By Dorcas Jonah

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday promised to partner the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) to address drug abuse among women.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), made the promise when the newly elected President of NCWS, Hajiya Lami Lau, led a delegation on a visit to the directorate in Abuja.

Congratulating the new executive, Marwa noted that NCWS was central to the ongoing drug demand reduction and drug supply control efforts in Nigeria.

He said that the level of drug abuse in the country was worrisome, hence the need for partnership with all stakeholders to reduce drug usage.

The chief executive of NDLEA said that he was happy to know that NCWS had structures in local government areas and communities.

When you look at the size of Nigerians that use drugs which is about 15 million, you will understand why some families and societies are being destroyed and terrible crimes committed.

Drugs are wiping out our future generation. Unfortunately, one in every four that use drugs is a woman. This may appear to be 25 per cent only.

But when considered that the women include mothers who are setting examples for children, you can understand the impact of this on a child, he said.

The NDLEA boss said drug abuse by pregnant women could have adverse effects on the unborn children.

Marwa said that women that used drug were afraid of stigmatisation, hence they do not seek help or treatment.

He noted that of all the persons counseled and treated by the command, only five per cent are women.

This is the area that we call on the NCWS to support our partnership and advocacy for women to renounce drugs and seek help and treatment.

We will work with your state offices to sweep drugs off our streets as much as possible, but we need to face the demand end, hence the need for collaboration with the NCWS, he said.

Lami said the partnership between the two bodies to combat drug abuse was important in view of the disturbing prevalence of the menace among women in the country.

She said that NCWS was worried by this and that was why the council had come to seek partnership with NDLEA to address drug abusive among women. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ejike Obeta

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday demolished a mini market allegedly operating on plot of land belonging to National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), at Area 11 illegally.

Mr Ikharo Attah, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, said this in Abuja after the demolition.

He said while addressing newsmen on the spot that the area, which was close to NCWS secretariat, constituted a nuisance to the environment.

He said the demolition of all the illegal structures would bring about sanity in the area that had been converted to mini market against the Abuja Master Plan.

This place is constituting nuisance to Area 11, it started as a small restaurant, gradually it metamorphosed into a market, now it has become a serious challenge.

The activities on this single plot of land have become a serious issue; the FCT Minister, Malam Mohammad Bello, has directed that we should clear the place.

Such illegality will not stand. We gave them warning before coming.

Attah, said after the demolition, the owner of the land would decide on what to be done in the plot.

A customer who was at the scene, Charles Olili, said the place was the only nearby restaurant that its food was affordable, but that government had powers to decide what is good for the people.

It is a legal plot of land but has been turned into an illegal market,he said.

Also, a trader, Rafat Mohammed, said she was worried because nowhere for her to start up.

This is worrying, where will I go and start? Government is supposed to provide an alternative place for us before the demolition, she said.

One of the traders and a leader, Malam Ibrahim Lawal, who expressed anger over the incident, admitted that the FCT Administration gave them a notice of three months but it was not yet time.

I feel very bad because we were given three months but we are not up to the three months; we were following up the issue till late last week, the people that came told us that they were sent by the minister. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigeria Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command on Monday, paraded three suspects in connection with the murder of a female member of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Stephenie Terungwa.

The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Sunday Babaji, while addressing newsmen, said the Maitama Division had on April 15, received information about the body of a middle-aged lady lying on the road.

Babaji said that crime scene investigators (CSI) were swiftly drafted to the scene upon the receipt of the information and removed the body to the hospital where she was confirmed dead by a doctor on duty.

He said the initial effort to facially profile the victim proved abortive due to her deformed face suspected to have resulted from exposure to a corrosive substance.

The CP said that discrete investigation revealed that the deceased was one Terungwa Stephenie, a 26 years old Corp member who resides in City homes estate Lokogoma with one Edward Achadu.

He said it was discovered that she left home with her one year and five-months-old son on April 14 and never returned home.

A day later, the son was recovered at Holy Trinity Catholic Church upon a call placed through to one of the Paternalarelatives.

Discrete and painstaking Investigations by Tactical and Intelligence assets of the Command attached to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) led to the arrest of three suspects.

He said that the suspects included a 26 years old female,a 36 years old male, and another male of about 35 years old, all residents of Oguta lake Maitama area of the FCT, he said.

Babaji said the suspects criminally conspired and murdered the victim to separate her from Edward Achadu to pave way for the female suspect and estranged lover of Edward, Jenifer Temba, to have him to herself.

According to him, investigation has been intensified to reveal groundbreaking facts that could lead to the arrest of fleeing participant(s) in this criminal act.

He said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion the investigation.

The female suspect told newsmen that the deceased only came to her house to collect phone the day she was found dead and denied any involvement in the act.

She said the male suspects were the ones that told her that they wanted to kidnap the deceased to demand for ransom.

However, another suspect, who said he was a colleague of the female suspect, said that she invited him to help her scare the deceased from her man.

He said the only role he played was to open the gate for the late Stephanie when she came to Tembas house.

He claimed that he met two other men who tied the deceased before he departed from the premises, adding that he later heard of the murder of the deceased.

Another male suspect said he was contracted by the female suspect to help her scare the deceased alongside his friend currently at large.

He said he did not kill the deceased, saying he held and tied her as instructed by the female suspect before leaving the house.

He said that the female suspect called him up later in the night to come to her house, adding that be met the deceased in a terrible state bathed with acid.

According to him, the female suspect was crying and saying she didnt know why she killed the decreased.

She held my led and was begging me to help her dispose off the body after which she called someone who brought a car for her.

The person left the car which we later used to carry the body to where we dumped it at about 3.00 am, he said.

He said that the female suspect paid him the sum of N100,000.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the command also paraded two suspected kidnappers/bandits that were arrested during a raid on their hideouts in part of FCT.

The CP said the commands anti-kidnapping unit in a concerted effort with the local hunters, had on April 14, stormed a kidnappers camp in Zago Forest in Niger state bordering FCT via Adagba Village Abuja.

He said the team overpowered the criminals and arrested two suspected Bandits aged 18 and 20, while many escaped the camp with bullet wounds.

According to him, the team dislodged the camp, rescued one Usman Isah a 23 years old male of Lapai village Niger State who had been in captivity for 20 days.

They recovered three AK 47 riffles with breeches No. 5662, 088425-89, and NK 6172 with Seven (7) Magazines containing eighteen (18) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and One GPMG with 101 MG rounds.

Effort is ongoing to apprehend fleeing suspects and upon the conclusion of the investigation, suspects will be charged to court, he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Thompson Yamput

The Kogi Enterprise Develoment Agency (KEDA), says KG-CARES aims at boosting entrepreneurship and the economy of the state and the nation as a whole.

KG-CARES is the Kogi COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus.

KEDA Managing Director, Hajiya Rekiya Onaivo, made the clarification in a Statement by the Agencys image maker, Ms Yemi Balogun in Lokoja.

The MD expressed gladness and satisfaction with the flag-off and zonal sensitisation of Kogi- CARES across the state.

Onaivo described the Result Area 3 zonal sensitisation, which began on May 9 to May 12 across the three senatorial districts, as apt and very successful.

She said the zonal sensitization took place in Anyigba, Kabba and Okene, with relevant stakeholders fully represented.

KEDA is very satisfied that the sensitisation created massive awareness about the KG-CARES project and intimated the business communities about the processes and criteria for participation.

KG-CARES Result Area 3 is a state-level intervention that seeks to mitigate the local effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kogi by supporting the recovery of local economic activities among Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs).

We are equally happy that the sensitisation was declared opened by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Ayoade, represented by her Senior Special Adviser on Administrative Matters, Mr Ephraim Amurawiaye, she said.

KEDA boss explained that the aim of the sensitisation was to bring state-wide awareness of the World Bank programme that would help Micro and Small Businesses stay in business.

She acknowleged the support of Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Olofu Yunusa-Gabriel, for being part of the programme held at Kabba.

According to her, the commissioners encomiums in the activities of KEDA had spurred the agency to do more for Kogi, for the desired growth and development.

According to her, Yunusa-Gabriels reiteration of the state governments commitment to ensure that businesses that were adversely affected by COVID-19 pandemic were resuscitated, was a stimulus to the agency.

The MD also thanked the State Cares Coordinating Unit and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr Ezekiel Shaibu, for their support to the success of the programme.

Onaivo, however, called on women, youths and People Living with Disabilities (PWD), to take advantage of the opportunity and access the grants.

She explained that beneficiaries would be verified by independent agents to ascertain whether they were qualified.

The KEDA boss advised prospective beneficiaries to ensure that authentic information were provided to the agency, to avoid being disqualified from the KG-CARES project.

Interested individuals and participants should be wary of all forms of fraudulent activities and report such to KEDA.

KEDA will not demand any form of payment to register beneficiaries, she warned.

High point of the event was the handing over of the Greivance Boxes to the vice chairpersons of the 21 local government areas for grievance redress purposes.

Prospective beneficiaries are highly encouraged to drop their complaints and grievances, as this will be handled appropriately.

She also thanked the traditional rulers who graced the occasions and their fatherly advice to propel managers to ensure that the funds were properly managed.

Amongst them are the Ohi of Okene, Alhaji Isah Mamman, the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Owoniyi Owoyomade1, Ogohi Onu Anyigba, Alhaji Abu Shaibu Okolo, and Ohi of Okengwen, Obobayi Ihima, Prince Fuad Ado-Ibrahim. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Edith Ike-Eboh and Emmanuel Afonne

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) started its activities for the new week with a call on stakeholders to intensify efforts to address abject energy poverty in Africa.

The GMD/CEO of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, made the call at the 2022 Africa Infrastructure Solutions Summit which recently held in Abuja.

At a panel session on Energy Transition at the summit organised by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) with the theme: Africas Energy Conundrum: A Pragmatic Approach to Net Zero, Kyari joined other energy experts to advocate for a practical approach to energy transition to guarantee cheap access to energy in Africa.

According to him, there should be a slow but proper energy transition process in Africa with emphasis on access rather than net zero status.

He called on developing countries to form a common front to address the irrational expectations of transiting to net zero, adding that African leaders must insist that there must be energy justice.

He said NNPC was at the forefront of efforts by Nigeria to rally the needed support and cooperation among African countries to promote gas sufficiency in order to eliminate energy poverty.

Kyari also canvassed for the integration of Africas infrastructure in the region.

The Session was moderated by AFCs Executive Director for Financial Services, Mr Sanjeev Gupta.

Other panelists in the session include, Prof. Carios Lopez of the Mandela School of Public Governance of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and Mr Temitope Shonubi, Executive Director, Sahara Group.

According to the panelists, there is need for African countries to reduce their dependence on foreign funds for projects and start looking inwards for financing.

For Shonubi, he spoke on the need for effective communication strategy during the campaigns with the African populace and the transition process just as he said that poverty needs to be addressed.

Meanwhile, the NNPC Ltd. has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that Nigeria enjoys energy security, especially in the area of petroleum products availability.

The GMD/CEO of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari made the commitment at an aviation sector stakeholders meeting held at the instance of the leadership of the House of Representatives.

The meeting was to find solution to the lingering challenge of astronomical rise in the price of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) also known as aviation fuel or Jet A1.

It would be recalled that Nigerian airlines under the auspices of the Aviation Operators of Nigeria (AON) had threatened to withdraw their services over what they considered as arbitrary increase in the price of aviation fuel which had created operational difficulties for the airlines.

In a swift move to resolve the crisis, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, convened a stakeholders meeting to x-ray the issues with a view to averting the strike and finding lasting solutions to the challenges bedeviling the sector.

Addressing the gathering, Kyari explained that NNPC was doing everything within its powers to make petroleum products available for the smooth operations of every sector of the economy, including aviation.

According to him, there were lots of factors responsible for prices of petroleum products, stressing that in the case of aviation fuel which had been deregulated since 1999, there was nothing NNPC can do as its price was strictly determined by market forces.

Speaking earlier, the Vice President of Aviation Operators of Nigeria and Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, highlighted the challenges that airline operators have been facing with aviation fuel marketers in terms of price of the product which he said has since exceeded the global threshold of 40 per cent of operation cost of airlines.

He said the AON could not follow through with the resolution of the last intervention by the House of Reps to apply for a license to import aviation fuel directly.

This he said was because they saw it as a long term solution which would involve huge infrastructural outlay like construction of tank farms and other storage facilities at the airports

On his part, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, said the CBN was ready to provide financial assistance to the airlines on the condition that they met the credit criteria set by their respective banks.

Rounding off the meeting, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, summed up the resolution and urged the airline operators to cancel the strike altogether, rather than just suspend it.

In the meantime, NNPC GMD/CEO, Kyari assured members of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the State of Refineries that the NNPC has nothing to hide.

Kyari gave the assurance at an investigative hearing of the committee into the state of the refineries.

Fielding questions from members of the committee, the GMD who went into the history of the maintenance of the refineries disclosed that the refineries had not been properly maintained over the past 20 to 25 years leading to a situation where they had to be shut down because they were no longer adding value.

On the current stage of the rehabilitation work and the process of awarding the contract, the Group Executive Director, Refineries and Petrochemicals, Mr Mustapha Yakubu, said everything was on track.

Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Ganiyu Johnson, said the leadership of the House of Representatives felt there was need to understand exactly what was happening with the refinery rehabilitation considering how much money was voted for the project.

He requested NNPC to furnish the committee with more documents relating to the surveys carried out on the plant before the rehabilitation contract was awarded and status report on work done and payments made so far.

Johnson stressed that the committee was ready to work with NNPC to come up with legislations that would support its growth.

Managing Directors of Kaduna and Warri Refineries, Mr Babatunde Bakare and Mr Ezekiel Osarolube, were with the GMD at the investigative hearing.

Group General Manager Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Muhammad; Technical Adviser to the GMD on Refineries, Mr Ibrahim Onoja and the General Manager, External Relations, Mrs Iyabode-Ayobami Ojo, were also at the hearing.

Meanwhile, the GMD has assured that the queues at fuel stations in Abuja would soon clear with the measures put in place to ensure robust supply of petrol to the city.

Kyari said the queues were not as a result of scarcity of petrol as NNPC currently had enough fuel in the country to last 47 days even if no product was imported in the intervening period.

Still in the week under review, the Federal Government said the country would continue to partner with stakeholders to improve the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Project.

This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, at the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) project which held in Abuja.

WAGPA is an international institution established by the treaty on the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Project signed by the Heads of States of Benin, Ghana, Nigeria Togo.

Sylva said the Nigerian government had over the years shown leadership in ensuring that WAGPA was properly positioned to guarantee the achievement of its objectives.

The minister described the meeting as a commitment to the success of the project a true proof of economic integration and cooperation in the sub-region.

According to him, the meeting is holding at a very critical time when the socio-political landscape is changing due to the Russian-Ukrainian war that has put pressure on global gas demand across Europe.

He listed some of the achievements of the WAPGA Committee to include, Open Access which was implemented in 2012; Improved Gas Availability; the Takoradi-Tema Interconnection Project (TTIP), which had significantly increased gas flow through the WAGP.

Other achievements were lifting of Force Majeure by the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) between June 2013 and October 2020, Reforms of the Access Code to the WAGP network code; and the ongoing amendment to the WAGP Act and the WAGP Regulations.

He said the amendment of the WAGP Act and the WAGP Regulations would ultimately give licensing power to WAGPA to oversee the activities of the shippers as related to the WAGP for a free and fair business environment.

However, there are more to achieve and we are determined to get to the zenith of our targets, which are to deepen gas supplies and utilisation within the ECOWAS sub-region.

The global community has classified gas as part of renewable energy.

Since we cannot but join the global energy transition train we must hurry to exploit the abundant natural gas deposits within the borders of our respective countries.

On the institutional level, he said the meeting was a follow-up on the extraordinary meeting of the committee held in Accra, Ghana on Nov. 16, 2021, to consider issues related to the appointment of the director-general of WAGPA.

He said the solution that emerged from its discussions in Accra, in November 2021 to move ahead with the appointment of a Nigerian as director-general for WAGPA was very critical.

In the circumstances, therefore, I will seek the understanding and cooperation of all to be guided by the provisions of the AGPA Treaty in reaching a sustainable, profitable and fair decision on this matter, he said.

Furthermore, he appreciated the effort of its partner, the West African Gas Company Ltd. (WAPCo), as operator of the pipeline to implement the International Project Agreement and assure transportation of natural gas from entry points to customers in the state parties.

He said the ECOWAS commission had initiated the West African Gas Pipeline Expansion Project (WAGPEP) and was currently working with the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) Project for possible synergy between the two projects.

I also know that WAPCo and WAGPA are working closely with the entities to provide technical assistance and experience to achieve the synergy to increase the potential to deliver natural gas for more countries in the ECOWAS sub-region and beyond, he said.

Visit us on www.nannews.ng for more details. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

Xu Guixiang, spokesperson for the Regional Government in Northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has commended mutual relationship shared among religious faithful during Ramadan.

Xu made this known at a virtual conference on the backdrop of the just concluded Ramadan festivity in Xinjiang, in China.

According to him, Muslim faithful and religious personalities in the region shared remarkable experiences during the recently concluded Islamic holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

Xu said, From April 3 to May 2, Muslims of various ethnic groups in the region observed Ramadan.

They celebrated Eid al-Fitr, which fell on May 3, while enjoying a one-day holiday.

He quoted Memet Juma, Hatip of the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar Prefecture, to have said that faithful visited the 550-year-old Mosque daily and thousands of people from different ethnic groups performed their traditional dances on the square in front of the Mosque.

The spokesperson described Xinjiang as home to various ethnic groups and religious beliefs.

Xu also quoted Zumrat Obul, Head of the Regional United Front Work Department, as saying that all normal religious activities were protected by law.

According to him, in recent years there has been a great misunderstanding about the religious situation in Xinjiang.

He alleged that the United States in particular had groundlessly claimed religious freedom was restricted in Xinjiang.

These ridiculous lies runs completely counter to the facts.

We would like to go on telling Xinjiangs true stories to the international community.

We are also looking forward to welcoming more visitors to Xinjiang, who can witness the prosperous and comfortable life here, he added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Franca Ofili

Nigerians suffering from arthritis have been advised to engage in regular exercise as part of management of the ailment which is important in all the stages.

Mr Chijioke Ofili, Physiotherapist and Medical Practice Manager, Nikea Consultants Ltd., said on Sunday that the first line of management was walking and swimming.

The first line of management will be exercise programmes including walking and swimming.

The second will be an injection to the knee; not just steroids, rather the ones with constituents and fluids mimicking the natural knee joint fluids, he said.

According to him, the third line of management may be knee arthroscopy and the last may be total knee replacement called Knee Arthroplasty.

Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

He said that exercises as part of management were important in all the stages and lines of management.

Ofili said that it was important that an exercise Programme for knee osteoarthritis should not cause a significant increase in knee pain while doing or following the movements.

In order to keep your knee comfortable, and to get the best results from an exercise Programme, particular attention to technique, leg positioning, amount of weight and range of knee movement may be required, he said.

According to him, an exercise for knee osteoarthritis should contain a mixture of cardiovascular exercise, important for maintaining overall fitness and weight management.

Commonly, people with knee osteoarthritis find an exercise bike to be a good option as its non-weight-bearing and encourages knee movement.

Cycling has the added benefit of helping flush synovial fluid around the knee, which helps keep the joint surfaces lubricated and is good for the health of the articular cartilage.

Swimming is also another cardiovascular exercise option people with knee osteoarthritis commonly find beneficial, Ofili said.

He said that strength exercises included the front of thigh, buttocks calves and hamstrings.

Ofili said there should be a mixture of isolated muscle group exercises and combined or functional exercises. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

===========
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Stephen Adeleye

Sen. Bukola Saraki, a Presidential aspirant on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, has promised to prioritise the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Company, Agriculture and security sectors if elected as Nigerias President come 2023.

Saraki gave the assurance when he met with Kogi PDP national delegates on Sunday in Lokoja, to seek their support in the partys upcoming presidential primary election.

He gave assurance that apart from above mentioned, he would concentrate more on non-oil sector, which according to him, is key to boosting the economy and create job opportunities.

In the first one year of my government, resolving the issue of Ajaokuta will be our number one priority because it is crucial to Nigerias economy, as well as mining and agricultural sectors.

These are the sectors that could easily help our local industries to grow, our economy is too dependent on oil which is not too good for us.

So, the steel will be my social contract with Nigeria if I am elected as president.

I can assure and promise the people of Kogi State that getting Ajaokuta steel properly running is a major priority.

I did not see why it should take seven years to resolve the Ajaokuta issue. As president, I will take charge, bring all the parties together, come up with a lasting solution and Ajaokuta will be running, he said.

On security issue, Saraki said it had been of a great concern to Nigerians, stressing the need to ensure that new professionalism was brought into the process, provide the necessary equipment, proper training and accountability.

With the 21st century, you cannot tell me that we cannot use technology to curb insecurity our country is currently facing.

We must have collaborative intelligence, bring technology into play and ensure that people are held accountable.

We believe that security is a priority and definitely we will end banditry, we will also ensure we put an end to kidnappings through technology and intelligence sharing, and more importantly we must professionalise the security agencies, Saraki stressed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Saraki, a two term Governor of Kwara State, is the only PDP presidential aspirant from the North Central.

While appealing to the delegates to cast their votes for him in the PDP presidential primary, Saraki noted that the north central zone hays not produce president since 1999.

Saraki, a former Chairman of Nigerias Governors Forum and former Nigerias Senate President, said, Kogi is like being at home.

I am here to seek your support and blessing, collaboration and cooperation, to let us work together and be part of history making to be elected as President of Nigeria and as first President from North Central zone of this country.

Today, we are so close to history. I am asking us to support aspirant who has the capacity and most experienced among other aspirants to rule this country.

My national delegates, let us go and make history; I am a bridge between the north and the south; Muslim and Christian; and between the young and the old.

Every office I have occupied I have left it better as I met it from two term governor to senate and as Senate President.

If I can do that as a governor and senate president, I know I will do better when I become the President of Nigeria.

I promise you that we will together make this country better. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

The Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association (NBSA) as well as the Japan-Africa Baseball

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Leke Oyede, coach of Nigerias Senior Womens Cricket team, said the team would focus on game awareness ahead of the Kwibuka 2022 Cricket tournament.

Oyede said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, as the team resumed camp in Benin ahead of the event in Kigali, Rwanda.

Team Nigeria are expected to face top sides like Brazil, Germany, among others, in the event but Oyede says focus on game awareness will help the girls soak up pressure where necessary.

One of the things we are going to be looking at is the game knowledge and awareness. It is how to give a good measure of the acts and scenes on the pitch, which will help them win games.

This will help them absolve pressure when the need arises. So, we are going to engage them with matches against some male teams here in Benin and see how to keep them with a positive mindset, he said.

The erstwhile cricketer also added that the team would work on its fitness and improve on the gains of their last outing at the Nigeria Womens T20I Invitational in March in Lagos.
A total of 18 players were invited to camp on Friday ahead of the 8-team tournament beginning from June 9 to June 20.
The eighth edition of the event, is in memory of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. (NAN)

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News