By Segun Giwa

The Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, on Tuesday, said the Federal Government had approved the enrolment of corps members into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Kazaure told newsmen in Akure at the opening ceremony of the Annual Management Conference, which coincided with the 45th anniversary of the NYSC.

The D-G said as part of partnership deal with Federal Ministry of Health, the orientation camp of the scheme had a consultant from the Federal Medical Centre.

Kazaure commended the corps members that participated in the Osun gubernatorial election for being good ambassadors of the scheme.

This annual management conference is for the top managers to come together and critically review the operations and policies of the scheme by setting an agenda so as to improve on the programme in subsequent years, he said.

On the increment of allowance of corps members, he said the scheme was not different from the civil service and would need to wait for the new National Minimum Wage.

He said the scheme had cleared the backlog of unpaid staff allowances and also created a robust forum to interface with members of staff and labour unions for industrial harmony.

Declaring the event open, Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said that the NYSC had contributed tremendously to the development of the nations democracy.

Akeredolu, represented by his deputy, Mr Agboola Ajayi, noted that the sustenance of the scheme would continue to impact on the society.

He pointed out that the NYSC had contributed over 80 per cent to the nations development and democracy.

NYSC has not only harmonised the diverse ethnic groups of Nigeria, but also reduced prejudices and misconceptions thereby promoting mutual trust, understanding and tolerance.

Akeredolu said the annual management conference with the theme NYSC At 45: Consolidating Gains and Creating Opportunities, was an indication that the management was poised towards repositioning the scheme to face its current challenges.

As a way of appreciating the contribution of corps members to the development of the state, my administration has also introduced a package of N100, 000, N80, 000 and N50, 000 for the state honour award winners to corps members, he said.

In her goodwill message, the NYSC National Governing Board, Mrs Fatima Abubakar, stated that the Board attended the conference in compliance with the President Muhammadu Buharis charge to enhance service delivery.

Earlier, in an introductory address by the NYSC Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs Victoria Okakwu, said the choice of Akure as a venue for the conference was informed by the hospitality enjoyed from the government and good people of the state.

She added that the focus of the conference was to brainstorm and come up with practicable solutions and strategies that will reposition and promote the ideals of the Scheme in both present and future operating environment.

Source: NAN

By Olawale Akinremi

Mrs Imoleayo Akinrodoye, the President of the Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan, on Tuesday, remanded five suspects facing trial for alleged theft of 120 tubers of yam.

The accused: Biodun Ayodele, (20); Michael Adebayo, (19); Lukman Ahmed, (22); Arisekola Ridwan, (20); and Kayode Suleiman; (45), were granted bail but failed to meet the conditions for their release.

The accused persons were consequently remanded in custody.

Akinrodoye had admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N150,000 with one reliable surety each in like sum.
The Court President subsequently adjourned the case till Oct. 17 for continuation of hearing.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Ayodele Ayeni, had informed the court that the five suspects were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful breaking-in and stealing.

Ayeni said that Ayodele, Adebayo, Ahmed, Arisekola and Suleiman committed the crime on Sept. 22, at 5 a.m. at Bere area of Ibadan

According to the prosecutor, the first, second, third and fourth accused broke into shops where tubers of yams meant for sale were stocked and stole 120 pieces and sold them to the fifth accused.

He further stated that the yam tubers valued at N40,000 belonged to Kazeem Oladeni and Jamiu Salami, traders at the Oja-Oba market in Ibadan, Oyo state..

Ayeni said that the offences contravened Sections 516 (A), 390 (9) and 427 of the Criminal Code Cap, 38 Vol ii Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.

However, the five accused persons had pleaded their innocence and denied commission of the offences.
Mr Taiwo Lasisi, their defense counsel, subsequently applied for bail on liberal terms.

Source: NAN

Organic potash fertilizer is highly effective for improving the quality of crop yields as it helps in the regulation of water and the uptake of nutrients by plants. It can be made in different ways using various ingredients like wood ashes, potassium chloride, dried banana peels amongst other things. The different ways of making organic potash fertilizer you shall clearly see as you read on.

How to make organic potash fertilizer
So, should you find organic fertilizers out of reach or maybe you just wish to get your hands dirty by making it (organic fertilizer) yourself, the following piece of information will be very valuable. Here, I shall now discuss about three different means.

Using wood ashes
This is by far the simplest [and the most straightforward] as you might have already guessed. It involves using cool wood ashes which can be spread and worked into the soil. Wood ashes have been reported to contain about 6 – 8% potash. It should however be noted that the most potent wood ash for fertilizing plants are the ones obtained from burnt trees that have their potassium content well preserved – hardwood is particularly recommended in this regard. As a precautionary measure however, you will have to determine the pH level of your soil before applying wood ash as it could be detrimental to the health of the plant if the pH (of the soil) is beyond 7.0.

Using dried banana peels
Maybe it’s high time you started storing those banana peels in a compost pile rather than throwing them away outrightly. The banana peel is very high in potassium, and all you need to do is gather the peels [that have been dried overtime] in a blender and grind to powder. The peel is then ready to be used as fertilizer – a simple and cost-effective way of boosting plant growth.

From potassium chloride + ammonium nitrate
This is a bit more complex than the previously discussed methods. And in case you are wondering why go through the stress when you have got your dried banana peels or wood ashes? The answer lies in the fact that this method gives you with something that is more potent. So, without much ado, I shall discuss how this can be attained.
Things you need: potassium chloride, ammonium nitrate (40g), filter, measuring cup, measuring scale, airtight container and cooking pan.

Procedure

• Measure 10cl of water into a cup and add 40g of ammonium nitrate; gently stirring until it is fully dissolved
• Now, place the filter over the cup – ensure that the filter is securely in place – and sieve the solution into the cooking pan
• Then add 37g of potassium chloride to the solution in the cooking pan and stir [until it dissolves] while applying heat at about 600C for 5 minutes.
• Allow the heated solution to cool and then using another filter, sieve the solution into an airtight container.
  The solution [in the container] should then be placed in the freezer where it is expected to form crystals.
• Once the crystals have formed, bring out the container and allow the crystals to dry out. The dried crystals are the potash fertilizer you have been rooting for.

OPECs largest producer Saudi Arabia and its biggest oil-producer ally outside the group, Russia, rebuffed US President Donald Trump on Sunday over his call for more oil output to reduce prices.

I do not influence prices, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters as OPEC and non-OPEC energy ministers gathered in Algiers for a meeting that ended with no formal recommendation for any additional supply boost.

Benchmark Brent oil reached $80 a barrel this month, prompting Trump to reiterate on Thursday his demand that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries lower prices.

The price rally mainly stemmed from a decline in oil exports from OPEC member Iran due to fresh U.S. sanctions.

We protect the countries of the Middle East, they would not be safe for very long without us, and yet they continue to push for higher and higher oil prices! We will remember. The OPEC monopoly must get prices down now! Trump wrote on Twitter.

Falih said Saudi Arabia had spare capacity to raise output but such a move was not required at the moment and might not be needed next year as, according to OPECs projections, a stellar rise in non-OPEC production could exceed global demand growth.

The markets are adequately supplied. I dont know of any refiner in the world who is looking for oil and is not able to get it, Falih said, adding that Saudi Arabia could raise output by up to 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) if needed.

Given the numbers we saw today, that (an output increase in 2019) is highly unlikely unless we have surprises on the supply and demand, Falih added.

The statement from Trump, meanwhile, was not his first criticism of OPEC.

Higher gasoline prices for U.S. consumers could create a political headache for Republican Trump before mid-term congressional elections in November.

Iran, OPECs third-largest producer, has accused Trump of orchestrating the oil price rally by imposing sanctions on Tehran and accused its regional arch-rival Saudi Arabia of bowing to U.S.

A mid-term report released by OPEC on Sunday forecast that non-OPEC supply from countries led by the United States would rise by 2.4 million bpd in 2019 while global oil demand should grow by just 1.5 million.

It also steeply raised U.S. oil output growth estimates to 2023, predicting OPEC would lose further market share.

Our attention is shifting to 2019. We have been briefed on the prospect of 2019 inventory builds which result from significant supply growth from non-member counties, Falih said.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said no immediate output increase was necessary, although he believed a trade war between China and the United States as well as U.S. sanctions on Iran were creating new challenges for oil markets.

Oil demand will be declining in the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year. So far, we have decided to stick to our June agreements, Novak said.

Seeking to reverse a downturn in oil prices that began in 2014, OPEC, Russia and other allies decided in late 2016 to reduce supply by some 1.8 million bpd.

In June this year, however, after months of cutting by more than their pact had called for, largely due to involuntary reductions from Venezuela and other producers, they agreed to boost output by returning to 100 percent compliance.

That equates to an increase of about 1 million bpd, but the latest data shows they are some way from achieving that target.

In August, OPEC and its allies cut production by 600,000 bpd more than their pact required, mainly as a result of falling output in Iran as customers in Europe and Asia reduced purchases ahead of the U.S. sanctions deadline.

OPEC put Irans current production at 3.58 million bpd, down some 300,000 bpd from the start of the year, according to OPECs secondary sources such as researchers and ship-trackers.

Irans OPEC governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili insisted on Sunday that Iranian production was steady at 3.8 million bpd but appeared to soften his stance on potential increases in OPEC output.

If there is a fall not only from Iran, but anybody else, it is the responsibility of OPEC and non-OPEC to balance the market, Kazempour told reporters.

Falih said returning to 100 percent compliance was the main objective and should be achieved in the next two to three months.

Although he refrained from specifying how that could be done, Saudi Arabia is the only oil producer with significant spare capacity.

The biggest issue is not with the producing countries, its with the refiners, its with the demand. We in Saudi Arabia have not seen demand for any additional barrel that we did not produce.

The OPEC/non-OPEC monitoring committee next meets on Nov. 11 in Abu Dhabi, followed by a full OPEC gathering at its Vienna headquarters on Dec. 6-7.

Source: NAN

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Saturdays Osun governorship election as inconclusive.

Prof. Joseph Fuwape, the Returning Officer for the Sept. 22 election made the declaration in Osogbo.

Fuwape, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), while announcing the results of the election, said that Sen. Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 254,698 votes.

He said Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 254, 345 votes.

He said the election was declared inconclusive because of cases of ballot boxes snatching that occurred in some polling units during the election.

The returning officer mentioned the affected polling units to include Ife north, one polling unit, Ife south, two polling units, Orolu, three polling units and osogbo, one polling unit.

He said a total of 3498 votes were cancelled in the seven affected polling units

Based on this fact, I cannot declare anyone the winner of the election, he said.

Fuwape, however, said that the rerun of the election in the affected polling units would take place on Sept. 27.

He urged all the political gladiators to maintain peace, before, during and after the rerun.

Here are the details of the results.

1.Boluwaduro: APC LG:3843, PDP:3779, SDP:1766, ADP:858

2.Atakumosa West LG : APC: 5019, PDP: 5401, SDP: 1570, ADP: 718

3.Ifedayo LG: APC: 3182, PDP: 3374, SDP: 1377, ADP: 176.

4.Ede South: APC: 4512, PDP: 16693, SDP: 855, ADP:

5.Orolu LG: APC: 5442, PDP:7776 , SDP: 2043 ADP: 388, ADC:79.

6.Obokun LG: APC: 7229, PDP: 10859, SDP: 1907, ADC: 106, ADP: 663

7.Ilesha East LG: APC:9790 , PDP:8244 SDP:3620 , ADC: 188, ADP: 1275(APC)

8.Boripe LG: APC: 11655, PDP:6892, SDP: 2730,ADP:1137, ADC: 137(APC)

9.Ilesha West
APC: 7251, PDP: 8286, SDP: 2408, ADC: 127, ADP: 2363(PDP)

10.Oriade LG
APC: 9778, PDP: 10109, SDP: 2265 , ADC: 109, ADP: 1224

11.Irepodun LG

APC: 6517, PDP: 8058, SDP: 4856, ADC: 158, ADP: 2564(PDP)

12.Ila LG

APC: 8403, PDP: 8241, SDP:3134, ADC: 96, ADP: 183(APC)

13.Isokan LG

APC: 7297, PDP: 9048, SDP: 3460, ADC: 56, ADP:682(PDP)

14.Odo-Otin LG

APC: 9996, PDP:9879, SDP: 2941, ADC: 1034, ADP: 1112(APC)

15.Ayedaade LG:

APC 10861, PDP: 9836, SDP: 2967, ADC: 145, ADP: 1645(APC)

16.Atakumosa East LG

APC: 7073, PDP: 5218, SDP: 2140, ADC: 06 , ADP: 629(APC)

17. Ede North LG

APC: 7025, PDP:18745, SDP: 1382 ADC: 89, ADP: 758(PDP)

18. Ifelodun LG

APC: 9882, PDP:12269 , SDP: 1970, ADC: 236, ADP: 2844, (PDP)

19. Ayedire LG

APC: 5474 , PDP: 5133, SDP2396:, ADC:144 , ADP:1642, (APC)

20. Ife North

APC: 6527, PDP:5486, SDP:5158, ADC:94, ADP: 745, (APC)

21. Ejigbo LG

APC: 14779, PDP: 4803, SDP4803:, (APC)

22. Egbedore Local Government

APC: 7354, PDP:7231 , SDP: 3367

23. Ife Central Local Government:

APC:6957 , PDP:3200 , SDP:20494 ADC:194, ADP:1053

24.Irewole LG:

APC: 10049, PDP: 13848, SDP: 1142, ADP: 1915(PDP)

25.Olorunda LG

APC: 16254, PDP: 9850, SDP:7061, ADC:335, ADP:1407, (APC)

26 Ola-Oluwa LG

APC:5025 PDP: 4026 SDP:2104 ADP:2194 ADC: 1408(APC)

27. Ife South LG

APC: 7223, PDP:4872, SDP: 6151, ADC:136 , ADP:561. (APC)

28. Ife East

APC:8925, PDP: 6608, ADC: 237, ADP: 509, SDP: 17643

29.Iwo Local Government

APC:7644 , PDP: 6122, ADP: 16, 425, ADC: 1164, SDP: 4153

30.Osogbo LG

APC: 23379, PDP: 14499, SDP: 10188, ADC:413, ADP: 2478

Source: NAN

The All Progressives Congress has shifted the presidential direct primary election earlier scheduled for Tuesday September 25th, to Thursday September 27th.

The party announced the shift in a statement today.

It urged all duly registered party members to collect their permanent membership cards from their respective wards.

It was the second time in one week that the party would alter its primary election timetable.

Last week, the organising secretary Emma Ibediro announced a revised timetable for the conduct of all the partys primaries ahead of February 2019 general elections, as approved by the National Working Committee.

The 2018 primaries would be held as follows:

Governorship Primaries September 29, 2018.

Senate Primaries October 2, 2018.

House of Representatives Primaries October 3, 2018.

State House of Assembly Primaries October 4, 2018.

Presidential National Convention October 6, 2018.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the APC presidential primary is to pass an affirmative vote on President Muhammadu Buhari who is the partys sole candidate for the 2019 Presidential election

Source: NAN

The National Assembly has shifted its resumption from its annual recess from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9, according to its Clerk, Mohammed Omolori.

Omolori announced this on Sunday, attributing it to the primary elections by political parties.

This is to inform all Distinguished senators and Honourable members that resumption of plenary session earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 25th September has been postponed to Tuesday 9th October due to activities of primaries of political parties.

All distinguished senators and honourable members are expected to resume plenary session by 10 am on the 9th of October, please.

The National Assembly began its annual vacation on July 24.

Source: NAN

Many high-profile consumer technology items such as smart watches and speakers were spared by the U.S. tariffs that hit some $200 billion worth of Chinese products.

But the less flashy home modems, routers and internet gateways that make them work werent so lucky.

Consumer tech industry officials and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency say they expect billions of dollars worth of these products, including those designed for home use, will be subject to the 10 per cent tariffs activated on Monday.

The move will effectively create a two-tiered tariff structure for consumer internet, with many products, such as Fitbit (FIT.N) fitness trackers, Apple Incs (AAPL.O) watch and Amazon.com Incs (AMZN.O) Echo smart speaker being favoured over routers and internet gateways from Arris International (ARRS.O), Netgear (NTGR.O), D-Link (2332.TW) and others.

Were operating under the assumption that the tens of millions of devices that deliver high-speed internet into consumers homes will be impacted by these tariffs, said Jim Brennan, Arris Seniour Vice President of supply chain, quality and operations.

It feels anti-consumer because our devices are what enables the core of consumer tech, Brennan told Reuters.

The modems, routers, switching and networking gear that keep the internet functioning were not included in a newly created U.S. tariff code that was exempted from the latest China tariffs, a spokesperson for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said.

The agency has made no distinction between consumer-use modems and routers and the commercial network equipment used by data centers and broadband internet providers.

Most new internet-connected devices had been lumped into a broad category in the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule, 85176200, Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus.

The catch-all category saw $23 billion in U.S. imports from China and $47.6 billion from the world last year. It was the largest component of U.S. President Donald Trumps latest tariffs targeting Chinese goods.

The U.S. Trade Representatives office had said it was breaking out items such as smart watches, fitness trackers, Bluetooth audio streaming devices and smart speakers into a new subcategory that would be exempted, but it gave few details.

According to a notice posted by the U.S. International Trade Commission, computer modems would stay in a separate sub-category, while switching and routing apparatus would be put into a new sub-category. Neither of these sub-categories were granted exemptions from the tariffs.

Although we have not had occasion to issue rulings on the scope of a provision for switching and routing apparatus, we agree that as a general matter, modems, routers, and networking equipment will be subject to the remedy, a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said late on Friday, referring to the 10 percent tariff.

It was not clear how much of the $23 billion in Chinese imports within the catch-all category could escape tariffs, but a Reuters review of industry data suggests the share could be small.

U.S. Census Bureau data has not yet captured the volume of annual imports from China or any country of the goods that will be exempt.

But the Consumer Technology Association estimates that the U.S. market for fitness trackers, smart watches, smart speakers and wireless earbuds and headphones was $8.2 billion in 2017, with forecast sales of $11.6 billion for 2019.

Even if China produced a majority of those goods, exemptions would only apply to a fraction of the $23 billion category.

CTA has forecast direct sales of modems and routers to consumers at $2.3 billion for 2019, up from $2 billion in 2017, excluding the products supplied directly by cable and broadband internet providers and equipment used in data centers and other infrastructure outside the home.

But the group argues that consumers will bear the costs of the tariffs, even if their service provider buys the modems.

Overall, access to the internet will get more expensive, mobile plans will get more expensive, and connected devices that go to your smart phones will get more expensive because everything speaks to each other, said Izzy Santa, director of strategic communications for CTA. (Reuters)

Source: NAN

World oil demand will peak at 104.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in the mid-2030s, up from just below the current 100 million bpd.

It shall be so as new technologies gradually eat into oil use, Chinas Unipec said on Monday at the annual Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference (APPEC) in Singapore.

Unipec President Chen Bo said improved energy efficiency and technological changes are keys to the trend.

He also said that the rise of renewables also meant global oil demand growth would slow in coming years and peak at 104.4 million bpd in 2035my noting that inspite of trade disputes between China and the U.S., crude supply was an important new source for Chinese refiners.

He added that it allows diversification away from Middle East and African crudes, on which China has relied heavily he said.

Trade war tensions between the United States and China will last just for the time being, and in the future well be active in this area, he said.

Chen Bo also said China would reduce Iranian oil imports because of looming U.S. sanctions against the Middle East country due to start in November.

There had not yet been a decision on how big these cuts would be.

Source: NAN

Bill Cosby, 81-year-old American comedian could face the rest of his life in jail after he was found guilty of sexual assault in April after a jury heard allegations from Andrea Constand.

If sentenced for his crimes, Montgomery County Judge Steven T. ONeill who will have the final say Monday could put Cosby on probation, house arrest or throw him into prison.

Cosby was found guilty on three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault for drugging and molesting Constand, 45, at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.

The guilty verdict brought an end to a long-running downward spiral for Cosby, who was accused by dozens of women of similar crimes after public interest in his rape allegations was renewed.

Constands allegations are in line with others, but hers were unique in that the statute of limitations on the crime had not yet expired.

Sentencing begins Monday and is expected to last two days. While the judge will ultimately have the final say in Cosbys punishment, the potential consequences for Cosbys crimes allow for many options.

The maximum term is 10 years per count. However, a smaller jail stint, house arrest and probation are also on the table for the embattled former comedian.

Given his advanced age and health issues, its likely that Cosbys legal team will argue for a lesser sentence than the max 30 years. Regardless, his lawyers previously made it clear that he plans to appeal the verdict.

His trial is being heralded as the first major celebrity trial of the #MeToo era. As a result, theres massive public attention being paid to the outcome with those coming out against Cosby wondering if the court will give him a pass in terms of punishment given his fame.

I really think its important that he spend some time behind bars, said Lise-Lotte Lublin, who said Cosby assaulted her when she was 23 in 1989. The then-model said Cosby prodded her to take two drinks to relax. At some point, he should acknowledge what hes done, and do the time for the crime.

Another Cosby accuser, Chelan Lasha, said he deserves every year of his potential 30-year sentence.

Once called Americas Dad, Cosbys reputation has been in decline since comedian Hannibal Buress brought up the numerous rape allegations against the comic in 2014. Since then, more than 60 women have come forward with allegations against him.

Cosby and his legal team have shown that they want to mitigate the amount of damage being done to his reputation, starting with the classification of him as a sexually violent predator. Mondays sentencing is expected to begin with a debate over this classification.

Pennsylvanias sex-offender board has examined Cosby and recommended he be deemed a predator, concluding that he has a mental defect or personality disorder that makes him prone to criminal behavior.

Source: NAN

By Harrison Arubu

Former Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has renewed his call for Borno South Senatorial District to be allowed to produce the next governor of the state.

Ndume made the call when he appeared as a guest on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Sunday.

The lawmaker, who represents Borno South in the Senate, noted that in the interest of fairness, equity and natural justice, it was proper for someone from his constituency to be allowed to serve the state as governor.

It is feasible if there is an agreement, and that is what I have been advocating for, I am part of the advocacy for power rotation.

But let me say that when I was the Senate leader, I made sure that power rotation was included in the Constitution Amendment Bill.

Unfortunately, it did not see the light of the day because the majority had their way. But we have started the struggle. It is not something that is realisable in a day.

Ndume identified lack of unity and understanding among the minorities in the district as the major challenge undermining their aspiration.

He, however, said he had seen some improvement as the people of southern Borno had become more united than before.

We are giving it a shot, because out of the 23 or 24 contestants for the gubernatorial election, we have about three or four people from southern Borno, this time around.

Although it is still a small number if you look at it, but we are hoping we will get there one day, he said.

Source: NAN

Singapores anti-trust watchdog fined ride-hailing firms Grab and Uber, a combined 9.5 million dollars over their merger-deal, and ordered Uber to sell vehicles from its local leasing business to any rival that makes a reasonable offer.

The deal invited regulatory scrutiny in the region, with the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) in a rare move launching an investigation just days after the deal was announced.

The CCCS on Monday said it had finalised several measures to lessen the impact of the transaction on drivers and riders, and open up the market for new players.

It also said it had found the merger to have substantially reduced competition in the market.

The regulator said it has fined Uber S$6.6 million and Grab S$6.4 million, to deter future completed, irreversible mergers that harm competition.

It also ordered Grab to remove its exclusivity arrangements with drivers and taxi fleets.

Mergers that substantially lessen competition are prohibited.

CCCS has taken action against the Grab-Uber merger because it removed Grabs closest rival, to the detriment of Singapore drivers and riders, CCCS Chief Executive, Toh Han Li, said in a statement.

The regulator said effective fares on Grab rose 10 to 15 per cent after the deal, and that the firm now holds a Singapore market share of around 80 per cent.

It told Grab to maintain its pre-merger pricing algorithm and driver commission rates.

It also ordered Uber to sell vehicles of its Singapore-based Lion City Rentals to any potential competitor who makes a reasonable offer based on fair-market value.

It prohibited Uber from selling those vehicles to Grab without regulatory approval.

Lion Citys fleet totalled 14,000 vehicles as of December.

Uber said it believed the CCCSs decision was based on an inappropriately narrow definition of the market, and incorrectly describes the dynamic nature of the industry, saying it would consider appealing.

Grab said it completed the transaction within its legal rights, and maintained it did not intentionally or negligently breach competition laws.

It added that it had not raised fares since the deal, and said for drivers to have full maximum choice, all transport players, including taxi operators, should also be subjected to non-exclusivity conditions.

It said it would abide by remedies set out by the CCCS.

Source: NAN

DTigress, Nigerias female basketball team made history at the ongoing FIBA Womens World Cup in Spain as they stunned Turkey 74-68 in the Group B game decided on Sunday in Tenerife.

It was Nigerias first-ever FIBA Womens World Cup victory and the first time the female team would defeat any European opponent.

With the victory, the Nigerian side, nicknamed DTigress, put themselves in a strong position to finish second in Group B

Sarah Ogoke shot the highest point for Nigeria, as her with 22 points helped propel DTigress against their formidable counterparts.

Evelyn Akhator also impressed with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Turkey struggled for much of the game, as Isil Alben contributed 15 points, while Esra Ural Topuz suffered a knee injury.

An elated Ogoke told reporters after the match: It was great. I have played for a while with the National Team and I felt as though I personally had a point to prove.

We finally got an opportunity to show what we can do with this historic win against Turkey, she said.

Coach of DTigress, Otis Hughley praised the teams courage against a respected Turkish side: Turkey have been through a lot to build that programme and for us to sneak a little shortcut like that

I was praying almost on my knees as were so inexperienced and young. We came through a lot of adversity and mistakes and were still able to fight off a couple of runs.

We even held on with some poise, the coach said.

Senegal, another country representing Africa at the tournament, also recorded their first-ever victory against Latvia to make it a memorable night for Africa.

Nigerias final group game will be against Argentina, on Tuesday who are yet to record a victory.

Source: NAN

By Dianabasi Effiong

The President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has advised Nigerias flagbearers in the semi-finals of 2018 CAF Confederation Cup, Enyimba FC of Aba, to have unwavering self-belief when they confront Raja Casablanca of Morocco.

According the federations Media Aide, Ademola Olajire, Pinnick gave the advise on Sunday while congratulating the Peoples Elephant for their 5-1 defeat of Rayon Sports of Rwanda.

The match, played at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, qualified the team for the semi-finals of the competition on a 5-1 aggregate.

I want to commend the players and members of the technical staff for their endeavour in this competition so far.

I watched their match against CARA Brazzaville in the group phase and I know the players and technical crew have great ambition and can go all the way to the final and do Nigeria proud by winning the cup.

Their next opponents, Raja Casablanca, are a tough act. But Enyimba have the players and the technical team to plot victory and all they require is strong self-belief to conquer the Moroccans, Pinnick said in statement by Olajire.

I appeal to all Nigerian fans and football stakeholders to give the club necessary support to make us smile as they are the only Nigerian club left in continental club competition this year.

I want to specially praise the efforts of the chairman of the club, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, who is a ranking Member of the NFF Executive Committee.

The man deserves honour as he has done so much for Nigerian football. I recall he has been with the team for the past 20 years and led them to two CAF Champions League titles they have won for Nigeria.

Following a scoreless draw in Kigali a week earlier, the Aba outfit started appropriately, as an alert Augustine Dimgba slotted into the visitors net after capitalising on a defensive error in the 13minute.

But Bonfils Caleb Bimenyimana equalised from a close range effort 12 minutes later and the visitors were hopeful.

Enyimba, winners of the CAF Champions League title in 2003 and 2004, regained control in the 29minute as left back Utin Ikouwem finished brilliantly after picking up a loose ball.

Two minutes after the re-start, Sunday Adetunji made it three for the homers, while Joseph Osadiaye, making up for earlier misses, scored the fourth in the 58minute to take the home team out of sight of the visitors.

Not done yet, Enyimba kept the fire alive and Isiaka Oladuntoye scored the fifth goal in the 76minute.

The Nigerians will host Raja Casablanca, first winners of the CAF Champions League title in 1999, in the first leg of their semi-final fixture at the Enyimba International Stadium on Oct. 3, with the return leg in Casablanca three weeks later.

Source: NAN

Real Madrid star Luka Modric, the latest to be caught by the Spanish taxman, has admitted two counts of tax fraud and accepted an eight-month suspended prison sentence as part of a plea bargain deal with prosecutors.

Cristiano Ronaldo, formerly of Madrid, Lionel Messi of Barcelona, former Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho and Brazilian midfielder Marcelo, have all admitted various tax offences.

According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Modric would be given the chance to substitute the prison term for a fine totalling (54,000) 60,000.

The 33-year-old Modric, recently voted the 2018 World Cups best player, was accused last November of tax fraud of up to 870,728 (783.64) in image rights in 2013 and 2014 using a limited company based in Luxembourg.

The company, Ivano, S.A.R.L, was named after his son Ivano and managed by his wife Vanja Bosnia.

Spanish tax authorities sought information from authorities in the Isle of Man as part of their probe into Modric amid warnings it could accuse him of defrauding a higher amount.

But prosecutors decided after inquiries there was no basis to increase the penalty they were seeking.

El Mundo reported the footballer would have to pay a total of 1.26 million (1.4 million) if he wanted to wipe his slate clean with the Spanish taxman for the years 2013 and 2014.

The payment would cover the amount defrauded, a fine of 313,450 (48,291) representing 40 per cent of the fraud, and the fine substituting the prison term.

According to reports, he had paid 900,000 of the amount owed at the start of the criminal proceedings.

Recent reports in Spain have claimed he has also been fined 1.08 million (1.2 million) for irregularities in his 2012 tax return which he is contesting but is being dealt with administratively rather than by way of criminal proceedings.

Modric, who signed for Real Madrid in August 2012, remains under the spotlight in his homeland over allegations he provided false information in the trial of former Dinamo Zagreb director Zdravko Mamic.

He was charged in March and is awaiting a trial date. Liverpools Croatian defender Dejan Lovren was charged with the same offence of perjury earlier this week as he was accused of giving false statements during Mamics trial.

Mamic, once the most powerful figure in Croatian football, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in June after being found guilty of siphoning off millions of pounds in transfer fees.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian police have arrested two PDP agents out on a mission to buy votes in the course of voting in the Osun governorship election.

The agents, identified as Adebayo Rafiu and Muraian Latif, were caught with a sack with the inscription: Senator Isiaka Adeleke Free Rice, in Iwo.

According to a post on the officialNPF Twitter handle, the bag contained N640,000.

Two (2) suspected vote buyers have been arrested by a team of police personnel on election duty at Iwo LGA of OSUN State and the sum of N604,000 recovered from their possession. Investigation is being intensified.

Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG)

An update on the arrest said the men claimed they were given the money by their ward chairman, to buy votes.

Punch had earlier reported another PDP agent arrested for giving out money at a polling centre in Ede, the hometown of the PDP governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Sunday, along with his wife, Aisha, depart for New York to participate in the 73rd Session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA73) which officially opened September 18, 2018.

The theme for this years Session is: Making the United Nations relevant to all People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies.

The highpoint of President Buharis participation will be his address on Tuesday to the General Assembly on the opening day of the General Debate.

President Buhari will be accompanied by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma; and the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin.

Others on the presidential entourage include: the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar; Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mohammad Babandede; and the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.

The Presidents presentation on Tuesday of Nigerias National Statement is expected to reaffirm the nations commitment to international peace and security; sustainable socio-economic development; disarmament and denuclearisation; youth and women empowerment; climate change; rule of law and human rights; among others.

He is also expected to particularly canvass international support for the fight against corruption; the return of illicit assets; counter-terrorism and insurgency and curbing irregular migration.

President Buhari is also expected to seek support in re-settling Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); recharging the receding Lake Chad.

Another major issue he will raise is on the need to reset the United Nations, especially the expansion of the permanent membership of the Security Council to make that vital principal organ of the global organisation reflect regional and equitable geographical representation.

The President and his wife, Aisha, will also attend a welcome reception hosted by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and his spouse for Heads of State and Government and their spouses.

The Nigerian leader and his delegation will participate in a High-Level meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis organised by the World Health Organisation as Nigeria currently ranks seventh amongst the high TB-burden countries globally, and second in Africa.

The Nigerian delegation is expected to attend the Mandela Peace Summit, which is a High-Level Meeting on Global Peace in honour of the centenary birth of the late South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela.

Other side-events lined up for the Nigerian delegation include: High-Level Meeting on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; World Economic Forums Sustainable Development Impact Summit; the Second Annual Bloomberg Global Business Forum; High-Level Meeting on Action for Peace-Keeping; Commemoration and Promotion of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons; High-Level Meeting on the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa; and Pathway to Localising a Global Agenda.

During the course of his stay in New York, in addition to the meeting with the UN Secretary-General, the Nigerian President is also expected to have bilateral meetings with African and world leaders including Bill Gates with a view to promoting national and African interests.

He will also grant audience to a select group of Nigerian professionals based in the United States.

Source: NAN

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has commended the large turnout of voters in Saturdays governorship election in the state and praised the Independent National Electoral Commission for its smooth conduct.

Aregbesola spoke after casting his vote at 11:50 am at his Ifofin Ward 8, Unit 1 Polling Unit in Ilesa. He arrived the polling unit with his wife, Sherifat, at 11:38am.

The governor said the large turnout of voters and their peaceful conduct were signals about their desire to elect a leader of their choice.

I must commend the voters for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner and for coming out in their large numbers. This is the beauty of democracy, he said.

But Sen. Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) lamented what he called irregularities in the conduct of the voting exercise.

Omisore, who spoke after voting at his Moore Ward 1, 003 Polling Unit at 11:25 am, alleged that there were insufficient electoral materials in some polling units in Osogbo.

He also claimed that the card readers were malfunctioning in some polling units in Ile-Ife.

Nevertheless, Omisore urged the voters to exercise their civic responsibility by trooping out to vote.

He also urged the electorate to refrain from vote-selling, saying they would be mortgaging their future.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there are 3,010 Polling Units and 755 Polling Points spread across the three senatorial districts and 30 local governments areas of the state.

Although there are a total of 1,682,495 registered voters, over 400,000 Permanent Voters Cards remain uncollected as at Friday.

NAN also reports that while 48 parties are participating in the election, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party and Omisore of the Social Democratic Party remain the frontline candidates

Source: NAN

The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, has said that he did not violate the Constitution by not participating in the compulsory one year National Youth Services Corps (NYSC) Scheme.

The minister stated this while speaking with newsmen on Friday in Abuja, arguing that his case could not be compared to that of the former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.

The minister who is one of the All Progressives Congress(APC) governorship aspirants in Oyo State, spoke after being interviewed by the APC screening committee.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the media had been awash with reports that the minister did not participate in the mandatory one year NYSC program after his graduation from the University in 1978. The compulsory NYSC programme began in 1973.

Former minister of finance, Adeosun resigned last week Friday following allegations that she forged the NYSC exemption certificate.

Shittu stressed that whereas the former Minister of Finance submitted a fake NYSC exemption certificate, he didnt obtain any certificate.

He added that he considered his service at the Oyo State Assembly as, a higher service. He said that he had not infringed on any law in the countrys Constitution by skipping NYSC.

Nigerian Tribune even reported that I left University in 1979, but in actual sense , I left in 1978 and left Law School in 1979.

And the Constitution says anyone who qualifies to contest an election or who has gone through an election and wins, he is obligated to move through the House of Assembly which I did for four years.

So it is a form of higher service as far as Im concerned, and even now, I am still in service.

I dont think I have violated the law except someone has a superior argument and can prove it,the minister said.

He stressed that his case was not like that of Adeosun, because according to him, there are differences.

Unfortunately, Kemi had a fake certificate, I didnt present any, I didnt have one.

I simply followed the constitutional requirement that if you are qualified to contest an election, it is compulsory for you to serve the nation in the capacity that you won an election,he said

Source: NAN

On a day that legendary coach, Sir Alex Ferguson returned to Old Trafford after his brain surgery, Manchester United failed to lift his spirit.

They were held to a 1-1 draw by promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving them eight points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Jose Mourinhos side, who had won their last two league games, took the lead in the 18th minute through Brazilian midfielder Fred, who drove home after a sublime short pass from Paul Pogba.

Wolves had looked nothing like a promoted team, playing confident and composed football and they got their reward with a finely worked goal.

Helder Costa got past Luke Shaw and slipped the ball back to Raul Jimenez who perfectly teed-up Joao Moutinho and the Portuguese midfielder fired into the top corner.

Source: NAN