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  • 2019 UTME slips: JAMB urges candidates to adhere strictly to printing order

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has urged candidates for the 2019 UTME to adhere strictly to the printing order of their examination slips, to avoid unnecessary issues.

    This is contained in the board’s weekly bulletin tagged ‘JAMBULLETIN’, by the Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, and issued in Lagos.

    According to the bulletin, printing of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) notification slip is on-going, as the board has since made it ready for all candidates who registered for the examination.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 1.8 million candidates registered for the examination which has been scheduled to commence on Thursday, April 11.

    “The notification is to allow candidates know their examination schedules, which includes time, date and venue of the examination.

    “Candidates are therefore advised to take the printing order seriously in order for them to have an idea of the location of their centres, well ahead of the examination.

    “It is also to enable them prepare for all necessary logistics of being at their respective centres on time,” the bulletin stated.

    It added that the e-slips of the candidates had been placed on their JAMB profiles created at the point of registration.

    “For those who are unable to access their slips through their portal at www.jamb.org.ng, the board has provided a step by step process of making the printing easy.

    “First, they should go to the official JAMB portal, www.jamb.org.ng/efacility /printexaminationslip.

    “Next, candidates would be required to enter their registration number, telephone number used in vending the pin at the point of registration or email in the appropriate column and follow the next command,” it said.

    “Candidates are advised to print two copies of the examination slip in full, as one copy will be submitted at the centre while the second copy will be kept by the candidates for reference purpose,” it said.

    The bulletin added that it was important to note that there would be no rescheduling of the examination, no matter the reason.

    It added that all candidates must ensure that they are verified using the Biometric Verification Machine.

    Meanwhile, the board has also warned candidates and parents or guardians to desist from paying UTME application fees to schools or tutorial centres.

    It said that the warning became necessary owing to the growing practice of of some elite schools/colleges and tutorial centres that collect money in bulk from candidates to register them en masse.

    According to the bulletin, through diligent investigation, the board discovered that schools involved in the practice usually levy candidates exhorbitant sums running into millions of Naira for the purpose of the UTME registration.

    “In this regard, it should be reiterated that the board does not do group registration, as candidates are required to do individual registration.

    “The board has noted with displeasure a series of some of the unfortunate situation some of these schools, especially the elite ones, have put some candidates through.

    “In their bid to make money, they engage in series of infractions in the name of group registration and other acts inimical to the interest of the candidates and the sanctity of the examination.

    “This kind of fraudulent registration end up distorting candidate’s data,” it said.

    It warned the public to be mindful of such unscrupulous schools or centres who more often than not, register candidates at unauthirised centres.

    According to the bulletin, the board’s examination is not a school based examination and therefore does not require candidates registering in groups. (NAN)

  • Woman dies, another injured after jeep plunges into river in Ogun

    A woman conveying her daughter to school in Ogun State has drowned on Sunday when the private vehicle she was driving skidded off the dual carriage bridge between Ososa and Odogbolu stretch of the Sagamu – Ore expressway and plunged into the river beneath.

    Her daughter, a student of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun state, was however rescued from the water.

    The Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, told The Nation that the vehicle was coming from Lekki in Lagos and going to Ijebu-Ode when the accident happened.

    Akinbiyi added that mother and daughter were the only occupants of the vehicle and that the woman was conveying her daughter, who is a student of TASUED, to school at the time but lost control of the wheel and plunged into the river.

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    “The woman was taken her daughter back to school. As a result of over speeding, the woman lost control of the vehicle and plunged the vehicle into the river.

    He said: “The driver, who is the woman and mother of the lady, lost her life, while the daughter is receiving treatment at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital.”

    According to him, the accident vehicle has been evacuated from the river and moved to the Motor Traffic Division (MTD) of the Nigeria Police, Odogbolu Divisional Police Headquarters, Odogbolu.

     

     

  • Two-goal Deulofeu is Watford’s FA Cup hero in impressive fight back

    Two goals from substitute Gerard Deulofeu helped Watford produce a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to beat Wolves 3-2 and set up an FA Cup final showdown with Manchester City.

    Strikes from Matt Doherty before the break and Raul Jimenez after it had appeared enough to make Nuno Espirito Santo’s team the first Wolves side to reach an FA Cup final since 1960.

    But Deulofeu pulled one back with a brilliant chip 11 minutes from the end before, in injury time, Leander Dendoncker fouled Troy Deeney and, after a VAR check, Deeney smashed home the penalty to force extra time.

    Deulofeu produced the decisive moment in the first extra period, sliding home an angled finish to put Watford into their first FA Cup final since 1984.

    Wolves had almost made a spectacular start to the match, Jonny’s strike fizzing over, but Watford came back to win a corner that was confidently dealt with by keeper John Ruddy.

    A foul by Mariappa on Diogo Jota gave Wolves a free kick which Joao Moutinho steered over the wall and only fractionally over the bar.

    Etienne Capoue had a shot blocked for Watford before Wolves’ Romain Saiss was booked for a clattering 10th-minute challenge on Roberto Pereyra.

    On the half-hour, Watford produced their best moment so far, Deeney dropping deeper to float in a cross for Andre Gray, who could only divert the ball over.

    Back came Wolves, and Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes made a fine stop from Dendoncker’s deflected shot — but from the corner they were in front, Jonny crossing for Doherty to head in.

    Watford could have conceded a second soon afterwards when Jota set off on a dangerous run, cut inside and bent his shot narrowly wide.

    But the Hornets recovered to create another chance on half-time, Conor Coady making a brilliant block to thwart Gray after Deeney had flicked on.

    Gomes made a good save from Jimenez’ fierce shot in the opening moments of the second half, and then Jota, stretching at the far post, could not keep his attempt down.

    Watford defender Craig Cathcart went into the book for fouling Jota on the edge of the box, and Ruben Neves’ curling free kick was narrowly off target with Gomes stranded.

    As the hour approached with Watford yet to muster an effort on target, Deeney headed wide and Jose Holebas was booked for fouling Jota as he led a Wolves break.

    But Wolves were not to be denied, doubling their lead after 62 minutes when Jiminez chested down a cross and fired acrobatically in, the goal confirmed after a VAR check for offside.

    Watford introduced Deulofeu for Will Hughes — and, out of the blue, were back in the game with 11 minutes to go as the substitute picked up possession, turned and floated a beautiful finish over Ruddy and into the top corner.

    As Watford upped the pressure, Wolves brought on defender Ryan Bennett for Neves and then Ivan Cavaleiro for Jota, Holebas thumping over for the Hornets as time began to tick away.

    But with seconds left, Dendoncker fouled Deeney to give Watford their lifeline and the striker’s composure from the spot took the game to extra time.

    Jonny’s shot was saved by Gomes as the extra half-hour began, and Watford were forced into a change when Holebas limped off to be replaced by Adam Masina.

    Wolves brought on Adama Traore for Moutinho but, with 105 minutes played, they were behind when Deulofeu linked with Deeney and Gray before sliding an angled finish past Ruddy.

    Daryl Janmaat replaced Kiko Femenia, and then Deulofeu hurt his ankle and had to be replaced by Ken Sema — but he had already written the Watford headlines.

  • Smugglers threaten CBN’s rice intervention, say processors

    Rice processors in Nigeria have raised the alarm that the Federal Government’s financing policy through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is under treat of failing from the activities of rice smugglers.

    Addressing reporters on the threat in Abuja over the weekend, Chairman of Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar lamented that over 1 million metric tons of rice (about 20,000,000 bags of 50kg or 34,000 trucks of rice) have been smuggled into the country in the last three months.

    Abubakar said: “Nigeria currently loses huge revenues, foreign exchange and jobs to this menace of smuggling while Nigeria rice processing companies are shutting down because of their inability to gain market access and more painfully millions of small-holder farmers are stuck with their paddy because the millers can no longer afford to buy from them.”

    He warned the government that if the menace of rice smuggling “is not tackled with appropriate dispatch, the magnitude of loss to Nigerian rice stakeholders starting with the Federal Government, Integrated Rice Millers, Funding Banks, CBN, rice farmers, mill workers, rice consumers, etc. would be too devastating to cope with in an economy that is fledgling.”

    He urged the Federal Government to take urgent action “to avert eventual national food emergency by combating smuggling so that we can continue to grow our local rice industry and the economy.”

    Investigations, he said have, shown that “all our international borders have been converted to smugglers route and our markets are filled with smuggled foreign rice.”

    To address the scourge, Abubakar called on the Federal Government to immediately raid the various rice smugglers market across the country, sanction officers and employees of agencies of government such as Nigeria Customs Service, National Agency for Foods Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) saddled with the responsibility of enforcement but chose to compromise their offices or fail in their various responsibilities. Government, he said must note that some officers working in these government agencies are in collaboration with these smugglers.

    “These officers must be fished out and punished by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for economic sabotage,” he said.

    He also called on the government to deal firmly with smuggling and severely punish infractions in a way that makes smuggling too costly to risk.

    He said: “Particularly, government must begin to fish out and punish multinational companies who play on both sides of the border; – those who actually drive the syndicates (the promoters).

    “It is absolutely vital for government to sustain the current drive for greater investments, strengthen the policy environment and continue to implement policies and strategies that grow local capacity and protect local value chain.”

    The rice processors appealed to the government to, “as a matter of urgent national importance, take strong diplomatic action with our neighbouring countries who allow parboiled rice into their country for final destination to Nigeria. The government may consider closing the borders for some time if diplomatic overtures fail.”

    They also called on state governments to build relevant agricultural infrastructure that permit more than one season farming such as irrigation facility, rural access roads and electricity.

  • Sevilla coach diagnosed with leukaemia, but to continue working

    Sevilla coach Joaquin Caparros revealed after his side’s 2-0 win at Real Valladolid on Sunday that he had been diagnosed with leukaemia but vowed to continue in his job.

    “Everyone knows I have Sevilla in my blood, but there has been a problem with my white and red blood cells and I have been told that I have chronic leukaemia,” Caparros, 63, told a news conference.

    “It does not impede me from doing my job and I’m carrying out a normal life day to day. I am not receiving any treatment. So, everyone should remain calm.

    “I want to keep enjoying my job and I thank the club for allowing me to continue with this opportunity. I’m not going to talk any more about this.”

    Caparros took charge of Sevilla for the third time last month by switching role from sporting director to head coach after Pablo Machin was sacked.

    His side climbed to fifth place in La Liga after the win at Valladolid which lifted their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

    It took them to within one point of fourth-placed Getafe.

    Argentine coach Eduardo Berizzo was diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was in charge of Sevilla in November 2017.

    • He underwent successful treatment but was sacked by the club one month later following disappointing results.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Nigeria is a hard nut to crack, admits Tunisia

    After tasting their first defeat against Nigeria in the boys’ team event of the 2019 ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships, Tunisia’s captain, Aboubaker Bourass had admitted that Nigeria remains the only dangerous team in the competition.

    Despite giving his team a 1-0 lead after beating Augustine Emmanuel 3-1, Tunisia succumbed to the superiority of the young Nigerians with Azeez Solanke and Abayomi Animashaun recoding an emphatic win over Youssef Ben Attia and Louay Hamrouni to give Nigeria a 3-1 win in their first group match.

    But a disappointed Bourass told NationSport that he was not surprised by the fighting spirit cum skills of the Nigerians as they are a complete team.

    “I think I started making mistakes when I played against Solanke and this really affected me to lose the match. We had thought we can give them a run for their money but it was not what we planned for before the encounter,” he said.

    “There is no doubt that Nigeria is a very strong team at every level because we are aware of their quality. But we cannot give up yet for the team event as we are still going to continue to work hard to ensure we make it to the final and secure our places in Thailand venue of the 2019 World Junior Championships later this year,” the 17-year-old said.

    Nigeria has been drawn in Group Two alongside Tunisia, Ghana and Congo DRC with winners advancing to the semifinal stage of the competition. Finalists in the event are expected to secure their places at the WJC in Thailand come December 2019.

  • Gov Abubakar tipped for Bauchi’s ministerial slot

    Outgoing Governor Mohammad Abubakar has been tipped to be the next minister from Bauchi State, the Nation has learnt.

    The national leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) might be hatching a plan B if things fall apart and the governor loses again at the Election Petition Tribunal.

    An APC chieftain in Bauchi State, who spoke in confidence with the Nation Correspondent, said: “It is natural that the Governor is compensated with a ministerial appointment having worked hard for the party in the state and singlehandedly facing formidable forces in the Peoples Democratic Party in the State.”

    The source dismissed any chances of the PDP in the state producing a minister from Bauchi state, saying they stand no chance considering the hard times they gave the governor.

    “PDP cannot produce a minister from Bauchi state. They gave the governor a tough time in the state. The governor will face no challenge if speculation turns out positive.

    “Even the Speaker, Federal House of Representatives cannot influence a minister from the PDP considering his position as an opposition member and he is also not in good terms with the President

    “Stakeholders have been urging the President to give governor Abubakar a ministerial appointment and the governor has not come out to say he is not interested.”

    The source added: “There has been no negative response from him considering the call for him to be made a minister. We can take it that he is ready to serve as minister”

    When asked if the governor already lost all hope of reclaiming his mandate, the source said: “Having congratulated the governor -elect in the state, the governor initially has no motive of challenging the PDP’s victory at the court but having briefed the party hierarchy, they had taken it upon themselves to challenge the victory of PDP.”

  • Jagielka scores for Everton to dent Arsenal’s hopes

    Arsenal’s hopes of a top-four finish in the English Premier League (EPL) were dented on Sunday as Everton captain Phil Jagielka took advantage of an unexpected late recall.

    The veteran defender scored the winner in a dominant 1-0 victory at Goodison Park.

    Jagielka, who was brought into the team for a rare appearance after Michael Keane had to withdraw in the warm-up through illness, scored after 10 minutes.

    His goal earned his side well-deserved third straight league win.

    It marked a significant setback for a disappointing Arsenal, who remain fourth in the table but missed an opportunity to leap ahead of their third-placed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

    Unai Emery’s side stay on 63 points, one behind Spurs, level with fifth-placed Chelsea and two clear of Manchester United in an increasingly tight battle for the UEFA Champions League berths.

    The experienced Jagielka proved Everton’s unlikely hero after his late call-up.

    He became the oldest goalscorer in the league this season at 36 years 233 days when he poked home his finish after Arsenal failed to clear Lucas Digne’s long throw.

    The ball had fallen kindly after Dominic Calvert-Lewin got the final touch on to him in the aerial battle, allowing Jagielka to score his first league goal in two years.

    He also became Everton’s second-oldest marksman in the Premier League era.

    “I’m not normally a match-winner, full stop,” laughed the former England defender. “They’re the best goals, the little tap-ins from two or three yards.”

    His goal signalled a hungry and aggressive display from Everton who, while moving up to ninth on 46 points, could have won far more convincingly.

    That is if Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison had converted any of the side’s 23 attempts on goal.

    “We got one goal but could have scored a few more,” added Jagielka.

    He earned special praise from delighted Everton manager Marco Silva, who said: “He was to start on the bench, but showed how he is a good professional and prepares himself for what the coach and team needs.

    “He is always ready to help the team.”

    Arsenal, who have conceded at least one goal in every league away match this season, came closest with one curling second-half effort from Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

    But they were outplayed and outfought by Silva’s team.

    They had only two attempts on target in the whole match.

    And, with Mesut Ozil failing to offer much inspiration as captain for the day, they endured one of their more frustrating lack lustre away days.

    Arsenal’s frustration became obvious when the two managers were involved in a brief confrontation in the second half.

    “The football is emotional. He wants the best for his team. I want the best for mine. At the end we spoke together and everything is normal,” said Silva.

    Arsenal boss Emery felt his team would have to rebound swiftly as they prepared to face Napoli in a UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday.

    “It was not a good result today but we are still fourth,” said the Spaniard. “We lost and we need to get up quickly and find the next step.”(Reuters/NAN)

  • Why we want Gbajabiamila as speaker, by Kaduna Rep

    A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Garba Datti Mohammad has said that the All Progressives Congress(APC) leadership is right in zoning the leadership of the 9th House.

    The ranking member in the Green Chamber representing Sabon Gari federal constituency in Kaduna State on the platform of the APC, spoke with The Nation in a chat.

    According to the lawmaker, the leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamiila ordinarily should have been elevated to the position of Speaker without any fuss.

    He said: “That is because it is the normal convention in all democracies of the world.

    “The majority party will always constitute the leadership and whoever is the head of that party in parliament that has the majority party automatically becomes the presiding officer.

    “It happened in recent time. Just last November after the midterm election in US Nancy Pelosky became the Speaker.

    “She was the Minority Leader but once they became the majority, she automatically became the Speaker.

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    “And this is the second term she has emerged as the Speaker; not even through election! It was just automatic.

    “There was no election, although we have some slight differences in our constitution.

    “To me, the decision of the party leaders is right. These (Gbajabiamila and Lawan) are two leaders that have done a lot for this party, so they deserve to lead.”

    On the argument of the North Central lawmakers that they contributed more to the emergence of the President through their number of votes, he said: “Well, anybody can argue whatever he wants to argue but the hard fact is, these are our leaders and we have majority now, so automatically they should take over because they have never been found wanting in their positions.

    “They have played very vital roles. Like Femi, he has been in the leadership since 2007 as Minority Whip, Minority Leader to Majority Leader and he has performed wonderfully well.

    “Then you can never take away experience in this system; competence, experience, doggedness, everything you are looking for and he has paid his dues, so to me, there is no issue.

    Speaking on the position of some PDP lawmakers that Gbajabiamiila can never be their Speaker, he said:  “The minority can always have their say; the majority will always have their way!

    “You can say whatever, the only thing is to try and unite as a party. Once we unite, PDP has no mouth to talk.

    “They cannot decide who becomes the presiding officer. They can decide who becomes the Minority Leader and the Minority Whip but they cannot decided the Speaker; that is we put our house in order. I don’t think there will be much problem,” he said.

    On if the party should call some of the aspirants to order because of the sheer numbers, he said: “Yes. I think the party has started doing that.

    “I know of a person that even the President himself talked to him. I know of another person who his governor will talk to him either today or tomorrow to step down.

    “So, I am sure we will have it right when the chips are down. Some are just flying kites, some are serious and some are not serious. We know that.”

  • Breaking: 8 feared dead as cultists sack Rivers community

    Eight persons have been feared dead in Rivers state following early morning invasion of a community by armed youths suspected to be cultists on Sunday.

    An eyewitness account said the gunmen in their numbers stormed Mgbuodohia community in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State in the wee hours of Sunday, killing eight persons and injuring others.

    The Chairman of Rumuolumeni Community Development Committee, (CDC), Sunny Odum, confirmed the figure expressing sadness over the unfortunate invasion.

    Odum said that eight persons were killed in the attack, describing it as strange.

    But the Police in the state said three persons were killed in the attack.

    The sources said a cult group had invaded the community in search of members of their rival cult members.

    According to them, the hoodlums moved from house to house in search of targets (rival cultists) in the area and in the process fished out and killed eight of them.

    The development caused panic in the area, causing residents to desert the place in fear of reprisal attack.

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    But the CDC chairman urged residents to return to their homes, assuring security operatives in the state were already on top of the matter and will track the attackers in no time.

    The command’s spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told our correspondent on phone that some arrests have already been made and that the suspects are helping the police in their investigations.

    “It was a cult fight and as at the time i got report from Rumuolumeni Police Division today, only three persons were confirmed dead while several others who sustained gun-shot injuries were being treated at different hospitals.

    “Some persons have been arrested in connection with the incident and they are helping the Police in their investigations,” he said.

    Omoni appealed to residents who have deserted their homes to return, assuring normalcy has since returned to the community.