NEED
Presidency: Niger Delta Avengers’ threat unnecessary
File Photo The Presidency on Sunday reacted to the threat by the Niger Delta Avengers to bomb oil installations if some demands were not met by federal government, saying the recent threat of force by the Avengers is unnecessary. It, however, said it was curious that the threat was coming barely 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari met with the leadership of the Niger Delta and Ijaw National Congress (INC), at the State House, Abuja and the germane issues, especially call for restructuring of the federation, and the inauguration of a Board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), had been thrashed out. A release on Sunday by the Media Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina, stressed that the media was Sunday awash with threats and demands by a group, Niger Delta Avengers, to...
CMD: Lafia specialist hospital meets requirements for teaching hospital
The Chief Medical Director of the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Dr Ikrama Hassan, has said that ‘DASH has fulfilled all requirements for a Teaching Hospital take off in Lafia.’ Hassan said this at the National Assembly during the public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Health, as part of the procedures for the passage of the bill, seeking the establishment of a teaching hospital for the medical college of the federal university; a bill sponsored by the former governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura. Dr Hassan explained the situation on the ground saying that it is a ‘win-win situation’, adding that the federal government does not need to put in so much as adequate infrastructure, equipment and manpower are already on the ground. ‘If the federal government gives the additional neede...
Chelsea legend Michael Essien extends role with FC Nordsjaelland
Former Ghana and Chelsea star Michael Essien has extended his coaching contract with Danish Superligaen side FC Nordsjaelland until 2023. According to FC Nordsjaelland manager Flemming Pedersen the former Real Madrid enforcer has lived up to expectations on the touchline much to the delight of the technical handlers and he is now certain of continuing his cherished coaching role at the Right to Dream Park. “Michael Essien has chosen to extend with us until the summer of 2023. We have just looked at each other in the first year, but it has been a no-brainer for him, and he told me that he likes to be here,” Pedersen confirmed Essien’s new deal to Sn.dk as quoted by kickgh.com. “We need Michael, and he gets even more focus on the individual focus. Both on the field, but also off. He can give...
Romelu Lukaku backed to succeed Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich
Former Belgium striker Emile Mpenza has tipped Romelu Lukaku to succeed Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich. The 28-year-old has excelled at Inter, scoring 64 goals in just 95 matches since joining the Serie A side from Manchester United in 2019. The forward has a similar record for the national team, having struck 63 times in 96 caps for the Rode Duivels, including three at Euro 2020. Mpenza has been amazed by the ex-Chelsea and Anderlecht player’s development and believes Bayern would be smart to look at him if they need to replace Poland sensation Lewandowski following his 48-goal campaign in Germany. “Romelu’s strength in a duel and his speed are outstanding. That makes it so difficult for the defenders against him,” Mpenza told Sport Bild. “If they go into a duel with him, he uses his...
Canada, Germany, EU, others funding farming in northeast Nigeria
The People and Government of Canada, the European Union Trust Fund for Africa, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Norway and the Kingdom of Sweden are funding the 2021 rainy season farming in troubled North-east of Nigeria. The funding, which is implemented through the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), is providing farming inputs to 65,800 farmers in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States adversely affected by over a decade Boko Haram insurgency. A statement on Friday by FAO recognized that the rainy season farm cultivation is critical to food production in Nigeria, as it ensures food availability and income generation, especially for smallholder and low-income households. The statement read: “...
Amnesty: Nigerian government highly sensitive to criticism
The country director of Amnesty International (AI) Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, says the federal government is “highly sensitive to criticism” and only focuses on appearances. Ojigho stated this on Thursday while addressing the topic “Is Freedom of Speech in Danger in Nigeria?” during a virtual conversation, tagged ‘Thursday Talks’. The virtual conversation, which is a monthly programme focused on engaging thought leaders, was moderated by Adeboye Adegoke, senior programme manager at Paradigm Initiative. The AI country director described the government’s ban on Twitter and its proposed amendment to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) code as attempts to gag criticism. “What we are seeing is a government that is highly sensitive to criticism and, as such, seeks to work more on the public re...
Imo: Army chief asks troops to redouble effort in fighting IPOB
The chief of army staff, Faruk Yahaya, has asked troops deployed in Imo to redouble their effort in the fight against the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The army chief who made the call while he visited the troops said he was in the state to have an assessment of the security situation. There has been a series of attacks in Imo in recent weeks. IPOB has been accused of perpetrating the attacks, but the group has continued to deny the allegation. In a statement on Wednesday, Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, said the army chief also hailed the troops for their resilience. “The Chief of Army Staff ( COAS) Maj Gen Faruk Yahaya has lauded the resilience and doggedness of troops of 34 Brigade and operatives of other security agencies in turning the tide of the recent spate of...
Senate vows to expose MDAs refusing to account for public funds
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that the upper chamber will publish the names of government agencies that have refused to appear before the Public Accounts Committee to defend the interrogations of the Auditor-General for the Federation in the 2015 report. Lawan made this known in his remarks after the Senate considered the report of the Committee on Public Accounts on the annual report of the Auditor-General for the Federation on the accounts of the Federation for the year ended 31st December, 2015. According to the Senate President, any public official that refuses to account for public funds at their disposal must be shown the way out of office. He said, “This is one of our major responsibilities as a parliament, to hold the executive to account. “[And] whoever is given t...
Anambra election: PDP aspirant rules out consensus candidate
File Photo The aspirant, Godwin Maduka, a professor and founder of Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Center, U.S., said this when he spoke with reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, after a stakeholders meeting. He said it was unimaginable for any of the 16 aspirants to step down before the Saturday’s primaries. “Some of the aspirants will come to you and say let’s talk. They will say, you don’t need to be in politics. What are you looking for? “I will tell them, are you going to take the governorship title and allow me to work? I will allow you to do that. “Let me work on my ten point agenda-education, ICT, Agriculture, Women and Youth empowerment, solar energy, transportation and all that. I don’t think consensus is possible,” he said. Maduka said he was prepared for the party’s primary elec...
Gianluigi Buffon: Why I turned down Champions League for Parma
Gianluigi Buffon has said he rejected ‘two opportunities to even win the Champions League’ so that he could help Parma come back into Serie A and hasn’t lost hope of a spot at the 2022 World Cup. The 43-year-old shot-stopper signed the two-year contract and will be presented to the media this evening after leaving Juventus for the club where his career first started as a teenager. “I have many memories, above all the motivation and hope is to write a few more important pages in the history books of this club, and I know I can do it,” Buffon told Sky Sport Italia. “That is the main reason I returned here, along with the other 999 reasons! I felt such strong emotions, as an emotional reaction is the only way to keep delivering at this level at my age. “I knew Parma would give me something th...
Gunmen kill APC chieftain in Ondo
File Photo A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Hon Bamidele Isibor, has been killed by gunmen. The APC leader was shit dead along Ifon-Imoru road in Ose Local Government Area of the state while returning to Imoru after a political function. The state publicity secretary of the party, Mr Alex Kalejaiye confirmed the incident in a statement issued yesterday. He said the late APC leader who was a member of the State Executive Committee of the party was atacked in company of others, on his way from Imoru to Ifon. According to the spokesman of the party, the deceased died of gunshot wounds on Monday. “The party condemns the violent attack on its stalwart which led to his painful exit at the time the party is warming up for its congress,” he said. Kaleyaiye n...
418 police officers commissioned as ASPs in Wudil
A total of 418 cadet officers who have completed their training at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, have been commissioned as Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP). In his remarks at the colourful Passing Out Parade ceremony held on Tuesday at the premises of the Academy, President Mohammed Buhari reminded the commissioned officers of their responsibilities, saying they were commissioned at a time the country was in need of their services The president, who was represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Maigari Dingyadi, enjoined the ASPs to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently while asking them to shun all acts of corruption in the course of their duty He declared that his administration has been committed to the security of all Nigerians at all time and h...
