The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Augustine Ehikioya

  • I’m not aware NFF engaged foreign coach- Dalung

    I’m not aware NFF engaged foreign coach- Dalung

    *Faults NFF’s treatment to Siasia

    *Dalung: Nigeria still need Siasia

    The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Tuesday declared that he was not officially aware of the appointment of a new foreign coach for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    ‎‎Despite Dalung’s preference for a local coach, the NFF had few weeks back selected a German, Gernot Rohr, to manage the Super Eagles.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the nation’s outing at the ‎just concluded Olympics in Rio, Brazil, Dalung said that he wished the new coach the best of luck even though NFF has not informed him of Rohr’s appointment.

    According to him, he begged the President to host the Nigerian contingent to the Olympics Games in Rio, Brazil, despite winning only one bronze medal in football and coming 78th on the medals table.

    He said that Coach ‎Samson Siasia that handled the football team that won the bronze medal at the Olympics, has not resigned as been speculated in the media even though his contract with the NFF had lapsed.

    The Minister also faulted the treatment by NFF to Siasia, which withdrew his official car in Abuja while struggling to secure a medal for the country in Rio.

    Nigeria, he said, still needed Siasia for football development, as he pushed for his engagement on personal capacity if the NFF would not re-engage him.

    He said that it would be sad to have someone like Siasia leave Nigeria to go and represent another country out of frustration, just like many athletes did at the Rio Olympics.

    Dalung also exonerated  Siasia and his team over the $390, 000 donation by a Japanese surgeon.

    After meeting the donor in Rio, the Minister said that he was convinced there were no strings attached to the donation like match-fixing.

    He however attributed the abysmal outing of the Nigerian Olympic contingent to late release of funds and inability to develop home-grown talents, noting that many athletes in the continent that performed relatively better were home-trained.

    He pointed out that it was time to revisit the basic architecture of sports in the country, stressing that “we need to go back to grassroots” and groom talents for future competitions.

    Replying his critics, he said, that he was not the problem of Nigerian sports as abysmal performance predates his appointment.

    According to him, the National Sports Commission (NSC) was necessary but was unfortunately scrapped by a government committee that recommended merger of ministries.‎

  • Humanitarian crisis: FG to partner Rock Star artist

    Humanitarian crisis: FG to partner Rock Star artist

    *Famous Irish artist commends Buhari’s social investment programmes, transparency

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday said that the Federal Government will welcome a global partnership that would ensure a concerted and focused international response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the insurgency in the North-Eastern region of the country.

    He made the remark while receiving members of the ONE campaign led by the international Rock Star artist Bono, and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and former UK Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    They were at the State House to discuss the possibilities of a global partnership to address the crisis through international advocacy.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande,  Osinbajo noted that it was important that they came to offer some partnership.

    He said: “This is great and we are pleased…Partnership is certainly the way to go.”

    According to him, no matter how prepared a country could be, handling the kind of crisis in the North-East with two million displaced people including children, as a single country “would be irresponsible.”

    He however said that a global partnership to address the situation should be coordinated and more focused on what is required to be done, for instance, in addressing the issue of malnourished children and not attempting to do too much things at once.

    Speaking earlier the Irish born artist Bono said he has visited some of the IDPs and said “we want to be useful to you,”

    He stressed that what he saw in the region was “deeply disturbing.”

    Bono also commended the social investment programmes of the Buhari administration saying “we have heard of the incredible plans, the social investment funds,”

    He said that the level of transparency already seen in the administration is very exciting and transforming.

    The ONE campaign is an advocacy organization with more than seven million people around the world taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases especially in Africa.

    It has on its board people like Mo Ibrahim, Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg among others. It was founded in 2004.

  • Buhari greets David-West at 80

    Buhari greets David-West at 80

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated eminent academic and former federal minister, Prof. Tamunoemi Sokari David-West as he turns 80 years on Friday August 26th, 2016.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, recalled his long term relationship with the elder statesman, when he served as Minister of Petroleum, 1984-1985.

    He commended Prof. David-West’s steadfastness and forthrightness on issues of good governance, democracy, human rights and the unity of Nigeria, especially when some seem to easily give up on the project of building one great nation.

    President Buhari assured the octogenarian that his place in Nigeria’s history is guaranteed for the statesmanship, fearlessness, intellectual depth, resourcefulness and versatility that he brought into public discourse.

    The President prayed that the almighty God will continue to grant the former minister good health and more fruitful years of service to his fatherland.

  • Osinbajo seeks closer cooperation among African leaders

    Osinbajo seeks closer cooperation among African leaders

    • Receives Liberian Counterpart in Aso Rock

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday called on African nations to work together towards developing their economies for the benefit of their people.

    He spoke while receiving the visiting Vice President of Liberia, Mr. Joseph Nyumah Boakai in his office at the Presidential Villa.

    Osinbajo, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said: “We have to help ourselves first before others come, we should look for ways we can benefit each other.”

    He observed that there are Nigerian business people that can invest in Liberia, suggesting the creation of a bilateral economic council that can bring business interests from both countries together.

    “We must engender stronger relationships between our countries, that is what Africans need,” the Nigerian Vice President stated.

    Nigeria and Liberia, he said, need to work together to develop their economies.

    He said that the important task for African governments is to create enabling environments for agricultural and industrial development, noting that the  people depend on what government can do for them.

    In his own remarks, Vice President Boakai of Liberia commended Nigeria.

    He said: “Nigeria remains a very important big brother to Liberia. You have made a lot of sacrifices to our country, including through ECOMOG and the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL.”

    He also said that Nigerian businesses are helping the West Africa country in sectors like aviation, banking, insurance and investments.

    According to him, there are also teachers and doctors from Nigeria who are currently helping to set up schools and health infrastructure in Liberia.

    He said: “We are grateful to our brothers and sisters here. We want this relationship to go on, this is the way Africans should go.”

    The Liberian Vice President is in the country to participate in a public lecture.

  • Buhari mourns State House Information chief Abuah

    Buhari mourns State House Information chief Abuah

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday mourned the death of the Director of Information, State House, Mr. Justin Onuorah Abuah, who died on Sunday in Abuja.

    A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said President Buhari has sent a condolence message to the bereaved family.

    Abuah, who was born on January 29, 1959, was fondly called O.J, by friends and associates.

    The statement said: “The late Abuah had a long and rich career at the Presidency, where he served seven past Nigerian leaders since 1986 when he joined the State House media office from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    “His many colleagues, friends and admirers will fondly remember him as the man behind several presidential statements and speeches and he demonstrated a rare sense of calmness and candour in service.

    “A native of Asaba, Oshimili South local government area of Delta State, O.J is survived by his wife, Loretta and three children – Chinedum, Chike and Amaechi.

    The statement said Abuah’s burial arrangements will be announced later by the family.

  • Osinbajo inaugurates committee on Railway concession

    Osinbajo inaugurates committee on Railway concession

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday inaugurated a Steering Committee on the concession of the Nigerian Railway system at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Speaking at the event, Osinbajo said the purpose of the committee is to create a one-stop shop for the concession, fast track the process and beat the red tape and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

    He urged the committee headed by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to be innovative, and remove whatever obstacles that will stand in the way of a smooth process.

    A statement issued his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said the vice president also expressed hopes that the committee will meet its deadlines and set an example on how such assignment should be done.

    Osinbajo said: “I think this steering committee is extremely important, because we have tried to bring together everybody that should be involved in this project in order to see to it that we deliver quickly and efficiently in a manner that justifies Federal Government’s expense in the project.

    “The whole idea of the steering committee raises the issue we are trying to address, to have a one-stop shop for all approvals, objections or problems so that we can realize our target.”

     

  • Buhari, Jonathan meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, Jonathan meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met behind closed doors with former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The former President arrived the State House in black Range Rover SUV around 1:57pm.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Buhari’s anti-graft battle not one-sided, says Osinbajo

    Buhari’s anti-graft battle not one-sided, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday declared that the fight against corruption under the current administration is not one-sided.

    A statement issued on Tuesday night by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said that the Vice President made the remark while speaking with journalists at the end of the 27th Ordinary session of the African Union (AU) in Kigali, Rwanda.

    According to Osinbajo, corruption in the country is being looked at from all possible facets.

    He said: “I think it’s entirely absurd, I think that view is absurd and without foundation or basis whatsoever. We look at corruption from all possible facets.

    “If you look at for example, corruption on the military, from military procurement, obviously the only individuals responsible for that could be persons who had held office within the period in question and that has been done and clearly the opposition was not in the office at that time.

    “Those who were in the office were not necessarily opposition individuals. These were Service Chiefs and other personnel who had served for a while.

    “The other issues for example is the fraud and the corruption that is associated with large sums of money given out by the past National Security Adviser which went to several political figures and again these were large huge sums of money, over 2 billion US Dollars and the sheet size and the enormity of what we are talking about,  must not be diminished in anyway or trivialised in anyway by any suggestion that it is partisan. How? in what way?” he queried.

    He said that those who made the suggestion that the anti-corruption fight is one-sided only want to trivialise a very important programme of the government.

    The allegation, he said, is aimed at working against the strong effort of the government to recover huge sums of money that have been stolen from Nigeria.

  • Pray more for Nigeria, Buhari urges cabinet members

    Pray more for Nigeria, Buhari urges cabinet members

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night urged members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to redouble their efforts in praying to God for a better and peaceful Nigeria.

    He spoke during the breaking of fast dinner for members of FEC at the new banquet hall of the State House, Abuja.

    He said the Month of Ramadan was a special time when God listens and answers prayers of the faithful.

    According to him, the Ramadan period provides leaders the opportunity to be more conscious of their responsibilities to the people they governed.

    He said: “It strengthens our resolve to build our country to make it stronger and to make sure that the incoming generations are sufficiently motivated to be patriotic.

    “It is no news that we are the biggest country in Africa, we are the economic engine of Africa, which are true by the way.

    “But, we must always be patriotic in our dealings with others. This (Ramadan) month of prayers and service to God, let us keep on these prayers all the times, believing that God in His infinite mercy will listen to our prayers, give us peace, security and better the economy once more, so that we can quickly rebuild and even do more for the  country.

    “Let me assure that the time of Ramadan is making us more conscious of what leaders at every level ought to do, and leading the people is not a joke. It means accepting responsibilities for good or wrong,’’ he said.

    The president stated that the country needed a lot of prayers in view of the economic and security challenges facing the nation.

    He, particularly, cited the activities of the militants and those agitating for the state of Biafra, reminding such people and their sponsors of the calamities that befallen the country during similar agitations between 1967 and 1970 were about two million lives were lost.

    “We need a lot of prayer. Certainly, with the nation’s economy going down. Haven’t developed the agriculture, we are still trying to talk about those who will come and develop the solid mineral for us.

    “The militants in their various homes. We need to reflect very seriously on what happened between 1967 and 1970 were about two millions Nigerians lost their lives.

    “And at that time, as young military officers, you hardly heard of anything about petroleum or whatever money you got from it.

    “Look at what Gen. Gowon said; ‘To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done’ and every soldier, whether he has been to school or not knew what the General meant.

    “But, we were quarrelling with our brothers, we were not fighting an enemy and then somebody is saying that once again he wants Biafra.

    “I think this is because he was not born when there was Biafra. We have to reflect on the historical antecedence to appreciate what is before us now and what we intend to leave for our children and our grandchildren,’’ he warned.

    He thanked the ministers and other members of the cabinet for accepting to serve, and to identify with the APC-led Federal Government.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who spoke on behalf of members of the FEC, thanked President Buhari for inviting them for breaking of fast dinner.

  • Corruption responsible for military inability to defeat Boko Haram – Buhari

    Corruption responsible for military inability to defeat Boko Haram – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said that corruption was largely responsible for the inability of the Nigerian military to quickly defeat Boko Haram.
    The President spoke during an audience with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the loss of 14 local government areas to Boko Haram had greatly tarnished the reputation of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
    He however noted that with measures taken by his Administration to curb corruption and provide better weaponry, logistics, training and welfare for soldiers on the frontlines, the Nigerian military  has now almost totally incapacitated Boko Haram as a fighting force and recovered all territories that were lost to the terrorist sect.
    “When we curbed corruption and removed the  injustice in the military, we began to make progress,” President Buhari said.
    Welcoming the support of Muslims across the world for Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram, the President said that the war against terrorism was also a war against injustice, which is not condoned by Islam and all the major religions.
    “You can’t kill the innocent in churches or in mosques and shout Allahu Akbar,” President Buhari said, adding that the visit of Dr. El-Tayeb and his expression of solidarity with Nigeria in the war against terrorism was a clear indication of global Muslim support for Nigeria against the unjust killing of the innocent by terrorists.
    The President, who reaffirmed  his Administration’s determination to resettle all persons who were displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, thanked the Grand Imam for the donation of scholarships, educational and medical supplies to Nigeria’s Internally Displaced Persons.
    Dr. El-Tayeb told President Buhari that Muslims all over the world share Nigeria’s pains from terrorism and will continue to support efforts to ensure the return of peace and unity amongst all faiths in the country.