Russia 2018: Eagles: Zambia won’t survive Uyo

Russia 2018: Eagles: Zambia won’t survive Uyo

— 4th October 2017

By Monica Iheakam and Ighodalo Isiramen

Trabzonspor of Turkey  star, Ogenyi Onazi and Changchun Yatai FC of China forward, Odion Ighalo  have vowed that the Super Eagles players will fight with their last drop of blood to clinch the Russia 2018 World Cup ticket come Saturday in Uyo.

With two matches left  in the  Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Africa Zone qualifying tournament, Super Eagles of Nigeria sit on top of Group B  with an impressive 10 points  from four matches against their closest challenger,  Chipolopolo of Zambia who are trailing closely with seven-points

Onazi, who is already training alongside his other team mates in camp, says the Zambians will not survive the avalanche of attack the Eagles will unleash on them, adding that the national team will play like the lives of Nigerians depends on them.

“We will give it all it takes as far as football is concerned, the former Lazio player began.

“We will play like everything depends on us and play like everything depends on God.We will not be distracted because we are focused on getting our three points on Saturday.

Changchun Yatai FC of China  Forward Odion Jude Ighalo on his part promised that the team is totally focused and determined on getting the much needed result against the visitors in Uyo .

In a Radio interview monitored by Daily Sun Sports, Ighalo waved off  tough talking Zambians, assuring  Nigerians that there is no cause for alarm.

“They are just playing mind games which sometimes doesn’t work in football. It all boils down to the team that is determined and effective on the pitch of play.

“We are determined and ever ready to play and work together as a unit with the mindset of winning the game that would see us through to Russia 2018.

“The Zambians are quite strong too, but we are not scared of them because we have enough quality and experienced players who are all focused on the task ahead of them.

“We know what is at stake and don’t want to toy with our chances of making it to the World Cup,by not hoping on other teams to do us a favour ,which is why we need 100% concentration and remain focused until we have achieved our aim which is the sole ticket to Russia.

“I am sure with God on our side we would come out victorious.I am putting the progress of the team ahead of me. Irrespective of who scores I  am not bothered as long as we get the needed result. If I manage to come up with a goal it would be an icing on the cake”, Ighalo stated.

Nigerian embassies face eviction

Nigerian embassies face eviction

— 4th October 2017

•Owe salaries, rents, building permits to be revoked

From Fred Itua, Abuja

The Senate, yesterday, raised the red flag on the precarious state of Nigerian foreign missions, which they claimed were facing several challenges. The problems include the risk of eviction over inability to pay rent for residences, chanceries and other staff official quarters. The embassies also also burdened by several months arrears of salaries and allowance owed officers in addition to lack of funds to meet other sundry expenses.

The upper chamber further disclosed that there were threats by host countries to revoke building permits of some properties belonging to Nigerian missions, following their poor structural conditions, which constitute hazard to the communities where the buildings are located.

It vowed to explore ways to fix what it called “monumental mess.”

The decision of the Senate followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, tagged: “The urgent need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to fund our foreign missions.”

The motion, which painted a gloomy picture of the diplomatic missions, read: “Nigerian diplomatic missions are facing several challenges, including their inability to pay home based officers allowances, local staff salaries, rent for residences, chanceries and other staff official quarters, in addition to the dire lack of funds for other sundry expenses such as visits to Nigerians in jail and provision for other consular services;

“There are threats by host countries to revoke building permits of some properties abroad belonging to Nigerian Missions, following their poor structural conditions, which constitute hazard to the communities where such buildings are situated, and lack of routine maintenance that will bring such structures in line with the building codes of host countries;

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget envelope is grossly inadequate to meet its expenditure requirements even at headquarters and with this situational analysis, the ministry’s approved 2017 budget would hardly provide the needed impetus required of the ministry towards achieving Nigeria’s foreign policy goal and objectives in pursuance of our national interest.”

However, attempt to raise a motion to summon the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyema; Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele to brief the Senate on the poor condition of foreign missions, was thrown out.

Instead, lawmakers resolved to set up an adhoc committee to engage stakeholders and come up with ways to address the issues raised in the motion.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, is yet to announce the composition of the committee.

Meanwhile, the Senate has mandated its committee on tertiary education to meet with relevant stakeholders, especially the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and come up with recommendations on how to possibly scrap the post Unified Matriculation Examination (UME).

The Senate, in another development, called on the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, to construct small captive dams in all communities and locations.

Russia 2018: FIFA fines Nigeria $31,000 over pitch invasion

Russia 2018: FIFA fines Nigeria $31,000 over pitch invasion

— 3rd October 2017

by Joe Apu

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, have been slammed with a fine of $31,000 for crowd disorder after the Super Eagles’ 4-0 win over Cameroon at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in September and warned against future occurrence.

According to a statement on the official website of FIFA, Nigeria violated article 65 and 67 of the FBC FIFA stadium safety and security regulations and as such charged for improper conduct amongst spectators (pitch invasions by supporters and invasions of restricted areas by supporters other than the pitch)

Zambia coach, Wedson Nyirenda has already claimed that Algeria are waiting to pay back Nigeria for the hostility they encountered when they visited Uyo last November.

Algeria welcomes the Super Eagles to Constantine on November 6 in a final match of the qualifying tournament for Russia 2018.

Nyirenda has also said they are ready to take in “any tricks” Nigeria will throw at them in Uyo, adding he has played for both the national team and various clubs in West Africa to know what to be expect in Nigeria.

Nigeria leads Group B with 10 points from four matches and they will advance to next year’s Mundial if they beat Zambia in Uyo on Saturday.

Other countries fined for various offences according to the statement include Germany, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, England, France and Guinea.

Obiano meets Buhari

Obiano meets Buhari

— 4th October 2017

•Urges INEC to be impartial

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met separately with the Governor of Anambra State Willie Obiano and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Obiano speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting with the President urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure its neutrality in the conduct of the forthcoming governorship election in the state. The election comes up on November 18.

The governor dismissed claims that his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), plans to rig the elections, adding that all the necessary measures are being taken to guarantees a peaceful election, just as he expressed optimism that he would come out victorious at the polls. “Anambra remains the safest state in Nigeria today; we don’t have cases of kidnapping, armed robbery or similar crimes. We have been firmly in control of that state and will continue to do so throughout my tenure as governor. I’m very confident that I will win the forthcoming election with a landslide. All we want is for the empire to be unbiased. A free and fair election is what we want and we will get the result,” he said.

On his meeting with the president, Governor Obiano said they had a very fruitful meeting, adding that President Buhari likes governors who are delivering dividends of democracy to their people.

“He likes governors who work hard, who are delivering what people can see and are delivering dividends of democracy to their people. That is what the president wants,” Obiano, stated.

Reps probe JAMB’s reduction of cut-off marks

Reps probe JAMB’s reduction of cut-off marks

— 4th October 2017

From Kemi Yesufu, Abuja

The House of Representatives has commenced investigation of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB)’s decision to to lower cut-off marks for admission into Nigerian universities and polytechnics.

To get to the root of the matter, the House has mandated its Committee on Tertiary Education and Services to investigate the circumstances which led to reduction in the cut-off marks.

The committee has been given four weeks to report back to the chamber for further legislative action.

The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion on the need to investigate the reduction in the cut-off marks for admissions into tertiary institutions in Nigeria,” sponsored by Hassan Saleh.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede had announced that a minimum of 120 marks in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) would be required for placement of candidates into the universities, while a minimum of 100 marks would be required for placement into polytechnics or Colleges of Education.

Leading the debate, Saleh expressed worry that the new policy is bound to lower the standard and quality of education in tertiary institutions as many candidates, who perform poorly in the UMTE examination, “could secure admissions through nepotism, bribery and corruption while many other candidates, who perform excellently, could be denied admission.”

But, Ahmed Pategi disagreed with Saleh.

He noted that JAMb’s decision was in order.

Pategi argued that stakeholders in tertiary education were in unison with JAMB on the new policy and that it would be unfair to deny a child admission into a higher institution simply based on his/her UTME score, even after 11 years of basic education.

But, Pategi stood alone as his colleagues took turns to call for a reversal of the policy.

They argued that universities are supposed to be centres of excellence for learning, research and innovation, hence, the need to always admit the best candidates, in order to produce graduates that can compete favourably with their peers, anywhere in the world.

On his part, Afe Oluwookere described the policy as detrimental to the country’s push for economic growth and development.

This was just as Henry Archibong, Rita Orji and Abubakar Chika called for scrapping of JAMB and UTME. They said the decision to lower cut-off marks was a signal that the JAMB has outlived its usefulness.

The lawmakers took turns to accuse JAMB of  buckling under pressure from privately owned universities, many of whom are seeking to increase the number of yearly admissions into their schools.

Specifically, Chika, a former Polytechnic lecturer, said it was highly disappointing that JAMB could succumb to pressure form private institutions, whom he alleged have long pushed for cut-off marks to be lowered.

“Let me even open up. This decision was taken because of   private universities, they usually need to admit the children of the rich, who are not ready to work hard”, he said.

Why EFCC is after Patience Jonathan –Presidency

Why EFCC is after Patience Jonathan –Presidency

— 4th October 2017

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

The Presidency has said former First Lady, Patience Jonathan is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) because she has some “stolen items” in her possession.

Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, said this on her twitter handle @Laurestar, yesterday.

Mrs Jonathan had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, to intervene in what she referred to as ‘witch-hunt.’

The former first lady had accused EFCC acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, of bias and intimidation as well as spreading falsehood and propaganda against her, and asked that he be called to order.

Reacting to the claims of the former first lady, Onochie said EFCC is only attracted to “those who have stolen items.”

In a series of tweets, Onochie wrote: “Madam, under your (administration), oops, your husband’s (administration), perversion of the course of justice was standard. Under @MBuhari’s (administration), it’s forbidden.

“Again, there must be some things about you that attract @officialEFCC. EFCC is only attracted to those who have stolen items. Do you have?”