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FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Vanquished Heavyweights Get Second Chance in Playoffs

By
Munachi
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0

The past two European champions could have to play against each other in a playoff for a place at next year’s World Cup as a consequence of failing to secure automatic qualification this week.

Both Italy, who won the continental title in July, and Portugal, who were winners of Euro 2016, will be on tenterhooks as they await the outcome of the draw for the March playoffs for the 12 European countries who remain in contention for three places at the World Cup.

They are the teams who finished runners-up in their group, plus two more who qualified by virtue of being the best two Nations League group winners who did not finish in the top two of the Qatar 2022 preliminaries.

Italy’s failure to win in Northern Ireland on Monday and Portugal’s home loss to Serbia the night before, has condemned the two heavyweights to need to play two more games if they are to go to Qatar.

One consolation is they are both among the seeds for the Nov. 26 draw — which guarantees a home game in the semifinals and therefore a major advantage.

The 12 contenders will be drawn into three separate four-team paths. There are a set of semifinals in each stream on 24 March with the winners advancing to a decisive trio of “finals” on 29 March.

Read Also: Senate Probes Lagos Gas Explosion

Home advantage for the three finals will be decided by a draw but in the semifinals, it is Italy, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Sweden and Wales who are guaranteed a home match — as the six highest-ranked teams among the group runners-up in the qualifiers — against one of Austria, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Poland, Turkey and Ukraine.

There is no other determinant for the draw so Italy and Portugal could land up in the same section, kept apart in the semis but possibly facing one another in a deciding tie.

BITTER MEMORIES

In previous years, playoffs were determined over two legs, home and away, but with qualification for Qatar needing to be completed by the end of March, there is no second chance this time around.

Italy will have bitter memories of losing to Sweden in the playoffs for Russia 2018, condemning them to miss a World Cup for the first time since 1958.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will no doubt remind his team that they triumphed over Sweden in a playoff ahead of the 2014 finals.

Source

Ebonyi Driver Bites Of Task Force Members’ Finger, Swallows It

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

A commercial driver, on Tuesday, bit off the finger of a taskforce member in Ebonyi State to escape arrest.

The driver also swallowed the finger of the taskforce member identified as Iboko Kenneth.

The incident occurred at the Onuebonyi Junction in the Abakaliki metropolis, when the Ministry of Capital City Development and the taskforce team were on an inspection tour within the state capital to stop illegal parking and loading.

Recall that commercial transport companies operating in the state had penultimate week relocated to Akubaraoha Central park, a new park provided for them by the state government.

The driver, it was further learnt, was among those spotted at the Onuebonyi Junction who engaged in illegal loading of passengers. When the taskforce attempted to arrest him, he was said to have bitten off the finger of one of them.

The victim has, however, been taken to the emergency unit of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki, on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Capital City Development, Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi, described the incident as terrible, unexpected and barbaric.

He said, “It is very unfortunate that a driver can attack a law officer who is trying to organise the state to the point of chopping off his finger. This is terrible, unexpected and barbaric.

“So, I want to plead with the motorists not to pull our legs because the taskforce are not weak and we do our job within the confines of the law, but for a driver to chop-off a taskforce finger is unacceptable and I assure you that we will get to the root of the matter, it will not happen again.

“We are not using force but the problem is that our people are stubborn particularly the motorists, some of them anyway. I want to commend some of the transport companies for their cooperation so far that led to the peaceful relocation of the parks within the city to the central park known as Akubaraoha Abakaliki Central Park. If you go there now, the park is very peaceful, businesses are going on, no complain.

“As the government, we are doing our best to fence the place and put internal roads and other social amenities.

“But we have discovered with dismay that some drivers are bent on operating from the streets instead of doing the needful and by joining their colleagues at the central park.

“My encounter with them this morning is evidence to that assertion. Along waterworks road, behind the police checkpoints there, we saw over 10 buses loading Enugu and Onitsha.

“We also took a patrol to Onuebonyi Junction where we saw 11 trucks, buses, and Sienna buses loading there not minding our repeated warnings to that effect.”

The taskforce arrested five drivers for illegal loading.

According to the Commissioner, the arrested drivers would be arraigned in court.

Punch

Senate Probes Lagos Gas Explosion

By
Munachi
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0

The Senate on Tuesday demanded an investigation into the remote and immediate cause of the gas explosion at Ladipo Spare Parts Market area of Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The incident led to the death of at least five persons including a 10-year-old boy.

The decision of the Senate followed the approval of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West).

He drew the attention of the Senate to yet another explosion in his senatorial district resulting in fatalities.

The senator noted that there has been a recurrence of similar explosions in recent times in the same area within his senatorial district.

He said similar incidents happened in 2016, 2018 (Abule-Egba), 2019 (Abule – Egba), 2020 (Ijegun), and 2020 (Ile-Epo, Oke-Odo), 2020(Abule Ado).

He explained that Nigerians resident in all the densely populated areas where these explosions occurred now live in fear of not only losing properties and investment but their lives or those of loved ones from these frequent explosive fire disasters.

Akeredolu Appoints His Son As Director General Of Agency

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has appointed his son, Babajide Akeredolu, as the Director-General of the state’s Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPIMU).

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Ondo, Donald Ojogo, announced this in a statement on Tuesday.

He explained that the governor has nominated 14 new commissioners-designate and seven special advisers to join his cabinet.

They include Bamidele Olateju (Akoko South-East), Adefarati Adegboyega (Akoko South-West), Fatai Olotu (Akoko North-East), Dr Julianah Oshadahun (Akoko North-West), and Dele Ologun (Akure North).

Others are Sunday Adekunle (Idanre), Razak Obe (Ifedore), Dr Banji Ajaka (Ilaje), Emmanuel Igbasan (Irele), Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju (Odigbo), Femi Agagu (Okitipupa), Wale Akinlosotu (Ondo East), Lola Fagbemi (Ondo West), and Olayato Aribo (Ose).

Similarly, those nominated for the position of special advisers include Dr Victor Ategbole, Dr Wunmi Ilawole, Tobi Ogunleye, Dr Jibayo Adeyeye, Olamide Falana, Dr Francis Faduyile, and Niyi Oseni.

“The names of the nominees, especially the position of commissioner, will be forwarded to the House of Assembly for screening, clearance and confirmation,” said Ojogo.

“All nominated/appointed persons will be sworn in at a date to be announced later after the necessary legislative processes. Mr Governor wishes all nominated persons the best of luck.”

Fresh Borrowing: Reps Approve Buhari’s $16bn, €1bn Loan Requests, $125m Grant

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

House of Representatives, yesterday, approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for new externally borrowing comprising $16.2 billion and €1.020 billion.

The House also approved a grant component of the external funding plan amounting to $125 million in the President’s request.

The approval was granted during the consideration of report on the ‘Request for a concurrent approval of donor fund projects under the Federal Government Proposed 2018-2020 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan No. 2 and Addendum to the request for concurrent approval of Multilateral Fund Projects under the 2018-2021 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan’ by the House on Committee of Supply.

Chairman of the Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Hon. Ahmed Dayyabu Safana, who presented the report said that the World Bank, African Development Bank, and the French Development Agency (AFD) were among the funding agencies. He said that from the total sum of $16.230 billion, World Bank would provide $3,529,300,000; China EXIM Bank – $5,078,441,252; Industrial & Commercial Bank of China – $3,902,267,260; China Development Bank – $2,893,693,930; European ECA/KFW/IPEX/AFC – $190,255,276; Standard Chartered Bank/Sinocure – $62,120,000 while Africa Development Bank (AFDB) is to provide $698,500,000.

Similarly, the Chairman said that from the total sum of €1.020 billion, French Development Agency (AFD) would provide €345,000,000; European Investment Bank – €175,000,000 while International Capital Market would also provide €500,000,000.

The loan chedule of projects indicated that the Nigeria Electrification Project – Off Grid would receive $350,000,000 from World Bank and $200 million from AfDB; 330 KV DC North Core Interconnection of Nigeria/Niger-Benin/Togo-Burkina Faso is to gulp $29,300,000 from World Bank; Nigeria Transmission Expansion Project (NTEP-1) is to receive $210 million from Africa Development Bank (AfDB); while Northern Corridor Transmission Project is to gulp €245 million from French Development Agency (AFD).

From the total external loan approved for the Digital Economy, the National Identity Management Commission project would get $100 million from French Development Agency.

Also, from the sum of $500 million approved for the industrial sector, Federal Government is expected to raise Sovereign Guarantee for the Issuance of Eurobond as collateral to enable Bank of Industry to fund its Projects worth $500 million but not more than €750,000,000 International Capital Market.

From total loan of $12.065 billion proposed for transportation sector, Federal Ministry of Transportation is to receive $3,141,984,852 from China EXIM Bank to fund the Nigerian Coastal Railway Project: Lagos-Benin City Segment; $1,711,336,400 from China Exim Bank to fund Nigerian Coastal Railway Project: Benin-Onitsha including Onitsha Railway Bridge (Branch); $2,893,693,930 from China Development Bank to fund Nigerian Coastal Railway Project: Benin City-Warri – Yenegoa -Port Harcourt Segment; $3,902,267,260 from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to fund Central Line Project: Abuja – Baro – Itakpe – Ajaokuta segment; $25,120,000 FROM China EXIM Bank TO FUND Lagos-Ibadan Railway Modernization Project Construction of the Branch Line (Apapa-Tin Can Island Port) and $190,255,276 from European ECA/KWF/IPEX/AFC to fund Kano-Maradi SGR with Branch to Dutse.

Police Arrest 12 Over Murder Of Lagos CSP

By
Munachi
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0

The Lagos police command’s criminal investigation department in Panti says it has arrested 12 suspects in connection with the murder of Kazeem Abonde, a chief superintendent of police (CSP).

Abonde was killed on September 23 during a raid on criminal hideouts at Ajao estate, Lagos.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Adekunle Ajisebutu, Lagos command spokesperson, the suspects were arrested after an investigation.

“Arrest of one Ismaila Abdullahi Haruna, aged 23 years, and 11 other suspects was made possible as a result of a four-week intensive but diligent investigation carried out by crack detectives of the Command,” the statement reads

“The suspects, who confessed to the crimes of conspiracy, murder, attempted murder and willful damage were arrested in their criminal hideouts in Lagos and Nasarawa States where they were hibernating to evade arrest after the dastardly act.

Read Also: Buhari Presides Over FEC Meeting In Abuja (Photos)

“During interrogation, the suspects gave a blow-by-blow account of how the brutal attack on the deceased police officer and other injured police officers was carried out and the criminal roles each played.

Police arrest 12 over killing of Lagos CSP | TheCable

“Their arrest was facilitated by credible, actionable intelligence.”

Ajisebutu added that all the suspects will be arraigned at the Yaba magistrates’ court on Wednesday.

He also said the Lagos police commissioner thanked the Abonde family and the public for their “patience, understanding and support”, adding that the command will “ensure diligent prosecution of the case”.

“The police, therefore, seek further cooperation of members of the public, particularly the Command’s strategic partners, by giving additional information that could lead to the arrest of other suspects still at large,” Ajisebutu added.

Source

Buhari Presides Over FEC Meeting In Abuja (Photos)

By
Munachi
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0

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over a virtual Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House in Abuja.

It is the first such meeting to be chaired by the President since he travelled out of the country for the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other engagements.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and the President’s Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, were among those physically in attendance.

Also present were National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno; Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Others include Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello; Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; and Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajuiba.

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, and other cabinet members attended the meeting virtually from their various offices in the nation’s capital.

See more photos from the meeting below:

Comedian Cute Abiola Not Missing But Under Custody For Breach Of Policy – Navy

By
Munachi
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0

The Nigerian Navy has confirmed to Peoples Gazette it detained popular Instagram skit maker Ahmed Gafar aka Cute Abiola, declared missing by his relatives, for violating its social media policy.

“The young man was found to have breached the social media policy while he was on leave. So he was recalled, asked to come back, but he refused until he completed his leave which is a disobedience to particular orders,” the spokesperson for the navy, Commodore Suleman Dahun, told The Gazette.

He reiterated that Cute Abiola was not missing but locked up in his unit for breaching the “Armed Forces social media policy.”

“So, when he came back, we took him into custody for him to face the consequence,” Mr Dahun added.

Cute Abiola, a naval officer, was last seen on Monday morning after he left his residence for his office at Navy Town.

He was said to have spoken with his wife over the telephone upon arrival at the office, but several attempts to reach him afterwards were unsuccessful.

Source

https://abntv.com.ng/2021/11/taliban-asks-u-s-govt-to-release-afghan-central-bank-assets/

Taliban Asks U.S Govt To Release Afghan Central Bank Assets

By
Munachi
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0

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have written an open letter to the United States Congress on the humanitarian and economic crisis unfolding in their country.

In the letter signed by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqi, the Taliban government asked Washington to release Afghan central bank assets.

“Currently, the fundamental challenge of our people is financial security and the roots of this concern lead back to the freezing of assets of our people by the American government,’’ the letter released on Wednesday reads.

The Taliban were concerned that if the current situation prevailed, it would lead to mass migrations and damage the country’s health and education sectors.

“The suffering of a child from malnutrition, the death of a mother from lack of health services, the deprivation of a common Afghan from food, shelter, medicine and other primary needs has no political or logical justification

“It is detrimental for the prestige of the government and people of the United States of America because this is a purely humanitarian issue.’’

Read Also: Bandits Attack Zamfara Community For Defaulting In Levy Payment

When the Taliban took over power in the country in August, Afghanistan was suspended.

Around nine billion in the country’s central bank reserves, most of which were parked in the U.S., have been frozen.

Prior to that, the Kabul Government had received $8.5 billion in the military and civil aid annually, according to a report by the Kabul think-tank, Afghanistan Analysts Network.

The grants were used to finance 75 per cent of public spending.

Millions of people have now lost their main source of income, and the education and health sectors as well as other public services, are no longer fully operational.

The United Nations has warned that 97 per cent of Afghans could plunge into poverty by mid-2022.

Source

Bandits Attack Zamfara Community For Defaulting In Levy Payment

By
Munachi
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0

Bandits on Sunday night carried out a punitive attack on Kwarin Mai Saje community in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State over the failure of the residents to pay a N3 million levy.

During the attack, the bandits raped women and abducted six people after looting the village of valuables, according to a resident.

The brutal outlaws had initially imposed levies on 13 communities in the area, but Kwarin Mai Saje was not included.

However, a gang associated with the banditry kingpin, Ada Aleru, dragged Kwarin Mai Saje into its own illegal tax net two weeks ago.

Sama’ila Tsafe, a native of the area, told PREMIUM TIMES that the bandits felt the residents disrespected them by not paying up.

“The village was attacked yesterday by bandits numbering about 100. They looted the village of every important property and raped many women in their houses. They also kidnapped six people during the attack that lasted for several hours.

“It was not as if the villagers didn’t pay, they couldn’t gather the whole three million naira. They sought for assistance and came up with N600,000 but the bandits felt bad that they couldn’t get the whole money imposed on the villagers,” he said.

He said the attack on Kwarin Mai Saje will probably serve as a warning to other defaulting villages in the area.

The state’s police spokesperson, Mohammed Shehu, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the attack.

The phone number of Mamman Tsafe, a retired deputy inspector-general of police who is the Special Adviser to Governor Bello Matawalle on security matters, was also not available.

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