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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Dare, Badminton Federation meet today over Olympic qualifiers

    MINISTER of Sports Sunday Dare will meet officials of the Badminton Federation Nigeria (BFN) today over the need to get Nigeria’s top players to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

    The BFN boss Francis Orbih who disclosed this to NationSport yesterday said the meeting would afford the BFN the opportunity to discuss what the federations needs to do to get its athletes to Tokyo. He also said that the discussion would centre on the need to continue developing badminton in the country.

    “Our main focus at the BFN is to get our top players – Anu Opeyori, Godwin Olofua and Dorcas Adesokan – to next year Olympics. We can only achieve this if we get enough funds to send them to 10 tournaments so that they can get the needed points to make our dream come true. We awill also pursue our developmental programmes to discover more talents.”

    Read Also: Dare needs support

    Orbih noted that the BFN had already submitted a budget to the ministry with the hope that they would get funds to prosecute their pre-Olympic programme and other activities that would uplift the game in the country.

    He said the minister was impressed about the giant stride badminton was making and he is willing to give them support to take the game to the next level. “The Minister said he was happy with what we are doing at the BFN. He is delighted with the form of our athletes and the developmental activities we are doing.”

    The BFN boss said the minister visited the team twice at the African Games in Morocco commending the players for doing the country proud. Nigeria won two gold, four silver and four bronze medals in Morocco to win the badminton event.

  • Rodgers lauds Ndidi after win over Tottenham

    LEICESTER City’s boss Brenda Rodgers has hailed Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and his teammates after their hard fought win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

    Rodgers saw his Leicester City team fight back from a goal down to claim the entire three points at the King Power Stadium, thanks to goals from Ricardo Pereira and James Maddison.

    With the win, it means that Leicester have suffered just one defeat in their last nine Premier League home games (W6 D2), after losing four in a row directly before that.

    Read Also: I knew I’ll score against Chelsea, says Ndidi

    Reacting to the win, Rodgers rued Ndidi’s disallowed goal, but praised his wards for a good show in the second half.

    “It was a wonderful performance. I thought the players were outstanding. We started the game with a great tempo, which sets the emotion in the stadium.

    “It was just a case of preparing the players mentally for the second half. We had to adapt the system at half-time. The players deserve huge credit. The quality we showed was top-class against an outstanding team.

    “Some of the offside decisions – it’s fine margins. Whatever the decision, you have to adapt and keep your focus on the game. The players did that very well,” he told the media.

  • Police bust ‘child-sale’ syndicate in Lagos

    A SYNDICATE with alleged expertise in selling children has been uncovered by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, spokesman Bala Elkana said on Sunday.

    He said a traffic policewoman attached to Ejigbo Division on August 26 while controlling traffic at Jakande Gate, Ejigbo, noticed commotion near her post and intervened.

    According to him, the officer discovered that the altarcation was about a lady named Gift Michael, 24, found with a suspected new born baby. In her company is her ‘madam’, one Florence Nkem Douglas, 50, both of Ijegun area of Isheri.

    Elkana said the crowd was about to mob the duo after trailing them and reasonably suspecting them of buying and selling children for long at their maternity clinic but were rescued and taken to the Ejigbo Police station for investigation.

    Read Also: Police uncover fake hospital in Edo

    Elkana said detectives discovered pictures of over 50 babies in the madams’ phone suspected to have been sold off already, adding that the gang usually sold children between N500,000 to N1 million.

    “Investigation revealed that the said Florence Douglas, a native of Igueben in Edo State, who is not a registered  nurse operates two Maternity Clinics named Flofidel Clinic and Maternity  Homes with branches in  Shosanya Street, I82, Ijegun Road and Okunola Ijagemo area.

    “On interrogation, the said Florence admitted to have been in the business of sales of babies for a while. She revealed that a baby girl is referred to as “PINK” while a baby boy is called “BLUE” and are both referred to as “MARKET”.

    “She further confessed that the male child found in their custody at Jakande Gate Ejigbo, suspected to be a week old was brought to her from Gombe, enroute Akure and was to be sold for N500,000.

    “The rescued baby who appeared sick with symptoms suspected to be jaundice was promptly taken to hospital for medical attention. Worthy of mention are  pictures of about 50 different babies in the phone of the suspect, suspected to have already been sold off.

    “Babies are usually sold between N500,000 and N1million depending on their sex.

     

     

     

  • Drama over Falcons coach Denneby’s future continues

    EMBATTLED Super Falcons’ coach, Thomas Dennerby may have kissed his job goodbye contrary to his claim that he was still under contract with his employers, Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF).

    The NationSport  scooped  the Swede tactician resigned before he abandoned the Super Falcons midstream into their decisive Tokyo 2020 Olympic  qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire to be played over two  legs on September 30 in Abidjan with the reverse fixture in Lagos on  October 6.

    “Dennerby officially resigned and nobody forced him to leave,” a competent source at the NFF told NationSport.  “We can’t leave the Super Falcons without a coach and somebody must be in charge for now.

    “Coach Chris Danjuma was drafted in as a stop gap; any further decision to be taken must be after the African Olympic Games qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire home and away matches.”

    Read Also: World Cup: No mental block for Falcons — Dennerby

    The Minister of Youth and sports, Sunday  Dare only last week stepped into the matter but his widely planned parley with Dennerby on Saturday did not hold as expected with words rife that the Minister  wants to get a clearer picture of the imbroglio between the two feuding  parties.

    Though Dennerby initial two-year contract will run out in June in 2020; the NFF may have commenced the process of recruiting a substantive head coach for the senior female national team.

    Our correspondent gathered that the federation’s technical department is in receipt of at least five applications for the  job and the names being mentioned include that of current caretaker coach Christopher Danjuma, Rivers Angels’ coach Edwin Okon as well as immediate past assistant to  Dennerby and former Nigerian international , Maureen Mmadu amongst others.

  • Nigeria to battle Canada, England for Tomori

    ENGLAND, Nigeria and Canada are in a three-way tussle for the services of Fikayo Tomori, with the Chelsea centre-half’s impressive displays putting him on Gareth Southgate’s radar.

    Tomori, who was born in Canada to Nigerian parents, but the family moved to Gravesend when he was a baby, had played for Canada’s Under 20 team and for England’s Under 20 and Under 21 teams.

    But as with Tammy Abraham, Nigeria are pressing hard to recruit two of Chelsea’s prodigy. Abraham has played for the England senior team but has yet to play in a competitive match and so can switch nationalities under FIFA rules.

    Tomori is non-committal at present and said: ‘I’m a citizen of all three [countries] so we’ll see. I was born in Canada and lived there about seven or eight months old. My family is Nigerian, obviously I live in England. It’s nice to have that. I can’t play Under-21 football anymore so the last international break I didn’t get called up to anyone. Next one maybe we’ll see.’

    Read Also: EPL: Abraham on song as Chelsea beat Wolves

    His manager Frank Lampard has tipped him to be good enough to make the cut for England but insists he won’t try to influence his decision.

    Lampard said: ‘It’s his choice. I wouldn’t tell him where to play internationally. But he’s played for [England] Under-21s and if he continues with his form and keeps improving then of course I would expect there to be potential for England if Gareth chooses to select him.

    “He shouldn’t worry about it at the minute. He should just worry about how he’s playing every game or how he trains every day and that will be a nice problem for him, hopefully, if he’s eligible for three. He can choose which one he wants.”

  • Two ‘cultists’ say ‘we are sorry’ in Edo

    Two students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Inegbedion Sebastine and Alabi Joshua, who were arrested on suspicion of being members of Vikings Confraternity, have said they are sorry and have asked the school authorities and the Nigeria government to forgive them.

    The two AAU students were paraded alongside 92 others by men of the Edo State police command for engaging in cultism.

    Inegbedion who is a final-year law student is expected to graduate this month while Alabi is a 100-level student in the department of Electrical Engineering.

    Paraphernalia of Vikings Confraternity such as regalia and other things used for initiation were allegedly found in Inegbedion’s room.

    Speaking to our reporter, 24-year-old Inegbedion said he was forcefully initiated into cultism when he gained admission into the institution and all efforts by him to renounce were met with death threats.

    Inegbedion said his father learnt about his involvement in cultism and was aware of the threat before he died.

    He stated that he opted to lie low to complete his studies.

    Read Also: Police parade 49 for alleged robbery, cultism

    He said, “I was apprehended while writing my final examinations. My apartment was searched and they found Vikings regalia. I am not their number one man. It was my fellow cult members that brought them to my room.

    “I barely stay in my rented apartment. I stay inside the campus because of my studies and fear of attack. I have never been aware of any student recruited into cultism because I am an inactive member.

    “I hope this will not affect my studies. If it did, I will look for a better life and move on. I will get a decent job and live a responsible life. I gave my members my key and they have access to my room.

    “I need a chance to renounce cultism and not thwart my education. I need to round up my study by Monday next week if the state could grant me amnesty to enable me finish my studies.

    “I barely stay at home and so the cult members requested for my key to enable them have access to my room.”

    I appeal to the school authorities to forgive me. I was scared. I plead with the school authorities to show mercy. I don’t have anything to do with these regalia.”

    Spokesman for the institution, Mr. Edward Aihevba, said the Senate of the university would decide their fate after getting a report of the disciplinary committee.

    Aihevba stated that the institution has zero tolerance for cultism and cult activities.

  • Group accuses bureau of illegal land acquisition

    A group, the Media Advocacy and Technology Centre (MATEC), has accused workers of the Kwara State Bureau of Land of illegal acquisition of land.

    It urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to caution the bureau to tread softly in its bid to acquire land “and to ensure justice is done and that land grabbers at the bureau are made to face the law for dragging the government in the mud.”

    MATEC Media Communication Officer Abdullahi said: “Our attention has been drawn to the operating procedure of the Kwara State Bureau of Land over illegal acquisition of family and community land, using government power and office.

    “An Ilorin Upper Area Court 1, on June 11, 2019 issued an injunction restraining the bureau and Akorede family from constructing any building on the land situated at Oke Andi, Babá Alawo, Tapa and Alagbon villages, all behind Judges’ Quarters, in Ilorin South Local Government.

    “To our surprise, the Kwara Bureau of Land flagrantly disobeyed this injunction and has continued to sell, allocate and distribute the said property. This is in addition to the bureau using the police to harass and intimidate the family whose land is being unjustly acquired.

    “MATEC is ready to use every legal means to ensure that those using government names and offices to oppress citizens do no go scot-free.

    “We believe OTOGE mantra should have ended recklessness in the government operation in Kwara State.”

  • Two killed in attack on Adamawa villages

    Two people have been killed and many others, including a soldier, wounded following an attack by gunmen on two villages in Numan Local Government Areas of Adamawa State.

    Local sources who attributed the attacks to herdsmen, said the attackers laid siege on Shaforon and Kodumti villages around 1:00am on Sunday, visiting mayhem on households.

    The Principal Medical Officer of Numan General Hospital, Dr. Nuhu Tari, confirmed two deaths among the victims taken there.

    Confirming the attacks, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Suleiman Nguroje, identified the attackers as cattle rustlers.

    He said, “One of the attackers was killed in the crossfire with security operatives and his corpse has been deposited at the Numan mortuary.

    “The CP has dispatched additional operatives to join other security agencies to comb the bushes in the area and arrest the fleeing cattle rustlers.”

  • Ayade seeks Fed Govt’s backing to get $1.3b sovereign guarantee for projects

    CROSS River State Governor Ben Ayade has appealed to the Federal Government to secure a sovereign guarantee of $1.2 billion to cover the execution of two major projects by his administration.

    The governor said the projects would be for the economic benefit of the state, Nigeria as well as West Africa.

    The projects are the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport and the proposed 276-kilometre Super Highway from the deep seaport to the Northeast.

    Ayade spoke in Calabar, the state capital, when he hosted the Ad Hoc Committee of the National Assembly seeking to determine why the Eastern ports in Warri, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Onne, and Onitsha were not being put to maximum use.

    The governor told the legislators, led by the committee’s Chairman Buba Yakub Yusuf (Adamawa APC), that “$1.2 billion is the budget for the two projects and all we need is a sovereign guarantee”.

    He added: “China Harbour Engineering, a reputable company in port building, roads and other major infrastructure, is ready to build for us if there is a sovereign guarantee. Cross River knows nothing other than the Bakassi Deep Seaport.”

    Ayade sought the understanding of the visiting lawmakers to include in their recommendations to the legislature as well as the Presidency the need to support Cross River State in executing the two projects.

    The governor insisted that the projects would be beneficial to Nigerians and West coast of Africa.

    Read Also: Ayade warned against creating more ministries

    “We have received 10 approvals from the Federal Ministry and the minister has signed the final ODC for the construction of the Bakassi Deep Seaport. More so, the Managing Director of Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) has already got Bakassi Port in a master plan.

    “So, we expect the committee to seek a sovereign guarantee for Bakassi Port,” he said. Yusuf hailed Ayade for his vision and drive for the projects.

    The lawmaker noted that the projects have the potential to turn around the state’s economy and beyond.

    He said: “The committee will do everything it can to support and see that this great dream of the governor and the state is brought to fruition. This man has already put this dream to use, and it is practically on the ground as he has told us. In four years, Cross River is ready to go, to give Nigeria its first deep seaport.

    “And as he has said, not only modern Nigeria but even the neighbouring countries; Chad, the Cameroons, the Niger will all benefit from this giant project.

    “So, this committee is to investigate and find out why our Eastern seaports are not working. I am sure most of our recommendations will help ease and bring the giant project of the deep seaport in Cross River State to fruition.”

     

  • ‘Greening law defaulters to pay N250,000’

    THE General Manager, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) Mrs. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola has restated the resolution of the state government to enforce total compliance with the Greening Provision across the state.

    Mrs Bilikiss said anyone who fails to comply with the green law would be charged the sum of N250,000.

    Addressing the media while the agency during enforcement operations at Ikeja, Oniru in Victoria Island, Lekki Phase 1 and Ikoyi environs, the General Manager declared that the pronounced disregard towards greening requirement by private establishments and other property owners across the state is negating government’s efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

    Read Also: Lagos and the greenery crusade

    “Our resolve to enforce the law against recalcitrant corporate institutions and property owners, who have refused to comply with the state’s provision on beautification of setbacks, is in line with government’s quest to improve the green cover in the state,” she added.

    “It is disturbing that owners of petrol filling stations, particularly the new entrants, have imbibed the act of concretising their entire surroundings, neglecting the provision of the law which specifically states that a certain percentage of their space must be reserved for greening.”