The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has denied given approval to former boxing champion, Bash Ali to stage a World Guinness Book of Record fight in Nigeria.

Kola Daniel, Special Assistant (Media) to Minister of Youth and Sports Development, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the Legal Department of the ministry had written to the boxer warning him to desist from peddling false claims about a non-existent approval from the office of the minister for the fight.

Daniel reiterated that no such approval was granted by President Muhammadu Buhari contrary to claims by the boxer that the approval was conveyed to him by the office of the minister.

He therefore asked the boxer to keep to the facts and follow due process in his plans to stage the fight.

D.A. Muhammad, Director, Legal Services in the ministry also denied the boxers claim.

Muhammad said in a letter dated Jan.7, 2020 that no approval has been granted by either the ministry or the presidency for the fight.

It is to be recalled that on Nov.4, 2019 a meeting was held between the ministry and yourself in the company of Director, Legal Department and other senior staff of the ministry, wherein the ministry was categorical about not entering into any meaningful discussion with you in relation to the Guinness Record Fight until the litigation between you and the ministry is amicably sorted out.

It is in this regard the ministry is surprised to note your manipulation of information to the effect that approval has been granted you to carry out the World Guinness Record Fight.

I am accordingly therefore, by this letter, directed to convey that no approval whatsoever was granted you by Mr President or the Ministry, and it will be in your overall interest to issue another letter stating the factual situation that took place between the office of the Minister and your good self on the said date in order for us to make further progress on the said matter, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bash Ali in 1985 made history as the first World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiser-weight boxing champion from Africa.

The 63-year-old former boxing champion is seeking to enter the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest boxer to win a world title.

The former boxer who has not competed professionally for more than a decade is seeking to take on a yet-to- be identified American boxer in a bid to clinch the world record.

The proposed fight has, however, been fraught with lots of controversies.

Source: NAN

Iran on Saturday confirmed suspicions that its missile system shot down the Ukraine Airlines plane killing 176 people and blamed US adventurism for the disaster.

In an apologia on Saturday, Iran said it unintentionally shot down the plane, calling it an unforgivable mistake.

The Ukraine International Airlines plane came down on Wednesday shortly after Iran launched missiles at bases hosting American forces in Iraq in response to the killing of Qasem Soleimani, one of Irans top generals, in a US drone strike.

The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted.

Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said in a statement on Saturday that his country expects a full investigation, a full admission of guilt and compensation from Iran after the downing of a passenger plane.

Iran had earlier said it mistakenly shot down a plane killing all 176 people aboard and voiced its deep regret, after initially denying it brought down the aircraft in the tense aftermath of Iranian missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq.

Zelenskiy said: Iran has pleaded guilty to crashing the Ukrainian plane. But we insist on a full admission of guilt.

We expect from Iran assurances of their readiness for a full and open investigation, bringing those responsible to justice, the return of the bodies of the dead, the payment of compensation, official apologies through diplomatic channels, he added.

Source: NAN

A patient died on Saturday from a mysterious illness after an outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, according to the local health commission.

The emergence of the virus is raising concerns as hundreds of millions of people are getting ready to travel during the Chinese New Year holiday later this month.

Experts who analysed the gene sequencing of the virus think it could be triggered by a new type of coronavirus, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

A total of 41 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Seven people are still in critical condition, and two have been released from hospital, with no new infections detected for the last week, Wuhans health commission said.

Most of those with the illness are workers at or visitors to a particular market in Wuhan which sells fish and wild animals, the World Health Organisation said.

It is not clear if the disease is being passed from person to person, the commission said, adding that of the more than 700 people who have come into contact with the patients, none has been infected.

Coronaviruses can infect animals and people, causing diseases ranging from the common cold to severe illnesses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

The disease raised an alarm in places like Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines, where officials said they would set up quarantine zones or scan passengers from China for signs of the disease.

Symptoms included fever, difficulty breathing, and lung lesions. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

Omans Sultan Qaboos died on Friday evening, the Diwan of Royal Court announced, declaring a three-day state of mourning.

There had been speculation concerning the 79-year-old rulers health after he made a short trip to Belgium for medical reasons last month.

His death was confirmed by the royal court in an obituary carried by state media early on Saturday.

The cause of Qaboos death was not specified.

It is with hearts filled with faith in Allah and his Providence, and with great sorrow and deep sadness yet with complete satisfaction and absolute submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, that the Diwan of Royal Court mourns His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, the royal court said.

Qaboos ruled the Gulf state since deposing his father in a bloodless coup in 1970 and was credited with transforming Oman into a modern country and an influential regional player.

In its statement, the royal court announced a state of mourning and the halt of official work in the public and private sectors for three days and the flying of flags at half-mast over the forthcoming 40 days. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

By Veronica Dariya
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Saturday said it had suspended the use of the National Identity Number (NIN), for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Registrar of the board, Prof. Ishak Oloyede, disclosed this to newsmen during a press conference at the boards Headquarters in Abuja.

He said that the decision to suspend the use of the number as a prerequisite for the 2020 UTME and Direct Entry registration came after several calls from stakeholders.

We also decided to suspend that prerequisite based on some technical issues on ground, he said.

Oloyede spoke further: We came to a decision yesterday and decided that we will suspend the use of NIN as a prerequisite for the 2020 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) registration until 2021.

By then, all candidates would have been given one year notice to register.

This does not affect our permanent and adhoc staff who will participate in the exercise as they will require the NIN for verification.

We have gone round and seen the passion and commitment of the candidates; the reality on ground is that what we expect is not attainable at the moment, so we shall not inflict more pain on candidates.

Oloyede also noted that technical issues on ground with regards to the system of registration at the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC), was one of the major reasons for the suspension.

According to him, plans are underway for the provision of a more advanced system that will be more efficient for the exercise.

He also said that the board as well as NIMC would continue to share its intelligence reports as well as other plans for the smooth conduct of the exercise in future.

He reiterated that the need for NIN as a perquisite for the exercise was to tackle identity fraud during the examinations.

Also speaking, the Director-General of NIMC, Mr Aliyu Azeez, said that the move was necessary as the commission was overwhelmed with the exercise within the short time given.

He said that NIMC had only 1,000 centres around the country for the exercise and would need up to 4,000 to conduct such exercise.

He, however, stated that the partnership with JAMB would continue while advising parents and candidates for the 2021 exercise to use the opportunity to acquire the number within the stipulated time to avoid last minute rushes.

Azeez also said that by 2021, NIMC registration would be made available at JAMB Computer-Based Tests (CBT) centres nationwide, with operators on ground to capture candidates.

NAN recalls that JAMB had earlier stated that all candidates for the 2020/ 21 UTME and DE must have NIN before registering for admission slots into the nations tertiary institutions.

UTME and DE registrations exercises are scheduled to begin on Monday, Jan. 13 and end on Feb. 17

Source: NAN

By Rita Iliya
Residents of Suleja and Tafa have expressed optimism over the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) initiated by Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger to make towns and cities socially inclusive and self-sustaining.

They made this known at the end of a Two-Day Technical Interactive Session with stakeholders on IDP formualtion with officials from the UN-Habitat and Niger State Urban Support Programme (SUP) in Suleja on Saturday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Niger state government is working with UN-Habitat and other partners to prepare the state Urban Development Policy based on the National Urban Development Policy of 2012.

This was aimed at developing the human settlements sector in an integrated manner through the formulation of the SUP.

Alhaji Mohammed Alhassan, Representative of Suleja Emirate, lauded the IDP formulation project and said his aspirations was to have a liveable and workable city for people to live with adequate services provided.

Suleja has become a congested city because of its proximity to the Federal Capital and has witnessed consistent inflow of people not just to Suleja town but the emirate. Therefore, my hope is to see the emirate where things are working in a comprehensive manner.

This is to have a city that adequate services are provided since the major challenges of the city is increased population, inadequate infrastructure and facilities that have been extended beyond accepted limit, he told NAN.

He commended the state government for initiating projects that would attract investors to the state to provide services that were inadequate such as water, electricity, schools, standard hospitals in a planned manner for easy access.

Alhaji Haruna Garba, Director, Social Development in Suleja Council Area, said the IDP project would address challenges of housing, land, education, water, insecurity and youth restiveness facing the emirate.

When the project is implemented, my aspirations is to have a new Suleja that is vibrant and all inclusive with job opportunities and capacity building, he said.

He commended the state government commitment to ensure the feasibility of the project and pledged the councils support in the actualisation of the project.

Also, Mr Obed Nana, Resident of Tafa Local Government Area, said the project would help develop local government areas and said the involvement of stakeholders would bring about the actualisation of the project.

The involvement of the people in the process shows the project is a realistic one, because it involves peoples consultations as the people are the ones to come up with development plan, this shows a good projection.

By this, Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello is very enthusiastic about the project and this shows the project will be successful in the end in terms of funding and addressing challenges affecting people especially rural dwellers, he said.

In his remarks, Prof. Mustapha Zubairu, Coordinator, Niger State Urban Support Programme, commended the Emir of Suleja, Malam Awwal Ibrahim, for mobilising his subjects to participate actively in the project formulation process.

The IDP project is a deliberate attempt by the governor to give Suleja and everyone the opportunity to decide what their challenges are and share ideas of their needs for equitable distribution of services, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Abdul Hussein, Permanent Secretary, Niger Ministry of Land, said the IDP would serve as a guide for town planning in controlling development.

The ministry of land will continue to provide the needed information for the formulation and the implication as the end user of the document, he said.

NAN report that highlights of the programme was inspection of some sites such as Ladi Kwali poultry, Suleja water plant, Suleja Smart City site and other state institutions.

Source: NAN

Most times, we overlook little details that could possibly help us save some cost on a couple of things and eventually feel the weight of irretrievable spending bearing down on us after a while. In line with this, I am moved to discuss how you can save cost on fuel - using less(er) volume of fuel to cover more mileage. Tips such as putting off the air conditioner while on the move and turning off the engine whenever your car is stuck in traffic are about the most common measures people resort to when it comes to preventing the fuel from burning out fast. Spare me some seconds before I delve into the article proper: it pays - more economical - to wind up the windows and allow the a/c breathe while at high speed than shutting it off and leaving the windows open. The reason is that leaving the windows at a high speed increases the probability of drag - I will shed more light on this as the article progresses - occurring and this, in turn, causes the fuel to get used up quickly.

Now, I shall be sharing the other tips that should help you help optimize the fuel in your car’s tank and save you some cash.

• Unclutter the boot: A lot of persons are fond of packing extra luggage in their cars thus turning it into some form of mobile wardrobe or store. But here is what you should know: the more weight you have in your car’s boot, the lower the fuel economy. As such, it would be wise to take whatever (items) that significantly add(s) to the carriage and save some penny on fuel.
  Well, just to let you know; the physics behind this is that weight increases aerodynamic drag - which is the force exerted on an object moving against the wind - and this consequently increases fuel consumption. The need to limit the effect of aerodynamic drag is one of the major reasons pick-up truck owners usually install tonneau cover over the (truck’s) bed.

• Invest in the right engine lubricant: The hard truth here is that ‘quality‘ might not be enough to give you optimal performance when one considers the impact of engine lubricant on fuel economy - and by extension, the overall functioning of the car’s engine. The perfect word here is ‘right‘; you have to use the engine lubricant that has been recommended for your automobile’s model/type. Hence, in case you do not have the car’s instruction manual with you, there may be an urgent need to do research to know the right engine oil for your car.

• Ensure proper inflation of tyres: Tyres that are not well inflated will ultimately lack enough pressure to roll smoothly on the road - even though the car may be moving somewhat unhindered - and this tells (negatively) on fuel economy. Therefore, you should make sure that your car’s tyres are properly gauged before setting out. Do your checks [with the aid of a pressure gauge] and make necessary fix when need be.

• Back to cruise control: Without an iota of doubt, there are many speedy temptations on our roads, and the truth is that we, more often than not, fall for them. But before you get tempted to hit the pedal (accelerator) and ‘make your car fly‘ just like the other road user(s) right ahead of you, you should consider utilizing the cruise control feature to stay at a steady speed range and burn less fuel.

• Monitor the air filter and fuel injectors: Accessories such as air filters and fuel injectors also play some important roles in improving fuel economy. So, make it a point of duty to check them and do proper cleaning regularly; more so, replacement should be done as soon as it may be required - when these accessories are worn out.

• Let the brake be: An incident during your learning (how to drive) years or some other unfortunate occurrence might have made you form the habit of having your foot on the brake pedal; that may be fine by you - moreover, who wouldn’t go for safety first? That aside, some persons have unrepentantly resorted to driving this way since they got their first automobile. It is, however, important to state here that such an act normally causes fuel to be used up fast(er) - and even cause you to seek a replacement (brake) more often. In essence, you should not be so ‘brake-fastidious‘ that you keep placing your foot on the pedal when you do not need to.

• Ensure proper alignment: Uneven/imbalanced alignment makes the work of an automobile daunting and also results in increased fuel consumption. Hence, any time you observe that your vehicle is jerking towards one side [than the other], your car’s tyres are making squeaking noise or wears out rather too easily, it might be high you took it to an expert to correct the alignment before you spend more (money) on fuel.

Time and again, we have been made to understand that exercises are beneficial for our well-being. And, rightly so; there is a wide range of health benefits - from minimising the risk of one being downed by chronic illnesses to boosting energy level, developing healthy bones and muscles, helping one have sound sleep/relaxation and so on - derivable from partaking in physical exercises on a regular basis. So, a lot of persons would have shut out the idea of exercises being a death trap.

But then, news about how a number of individuals suddenly slumped and breathed their last while engaging in one form of physical exercise or the other has made the rounds at different points in time, and this is enough reason to ask the question: why should an activity meant to improve a person’s health eventually serve as a stimulant for his/her demise? The answer to this may lie in the knowledge one has about his/her body and how it works. More so, it is highly probable that there are some conditions that an individual’s body may be predisposed to, that do not permit specific kinds of exercise.

On the other hand, there are instances whereby exercises may end up turning into a stressor with a person overworking or exerting so much pressure (on) a particular machinery/organ in his/her body. In most of the cases of exercise-related deaths, the cause is traceable to heart complications, especially cardiac arrest and older persons (above 40 years of age) who do not moderate their physical exercise routine have a higher tendency of falling victim, but fatal incidences involving younger individuals cannot be outrightly ruled out, nonetheless.

A report, based on the findings of a scientific research and provided by New York Post, intimated that a high level of exercise can be a risk factor for heart attack consequently leading to death. So, from the foregoing, it is obvious that while physical exercises are good, what one makes of it could either aid in improving the health or turn it into a death trap. You should, therefore, watch out for certain symptoms [like shortness of breath, chest pain, light-headedness, irregular heartbeat, etc.] that are often associated with overexercising. You should give yourself a quick break whenever you notice any of these symptoms - remember, you can leave to fight another day. Talking about moderation; according to renowned medical institution, Mayo Clinic, 150 minutes of aerobic activity every week is perfect for anyone looking to maintain a safe (exercise) routine.

BONUS
Besides moderation, since exercise-related deaths are commonly due to heart complications, it would be of immeasurable benefits to know the kinds of exercise that individuals with a history of heart disease can partake in. The following aerobic exercises are often recommended:

• Swimming
• Light jogging
• Biking
• Walking
• Stretching (for 5 minutes)
• Dancing

You should do these exercises at a slow pace - no overexertion - and ensure that you do not get dehydrated over a long period of time while at it.