Blog

Weather
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Dec. 22, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted dust haze to thick dust haze weather conditions with reduced visibility over most parts of the country with morning mist and fog over the southern part on Sunday.

NiMet’s Weather Outlook on Saturday in Abuja predicted dust haze condition with visibility range of one to three kilometres over the central cities during the forecast period.

It added that localised visibility of less than 1000m was expected over the region with day and night temperatures of 25 to 33 and 9 to 20 degrees celsius respectively.

The agency predicted that the Northern States would experience dust haze condition with visibility range of one to three kilometres and localised visibility of less than 1000m during the forecast period.

It also predicted that the region would have day and night temperatures in the range of 27 to 29 and 11 to 15 degrees celsius respectively.

According to NiMet, Southern States will experience dust haze condition with visibility range of two to five kilometres over the region with day and night temperatures of 30 to 33 and 19 to 22 degrees celsius respectively.

“Early morning mist/fog are likely over the coastal cities in the morning hours while dust haze condition are expected later in the day.

“There is a fresh dust in suspension over the source region and dust haze conditions are expected to prevail over the north, central, and inland cities during the forecast period.

“Early morning mist/fog are likely over coastal states in the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted. (NAN)
OYS/IS
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Teachers
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, Dec. 22, 2018 (NAN) Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, the Special Adviser on Education to the Oyo State Governor,  on Saturday described teachers as role models, miracle workers and nation builders.

Akin-Alabi said this at the 2018 valedictory service for graduates of the Bachelors Degree Programme of the Ibadan Study Centre of the National Teachers Institute (NTI) Kaduna.

The programme held at the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan.

“Teachers are very important in every nation, they are role models and should view themselves as such.

“ If teachers stand at their duty post, there will be positive changes in our landscape.

“Teachers should always be responsible and take their vocation seriously.

“Therefore,  I urge you to be proud in your profession and develop yourself.

“Your career is a rewarding one if you know what you are doing, if we teachers take our jobs seriously, our lives, that of the students and country will be better,” she said.

Also speaking, the NTI  Coordinator in the state, Dr Bosede Oyinlola, enjoined the graduates to pursue postgraduate studies in other to boost their career.

“We assure you that by January your scripts will be marked so that your results will not be delayed and it will not be a hindrance for you to move forward in your academic pursuit.

“Always be good ambassadors of the institute, I assure you that the sky will always be your starting point.

“We, however, thank God for the success and completion of your programme,” she said.

Earlier, the Centre’s Manager, Dr Ronke Ojo, said the institute has challenges such as insufficient classrooms and administrative offices.

Ojo, however,  commended the Federal Government for setting up the institute, saying it was an avenue for producing standard teachers in the country.

She called for regularity in the payment of salaries, saying many students often complain of inability to pay school fees.

“The Federal Government should ensure that state governments pay workers’ salary promptly.

“The government will do well if they allow the institute to have separate payment portal that will not clash with the Treasury Single Account.

“As election is on the way, I appeal to the incoming administration to put education first because no nation can rise above its education.

“We need total overhauling of the country’s curriculum so that it is fashioned around our needs and not adopting the same colonial curriculum of the 1850s,” she added. (NAN)
CC/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Upset

Manchester (UK), Dec. 22, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Manchester City suffered their first home loss in the English Premier League in eight months through a shock 2-3 defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday.

It left Pep Guardiola’s champions trailing leaders Liverpool by four points.

Manchester City, who had won all nine home games in the league this season, are in second place on 44 points.

They are behind Liverpool who won 2-0 at Wolves on Friday and are now on 48 points.

German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan nodded City in front in the 27th minute, meeting a Fabian Delph cross from deep with a firm, downward header.

But Jeffrey Schlupp brought Palace level with a low diagonal shot into the bottom corner and Andros Townsend stunned the Etihad Stadium with a sensational volley.

Bernardo Sivla’s header out was met first time by Townsend who blasted his volley from 30 metres past helpless Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson.

Crystal Palace went 3-1 up through a Luka Milivojevic penalty kick in the 51st minute, after Kyle Walker brought down Max Meyer inside the box.

Guardiola brought on substitutes Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne and it was the Belgian midfielder who gave the home side hope with a cross-shot in the 85th minute.

Gabriel Jesus missed a stoppage-time chance when he headed over a De Bruyne cross from a promising position.

It was their first home league loss since the Manchester derby on April 7.

Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace had picked up just one point from their last six away games and had not won at Manchester City since 1990. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/OLAL

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Yinusa Ishola
Presentation
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Dec. 22, 2018 (NAN) Oba Abduraheem Adeoti, the newly-installed traditional ruler of Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, has called for presence of more government establishments in his domain to move the community forward.

Adeoti made the call while receiving his Staff of Office as a first class monarch from Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area on Saturday.

Adeoti was in September installed by the Olomu-In-Council, led by the Eesa of Omu-Aran, Chief Jide Adebayo, as the 27th Olomu of Omu-Aran at the palace in Omu-Aran.

Adeoti’s installation was sequel to his recent approval by the state government, being the kingmakers’ nominee to occupy the vacant stool following the death of Oba Charles Ibitoye who died on Nov. 30, 2017 after a brief illness.

The new monarch, who hails from Olaelu Ijoko ruling house, said the presence of more government establishments would fast track commercial and socio-economic development of the community.

Adeoti, who recognised and paid tributes to past traditional rulers of the town, said their reign brought unprecedented developments to the community.

He said that the demand for more developmental projects was informed by the high level of expansion and infrastructure development going on in the community.

According to him, presently, the growth pattern is beyond what can be termed as just urban centre.

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that Omu-Aran’s physical expansion is already engulfing its immediate adjoining settlements and turning it to what can be termed as Urban Conurbation.

“Omu-Aran as an emerging urban centre, has an approximate population of about 150,000 people and unarguably the third largest settlement in Kwara State.

“Omu-Aran has a threshold population that can support the provision of specialised services like university, specialist hospital, ultra-modern markets and fire services stations, among others, ‘’ Adeoti said.

Gov. Ahmed expressed optimism that the new monarch would bring to bear his vast knowledge and experience in the areas of administration toward the growth, progress and development of the community.

He advised the Olomu to be guided by the spirit of tolerance, togetherness and excellence in the discharge of his traditional responsibilities of putting resources together for desired development.

Ahmed described the traditional institution as a veritable tool for grassroot mobilization, cohesion, social economic and political development.

Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, Chairman of Irepodun Local Government, praised both the government and the kingmakers for ensuring a peaceful and transparent succession processes.

Oladipo, while appealing for more support for government policies and programmes, pledged the support of the council to the new monarch, to achieve success in his new post.

Chief Adebayo, the Eesa of Omu-Aran, called for stakeholders support toward the growth, progress and development of the community.

Present at the ceremony were government functionaries, religious leaders, traditional rulers as well as friends and associates of the new monarch and the community. (NAN)
ISHO/IA

Yinusa Ishola
Presentation
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Dec. 22, 2018 (NAN) Oba Abduraheem Adeoti, the newly-installed traditional ruler of Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, has been given his staff of office as a first class monarch.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, presented the staff of office to Oba Adeoti in Omu Aran on Saturday.

NAN recalls that Oba Adeoti was installed the town’s 27th monarch by the Olomu-in-council led by the Eesa of Omu-Aran, Chief Jide Adebayo in September.

This followed the death of the late Oba Charles Ibitoye who died on Nov. 30, 2017.

Receiving his staff of office, Oba Adeoti called for more public infrastructure in order to fast track socio-economic development of the community.

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that Omu-Aran’s physical expansion is already engulfing its immediate adjoining settlements and turning it to what can be termed as urban conurbation.

“Omu-Aran as an emerging urban centre has an approximate population of about 150,000 people and unarguably the third largest settlement in Kwara State.

“Omu-Aran has a threshold population that can support the provision of specialised services like university, specialist hospital, ultra-modern markets and fire services stations, among others,‘’ Adeoti said.

The new monarch paid tributes to past traditional rulers of the town, saying that their reign brought unprecedented development to the community.

Gov. Ahmed, in his remark, expressed optimism that the new monarch would bring to bear his vast knowledge and experience in the areas of administration toward the growth, progress and development of the community.

He advised the Olomu to be guided by the spirit of tolerance, togetherness and excellence in the discharge of his traditional responsibilities of putting resources together for desired development.

Ahmed described the traditional institution as a veritable tool for grassroots mobilization, cohesion, social economic and political development.

Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, Chairman of Irepodun Local Government, praised both the state government and the kingmakers for ensuring a peaceful and transparent succession processe.

Oladipo, while appealing for more support for government projects, pledged the support of the council to the new monarch in order to achieve success in his new post.

Chief Jide Adebayo, the Eesa of Omu-Aran, on his part, called for stakeholders support toward the growth, progress and development of the community.

Present at the ceremony were government functionaries, religious leaders, traditional rulers as well as friends and associates of the new monarch and the community. (NAN)
ISHO/WOJ
Edited by Wale Ojetimi

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Serie A

Naples (Italy), Dec. 22, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Napoli extended their unbeaten run in Serie A to 10 matches with a 1-0 win over SPAL on Saturday to cut the gap with leaders Juventus to five points.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side have won eight and drawn two games since losing to Juventus at the end of September.

While Raul Albiol’s winner reduced the deficit to the defending champions, Juventus can restore their eight-point advantage by beating AS Roma in Turin later on Saturday.

Defender Albiol headed in the decisive goal in first-half injury time, but Napoli required two excellent late saves from goalkeeper Alex Meret against his former club to secure the three points.

SPAL are without a win in their last eight games and occupy 16th place on 16 points.

Napoli’s attention now turns to their trip to San Siro on Boxing Day to face third-placed Inter, who are nine points off second place with a game in hand.(Reuters/NAN)

KIA/OLAL

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Hockey

By Kelechi Ogunleye

Abuja, Dec. 22, 2018 (NAN) Solomon Dalung, Minister of Youths and Sports Development, has pledged his ministry’s full support to the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF) in improving the hockey sport in Nigeria and Africa.

Calls
By Bosede Olufunmi
Kano, Dec.22, 2018 (NAN) The Kano State Fire Service on Saturday said it received 87 distress calls from different parts of the state in two weeks.

Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, the Public Relations Officer of the agency, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.

Mohammed said that the calls emanated from collapsed building, road accidents and fire disasters.

Giving the breakdown, he said 38 calls were received on fire incidents, 37 for rescue while 12 were false alarms.

The spokesman advised the public to always exercise caution with electrical appliances and stop storing petroleum products during dry season in shops and homes.

He urged those celebrating Christmas to be careful while using fire works, so as not to create panic or disaster.(NAN)

BO/MZA

Exco

By Muhammad Nasir Bello

Sokoto Dec. 22, 2018 (NAN) Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Saturday urged journalists to shun fake news and work within the rules of the profession.

Tambuwal said in a message to the inauguration of the State Executive Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said hate speech and fake news are becoming very divisive forces in the society.

“This has since become a threat in our Democratic system, as such we should always discourage the spread of all news that will distract our peace and unity in the country.

“Getting closer to the 2019 general election, journalist have to adhere by the code of conduct and the ethics of the profession,” he added

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Bello Goronyo.

Tambuwal pledged more support to working journalists in the state, to enable them discharge their responsibilities more professionally.

“Sokoto state government and NUJ are always partners in progress and will continue to work together to encourage the peace and unity the state is known for,” he added.

In his address, the state NUJ Chairman, Malam Isa Shuni, thanked journalists in the state for giving him another mandate, and pledged not to disappoint.

“We will direct our attention this time around to establishing NUJ cooperative society, as a way of generating revenue to the union and of empower our members.”

NAN reports that other officials of the state NUJ are; Musa Ubandawaki, Abubakar Imam and Tukur Arkilla as Vice Chairman, Secretary and Assistant Secretary respectively.

Others are; Dalhatu Abdullahi, Abubakar Isa and Aliyu Yabo, as Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Auditor respectively. (NAN)

BMN/MZA
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