Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue says he has ceased to be a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following what he called “a red card” given to him.

Ortom made this known on Monday in Makurdi shortly after swearing in a new Special Adviser on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Jerome Shimbe who replaced Mr Titus Zam, sacked on July 8.

According to him, the red card from APC will enable him to join any political party that has an ideology worthy of being adopted by his administration.

The governor stated that the strained relationship between him and the party under which he contested the 2015 governorship election in the state has left him without a party.

The governor partially dissolved his cabinet last week, retaining four out of the 16 commissioners and seven out of 19 Special Advisers.

Although, he gave no reason for the sacking of the members of the expanded cabinet members, it was reliably gathered that the sudden cabinet reshuffle might not be unconnected with the friction between him and the APC leader in the state, Sen. George Akume.

Ortom also said that the appointment of Shimbe was based on his impeccable character and proven track record of service.

He advised the new adviser to strive to justify the confidence reposed in him and open his doors to all indigenes seeking for assistance from him regardless of their political affiliation.

Responding, Shimbe thanked the governor for finding him worthy of the appointment while pledging to ensure that the governor succeeds in all his endeavours.

At least four miners were killed and six others injured in a coal mine explosion in west-central Georgia, the countrys Interior Ministry said on Monday.

The explosion occurred on early morning in the countrys Tkibuli city.

Methane explosion supposedly caused the collapse of the ceiling in the tunnel, Georgia Today reported quoting the ministry.

According to the newspaper, the injured persons were taken to the hospital and one of them was in critical condition.

An investigation has been launched.

In April, another explosion in the same mine killed six miners and injured three others.

Source:https://www.aa.com.tr/en/todays-headlines/georgia-at-least-4-miners-killed-in-mine-explosion/1205364

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army said 23 of its soldiers and eight trucks are not missing, contrary to reports.

Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu said the report was exaggerated , untrue and misleading and that theNigerian Army is on top of the situation.

The Nigerian Army wishes to state categorically that the report is not only untrue but misleading as the said report is blown out of proportion by the media.

Contrary to the report, the Nigerian Army wishes to put the record straight on the issue and assure members of the public particularly residents of the North East to disregard the report as their safety is guaranteed.

The military spokesperson confirmed that although there was an attempted attack on troops in Bama area of Borno State by suspected Boko Haram terrorists due to the bad roads where some military vehicles were stuck, the terrorists were repelled and some arrested.

There was an attempted attack on troops at Kwakwa and Chingori communities in Bama area of Borno State by suspected Boko Haram Terrorists as a result of difficult terrain where our vehicles bugged down.

The terrorists also attempted to cart away troops operational vehicles but were successfully repelled by our gallant troops with the support of the Nigerian Air Force.

About 22 members of Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised while several others escaped with gunshot wounds. Efforts are being intensified by the troops to get the fleeing members of the Boko Haram terrorists.

Chukwu said one officer and a soldier sustained injuries during the attack and they are currently receiving medical attention at the military medical facility.

He urged members of the public to disregard the report of the missing soldiers and go about their legitimate businesses as the

Source: NAN

Having agreed to move to the Serie A champions after nine years at Real Madrid, the Portuguese is putting the finishing touches to a switch in Turin.

Cristiano Ronaldo is undergoing a medical with Juventus as he finalises a sensational transfer from Real Madrid.

The striker agreed terms last week over a 100 million (88m/$117m) switch to Serie A, a move that shook the world of football in the middle of the World Cup.

Under the deal, Ronaldo will receive a bumper 30 million (26.5m/$35m) a season contract that will run for the next four years.

And, ahead of a presentation as Juves latest summer signing on Monday afternoon, he is in Turin to complete the formalities of the transfer.

Ronaldo will be put through his paces in a series of physical tests before being introduced to the world as a Bianconeri player.

On Sunday he was snapped landing at Caselle airport in the company of partner Georgina Rodriguez.

Having spent a night in new surroundings, the 33-year-old was back under the spotlight on Monday morning as he headed for his medical.

A jubilant Juve fan base got their first look at the clubs new arrival, with thousands of supporters in attendance at the J-Medical centre with many chanting Ronaldo, bring us the Champions League.

Ronaldo moves to Serie A after nine trophy and record-laden seasons at Madrid, where he arrived in turn from Manchester United in 2009.

The Portugal star lifted an incredible four Champions League trophies with the Merengue, including three in the last three seasons.

Madrid also took the Liga title twice during his time at the club, while Ronaldo was honoured with four Ballon dOr awards.

In total, the striker smashed 450 goals in 438 official Madrid games, a strike-rate of over a goal a game and a mark that establishes him as the highest scorer in Blancos history.

Goal.com

Source: NAN

Barack Obama visited his father’s ancestral village in Kenya’s South-western Siaya County on Monday and danced to some traditional music with his grandmother in his first visit to the country since leaving office.

Obama is in Kenya to launch a youth centre set up by his half sister Auma Obama.

Kenyan television showed the former U.S. president pulling his grandmother Sarah Obama, clad in traditional garb, onto the dance floor and getting down to some music.

Obama, America’s first black president and a favourite in Africa, was also shown touring the Sauti Kuu Centre, sporting a casual white shirt and a pair of shades.

Locals hoping to get a glimpse of Obama lined the roads near the centre, with one school girl telling Kenya’s NTV “I’m happy to see our elder brother come today.”

After Obama arrived in the country on Sunday, he met with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who tweeted “It was great to welcome you back @BarackObama.”

Obama will head to South Africa on Tuesday to give a key speech for Nelson Mandela’s centenary – his first major public address since leaving office.

Source: NAN

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said on Monday that it has initiated programmes under the Public-Private Partnership to address 1.7 million housing deficit in the FCT.

Malam Muhammad Bello said at the opening of the 12th Abuja Housing Show in Abuja that this initiative was in line with private sector driven housing policy.

The minister said that the Nigerian government had formulated a National Housing Policy in 1991 to ease the provision of adequate, accessible and low-cost housing for its citizens.

Bello was represented at the event by Mr Umar Shuaibu, Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Management Council (AMMMC).

The conference has its theme as: “Driving Growth and Sustainability in Nigeria Housing and Mortgage Markets-Improving Structures and Policies for Impact.

He noted that the goal of the policy was not realised due to several factors ranging from lack of political will, policy inconsistency, poor financing to weak institutional structures.

He said the policy was, therefore, amended in 2004 in which the Federal Government adopted a more market-oriented approach to housing delivery, limiting its role to that of an enabler and regulator instead of a provider.

“The limitation of the role of the public sector is to allow for more active private sector participation in direct housing provision.

“The revised policy established financial institutions and procedure that will make funds available through the primary mortgage institutions for affordable housing production.

“The new policy, therefore, acknowledged the private sector as a key partner in the delivery of housing for the country.”

The minister noted that due to the importance of housing, the Abuja Master Plan has apportioned a land area of 12,486ha for housing development, which represent 49 per cent of the total land area in the territory with 100 per cent funding by the government.

He, therefore, said since mid 2000, funds allocated to the FCTA by the Federal Government had continued to dwindle, thereby making it difficult to cater for the large population influx into the city.

Also, Mrs Amma Pepple, Former Minister, Land, Housing and Urban Development, was worried about the challenges of housing which had remained the same since she left the sector.

Pepple called on stakeholders to put more efforts in addressing the supply and demand of housing in the country.

“I go to some areas in Abuja, but discovered there are no infrastructures and landlords keep collecting rent without putting in place infrastructure for housing.

“When I visited other countries, they made available good road networks, electricity, water and others before you acquire a place.

“Government needs to participate in building projects because if it provides the land with low cost of materials, it will make it easier for Nigerians to acquire houses.”

Earlier, Mr Mustapha Boss, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said affordable and a accessible housing is human right as the constitution compels the Nigeria state to provide adequate shelter to all its citizens.

Boss, who was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Mr Gabriel Aduda, noted that access to decent and safe housing provision at affordable pricing should be a birth right for every Nigerians.

He, therefore, said that the government alone cannot do this, but need the help of private sectors to address the issue of interest rate, politicisation and mortgage financing confronting the housing sector.

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo said there was need to turn housing policies to implementation action to enable Nigerians reach optimal capacity of acquiring shelter.

Obaseki, who was represented by Mr Festus Osagie, Director-General, Edo State Liaison Office, said Nigeria have the potential to grow its housing sector with the political will it has.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the show is a forum to bring together all real estate stakeholders to discuss and explore ideas to move Nigerians housing industry to international standard.

The conference, which began in 2005, has in attendance participants from private, public, housing sector and exhibitors.

Some of them are Urban Shelter, Platinum Mortgage Bank, Federal Mortgage Bank, Haven Homes, Nigerite Limited, NMRC, Brains and Hammers and so on.

Source: NAN

Victorious France were set to return to a heroes welcome on Monday after winning the World Cup for the second time with a rollercoaster 4-2 victory over Croatia which set off chaotic celebrations at home.

Teenager Kylian Mbappe applied the coup de grace in Moscow as France, aided by an own goal and the video assistant referee, overcame determined opponents in one of the most compelling finals of the modern era.

Mbappe, just 19, scored Frances sizzling fourth goal and was voted the best young player of a tournament in which he has shown he is a superstar in the making.

The triumph also put Didier Deschamps, who captained the side to victory on home soil in 1998, alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer as only the third man to win the World Cup as a player and coach.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who cheered every goal in Moscows Luzhniki Stadium, was drenched by torrential rain during the trophy presentation and attempted to dab with the players in the changing room.

On Monday, Macron will welcome the team back to Paris and the players will make a bus parade up the Champs-Elysees avenue, where they are expected to be feted by hundreds of thousands of people.

Fans in France celebrated into the night, honking car horns and flying the tricolour flag while the Eiffel Tower was lit up in blue, white and red. However, youths also looted a Champs-Elysees store and police fired tear gas as celebrations got out of control.

There is nothing better

Deschamps, who was soaked by champagne by his overjoyed players in a chaotic press conference, said the win was just as big and just as beautiful as the 1998 triumph.

There are two things that matter one is that these 23 players are now together for life, whatever happens, and also that from now on they will not be the same again, because they are world champions, he said.

To be champions of the world as professional footballers, there is nothing better.

The breathless victory under stormy skies meant his side a balance of youthful vitality and big-tournament experience have buried the pain of their defeat in the Euro 2016 final in Paris.

We did something incredible, we made history and we are going to enjoy it, said Antoine Griezmann, who scored Frances second goal from the spot.

Were going to see our families and were going to party. Tomorrow in France will be the same, were going to party with the French people.

For Croatia, a country of just four million people, the loss was bitter but their fans took solace in the best run in the nations history, which featured a stunning win against Argentina and a semi-final victory against England.

Croatia playmaker Luka Modric was voted player of the tournament, Belgiums Thibaut Courtois was named the best goalkeeper and Harry Kane of England won the Golden Boot as top-scorer with six goals.

US President Donald Trump tweeted congratulations to France for their extraordinary soccer and also praised Russias President Vladimir Putin for his hosting of the tournament, which he described as one of the best ever.

Putin said Russia could be proud of its organisation of the event, adding that foreign visitors holding World Cup fan ID cards could have visa-free entry for the rest of 2018

Source: NAN

The French team were not the only winners of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia as the curtains were drawn on Sunday in Moscow. Other winners included Luka Modric, the magical midfielder for runners up, Croatia.

He won the FIFA Adidas Golden Ball award for guiding his team, setting the tempo, and exploiting gaps in opposition defences. He proved equally effective in the final, dictating the pace as Croatia made a fast start to the match.

The Adidas Golden Glove award went toThibaut Courtois, the goal keeper of third placed Belgium. FIFA said Belgium owed their historic third place as much to the imperious Courtois as their incisive front line and tenacious defence. The imposing keeper made the most of his large frame and outstanding reflexes to come to his sides rescue time and again. Beaten only once by eventual champions France in the semi-finals, he turned in another commanding performance in the play-off for third place.

The 19 year-old French star, Kylian Mbappe, now being compared to the legendary Pele won the FIFA Young Player Award.The teenage prodigy did not disappoint in his first world finals. The 19-year-old drew gasps of admiration from the watching world with his bursts of acceleration and searing pace. In putting two goals past Argentina he became the youngest scorer of a brace in a World Cup knockout match since Pele in 1958, while his strike in the final sealed victory for.

Belgiums Eden Hazard won theadidas Silver Ball AwardBelgium boasted the most prolific attack of the tournament, scoring 16 goals thanks in no small part to the peerless Eden Hazard, who wreaked havoc in opposition defences with his bursts of speed and his silky running on the ball. With his two assists and three goals, one of them coming in the match for third place against England, he was the main architect of Belgiums historic third place.

French hard working playmaker Antoine Griezmann won the Adidas Bronze Ball and the adidas Silver Boot.The Atletico Madrid front man played a leading role in his sides tournament triumph, scoring four goals and setting up another two, the best performance by a France player since Just Fontaine scored 13 goals at Sweden 1958. My role has changed. If I score thats great, but its not the most important thing, said the left-footed striker before the Final, where his dead-ball skills helpedwin the day.

England captain Harry Kane, with a record six goals won theadidas Golden Boot AwardHarry Kane provided proof, if it were needed, that he is one of the best finishers in the business, helping to fire England to their best finish, as semi-finalists, since Italy 1990. The Tottenham striker made a fast start to the tournament with a double against Tunisia and a hat-trick against Panama before converting from the spot against Colombia in the Round of 16.

Romelu Lukaku of Belgium, with four goals won the adidas Bronze BallWith his brace in Belgiums opener against Panama and another goal against Tunisia, Romelu Lukaku enjoyed the perfect start to the competition, though the goals dried up for him in the knockout phase.

Spain, who were despatched by hosts Russia in the Round of 16, won theFIFA Fair Play TrophyWhile Spain had a disappointing World Cup, exiting the tournament in the last 16 against hosts Russia, they can take some satisfaction from their exemplary behaviour on the pitch, where they picked up just two yellow cards in their four matches and committed a mere 34 fouls.

Source: NAN

Manny Pacquiao has called on Floyd Mayweather to come out of retirement for a rematch, saying lets do a second one after powering to his first KO win in nine years.

The fighting Philippines senator known as Pac-Man took on the dangerous Argentine WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday knowing a defeat could have lowered the curtain on one of the greatest careers in boxing history.

Instead he opened a glorious new act in a 23-year story that has seen him become the only man to move up through eight weight divisions and win world titles in all of them.

Despite racing towards his 40th birthday, Pacquiao looks like he is back to being the devastatingly quick and ruthless power-puncher who earned the sobriquet of worlds best pound-for-pound fighter between 2000 and 2010.

In 2015 Pacquiao, with a win-loss-draw record of 60-7-2, lost a unanimous points decision to the unbeaten Mayweather (50-0) in one of the richest fights in boxing history, but then needed surgery on a damaged shoulder that he claimed had restricted his movement and punching power.

After rolling back the years to pummel Matthysse into seventh-round submission, the Filipino legend is already considering the options for his next fight, which could take place as early as November or December.

Mayweather? If he decides to go back to boxing then that is the time we are going to call the shots, an effervescent Pacquiao told reporters at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur after his stunning win.

I have the belt, so its up to him. If he wants to come back in boxing lets do a second one, he grinned.

Pacquiao also highlighted British former light welterweight world champion Amir Khan as a potential opponent.

My next fight, I want to defend my belt, Pacquiao said.

He also said he would carry on fighting past his 40th birthday in December, despite the demands of juggling life in the ring with a political career outside it.

If boxing is not my passion, I would not fight again, Pacquiao said.

Its like Im addicted to boxing and I really love to fight and bring honour to my country.

Three-weight world champion Terence Crawford is another possible money-spinning bout, as is a rematch with Jeff Horn, who wrested the WBO belt from Pacquiao in an ugly contest in Brisbane a year ago.

Veteran promoter Bob Arum has also talked up a superfight with his Top Rank stables three-belt lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, but that would necessitate Pacquaio dropping back down from 147 to 140 or 135 pounds, weight divisions he has not fought at for 10 years.

But for now, the man who one day may run for president in the Philippines where he is worshipped will return to his day job in the senates legislative department where his inbox has been filling up while he was away in training camp.

Theres going to be a lot of work in the office, he said with a grin.

Source: NAN

A former Delta state governor and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has congratulated Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the All Progressives Congress candidate and winner of the Ekiti governorship election.

The gesture came as the PDP and its candidate, Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka are still sulking over the outcome of the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Sunday morning declared Fayemi as winner of the keenly contested political contest.

Uduaghan on Twitter said, Congrats to my friend, former colleague and co-director at the NIPP, Gov Kayode Fayemi.

The message on Twitter by the former Delta state governor, who administered the state from 2007-2015, is likely to raise eyebrows within his party.

Congrats my friend, former colleague and co-Director in NIPP, Governor-elect Dr. on your victory at the

Emmanuel E Uduaghan (@eeuofficial)

Some political pundits interpreted Uduaghans gesture as a confirmation of rumours that he is planning to switch allegiance to the APC.

Source: NAN