Plateau United beaten at last, Nasarawa bash Abia Warriors

http://ift.tt/2l5an8p

Plateau United

Plateau United proved they are human after all by losing 2-1 to lowly Akwa United in a Week Eight Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

The Jos-based team, which have surprised league watchers with their tenacity and victories, home and away, were expected to beat Akwa United even in Uyo following the home team’s unimpressive performance in the season so far. But the side led by former Abia Warriors’ coach, Kennedy Boboye, succumbed to the desperation of the Uyo team, which played their best game of the season so far yesterday.

However, Plateau United maintained top spot on the table despite the defeat.

Akwa United opened scores through former Enyimba star, Christian Pyagbara, to give the Uyo side their second win of the season in the sixth minute. It was also Pyagbara’s second goal of the season.

Alhassan Ibrahim doubled the lead in the 50th minute, before Chima Ndukwe reduced the tally 10 minutes later.

Ten-man Enyimba of Aba continued their poor away form by losing 0-1 to Niger Tornadoes at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, with Sadiq Suleiman’s 13th minute goal the decider for the Minna team.

Enyimba’s neighbours, Abia Warriors, were also on the losing side, as they were beaten 3-1 by Nasarawa United in Lafia, while El-Kanemi bashed Gombe United 3-0 with goals by Bello Kofarmata and Samuel Mathias (brace) the decider for the Ladan Bosso team.

Lobi Stars’ could not overcome Katsina United, who held them to a goalless draw in Makurdi, where goalkeeper John Lawrence missed a penalty that would have given the Benue side the three points.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kXVF0o

Lagos clamps down on illegal abattoirs, cattle markets

http://ift.tt/2jR7Dvi

In a renewed effort to stem the tide of illegal operations, prevent the sale of unwholesome meat and improve hygiene conditions in abattoirs in Lagos State, no fewer than 24 butchers and cattle marketers have been arrested for offences bordering on illegal operations in a weekend clampdown carried out against illegal abattoirs, slaughter slabs and cattle markets by the state government.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, told journalists that the exercise was carried out in Ikorodu and Badagry by the State Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance Unit on Abattoirs and Slaughter Slabs, Stray Animals, Meat and Live Cattle Transportation and Regulation of Veterinary Premises.

He added that beside the 24 butchers and cattle marketers who were arrested for illegal operations, large chunk of unwholesome meat being processed with dirty stagnant water alongside live cattle were impounded during the raid.

According to a statement by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, 10 butchers were arrested from illegal abattoirs by the enforcement team in Owutu Ikorodu while 14 butchers and marketers were arrested in the Badagry axis.

He said: “The operation in the Badagry axis affected illegal slaughter slabs at Seme J5 Zongo, Iya Afin and Ajara; and illegal animal markets at Iberekodo, Limka and Toll Gate.”

The Commissioner, while stressing the need for monitoring, enforcement and compliance in the red meat value chain business, added that the effort will help prevent spread of diseases, promote data collection for planning, promote good animal welfare and make Lagos a safe place for all inhabitants by discouraging environmental pollution and health hazards.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2jQYcvU

Mitsubishi teases new model ahead of Geneva show

http://ift.tt/2kvqgon

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi will show off a new compact crossover model at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Described as being sporty and coupe-like, the new utility vehicle will be sold alongside the small Outlander Sport (called ASX in Japan and other markets) and larger Outlander. This will be the first new product reveal since Nissan bought a controlling stake in Mitsubishi last October.

A shadowy teaser photo reveals the new crossover’s profile, which does look coupe-like with its raked C-pillar and rising beltline. From the side, the front end reminds us of the current three-row Outlander’s nose, wearing similar headlights.

As we heard previously, this crossover will debut not as a concept but as a production-ready vehicle. The model will slot between Mitsubishi’s two existing crossovers. You may be thinking there’s not much room between the compact Outlander Sport and the slightly larger three-row compact Outlander, but the former is expected to shrink while the latter will grow between 2019 and 2020.

Style will also help differentiate the new model from its crossover stablemates, with the previous eX and GT PHEV concepts serving as inspiration. The model will arrive in the U.S. early next year powered by a new turbocharged engine mated to Mitsu’s latest all-wheel-drive system.The all-new Mitsubishi crossover debuts in Geneva on March 7.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kvyNaP

‘BMW will stick to investment plans despite Trump’s warnings’

http://ift.tt/2jJbINa

<img src="http://ift.tt/2jJbINa&quot; alt="" width="1280" height="720" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-95368" srcset="http://ift.tt/2jJbINa 1280w,http://ift.tt/2kvqhbV 640w,http://ift.tt/2jJ32qi 1062w,http://ift.tt/2kvtRTi 320w,http://ift.tt/2jJ4rxf 531w,http://ift.tt/2kvoSlu 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px"http://cdn.gdn.ng/, CEO Harald Krueger said.

BMW said last month that it plans to finish construction of a new $1 billion plant for its 3 series in Mexico undeterred by threats from the president that he will introduce heavy tariffs on cars imported into the U.S. from its southern neighbour.

“We need free world trade,” Krueger told the CAR-Symposium automotive congress in Bochum on Wednesday.Krueger said BMW would also continue to invest in its Spartanburg plant in the U.S., its largest worldwide.BMW exports 70 per cent of annual production at the Spartanburg plant, making it the country’s biggest net exporter, he said.

The factory produces the X3, X4, X5 and X6 crossovers. The plant is currently being expanded to add the new X7 crossover and to increase annual capacity to 450,000 from 400,000.

Trump last month warned the U.S. would impose a border tax of 35 per cent on imported cars.Germany’s three leading carmakers, Volkswagen Group, Daimler AG and BMW, have invested heavily in Mexico where production costs are lower than in the U.S., with an eye to exporting smaller vehicles to the world’s No. 2 car market.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2jJ4Pf5

At £200,000 a week, Ighalo is Nigeria’s highest paid sportsman

http://ift.tt/2jJ8v0b

Watford's Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo (R) misses an open goal by Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Manchester United at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on September 18, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS /

Former Watford striker, Odion Ighalo, who left England because he was not getting playing time, has suddenly become Nigeria’s highest paid sportsman, reports allnigeriasoccer.com.

Ighalo will jet off to China tomorrow to join his new team in the Chinese Super League, Changchun Yatai.He has already appended his signature to a 4+1 year contract with Changchun Yatai after passing a clinical examination conducted in London on Monday.

Ighalo is guaranteed wages of more than £200,000 per week, which is more than 10 million pounds per season (equivalent of $12.5 million every year). On top of that, the Super Eagles star is the best paid Nigerian sportsman, earning approximately $1.5 million more than Golden State Warriors shooting guard Andre Iguodala, who will pocket $11,131,368 this season.

Shanghai Shenhua striker, Obafemi Martins will take home $9 million this season, around the same figure as new Tianjin Teda recruit, John Obi Mikel.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kvtfgy

Commandant’s murder: Court remands 6 suspects in prison

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

By Ola Ajayi

Ibadan—Six suspects,  who were arrested in connection with the killing of the Commandant of Command Day Secondary School, Owode, Apata area of Ibadan, Colonel Ekok Anthony Okey, last year have been remanded in prison custody.

The suspects were remanded in Agodi Prison custody after their arraignment before the Iyaganku Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ibadan, yesterday.

Those affected are  Solomon Agada Emmanuel (20), Taiwo Adeniyi (33), Bibisoye Kehinde a.k.a. Efrebor (26), Ewere Andrew (25), Udobata Orusa-Uzi, a.k.a. Kaka (28), and Ephraim Obi (38).

According to the charge sheet marked MDD/18c/2017, the accused were charged with a three-count charge of conspiracy, robbery and murder.

The Prosecutor, Inspector Fashola Musliu, said in the charge sheet that the accused persons “on December 11, 2016 at about 10.00 p.m at the Command Day Secondary School, Owode, Apata in the Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: robbery and murder, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.”

They were also accused of robbing the deceased and dispossessing him of his Samsung X4, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 401 and punishable under Section 402 (1) of the criminal code cap 38vol.11 laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000″.

The third count read that the accused persons “did unlawfully caused the death of one Colonel Ekok Anthony Okey (Male, 52) by throwing him from a storey building onto the floor which led to his death, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 31f and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol.11 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000”.

After reading the charges to the accused persons, the Magistrate, R.A.Ebeloku Mustapha, said “the court will be waiting for the advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution for further hearing on the case. However, the accused persons should be remanded in the Agodi Prison”.

The case was then adjourned the matter to March 28 for mention.

 

The post Commandant’s murder: Court remands 6 suspects in prison appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2kj1LYU

We spent bailout funds wisely, Ugwuanyi tells Senate

SMEs urged to strengthen products certification with barcodes

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

By Franklin Alli

MANUFACTURERS of locally made products, especially in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector of the economy have been urged to strengthen the seals of quality on their products with bar codes marking. This is to enable the products not only to be locally competitive but to be able to play in the global markets.

In Nigeria, government bodies that issues marks of quality on products are Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Agency for Food, Drugs Control and Administration (NAFDAC). While SON issues Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS) MANCAP and SONCAP to players in the sector, NAFDAC is known for its Number on products that have met its certification requirements.

Certification requirements

Mr. Babatunde Odunlami, CEO of GS1 Nigeria, a firm that issues bar codes on products in Nigeria, said this in an interview with Vanguard. He said beyond NIS and NAFDAC numbers, bar coding is needed to really put Nigerian products on the shelves of global chain stores the like of South Africa’s Shoprite, Wal-Mart, an American multinational retailing corporation that operates as a chain of department stores, and grocery stores and UK Tesco.

“There is need for Nigerian companies to add barcodes on their products. Take NAFDAC number for example, once you travel out of Nigeria, is it of any use? It is no longer useful.

It is only useful in this country, extremely useful in this country because it can save a lot of lives but once you cross this border to Benin Republic, it is of no use except if the Benin government comes up and says we trust the standard that NAFDAC is giving. Multinationals like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Nestle, etc., are selling their products in the global landscape because they understand the need to have barcodes on their products,” Odunlami said.

He disclosed that the technology and everything that is needed for barcodes is available here and the knowledge is also here. “There are over 110 countries that we can liaise with and to a large extent, whatever is done by GS1 Nigeria has a global outlook because the supply chains that we work with always have a global impacts. It is not something that only works for Nigeria: it is something that works globally ad has advantage for Nigeria. So, we can end up with a situation whereby some specific requirements for Nigeria that also makes it very relevant to our local needs,” he said.

According to him, bar coding makes smooth entry into the global market place possible, adding that chain stores rely on bar codes for analysis of sales, for performance, product recalls, etc.

“Any company that has a GS1 barcode on his or her product can actually export. Your product can sit on the shelf of Wal-Mart, Tesco, Shoprite, and all this big retail chains, because you can’t even sell to them without barcodes.

With bar codes, you can list on Amazon. So, barcodes are important. Why are they important? It is a way to say that I am the one behind this product and I give this product 100 percent certification and assurance that whatever happen to it, traces it back to me.

People who do good business don’t hide; it is only those who counterfeit and produce things illegally that hide. If you are doing something good and making profit from it, you should be able to stand behind your product. That is the way I see the barcode keys; it is a way for brand owners to stand behind their products and say this is mine, if anything happen, you can trace it back to me  through the supply chains,” he said.

The post SMEs urged to strengthen products certification with barcodes appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2kiNFH1

10 die in Fulani, farmers’ clash in Taraba

http://ift.tt/2kp9d6Q

PHOTO: livestockandenvironment.wordpress.com

Ten people were said to have been killed and several houses burnt in fresh violence that erupted yesterday between the Fulani and Mummuye ethnic groups in Lau Local Council of Taraba State.

But the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, David Misal, said only six people were killed.

He said: “Since the Friday attack between the Fulani herdsmen and Mummuye farmers in Lushi, there have been reprisal attacks.

“For now, six persons were confirmed killed on both sides while several others have been arrested.”

Misal, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), also confirmed that 80 houses had been torched.

Since last Friday, there have been pockets of violence and reprisal attacks in some communities in the area.

The latest killings and destruction of property, including farmlands and domestic animals, is coming barely a week after the state governor, Darius Ishaku, was quoted in the media as urging Christians across the country to rise up and defend themselves against terrorists before they are annihilated.

The governor was said to have made the call in Jalingo during a thanksgiving service organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to celebrate new year and to pray for victims of Southern Kaduna massacre and other victims of terrorism across the country.

Vía The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kSsGtv