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Alcaraz Cruises Past Medvedev Reaches China Open Final

By
Joel
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0

Carlos Alcaraz cruised through to the China Open final with a straight-set victory over Daniil Medvedev.

The world number three needed 88 minutes to seal a 7-5 6-3 win.

It is Alcaraz’s eighth successive victory since his shock second-round defeat by Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open.

The four-time Grand Slam winner will play world number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner or Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete for the title.

A tight first set saw the players fail to hold serve for four games in a row to leave it finely poised at 4-4.

Spaniard Alcaraz broke again in the 10th game before holding serve to take the first set in 48 minutes.

Medvedev needed two medical timeouts for treatment on his left leg as Alcaraz took control of the second set, sealing victory with his fourth match point.

“It was a little bit unusual, with serve being broken many times in the first set,” said Alcaraz. “I don’t know what happened to me. I probably lost focus a little bit.

Elsewhere, Britain’s Dan Evans beat Alex Bolt of Australia 6-2 1-6 7-5 in the final round of qualifying for the Shanghai Masters.

EGGA Produces Batch 2 Of Global Class A Golf Professional

By
Joel
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0

By Uche Onyeali

Elite Global Gold Academy, EGGA, has produced the second batch of global Class A golf Professional from Professionals Golfers Association of South Africa, PGASA.

Chief executive officer of EGGA, Mrs. Uloma Mbuko Ogbuokiri, who disclosed this during a chat with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, during the Thanksgiving and a special celebration of  Mark Oseni’s Achievement.

We are thrilled to honor our very own Mark Oseni, who has recently achieved the prestigious A-Class Golf Professional certification.

Mrs Ogbuokiri, popularly known as Lady Pro said: “We educate existing golf professionals and upcoming golfers as to the business angle and profitability of golf industry in Nigeria on a regular basis. We raise the standard to world class”.

She said, Professional Golfers Association Certificate which Oseni acquired is recognised in over 40 countries of the world.

“We have PGA Nigeria, South Africa and over the world. It is a body of Golf Professionals. The standard & recognition is not the same; one is educational standard, in Nigeria it’s one year course while in South Africa where we graduated from, is three years course.

“A year’s programme cannot be compared with that of three or five years programme. 

“The knowledge, exposure, experience can never be the same.

“Today we are actually here to welcome the third batch of A Class in Nigeria golf professionals from South Africa”, Ogbuokiri said.

She noted that though the process had not been easy, but expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of the training by the golfer in South Africa.

Mrs. Ogbuokiri, however, lamented the challenges of golf business in Nigeria, stressing that the free fall of the naira against the dollar had been very challenging. 

She disclosed that Mr. Oseni started the programme when a dollar was exchanged for N400 and later jumped up to N800 per dollar. 

“Imagine now that he graduated, you should calculate what a dollar is because tuition fees are paid in Rands . It is a challenge because it was over six times of what he was supposed to pay”, she lamented.

In his remark, Oseni, who said the journey was not easy, however thanked God and Dr and Mrs. Ogbuokiri, whom he described as his mentor and godfather, as well as his family members for their contributions to the success of his training.

N8 m For Grabs At CDS Independence Day Basketball Championship

By
Joel
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0

Joel Ajayi

In celebration of Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary, the Chief of Defence Staff ,CDS, Gen.C.G Musa, OFR, is organizing a prestigious basketball championship, with an impressive 8 million naira prize purse.

The tournament, scheduled to hold from October 2-6, 2024, at the Mo Arena, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, promises to be an exciting display of skill and athleticism.

According to the organizers, the championship aims to promote unity, teamwork, and healthy competition among Nigerian basketball teams, while also showcasing the country’s rich basketball talent.

*Prize Money Breakdown: Winner: N4 million, Runner-up: N2.5 million and Third place: N1.5 million.

The championship will feature a round-robin group stage, followed by knockout stages. The teams will compete in two groups of five teams each, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals.

I Don’t Care About Individual Records Anymore – Ronaldo 

By
Joel
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0

Cristiano Ronaldo insists he is focused on being the perfect team member at Saudi side Al Nassr rather than collecting more individual accolades in the twilight of his career.

The 39-year-old, who has won the Ballon d’Or award five times, scored in Al Nassr’s 2-1 win over Al Rayyan of Qatar in their AFC Champions League Group B match on Monday.

It was the club’s fourth successive victory in all competitions under new coach Stefano Pioli, who replaced Luis Castro last month.

“It was a strong and difficult match like all the matches in the AFC Champions League, but the most important thing is that we created many chances and defended well to prevent the opponent from creating easy chances”, Ronaldo told a press conference.

“It is not important anymore whether I am the best or not, I no longer care about that. It is good for a player to score goals, but for me it is better for the team to win.

“It was a strong and difficult match like all the matches in the AFC Champions League, but the most important thing is that we created many chances and defended well to prevent the opponent from creating easy chances”, Ronaldo told a press conference.

“It is not important anymore whether I am the best or not, I no longer care about that. It is good for a player to score goals, but for me it is better for the team to win.

“I am used to breaking records and I no longer look for them. The most important thing for me now is to enjoy and help Al Nassr and my teammates to win”.

Ronaldo became the top scorer in a single season in the Saudi Pro League last May with 35 goals.

The Portugal captain also scored his 901st career goal in a 2-1 win over Scotland in the Nations League last month.

Group Dismisses Allegations Against Minister Matawalle As Political Witch-Hunt

By
ALJAZIRAH
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0
matawalle
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle

The Northern Youth Development Association of Nigeria has refuted recent reports suggesting that Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, has been taken to court over alleged links to banditry.

According to a statement released by the association’s National Secretary, Abdukadir Yusuf, the claims are baseless and misleading.

Earlier media reports had claimed that a Federal High Court in Abuja had sanctioned a case brought by human rights activist Abubakar Dahiru, seeking an investigation into Matawalle’s purported involvement in bandit operations during his tenure as Zamfara State governor.

However, the youth association firmly rejected these allegations, stating that a thorough investigation of Federal High Courts in the nation’s capital found no evidence of such a suit. .

The group emphasized that even if such a case existed, Matawalle would willingly defend himself, accusing Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of orchestrating a political campaign to tarnish the former governor’s reputation.

The statement further highlighted that Matawalle had made significant efforts to combat banditry during his time in office, including launching military operations and allocating substantial funds toward security measures.

The association also reminded the public of Matawalle’s declaration in a recent interview, where he swore by the Holy Quran that he had never sponsored banditry, labelling the accusations as a malicious political ploy by Governor Lawal.

Governor Lawal has repeatedly accused his predecessor of “sponsoring banditry” and “harbouring terrorists at the government house.”

The association condemned these allegations, describing them as part of a broader strategy by Governor Lawal to discredit Matawalle and block his reappointment amid news of an impending cabinet reshuffle.

The youth group urged the public to disregard the defamatory reports, stressing that Governor Lawal’s actions reflect a personal vendetta rather than credible accusations.

The association reassured that Matawalle, now holding a key position in the federal government, would not be undermined by what it described as politically motivated falsehoods.

Ithe Northern Youth Development Association called for accountability and truth, challenging those behind the accusations to provide concrete evidence to support their claims.

Federal Ministry of Youth Hands Over 2, 000 CNG Power Tricycle To NACTOMORAS

By
Joel
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0

Joel Ajayi

The Federal Government has handed over 2,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to representatives of the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association NACTOMORAS as part of ongoing effort to change the face of transportation system in the country as well as to create employment for Nigerians.

The handover of the Tricycles in collaboration with Presidential CNG initiative PI-CNGA took place on Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary day at the old parade ground in Abuja, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.

Speaking at the handover, the Minister for State Ministry ofYouth Development Comrade Ayodele Olawande said that  Tricycle will significantly reduce transportation costs in the country, bringing hope for a more affordable and efficient public transport system.

He described the distribution of the 2,000 tricycles as fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s promise to provide affordable and efficient transportation under the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGi) to support Nigerians after the removal of fuel subsidies.

Comrade Olawande said the initiative is aimed at alleviating the burden on the poor and vulnerable and support macroeconomic reforms that would position the country on the path to economic stability. 

Minister However, urged Nigerians to remain hopeful about the government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, assuring that better days lie aheadOn his own, programme director and chief executive of PCNG Mr Micheal Oluwagbemi commended president Tinubu for the gesture, saying CNG initiative will significantly impact the live of every Nigerians postive

According to him, thi time last year, if you go back to President Ahmed Tinubu speech on October 1, 2023, he stated Nigeria is going to be deploying a number of CNG power tricycles.and today he fulfilled the promise, we are here to hand it over 2,000 tricycles to youth ministry and to 

NACTOMORAS that is going to the society to better their life Youth in the country.

“It’s the first of the country. What should Nigeria expect going forward again? Yes, so at this point, work essentially at the Presidential CNG initiative. It’s now going to drive the beneficiary allocation with respect to the CNG tricycles. 

“These tricycles will be deployed across the country. So this is one of our many tricycles initiatives. These are firsts.We are going to have something similar in our programme also with Ministry of environment will have a component of this. And then we’ll have some that will be direct commercial.Well.

We are now handing over. We are fulfilling the promise of the President .”

In his earlier speech, the President  NACTOMORAS Usman Buba- Gwoza thumbed FG for initiative saying the gesture will go a long way affect the life of rider and society at large

According to him, NATOMORAS, with its over 18 million registered members, has been at the forefront of supporting this administration. We believed in the promise of progress, development, and empowerment that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration campaigned on. We mobilized tirelessly to ensure that this administration was voted into power, because we trusted in the vision laid before us..

“It gladdens our hearts to see the launch of 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles by the Ministry of State for Youth Development. We strongly believe in the vision of using cleaner energy to drive economic development and environmental sustainability. However, as key stakeholders who have supported and committed to this initiative from its inception, NATOMORAS now humbly requests that the government fulfills its promise of empowering our members through the allocation of these CNG- powered tricycles.

“Our members who are the riders and owners of these commercial vehicles-are vital to the everyday movement of millions of Nigerians. The empowerment of NATOMORAS members with CNG-powered tricycles will not only uplift their livelihoods but will also support the administration’s goals of job creation, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability.”

He we urge the government to honor its promise, recognizing the pivotal role NATOMORAS plays in Nigeria’s community transport system. 

NHRC Warns Protesters Against Violence, Urges Security Agencies To Refrain From Rights Abuse

By
ALJAZIRAH
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0

BY ANTHONY OCHELA, ABUJA 

National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, said it would monitor the October 1 protest across Nigeria to ensure that state and non-state actors violating the right to protests and other associated human rights are held accountable.

The commission stated this in its advisory ahead of the planned protest by civil society groups on Nigeria’s Independence Day.

In a statement titled ‘Protect the Right to Peaceful Assembly and Association,’ NHRC urged law enforcement agents to respect the rights of protesters to peaceful assembly, avoid excessive force, protect journalists and media personnel from harassment and facilitate dialogue between protesters and relevant stakeholders, while ensuring that arrests and detentions are carried out in accordance with the law.

The commission also charged protesters to “exercise your right to peaceful protest within the ambit of the law, be very civil and respect the rights of others.

“Avoid violence, destruction of property and harmful behaviour, this is detrimental to nation building, the destruction caused may take fortunes to regain which will be a great set back to our development.

“Cooperate with law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety by conducting yourselves with the highest sense of modesty and civility.

“Refrain from hate speech and divisive rhetoric, abusive words and foul language.

“Respect the rights of others, including those who may hold differing opinions, that is the beauty of democracy.

“Ensure that your actions do not infringe on the rights of non-protesters, as everybody must not be on the street protesting,” the commission said.

The commission said it is acting under Section 5, paragraphs (m) and (o) of the NHRC (Amendment) Act of 2010 to restate the law and principles for the enjoyment and protection of the right to peaceful assembly and association.

It reiterated that the advisory followed the August End Bad Governance protests, while emphasising that “the right to peaceful assembly is the cornerstone of our liberty and an essential instrument for promoting the values of democracy and good governance. 

“Protests are legitimate means of voicing dissatisfaction and participating in shaping citizen-centred governance and development outcomes.”

On the obligations of the federal and state governments, NHRC said the state has obligations to facilitate peaceful assemblies, adequate protection for protesters against violence or intimidation, effective accountability mechanisms for holding law enforcement and security agencies accountable for any abuses committed during protests, as well as deploy its apparatus for the protection of private and public properties, as well as the lives of protesters and non-protesters before, during and after the protests.

The commission said it “noted with great concern, the clampdown of protesters and subsequent criminal prosecutions following the August End Bad Governance protests across parts of Nigeria.”

It regretted that “the August protests led to loss of lives and public and private properties, but it is yet to be seen that there have been arrests and prosecution of law enforcement and security agents who were primarily responsible for these violations.”

NHRC expressed concern about the charges of treason that have been imposed on some of the protesters and have made this known in various fora. 

It, therefore, called on the federal and state government to ensure that the October protests are peaceful and that the protesters are given the necessary support and leverage to conduct themselves in a civilised manner, including protecting them from counter-protesters and mobs.

FG Grants Licensing Waiver To Community Cinemas

By
Joel
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0

Federal Government has taken a significant step to boost the local film industry by granting a licensing waiver for investors looking to establish cottage or community cinemas across the country.

This announcement was made by Dr. Husseini Shaibu, Executive Director and CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board ,NFVCB, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

The waiver aligns with the agenda set by Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hanatu Musawa, aimed at providing necessary incentives to stimulate investment in the creative sector. 

Dr. Shaibu highlighted that this initiative is expected to enhance revenue generation for both the government and filmmakers while creating job opportunities for young Nigerians nationwide.

“The decision to grant a licensing waiver would have a huge multiplier effect in the bottom rung of the cinema exhibitor pyramid”, he stated. He emphasized that the initiative will not only expand the number of cinema screens but also promote the local box office for Nollywood films.

As part of this initiative, the NFVCB has granted provisional approval to an investor to conduct a twelve-month test run of a community cinema project, following the minister’s endorsement. Should the pilot prove successful, the board intends to recommend broader waivers to stakeholders, thereby facilitating the growth of the film exhibition sector, particularly for local content.

Dr. Shaibu urged industry stakeholders to consider the establishment of community cinemas, noting the benefits of bringing cinemagoers from local communities, towns, and villages back to the big screen. He cited successful examples from countries like India, where community cinemas coexist with larger, more sophisticated movie theaters.

Furthermore, the NFVCB is exploring collaborations between community cinema operators and established cinema owners to deliver unique cinematic experiences that cater to local audiences. In a move to further incentivize the industry, the board has proposed a reduction in exhibition and distribution license fees for operators, aimed at broadening the business landscape for cinema exhibition in Nigeria.

Describing these policies as smart strategic decisions, Dr. Shaibu reaffirmed the NFVCB’s commitment to engaging filmmakers and content creators, emphasizing the importance of submitting their films for classification before exhibition on both traditional and digital platforms. He noted recent stakeholder meetings in Lafia, Nasarawa State, aimed at fostering unity and collaboration within the industry.

“One of the reforms that the board has already started implementing is the reduction in classification time for film and video works”, he explained. “We have already reduced duration/comeback time for film classification to a maximum of 48 hours for full-length feature films and same-day classification for dramatized short content (skits) and musical videos”.

The introduction of online submission processes has also been implemented to streamline operations for filmmakers.

Established by Act No. 85 of 1993, now referred to as the National Film and Video Censors Board Act Cap No. 40 (2004 as amended), the NFVCB serves as the regulatory authority for the film and video industry in Nigeria. It is responsible for classifying all films and videos, whether locally produced or imported, and maintaining a comprehensive register of cinema outlets throughout the country.

ExxonMobil’s $1.28bn Asset Sale To Receive Ministerial Approval

By
Joel
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0

By Yahaya Umar 

President Bola Tinubu has said the $1.28 divestment deal between ExxonMobil and Seplat Energy will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days.

Tinubu made this disclosure during his Independence Day address to Nigerians yesterday, at the State House in Abuja.

The President announced that the regulatory body, NUPRC, has approved the deal involving ExxonMobil’s sale of its onshore assets to Seplat Energy.

Tinubu said the ministerial approval is in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in order to complete the divestment deal between the two oil majors.

“Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes.  

“This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. 

“As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector”, Tinubu said.

On February 25 2022, Seplat Energy Plc disclosed its plan to purchase all shares of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited from Exxon Mobil Corporation, Delaware for $1.28 billion.

The deal Involved taking over ExxonMobil Nigeria’s offshore shallow water operations.

However, NNPC decided to invoke its Right of First Refusal ,RFR, regarding the sale of these assets.

This RFR is specified in the Joint Operating Agreement ,JOA, of the Joint Venture ,JV, which outlines NNPC’s stance on Seplat Energy Plc’s intended purchase of the shares.

In May 2022, the federal government declined to approve the transaction, citing overriding national interest among other reasons for its decision.  

In addition, on July 6, 2022, a judge in Abuja issued an “order of interim injunction” that prohibits Exxon from finalizing any divestment in a subsidiary that holds four licenses in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, in July 2024, the NNPCL withdrew the lawsuit and approved that the sale be finalized according to the PIA.

Moreover, ExxonMobil is not the only international Oil company ,IOC, deciding to move offshore and employing a divestment strategy to offload its stakes in the onshore segment of the oil and gas sector.

In January, oil major, Shell Plc, reached an agreement to sell its Nigerian onshore oil assets to a local consortium for over $1.3 billion, pending government approval.

In addition to the initial sum, Shell anticipates receiving extra payments of up to $1.1 billion. The purchasing consortium, named Renaissance, comprises ND Western, Aradel Energy, First E&P, Waltersmith, and Petrolin.

Similarly, TotalEnergies stated plans to offload its minority stake in a significant Nigerian onshore oil joint venture following Shell’s divestment announcement.

African Migrants, Refugees Continue To Seek Way To Europe – Security Council

By
aljazirah
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0

United Nations says it has registered more than 350,000 Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers protections in North Africa so far this year, with 97,000 migrants entering Libya since last April.

“It is important to highlight that the challenges do not start in North Africa. A holistic cross-regional response is required that starts at the root of the journeys.,” said Sivanka Dhanapala, the director of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Overall, Dhanapala says that between January and August this year, It is estimated that over 134,000 refugees and migrants departed by sea from north and West Africa towards Europe, a slight decrease from the previous year.

Par Liljert , the director of the International Organisation for Migration also briefed the council, saying that acknowledge the factors that drive individuals to leave their homes and the severe challenges of navigating migration routes is one of today;’s pressing issues that needs “firm and urgent action.”

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