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Tennis: Djokovic dismisses Del Potro to win U.S. Open

Djokovic

New York, Sept. 10, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) A clinical Novak Djokovic dismissed Juan Martin Del Potro 6-3 7-6(4) 6-3 to collect his third U.S. Open title on Sunday.

The win for Djokovic gave him 14 Grand Slams to move into a tie for third on the all-time list alongside Pete Sampras.

A season that started gloomily with elbow surgery after the Australian Open is turning into a brilliant finish for the 31-year-old Serb who has now won three of his last four events including back-to-back majors at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows.

Over the last eight weeks Djokovic has resembled the Grand Slam machine that held all four major titles at the same time in 2016.

“When I had the surgery of my elbow earlier this year I could truly understand what Juan Martin was going through,” Djokovic said at the trophy ceremony, referring to the Argentine’s long battles with injury.

“You learn from adversity … when you have doubtful moments when things are not working out as you want (them) to.”

The sixth seed had suffered in the ferocious heat and humidity through the early days of the season’s final Grand Slam but dropped only two sets for the tournament and none since the second round.

Playing on the same court where Pete Sampras claimed his 14th and final Grand Slam crown, Djokovic had endured more disappointment than joy on Arthur Ashe, mining just three titles from eight finals.

“I was hoping he’s going to be here tonight but I want to say ‘Pete, I love you, you’re my idol,’” said the Serb.

The disappointment on Sunday belonged to a teary Del Potro who was back in a Grand Slam final for the first time since the big Argentine won his one and only title at Flushing Meadows in 2009.

“It’s not easy to speak right now. But I love you too, guys,” he told the crowd. “And so, so happy to be playing the final against this magnificent idol. He knows that he’s one of my friend[s] on tour.”

Djokovic and Del Potro walked on Arthur Ashe Stadium court with the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center still buzzing over the controversial women’s final on Saturday, won by Japan’s Naomi Osaka after Serena Williams incurred three code violations.

Britain’s Alison Hughes, the second woman to umpire a U.S. Open men’s singles final, kept a low profile as the two former champions went to work.

The tension and fireworks of the Osaka-Williams clash were left behind during a relatively calm and composed baseline battle between two friends and familiar foes who had played each other 18 times, with Djokovic holding a commanding 14-4 edge.

In a tight opening set, there was only a single break point and Djokovic made it count to go up 5-3 before serving it out.

Djokovic kept up the pressure with an early break in the second before Del Potro broke back to end the Serb’s run of 23 consecutive holds.

The tension lifted in a marathon eighth game that took 20 minutes to decide, Djokovic finally holding to keep the set on serve at 4-4.

That seemed to take some of the fight out of the Argentine who went down 7-4 in the eventual tiebreak.

A focused Djokovic continued to apply pressure in the third set until Del Potro finally cracked on serve to fall behind 5-3, with the Serb closing out the match with a ferocious overhead winner. (Reuters/NAN)
VO/MZA
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Cholera: UNOCHA seeks urgent intervention, records 680 cases in Borno

Cholera
By Lizzy Okoji
Abuja, Sept. 9, 2018 (NAN) The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) has called for urgent and strengthened interventions following more reported cases and deaths from the recent cholera outbreak in Borno.

This call was made in the North East flash update on the Cholera outbreak by the UN OCHA and was made available to newsmen of Sunday in Abuja.

According to the report, a total of 680 cases of suspected cholera have been recorded in eight Local Government Areas (LGAs), including 18 deaths, as at Sept. 7.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was against the 380 cases and 14 deaths that were earlier recorded by the Borno State Ministry of Health as at Sept. 5.

This report explained that the figure represents a fatality rate of 2.6 per cent.

The UN OCHA said that additional resources are urgently needed to strengthen the response for timely containment of the outbreak.

According to the UN OCHA’s report, health partners are currently using existing resources from regular emergency operations which are not enough for a full scale response.

It stated that the resources available would not be sufficient in case of a spread of the outbreak to other areas.

“ A cholera outbreak was declared in Borno State, North-East Nigeria, on Sept. 5 by the state Ministry of Health.

“The first suspected cases were recorded on Aug. 19 and the following cases have been recorded:

“Jere (218 including 2 deaths), Magumeri (156 including 4 deaths), Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) (141 including 5 deaths), Chibok (85 including 3 deaths).

“ Konduga (38 including 3 deaths), Kaga (28 including 1 death), Damboa (8), Shani (6).

“In response to the outbreak, the State Ministry of Health, with the support of humanitarian partners is coordinating the response through the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC).

“Coordination meetings are currently held twice a week at the EOC, and daily at LGA level,’’ the report stated.

According to the report, one hundred-bed Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) is operational in Dala (a locality in MMC), and in Magumeri LGA a Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) has been set up in an existing health facility

It stated that Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs) have also been set up in El-Miskin, Muna Garage and Customs House camps for internally displaced persons.

It stated that additional ambulances are required in all affected LGAs to transport those seeking treatment.

The UN OCHA added that health organisations are carrying out risk communications, which include making regular and frequent visits to households to encourage individuals with cholera-like symptoms to be screened.

It explained that by communicating at household level, health partners have visited 1,163 households, which resulted in the identification of 18 suspected cases of cholera.

It elucidate basic hygiene practices as the most effective preventive measures against cholera, including the use of clean and safe water and proper sanitation.

The report noted that hygiene promotion activities, including radio broadcasts in English, Hausa, Kanuri and Shuwa, are underway in the affected LGAs to sensitise people to the risk of cholera.

The activities also aim to teach commuters how to prevent and manage diarrhea at home, and educate them on the use of chloride tablets for household water treatment and safe water storage.

It stated that in terms of sanitation, humanitarian organisations are working to dislodge latrines and repair damaged latrines in the affected camps for IDPs where the risk of transmission was high due to congested living conditions.

The Key partners involved in the response include, the UN OCHA, Borno State Ministry of Health, UN Children’s Agency (UNICEF), World Health Organisation Action Against Hunger, International Rescue Committee.

Others are: Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, Solidarité International, Intersos, Médecins du Monde, Médecins Sans Frontières, ZOA, among others. (NAN)
LIZ/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide

TraderMoni: Presidency says petty traders not required to show PVC

TraderMoni

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Abuja, Sept. 9, 2018(NAN) Petty traders are not required to tender their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) before benefitting from the TraderMoni scheme, the presidency has said.

Mr Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, made this clarification on Sunday in Abuja.

Akande, who gave an update on the microcredit scheme, explained that to qualify for the TraderMoni scheme, no documentation of any kind was required.

He spoke against the backdrop of claims about PVC was a requirement for the loans.

The spokesman said the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration would intensify its efforts to empower more Nigerians economically as it continued to inaugurate the Trader Moni N10,000 collateral-free loans to petty traders across the country.

“The petty traders are not required to show PVC, or any document for that matter, they are only expected to show they are petty traders and this is why the enumeration is done in the markets and wherever the traders ply their trades.”

He also explained that those who questioned the timing of the loans had forgotten that the credit scheme was part of the Social Investment Programme (SIP) of the Buhari presidency, and had commenced since 2016.

The media aide said that Trader Moni specifically was conceived in 2016 and wondered if the initiative aimed at empowering traders would be suspended just because some people would insinuate motivations.

According to him, the petty traders whose trades and lives are being positively impacted as they receive the N10,000 are telling a different story from those making political insinuations as it is their stories that inspire the presidency.

“Nigerians already know that the Buhari Administration is one that is projecting the interests of the common man, Nigerians who are at the lower rungs, and this is not a new perception at all.

“This week, the interest-free loans, which have now been launched in eight States including the FCT, would be extended to more States including Oyo, Cross Rivers, and Kaduna States,’’ he said.

The micro-credit scheme has been introduced in the following States—Lagos, Kano, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Osun, Abuja, Kogi and FCT.(NAN)

CJ/AFA

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Edited by Felix Ajide

Tennis: Williams fined $17,000 for U.S. Open code violations

Fine

New York, Sept. 9, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Serena Williams has been fined 17,000 dollars for the code violations she received during the U.S. Open final, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said on Sunday.

During Saturday’s match, which she lost 6-2 6-4 to Japan’s Naomi Osaka, Williams was handed a coaching violation and a point penalty for breaking her racquet before a heated argument with umpire Carlos Ramos ended with her losing a game.

The tournament referee’s office fined the former world number one 10,000 dollars for the “verbal abuse” of Ramos, 4,000 dollars for being warned for coaching and 3,000 dollars for smashing her racket.

Williams, who was seeking a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam singles title on Saturday, vigorously disputed each of the violations during the match.

She demanded Ramos apologise for handing her a coaching violation and later called the umpire a “thief” for giving her a point penalty. (Reuters/NAN)
VO/IA
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3,000 residents benefit from Lagos’ Rent-to-Own houses

Beneficiaries

By Grace Alegba
Lagos, Sept. 9, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 3,000 residents have so far benefited from the Lagos State Government’s Rent-To-Own schemes, according to the Commissioner for Housing, Mr Gbolahan Lawal.

Lawal said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the state’s housing policies captured both those in the formal and informal sectors.

He said that the informal sector constituted about 65 per cent of the population of the state and that a mechanism had been put in place to determine their incomes and eligibility for the homes.

“All our estates are for everybody irrespective of your status. We have special consideration for Lagosians and we have accommodation for all categories of people in Lagos.

“My Christmas promise will be achieved for those prospective buyers who have applied for Gbagada, Igbogbo, Amuwo Odofin, Sangotedo Phase 1 houses. Celebrating Christmas in their new homes is feasible.

“It is important to also use this medium to let Lagosians know that we are committed to completing all the projects we met on ground and we are also building new ones.

“So far over 3,000 Lagosians are now beneficiaries of our Rent-to-Own Scheme,’’ he said.

The commissioner said the housing deficit of about 2.5 million was huge, adding that the various sustainable efforts were underway including an affordable housing trust fund to be inaugurated soon.

He said that the initiative would be unveiled before the expiration of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration in May 2019 which would give cooperative societies ample opportunities to take part in housing finance.

Lawal disclosed that the ministry took over 27 housing estates at various stages of between 20 and 60 per cent completion from the last administration which needed more resources to complete.

He said Ambode administration also met a mortgage system on ground which had been reviewed downward because most applicants could not afford the 30 per cent down payment.

“The state government introduced the Rent-To-Own scheme where beneficiaries are required to pay only five per cent of the cost of building as commitment fee while the balance is spread over a period of 10 years.

“A recent study revealed that the housing deficit for Lagos is 2.5 million and the government also found out that it will  take 187,500 housing units yearly for five years to bridge the gap.

“The government of Lagos State alone cannot bridge the existing gap and so we decided to come up with Lagos State Affordable Public Housing and that is working with the private sector as a joint venture initiative.

“Government contribution is land, then all the statutory charges, the permits, will also be part of the government’s equity while the private sector will come up with the technical expertise, the finance and all that are geared towards the supply side. The Rent-to-Own is the demand side,’’ he told NAN.

On the various estates, Lawal said the Igando Gardens which has 492 units was more than 90 per cent completed and that the sewage would be fixed before delivery.

“Gbagada Estate is over 95 per cent completed while Igbogbo in Ikorodu which has 360 units is at 85 per cent completion. Amuwo Odofin Estate which has 84 units has been completed and will be handed over in few weeks to allottees.

“Akerele Estate in Surulere has only two blocks and the beneficiaries are already moving into their houses.

“Sangotedo Estate in Lekki has 1,118 units and is at an advanced stage of completion and Phase 1 is above 80 per cent completed; the water and sewage will be ready before the end of September,’’ the commissioner said.

On the Egan/Igando Estate in Alimosho council area which was started by the Bola Tinubu administration, he said efforts were on to rehabilitate and complete the houses after  successful integrity tests of the buildings, adding that a major road leading to the estate had been constructed.

“Before May 2019, we should be able to hand over keys to the allottees.’’ (NAN)

GA/DA

(Editing by Dele Akinsola)

Weather

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Sept. 9, 2019 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted  chances of rainfall in most parts the country on Monday.

The Weather Outlook by MiNet Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Sunday predicted light rains over the central cities such as Abuja, Minna, Bauchi, Makurdi and Jos in the morning.

It also said that scattered thunderstorms were likely over the region in the afternoon and evening period with day and night temperatures of 28 to 31 and 20 to 23 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The agency predicted partly cloudy to cloudy morning and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours over the northern states with day and night temperatures of 27 to 32 and 21 to 23 degrees Celsius, respectively.

It also predicted cloudy morning over the Southwest inland down to the coast with scattered thunderstorms and moderate rains over most parts of the Inland and coast in the afternoon and evening periods.

According to NiMet, Southwestern cities will have day and night temperatures in the range of 27 to 29 and 21 to 24 degrees Celsius, respectively during the forecast period.

“Southeastern cities will experience cloudy morning over the Inland with prospects of moderate rains over places like Portharcourt, Eket, Owerri, Yenagua and Calabar, in the morning.

“Scattered thunderstorms and rains are expected over the inland with chances of rains over the coast in the afternoon and evening period with day and night temperatures of 27 to 30 and 21 to 24 degrees Celsius, respectively.

“There are prospects of moderate rains over most parts of the South-south throughout the forecast period with day and night temperatures of 27 to 30 and 22 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively,” NiMet said. NAN)

OYS/TÁ
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

Aruna clinches first African men’s singles title

Table-Tennis

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Sept. 9, 2018 (NAN) Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna on Sunday won the Men’s Singles title at the 2018 ITTF African Championships in Mauritius, the first time in his career.

He beat veteran and three time champion, Egypt’s Ahmed Ali Saleh (11-7, 6-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-1). The victory came  one month after he won the  2018 ITTF Challenge Seamaster Nigeria Open in Lagos.

In Agadir two years ago, Aruna was  the runner up.

Aruna in the semi-final in Mauritius had beaten compatriot Olajide Omotayo (11-9, 11-6, 11-5, 11-3), while  Ahmed Ali Saleh who will celebrate his 39th birthday next month accounted for Nigeria’s 44 year-old Segun Toriola (8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-9).

“I am so happy that I was able to win this title for the first time having come close in 2016.

“My next target is the All African Games title because the likes of Segun Toriola and Omar Assar have won this and I am hoping that I can win this as well.

“I must express my appreciation to the Mauritians for their support; their enormous support kept me going throughout the competition.

“It is great again winning another title 28 days after winning the ITTF Challenge Seamaster Nigeria Open in Lagos.” Aruna told reporters in his post-match reaction.

Aruna’s title will make it the ninth to be won by Nigerians in the Men’s Singles events at the African Championships. Atanda Musa blazed the trail in 1985   in Alexandria, Egypt, when he beat fellow Nigerian Yomi Bankole .

Nigeria has not won the title since  2002  when Segun Toriola beat colleague Monday Merotohun in Bizerte, Tunisia.

Toriola followed up winning the Men’s Singles title at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, the first time table tennis was included in the multi-sport event.

Although  Ahmed Ali Saleh lost to Aruna in Mauritius, he remains the most successful African singles player, making five finals and winning three.

He won in  Addis Ababa in 2000,  Brazzaville 2007  and  Yaoundé 2010.

VO/
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Tourism

By Adekunle Williams and Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Sept. 9, 2018 (NAN) The Lagos State Government says it will soon unveil its Tourism Master Plan to give direction to the development of tourism in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Steve Ayorinde, made the disclosure at the official opening of 14th edition of Akwaaba Travel and Tourism Fair in Lagos on Sunday.

Ayorinde, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Femi Adeyemi, noted that tourism had become a major source of revenue and employment in many countries.

He said :”The Lagos State government hopes to leverage on the unique opportunities provided by the expo to reach out to major tourism stakeholders in the continent and market Lagos as a choice and must visit destination in Africa and the world.

“Also, in a bid to have a document that gives direction to our tourism development, the state government will be unveiling the Lagos State Tourism Master plan later this month.

“This will help in giving legal backings to all our efforts in developing the tourism sector of the state and making Lagos the preferred destination for business, leisure and entertainment.”

The commissioner commended Mr Ikechi Uko, the organiser of the three-day event, for his foresight and resilience in sustaining the travel and tourism expo, which was endorsed by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

Also speaking, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), said Akwaaba had emerged as the biggest travel and tourism fair in West Africa, attracting participation of stakeholders from all over the world.

“Indeed, the annual travel and tourism fair has become a veritable platform for stakeholders in the industry to meet, network and exchange ideas on global best practices within the sector.

“Each edition of the fair comes with fresh and highly innovative components that give the fair its unique and spectacular effects, ” Runsewe said.

He said that during the event, NCAC would be offering free skill acquisition training on bead making, soap making , fabric painting among others , adding that the participants would also be issued certificates.

Earlier, Uko expressed his appreciation to the people that made the event a successful one.

He said that the
idea of the fair was to bring the world to Africa.

WAC/ASO/SOA
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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

2019: Oyo APC aspirants adopt indirect primaries

Adoption
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 9, 2018(NAN) Aspirants in Oyo state who plan to contest elections on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) have unanimously adopted indirect primaries as the mode of selecting the candidates ahead of 2019 general elections.

The aspirants reached the decision  during a meeting with the governor and party leaders at the Government House in Ibadan on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Gov. Abiola Ajimobi and some party leaders had on Saturday met with governorship aspirants of the party.  The meeting  also adopted indirect primaries.

NAN reports that the motion for adoption of indirect primaries was moved by Mr Olaide Olalere, an aspirant vying for Ibadan North East State Constituency II seat  in the House of Assembly.

The motion was seconded by Mrs Olanrewaju Otiti, an aspirant contesting Ibadan North Federal Constituency seat.

Ajimobi  urged the aspirants  to reach some understanding among themselves to avert wasting resources.

“I am urging you all to negotiate and come up with a candidate in your various constituencies,  if such is possible and if not, you all can be prepared for the indirect primaries as you have adopted,” he said.

The governor advised  the aspirants to remain committed to the party irrespective of the outcome of the primaries, saying every member of the party would share in the success.

He warned them not to take undue advantage of the ongoing experiment within the party which he said has offered all aspirants a level playing ground.

Dr (Mrs) Adepeju Esan, an aspirant to the House of Representatives via the  Ibadan North Federal Constituency, stated that the indirect primaries adopted by all aspirants was the best.

“If we adopted consensus, it will be imposition and the direct primaries will be very cumbersome. This is why we have adopted the indirect primaries,” she said.

A 35 year-old Senatorial aspirant, Alhaji Faosey Nurudeen, lauded the governor for initiating the process which facilitated a rancour free adoption of indirect primaries.

Nurudeen stated that the indirect primaries was supported by all aspirants, saying such would allow level playing ground to all.

“I feel happy and very comfortable with the adoption of indirect primaries. Based on the resolutions made here today, I support the indirect primaries irrespective of the number of aspirants,” he said.

Mr. Asimiyu Alarape, a former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly and an aspirant, said the party leadership has sown the seed of unity with the adoption of indirect primaries.

TAA/
08079517573
alakime1804@gmail.com

Train crushes 52 cattle to death in Kaduna —CP

Accident

By Mohammad Tijjani

Kaduna, Sept 9. 2018(NAN)The Kaduna State Police Command on Sunday said no fewer than 52 cattle were crushed to death by a train along Kasarami – Jere axis in Chikkun Local Government Area in Kaduna State.

The Commissioner, Malam Ahmad Abdulrahaman refuted reports that the cattle were killed by other means.

” Their is nothing like attack but purely it was train accident, so nobody should panic”, he told newsmen in Kaduna

According to him, the cattle  were crushed to death at about 11:45  this morning by a speeding train going  to Abuja from Rigasa Railway Station.

He also explained that  the 27 cattle that sustained injuries were  slaughtered by the chief butcher of Kasarami village.

He said  no human casualty was recorded.

“When the information of the accident reached the command, I quickly mobilised our men to the scene  to assess the situation.

The CP  described the accident  as pathetic. He said the herdsmen  were moving  to Funtua Local Government in Katsina State.

“They innocently inquired on whether there were rail services on Sunday, but were misinformed that there was none.

” I have summoned the traditional rulers of the area, youths and farmers on the need to continue to live in peace and to avoid crossing the rail track indiscriminately with farm produce and animals.

He added that a similar meeting will hold with officials of the railway corporation on how to avert such an accident in future.(NAN)

TJ/