Super Eagles who missed a ticket to the World cup in Qatar have been handed an elongated holiday after CAF announced postponement of the next round of Nations cup qualifiers billed for September.
The first rounds of the qualifiers were completed in June. The Continental football ruling body said the qualifiers have now been pushed to March next year to help the teams that qualified for the world cup prepare properly for the November/December event.
The decision to delay the qualifiers was eased when the finals, originally scheduled to be held in June and July next year in Ivory Coast, were postponed to January-February 2024 in a bid to avoid the rainy season.
“The postponement of the Cup of Nations offered an opportunity to reschedule the remaining qualifying matches,” a document addressed to the members of the executive committee of the CAF, which has been seen by AFP, outlined.
“It also makes it possible to open the dates in September to international friendly matches for preparation for the World Cup.”
Senegal, who won the 2022 Cup of Nations in February, Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco and Tunisia have qualified for the World Cup to be staged in Qatar from November 21-December 18.
The third and fourth rounds of qualifying for the 2024 Cup of Nations will take place in March 2023, match days five and six will be held in June with the sixth day set for September.
The Programme Manager, Gombe State Malaria Elimination Programme, Ubayo Ali, says no fewer than 804,000 children would benefit from malaria chemoprevention.
According to findings by our correspondent, the malaria chemoprevention treatment commenced on Thursday for children between three to 59 months.
The treatment entails Adhoc personnel using Sulfadoxine Pyrimethamine Amodiaquine.
According to Ali, based on NDHS 2018 report, Gombe has a 33 per cent malaria prevalence rate.
He noted further that malaria chemoprevention treatment and the use of insecticide-treated nets would help reduce the mortality rate induced by malaria in the state.
He said that the state is one of the 21 states in Nigeria currently benefiting from the seasonal malaria chemoprevention.
Ali said, “This is the season, for the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention activity that just started just in 2021 for us to reduce the menace of malaria most especially during raining season. This is done in about 21 states out of which Gombe is one.
“This chemoprevention is targeting children between three to 59 months. This is because the malaria menace has more burden on this age group including pregnant women.
“For this year our target is 804,000 children. They will not have to come to the facility to be attended to, instead, we will be going from house to house. This means we will have about 8,000 Adhoc personnel that we are going to use in reaching these children in their houses across the state.”
The programme manager said the malaria chemoprevention prevention treatment would be carried out four times within the space of four months.
Programme Manager, Gombe State Malaria Elimination Programme, Ubayo Ali
“Between Thursday 28th July to 31st Sunday, July, Anybody that takes SPAQ at least for one month will be protected from malaria.
“From 28th July to 31st and we will come back on the 28th August to give them another one which will protect them for another 28 days. After that 28 days, we will come back and give another, it will be done four times, within four months,” Ali added.
Ali noted that there are free malaria commodities in 352 health facilities, across the 114 wards in the state, stressing that the aim was to reduce the increasing level malaria induced death.
He said, “We have free commodities in 352 health facilities, across 114 wards in 11 local government areas in the state.
“Gombe State government is very supportive in the distribution of this SPAQ across the 11 local government areas already government paid N10 million this year as counterpart funding for the four batches.”
Commenting on the lack of awareness of the malaria vaccine for adults, Ali said, “the malaria vaccine has not reached Gombe yet but we have started discussing it. Already it has been piloted in two or three countries in the world and it is safe but it is yet to get to Gombe. It has not been officially launched.”
Former Manchester United striker Alan Brazil has said that he does not think Sir Alex Ferguson is undermining Erik ten Hag in intervening in Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer.
Following Ronaldo’s intent to leave Old Trafford this summer in search of Champions League action this season, Sir Alex Ferguson came around to try to convince the football icon to stay.
he former United boss’ intervention has since received a lot of criticism from some pundits who feel the Scot was undermining the club’s current boss, Erik ten Hag.
But Brazil believes everything Ferguson does is out of love for the club.
“He [Sir Alex Ferguson] cares greatly about Manchester United,” he told talkSPORT.
“I don’t think he is undermining Ten Hag at all, it is just his love for United.
“Ronaldo is a great player and professional, and I don’t think Fergie has done anything wrong here.”
The Federal Government has disclosed that telecommunications subscribers would pay a five per cent tax on calls, SMS and data services.
Stakeholders in the industry have expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s resolve to implement a five per cent excise duty on all telecommunications services in Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja yesterday at the Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Implementation of Excise Duty, the Executive Secretary, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Ajibola Olude, said taking cognizance of the situation in Nigeria at a time like this, the government should rescind its decision to implement the five per cent excise duty on telecommunications operators.
He said the government should channel its resources to other sectors to diversify the economy.
“What I am saying is that the proposed excise duty on all telecommunications companies is badly intended by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and Nigeria Customs. And the current state of Nigerian communication is so bad that only about 756 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were registered but only 10 are active because of issues with forex. Since it is coming from the Ministry of Finance, I think they should understand that currently Nigeria is faced with inflationary pressure, which is 18 per cent now. If you add this increase, the level of inflationary pressure will come to 19 or 20 per cent. And this will further increase the level of poverty in the country. So, if you are going to pass this to Nigerians that are already burdened by the hardship in the country, this is not the best time to do so.
“For me, it is not something they should embark upon. It is something they should turn down and leave the country as it is. Nigerians won’t be able to pay this.
“And another direct effect is that it will lessen investment. As a matter of fact, the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) or Capital Importation will go down because this is a further leakage. It is not just good and I think the best thing the government should do is to develop other sectors.
“They have been collecting tax from the people, they should channel it to steel industry, manufacturing and so many other sectors. That is diversification of fund. It is not something they should implement now. They should consider it and change their decision,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, insisted that the new tax burden would be passed to subscribers.
According to him, “it is a strange move, it appears a bit unusual. Excise duty is supposed to be apportioned to goods and products, but we are surprised this is on services. We will continue to support the government but ALTON won’t be able to subsidize this on behalf of subscribers in addition to the 7.5 per cent VAT, making it 12.5 per cent payable by subscribers to the Federal Government.
“We currently pay a lot of taxes, running into 39 of them, so we can’t add more to the existing burden. We won’t be able to absorb this on behalf of subscribers.”
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, urged stakeholders to support the implementation of the five per cent excise duty on telecommunications services.
Zainab, represented by the Assistant Director, Tax and Policy, Mr Musa Umar, appreciated Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) for providing the platform to increase Nigeria’s revenue generation.
She highlighted that countries in Africa like Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania and others have all keyed into this revenue generation pattern, emphasizing that this is needed to change Nigeria’s economic situation for good.
“The issue of revenue is not something we need to shy away from, our revenue can no longer take care of our needs as a country. Also, Nigeria is no longer making enough money in oil revenue, hence the attention is shifting to non-oil revenue sectors, he said”
The Minister explained that the government is committed to implementing the regulation in a seamless manner, which will not affect Nigerians.
Earlier, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Garba Umaru, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Adeleke Adewolu, said that the meeting was to engage industry stakeholders and Federal Government agencies on the implementation of excise duty to ensure the framework address the Nigerian telecommunications sector.
“The Commission is here to ensure that the Federal Government implements this initiative, which will help the government to fund the national budget,” he said.
Also, an Assistant Director and Chief Administrative Officer in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Frank Oshanipin, said the move to implement the five per cent excise duty was due to dwindling oil revenue.
“We are not making as much revenue as we are supposed to make and that is why we are channeling our attention to non-oil revenue. What we are doing here today is the best thing that can happen to our country. We are trying to see how we can implement the five per cent excise duty in a way it will not affect any of us, he said”
The Federal Government has charged critical stakeholders to re-double efforts towards ending open defecation by the year 2025.
The Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, gave the charge on Thursday in Ibadan, during the inauguration of the Oyo State Open Defecation Free Roadmap and Declaration of State of Emergency on Water Sanitation and Hygiene.
The minister, who was represented at the occasion by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Esther Walson-Jack, said that the efforts and commitment of the stakeholders would make SDG 6 on water and sanitation achievable.
Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu
Adamu said the inauguration of the road map to end open defection by the Oyo State government has shown that the state was ready “to join the train to take Nigeria to open defection status-free by the year 2025.
“This also shows the readiness of the state in keying into federal government’s effort in ensuring that Nigerians have access to basic sanitation service by the year 2030.”
The minister urged the state government to empower institutional structures to end open defecation in the state.
In her remarks, the UNICEF representative, Dr. Jane Bevan, urged state actors to prioritise putting hygiene facilities in public places and where children are educated.
Bevan said that safe defecation was important to break more than 50 per cent of faeco-oral transmission routes and prevent diseases.
In his address, Governor Seyi Makinde said the inauguration was to create awareness for all the stakeholders and the entire populace on issues relating to water, sanitation, hygiene, and the need to put an end to open defecation in the state.
Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Adebayo Lawal, said “by ranking, UNICEF said that Oyo state is second in open defecation index and that is too bad for us.
“And I think, the purpose of this gathering is to create awareness so that we will know where we situate in things of this nature.
“Within the metropolis, we are facing a lot of challenges, we are doing our best to ensure that refuse is cleared regularly and we need a lot more to do in terms of creating awareness and I think that engagement is ongoing as we speak.”
The governor further pleaded with UNICEF to spread its pilot scheme on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Ona-Ara Local Government Area to other local government areas across the state.
According to him, the state needs more pilot project more in the rural areas than in the city.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Oyo State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, Mr. Najeem Ominrinde, said the awareness would make individuals understand the health risk of open defecation and change their attitude.
Omirinde said the campaign against open defecation was presently being promoted across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
Nigeria’s table tennis team to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham have been handed a tricky draw in the opening round of the men and women’s category.
The men’s team, led by world No.11 Quadri Aruna, will face West African rivals Ghana, South Africa and Cyprus in the first round.
Other players in the men’s team are current African Games champion Omotayo Olajide, Bode Abiodun and Amadi Omeh.
They will face South Africa in their opening South Africa game on Friday (today) at the NEC Table Tennis Court 4, in Hall 3 before battling Ghana later in the evening.
Their final group game is against Cyprus on Saturday.
In the women’s category, Nigeria will aim to progress from Group 1 after being drawn with Singapore, England and little-known St Vincent and The Grenadines.
2022 Africa Cup finalist, Fatimo Bello, Esther Oribamise, Offiong Edem and Ajoke Ojomo are the female players table tennis stars representing Nigeria at the Games.
hey will face St Vincent and The Grenadines in their opening game today, before confronting Singapore later in the evening.
Their last group game is against England on Saturday.
Nasiru Bello, national coach, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, says his players are in high spirits and in top form ahead of their opening games.
“The preliminary draws were concluded Wednesday and today (Thursday) is a free day for us to train more. I assure you and I pray that the athletes will emerge winners in all of their categories,” he said.
Also, Fatimo Bello, Nigeria’s top ranked player in women’s table tennis, said, “We are in good shape at the moment and I believe we will do well in Brimingham. Individually, I have been training on my own and I’m confident about our chances.”
To commemorate the 2022 World Hepatitis Day, the Gombe State Agency for the Control of AIDS, with the support of the Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Development Agency held a sensitisation programme in Tangland and Tal districts in Billiri Local Government Area.
According to reports, World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28 every year, aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis; a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E to encourage prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Our correspondent reports that based on the World Health Organisation declaration, the 2022 World Hepatitis Day theme is bringing Hepatitis care closer to you.
The exercise commenced with a rally from Tangland to Tal where specialists enlightened the people on the prevention and treatment of hepatitis.
Speaking at the programme, the GOMSACA Social Mobilisation Officer, Mahmood ELnafaty, said hepatitis is related to HIV but more dangerous because of its mode of infection.
According to him, no fewer than 600 persons would be tested, adding that hepatitis could be managed when detected early.
He said, “Mode of transmission includes blood to blood contact with infected persons, bodily fluids among others.
“Test and vaccine will be administered free of charge to people who avail themselves and are negative, while those positive will be linked to a health facility for treatment.”
Also Speaking, A Medical Laboratory Scientist with the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mr. Yila Adamu said that based on a sentinel survey carried out between 2010-2012, more awareness would be required to stem the tide of hepatitis.
Adamu revealed that Gombe has a prevalence rate of 22.0 per cent for hepatitis B and 2.2 per cent for hepatitis C.
“One out of 12 persons has hepatitis, that is why we are trying to make sure that more persons become aware,” Adamu said.
On his part, Mai Tangle Danladi Sanusi who volunteered to be tested during a courtesy visit by the group stressed the importance of people knowing their hepatitis status.
He appreciated the choice of Billiri for the awareness creation and assured support for the success of the event.
The District Heads of Tangland Abdu Tahir, Tal Shuaibu Anampara, and their village heads were also tested.
They equally urged their subjects to get tested to know their hepatitis status to enable them to get vaccinated for prevention and also get access to treatment depending on the outcome of the result.
The 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games began on Thursday with a colourful opening ceremony at the Alexander Stadium amid fanfare in front of an estimated 30,000 spectators, showcasing the very best of Birmingham and the whole of the UK
The ceremony began at the stadium with drummer-percussionist Abraham Paddy Tetteh, before Indian classical vocalist and composer Ranjana Ghatak took the lead of the section intended to showcase the diversity of the city.
The Birmingham Royal Ballet and Brummie dance group Critical Mass brought to life a dance that signifies the restoration of the city’s iconic library and its famous canals.
Also on display during the magnificent ceremony were the 72 cars from across five decades to form a tribute to Birmingham’s incredible motor industry history.
The Games, set to be the biggest and most expensive sporting event in the UK since the 2012 London Olympics, have had to deal with the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the update from the 2022 Birmingham Twitter handle, the opening ceremony had in attendance Prince Charles as its chief guest as the Queen’s Baton reached the Games village in Birmingham on Wednesday.
The Queen did not attend the Games opening ceremony. Instead, it was Prince Charles and his wife Camilla who attended the official start of the Games in place of Her Majesty, who is patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Head of the Commonwealth.
The entire opening ceremony, which lasted for about two and half hours, was created by British screenwriter Steven Knight, who had produced the famous crime drama ‘Peaky Blinders’.
Over 5,000 athletes from over 72 nations and territories are registered for the multi-discipline event and will compete for honours for 12 days of sporting drama and ecstasy.
The Nigerian contingent, made up of 94 athletes, was fully represented in their green and white attire as they danced past the colourful stadium.
This is the third time England is hosting the event, after London in 1934 and Manchester in 2002.
The championship – which started on Thursday and will run until August 8 – will be hosted in 15 venues across the West Midlands at different sporting events, including the famous NEC Arena in Birmingham City Centre and the Coventry Stadium – home to the Wasps rugby team and Coventry City FC.
Pakistani activist for female education and the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai, who moved to Birmingham to recover after being shot in the head by the Taliban, welcomed the crowd to her adopted home.
Double-hand transplant recipient eight-year-old Zion Harvey smiles during a news conference Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in Philadelphia. Surgeons said Harvey of Baltimore who lost his limbs to a serious infection, has become the youngest patient to receive a double-hand transplant. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
1588 The Battle of Gravelines – Spanish Armada damaged and scattered by the English fleet
1609 Samuel de Champlain shoots and kills two Iroquois chiefs at Ticonderoga, New York setting the stage for French-Iroquois conflicts for the next 150 years
1848 Irish Potato Famine: Tipperary Revolt – an unsuccessful nationalist revolt against British rule put down by police
1905 US Secretary of War William Howard Taft makes secret agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Katsura agreeing to Japanese free rein in Korea in return for non-interference with the US in the Philippines
1921 Adolf Hitler becomes leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party
1949 Moscow ends the blockade of West Berlin
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Today In Music
1973 Led Zeppelin has more than $200,000 in cash stolen from a safety-deposit box at the New York Hilton hotel
Today In Sport
1751 1st international world title prize fight: Jack Stack of England, beats challenger M. Petit of France in 29 mins in England
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1715 10 Spanish treasure galleons sunk off Florida coast by a hurricane
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Famous Weddings
1565 Mary, Queen of Scots (22) marries for the second time her cousin, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (19)
1914 Mountain climber George Mallory (28) weds Ruth Dixon Turner
1934 “Titanic” actress Gloria Stuart (24) weds screenwriter Arthur Sheekman (33)
A painting believed to be the world’s largest watercolour has been “protected for future generations” after an ambitious conservation project.
Edward Burne-Jones’s The Star of Bethlehem has been at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for 130 years.
However, it had not been moved in decades due to its fragile condition.
About £50,000 was raised through an appeal to allow it to be reglazed and conserved. It is set to go on display when the museum fully reopens in 2024.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery holds one of the world’s foremost collections of Pre-Raphaelite art, including thousands of works by the likes of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, William Holman Hunt, Ford Maddox Brown and dozens by Burne-Jones.
Measuring approximately 8ft by 12ft (2.4m by 3.6m), The Star of Bethlehem had not been able to be inspected or redisplayed due to the risk of the fragile Victorian glazing shattering and causing damage.
The Star of Bethlehem has now been reglazed as part of the conservation project, which the museum said had revealed the richness of Burne-Jones’s colours.
Upon inspection it was found that the painting sits in a close-fitting inner frame, which means experts have not been able to see the back of the painting, as doing so would require the dismantling of the frame, which risks damaging the painting.
Experts, however, were able to see other details of the painting, including Burne-Jones’s signature in the bottom right corner, the first time it had been seen for 130 years.
Victoria Osborne, Curator of Fine Art at the museum, thanked the donors and fundraisers who supported the appeal.
“The new low-reflect glazing will protect The Star of Bethlehem for the future and will make it easier for visitors to see and enjoy the picture in all its rich colour and detail. We’re excited to reveal it again when the museum fully reopens,” she said.
The museum and art gallery is currently only partially open while electrical works are completed across the building.
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