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  • Nigeria needs $3tr for infrastructure

    Nigeria requires a whopping $3 trillion to bridge its infrastructure gap over a 30-year period, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said on Monday.

    Speaking at one-day workshop on Maximising Finance for Development (MFD) of Infrastructure in Nigeria organised by the World Bank Group in Abuja,  she said the cash amounts to roughly $100 billion per year.

    “With a total federal budget of less than $30 billion for 2019 and the dependency of Nigeria’s income on oil revenue with unpredictable global price fluctuation, Nigeria no doubt, lacks the fiscal space to self-finance the required infrastructure investment,” she said.

    The minister said the investment required to bridge this huge infrastructure gap has been planned to be financed through both public and private sector participation.

    Read Also: Buhari woos German investors on infrastructure

    Mrs Ahmed said: “The private sector is expected to cater for about 48per cent of the investments which will account for assets that are fully owned and financed by the private sector itself. The remaining 52per cent of the required investment is expected to be financed from a combination of public and private sector for the first phase of the implementation.”

    The private sector is also expected to play a key role in providing critical infrastructure, either directly through privatisation or in collaboration with the government under public private partnership (PPP) arrangements.

    “There are four primary financing options: governments budgets; public debt; other public sources (e.g. Sovereign Wealth Fund, Public Pension Fund); and PPPs, available for financing the investments,” she said.

    In addition to already committed private sector investments, she said government is strategically considering how much, on project-by-project basis, to leverage from the primary financing options to ensure optimal risk allocation.

    Mrs Ahmed commended the effort of the World Bank Group for the timely intervention on infrastructure developmen. “The Federal Government has created an Infrastructure Project Development Facility to finance early project development activities so as to create a pipeline of bankable PPP projects, establish a dedicated cash backed fund (Government Resource Fund) outside the annual budgetary allocation process to finance the government’s contributions on infrastructure involving the private sector,” the minister explained.

    Giving an overview of Nigeria’s infrastructure gap, Mrs Ahmed said the country’s core infrastructure stock is currently estimated at 30per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) which falls far short of the international benchmark of 70per cent.

    She said the effect of weak infrastructure is most striking in the energy and transportation sector. The two sectors, according to her, are key to national and economic development due to their multiplier effect across all sectors of the economy.

    The minister said increased private sector participation, through both PPPs and full privatisation, is required to decrease the burden of the required infrastructure investments by the public sector.

  • Sanusi begs Nigerians over floppy CHAN Eagles

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General- Secretary Dr. Sanusi Mohammed has pleaded with  Nigerians not write off the home-based senior national team known as Chan Eagles after they were thrashed 4 – 1 by Sparrowhawks of Togo in the 2020 African Nations Championship  qualifier on Sunday.

    Sanusi made the appeal in a chat with NationSport, saying the score line was unbelievable because Nigeria teams have not lost with such margin in recent times.

    He, however, expressed confidence that the CHAN Eagles would turn the tide against the Togolese when they visit Nigeria for the return leg bill for October 19.

    He also enjoined the team’s technical crew to work with NFF technical department in the areas that need to be corrected before the second leg.

    “You should know that in football anything can happen within 90 minutes of play,” Sanusi said. “The boys didn’t play badly because they equally missed some chances.

    “We should not write them off because Nigerians are fighters when it comes to the round leather game.

    The coaching crew have ample opportunity now to do the needful before the second leg,” Sanusi noted.

    The General-Secretary further stated that the players and the coaching crew would commence camping immediately in Abuja while the coach will look for experienced home-based players to fortify the team.

  • WC review: FIFA knocks Falcons over poor showing in France

    World Soccer Ruling body, FIFA, under the aegis of its Technical Study Group (TSG) has given a damning verdict on the performance of the Super Falcons at the recently concluded FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.

    The Coach Thomas Dennerby-led side beat only Korea Republic (2-0) in their Preliminary Group A match but lost 3-0 to Norway and 1-0 to hosts France to sneak into the second round as one of the best losers. But the Falcons failed to progress further following an unimpressive 3-0 loss to Germany in the Round of 16.

    In an analytical review of the tournament, the TSG headed by American April Heinrichs and working in conjunction  with the FIFA Coaching and Player Development Department led by Branimir Ujevic, scored the Super Falcons below average  in almost all the departments of the game as it allocated 40 per cent for possession in all the four matches while they also came in distant 13th position in the overall standing.

    The team also came a distant 16th averaging a mere 25 percent in the Opponents and Opposition Defenders Bypassed category and were also awarded 21 per cent in the Crosses and Cross success.

    It would be recalled that the Super Falcons only scored two goals in four matches in France consequently the TSG awarded them with just 1.3 points  as per shots on target  even as the team  finished bottom as the team with the least distance coverage with 100.5km in four matches.

    Yet Super Falcons’ assistant coach at the tournament and former Nigerian international, Maureen Mmadu has stoutly defended the performance of the team in France, even as she admitted there is room for improvement.

    “I’m yet to digest fully the report of the TSG but the truth is that we did our best in France because it was the first time we reached the  round of 16  since  at the FIFA World Cup since 1999,” Mmadu who  is the only Nigerian women  with over 100  international caps told NationSport.

    “Our coaching crew led by Thomas Dennerby tried our best to impact discipline and professionalism into the team  and I believe we could have even done more if we’d continue with the program we have for the team  after the World Cup in France.”

    Mmadu who played in four FIFA World Cups with the Super Falcons in her active days said that Nigerian clubs and players would have to imbibe true professionalism to enhance the growth of the game.

    “We still have a long way to go but our players need to be as professional as their counterparts in Europe and they must be ready to sacrifice especially when they are playing for the Super Falcons,” she noted.

  • Rohr: my squad against Brazil ready

    Nigerians rooting for Chelsea’s duo of Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori to don the Super Eagles colours would have to wait a little longer, according to Coach Gernot Rohr.

    Though enthusiastic about the prospect of adding the duo to the Super Eagles, the German said it is a long process before the players can make the expected switch since they had already featured for England.

    He cited the fact that Abraham and Tomori have played with the English youth teams would make it difficult to process their eligibility for the Super Eagles.

    He used Torino’s Ola Aina as an example of how difficult it was to change nationality. “The two players (Abraham and Tomori) have already played with England and there is a long process to follow before they can feature for Nigeria,” Rohr said in a chat with NationSport.

    Read Also: Rohr unfazed by Nigeria’s drop on FIFA rankings

    He added: “It took NFF one year before we could get Ola Aina to play for us.”

    Meanwhile, Rohr hinted: “My squad he has already submitted the Super Eagles team list for the next month’s International friendly between Nigeria and Brazil to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    The Super Eagles will face the five-time world champions on October 13 at the National Stadium in Singapore.

    The thee-time African champions Nigeria begin their qualifying campaign for the 2021 AFCON on November 11 against Benin Republic at the southern Nigerian town of Benin City. Sierra Leone and Lesotho are the other teams in their qualifying group.

  • Plots to retain running mate tear Bayelsa PDP

    Members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State have threatened to defect following plots by the party to retain Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpor as running mate.

    The nomination of Ewrujakpor, who hails from Sagbama Local Government, has kept the PDP on edge ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

    Governor Seriake Dickson convened a stakeholders’ meeting to review the controversies surrounding the candidate and explore the possibility of substituting Ewrujakpor’s name before the September 23 deadline given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for candidate substitution.

    Members were, however, not happy that no statement was made on the matter after the meeting.

    Besides, many stakeholders did not attend the meeting where Dr. Nimibofa Ayawei was appointed director-general of the Senator Douye Diri Governorship Campaign Organisation.

    Ayawei, who chairs the Bayelsa State Internal Revenue Board, was a frontline aspirant in the primaries, which produced Diri.

    Read Also: Running mate crisis: Bayelsa PDP convenes stakeholders’ meeting

    A statement by the Secretary, Chief Godspower Keku, said Ayawei’s appointment was part of the key resolutions of a meeting by the Governorship Campaign Advisory Council.

    Though the stakeholders kept mum on Diri’s running mate, it was gathered that the candidate briefed them on the issue.

    A party member said Diri was under pressure to retain  Ewrujakpor.

    He added that he told stakeholders that there was no need to substitute his running mate.

    The source, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Most of the party members are waiting for the decision to be made public. If the party leadership fails to make it public and the name remains till the expiration of the September 23 deadline, there will be mass exodus in the PDP.

    “The only way to save the party is to zone the deputy governorship to Bayelsa East. We need their votes. People are not happy at the development and they have communicated their grievances. We are asking the governor and other party leaders to save the PDP.”

    Following Diri’s election as the party’s governorship candidate, some leaders abandoned PDP and aligned with APC.

    A member of the House of Assembly representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 2, Target Sekiibo, moved to APC with his supporters.

    Gabriel Jonah, younger brother to Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), led thousands in Nembe to APC.

    Similarly, a grassroots mobiliser and Dickson’s Special Adviser on Urban Crime Management, Abednego Don-Evarad, dumped the party in Ogbia for APC.

    Following the running mate crisis, Dickson sacked his aide, Hellen Bob, who reportedly pitched tent with APC.

    The source added: “Many people are warming up to leave the party but they are waiting for the decision of the party’s leadership on this running mate palaver. Some PDP lawmakers have travelled to Abuja to meet with the leadership of the APC and negotiate their way out of the PDP. We are still begging the party leadership to listen to the voices of its members and resolve this issue.”

  • Buhari unfolds plans to reverse climate change effects in Nigeria

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in New York, the United States of America (U.S.A) announced robust plans and initiatives by his administration to reverse the negative effects of climate change in Nigeria.

    A statement by Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in Abuja, said the plans were revealed in his address to the United Nations Climate Action Summit with the theme: A Race We Can Win. A Race We Must Win.

    While sharing the sentiment expressed by the UN Secretary-General that the world is on the verge of climate catastrophe, President Buhari stated that “undeniably, Climate Change is a human-induced phenomenon.”

    He stressed the need for Member States to step-up their collective climate actions in line with the request of the Secretary General.

    Read Also: Photos: Buhari speaks at UNGA-74 climate change summit

    “It is in this regard that I wish to reiterate Nigeria’s commitment to its obligation under the Paris Agreement, the aspirations enshrined in our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and ensure a resilient future that mainstreams climate risks in our decision making.

    “I want to announce that the Government of Nigeria will develop a more robust sectorial action plan, and expand the scope of our Sovereign Green Bonds in line with our intended upward review of Nigeria’s NDC’s towards the inclusion of the water and waste sectors by 2020,” he said.

    On the water sector, President Buhari revealed that Nigeria would issue a Green Bond for irrigation and construct multi-purpose dams for power, irrigation and water supply.

    He said: “We will strengthen solid and liquid waste management systems to attract more private sector investors.

    “We will take concrete steps to harness climate innovative ideas by including youths in decision making processes as part of our over-all climate governance architecture.

    “We will mobilize Nigerian youths towards planting 25 million trees to enhance Nigeria’s carbon sink.”

    The Nigerian leader also disclosed that Nigeria had embarked on diversification of its energy sources from dependence on gas-powered system to hydro, solar, wind, biomass and nuclear sources.

  • Abducted SAN Onyemenam freed

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chike Onyemenam, who was kidnapped a week ago on the Benin/Asaba highway, has been released.

    Onyemenam was kidnapped on September 16 at Utulu junction on the Benin/Asaba express road.

    Read Also: 14 passengers abducted in Osun freed

    A family source confirmed that Onyemenam was released at the weekend after the family paid a ransom.

    The hoodlums were said to have asked for N15 million.

    “We give glory to God that he was not hurt,” the source added.

    The police, who said they were not aware of Onyemenam’s kidnap, confirmed his release.

  • PDP chieftain abducted in Benue

    The state of insecurity in the country was clearly illustrated in Benue State when a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on his way to a security meeting was abducted by gunmen before he got to the venue.

    Mr Ben Akile, a chieftain of the PDP, was travelling from Zaki Biam to Katsina Ala in Benue North-East senatorial district when the vehicle he was riding in was stopped by gun-wielding men who seized him and took him away.

    Akile was on his way to attend a zonal meeting of the party where attendees were scheduled to discuss the insecurity in the middle belt and proffer solution to it.

    Read Also: Senate to back Buhari’s plans on economy, insecurity, says Sani

    Mr  Gabriel Suswam, a former governor of the state, was billed to be at the meeting.

    An eyewitness Paul Unande told The Nation that Akile was travelling alongside other top party leaders in a vehicle belonging to state party legal adviser Mr. Tela Mue when the gunmen stopped them.

    It was learnt that the abductors shot at them from the bush, robbed them of cash and other valuables before taking Akile to an unknown destination.

    At press time the gunmen were yet to contact the family of the victim.

  • Xenophobia: Six Nigerian students cancel trip for robotics competition in South Africa

    Six Nigerian students who will represent the country at the Africa Robotics Challenge (ARC) in South Africa on September 28 have cancelled their trip to the country over safety concerns.

    The students announced cancellation of their trip at a media briefing on Monday in Lagos.

    They said the organisers had failed to guarantee their safety throughout the duration of the competition.

    The students are: Tirenioluwa Shobande, 18, a 100-level Systems Engineering student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG); Ifeoluwa Aigbiniode, 15, of Yaba College of Technology Secondary School and Jeffrey Nwafor, 15, of S-TEE International School.

    Others are: 19-year-old Kolawole Olatunji, a 100-level Computer Science Education student of Lagos State University (LASU); Toluwanimi Akinola, 15, of Dansol High School and Aromolaran Dominion, 14, of Supreme Education Foundation.

    Read Also: Crime as rationale for xenophobia and hysteria against Nigerians – South Africa and beyond

    The National Coordinator Mrs Remi Willoughby said the organisers had informed her of their inability to provide tight security and guarantee the safety of the students while in South Africa.

    Mrs Willoughby said the organisers hinted that while in South Africa, the Nigerian competitors would neither disclose their nationality nor be able to go out for sight-seeing for the duration of the competition.

    According to her, the host said the event will not be given publicity and that no one else will be invited to witness the competition.

    “This competition we are supposed to go for is Africa Robotics Challenge. It is a product of first Robotics Challenge, which we have been going for in the last few years.

    “We planned to go to South Africa for this robotics competition, which is basically supposed to be for few African countries and would have held on September 28.

    “However, we will not be attending because of the situation in South Africa currently.

    “And the fact that I cannot personally guarantee the safety of the students while there, and with our host telling us that even if we come, it will not be announced.

    “That we have to come quietly and we will not wear our Nigerian T-shirts and that the bus that will convey us will not display our logo of Green, White, Green! So, how can we proudly showcase our country?”

    Also, Science and Technology Minister Ogbonnaya Onu on Monday said Nigeria must provide the needed leadership for the liberation of Africa, despite the recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa.

    The minister spoke at the opening of the sixth Nigeria Movement of Solidarity with Cuba meeting in Abuja.

    The event was organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and a coalition of other popular groups.

    Onu recalled that Cuba had made efforts in the past to help African countries in their time of need.

    The minister said Cuba, during the Ebola pandemic, sent about 400 doctors to African countries to curb the spread.

    He urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of patriotism and self-reliance.

  • Seven dismissed soldiers held for robbery

    No fewer than 88 suspects including seven dismissed soldiers have been arrested for armed robbery, murder and cultism by operatives of the Lagos State Command, Commissioner Zubairu Muazu said yesterday.

    He said the command in the last few months apprehended 40 suspected armed robbers, 29 cultists and 19 murderers, adding that 31 armed robbery attempts were fouled, 19 firearms and 51 ammunition recovered.

    Briefing reporters on the activities of the command, the police chief said among the arrested cultists were leaders of notorious Awawa Boys, appreciating residents for providing credible information to prevent and combat crimes.

    He assured that the police and sister agencies would in a few weeks start robust operations ahead of the yuletide to ensure that criminals do not flood into the state before, during and after the celebrations.

    Giving details on the arrests, Muazu said seven dismissed soldiers, Ndidi Oluchukwu, 30;  Owolabi Adeyemo ,42; David Olufemi, 47; Iseyin Samuel Isreal, 41; Emeka Ibeh, 29, Samuel Anochime, 36, and Ebedot Stephen, 27 were arrested for armed robbery and car snatching.

    Read Also: Police arrest wanted Port Harcourt serial killer

    The police chief said they were notorious for oppressing residents of Ijegun adding that an incident occurred around 4:35pm on February 19 where they snatched the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) of a commuter travelling to Ibadan.

    “It is on the strength of those complaints that we tasked our Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives to identify the gang and apprehend them.

    “Members of the robbery gang were arrested at Ijegun, Baruwa Estate, Ipaja, Iyana-Paja, Isashi and Ikotun areas of Lagos. Investigation revealed that the suspects are dismissed soldiers and items recovered from them include 12 pairs of military camouflage uniforms, two cutlasses, ATM cards, military ID cards, jack knives, a female pant and a local ring. The suspects confessed to be responsible for series of robberies within Ijegun and its environs and they will be charged to court as soon as investigation has been concluded,” he said.

    However, the suspects told reporters they were not armed robbers, insisting that they were only involved in illegal excursion of vehicles.

    While three admitted to have been dismissed from the army for fleeing the war front in the northeast, two said they were of the Merchant Navy, the other two civilians and that got the camouflages through unnamed Commander.

    Also paraded were 11 suspected traffic robbers said to have been arrested at the wee hours of September 14 at Igando.

    Muazu said their arrest followed the report of an armed robbery case by one Atolagbe Oyindamola, a resident of 14, Alaka Street, Abule Oja in Yaba against one Ahmed Durojaiye, 23; Waheed Oseni, 24; Rilwan Moshood 27 and Taiwo Idowu, 32.

    He said the suspects were notorious for snatching phones, money and other valuables from unsuspecting members of the public in traffic, adding that the operated mostly on motorcycles.

    “When the four suspects were arrested, a locally made pistol was recovered from them and they confessed to be members of Eiye confraternity. A follow up investigation by the State CIID led to the arrest of additional seven suspects- Mosuru Mukaila, 20; Ahmed Oyebode, 29; Seyi Ogundele,36; Ogunmola Akintayo, 30; Olatunji Segun ,28;  Ayobami Olaniyi, 20 and Oladimeji Mustapha, 27.

    “They confessed to be responsible for series of robberies at traffic points, bus stops, around Yabatech, Yaba, Ejigbo, Igando-Ikotun, Ipaja and Isolo areas of the state. A tricycle, five Bajaj motorcycles, two cutlasses and two phones were recovered from them.

    “Investigation revealed that Ahmed Oyebode who is a cultist and motorcycle operator gave his bike out for robbery operations and received stolen phones, cash derived from the operations as reward. Meanwhile, Seyi Ogundele and Ogunmola Akintayo are well known leaders of Eiye cult group in Ejigbo. They will be charged to court,” he said.