By Perpetua Onuegbu

Mr Chibuike Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation said on Thursday that negotiations for the possible construction of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line were ongoing.

The minister said this in a statement issued by Mr Israel Ibeleme, his Media Aide.

According to Amaechi, the Federal Government and the Chinese Government are still negotiating on the project.

The minister also said that the Federal Government would also continue its negotiations with Russians for the commencement of the Lagos-Calabar rail project.

The six geo-political zones are all covered, Port Harcourt Maiduguri covers Port Harcourt, Aba, Owerri, Umuahia, Enugu, Abakaliki, Awka, Makurdi, Lafia, Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, and connects to Damaturu, and then Maiduguri.

The Lagos-Calabar rail line covers the whole of the South South zone. We have Lagos coming through Akure, Benin.

Then from Benin we have a spot leading to Agbor and Asaba to Onitsha and then you continue to Benin to Ughelii, Warri, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo, and Calabar that takes care of the South South zone.

While the Port HarcourtMaiduguri rail line takes care of the South East and North East zones.

The Lagos-Kano rail line also takes care of the South West zone and parts of the North West and North Central zones.

According to Amaechi, the central line that starts from Abuja also takes care of the North Central zone, which includes Kogi and Kwara states.

He noted that the construction of the rail lines across the country required huge funding even as he acknowledged Nigerias rising borrowing profile.

The minister said that in view of the debts already incurred, if there was not enough money to construct new rail lines, money could be borrowed to rehabilitate the existing ones.

Currently what we now have as functional lines are: Lagos-Ibadan (156km), Abuja-Kaduna (186km), and Itakpe-Warri which is about 350km all put together under this government.

We have recorded a total of about 600 km of railway and by the time we complete the Ibadan-Kano rail line which is about 860km, we will be having 1500 km railway constructed by this government.

I hope that the next government that will take over from us will be able to do something in that regard to progress the railway, because even if we finish the Lagos-Kano and Lagos-Calabar rail lines, the Port HarcourtMaduguri line still needs to be finished, the minister said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday formally presented the Kogi Gov.-elect, Yahaya Bello, to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the re-elected Governor had earlier received a Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, today.

NAN observed that the meeting between the president and the re-elected governor alongside the APC national chairman was held behind closed doors.

NAN reports that the Returning Officer of the Nov. 16 Kogi governorship election, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, had on Monday declared Yahaya Bello as winner of the election after polling 406,222 votes.

Bello defeated 24 other contestants, including Mr Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 189,704 votes.

President Buhari had on Monday met behind closed doors with Bayelsa Governor-elect, Mr David Lyon, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Bayelsa State governor-elect was also accompanied on the visit by National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiohmole, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state, Gov. Badaru Abubakar Jigawa as well as Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva.(NAN)

Source: NAN

Indian Police said on Thursday told dpa that a four-year-old boy in India fell into a hot pot of curry and later died of injuries.

The police said the accident happened on Monday when the child was playing near the pot.

The family, from the city of Shabad in the state of Telangana, were holding a party at the time.

The boy died a day later in hospital because of severe burns.

The police are now investigating the circumstances of the incident.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

Jose Mourinho has been appointed Tottenham manager after the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday.

Former Chelsea and Manchester United boss Mourinho has signed a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season.

"The quality in both the squad and the academy excites me," said the 56-year-old Portuguese. "Working with these players is what has attracted me."

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: "In Jose we have one of the most successful managers in football."

Tottenham reached the Champions League final last season under Pochettino, but lost 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.

The Argentine, who was appointed in May 2014, did not win a trophy in his time in charge of the north London club, with Spurs' last silverware being the League Cup in 2008.

Levy added: "He [Mourinho] has a wealth of experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician.

"He has won honours at every club he has coached. We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room."

Mourinho still has a home in London and won three Premier League titles - in 2005, 2006 and 2015 - as well as one FA Cup in two spells at Chelsea.

Having taken over at Manchester United in May 2016, he won the Europa League and Carabao Cup with them in 2017.

Mourinho was sacked by the Old Trafford club in December 2018, with the club 19 points behind league leaders Liverpool at the time, and had not managed another side before joining Spurs.

He has also previously managed Portuguese side Porto, where he won the Champions League in 2004.

At Italian club Inter Milan, Mourinho won a league, cup and Champions League treble in 2010 and was named Fifa's world coach of the year, while he led Spanish team Real Madrid to the La Liga title in 2012.

He takes over a Spurs side that are without a win in their past five games and have slipped to 14th in the Premier League, 20 points behind leaders Liverpool after just 12 matches.

The Portuguese's first match in charge is a trip to West Ham United on Saturday (12:30 GMT kick-off).

Mourinho has turned down a number of managerial opportunities, including in China, Spain and Portugal, since leaving Old Trafford.

A 21-year-old Adeleke Oluwaseyi who claimed to be internet fraud apprentice was on Monday, November 18, 2019, handed six months jail term after being pronounced guilty of impersonation in a one-count charge filed against him.

He was arraigned by the Ibadan office of EFCC.

Oluwaseyi, who claimed to be eight months into online dating apprenticeship when arrested in June, operated with the name Patrick Bob, claiming to be an American citizen.

He was sentenced to prison by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Judicial Division.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)said political parties used fake news to delegitimise Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)and the electoral process during Kogi governorship election.

Ms Idayat Hassan ,Director CDD ,made this known in the group’s preliminary statement on the conduct of Saturday’s Kogi governorship election.

Hassan said that CDD’ electoral environment observation report had previously predicted that political parties would use fake news during the election to cause confusion.

“Some of the fake news circulated today include the disqualification of the PDP candidates, false results, fake images of thugs arrested and snatching of ballot papers.

” CDD fact-checkers were able to debunk most of the fake news.

“The hoaxes are mainly intended at delegitimising INEC and the process; again, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are the leading platforms used to spread disinformation. “

Hassan said that earlier, voters across 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kogi went to the poll to elect a Governor and in Kogi West, a rescheduled senatorial election also got underway following a court verdict .

She said that at the CDD Election Analysis Centre (EAC), reports have been coming from trained and accredited observers deployed across the 21 LGAs of the state.

She said that the preliminary statement was an overview of the initial findings on the conduct of the election.

She said that CDD observed use of financial inducements to affect the outcome of the election.

Hassan said that CDD also noted systematic and coordinated violent attacks at polling units and carting away of voting materials.

She said that in many polling units, observers and journalists were blocked from access and taking photographs in what appeared to be an attempt to prevent gathering of evidence of electoral malpractices.

She noted that the use of violence in the campaign and open threats of more violence in the election appeared to be a voter suppression strategy which played out on Saturday.

She said CDD EAC observers reported coordinated disruption of voting across many polling units with hired thugs invading polling units, shooting sporadically to scare away voters, and in several cases carting away voting materials.

“In polling unit 001 in Ward 4, Dekina LGA, CDD observers reported sporadic gunfire;violent caused by rival party thugs who battled one other over control of the polling environment.

“These were in Felele and Ganaja areas of Lokoja LGA, especially in Registration Area 08, Oworo, Felele Area, PU 004. In Ankpa 1 Polling Unit (PU) with number 2203-04-0 in Ankpa LGA,“she said

Hassan said that notwithstanding the fact that INEC enlisted EFCC and ICPC’s support in curtailing vote-buying, vote-buying was very rampant across the state.

She said that CDD observers reported that party agents in several polling units engaged in the financial inducement of voters to influence them to vote for their parties giving them between N500 and N3,000.

She said that as at 11 a.m, accreditation and voting had started in 55.1 per cent of polling units in which CDD deployed observers in Kogi.

She said that further information revealed that a good number of INEC ad hoc staff were knowledgeable and familiar with the operation of the smart card readers in some of the polling units observed.

Hassan,however, said that late delivery of materials experienced in some parts of the state was primarily due to logistics challenge and deplorable state of infrastructures like bad roads and difficult terrains experienced in the deployment of electoral materials.(NAN)

The Enugu Police Command said Saturday in Enugu that it has commenced a massive manhunt of abductors of a Catholic Priest, Rev.-Fr. Theophilus Ndulue.

This was coming barely two weeks after the release of another catholic priest earlier abducted in the state.

According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, Ndulue was abducted by unidentified gunmen on his way home along Amansiodo Road in Ndiagu-Oghe in Ezeagu Local Government Area on Friday evening while returning from a pastoral council meeting.

Amaraizu while confirming the incident, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu described the abduction as unfortunate.

He however, said that police operatives would leave no stone unturned to secure release the catholic priest unhurt.

“We have launched a massive trail for the rescue and release of the priest from his abductors as soon as possible.

“I assure the good people of Enugu and the Catholic family that we will get at them and bring them to book.

“However, we are circumspect on the operation in order to ensure that the Catholic priest is released unhurt,’’ he assured.

Amaraizu said that Ndulue, who was the Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ihuonyia, Amansiodo, was initially kidnapped alongside the Chair lady, Catholic Women Organisation in his parish, Mrs Stella Nwodo.

He said that Nwodo was later released by the abductors.

NAN recalls that this was happening barely two weeks after Rev.-Fr Arinze Madu, Deputy Rector, Queen of the Apostle Spiritual Year Seminary, Imezi Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area, was released by his abductors.

Madu had been kidnapped at the seminary gate on Oct. 29.

There was a reason old Nollywood thrived, with audiences religiously following film characters. ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’ brought the feeling back.

The modern retake on the classic 1997 film that birthed Nollywood as a formal industry took no prisoners in serving pure, nolstagic entertainment.

Directed by Ramsey Nuoah, the film follows the son of Andy Okeke (the lead of the first film). The young man, Nnamdi Okeke is lured into a secret society for wealth and looses peace when asked to sacrifice his love interest.

The film, produced by Play Network and Native FilmWorks, does not really score points for the newness of its storyline. In fact, it is the predictability of the story that adds to the flavour.

Audiences at the cinemas already knew where the story was headed but it gave a sort of satisfaction to be able to relate with the classic Nollywood ‘money ritual’ trope.

It was refreshing to watch audiences react genuinely when events happened to the characters. It felt like watching home videos, on video tape, lying around the house.

It was the type of Nollywood home video that the average Nigerian grew up invested in.

The type that although you knew the ending, you would ask someone to narrate what you missed and sit on the edge of your seat till it was over.

Nuoah and his crew completed the throwback effect by including the ‘original money ritual lords’ in the cast. From Kanayo O. Kanayo to Kenneth Okonkwo.

These actors were complimented with the great acting of the fresh-faced lead, Swanky JKA, who embodied his character to the teeth. Also, Eyinna Nwigwe and Ramsey Nuoah deserve praise for their excellent acting.

Classically, every ritual lord has a love interest and Nnamdi Okeke was not left out. However, Munachi Abii, who played his girlfriend, was as refreshing as their on-screen relationship.

While the film scored all these points for picture quality, acting, story, costume and direction, there were moments that reduced its perfect score.

‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’ had a number of unnecessary scenes and some unnecessary actors. It is still hard to figure out Nancy Isime’s role and the relevance of her two scenes.

Also, Kalu Ikeagwu is an excellent actor and deserved more screen time and well-expanded dialogues, other than the hint dropping he was relegated to.

For a movie that thrived on being predictable, there were some unnecessary dialogues and scenes that did not enrich the story but where on the verge of boring the audience.

More so, the lead actor did not have enough motivation to join the ritual cult. He was broke, not poor and did not convince the audience enough in that regard. It was expected that he would join but why?

The instant layaway of the lead actor’s family immediately after he got rich did not serve the story. Except there were deleted scenes, it made no sense that we never saw them again.

Regardless of these flaws, ‘Living in Bondage: Breaking Free’ is a movie to see. The excellent mix of Igbo and English dialogue made it very Nigerian.

More importantly, the opening scene where Eyinna Nwigwe’s character brutally sacrifices his child deserves its own awards.

Everything in that scene, from the writing, acting and the production properly welcomes you into the film.

It was a film that needed to be made and the producers deserve praise for making it well, with all the Nigerian flavour and little westernisation.

Source: NAN

A boat conveying journalists across flooded parts of Sampou community on Nun River in Kolokuma Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa capsized and threw the four occupants into the water.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the boat was carrying four journalists covering the governorship elections, including its correspondent.

The journalists were returning from the polling station when the incident happened and left the victims submerged but the timely intervention of sympathisers rescued the journalists whose mobile phones, cameras and recorders were drenched.

A stretch of about 200 metres along the road, leading to polling unit 4, Ward 6, where the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sen. Douye Diri voted was flooded, compelling the journalists to resort to local canoes to cross.

The flood had delayed the setup of polling stations across the flooded community to about 10.16 a.m, two hours behind schedule.

The flood submerged many parts of Amasoma, Yenagoa and parts of Sagbama, a development that displaced polling stations.

Diri who voted at about 10.35 a.m. observed that the elections were peaceful in his area but regretted that he got reports of electoral fraud, violence in Nembe, Opolo and Enewari and other parts of the state.(NAN)

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army says its troops have again successfully dislodged Boka Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists at Malam Fatori in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno.

The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Iliyasu said that the terrorists attempted to launch an attack on the location of the troops of 64 and 98 Task Force Battalions and elements of the Armed Forces Special Forces Battalion on Friday.

He said that the terrorists who were in a revenge mission had on Wednesday been humiliated by the troops in their attempt to infiltrate the troops location by launching an unsuccessful attack.

Within less than 24 hours of their devastating defeat however, the outgunned criminal insurgents launched another desperate attack on the highly spirited troops of Mallam Fatori in the wee hours of Friday.

In a swift and highly coordinated response, the gallant and relentless troops at the location once again handed them another crushing defeat.

At the end of this particular encounter, one Boko Haram Gun Truck was completely burnt along with 3 of the criminal insurgents that were trapped in it.

Apparently, the vehicle was gutted by fire as a result of the high volume of fire delivered by the troops, he said.

Iliyasu further disclosed that two of the insurgents were neutralised during the ensuing gun battle with the troops, adding that a number of equipment were recovered.

These include one Anti-Aircraft Gun, one Anti-Aircraft Gun barrel, eight AK47 Riffles and one Rocket Propelled Gun tube, three AK 47 magazines, one bandolier, two rounds of Anti-Aircraft Gun ammunition and one Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb.

Subsequently, the Air Task Force, Operation LAFIYA DOLE went on the trail of the routed remnants of the insurgents to ensure their total obliteration.

Regrettably, two gallant soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during this encounter. Both of them have already been stabilized and are already responding positively to treatment at a military hospital, he said.

According to him, the The Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Maj.-Gen Olusegun Adeniyi, has commended the troops on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai.

He further enjoined them to continue to mount pressure on the insurgents until they are forced to total submission, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN