The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NAN

  • ‘870 million tonnes of food wasted annually’

    The Project Co-ordinator of Food Bank Nigeria, a non -governmental organisation, Mr Paul Achem, has said 870 million tonnes of food produced annually were being wasted the world over.

    Achem told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday that the statistics for the wastage was quoted from the Food and Agricultural Information as well as the World Food Programme.

    “The issue of food waste is becoming a global phenomenon. About 879 million tonnes of food are wasted every year, and about the same number of people go to bed hungry every night. The statistic is from the Food and Agricultural information. Then, there is World Food Programme. They have the same statistics there.

    “If you go there you will see different information about this. There is no land in Nigeria that we cannot cultivate. So, the Global Food Banking Network has put together this food banking system with food pantries in about 26 countries now and Nigeria is just joining this group. Our attention is being channelled towards food production areas, food manufacturers.

    “We mop up excess food produced and then give to people for free as a charity work and based on this we want to reduce the incidents of hunger in Nigeria.”

    Achem expressed the hope that the agency’s gesture would help to reduce hunger in the country.

     

     

  • Umar signs N83.33b budget

    Umar signs N83.33b budget

    Taraba State Acting Governor Garba Umar yesterday in Jalingo signed the state’s N83.33 billion Appropriation Bill of into law.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the budget figure was reviewed upwards by the House of Assembly from N79.66 billion to N83.33 billion.

    Umar said N41.70 billion was for Recurrent Expenditure; N41.63 billion was earmarked for Capital Expenditure.

    He explained that the Executive had accepted the budget as reviewed, and assured that the government would work hard to implement it.

    The Speaker, Josiah Kente, said at the signing that the lawmakers will use its oversight functions to ensure that the budget was properly implemented.

    Kente called for greater cooperation between the executive and the legislature “for the development of the state’’.

     

  • CAF names referees for Enyimba, Pillars’ matches

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has listed the referees who will handle matches involving Enyimba International FC and Kano Pillars FC in the 2014 CAF Champions League first round.

    The list of officials was made available on Tuesday in Abuja by the Nigeria Football Association (NFA).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both clubs are Nigeria’s representatives in the annual continental championship which is in its 50th edition.

    Enyimba will host Anges de Notse from Togo in the first round first leg match in Kano on Feb. 9, with the second leg holding on Feb. 15.

    Kano Pillars, on the other hand, will be visiting RD Congo for their first leg tie against A.S. Vital Football Club, also on Feb. 9. They will host the return leg also on Feb. 15.

    Bienvenu Sinko from Cote d’Ivoire is the centre referee for the first leg tie of the Enyimba/Anges de Notse fixture, with compatriot Songuifolo Yeo the first assistant referee.

    The second assistant referee, also an Ivorian, is Pelako Toure while Kouame N’dri is the fourth official, with Mahat Abdoulaye from Chad as the Match Commissioner.

    For the return leg on Feb. 15, Senegalese officials will handle the match, with the Match Commissioner Augustin Ahouanvoebia from Benin Republic.

    Falou Galasse Kane will be at the centre, to be assisted by Malick Samba, Nouha Bangoura and Maguette Ndiaye.

    For the Kano Pillars/A.S. Vital encounter, officials from the Central African Republic will be in charge, with W.K. Agra from Ghana as the Match Commissioner. The centre referee will be Jean Koyakobo, to be assisted by Balezou Fabric, Oscar Serengapou and Jean Ganamandji.

    The second leg tie will be handled by officials from Niger Republic, with Alex Sante from Ghana as the Match Commissioner.

    Namouano Souleymane will be at the centre, while Moussa Abdoulaye will be the first assistant referee, while Malan Ousseni will be the second assistant referee and Abdoul-Aziz Asante the fourth official.

  • Our players are getting ready, says Crown FC

    The Technical Adviser, Crown FC of Ogbomosho, Lawrence Akpokona, on Tuesday in Lagos said the team was improving with every session of its training ahead of the 2013/2014 Globacom Premier League.

    Akpokona told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the team’s performances in its pre-season matches were commendable.

    NAN reports that Crown FC is among the four teams that were promoted to the 2013/2014 Globacom league from the 2012/2013 Nigeria National League.

    “The players are improving by the day and are putting in their best to ensure that the team becomes a team to beat in the nation’s top flight,’’ he said.

    The technical adviser said the club would put up a credible performance in the elite league to justify their promotion.

    “We’ll do our very best in the league by putting up credible performances. However, it will not be an easy ride because every team is a hard nut to crack. And we’ll respect the other teams no matter their position in the league last season,’’ Akpokona said.

    NAN reports that the 2013/2014 season of the Globacom Premier League is scheduled to kick off on February 21.

  • Gombe athletes will excel

    Gombe athletes will excel

    Ezra Elias, Director, Gombe State Sports Council, on Tuesday said preparations were in top gear for the state’s athletes to excel at the 19th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Calabar.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the festival, tagged “Paradise Games’’, will hold in Calabar from November 23 to December 7.

    Elias told NAN on telephone that the athletes were already in “closed“ camp for the competition. He said the athletes invited to camp were discovered at the just-concluded National Youth Games (NYG) in Abuja and also Secondary School Games held last year in Gombe.

    “We have started preparations for the festival; the athletes are already in camp to ensure a good performance. We will not take chances as we did during the last festival where our performance was very poor, that is why we have started early preparations for this year.

    “We have identified and fished out mature talents from the NYG and also from our local schools competitions. These athletes are in a closed camp and we are preparing them for the sports fiesta,’’ Elias said.

    NAN reports that Gombe won a silver and two bronze medals to finish 35th on the competition’s log at the last festival in Lagos, tagged “Eko 2012’’.

    The director appealed for more support from the state government and corporate bodies to enable the team excel at this year’s festival.

     

  • Nigerian League blessed with many talents says Green

    Chris Green, the Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Association, on Monday said Nigeria’s league was blessed with many talents.

    Green told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Cape Town, South Africa that the Eagles in the ongoing Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) had shown that the league had potential. He said the Eagle’s 3-1 victory over South Africa had proved that the home-based players could stand to be counted their own and produce good results.

    He said: “I know the boys will play. Ours is just to have a decent performance in this tournament and that’s it. It goes to show that the boys have done well. Our league, if well managed, will go places. ‘`It’s going to help them, help their psyche and give them morale. They were very determined, mentally ready for the game. They put together a couple of passes and they showed that they could play. They were in total control of the game. So, they came with a better approach,’’ he said.

    He observed that the players were determined to have a good outing throughout the tournament. The chairman commended the South Africans for their fighting spirit, but gave kudos to the Eagles for warding off their attacks.

    He said the Eagles had improved from their last two matches, adding that they were in a position to reach the finals.

  • South Africa is Nigeria’s hunting ground, says NFF

    South Africa is Nigeria’s hunting ground, says NFF

    The Director of Competitions, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sanusi Mohammed, on Monday in Abuja said he was optimistic that South Africa would turn out another good hunting ground for Nigeria.

    Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Super Eagles were on course to win the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) on the strength of their performances so far.

    NAN reports that the Nigerian side, who are making their debut appearance at the competition which is for players in the continent’s domestic leagues, advanced to the quarter-finals on Sunday.

    They beat hosts South Africa 3-1 to finish second in Group A with six points from three matches, after two wins and a loss to Mali in their opening game.

    Mohammed told NAN he was optimistic because the Super Eagles have a psychological advantage to end up victorious at the tournament on the basis of history.

    “We have a psychological advantage because anytime we go to South Africa for a competition, we end up as champions. We normally win tournaments hosted by South Africa, the latest of which was the African Nations Cup in 2013.

    “So, featuring at CHAN for the first time does not mean anything to us because South Africa is a good ground for us because we have that psychological advantage and with our players’ ability to rise to the occasion,” he said.

    The NFF Director of Competitions commended the Super Eagles’ players for their determination which reflected in their matches as the tournament progresses.

    “We thank God we won on Sunday, because many people did not give the Super Eagles a chance to move to the next round. But the players were determined and they got the result, because we all saw significant improvement in them in all departments, especially the defence. The defenders were up and doing and the goalkeeper made brilliant saves,” he said.

    Mohammed however noted that there was a room for improvement in the defenceline of the team.

    “We need to be more serious in the area of defence because there seems to be poor communication between the defenders and the goalkeeper,” he said.

    Also, Erasmus Onuh, a former coach of ABS Football Club of Ilorin, praised the Eagles, telling NAN that the players exhibited the fighting spirit associated with Nigerian teams.

    “I was impressed with their performance because the fighting spirit usually associated with a Nigerian team was seen in the players. They really know what they wanted and they went for it and they have improved as the tournament progressed,” he said.

    Onuh added that the players’ improvement showed the ability of the team’s technical crew.

    “What makes a good team to stand out is the ability to improve with every game, and we saw that they played better than they did in the last two matches. This clearly shows that they have a good coach, because any team that fails to improve with each match doesn’t have a good coach,” he said.

    NAN recalls that the Nigerian team had started its campaign in the competition on a bad note by losing 1-2 to Mali on Jan. 11. It found its way back into the tournament by beating Mozambique 4-2 on Jan. 15.

    The Super Eagles will now face the Group B winners in the first quarter-final match at the Cape Town Stadium on Jan. 25.

  • Okala tips Eagles for CHAN finals

    Okala tips Eagles for CHAN finals

    Legendary Nigeria’s Goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala on Monday predicted that the Super Eagles would progress to the finals of the ongoing Championship of African Nations (CHAN) in South Africa.

    The ace defunct Green Eagles’ goalkeeper made the prediction in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Awka.

    According to Okala, the team has improved by each game, an indication that it will go far in the competition. Okala said that he was impressed by the fighting spirit of the players, and singled out the goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim, for learning from his errors in past games.

    “I am happy with Agbim’s improvement after the dismal first two matches. He has a future and I believe the coaches are working on him; he made some brilliant saves yesterday. But my advice as a goalkeeper is that he should always communicate with his defenders; take his time before leaving his area and know when to parry to safety.

    “He has what it takes to be Nigeria’s safest hands. The boys have shown that they are a determined soccer side. Their match against South Africa is a good assurance for some of us. If they continue this way they will reach the finals,” he said.

    NAN recalled that Nigeria had played three matches in the championshiop, losing 2-1 to Mali in the opening match and winning 4-2 against the Mambas of Mozambique and 3-1 in their final group match against host South Africa.

    At the end of the first round, the Nigerian team placed second in Group A behind Mali.

  • Ekweremadu congratulates Super Eagles

    The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Sunday in Abuja congratulated the Super Eagles over their 3-1 victory over hosts South Africa in Cape Town.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the win helped the Nigerian side to book a quarter-final ticket at the ongoing 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.

    A statement signed by Ekweremadu’s Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, said the Deputy Senate President hailed the team as showcasing the “typical Nigerian spirit’’. The statement also quoted Ekweremadu as saying the team showed “great improvement’’ and deserved the victory.

    “I am indeed proud of the Super Eagles which we saw today (Sunday), for showing resurgence, character, a high sense of patriotism and indeed that entertaining football that stands the nation’s football out,” it quoted him as saying.

    The statement said the Deputy Senate President then urged for prayers and support for the team, and also enjoined the Eagles to “build on their current form and go all out to clinch the trophy’’.

  • Cleric hails Jonathan on anti-gay law

    Sheikh Nura Khalid, the Chief Imam of Apo Legislators’ Quarters Mosque in Abuja, yesterday hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for signing the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law.

    Khalid, who spoke in Abuja with the News Agency of (NAN), noted that the President took the right decision on the law.

    According to him, same-sex marriage is against the teachings of Islam and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad.

    Khalid said: “Marriage is an institution ordained by Allah and practised by the Holy Prophet. It is a legally contracted union between a man and a woman.

    “Engaging in gay marriage, lesbianism and other forms of marriage, which contradict what is laid down in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith, is a horrible sin in the face of Allah.”

    The Islamic scholar said the signing of the bill into law was a major achievement of the Jonathan administration, adding that it would promote peace, understanding and harmony among Muslims and Christians.

    Khalid advised supporters of same-sex marriage to have a rethink.

    The chief imam reminded them that supporting it amounted to destroying the natural reproduction system.

    Khalid said: “The world will be no more, if same-sex marriage is allowed. This is because there will be no procreation and the population will be diminishing gradually.”

    He urged Muslim faithful to avoid any act that can destroy mankind.

    Khalid also urged parents to counsel their children to shun negative behaviour.

    The chief imam described the reactions trailing the signing of the law from the international community as baseless.

    He said Nigeria has the right to protect the interests of its citizens.

    NAN recalls that President Jonathan signed the bill into law, thus banning same-sex marriage and membership in gay organisations.

    The law says anyone who participates in gay clubs or “makes public show of a same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria” commits an offence and faces up to 10 years in prison.

     

    It adds that anyone who enters into same-sex marriage or civil union contract could face up to 14 years in prison.

    The signing of the bill has not gone well with some Western countries, including the United States and Canada.

    In a recent statement, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the country was “deeply concerned” about the anti-gay law.

    He said the law undermined the protection enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution.

    According to him, the law has dangerously restricted freedom of assembly, association and expression for Nigerians.

    The statement added that despite the passage of the law, anti-gay sentiment remained high in many African countries.