Thierry Henry suffered defeat in his first match as a head coach when his 10-man Monaco side slumped to a 2-1 loss at Strasbourg on Saturday to drop into the Ligue 1 relegation zone.

The principality club have failed to win in 11 games in all competitions since the opening weekend of the French top-flight season, and are only above bottom team Guingamp on goal difference.

Monaco, who were runners-up to PSG last season, are now 24 points adrift of the reigning champions after they cruised to a 5-0 thrashing of Amiens at the Parc des Princes despite resting several key players.

A dreadful error by Monacos third-choice goalkeeper Seydou Sy gifted Strasbourg midfielder Adrien Thomasson an early opener, and substitute Samuel Grandsir was sent off midway through the second half.

Lebo Mothiba doubled the advantage, and a late Youri Tielemans penalty was a mere consolation for the 2017 Ligue 1 title-winners.

It wasnt easy, we tried to put something in place which worked at the beginning, and then we conceded that goal that I dont need to describe Human error, I dont want to wipe the floor with anyone, said the 41-year-old Henry.

Then we tried to change the game, and unfortunately Sam (Grandsir) is sent off. After that it was even harder.

But I want to keep positive despite the negatives, otherwise you dont move forward, and the positive thing is that we tried to keep playing, even with 10.

Henry a World Cup winner and Arsenals all-time record goalscorer who started his playing career at Monaco made four changes to the team which lost to Rennes before the international break, with former Manchester City and Inter Milan striker Stevan Jovetic restored up front.

But his new side got off to the worst possible start as they handed Strasbourg a 17th-minute lead.

Kenny Lalas long ball forward was nodded hopefully towards goal by Thomasson, but Senegalese keeper Sy who was only playing due to injures to Diego Benaglio and Danijel Subasic comically fumbled the ball over his own line.

A disappointing first half ended poorly for Henry and Monaco, as captain and star striker Radamel Falcao was forced off injured.

It was proving a miserable debut for Henry, as just two minutes after being brought on as a substitute, Grandsir was given a straight red card for catching Anthony Goncalves in the hip with a high boot, with the Strasbourg winger collapsing to the ground holding his face.

As the visitors pushed for an equaliser, they were hit on the counter-attack in the 84th minute as South African international Mothiba raced clear before a cute lob gave him his seventh goal of the season for club and country.

Tielemans pulled one back with an injury-time spot-kick after Moussa Sylla was brought down in the area, but it proved too little, too late.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest communal violence in Kasuwan Magani in, Kajuru Local government of Kaduna State which claimed 55 lives.

Reacting to the violent clashes, President Buhari said the frequent resort to bloodshedby Nigerians over misunderstandings that can be resolved peacefully, is worrisome.

According to the President, No culture and religion support the disregard for the sanctity of life, adding that peaceful coexistence is necessary for the progress of any society and its wellbeing.

He noted that without communal harmony, the environment for the conduct of our everyday businesses would be impossible to achieve.

President Buhari explained that violence cannot be an alternative to peace. On the contrary, reliance on violence leads to ultimate self-destruction. Violence is an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Embracing peace is a necessity.

In commending the Kaduna State government for its rapid response to the crisis, the President appealed to community leaders to engage in regular dialogue to nip imminent crises in the bud, while admonishing the people to develop the spirit of tolerance and patience at all times.

According to reports, the latest killings in Kaduna resulted from the clashes between young Christians and Muslims in Kasuwan Magani market..

The clashes followed a dispute among wheelbarrow porters.

Two persons were said to have been killed in the market fracas on Thursday. The violence was temporarily halted by police but Christian youth later mobilised and attacked Hausa residents, burning homes.

Most of the killings were done in the second attack which took the Hausa community off guard, said Muhammadu Bala, a Kasuwar Magani resident who lost his home.

Kaduna state police commissioner Ahmad Abdur-Rahman told reporters on Friday 22 people had been arrested in connection with the violence.

The Kaduna state government also imposed a round-the-clock curfew in Kasuwan Magani on Friday.

A similar crisis in February left at least 10 people dead and hundreds of homes and businesses burnt.

Over 60 people are facing charges over the February violence.

Source: NAN

Tests carried out by FC Barcelona doctors on Leo Messi, their most valuable player and captain have confirmed that he has a fracture of the radial bone in his right arm.

He will be out for approximately three weeks, the club announced on their website on Saturday night.

Despite 4-2 win against Sevilla at Camp Nou on Saturday, Messi was substituted in the 26th minute after falling awkwardly in midfield and injuring his arm.

The Argentine had been decisive in the early stages of the win, providing an assist for Coutinhos opener and then adding a second himself.

According to Barcelona FC, Messi could miss up to six matches, among which will be the El Clasico with Real Madrid on 28 October.

Messi will also miss the Champions League match against Inter Milan on 24 October.

Other matches are Cultural Leonesa (31 October), Rayo Vallecano (3 November), Inter Milan (6 November) and Betis (11 November).

After these six games (three in the league, two in the Champions League and one in the Copa del Rey) there is a break for international matches so the Argentine could be fit to return on 24 November against Atltico Madrid, the club said.

Source: NAN

Mr John Momoh, Chairman Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), has castigated many politicians for considering the treasury as tool for enrichment.

Theres hardly any distinction, as have been shown in many cases in the past, between their private purse and that of the public, he stated in a speech at the sixth convocation of the Afe Balalola University, Ado Ekiti.

Once an access to public funds is created, its misuse and its abuse begin in earnest.

While there may be some accountability at the federal level, theres little or none at the state and local government levels.

Momoh explained that the results of the activities of such individuals have been failed promises, poverty, lack of economic development, deprivation, and insecurity.

The people are alienated from government at all levels. Its like we are back to colonialism, where the politicians are the colonial masters and the people the subjects, he stressed.

Momoh, who is also the Chairman/CEO of Channels Media Group, identified the threat to national unity as one of the greatest challenges facing the country.

One of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria today is the threat to national unity, as centrifugal tensions, resource control and self-determination, ethnicity-based identity politics and religious cleavages have enveloped national consciousness, he said.

The BON chairman believes the issue of ethnicity and the exploitation of its residual gain has been existing in the nation since inception.

He faulted some politicians whom he said were placing private interests above common and national interests, contrary to their campaign promises.

According to the media guru, this has led to lip service and a slow pace of development in the country.

The Channels TV boss, however, said he was aware of the conscious efforts being made at different levels to resolve the challenges facing the country.

He, therefore, advised the youths to believe in themselves and be willing to adapt to any situation, as they remain the hope of the country.

I encourage you to have faith in your country and defend it, said Momoh. The future of Nigeria, lives in, and rests on you.

He added, Every of your effort in deconstructing Nigerias conundrum for national integration, cohesion and transformation would position you for national greatness.

Source: NAN

Embattled South Africa is planning to introduce new incentives in key industrial sectors and reduced red-tape in order to revive the countrys moribund economy.

The economy which got into technical recession recently, is getting messier because of the increasingly hostile international trade environment.

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said the government would target industries such as auto and agro-processing and continental trade relations as part of a package to draw investors back to South Africa.

He said the state had also reviewed its bureaucratic red tape to make it easier for investors to start new businesses in the country.

Some of them (incentives) are sectoral, we have the motor programme, the clothing and textile programme, we also have a business processing services programme as well as the agro-processing programme, Davies said.

There are also tax incentives. There are specific incentives that apply to the special economic zones (SEZ).

In addition the Department of Trade and Industry provides infrastructure and support for the institution of the SEZ.

In addition to that, there is a tax incentive for companies that invest in the SEZ. There is a suite of incentives which we communicate to investors domestic and foreign which are crucial for making investment decisions.

In a frank and wide-ranging interview ahead of the Investment Summit next week, Davies painted a bleak future for the South African economy, saying yesterday that next weeks presidential summit and the medium-term Budget policy statement would help kick-start the economy.

Davies conceded that some of South Africas economic problems were self-inflicted, pointing to rampant corruption and state capture that had turned investors away.

He said key government institutions were also performing below their capacity and that this had undermined investor confidence in the country.

Our abilities to influence the economy have been weakened, he said. Some of those include, for example, tenders that have been problematic and were given to consortiums involved in imports rather than manufacturing locally.

Davies said the government was worried about the continuing trade spat between the US and China and its impact on South Africas exports to the US.

He said there were plans to increase the local content of assembled cars to 60percent by 2035 from the current 38percent.

South Africa fell into a technical recession after recording negative growth in the second quarter, and unemployment rising above 27percent as output in the manufacturing and mining sectors stagnated.

The country also had to grapple with policy uncertainties and inconsistencies, onerous regulations which curtailed growth.

Davies said without mentioning the SA Revenue Service by name that the outlook in the immediate and medium term would remain bleak as revenue collection was expected to come under pressure.

He said the government was moving with speed to address investor concerns and had already taken steps to return create certainty in renewable energy and gazetting the revised mining charter.

All of these have resulted in an improvement in the investment pipeline, Davies said.

The (investment) summit will showcase important investment announcements, and it will also be an opportunity to engage investors.

There is an appreciation for a new dawn and a willingness to realise opportunities that were put on hold in the recent past rather than being pushed forward.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a bold plan to attract $100 billion (R1.42 trillion) of investment for the country in the next five years in April.

Ramaphosa also appointed envoys including Afropulse chairperson Phumzile Langeni, Standard Bank group chief executive Jaco Maree, former finance minister Trevor Manuel and former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas to champion the investments drive.

Davies said the government had targeted industries such as mining, agriculture and mining to kick-start the economy.

He said the government also planned to seize the opportunities presented by regional integration and the establishment of an African Continental Free Trade Area to produce more goods for other African markets. ()

Source: NAN

Photo and video of leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Knau, has surfaced showing where he is praying in Jerusalem, Israel.

The photos and videos were shared online by Radio Biafra.

Kanu went missing in September last year after the military invaded his home in Abia state and there had not been any trace of him until now.

He was declared missing by his community in Abia state, after the alleged Operation Python Dance II operation by the Nigerian Army in the South East.

Many relatives of Kanu had also been allegedly declared missing by the Afara community in Umuahia following the invasion of his home by the Nigerian army.

NNAMDI KANU Is Back… Spotted Praying In JERUSALEM – 07:30
— Awe Dare

Source: NAN

Dozens of casualties have been recorded in multiple explosions that rocked polling centres across Kabul on Saturday.

The explosions occurred amid growing anger among voters as they waited hours to cast their ballots in long-delayed legislative elections.

At least 30 people have been taken to a trauma hospital run by the Italian NGO Emergency, including a dead child, the organisation said on Twitter, hours after the Taliban warned voters to boycott the ballot to protect their lives.

Afghan officials confirmed there have been casualties but would not provide a number.

An AFP correspondent saw voters fleeing a polling centre in the north of the Afghan capital following a blast that a witness said had caused a number of casualties.

Deadly violence has marred the shambolic preparations for the parliamentary election that is more than three years late, with hundreds killed or wounded.

The latest bombings are likely to scare off voters, hurting turn out and the credibility of the election.

Missing voter registration lists and hiccups with biometric voter verification devices which are being used for the first time already have caused lengthy delays at polling centres across the country, voters and candidates complained.

Most polling centres opened late after teachers employed to handle the voting process failed to show up on time, said the Independent Election Commission (IEC), which has promised to extend voting hours.

I came here early to finish and go home quickly, but we have been waiting for an hour and they have not started yet, Mustafa, 42, told AFP outside a mosque in Kabul.

The queue is getting longer. They have to register our votes quickly we are afraid a bomber or a blast may hit us.

Many polling centres in the heavily Shiite neighbourhoods of Kabul remained closed, a top government official told broadcaster Tolo News.

I have been waiting for two and a half hours and the IEC officials say they have not received the voter (registration) list yet, said Mohammad Mohaqiq, a deputy to Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

Abdullah Afghanistans equivalent of prime minister also waited for around half an hour at a polling centre as election workers searched for his name on a list.

Almost nine million people have registered to vote in the parliamentary election, which is more than three years late.

The killing of a powerful police chief in a highly secure compound in the southern province of Kandahar on Thursday has eroded confidence in the ability of security forces to protect polling locations.

Voting in Kandahar has been delayed by a week following the attack, which killed three people, including General Abdul Raziq.

As voting got under way Saturday, three rockets were fired into the northern city of Kunduz, a police spokesman said. No casualties were reported.

There also were numerous reports of bomb explosions near polling stations in several provinces.

Despite the risks, President Ashraf Ghani urged every Aghan, young and old, women and men to exercise their right to vote, after casting his ballot in Kabul.

Photos posted on social media showed scores of men and women clutching their identification documents purportedly lining up outside voting centres across the country amid a heavy security presence.

A woman dressed in a burqa leaving a polling centre in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif told AFP she had been worried about security incidents, but decided to vote anyway.

We have to defy the violence, Hafiza, 57, said. In previous years we were not happy with the elections, our votes were sold out.

The IEC, which has been skewered over the chaotic lead-up to the ballot, on Friday urged Afghans to vote only once and called on others not to interfere in the process. (

Source: NAN

China will open the worlds longest sea bridge to traffic from 24 October. The 55-kilometre-long bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao took six years of preparations and eight years to build.

Construction began on 15 December 2009 and is expected to slash travel time from Hongkong to mainland China from three hours to 30 minutes.

Major work on the bridge consisted of a 22.9-kilometre-long main bridge, a 6.7-kilometre-long tunnel and an artificial island off the bridge, which is considered the most technically demanding part of the whole construction.

Engineers and constructors have tested the coordination of the bridges various systems and equipment and the lighting fitted, according to Zhang Jinwen, project director with the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Authority.

In the past 14 years, the regional economy and transport network have undergone tremendous changes, leading authorities to re-assess the utilization rate of the bridge, said Su Yi, assistant to the chief of the HZMB Authority.

But Su dismissed worries that the bridge would not have enough traffic, saying, we have full confidence for the future.

We have a whole toolbox of policies at our disposal, Su said. It is like playing cards. We can adjust our moves accordingly.

The bridge will slash travel time between Hong Kong and Zhuhai from three hours to just 30 minutes, further integrating cities in the Pearl River Delta.

The bridge recently withstood Super typhoon Mangkhut which caused much damage in Hong kong and mainland China.

Source: NAN

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has concluded plans to hold the `First National Youth Consensus town hall meetings in all 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT.

NYCNs President, Comrade Bello Shagari, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said the town hall meetings were aimed at forging a roadmap towards the 2019 general elections.

According to him, the meetings, which will hold nationwide, are scheduled for Nov. 10 to Nov. 16.

The Purpose is to sensitise the Nigerian youths on the upcoming 2019 general elections and to ensure that it is conducted justly and peacefully.

Furthermore, it is to collate the yearnings of the Nigerian youth as it relates to youth inclusion and gender equality in governance and to properly articulate their demands as pre conditions for support to aspirants of the 2019 general elections in both states and National level.

The participants of the `National Youth Consensus are 36 States Chapters of the NYCN, and FCT; 774 Local government chapters, Voluntary Youth Organisations, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), representatives of civil society and religious groups in various states around the country.

Shagari said that the meetings would be coordinated by the local government branch coordinators, states chairmen and the zonal vice presidents.

He listed the areas of concentration as youth inclusion in the next government; gender equality, education, students welfare, job creation and drug abuse.

Source: NAN

By Kingsley Okoye

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has included 9,125 ex-workers of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), and its mobile subsidiary, MTEL, to its monthly pension payroll.

A statement by managementof PTAD in Abuja on Saturday disclosed that the additionof the pensioners tothe payroll was coming after 12 years of uncertainty post privatisation of NITEL/MTEL.

PTAD said the inclusion of the ex-workers was in fulfillment of President Muhammadu Buharis commitment in ensuringthat all pensioners get their entitlements.

PTAD also announced that payments to 1,385 Next of Kins of deceased pensioners would follow shortly as soon as the Directorate concludes the computation of the deceased pensioners benefits.

The directorate also noted that it has so far verified and recently pay-rolled Delta Steel Company (DSC), Nigeria Reinsurance and NICON Insurance pensioners.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that PTAD Executive Secretary, Ms Sharon Ikeazor, had in August, assured the ex-workers that they would be put on the monthly payroll for onward payment of their pensions for life.

Ikeazor had said that the greatest injustice was not to pay workers their wages after meritorious service to their father land.

She had assured pensioners that payment of their pension arrears would be made as soon as funds are allocated and released to the directorate.

PTAD had between Jan. 15 to Jan. 26 carried out the verification of pensioners of NITEL and MTEL under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

The exercise was conducted across the six geo-political zones of the country.

Source: NAN

An invasive insect species native to China, India and Vietnam is posing a problem in at least two states.

The spotted lanternfly is harming crops in Winchester, Virginia, WDVM reported.

The Pennsylvania-based Churchville Nature Center said the creatures were also spotted for the first time on its property Thursday.

We are sad to report that we have had our first sighting of the spotted lanternfly on our property today.

If it is new to you, this invasive plant hopper is threatening the forests of the northeast as well as the lumber and agricultural industries. Please keep an eye out for the insect.

The species poses a threat to agriculture and has the ability to greatly impact the grape, hops and logging industries.

The insect causes damage to plants because of its method of feeding, the rapid buildup of large populations and the production of honeydew, a by-product of their feeding activity that serves as a medium for fungal growth, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture warned.

Spotted lanternflies can also be a nuisance pest to homeowners when found in large numbers, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in a statement when the species was first detected in the state in February.

In February, Penn State confirmed it was teaming up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to tackle what could be the most destructive species in 150 years.

While these insects arent known to harm humans, the pests raise concerns ahead of the holiday season.

Spotted lanternflies may lay their eggs on Christmas trees which could then hatch inside homes, the Philly Voice reported.

Freshly laid eggs have a grey mud-like covering which can take on a dry cracked appearance over time, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture said, encouraging anyone who sees the masses to scrape it off.

Any sightings of spotted lanternfly eggs, which can be killed with alcohol or hand sanitizer, should be reported to state wildlife officials.

Source: NAN

By Edith Nwapi

Three officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were on Thursday docked in an FCT High Court at Maitama, accused of misappropriating 9.5 million Dollars and $1.3 million.

The defendants are Christopher Andekin, NFF Director of Administration and Finance, Reagan Zaka, Cashier and Fadanari Mamza, Head, Finance and Account Department.

They were dragged to the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and misappropriation.

The prosecutor, Mr Steve Odiase told the court that the three defendants conspired between Jan. 8 and Jan. 26, 2015 to commit the offences, contrary to Section 97 of Penal Code.

Odiase alleged that Andekin was entrusted with money meant for the development of football in Nigeria, a grant from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

He said that Andekin however fraudulently diverted $1.3 million from the NFF domiciliary account with Zenith Bank, an act that is contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code.

He further alleged that Zaka on his part, fraudulently diverted 7. 2 million Dollar grant from FIFA for development of football in Nigeria whileMamza diverted $2. 3 million.

The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges, and their counsel, Mr Arinze Egbo applied for their bail.

The Judge, Justice Peter Affen upheld the administrative bail granted to them earlier by the EFCC.

In addition, he ordered that the sureties should sign bond with the registrar of the court, and the defendants should deposit their International passports.

Affen then adjourned until Nov. 27, for commencement of trial.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCO) has disowned a purported pan to disburse grants to unsuspecting Nigerians.

The organisation, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said that its attention had been drawn to an on-going scheme that it purported to disburse grants to Nigerians.

Information available to us reveal that the scheme Code-named Atiku Grant Disbursement Programme (see link ) is asking unsuspecting members of the public to contribute a certain amount of money which will be multiplied for them after they have downloaded a particular social media application.

The APCO disclaims this scheme and any other in such manner.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation is not in any way involved in the scheme or any other in such manner and neither did it give a proxy authorisation.

It said the official/verified social media handles of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party are www.atiku.org (Blog); www.facebook.com/atiku.org (Facebook); www.twitter.com/atiku (Twitter); and www.instagram.com/aatiku (Instagram).

The organisation advised members of the public to discountenance communication that did not emanate from any of these social media accounts.

It also advised them to refrain from participating in any online scheme that aimed at defrauding innocent Nigerians and with the ulterior motive to embarrass the presidential campaign of Atiku Abubakar.

Source: NAN

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is presently presiding over the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The new Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, is among other state governors and deputy governors attending the meeting.

Fayemi, who was sworn in on Tuesday, became the cynosure of the meeting as he exchanged banters with other attendees while cameramen beamed on him.

Source: NAN

Arsene Wenger has indicated he will be back in football management at the start of 2019, but he did not disclose where it will be.

I believe that Ill start again on January 1, he told the German newspaper Bild . I dont know yet where Im headed. I am rested, and I am ready to work again.

There are associations, national teams; it could be also in Japan.

Thanks to my 22 years at Arsenal, I have big experience on different levels. There are enquiries from all over the world.

The Frenchman is yet to take up a new position since leaving Arsenal at the end of last season.

Wenger, 68, spent 22 years in north London and there had been suggestions he would now look to retire.

Wenger spent a year in Japan with Nagoya Grampus Eight before his move to Arsenal.

He has also been linked with a move to PSG, working alongside boss Thomas Tuchel in a general manager capacity.

Source: NAN

By EricJames Ochigbo

Dr Blessing Nwagba, an aspirant in just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives primary election in Abia state, has accused the party of denying her the ticket because she is a woman.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nwagba said she was denied the ticket to contest and represent Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency based on gender.

She faulted the primary election alleging, that there were a lot of irregularities, especially over voting.

Nwagba said delegates were accredited and voting was done but the number of votes counted exceeded the number of accredited voters.

She said there are video clips to show that the electoral team spent hours trying to ascertain where the additional votes came from but could not.

The aspirant said her agents raised alarm, drawing the attention of all the stakeholders and the general public to the development.

While I demanded that the process be stopped, my opponent, Mr Uzo Azubuike was not worried about the discrepancies and wanted the process to continue.

The electoral team did not yield to my demand to discontinue the process even though they had seen the discrepancies, she said.

She added that in line with the electoral guidelines, she submitted an appeal along with those of the delegates before the appeal panel and until date, there has been no report.

This is happening to me because I am a woman; long before the election, there were questions on the ability of a woman to deliver Aba.

They have forgotten that this same woman fought through the courts in 2015 to regain the PDP mandate when the party lost all seats to The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)

In 2011 I was made to step down for this same opponent and I obeyed the party and I went to the House of Assembly.

There is always a way of marginalising women even when they know that you can do it; it is not fair on us, imagine, in the whole Abia state, PDP does not have any female candidate.

24 State House of Assembly seats, eight House of Reps seats and three seats in the Senate, no woman is represented yet women are going to vote, this is not fair, she said.

Nwagba said that at a time when the issue of 35 per cent affirmative action and women inclusiveness in governance were most topical, it was unfair not to field a single woman.

The aspirant said women are not meant for the kitchen alone as they are equally endowed to add value to society through good governance.

Nwagba said if due process was followed, she would have won the election because she worked hard and did all that was required to emerge victorious.

It is not too late, whoever the party says is the candidate become the candidate; they should consider the plea of Aba people, they should consider the fact that women should be represented in governance and give me the ticket, Nwagba said.

She said as a foundation party-member which had delivered for the party at various levels, she remains loyal to the party and confident that the PDP will do justice to the matter before it is late.

In a related development, Mr Chukwudi Dike, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia on Sports said that since 2009, no member of Aba-Ngwa community had been given the opportunity to represent the constituency either at the House of Reps or at the Senate.

Dike who led a delegation of constituents to the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja to register their grievances on the conduct of the primaries said that they had been dominated by non-indigenes as only people from neighbouring Local Government Areas had occupied the seat.

He said the community supported two of its indigenes to contest in the just concluded PDP primary election but one died mysteriously after purchasing the form.

According to him, the community then threw its weight behind Nwagba, a serving member of the Abia State House of Assembly to clinch the ticket but the primaries was rigged.

The way the primaries was conducted, it is not acceptable to us; we the constituents do not want Mr Uzo Azubuike who lost at the polls in 2015.

We are campaigning for a fresher, an indigene, someone with capacity and experience and one the people in the Aba North and South are ready to support.

Our prayers is that this ticket should be given to Dame Blessing Nwagba, an indigene and a woman with legislative experience, he said

When contacted on phone, the PDP Assistant Publicity Secretary in Abia, Mrs Love Eze said she was not around at the time the election was conducted and could not comment on the matter she does not know.

When asked to recommend somebody to speak on the matter, the assistant publicity secretary said, Blessing Nwagba who reported the matter to you should tell you those who where there.

However, all efforts to reach the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan proved abortive.

Several visits to his office met him absent and several calls and text messages to his phone were not replied.

His Personal Assistant, simply known as Mr Richard was also contacted but no further response could be gotten from the party at the time of publishing this story.

Source: NAN

By Prudence Arobani

The United Nations specialised agency, Universal Postal Union(UPU), which coordinates the global postal system, has expressed regret over U.S. withdrawal from the world bodys membership.

Mr Pascal Clivaz, the Deputy Director General of the UNUPU, which was established in the 19th Century, recalled the tremendous and positive contribution made by the U.S to the agency.

It is, therefore, regrettable that the U.S. has taken this step. We, however, respect the decision because we believe it was taken after careful consideration and reflection, Clivaz said.

According to UPU, the official notification on Wednesday, from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said that the withdrawal shall be effective one year after the day on which the UPU receives this notice.

Reports stated that the U.S. withdrew on the grounds that international mailing rates set by the UPU, in the view of the U.S., give an unfair advantage in particular to China.

The Union sets shipping rates for overseas mail, at a lower rate for developing countries, than developed nations.

Clivaz said that UPU Director General Bishar Hussein would meet with U.S. officials to further discuss the matter, and expressed hope that through discussion and a constructive dialogue, we can help to resolve this issue to everyones satisfaction.

The decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the UPU treaties is a serious one, but I believe, with the support of other members, we can resolve the matter amicably.

We will, therefore, continue to seek a constructive dialogue and to try to resolve this situation, while also upholding the UPU Constitution, Clivaz said.

He added that UPU remained committed to support international collaboration in the postal sector.

This means ensuring that, by working with all 192 member countries, the UPU treaties best serve everyone, including the U.S.

Established in 1874, UPU is the primary global forum for cooperation between postal systems.

It works with its member countries to bring postal services to everyone on the planet.

The second oldest international organisation worldwide, UPU became a UN specialised agency in 1948.

Source: NAN

The United Bank for Africa Plc has announced its unaudited 2018 Third Quarter Financial Results with impressive growth in Gross Earnings of N374.8 billion.

The performance represents a 12.3 per cent increase when compared to N333.9 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2017.

According to the banks report filed at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) UBAs net operations improved 1.7 per cent year-on-year to N227.7 billion, when compared to N224 billion achieved in the similar period of 2017.

UBAs operating expenses increased by 2.3 per cent to N149.1 billion, compared to N145 billion recorded in the same period of last year.

The bank posted a Profit Before Tax of N79.1 billion whilst Profit After Tax stood at N61.7 billion.

Local media reports noted that the profit performance puts the banks annualized return on average equity at 16 per cent and 20 per cent at pre-tax and post-tax profit level respectively.

The report added that the bank continues to maintain a very strong balance sheet, with total assets of N4.51 trillion, an impressive 10.8 per cent year-to-date rise over the N4.07 trillion total asset recorded as at December 2017.

The report stated that the Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, said: We achieved a number of strategic imperatives during the quarter and committed more investments in the future of the business building a solid foundation for a sustainable and superior return to our shareholders.

Uzoka said that he was pleased that the Banks Virtual Banking Chatbot, Leo, which debuted on Facebook earlier in the year, was successfully launched on WhatsApp during the quarter.

This new channel offering, which enables our customers to fulfil their banking transactions through simple chat commands, is another premier initiative in our suite. The early pay-offs are quite compelling recent customer acquisitions and broader transaction volume growth are exciting leading indicators that reinforce our confidence in these novel channels, he said.

Source: NAN

Following reports of abuses in Gulf states, Ugandan has temporarily banned the export of menial workers to Oman.

The Gender, Labour and Social Development minister, Janet Mukwaya, said her compatriots are also barred from seeking jobs in the Middle Eastern country.

She said the decision was informed by repeated claims of gross human rights violations against Ugandans working in that country.

The Ugandan mission in Abu Dhabi recently claimed 48 Ugandan workers died in Arab countries including some in Oman after being subjected to inhuman treatment while their remains are yet to be returned.

The other countries named were Kuwait and Bahrain.

Thousands of Ugandans work in Middle Eastern countries as house helps but there have been regular claims of abuse by their employees .

A panel has been instituted to investigate the litany of alleged abuses in Oman, Mukwaya said but stopped short of specifying its timeline.

According to the government only Saudi Arabia and Jordan are authorized in the Arab world to import labour from Uganda. ()

Source: NAN

By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has called for the support of United Nations and stakeholders in establishing stringent punishment for road offenders in the country.

Amaechi made the call when a delegation of the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Traffic Injury Prevention Nigeria visited him in Abuja.

He said that if there were stiffer punishments like going to jail for offenders of the law, then road users, especially politicians, would obey the traffic laws.

According to him, the UN should start its advocacy from the State parliament, judiciary and the police for enforcement as this will limit the freedom of road users and instill discipline.

The problem of road safety in Africa, not only in Nigeria, is basically the problem of consequences for action; if every human being can discipline himself or herself, then there wont be need for parliament.

The reason there is a parliament is because they have to direct how the society should be governed; the judiciary and police are there for the consequences of disobeying that law.

So, if you are doing advocacy, dont tell people not to drink and drive, tell them the consequences of drinking and driving; if they know they will spend two months in prison, they will not drink and drive.

Go to the state, get the parliament to pass more stringent laws, especially if the consequences include going to jail, no politician will want to go to jail, when you finish with the parliament go to the police to enforce.

Nigerians are not organised, which is not associated with our population; China, whose population is higher than Nigeria is more organised in obeying traffic regulation, Amaechi said.

Speaking earlier, Dr. Sydney Ibeanusi, Country Director, United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Traffic Injury Prevention Nigeria, said it was collaborating with the government and relevant authorities to ensure that traffic rules and regulations were obeyed.

The United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety and Traffic Injury Prevention Nigeria is a multi-sectorial stakeholders forum involving all the key relevant stakeholders involved in road safety issues.

Injury prevention, which is the mandate of the United Nations, was signed by various countries including Nigeria in 2010 and it was launched in the country in 2011 ; it has been running since then.

The mandate is to spread advocacy on road safety and injury prevention; a lot of work needs to be done in putting road safety in everyones consciousness.(NAN)

Source: NAN