The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • BREAKING: Thugs fire dynamite in failed bid to stop Bayelsa PDP congress

    Thugs suspected to be loyal to some governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State on Friday threw dynamites close to the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa in their failed bid to stop the ward congress.

    It was gathered that the dynamite exploded on the main road some kilometres to the the PDP Secretariat and that nobody was injured.

    Sources said the hoodlums, who could not have access to the secretariat because the area was cordoned off by armed police operatives, decided to throw the explosive along the road.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said persons at the secretariat heard the sound of the dynamite adding that the thugs also fired some gunshots.

    “Where they threw the explosive was a little far from the PDP secretariat. They could not beat the security around the secretariat because there were policemen everywhere.

    Read Also: Suspected thugs ‘assault’ woman for refusing forcible eviction 

    “They were on a fast-moving vehicle. The area they discharged their weapons was lonely because most party people were clustered around the PDP secretariat.

    “Some persons are simply planning to create an atmosphere of violence to discredit the Congress. But the Congress had already concluded and it was a massive success”, he said.

    Loyalists of some aspirants led a protest to the party secretariat where they expressed their grievances to the congress committee and demanded the cancellation of the exercise.

    A PDP Ward Congress Committee headed by the Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi, arrived the state on Thursday to conduct the ward Congress.

    They held meetings with the governorship aspirants at the Government House and later met with other PDP members at the Secretariat where the declared the process open.

    Umahi told the protesters that there was no need to demand the cancellation of the conagress since it held peacefully within the laid down rules and regulation of the party.

    Though  the Police Commissioner, Uche Anozia, could not be reached, a senior police officer confirmed the incident and said the explosion occurred far from the secretariat of the PDP.

    He said it occurred in an empty space far away from the secretariat because security was tightened around the PDP building

  • Woman dies after being ‘hit’ by policeman

    A widow hawking near the Aba Central Police Station, Aba, Abia State, identified as Mrs. Peace, has been allegedly killed by a policeman.

    Sources told our reporter that the deceased, until her death, hawked second-hand clothes in the vicinity.

    It was gathered that she was hit by a Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) allegedly driven by a traffic officer identified as Supol Innocent.

    Another account has it that the police personnel was trying to reverse before he lost control and hit the widow, who was passing by.

    Read Also: Police arraign dismissed cops for alleged extrajudicial killing 

    She was reportedly taken to the Police Clinic at the Aba Area Command by sympathisers.

    Efforts to save her proved abortive, as she was said to have died a few minutes later.

    Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna, who confirmed the incident, said the body has been deposited in a mortuary, adding that the officer is being detained.

  • SWAN congratulates Sunday Dare

    The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has congratulated the newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, describing his appointment as well-deserved.

    “His appointment as Minister for Youth and Sports represents a new frontier in the administration of sports in Nigeria and one that is expected to usher in dynamism, resourcefulness and focused leadership.

    “As the umbrella body of all sports journalists in Nigeria, affiliated to the Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive (AIPS) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), SWAN calls on the new Minister to give every Sport adequate attention, unlike some of his predecessors that focused mainly on football to the detriment of others.

    A statement issued by the National Secretariat of SWAN and signed by the Deputy Secretary-General, Babafemi Raji noted that over the years, the fortune of Nigeria in international championships have continued to dwindle due largely to lack of concerted effort to discover budding talents that abound in the length and breadth of the country.

    “SWAN believes that Nigeria deserves more than what the country is getting from sports given the the abundance of natural talents in practically every field; hence our hope that you will give priority to grassroots sports.

    “Equally of importance to SWAN is the regrettable state of federal government-owned sports facilities; we make bold to say that they are mostly in dire need of rehabilitation, especially the pitch of the now Moshood Abiola National Stadium, where it is evident that anthills are freely springing up due to lack of maintenance.”

    Read Also: Veteran Journalist Sunday Dare is new sports minister

    “The recent embarrassment the country faced after the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) allegedly diverted about $135,000 the world Athletics body mistakenly paid to it, is yet to abate, just as athletes representing the country at international championships were thrown out of their hotel accommodation; amidst cases of unpaid allowances and corruption in the sector.

    “SWAN equally expects that the yearly allocation to the sports sector from the Federation Account will

    significantly improve, because sports is a huge industry, that if well programmed has the potential to meaningfully engage a lot of the teeming youths.

    “SWAN will be ready to support you push for an increase in the allocation that comes to the Ministry, by engaging relevant government agencies both at the Executive and Legislative arms.

    “SWAN is also looking forward to the enactment of a workable national sports policy that will enable

    every sport to grow, and the creation of an endowment fund for our sports heroes; as well as, an environment that will encourage private sector investment.

    “SWAN advocates the upgrading of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) to a Degree Awarding Institute as well as the establishment of a University for Sports with campuses across the country.

    “As an Association, we express our readiness to work with any progressive idea you bring to the table, in addition to performing our responsibilities as the watchdog of the sports sector, through constructive engagements”.

  • Labour, FG meet again over minimum wage adjustment

    The Federal Government and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council are scheduled to meet on Friday to try and finalise negotiations on the consequential adjustment on the new minimum wage which has been stalled due to disagreement between the two parties.

    The Nation learnt from sources close to that team that a lot of progress has been made in the negotiations and that there are indications that an agreement might be reached after the meeting.

    Read Also: My immediate task is to put minimum wage issue to rest, says Ngige

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige had told newsmen in Wednesday that he will immediately get down to business to ensure that the issues in contention are amicably resolved so that workers will begin to enjoy the new wages.

    While workers are demanding for 30 percent adjustment for workers on grade levels 07-14 and 25 percent for levels 15-17, the government is offering 9.5 and 5 percent respectively.

    A formal agreement on the consequential agreement is delaying the implementation of the new minimum wage signed into law on April 18 by the President.

  • Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Oshoala, Ordega, Okobi 3 others pull out

    Super Falcons’ head coach Thomas Dennerby has stated that six players invited for the first leg of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Women Football qualifier bill for August 28th in Blida, Algeria, will not be available due to club duties.

    The players who opted out of the match and have duly informed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are Asisat Oshoala, Fracisca Ordega, Ngozi Okobi, Ngozi Ebere, Rashidat Ajibade and Osinachi Ohale.

    Dennerby disclosed that the players have club matches on 25th and 26th and it will be difficult for them to arrive in Nigeria a day after their engagements to secure visas as Algeria doesn’t issue a visa at the point of entry.

    Read Also: Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Okagbare to run 100m, 200m sprints

    “I know I will miss them but the players I picked for the qualifier are equally good to win the match.

    Algeria Women Football Team is not a threat to our girls. I will not underrate them but they will not beat us in Algeria,” Dennerby boasted.

    He also revealed that the six players will be available for the return leg scheduled for October 3rd, at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

  • 12th African Games: Taekwondo wins Team Nigeria first gold medal

    Taekwondo event has fetched Team Nigeria five medals at the 12th African Games after Chinazum Nwosu claimed the first gold medal in the women -53kg, while Sunday Onofe (-87kg) and Benjamin Okuomose (+87kg) added two bronze medals in the men event.

    Also, the quest for medals in taekwondo continued yesterday in six events when Elizabeth Anyanacho and Uzoamaka Otuadinma also settled for bronze medals in the women’s -67kg and -73kg of the tournament, while the trio of Arinola Abdullateef, Bright Kolade and Chiamaka Onumonu were unlucky in their quarterfinal ties as they lost and will miss out from mounting the podium.

    Read Also: Taekwondo adds two bronze medals to Nigeria’s medal haul

    In cycling, Kenya’s Tiffany Keep and Namibia’s Tristan De Lange won cross-country gold in Casablanca.

    Kenyan Keep claimed the women’s title in 1hr 19min 15.377sec, finishing almost 50 seconds ahead of Aurelie Marie Halbwachs from Mauritius. Halbwachs took the silver medal on the 22.8 kilometres course, made up of six 3.8km circuits in Rabat, in a time of 1:20:03.900. Her compatriot Kimberley Le Court De Billot completed the podium in 1:22:52.541.

    De Lange won Namibia’s first gold of the continental tournament in the men’s 30.4km race. He led home compatriot Alexander Miller to take the top step on the medal rostrum in 1:24:45.502. Miller clocked 1:25:31.847 for second, with Tunisian Maher Habouria taking bronze in 1:29:52.145.

    Algeria won three of the four A finals as the first of the rowing medals were awarded in Morocco. Nawel

    Chiali got the gold rush started in the women’s single sculls 1,000m final. She surged to victory in 3:56.62 as Dareen Hegazy of Egypt took silver in 3:58.34. Nour Elhouda Ettaieb of Tunisia finished third in 4:01.10.

  • Athletes grumble over $100 daily allowance

    All may not be well in the camp of Team Nigeria as athletes are currently at daggers drawn with officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports over their daily allowance.

    Some of the athletes who spoke to NationSport on condition of anonymity, said unlike in 2015 when they were given $150 daily allowance, the officials are insisting on giving them $100 daily in Morocco.

    “I am surprised with the way our officials have been treating athletes especially in major competitions like this. They are always eager to see us excel but they are not ready to motivate us. How can you think that four years ago we got $150 as daily allowance and now in 2019, they want to give us $100? I don’t know where it is done globally. We are the ones that will be competing while they will just be sitting down waiting to be counting medals. This is very unfair,” a female athlete lamented.

    Read Also: 12th African Games: Oshonaike recalls maiden outing with Toriola

    Already, the athletes lamented the number of officials in Rabat, adding that rather than motivate the athletes with money, hundreds of officials including government delegation were lodged in hotels all over Morocco.

    “This is the most uninspiring African Games because in 2015, we were well-motivated and we gave our best but it seems we are not ready for the games. Some of us that came from Europe were not given grants and I wonder what they expect from us in Morocco,” a male athlete regretted.

    In one of the major hotels in Rabat on Thursday, August 22, some government delegation were seen trying to check into the hotel as they were part of the second batch of the contingent that came through the chartered flight from Abuja.

  • Foundation launch to cater for the aged

    The Olori Aderonke Omolola Erinle Foundation has concluded plans for its formal launch, charity and Fundraising Ball holding on the 14th of September at Oriental Hotel, Lagos Island

    The Founder and President of the foundation, Olori Aderonke Omolola Erinle disclose this at a press conference held recently in Lagos, said that the event is set towards unveiling of the Adult Care Centre (Old People’s Home) and a fashion line for the aged which has been created to sustain the foundation.

    She said that the Old People’s Home will provide a decent and wholesome environment for the vulnerable aged.

    She noted that the foundation advocates and propagates the need to help, invigorate and rehabilitate the senior citizens in the society.

    Read Also: Foundation donates to orphanage

    Erinle noted that the foundation was borne out of her passion to the elderly having watched her late mother took care of her grandparents tendering and attending to her needs.

    She posited further that actions by her mother led to adopt the idea of caring for the elderly in her church and there she took it to the larger society.

    “With our motto which is positively affecting lives, our mission is to dispense total care by providing financial assistance and emotional support to the vulnerable and our Vision is touching lives”, she said.

    She added that the foundation is actively involved in various charity programmes geared towards assisting the widows, the motherless children and physically challenged in our society.

  • Nigerian Ambassador rallies support for table tennis team

    Nigerian table tennis is not lacking in support at the ongoing 12th African Games as the country’s ambassador to Morocco, Baba Garba was present to cheer the team to victory in the women quarterfinal tie against host – Morocco.

    The envoy accompanied by some officials of the mission including the Head of Chancery, Adamu Ibrahim Gombe took time to chat with the players, while urging them to give their best for the country in the competition. He, however, promised to cheer the team in the finals which will hold on Friday, August 23, 2019.

    Read Also: ‘Egypt can’t stop Nigeria again’

    “We just need to continue to inspire our athletes as my coming here is to motivate the players to give their best and make the country proud. We are excited with their performance and I am looking forward to cheering them during the finals,” the envoy said.

    For Olufunke Oshonaike, the presence of the ambassador was commendable and we hope we can do our best to make it the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

  • ‘Egypt can’t stop Nigeria again’

    Olufunke Oshonaike believes North African opponents, Egypt cannot prevent the Nigerian table tennis team from reaching this year’s final of the 12th African Games holding in Rabat, Morocco.

    Egypt and Nigeria are expected to square up in the final today for the gold medal as well as the sole ticket to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

    Oshonaike who is eyeing her seventh Olympic appearance told NationSport that she cannot afford to miss Tokyo 2020, as she is primed to be in Japan next year.

    Read Also: 12th African Games: Oshonaike recalls maiden outing with Toriola

    “I have dreamt of Tokyo and gold medal; we will surely be unstoppable this year because we had lost to Egypt in our previous meetings but this year will be an exception. My teammates are ready for the battle against the Egyptians and I am confident that we can stop them this year. This is an important match for us and we know what is at stake and we are ready physically and psychologically for the final,” she said. For Egypt’s Yousra Helmy, the final would be tougher this year.

    “I believe it is going to be tougher this year because two things are at stake. The gold medal and the Olympic Games ticket.”

    This is a double pressure for both teams and we are prepared for the match and we are sure we will come out on top again this year,” Helmy said.