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Tag: Nigeria News

Super Eagles Coach says Argentina beatable

Yusuf made the assertion in an interview in Abuja ahead of the Nov. 14 friendly match against the former world champions in Russia.

The coach said that the Super Eagles were capable of reversing the series of defeats suffered at the hands of the South Americans by beating them in Russia this time around.

Argentina’s track records would not be an advantage because the two teams would play the match based on their current form.

“My players are equal to the task any time anywhere and we are not afraid of big names because big names no longer play football, but talent and determination are key to winning matches,’’ the coach said.

He assured Nigerians of an impressive outing against Argentina in the warm-up match aimed at boosting the morale of not only the players but their fans for World Cup.

The prestige friendly match will be one in the series lined up to familiarise Nigerian players with the playing style of their likely opponents at the World Cup.

NAN

October 26, 2017
UNICEF, Niger sign N600m MoU for 2017 work plan

The United Nations Children’s Education Fund ( UNICEF ) has signed N600 million Memorandum of Understanding with Niger Government for the 2017 annual work plan.

Malam Idris Baba, Officer in Charge, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, dropped the hint on Thursday in Minna.

He said that it was the last plan of the four-year country programme that UNICEF was running with Niger government and was designed to run from 2014 to 2017.

Baba said that the four-year plan was part of UNICEF commitment to give intervention and assistance to Niger state government in four key areas.

He said the areas include; maternal and new born child component, communication for development, basic education and media relations.

He disclosed that immediately after the 2017 plan, UNICEF will develop a five-year plan with Niger government that would run from 2018 to 2022 to cover another five-year period.

“We signed one MoU in 2014; one in 2015, one in 2016 and we are signing the last bit of the four-year’s plan in 2017.

“The plan is meant to guide us to commit ourselves in ensuring that we deliver results to children and women in Niger state.

“We also use the plan to mark commitment because we share the same goals and vision for children and women of Niger state and to ensure that some amount of money is meant for bettering the lives of women and children in the state,’’ he said.

Baba, however, commended the state government for its continuous support and for providing enabling environment for UNICEF activities in the state.

Responding, Bello, commended UNICEF intervention programme in the state, adding that such intervention had impacted positively on the lives of women and children.

He urged UNICEF to increase its areas of intervention to the development of infrastructures, especially in primary and secondary schools in the state.

According to him, there was deficit of infrastructure in the educational sector that needed urgent attention from state government and our development partners.

“There is massive deficit of infrastructure in our public schools. We have spent a lot of money in renovating nine schools, and as government we cannot do it all alone.

“As state, we will continue to contribute our quota and increase our budget, especially in education sector so as to bridge the gap,’’ he said.

Bello advised UNICEF to make its area of intervention and activities known in the state by using the media to publicise its activities for people to key in.

Bello signed the MoU on behalf of the state government, while Baba signed on behalf of UNICEF.

NAN

October 26, 2017
Nasarawa sacks polytechnic rector, others

The Nassarawa State Government has sacked the rector, registrar and bursar of the state polytechnic, Lafia with immediate effect.

A statement by Malam Mohammed Abdullahi, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), issued to newsmen in Lafia on Thursday, also said the government would investigate activities at the institution since 2014.

The government directed the Rector, Silas Gray, Registrar, Labani Joseph and Bursar, Abdullahi Akya, to proceed on compulsory leave.

“The government has taken the decision in pursuant to its desire to reposition the state-owned tertiary institutions.

“And in compliance to the relevant laws establishing all the state owned tertiary institutions and as a Visitor to all the tertiary institutions in the state,” he said.

The statement further directed the three officials to handover the affairs of their offices to their respective deputies.

It added that fact-finding committees would be inaugurated soon to investigate activities of the polytechnic, College of Education, Akwanga and College of Agriculture, Lafia from 2014 to October 2017.

Read also: ‘Nasarawa Polytechnic generates N120 million IGR annually’

NAN

October 26, 2017
Police boss warns state SARS against extortion, misconduct

The Commissioner of Police, Kwara Command, Mr Lawan Ado, has warned officers and operatives of the state Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) against misconduct or risk dismissal.

Ado gave the warning while addressing journalists on the outcome of his meeting with the officers at the Police Headquarters, Ilorin on Thursday.

He said the warning was consequent upon different misconducts attributed to the outfit in recent times, adding that the development had brought some disrepute to the image of the command.

According to Ado, the allegations which include extortion, checking of telephone sets of citizens, laptops and labelling every young man seen in a car as yahoo boy, should stop forthwith.

He also said drunkenness, especially while on duty, is an offence stressing that he would not hesitate to wield the big stick on any officer whose actions or inaction would drag the name of the police in the mud.

Ado reiterated the directive of Inspector- General of Police banning road blocks on the high ways and stressed that any police officer caught in such act would be severely dealt with.

“They should be assured of our support and protection of the police authority at all times, and we will do everything within our power to make their work easy.

“They have to be civil in all their dealings with the members of the public because the officers are not in any way different from other policemen.

“As such, they must at all times abide by their rules of engagement and dress code and must neatly turn out as they are not immune against sanctions,

“‘They have to be reminded that a male police searching a female suspect is a misnomer.

‘’Searching of telephone set belonging to accosted citizens by SARS operatives, escorting suspects to the ATM machine to collect money, or forcing suspect to make electronic money transfer is robbery.

”Any officer arrested doing any of the above will be dismissed and charged to court,” Ado said.

He, however, advised the people in state to continue to support the team and volunteer information to enable the police discharge their responsibility adequately.

NAN

October 26, 2017
LASPEC urges NAICOM, PenCom to eliminate hindrances to insurance

The Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) has urged the National Insurance Commission ( NAICOM ) and National Pension Commission (PenCom) to eliminate practices militating against the growth of the industry.

Director-General of LASPEC, Mrs Folashade Onanuga made the call at the ongoing Insurance and Pension Conference organised by National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents (NAIPCO) in Lagos on Thursday.

She said that eliminating the challenges would bring sanity to the industry and attract more Nigerians into the insurance net.

The D-G said the theme of the conference: Legislation of Pensions and Insurance, Intrigues, Interest, Governance and the People’ would enable experts suggest solutions to enhance the sectors’ contributions to economic growth.

According to her, annuity providers need to know how to do legitimate business while marketing a product and not behaving like fraudsters.

“Some insurance agents now stand by the roadside as if they are waiting for a prey, unfortunately, there are too many frauds in the system.

“The competition between life insurers and Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) needed to be healthier otherwise the ultimate consumers will lose confidence in them.

“Such competition contravene the transparency the 2004 Pension Reform Act (PRA) advocated for as human thinking will suggest that the fighting is to gain market share.

“This means the product is more to the benefit of the operator more than consumers,’’ she said.

The LASPEC boss expressed dismay that some life insurance companies invited retirees to programme using the name LASPEC.

“Sometimes, agents will pose as relatives of retirees to programmes to exit discussion between retirees and PFAs,’’ she said.

The Commissioner for Insurance (CFI), Alhaji Mohammed Kari, said that the commission had widened its regulatory and supervisory roles on insurance entities.

Kari, represented by Mr Pius Popoola, the Head of Authorisation and Policy, said the roles were aimed at building the confidence of policy holders.

The commissioner said the roles would also eradicate abominable ethics and promote the safety and soundness of the insurance industry.

He said that the commission would work closely with the industry and other stakeholders, especially co-regulators in the financial services sector.

“This would promote a healthy insurance industry within the existing legislation,’’ he said

NAN

October 26, 2017
MKO Abiola int’l airport in Osun to gulp N69bn

The proposed M. K. O Abiola International Airport in Ido-Osun, Osun, will cost N69 billion under a concession arrangement with an indigenous company, AWOL International, an official has said.

Mr Niyi Ogundiran, the Director of Public Building in Osun State Ministry of Works, gave the figure at a meeting with members of the state Assembly in Osogbo on Thursday.

Ogundiran said that the concession arrangement would last for 30 years before permanent transfer of ownership to the state government.

He said that the contract was first awarded on Oct. 14, 2012, at the cost of N 4.5 billion, noting that the project was to be completed within eight months by the government and not under concession arrangement.

Ogundiran said that the contract was later reviewed to gulp N11 billion to be able to accommodate more features.

He said the state government had spent N3.6 billion on the project before the concession arrangement, adding that the N3.6 billion would be deducted from the N69 billion contract sum.

Mr Nurudeen Adeagbo, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said that the concession arrangement would be to the advantage of the state.

He expressed the hope that the company would deliver a perfect job.

In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Adegboye Akintunde, urged all those in charge of the project to ensure its success.

Akintunde said that Osun people were watching with keen interest to know the outcome of the arrangement.

Mr Tunde, the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, Co-operatives and Industries, said that the airport project was a huge investment and must be handled carefully.

Olatunji said that, if well executed, the project would facilitate economic development of the state.

NAN

October 26, 2017
Of love, infatuation, obsession and lust

It is common and very normal to confuse lust, obsession, and infatuation for love.

By definition, lust is an emotion or feeling of intense sexual desire. By implication, it is more of a physical attraction that pushes a person to seek sexual gratification. Teenagers are more susceptible to confuse lust for love.

However, as we grow older, become wiser and get more experience in life, we are able to differentiate love from lust.

God created us to have physical urges, desires and needs. In themselves, they are not wrong or bad. But when we yield to them at the wrong time, for the wrong reasons and with the wrong person, they can become destructive.

Infatuation according to Wikipedia is the state of being carried away by an unreasoned passion, usually towards another person for which one has developed strong romantic feelings. Unlike lust, infatuation has its origin in something more transcendental than just feeling attracted to the physical appearance of someone.

It is usually an unguided passion towards someone you most likely do not have knowledge of or any aorta of familiarity with. All you feel for the person is physical or sexual attraction; He or she might not even return or share the affection you have for them. Infatuation is usually unrealistic but very idealistic.

Obsession on the other hand can be very easily confused for great love, when in reality, is just an ailment of the mind that keeps the person emotionally and mentally enslave to someone else. It is an overwhelming desire to possess another person with an inability to accept rejection or failure.

It is often mistaken for love especially among youths these days. Recently, there have been several cases of ladies committing suicide over guys that left them for someone else; since they couldn’t cope with rejection, they decided to put an end to their own life.

While the stubborn ones among them believe if they can’t have the person they are obsessed with, then no one will; they try to either hurt or (in extreme cases) kill the person.

LOVE is a feeling especially in the soul; a connection that goes over and beyond physical appearances.

When you truly love somebody and that person loves you back, you feel an overwhelming sense of value and worth; unlike lust, infatuation and obsession which render their undiscerning victims empty, dry and finished.

You don’t have to chase after it, because if it is love, it happens naturally. When you are in love with someone, His/her happiness becomes your happiness and you can’t imagine life without him/her which is why you might think you are obsessed.

But you also need to understand that if the feeling is not reciprocated you won’t want to force the other person to be with you. Love makes you selfless; it brings out the best in you and sometimes the worst which your other half will accept willingly if he/she truly loves you.

Love is never enslaving but liberating. It never lays absolute claim to its significant other.

It is always patient and kind. Never jealous, boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and it is not resentful.

After all have been said and done, what really matters the most is how much we have given and experienced love.

People really do not care how much you know, but want to know how much you care. SHOW SOME LOVE TODAY!

October 26, 2017
Al-Makura appoints new Press Secretary

Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has appointed Musa Elayo as his new Press Secretary, according to a statement by Mohammed Abdullahi, Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

The statement issued on Thursday in Lafia said that Elayo replaced Ahmed Tukur who is to now serve as Personal Assistant to the governor.

Elayo until his appointment was the Head of Media to Nasarawa United Football Club.

According to the statement, others appointed as Personal Assistants to the governor include Mohammed Mainoma, Idris Ojoko, Bamayi Abimiku and Ebu Cecilia.

The appointments take immediate effect.

NAN

October 26, 2017
Nasarawa commences census of own houses

The Nasarawa State Government on Thursday, commenced two-week census of its houses across the state, Mohammed Wada, Commissioner for Works and Transports has disclosed.

Wada made the disclosure on Thursday in an interview in Lafia.

He said the exercise became necessary because the state government discovered that over the years, most occupants of such houses stayed in them illegally.

The commissioner said due to the monetization police, government does not longer provide accommodation for civil servants.’

“All GRAs, Six-man and Eight-Man Quarters, Low Cost, in Akwanga, KeffI, Lafia, Nasarawa and other local government areas are occupied by retired civil servants.

“We are taking the census of all government houses to ascertain their occupants, their status and legality of allocation,” he said.

The commissioner also said the state government was losing a lot of revenue due to the presence of illegal occupants of the houses who also failed to pay rent.

He said the occupants were required to present their allocation papers during the exercise, warning that failure to do that would make them to vacate the houses.

According to him, in the event that a lawful occupant is discovered to be defaulting in paying rent to the state government rent, he or she will be made to pay all outstanding rent.

He also said that lawful occupants of such structures would be asked to renovate their houses while vacant houses at the end of the exercise would reallocate to interested persons.

NAN

October 26, 2017
Netherlands-based Omidiji eyes call up to Super Falcons

Sophia Omidiji, a Netherlands-based soccer player, says her dream is to play for Nigeria’s senior female team, the Super Falcons.

Omidiji said this on Thursday in Abuja that she was optimistic that her abilities would earn her a place in the national team.

20-year-old Omijidi was born in Las Vegas. United States and was adopted as an infant by a Nigerian father, who hails from Ogun.

The player was earlier invited to the camp of Nigeria’s U-20 side Falconets ahead of a 2016 World Cup qualifier against Democratic Republic of Congo.

She plays for Dutch’s topflight side S. B. V Excelsior in Rotterdam.

The forward had earlier played for KAA Gent in the Belgium Division I, where she scored 18 goals with 12 assists in 20 games.

According to her, it is always a privilege and honour to represent one’s fatherland.

“It has always been my dream to be able to contribute my quota and bring joy to our people in the form of lifting the World Cup with the Super Falcons. Then I will be fulfilled.

“I also think my abilities will give me a good chance in the team and playing for Excelsior is an opportunity to learn from great coaches in Eredivisie league, the highest league in the Netherlands,” she said.

The player said she was currently studying as well as playing football.

“In January, I will be obtaining an Associate degree. This is to show others that you can be a professional and get a degree.

“I believe in myself, trust my abilities and know that by God’s Grace I will accomplish my goals.

“I have a strong team behind me; my family and my managers Temple Management Company (TMC), so I just focus on developing myself,” she added.

TMC is a full-service creative talent and event management company incorporated in Nigeria and operating in the Entertainment, Sports, Media and Art sectors.

NAN

October 26, 2017