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Tag: National

  • 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier: Lesotho national football team lands in Uyo for Super Eagles clash – Sporting Tribune

    2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier: Lesotho national football team lands in Uyo for Super Eagles clash – Sporting Tribune

    The Crocodiles of Lesotho, comprising 23 players and 9 officials, have touched down in Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom State for  their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the formidable Super Eagles of Nigeria.

    Under the guidance of Coach Leslie Notsi, the Lesotho team received a warm welcome from members of the Akwa Ibom State Football Normalization Committee upon their arrival at the Victor Attah International Airport.

    The entourage was then swiftly escorted to their designated team camp, the tranquil Ibom Hotel and Resorts, where they will make preparations for the crucial match.

    As the buzz surrounding this international showdown intensifies, the Crocodiles are set to kickstart their preparations with the first training session scheduled later today.

    The practice pitch of the renowned Godswill Akpabio International Stadium will play host to the Lesotho team as they fine-tune their strategies for the much-anticipated clash against the Super Eagles.

    Football enthusiasts and supporters in Uyo are eager to witness the skillful play and competitive spirit that will unfold as Lesotho and Nigeria go head-to-head in this pivotal FIFA World Cup qualifier.

    The atmosphere in Uyo is charged with anticipation as both teams gear up for what promises to be a thrilling encounter on the football field.


    November 14, 2023
  • Team Edo wins National U-18 Swimming Championship

    Team Edo wins National U-18 Swimming Championship

    The Edo State Aquatic Association team of swimmers has emerged as overall winners of the National U-18 Swimming Championship in Asaba, Delta State.

    The victorious Edo swimmers came 1st after a bumper harvest of 11 Gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze Medals at the three-day Asaba National Under 18 competition which ended on Friday evening.

    The host state, Delta came second with 6 Gold, while Jimi Osinnowo club from Lagos state won the third position with 4 Gold medals in the three-day National Junior Swimming Competition which had over fifty athletes from ten states and four clubs as participants.

    Agnes John, 50m,100m, and 200m backstroke. Peremoboere kima kiagha, 50m and 200m breaststroke, and 200m were among the six-man team Edo swimmers whose exceptional performances have brought honour to Edo state.

    Team Edo girls, on the first day of the championship won six gold medals from the 200m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 50 and 100ms breaststroke, 200m freestyle, and 200m before the men completed the route on the final day.

    The competition was held to select the best athletes that will represent Nigeria at the sub-continental competition of West Africa and Central Africa Zone, coming up in August in Accra, Ghana.

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    Chairman, Technical Committee of the Nigeria Aquatic Federation, Mr Nse-Obong Samuel who said he was impressed with the performances of the athletes in the swimming events, expressed optimism that they will do well in the forthcoming sub-continental competition.

    Reacting to the performance of team Edo at the Asaba swimming competition, the chairman, Edo State Aquatic Association Board, Mr. Clement Sunday Minabowan, said he feels honored and fulfilled by his athletes’ performance.

    He said: “This is the beginning of better days for the Edo Aquatic Association. We will continue to encourage and sponsor them to participate in both local, national, and international competitions to keep them in shape and mentally ready for any big games ahead”

    Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Sports Commission Mrs. Sabina Chikere, heaped praises on the team Edo swimmers for coming top at the championship.

    “You people have done well. We are impressed by the performances of the swimmers, going to compete with the best in the country and coming out tops, is a cheering news for us.

    “We want more of such honours. Congratulations to the team of champions”, She said.

    June 17, 2023
  • Tinubu urged to Implement National population policy, fund family planning

    Tinubu urged to Implement National population policy, fund family planning

    Lara Adejoro

    The National President of the Population Association of Nigeria, Professor Rhoda Mundi, on Thursday, said for Nigeria to reverse the trend of insecurity, unemployment, and dwindling economic fortunes, the nation must implement the national population policy and invest in family planning.

    He said this at the 41st inaugural lecture of the University of Abuja, supported by the Development Research and Project Centre under the partnership for advocacy in child and family health at scale.

    The lecture was themed, ‘The paradox of population growth in national development’.

    Prof. Mundi said the nation’s population trajectory, which will take the nation to over 400 million by 2050, is a disaster waiting to happen.

    She, therefore, urged President Bola Tinubu to provide adequate funding for family planning, implement the national policy on population, and collaborate with subnational governments to ensure a productive population that will drive Nigeria’s growth.

    The professor said though population growth is not a negative challenge, more people are pursuing less economic opportunities and the likelihood of banditry, criminality, and backwardness will spell doom for the country if left unchecked.

    “I am calling on President Tinubu to implement the national population policy and invest in family planning. To solve the population paradox, it is imperative for Nigeria to accurately determine its population and implement measures to intentionally create a productive and manageable population. This will enable effective national planning and the realisation of the country’s development objectives,” she added.

    Prof. Mundi also emphasised the need for collaborative efforts at the national and subnational levels to address the challenges posed by the country’s increasing population.

    “This is particularly important given the country’s current situation as a young democracy still in the process of development,” she added.

    In advocating for the importance of family planning funding towards achieving demographic dividends and sustainable development, the Director of Projects at the Development Research and Projects Centre, Dr. Stanley Ukpai, highlighted the opportunity presented to the new administration in the fiscal year to build upon the policy processes established through the FP 2030 recommitment and the Family Planning Blueprint.

    “This would ensure adequate and sustainable financing for family planning at all levels and consolidate the previous government’s efforts toward this crucial goal. Achieving FP 2030 policy recommitments is also a cardinal strategy for implementing the National Population Policy which has strong correlations with poverty reduction and sustainable economic development.

    “Given the recent effort for economic recovery, Nigeria can do well to prioritise investment in family planning as a strategic course of action,” he said.

     

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  • Buhari confers national honour on Anyaoku, S’Court justices, 334 others

    Buhari confers national honour on Anyaoku, S’Court justices, 334 others

    The outgoing President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Sunday, conferred national honour on a former  Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku, and 338 others.

    Anyaoku was conferred with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.

    Also, former governors of Osun and Ogun states, Bisi Akande and Olusegun Osoba, respectively; Mamman Daura and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, among others received Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic.

    Other awardees include Justice Chima Nweze; Justice Amina Augie; Justice Uwani Aji; Maj. Gen. Samuel Adebayo.

    This was disclosed in a document signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Ibiene Roberts.

    The Commander of the Order of Niger award was conferred on 75 persons, including ministers who served under Buhari.

    Recipients of CON award also included wife of the President-elect, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; outgoing Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje; ex-Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola; Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa; and Babafemi Ojudu,  among others.

    The award of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic was conferred on 78 Nigerians, including the late Nda Isaiah (posthumous)l  Amaju Pinnick;  AVM Abubakar Abdullah; Wale Edun and  Maj. Gen. C. G. Musa.

    David Adeleke (Davido); Kunle Afolayan; Garba Shehu; Laolu Akande; Prof Akin Abayomi; Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Dele Alake; Bayo Onanuga, among others, were awarded the Officer of the Order Niger. A total of 85 Nigerians were honoured in this category.

    Victor Osimhen;  Dr. Wole Aboderin; Bayo Omoboriowo; Adebisi Adebutu; Tolani  Alli and Ayodeji Makun (AY); Dr. Aliyu Ibrahim and 45 others got  Member of the Order of the Federal Republic honour.

    Tolu Ogunlesi;  Apostle David Babalola and 20 others received  Member of the Order of the Niger while the trio of Jumoke Awodigede; Alade  Pamela and Mohammed Abiodun were honoured with Federal Republic Medal I.

  • Premier Lotto to maintain rehabilitated components of National Stadium for two years

    Premier Lotto to maintain rehabilitated components of National Stadium for two years

    Foremost Gaming Company Premier Lotto is to maintain the three components it rehabilitated at the mainbowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, for two years.

    This was revealed on Friday at the National Stadium during the handover of those rehabilitated facilities to the ministry of Sports.

    Ken Nwankwo who represented the Chairman of Premier Lotto, Chief Kesington Adebutu, at the brief ceremony said it was with pleasure that that Premier Lotto handed back the facilities – a modern tartan track, new electronic scoreboard and a lush green natural grass football pitch.

    Nwankwo stated that the outfit would ensure the three components the company worked on under the ministry’s adopt-a- pitch initiative would remain in good state in the next two year and the company would discuss further with the ministry on other things to be done in future.

    Nwankwo said, “It was an easy decision for us to support the ministry because we are also working with the Nigeria Football Federation on a four year deal. We are happy to have done these at the stadium here in Surulere and we will do more in future.

    “Our boss, Chief Adebutu, supervised the procurement because he wanted the very best quality in all things.”

    In his own remarks, the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, thanked Premier Lotto and expressed delight over the three facilities delivered.

    Dare said: “If the previous administration have been working on three or four different areas in the past, the stadium would have been fully back by now.

    “We will play a novelty match here soon and an athletics event with few fans will also come up here. Government is a continuous process, we are happy to have started the revival of this great edifice and we expect the next administration to continue from there.”

    Four former Nigerian athletics greats were on the track for a 50m race to ‘launch’ the newly laid tartan. They were Mary Onyali, Deji Aliu, Otonye Iworima and Femi Daramola.

    Onyali said she was impressed with the new tracks which according to her is better than the old one.

    May 26, 2023
  • Delta, Sports Ministry sign 4-year MOU for National Youth Games

    Delta, Sports Ministry sign 4-year MOU for National Youth Games

    The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Delta State Government has signed a four-year Memorandum of Understanding as host of the National Youth Games.

    The signing ceremony was held Tuesday at the auditorium of the Governor’s office in the presence of Chairman Delta State Sports Commission; Tony Okowa, the SSG Patrick Ukah, the deputy governor among others.

    Speaking during the short ceremony, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has assured of its total commitment to the successful hosting of the National Youth Games for the next four years.

    Senator Okowa stated this during the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Delta State Government on Tuesday in Asaba.

    Okowa said Delta will host the National Youth Games for the next four years urging other States to wake up in sports youth development.

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    He praised the Sports Minister, Chief Sunday Dare for striving hard for the development of sports in the country.

    He said, “Delta has a strong relationship with the Sports Ministry. The Minister, Sunday Dare did not sit in Abuja but was always out there working for sports development.

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    “We are happy to host the national youth games for the next four years. We will host youth games the nation can be proud of.

    “I challenge other States to prepare their athletes and give Delta real competition. It’s through the competition you break records.

    “Delta will strive to retain its number one position always and other states can scramble for who comes second.”

    Earlier in his speech, Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Chief Sunday Dare said the National Youth Games is open only to athletes under 17 years, emphasizing the importance of the Games in Nigeria’s sports development.

    He applauded Delta State’s commitment to sports saying, “Check the data for the last 40 years, Delta State has contributed a lot to sports development in Nigeria.

    “As a minister, Delta has been instrumental to the success I enjoyed in the last Four years of my administration.

    ”Signing the MoU, you can rest assured that we are going to experience a new dimension to the National Youth Games for the next four years.”

    He added that “National Youth Games is the future of sports growth for the country where many young talents will be discovered as experienced with previous National Youth Games and I strongly believe that the next four years of Delta hosting, more talents would be discovered and nurtured to stardom”, Dare said.

    May 16, 2023
  • Give legal backing to Police Colleges, IGP urges National Assembly

    Give legal backing to Police Colleges, IGP urges National Assembly

    The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, on Wednesday, urged the National Assembly to expedite the process of legalising police colleges and other institutions across Nigeria.

    Baba made the appeal when he appeared before the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Police Affairs which organised a public hearing on ‘A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigeria Police Force College Training School and Institutions.’

    The IGP decried the present situation in which police institutions across the country had been operating over the years without legal backing. He said 35 police institutions were captured in the bill in three categories.

    The police boss said the first category had six institutions, the second had 14 training institutions, while the third had 15 tactical and technical institutions of the Nigeria Police.

    He said, “While calling on the support of the distinguished members of this hallowed chambers for the expeditious passage of this Bill, it is our belief that this Bill will engender a new era of modernised training and retraining of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies that would also greatly impact on their service delivery as we strive towards the attainment of our given mandate.

    “It would also assist other law enforcement agencies to be trained in these schools. It is our hope that our training institutions would be legally recognised and given a framework and also funded from the budget as we do not have any of our schools budgeted for and that is why we have gaps in our training processes. The issue of training and retraining cannot be overemphasised.”

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Sen Haliru Jika, stressed the need to strengthen and empower the Nigeria Police Force.

    Chairman House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon Usman Bello Kumo, said it was a very important Bill.

    Kumo said, “This function is a public hearing to fulfil the righteousness and observe all procedures in enacting a law. It is a public hearing for the Nigeria Police Force college training schools and institutions establishment bill 2023. The Bill is aimed at providing legislation for all colleges and police institutions. You are all aware that from time immemorial our pioneer schools and colleges have been graduating students but without legislation.

    “I appreciate the government of the day that signed the Police Act in 2020. And going forward, we are truly on the path of enhancing the police, giving them the enabling environment and the legislation that they would work in tandem with their colleagues in other parts of the world. We need to get the buy-in of all stakeholders. We will continue to give the police the best cooperation to ensure that is the largest civil security outfit in the land and in a democratic dispensation. We are not going to joke with the police.”

    The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was represented by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Iduma  Enwo, also said the Bill was very important.

    He said, “The business of today is to develop a legal framework for the institutions of the Nigeria Police Force. We cannot overstate the importance of developing a legal framework for police institutions. It is very important to develop the legal framework.”

    The Speaker said it would be part of the reforms and restructuring of the Nigeria Police for better service delivery.

  • Blackout spreads as FG disconnects discos from national grid

    Blackout spreads as FG disconnects discos from national grid

    Millions of electricity consumers may be plunged into darkness in the coming weeks as the Federal Government via the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Market Operator have begun a massive disconnection of debtor electricity distribution companies from the national grid.

    PUNCH findings showed the development followed notices of disconnection from the grid served on some of the Discos by the Market Operator.

    The MO, a division of the Transmission Company of Nigeria had informed some Discos, including generating companies of the disconnection plan, due to failure to make remittances of ancillary services bills.

    Since the noticed by MO, The PUNCH observed that electricity supply had degenerated further across the country, with many areas complaining of either low or no supply.

    The Executive Director, MO, Eddy Eje, in a recent statement advised erring Discos to make necessary payments. This followed an intervention by the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu.

    Based on the 60 days extension of the grace period, the market defaulters were expected to comply with the provisions of the Market Rules with respect to payment of their outstanding invoices, posting of adequate bank guarantees, and forwarding of their active Power Purchase Agreements as the case may be, to the MO/TCN.

    Findings by The PUNCH revealed that the Discos and Gencos listed among defaulters by the Market Operators included; Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Jos Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electric, Kano Electricity Distribution Company, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, APL Electric Company Aba, Ajaokuta Steel Company- a special electricity customer. The defaulting Gencos are Niger Delta Power Holding Company plants and Paras Energy.

    Although the spokesperson for the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan declined comments on the development, a notice sent to customers by Ibadan Discos, confirmed The PUNCH findings..

    IBEDC Managing Director/CEO, Kingsley Achife in a statement obtained by The PUNCH stated that there would be a mass disconnection from the national grid.

    According to him, the decision was a result of poor remittances by customers.

    Achife said that the action may result in power outages to customers within the IBEDC franchise areas, especially locations with the highest population of defaulters.

    The PUNCH gathered that the areas to be affected by the mass disconnection are Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, and parts of Niger, Ekiti and Kogi states.

    Achife, “As a revenue collection arm of the electricity value chain, IBEDC sells and distributes electricity generated by the generation companies. However, the company is unable to meet its financial obligations to the electricity value chain due to poor payment and huge outstanding bills by customers.

    “We appeal to our esteemed customers to pay their current and outstanding bills to enable IBEDC to meet its obligations to the Market Operator and other parties in the electricity supply industry to ensure continuous and uninterrupted power supply.

    “IBEDC prioritizes the provision of reliable and excellent service to our esteemed customers but requires timely payment for the energy consumed.

    “Payment for electricity is essential to ensure the sustainability of our operations, and it is a responsibility that we all share.

    “We urge our customers to note that failure to pay current and outstanding electricity bills may result in disruption of power to homes, communities, and businesses connected to our network.

    “We encourage all customers to pay their bills promptly to avoid any inconvenience,” Achife added.

  • National Hospital Abuja gets new CMD

    National Hospital Abuja gets new CMD

    Lara Adejoro, Abuja

    The Federal Government has appointed a Professor of Neurosurgery, Mahmud Raji, as the new Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja.

    Prof. Mahmud received his letter of appointment from the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire on Thursday.

    The appointment is coming over a month after the Governing Board of the hospital petitioned the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to intervene in the appointment of a new CMD for the hospital.

    The hospital had two acting CMDs – Dr. Aisha Umar and Dr. Abba Badamasi, after the eight-year tenure of the former CMD, Dr. Jaf Momoh, which ended in 2022.

    Prof. Raji, who is the first African to chair the World Federation of Neurosurgical Society, Young Neurosurgeon’s Committee in 2008, pioneered and established the division of neurosurgery at the National Hospital in 2010.

    He has also authored neurosurgical books and published several articles in peer-reviewed journals around the world.

     

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  • Ehanire inaugurates policy documents to enhance national healthcare delivery

    Ehanire inaugurates policy documents to enhance national healthcare delivery

    The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Wednesday in Abuja inaugurated five policy documents aimed at improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the policy, Dr. Ehanire said that the documents would provide policy direction on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health and nutrition.

    He said that the federal government was working relentlessly to ensure availability of functional Primary Healthcare Centres with skilled birth attendants.

    The minister said efforts were being made to ensure essential reproductive and maternal health commodities for the provision of voluntary family planning services, quality antenatal care, safe delivery and postnatal care.

    According to him, the federal government is committed to providing comprehensive and integrated sexual and reproductive health services to all persons, especially adolescents and women.

    Dr. Ehanire said that the passage of the National Health Act was one of government’s landmark achievements to ensure equitable and inclusive access to healthcare services in Nigeria.

    He said, “It is in furtherance of making progress in the scale-up of on-going interventions that we are gathered here today, to launch five key documents that I believe will contribute much to achieving our targets:

    “They are, the Task Shifting/Task Sharing Policy (April 2022), Task Shifting/Task Sharing Standard Operating Procedures (April 2022) and Training Manual for Post Abortion Care (PAC) in Nigeria.

    “The On-the-Job Training Manual on Post Abortion Care (PAC) for Healthcare Providers in Nigeria and the Demand Generation (DG) Strategy on Self-Care for Sexual Reproductive and Maternal Health (SRMH) in Nigeria,” he said.

    The minister explained that the Task-Shifting and Task-Sharing Policy was one of the strategies meant to enhance achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 3, approved by the 57th National Council on Health.

    According to him, it focuses on key priority areas such as family and reproductive health, reproductive, maternal and child health, as well as HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, and other communicable and non-communicable diseases.

    “This document aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to achieve Universal Health Coverage and ensure best quality and skill sets of Human Resource for Health (HRH) at each facility.

    “It is also aimed at addressing mal distribution of healthcare workers through appropriate policies, including strategies for staff retention in underserved areas,” he said.

    The minister appreciated all stakeholders particularly the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation and international organisations for their financial and technical support.

    (NAN)