NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Education

Rivers reopens primary, secondary schools Jan. 4

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By Desmond Ejibas

The Rivers Government on Sunday approved the reopening of all public and private nursery, primary and secondary schools in the state, with effect from Jan. 4.

Mr Chidi Adiele, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, announced the reopening of the schools in a statement in Port Harcourt.

“The Rivers Education Ministry wishes to announce that, with the approval of Gov. Nyesom Wike, the school calendar published in August 2020 stands.

“Accordingly, both public and private schools in the state are hereby reminded that schools will resume on Jan. 4, 2021 for normal academic activities.

“Schools are to maintain all COVID-19 protocols, including the wearing of face masks, use of hand sanitiser and staggered classes.

“The classes are expected to be staggered morning and afternoon sessions in order to avoid overcrowding,” he said.

Adiele wished pupils, students, parents and guardians the very best in the academic year. (NAN)

Sports

Miss Football Nigeria 2021 pageant to feature internationals – Organiser

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By Emmanuel Afonne

Organisers of Miss Football Nigeria pageant say they plan to include the country’s foreign and home-based female footballers in the contest for its Football Ambassadors Awards for 2021, Moses Ebahor, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the pageant has said.

In a statement on Sunday, in Abuja, Ebahor said the players would be included in the contest for their outstanding performances in their various clubs, just as the pageant aimed to also make football attractive and entertaining to the female folk.

Ebahor said apart from honouring deserving distinguished Nigerians with Football Ambassadors awards, they also planned to make the pageant a source of motivation for female footballers and those willing to play the game.

“Miss Football Nigeria pageant is poised to redefine Nigeria football with entertainment, and it is an avenue for models, girls, ladies to inculcate moral values, discipline and ability to attract them to sports, especially football.

“As part of the activities to mark our fifth year Anniversary, which took place in December 2020, we honoured some distinguished Nigerians that have contributed to the development of sports and human capacity in Nigeria.

“The recipients include Hon. Stella Oketete, APC National Woman Leader/Executive Director Business Development, Nexim Bank; Chief Isaac Balami, Chairman, 7 Stars Groups; Hajiya Fatima Abbas Hassan, General Manager NTA Abuja (Unity Station), and Bash Ali, World Boxing Champion.

“Others who received the Football Ambassadors Award are Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed, FCT APC Woman Leader; Engr. Rotimi Omoboriowo, Chairman Rotiphet Construction Company and Mr Chinedu Obialo, Chairman Neduprize Nigeria Limited.

“Mr Azania Omo Agege, Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Sports to the Deputy Senate President, Dr Sowho Akpos Darlington, CEO Liberty Multipurpose Corporative Society Limited and Mr Hussani Misari, Business development Manager, Nivea, were also honoured,” Ebahor said in the statement.

He stated that the group had entered into partnership with government media organisations like the News Agency of Nigeria, Nigeria Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, and other private media houses, for a successful 2021 programme.

Ebahor also stated that they were already in partnership with bodies, such as the Nigeria Football Federation, Sport Writers Association of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, National Youth Council of Nigeria, National Association of Nigeria Students, among others.

Miss Football Nigeria was unveiled in Abuja on Oct. 20, 2015, while its maiden awards took place on Dec. 20, same year, with 20 contestants.

Miss Blessing Peters won the first edition of Miss Football Nigeria, while Miss Precious Osita, a student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, who hails from Anambra State, was crowned the Queen for Miss Football Nigeria 2020. (NAN)

Politics

ACD members dump party for APC in Niger

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By Obinna Unaeze

About 2,000 members and supporters of the Advanced Congress for Democrats (ACD) defected to the ruling APC in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State on Sunday.

Alhaji Jafaru Agwara, the member representing Borgu-Agwara Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, received the decamped and assured them of equal treatment and quality representation.

He advised the new members and their supporters to always work in line with APC’s ideology of moving the state to greater heights.

He said the APC as a political party would continue to champion the course of human and capital development in the 25 local government areas of the state.

He restated his commitment to provide more dividends of democracy to the electorate and solicited their support and cooperation to enable him to succeed.

Also speaking, Alhaji Nura Kokoli, Chairman of Agwara Local Government Council, assured the decamped that they would be carried along in the scheme of things in order to better their lots.

Kokoli urged the new APC members to be loyal and supportive toward ensuring the success and development of the party.

Also, Alhaji Shehu Agwara, former Chairman of the ACD in Agwara Local Government Area, who led the decamped expressed happiness for joining the APC and urged the party to continue to be accommodative.

He said that the new members were motivated to join the APC because of the tremendous successes and achievements of Jafaru Agwara and that of Shehu Agwara in providing dividends of democracy for the people of the area.

He commended Jafaru Agwara for providing four Sharon buses to the butchers association in Agwara as well as more than 50 Bajaj motorcycles to men of the vigilance team in the area. (NAN)

Defence/Security

Abia Police command recovers another stolen child — PPRO

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By Ijendu Iheaka

The Nigeria Police, Abia Command, has confirmed  the recovery of Master David Okoye, who was abducted from his mother’s shop on Aug. 21, 2020 by an unknown young man.

The command’s PRO, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, said in Aba, on Sunday, that the child, who was abducted by a member of an illegal adoption syndicate, was recovered on Dec. 29, 2020.

Ogbonna told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Abia Police Commissioner, Mrs Janet Agbede had earlier issued directives to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to fish out the culprits and recover the baby.

He said upon receiving the order, the RRS Commander, John-Bull Obioguru, and his men, went to work and after some months of vigorous searching, located the child at Arochukwu local government area of the state.

“The RRS operation swung into action and recovered the child at Arochukwu in Abia state on the 29 of December, 2020 after he had been given out for illegal adoption at N800,000.

“On 1 January, 2020, the parents of David, Mr Ikechukwu and Rejoice Okoye came to RRS, in Aba North Local Government Area, and the baby was handed to them hale and hearty”, he said.

Okoye told NAN that he was in his workplace on Aug. 21, 2020 when his wife ran to him announcing that his child had been stolen.

He said she told him that a young man came to buy something from her shop and as she was trying to get change for him, the man lured the child with biscuits and abducted him.

“I asked her who is this person and she only gave a description, saying that she does not know the person who took the child. We were still searching for him until two weeks later when we got information that another child in that our Abayi Ariaria area had been stolen too.

“We then ran to the person whose child was stolen and asked how the person, who stole their child looked like, and they described him and it was exactly the person my wife said came to buy something and took our child.

“The woman then told us that she had made an entry at RRS in Aba North, and we went to the office and made our own entry, after which they promised to help find the baby”, he said.

He said that the police, who found out that the young man had shared the same compound with the woman whose child was stolen, began tracing him through his relatives and later found  him.

Okoye thanked the Police for doing a wonderful job and urged parents to be careful of  leaving their children with strangers, or relatives they could not trust.

Similarly, Ogbonna warned parents who wished to adopt children to avoid the temptation of taking the shorter route of patronising non-government and uncertified sources of adoption, or risk being caught and prosecuted.

Ogbonna also disclosed that the police was still looking for the parents of a young child, recovered in December, but who could not even state his name, to come forward and claim their child from the command. (NAN)

Sports

Gov. Fayemi signs into law Ekiti sports development trust fund bill – Official

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By Ariwodola Idowu

Gov. Kayode Fayemi has signed into law, the Ekiti State Sports Development Trust Fund (SDTF) Bill, which seeks to promote sports, attract sponsorship and be an employment generating sector for youths.

Mr Ayodeji Samo, the General Manager, Ekiti State Sports Council, who made this known in a statement in Ado Ekiti, on Sunday, added that the fund would bring more development to the sports sector when implemented.

“With the fund in place, there will be Public-Private partnership in the sponsorship of sporting activities and make the sector a priority of government in terms of funding.

“SDTF is strategic for the development of sports. Now that white collar jobs are not in place, there would be need for us to develop the sports sector to help in generating employments for our youths and build their skills to be able to compete locally, nationally and internationally,” Sami quoted Gov. Fayemi as saying.

The General Manager applauded the governor for the development, saying it was unprecedented in the history of sports in the state, alongside several other giant strides to develop the sector in the state.

He identified such accomplishments to include: creation of the ministry of Sports, re-surfacing of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium and the regular sponsorship of the Ekiti United Football Club, as well as the state’s female team.

Samo said: “The board and the management of sports appreciate the SDTF that was signed into law by Governor Fayemi. This is unprecedented and will boost sporting activities in our dear state.

“With this, our athletes can now attain a higher height and win more laurels and trophies for our dear state locally, nationally and internationally.

“Sport is a money spinning activity, but capital intensive. Now that more funding will be available through SDTF, Ekiti will soon gain recognition as a state where huge potentials in sports and we can rake in more revenues for the State” .

He also thanked the State House of Assembly for the speedy passage of the bill, describing it as a potent tool that would lift the sports sector in the state to enviable height. (NAN)

General News

NCAC commends Gov. El-Rufai for demolishing sex party house

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By Taiye Olayemi

Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), has commended Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State for ordering the demolition of a house slated as venue for a sex party in Kaduna state.

Runsewe who gave the commendation in a statement on Sunday said organising such sex party was a total disrespect for the Nigerian culture.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the house, located in Sabon Tasha, on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis, was demolished on Dec. 31, 2020 by the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Agency.

Runsewe said that Gov. El-Rufai deserved kudos for prompt response to the disgusting sex party by promptly demolishing the building as a warning to others who could be planning such immorality.

“But for this intervention by the governor, Kaduna State possibly would become the new capital and destination for sex tourism in Nigeria.

“This will lead to social disconnect and dislocations with drug peddling in tow and our children destroyed in the process.

“In 1992, Senegal and Uganda, experienced massive influx of sex tourists and immediately took hard measures to curb it because if left unchecked, sex tourism will damage the spiritual, moral and cultural values of any society.

“And there is no sentiments about dealing with it as Gov. El-Rufai has done,’’ he stated.

In 2020, NCAC had a serious battle with cross dresser influencers and social deviants, nailing the spread of defiant influences to the walls.

Runsewe said NCAC would be doing more in 2021 to ensure that Nigerian cultures remained respected and upheld.

He stated that there was the need for parents to monitor their children closely and nip untoward attitudes and activities in the bud.

“Certainly, Gov. El-Rufai has vindicated our position on the need to stop and arrest the unfortunate presence and foreign behavioural influence threatening our cultures and traditions.

“Am sure with the pulling down of the house planned for the sex party, sufficient signals have been sent to other deviants, their sponsors and publics.

“The law of this country must be applied to the fullest to stop this rage from the pit of darkness,’’ he added.

Runsewe called on other governors to support the full restoration and enthronement of Nigerian cultural values to rid the nation of strange characters and lifestyles.

“This is how Boko Haram and “Yahoo-Yahoo” started and before we knew it, our society and young persons were left to drink from the polluted waters of social vices leaving us to struggle on all fronts.

“So let those who are angry at the response of Gov. El-Rufai go to check out various campaigns mounted against sex tourism by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the Universal Federation of Travel Agencies,” he stated.

Runsewe who is also President, Africa Region of World Craft Council, stated also that NCAC would be reviewing and reviving the campaign to promote true Nigerian cultural values.

He said this would be targeted at youths and the older generation to rid Nigeria of devil’s plan to destroy young persons and their future wellbeing.

“Our culture no doubt is under threat from all sides, but with what Gov. El Rufai has done in Kaduna State, I am convinced that we shall battle the demons of immoral living and enemies of  our cultures and traditions to a standstill,” he added. (NAN)

General News

Power outage looms in Mararaba, environs – AEDC

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By Constance Athekame

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) says customers in parts of Mararaba in Nasarawa State and environs will experience power interruption between Jan. 3, and Jan. 6.

Mr Oyebode Fadipe,  AEDC’s Manager, Corporate Communications, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

“Our customers in the following areas under Mararaba: Aso Pada, Mararaba Guruku, Aku Village, Kabayi, part of Abacha road towards Sharp corner, Orange market, Abbatoir.

“Others include Tudun Wada,  NIMCO Qtrs, Abacha Road, GT Bank, Polaris Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank, Boundary Road, Custom Qtrs 1&3, overhead tank and environs.

“They are hereby informed that power supply to their homes and offices will be intermittently interrupted from today, Jan. 3, to Jan. 6, 2020,” he said.

According to him, the interruption is to allow AEDC’s technical team replace the entire breaker panels at the 2X15 Mega Volt Ampree (MVA), 33/11 Kilo Volt (KV) Inj. S/S J22 in Mararaba.

The AEDC appealed for the patience and understanding of consumers in the aforementioned areas.

He, however, assured the customers that the maintenance exercise was aimed at improving the quality of AEDC services to them.

“We are available to assist with enquiries through any of our contact channels. “he said. (NAN)

Environment

CP orders investigation into Ebonyi ‘New Year’ fire incident

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By Douglas Okoro

The  Commissioner of Police (CP) in Ebonyi,  Mr Philip Maku, has ordered full investigation into the fire outbreak that left no fewer than five persons dead on Jan. 1, in the state.

Mrs Loveth Odah, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ebonyi, said this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abakaliki.

She said that the CP was devastated by the tragic incident that left many dead, including a three-year old child.

“The commissioner of police,  has ordered discreet investigation into the incident to ascertain the actual cause of the fire outbreak.

“We do not really believe that someone can actually fire a cannon all in the name of celebrating the New Year because even during traditional burials,  we normally give approval before cannons can be fired .

“So, this time around, we were not aware that the man wanted to fire a cannon, it’s unusual and see what great disaster it has caused.

“The CP has therefore, directed that full scale investigation should be carried out to find out why such tragic incident should happen when people were celebrating the New Year,” she said.

The police spokesperson, however, said that the number of casualties from the incident had risen from one to five persons.

“Four additional deaths were recorded from among those rushed to the hospital for treatment while the other survivors are still receiving medical attention at the hospital,” Odah added.

Meanwhile, Dr Nelson Ogbaeja, an indigene of Akaeze and one of those involved in the rescue operation, told NAN that seven of the victims taken to hospital had died.

Ogbaeja added that one of the survivors was in a critical condition, having sustained first degree burns.

NAN recalls that the fire incident occured around 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 1,  in Mr Ogenyi Chukwu’s residence in Iyioji, Akaeze community.

The fire allegedly brokeout when a cannon ‘Nkpolali’ loaded with gun powder  in the house,  had contact with fire.

Chukwu said their children and 11 other relatives were seeing a movie  in the house when suddenly the cannon exploded and fire engulfed the entire house leading to pandemonium.

Reacting over the incident, Chairman, Ivo Local Government Area, Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, commiserated with families of the victims.

He said that the council would do everything within its powers to ensure that survivors were given the best medical attention.

Ogbadu described the incident as ‘tragic’ and prayed for the repose of the souls of those lost in the inferno. (NAN)

Sports

As relegation looms, no hiding place for winless Sheffield United, Wilder says

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Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has said there was “no hiding place” for him and his players after they suffered their 15th Premier League defeat of the season at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Jeffrey Schlupp and Eberechi Eze scored a goal apiece as Palace heaped more misery on United with a 2-0 victory, leaving the Blades bottom of the table with two points, 11 adrift of the safety zone.

Wilder’s side have not won in 17 league games this season — the longest winless run from the start for an English top-flight side.

“We don’t look like an established club,” Wilder said.

“We are obviously not and we are fighting to gain that and it’s going to be an incredible struggle to do that from the position we are in.

“We’re obviously disappointed with the stats we’re being reminded of. It’s a harsh league when you’re off the pace as we have been for a long time, so it’s tough. There’s no hiding place for me and the players.”

The Blades were last season’s surprise package, when the promoted side finished ninth, but they have struggled with injuries in their fight for top-flight survival this season.

“I keep saying (that) people will always compare us to last year… Last year is last year and we can’t do anything about that,” Wilder said.

“That was us at our best… (with) no major injuries and players playing to the best of their abilities.

“(Today) we had nine missing players which would have hurt us even in League One, where we were four-and-a-half years ago.

“Both penalty boxes have decided the game and we weren’t good enough in either.”

Sheffield faces Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup third round on Jan. 9, before hosting Newcastle United in the league three days later.

Economy/Business

African nations begin trading under AfCFTA pact

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African Union (AU) Chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have congratulated Africans for starting trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Abiy tweeted: “Congratulations to our continent for the beginning of trading under AfCTA. The new frontier for Africa is indeed regional integration, where minds are open to ideas and markets are to trade. Trade defuses the most fraught relations and integrated markets generate prosperity.”

South African President Ramaphosa said: “I wish to congratulate AU member states and state parties to the African Continental Free Trade Area on the historic commencement of trading. The vision of founders of the OAU has come to fruition. The dreams of an economically integrated Africa have finally been realized.”

He stated that the AfCFTA will fundamentally change the economic fortunes of the continent.

Continental trading under the AfCFTA started on 1 January 2021 and this is a historic milestone for Africa to start commercial business within the continent.

Under AfCFTA trading, tariffs on various commodities where rules of origin have been agreed will be drastically reduced and traders of all sizes will have access to a much bigger market than they used to before.

The Agreement establishing the AfCFTA was signed in March 2018 in Kigali Rwanda, following conclusion of the main legal texts.

The AU’s 54 Member States have signed, and 30 countries have deposited their instruments of ratification of the pact with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa.

The main objectives of the AfCFTA are to create a single market for goods and services, facilitate the movement of persons, promote industrial development and sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic growth, and resolve the issue of multiple membership, in accordance with agenda 2063.

It also lays a foundation for the establishment, in future, of a Continental Common Market.

Ramaphosa, in his capacity as outgoing Chairperson of the AU, on Friday addressed a virtual ceremony to mark the official launch of the African free trade area.

He said said the governments of all Member States must promote the inclusion of women and the youth within the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“I appeal to all Member States to spare no effort in creating conducive environments for our youth and women to benefit in the opportunities presented by the ACFTA. Indeed, the focus of our trade agreement should be directed to a larger extent on development and sustaining small and medium enterprises and not only on well established big companies.”

President Ramaphosa called on African countries to prioritise silencing the guns, saying the AfCTA will not succeed amid conflict.

Meanwhile, the South African Trade and Indesidentustry Department has urged the country’s manufacturers and farmers to gear up for new export opportunities.

The Department said South Africa has put in place the legal and administrative processes for preferential trade under the AfCFTA.

The AfCFTA aims to bring together 1.3 billion people in a $3.4 trillion economic bloc Africa a new opportunity to develop its own value chains. According to the World Bank , it could lift millions of African people out of povery by 2035.

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