Tag: Nigeria News

  • WE ARE (4)

    (Choreo-poem in Three Voices)

    (Pause)

    ALL VOICES: We are people of the past

    Beyond the past

    We are the rainbow

    Which define the sky

    (Pause)

    1st  Voice:

    The Zambezi tomtoms the Mississippi

    In a twilight of purple whispers

    2nd Voice:

    The Kilimanjaro towers over

    A trail of migrant dreams

    3rd Voice:

    The Atlantic so red

    In the bitter banter of sugar-cane groves

    1st Voice:

    The moon is a broken candle

    At the altar of predatory prelates

    2nd Voice:

    The sun knows the colour of fettered flairs

    The naked inhumanity of cotton kingdoms

    3rd  Voice:

    There is a yawning jjaaazzz in tired chains

    And ears which smell the soul in manacled moments

    (Continued next week)

  • Iwobi plays for 35 minutes in Everton’s 2-0 home defeat

    Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi was in action for 35 minutes as Everton suffered home defeat in the hands of Sheffield United on Saturday in front of their disappointed fans.

    Iwobi who joined the Toffees in a five year deal early August came in as late substitute for Frenchman Morgan Schneiderlin in the 55th minute. It was a day that appeared to have Chosen to be nightmarish for the Goodison Park landlords following an own goal by Everton Defender Yina Mina in the 40th minute.

    The early goal no doubt hit Everton below the belt and was a rather a shocker to the homers who controlled lion share possession in the ratio of 72 to 28% unfortunately all the efforts made to translate the effort into an equaliser failed to materialise.

    The Situation was further compounded for the homers when Lys Mousset scored the second goal for Sheffield United who from that point ensured they never blinked in the defence guarding their lead jealously to the end.

    Sheffield United duo celebrate Everton defeat

    Saturday’s defeat marks the third in Everton’s four premier league outings this season.

    Toffee fans did not find the defeat funny as many of them walked out before the end of the match while those who stayed behind voiced their displeasure at full time.

    Everton went into Saturday’s match fresh from a 3-1 defeat by AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

    Interestingly the Nigerian international was in action for full 90 minutes in that encounter.

    The Marco Silva tutored side have a Tuesday date with Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup and  Sheffield Wednesday may be hoping   to continue where Sheffield United stopped.

     

  • Fire guts WHO vaccination storage facility

    World Health Organisation (WHO) vaccination storage facility at the Ayegbaju Market in Osogbo, was on Saturday razed by fire, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    According to a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) official, Ajinase Alade, attached to the facility, the fire started from a working power generator close to the WHO storage facility.

    “The fire started at about 12:13p.m from one of the power generator that was on to power the building where vaccines were stored.

    ” We quickly move to remove the cars packed close to the fire and mobilised to put out the fire.

    “But unfortunately, my motorcycle packed closed to the storage facility was, however, burnt by the fire while helping to remove the cars,” he said.

    Mrs Adeosun Adebola, the Osun WHO Immunisation Officer and State Cold Vaccine Coordinator told NAN that the cold vaccine storage office was not affected by the fire but the dry vaccine outlet was razed by fire.

    She said a 60KVA generator, one 12KVA generator and two 18 KVA generators were also affected.

    Adebola also said two photocopier machines and two motorcycles were also destroyed by the fire.

    “I61,795 pieces of 0.05ml needles and syringe , 633,871 pieces of 0.5ml needles and syringe, 10,575 pieces of 5ml needles and syringe, 3,976 pieces of 2ml needles and syringe were destroyed by the fire.

    Read Also: VAR erases Ndidi, Serge Aurier goals in Leicester’s 2-1 win

    ” 8,654 pieces of immunisation safety boxes were also destroyed by the fire,” she said.

    Adebola told NAN the officials of the state government and WHO officials had been to the incident site to assess the level of damage done by the fire.

    A maintenance official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they applied self effort to put out the fire from affecting and spreading to other buildings and stores within the market.

    He said the state fire service were contacted when the fire started but they had to quickly fetched water from the storex water tank around, some other people also helped to put out the fire before the fire service came.

    “But unfortunately the storage facility was completely razed, ” he said.

    Men of the state fire service could, however, be seen going through the remains of the fire to ensure the fire was completely put out.

  • Insecurity: 27 bandits renounce banditry in Niger

    Twenty-Seven bandits have renounced kidnapping and banditry and have been granted amnesty in Niger state.

    The Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello presented the bandits during the second General Abdulsalam Abubakar foundation annual peace lecture in Minna.

    He said that they have signed a peace pact with the bandits who are from kontokoro in Magama local government area.

    “Here I present to you, these men, whatever name you want to call them, we have engaged in dialogue with them, they have mentioned their grievances and we have tried our best to meet some of them.

    “To this end, we have signed a peace pact with them and we are ready to enforce our side of the fact. They are also ready to respect their part of the pact.”

    The Governor then said that dialogue is ongoing with bandits in Erena, Rafi and Kontagora local governments to ensure peace in the state.

    He stressed on the need to use dialogue as a way to promote peace in the nation stating that military solution is not the best way of resolving crisis.

    “Military solution is not always the best way of resolving crisis. Dialogue provides for a win-win situation. We need to use dialogue more as a way to promote peace in the nation and there is no need for military solution.”

    Read Also: Air Force neutralises several terrorists in Borno

    The Governor emphasized the need for eminent Nigerians to lead the way out of the insecurity crisis bedevilling the nation lamenting that no region is safe in Nigeria today.

    “We cannot continue this way. No region in the country is safe today, these violent conflicts have destructive effects on the very fabrics that hold our nation together and must be dealt with utmost sincerity.

    “The experience so far shows that finding lasting solution to the violent conflict situation rests squarely in our soldiers. There is too little for members of the international community to do towards helping us.

    “I like to use this lecture to make appeals to the eminent persons in different parts of he country to come up with suggestions on how best we can reduce tensions around the country. Nobody would do it for us better than ourselves.”

  • La Liga: Ramon Azeez strikes as Granada stuns Barcelona

    Promoted Granada stunned champions Barcelona on Saturday night to move top of the Spanish La Liga.

    Nigerian midfielder, Ramon Azeez headed in at the back post with barely two minutes on the clock.

    Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde introduced Lionel Messi and Ansu Fati at half-time, but Alvaro Vadillo added the hosts’ second from the penalty spot after Arturo Vidal handled in the area.

    Read Also: Barcelona, Bayern Munich agree deal for Coutinho

    The result leaves Barcelona three points behind Granada in seventh and they have now failed to score in six of their last seven La Liga away matches.

    BBCSports

  • JUST IN: Abducted Oyo ASUP leaders, others regain freedom

    Five members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology Igbo-ora, who were reported to have been kidnapped  on Thursday on their way from Saki have regained freedom.
    The five lecturers were  freed by their abductors on  Saturday night after payment of N5 million ransom, according to the leaders of ASUP.
    A source from the institution told reporters on condition of anonymity that the abducted leaders regained freedom on Saturday night after the payment of the said ransom.
    Opadijo Oluyide, the ASUP Chairman, his Secretary, Mr. Gbenga Alayande and three others were kidnapped on Thursday night while returning from Saki.
    The union leaders had attended the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of unions in all the six Oyo state owned tertiary institutions at Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki.
    He said that the ransom was contributed by members of staff of the institution to secure the release of the leaders.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Gunmen kidnap ASUP chair, four others in Oyo

    According to the source: “We just secured their release this night after payment of five million contributed by our members.
    “I want to tell you that we have lost confidence in the Nigerian Police Force. Those who kidnapped our leaders were Fulanis.
    “We are going to stage a protest to the government secretariat to remove totally the ‘Kara’ market in this area. We will down tools until the market is totally removed.”
  • Five wedding guests die, several injured In Ekiti accident

    No fewer than five people have lost their lives in an accident along Ado-Akure Road Ekiti State on Saturday.

    Several others were reported to have sustained various degrees of injuries.

    The accident, which involved an 18-seater white Toyota hummer bus with registration number Ekiti LG 05 MUE, occured around 5pm.

    The bus belonging to Ekiti State Market Women, which was reportedly conveying some guests from a wedding reception was said to have suffered brake failure.

    While three of the occupants were said to have died on the spot, two among the injured persons rushed to Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti for medical attention died owing to the severity of the injuries sustained.

    Read Also: Five die in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway accident

    Multiple sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity with The Nation, said the driver of the bus which was on high speed lost control following which the vehicle somersaulted several times.

    According to the sources, three occupants of the bus died on the spot while others sustained injuries.

    They said: “The injured occupants of the vehicle have been taken to hospital for medical attention while the remains of the three dead persons have also been evacuated to the morgue.

    A source at the EKSUTH alleged that “two of the injured occupants rushed for medical attention had died.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Caleb Ikechukwu, who confirmed the accident, said: “It was a lone fatal accident. Three persons were confirmed dead while others sustained various degrees of injuries”.

    According to Ikechukwu, it was alleged by some eyes witnesses that the driver was driving on a high speed, so he lost control of the vehicle and it somersaulted for a number of times”.

    The police spokesperson confirmed that the injured person had been moved to hospital for treatment and the dead to the morgue.

  • Brazil to unleash Neymar, Firmino, others on Eagles

    PSG of France striker, Neymar; Liverpool’s Firmino, Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus and Bayern’s Philippe Coutinho are among the 23-man squad released by Brazil for next month’s international friendly against Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

    Brazil will play against Senegal and Nigeria on October 10 and 13 in Singapore.

    Brazil coach Tite released the list of the 23-man squad yesterday at the Brazilian soccer confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

    Tite has also called up striker Gabriel Barbosa for the first time in three years for friendlies holding in Singapore.

    After flopping at Inter Milan and Benfica, the 23-year-old striker is now the top scorer in the Brazilian championship with 16 goals while playing on loan for leader Flamengo.

    He was also the competition’s top scorer in 2018 when playing for Santos.

    “Gabriel has matured. His performance this year speaks for itself,” Tite said.

    Read Also: Brazil good test for Super Eagles, says Rohr

    Inter Milan reportedly paid 25 million euros ($27.5 million) for the Brazilian known as Gabigol in 2016, but he has scored only once for the Italian club and is spending a third straight season out on loan.

    Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson is expected to be the starter in both matches, with Liverpool’s Alisson out with a calf injury.

    Goalkeepers: Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras), Santos (Athletico Paranaense).

    Defenders: Daniel Alves (São Paulo), Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Rodrigo Caio (Flamengo)

  • Bayelsa PDP convenes stakeholders’ meeting

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled an expanded meeting of the State Caucus of the party and the Elders Advisory Council for 4pm on Sunday.

    Read Also: No division in Bayelsa PDP, says Diri

    The state party Chairman, Cleopas Moses, said the meeting would discuss the issue of the preparedness of the party for the election, strategies, approval of the campaign council and team and other topical issues.

    “The meeting will also receive a brief from the party’s candidate, Senator Douye Diri, on the issue of running mate,” he said.

  • Tribunal affirms Gov. Emeka Ihedioha’s election

    The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Imo sitting in Abuja on Saturday affirmed the election of Gov. Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State.

    Delivering judgment, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Mallami Umar-Dogondagi, dismissed the petition of the candidate of the Action Alliance Party, Mr Uche Nwosu, for incompetence.

    In a unanimously decision, the three-member panel, also struck out  the petition of the All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate, Sen. Hope Uzodinma.
    Three petitions were filed by the governorship candidates of the Action Alliance (AA), All Progressives Congress (APC) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),  asking the tribunal to nullify the election of Mr Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on the ground that he was unlawfully declared as the governor of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The tribunal held that the three petitions challenging the declaration of Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), lacked merit.

    Read Also: Ihedioha: I have done my best in 100 days

    The petitioners, challenged the emergence of the PDP candidate as winner of the March, 9 governorship election on the grounds that the election was marred by irregularities.

    The tribunal held that candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, Uche Nwosu, Ifeanyi Ararume of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, and  Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, failed to establish their petitions against governor Ihedioha.

    The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the law.

    Umar-Dogodaji stressed that Sen. Uzodinma of the APC was unable to prove his allegation that wrongful collation of results by INEC led to Ihedioha’s emergence as winner of the governorship election.

    NAN reports that Sen. Ararume and  Nwosu had approached the tribunal to cancel the election on the grounds that the declared winner did not meet the mandatory 25 per cent in two third of the local government areas in the state.

    On his side, Sen. Uzodimma, approached the tribunal and asked that he be declare him the rightful winner of the election, based on non-inclusion of results from 366 polling booths out of the INEC approved 388 booths in the state.

    NAN