Blog

Murray
Brisbane (Australia), Dec. 28, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Andy Murray is still feeling the effects of a hip injury that forced a premature end to his 2018 activity, but the Briton hopes the pain will ease in the lead-up to next month’s Australian Open.

The former world number one returned to the ATP tour in June after having a hip surgery at the start of the year, but ended his season in September.

“I still have pain in my hip but I need to play matches and see how it feels.

“When I am able to play three, four, five matches in a row, I will take it from there,” Murray told reporters ahead of next week’s Brisbane International.

“Last year, when I came here, it was tough; I was struggling a lot. It definitely feels a bit better than it did, coming here last year. I’ve always loved playing here.”

Murray, whose world ranking has dropped to 256, said that he was in a “better place” than he was  few months ago when he missed Wimbledon.

He also stumbled to a second-round defeat at the U.S. Open.

He ended his 2018 season after losing in the quarter-finals of the Shenzhen Open, and Murray said he hoped to return to his best in the next few weeks in Australia.

“I would just like to get through the tournaments and feel like I am able to compete and not restricted by my hip,” Murray, who will be unseeded in Brisbane, added.

The Australian Open will be held in Melbourne from Jan. 14 to Jan. 27. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/IGO
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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Killing
By Ariwodola Idowu
Ado Ekiti, Dec. 28, 2018 (NAN) There was palpable apprehension in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti capital, on Thursday as yet to be identified gunmen killed a man whose identity was yet to be ascertained as at press time.

The state police command confirmed the incident, saying its men had launched an investigation to unravel the perpetrators of the crime.

A witness, however, revealed that the victim was inside his car before he was shot.

“The deceased was in the car and the vehicle conveying the gunmen had hit his car at the back.

” The deceased then alighted from the car to complain over the reckless driving not knowing they were armed robbers and the daredevil bandits opened fire on him killing him instantly,” he said.

According to him, the hoodlums after shooting the motorist fled the scene at top speed.

The incident occurred at the busy Ajilosun area of the city.

“The incident, which created panic among the residents of the area, happened directly adjacent the popular Tosin Aluko Ado/ Ikere Ekiti Motor park at Ajilosun.

“The deceased was shot in the head and stomach by his assailants,’’ he said.

When the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited the scene, the man was still in the pool of his blood.

He was later evacuated by policemen from the Ologede Police station and taken to the morgue at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.

NAN reports that men of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, who had reported for work, fled the scene.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the incident.

The police spokesman said: “We have got the report about the killing and our men have swung into action.

” We are yet to know the identity of the deceased but investigation has begun into the killing,’’ he stated. (NAN)
ARIS/AOS/OJO
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(Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Mufutau Ojo)

Emergency

Ariwodola Idowu

Ado Ekiti, Dec. 27, 2018, (NAN) Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on Thursday declared emergency in the water sector to ensure water supply to all nooks and crannies of the state.

He made the declaration in Ikun Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area of the state where he had gone to kick-start the turn around water rehabilitation project at Ero Dam to supply water to many major towns in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor consequently promised to take legal and institutional steps to also make the state open defecation free before 2030.

He said it was in a bid to reduce the level of water borne diseases in Ekiti and make the commodity available to residents that he declared the emergency in water sector.

According to him, the people must be saved from preventable Illnesses through provision of potable water.

He clarified that the emergency was in line with the step taken by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari  had initiated similar policy under a programme called Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in partnership with the world bank.

NAN reports that the project , which will gulp 55 million dollars, was awarded to Sagittarius Henan Engineering and is to be completed within 18 months.

The governor said the WASH programme of the Federal Government and world bank was initiated to reduce amount being paid by Nigerians on hospital bills after contacting all forms of diseases from unhygienic water sources.

Fayemi said statistics had shown that water supply to urban cities and rural areas in the country had reduced by 15 and four per cent respectively, in spite of geometric increase in the population.

The governor added that the state had already paid N700 million counterpart fund to complete the project that was approved by the world bank in 2014.

“It was because of the safety of the citizens that the Federal Government declared emergency in WASH. So, Ekiti has keyed into the programme with this project.

” Ekiti was ranked second in Nigeria as a state that practised open defecation . We shall put up institutional and legal frameworks to ensure Ekiti is open defecation free before 2030

“Part of what accounted for this high practice was because of low water supply to our homes

“We are making our traditional rulers as champions that would canvass for open defecation-free and if we are going to stop our palaces from digging boreholes here and there, we as government should provide water to our people

” We have done our feasibility studies, 85 per cent of our water in Ekiti shall be provided by Ero and Egbe dams if they operate at optimal capacity,” he said.

The governor assured that affordable tariff would be charged by government and that such would be metred to prevent extortion.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Utilities, Mr Olumide Ajayi, said rehabilitation on Egbe dam located in Gbonyin Local Government was also being co-financed by European Union and Ekiti State.

Ajayi said the two projects would supply water to over 66 towns across nine local government areas in the state.

He urged the beneficiaries to be ready to pay affordable tariffs and maintain the facilities when completed.

The General manager , Ekiti State Water Corporation, Mr Olabisi Agbeyo, revealed that this was the first time major rehabilitation would be carried out on Ero dam in 33 years.

“As we speak, Ekiti is not owing a kobo as counterpart payment; we have paid up and this shows how committed the state was in water supply”, Agbeyo said. (NAN)

ARIS/IA

Abscondees

By Mercy Obojeghren

Asaba, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) The Delta Government has announced a N10 million fine for sponsors and guarantors of pilgrims in the state whose candidates abscond during pilgrimage.

The state Commissioner for the Bureau for Special Duties, Mr Ernest Ogwezzy, said this on Wednesday in Asaba while speaking with Newsmen shortly after a one-day orientation workshop for the 2018 intending pilgrims to the Holy land.

Ogwezzy said that the N10 million fine was part of the stringent measures adopted by the state government to check incidences of absconment during pilgrimages.

He said such measures had become imperative following ugly experiences where some individuals under the guise of embarking on holy exercise end up absconding.

“The experience is gradually worsening the already battered image of the country abroad,’’ he said.

Ogwezzy also said that greater percentage of those who absconded in the state in the previous years were not indigenes of the state, “ but are part of the contingent of the state.’’

The commissioner had earlier congratulated those who were successful during the screening and urged them to uphold the sanctity of their Christian faith by remaining good ambassadors of the state and country at large.

Ogwezzy also advised them to avoid any occurrence that was capable of tarnishing the image of the state and country.

He urged them to use the opportunity to review their spiritual lives as well as pray for the peace and unity of the state and country.

The commissioner assured the pilgrims that the state government would continue to prioritise the sponsorship of pilgrimages in the state irrespective of the prevailing economic crunch. (NAN)

MOA/CHOM/IA
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Idris Abdulrahman

Pipeline-fire
By Moses Omorogieva
Lagos, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) The Lagos State Police Command, on Thursday said it had arrested four persons suspected to be involved in the NNPC pipeline vandalism at Abule-Egba, which resulted to fire outbreak.

The command’s spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, said that the prime suspect, now at large, had been declared wanted.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on Dec. 12,  an NNPC pipeline was vandalised, causing  fire outbreak in which over 100 houses and shops as well as ovee 50 vehicles were razed.

Several people also sustained various degrees of burns but no life was lost.

Oti said that the four suspects gave vivid account of their involvement in the inferno.

According to him, the suspects explained that the fire emanated from a vandalised petroleum pipeline, which engulfed a section of Abule-Egba community and escalated to parts of Agege area, destroying properties worth millions of naira.

“They also mentioned one Prince Adedipo Dauda Ewenla as their ring leader.

“Based on this, the Command extended invitation to him at his last known address but found out that he had fled to Ogun State in order to evade arrest.

“He is hereby advised to come out of hiding and report himself to Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja or to the nearest police station in the state to defend the allegation against him,” Oti said. (NAN)
MIO /AOS/WOJ
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Wale Ojetimi

Family Chats: Osinbajo brings message of hope to FCT community
By Chijioke Okoronkwo
Hope
Abuja, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday visited New Kushingoro Village, a suburb of FCT, in continuation of his family chats ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Osinbajo, who spoke partly in Pidgin English, explained to the residents of the community that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was doing a lot to impact on the life of the common man.
He said that TraderMoni was on the schemes deployed by the government to help petty traders.
Osinbajo said that since majority of the residents were farmers, a similar programme would be deployed to empower them.
“TraderMoni wey we dey give, na for people wey dey sell for market. Everybody dey farm; we go see how we go help for farm because President Buhari wants to see how he will help common man.
“Anybody wey dey work; wey dey try to look for work; he go see how him go help them make find work; make them find money do the work;
“If na farm you dey farm, how we go help you with your farm.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that jubilant women of the village sang and danced in appreciation of the vice president’s visit.
Earlier at the Abuja Games Village, Osinbajo visited the family of Dr Olatunji-David Sanwo where he had a warm chat with the family and restated the government’s commitment to addressing challenges confronting the country.
Speaking with newsmen, Hajia Aisha Musa, Environmental Secretary, Games Village Association, said she was excited that the vice president visited the estate.
She pledged to moblise 7,000 residents of the estate to the president 100 per cent of their votes in the forthcoming election.
Another resident, Mr James Green, said that the visit was a welcome development as it was not common for a vice president to visit a neighbourhood to find how the residents fared.
Osinbajo also took out time to visit a Suya spot (skewered slices of meat) in the estate where he patronised the seller.
Afterwards, Osinbajo headed to Luxor Salon and Spar, Wuse 2, where he had a haircut and one on one interaction with barbers, customers and residents of the area who trooped out to welcome him to their neighbourhood.
He advised them to vote wisely as the Buhari-led administration was determined to empower the youths and root out poverty. (NAN)
CJ/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Defection

By Muhammad Bello/Hauwa Gold

Sokoto, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) In a major blow to the second term ambition of Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal, 50,000 members of his Peoples Democratic Party have switched allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defectors were received by Sen. Aliyu Wammako, the APC strongman and Tambuwal’s former godfather.

Among the defectors were former Special Advisers to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, former local government Chairmen and former State House of Assembly members, as well as many other officials of PDP in the state.

Sen. Wammako, welcomed the new entrants into the Party and assured them of equal treatment with all the existing members of APC in the state.

Wammako further said that many more members of the PDP had already joined the APC and promised to unveil them soon.

He warned the Tambuwal government against intimidating the workers who have pitched their loyalty with the APC.

“No amount of intimidation would deter the people of the state from massively loving and supporting APC and all its candidates, at all levels.

“Moreover, in a matter of weeks , the APC will take over the state, while President Muhammadu Buhari, including all the party’s candidates, at all levels , would be massively voted by Nigerians,” he said.

Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, the APC governorship candidate and Tambuwal’s former deputy said, “all the PDP members who initially went astray have now come back to the right party.”

He congratulated them for joining the APC and assured them of equal treatment. He promised to emulate Sen. Wammako’s leadership qualities, when eventually elected.

The Director -General of the State APC Campaign Council , Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, who was a former Minister of Transport commended Wammako for providing credible and worthy leadership to the party and its members in the state.

Spokespersons of the defectors, Abubakar Dantama, former Chairman of Silame Local Government and Murtala Hassan, former state Assembly member said that they joined APC, because the party stands for justice and fairness.

They also promised to assiduously work to ensure the success of the party’s candidates, at all levels in the general elections.

(NAN)

BMN/MKH/FF/
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Edited by Fela Fashoro

(08038639251)

APC Presidential Campaign kicks off in Akwa Ibom Friday

Campaign

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Abuja,Dec.27,2018(NAN) President Muhamnadu Buhari will on Friday, Dec. 28, launch the 2019 Presidential Campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Issa-Onilu said the president would use the occasion to present the scorecard of the APC administration and its successes on its three cardinal objectives.

This, he said, included security, economy and the fight against corruption.

The APC spokesman said President Buhari would also use the occasion to outline his vision and programmes for Nigerians for the next four years.

“The launch, which signals the commencement of the campaign rallies of our great party for next year’s general elections christened: The Next Level,’ would be attended by the President, and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo” he said.

Issa-Onilu added that the APC National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and its Governors would also attend the event.

He added that members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and its other prominent leaders and members of the National Assembly and top government officials would also be at the event.(NAN)

EEM/FF/AMY

Edited by Olufela Fashoro and Abdullahi Yusuf

Endorsement

Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Benin, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) The Edo chapter of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), has distanced itself from the purported endorsement of the candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The party, in a statement by its State Chairman, Mr Gabriel Oloruntobi, said that the ADP was not party to claims that candidates of 13 political parties had stepped down for Mr Patrick Obahiagbon and Mr Washington Osifo.

Obahiagbon is contesting the Edo South Senatorial Seat, while Osifo is eyeing a seat in the Edo House of Assembly.

Reports had claimed that the duo got the endorsement on Saturday, after candidates of other political parties agreed to step down for them under the aegis of the Progressives Registered Political Parties (PRPP).

Spokesman for the PRPP, Mr Ogbodu Orlando, who is the State Chairman of Independent Democrats (ID), had, at the endorsement venue, claimed that the group was happy to endorse Obahiagbon because he was a “good material”.

But the ADP, while dissociating its group from the said endorsement, insisted that Dr. Ese Owie was still its candidate for the Edo South Senatorial seat.

“The ADP wishes to restate its total support to the candidacy of Dr. Ese Owie, its standard bearer for the Edo South Senatorial seat.

“Owie is an accomplished international trade policy lawyer; he is a social entrepreneur and public intellectual.

“Owie brings the imperative cerebral slant and gravitas to the race for the Edo South Seat.

“With a proven track record in both the public and private sectors, he stands heads and shoulders above all other contestants,” he said.

The party chairman appealed to ADP supporters to disregard the “false rumours” that the party had abandoned its candidate, saying that his rivals were already jittery over his credentials.

While asking the APC to apologise for the “false alarm” aimed at misleading the public, the ADP Chairman said that the people should be allowed to decide their Senator based on merit and capacity to deliver. (NAN)
ESI/ETS

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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Katsina, Dec. 27, 2018(NAN) Katsina State Government has urged APC supporters to shun hate speech during  campaigns for the 2019 elections, to ensure peaceful coexistence in the state.