Payet opens Marseille account in win…See full details

http://ift.tt/2k5Uui4

Olympique de Marseille's French forward Dimitri Payet celebrates after scoring the second goal during the French Ligue 1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Guingamp at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille on February 8, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / BORIS HORVAT

Dimitri Payet scored his first goal in his first Marseille start following his controversial return from West Ham in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory at home to Guingamp in Ligue 1.

Bafetimbi Gomis headed his 14th goal of the season to hand Marseille a first-half lead before Payet’s deflected 76th-minute free-kick secured the points at the Stade Velodrome.

“Payet was decisive, he proved he’s getting stronger,” said Marseille coach Rudi Garcia.

“He needs to find his rhythm and nothing is better for that than starting a match.”

Earlier, Wylan Cyprien’s scorching strike kept Nice within three points of leaders Monaco following their 1-0 victory over Saint-Etienne.

Cyprien rifled in the only goal after just seven minutes at the Allianz Riviera as Nice bounced back from Saturday’s heavy defeat at Cote d’Azur and title rivals Monaco.

Nice moved back level on points with second-placed Paris Saint-Germain after just a second win in six league matches.

“We produced a good first half. We scored a very good goal and had some good chances after that,” said Nice boss Lucien Favre. “It’s a pity we couldn’t get that second goal because it was a long match afterwards.”

Alexandre Lacazette scored his 19th goal of the season as Lyon produced an encouraging response in the wake of last weekend’s damaging Rhone derby defeat to thrash Nancy 4-0.

Mathieu Valbuena curled in a superb 39th-minute opener with his final touch before hobbling off injured at Parc OL, while Nabil Fekir grabbed a second before half-time.

Lacazette then struck from the penalty spot after substitute Memphis Depay was fouled in the area, with the ex-Manchester United winger netting his first goal for his new club to cap the rout.

“The result does us good because we needed to get a win after three straight losses. We still have a long way to go, though,” said Lyon coach Bruno Genesio, as the home fans held up a series of banners venting their unhappiness at recent performances.

“I completely understand the dissatisfaction of our supporters because we haven’t done everything since the start of the season to make them happy like they deserve,” he added.

On Tuesday, first-half goals from Kamil Glik and Kylian Mbappe ensured Monaco remained top of the table after a hard-fought 2-1 win at Montpellier.

Paris Saint-Germain needed an injury-time winner from Brazilian Lucas to secure a 2-1 victory over Lille after a goalkeeping blunder from Alphonse Areola allowed Nicolas de Preville to cancel out Edinson Cavani’s league-leading 23rd goal of the season.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2k6dd8u

FG accuses Cross River of misappropriating N19b bailout fund (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2lqJvfz

Chief Okoi Obono-Obla

The Federal Government has accused the Cross River State government of misappropriating N19billion, which was given to it as bailout fund to pay salaries and pension.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Prosecutions, Okoi Obono-Obla, told The Guardian on Tuesday that “the president had bailed the state out twice but the funds were not judiciously used?”

He explained that the Federal Government gave N7.8billion to the state in July 2016 and another N11.5billion in December to settle all outstanding indebtedness.

Obono-Obla asked: “Why has Governor Benedict Ayade not paid civil servants and pensioners. Why are the residents not asking questions if we must clamour for true federalism?”

Also, the National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ntufam Hilliard Eta, urged the governor to explain how the bailout fund and the Paris Club debt were spent, since they were loans.

He appealed to the governor to invest in infrastructure that would benefit the masses, adding that the state’s position during the public hearing organised by the Senate, showed lack of accountability.

The state Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), John Ushie, had, last week, threatened to go on strike to compel the governor to pay them their entitlements.

But, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Christian Ita denied that the fund was misappropriated.He said: “What Obono-Obla is doing is personal pursuit of a narrow interest. The delay at the local councils level had to do with technical hitches in the process of bio-verification.

“We are aware that while some people have not earned their salaries for up to six months, others had been paid up to March 2016. So it is not a question of lack of money but that of trying to address the technical challenges.

“Government had raised an inter-ministerial panel, mandating commissioners to go to local councils to supervise the exercise. As soon as it is completed, everybody would be paid,” he said.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2lmHeGn

Relief for Ranieri as Ndidi rocket downs Derby…See full details

http://ift.tt/2koNGbt

Leicester City's Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi (3R) returns with team-mates for the restart after scoring their seond goal in the first half of extra time during the English FA Cup fourth round replay football match between Leicester City and Derby County at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on February 8, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS

Wilfred Ndidi put a smile back on Claudio Ranieri’s face as the Leicester midfielder’s first goal for the troubled champions inspired a 3-1 win over Derby in Wednesday’s FA Cup fourth round replay.

Ranieri has found himself under fire after Leicester slumped to within one point of the Premier League relegation zone less than a year after their fairytale title triumph.

Amid claims Ranieri has lost the support of his squad, the Leicester boss was given a vote of confidence by the club’s Thai owners on Tuesday.

But Ranieri was in danger of an embarrassing Cup exit when second tier Derby forced extra-time at the King Power Stadium thanks to an Abdoul Camara equaliser after Andy King’s opener.

Ndidi was Ranieri’s saviour as the Nigeria international, who joined from Belgian club Genk in January, came off the bench to score with a superb long-range effort before Demarai Gray’s solo strike clinched Leicester’s first win in six matches.

Next up for Leicester in the Cup is a fifth round trip to third tier Millwall on February 18, but Ranieri knows ensuring top-flight survival is all that matters this season.

Having labelled Sunday’s trip to fellow strugglers Swansea as a “big battle” it was no surprise Ranieri made 10 changes from last weekend’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester United.

And with Derby boss Steve McClaren making eight changes for the promotion chasers, what could have been a blood and thunder cup tie was more akin to a reserve fixture for long periods.

Ranieri’s approval rating with Leicester’s supporters remains high and they sung his name loudly in the opening stages.

– Catalyst –
However, his makeshift line-up laboured to reward the fans’ good faith in a turgid first half.

On the brink of half-time, Jacob Butterfield almost put Derby ahead when his fierce low strike was turned away by Leicester goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.

Having struggled in the first half, Ranieri’s side finally pieced together an incisive attack to take the lead in the 46th minute.

Gray was the catalyst, cleverly working space for a cross to the far post, where Marc Albrighton nodded back across goal to King and the long-serving Leicester midfielder headed home from close-range.

But when Derby’s Camara smacked a free-kick straight at Zieler moments later, it foreshadowed more frustration for Leicester.

In the 61st minute, Albrighton gave away a free-kick 25 yards out and this time Camara struck gold as the Guinea winger’s shot took a wicked deflection off Ben Chilwell and flashed past the wrong-footed Zieler for his first ever Derby goal.

Late in normal time, Derby keeper Jonathan Mitchell somehow avoided a red card from referee Mike Jones despite stopping Ahmed Musa’s raid by racing out of the area and blocking with his hand.

Derby had a lucky escape when Max Lowe chested the ball against his own post, but Leicester finally conjured a moment of inspiration to win it four minutes into extra-time.

Riyad Mahrez fed fellow substitute Ndidi who advanced unchecked before unleashing a blistering strike that beat Mitchell and went in off a post.

Gray capped Leicester’s encouraging finale in the 114th minute when he went on a mazy run through the Derby defence and guided a cool finish into the roof of the net.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2lqxI0R

Relief for Ranieri as Ndidi rocket downs Derby

http://ift.tt/2koNGbt

Leicester City's Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi (3R) returns with team-mates for the restart after scoring their seond goal in the first half of extra time during the English FA Cup fourth round replay football match between Leicester City and Derby County at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on February 8, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS

Wilfred Ndidi put a smile back on Claudio Ranieri’s face as the Leicester midfielder’s first goal for the troubled champions inspired a 3-1 win over Derby in Wednesday’s FA Cup fourth round replay.

Ranieri has found himself under fire after Leicester slumped to within one point of the Premier League relegation zone less than a year after their fairytale title triumph.

Amid claims Ranieri has lost the support of his squad, the Leicester boss was given a vote of confidence by the club’s Thai owners on Tuesday.

But Ranieri was in danger of an embarrassing Cup exit when second tier Derby forced extra-time at the King Power Stadium thanks to an Abdoul Camara equaliser after Andy King’s opener.

Ndidi was Ranieri’s saviour as the Nigeria international, who joined from Belgian club Genk in January, came off the bench to score with a superb long-range effort before Demarai Gray’s solo strike clinched Leicester’s first win in six matches.

Next up for Leicester in the Cup is a fifth round trip to third tier Millwall on February 18, but Ranieri knows ensuring top-flight survival is all that matters this season.

Having labelled Sunday’s trip to fellow strugglers Swansea as a “big battle” it was no surprise Ranieri made 10 changes from last weekend’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester United.

And with Derby boss Steve McClaren making eight changes for the promotion chasers, what could have been a blood and thunder cup tie was more akin to a reserve fixture for long periods.

Ranieri’s approval rating with Leicester’s supporters remains high and they sung his name loudly in the opening stages.

– Catalyst –
However, his makeshift line-up laboured to reward the fans’ good faith in a turgid first half.

On the brink of half-time, Jacob Butterfield almost put Derby ahead when his fierce low strike was turned away by Leicester goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.

Having struggled in the first half, Ranieri’s side finally pieced together an incisive attack to take the lead in the 46th minute.

Gray was the catalyst, cleverly working space for a cross to the far post, where Marc Albrighton nodded back across goal to King and the long-serving Leicester midfielder headed home from close-range.

But when Derby’s Camara smacked a free-kick straight at Zieler moments later, it foreshadowed more frustration for Leicester.

In the 61st minute, Albrighton gave away a free-kick 25 yards out and this time Camara struck gold as the Guinea winger’s shot took a wicked deflection off Ben Chilwell and flashed past the wrong-footed Zieler for his first ever Derby goal.

Late in normal time, Derby keeper Jonathan Mitchell somehow avoided a red card from referee Mike Jones despite stopping Ahmed Musa’s raid by racing out of the area and blocking with his hand.

Derby had a lucky escape when Max Lowe chested the ball against his own post, but Leicester finally conjured a moment of inspiration to win it four minutes into extra-time.

Riyad Mahrez fed fellow substitute Ndidi who advanced unchecked before unleashing a blistering strike that beat Mitchell and went in off a post.

Gray capped Leicester’s encouraging finale in the 114th minute when he went on a mazy run through the Derby defence and guided a cool finish into the roof of the net.

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

FG accuses Cross River of misappropriating N19b bailout fund

http://ift.tt/2lqJvfz

Chief Okoi Obono-Obla

The Federal Government has accused the Cross River State government of misappropriating N19billion, which was given to it as bailout fund to pay salaries and pension.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Prosecutions, Okoi Obono-Obla, told The Guardian on Tuesday that “the president had bailed the state out twice but the funds were not judiciously used?”

He explained that the Federal Government gave N7.8billion to the state in July 2016 and another N11.5billion in December to settle all outstanding indebtedness.

Obono-Obla asked: “Why has Governor Benedict Ayade not paid civil servants and pensioners. Why are the residents not asking questions if we must clamour for true federalism?”

Also, the National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ntufam Hilliard Eta, urged the governor to explain how the bailout fund and the Paris Club debt were spent, since they were loans.

He appealed to the governor to invest in infrastructure that would benefit the masses, adding that the state’s position during the public hearing organised by the Senate, showed lack of accountability.

The state Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), John Ushie, had, last week, threatened to go on strike to compel the governor to pay them their entitlements.

But, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Christian Ita denied that the fund was misappropriated.He said: “What Obono-Obla is doing is personal pursuit of a narrow interest. The delay at the local councils level had to do with technical hitches in the process of bio-verification.

“We are aware that while some people have not earned their salaries for up to six months, others had been paid up to March 2016. So it is not a question of lack of money but that of trying to address the technical challenges.

“Government had raised an inter-ministerial panel, mandating commissioners to go to local councils to supervise the exercise. As soon as it is completed, everybody would be paid,” he said.

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

Germany to deport 12,000 Nigerian asylum seekers (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2ksC36T

Nigerians deported

Except something providential happens, over 12,000 Nigerians seeking asylum in Germany risk being deported next year.Germany’s Global Head of Programmes, Migration and Development, Dr. Ralf Sanftenberg, dropped the hint yesterday during a courtesy call on the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja.

Sanftenberg, who led a delegation from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, was on a site assessment mission for assisted-voluntary returnees of Nigeria’s irregular migrants in his country.

The mission is saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM), which offers returnees support service and knowledge transfer.

“We have over 37,000 Nigerians in Germany and more than 12,000 of them are asylum seekers. There is a little chance for their applications to be moved and they may be forced to come back to Nigeria next year,” he stated.

According to the envoy, about 99 per cent of them are likely to be denied asylum status since Nigeria is not considered one of the war-ravaged countries.

Sanftenberg, however, noted that if they were willing to return home voluntarily, they would be assisted through a support programme organised by the German government.

A member of the delegation, who is a consultant to the programme, Stephanie Alofokhia-Ghogomu, urged the Nigerian asylum seekers to return home. Alofokhia-Ghogomu, who was also a voluntary returnee, said she had spent half of her life in Germany, adding that she had to return home to contribute to the development of Nigeria.

Dabiri-Erewa commended the German Chancellor, Angel Merkel for her professional handling of illegal migration in the country.“So, we will look forward to seeing what you want to do in terms of setting up German migrant services in Nigeria,” she added.

The presidential aide urged the affected Nigerians to return home and take advantage of the assistance being provided by the German government.“For Nigerians in Germany, who may wish to return, there is a better place for them at home to help them live a better live. Germany has the Ministry of Internal Affairs and budget for the returnees. And there are services that would be provided through the German government which they can enjoy,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2k5SbqK

Germany to deport 12,000 Nigerian asylum seekers

http://ift.tt/2ksC36T

Nigerians deported

Except something providential happens, over 12,000 Nigerians seeking asylum in Germany risk being deported next year.Germany’s Global Head of Programmes, Migration and Development, Dr. Ralf Sanftenberg, dropped the hint yesterday during a courtesy call on the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja.

Sanftenberg, who led a delegation from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, was on a site assessment mission for assisted-voluntary returnees of Nigeria’s irregular migrants in his country.

The mission is saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM), which offers returnees support service and knowledge transfer.

“We have over 37,000 Nigerians in Germany and more than 12,000 of them are asylum seekers. There is a little chance for their applications to be moved and they may be forced to come back to Nigeria next year,” he stated.

According to the envoy, about 99 per cent of them are likely to be denied asylum status since Nigeria is not considered one of the war-ravaged countries.

Sanftenberg, however, noted that if they were willing to return home voluntarily, they would be assisted through a support programme organised by the German government.

A member of the delegation, who is a consultant to the programme, Stephanie Alofokhia-Ghogomu, urged the Nigerian asylum seekers to return home. Alofokhia-Ghogomu, who was also a voluntary returnee, said she had spent half of her life in Germany, adding that she had to return home to contribute to the development of Nigeria.

Dabiri-Erewa commended the German Chancellor, Angel Merkel for her professional handling of illegal migration in the country.“So, we will look forward to seeing what you want to do in terms of setting up German migrant services in Nigeria,” she added.

The presidential aide urged the affected Nigerians to return home and take advantage of the assistance being provided by the German government.“For Nigerians in Germany, who may wish to return, there is a better place for them at home to help them live a better live. Germany has the Ministry of Internal Affairs and budget for the returnees. And there are services that would be provided through the German government which they can enjoy,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kVllN6

‘Our workshops littered with abandoned cars due to recession’

http://ift.tt/2ku4wbw

A mechanic workshop

An automobile mechanic in Ilorin, Kwara State, Mr. Martins Michael, has lamented the rate at which car owners abandon their faulty cars at mechanic workshops, blaming the action on the current economic situation in the country.

He added that several cars were also being displayed for sale by the roadside nowadays because their owners could no longer afford the high costs of maintaining them.

The auto technician said the urge to sell or abandon those cars at mechanic workshops was because of the high costs of their spare parts and accessories, which many vehicle owners could no longer afford.

“The economic situation is really affecting our business, although, every car has different spare part, the prices of the parts vary and have become very expensive. A four-litre gallon of the cheapest brand of engine oil used to service a car now goes for N2,600 as compared to N1,500.

“The price of a Toyota Camry shock-absorber has risen from N4,000 to N7,000 for each of the four tyres. A new Toyota Camry engine costs N280,000 and N90,000 for “Tokunbo” and they used to be N180,000 and N55,000 respectively before.

“A 75 amps car-battery has increased from N13,000 to N26,000 while a 62 amps had gone from N10,000 to N18,000. I have mentioned the prices of these few items so that you will know the situation of things, and this is why people now abandon their cars with us because they cannot afford the cost of repairs,” Michael said.

He added that car owners have stopped doing the general repairs and maintenance of their vehicles, rather they only repair the very essential parts. “People no longer do maintenance or general repair again, they just ask us to fix the main problem so that the car can keep moving, and this is dangerous for safety on the roads.

“Every corner you go to now, you find cars displayed for sale, and people no longer have money to maintain two to three cars because maintaining only one is a problem. This situation is also affecting us because auto-mechanics only have little work to do; car owners prefer to buy spare parts to replace bad ones and promise to pay us for our workmanship later.

“And some of them do not believe when we say these parts have become expensive, so we ask them to buy. They will not come back to pick them; they will only abandon their cars at our workshops. Some of the cars have been here for months, we call the owners and they promise to come, but they have not come.

“I want the government to find a lasting solution to this problem of recession so that things can return to normal. If car owners continue to do piecemeal repairs on their faulty cars, this will be dangerous for the safety of lives and property, especially on the roads, ” he said.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2ku7sVN

Oncologist implores FG to set up more cancer testing, treatment centres

http://ift.tt/2kJVdCN

A Chief Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Festus Igbinoba, has called on the Federal Government to urgently set up more cancer centres across the country to help the growing number of Nigerians who are currently suffering from the disease.

He advised Nigerians to live a healthy lifestyle and stay away from cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol intake-habits that constitute health hazards. Speaking at the sensitization programme to mark the 2017 World Cancer Day yesterday in Abuja, Igbinoba who noted that cancer is not a death sentence, observed that over 40 per cent cases of cancer are preventable if people do the right thing.

He said: “We can conquer cancer and ensure that the scourge is reduced nationwide. Individuals should know the signs and symptoms of cancer and above all go for screening in order to detect the disease early. If the disease is caught early, it can be cured. If you can stay away from cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol intake, you can prevent cancer. There are lifestyles to pre-disposes people to cancer but you can keep cancer away by living a healthy lifestyle.”

Igbinoba who doubles as President of the National Association of Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologists (NACRCO), observed that Cervical cancer is now regarded as a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) because Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) has been identified as its causative agent.

He, therefore, stressed the need for government to procure more radiotherapy machines, insisting that whoever takes it upon himself to buy a radiotherapy machines for any centre should also negotiate the maintenance contract along with it, otherwise when they break down, it is usually difficult to repair them on time.

Also speaking, Head, Department of Oncology at the National Hospital, Dr. Adisa Oyesegun noted that cancer alone kills more than HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria put together, adding that cancer could result from genetics, obesity, dietary fat intake and hormonal factors, stressing that tobacco accounts for one million of cancer related deaths annually.

He said, “We now see cancer in young age group, there are things we are doing wrong. Prostate cancer is supposed to be the disease of the elderly but here in Africa, we see prostate cancer in people of 40-years old bracket and this is because we eat junk and processed food. Breast cancer is not easy to manage. Causes of cancer include excessive or regular smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity, but it could be treated if diagnosed early.”

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

‘I killed my 81-year-old mother because she was a witch…’

http://ift.tt/2ku62dL

The suspect, Ayoola

A fifty-one-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly killing his 81-year-old mother at the United Estate, Sangotedo area of Ajah, Lagos State.The suspect, Oluwaseye Ayoola, was alleged to have terminated the life of his octogenarian mother using an axe. A police source at Sangotedo Police Station said the suspect confessed that he killed his mother for being a witch.

According to the source, Ayoola claimed that he went to the mountain to pray for 21 days where it was revealed to him in the spiritual realm that his mother was the cause of his failure in life.

The source alleged that the suspect also confessed that in order to have a genuine reason to kill his mother, he decided to beg her for N500,000 out of the N11 million will, which his late sister left behind. For daring to refuse him the money, he used an axe to put an end to his mother’s life.

“He claimed that it was revealed to him in spiritual realm that his mother was the cause of his problem and that he was told that to confirm the revelation, he should beg the mother for some money and if she refused it will be a confirmation the mother was the cause of his problem. When he got home and did according to the revelation, the mother refused to give him the money, which made him to kill her,” he added.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed the incident, said on Tuesday around 11:15p.m., one Akintunde Ayoola, came to the station to report that around 6p.m., he got information that his brother, Oluseye, manhandled his mother over failure to release an undisclosed sum of money to him.

According to the PPRO, “the complainant said when he arrived the scene, he found his mother, Dorcas Ayoola, dead, in the pool of her blood, while, the brother fled the scene to an unknown destination.”

Badmos said on receiving the information, detectives from Ogombo Division launched a manhunt for the suspect, who was consequently arrested.She said, during interrogation, the suspect confessed that he went to request for some money from his mother who refused to give it to him. “He claimed that the refusal to give him money made him angry and he pounced on the old woman who fell and hit her head on the floor and died before help could come.”

The body of the deceased has been deposited at the general hospital morgue for postmortem, adding that the case would soon be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti Yaba, for further investigation.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kKfN65

FG determined to put economy on sound footing, says Osinbajo (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2k2Ox5g

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo

• Govt to implement 71-point NEC resolutions against recession
• Acting president urges religious tolerance,hosts Lamido Sanusi in Aso Rock

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said the Federal Government was determined to put the economy on a sound footing through the diligent implementation of the national economic recovery and growth plan (NERGP).

He disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the end of a two-day retreat with captains of industry and heads of various chambers of commerce and industry in the country.

While acknowledging that there is suffering in the land occasioned by the current economic downturn, the acting president pointed out that the years of deterioration and corruption cannot be remedied overnight.

Osinbajo said that notwithstanding, it is the responsibility and duty of government to ensure that the economy is put back on a sound footing and the slide in economic fortunes arrested for the benefit of the people.

In the short term, Osinbajo said government had intervened in several ways to mitigate the sufferings of the people, including giving bailouts to state governments to enable them pay salaries of workers.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, also said major emphasis would be on implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the NERGP as government planned to set up a specially staffed delivery unit to drive implementation.

Udo Udoma said the plan being discussed is a medium-term, which is expected to drive Nigeria to a minimum GDP growth rate of 7 per cent within the plan period.

At another two-day workshop for commissioners of economic planning and budget on the implementation of the National Economic Council Retreat Resolutions in Abuja, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed stated that government would implement fully all the 71-point resolutions reached to reverse the country’s negative growth trend.

Zainab Ahmed said that government planned to use Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) mechanism to achieve effective implementation of the resolutions, stating that M& E was a critical component of the NERPG.

The acting president in Benin City, Edo State at the conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Tuesday night, faulted the claims that the Federal Government had not acted fast enough to curtail the killings in southern Kaduna.

He noted that the religious violence being witnessed in parts of the country was not peculiar to the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.
The message, however, stirred little noise at the well-attended crusade, which had on its roll call the likes of Pastor William Kumuyi, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastors Enoch Adeboye and Ayo Oritsejafor as well as the fellowship’s national president, Rev Felix Omobude, among others

He recalled that religious intolerance dated back to 1979 with the Matatsine clash, which left many dead, stressing that for Christians to live eternally, they must die for the gospel.

Meanwhile, Osinbajo met with the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.The Emir did not speak to newsmen who approached him after the meeting.

He said: “you can just report that I came to the Villa.”Although no official reason was given, the monarch may have visited to offer advice on how best the economy could be run to get the country out of the recession.The former CBN governor had criticised the Federal Government over its plan to secure $30 billion ‎foreign loan.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kua71r

British Airways, Lufthansa shun Kaduna over Abuja airport runway repair (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2kQswqa

British Airways. PHOTO: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images<br />

British Airways and Lufthansa Airlines have joined the list of foreign airlines rejecting the option of flying into Kaduna Airport during the six weeks of runway repair of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

But unlike others that will suspend operations for the six weeks period, the British carrier has opted for Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos as the alternative to the Abuja airport.

The Lagos option, which brings British Airways’ daily frequency to two, would benefit domestic carriers as more foreign passengers are pushed to them to transport nationwide.

It will be recalled that South African Airways on Monday disclosed its plans to suspend its Abuja operations while the runway closure lasted. The carrier said the business decision was imperative following its decision not to fly to Kaduna Airport.

German carrier, Lufthansa also told reporters of its decision not to fly into Kaduna.British Airways’ Country Manager, Kola Olayinka, said the Lagos alternative was the best option for its customers during the closure of the runway.

Olayinka said several factors were considered before the decision was reached, which include the safety and security of its passengers, as well as key operational issues.

“We are currently evaluating all options for our customers planning to travel at that time and we will be reaching out directly to them for information about their trip,” he said.

Olayinka explained that the lack of in-flight catering services as well as the inadequate technology at the Kaduna airport, including simple tech like the Common User Terminal Equipment among others, made the Kaduna airport a difficult option.

The Country Manager, however, lauded the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika for the stakeholders’ meetings he convened to intimate airlines and other stakeholders on the deterioration of the Abuja airport terminal, adding that the facility poses danger to aircraft and passengers.

He said his explanation helped to douse tension and allowed people to see the desirability of shutting the runway for total rehabilitation. He noted that that is the best way to go, to fix the problem.

Olayinka said British Airways had assured the Federal Government that it would return to Abuja immediately after the completion of work on the project.
Aviation Security consultant, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), predicted that most foreign airlines would not divert to Kaduna for security reasons, but informed, “boom time could await domestic operators.”

Ojikutu said most airlines would prefer to operate all their flights to Lagos, as it was when Port Harcourt was closed for runway repairs in 2007/2008.
“The diversions of these flights to Lagos would be a boom in business to the benefit of the domestic airlines, who should work in alliance with these foreign airlines to help distribute and collect their inbound and outbound international passengers for them between Lagos and other airports,” Ojikutu said.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kua6e7

FG determined to put economy on sound footing, says Osinbajo

http://ift.tt/2k2Ox5g

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo

• Govt to implement 71-point NEC resolutions against recession
• Acting president urges religious tolerance,hosts Lamido Sanusi in Aso Rock

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said the Federal Government was determined to put the economy on a sound footing through the diligent implementation of the national economic recovery and growth plan (NERGP).

He disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the end of a two-day retreat with captains of industry and heads of various chambers of commerce and industry in the country.

While acknowledging that there is suffering in the land occasioned by the current economic downturn, the acting president pointed out that the years of deterioration and corruption cannot be remedied overnight.

Osinbajo said that notwithstanding, it is the responsibility and duty of government to ensure that the economy is put back on a sound footing and the slide in economic fortunes arrested for the benefit of the people.

In the short term, Osinbajo said government had intervened in several ways to mitigate the sufferings of the people, including giving bailouts to state governments to enable them pay salaries of workers.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, also said major emphasis would be on implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the NERGP as government planned to set up a specially staffed delivery unit to drive implementation.

Udo Udoma said the plan being discussed is a medium-term, which is expected to drive Nigeria to a minimum GDP growth rate of 7 per cent within the plan period.

At another two-day workshop for commissioners of economic planning and budget on the implementation of the National Economic Council Retreat Resolutions in Abuja, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed stated that government would implement fully all the 71-point resolutions reached to reverse the country’s negative growth trend.

Zainab Ahmed said that government planned to use Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) mechanism to achieve effective implementation of the resolutions, stating that M& E was a critical component of the NERPG.

The acting president in Benin City, Edo State at the conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Tuesday night, faulted the claims that the Federal Government had not acted fast enough to curtail the killings in southern Kaduna.

He noted that the religious violence being witnessed in parts of the country was not peculiar to the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.
The message, however, stirred little noise at the well-attended crusade, which had on its roll call the likes of Pastor William Kumuyi, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastors Enoch Adeboye and Ayo Oritsejafor as well as the fellowship’s national president, Rev Felix Omobude, among others

He recalled that religious intolerance dated back to 1979 with the Matatsine clash, which left many dead, stressing that for Christians to live eternally, they must die for the gospel.

Meanwhile, Osinbajo met with the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.The Emir did not speak to newsmen who approached him after the meeting.

He said: “you can just report that I came to the Villa.”Although no official reason was given, the monarch may have visited to offer advice on how best the economy could be run to get the country out of the recession.The former CBN governor had criticised the Federal Government over its plan to secure $30 billion ‎foreign loan.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2ku2mbU