki FC); Shatima Umar; Abdulrahman Adam (Mahaniam FC); Caleb Ochedikwu (Mavloon FC); Ibrahim Yahaya (Mailatarki FC); Bilyaminu Musa (Mailafia FC); Musa Usman (Mailatarki (FC)

Forwards: Jude Sunday (Realsaphier FC); Ifesinachi Obiakwu (36 Lions); Adams Olalekan (Remo Stars); Emma Ochegbu (Plateau United); Haliru Sarki (Maikunkele FC); Christogonus Ibe (Chukwuebuka FC); Faruk Salami (Ikorodu City); Segun Otusanoya; Ayuba Francis (Nasarawa United); Promise Bernard (FAME FC); Shatima Abani (Plateau United)

FG Hint On Why ASUU Audit Report was Rejected

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 7, 2023

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The Federal Ministry of Labour has reacted to allegations that it rejected the four-year audit report of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The spokesperson for the labour ministry, Olajide Oshundun,told news correspondent on Friday, that the audit report was not received because ASUU shunned a letter by the ministry demanding explanations on why the report was not submitted at the appropriate time.

The Federal Government reportedly had withheld the November 2022 check-off dues of ASUU members, despite the payment of pro-rata salaries for the month of November 2022.

The labour ministry’s spokesperson, who confirmed the development, noted that the decision to withhold the check-off dues was as a result of the failure of ASUU to make available to the ministry its audit report.

But while intervening in the matter, the Nigeria Labour Congress, in a letter to the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, insisted that ASUU made plans to submit the audit report but it was not received by the labour ministry.

Oshundun as regards the allegations of the NLC, said, “ Yes, it is true the audited report was not received from them and that was because they didn’t respond to the ministry’s initial letter, asking them to state the reason they refused to submit the audited report for four years.

“The ministry’s letter is explicit on this; they refused to submit their report as and when due and we asked for explanations. The next thing they did was to quickly submit the report instead of replying us in written form.

And let it be clear that it was when the ministry wrote and threatened that their certificate of registration might be withdrawn that they rushed to submit it.

“What they were expected to have done was to respond to the letter first and plead with the ministry for late submission of the documents. Because if the ministry should take it from them just like that, other trade unions may follow suit and just do things at their own will. Meanwhile there is a law guiding all of these processes.

“The ministry didn’t request again the documents but only wrote to get explanations for their failure to do the needful. I can also tell you the matter is already in court, so any further enquiry is sub judice.”

Six-year-old In Custody After Intentionally Shooting Teacher

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 7, 2023

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A six-year-old child deliberately shot a teacher at an elementary school on Friday afternoon, Virginia Authorities revealed.

Police said in a statement that they have arrested the boy accused of shooting a female teacher at Richneck elementary school in Newport News, Virginia, a city in the south-eastern part of the state.

Police said they were notified about 2pm that the teacher had been shot inside the school.

“We did not have a situation where someone was going around the school shooting,” Newport News police chief Drew told reporters. “We have a situation in one particular location where a gunshot was fired.”

He added that the shooting was not an accident.

The student has since been taken into custody, and the teacher, a woman in her 30s, was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries that were “believed to be life-threatening”, according to the police department.

Drew told reporters the teacher’s condition had improved somewhat by late afternoon.

He didn’t discuss any details about how the child is thought to have gotten the gun used in the shooting. But the chief told reporters that officers had moved children on the campus to the school gymnasium, and they were “safe” there while officers processed evidence that was still on the scene of the shooting.

Drew also said that there were “plenty of counselors” working with the students in attempts to keep them calm.

“The number one priority … is to get all our students back with their parents,” he said.

A police statement said officers had implemented a system to reunite the students with their parents, dividing them by grade level.

“An officer and a school official are walking the student to their parents, so it’s a good happy reunion, a little bit of emotion, but everything right now is safe,” Drew said.

Friday’s shooting will almost certainly stoke debate about restricting public access to guns in the US, even after Congress passed a bill last year that tightened restrictions on access to firearms for some people who are considered to be at risk of carrying out violence.

High-profile instances of gun violence across the US last year included the killings of 10 at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and 21 at a school in Uvalde, Texas.

Relief As Govt Drops Important Information On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 6, 2023

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The Federal Government on Friday ordered temporary suspension of construction works on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to make traveling experience easier for holiday makers returning to their destinations after the festive season.

On Tuesday, the construction company in charge, Julius Berger reportedly returned to site after leaving in December 2022, to continue working between the popular Long Bridge and Kara bus stop on the Lagos-bound carriageway.

The contractors’ return to site and the resultant gridlock in the axis saw commuters groaning on the highway on Thursday.

This led the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Umar Bakare, to suspend work and supervise the removal of crash barriers on the highway on the Kara Section on Friday.

Bakare told newsmen after re-opening Section One of the highway to traffic that the measure was to give opportunity for those returning from end of year holiday to have better motoring experience.

He said that the contractors were able to carry out quick repairs till early hours of Friday before removing the crash barriers in anticipation of huge return journey of holiday makers over the weekend.

The controller said that the contractors would return to site on Monday, Jan. 9, to continue work, and complete work between Kara and Long Bridge within 20 days.

He said temporary repairs were done on some sections in December, and the contractors were able to further upgrade work on their short return in January.

“We understand and realize that there are still a lot of people who are still coming back from their various journeys.

“To this extent, we have asked the contractor, after completing that section (Kara), to hold on and remove the barriers to come back next week to complete the other section between Long Bridge and Kara to the final layer,” Bakare said.

The Controller said the government would make announcements, carry the public along, and always sensitise the public on the progress of work

He appealed for patience of road users and lane discipline around construction zones, noting that government was always concerned about their welfare and need for them to have good motoring experiences.

Bakare said the schedule of government to complete the entire project in March 2023 was still on course.

Section One of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project stretches from Ojota in Lagos State to the Sagamu Interchange.

Anambra Govt Moves To Revive Sports In Schools

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 6, 2023

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Anambra government has identified the revival of school sports as the panacea for the declining fortune of sports in the state.

This was the crux of discussion at the meeting between officials of the Anambra Sports Development Commission (ASDC), representatives of the Anambra Ministry of Education and private school proprietors in Awka on Thursday.

Chairman of ASDC, Patrick-Estate Onyedum who presided over the meeting, said his major objective was to revamp the school sports culture and raise a generation of future champions in the state.

Onyedum said the move was in line with the policy of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s determination to empower the Anambra child through sports.

He said that as a product of grassroots sports, he would ensure that school sports were revived for every child in school to get the opportunity to also develop their talents.

He called on sports officers in the local government areas and schools to take sports seriously and focus on talent discovery in the communities, primary and secondary schools.

In her contribution, Antonia Nwaneri, one of the representatives of the ministry of education said Anambra was doing well in sports until when the ministry was schemed out by the newly formed ASDC in 2018.

Also speaking, Victor Nwobi in charge of sports in private schools said making private schools part of the programme was a good move.

He said there were lots of talents in private schools but the managers of sports in the state had not given them the opportunity to express themselves like their public schools’ counterparts.

He promised optimal cooperation of the private sector.

Pensions: Nigeria Govt Releases N13.89bn for 2022 Retirees

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 6, 2023

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The Nigerian government has released the sum of N13.89 billion for the payment of accrued pension rights under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for retirees.

The National Pension Commission announced this in a statement, saying that the accrued pension rights represent an employee’s benefits for the past years of service up to June 2004.

PenCom added that it was processing payments into the various retirement savings accounts of the affected retirees, and their pension fund administrators, noting that the recipients would be notified in due course.

“The accrued pension rights represent an employee’s benefits for the past years of service up to June 2004, when the CPS came into effect.

“Accordingly, PenCom is processing remittances into the various Retirement Savings Accounts of the affected retirees, and their Pension Fund Administrators will notify them in due course.”

PenCom commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the implementation of the CPS and ensuring the welfare of retirees.

14 Fuel Stations In Kano Sealed By NMDPRA

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 6, 2023

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The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has sealed 14 fuel stations owned by independent petroleum marketers in Kano State, north western Nigeria, for selling premium motor spirit, popularly called petrol to the public at very high prices.

Prices captured during the clamp down by the enforcement team of NMDPRA ,witnessed by Journalists ranged between N290, N295 and N300 per litre, as against ex-depot pump price of below N290.

The Zonal office Coordinator of NMDPRA in Kano, Aliyu Sama, said “the sealed stations risk revocation of their operating licences or payment of N150,000 fine per pump.”

According to him, over 100 stations found guilty of similar offence were sealed in December 2022.
He said with landing cost and Bridges cost, Independent marketers can sell Petrol below N290 and make profit.
“Independent marketers have no justifiable reason to sell at N300 or N290 per litre after claiming equalisation funds from the Federal Government.
“The agency would not accept any act of racketeering”from the private marketers.
“As at today in Lagos, the depot owners are selling at N230 per litre to independent marketers; so, with this amount, we understand they cannot sell below cost prize. But you can’t sell at N300 or N290 per litre because government is paying N45 per litre as bridges claim.

“If the landing cost is between N230 and N280, and you subtract bridges cost of N45 from the landing cost, you have N235, at least we expect a profit margin of N15. So, marketers can still sell below N290 and make their profits conveniently.

“As an agency, we are not in the position to fix price; but we would not accept a price that is not considerate to the public,” said Sama.

2023 Elections: INEC Begins Online Media Accreditation

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 6, 2023

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced online accreditation for Journalists and media organisations wishing to cover the 2023 general elections.

According to the flier issued by INEC on Thursday in Abuja, interested media organisations wishing to deploy journalists to cover the election are to apply via: https://imap.inecnigeria.org.

It stated that the portal would be accessible from Thursday, Jan. 5 to Sunday, Feb. 5.

“Late submission shall not be entertained as the portal will automatically shut down on Sunday. Feb. 5 at 5pm”.

“There shall be no manual accreditation”&₦8%

INEC also adviced media organisations to contact either of the following contacts for further enquiries: Chinwe Ogbuka – 08033141836; Nathaniel Gana – 08033802792; and Patience George – 08032861058.

Isiokpo Bicycle Festival Holds In Nigeria

By

Emenike Agu

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January 4, 2023

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The annual Isiokpo Bicycle Festival, organised by the people of Isiokpo from Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State in Nigeria, was held over the weekend to mark the end of the year in style.

The Carnival in Isiokpo is the only bicycle carnival in Nigeria and one of the biggest carnivals in West Africa.

The Bicycle Carnival saw hundreds of participants in traditional attires cruise around town on their bicycles to celebrate, with hundreds of spectators lined up in the streets to watch the bikers during the colourful bicycle parade.

While some had passengers at the back of their bicycles, some participants can been seen riding with radio and television sets that was common in Nigerian homes in the 70s and 80s.

For the people of Isiokpo in Rivers State, the significance of the festival is to celebrate the people’s inherent usage of bicycles since creation. Till date, the Ikwerre people are known for using bicycles to convey their farm loads.

The aim of the carnival is also to showcase Nigeria’s beautiful culture and tradition to world, while keeping the participants physically fit during the exercise.

Table Tennis: Aruna Celebrates Big Move To Russian Club

By

Emenike Agu

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January 4, 2023

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Aruna says playing in the Russian league is a bigger challenge, having played in the Portuguese, French, and German leagues since turning professional.

Africa table tennis champion Quadri Aruna has expressed great delight after completing his transfer from Bundesliga side TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell to Russian champions Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg for the rest of the 2022/2023 season.

Aruna, having spent the last two seasons in Germany with Fulda, says he is ready for a new challenge in Russia with his new club.

“I was really happy to join the Russian club because when they approached me, it was a bit difficult from the start because I did not want to quit the Bundesliga.

“But looking at the records of the club, coupled with the achievements they have had in Europe and having visited the club thrice while playing for Sporting in the Champions League, I discovered it is one of the best clubs in the world”, Aruna said in a press statement issued by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation on Tuesday.

While in Germany, the Nigerian table tennis superstar helped Fulda to the semi-final of the German Cup and the Bundesliga play-off last season.

The Negotiations

Aruna revealed how his performances attracted the Russians and led to negotiations, which ended on a fruitful note.

“I was contacted by the Russian club in October 2022 and they had to write to the management of Fulda to express their intention to have me in their fold. They did that and paid the necessary transfer fee for me to join them this January.

“But I was also committed to helping Fulda move from the relegation zone in the Bundesliga, which we were able to do in our last league match last season to occupy the 12th place in the 16-team league,” he said.

He added: “I love new challenges and I believe playing in the Russian league is another challenge for me having played in Portuguese, French and German leagues since I turned professional. I am sure I will improve more on my game and I am also ready to help the club remain on top of the Russian league this season.”

Aruna’s new club Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg are three-time ETTU Champions League winners with several records set in the Russian league.

On whether money was a motivating factor for the move to Russia,

Aruna said: “I know people would be wondering that a lot of money is involved. Of course, money is involved but for me, it is a very good club where I can improve more on my game.