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Football enthusiasts express confidence in Super Eagles ahead of World Cup draw

Some football enthusiasts, on Wednesday expressed confidence ahead of the World Cup draw, that the Super Eagles would be capable to face any team drawn with it in the same group on Friday.

The fans and pundits expressed optimism while speaking in Abuja, that Nigeria would also get a favourable draw.

Tunde Popoola, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee ( NOC ), said that the present crop of players in the Super Eagles were good enough to take on any team in the world.

“I’m not one to really think about trying to avoid teams. I believe if you want to win a big tournament such as the World Cup, you’re going to have to play the best teams sooner or later.

“Having said that, I am confident that the Super Eagles will be prepared to take on any country or group they are drawn into when the World Cup proper begins.

“I have no doubt in my mind in the ability of the crop of young talents we have in the squad right now to cause an upset and go ahead to shock the world in Russia,” he said.

Godwin Bamigboye, Chairman, Nigeria Football Coaches Association, FCT Chapter, advised the team to focus more on their abilities, rather than on the strength of the teams they would be drawn against.

“The draw is essential and a key moment for any country, the team and the coaching crew as it will lay out our path to the World Cup finals.

“It is one of those moments in which the whole world of football holds its breath.

“However, my advice to the team and the coaching crew is not to focus on the strength or weakness of their opponents but rather on their own strength and abilities.

“We can only hope for the best draw possible, but even if we are drawn against the ‘almighty Brazil’, so be it.

“The truth is, names don’t play football these days, but people do. It’s all about the team spirit and in a World Cup as little things can decide matches.

“What we need in a tournament such as this is to be mentally strong and physically robust.

“I believe we are more than capable to beat any team in the world with a very good preparation and hard work,” he said.

Jonathan Akpoborie, an ex-international said: “Let’s forget about the permutations. We’re positive, but we must also not get too ahead of ourselves.

“We know we’ve still got a lot of work to do and we’ve got to play more quality friendly games between now and the finals to fine tune the team.

“Having said that, it will be a great feeling to know who the Super Eagles will be facing at the group stage of the World Cup and I really can’t wait to know our opponents.

“For now, it’s just about focusing on the games ahead and looking forward to the finals,” he said.

Excitement will be high when coaches of the 32 qualified nations gather at the State Kremlin Palace in Russia for the Dec. 1 draw.

The gala event will be televised live around the world.

Teams have been seeded in four pots based on the October edition of the world rankings issued by ruling body FIFA.

Russia, being the tournament host, was exempted from the seeding, but was placed in pot 1 and atop group A.

No more than two European teams can be in one group, and teams from other regions cannot be pitted against sides from the same confederations.

The teams’ fates are now down to the luck or ill fortune of the draw, with the seeding throwing up some intriguing permutations.

World champions Germany will avoid South American giants Brazil and Argentina, and highly-fancied France.

Germany could come up against 2010 champions Spain (pot 2) or strong African and Asian teams such as Senegal (3) or South Korea (4) .

Another difficult constellation for Joachim Loew’s squad could be a South American opponent such as Uruguay or Colombia from pot 2, along with on-form neighbours Denmark (3) and much-improved African qualifiers Nigeria (4).

An easier draw on paper would be a group with Peru, Iran and Panama.

Russia will be hoping to avoid the fate of 2010 hosts South Africa, who failed to reach the knock-out stage, as they bank on home support to help them outperform their 65th ranking.

From the top pot, Poland may be the most favoured opponents for the lower-seeded sides despite a strong qualifying phase, with Bayern Munich striker, Robert Lewandowski, scoring 16 goals to lead the scoring charts.

Also, Germany bidding to become the first country to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, will be a team most outside pot 1 will be looking to avoid.

Of some of the other big names, England, under Gareth Southgate, will be hoping to get out of the group stage, after exiting early in 2014.

Brazil will also be a team to avoid and so will third-seeded Iceland, who dumped the Three Lions out of Euro 2016.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 14 and lat till July 15

NAN

November 29, 2017
Buhari administration, investors’ friendly – Olajiga

The Chief Executive Officer of the largest locally owned cashew processing company in Nigeria, FoodPro Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ayo Olajiga, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as investors friendly.

Olajiga said this on Wednesday in Ilorin in an interview.

Olajiga explained that the support he has received from the Bank of Industry ( BOI ), is huge hence the backing from the Federal Government for the institution ( BOI ) to function well.

He said the fact that the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, came to commission the extension of the factory recently was a testimony that this administration encourage the Private sector.

He said the company has contributed to the unemployment situation of the country with its employment of over 400 people.

“Through domestic processing of raw cashew nuts, we have created more than 400 direct jobs and several thousand indirect jobs for farmers, vendors, suppliers and artisans who form the heartbeat of FoodPro’s value chain.

“With 90% of FoodPro’s employees being women, we are humbled by the role we play in impacting communities and improving economic and social development conditions in our host community.” Olajiga said.

He explained that the company has been in operation since 2013 and recently ramped up its capacity from 1,000 to 5,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts per annum making it the largest locally owned cashew processing company in Nigeria.

Olajiga added that FoodPro factory is the only factory certified by the African Cashew Alliance for Food Safety and Quality.

He said the company’s plans is double its operating capacity further to 10,000 tonnes, commence export of packaged and branded goods, including existing brands – Lion Cashew & Go Nutz as well as a range of additional products that are currently in the development phase.

Olajiga explained that most of the company’s outputs are exported to the United States of America ( USA ) with other retain brands across local store in the country.

He said the choice of Kwara State as where the factory was located was because of its strategic location to where the company source for its materials from, coupled with the state government’s friendly business policies.

He commended the Bank of Industry ( BOI ), for its support to the company and the Kwara State government.

NAN

November 29, 2017
FG reiterates commitment to reward, protect whistleblowers

The Federal Government on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to reward and protect whistleblowers who provided information that led to recovery of stolen funds or assets.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this during a visit to the head office of Leadership newspaper in Abuja.

Mohammed, who was responding to a question on the stash of money recovered from an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, said the whistleblowers would get the due reward.

He clarified the compensation modality as contained in the framework, saying any whistle-blower whose information led to recovery of up to N1 billion would receive five per cent of the amount.

He said the reward for any amount between N1 billion and N5 billion was 5 per cent for the first N1 billion and four per cent of the remaining N4 billion.

The minister added that any amount above N5 billion would attract 2.5 per cent reward.

Mohammed noted that the policy of government was to keep the identity of whistle blowers secret.

He described as unfortunate the situation where more than one person came out as whistle blowers for the Ikoyi recovery.

He disclosed that Federal Government had come up with comprehensive strategy to tackle violent extremism across the country.

He said the strategy was contained in a document entitled “Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism” launched by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mohammed said the document was developed after consultations with agencies of government, civil society organisations, the media and academia, as well as the international community.

He also spoke on the various policies and programmes of government at revamping the economy, building infrastructure and creating jobs.

On the fight against corruption, Mohammed said government was winning the war, having succeeded in driving corruption under the table.

He hailed Leadership newspaper for carrying out its duties professionally.

NAN

November 29, 2017
No leadership crisis in Nigeria Football Supporters Club – Ikpea

Samuel Ikpea, President, Nigeria Football Supporters Club ( NFSC ), has debunked the statement credited to the Media Officer of Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye, that the club was enmeshed in leadership crisis.

Ikpea said this on Wednesday in Lagos while reacting to Ibitoye’s allegation on the leadership of the supporters club.

The Eagles spokesman had on Monday in a private newspaper interview allegedly said that the Nigeria Football Federation was mindful of the situation with the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, which is a private body.

He also said that hence, there were plans to ensure that the crisis did not affect the Eagles in Russia.

Ikpea quoted him as saying: “The Nigerian Football Supporters Club has split into two factions with Rev. Ikpea and Vincent Okumagba laying claims to the leadership of the body.

“The Ikpea faction is backed by majority of the members, including Rafiu Ladipo, who is the President-General of the body.

“While Okumagba is supported by the younger elements, who want change in leadership from Ladipo’s over 20 years of controlling the body.

“The club could not travel with the Super Eagles to Ndola where Zambia hosted Nigeria in the opening game of the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

“The Ikpea-led group arrived in Cameroun by road on match day when the Indomitable Lions hosted the Super Eagles in Yaoundé.

On the position of NFF over the issue, Ikpea said that it was unfortunate that the football house was feigning ignorance about the status of the association.

“There is no truth in a statement by Super Eagles Spokesman, Ibitoye, over their imaginary crisis. We had a legitimate election last year which has the NFF representative in attendance.

“There is no faction or crisis at all, I was duly and democratically elected at the July 10, 2016 election at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, so why the denial of the authenticity of headship of NFSC.

“What I expect from NFF is a role of bridge builder and not fanning the embers of disunity. The fact remains that the supporters club is a one body with no known faction,’’ he said.

Ikpea said that if NFF truly wanted to send a contingent to Russia 2018 World Cup, they knew who and who to contact.

“If the NFF truly want to sponsor some of us to Russia, they know who to contact there are no two ways to that. They are well aware of the status of our association.

“Maybe, this is another ploy to sponsor some of their cronies to the Mundial on government payroll by claiming that we are divided or did not know the faction to deal with.

“We want to appeal to NFF not to divide the house with undue interference and speeches that could set the association on the brink.

“The election which they failed to acknowledge was witnessed by the body’s council of Elders, Representatives from the NFF and Ministry of Sports,’’ he said.

On the issues around Okumagba, Ikpea said he has been officially dismissed from the club in 2015, adding that the club had been part and parcel of the Super Eagles qualifiers.

“We have been part of Eagles matches both home and away, where we spent our personal resources and even our lives to travel to Cameroon by road.

“About Okumagba, he and some members were officially dismissed from the club for anti-club activities and disrespect to the club.

“Their letters were forwarded to the NFF, Nigeria Police, Ministry of Sports and House of Assembly which they acknowledged, copies of the letters were documented,’’ he said.

NAN

November 29, 2017
Give more women govt positions to minimise corruption, says Ezekwesili

A former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, on Tuesday said more women should occupy government positions where decisions on the collective good of the society are taken, to minimize corruption.

She gave the advice at a lecture organised by HID Awolowo Foundation in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The lecture had as its theme: “Ethical Politics, Development and Security in Nigeria: The Critical importance of Women’s Leadership’’.

According to her, research has shown that when women are represented in leadership, there is better performance in measurable numbers.

“Research shows that in Africa, only five per cent of women are CEOs, 22 per cent are cabinet members, 25 per cent are parliamentarians, 29 per cent are managers, 36 per cent are promoted, and some 44 per cent of senior women hold line roles.

“With Nigeria in the lead, this tells that women have been marginalised and this is evident in the poor governance that the continent has produced.

“So, men must take full responsibility for the state of affairs of Nigeria and the continent.

“What this is saying to us is that we need to improve on the participation of women in our political system.

“We need to have many more women in the local government, state government and centre of authority as well as in the judiciary,” Ezekwesili said.

She said that a wise society will know that empowering its women is smart economy.

Ezekwesili stressed that no one is doing a favour to the Nigerian or African woman by involving her in the process of governance on the basis of evidence that data has shown.

She described barriers militating against women coming into the political space as being cultural, religious, economic, social as well as self-imposed.

The ex-minister urged women to rise up and disrupt the existing paradigm that says that women must be held down.

According to her, women are incredible human resources that must not be put on hold.

Lady Maiden Ibru, one of the discussants and chairperson of the occasion, urged women to stand up and get out of their comfort zone, for them to be heard.

“Women have always fought for equality; time has come for women to come to the forefront and say enough is enough.

“What makes a woman is character, accountability, honesty and these we must bring to governance.

A former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, said the best way to empower a community is to empower the woman.

He said: “In a family, if a woman is empowered, you will see the difference in the house, you will see the difference in the children, even the man will see the difference from the dining table.

“But the other way round, if a man is empowered, his pocket suddenly increases.

“The empowerment of a woman is very important for the nation to move forward.

“I have no doubt about that, although it is not always automatic that a woman is necessarily not more corrupt than a man.

“There is no universal application that a woman is necessarily less corrupt than a man because there are some cultural contexts to it.’’

NAN

November 29, 2017
Obaseki restates commitment to fight human trafficking

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo says his administration is willing to support any initiative that will curb human trafficking.

Obaseki, represented by his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, stated this on Tuesday when he hosted the executives of the African Youth Commission at Government House, Benin.

He said the way youths travel out of the country to be used as slaves in their host countries is unacceptable.

Obaseki, who described human trafficking as “modern day slavery’’, noted that one of the goals of his administration was to build the capacity of youths to enable them to compete favourable with their counterparts across the world.

“For us as a government, we believe we should reduce unemployment and also help to reduce illegal migration.

“For us, human trafficking is not acceptable, that is why we are trying to gather not only national, but international support to check this menace,” he said.

Obaseki said the government was investing massively in technical vocation and skills acquisition to ensure that the younger generation are adequately empowered to provide for themselves.

Earlier, the Secretary of the African Youth Commission, Dr Carl Oshodin, said the aim of the commission was to fight against illegal migration.

Oshodin said that the motive was to support government at all levels and make poverty history in Edo.

NAN

November 29, 2017
Pope preaches peace, reconciliation in Myanmar

Pope Francis called for peace and reconciliation as he delivered Mass to around 150,000 Catholics in Myanmar’s commercial hub Yangon on Wednesday, as part of his first papal trip to the country.

“I know that many in Myanmar bear the wounds of violence, wounds both visible and invisible,” he told those gathered for the open-air mass.

“Yet the way of revenge is not the way of Jesus.”

Most of Myanmar’s nearly 700,000 Catholics are ethnic minorities from the country’s restive fringes, where a number of ethnic armed groups are still at war with government forces.

Michael Salai Soe Aung, a 40-year-old from Myanmar’s western Chin State who attended the Mass, told dpa: “I’m so happy I can’t describe my feelings with words. I believe the pope brings peace wherever he goes.”

The pope has faced pressure during his trip to confront alleged atrocities against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

Su Hlaing from Yangon also attended the Mass on Wednesday and said she hoped the pope’s visit could bring peace to Rakhine.

On Tuesday, the pope appeared alongside civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has faced international condemnation over a military operation that has sent 620,000 Rohingyas fleeing across the border to Bangladesh, in what the U.S. and UN have described as “ethnic cleansing.”

In an address on Tuesday in the capital Naypyitaw, the pope urged a “commitment to justice and respect for human rights” in Myanmar but did not refer to the Rohingya by name.

He also refrained from uttering the word on Wednesday.

The Catholic Church in Myanmar had urged the pontiff to respect the views of the majority of Myanmar’s population, who do not consider Rohingya to be citizens and call them “Bengali,” inferring they are from Bangladesh.

The pope is currently on a six-day trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh and will travel to Dhaka on Thursday where he will remain until Saturday.

NAN

November 29, 2017
I and Ibrahimovic kicked each other in training – Rojo

Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has revealed that he and Zlatan Ibrahimovic kicked themselves in training.

The duo returned to the first team squad two weeks ago after picking up injury in a Europa League match against Anderlecht in April

And According to the Argentine defender, Coach Jose Mourinho has warned the two to desist from kicking each other in order to avoid injuries.

“[Mourinho] always tells us to play calmly in practice because, with Ibrahimovic, we kill each other with kicks,” Rojo, as quoted by Marca.

On his relationship with Ibrahimovic, Rojo described the Sweedish striker as an ‘amazing character,’ who is always happy

Read also: Why Manchester’s Ibrahimovic is called ‘the Big Man’

Rojo added: “He’s always happy and close to the players. He helped me a lot. He got the best out of me.”

“He’s an amazing character, but for those who don’t know him, he seems big-headed,” he noted.

“He’s a phenomenon, he’s a beast who goes forward and wants to win everything.”

November 28, 2017
Rohr needs certainty over future – Pinnick

President of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ), Amaju Pinnick, on Tuesday explained the federation’s motives in offering Super Eagles Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr a contract expansion.

“The Federation leadership’s resolve to ensure there were no distractions of any size or complexion around Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup preparation and participation informed the offer of a fresh two-year contract to Rohr,’’ he said.

Rohr was signed by the NFF in August 2016 and has met the first milestone of his contract, which is ensuring the Eagles qualify for a sixth FIFA World Cup finals.

Nigeria thoroughly overhauled their opponents, spanking 2012 AFCON winners Zambia home and away.

The Eagles also earned four points from home-and-away clashes with fellow 2014 World Cup finalists Cameroon and Algeria, leaving second-placed Zambia six points behind the Super Eagles.

“We have decided to confront head-on any possible area of conflict or controversy, and fully resolve each and every possible friction point well ahead of the competition.

Read also: I’m happy working with Super Eagles – Rohr

“After signing the agreement on payment to the team from expected FIFA income, the next stage was to take care of the Technical Adviser.

“He has done very well and does not need to go into the World Cup uncertain of his future,” Pinnick said in a statement released by the NFF on Tuesday.

The 64-year old Rohr, a former Germany defender, flaunts a sterling record with the Eagles, winning seven of 12 matches and drawing four in his 15 months in charge so far.

His only loss was the 0-2 reverse to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a 2019 AFCON qualifier in Uyo in June 2017.

Under him, the Eagles have beaten Tanzania, Zambia (twice), Algeria, Togo, Cameroon and two –time world champions Argentina, and drawn with Senegal, Corsica, Cameroon and Algeria.

ROHR’S RECORD

03/09/2016: Nigeria 1 Tanzania 0 (AFCON Qualifier, Uyo)

09/10/2017: Zambia 1 Nigeria 2 (WC Qualifier, Ndola)

12/11/2016: Nigeria 3 Algeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

23/03/2017: Nigeria 1 Senegal 1 (Friendly, London)

27/05/2017: Corsica 1 Nigeria 1 (Friendly, Ajaccio)

01/06/2017: Nigeria 3 Togo 0 (Friendly, Paris)

10/06/2017: Nigeria 0 South Africa 2 (AFCON Qualifier, Uyo)

01/09/2017: Nigeria 4 Cameroon 0 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

04/09/2017: Cameroon 1 Nigeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Yaounde)

07/10/2017: Nigeria 1 Zambia 0 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

10/11/2017: Algeria 1 Nigeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Constantine)

14/11/2017: Argentina 2 Nigeria 4 (Friendly, Krasnodar)

NAN

November 28, 2017
Yuletide: FG warns security agencies against traffic law violations

The Federal Government on Tuesday says it will not tolerate traffic law violations by convoy drivers, military personnel and law enforcement agents during and after the Yuletides.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, gave the warning at a capacity building workshop in Abuja.

The workshop was on the United Nations Road Safety Legal Instruments on Traffic Signs and Regulations.

Mustapha said as government played its role to ensure safety of lives and property, all road users must obey traffic rules and regulations regardless of their status.

“Let me further warn that while the Federal Road Safety Corps will continue to act in line with the rule of law, government will not tolerate any one running officials of the Corps down in the exercise of their duties.

“Government drivers, especially those that drive us around, convoy drivers, must not disrupt flow of traffic or act in contra-distinction to traffic officers’ directives.

“Let me also admonish the military and all law enforcement agencies to cooperate with the FRSC throughout the end-of-year operations and beyond.

“The safety of and security of this great nation rests on your collective shoulders, hence the failure of one would be seen as failure of all.’’

Mustapha said the federal government would continue to empower the FRSC in the discharge of its duties, especially in the area of apprehending and sanctioning recalcitrant offenders.

The SGF, whose office supervises the FRSC, assured the international community and Nigerians of government’s commitment to road safety issues through increased investment and political will.

The keynote speaker and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, disagreed with the popular notion that the nation’s roads are dead traps.

Fashola said that though bad roads contributed to road accidents, the leading cause remained speed violation resulting from bad attitude of motorists.

“I have heard people describe our roads as death traps, but what I say to people is that my team and I, about 50 of us travelled those roads early this year.

“We drove everyday from 8 a.m. to at least 8 p.m. One day we drove for 18 hours. We traversed 34 states, but the instructive thing is that we drove at a maximum speed of 100 km per hour, we drove at night, and we did not have an accident.

“We were not trapped and we did not die on the dead traps. All of us will just do well to understand that there are speed limits on our highways, there are breaking distances in driving.

“Even if the road conditions are good, if you do not observe the speed limits, you endanger yourselves.

“I agree that bad roads contribute to accidents, but I disagree on the evidence that we have that bad roads are the cause of the accidents.’’

Read also: FRSC arraigns 187 traffic offenders in Bayelsa

Fashola cited the FRSC monthly road traffic statistics, which show that bad roads contribute only between 0.5 and 1 per cent of accidents in the country.

Speed violation remains the leading cause, contributing over 55 per cent of the road traffic accidents recorded by the Corps on monthly basis across the country.

The minister, therefore, urged FRSC to intensify its enforcement of driver’s license, speed limiter installation and other traffic rules and regulations to reduce carnage on the Nation’s highways.

He also called for more empowerment of the FRSC through increased funding and provision of facilities like rescue helicopters to boost their post-crash operations.

The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, assured all stakeholders that the Corps remained committed to driving the campaign for safer roads within Nigeria and in the West African sub-region.

“FRSC will continue to embrace support that would assist not only its personnel, but also our stakeholders from time to time.

“It is only though continuous education and enlightenment that we all can become better professionals of honour,’’ Oyeyemi said.

The workshop was organised by the office of the SGF in conjunction with the FRSC and the Sustainable Transport Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

It aims at building the capacity of federal and state traffic management authorities on implementation of the United Nations road safety conventions to which Nigeria is signatory.

FRSC personnel, federal controllers of highways, state directors of highways and traffic management agencies and development partners are participating in the two-day workshop.

NAN

November 28, 2017