By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters has dismissed the alleged recruitment of de-redicalised Boko Haram ex-fighters into the Nigerians military.

The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu described the information being peddled on social media as false and misleading, urging Nigerians to disregard it in its entirety.

According to him, DHQ wishes to state that the claims are not only bereft of truth, but laced with mediocrity emanating from poorly researched and uninformed position.

Contrary to his claims, no Boko Haram ex-fighter has been recruited into the Nigerian military and no such plan is in the offing.

The de-radicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration programme is a Federal Government programme conducted under the auspices of Operation Safe Corridor as a non-kinetic operation.

Nigerias de-radicalization model is a very effective one, targeted at low risk combatants and has become a classical example in the Lake Chad Basin Region and West Africa, he said.

The defence spokesperson further disclosed that over 250 repentant insurgents, who willingly abandoned their struggle and surrendered to federal troops, had been de-radicalised, rehabilitated and re-integrated into the society.

He explained that Nigerias de-radicalisation model was in tandem with global standard as being done in Algeria, Colombia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, where persons involved in violent extremism have been de-radicalised and rehabilitated.

So far in Nigeria, the de-radicalized ex-fighters are doing well in their respective communities, as no adverse report has been recorded against the de-radicalized repentant ex-fighters by Operation Safe Corridors monitoring unit.

There has not been report of molestation or harassment of any sort against them by members of the communities, where they are resettled.

As a matter of verifiable fact, the reintegrated ex- fighters are doing well in their various endeavours and are positively impacting on their respective communities.

It is also expedient to state, that the Federal Government of Nigeria has continued to prosecute BHT/ISWAP suspects in courts of competent jurisdiction and over 500 terrorists have so far been convicted.

Meanwhile, the next round of prosecution of another batch of terrorism suspects is due to commence shortly.

The Defence Headquarters reiterates its commitment to ensuring a well motivated, trained and equipped Armed Forces that is professionally responsive to national security commitments, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Maj-Gen. Muktar Mohammed-Bunza, Commandant, Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria presenting a medal to an athlete from Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Zaria at the closing ceremony of Third NMS Sports Week held at the NMS playing ground on Saturday

By Mohammed Lawal
Brig.-Gen. Adeyinka Laguda, Commandant, Warrant Officers Academy, on Saturday urged Nigerians to use sports to mend sour relationship towards promoting national cohesion.

He stated this while declaring close the 3rd Nigerian Military School (NMS) Sports Week held at the school sports ground in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Laguda described sports as a critical factor that would not only keep individuals physically fit but also facilitate togetherness.

He said that sports and physical activities remained a routine training in the Army, adding that Boys of the NMS aspiring to join the Armed Forces of Nigeria must imbibe the tenet of being physically fit.

It is in this light that the Nigerian Army Training Directorate makes provision and emphasises on the need for regular physical training for personnel in the service.

Today, one of the import of the physical fitness requirements of the policy directive is the Sports Week which has been organised by the school in order to promote and enhance the physical fitness and mental development of the Boys.

It is without doubt that the tournament has enable the school to discover more talents in different sports that will represent the school in Inter-Command/Nigerian Military School Games, Kaduna State Schools Competition and even at the national level, he said.

Laguda noted with satisfaction that all the events were keenly competed for by the representatives of different training companies.

While appreciating the Boys for putting extra-ordinary efforts to win and bring laurels for their repetitive companies, the Commandant said such efforts would help to foster better team spirit and healthy competition.

He said: Today, we saw a fashion and uncommon desire through dexterity displayed by the Boys in order to bring honour and glory to their companies.

However, in every organised tournament, there will always be a champion and at the end of this competition, Lagos company has shown the greatest zeal and commitment, thereby emerged champions.

Boys of Nigerian Military School (NMS) in a Tug-of-War during the closing ceremony of NMS Third Sports Week held at the school in Zaria on Saturday.

Laguda saluted other training companies for putting up good and healthy fights throughout the competition, advising that as soldiers they should imbibe the spirit of regular training and sporting activities not only for competitions.

He commended the Commandant, NMS, Maj-Gen. Muktar Mohammed-Bunza for effectively piloting the training and administrative affairs of the military school within the ideals and expectations of the Nigerian Army.

The Commandant has repackaged the NMS to become a darling baby of the Chief of Army Staff and also a proud entity of all the products of this great institution of learning.

Looking around the entire school environment, the serenity is laudable and commendable, please sir, keep up the good work.

To the Boys, you must take full advantage of the enormous training and learning facilities made available for your progress and prospects in life.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the end of the the week long competition, Lagos Company emerged overall winners with 12 Gold, seven Silver and six Bronze.

Enugu Company came second with nine Gold, nine Silver and four Bronze while Zaria company clutched third position with seven Gold, 12 Silver and 11 Bronze.

NAN also reports that invited schools for the closing ceremony included; Federal Government Girls College, Zaria, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Demonstration Secondary School, Foundation Science School, Zaria and Faith Academy, Zaria.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Afonne

Nine prominent Nigerians including First Lady Aisha Buhari and Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shuaibu, have bagged the Maiden Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Pillar of Sports Award, for their role in youth and sports development.

The awards presented by Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, Vice Chancellor, AAU, Ekpoma, Edo State, also saw billionaire businessman Prince Ned Nwoko, Osun State Governor Mr Gboyega Oyetola and former Oyo Governor Alao Akala, honoured with the same award.

Other awardees were Engr. Gideon Ikhine, a PDP Governorship Aspirant in Edo, Speaker of Edo House of Assembly, Mr Frank Okiye, and Chief Ken Imasuagbon, proprietor of Pace Setters Schools, as well as Mr Brown Ebewele, former Edo Commissioner for Sports.

Prof. Onimawo said the awardees deserved to be honoured going by their pedigree and contributions to sports development in the state and in the country.

We looked at their pedigree and what they have been doing for sports; take the case of deputy governor of Edo State, as a deputy governor he plays for Bendel Insurance Football Club as a team member.

Is it Brown Ebewele? This is someone who has contributed his quota in sports as commissioner for sports; Ned Nwodo is building stadium somewhere.

These individuals have done so well in the area of youth and sports development when you look at them one after the other.

Chief Imasuagbon popularly known as the rice man is supporting sports everywhere in Edo State, so we dont just give award because somebody has money; if it were for money, we know people to contact.

Some of them are not sportsmen but they like sports and they contribute to its development, so, they deserve the award, Onimawo said.

Onimawo who was decorated with a special belt by the Karate Association in Edo State also commended the awardees for donating to the universitys N500 million endowment fund for the construction of a mini stadium.

The stadium the VC said when completed would have an indoor sports hall facilities and also a tartan track for athletics.

We will have an indoor sports hall where we can play badminton, table tennis and then, develop a new arena for hockey, volleyball and handball, these are things we want develop.

My vision is that by the time we are leaving office, all round development of sports must have taken place, he added.

PDP Governorship Aspirant Ikhine who dedicated the award to the youths of the state, noted that sports epitomizes so many things in the development of many nation especially when taken from the grassroots.

He said that sporting activities usually determined the progress, tenacity and focus of any individual.

Like I always say what makes up for a great nation is the ability to fail and rise from the failing; people dont really see the dignity in failing because each time you fail it builds up your muscle to remain focus in what you are doing.

Sports is not all about winning, sports is all about taking off, failing and rising to win. The greatest of men in sports Mohammed Ali was not Mohammed Ali because he kept winning all his fight but how he always comeback each time he was knocked out.

So, we should train our children especially in the University to be able to retrace their steps whenever they fail; that is what builds up the muscle for a great nation and as sportsmen and sportswomen we must train and retrain ourselves to remain very competent for any competition.

Prof. Felix Okokhere who received the award on behalf of Aisha Buhari and Mr Okiye, the Edo House of Assembly Speaker said the award was an indication that sports development and people go hand-in-hand.

This University is located in a place where talents abound; Super Eagles players Victor Osihmen and Odion Ighalo are from this environment and we want to encourage more of their likes to come up.

Okokhere who is a member of the award committee said the award is not about grandstanding but bringing development to the grassroots.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that businessman Dr Fola Akinsonun received the award on behalf of Gov. Oyetola. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters has dismissed the alleged recruitment of de-redicalised Boko Haram ex-fighters into the Nigerians military.

The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu described the information being peddled on social media as false and misleading, urging Nigerians to disregard it in its entirety.

According to him, DHQ wishes to state that the claims are not only bereft of truth, but laced with mediocrity emanating from poorly researched and uninformed position.

Contrary to his claims, no Boko Haram ex-fighter has been recruited into the Nigerian military and no such plan is in the offing.

The de-radicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration programme is a Federal Government programme conducted under the auspices of Operation Safe Corridor as a non-kinetic operation.

Nigerias de-radicalization model is a very effective one, targeted at low risk combatants and has become a classical example in the Lake Chad Basin Region and West Africa, he said.

The defence spokesperson further disclosed that over 250 repentant insurgents, who willingly abandoned their struggle and surrendered to federal troops, had been de-radicalised, rehabilitated and re-integrated into the society.

He explained that Nigerias de-radicalisation model was in tandem with global standard as being done in Algeria, Colombia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, where persons involved in violent extremism have been de-radicalised and rehabilitated.

So far in Nigeria, the de-radicalized ex-fighters are doing well in their respective communities, as no adverse report has been recorded against the de-radicalized repentant ex-fighters by Operation Safe Corridors monitoring unit.

There has not been report of molestation or harassment of any sort against them by members of the communities, where they are resettled.

As a matter of verifiable fact, the reintegrated ex- fighters are doing well in their various endeavours and are positively impacting on their respective communities.

It is also expedient to state, that the Federal Government of Nigeria has continued to prosecute BHT/ISWAP suspects in courts of competent jurisdiction and over 500 terrorists have so far been convicted.

Meanwhile, the next round of prosecution of another batch of terrorism suspects is due to commence shortly.

The Defence Headquarters reiterates its commitment to ensuring a well motivated, trained and equipped Armed Forces that is professionally responsive to national security commitments, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Dutch police arrested a suspect in the stabbing of three teenagers in a busy shopping street in The Hague, the citys police force said.

Following the stabbing incident in Grote Marktstraat, a 35-year-old man has just been arrested in the centre of The Hague. The man has no fixed place of residence, police said on Twitteron Saturday.

He will be transferred to a police station where he will be questioned.

The three people injured, two 15-year-old girls and a 13-year-old boy, were all discharged from hospital late on Friday.

The attack caused panic in The Hague as it happened just hours after a man stabbed two people to death in London.

Police initially said they were looking for a man, about 45 to 50 years old, in a grey jogging suit.

But in a later update police spokeswoman Marije Kuiper said they did not yet have a description of the suspect, adding the initial statement was wrong.

Images on social media showed shoppers running in panic away from the scene on a nighttime retail street lit by Christmas fairy lights.

I saw two girls screaming and running away. A man fled. He jumped very athletically over benches to get away. He looked like a cheetah, one witness told broadcaster NOS.

People were trying to get away but that didnt work. I was shocked.

A similar stabbing occurred in Amsterdam a year ago when two US citizens were wounded in a knife attack that prosecutors say had a terrorist motive.

Source: NAN

By Stephen Adeleye

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Sunday congratulated Sen. Smart Adeyemi for his victory at Saturdays Kogi West re-run Senatorial District poll announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed issued in Lokoja, described the victory as a collective manifestation of intellectual, moral and cultural virtues, and mandate given by the good people of Kogi West.

Bello commended the APC supporters and the people of Kogi West for exercising their civic rights in a peaceful manner.

He also lauded INEC officials and security agencies for doing their best within the ambit of the law to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the re-run.

Bello restated his commitment to use his second term for groundbreaking developmental strides in all parts of the state, while expressing his gratitude to the people for their support for his administration.

The APC as a party is particularly grateful to the people of Kogi West for their peaceful conduct at the polls and embracing the promise of the party to work assiduously to ensure development of the area and the state in general.

Now that we are having all three APC senators representing Kogi at the National Assembly, my administration will work in synergy with them and other APC lawmakers to attract more projects to our state, to make life more meaningful for its citizens, Bello said.

NAN reports that the returning officer, Prof. Olajide Lawal, announced on Saturday that Adeyemi polled 88,373 votes to defeat the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dino Melaye who recorded 62,133 votes.

INEC had a week ago declared the election inconclusive due to the margin between Adeyemi and Melaye, which was lower than the number of registered voters in 53 polling units of the 20 registration areas in the zone where elections were cancelled.

Source: NAN

By Aminu Garko

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Niger Command, has arrested one suspect with 1,072 kg of substances suspected to be marijuana in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.

The NDLEAs Commander in the state, Mrs Sylvia Egwunwoke, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Minna on Saturday.

Egwunwoke said the 56-year-old suspect is from Bangi village in Mariga Local Government Area.

Egwunwoke disclosed that the suspect, who had just finished his jailed term on Oct. 8for similar offence, was arrested following through intelligence report that the suspect was transporting the prohibited weeds to Sokoto state.

(The suspect) was arrested by the command last year along Kontagora with 64kg of Indian Hermp and was convicted by a court and served one year jail term.

The command will, however, not relent in curbing the activities of drug peddlers in the state and the nation at large, she said.

She appealed to members of the public to always report any suspicious activity of drugs peddlers to relevant authorities, to rid the state of drug trafficking and its attendant crises.

We have sincereached out to traditional and religious leaders to mobilize residents to give relevant information on those in the illegal business in their midst, she said.

Source: NAN

At least 14 people including teenagers have been shot dead at a church in Burkina Faso during Sunday mass.

Several other people were wounded in the attack which took place in the village of Foutouri in the Est region of the country.

Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kabore tweeted: I condemn the barbaric attack against the Protestant Church of Hantoukoura in the department of Foutouri, which left 14 dead and several wounded.

I offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded.

An Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso this year has ignited ethnic and religious tensions, leaving large parts of the country ungovernable, especially in northern areas bordering Mali.

Source: NAN

A bloody weekend clash between Mexican security forces and drug-cartel gunmen left 21 dead and a shell-shocked city looking like a war zone.

The violence began at noon Saturday when a convoy of cartel trucks stormed into the city of Villa Union in the state of Coahuila, an hour south of the Texas border, and opened fire on the municipal building, which houses the mayors office.

The move prompted an hourlong gunfight between the cartel and security forces with photos of the aftermath showing the town hall (above) and a pickup truck with Texas plates riddled with bullet holes. On the drivers side door are the letters CDN from the Spanish for Cartel of the Northeast.

Four officers and 10 gunmen were killed in the initial exchange of gunfire, with the other seven cartel members gunned down Sunday by Mexican officers who pursued the convoy after its members fled the city, officials said.

Miguel ngel Riquelme Sols, the governor of Coahuila, told reporters Sunday that the government reacted decisively to the attack. He toured the scene, looking at police vehicles left riddled with bullet holes in the assault.

State officials said forces were deployed by land and air, so as not to let the cowardly attack go unpunished, according to a statement released by Coahuila Sunday.

But the attack dealt another blow to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has failed to curtail the cartels, despite promising to do so when he took office a year ago.

Mexican security forces were left red-faced on Oct. 17 when they captured the son of jailed drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman only to be forced to release him hours later when cartel thugs turned the town of Culiacan into a war zone.

Lopez Obrador has felt added pressure from the United States following the Nov. 4 massacre of three women and six children with dual American and Mexican citizenship who were living in a breakaway Mormon community in the state of Sonora.

US Attorney General William Barr is scheduled to visit Mexico next week to discuss security issues.

Tensions between the US and Mexico intensified last week when President Trump announced that he plans to designate Mexican cartels as terror groups and start hitting them with drones.

Lopez Obrador said Friday he would not accept any foreign intervention to deal with the gangs.

Mexican forces vowed to remain in Villa Union for several days to restore calm to the rattled city and to keep the cartel from storming the city again.

These groups wont be allowed to enter state territory, officials in Coahuila said.

Source: NAN

By Nicholas Obisike

Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on Sunday lost 1-3 to Pyramid Football Club of Egypt in the ongoing Confederation of African Football (CAF) group stage match.

Rangers took the lead in the 28th minute from Ibrahim Olawoyin but had Tope Olusesi red carded before the interval.

Rangers goal lasted after the interval till Mohammed Salama levelled things for the visitor in the 57th minute from the penalty spot.

Mohammed Eldin made it 2-1 for the visitors in the 86th minute before Islam Attia rounded it 3-1 in the 90th minute of the match.

In his reaction, Rangers Coach, Salisu Yusuf said that his players did well but needed to believe in themselves.

We were doing well until the red card to Tope Olusesi. The technical crew is going to work on that before our next match, he said.

Pyramid Coach, Sebastine Desabre said that they met a strong team in Rangers but took their chances once it came.

Rangers was up to the game until they were reduced to ten men and they slacked back, Desabre said.

The Flying Antelopes captain, Uwadiegwu Ugwu said that they did well and would keep improving.

He noted that the technical crew really improved the team and believed that they would do better when the technical crew handled them subsequently.

Rangers will next week travel to Egypt to play another North African team, Al Masry Soccer Club.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rangers technical crew was sacked last week after three consecutive losses.

Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusufu took over the team barely one week to the CAF tournament. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Chimezie Anaso

A yet to be identified woman has been killed by a hit-and-run driver in Awka, Anambra State.

The accident occurred on Sunday at about 11:05 p.m. at Regina Caeli Junction on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

Mr Andrew Kumapayi, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra, said the woman died on the spot.

Kumapayi said the corpse had been deposited at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital morgue, Awka.

The sector commander reiterated the call for pedestrians to be careful on the road, especially during festive periods, because of increased vehicular movement.

My advice to road users especially pedestrians during this season is to be extra careful when crossing the road.

They should endeavour to use the pedestrian bridge provided for them if any, and if there is none, they should look left, right and left again to make sure that the road is free before crossing.

Let them wear reflective clothes when walking in the night so that they can be seen by oncoming vehicles, he said.

Source: NAN

By Rabiu Sani

The Borno State Government said it had donated patrol vehicles to members of Cameroonian vigilante to enhance the fight against insurgents in border communities of the state.

Mr Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser on Public Relation and Media Strategy to Gov. Babagana Zulum, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday in Maiduguri.

Gusau dismissed reports indicating that the vehicles donated by the state government to 150 members of the Cameroonian vigilante violated Nigerias sovereignty and military protocols.

He explained that representatives of the government presented vehicles to the Cameroonian vigilante in concert with the Headquarters, 5 Brigade Nigerian Army Cell of the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Damasak, Mobbar Local Government Area of the state.

Gusau noted that Zulum was a member of the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum established with support of the Federal Government and UN Security Council Committee on counter terrorism.

He added that the gesture was in line with the forum spirit to enhance cooperation on cross border security among member states.

Gusau said: Gov. Zulum operational arrangements with the 150 Cameroonian vigilante happened with full involvement of the Nigerian Armys component in the MNJTF currently fighting Boko Haram in eight regions affected by the insurgents attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republics.

The Cameroonian vigilantes are operating in parts of northern Borno located in the shores of the Lake Chad, and they are operating under the coordination and command of the Nigerian Army Cell of the MNJTF.

One of the key benefits of having these vigilantes is the latitude to generate and pass on intelligence from border communities in Cameroon and to also pursue insurgents who occasionally flee from Nigerian territories to border communities in Cameroon where Nigerian troops may be constrained to engage them.

The main objective of the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum is to ease cross border cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the affected countries. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Victor Okoye

Enyimba International Football Club of Aba on Sunday went down to a 2-0 defeat against Moroccan side, Hassania Agadir in their CAF Confederation Cup Group D clash at the Stade Al Inbiate.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Karim El Berkaoui opened scoring for the home team in the 14th minute, while Senegalese forward Malick Cisse added the second five minutes later.

Enyimba battled hard to get back into the game but were unable to breach the hosts defence.

In the other Group D game, San Pedro of Cote d lvoire were held to a 0-0 at home by Algerian club, Paradou A.C.

The Aba-based club side will host San Pedro at the Enyimba International Stadium on Dec. 8 in a Match day two encounter.

Rangers International FC of Enugu also lost 1-3 at home to Pyramid FC of Egypt. (NAN)

Source: NAN

New Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho wants to take the club led by England striker Harry Kane to the next level by winning trophies and said he would love to stay in the job for at least as long as his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino.

The much-travelled 56-year-old Portuguese was appointed as Spurs head coach on Wednesday the day after Pochettino, who spent 5-1/2 years in charge of the north London club, was sacked with his team struggling in 14th place in the Premier League.

However, the Argentine fan-favourite failed to deliver any silverware despite having a squad full of internationals and that is something Mourinho is determined to change as he prepares for the trip to West Ham United on Saturday.

Asked if he had to keep hold of Kane to bring success to Tottenham he told a group of reporters at the clubs training ground: When you try to buy Kane its an impossible mission. Hes one of the best strikers in the world.

You just need his team England or Tottenham to go with him to the next level. Whats the next level? Titles.

I think he needs to win with us, with England, he needs to win something to highlight the quality that he has as a player, the goals he scores, what he brings to the team.

Kane, 26, has bagged 131 goals in 189 Premier League games for Spurs and has netted 32 in 45 matches for England.

With the squad we have, with the quality of the structure of the club, we can have the same ambitions as clubs potentially bigger than us, added Mourinho. I dont want my players to fear anything. We go for everything against everyone.

The Portuguese coach usually never stays too long in one job and only in his first spell at Chelsea did he reach a fourth season, though he was sacked in September 2007 after six games.

However, he said he wanted to remain at Spurs for longer than that and would like to be there until hes at least 61.

I would love to stay for many years. I say many years but I know realistically how football is, but I would like to do a Mauricio (Pochettino), 5-1/2 years, it would be amazing. Maybe (this is) the last job (in England).

Source: NAN

By Olawale Alabi
The Abuja-based chapter of Egbe Ogbomoso Ajisegiri, a socio-cultural group, has urged Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, not to relent in carving a niche for himself.

The group pointed out that it was noteworthy that the Minister has hit the ground running in his assignment as expected, saying this was not unexpected in view of his pedigree.

The group gave the charge at a reception held in Abuja on Friday night for Dare and several other Ogbomoso indigenes in the executive and legislative arms of government.

While we wish you great success during your tenure, just as we thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the others who found you worthy, we must also tell you to see your appointment as a public trust.

Given your pedigree and background, we know you will discharge your duties creditably, but we can only tell you not to relent.

Already, you have been doing well, with recent positive developments in both the countrys youth and sports sectors, but you can still do more, the Chairman of the group, Olayiwola Akangbe, said.

He said Dare should not fail to stand out as a valiant, pointing out that Ogbomoso is a land of valiants which has produced the likes of late Ladoke Akintola.

Ogbomoso is a land of several valiants, both late and living, such as Ibrahim Taiwo, Shittu Alao, Benjamin Adekunle, Akintola, Bayo Alao-Akala and Oladipo Popoola.

We have produced several distinguished Nigerians, and you need to sustain the credibility Ogbomoso people are known for by leaving a mark in the area of youth and sports development, Akangbe added.

While urging Dare to continue with efforts aimed at empowering Nigerian youths nationwide, whom he said were presently in dire need, Akangbe however appealed to the Federal Government on infrastructure.

Even though we commend government on the ongoing reconstruction work on the Ilorin-Ibadan road, we will however remind government that the Ogbomoso axis of the road deserves even greater attention, as well as an urgent urban renewal programme for Ogbomoso metropolis, he said.

Speaking also, Mr Bolaji Adigun, who represented former Oyo State Gov. Alao-Akala at the occasion, said Dares appointment was an opportunity for them to take Ogbomoso to greater heights.

This is the time for us, and I mean all of those in government and from Ogbomoso, to take Ogbomoso to where is is supposed to be. It is a task we must all get down to now, he said.

While saying the opening prayers at the event, Amos Adamu, a former Director-General of the defunct National Sports Commission (NSC), prayed for Gods wisdom for Dare to deliver.

He noted that the Minister would also be needing the support of all Nigerians in view of the huge task ahead of him.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that others honoured at the occasion by the Egbe Ogbomoso Ajisegiri include Olubode Oke, Abdulfatai Buhari, Samson Adegoke, Williams Adeleye and Olusegun Adekunle.

Egbe Ogbomoso Ajisegiri, which was formed in 1985, is an affiliate of Ogbomoso Parapo Worldwide.

Source: NAN

The U.S. has raised its travel advisory for Burkina Faso to level 4, advising citizens not to travel to the country due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.

In an advisory, the State Department said it had ordered all family members of U.S. government employees not of age to leave the West African country and said it had authorised the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. staff and family members.

Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Burkina Faso. Terrorists may conduct attacks anywhere with little or no warning, the State Department said.

It added that the U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens throughout most of the country.

Targets could include hotels, restaurants, police stations, customs offices, areas at or near mining sites, places of worship, military posts, and schools.

Kidnapping and hostage taking is a threat throughout the country.

On May 10, a hostage rescue operation freed four international hostages that had been kidnapped in Burkina Faso and in neighboring Benin.

Burkina Faso has maintained a state of emergency in the entire East and Sahel regions, the provinces of Kossi and Sourou in the Boucle de Mouhoun region.

Other restricted areas are the province of Kenedougou in the Hauts Bassins region, the province of Loroum in the North region, and the province of Koulpelogo in the Center-East region.

Burkina Faso is among the worlds 10 poorest nations, according to the United Nations.

It joins warring countries such as Somalia and Syria in the level 4 category.

Venezuela and Bolivia were also added to the list this year.

Source: NAN

Police in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has reported that a woman identified as Halima Juma, was arrested with 23 ATM cards allegedly tucked inside her private parts.

According to k24TV the 23-year-old was suspected of stealing money from bank users after illegally obtaining their ATM cards.

She was arrested on Tuesday at a bank ATM gallery in Mbagala area of Dar es Salaam when a bank official saw her use different ATM cards of the same bank to withdraw money from ATMs.

After being busted, Halima, a resident of Chalinze, tried to escape, but she was cornered by the banks security guards, who handed her over to police, the medium reported.

A body search conducted on her yielded 23 ATM cards that had been hidden in her private parts.

The cards were of nine different banks, including Equity, Diamond Trust Bank, CFC Stanbic, NBC, CRDB (the countrys leading bank), NMB, Amana, Posta and ACB.

Source: NAN

By Felicia Imohimi

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has frowned against the rate at which the national donkey herd is being decimated.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the group expressed its support for the Under the Skin campaign by the Donkey Sanctuary.

Suleiman commended the Donkey Sanctuary, a UK based International NGO and the Nigeria Now Magazine, for launching a global campaign on Thursday.

The campaign is tagged Under the Skin: the impact of the global trade in donkey skins in West Africa.

He said the campaign was aimed at rescuing the estranged donkey population and protect the vulnerable donkey-reliant communities.

Suleiman stated that transforming the lives of donkeys in Nigeria, and the people depending on them in particular, for their livelihood should be a matter of urgency.

The current demand for donkey skin by the Chinese Ejiao manufacturers has greatly endangered the global donkey population and is taking a huge toll on the economy of northern Nigerian communities.

It is regrettable that donkeys from northern Nigeria are traded or stolen in large numbers as the demand for their skins, driven by the production of ejiao, a traditional Chinese remedy increases.

The CNG has resolved to identify with the Donkey Sanctuarys vision for a world where donkeys live free from suffering and their contribution to humanity fully valued, Suleiman stated.

He complained that the donkey, which has served a vast northern Nigerian population in agriculture, industry and transportation, was now threatened by an inhumane skin trade that risks its extinction with an attendant rise in poverty level on the deprived communities.

According to him, the first move of the group is to domesticate the donkey sanctuary campaign across all the states and remote communities of northern Nigeria, which is affected most by the deplorable donkey skin trade.

We have begun the process of rendering under the skin global report into native languages for easier understanding by the Northern Nigerian locals.

We shall then set up local community units, first in six identified most vulnerable states of Yobe, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi to sensitise the locals and block the trade routes as well as sales channels.

We also plan to immediately set up an operations office in Kaduna and to draw up a comprehensive framework for awareness and advocacy activities, networking and training on the welfare of donkeys and the people, whose lives they touch, he said.

The CNG, he said, would also extend its awareness creation and advocacy through lobbying governments and media relationus to press for appropriate legislative backing. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ebere Agozie

The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) says the defeat of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by All Progressives Congress (APC) inthe Nov.16 governorship elections in Bayelsa has further confirmed its findings prior to the polls.

NGIJ made this knownin a statement issued on Tuesday by the Public Relations Officer of the Guild, Adeyemi Obadimu.

Obadimu said that the highest number of respondents to the guilds questionnaire on assessment of the Seriake Dickson administration in Bayelsa state hinted that they would vote for the APC during the governorship election.

4,140 out of 9,322 respondents representing 44.4 per cent indicated their readiness to vote APC during the Bayelsa Governance Assessment tour in September 2019.

We administered 10,000 questionnaire during our governance assessment tour to Bayelsa in fulfilling the guilds mandate of rooting for the truth and 9,322 respondents returned their questionnaire.

According to Obadimu, one of the questions in the questionnaire was: Which party do you think will win the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State?

The 4,140 respondents tipped APC which is currently the main opposition party in Bayelsa to win the Nov. 16, 2019 governorship election while 3,972 respondents 42.6 per cent felt the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP) would win.

Another 1,210 was rooting for other political parties participating in the poll.

Therefore, the result of the Bayelsa governorship election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Nov. 17, 2019 confirmed NGIJ findings in Bayelsa, he added.

Recall that INEC declared APC governorship candidate, Mr David Lyon, who polled 352,552 votes representing 68.3 per cent of 516,371 total valid votes winner while the PDP candidate garnered 143,172 votes representing 27.2 per cent.

He, however, said that the overall findings of the guilds assessment of Gov. Dicksons administration through inferences from the questionnaire and interactions with different stakeholders revealed that PDP government improved on education, health and security.

The stakeholders added that power supply and rural development were still suffering due to lack of attention from the state government.

The guild, however, advised all political office holders to focus more on people-oriented programmes and projects and be transparent in discharging their responsibilities.

It also noted that transparency and trustworthiness were the key components of leadership that engendered trust between the government and the governed.

Obadimu emphasised that leaders who failed to fulfil their electoral promises quickly lost loyalty and support of their followers, urging politicians to remember always that power belonged to the people. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Solomon Asowata

The Federal Government says it will rehabilitate the Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries to achieve local production of 360,000 MTPA of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) by 2023.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Timipre Sylva, made the disclosure at Nigeria LPG Summit 2019 in Lagos on Wednesday.

The summit, jointly organised by the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) and LPG Summit , based in Singapore has the theme, LPG: Harmonising Development and Growth in Nigeria and Africa.

The minister, who was represented by his Technical Adviser on Gas Business and Policy Implementation, Mr Justice Derefaka, said the move was part of the National Gas Policy of the government.

Sylva said the government was desirous of deepening LPG penetration in the country, noting that only about five per cent of its population were currently using LPG as energy source.

He said other plans by the government include upgrading the Lagos-Apapa LPG Plant from 4,000MT to 8,000MT storage and increasing LPG allocation to the domestic market from Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) to reduce butane/propane exports.

According to him, the government also aims to diversify supply sources with 110,160MTPA from Nigerian Petroleum Development Companys Oredo facility expected to come on stream by first quarter of 2020.

By our 2018 record, gas utilisation is being deepened by increasing LPG penetration. LPG consumption increased by about 16 per year on year.

A total of 364 LPG plants licences and approvals were issued in 2018. This is expected to give about 15 per cent rise in the nations LPG consumption based on storage capacity.

We need to deliver the much-needed energy for development and growth.

We need to explore ways and means to scale through the Nigeria energy hurdle and put in place strategic measures to address the downside issues, challenges, gaps and aggressively pursue the upside opportunities, he said.

Sylva, while lauding NLPGA for creating a platform for stakeholders to interact, noted that the government would continue to provide the enabling environment for both local and foreign investments in the sector to thrive.

Also, Mr Tony Attah, Managing Director, Nigeria LNG Ltd., said the company was committed to deepening the penetration of cooking gas to support environmental and human protection through the use of cleaner energy.

Attah, represented by Mr Abdulkadir Ahmed, Managing Director, NLNG Shipping Management Ltd (NSML), said the NLNG would continue to ensure product availability, accessibly and affordability.

He said: The company has recently began to explore the possibility of delivering LNG in addition to the LPG to the domestic market in line with the Federal Governments aspirations on gas-based industrialisation in Nigeria

With product availability and accessibility, we expect that more people will be employed in the value chain from the off takers to the major distributors and eventually retail outlets that get the products into the nooks and crannies of the nation.

Ultimately, more and more Nigerians will begin to appreciate the value that cooking gas has over other unhealthy cooking fuels and they will embrace the commodity.

On his part, Mr Michael Kelly, Deputy Managing Director, World LPG Association (WLPGA), said the organisation would support the efforts of the government to increase gas utilisation in Nigeria.

Kelly said that Nigeria was one of the 20 countries where 2.3 billion people lacked access to modern fuels.

He added that this could be addressed with the right policies and regulatory framework and cooperation between government and private investors. (NAN)

Source: NAN