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  • President Buhari hails Bill Gates, Dangote for service to humanity

    President Muhammadu Buhari has applauded the contributions of Bill and Melinda Gates as well as Aliko Dangote foundations to humanitarian and developmental activities in Nigeria.

    Meeting with the duo on the sidelines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the President said they had touched humanity in many positive ways.

    He ad congratulated them “for achieving what you had set out to do”.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, the President added: “Thanks for deriving pleasure in helping people. Congratulations to you for returning part of your wealth to the people in diverse ways. Whatever we save in areas in which you have intervened, we can deploy to other areas, like building of infrastructure.”

    Read Also: President Buhari decries Nigeria’s loss of $157.5b to illicit financial flows

    On agriculture, in which Dangote makes huge investments, President Buhari noted that farmers are very happy in Nigeria now “as we have made fertiliser available, cut the price by half and given many other incentives. They have no regret going back to the lands. The more we invest in agriculture, the better for us”.

    Mr Gates congratulated President Buhari “for assembling a cabinet that excites us”.

    The American philanthropist said he was pleased that one of the priorities of the administration was human capital development, of which health, nutrition and education are key components.

    He said the Bill and Melinda Gates and Aliko Dangote foundations kept track of Nigeria’s attainments on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as enunciated by the United Nations (UN).

    The global businessman submitted that the foundations were encouraged that there was improvement in reducing child mortality.

    “Every local government area has better health/education situation today than in year 2000. We are delighted about that. Nigeria is our biggest commitment in Africa. It’s only in India we do more in the world,” Gates said.

  • 17th World Athletics Championship: Oduduru, Okagbare lead Team Nigeria challenge in Doha

    Team Nigeria will be the focus of attention from today as the chase for medals and tickets to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics begin at the 17th World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar.

    According to the world athletics body, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), 209 out of the 214 member federations will be participating in the Championships as well as an Athlete Refugee Team-all numbering a total of 1,972 final entries (1054 men and 918 women).

    Meanwhile, Nigeria would  be aiming to break  a six-year old jinx without medal since Blessing Okagbare won silver and bronze respectively  in  the 200m and long jump events at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.

    The iconic Khalifa International Stadium will host the 10-day championship as $7.5m (N2.6b) will be at stake for record setters and finalists in some events.

    However, if the performance of Team Nigeria at the 2019 African Games is taken into consideration, some athletes would expectedly  mount  the podium  in Doha.

    Already, four Nigerians including  Blessing Okagbare, Divine Oduduru, Ese Brume and Tobi Amusan have been  tipped as potential medallists by IAAF in its preview of the competition and this a pointer to the  recognition of the athletes at the global level.

    Incidentally, the prowess of Team Nigeria has never been in doubt and as recent as the 12th African Games in Morocco in August, the track and field events  fetched Nigeria 23 medals made up of 10 gold, seven silver and six bronze medals.

    Read Also: Sand Eagles’ ex-captain raps NFF over unpaid allowances

    “We  are hopeful of a good showing in Doha ,” Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) technical director, Sunday Adeleye, told NationSport. “After  the African Games in Morocco, we told the athletes to continue with their training  programme because we wanted  to sort out so many things that may cause distraction during the World Championships.

    “I am happy to inform you that we have sorted all these particularly in terms of equipment and kits and we believe this will give the athletes the needed concentration  and confidence to do well in Doha.”

    Despite the criticisms that trailed the 25-man list, Adeleye said that selected athletes were the best the country could present while urging those irked by the list to support the team in its quest to pick medals and Olympic tickets.

    Apart from the women who have been making the country proud, the performance of the likes of Oduduru, Raymond Ekevwo and a host of other male athletes has given hope for the country.

    In the women’s 100 and 200m, Okagbare has been considered a threat to some favourites. The 30-year-old, who took bronze in the event at the 2013 World Championships, has pieced together a decent season, headed by a notable 22.05s win at the Prefontaine Classic in 200m.

    In the men’s 200m, favourite American Noah Lyles will have to contend with 22-year-old Divine Oduduru who has succeeded as NCAA champion. Oduduru, who won the collegiate 200m title in June this year in a championship record of 19.73, the third fastest recorded this year.

    Oduduru is the second fastest man in 100m and after a pair of sub-10 performances early this year, Oduduru won the NCAA 100m title in 9.86 and doubled back to take the 200m crown in a blazing 19.73secs. Oduduru clearly has the ability to work his way into the medal mix, but the question that remains is how heavy a toll his early season collegiate racing schedule has taken on World Championships form.

    Also considered a major force in 100m is 20-year-old Nigerian Raymond Ekevwo, who blasted to a 9.96 personal best to take the 2019 African Games title in August.

  • NAF destroys terrorists’ training camp

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said it destroyed terrorists’ training camp and logistics base in Kusuma, Borno State.

    Its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore, Daramola Ibikunle, announced this in a statement in Abuja.

    The statement said the Air Task Force (ATF) detailed by NAF destroyed a major logistics base and training camp of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

    It reads: “Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has recorded another major success in its sustained air offensive against terrorists’ targets in the Northeast. The feat was achieved on September 25, 2019, when NAF aircraft, detailed by the ATF, destroyed a major ISWAP logistics base and training camp at Kusuma on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State.

    Read Also: ‘To secure, we have to love: herdsmen, kidnappers, Boko Haram and the climate of fear’

    “The air strike was executed after credible intelligence reports had established that a section of the settlement was serving as a training camp for the terrorists, while some buildings within the camp were being used to store their fuel, arms and ammunition as well as other logistics supplies.

    “The pre-attack surveillance showed scores of fighters attempting to flee the location upon hearing the sound of the attack aircraft. They were engaged by the attack aircraft in successive passes, neutralising many of them. The terrorists’ logistics supply store, which was also hit, was seen engulfed in flames due to the raid.

    “The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in the Northeast.”

    Also, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, has urged troops of the theatre to show no mercy to Boko Haram terrorists or their collaborators.

    Adeniyi also told the troops to move swiftly and engage the insurgents in their hiding places and finish them without delay.

    The theatre commander was on operational visit to Sector II of the theatre in Damaturu, Yobe State.

    He advised the troops to deal ruthlessly with Boko Haram and anybody seeing to be supporting insurgency.

    According to him, the soldiers are capable of doing the job, and should not be deterred by any obstacle that will stand on their way to finish the job.

  • President Buhari decries Nigeria’s loss of $157.5b to illicit financial flows

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said Nigeria lost an estimated $157.5 billion to illicit financial flows between 2003 and 2012.

    He quoted the figure from the 2014 Global Financial Integrity Report in his address to the High-Level National Side-Event organised by the African Union Development Agency and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday in New York, the United States of America (U.S.A).

    The event was on the sidelines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with the theme: Promotion of International Cooperation to Combat Illicit Financial Flows and Strengthen Good Practices on Assets Recovery and Return to Foster Sustainable Development.

    The Nigerian leader noted that such massive loss of assets resulted in dearth of resources “to fund public services or to alleviate poverty” in the country.

    Read Also: Presidency faults online reports criticizing Buhari’s response at UN climate summit

    In a statement by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President added: “This is why, as Africans, we have no choice but to break the back of corruption.”

    Acknowledging lack of sufficient capital and corruption as impediments to socio-economic development of the continent, the President emphatically restated his administration’s anti-corruption campaign.

    “That is why our government has made it a war we intend to win.  We will give all it takes to ensure there is no hiding place for purveyors of corrupt practices who are truly enemies of the people,” he said.

    Harping on the need to strengthen good practices on asset recovery and return, President Buhari said: “In the last five years, our government has made significant progress to curb corruption. We have recovered millions of dollars stolen from our country.”

    The President stressed that his administration faced some hurdles in the fight against graft and recovery of stolen public funds.

    “There are still a lot of other funds that are stuck in foreign bank accounts due to international laws, different jurisdictions and justice systems that make it difficult for repatriation,” he said.

    Describing Illicit Financial Flows as “illegal movement of funds from one country to another,” President Buhari regretted that “these flows deplete Africa’s internally generated revenues (IGR), foreign exchange earnings, reduce tax revenues, drain natural resources, facilitate corruption and stunt private sector development”.

    He cited tax avoidance as another form of illicit financial flow, quoting the Tax Justice Network and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that estimated over U.S$200 billion per year was “being lost by developing countries when multinational enterprises do not pay taxes in the countries where they made the profit”.

    “This amount is significantly higher than the annual development aid received by these countries which are estimated to be about U.S$143 billion,” President Buhari added.

    Commending the organisers of the meeting designed to finding “pragmatic ways to promote international cooperation to combat illicit financial flows and strengthen good practices on asset recovery and return, as an arm of sustainable development policies in Africa,” the Nigerian President also lauded their “shared commitment to root out corruption from our continent”.

  • Akingbola’s 10-year trial over N179b ‘fraud’ to resume October 24

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday adjourned till October 24 the N179 billion fraud trial of the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr Erastus Akingbola.

    The trial, which began with Akingbola’s first arraignment 10 years ago, could not continue following Justice Mojisola Olatoregun’s absence.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in 2009, arraigned Akingbola on an alleged 26-count fraud charge before Justice Charles Archibong, but the judge struck out the charges, citing lack of diligent prosecution.

    On appeal, the decision was overruled and Akingbola was ordered to return to the Federal High Court for his trial.

    The Court of Appeal’s decision was affirmed at the Supreme Court.

    Read Also: Jigawa Assembly suspends principal officials over alleged fraud

    The EFCC re-arraigned Akingbola before Justice Olatoregun on March 12 on an amended 22-count N179 billion fraud charge.

    In the charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that while Akingbola was the MD and Chief Executive Officer of Intercontinental Bank Plc, he used N179,385,000,000 belonging to the bank for “fictitious transactions”.

    The commission also claimed that Akingbola used N179 billion to buy Intercontinental Bank Plc’s shares, thereby inflating the market price of Intercontinental Bank shares on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

    In another instance, the EFCC alleged that Akingbola took £1.3 million from Intercontinental Bank Plc’s GBP NOSTRO account at Deutsche Bank, London, and remitted same into the bank account of Fuglers Solicitors with the Royal Bank of Scotland Plc, London.

    It further claimed that the £1.3 million was paid to Fuglers Solicitors for the purpose of buying a property in the name of Life Boat Settlement Trust, which Akingbola set up.

    The EFCC said Akingbola knew the £1.3 million to be proceeds of crime, “to wit: stealing”.

    Akingbola pleaded not guilty to the 22 counts.

  • Sand Eagles’ ex-captain raps NFF over unpaid allowances

    Former captain of the Nigeria national beach soccer team (Super Sand Eagles), Isiaka Olawale, has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pay their entitlement for attending the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Bahamas.

    Olawale, who made four FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearances for Nigeria, claimed  all efforts to make the country’s football ruling body come to their plight following their group stage exit from the tournament two years ago have proved abortive.

    “It has not been easy for us to get what we worked for and since we came back from Bahamas, up till now that I am talking to you, they have not paid us our entitlements which should be around N600,000 for each player,” Olawale told Nations.“ We were 12 players and about five officials  that attended the tournament.

    “But  If they want us to carry placards, we will do that. A member of the team, Ogbonnaya Okemiri still asked me about the allowance two days ago. For how long will I continue to pacify them?As the captain, I tried to control the players because everything is on my neck.”

    Read Also: Meet Olayinka, Eagles’ new invitee

    Olawale  said he had  repeatedly reached out to the leadership of the NFF including several messages to its President Amaju Pinnick,  First Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi ,Second Vice President Shehu Dikko as well as the NFF Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi but all to no avail.

    “We met NFF President, Amaju Pinnick on our arrival into the country in 2017 and he assured us that our entitlements will be taken care of,” the former Kwara United, Dolphins and El-Kanemi Warriors player further told NationSport. “It’s just for Pinnick to give the directive for the money to be paid but up till now we have not heard from the federation.

    “I have spoken with NFF First Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi and he assured us that the money will be paid. I have sent messages to Second Vice President, Shehu Dikko,  NFF Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and so many of them but up till now, no response.”

    But  NFF’s Director of competitions, Bola Oyeyode told our correspondent that he was not aware of the issue.

    “I am not aware, I over see so many teams. It is the secretary of the team, Sunday Okayi, who will be in better position to answer if they have been paid or not. I didn’t see any complaint from any player on my table,” he told NationSport.

  • I wasn’t kidnapped, says Edo ex-Speaker

    A former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Elizabeth Ativie has denied reports that she was kidnapped on Tuesday’s night.

    A report that went viral claimed Ativie was abducted while going home on Irhirhi Road in Benin City.

    Hon Ativie who spoke to our reporter from the United States placed a curse on the purveyors of the story.

    Ativie said she has received hundreds of calls about the incident.

    According to her, “My brother I am in New York. I was not kidnapped. It is the family of those carrying the rumours that will be kidnapped.

    “How could they wish people evil? I am not in kidnappers den. I am here talking.”

  • Fed Govt to reconstitute minimum wage panel

    The Federal Government is to reconstitute its team on the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council (JPSNC) on the implementation of the new minimum wage.

    It was learnt that the team, headed by former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita may be reconstituted today.

    Dropping the hint, Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige said the payment of the new minimum wage for all categories of workers (levels 7 to 17) would be sorted out soon by the Federal Government,

    Dr. Ngige gave the assurance during a visit by labour leaders to his office in Abuja.

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba led representatives of some major unions to a parley with the minister.

    Ngige said that the Federal Government will involve the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to speed up the implementation of the new minimum wage to other levels of workers employed by the government.

    Read Also: Discordant tunes over minimum wage

    He said: “The issue of the minimum wage will be sorted out for those other cadre and I am very hopeful that it will be done as soon as possible. The unions of the federation – the TUC and NLC — have not been involved. We will involve you when we come back so that we can have a speedy movement in this respect.

    “It is unfortunate that the negotiation was deadlocked on that other level from seven to seventeen and the issue became on what percentage or slide they should use on a sliding scale. We are going to discuss and negotiate it.

    “There must be consequential movement and government is not averse to doing the consequential movement. What we are saying is that we should try for all parties to agree that the economy is in doldrums and that the economy has some trouble and therefore, we will have to cut our coat according to our cloth. That is the important thing.”

    On the planned reconstitution, Ngige said: “The logical thing for us to do, which the government has agreed, is to reconstitute our own representation of the JPSNC. They have handed over to us on where they stopped.

    “Luckily, the president has also put in place a new committee called the Presidential Committee on Salaries and Allowances (PCSA).

    “The state governments as at today are duty-bound. They now have the template to pay. When we reconstitute our committee, I don’t see us not agreeing. We can disagree but eventually, we will agree because we know ourselves. I am one of those who believe that a workman is due his wages. If you work in a vineyard you must eat from that vineyard and eat all the fruits that are viable there.”

    Wabba appealed to the government to fast track the implementation of the minimum wage so that the entire workforce can benefit.

    He said that labour would continue to push for the conclusion of all issues on the minimum wage by the government.

    He said: “Few days ago, both the NLC and TUC have received a formal report in writing by the JPSNC informing us that negotiations have broken down and that they want our quick intervention. I think part of the intervention we can make is to use the opportunity of this meeting to see how this issue can be sorted out.

    “Minimum wage in Nigeria was first enacted in 1981 and the processes are well spelt out. We have enough empirical data to guide both the committee and government to be able to sort out this issue in quick succession.

    “Yes, there are challenges in the economy, but clearly , if you look at the condition of workers from when the last minimum wage was increased to where we are today, a lot of factors have affected their purchasing power, which I am aware have been shared at the tripartite negotiating process, which led to the agreement on the N30, 000 minimum wage.

    “While you will be meeting with them on Friday, our plea is that this process can be fast tracked so that the entire workforce can benefit from it. I am aware that levels 1-6 has been effected.

    “It is high time we tried to do away with this. I am aware that the process has delayed because the ministers responsible were not in place. Now, the relevant ministers are in place. I think we must also appreciate the workers.

    “They have been very patient in this dealing and I think we will continue to ensure that this issue is actually addressed. Having gone this far, I think it is important for us to also conclude the process so that we can get this thing off our sleeves.”

  • Reps to review NHIS

    The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Health Institution and Healthcare Services to carry out holistic review of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

    The lawmakers explained that “this is to encourage more participation by Nigerians with a view to attaining the Universal Health Coverage for Nigerians”.

    They also urged the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to direct all Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) to pay, within three months, all outstanding debts owed healthcare providers across the country.

    The lawmakers enjoined the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to ensure that private medical practitioners register their clinics with the NHIS as accredited health providers of medical services.

    Read Also: Police spend N500m for officers on NHIS

    This followed a motion by Valentine Ayika and six other lawmakers, titled: “Failure of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to Function Optimally.”

    The lawmaker noted that the NHIS was established by an Act of the National Assembly to ensure that every Nigerian has access to quality and affordable healthcare service through the provision of affordable health insurance.

    “…The scheme has a presidential mandate to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2015 but has failed in that regard, as available information shows that it currently boasts a little over six million enrolees, despite regular budgetary allocations.

    “Also, …50 per cent of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, which represents one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the government available for the scheme, part of which was released in May 2019; yet, the scheme still fell short of its targeted objectives,” he said.

    The committees are to report back within six weeks for further legislative action.

  • Meet Olayinka, Eagles’ new invitee

    Little was known about Peter Olayinka until he netted a goal for Slavia Prague in their 1-1 draw against Inter Milan on September 17 in the UEFA Champions League.

    The goal by the Oyo State-born star made him the first Nigerian after Yakubu Aiyegbeni to score on his UEFA Champions League debut since 2002.

    The former 36 Lion striker has also scored two goals in seven Czech first league appearances, which takes his goal tally for the club to nine goals and four assists in 49 matches.

    The 23-year-old joined the Red and Whites in 2018 from KAA Gent having spent time on loan at Dukla Prague and Zulte Waregem (2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively).

    Read Also: Rohr picks Azeez, Olayinka for big game against Brazil

    At Gent, he did not have playing time during his two-year stay with the Belgian club before being shipped out.

    Olayinka started his career in Ibadan before moving to Lagos to join 36 Lions FC, and in January 2012 he joined Bylis Ballsh in the Albanian Superliga, where he initially joined the club’s under-19s due to being just 17 at the time.

    On 21 July 2018, Slavia Prague signed Olayinka to a four-year contract from KAA Gent for 3.2m Euros.

    Prior to his call-up to the Super Eagles, Olayinka had expressed his desire to feature for Nigeria but there were numerous discussions about making Olayinka, the first foreign player of Albania national football team.