Primary and secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja; Kano and Kaduna states resume today.
The governments in the FCT, Kano and Kaduna said they had put measures in schools to prevent the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said they were willing to resume work as long as EVD-detecting equipment and preventive measures were in place.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has ordered the Super Eagles to play their remaining 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying home matches at the Abuja National Stadium henceforth, making Nigeria’s 2-3 loss to Congo Brazzaville at the U.J. Esuene Stadium the last match the team will play in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
NationSport scooped that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has also been directed by the NSC to inform the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that Abuja is the new venue for the Super Eagles’ remaining AFCON matches.
The NFF has fallen on hard times and has been depending largely on the benevolence of the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, to bankroll the camping exercise of the Super Eagles including the players’ and coaches’ feeding and accommodation each time the team has a home match.
“We don’t have money to prosecute the Super Eagles’ games in Abuja because, aside the fact that we are broke, Abuja fans also don’t turn up for games that much. There are also security challenges to contend with,” a source told NationSport.
Sources revealed that the NSC, irked by the negative publicity generated by complaints about the state of the pitch in Calabar, has directed the NFF to relocate all of the Super Eagles’ matches to the Abuja National Stadium that boasts of very good pitch.
However, NationSport understands that leaders of the NFF are not comfortable with the order as they fear that the federation will not be able to bear the high cost of executing matches in Abuja.
Furthermore, the Glass House is uncomfortable with the relative apathy of Abuja fans during Nigeria matches unlike the lively atmosphere in Calabar where the stadium is filled to capacity and the fans are vocal in their support of Nigerian teams.
Notwithstanding the directive of the NSC, however, the Cross River State Government is continuing the process of getting the U.J. Esuene Stadium pitch in shape for matches, while the NFF is trying to convince the NSC to allow the Super Eagles to play Sudan in Calabar on September 9.
The abuja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has won the President’s Cup.
It defeated the Owerri Branch 2-1. The match was played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, during the association’s annual general conference in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
This is the third consecutive time the branch is winning the trophy.
Former NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN) praised the branch for the feat.
He gave a cash reward of N500,000 to the winning team and N250, 000 to the other team.
Chairman, Appeal Committee of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Ibrahim Eddy Mark said he was not surprised that Abuja Branch won.
“I was not surprised that Abuja branch won the match. This is their third time of winning the cup. It was indeed a good football. The Owerri team was also good. They played good football, but they are new in the game and so they have to pay their dues. Abuja team has shown that they are the masters and that we didn’t come from the Federal Capital to watch the good things of Owerri, but to see the good things and also to take the cup back to Abuja for keeps, I am glad indeed.”
Former NBA Second Vice-President Steve Abar said: “I believe that in every sports, the best team should always win. Obviously, from the performance of the teams in this tournament, the best team has indeed won.”
The Chairman of NBA Abuja branch, Desmond Yamah said he was excited that his branch won.
“It is, indeed, a justification for the efforts that our players have put into training, put into the preparation for this game and I must say that they did very well. It is our third consecutive win, so we have won the cup for keeps and we are coming back next season to win the cup again.”
For the branch’s coach, Mr. Chudi Igwe, it is the second time he will win it. “The first time, I won it as a player,” he said.
Former NBA Legal Adviser the football match is a means of promoting friendship among members.
“The NBA all about fraternity. It also shows that lawyers can play football apart from exchanging legal tackles in courts,” he said.
NBA General Secretary Mazi Afam Osigwe said the victory was a product of dedication, hard work and excellence.
Chairman, NBA Sports Committee Mr. Okey Ohagba described the match as “wonderful”.
“It is expected that lawyers should engage in activities like this in other to keep body and mind sound. It is part of the conference in order to add colour and flavour to it.
“This is the first conference of the NBA where 16 branches got registered for the football tournament and they consistently played their matches till the final.
“We encourage lawyers and their branches to always participate in such tournaments to promote the spirit of sportsmanship in the NBA,” he said.
Chairman of NBA Owerri Branch Mr. Stanley Imo said: “No victor, no vanquished. Everybody is a winner and the NBA is the major winner. I want to put it on record that I am very happy with my team because this is the first time Owerri branch is participating in this competition and for us to get to the final goes to show that within the next few years, no team in NBA will beat Owerri.”
The branch’s coach, Mr Francis Nwokeocha, said though his team played well, the better side won, adding that they would play to win next time.
“Constant training will make them to play better next time, because of time factor and because we have not played together for long, that is why we were defeated, but with time, we will improve,” he said.
Parks and gardens in Abuja yesterday recorded low turnout of fun seekers due to a morning rainfall.
A visit to some of these leisure places by the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that many of them were without the usual bustle they were known for.
At the Millennium Park, it was observed that the place which is often used as a venue for picnics, was deserted except for security personnel and vendors of soft drinks and snacks.
One of them, Miss Sandra Oyibo, who displayed her wares, said the place probably could not record its usual attendance because it rained in the morning.
She said many people were using the place for events such as wedding ceremonies, birthday parties, and picnics but since there was no shelter, fun-seekers would probably make use of other places.
The mat vendors also complained of low sales based on the rain.
At the River Plate Garden in Wuse 2, although there’s no shelter too, it was observed that there was a wedding reception going on, while vendors also had their wares on display.
Meanwhile, the City Park was full of activities with the once in a month Designers Market Place (DMP), where traders of different kinds of wares bring their goods to sell at discount prices.
With different wares in different stalls on display, the park had a higher turnout of people who came for different purposes.
A prospective buyer, Mrs. Temitope Omole, said the park would always be full on the DMP day which is every first Saturday of the month and regulars like her couldn’t be deterred.
She said this was because buyers had variety of wares and snacks to choose from and that the park wouldn’t miss patronage based on unfavourable weather.
A seller, Miss Ronke Ajangbadi, said the shelter provided in the park for both fun seekers and traders was a huge encouragement that would ensure patronage no matter the weather.
Following the traffic congestion experienced by passengers at Abuja airport, the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka has promised to deliver the new terminal in the next six months.
Unlike his predecessor, Chidoka said he will focus more on security and safety of the airports.
Speaking at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport after an inspection tour on Thursday, the Minister said he will prioritize projects because of fund constraints.
He also promised to meet with contractors in order to speed up work.
“Within now and four to six months we shall get the new terminal up and running in the domestic area so that they can walk through and the sufferings that the passengers are going through will be a thing of the past.
“Because of the structure of the airport and the ongoing rehabilitation, there is bound to traffic so we expect that Nigerians should please appreciate and understand our challenges at this time, but we are going to open up more communication channels to show people what is about to happen and by the time the work is completed, Nigerian passengers will travel in a much more comfortable atmosphere.”
Speaking about his area of interest, he said: “I have also tried to see that my predecessor had done very well in the terminal buildings. So all that we need is to focus and complete the work that has already started, but with that we want to pull our resources away from the terminal remodelling and focus more on the security and safety of the airports.
“But beyond the passengers and travel our key focus is safety and security of the airport. While we want to make the passengers to travel in a more convenient manner we don’t want to compromise the security of the airport.”
He said talks are on with airline operators to make sure that they focus more on the safety of passengers and air space.
Speaking on funding, the minister said: “there are funding constraints but we are going to manage within the available funding to make sure that we work on the critical parts and get the critical projects up and running.”
The Aminu Maigari-led faction of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has concluded plans to hold a General Assembly in a yet to be publicised venue in Abuja today.
This decision which was arrived at last night was backed by the chairman of the Federal House of Representatives’ committee on sports, Godfrey Gaiya.
Gaiya, a participant at last night’s meeting, declared his personal support for a peacefully and legally constituted Congress today.
NationSport was at the group’s pre-General Assembly meeting held at Bentley Hotels, Utako, yesterday night.
The participants at the well-attended gathering of football associations’ chairmen comprising the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, were unanimous in their decision to hold the Congress today.
The meeting which was co-moderated by Ekiti State FA Chairman, Isaac Ayodele and Abia State FA boss, Ephraim Chukwuemeka first made a roll call of the States FAs representatives. This was greeted with a loud ovation.
Ayodele, who requested for protection from the House of Representatives for participants of the Congress fixed for today, read out FIFA’s letter that stated that the embattled Chris Giwa-led NFF should vacate office and a new election should be conducted latest Monday, September 8, 2014 which was greeted again by loud cheers.
Speaking after the meeting, the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on sports, Gaiya, said although he supported the legal gathering and the Congress, he would still have to make the House’s position known in a statement to be issued by 11am today.
Afterwards another football stakeholder told NationSport that he was sure that “the crisis would be finally resolved tomorrow (today) and I believe that a proper election that will usher in the popular choice of football stakeholders will be held.”
In an effort to boost staff moral and encourage quality service delivery to its customers, Sheraton Abuja Hotel and Towers recently sent some of its staff to its sister hotel in Dubai, the Sheraton Grand Hotel. The transfer would offer the staff opportunities for better exposure.
Among the staff are Joshua Oliver Ndirmbita, Victor Izuwa and Christain Ugwu.
The General Manager of Sheraton Abuja, Mr. Boris Bornman, congratulated them on the new overseas posting. He said: t “we consider you Ambassadors of your country as you will relocate and work abroad for the first time, this will add great value to your resume and your skill and knowledge base in the industry. I am certain that you will all keep being super stars as you were here, we will miss you and we wish you the best.”
The manager also said in order to add greater value to the dining experience of the hotel’s customers, the management of Sheraton Abuja Hotel will additionally sponsor two Nigerian trained Italian Chefs-Chef Olufunke Victor and Chef Timothy Amadi to the Academia Barilla in Italy where they acquire greater and deeper proficiency in Italian Cuisine such as Bruschetta – Bresaola – Capicola – Carbonara Cotoletta – Ribollita.
THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has attracted N1.8 trillion ($11 billion) worth of private capital investments to the FCT since April, 2010, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has said.
He spoke while hosting a cross section of the FCT residents to a luncheon at his Life Camp official resident after paying Sallah homage to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Asokoro Abuja.
The areas of investment inflow, he said, include infrastructure provision through land swap, city centre, railway, housing development, commerce, hotel and tourism.
He said his administration has been able to expand the frontiers of development in the FCT, especially through speedy provision of infrastructure.
Senator Mohammed cited the ultra-modern Abuja International Airport Express Road and the Zuba-Kubwa-City super highway constructed by his administration as examples of his efforts to open up the nation’s capital and its satellite towns.
According to him, the new super highways rank among the best on the continent.
The minister emphasised that the FCTA has been able to open up the capital territory in an unprecedented manner, especially through collaboration with the private sector operators.
He added that through the land swap initiative which he introduced two years ago, the administration is opening up about 11 districts within the next four years through injection of private capital by 15 ranking investors totaling over N700 billion.
Also the Satellite Towns Development Agency (STDA) which he re-invented in 2012, has accelerated infrastructure development in the hitherto neglected area councils and satellite towns within the FCT in a manner that would help decongest the city centre.
Another area of outstanding achievement by his administration, he said, was the reform of public transportation through restriction of mini-buses and provision of more modern mass transit high capacity buses.
On security, the minister said: “Security remains a major challenge for the FCTA, stressing that the administration was developing a security protocol.
“If you are running a business, you must provide some minimum security requirements to safeguard lives and property. These include devices like hand-held bomb detectors, closed circuit televisions and other devices which must be provided in business places of large public gathering,” he said.
Senator Mohammed had, after prayers at the Eid Ground; Airport Road led large contingent of FCT residents to pay Sallah homage to the President at the Presidential Villa.
Speaking at the Villa on behalf of the residents, he said he had always enjoyed the humane disposition of President Jonathan, stressing that informed residents’ crave to pay him homage during all major Christian and Muslim festivals.
He further appreciated the President for the deep sense of responsibility and trust on him, promising to continue to extend his allegiance and gratitude to him. He maintained that no minister had held the FCT portfolio as long as he has under a democratic dispensation.
The Chairman Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi commended the minister for his achievements and for promoting unity of the diverse residents of the FCT.