NFF Clears The Air On Rohr’s Status

By

-

November 19, 2021

The NFF president assures a decision that will please the generality of Nigerians will be the way forward

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finally made an official clarification following widespread reports on the purported sacking of Gernot Rohr as coach of the country’s national team-the Super Eagles.

A statement issued by Ademola Olajire, the NFF Spokesperson, emphatically declared there is no truth to reports that the NFF has sacked Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Rohr.

Though their have been widespread calls for the sacking of the 68-year old Franco-German, the NFF president Amaju Pinnick explained there are procedures to be followed and such would be adhered to if the Federation decides to end it’s relationship with Rohr.

Pinnick said :“The Board of the NFF is studying the report of the Technical Committee, which it submitted after the match against Cape Verde in Lagos on Tuesday.

“There are a number of possibilities but we have not taken a decision to sack Gernot Rohr. I want to assure that whatever decision is eventually taken will be one that will please the generality of Nigerians.

“Mr Rohr has a contract with the NFF and there is a procedure for disengagement. If we get to that bridge, both parties will look at the contract and see what has to be done both ways.

“The Super Eagles’ squad is a national asset and we are just fortunate to be in that space to take decisions. Any decision we take must be what will be acceptable to Nigerians from far and near,” the NFF boss added.

Now in his fifth year in charge, Rohr, a former Germany international defender, has led the Super Eagles in 54 international matches, which makes him the country’s longest serving coach.

In the 54 games handled, Rohr recorded victory in 28 of those matches, a tally some feel is below par going by the abundance of talents at his disposal.

Rohr Will Know Fate Next Week, Says Sports Minister

By

Emenike Agu

-

November 19, 2021

0

Time is ticking for the Sports Ministry and the NFF to reveal their plans for the Super Eagles coach.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will decide the fate of Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, next week.

Mr Dare stated this on Thursday at the weekly ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the minister, Rohr’s future with the Super Eagles will depend on a report to be submitted by the NFF in the coming days.

He said “Once we have national matches like these, there is an operating procedure.

“First, the NFF will receive a technical report that analyses the game. And based on that, we will review, scrutinise and benchmark the report. Thereafter, it will make a decision either about the players or about the coaching staff.

“The ministry is waiting for that report from the NFF. What it will contain or recommend, I cannot say for now. Before the end of the week, we’ll have that report and it will touch on many areas.”

“We know what the concerns are. We’ll do whatever is necessary and we’ll be timely about it to make sure Nigeria’s football is of the highest quality and that we’ll play in Qatar,” he added.

Speaking on athletes’ welfare, the minister revealed that his ministry had tripled its remunerations to athletes representing the country in various global tournaments including the Olympics.

He, however, disclosed that the ministry still owes 54 athletes a total of N44.37m in bonuses and remunerations.

For the first time in a long time, we have decided to triple the bonuses for the out athletes. We tripled their bonuses too.

“We also moved away from just giving them Naira to giving them Dollars because when you check other countries and what they pay their athletes, they pay in dollars.

“The Paralympians who won 10 medals, less than eight weeks after they returned, we paid them a bonus of 15,000 dollars for gold, 10,000 dollars for silver, and 7,500 dollars for bronze.

“We still have a few outstanding; we have a balance of 2,000 dollars to pay to about 54 athletes. And that’s because I increased their allowances from 3,500 dollars to 6,000 dollars at the Olympics.

“So, we had to rework our budgets and we are almost there. As we speak $4,000 has been paid to all of them. The 2,000 dollars will be available soon,” he said.

National Sports Commission To Return Soon – Sunday Dare

By

Emenike Agu

-

November 19, 2021

0

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare says efforts have reached an advanced stage for the return of the National Sports Commission(NSC)because it will make the sports federations run more efficiently and accountably.

Dare told State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday at the weekly Ministerial briefing, organized by the Presidential Communications Team, that the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will also be able to focus more on policies and overall supervision with the Commission in place.

According to him, the National Sports Commission(NSC)will be headed by a sports technocrat who will ensure that the federations have financial autonomy thereby being able to source their own funds and run all their developmental programs independently and effectively while the Ministry will be responsible for the preparation and participation of Team Nigeria athletes for the major international competitions.

“The Ministry is pushing for the return of the National Sports Commission(NSC)because that is the way to get our sports federations working effectively,” the Minister opened up, “the federations will be directly under the NSC and will be able to source their funds. The Ministry only steps in when there is a major international competition like the Olympics, African Games, and Commonwealth Games.”

Speaking further, the Minister said, “the Sierra Leone National Sports Authority has a model. We can learn something from Sierra Leone’s sports system by making all sports federations autonomous and incorporated.

“Expected to have annual registration from the National Sports Commission which will certify and introduce them to their NOC as the recognized federation. We are looking at this and other options.

“Federations must be more accountable to their Boards. The era of taking government money and turning around to fight and attack government under the tool of interference will soon be over. We will ensure a new regime of responsibility and accountability.” Dare added.

Experts believe that Nigeria’s best years in sports were when the National Sports Commission was allowed to run independently without interference.

Morocco 2022 Race: Super Falcons Set For 9-Day Training Camp In Abuja

By

Emenike Agu

-

November 19, 2021

0

Nine –time African champions, Nigeria will set up a training camp in the Federal Capital, Abuja as from Monday, as part of preparations for the final round of qualification series for the 12^th Women Africa Cup of Nations holding in Morocco in the summer of next year.

Head Coach Randy Waldrum has selected an equal blend of home –based and overseas –based professionals for the camping taking place between 22^nd – 30^th November, and which is aimed at further improving the bond, affinity and familiarity among the group as well as the curation of tactical and technical methods that would work best for the squad in match situations. There are 15 home girls and 15 foreign –based stars.

Leading the home girls are forwards Gift Monday and Vivian Ikechukwu, who scored two goals each during the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament in Lagos in September, and there are also goalkeeper Onyinyechukwu Okeke, defender Akudo Ogbonna, midfielder Goodness Onyebuchi and forward Mary-Ann Ezenagu.

Defender Onome Ebi leads the overseas –based crew, alongside midfieder Rasheedat Ajibade, defenders Patricia George and Ashley Plumptre and forward Desire Oparanozie.

The home camping comes few months after a similar camping programme in the Austrian capital, Vienna and towards the end of what has been a busy year for the Falcons, in which they also participated in the Turkish Women’s Cup Tournament, the USWNT Summer Series in the United States of America and the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament in Lagos.

The team has reached the final round of the 12^th Women AFCON qualifiers after a 2-1 aggregate defeat of arch rivals Ghana, and will confront another strong West African side, Cote d’Ivoire for a place in Morocco. The final round of qualifiers will hold in February next year, with the first leg taking place in Lagos.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Onyinyechukwu Okeke (Bayelsa Queens); Ibubeleye Whyte (Rivers Angels); Uchenna Chukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)

Defenders: Onome Ebi (Minsk FC, Belarus); Maureen Okpala (Nasarawa Amazons); Patricia George (SC Sand, Germany); Ashley Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Miracle Joseph (Bayelsa Queens); Joy Duru (Nasarawa Amazons); Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Glory Edet (Bayelsa Queens); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)

Midfielders: Adekite Dada (Watford FC, England); Peace Efih (Kiryat Gat, Israel); Yetunde Aluko (WFC Ramat Hasharon, Israel); Amanda Mbadinuju (Bayelsa Queens); Goodness Onyebuchi (Edo Queens); Grace Igboamalu (Bayelsa Queens); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Christy Ucheibe (Minsk FC, Belarus)

Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint Etienne, France); Mary-Ann Ezenagu (Rivers Angels); Desire Oparanozie (Dijon FC, France); Vivian Ikechukwu (Rivers Angels); Gift Monday (FC Robo); Juliet Bassey (Bayelsa Queens); Chinonyerem Macleans (Gonirk Leczna (Poland)

African Leaders Must Urge WTO Members to End Harmful Subsidies for Locals to compete – Fishermen

By

Elizabeth Williams

-

November 19, 2021

0

Mauritania’s waters are rich in biodiversity: More than 600 fish species live in the northwest African nation’s territorial waters. The fishing industry provides jobs for 180,400 people and accounts for up to 10% of the country’s gross domestic product, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.

But that wealth of marine resources is also the reason that fishing fleets from foreign nations flock to Mauritania’s coast.

These vessels are often powered by harmful government subsidies that pay for fuel and other expenses, artificially lowering the cost of fishing and enabling fleets to fish in areas where it would otherwise not make economic sense.

One hundred thirty-five foreign vessels, primarily from Asia and Europe, traveled across the ocean in 2018 to fish in Mauritania’s waters, also known as its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), according to a new research-based tool created by scientists from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), and funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts. That kind of distant-water fishing is only possible because of government subsidies.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia estimate that governments worldwide give out $22 billion in harmful fisheries subsidies every year, nearly two-thirds of which comes from six countries and the European Union. About $7.2 billion of the global total—or one-third—goes toward distant-water fishing, according to UCSB’s tool.

Negotiations on fisheries subsidies

WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies were launched in 2001 at the Doha Ministerial Conference, with a mandate to “clarify and improve” existing WTO disciplines on fisheries subsidies. That mandate was elaborated in 2005 at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference, including with a call for prohibiting certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing.

At the 2017 Buenos Aires Ministerial Conference (MC11), ministers decided on a work programme to conclude the negotiations by aiming to adopt, at the next Ministerial Conference, an agreement on fisheries subsidies which delivers on Sustainable Development Goal 14.6

SDG 14.6, part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, affirms the WTO’s role in the global fisheries subsidies agenda.

SDG 14.6 targets “by 2020, to prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, and eliminate subsidies that contribute to IUU fishing, and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiation.”

Based on the mandate fixed under the Ministerial Decision from the WTO’s 11th Ministerial Conference, and the UN Sustainable Development Goal Target 14.6, negotiators are expected to secure an agreement in 2020 for disciplines eliminating subsidies to IUU fishing and for prohibiting certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, with special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed countries.

Afreximbank signs $825m deal with NEXIM bank

By

Elizabeth Williams

-

November 19, 2021

0

The African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Nigerian Export and Import (NEXIM) Bank on Thursday night in Durban, South Africa, signed a total of $475 million project financing and a grant of $350 million.

A breakdown of the financing shows that the $350,000 grant is to be used to dredge the Niger-Benue River to help move goods from the seaports further into the land port.

The second agreement was Afreximbank’s support to Nexim with a $50 million facility to boost fleets. More importantly, there was another $400 million to help expand inland ports as well as existing ports to support intra-African and regional trade. This is the first deal to be signed between the two institutions. To ensure that Afreximbank can work together with Nexim to promote the ceiling projects.

Also embedded in this, was a $25 million facility, referred to as the pandemic trade impact facility, which is to be disbursed to NEXIM to help make its support to its clients who are into the import-export business in Nigeria. The facility will help Nexim’s clients mitigate the impact of the COVID and the pandemic on their businesses and ensure that they can bounce back and quickly get out of the adverse effects of Covid-19.

Speaking on the sideline of Nigeria’s day at the ongoing 2021 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), Benedict Oramah, (professor), president, Afreximbank, said, “why we do this country day event is to receive information on the trade and investment opportunities in the countries that win the bid to host country days. We also use it in the case of Nigeria to test the reach and diverse culinary and cultural endowment of the country”.

He said Nigeria has demonstrated resolute support to Afreximbank and the Intra-African trade fair. This has been underscored this year by the participation of President Buhari at the opening ceremony. This year also, Nigeria is participating with a very strong contingent of about 1,500 as of today (Thursday).

“Afreximbank is most grateful for the support we have been receiving from Nigeria. We are grateful for the support we have received during this trade fair, which has a long history of fund support Afreximbank has received from the government and the people of Nigeria since it was created,” Oramah said.

It is that support that propels Afreximbank’ intervention in Nigeria. For instance, Afreximbank’s cumulative direct financing support topped $26 billion by the end of 2020.

Nigeria’s GDP Slows To 4.03%, After Three Positive Growths

By

Elizabeth Williams

-

November 19, 2021

0

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew lower than the celebrated growth of 5.01 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2021 by 0.98 per cent points, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to the official data, GDP grew by 4.03 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the third quarter of 2021.

This is as the Statistician-General of the Federation and head of the NBS, Simon Harry explained that the negative GDP figures recorded in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic had serious base effects on the GDP figures for quarters two and three 2021.

He made the announcement on Thursday in Abuja at a media conference where he presented the third quarter GDP report.

He stated that the improvement being seen in the output growth over the last four quarters depicts a steady progress made in stemming the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated negative impact on livelihood, well-being and the economy.

Quarter on quarter real GDP grew at 11.07 per cent in Q3 2021 compared to Q2 2021, reflecting a higher economic activity than the preceding quarter.

During the third quarter 2021, oil contributed 7.49 per cent to GDP from 8.73 per cent contributed in third quarter 2020.

Non-oil sectors accounted for 92.51 per cent, an increase from 91.27 per cent recorded in third quarter 2020, the fastest growing activities in third quarter 2021.

The Nigerian economy has been classified broadly into the oil and non-oil sectors.

In the quarter under review, aggregate GDP stood at N45 trillion in nominal terms. This performance is higher when compared to the third quarter of 2020 which recorded aggregate GDP of N39 trillion, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth rate of 15.41 per cent.

Why Nigeria Secured $72m World Bank Loan For Land Information System – Onu

By

Elizabeth Williams

-

November 19, 2021

0

Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu has explained why the federal government secured $72 million from the World Bank for the 36 states of the Federation to develop states’ land information system.

Speaking at the Geoinformation Society of Nigeria Annual Conference held in Lagos, the minister said the gesture is to strengthen internally generated revenue (IGR) collection at the state level, adding that the effort will generate not less than 50,000 employment for the teeming youths.
He said, “The World Bank through the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning secured $2,000,000.00 for each of the states totaling $72,000,000.00 for the 36 states to develop the States’ Land Information System.
“It is worthy to note that, the World Bank-assisted States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme DLI5 on the Land Information System (LIS) is to strengthen Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) collection at state level. This singular effort will generate not less than 50,000 jobs for our teeming youth.”

In his welcome address at the occasion, the President of Geoinformation Society of Nigeria, Dr Matthew Adepoju, said that it is pertinent that repositioning the nation requires knowledge in the economy to catch up with the rest of the world.
Listing security, environment and socio-economic factors as the problems confronting the nation, Adepoju said, “The current reality is, the world has entered the fourth industrial developmental revolution where things are done differently.”
He argued that the coming of COVID-19 is a blessing in disguise. He said, “The arrival of COVID-19 seems to be a blessing in disguise just like the second (2nd) World War accelerated the technological advancement for mankind.

What is Land Information System?

Land Information System (LIS) is a flexible land surface modeling and data assimilation framework designed using advanced software engineering principles. Structured to enable community sharing and the reuse of modeling tools, data resources, and assimilation algorithms.
Land information is crucial for planning and development. The rapid pace of development in many of the cities in Nigeria, while bringing about high growth rates also brings with it heavy burden on land utiliation. To ensure that the high growth rate can be sustained, it is imperativeto plan for an effective land information system to plan the utiliation of its land resources for development while at the same time, protect the environment.

Adepoju added, “Geoinformation Society of Nigeria, have a great role to play in managing every facet of quest for development from industrialisation, smart city, precision agriculture, transportation, communications and many more to firmly position Nigeria through disruptive geospatial information and spatial data technological revolutions.
“The bedrock of the fourth revolution of human development is powered by geospatial technology. If Nigeria is to move forward and in the right direction, geospatial science and technology, geospatial intelligence must play a great role in its developmental programme.

It is worthy of note that this is one of many Federal government’s move towards achieving sustainable development goals. Through this systematic measure the government want to ensure effective land information system which it will use to plan the utiliation of its land resources across the 36 states of the federation, share resources; it is a major Climate Change Action because it seeks to protect the environment.

Obasanjo Prescribe Made-in-Africa Brand

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

November 19, 2021

0

Former President of Nigeria and African Union, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has called for a special ‘Made-in-Africa’ brand to promote intra-African trade and boost the export of products made on the continent.

According to a statement from the organisers of the International African Trade Fair 2021, Obasanjo made the call during a session at the event in Durban, South Africa, on Thursday.

Obasanjo, also was quoted as saying, “Having a ‘Made-in-Africa’ brand will instill a sense of pride in each African country.

The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement is working to remove the divisions that were brought about by colonialism, where Africa was divided into regions based on the languages of the colonisers.”

According to him, the shared vision of IATF2021 participants and the traders at the Trade Fair is what will bring the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement to life.

“I have been impressed by the interaction of people at the IATF. People are working together, and this creates the environment in which miracles can happen,” said Obasanjo.

Pres. Buhari Signs Nigeria’s Climate Change, AMCON Bills Into Law

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

November 19, 2021

0

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday signed the Climate Change bill into law.

This was made public by the president’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu.

According to Shehu, the Climate Change Act owes its origin to a bill sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, and provides for, among other things, the mainstreaming of climate change actions and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change.

The Act also also paves the way for environmental and economic accounting and a push for a net zero emission deadline plan in the country.

The president had earlier made a commitment during the world leaders summit of the just concluded United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland that Nigeria will cut its carbon emission to net-zero by 2060.

The president also signed the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (Amendment) Act into law.

The AMCOM Act provides for the extension of the tenor of the Resolution Cost Fund and grants access to the Special Tribunal established by the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act 2020, which confers on the corporation the power “to take possession, manage, foreclose or sell, transfer, assign or otherwise deal with the asset or property used as security for eligible bank assets and related matters.’’

“This, in effect, will help AMCON make recoveries and for debtors to fulfil their commitments to banks,” Shehu concluded.