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  • UCL: Shaw own goal gives Barcelona advantage over Manchester United

    Barcelona will take a 1-0 lead over Manchester United into next week’s second leg of their Champions League quarter-final after a 12th-minute Luke Shaw own goal gave them victory at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

    Sergio Busquets found Lionel Messi with a clever ball into the area and the Argentine carved out space on the left to deliver a lofted cross to Luis Suarez at the back post.

    The Uruguayan’s header deflected off the shoulder of a scrambling Shaw and beat David De Gea to give the visitors the lead.

    And although the linesman initially flagged for offside, the goal was given after a VAR video review.

    United’s best chance of the first half fell to Diogo Dalot but the Portuguese made a mess of a fine Marcus Rashford cross, heading harmlessly across the goal from close-range.

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team had struggled to get a foothold in the game during the opening 45 minutes but they were much improved after the break.

    United applied plenty of pressure without creating any clear chances.

    Barcelona could have added a second had Suarez not fired into the side-netting from a promising position after a clever through ball from Nelson Semedo.

    Barcelona have not lost at home in the Champions League since 2013. (Reuters/NAN)

  • I was blindfolded, says freed Lagos fire service chief

    Freed Acting Director of Lagos State Fire Service Rasaki Musibau said he could not recognise the two suspects arrested by the police because he was blindfolded by his abductors.

    Musibau told a jubilant crowd on Wednesday at the headquarters of the fire service, Alausa, Ikeja.

    The Lagos State Police Command had earlier said it has arrested two suspects in connection with the abduction.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), released the picture of the suspects.

    When asked if he could recognise the suspects, the fire service chief said he could not.

    “I was blindfolded by my abductors. There is no way I could recognise them,” he said.

    According to him, the kidnappers whisked him away around 6pm as against 8pm reported by the media while going to Epe.

    “I ran into them (the kidnappers). They were operating freely on that road (Epe-Itoikin). Some people were lucky not to have been abducted. They just robbed them and allow them to go.

    Read also: Breaking: Kidnapped Lagos Fire Service boss, others freed

    “In fact, some vehicles before me were robbed at gunpoint. When I ran into them, they smashed the windscreen of my vehicle. At that point I was kidnapped; I met two other persons that have been abducted. Not quite long, they whisked us away,” he said.

    Musibau, who arrived office around 8:30am, was welcomed by jubilant workers.

    They offered prayers to God for returning him alive. Praise songs and dances followed.

    He thanked them for standing by him and his family during the turbulent period.

    According to him, the abductors dropped him somewhere in Ikorodu before he called workers at the Ikorodu Fire Service Station.

    The Nation learnt that it was at that station he was taken home.

    According to Musibau, four persons were freed by the abductors, remaining three in their captivity.

    It was learnt that the family members of those still in captivity are yet to pay their ransom.

    Musibau toured all the offices to greet people and express gratitude.

    Afterwards, he went to his office before leaving for the secretariat in Alausa.

    Police spokesman said Musibau and others kidnapped were freed around 11:45pm inside the forest where the kidnappers kept them by a joint security force.

    Elkana said they were released unhurt and have been reunited with their families.

  • Nigeria at war with itself, says ACF scribe

    Secretary-General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr. Anthony Sani has reacted to the spate of killings and kidnapping across the country, saying that Nigeria is at war with itself.

    He described the various security challenges bedeviling the country as being stoked by poverty and unemployment, pointing out overcoming them would require that, the government confront the underlying causes.

    Sani who spoke in an exclusive interview with The Nation in Kaduna on Wednesday, said government at all levels should come to terms with the reality that the nation is at war with itself and confront the war with all available means at their disposal.

    He, however, warned against giving ethnic and religious coloration to the security threats, arguing such will provide platforms to criminals to commit more crimes, knowing fully well the authority cannot prosecute religion and ethnic nationality.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for working round the clock to ensure the Killings are brought to an end within a shortest possible time.

    The ACF Secretary-General said: “There are many factors that may account for the killings across the country and they differ from geopolitical zone to zone.

    “For examples, those due to clashes between farmers and herders which may have to do with paucity of grazing and farming lands as a result of increase in population and desert encroachment may not be the same with those caused by bandits.

    “Still, those by kidnappings are different from those caused by cattle rustling and armed robbery or cultism.

    “However, to overcome these security challenges would require the government to identify and confront the underlying causes.

    “And for me, I think the insecurity is stoked by poverty which comes with unemployment across the land.

    “There seems to be a vicious circle now that farmers cannot farm due to banditry which brings about more hunger and unemployment that result in poverty and, thus, create more insecurity.

    “Government and our leaders at all levels should come to terms with the reality that the nation is at war with itself and should confront the war with unity of purpose and with all available means at their disposal.

    Read also: Police kill wanted armed robbery kingpin during gun duel

    “These would require more trained security personnel with adequate equipment needed to confront and overwhelm the criminals.

    “And as they do so, consciously directed efforts must be applied in identifying and overwhelming the underlying causes of the insecurity.”

    He added: “To give ethnic and religious coloration to these challenges is unhelpful because such attitudes unwittingly provide platforms to criminals to stand and commit more crimes because they know the authority cannot prosecute religion and ethnic nationality.”

    Reacting calls from some quarters for sack of security chiefs, Anthony Sani said: “I think the President has what it takes to know challenges which the service chiefs face by way of needed trained personnel and the arms.

    “He is expected to know the performing service chiefs and those who are not performing, as well as to why those who do not perform fail to perform.

    “He is there better placed to make such decisions. This is because he is not only the Commander- in- Chief but also a security expert in his own right.

    “Mr. President has noted the unsavory security challenges and the cries across the country.

    “As a result, he is doing all within his ability and capacity to bring the killings to an end in the shortest possible time.”

  • It’s my first time in the business, says arrested teenage kidnap suspect

    A 19 year-old kidnap suspect, Ismail Wakili, arrested by the police for kidnapping one Prince Omoghae Igbegbon along Akunnu Akoko/ Auga Akoko axis of Ondo state has said that it was his first time getting involved in kidnapping.

    Wakili said this while responding to questions from newsmen when he was paraded alongside l5 other suspects by the police on Wednesday in Akure.

    He said that they were a six-member gang and that the other fleeing five members of the gang were  Abdullahi Sanni, 33 from Kogi state, Mohammed Abdullahi, 36 from Sokoto state; Umoru Usman, 25 from Kebbi and Sheu Usman,25 from Niger state.

    The suspect confessed to be involved in the kidnap of the victim along Akunnu Akoko/Auga Akoko in Ondo state and affirmed that the six-man gang did it.

    “This is my first time of involving in kidnapping, I have never been involved before, it’s Abdullahi that introduced me to the business.

    “Since I joined the gang, this is the only person that we have kidnapped, I swear I am not a killer even if I will die I will say the truth.

    “When we kidnapped the man we only saw N70,000 cash in his car in denominations of N500 and N1,000 notes and our leader, Abdullahi removed N20,000 to buy food stuff for us and the man pending when the ransom will be paid.

    “And the remaining N50,000 is with me until I was arrested by the community in Ibilo in Edo State where the money was taken by the community.

    “Actually, when we kidnapped the man, we demanded a ransom of N30million from him and after our first demand, our leader, Abdullahi, later reduced it to N5million but the man said he doesn’t have such money that he can only provides N300,000.

    Read also: Kaduna killings: El-Rufai visits Kajuru, begs against reprisal

    “And Abdullahi said that we will not collect N300,000 from him but said that after two days if he didn’t add any money i should collect and leave the man,” he said.

    Earlier, Mr Undie Adie, Ondo State Commissioner of Police who paraded the suspects, said that Wakili and his gang also robbed the victim of the sum of N185,000.

    ” On April 2, at about 7:15 am, one Prince Omoghae Igbegbon of Senior Staff Quarters, Nifor, Benin City, Edo State was attacked by unknown gunmen numbering six along Akunnu Akoko/ Auga Akoko Road Ondo State.

    “The hoodlums robbed him of cash sum of N185,000 and also abducted him into the bush. The abductors demanded N30m as ransom for his release,” he said.

    He explained further that on April 3, a team of policemen with members of a vigilante group trailed the kidnappers who fled to unknown destination leaving behind one pump action, one double barrel and two single barreled guns.

    According to Adie, the victim escaped to a community in Ibilo, Edo State, where he explained his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers. The police placed the community on red alert to watch out for any strange face.

    “Thereafter, one Ismaila Wakili, 19 years from Niger state whom the victim later recognised as one of the kidnappers was arrested and handed over to the police.

    “Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime and mentioned other members of his gang as Abdullahi Sanni,from Kogi state, Mohammed Abdullahi from Sokoto state; Umoru Usman,from Kebbi and Sheu Usman,from Niger state.

    “They were consequently arrested and Ismaila Wakili identified them to be members of the kidnap gang terrorising Akoko axis  of Ondo State. Efforts is till on to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.

    “Ondo state has been peaceful until few days ago after we experienced two robbery incidents.

    “We want to assure you that we are on the trail of the suspects involved in the two unfortunate incidents and we will not rest until they are brought to face the full wrath of the law,”  he said.( NAN)

  • Nigeria adds two gold medals in cadet, U-21

    Team Nigeria continued their dominance at the ongoing ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships holding in Accra, Ghana with gold medals in the boys’ cadet and U-21 events.

    In the boys cadet final, Nigeria defeated Tunisia while it also beat the Tunisians 3-0 in the U-21 final.

    Egypt beat Nigeria in the girls’ cadet while it walloped Algeria 3-0 in the U-21.

    The tournament enters day five with the singles and doubles events serving off on Thursday April 11.

  • FEC approves N594m contracts for FCT water board, fire service

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a memo for the award of contract for supply of water and field for the  Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board at the sum of N368 million including five per cent VAT.

    The FEC also approved another contract for the supply of 500 firemen suits for the FCT Fire Service at the sum of N226 million including five percent VAT.

    The FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing State House Correspondents after the weekly FEC Meeting which lasted about four hours at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Bello said council also approved two memos for the FCT.

    The first memo, he said, was for the award of contract for the supply of water and field for the Abuja Water Board at the sum of N368 million including five percent VAT.

    ” The second memo is the contract for the supply of 500 firemen suits for the FCT Fire Services at the cost of N226 million including five per cent VAT,” he said.

    He said council also approved the sum of N491.7 million for the procurement of Memory Access Retrieval System to enhance safety.

    Also addressing newsmen, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the contract was to ensure safety and security of air travellers inline with President Muhammadu Buhari’s main thrust in the  Aviation sector.

    ” It will enhance our laboratory in accident investigation. It is a requirement of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in their standard practices and applicable by local laws,” he said.

    The council also considered and approved a memo presented by the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, for the award of contract for the digital process of inter-networking to track the duration of inmates with the aim of decongesting the nation’s prisons at the sum of N 2billion.

    Malami said: ”The essence is to have an idea of what obtains in our prisons across the nation on daily basis, so that at a click of the button, one can access what obtains in the prisons across the country.

    “For instance, we will know who is going to court today, who is being released, those that have been in prison longer than their years of sentence, and so on.

    ”This will help stakeholders in decision making on a daily basis through digital process of inter-networking”.

    Malami noted the idea was to ensure easy way to decongest the prisons across the country.

    ” At a point, it was said that 70 per cent of prison inmates across the prison formations in the country are awaiting trails, arising from these concerns.

    ”The Federal Government has been working to come up with policies, legislation and associated programmes that are targeted at de-congesting the prisons.

    ” One of the policies put in place was the legislation of the Criminal Justice Act, which has partially succeeded in addressing decongestion to an extent.

    “The idea is to digitally connect all the prison formations to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, the police, prison service and indeed selected courts.” (NAN).

     

  • Algeria to hold presidential election July 4

    Algeria will hold presidential election on July 4, the interim presidency on Wednesday said after weeks of mass protests led to the resignation of long-serving leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

    No further details were immediately given. On Tuesday, Interim President Abdelkader Bensalah had said he would organise free elections within 90 days.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Algeria’s army chief said he expected to see members of the ruling elite in the major oil and natural gas-producing country prosecuted for corruption and that he would support a transition toward elections.

    Lt.-Gen. Gaid Salah’s comments were the strongest hint yet that the military would play its traditional role as kingmaker after the ailing 82-year-old Bouteflika bowed to popular pressure and quit on April 2 after 20 years in power.

    “The army will meet the people’s demands,” said Salah, addressing officers and soldiers at a military base. “The judiciary has recovered its prerogative and can work freely.”

    He referred to the ruling caste as “the gang’’, a term people have used in the protests to describe Bouteflika’s inner circle.

    The inner circle encompassed retired intelligence officials, oligarchs, members of the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) and some veterans of the 1954-62 war of independence against France.

    The army chief of staff urged the judiciary to reopen a corruption case against oil and gas giant Sonatrach, an object of resentment for many Algerians, who accuse their leaders of stealing the North African nation’s wealth.

    More than one in four people under the age of 30, some 70 per cent of the population, are unemployed – one of the central grievances of protesters, who want the economy liberalised and diversified to reduce its reliance on energy.

    In 2012, a series of scandals shook Sonatrach, which was tightly controlled by Bouteflika loyalists.

    Its CEO and other executives were imprisoned for graft offences.

    The army patiently monitored the unrest, which started on Feb. 22, from the sidelines. Then Salah intervened, declaring Bouteflika – rarely seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013 – unfit to rule.

    If Bouteflika had seen through his original plan to run for a fifth term in spite growing grassroots opposition, that would have put the military under pressure to restore order, instead of focusing on swaying politics from the shadows.

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  • Lekki singles, married conference holds Sunday

    ORGANISERS of the monthly Breakthrough for singles and married forum, Family Booster Ministry (FBM) have concluded arrangements for Lekki Singles and Married conference, scheduled for Sunday, April 14.

    The conference with the theme evergreen marriage holds at the Bespoke Hall, Chisco Roundabout, Lekki Lagos by 2pm.

    The President of the ministry, Pastor Bisi Adewale, who is the best -selling author of more than 90 books, said the conference is focused on equipping the married and singles with positive information for spiritual development, promoting healthy marriage, building good relationships, academic, career, association and others.

    Read also: Marriage: A garden of treasures (1)

    Adewale said there would be music, dance, prayers and dynamic teachings during the forum.

    Adewale would be joined in ministration by his beloved wife, Pastor Yomi and Evangelist Ruth Odetunde of RCCG National Choir, popularly known as RCCG Hymns Specialist and other anointed men of God.

    According to him: “This year’s event promises to break yokes in marriage, restore confidence and further bring husband and wife together in love while showing youth and singles how to choose their life partners rightly.”

  • IMF cautions Nigeria against borrowing from China

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned Nigeria and other emerging market countries taking excessive loans from China to consider the terms of such facilities, especially, their compliance with the Paris Club arrangements.

    Speaking on Wednesday at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in United States of America, Director, IMF Monetary and Capital Markets Department, Tobias Andrian, said that there was nothing bad in borrowing from China, except that the terms of such loans are always questionable.

    He said: “Loans from China are good, but the countries should consider the terms of the loans. And we urge countries that when they borrow from abroad, the terms are favorable for the borrower, and should be conforming to the Paris Club arrangements”.

    Continuing, Andrian, who spoke on the Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) said: “Let me reiterate that in many frontier markets, we see that the share of debt that is not conforming to the Paris Club standards is on the rise. And that means that if there is any debt restructuring down the road one day, that can be very unfavorable to those countries. So, the borrowing terms, the covenants, are extremely important. And we do see a deterioration in that aspect.”

    Data from Debt Management Office (DMO) showed that Nigeria’s total public debt rose to N24.39 trillion or $79.44 billion as at December 31, 2018 representing a year-on-year growth of 12.25 per cent. The 2018 debt stock is higher than the one recorded in 2017 by N2.662 billion.

    DMO said that as at June 2018, loans obtained by the Federal Government from China represented about 8.5 per cent of Nigeria’s external debt and that there taken under concessionary terms. But Nigeria was last year seeking $6 billion from China to fund the construction of the Ibadan-Kano rail line project.

    Andrian said Nigeria has been borrowing from international markets, which gives the IMF some worries, saying however that such loans are good as it allows the country to invest more, but expressed concerns over rollover or repayment risks going forward.

    “At the moment, funding conditions in economies such as Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries are very favourable but that might change at some point. And there is risk of rollovers and whether these need for refinancing can be met in the future,” the IMF director said, advising that Nigeria should seek higher capital for its banks through recapitalization and also tackle rising non-performing loans in the sector.

    Adrian said that where there are financial stability concerns, authorities are expected to use prudential tools such as higher capital in the banking system and more conservative underwriting standards to reduce financial stability risks.

    He said: “We advise countries that where those downside risks are increasing, to take more steps to ensure that vulnerabilities are not rising too much. Addressing non-performing loans is a first order importance for financial stability. Many countries have tackled that by developing secondary market for non-performing loans. And by being aggressive in writing off non-performing loans and through provisioning and use of improved accounting standards through international Financial Reporting Standards 9 (IFRS 9)”.

    He said many countries do not have all the tools that are necessary to make sure that the system is financially stable, hence the financial stability concerns can feed into monetary policy decisions. He therefore urged monetary policy makers to also look at risks to financial stability both in the short term and in the medium term.

    Read Also: IMF: economy on right track

    As a way out of the crisis, the IMF director advised policymakers to develop and deploy macro-prudential tools which can mitigate vulnerabilities and make the financial system more resilient.

    “Emerging markets facing volatile capital flows should limit their reliance on short-term overseas debt and ensure they have adequate foreign currency reserves and bank buffers. Besides, monetary policy should be data dependent and well communicated,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Division Chief Monetary and Capital Markets at the IMF, Anna Ilyina, said the institutional mechanisms for resolution and recognition of non-performing loans, are of course, extremely important part of the process of cleaning up the banking system of bad loans and the authorities should continue working along those lines.

    She said: “Credit quality has declined, underwriting standards weaker and debt levels are much higher. The concern is that there are very few macro-prudential tools for the corporate sector. In some countries, supervisors can limit the deterioration of underwriting standards to the extent that is provided by the banks but, one of the big trends post-crisis is that market-based finance has become more important for the corporates”.

    She advised that in maturing credit cycle, farsighted policy actions to reduce vulnerabilities can help avoid more painful adjustments in the future.

    On capital flow to Nigeria and other emerging markets, the IMF director said that overseas investment run by managers tracking popular indices have increased dramatically over the past decade.

    She said: “Widening the range of investors can be positive factor for emerging markets, yet that trend leaves economies vulnerable to a sudden reversal of capital flows in response to global trends. The vulnerabilities intensifying in a maturing credit cycle, this is the time for decisive policy action. The intensification of trade tensions and the threat of disorderly practices have dented investor confidence. Policy makers should ensure that post crisis regulatory reform is fully implemented and resist calls for rolling back reforms,” she said.

    She also said that policymakers should act decisively to renew their commitment to open trade, discourage the buildup of debt and communicate clearly, any shifts in monetary policy.

    Speaking on tax reforms at the Fiscal Monitor Session of the event, IMF Assistant Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, Cathy Pattillo, said tax reform in Nigeria is very important issue.

    She said IMF’s main recommendation for Nigeria is the need for a comprehensive tax reform that would sustainably increase non-oil revenue.  “And the reason why that is needed is that Nigeria has one of the lowest ratios of non-oil revenue to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at around 3.4 per cent in the world. And the total tax revenue to GDP at around eight per cent is also very low compared to peers.

    She said that the interest to tax ratio is low, adding that the funds realized should be spent on important developmental projects like infrastructure and human capital.

    She also advised Nigeria increase excise taxes, and begin aggressive streamlining of tax incentives and exemptions.

  • Kaduna killings: El-Rufai visits Kajuru, begs against reprisal

    Following the Monday morning Killings at Banono and Ungwan Akut, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state on Wednesday, visited the troubled Kajuru local government area, urging all communities in the state to reject an eye for an eye stance in resolving differences.

    Addressing the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at their camp in Maraban Kajuru, the governor said that an attitude of attacks and reprisals only produces pain and suffering, noting that he has directed relevant agencies to reassess the condition of the IDPs who are from different communities to enable them return to their communities soon.

    Speaking in Maraban Kajuru, Kajuru local government after meeting with the IDPs, El-Rufai said that he was saddened by the situation. “What we saw is unfortunate, but we must speak out and tell our people the right thing to be done. An eye for eye is not a solution to the vicious cycles of killings and will complicate and undermine collective efforts.

    “Our admonition, is simple. If Fulani or Adara communities have complaints of killings or attacks, they should report and allow security agencies and government to take up the administration of justice. If these communities resort to taking the laws into their own hands, it will not work. That  is not the solution.”

    Read also: Police confirm killing of 21, rustling of 50 cows in Kajuru Attack

    According to the Governor, “all communities must resist the temptation to take the law into their own hands. Security personnel and assets cannot be in every inch of our state. Communities must stop this abnormality of taking the laws into their own hands. It has never worked and will never work.”

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