The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Tanzania

  • Tanzania, Nigeria’s Dangote Cement haggle over price of natural gas

    Tanzania, Nigeria’s Dangote Cement haggle over price of natural gas

    Talks are going on between Nigeria’s Dangote Cement and Tanzania as regards the supply of natural gas to a manufacturing plant for building material, but negotiations are held up over prices, said  government body.

    The 500 million dollars cement factory in the south-eastern Tanzanian town of Mtwara, set up last year with an annual capacity of three million tonnes, runs on expensive diesel generators and has sought government support to reduce costs.

    The company, whose majority owner and Chairman is Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, halted production at the plant last week over technical issues.

    State-run Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) said talks were expected to conclude in January, with price disagreements yet to be resolved.

    “Dangote has held protracted talks with TPDC on the pricing of natural gas.

    The Dangote Cement factory has asked for gas supply at below market prices, equivalent to the price of raw natural gas from producing wells,’’ TPDC said in a statement.

    “TPDC cannot sell natural gas to final consumers on at-the-well price because there are additional costs incurred in processing and transporting the gas,” it said.

    Tanzania announced in February that it had discovered an additional 2.17 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of possible natural gas deposits in an onshore field, raising its total estimated recoverable natural gas reserves to more than 57 tcf.

    Dangote has an annual production capacity of 43.6 million tonnes and targets output of between 74 million and 77 million tonnes by the end of 2019 and 100 million tonnes of capacity by 2020.

    It is Africa’s biggest cement producer.

    The company plans to roll out plants across Africa. In Tanzania, Dangote seeks to double the country’s annual output of cement to six million tonnes.

  • Iheanacho’s super strike stuns Tanzania in Uyo

    Iheanacho’s super strike stuns Tanzania in Uyo

    WATCHED by capacity crowd at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, the Super Eagles have begun the reigns of head coach, Gernot Rohr, with a 1-0 victory over the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in a 2017 AFCON qualifier yesterday.

    Over 30,000 fans were at the stadium to cheer the Eagles in the dead rubber fixture with both teams already out of next year’s AFCON slated for Gabon and after waiting patiently for 78th minutes they were rewarded with a spectacular strike off the boot of Manchester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho whose 25 yard well weighed-in shot sailed past impressive Tanzanian goalkeeper.

    The Eagles started the match on a fast lane in the first half and had golden opportunity to take the lead in the opening five minutes but Odion Jude Ighalo and Victor Moses were guilty of missed chances.

    The Tanzanians did not lie low waiting for the Eagles to capitalise and after early gilt edge chances wasted by the  Nigerian senior national team they came out of their shell and forced Eagles’

    goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme to make some decent saves.

    The Nigerian team dominated the game for a long spell but they were uncoordinated in front of goal but the Eagles played as a unit and the decision of the head coach, Rohr to invite the team’s best legs because of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers seemed to have paid off.

    The tempo of the game changed dramatically after the Eagles got the lone goal as Nigeria emerged as second best in the group with five points from four matches and five points adrift of group leaders, Egypt who are on 10 points while Tanzania are last with a point from four games.

    It was the first time Eagles have had the maximum points at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, since it was commissioned three years ago.

  • Eagles open camp for Tanzania

    Eagles open camp for Tanzania

    Nigeria’s senior men’s squad, the Super Eagles will open camp in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State today for Saturday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Tanzania.

    NFF Deputy General Secretary,  Emmanuel Ikpeme arrived in the Akwa Ibom State capital on Friday as a one-man advance party, ahead of the team’s assistant coaches and backroom staff due in town today .

    Both the Super Eagles and Taifa Stars have little other than pride to battle for in Saturday’s game, as Egypt’s Pharaohs have already picked the lone ticket from the group to Gabon. But the Eagles and their new Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr will use the match as a rehearsal for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Series Matchday 1 clash with Zambia in Ndola on  October 8.

  • CAF appoints Algerian referees for Eagles, Tanzania

    CAF appoints Algerian referees for Eagles, Tanzania

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Algerian Mehdi Abid Charef as referee for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and Tanzania’s Taifa Stars.

    Fellow Algerians Abdelhak Etchiali (first assistant), Ahmed Tamen (second assistant) and Mustapha Ghorbal (reserve referee) will accompany Charef to the encounter billed for the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Saturday, 3rd September.

    The match commissioner is Mr. Inyangi Bokinda from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Also on the same weekend, top Nigerian official Paul Bassey will serve as match commissioner for the Cup of Nations qualifier between the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia and the Lone Star of Liberia, scheduled for Monastir, Tunisia.

    Bassey, a member of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, will work with South African referees Daniel Bennett (centre), Zakhele Thusi Siwela (first assistant), Mothibidi Stevens Khumalo (second assistant) and Tinyinko Victon Hlungwani (reserve referee). Essam Abbas Siam from Egypt will be referee assessor for the Group A match.

    CAF also appointed Nigerian referees to take charge of the Group K encounter between Niger Republic and Burundi, billed for Niamey. Ferdinand Aniete Udoh will be referee, with Abel Baba (first assistant), Samuel Pwadutakam (second assistant) and Benjamin Odey (reserve referee) joining him. They will work with Germain Didier Simplice Nguiamba from the Central African Republic, who is match commissioner

  • Tanzania removes 10, 000 ‘ghost workers’ from payroll

    Tanzania has removed more than 10,000 “ghost workers” from its public sector payroll in a crackdown on corruption.

    Payments to the non-existent employees had been costing the government more than $2m (£1.4m) a month, according to the prime minister’s office.

    The authorities said they are continuing to audit the public payroll and expect to find more phantom workers.

    President John Magufuli, who was elected in October, has promised to cut wasteful public expenditure in office.

    He ordered the audit in March, calling for the money saved to be used towards development, the BBC reports.

    Nicknamed the bulldozer, Mr. Magufuli has announced a range of cost-cutting measures since coming to power, including cancelling official celebrations for Independence Day.

    Tanzania spends more than $260 million a month paying the salaries of its estimated 550,000 public workers, Reuters news agency reports.

     

  • Dangote eyes new investments in Tanzania

    After weekend’s successful inauguration of its new 3.0 million metric tonnes cement plant in Mtwara, United Republic of Tanzania, Dangote Industries Limited plans to explore further investment opportunities in key sectors of the Tanzanian economy.

    President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said the Group plans to invest in agriculture and other sectors that will further have multiplier effects on the Tanzanian economy in the near future.

    Agriculture is the second highest revenue earner for Tanzania, after Tourism. Tanzania, with a population of 47.7 million, has a Gross Domestic Products (GDP) average yearly growth rate of 7.0 per cent.

    Dangote Group at the weekend commissioned its $600 million three million metric tonnes per annum cement plant in Mtwara District, setting several records as the largest cement plant in East and Central Africa and the largest single investment in Tanzania.

    Dangote said the commissioning of the Mtwara cement plant marked the beginning of an enduring business relationship with Tanzania noting that the cooperation received from the Tanzanian government and the host community have created positive impression that should lead to further investments.

    Dangote pointed out that a key factor which drives investments in an economy is the presence of an investor-friendly business environment and Tanzania has proven to be one of the most attractive investment destinations in Africa.

    He outlined that the economic reforms in Tanzania, especially in tax, public sector, financial sector, innovations in rural finance, telecommunications and infrastructure as well as revamped legislative frameworks, have produced an enabling environment that has further provided a platform for future growth.

    He said the group would also construct a 25-hectare jetty at Mgao village, located within Mtwara for export of cement to other countries and transportation to Tanzanian capital, Dar Es Salam.

    “The Tanzanian economy has been growing rapidly over the last few years. GDP growth rates have averaged 7 per cent per annum. The World Bank predicts that Tanzania can maintain this impressive growth over the next five years if the government continues to spearhead these laudable reforms. This attests to the success of Ujamaa (African Socialism) that Tanzania has vigorously championed,” Dangote noted.

    He enthused that the Dangote Cement investment, as has been the case in Ethiopia, Cameroon and Zambia, will certainly contribute to Tanzania’s on-going story of infrastructure development, job creation, and broad economic development.

    “We are here to create wealth and provide jobs for Tanzanians. In fact, one of our key strengths lies in our ability to understand the peculiar needs of Africans and how to do business successfully on the continent. That is why we have made Africa the centerpiece of our multi-billion dollar investments. We believe that it is only Africans who can develop Africa. We are also motivated to create an African success story because we believe that entrepreneurship holds the key to the future economic growth of the continent,” Dangote said.

    According to him, investment in the real sector of the economy is the only way that Africa can achieve accelerated growth and development that it has yearned for in order to liberate its people from the shackles of poverty.

    Dangote lauded the government and people of Tanzania and assured that while the company is primarily engaged in business of wealth creation, it is committed to reciprocating the enormous goodwill of the people by engaging in impactful corporate social responsibility projects.

  • AFTERMATH OF TANZANIA DRAW: NFF, Oliseh, Siasia meet again

    •Glasshouse chiefs insist Nations Cup bigger than All African Games
    •Want five Dream Team VI boys back in Eagles
    •Cast doubts over Eagles’ midfielders
    •Board meeting holds today in Port Harcourt

    Sportinglife can reveal exclusively today that eggheads of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are unhappy with the quality of players in the Super Eagles and have directed that the coaches of the senior team Sunday Oliseh and Dream Team VI’s tactician Samson Siasia must sit in a heart-to-heart discussion, if the country must qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

    In Saturday’s post-match discussions outside the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Nigerians including NFF board members were miffed over the decision to deplete the Eagles to strenghten the country’s quest for a gold medal at the 2015 All African Games (AAG) holding in Congo.

    The arguement in most circles after the game hinged on the fact that the five players (Ogenekaro Etebor, Kingsley Sokari, Christian Pyagbara, Chima Akas et al) could have been allowed to participate in Saturday’s barren draw game against Tanzania and join Dream Team VI in Congo after the game.

    Those in this school of thought argued that Afcon is a bigger competition compared to the AAG stressing that even if Siasia needed the boys for his matches, he could have agreed for them to play the Tanzanian game before coming to Congo.

    This school of thought posited further that Siasia pressed the panic button to strenghten his team when he knew that the Dream Team VI’s game against Egypt wouldn’t hold.

    The other school of thought were livid with the way the midfielders played in the game. They challenged Oliseh not to invite all those who manned the midfield, describing them as being sluggish and unprepared to give their best in that game.

    “Siasia knew that the game against Egypt wouldn’t hold, he ought to have released the five boys to the Eagles when the full training began in Abuja with the arrival of the foreign-based stars instead of taking them to Congo. If there was synergy and cooperation between Siasia and Oliseh, the dream team coach would have released the boys to the Eagles.

    Sportinglife scooped that a line may have been drawn which favours the presence of our best players at all times in the Eagles, especially as the age grade teams are meant to discover new players.

    Consequently, a board meeting of the NFF would likely hold today in Port Harcourt where an overview of the Tanzanian game will be discussed just as the strategies for the Eagles’ remaining games would be studied.

  • How the Super Eagles rated against Tanzania

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria played out a goalless draw with the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in one of the African Nations Cup (Afcon) qualifiers.

    In a 4-3-3 formation some of the players failed to sparkle as they picked up one point from a potential three. On this note we take a look at how the Super Eagles players rated against Tanzania.

    Carl Ikeme: 9/10 – The new invitee was outstanding in goal on his debut as he made important saves to keep Nigeria in the game. His aerial strength was vital as he won all aerial balls with accurate timing to keep a famous clean sheet.

    He was very calm on the ball and ensured safety at the back as the game ended 0-0. Undoubtedly, Nigeria’s Man of the Match.

    Solomon Kwambe: 5 – Kwambe, who deputized for Balogun at right back, was jittery on some occasions.

    He made one or two good crosses into the box but was found wanting in defence.

    Kenneth Omeruo: 7 – He had to stand up and be counted for this one, given the inexperienced stoppers, at international level, that partnered him. He passed that test with flying colours.

    The young centre half grew into the game and made important blocks. He guided the ball to safety late in the game and marshalled the defense as expected.

    William Troost-Ekong: 5 – Partnered Omeruo in central defense but was jittery on many occasions.

    He easily lost the ball in defense but was lucky the Tanzanians did not lace up their scoring boots properly yesterday.

    Kingsley Madu: 6 – The left back had a moderate game, passed the ball well to the wingers but was slow in possession and did not make much run as he lacked services from the midfield.

    Obiora Nwankwo: 6 – Passed the ball around and was good as he shielded well under pressure. Lacked intensity in his game as the midfield failed to coordinate.

    Izunna Uzochukwu: 5 – Was so jittery on his debut. Made some wrong passes and was slow in possession but was handy as he covered spaces in midfield.

    Lukman Haruna: 4 – Haruna was poor on his return to the Super Eagles as he failed to mark and inspire from the midfield and was taken off for enterprising debutant Sylvester Igboun.

    Moses Simon: 7 – The young winger was good and full of running in the first period, was tricky as he won some fouls but his final ball let him down.

    Was weary in the second half and made way for Emem Eduok in attack.

    Emmanuel Emenike: 6 – The striker lacked services in attack and resorted to the flanks. He was bullish in attack and made an impact from the right wing but lacked options when he pumped forward to deliver crosses.

    Ahmed Musa: 6 – Was jittery with the armband in the game. Made poor passes particularly to Emenike but brilliant pace to get past defenders to shoot from the left angle as Emenike released him with a pass.

     

    Substitutes

    Sylvester Igboun: 7 – Desperate Oliseh introduced Sly nine minutes before the interval when his midfield collapsed. He was good in possession but could not do it alone, especially on his (away) debut.

    Anthony Ujah: 6 – The Werder Bremen striker lacked the services to thrive on as the midfield lacked coordination as he endured another game without a goal for the Super Eagles.

    Emem Eduok: 6 – The forward came on to add bite to the attack and he did that moderately well even though services were lacking from the middle of the park.

    He dropped in search of the ball and helped out Omeruo on occasion. Was comfortable on the ball too.

  • AFCON: Ikeme saves Eagles in goalless draw

    AFCON: Ikeme saves Eagles in goalless draw

    Tanzania’s Taifa Stars produced a stunning second half performance but failed to do enough to stun three-time African champions, Nigeria in the 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match played on Saturday.
    Saturday’s game at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam which finished 0-0 was Sunday Oliseh’s first after he replaced former coach, Stephen Keshi.
    He opted to hand 29-year-old goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme his competitive debut in place of Vincent Enyeama who asked to be excused from the tie following the death of his mother.
    It turned out to be a master stroke as the Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper made no less than six stunning saves to prevent the Eagles from suffering a humiliating defeat.
    FSV Mainz defender, Leon Balogun failed to recover from an ankle injury and was subsequently replaced by Solomon Kwambe.
    William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo and Kingsley Madu were the other defenders handed starts against the Taifa Stars.
    Obiora Nwankwo started ahead of the back four while Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon and Emmanuel Emenike started in more advanced positions ahead of midfielders, Izunna Uzochukwu and Lukman Haruna.

  • Eagles will beat Tanzania, Martins boasts

    Eagles will beat Tanzania, Martins boasts

    Seattle Sounders forward and former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins has predicted that Nigeria will triumph over Tanzania in the 2017 AFCON qualifier on September 5.

    Martins, who has scored 18 goals in 39 games for Nigeria hinted that the Sunday Oliseh led new Eagles will beat Tafia Stars at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

    “I think the coach has chosen a good squad and hopefully Nigeria will win in Tanzania,” obagoal said from his base in Seattle USA.

    “We shouldn’t underrate any team in Africa for now,  there are no minnows in world football anymore. I have seen the list, very experience team led by Emenike (Emmanuel) and Vincent Enyeama and I am sure they will beat their host to come out top in the group.”

    Nigeria and Egypt have three points each after first game in the AFCON qualifying series in Group G, though the Pharaohs have scored one more goal and are slightly ahead following their 3-0 defeat of Tanzania in Cairo.