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Sean Dampte UK based singer, drops new track,‘Energy’

Friday 8 September 2017

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria International Graduate Programme 2018

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria – We attract talented individuals. Not only can they give you the benefit of their experience, they also reveal a closer, more personal look at the wide range of global opportunities we offer. At the core of the Group's people strategy is our focus on employee engagement. Engagement is a key driver of productivity and performance, which creates the foundation of our performance culture. We encourage and focus on the behaviours that bring out the very best f
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Candel Company Limited Graduate Trainee recruitment 2017

The Candel Company Limited is Nigeria’s leading crop yield advancement and production company. As a result of growth and the need to strengthen our current team, we need exceptional individuals with the right qualifications, drive and experience to join our team of professionals.
We are currently recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Position: Graduate Trainee
Job Location: Lagos
Candidate Requirements</strong
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Akanu Ibiam Poly Unwana Post UTME Screening Form- 2017/18 | Application Details

Akanu Ibiam Poly Unwana Post UTME Screening Form- 2017/18 | Application Details

Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana Post UTME  screening exercise application form for the 2017/2018 academic session is on sale.

Continue reading Akanu Ibiam Poly Unwana Post UTME Screening Form- 2017/18 | Application Details at Nigeria Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges News.

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The Latest: Ex-US presidents to raise money for storm relief



  1. The Latest: Ex-US presidents to raise money for storm relief  Washington Post
  2. Hurricane Irma: UK territory declares state of emergency  BBC News
  3. Gas In The Tank, Cafecito In Hand: Floridians Prepare For Irma  WBUR
  4. Hurricane Irma: Florida orders mass evacuations as deadly storm hits Caribbean – latest news  Telegraph.co.uk
  5. CDEMA: Race against time for Barbuda evacuation  Loop Barbados

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M.I Abaga: We spoke to Kead, the young rapper who inspired the entire Abaga podcast

Three mixtapes and three albums have been released by M.I in almost a decade.

“I made the single because I am a fan of what he does, and what he has been doing before,” Kead says. “I just feel like if I could reach to him to get us another “Talk About it” album.”

M.I Abaga probably has to be the trendiest artist in Nigeria right now after the emergence of the controversial episode of Pulse’s Loose Talk podcast where he talked about criticism, his art, and his career so far.

While everyone has shared their hot takes and opinions on social media about the show and the conversation, unknown to many, the entire conversation was started from the most unlikely source; A young rapper named Kead, who released a record titled “Letter to M.I.” [You can stream it on Soundcloud above.]

Kead, 21, born Chukwubueze Okolie, who dropped the record in April 2017, didn’t know that his labour of love for M.I Abaga his idol would lead to the Loose Talk podcast, and an industry-wide conversation about his music and legacy.

“I made the single because I am a fan of what he does, and what he has been doing before,” Kead says. “I just feel like if I could reach to him to get us another “Talk About it” album.”

Released in 2008, “Talk About It” is regarded as Abaga’s most critically and commercially successful project. It contained the records ‘Anoti’, ‘Crowd mentality’, and ‘Blaze’ democratized Hip hop and provided music that everybody could relate to. M.I singlehandedly took Hip hop mainstream in Nigeria, and up to date, his live performance sets still contains records from that project.

“I’m a fan of Hip hop, and I think the Hip hop game in Nigeria has gone too soft,” Kead complains. “And for someone that says ‘I’m the king’, you can’t be the king and not actually wear the crown. You need to sit on the throne, and say ‘Yo this is the culture we are carrying.”

 

Kead has been following M.I since ‘Crowd mentality’, and has been a firm supporter through the releases of all projects. Three mixtapes and three albums have been released by M.I in almost a decade. Almost a decade of fandom for Kead.

But it isn’t until the release of the 2014 LP, “The Chairman,” that Kead began to doubt the quality of the artist that he had dedicated his emotions, money and time to. Just like numerous ardent M.I fans all over the world, “The Chairman” album was a conundrum. Their favourite rapper had learned the language of the streets to keep up with time and reduced the lyrical integrity of the project. This killed Kead.

“When the album came out, all M.I’s hardcore fans overrated the album. I thought it would be the bomb, and I rocked with it for the first one month, and I got tired of it.” As he described his frustration.

“I tried to introduce the project to my friends and force it upon them to listen to it too. But everyone I asked said they were not messing with M.I. It got frustrating as a fan, and so I had to speak up. He was the person I looked up to, he just needs to raise the bar up for Nigerian Hip hop at the moment.”

 

Fundamentally, M.I disagrees with Kead and thousands of his fans who rank the album low. According to the rapper, “Talk About It” was his worst project. Abaga ranks “The Chairman” higher than his groundbreaking classic rap project, a statement that fans on social media have argued against on Twitter. It’s a typical case of the consumers and creators disagreeing over the quality of the product.

“The production of back then can’t be the same with today’s production. Technology gets better, and the sounds improve,” Kead rationalises the statement. “But lyrically, I don’t think so”

“Compare ‘Shekpe’ to ‘Blaze’ for example, no one says M.I should be releasing ‘Shekpe’, but we are requesting that he just makes another ‘Blaze.’”

In June 2015, Jude Abaga was announced as the CEO of Chocolate City Music. He was succeeding Audu Maikori, a lawyer who founded the record label, in partnership with his colleagues Paul Okeugo and Yahaya Bello. Audu spent many years at the helm of affairs at the company, before stepping down and handing the mantle to M.I. A section of fans have argued that it was a wrong move because the running of such a huge company might have affected M.I’s concentration on his music.

Kead disagrees with that. Drawing on the example of JAY-Z who is the head of Roc Nation, a company he has run for nearly 10 years, but maintained his relevance in music and in the culture. He says added responsibility in the life of musicians is not a reason to allow their art suffer. “Old man Hov is still impactful in 2017. If we can have a Nigerian rapper that can do that, I think I’ll be fine.”

 

Kead goes further, explaining that the Hip hop culture needs more people to carry the culture and lead the path. He says the Loose Talk Podcast is one of those ways in which progress can be achieved by Hip hop. He also says the blending of pop music is a threat to the survival of Hip hop, but it can be managed to improve the culture. “Look at what Ycee is doing, trying to fuse his pop influence with Hip hop.”

Kead is working on a new project and thinks “Letter to M.I” is the start of something great. On the record, he flows “This ain’t a diss to M.I Abaga, just a letter from a son to a father.” I ask him if he could go back in time to four months ago. Would he still make the decision to record the track again?

“Definitely,” he says. “I meant every word I said to M.I and I would definitely make it again.”

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3 men arrested in Ondo for ritual murder of female students of tertiary institution



  1. 3 men arrested in Ondo for ritual murder of female students of tertiary institution  NAIJ.COM
  2. How we killed female student for money ritual – Suspects  The News
  3. Police parades 17 suspects, killers of students of Adeyemi College Ondo  Daily Trust

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Sports: Since Tom Brady became a starter, the Patriots have 40 more wins than any other team

Sports CoD_08 08 17

Since Tom Brady became the Patriots' starting quarterback in 2001, the Patriots have won 221 games, including 25 in the playoffs.

The 2017 NFL season is here and like many of the previous 16, the New England Patriots are overwhelmingly considered the best team in the league.

Since Tom Brady became the Patriots' starting quarterback in 2001, the Patriots have won 221 games, including 25 in the playoffs. That is 40 more wins than next winningest team during that span, the Pittsburgh Steelers (181 wins).

At the other end of the spectrum, the Cleveland Browns have been the anti-Patriots. The Browns' 83 wins — including none in the playoffs — over the last 16 seasons are the fewest among NFL teams.

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Buhari Not Naive To Decide My Fate – Minister

Chibok Girls, Sen. Aisha Alhassan

Lagos, Abuja – Aisha Alhassan, Minister of Women Affairs, on Thursday, reaffirmed her support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari is not a naïve politician to take any decision he deems necessary concerning her.

She also said she will not have any remorse even if President Buhari relieves her of her job in his cabinet.

She said this amidst criticisms trailing her comments on social media, saying she bared her mind fully in the interview with the BBC Hausa service and anyone interested should consult the media platform and get her position.

Alhassan, a frontline female politician from Taraba State, was captured in a video during an interview with BBC Hausa as saying she would support Atiku even if President Muhammadu Buhari decides to re-contest the 2019 election.

She was spotted at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, when she came to see the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, apparently on the same issue surrounding her comments.

It was not clear whether she was invited by the presidency or she came on her own volition.

When State House correspondents engaged her in discussions she appeared calm and calculated without any remorse whatsoever.

The following interaction ensued between her and journalists.

Reporters: Your remarks have unsettled the polity, what more can you say?

Alhassan: No, I have no comment. What will I say now, I have said all in BBC Hausa, get someone who speaks Hausa very well to translate it for you.

Reporters: Do you see your relationship with President Buhari as strained following your interview with BBC Hausa?

Alhassan: How will I know? I have not seen the president but I don’t think the president is a naive person.

Reporters: Aren’t you afraid of losing your job?

Alhassan: God gives and God takes. That is all and I have said it all in Hausa. You know that there is an end to everything.

Reporters: Buhari’s supporters have been attacking you on social media, saying you are not loyal?

Alhassan: Let the will of God be.

In the interview she earlier granted the BBC Hausa, she said moles within the presidency have been calling for her sack as minister.

The interview which went viral on Thursday went as follows:

BBC: Your Excellency, you said you hope former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, become the president of Nigeria in 2019, why did you make this statement?

Alhassan: Atiku is my godfather even before I joined politics, and again Baba Buhari did not tell us that he is going to run in 2019. And let me tell you today that if Baba said he is going to contest in 2019, I swear to Allah I will go before him and kneel and tell him that ‘Baba I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve your government as a minister. But Baba just like you know I will support only Atiku because he is my godfather.’ (That is) if Atiku said he is going to contest; as we are talking now Atiku has not said he is going to contest. Why I said our president in 2019 is because we all hope he is going to contest, but he never told us that he is going to contest. But if he said he is going to contest I will surely do what I told you I will do. Because if Atiku said he is going to contest and I remain in the cabinet of Baba while Baba also wants to contest, then I have become a hypocrite and I am not one.

If I said I am not with Atiku, Buhari himself will not trust me at all because he will say I am a hypocrite.

BBC: Is it not early to start campaigning?

Alhassan: Yes I made this statement when we went for a courtesy call during Sallah festivities, I am not going to stand before him and campaign, besides this is not the time for campaign. Even when my people asked me to come out and start campaigning, I told them this is not the time for that. This is the time to work for the people.

This is the work of my political enemies, they have been going round saying I should be sacked as minister. I never hoped to be a minister, Allah gave it to me if I get sacked, it will not bother me because I believe in Allah, that my time has elapsed; because I believe only Allah do and undo. And you think Baba is a mad man like those calling for my sack?

They have been sending it and spreading that if Baba sees this I will be sacked. He will not sack me from being a minister because of this, only if I commit another offence. I am doing my job as a minister with all my heart and I always protect this government because it is a government of APC. And Baba our president, the president of Nigeria and somebody that I respect even before I joined politics. I will continue to respect him as a man of integrity. For those who are saying I will be sacked, they will be shamed. And even if I am sacked, I believe it is my time as minister that has ended. I never asked for it, Allah gave it to me.

Alhassan came into limelight when she contested the Taraba State gubernatorial election and lost to Darius Ishaku.

As a way of compensation, the Buhari administration brought her on board the federal cabinet saddling her with the responsibility of overseeing the Women Affairs Ministry.

She had been instrumental of late to the welfare and re-integration of all the Chibok girls whose release was secured from the Boko Haram sect in Borno State, North East Nigeria.

I’m Surprised Alhassan Is Still In Buhari’s Govt – Sagay

Meanwhile, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) on Thursday said he is surprised that President Muhammadu Buhari has not taken any action against Aisha Alhassan, Minister of Women Affairs, over her statement that she will quit the cabinet should the president decide to seek re-election.

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) said the minister’s statement painted the picture of the Buhari administration as being a weak government.

Sagay said Alhassan’s continued stay hours after making the statement is disrupting the activities of government.

“She should not be part of the government anymore. I’m surprised that 24 hours after she made the statement she is still in this government. She should have been sacked immediately”, he said.

“Her presence now is disrupting the activities of this government and will give the picture of the Buhari government as being a weak government that cannot protect its own interests.

“The woman should have been shown the way out one minute after making the statement. I’m embarrassed that no action has been taken on her so far”, he said.

However, a former Minister of Information, Tony Momoh, said the minister did nothing wrong by exercising her freedom of expression.

According to Momoh, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), “Those who are saying her statement is an act of disloyalty are wrong. We are in a democratic government and not a dictatorial one. People should be free to air their opinions without fear.

“As far as I am concerned, there is nothing wrong in what she said. She said Atiku is her godfather and she will support him in 2019 if he decides to contest. What is wrong in that?” Momoh asked.

Senate Says Sagay Is Outdated Prof Of Law, Asks Buhari To Cage Him

The cold war between the Senate and Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman of the Presidential Action Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), was reignited on Thursday when the Senate described him in negatives over his recent vituperation against the parliament.

Sagay had at a forum in Lagos faulted the take home pay of the lawmakers just as he faulted them over some of the Bills they passed, saying they are never in the interest of the populace.

The Senate in a statement signed by its spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi, said the Professor of Law was only “spreading falsehood and making hate speeches against the National Assembly.”

The Senate in picking holes in the comments made by the law professor on the emoluments of the lawmakers described him as a “a senile, jaded, rustic and outdated Professor of Law”.

“Sagay was fond of using every opportunity he has to make public speeches to disparage the federal legislature by using uncouth and unprintable words to describe the legislators and the institution they represent”, the parliament said.

The upper legislative chamber noted that Sagay has been one of the few divisive elements in the Buhari administration who believe their relevance is enhanced only when they create constant tension between the legislature and the executive while also setting members of the executives against each other.

Abdullahi noted that while the legislators had ignored past statements made by the Professor of Law, his recent speech at a public lecture in Lagos organised by the Society of International Law where “he gave false details about the salary and allowances of the legislators and the various bills passed bordered on inciting members of the public against the legislators and deliberately circulating hate speech; which the government is working hard to contain” is unacceptable.

The statement reads in part, “Ordinarily, we would ignore Sagay whose statements and attitude present him like a rascal and sadist instead of a former university teacher.

“However, his last speech in Lagos during which he was reeling out false and exaggerated figures about the salaries and allowances of legislators and also lied about the passage of anti-corruption bills showed that he just deliberately set out to undermine the legislative institution and lower its reputation in the estimation of right thinking members of the society and we therefore believe we should put him in his rightful place.

“As an academic whose creed should be to find facts and make comments based on truth, we believe that Sagay should stop spreading beer parlour rumours about the salaries and allowances of legislators when he could simply get the facts from the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) which is the body constitutionally charged with the responsibility of fixing salaries and allowances of all public officials.

“Let us make it clear that our salaries and allowances are open books and the details can be taken from the RMFAC by any interested party.

“Prof. Sagay at his lecture in Lagos also made comparisons which did little credit to his background as a lecturer as he was talking of the salary of the United States President and that of a Nigerian legislator.

“That is like comparing oranges with apples. Only a senile, jaded, rustic and outdated Professor of Law like Sagay will make such a comparison which falls flat on its face, even to an ordinary lay man. Surely, Sagay is basing his analysis on street talks.

“Sagay could not even check the records before proclaiming that ‘the National Assembly has not passed a single bill for the promotion of anti-corruption war since it commenced business in July 2015′.

“First, the 8th National Assembly was inaugurated on June 9, 2015 not July. Also, it is on record that the Senate has passed the Whistle Blowers’ Protection Bill, Witness Protection Bill, Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency Bill.

“This man talks like a man who is constantly under the influence of some substance and perhaps possessed as he employs the language of a tout with no civility.

“He is probably constantly excited and incensed by the fact of having his first opportunity to find himself in the corridors of power.

“He pontificates and talks as if the war against corruption of the Buhari administration depends solely on him to survive. He once publicly attacked the Attorney General of the Federation and accused him of not doing enough to prosecute the war. In the Lagos speech, he took a blanket swipe at the judiciary and rubbished that entire institution which he as a lawyer has the professional, ethical and constitutional duty to respect.

“This is a man who cannot stand for councillorship election and win. We challenge him to state what his contributions are in the election of our amiable President Muhammadu Buhari and what new ideas he has contributed to making the fight against corruption more effective since his appointment.

“With an easily excited man like him as head of an advisory body, the nation has continued to lose anti-corruption cases in courts due to the failure of his advice. He needs to do more work and talk less because media prosecution cannot win the war on corruption”.

The Senate, therefore, called on the president to caution Prof Sagay and stop him from further creating needless tension in the relationship between the executive and the legislature.

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Niger Delta Agitators Suspend Quit Notice On Northerners, Yorubas

Niger Delta

Abuja – Apparently acting on the pulse of the nation, Niger Delta agitators, who formerly issued a quit notice to northerners and Yorubas residing in the coastal region, have withdrawn their threat.

They suspended the quit notice after a meeting on Wednesday which lasted late into the night.

The agitators also declared support for the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) whose leadership they had earlier disowned to lead the region in the ongoing negotiations with the Federal Government.

They also put on hold planned attacks on the oil installations in the region while putting aside their intention to declare the republic of Niger Delta on October 1.

Their position was contained in a statement issued to the media after the meeting.

A coalition of agitators led by self-styled General John Duku said that the withdrawal of the quit notice, amongst other threats, was sequel to the intervention of PANDEF and Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF) led by its Acting National Chairman, Comrade Imoh Okoko.

They demanded the removal of the current Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, from office.

Those who signed the statement included self-styled General John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs and Convener, Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators); self-styled General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers); self-styled General Osarolor Nedam

(Niger Delta Warriors); self-styled Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters); ‘Major-Gen.’ Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters) and ‘Major-Gen.’ Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice).

Others were ‘Major-Gen.’ Duke Emmanson (Niger Delta Fighters Network); ‘Major-Gen.’ Inibeghe Adams (Niger Delta Freedom Mandate); ‘Major-Gen.’ Abiye Tariah (Niger Delta Development Network); ‘Major-Gen.’ Joshua Ebere (Renewed Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta); ‘Major-Gen.’ Jeremiah Anthony (Movement for Actualisation of Niger Delta Republic); ‘Major’ Francis Okoroafor (Niger Delta Freedom Redemption Army); ‘Colonel’ Nelson Okochi Walter, among others.

“After series of meetings yesterday between the high command of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators led by ‘General’ John Duku and the leadership of the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF) led by the Acting National Chairman, Comrade Imoh Okoko, coupled with the intervention of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).

“A coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, which comprises of over 250 groups with their leaders and representatives present at yesterday’s meeting officially withdraw our quit notice issued to the Northerners and Yorubas living in Niger Delta region, call off planned resumption of attacks on oil & gas installations across the Niger Delta region and beyond from September 10, 2017.

“We have also suspended the October 1, 2017 declaration of the Niger Delta Republic, and declare our support to Pan Niger Delta Forum, demand restructuring and removal of Group Managing Director of NNPC.

“We have also resolved to work with PANDEF and give them our maximum support and we urge the Federal Government to continue dialogue and implement the 16-point demand presented by PANDEF on behalf of the Niger Delta region.

“This comes after an extensive consultation across the Niger Delta region, which we discover only PANDEF has been working round the clock to resolve the Niger Delta issues and have the people of proven integrity; it is a clear fact that working with any rival group such as Pan Niger Delta Congress (PNDC) is not for the interest of the Niger Delta,” the agitators said in a communique.

The forum also resolved that the oil/gas companies should relocate their headquarters to Niger Delta region.

“We also resolved to put on hold the issue of the return of oil blocs owned by Northerners and Yorubas to Niger Delta people and demand that the NNPC should revisit their recent appointments, urge the Federal Government to replace the GMD of NNPC with the indigene of Niger Delta for the interest of peace, equity, fairness and justice,” Duku stated on behalf of the group.

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The resident doctors’ strike

THE Federal Government is currently preoccupied with desperate measures to cushion the effects of the ongoing indefinite strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The panic measures, which are necessitated by past ugly experiences in the wake of similar strikes in the nation’s healthcare sector, include  the marching order to Chief Medical Directors of Federal Government hospitals that consultants should step up their game and fill the yawning gap, the engagement of casual doctors and the order that patients be taken to hospitals belonging to some agencies of the Federal Government.

These afterthoughts underscore the fragile nature of the healthcare sector. The sector has been overstretched under successive federal administrations that encouraged medical tourism with the cumulative loss of billions of naira annually. Had the present government exhibited the level of concern it is showing now before the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum which was extended by another seven days, perhaps the doctors’ strike would have been averted, thereby saving the country from the current trepidation. Nigerians are going through too many pains to be burdened yet again by striking doctors.The fresh disruption in the chain of activities in the healthcare sector has inflicted agony, sorrow and tears on many homes, especially persons of little means with life-threatening ailments.

NARD ascribed its discontent to the government’s refusal to honour a mutual agreement which encapsulated the resolution of persistent shortfalls and unpaid arrears of salaries earned in both federal and state tertiary health institutions and the enrolment of resident doctors into the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) since 2003. The agreement also resolved the non-implementation of adjusted House Officers’ entry grade level equivalent since 2014 and the stagnation of promotion and non-promotion of members who had met the requisite criteria. In a last-minute effort to avert the current strike, the Federal Government and officials of NARD met last week and signed a Memorandum of Settlement. But the ordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of NARD in Abuja, on September 3, rejected the Memorandum of Settlement, even though, relying on the government’s promissory offer, both the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Dr Chris Ngige, had declared that the doctors had resolved to put the strike on hold.

In taking the harsh decision, the NARD declared: “Neither the federal nor state governments has shown commitment to the resolution of issues at stake nor honoured previous agreements.” That the government demonstrated a laissez faire attitude while the deadline subsisted was unfortunate. It portrayed itself as being comfortable with a systemic collapse. Even with its damage control strategy, it failed to show full appreciation of the basic principles of handling and managing industrial disagreements and disputes. Nonetheless, we insist that both parties in the ongoing dispute must give room for dialogue, trust and understanding, if only to ensure that no further damage is done to the health sector and the psyche of the populace.

From 2010 when the dispute became a major issue, the demands of the resident doctors have become more kaleidoscopic.  They have donned the garb of self-survival and failed to show total commitment to the repositioning of the health sector. Their demands no longer include the urgent need to raise the bar in the sector. The doctors need to be more pragmatic and realistic in their demands to emphasise the imperative of firming up basic institutions and structures in the sector. Group and individual interests should not override the overall interest of the nation.

It is apparent that the government no longer enjoys the confidence of the majority of the unions in the country because of its record of flagrant disregard for mutual agreements. The perennial strikes by members of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) and the fresh threats by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (NASU) and others to go on strike over welfare matters demonstrate this very clearly. But while the issues have subsisted because of the obvious lack of commitment and goodwill by the government, intransigence on the part of the unions has equally exacerbated the disputes, whereas a critical element in labour relations during disputes is the principle of compromise.

Therefore, both the government and NARD must tread softly because of the implications of the current strike by resident doctors to the health of the citizens, especially the poor and the sick; the domino effects on the national economy, and the fragile state of the country where the fangs of poverty have turned the average citizen into an angry person. The two camps should revisit the admonition of the Speaker of the House of Representative, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, when he waded into the crisis in July last year: “Leadership is essential in solving any problem. It means that your eyes are always on the solutions and not the problems.”

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Premier League clubs vote to close transfer window before start of season from 2018-19

The Premier League transfer window will close before the start of the season after a vote by its 20 clubs.
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Sub-Committees List Tears AFN Apart

Some board members of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) have rejected the list of sub-committees released by the Federation’s secretariat on Tuesday September 5, 2017.
The members, led by the federation’s vice-president, Honourable Olamide George  have thus called on members of the public, especially the Nigerian athletics family to disregard the purported list as it did not emanate from the AFN board which has the constutitional mandate to constitute and approve the sub-committees.
“As far as we are concerned,the sub-committees of the AFN have not been constituted because the board has not met to deliberate on it and other issues necessary to enable us to hit the ground running especially after our participation at the IAAF World Championships in London last month,” said George, a former national 400m hurdler and member of the Ondo state House of Assembly.
“I remember I told the president, Honourable Ibrahim Gusau, to urgently call for a board meeting to enable us review our performance at the 16th IAAF World Championships in London and map out technical and marketing plans for 2018 which is two seasons in one for us.
“The Commonwealth Games is coming up in April 2018 while the African Championships will hold in July/August in Asaba, Delta State which means we should have hit the ground running as soon as the World Championships ended in London. I am thus shocked when a third party informed me that the sub-committees have been constituted without the knowldedge of board members because there was no board meeting called to that effect,” he said.
Also shocked by the purported list was the Sports Writers of Nigeria (SWAN) representative on the board, Dare Esan, after he was bombarded by the media seeking confirmation of the said list.
Esan was particularly surprised that the federation’s president could unilaterally constitute the sub-committess after insinuations in the media that he was trying to put square pegs in the round holes of the sub-committees.
“All over the world the post of the technical committee chairman or technical director of an athletics federation has always been filled by individuals with huge coaching experience and background in sports science because sports, especially track and field, has gone really scientific. In the absence of an individual with such qualification on the board, then the board of the
federation can look at an accomplished ex-international who has participated at either the Olympic Games or the IAAF World Championships or both. The individual our president has illegally assigned that role to is a dilletante as far as the position is concerned.
“In fact it is only in Nigeria that an athletes representative has been accorded the status of a board member. All over the world the athletes representatives only head an athletes commission specially created by the constutition of such association/federation,” said Esan whose sentiments were echoed by three-time Olympic and five-time IAAF World
Championships coach, Gabriel Okon.
Brown Ebewele, the man elected to head the technical arm of the AFN, believes the purported list is a joke carried too far.
“As far as I am concerned, the AFN sub-committees have not been constituted and the board will meet soon to constitute them as stipulated by the code of governance booklet handed over to the AFN by the Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung, during our inauguration,” said Ebewele whose view was corroborated by 4x400m Olympic gold medallist, Fidelis Tafida Gadzama, and Professor Emmanuel Ojeme, both board members of the federation.
Meanwhile the board members have given Honourable Gusau two weeks to call for a board meeting to enable them to chart a positive way forward for the federation in view of the very daunting task ahead.
The members cited the case of the Wrestling Federation which met on Wednesday, barely days after its athletes achieved unprecedented feats at the World Wrestling Championships in France.
“We are the king of Olympic sports and should be seting examples for other federations. We don’t want to be labelled failures after our tenure and we appeal to the Hoourable Minister impress it on Gusau to call for the meeting of the board of the federation,” said Okon.

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Maurice Ekeng emerges Cross River Labour Party chairman

The National leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has approved the appointment of Mr Maurice Ekeng as a new acting Chairman of the party in Cross River State. The National Chairman of the party, Mr Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, said in a letter in Calabar, that the appointment became necessary following the resignation of former chairman, Mr […]

Maurice Ekeng emerges Cross River Labour Party chairman

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Thursday 7 September 2017

Mama Taraba: How ever smiling Minister earned her nickname

Aisha ta bayyana dalilin da yasa take goyon bayan Atiku

Aisha Alhassan hasn't always been known as 'Mama Taraba'. Here's how the nickname was born.

With a smile often plastered on her face, Aisha Jummai Alhassan (aka Mama Taraba) could easily pass for anyone’s Woman Crush Wednesday (WCW) on a good day.

She can also be salty and very controversial when pushed to the wall. Ask the 'Bring Back Our Girls' group.

In January of 2017, I shared a hall with Mama Taraba at a valedictory dinner organised in honour of then Minister of Environment, Amina J. Mohammed at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos.

It was a night of decent speeches.

After the ceremony, I waylaid Mama Taraba at the hall entrance for a word or two. She was limping but still managed to radiate energy and passion as she answered my questions without scruples.  She wasn't the type to evade a question, as I would find out.

 

It is that passion and energy that has come to define the Aisha Alhassan brand.

It is that passion and energy that went some way into earning her the sobriquet of ‘Mama Taraba’.

How did Aisha Alhassan become Mama Taraba?

At the 2011 PDP primaries, Alhassan squared up against then incumbent Senator for Taraba North, Manzo Anthony. A political neophyte at the time who had only earned her epaulet as a lawyer, Alhassan was the bookie’s favourite to lose the contest by a wide margin.

No one gave her a chance in a patriarchal field. Besides, defeating an incumbent in the Nigerian political terrain is sometimes akin to squeezing water out of a rock.

 

Alhassan was a then protégé of former Taraba Governor Jolly Nyame. Nyame was propping up Alhassan against Anthony for his own gains.

The permutation from Nyame's camp was that if he supports Alhassan to beat the incumbent Senator, he’ll return to beat Alhassan in the general election and become Senator.

Nyame considered Alhassan a weaker opponent.

He couldn't have been more mistaken.

Alhassan ran a spirited campaign against Anthony and managed to draw plenty of Christian support her way even though she’s Muslim.

She left the incumbent senator gasping for breath at the PDP primaries and earned the ticket for the general contest.

When the general election rolled by in April of 2011, Alhassan polled 114, 131 votes to beat Nyame of the Action congress of Nigeria (ACN) who had to make do with 92, 004 votes.

 

Alhassan thus became the first elected female senator from Taraba State and the nickname ‘Mama Taraba’ became hers to bear.

She is called Mama Taraba because she has become a big time political player in Taraba State, influencing political affairs in the northern State, one voting season at a time.

Mama Taraba was only one of four women senators elected on the PDP platform in 2011. The others were Helen Esuene from Akwa Ibom South, Nenadi Usman from Kaduna South and Nkechi Nwaogu from Abia central.

Mama Taraba would go on to represent Taraba North in the Senate from 2011 to 2015.

In April 2015, she lost the Taraba governorship election rerun on the platform of the APC.

However, in November 2015, a tribunal sacked presumed winner Darius Ishaku and declared Mama Taraba winner of the governorship contest.

The Appeal and Supreme courts would later reverse the judgment of the tribunal in Ishaku's favour.

 

Mama Taraba proceeded to serve in Buhari’s cabinet as Women Affairs minister and has recently stirred controversy for backing Atiku Abubakar for the top job in 2019 at her boss’ expense.

ALSO READ: 'I'm not afraid of Buhari, he can sack me if he wants', Mama Taraba says

Back in January, when I asked Mama Taraba to describe the departing Amina Mohammed who was taking up a job at the United Nations, she looked me in the eye, before handing out another smile and a blush. “She has always been passionate about women advancement, women empowerment, gender affairs….

 

"She’ll always call me to say, 'come..let us collaborate to see what is good for Nigerian women. She’s my friend, my sister. I’m very happy for her and happy for Nigeria. She’s a good person and the world needs her", she offered.

You could tell that she shares a special bond with Amina Mohammed who was leaving the Buhari cabinet.

Will the world need Aisha Alhassan if Buhari hands her the sack on the back of her recent controversial comments?

Only time will tell.

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Watch These Entrepreneurs Interview Each Other About Books, Banking and Business

Chris Haddon and Jason Balin ask each other the same questions but give very different answers.
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Shinzo Abe: Japan PM urges 'greatest possible pressure' on North Korea

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin pictured prior to a meeting at the 2017 Eastern Economic Forum hosted by the Far Eastern Federal University at Russky Island outside Vladivostok on September 7, 2017

President Vladimir Putin said Pyongyang couldn't be intimidated and brushed off a renewed call for tighter sanctions.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called Thursday for the world to put the "greatest possible pressure" on North Korea to abandon its nuclear missile programme.

However Russian President Vladimir Putin said Pyongyang couldn't be intimidated and brushed off a renewed call for tighter sanctions by his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In as the three were in the Russian port city of Vladivostok for an economic forum.

"The international community must unite in applying the greatest possible pressure on North Korea," Abe said just four days after Pyongyang staged its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date, which it described as a "perfect success".

"We must make North Korea immediately and fully comply with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and abandon all its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner," Abe insisted.

"North Korea is escalating an overt challenge to the peace, prosperity, law and order of the region and indeed the entire world."

Meanwhile the South Korean president said that "perhaps the time has come for stronger sanctions" on Pyongyang.

South Korea has pushed for moves to cut off Pyongyang's key supplies of fuel oil, but Russia dismissed such a call, while China has also reluctant to take measures that could trigger instability or a refugee exodus on its frontier.

On Wednesday, Washington demanded an oil embargo on Pyongyang and a freeze on the foreign assets of its leader Kim Jong-Un in a dramatic bid to force an end to the perilous nuclear stand-off.

However, Putin once again said that imposing tighter sanctions was not the way forward.

"It is impossible to intimidate them," said the Russian leader.

"But I am convinced that we can avoid a large-scale conflict involving weapons of mass destruction and that we can resolve the problem by diplomatic means," said Putin.

"I hope that common sense prevails and the quicker that happens, the better."

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‘Potato Potahto’ to premiere at British Urban Film Festival

World Cup Qualifier Between South Africa And Senegal To Be Replayed

A World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal will be replayed after the match referee was banned for life by FIFA.

Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey was banned for “match manipulation”.

He awarded a penalty to South Africa in their 2-1 win in November last year for handball but replays showed the ball hit Senegal’s Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly on the knee.

The match is due to be replayed in the November 2017 international window.

Lamptey was initially banned for life in March but on Wednesday the decision was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Lamptey, who also officiated at the Rio Olympics last year, declined BBC Sport’s invitation to comment at the time of his original ban, which came about after a complaint from the Senegal Football Federation.

Senegal and South Africa are currently third and fourth respectively in Africa’s Group D behind Burkina Faso and Cape Verde Islands. Only the top team qualifies for next year’s finals in Russia.

The post World Cup Qualifier Between South Africa And Senegal To Be Replayed appeared first on Independent Newspapers.

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My wife chased me out of my house, man tells court



  1. My wife chased me out of my house, man tells court  Premium Times

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Two workers arraigned for allegedly stealing palm fruits



  1. Two workers arraigned for allegedly stealing palm fruits  The Punch

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#AtikuSeesTheFuture: other Atiku-lations for 2019

by Alexander O. Onukwue   Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has received the most public vote of confidence yet that…

Read » #AtikuSeesTheFuture: other Atiku-lations for 2019 on YNaija

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Sanchez will quickly be back to his best – Wenger

Alexis Sanchez will reproduce his best form for Arsenal despite an “uncomfortable” transfer window, says manager Arsene Wenger.
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Alexis Sanchez: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has 'no doubt' about forward's mentality

Alexis Sanchez will have no problems reproducing his best form for Arsenal after an “uncomfortable” transfer window, says manager Arsene Wenger.
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Anambra Poll: Knocks For IPOB Over Planned Disruption

The threat by Independent People Of Biafra (IPOB), led by Nnamdi Kanu to disrupt the forth coming governorship election in Anambra State in November has continued to elicit condemnations.
Recently Dr. Richard Ndubuaku, an Anambra based business man, dragged IPOB and its leader, Kanu before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

See also: Anambra Guber Poll: Action Alliance Picks Female Lawyer, Ozoka, As Its Candidate

He said there was urgent need for the court to restrain Kanu, IPOB, their agents and members from making utterances or taking actions capable of jeopardising the conduct of election in the state.

Ndubuaku maintained that allowing the defendants to proceed with their threat could result in irreparable damages to him and other innocent citizen of Anambra State.

The threat by Kanu to disrupt the forth coming governorship election in Anambra State may be one of the reasons that gave rise to the formation of IPOBR aimed at challenging his audacity to obstruct the forth coming election.

The group accused him of inciting public hatred on the entire Igbo race through his utterances and actions. They also claimed he is betraying the Biafra cause which late Odumegwu Ojukwu handed down to his descendants before his demise.

The group declared him wanted saying that anyone who knew about his where about should contact it for immediate action.

Also, Chief Edwin Clark, an elder statesman has condemned the agitation for Biafra led by Kanu’s IPOB.

The Elder statesman described the agitation as nonsense as the country cannot afford to go into another civil war.

He said, “The war between 1967 to 1970 was an unfortunate one which must be allowed to happen the second time.”

See also: Anambra Governorship Election, A Referendum On The Future Of The People – Chidoka

The present agitation by groups in South-east to carve a separate state for the Igbos has continued to generate controversy. While some people consider the agitation as legitimate and timely judging by the marginalisation of the people, others described those involved in the struggle as mere opportunists who want to use the agitation to gain relevance.

From Ralph Uwazurike’s Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to Nnamdi Kanu’s Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) and now Indigenous People of Biafra Rebranded (IPOBR) they appear to be no synergy.

Observers believe the approach by former administration of Goodluck Jonathan to convene a National Conference in 2014 would have addressed the growing agitations by IPOB and other groups in the country.

Following agitations and flaws discovered in the country’s presidential system of government for many years, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under President Jonathan inaugurated a national conference made up of over 400 eminent persons to discuss the problem and suggest ways to address it.

At the end of the assignment, the conference submitted far reaching recommendations to the government. Among the recommendations was the need for restructuring of the country. Unfortunately, the former administration of Jonathan could not implement the recommendations before handing over power in 2015.

However, on assumption in office, President Muhammadu Buhari, while reacting to call for government to implement the report of the conference, described the report as good material for archive an indication that the government is not interested in its implementation which gave rise for different agitation for restructuring and secession.

The post Anambra Poll: Knocks For IPOB Over Planned Disruption appeared first on Independent Newspapers.

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Clamour For Women Participation In Politics

Women

With the 2019 general elections approaching, the clamour for more participation of Nigerian women in politics is gathering momentum. Since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, Nigerians have been agitating for the implementation of United Nations affirmative action which recommends that women should be given 35 percent elective and appointive positions.

Barr Nkechi Chukwueke, former Special Adviser to ex- Governor Babatunde Fashola on Women Ethnics Group Mobilisation and Empowerment and former deputy governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) in Lagos State stated that a lot of factors have been affecting the effective participation of women in politics.

See also: Anambra Poll: Action Alliance May Decide On Female-Female Governorship Ticket

She said, “Nigerian women are not actively involved in politics, so many factors are responsible for this. One, there is financial challenge, cultural inhibition, family restraint and the society. The men will always want to intimidate women and the women on their own are not supportive.

“The society will also criticise you, they say what she is going to do in politics. The society will not create a favourable atmosphere for women to participate in politics. I have heard that the men will even want to take advantage of you”.

She encouraged those women interested in going into politics to be courageous, confident and discipline enough to take up challenges that come with politics.

“I think Nigeria has a chance of producing the best female president, governor, or any other position at the local, state or federal government level, if the woman coming on board is of a reputable character, confident, a good conscience, the fear of God and has passion for our country.”

The number of elected women in the National assembly is not encouraging following by the available statistics. For instance, only seven out of the 109 senators serving in the 8th National Assembly are women. Four of the female senators were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while three are members of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

See also: Women Have Been Marginalised In Nigeria’s Politics- Sosan

The PDP senators are Stella Oduah (Anambra North), Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central), Rose Oko (Cross River North) and Fatimat Raji-Rasaki (Ekiti Central). Those elected on APC platform are Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Binta Garba (Adamawa North) and Monsurat Jumoke Sunmonu (Oyo Central).

We have a lot of women who have served at a particular time and have proved that if giving the opportunity, they would make the country proud. They are; Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, former Minister of Finance, who during his tenure helped the country in moving out foreign debt burden at Paris Club. Late Prof. Dora Akunyli, former NAFDAC boss, who also performed credibly by fighting against adulterated pharmaceutical drugs, her name can never be forgotten in the archives of history.

Mrs Obi Ezekwesili also laid a landmark in the history of Nigeria politics. She was once the Vice-President of the World Bank’s Africa division, she also served as the Federal Minister of Solid Minerals and later as Minister of Education during the second term of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, she co-founded the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign on social media. These were myriads of women in politics that have performed excellently well. Also, Mrs Comfort Remi Sonaiya, the Nigeria’s first female presidential candidate and a lot more.

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Keys makes it all-American US Open semi-final line-up

Madison Keys outplays Kaia Kanepi to complete an all-American line-up in the US Open women’s semi-finals.
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‘Group Of Death’ Lives Up To Billing

Soccer Talk By Mumini Alao:

WHEN the draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers was made last year, Africa’s Group ‘B’ featuring Algeria, Cameroun, Nigeria and Zambia was dubbed as the “Group of Death.” Well, it is living up to its name 100 per cent.

After four rounds of matches, the World Cup dreams of relative “favourites” Algeria (1point) and Cameroun (2 points) are dead and buried, leaving Nigeria (10 points) to slug it out for the sole qualifying ticket with the group dark horses Zambia (7 points). Just when the Super Eagles thought they had done the most difficult part by eliminating their eternal rivals Indomitable Lions (4-0, 1-1) in last weekend’s double header, the Chipolopolo have emerged as a real threat by also dumping out the Desert Foxes (3-1, 1-0).

The fifth round game between Nigeria and Zambia on 7 October in Uyo has assumed great significance. It will be the next “Game of Our Lives.” A win for the Eagles seals their ticket to Russia. A draw or defeat extends the tussle to the wire in November when Zambia host Cameroun and Nigeria visit Algeria. Surely, the Eagles must avoid the tension that that would bring upon them. They must close out the race when the Zambians come to Uyo in 7 October, grab the win and move to an unassailable 13 points before the final round of games.

Regular readers of this column would recall that 13 points was the qualifying target that I set for the Eagles when the draw was made last year. I projected that we must win nine points from our first three games and 13 overall by match day 5 so that the final game in Algeria would be inconsequential.

After four rounds of games, nothing has changed and the Eagles can still reach the target as projected. My only surprise is that it is Zambia, not Algeria and Cameroun, who are giving us a run for the ticket to Russia.

Humiliation For Cameroun

Zambia are the next focus of our attention, but there’s no way I’m going to pass up the opportunity to rub in the Eagles humiliation of Cameroun last weekend in Uyo and Yaounde. The Indomitable Lions have brought so much grief on Nigeria football fans that whenever we exert some measure of revenge, we must celebrate it. Someone actually reminded me on social media about my resolve to celebrate even if it was Nigeria cockroaches beating Cameroun cockroaches in a race!

I found the Eagles 4-0 win in Uyo particularly satisfying. Also, I extremely enjoyed the various media descriptions of what the Eagles did to the Lions: Humiliate, annihilate, trounce, massacre, tame, disgrace, destroy!

On a more serious note, my reading of the game is that the Cameroun coach Hugo Broos was arrogant and over-confident in his approach probably because of their status as current African champions. Being the away team, I thought they would have started on a cautious note, frustrate Nigeria with some defensive tactics, then take us out on the counter as we got desperate in search of a goal. Broos did exactly the opposite and got punished for it. Right from the kick-off, the Lions went straight into attack and the Eagles had to ride an early storm. But once the storm subsided, it was the Eagles that repeatedly tore apart a disjointed Cameroun defence with some incisive play by Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo and Victor Moses who all scored before substitute Kelechi Iheanacho added the gloss.

In the return leg in Yaounde, Broos had learned his lesson the hard way and the Lions were more cautious at the start even though they were now playing at home. Man-for-man, the Eagles had better quality all over the pitch and should have been more than one goal (scored by Moses Simon) ahead before Cameroun managed a late equalizer from the penalty spot to secure the 1-1 draw.

Over the two legs, my man of the tie was centre back Leon Balogun who marshaled the Eagles defence excellently. Captain Mikel Obi was awesome in midfield and Victor Moses was unplayable on the flanks. Apart from Ighalo’s physical presence which perpetually unsettled the Cameroun defence, he also showed some great skills that I never knew he possessed. In goal for Nigeria, home boy Ikechukwu Ezenwa made the error that resulted in the second leg penalty for Cameroun, but overall, the home boy responded well to being blooded in such a crucial tie when Nigeria looked like having a goalkeeping crisis.

Finally, I doff my hat for Eagles coach Gernot Rohr whose team selection and tactics completely overwhelmed the Lions. With the benefit of hindsight, the nine high profile games that Cameroun played (six at the 2017 AFCON which they won and three at the 2017 Confederations Cup) which we thought had prepared them better than the Eagles had only served to expose their weaknesses to Rohr, the consummate tactician.

I was on Twitter throughout the live coverage of the Nigeria–Cameroun double header. I couldn’t resist giving the “Indomitable Lions” a new name: “Domitable Pussycats!”

Zambia Will Be Dangerous

ONE of my followers on Twitter suggested after our second leg game against Cameroun that the Russia 2018 ticket, though so close, was “not yet Uhuru” for Nigeria. After watching Zambia complete a double over Algeria (3-1 at home and 1-0 away), I cannot agree more. With absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain, the Zambians will be very dangerous customers when they visit Nigeria in next fixture on 7 October.

Since the Eagles beat them 2-1 in Ndola on match day one, the Zambians have been a changed team. Coach Wedson Nyirenda has promoted several players from their youth team and they’ve not lost another game since then. They are skilful and athletic, full of running and have a big heart which they demonstrated in getting a third goal against Algeria in the first leg even when playing with 10 men against 11.

Zambia also have a history of close rivalry with Nigeria. In 17 confrontations between both countries at senior level since 1973, Nigeria have won seven, drawn five and lost five. The biggest contest was the 1994 AFCON final in Tunisia where a relatively new Zambian team, assembled after most of the original team died in a plane crash, stood up gamely to our Golden Generation Super Eagles before narrowly succumbing 2-1.

Evidently, Zambia are supremely capable of giving Nigeria another good fight in Uyo on 7 October. Unlike Cameroun who adopted an arrogant tactical approach and got severely punished for it, I expect Zambia to come with a game plan to frustrate Nigeria with some solid defending. They will sit back and look to catch us with quick counter attacks. If they can’t get a win, they will target a draw which will drag the contest for the World Cup ticket to the final day when they would hope to have a better chance at home to Cameroun while Nigeria goes on a tricky road trip to Algeria. It’s up to the Super Eagles to destroy Zambia’s permutations by simply beating them in Uyo. A couple of early goals like we scored in Ndola in the first leg will ease the tension and set us on the way to Russia.

Considering all the hype, our two-legged tie against Cameroun turned out to be an anti-climax of sort, but I suspect that Zambia will be a true test for the Eagles. It’s just as well because it means we cannot afford to be complacent. Thankfully, none of our key players is suspended for that game. Barring any injuries at their club sides and with Gernot Rohr again conjuring the right tactics, Nigeria will win, in sha Allah.

The post ‘Group Of Death’ Lives Up To Billing appeared first on Complete Sports Nigeria.

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USAID Applauds FG Over Recession Exit

BY BAYO AMODU, Abuja and OLUSHOLA BELLO and YUSUF BABALOLA, Lagos

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has applauded the federal government for wriggling the country out of economic recession.

Team Leader of USAID Bee Keeping Pollination Project, David Musa, who spoke on behalf of the agency in Abuja yesterday, said the second quarter report of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which indicated that Nigeria was out of recession was a welcome development.

He, however, advised the government to create an open market platform, especially for bee farmers across the country.

According to Musa who is also the National Technical Expert, Inter-ministerial Committee on Honey Production, Bee Health & Pollination Services, this shows that there is more potential for productivity, value addition and integration between the private and public sector.

The leader appealed to the federal government to open up and strengthen the ease of doing business to involve more private sector investment to sustain the recession exit.

His words: “The report by the National Bureau of Statistics has credibility because farmers especially bee farmers are now selling more and making more profit.

“We are happy for this but the government must strengthen the ease of doing business, public policies, help the private sector to deliver wide impact to sustain the exit”.

Impact Will Not Be Felt Soon

– NBS

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr Yemi Kale, has said that the effect of Nigeria coming out of recession will not be immediately felt by the people.

Kale, the Statistician-General of the Federation, made the statement in Abuja, yesterday at a news conference.

“There is a different stage Nigeria must go through before the masses will feel the effects of going out of recession. Out of recession is the first step which is very important before the country can talk of economic recovery which is going back to where Nigeria was before the recession. Recession is just a technical word; we are comparing 2017 and 2016”, he said.

Kale attributed the reason why Nigerians are not feeling the real impact of the positive economic growth rate on their lives to the structure of the economy which was still largely driven by oil.

He said, “Recession is not about the price of your goods, not whether unemployment is going up or down, not whether you have quality education. It’s purely your gross domestic product.

“Your outputs of goods and services in the economy are going down and the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) is an accumulation of 46 different economic activities in Nigeria and the overall number. Whether positive or negative, it will determine whether you are in recession or out of recession.

“Now, within those 46 activities, some sectors will do very well and will be positive, some will do badly, some will do worse and some will stay the same way they are”.

Kale said the important thing for the country was to maintain the situation so that Nigeria would not go back to recession.

According to him, the country must not relax because the GDP is still on the negative side, even as he added that coming out of recession was not about quality but the quantum of growth. “There is growth but there is a problem with the distribution across the country”.

In response to a question that the exit from recession was a political gimmick, the NBS boss said GDP report which showed that Nigeria exited recession in the second quarter was not politically motivated.

“It is not political because it is the same bureau that gave other negative data. Things have improved but we are not there yet, it is only food prices that are still high”.

According to him, the bureau is an agency of government that has the independence to carry out survey and publish its findings based on international best practices.

He continued: “The fact that the NBS can boldly say, when the Statistician-General is up for renewal, that the economy is in recession and inflation has gone up to 17 per cent, speaks a lot about the integrity of the bureau.

“So, in terms of bureau doctoring numbers for politicians, I don’t think anyone can make that claim and NBS can never be political. We don’t do it”.

The bureau had on September 5 announced that Nigeria was out of economic recession.

It stated that the nation’s GDP grew by 0.55 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the quarter, indicating the emergence of the economy from recession.

The bureau stated that the figure indicated the economy was out of recession after five consecutive quarters of contraction since the first quarter of 2016.

An economy is said to be in recession after contracting for two consecutive quarters. The Nigerian economy slipped into recession in the second quarter of 2016.

The bureau, however, stated that the growth recorded in quarter was 2.04 per cent higher than the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2016 (–1.49 per cent).

It stated that it was higher by 1.46 per cent points from rate recorded in the preceding quarter, (revised to –0.91 per cent from – 0.52 per cent).

MAN Contributed Immensely To GDP Growth – President

Meanwhile, the president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank  Udemba, has said members of the association contributed greatly to the positive growth of the country’s GDP as announced by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Ufemba who stated this yesterday, while announcing the association’s 45th Annual General Meeting, noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy announced on February 21, 2017 accelerated MAN’s contributions in pulling Nigeria out of economic recession.

He said, “MAN believes that the Nigerian Economic Recovery and Growth Plan in conjunction with the private sector did the wonders in pulling the ailing economy out of recession. If the CBN policies are improved upon and sustained, we would do better in terms of growth in GDP.

“It may be true to say that economic growth rate of 0.55 percent is good. The question remains, is this growth real, and sustainable?  The impact of positive improvement like this should ideally be felt by all classes of citizens in our country before one can boldly assert that growth experience is inclusive”.

The 45th AGM with the theme “Recovery and Growth of the Nigerian Economy,” would be having the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Benjamin William Mkapa as the special guest of honour.

The president however pointed out that the growth rate is a positive development and that the Nigerian economy has summarily exited recession in the second quarter of 2017, after five consecutive quarters of contraction.

Udemba said, “Our choice of the speaker was based on his experience in managing an economy that experienced serious economic challenges, like ours”.

Learning from Tanzania experience, Udemba pointed out that prior to Mkapa assumption of office in 1995, Tanzania economy was state-controlled, but by 2005 when he completed his tenure, Tanzania economy moved from command economy to a market economy.

“We believe that the valuable experience he will share with us will further enrich our macro-economic policy thrust”.

 

Maritime Stakeholders Want NBS Rating To Reflect On Port Activities

Stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector have asked the federal government to ensure that the nation’s exit from recession is felt with activities at the seaport.

This appeal was made by stakeholders who spoke with our correspondent against the back drop of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) declaration that the country officially exited recession.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the National president, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Awimero, bemoaned the decrease in the volume of cargo imported into the country owing to the unfavourable foreign exchange regime of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He said that as far as the maritime industry is concerned, nothing has changed.

His words: “The volume of cargo has been decreasing since the exchange rate crashed. These are all political figures. How many cargoes do you have in the ports when the bulk of the cargoes have been diverted to neighbouring countries due to inclement cargo clearance procedure? We don’t want to hear figures; let Nigerians have food on their table, employment should be increased and the economy should be re-jigged.

“As far as the maritime industry is concerned, nothing is working. It is not about increased cargo volume in the last quarter but addressing certain economic issues which are yet to be addressed”.

Awimero called on government to rejig its cabinet and bring experts to drive the economy.

In his opinion, the coordinator of Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and Exporters Coalition, Osita Chukwu, said until importers are able to import through a much lower foreign exchange, nothing has changed.

He said, “As far as I am concerned, there is nothing like the country being out of recession. The port is still dry, activities are still at their lowest ebb.

“Where did they (NBS) get the figure from? Nigerians are suffering; the rate of unemployment is increasing daily; people are finding it difficult to feed. Therefore, all talks of exiting recession exist in the theoretical realm”.

Also, a former president of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Eugene Nweke, described the statistics as office figures that is not in tandem with present realities.

“If you relate it with the realities on the ground, there is a paradigm shift; it does not correlate at all. Every country must be involved in economic indices and projections trying to show efforts in revamping the economy”, he told our correspondent.

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