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I couldn’t sleep after first Eagles call up – Tanimu

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I couldn’t sleep after first Eagles call up – Tanimu

New Super Eagles invitee, Benjamin Tanimu, who features for Tanzanian side Ihefu, talks about how he felt when he got the invitation for Nigeria’s friendly matches against Ghana and Mali, his time in the NPFL with Bendel Insurance and many more in this interview with ABIODUN ADEWALE

Congratulations on your invitation to the Super Eagles for the upcoming friendlies against Ghana and Mali. What were you doing when you got the invitation and what was your first reaction?

I was in my hotel room, camping ahead of a league game when I got the news, and I was like wow! I couldn’t contain my excitement and then congratulatory messages started popping on my phone. I was just pacing in the room with excitement as I replied to the messages. The feeling was special.

Since that day, have you been able to sleep normally and go through your daily activities without having to think too much about it?

That particular day I couldn’t sleep until 1am, but since then I haven’t been thinking too much about it because I have league games to attend to and things must be taken one at a time.

Just about a year ago, you were in the U-23 team as well. How was the experience?

That experience was amazing and being the first time I was called to represent Nigeria, it’s unforgettable.

You were singled out for your brilliant performance for the U-23 team, any regrets not qualifying for the African tournament leading to the Olympics?

It’s a big regret, I must tell you. Everyone wants to play at the Olympics as it’s a lifetime opportunity, especially for footballers. If you are older than 23, you stand no chance again because the over-aged players that would be invited to join the team are usually from the senior national team. So, I wasn’t happy that we couldn’t make it.

At the U-23 camp, you displayed pictures you took with some Super Eagles players who were training in Abuja as well then. How excited are you, knowing that you will be sharing a dressing room with them soon?

Honestly, I didn’t think my invitation to the Super Eagles was going to be this soon. When I met the likes of (Victor) Osimhen, (Alex) Iwobi and others in Abuja last year, I was just wishing I would be in the national team like them one day. I didn’t imagine we would be training together this soon. It was cool being around those great guys. That feeling makes me feel more excited and at the same time it keeps me cool and  focused on my game.

Looking back at your journey, what are the situations that prepared you for breakthroughs like this in order to fulfil your dream of playing for Nigeria?

Looking back, I will say it again that it’s a dream come true for me to have come this far and it’s just the start. I’ve always wanted to become a footballer and watching the national team on TV as a child till now has always been a motivation. There is a little bit of luck in life but as an individual who is seeking opportunities, I have trained hard and tried to improve with every game when given the opportunity. Starting from the street of Ogbe in Benin City, it wasn’t easy, but all the same, hard work pays. Having good people around you also matters a lot and I thank my family for the mentoring and encouragement. Above all, I’m grateful to God for granting me this big opportunity.

In September last year, you were rumoured to have joined a fourth-tier Spanish club Lleida Esportiu. How were you linked with them in the first place?

I was surprised when I saw the news too. I wasn’t even interested in leaving the NPFL to play in the fourth division. When the Tanzania offer came, it was well calculated and I left as I should, not like the other one that I was rumoured to have dumped Insurance, a club that made me.

You recently moved from Bendel Insurance to Ihefu Sports Club in Tanzania. How do you think your time in the NPFL contributed to the dream of making it into the Super Eagles?

Playing in the NPFL is no joke as it is highly tasking and requires you to be on top of your mental game at all times. At Bendel Insurance, our first season in the NPFL after gaining promotion definitely brought a lot of attention to many of us and being consistent playing in the league opened the way. We set an unbeaten record of 21 games in the league and everyone had their eyes on us. The league is without a doubt one of the best in Africa and I thank the NPFL board and the NFF for improving the league and giving me the opportunity for the world to see what NPFL players are made of.

You have also been very key to your new club. Do you think your call up is as a result of moving abroad?

No. Six games in Tanzania aren’t enough to earn me a national team call up. The technical department must have been watching me from the NPFL and also the time I was in the U-23 — it all started from the NPFL.

There are seven other defenders in the squad for the friendlies. What are you looking forward to?

Those are seven great guys and seven experienced tanks to draw from. I’m going to learn new things about playing from these guys and also try to improve my game, then leave the rest to the coaches.

How do you see your chances of getting some minutes in the friendlies?

They are friendly matches and the coaches know what they want to get from the matches, so, if called up for some minutes, it’s my duty to give them my best as well. And yes, I know I must put in the work in training to justify my inclusion. Beyond these matches, it is my desire to return with the squad for upcoming matches and I know that means I must be consistent in training and when I get back to my club.

When you get to camp, who is the first person you are going to video call?

Not really one person but my family then Bendel Insurance keeper Amas Obasogie, and Osarenkhoe Imade.

How was your growing up like?

My dad is from Kaduna my mum is from Jos. I was born and brought up in Benin City. As a result, I understand Hausa even if I don’t speak it fluently, and I also understand the Edo dialect.

So far so good, what are the achievements you are proud of in your career?

Getting to where I am is a big achievement for a young player like me, bringing Bendel Insurance from relegation to surprising other big clubs in the NPFL and winning the Federation Cup after about 43 years for the club is also a big achievement. Also, playing in the CAF Confederation Cup is among them. Now, I am moving from being an U-23 player into the senior national team, and in no time, I will have more achievements to point to for Nigeria; that’s my prayer.

Contractors doing shoddy jobs won’t be paid, NDDC warns

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Contractors doing shoddy jobs won’t be paid, NDDC warns

The Niger Delta Development Commission has urged contractors executing its projects to deliver quality jobs before they can qualify for payment.

The Rivers State Representative on the NDDC Board, Chief Tony Okocha, stated this during an interactive session with stakeholders and the contractors at the commission’s office in Port Harcourt.

This was contained in a statement issued in the state on Thursday by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni.

Okocha insisted that contractors who failed to meet the required specifications would not be paid for the projects.

While acknowledging the concerns of the contractors over delays in the payment for completed jobs, he said the Commission might consider an upfront mobilisation fee to contractors to enable them to fast-track their jobs.

Okocha said, “I am coming to your sites with my team of competent engineers to assess the work you are doing and if I find the work to be sub-standard, you will have yourself to blame as the current NDDC board will not compromise on standards.”

He stressed that the Commission would execute projects and programmes in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration that meant well for the people of the Niger Delta region.

He added, “We will create a table of contractors that actually worked and are deserving of payment for their efforts.”

Contributing to the discussion, one of the contractors, Chief Tony Maduabuchi, appealed to the Federal Government to remove the NDDC from the Treasury Single Account, as he complained contractors were not getting proper funding from the Commission due to the TSA.

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Your integrity intact, Tinubu tells Senators

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Your integrity intact, Tinubu tells Senators

…Says killers of slain soldiers’ll not go unpunished

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday told the leadership of the 10th Senate that the integrity of the National Assembly remains intact in the thick of allegations of budget padding over the last few weeks.

He said his administration will always encourage cooperation between the executive and judiciary for the advancement of the nation.

Tinubu said this when he hosted the leadership of the Senate to a dinner on Thursday to break the Ramadan fast at the State House, Abuja.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in a statement released in the early hours of Friday titled ‘President Tinubu: We will not allow anyone to undermine our security; killers of soldiers in Delta State will face certain justice.’

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central, PDP) had alleged that the Tinubu-led government is implementing a budget other than the one approved on January 1, 2024.

Ningi, who chaired the Northern Senators’ Forum and Senate Committee on Population, had contended in a BBC Hausa Service interview that a N25tn budget was debated and passed, not the N28.7tn that is currently being implemented.

He maintained that N3.7tn could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget.

However, at plenary on March 12, the Senate suspended Senator Ningi for three months over this claim.

Reacting to the allegations for the first time in public, Tinubu said, “I know the arithmetic of the budget and the numbers that I brought to the National Assembly, and I know what numbers came back.

“I appreciate all of you for the expeditious handling of the budget. Thank you very much.

“Those who are talking about malicious embellishment in the budget; they did not understand the arithmetic and did not refer to the baseline of what I brought. But your integrity is intact.”

Tinubu thanked the lawmakers, adding that Nigerians are at the “turning corner” of the economic challenges.

“The natural challenge we are facing will be over. On the current economic difficulty, we are about turning the corner.

“Our revenue has improved. All we have to do is to control expenditures and manage ourselves better.

“Light is at the end of the tunnel, and Nigerians will soon smile again,” the President affirmed.

Tinubu also thanked members of the National Assembly for the speedy attention given to the Student Loan Amendment Bill, urging more tolerance, forgiveness, and charity during Ramadan.

He said the perpetrators of the killing of soldiers in Delta State will face certain justice, warning that his administration will not tolerate attacks on the military and security infrastructure.

The President also affirmed that the military would continue to enjoy the support of his administration in neutralising security threats across the country.

“Our armed forces are working hard, and we will not allow attackers to undermine the integrity and value of our armed forces and its leadership.

“We will continue to encourage and fight for our sovereignty, our individual rights to exist, and we will succeed in banishing poverty from our land,’’ the President stated.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, thanked the President for hosting the lawmakers, noting that regular interactions would enhance understanding and productive governance.

“We bring you greetings from the 10th senate. We bring you assurances of continuous collaboration because we believe strongly that for us to have two brothers from the National Assembly as President and Vice-President, and even the Chief of Staff as our member, we have no option but to work with you, and to do everything possible for this administration to succeed,’’ said Akpabio.

Suspected cultists kill pregnant woman, husband in Delta

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Delta prosecutes 22 men for violence against women

Gunmen suspected to be cultists have shot dead one Mr Bobby Kabah and his pregnant wife in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident, which happened on Wednesday night, is coming against the backdrop of the ongoing cult war between members of rival cult groups in the community.

According Metro gathered that the incident has thrown the community into confusion and mourning.

A community source, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, explained that Kabah was relaxing with his pregnant wife at home in Agidiasei quarters when two gunmen walked into his house around 8.35pm and opened fire on them.

He said, “Bobby was at home with his woman because he is nursing an injury in his leg as a result of a motorbike accident he had recently.

“The gunmen entered his home from the back, met him and his pregnant wife and opened fire, killing both of them instantly.”

According Metro reports that the ongoing cult war in Ogwashi-Uku has so far claimed six lives in the last two weeks.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the killings on Thursday.

Edafe said, “Yes, it is confirmed. They are not husband and wife, but they were living together and killed in the same house.

“The Commissioner of Police has ordered to direct the matter to the state CID.”

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Benue Assembly rejects gov’s nominee over Facebook post

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Benue Assembly rejects gov’s nominee over Facebook post

The Benue State House of Assembly, on Thursday, rejected one of the nominees for the membership of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, Vincent Gisaor, for allegedly insulting the Tiv tribe in a Facebook post.

Gisaor was one of the eight nominees for the state electoral commission submitted for screening by Governor Hyacinth Alia a few days ago.

The other nominees are Dr John  Chen (Chairman), Terhemen  Shom, Theodore Uchi, Solomon Deva, Edache Isaac, Gloria Clement, and Peter Ogagbolo.

During the plenary session on Thursday, the lawmaker representing Konshisha State Constituency, Cephas Dyako, called the Assembly’s attention to a Facebook post made by Gisaor.

According to Dyako, the nominee, in the Facebook post, made derogatory remarks about the Tiv ethnic group in the state.

Dyako told the House that: “Mr Gisaor said in Tiv dialect ‘your nyash’ to all the Tiv people in his post, which I find very derogatory from a person of his standing.”

Dyako said one persons who commented on Gisaor’s Facebook post advised him to delete the post and apologise but he refused to do so.

When the nominee was asked to defend himself, he explained that he met an elderly woman during a fight between the Yarev and Ikparev people of Tyo-mu in the Makurdi Local Government Area and it was the woman who insulted the Tiv people while talking to him.

“I was merely quoting the woman but the recording I made of the woman’s reply to me when I asked what caused the fight, unfortunately, got deleted from the post,” Gisaor stated.

But the lawmakers refused to buy Gisaor’s explanation.

All the lawmakers, who contributed to the debate, agreed  that the nominee was not fit to hold such a public office and urged the House not to confirm his nomination.

Ruling, the Speaker, Hyacinth Dajoh, said the nominee never quoted anyone while making the post, so it was assumed that it was his opinion.

The Speaker, therefore, asked the governor to nominate another person in place of Gisaor.

However, of the seven nominees, only Terhemen Shom was confirmed. The House asked the other six members to submit their curriculum vitae which should contain all the records of their educational qualifications before they could be screened.

APC fumes as Adeleke moves to prosecute Oyetola men over

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APC fumes as Adeleke moves to prosecute Oyetola men over

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has set up an eight-man panel that would implement the report and the white paper of the committee that reviewed the contracts awarded by the administration of the immediate past governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola.

The panel, as part of its mandate, will “ensure the prosecution of culprits through relevant agencies and implementing all institutional recommendations to prevent reoccurrence of distortions in contract award.”

The committee has as members the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Oluwole Jimi-Bada; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Dosu Babatunde; Commissioner for Health, Jola Akintola; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr Bashiru Bello; and the Senior Special Assistant on Bureau of Social Services, Bello Sheriff.

Shortly after taking over the reins of government, Adeleke had alleged huge contract corruption by the previous administration. He then set up the contract review committee through an executive order.

A statement by the the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Thursday, said the new panel was charged with enforcing the recommendations of that original review committee and the subsequent white paper approved by the State Executive Council.

“The terms of reference of the panel include enforcing the recommendations in the committee report and white paper, ensuring prosecution of culprits through relevant agencies and implementing all institutional recommendations to prevent recurrence of distortions in contract award and management.

“The committee is expected to commence operations immediately by giving effect to each of the committee recommendations as approved by the State Executive Council.”

When contacted for reaction, the Osun State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Tajudeen Lawal, described the move by the governor as a ploy to cover up his alleged mismanagement of the state resources.

Lawal said it was “funny that an administration that awarded road/flyover contract to the serving deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly without following the due process would now suddenly consider the setting up of an implementation panel of the White Paper on the Contract Review Committee?”

“We wondered why was it a day after our party accused Governor Adeleke of awarding state road/flyover contracts to his brother and nephew that he(Adeleke) suddenly considered it expedient to set up an implementation committee.

“Adeleke should tread softly as Osun people are now wiser and knowledgeable enough to read the true motive of his action meant to unjustifiably victimise the opposition for having the effrontery to catalogue the series of frauds his government is perpetrating against the state in the name of prosecution of legacy projects.”

Army begins CNG conversion of vehicles, trains officers

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Army begins CNG conversion of vehicles, trains officers

The Nigerian Army has trained eleven officers in the operation of 15 newly converted compressed natural gas vehicles.

Disclosing this on Thursday at Bonny Cantonment of the Nigerian Army, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Commander, Corps of Supply and Transport, Maj. Gen. A.A. Adeyinka, said the conversion of the vehicles from petrol and diesel engines to CNG-powered engines would boost the operational efficiency of the force.

Adeyinka, who represented the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, at the event, said the development was an initiative of President Bola Tinubu to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.

Adeyinka said the army on Tuesday had the first leg of the event in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, where the COAS was also represented.

He said, “We are on the second leg of the start of our journey. The first part that was launched in Abuja was the stage of the conversion of the 15 vehicles to CNG compliance. Eleven of our colleagues are undergoing training, comprising the Corps of Supply and Transport as well as the Corps of Mechanical Engineers. At our Lagos centre, we will equally be converting 15 vehicles and having 11 personnel (trained) during the conversion.

“The projects are just the first step in the long journey which the Nigerian Army has availed itself the opportunity of being assisted by the presidential initiative, to ensure that not only the operational efficiency is improved, but also that we are seen to be in compliance with all efforts to ensure that we run our business in a manner that aligns with the global environmental trends.”

He added that the army would ensure that the initiative by President Tinubu “sees the light of the day.”

Some of the vehicles were handed over to the Army at the Bonny Camp by the Project Director, Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi.

While speaking, Oluwagbemi thanked the Army for taking the lead in the initiative by becoming the first national institution to take on the task of converting their fleets in line with the presidential initiative of energy transition in the transport sector.

Oluwagbemi said, “For us at the P-CNGi, it was a noble move to work with the Nigerian Army as they seek to move Nigeria forward. The president recognises the most important need of a nation which is security. Energy security being a part of the overall security of the nation must consider three parameters – availability, affordability and accessibility. In any of these three factors, gas is above PMS and diesel in the Nigerian energy need. Gas is widely available in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.”

Last year, the Federal Government made known its plans to introduce one million CNG-powered vehicles by 2027.

The announcement was made by the Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties and Domestic Affairs, Toyin Subaru, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Bank of Industry headquarters in Abuja.

As part of this initiative, Subaru disclosed that 11,500 CNG-powered buses were expected to be deployed in November.

The move, according to the FG, aimed to address transportation challenges occasioned by fuel subsidy removal and to provide a viable solution to the public.

Police bust fake drink factory in Lagos, arrest four

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Police bust fake drink factory in Lagos, arrest four

The Lagos State Police Command, on Thursday, announced that its operatives busted a fake drink factory in the Agege area of the state and arrested four suspects connected to the illegal factory.

This comes as the police stated they had initiated an investigation into the alleged production and distribution of counterfeit drinks by the suspects.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed this in a brief message on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Thursday.

According to Hundeyin, during the raid, the four suspects believed to be the masterminds behind the illegal distillery were apprehended, and fake drinks were seized, among other items.

Hundeyin further noted that fake drinks, empty bottles, and labels of various brands were also confiscated during the operation.

“Officers of Isokoko Division, acting on credible information, raided a house in Agege where fake alcoholic drinks were being produced.

“The police arrested four people behind the illegal distillery and recovered fake drinks, empty bottles, and labels of different brands. The investigation is ongoing,” the PPRO stated.

Meanwhile, netizens, while reacting to the arrests, emphasised that the circulation of fake drinks could result in the loss of lives of residents of the state.

@MA_Dibola commented, “Wow, that’s some impressive police work! It’s great to hear that the officers of the Isokoko Division acted on credible information and raided a house in Agege where fake alcoholic drinks were being produced. The fact that they arrested four people and recovered fake drinks, empty bottles, and labels of different brands shows their dedication to combating illegal activities. I hope the investigation leads to further actions against those responsible for this illegal distillery.”

@_taymi added, “Good job on this. I think more of this should be continued and should not be taken lightly. People like this should be used as scapegoats.”

@OIvwa stated, “Their criminal tendency is capable of ending Nigerian lives. This is wickedness.”

The According reported in December 2023 that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control intercepted counterfeiters involved in the production of various fake beverages, including wine, soft drinks, and other products estimated at over N750,000,000 in the Eziukwu market in Aba, Abia state.

In the same month, officers attached to the Ojo Division of the Lagos State Police Command arrested two suspects, Magnus Nwonka, 42, and Imo Lawrence, 35, for possessing fake drinks.

The suspects were reported to have led the detectives to a multi-room factory in a filthy environment where the fake drinks were produced.

Group asks Oyebanji to fix roads, deploy surveillance

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Group asks Oyebanji to fix roads, deploy surveillance

A youth group, Ajoni Local Government Youth Group, has said the attack on and killing of two traditional rulers along Oke Ako-Irele Road in their domain by gunmen in January has continued to be a source of concern which calls for heightened security in the area and indeed the state.

Bandits on January 29 along the Irele-Oke Ako Road attacked three traditional rulers and killed two – the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Ogunsakin; and the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Olusola. The third monarch, the Alara of Ara (Ikole), Oba Sunday Fatoba, managed to escape.

The police have arrested one Babuga Lede in connection with the killing of the traditional rulers. Lede is standing trial for alleged conspiracy to kidnap, attempt to murder and murder of the two monarchs.

The ALGOYID Chairman, Emmanuel Olu, in a letter to Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, canvassed the deployment of helicopters or drones for surveillance of the expansive forest in the area.

Olu said the deployment of helicopters for aerial surveillance of the area “will help to detect any suspicious activities and prevent further attacks”.

The youth group, which called for the repair of the roads and fixing of the bad portions that criminals had been taking advantage of, said, “The damaged portions along Ayedun-Irele Road need to be promptly repaired to ensure safe travel for our community members.”

Olu, who called for investigation and justice on the killing of the two traditional rulers, stated, “We urge Your Excellency to launch a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime. This will ensure that justice is served for the lives that have been lost.”

The group also made a case for the security of traditional rulers, saying, “In order to fortify the security of our monarchs, we request that you provide each monarch with a Toyota Hilux vehicle and two armed police officers as official security detail.”

The group lauded Oyebanji for the deployment of soldiers to the state after the ugly incident of bush combing to smoke out the criminals from the bushes and forests in the state.

It stated, “We commend Your Excellency and your entire team for the swift deployment of troops to aid the security personnel in their work. We urge continued efforts in this regard to comb and flush out the criminals from the forests where they are hiding. This will help to restore peace and security in our community.”

Navy deploys seven ships, two helicopters for maritime safety

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Navy deploys seven ships, two helicopters for maritime safety

The Nigerian Navy, on Thursday, deployed seven ships and two helicopters to provide effective maritime search and rescue services on Nigerian waters.

The deployment included other facilities and patrol vessels of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.

The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, flagged off the operation codenamed `Exercise Swift Response’, onboard the Nigerian Navy Ship, KADA.

Hassan said the exercise was to provide effective maritime search and rescue services to reduce the loss of lives and property.

He said, “This exercise involves the deployment of suitable naval assets, equipped for maritime disaster management operations.

“The exercise is aimed at contributing to the safety of lives at sea in Nigeria’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea by providing prompt and timely response to maritime accidents.

“The exercise will afford ships in the western fleet the opportunity to reevaluate their information-sharing capabilities through effective communication and also test their capabilities for carrying out rescue missions at sea.

“It will also equally assess the capabilities of the Nigerian Navy in surveillance and special air operations, among others.”

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