Another Nigerian Sprinter Nzubechi

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October 28, 2023

Banned For Doping

Nigerian sprinter Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha has been banned for doping for three years, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Friday.

Nwokocha, who won gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, tested positive for Ostarine and Ligandrol, two anabolic agents, in a sample collected on 3 August 2022.

The AIU said that Nwokocha has admitted to the doping violation and has accepted the sanction of a three-year ban.

Her results from 3 August 2022 to 2 September 2022 have been disqualified, including her gold medal from the Commonwealth Games.

Official statement

The statement issued by the AIU on Friday read in part: “The AIU, the Athlete and the World Anti-Doping Agency (“the Parties”) subsequently entered into a Case Resolution Agreement in accordance with Rule 10.8.2 ADR pursuant to which the Athlete acknowledges that she has been found to have committed ADRVs under Rule 2.1 and Rule 2.2 of the CGF ADR (and the ADR) by virtue of the CGF Decision, which is final and binding upon her;

“The Athlete agrees to be sanctioned with a period of Ineligibility of three (3) years; the Parties agree that taking into consideration the criteria in Rule 10.8.2 of the ADR, the period of Ineligibility shall commence on the date of Sample collection, i.e., 3 August 2022. Therefore, the period of Ineligibility shall be in effect until, and including, 2 August 2025; and in accordance with Rule 10.10 of the ADR (and to the extent that any results are not already disqualified by operation of the CGF Decision), the Athlete’s competitive results from 3 August 2022 until the date of the Provisional Suspension imposed by the AIU viz. 2 September 2022 are Disqualified with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prize money/prizes.”

Worrying trend

This is the latest in a series of doping scandals involving Nigerian athletes. In 2021, Blessing Okagbare, who won gold in the 100m and 200m at the Commonwealth Games, was banned for 10 years after testing positive for multiple performance-enhancing drugs.

Recently, Divine Oduduru was also slammed with a six-year ban for doping violations.

Nwokocha’s ban is a major blow to Nigerian athletics as she is touted as one of the country’s promising athletes expected to take over from the old guard.

After an impressive debut at the Tokyo Olympics where she made it to the semi-final, Nwokocha was expected to improve on her performance at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Sadly, she can only watch the Games from the screens as she will be serving her ban.

Finidi George Blames ‘Inexperience’ As Cause Of Enyimba’s African Football League Exit

By

Emenike Agu

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October 28, 2023

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Enyimba coach Finidi George blamed his side’s African Football League exit on costly errors and inexperience after their heavy aggregate defeat to Wydad Casablanca.

The Nigerians crashed out 4-0 overall against the Moroccan giants after following up a 1-0 first leg loss by going down 3-0 away last Thursday.

And George pinpointed their naivety in the opening periods of both legs as decisive to Enyimba’s semi-final hopes being dashed.

“It was not a good match for us especially in the first half and it was because of the way Wydad played,” the former Nigeria international said in the post match press conference.

“They put us under a lot of pressure and my players made mistakes which gave them an early goal. After the early goal, we knew it was going to be difficult.”

Wydad’s fourth minute opener in the second leg left Enyimba with a mountain to climb.

But despite the disappointing exit, George took encouragement from blooding youngsters on the continental stage.

“We have a lot of young players. We are working towards something and I think in the coming years, these players will graduate and will have the experience to play at this level,” he said.

Teenage midfielders Daniel Daga and Adiele Eriuogo were among those handed starts in Casablanca.

“For them it was a big experience playing in such a tournament. We will learn from what we have done wrong,” George added.

Though their African Football League adventure ended prematurely, Enyimba gave youth a chance and can use the lessons to come back stronger

Indonesia Launches 1st Commercial Flight on BioFuel

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 28, 2023

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Indonesia on Friday flew its first commercial flight using palm oil-blended jet fuel, as the world’s biggest producer of the commodity pushes for wider use of biofuels to cut fuel imports.

Operated by flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, the Boeing 737-800NG aircraft carried more than 100 passengers from the capital Jakarta to Surakarta city about 550 kilometres (342 miles) away, Garuda Indonesia CEO Irfan Setiaputra said.

“We will discuss further with Pertamina, Energy Ministry and other parties to ensure this fuel is commercially reasonable,” Irfan said during a ceremony, adding the plane was set to return to Jakarta later on Friday.

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Garuda conducted several tests including a flight test on the new fuel earlier this month and an engine ground test in August.

According to Reuters, the palm-oil blended jet fuel is produced by Indonesian state energy firm PT Pertamina (PERTM.UL) at its Cilacap refinery, using hydroprocessed esters and fatty acid (HEFA) technology and is made of refined bleached deodorized palm kernel oil.

Pertamina has said the palm-based fuel emits less atmosphere warming greenhouse gases compared with fossil fuels, and palm oil producing countries have called for the edible oil to be included in feedstock for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Reuters reports.

“In 2021, Pertamina successfully produced 2.0 SAF in its Cilacap unit using co-processing technology and was made of refined bleached deodorized palm kernel oil with production capacity 1,350 kilolitres per day,” said Alfian Nasution, a director at Pertamina.

Meanwhile, Harris Yahya, a director at the Energy Ministry, said the use of biofuel would lower the greenhouse effect.

The aviation industry, a major emitter of greenhouse gases, is looking for ways to cut its carbon footprint by using alternative fuels.

Experts say the industry will need 450 billion litres of SAF a year by 2050, if the fuel is to account for around 65% of the mitigation needed to achieve net-zero targets

FG to Roll Out 11,500 CNG Buses, Orders 55,000 Kits

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 28, 2023

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The federal government of Nigeria said it has concluded plans to deploy 11,500 gas powered buses across the country from next week, as part of measures to ease current transportation challenges.

The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative ( PCNGI), disclosed this while delivering two CNG buses at the State House.

PCNGI project director, Micheal Oluwagbemi said state governments have already indicated investment interest in the CNG buses, stating that Rivers state government has already acquired some to ease the transportation challenges of the state.

Speaking on the cost of conversion, Oluwagbemi, revealed that the cost varies with the type and vehicle model, but assured that the government was working on reducing costs per vehicle.

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” The President has ensured that as part of PCNGI, the committee will incentivise the cost for the Nigerian populace.

The Project coordinator assured that Nigerians will be able to achieve conversion at a lower cost.

“The current cost of conversion varies from the model and type of vehicle but the President has ensured that as part of PCNGI, we will look into that cost by helping and incentivising Nigerians,” Oluwagbemi added.

He also disclosed that the federal government has already ordered 55,000 conversion kits as part of the immediate palliative, to ease conversion

The committee said: “In the next few weeks, starting from Lagos, the PCNGI will establish the roll out of more conversion centers to enable 55,000 conversions in the next 6 months under the palliative program.”

“In addition to this, over 11,500 CNG fueled vehicles will be rolled out by partnership with private sector, cooperative, state and union operated mass transit operators in the same period.”

Managing Director of OMAA Motors, Chinedu Oguegbu commended the government for the initiative, adding that “asides connecting to the energy transition, we’re also now deepening industrialization by patronizing made in Nigeria vehicles.

” This is going to go beyond the natural gas value-chain, this is going to create thousands of jobs for the youths and not just like basic tech, what we’re talking about natural gas vehicles, as we progress in Nigeria and after coming up, the technology that we’ll develop here, the talents that we’ll build here, we’ll be able to use this and export to other African countries that have similar initiatives.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Presidential CNG Initiative Steering Committee, represented by Farouk Ahmed, the Authority Chief Executive Officer of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authourity (NMDPRA), said the handover of CNG buses to the State House, commemorate” a pivotal step in our journey towards a cleaner, more sustainable, and economically sound future.

He noted that the buses are symbol of a new beginning, a journey towards the future, where the power of tomorrow starts today. Let this be a beacon for our country, Nigeria, and an inspiration to the world.

African Development Bank’s Investments in Nigeria Hit $4.4bn

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 28, 2023

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The Director-General, Nigeria’s Country Department, African Development Bank, Lamin Barrow, on Friday, said the bank’s portfolio investments in Nigeria is one of the largest among the Regional Member Countries, with a total commitment value of $ 4.4bn.

He stated this at the 2023 Country Portfolio Performance Review Workshop in Abuja.

This performance, however, is a reduction from the $5bn worth of portfolio in 63 operations recorded in 2022.

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Barrow, reiterating the bank’s commitment to promote investments in the country, said 48 separate fundings were evenly distributed between public and private sector operations in the country.

He said, “Currently, the bank’s portfolio in Nigeria is one of the largest among the Regional Member Countries, with a total commitment value of $ 4.4bn. These comprised of 48 operations fairly evenly distributed between public and private sector operations.”

Barrow further noted that the rate of flagged operations had decreased from 36 per cent in January 2023 to 32 per cent in September 2023.

According to him, diligent monitoring of the procurement plans and implementation processes would help the bank achieve 100 per cent compliance.

He said, “We are pleased that the share of start-up delays has been reduced from 32 per cent of flagged operations in June 2023 to 28 per cent in October 2023, and is expected to reach eight per cent by end 2023 with timely and targeted actions for some projects.

“Some of our portfolio performance metrics have also improved. In particular, operations flagged for implementation challenges decreased from 36 per cent in January 2023 to 32 per cent in September 2023.”

Akwa United FC Hold Insurance FC In Benin City To Earn Their First Away Point Of The Season

By

Emenike Agu

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October 28, 2023

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Akwa United FC held Bendel Insurance FC to a 0-0 draw at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City to earn their first away point of the 2023/2024 NPFL season.

Coach Fatai Osho tutored Akwa United FC came into the Nigeria Premier Football League matchday five encounter seeking a turnaround to a poor start to the season.

In the match, Akwa United FC had the first sight on goal when Nigerian International , Edidiong Ezekiel put pressure on Insurance FC defender, Sunday Anyanwu to play the ball out for the first corner-kick of the game.

Akwa United FC left-back David Philip took the resultant corner which was met by a header from young defender Wisdom Ndon but goalkeeper Anas Obasogie was alert to stop the goal bound ball.

Former Remo Stars forward, Edidiong Ezekiel was a pain In the neck of the Bendel Insurance FC defenders while at the other end, youngster Wisdom Ndon was in good form alongside the Akwa United FC defenders to secure their first clean sheet on the road this season.

Both teams toiled in vain search for a goal all through the game and went off with a point apiece at the expiration of regulation time with scores tied at 0-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

That was a first away point of the season for Akwa United FC after their other two away games ended with defeats to Bayelsa United FC and Enyimba FC.

The Promise Keepers will take their search for a first win of the season into week six.

For Coach Monday Odigie tutored Bendel Insurance FC, the goal-less draw vs Akwa United FC is their first dropped point at home in the 2023/2024 season .

Petrol Price More Than Triples In One Year – NBS

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 28, 2023

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The average retail price for a litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol, more than tripled in one year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The latest PMS price watch report showed that the price of petrol rose by 226.2 percent to N626.2 in September 2023 from N191.6 in the same period of last year.

“Likewise, comparing the average price value with the previous month (.i.e. August 2023), the average retail price decreased by 0.08 percent from N626.7,” the report said.

It said Taraba had the highest average price for petrol which stood at N665.6 in September, while Bornu and Benue states had N657.4 and N641.3 respectively.

Rivers (N602.6), Delta (N605.9) and Jigawa states (N617.4), recorded the lowest price.

“Lastly, on zonal profile, the North-East had the highest average retail price of N638.3, while the South-South Zone had the lowest price of N618.5,” the NBS added.

The removal of the petrol subsidy in May this year by President Bola Tinubu , tripled the petrol price to N617 from N184, causing public transportation providers such as buses, tricycles and motorcycles to raise transportation fares.

“It is getting difficult daily for Nigerians, especially with the petrol subsidy removal and other reforms that the president has done. They are good reforms but they are seriously hurting Nigerians and businesses,” Collins Osho, a civil servant and photographer, said.

Petroleum product dealers also indicated that filling stations were closing down in huge numbers on a daily basis because the industry was getting increasingly difficult to maintain.

According to them, this could lead to widespread gasoline scarcity in the coming months. It was also gathered that the cost of importing petrol into the country has risen to N720 per litre, up from N651 per litre in August of this year.

“Depot owners are so terribly affected by the increasing cost of crude oil and exchange rate, to the extent that many depots are practically deserted as their owners are unable to secure bank loans to fund their business due to high-interest rates,”Benneth Korie, the National President of Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria, said.

He said that the worst hit are filling stations whose owners find it difficult to secure funds to procure products for their retail outlets.

The hike in petrol price was a major contributing factor to Nigeria’s headline inflation rate which rose to 26.72 percent in September, the highest in 18 years, from 25.80 percent in August.

Petrol prices also increased the logistic cost of food products across the country.

A latest Global Hunger Index (GHI) said Nigeria is among the nine countries expected to see its hunger levels worsening throughout the year

Apart from Africa’s most populous nation, the Index, a tool for comprehensively measuring and tracking hunger at global, regional, and national levels highlighted Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen, Burkina Faso and Mali as the other countries.

Uganda Airlines Begins Direct Flight To Nigeria

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 28, 2023

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Uganda Airlines has commenced direct connectivity to Lagos from Entebbe International Airport with three weekly flights to Lagos, thereby deepening competition on international route.

Flights from Nigeria to other African countries have continued to take several hours as a result of poor connectivity.

When the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) was launched in January 2018, it was enthusiastically embraced as the key that would unlock air travel in Africa.

Although 33 countries in the continent are signatories to the project, many countries in Africa have not open their airspace for a single air market in the continent.

Uganda airlines is however changing this narrative with direct flight from Africa’s most populated country.

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Abuja and Kano, have been approved as entry points for the airline by the federal government under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, between both nations in line with the Single Africa Air Transport Market, SAATM.

The launch of flight services to Lagos by Uganda’s flag carrier, Uganda Airlines would help to close the gap in the travel needs of travelers from West Africa and East Africa.

The flights will be taking place on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays and the flight will take under 5 hours. A return ticket for Economy class will be US$ 510 Economy and Business class at $1800.

Speaking shortly after the inaugural flight, Nelson Ocherger, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, stated that the approval by the Nigerian government would open a landscape of business opportunities to both nations.

He noted that Ugandans await when Nigerian carriers would commence services to the country.

According to him: “The importance of air transport underscores the promotion of trade and investment and it allows Africa to leverage on all African Union, AU, agenda. We thank the Nigerian government for the necessary approval to do this operation.” “Uganda through the Uganda Civil Aviation Academy has partnered with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria to train Ugandan pilots, engineers, and other aviation professionals.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar who was represented by Ambassador Oludare Folowosele said Ugandan Airline’s operation was an opportunity to bridge West Africa and East Africa air transport hiccups, lamenting air connectivity as a major challenge in Africa wondering why Africans would travel to Europe first before connecting another African city while wasting over 12 hours on a trip that is normally three or four hours.

He said, “It is ridiculous to go to Europe before connecting two African neighbouring countries. What we are doing today would lead to wealth creation, shortening travel time from one country to another rather than depend on Europe all the time for flight connections.”

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, who was represented by Hassan Ejibunu, Director of Air Transport Management in the Ministry, stated that aviation remains the best way for Africa to connect her people and promote inter-Africa business in line with Africa’s 2063 Agenda, as championed by the continent’s leaders.

“Aviation has a huge market that should be explored by indigenous African Airlines, as no other Nations can develop the aviation sector for us, except us Africans. We need to do this in the interest of our over 1.37 billion people, which is 17.4 per cent of the world’s population. I wish to, therefore, challenge Nigeria’s local airlines to seize the opportunity to start operating regional and continental flights to make SAATM and YD achieve their aims, as envisioned by African leaders.”

Kano, Anambra, Niger Spend Most Diesel in September

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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October 28, 2023

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According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Kano, Anambra and Niger are the top three states in Nigeria that recorded the highest average retail price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) paid by consumers in September 2023.

The latest diesel price watch report showed that Kano, Anambra and Niger had N967.8 per litre, N950.9 per litre and N950.5 per litre while the top three lowest prices were recorded in Bayelsa (N840.2), Katsina (N840.6) and Rivers (N840.8).

It said the average retail price of diesel across the country increased by 12.8 percent on a year-on-year basis from a lower cost of N789.9 recorded in the corresponding month of last year to a higher cost of N890.8 in September.

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Experts attributed the increase to the recent implementation of a 7.5 percent value-added tax (VAT) on imports of diesel by the federal government, the ban on the export of diesel fuel by Russia, and the sharp decline of the naira against the dollar.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria’s spokesperson in Borno State,

Abdulkadir Mustapha said “The importers have been complaining about the exchange rate and that if caution is not exercised, it will rise even further.”

He said that diesel was selling for N,1030 per litre in some fuel stations in Delta State. “Although the product is sold in markets all over the nation, access to it is complicated by price.”

Although stakeholders have called the VAT waiver a temporary relief, they said it would only result in a N70 drop in diesel prices across the country.

The largest consumers of diesels across these states are manufacturers, which use it to power their generators due to poor power supply across the country. This surge has pushed up their cost of production.

Earlier in October, as part of the Federal government’s concessions to the organised labour to avert a total shutdown of the economy, President Bola Tinubu approved the suspension of 7.5 percent VAT on diesel imports into the country for six months.

Blue And John Crow Mountains National Park In Jamaica

By

Angel Gimalo

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October 28, 2023

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Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park is one of the biggest national parks which are located on the Caribbean island of Jamaica, and accounts for 4.5% of the land surface of the country.

The National Park covers around 78,000 hectares (200,000 acres) of steep mountain slopes which are higher than 914 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level.

Combined from two different mountains, Blue Mountain and John Crow Mountain, this area is well known for the significant biodiversity and rugged landscape.

The last of two known habitats of the giant swallowtail butterfly which is the largest butterfly in the Western Hemisphere, Jamaican boa, the endangered Jamaican blackbird, Jamaican hutia etc.

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Also, the mountains offered refuge to the former enslaved people called Maroons, which makes it important cultural heritage, for which is also listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as of natural and cultural importance.

Therefore, the mountains include settlements, trails, viewpoints, hiding places, etc. that form the Nanny Town Heritage Route.

The forests and their rich natural resources provided everything the Maroons needed to survive, to fight for their freedom, and to nurture their culture.

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Maroon communities still hold strong spiritual associations with these mountains, expressed through exceptional intangible manifestations.

This National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2015, making it the single site listed as an important of the organization’s list.

An important site for the islanders, in the near future it will attract many more people than it had in the past, with hope that it would be known all around the world much better.

The site encompasses a rugged and extensively forested mountainous region in the south-east of Jamaica, which provided refuge first for the indigenous Tainos fleeing slavery and then for Maroons (former enslaved peoples).

They resisted the European colonial system in this isolated region by establishing a network of trails, hiding places and settlements, which form the Nanny Town Heritage Route.

The forests offered the Maroons everything they needed for their survival.

They developed strong spiritual connections with the mountains, still manifest through the intangible cultural legacy of, for example, religious rites, traditional medicine and dances.

The site is also a biodiversity hotspot for the Caribbean Islands with a high proportion of endemic plant species, especially lichens, mosses and certain flowering plants.