Blog

Birthday
London, Sept. 17, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) West Ham United manager, Manuel Pellegrini said the 3-1 victory at Everton on Sunday that moved his side off the foot of the Premier League table was the perfect way to celebrate his 65th birthday.

Pellegrini’s new side played some fine, flowing football as they picked up their first points of the season on Merseyside, on the same day Pellegrini turned pension age in the United Kingdom.

“I was not worried about my birthday today – I just wanted to win the game – it was the best gift my players could give me,” Pellegrini said.

“We believe in what we are doing and we are not going to change. I said last time after we lost I will accept advice, but I was not going to change what we are doing.”

Andriy Yarmolenko put West Ham in command with two goals inside the first 31 minutes on his first Premier League start, with the Ukraine international taking time to settle in England prior to his double at Goodison Park.

“I know what the Premier League is and Andriy didn’t arrive here ready to play in the Premier League,” Pellegrini added. “He has a lot of quality, he has demonstrated that but he needs more work.

“We preferred to work with him a couple of weeks and when I saw he was ready, he needed to demonstrate his quality. I think that today he did that.”

The only negative questions Pellegrini was forced to answer were to do with forward Lucas Perez, who according to broadcaster Sky Sports, refused to warmup in order to come on as a substitute in the second half.

“I called Lucas [Perez] to get ready to play, but [Michail] Antonio was already ready. So, I played him as I needed to make the change,” Pellegrini added. “I don’t have any problem with the player.” (Reuters/NAN)
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Ogun: NYSC redeploys 329 corps members on marital, health grounds — Official

NYSC
By Temitope Salami
Sagamu (Ogun), Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has redeployed no fewer than 329 corps members posted to Ogun to other states on marital or health grounds, having completed their orientation exercise.

Mrs Josephine Bakare, the NYSC State Coordinator, Ogun, said this on Monday, at the formal closing ceremony of the orientation programme, which began on Aug. 28 at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Sagamu.

Bakare said that the redeployed corps members were part of the 2,134 NYSC 2018 Batch “B’’ Stream II, who had just completed their orientation exercise.

She said that in Ogun, corps members had been deployed to teach in schools, work in state and local government establishments, while some had also been posted to some cottage and agricultural industries.

Bakare urged employers of corps members to give them welfare packages that would motivate them to be fully committed to their primary assignment.

“Having gone through an intensive and regimented orientation in the past three weeks, I am optimistic of these youths’ readiness to commence the next phase of their national service.

“I commend the corps members for their tenacity and commitment to the national call and wish them a rewarding service year.

“I also urge them to take their postings in good faith, and pledge the scheme’s unflinching support for their welfare.

“We shall continue to ensure that the abundant skilled manpower and God-given talent in these vibrant youths are rightly channeled for the benefit of the people of Ogun,’’ the state coordinator said.

She implored the corps members to steer clear of all forms of anti-social behaviour, and to relate cordially with the people of their host communities.

“Any act of indiscipline, absenteeism or truancy on your part will not be condoned,” Bakare warned.

In a similar vein, the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, urged the corps members to begin to explore ways of contributing their quota to the socio-economic development of Ogun and Nigeria.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Afolabi Afuape, tasked the corps employers to assign challenging duties to them to optimise their productivity.

“Menial jobs do not dignify the NYSC scheme and corps members shouldn’t be seen as birds of passage or tools to be abused in service.

“Integrate them into the mainstream of your workforce, and give them the same opportunities as your permanent staff.

“It is our belief in Ogun that the strength of our nation and the perpetuity of our national glory can only be made possible with our youths being involved in the nation-building process,” Amosun said.

He acknowledged the pivotal role corps members played in determining the direction of the electoral process, imploring them not to compromise their integrity during the 2019 general elections.

“The government will ensure that you carry out your electoral duties without any molestation or fear,” the governor assured. (NAN)
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Editing by Oluyinka Fadare/Oluwole Sogunle

Team

Madrid, Sept. 17, 2018  (Reuters/NAN) Gareth Bale says Real Madrid work together more as a collective unit without former talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, after the Portuguese forward moved to Juventus in the close season.

The Welsh winger is thriving in the absence of Ronaldo and Madrid have three wins from four La Liga matches.

Bale is Madrid’s key weapon as the Champions League starts again this week, with Real facing Roma on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“It’s maybe a bit more relaxed (without Ronaldo),” Bale told the Daily Mail. “I suppose there is more of a team, more working as one unit rather than one player.”

Madrid’s all-time top goal scorerRonaldo was crucial to the club’s three consecutive Champions League wins under former coach Zinedine Zidane, although it was Bale who scored twice against Liverpool in the 3-1 triumph in May’s Kiev final.

Bale came on from the bench and said he was annoyed about not starting the match, with that rage fuelling him to score a brilliant overhead kick.

“(I was) angry. Quite angry, to be honest. Obviously, I felt I deserved to start the game,” said Bale. “I’d been scoring goals. So yeah, I suppose it was hard to put the anger aside.”

With Ronaldo out of the way he is essential to new manager Julen Lopetegui’s Madrid, with the defending champions ready to start their bid for a fourth consecutive trophy on Wednesday in Group G. (Reuters/NAN)
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)

Commendation

By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) Some basketball fans have commended Nigeria’s senior national men’s team, D’Tigers for their heroics at the just-concluded FIBA Africa World Cup qualifiers which held in Lagos.

D’Tigers defeated Cote D’Ivoire, 84-73, overpowered Central Africa Republic, 114- 69 and silenced archrivals, Senegal 89-61 to book their ticket for the World Cup which comes up in February in China in 2019.

The head coach of Senegal, Abdou Ndiaye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that D’Tigers had shown great quality and he was proud to play against the team.

“We played against a very good team that bonded well and had the best skills the continent can be proud of.

“We struggled with them in this competition and hopefully, we will go back and do our homework and try to engineer something better in the future.

“We learnt a lot from this loss; it is good it came this way, we have to build a positive approach next time and hope get the ticket to the World Cup,’’ Ndiaye said.

Similarly, Maleye Ndoye, the Senegalese team captain, extolled the array of qualities in D’Tigers and admitted that it wasn’t easy to catch up with the team.

“We played against a very formidable set of players who play in the top leagues in Europe and in the U.S., we tried to compete but it wasn’t easy.

“We knew from the beginning trying to beat Nigeria at home was going to be tough, and unfortunately the scoreline showed how badly we competed.

“But you have to give it to D’Tigers, they deserve the accolade, we just have to up our game next time we meet in February,’’ Ndoye said.

Senegalese forward player Gorgui Dieng also admitted D’Tigers quality and said that the team had shown good stuff and was very proud of how they played.

“We played against a team that had a wonderful game plan that was well executed, the team is also blessed with skillful players that knows how to get the job done.

“I congratulate the team, they deserve a lot of praise,’’ Dieng said.

Meanwhile, the Head coach of the D’Tigers, Alex Nwora, told NAN that he could not have achieved the feat but for the tactical discipline and the quality of the team.

“It’s a great thing to qualify for the World Cup, we are happy and most especially, the guys have contributed to the success story, they are just awesome.

“They showed a lot of good sportsmanship that makes us proud, for this, we are grateful for the way they played to qualify Nigeria.

“Most importantly, I am grateful to the team captain, Ike Diogu, for his leadership qualities and being able to carry the team along,’’ Nwora said.

The coach added that the team was not yet a finished product in spite of qualifying for the World Cup.

“We cannot relax now as we are not satisfied yet with our accomplishments, we have to keep preparing ahead of the World Cup.

“We want to go to the World Cup with quality players and do the nation proud,’’ Nwora said.

NAN reports that Nigeria, Tunisia, Greece, Germany and host China have all booked their tickets to the upcoming World Cup. (NAN)
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Peter Ejiofor)

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

Abuja, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) Popular Nigeria singer, Tiwatope Savage a.k.a. Tiwa Savage has blasted show promoters and organisers for abandoning her after performing at an event in Kenya.

The Mavin Record First Lady took to her twitter handle @TiwaSavage on Monday morning to express her anger with several message broadcast on the manner she was treated.

The 38 year-old mother of one put up an electrifying performance at the launch of Swabri Mohammed a.k.a. Redsan’ fifth Album `Baddest’ at the Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi Kenya at the weekend.

The 37 year-old Redsan is Kenyan regga musician and the most well famous reggae and dancehall artists in East Africa.

The Redsan’s album launch concert featured Jamaican Dance Hall artist Demarco, Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage, as well as Kenya hip hop artist, Khaligraph Jones.

“Checking out of the hotel and full accommodation not paid for, no car to take us to the airport and promoters want to talk trash about artists.

“Funny how everyone is asleep and phones are off after the show but the blow up your phone when they need you for radio and press runs before the show.

“We shall still continue in this thought, because the fans deserved better regardless of what happens behind the scenes,’’ she wrote.

Tiwa however stated that the ill treatment to her by the show promoters would not stop her from loving Kenya. “I love Kenya, always have and always will’’. (NAN)
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

Health
By Kate Obande-Okewu
Abuja, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) Mr Bello Maigari, Acting Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), said that the organisation had distributed medical equipment to seven communities in seven states across the country.

Maigari said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that the distribution was in line with their 2018 plan.

He added that the intervention was to alleviate the medical challenges faced in primary health care centres in the rural communities, and to improve their wellbeing.

He said the equipment distributed included X-ray machines, Ultra sound machines and drugs, among others.

“Our focus is to carry out intervention in health and we have been to about seven communities now, donating world class medical equipment such as X-ray machines, Ultra sound and others.

“For some reason, these equipment are completely absent in some of the health care centres, some of them don’t even have medication and it’s a shame such a thing exist in Nigeria.

“The intervention of NLTF is bringing succour to Nigerians and we are moving from community to community, we were in Jega in Kebbi state, Toro in Bauchi and Umezuoke in Ebonyi.

“Recently we were in Daura in Katsina, Cross River, Hong in Adamawa and some suburb communities in Lagos state, whom we discover need this equipment critically.’’

He explained that the organisation distributed the equipment based on the needs of the community, adding that they carry out needs assessment before any intervention.

Maigari said that the trust fund was charged with the responsibility of promoting good causes in Nigeria and was also intervening in grassroots sports development, water and sanitation, among other social services.

He said that the organisation periodically monitors and evaluates the utilisation of the equipment distributed to track the progress of the project.

According to him, if the outcome of the post impact assessment is positive, then it will be replicated in other places but so far the reports have been positive.(NAN)
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Felix Ajide

Road
By Aminu Garko
Minna, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) The Niger Government has spent about N328million on the rehabilitation of 1.7 kilometre of Tegina-Birnin Gwari federal road in Rafi local government area of the state.

Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Development, made this known on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

He said that the project which covered Karaga township road has since been completed.

”We can’t wait for the federal government to reconstruct the roads, hence the need for the present administration to reconstruct the road for the benefit of all sundry,” he said.

He explained that the completion of the road would enhance the socio-economic activities of the people of the council area.

The commissioner also appealed to residents of the area to desist from dumping of refuse on waterways.

He said that the ministry has reached out to traditional rulers to sensitise residents to desist from the act in order to avoid flooding. (NAN)
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Handball

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) Fidelis Obi, Head coach of Nigeria’s junior male team, says he feels great and fulfilled that the country have qualified for the 2019 Male Youth/Junior World Cup billed for Spain.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Nigeria, Egypt and Tunisia, winners at the just-concluded Africa Male Junior/Youth Handball Championship have qualified to represent Africa in the World Cup.

NAN also reports that the Confederation of Africa Handball (CAHB) organised championship which served as qualifiers for the World Cup held from Sept. 7 to Sept. 15 in Marrakech, Morocco.

Obi told NAN that the tournament was a tough experience but an opportunity where he brought his wealth of coaching knowledge to bear on the national junior team that led to their successful outing.

“Words are not enough for me to express my happiness, but I feel great, fulfilled and thanking God for using me as the head coach to quality Nigeria for the World Cup.

“It was a tasking tournament because the World Cup qualification ticket was tied to it; we took up the challenge, fortified training and God crowned the efforts with success,” he said.

He said the boys were wonderful, committed and objective players passionate about bringing honour to the nation and delivering the World Cup ticket.

The coach said that in spite of the dreaded countries in their group, the players believed in their abilities, team spirit and remained focused which boosted his confidence.

“The boys are my source of inspiration, they are just too much and I am impressed with their commitment and general conduct all through the matches and stay in Morocco.

“My assistant, coach Shittu Agboola, impressed me so much with his technical input, always gingering the players, kudos to him and our medical officers that lived up to expectations,” he added.

Obi applauded the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Sam Ocheho-led board HFN for their tremendous support that made its participation in the championship a reality.

Meanwhile, the HFN President, Ocheho, applauded the national junior male team for a successful outing and for clinching the World Cup ticket and proving the supremacy of Nigerian handball in the continent.

“The handball family are happy with the performance of the boys, qualifying for World Cup of any sport requires total commitment and hard work which they exhibited,” he said.

NAN reports that the 14 players, two coaches and a medical personnel comprised the contingent that departed the country Sept. 6 for the competition, arrived on Sunday aboard Maroc Airline after the eight-day continental handball championship. (NAN)
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(Edited by Remi Koleoso/Peter Ejiofor)

LG spends N47m on 60 boreholes in Niger

Boreholes
Minna, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) The Rafi Local Government in Niger says it spent N47 million on construction of 60 motorized boreholes in different parts of the area.

The local government Chairman, Alhaji Gambo Kagara, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Monday.

Kagara said that the council embarked on the projects because of its commitment to providing potable water for both human beings and animals.

He explained that the project had since been inaugurated and handed over to the community leaders for proper supervision.

The chairman said the council would continue to initiate people-oriented programme that would enhance the well-being of the people irrespective of political party differences.

He urged residents to volunteer information on movement of bad elements in their midst. (NAN)
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Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Maureen Atuonwu

Nominee
By Tukur Muntari
Kano, Sept. 17, 2018 (NAN) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has sent the name of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna to the state Assembly as his Deputy Governor nominees.

Ganduje is seeking the approval of state Assembly for the appointment of Gawuna as his Deputy following the resignation of his former Deputy, Prof Hafiz Abubakar.

The Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Rurum announced this at plenary while reading the letter sent to the House by the governor on Monday.

After reading the letter, the speaker asked the House if the nominees could be invited for screening in which the House unanimously agreed to invite the Deputy Governor nominees.

The speaker then requested the deputy governor nominee to be come to the House for screening on Tuesday, Sept. 18 by 10.30a.m.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the former Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar resigned recently and defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
(NAN)
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Edited by Felix Ajide