Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN-S-9
Hockey
Lagos, April 11, 2017 (NAN) The International Hockey Federation (FIH) says it has launched a ticket pre-registration website for the 2018 World Cups in England and India.

It said that the Women World Cup holding from July 21 to Aug. 5, would be staged at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre at the Queen Elizabeth’s Olympics Park in London.

The Men’s World Cup will be staged at the Kalinga Stadium in the India City of Bhubaneswar at a yet to be confirmed date either in November or December, it added.

FIH on its website said the pre-registration website was designed to increase the number of spectators for the high-profile competitions.

It said those wishing to attend should register their interest in purchasing tickets on the new website.

The statement said the hockey federation added that two brand new logos for the World Cups were also revealed.

According to the federation, Jason McCracken, FIH Chief Executive, said that the launch of the World Cup websites is a milestone in the countdown to the two events.

“Apart from the Olympic Games, our World Cups are the pinnacle of the sport.

“The content being shared across our digital channel will really boost excitement among fans and athletes in the lead up to the events,’’ it said. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN–H–25

Housing

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, April 9, 2017 ( NAN) The Minister of state for Housing, Works and Power, Alhaji Mustapha Baba Sheuri has ordered contractors handling the national housing project in Lokoja, Kogi, to deliver quality jobs.

Sheuri who made the order on Sunday in Lokoja while inspecting the housing project insisted that high quality building materials must be used by the contractors.

He warned them that the Federal Government would not accept shoddy jobs from any of them.

He also directed that bricklayers, labourers and other artisans working on the site must be paid well.

He said that government embarked on the project to reduce housing deficit and to create jobs for the people.

Sheuri said that the houses would be sold to any interested Nigerian that could afford the cost, saying that the house were not meant for civil servants alone as being speculated in some quarters.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the level of job done so far and urged the contractors to meet up with the five months’ completion period stipulated in their contract papers .

The Federal Controller of Housing in charge of Kogi State, Mrs Veronica Enesi, while conducting the minster round the site said that 76 housing units under the first phase of the project would be ready by July.

She said that the estate would comprise of 48 two-bedroom units, , 24 three – bedroom units and four one bedroom units .

According to her, modern facilities like shopping centre, police station, drainage system, road network and electricity would be provided in the estate.

Chief Judy Ogbuo, who spoke on behalf of the contractors, thanked the government for giving them the opportunity to handle the jobs.

He identified delay in payment and bill of quantity as some of the areas they were having challenges.

He promised that the contractors would deliver quality jobs as ordered by the minister.( NAN)
KKA/PAD
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Edited by Peter Dada

NAN-AE-9
Awareness
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, April 7, 2017 (NAN) The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) says that it has started a public awareness campaign on farming in unlawful places in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mr Muktar Ibrahim, the Head, Information and Outreach Unit of the board, said this while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

‘‘The prohibited areas are Murtala Muhammed Expressway, Umaru Yar’Adua Expressway, AYA-Keffi-Nyanya road and also other roads within Phases 1 and 2 of Abuja.

“The board is not stopping the farmers from farming but the board is telling them not to farm around the city centre,’’ he said.

Ibrahim said that the aim of the sensitisation campaign was to educate the residents on the dangers of crop growing in prohibited areas like Garki, Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, among others.

He said that the seven-week campaign would cover the entire FCT.

“The board is enlightening all the residents of Abuja that as 2017 raining season begins, all forms of farming activities are prohibited within 50 metres along arterial road corridors,’’ he said.

Ibrahim said that the prohibition was in line with the AEPB Act of 1997, particularly the provision in Part 1, Section 19, Sub-section 1 of the Act.

He warned that any farmer who violated the law would face prosecution, in accordance with Section 2 of Act.

He, however, advised the residents to cooperate with the board in all its efforts to keep Abuja clean and tidy.  (NAN)
VOE/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe

NAN-H-96

BREXIT

Britain assures BREXIT ’ll not hurt relations with Nigeria

Lokoja, April 6, 2017 ( NAN) Britain said on Thursday that its exit from the European Union would bring very little or no change in its bilateral relationship with Nigeria.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright, said this in his public lecture delivered at the Federal University, Lokoja.

According to the British envoy, what happens in Nigeria and the choices made by the Nigerian government will be more important for the economy than whatever BREXIT may mean for Nigeria.

“I am optimistic for the United Kingdom and I am optimistic for Nigeria,’’ he said.

Arkwright said oil and gas were not Nigeria’s most important resource but its people.

“The human capital that Nigeria has – Nigerians themselves and their drive, determination and ability to get things done often when facing considerable challenges – are what make me optimistic about Nigeria’s future,” he said.

The envoy said BREXIT would not in any way impact negatively on Nigeria and Britain’s historical and cultural links, the common language of English and the strong educational and business links.

“If anything, I see our connection becoming stronger; the United Kingdom is naturally looking to grow its market share, to encourage more businesses to come to Nigeria and to invest and to encourage more inward investment into the United Kingdom from Nigeria,” Arkwright said.

He said that 90 per cent of student visas and 70 per cent of other categories of visas were granted to Nigerians in 2015.

The High Commissioner expressed hope that BREXIT would mean more British travellers visiting Nigeria for the same reasons that Nigerians come to the United Kingdom.

“I want people to come and explore the business opportunities that Nigeria offers. We think there are roughly 20,000 British and dual nationals living in Nigeria now.

“That figure may, and I hope it will, grow as British businesses of all sizes are encouraged to look outward still further, to export and do business, creating jobs in Nigeria,” he explained.

Arkwright urged the Nigerian government to make the process of getting visas easier to facilitate exchange of goods and services between the two countries.

“More Britons will come to Nigeria if it was simpler to apply for and the process for getting a visa was quicker.

He expressed support for the ongoing efforts by the government to diversify the nation’s economy, saying that the country could no longer depend solely on oil.

The British High Commissioner urged the federal government to take the anti-corruption fight beyond arresting and prosecuting offenders and work more on changing the attitude and mind-set of Nigerians.

He pledged the support of the British government for the anti-corruption fight, saying that Britain would surely return to the government, funds and assets acquired with stolen funds from Nigeria.

Earlier, Prof. Angela Freeman-Miri, Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja, thanked the High Commissioner for choosing the university to deliver the lecture titled, “BREXIT: Lessons, Challenges and Opportunities’’. ( NAN)
KKA/WOJ

(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

Nigerian baseball players in action

NAN-S-8
Baseball
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, April 6, 2017 (NAN) The Double T Baseball and Softball Club in Ilorin on Thursday said the body has concluded arrangement to stage the maiden “DR Abdulfatah Ahmed Senior Baseball and Softball Championships.

The club’s founder, Femi Abolarin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the championships would hold from May 16 to May 25 at the Adewole Baseball Park in Ilorin.

Abolarin said that the competition was named after Kwara governor for his enormous support to baseball which had enhanced the growth of the sport.

“The competition is open to every state that is interested and we are putting everything in place to ensure the competition is a success.

“We will provide accommodation and logistics for all participating teams or clubs that registered for the competition.

“Kwara State is the home of baseball and softball in Nigeria and we have a governor who has always supported the sport since assumption of office.

“The competition will also help to engage participants who want to showcase their skills and talents,’’ he said.

The founder urged participants to adhere to the rules and pattern of the competition.

He added that the club was working hand-in-hand with the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association to move the game forward. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-HE-16
Scarcity
Lokoja,‎ April 6, 2017 (NAN) Mr Friday Ogbadu, Human Resource Manager,  Department of Petroleum Resources Lokoja, has dismissed fears that there will be scarcity of petrol in the country during the Easter period. 

Ogbadu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Thursday that the fears were unfounded. 

He assured Nigerians that there would be adequate supply of petroleum products throughout the period and beyond.

Ogbadu appealed to Nigerians not to panic as there was no room for scarcity, adding that the NNPC and stakeholders had guaranteed adequate supply of petroleum products.  

He urged vandals to stop their nefarious acts, saying that breaking pipelines would  only bring the nation backwards and disrupt development plans.

The official said the DPR would ensure that the refineries in the country were fully functional and urged Nigerians to ‎be patient with government. (NAN)

WAL/JIE/IA
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Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Idris Abdulrahman

NAN-S-4
T/tennis
By Oluwaseyi Oduneye
Lagos, April 6, 2017 (NAN) The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) on Thursday joined its counterparts globally to mark the World Table Tennis Day in Lagos with exhibition matches for the able-bodied and physically challenged players.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that April 6 every year is World Table Tennis Day to gather Table Tennis enthusiasts, attract people who usually don’t play table tennis, promote love for the sport and engage new players to the practice in the long term.

“I can’t wait for the entire world to play table tennis on April 6,” Thomas Weikert, President, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) said in a statement.

NAN reports that the Indoor Hall Sports of the National Stadium, Lagos was packed with able and physically challenged players, who played an exhibition match to celebrate the day.

They took turns on 10 table tennis tables set inside the hall to hone their skills as they challenged themselves.

Also, the physically challenged were not left out as they played against their able-bodied counterparts.

NTTF’s Secretary-General Bola Adedeji told NAN that the celebration was to promote and create more awareness for the development of table tennis in the country.

Adedeji said that the sport still needed more awareness to discover more talents at the grassroots.

“Table tennis in Nigeria is still growing and needs more awareness to further popularise it. Table tennis in Nigeria hasn’t yet been where it should be.

“It is through this type of celebration that we can get more players introduced to the sport,” he said.

There are currently 378 different events in 85 countries across all continents which aim to have over 60,000 participants in the celebration of World Table Tennis Day.

Similarly, April 6, is also the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

To mark the Day, Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), said the International Day was an opportunity to raise the banner for the power of sport for development and peace.

“Sport is a passion shared by women and men across the world. It is a force for physical well-being and social empowerment.

“It is an engine for equality, especially gender equality, for including everyone, especially the most disadvantaged.

“There is no more powerful platform than sport to nurture the values we all share — solidarity, responsibility, respect, honesty, teamwork, equality  motivation and self-esteem,’’ Bokova said in a statement at the UN Headquarters in New York.

She added that sport was a way to include everyone, including refugees and migrants, to fight against stereotypes, to strengthen the foundations for  peace in healthy societies.

“As the world takes forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we must do everything to support sport to leave no one behind.

This is the spirit driving UNESCO’s International Charter for Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport, to ensure respect for the fundamental right to sport for every woman and man without discrimination. (NAN)
SEY/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-S-2
Para-Soccer
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, April 6, 2017 (NAN) Femi Afolayan, Head Coach, Lagos State Para-Soccer Association, on Thursday said the team’s absence in the ongoing National Para-Soccer League had demoralised his players.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the second edition of the league began on Thursday in Abuja and will end on April 18.

The state had missed the maiden edition of the league in 2016 due to paucity of funds.

Afolayan told NAN that the development had discouraged the players whom, he noted, had devoted their time to training ahead of the league.

He said the league which was earlier scheduled to hold in Lagos was moved to Abuja due to some programmes lined up to mark “Lagos at 50’’.

“My players are demoralised and I understand their plight as a coach but there is nothing I can do to salvage the situation.

“The only thing I can do is to continue to encourage them and talk them out of their current state of mind.

“Even some of the players said they will travel on Thursday if the Lagos State Sports Council can provide a bus to convey them to Abuja to be part of the event.

“The federation is not ready to change the date for the league, likewise Lagos also has events, so, this resulted in why the competition was taken to Abuja,’’ he said.

Kano State defeated Katsina State by 2-0 to win the maiden edition of the league. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/MZA
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(Edited Edwin Nwachukwu/Maharazu Ahmed/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-117
Investors
Akure, April 5, 2017 (NAN) Ondo State Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday, promised to provide an environment that would enable investors to thrive and function optimally in the state.

Akeredolu gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the Chairman, Rubber Estate Nigeria Ltd. (REN), Mr Ayo Olagundoye, to the Governor in his Office in Akure.

“When factories left Nigeria we felt bad, but we can’t blame them because they didn’t have enabling and accommodating economic atmosphere.

“I can assure you it will be a thing of the past in Ondo State, if not Nigeria, for factories to leave due to the environment,” he said.

He stressed the need for his administration to shift focus back to agriculture because of its importance to the economic advancement of the state.

“We must go back to land and agriculture is our focus. It was our first cardinal programme during our campaign, we must return to it,” he said.

Earlier, Olagundoye said the factory had contributed to the development of the state through its corporate social responsibility approach.

“Our growth contributes to commerce and the state’s Internally Generated Revenue and investment income.

“Our approach to corporate social responsibility is progressive and has ensured peace in the relationships with our host communities.

“There will be great mutual benefit in a partnership arrangement and a lot to gain, we have to work together to get the benefits,” he said.

The chairman further advised the state government to go back to agriculture, saying it has always made people to be prosperous.

“REN is a partner of the Ondo State Government, ready to contribute to taking this state back to its proud root in agriculture”, he said. (NAN)
AYO/MOL/DUA

Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Dada Ahmed

NAN-H-72

Youths

Lokoja, April 5, 2017(NAN) Youths in Kogi have been urged to contribute their quota to building the nation by being more enterprising and creating job opportunities.

Mr Michael Oloba, the National President of Kogi Youth Rebirth, an NGO, gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Wednesday.

He enjoined the youths to imbibe the spirit of creativity and integrity so as to help them succeed in their endeavours.

The youth leader also urged Kogi youths to shun petty ideas but be focused on great ideas that could help in developing them.

He called on government to help the youths to achieve their dreams by providing an enabling environment and testing them in governance.

Oloba urged the youths to embrace agriculture and handwork in place of white collar jobs. (NAN)

WAL/ESAN/IEA

Edited by Idahosa Asowata