NAN-S-27
AFCON
Lagos, Jan. 18, 2017 (NAN) Four-time champions Cameroon moved top of Group A as they fought back to deny debutants Guinea-Bissau a historic first win at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Cameroon defeated their opponents 2-1, in a tension soaked encounter at the end of the 90 minutes game.

Shock qualifiers Guinea-Bissau, making their debut at this year’s tournament, led through Piquito’s superb solo goal.

Cameroon restored parity after the break when Sebastien Siani rifled in low from outside the penalty area.

Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui drilled in another low strike as Cameroon earned their first Afcon win since 2010.

The Indomitable Lions, historically one of the dominant forces in African international football, failed to qualify for two of the three previous tournaments and lost all three games in 2015.

But, after drawing their opening game against Burkina Faso, they are now well placed to reach the quarter-finals.

They are two points clear at the top of the group after the opening three games ended in 1-1 draws.

Earlier on Wednesday, hosts Gabon fought back from 1-0 down with a goal from their star player, Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, to hold Burkina Faso.

Cameroon meet Gabon and Guinea-Bissau face Burkina Faso in Monday’s deciding games.

Guinea-Bissau must win to stand any chance of reaching the last eight. (NAN)
ENN/YAZ
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30 ships laden with petroleum products, food items, to arrive Lagos
NAN-HE-22
Ships
By Aisha Cole
Lagos, Jan. 18, 2017 (NAN) Thirty ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos from Jan. 18 to Jan. 28.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said in its publication – `Shipping Position’, that four of the expected 30 ships would berth with petrol, kerosene and aviation fuel.

NPA said that the remaining 26 expected ships contained buck wheat, general cargoes, base oil, frozen fish, empty container, bulk salt, buthane, ethanol, bulk pet coke, bulk gypsum and containers.

The publication noted that four ships had arrived the ports, waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, frozen fish, aviation fuel the and petrol.

NAN reports that 15 other ships are at the ports discharging empty containers, bulk wheat, bulk fertiliser, aviation fuel, containers and petrol. (NAN)
AIC/WOJ
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NAN-S-12
Discipline
By Aderonke Ojediran-Lawal
Lagos, Jan. 18, 2017 (NAN) Isaac Danladi, Chairman, Nassarawa United FC, on Wednesday applauded the League Management Company (LMC) over the N9.1 million fine on IfeanyiUbah FC for abandoning its match against Kano Pillars.

Danladi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the fine would ensure that discipline remained the hallmark of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

FC IfeanyiUbah abandoned their match with Pillars at the Sani Abacha’s Stadium, Kano, on Sunday over perceived unjust calls by referee, Ajayi Foluso.

The Anambra Warriors were understood to be livid because of the alleged questionable officiating that led to one of their players being sent off and their goal overruled by Ajayi.

Pillars were 1-0 up before the abrupt end of the game, courtesy of a solitary strike from Gambo Mohammed.

“I feel what happened is quite unnecessary and it is quite disheartening, and capable of bringing the game to disrepute.

“However, I think I’m satisfied that the LMC has to step in and came up with a fine to serve as deterrent to other clubs who might have the negative impression of doing the same thing.

“It was quite unprofessional for such thing to happen.

“I think the proprietor of FC IfeanyiUbah, a respected Nigerian had to also quickly take some staunch measures against their officials who were culpable in the Kano saga.

“What happened was quite unfortunate; it’s capable of bringing the name of LMC into disrepute as well as the NPFL,’’ he said.

The match was abandoned in the 50th minute as the referee was forced to end it after the Nnewi-based side forfeited the game.

Reacting, the Chairman of FC IfeanyiUbah, said: “I’m not in the position to know whether the fine was too harsh.

“I believe the LMC must have been guided by the rules and regulations of the game, for every offence there is a punishment,’’ the chairman said.  (NAN)
OAF/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-S-16
ITTF
Lagos, Jan.18, 2017 (NAN) Disneyland Paris in France will host the 2018 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Men’s World Cup, the table tennis world governing body announced on Wednesday.

According to Insidethegames, an online portal, the event will hold from Oct. 19 to Oct. 21 next year.

It said the ITTF World Cups are the second most prestigious events on ITTF calendar, with only 20 players qualifying for the men’s and women’s tournaments through their respective Continental Cups.

According to the portal, Christian Palierne, the French Table Tennis Federation (FFTT) President, says the country plans to host the international events on an annual basis.

“We obtained the organisation of European Top 16 in February 2017, the Veteran World Championships in 2020 in Bordeaux and have submitted an application to host the European Team Championships in 2019.

“The decision of the ITTF to choose the French candidacy lies in the fact that Disneyland is a mythical place, a place that attracts visitors.

“It is a tremendous opportunity for exposure and visibility for our discipline to partner with Disneyland Paris,’’ the statement quoted Palierne as saying.

It said the 2016 Men’s World Cup which was held in Saarbrücken, Germany ended in an all-Chinese final between Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin.

Disney is one of the world’s most famous companies and is the world’s largest media firm.

Characters such as Mickey Mouse are known all over the world with Disney films and products a part of millions of lives. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-50

Injury

By Priscilla Osaje
Mararaba (Nasarawa state), Jan. 18, 2017 (NAN) A 30-year-old businessman, Mustapha Shaibu, was on Wednesday arraigned in a Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, for inflicting injury on the manhood of one Adamu.

Shaibu of Gudan Sija, Tipper Garrage, Mararaba is facing a three-count charge of criminal force, house trespass and causing grievous hurt.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Heman Donald, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Jan. 14 at the complainant’s shop in Tipper Garrage Mararaba.

Donald said that the matter was reported at  ‘A’ Division Police Station” by Umaru Adamu, of Angwan Limah, Masaka on the same day.

“On that fateful day, the accused went to Adamu’s shop, situated at Tipper Garrage, when he got there; the accused woke the complainant who was fast asleep.

“When the complainant woke up, Shaibu did not say anything, rather he started beating the complainant and inflicted injury on his manhood,’’ the prosecutor said.

Donald said that the offence contravened Sections 266, 248 and 241 of the Penal Code.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Presiding judge, Mr Ibrahim Shekarau, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one reliable surety.

Shekarau said that the surety must be a civil servant from Grade Level 15 and above.

He ordered that the surety must deposit his appointment letter to the registrar of the court.

The judge adjourned the case to Feb. 2. (NAN)

PO/ORO/DUA
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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Dada Ahmed
===================================

NAN-S-13
Rowing
Lagos, Jan. 18, 2017 (NAN) The World Rowing body on Wednesday opened to the public the nomination process for the 2017 Thomas Keller Medal, the highest distinction in the sport.

According to Insidethegames, an online portal, the award is given to recognise an exceptional international rowing career.

The portal said that nominations for the award will end on Feb. 13, while the award will be presented to the winner on July 8, at the World Rowing Cup III in Swiss city Lucerne.

It added that the award was named after the late President of the International Rowing Federation, Thomas Keller.

According to the statement, a winner is selected each year by the Thomas Keller Medal Committee which includes Keller’s son, Dominik.

It said the nomination follows a broad international process, including public nominations, with the aim to ensure that the values in which Keller believed are represented.

The portal noted that five factors were taken into consideration when awarding the Thomas Keller Medal, including success at international level “type’’ of career, technical mastery of the sport.

Others are sportsmanship and “legendary’’ aspect.

It recalls that Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell of New Zealand both became recipients of the Thomas Keller Medal in 2016.

It said that the identical twins formed a successful woman’s double sculls; winning two Olympic titles in a career that saw them dominate their field through much of the 2000s.

It noted that the twins are considered influential figures in helping to inspire many New Zealand high school students to take up rowing, especially women.

The publication said that the award was first given in 1990 to Norwegian great Alf Hansen, the double sculls gold medallist with Brother Frank at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

Born in 1924, Keller was elected President of FISA in 1958 as a 34-year-old and was then the youngest-ever head of an International Sports Federation. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/PDE
===========
(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-104
Accident
Lokoja, Jan. 17, 2017 (NAN) Four people died instantly in a fatal accident which occurred on the Okene – Lokoja road in the early hours of Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 17 other passengers were injured in the incident  which occurred at about 12:30 a.m. at Irepeni village on the highway.

NAN also reports that the accident  involved  a white colour Toyota Hiace bus with registration number 14B – 888- DT and an unmarked black Peugeot 206.

The bus,  which belonged to Delta Line, was said to be fully loaded with passengers and was heading to Abuja while the Peugeot car was coming from Lokoja.

The Kogi State Sector Commander  of the FRSC, Mr Olusegun Martins,  who confirmed the incident,  said 23 people were involved while two of them escaped without injury.

He said that passengers with serious injuries were taken to the State Specialist Hospital and Cross Nation hospital, all  in Lokoja.

According to him, the corpses were also deposited at the morgue of the specialist hospital..

The sector commander said that the cause of the accident was yet to be ascertained while  investigation had  started. (NAN)
KKA/OJO
========
(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Update: Support for Gambia’s Jammeh crumbling as sixth minister resigns

Chinese leader pushes back against Trump on free trade

NAN-F-18

Cooperation
Beijing, Jan. 17, 2017  (Reuters/NAN) Chinese President Xi Jinping, offered a vigorous defence of globalisation and free trade in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, which underscored Beijing’s desire to play a greater global role as the U.S. turns inward.

Likening protectionism to “locking oneself in a dark room” to protect from danger, but at the same time depriving the room of “light and air”.

He cautioned other countries against pursuing their own interests at the expense of others.

Xi did not mention Donald Trump in his speech of nearly an hour, but many of the messages he sent seemed directed at the U.S. president-elect.

Trump had campaigned for the White House on pledges to protect U.S. industries from foreign competition and levy new tariffs on goods from China and Mexico.

“No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war,” Xi told the forum in the Swiss Alps.

He said economic globalisation has become a “Pandora’s Box” for many, but that it was not the cause of many global problems.

He added that international financial crises were caused by the excessive pursuit of profits, not globalization.

Xi’s appearance, a first for a Chinese leader at the annual meeting of political leaders, CEOs and bankers in Davos, came as doubts emerge about whether the U.S. will remain a force for multilateral cooperation on issues like trade and climate change.

Europe, meanwhile, is pre-occupied with its own troubles, from Brexit and militant attacks to the string of elections this year in which anti-globalisation populists could score gains.

This has left a vacuum that China seems eager to fill.

“It is no coincidence that Xi chose this year to make the trip up the magic mountain,” said Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, a U.S.-based political risk consultancy.

More than half a dozen senior Chinese government figures are in Davos this week, far more than in past years.

Also, a large number of sessions are focused on Asia, including one entitled “Asia Takes the Lead”.

WEF founder Klaus Schwab said Xi’s presence was a sign of the shift from a uni-polar world dominated by the U.S. to a more multi-polar system in which rising powers like China will have to step up and play a bigger role.

“In a world marked by great uncertainty and volatility the world is looking to China,” Schwab said before Xi spoke. (Reuters/NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

NAN-H-25
Workers
Lokoja, Jan. 17, 2017 (NAN) Some civil servants in Lokoja, Kogi, have decried the several lists of screened workers being displayed by the state government.

They said this had brought untold hardship to workers as many workers were apprehensive of their fate in state service.

Mrs Ebun Oloyede, one of the civil servants, said she made the first screened list and her name was also among the newly pasted names.

“I was told that my bank account was too fat, alleging that I might have embezzled the funds from government purse.

“I do not know why government will have to verify my personal account over screening. This is an intrusion into my privacy,” she said.

Mr Mammud Abdulmalik, another worker, said that the governor was trying to victimise some workers and that was the reason he was bent on several screenings.

He urged the governor to look into the plight of workers because many of them could not fend for their families nor pay their children’s school fees now that schools had resumed.

Mr Kelvin Apata, another civil servant, said that he had not collected his salary in the last 10 months as it had been one screening or another each day.

“How can a governor go and verify your account and say because you have plenty money, he would not pay you, does it make sense? “

Mrs Mary Ishola, another civil servant, said she was surprised when she got to the office to see another list pasted.

“This new list is another way to deprive workers of their salaries. The governor should have mercy on workers because they too have children and other dependents to carter for.

Mr Emmanuel Akinade, also a civil servant, urged Gov. Yahaya Bello to finalise the screening exercise on time so that workers would know their fate. (NAN)

WAL/OIF/TA

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Tajudeen Atitebi