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PSG wins despite Messi’s return, Ramos’ goal, and Messi’s return

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Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 4-0 victory over Reims on Sunday, restoring their Ligue 1 lead to 11 points. Lionel Messi returned, and another marquee signing Sergio Ramos scored.

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino said, “We had a good game, we took three points.”

Nice had previously closed the gap with a 2-0 victory over Metz. Three of the teams close behind them, however, were defeated.

Messi started on the bench after returning from Covid, while Kylian Mbappe returned to the starting lineup after a groin strain, and Ramos made his first league start of the season.

PSG took the lead in the final minute of a sluggish first half, with Marco Verratti scoring his first Ligue 1 goal since May 2017.

Pochettino said, “It’s good that a player who doesn’t score often does.”

After the break, PSG picked up the pace.

Ramos scored his first goal for the club after joining from Real Madrid in the summer. When a loose ball from a PSG corner fell to the central defender, he was the first to react. After Predrag Rajkovic parried his first shot, the Spaniard reacted quickly to slam home the rebound.

“I’m pleased to have played 90 minutes, and I’m particularly pleased because it’s my first goal with PSG; I hope there will be many more,” Ramos said.

“I’ve been playing regularly with the group for three weeks,” he said. “With the cup, league, and Champions League on the horizon, now is the best time to get in shape.”

Pochettino was pleased with his team’s performance.

“It’s fortunate that he scored as well as Marco. “He played well,” the manager said.

That goal not only brought Ramos level with Messi in terms of league goals this season, but it also signaled Pochettino’s decision to send Messi on.

Messi set up Verratti for a shot that deflected off two defenders and into the top corner in the 67th minute.

PSG matched their biggest league win of the season with a fourth goal from Danilo Pereira.

Earlier in the day, Khephren Thuram’s goal gave Nice a crucial 2-0 away win over Metz, allowing them to reclaim second place.

Khephren, the 20-year-old son of World Cup winner Lilian, scored in the 58th minute, and Amine Gouiri’s late penalty kick sealed the win with a cheeky Panenka.

Nice now has a three-point lead over bitter south coast rivals Marseille, who are two points behind in third place and have a game in hand.

“We’re still too far behind (PSG) to consider first place.” “What’s coming up behind us concerns me more,” Nice coach Christophe Galtier said.

“It’s all about getting points, which can be difficult when your opponent is fighting relegation.”

‘Perfect game,’ says the player.
Strasbourg were defeated 4-3 by Bordeaux, who were lifted out of the bottom three thanks to a hat-trick from Hwang Ui-Jo.

Bordeaux, who had failed to score in three league and cup games this season while conceding ten goals, scored three goals in the first 38 minutes, but had to work hard for their win after their defense conceded three goals.

“Hwang played flawlessly, bailing us out on several occasions.” Bordeaux’s under-threat coach Vladimir Petkovic said, “He’s had some difficulties in the last few games, so I’m very happy that he’s back.”

Read also: ACB building in Lagos has been ordered to be taken over by the court.

“I’m sorry we allowed three goals,” Petkovic said. “We played very well in the first half, but the fear of losing the game took over.”

Rennes took an 18th-minute lead at Clermont with a goal by Baptiste Santamaria, but they squandered several other opportunities and paid the price in the second half.

Lucas Da Cunha, a former Rennes player, equalized in the 59th minute, and Jordan Tell scored in the 70th minute.

Montpellier climbed to sixth place after a 3-2 victory over Monaco.

Stephy Mavididi scored twice, with the winner coming in stoppage time, after Elye Wahi gave the home team a 13th-minute lead.

Wissam Monaco fell to seventh place after goals from Ben Yedder and Vanderson.

ACB building in Lagos has been ordered to be taken over by the court.

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The Tinubu Magistrate Court in Lagos has ordered the takeover of the entire 12-story African Continental Bank (ACB) Building, including its appurtenances, which is located at 106/108 Broad Street in Lagos.

Chief Magistrate Adedamola Paul of Tinubu Magistrate Court in Lagos issued the order on December 14, 2021.

The chief magistrate ruled that the Consolidated Discount Limited is the bona fide owner of the entire building known as the African Continental Bank (ACB) Building with its appurtenances, known as No. 106/108, Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State, according to the judgment.

The matter was specifically adjourned for cross-examination and defense, the court said at the conclusion of the claimant’s case.

“However, the defendants remained unrepresented and unrepresented by legal counsel.” In this case, the claimant’s case was determined to be uncontested and closed.

“As it stands, I am convinced that the claimant’s Attorney has presented cogent, convincing, and sufficient evidence to hold that the property in its aforesaid deplorable state is in dire need of outright substantial, compellable repairs, and I believe it is justifiable to make such a declaration in the circumstances.”

“In general, given the alarmingly high frequency of building collapses and the resulting avoidable human deaths, a court confronted with a case exhibiting these ominous and precarious characteristics has a fundamental judicial responsibility to use its vantage point and the law as proactive social engineering instruments.”

“In addition, I am convinced that this is one of the few critical circumstances in which this court can proactively and justifiably invoke the provisions of section 45 (l)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the overwhelming interest of public safety.”

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“I am reasonably convinced that the claimant has sufficiently proved its case against the defendants to deserve judgment relatively as claimed,” the magistrate concluded, based on the claimant’s Attorney’s overwhelming uncontradicted evidence and satisfactory proofs of service of all pre-requisite statutory processes on the defendants.

The court therefore ordered that the defendants vacate and relinquish possession of the entire building known as the African Continental Bank (ACB) building, herein in issue with its appurtenances, located at No. 106/108, Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State, to the claimant immediately for urgent abatement of nuisance and outright protective restoration purposes.

“In the event that the defendants refuse and or fail to vacate and relinquish possession as adjudged,” the court continued, “the Deputy Sheriff of the High Court of Lagos State is hereby authorised and directed to enter the said premises and enforce possession, as well as to take inventory and custody of any movable valuable found therein.”

“In the alternative, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA) or any other applicable Statutory state authority is directed to take all reasonable measures to ensure and or enforce the immediate evacuation of the defendants from the said premises,” the court ruled.

Proposed Customs $3.1b modernisation debt trap, according to ANLCA

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The proposed $3.1 billion customs modernisation deal, according to the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), is a debt trap that should be avoided.

Iju Tony Nwabunike, the National President of the ANLCA, stated this in Lagos over the weekend, urging President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, not to sign the deal.

Nwabunike warned on the sidelines of an ANLCA National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that the country is already in debt and should avoid entering into a deal that would bind her to pay back for a service of lesser value for a period of 20 years.

The ANLCA’s president also urged the National Assembly to scrutinize the agreement in detail.

“We also want to caution the Federal Government before agreeing to the $3.1 billion Customs modernisation project, which, according to reports, will last 20 years.” We strongly advise President Muhammadu Buhari and the Finance Minister to reject the deal.

“Nigeria is already in serious debt, and customs, as a non-oil revenue generator for the government, should not be tied to another two-decade repayment schedule.”

“On this, we urge the National Assembly to examine the details closely and ensure that the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Nigeria Customs Service, and all other parties involved exercise due diligence to avoid trapping the country in another 20-year debt repayment for a lesser value.”

He bemoaned the fact that newly imported scanners for use at ports under the modernisation project were not deployed until months after they arrived in the country.
Nwabunike, who also criticized the NCS’s N4.1 trillion target for 2022, said the figure is exorbitant and will result in poor economic performance due to undue double taxation, which will frustrate businesses.

He suggested that instead of such a high revenue target, the NCS should focus on trade facilitation, as suggested by the Permanent Secretary of the Finance Ministry during a recent public hearing on the amendment of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA)

He went on to say that the high target will put the NCS under a lot of pressure to collect a lot of money, which will jeopardize the service’s ability to facilitate trade.

According to him, pursuing higher revenue while failing to strengthen trade will result in greater losses for the country because investments will be threatened, reduced, or eliminated as a result of the country’s harsh taxation regime.

In response to the charge of tenure elongation leveled against him, he stated that the ANLCA amended the constitution in December 2020 at a duly convened Annual General Meeting in Owerri, adopting a single tenure of five years.

Read also: Shuaibu Ibrahim drums more support for NYSC Trust Fund

He claimed that the single five-year term begins with his administration’s implementation of the amended constitution, which barred him from seeking a second term as he had previously desired.

He described the AGM decision as a bitter pill he had to swallow and a personal sacrifice he had to make in order to keep leadership separate from selfish ambition.

He described the alleged misinformation about tenure elongation as the work of suspended and expelled mischief makers misinterpreting an outdated constitution to cause confusion, while reminding ANLCA members and other stakeholders that his term will expire in April 2023.

He stated that if genuine remorse and repentance are shown by those who have been expelled or suspended, the ANLCA is willing to reconsider its previous decision and grant them amnesty and readmission into the organization.

Shuaibu Ibrahim drums more support for NYSC Trust Fund

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…says Scheme generated over N1Billion to Federation Account in the last fiscal year

NYSC Director-General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim has appealed to the Federal Government to grant approval for the establishment of NYSC Trust Fund for the benefit of Corps Members.

The bill on the proposed Trust Fund has passed the second reading at the House of Representatives, Abuja.

The DG who stated this today in Abuja while on a live programme, “Journalists’ Hangout”, said the Trust Fund if actualised, would help to reinvigorate the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme, as it would empower more Corps Members with start-up capitals for their business initiatives at the end of their service year, which in turn would lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty, given the fact that the businesses to be established will employ millions of Nigerians, thereby taking them off the labour market.

General Ibrahim said the Fund would address the infrastructural deficit in the Scheme, such as the upgrade of facilities at the NYSC Orientation Camps; training and retraining of personnel, among others.

He appealed to the Federal Government to modify the school curriculum and introduce Entrepreneurship training whereby students would have been exposed to vocational studies before their deployment for National Service.

The Director-General assured that the Scheme would continue to utilise the potentials of Corps Members for national development through its ventures like; the NYSC Bakery, NYSC Water Factory, NYSC Farms, NYSC Film, NYSC Radio, among others.

He commended members of the House of Representatives for allowing the bill to pass the second reading, adding that Corps Members have been involved in several national assignments with commendation from members of the public.

NYSC Trust Fund: Centre hails National Assembly over second reading of bill

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…urges Presidency to sign bill after legislative processes

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has applauded the National Assembly for ensuring that the Bill seeking to establish the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund passed second reading.

Sponsored by Samuel Akinfolarin, the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill 2021 passed the first reading at the House of Representatives on Thursday after initially scaling through the first on December 16, 2021.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Joyce Ogwu, on Sunday, the group expressed satisfaction with the attention the Bill is receiving.

According to her, this is proof that the legislators are concerned about the state of unemployment in the country and will do anything possible to support credible initiatives to put the interest of the youths forward at all times.

The proposed fund is expected to provide sustainable source of funds for NYSC, skill acquisition training and provision of start-up capital to corps members, train and retrain the personnel of the NYSC, develop camps and NYSC formations and provide facilities therein.

It would also improve the general welfare of corps members and personnel of the scheme and enhance their preparedness to effectively discharge their statutory duties of promoting national unity, integration, self-reliance and accelerated development of the national economy.

The proposed law would, therefore, provide a legal framework for management and control of the special intervention fund established under Section 3 of the Act.

And Ogwu believes the institutional funding agency under the auspices of the NYSC will rapidly produce hundreds of thousands of skilled youthful manpower who will also be empowered economically to generate wealth and create employment opportunities.

She, therefore, called for a speedy and seamless legislative process on the Bill by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila to enable the executive to sign it into law.

Ogwu, however, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent the Bill as soon it leaves the National Assembly.

Breaking: Prof. Sani Abubakar slumps and dies in Kaduna, Nigeria. [PHOTO]

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Muhammad Sani Abubakar, a professor of renewable energy and molecular physics at Kaduna State University (KASU), has died, according to POLITICS NIGERIA.

Prof. Abubakar, who was 67 years old, died on Friday afternoon.

He was said to have collapsed on the KASU campus and was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Since then, he has been buried according to Islamic customs.

Prof. Abubakar attended Danja Primary School in Katsina for his primary education before moving on to Government Secondary School in Funtua (now Government College Funtua). He then went on to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria to study Physics before receiving a scholarship to Ohio State University in the United States, where he earned a PhD in Nuclear Physics.

Read also: Kaduna youths receive armed combat training in wake of bandit attack

Before retiring, the deceased worked at the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as Director of Programs and Acting Executive Secretary. Following his retirement, he was appointed Director of the National Board for Technical and Vocational Education’s Centre for Technical and Vocational Education, and then to the Department of Physics at Kaduna State University, where he became Professor of Renewable Energy and Molecular Physics.

Prof. Abubakar leaves behind two wives, ten children, and a slew of grandchildren.

Kaduna youths receive armed combat training in wake of bandit attack

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The Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, has trained 103 youths in armed combat and intelligence gathering in Plateau and parts of Kaduna and Bauchi states.

The training is part of the military’s efforts to combat insecurity in Kaduna state’s southern regions.

The trainees were honored at the OPSH Sector 7 Command in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area, Kaduna State, with a graduation ceremony.

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The formation and training of the civilians was informed by the displacement of some communities by bandits in 2021, according to the sector’s commander, Col. Timothy Opurum, who spoke at the trainees’ graduation on Saturday.

“The displacement of people living in Jankasa and Kachechere villages under Ungwan Gaya District prompted this training,” he explained.

“When I took over, I discovered that no one lived in those areas as a result of an incident that occurred there last year.”

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“I drew these youths from among all the indigenes who had been displaced from that place and provided them with basic training based on that.”

“This is to allow the people to reclaim their lands, especially as a new farming season approaches,” he added.

According to Opurum, security is a collective responsibility, which is why residents must be involved in the fight against crime.

“Security is everyone’s business, and no single organization can claim to have a monopoly on it.”

“It is on this basis that we believe there is a need to assist the community in establishing a secure environment conducive to socioeconomic development.”
“We may not be able to completely eliminate crime, but we can reduce it to the bare minimum if we work together,” he said.

Read Also:  Riots erupt in Kogi as police officer accused of killing a boy over N20 sachet of water

According to him, the civilian joint task force is made up of young people from various ethnic groups and religious backgrounds.

Members of the civilian joint task force will collaborate under the command’s control and supervision.

Riots erupt in Kogi as police officer accused of killing a boy over N20 sachet of water

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On Saturday morning, chaos reigned in the Kabba area of Kogi State after a young boy was killed by an unidentified police officer over N20 sachet water.
According to reports, the boy’s death sparked a large protest in Kabba town by angry young people in the area.

Read Also:  FAAC pays N699.8bn to Nigerian govt, states, local govts in December

It was also learned that protesters barricaded the police station in Kabba, chanting war songs while law enforcement agents used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
According to eyewitness accounts, the boy was allegedly drinking from a sachet of water belonging to the police officer when he was killed.
On Saturday, the incident was confirmed by Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka.
According to Egbuka, the accused officer only tried to defend himself after an altercation with the victim, according to a preliminary report.

Read Also:  PDP chair, ex-governors, NWC in closed-door meeting with Obasanjo

The state’s Commissioner of Police has stated that an investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the killing.

PDP chair, ex-governors, NWC in closed-door meeting with Obasanjo

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is in a closed-door meeting with Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, four former governors, and members of the party’s National Working Committee at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

At about 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, Ayu, the four former governors, and other NWC members arrived at the former President’s Pent House residence, which is located within his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

Peter Obi, the PDP Vice Presidential candidate in the 2019 election; former governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Liyel Imoke (Cross River); and Donald Duke are among the members of the team (Cross River).

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The entourage included Taofeek Arapaja, the PDP’s Deputy National Chairman for the South, and other party officials.

Obasanjo was not at home when the team arrived because he was attending an interdenominational service for the burial of the late Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu.

Read Also:  FAAC pays N699.8bn to Nigerian govt, states, local govts in December

However, Obasanjo later joined the PDP chieftains who had taken up residence in one of the rooms in the Obasanjo Library’s penthouse.
The meeting was still going on when some supporters of the party from the southwest arrived at the OOPL.

Details will be provided later…

FAAC pays N699.8bn to Nigerian govt, states, local govts in December

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For the month of December 2021, the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) distributed N699.82 billion to the three tiers of government.

This was announced in a communique released on Friday following a virtual FAAC meeting scheduled for January 2022.

The total distributable revenue of N699.824 billion was made up of N507.267 billion in distributable statutory revenue, N187.4 billion in distributable Value Added Tax revenue, and N5.148 billion in exchange gain.

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The total deductions for cost of collection in December 2021 were N30 billion, and the total deductions for statutory transfers, refunds, and savings were N36.64 billion. The Excess Crude Account had a balance of $35.36 million.

The communiqué also states that the federal government received N279.457 billion, state governments received N221.19 billion, and local government councils received N163.87 billion from the total distributable revenue of N699.82 billion.

As a result of the 13 percent derivation revenue, a total of N35.29 billion was distributed to the relevant states.

For the month, N507.26 billion in distributable statutory revenue was available.

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The federal government received N248.88 billion, state governments N126.23 billion, and local government councils N97.32 billion from this. As a result of the 13 percent derivation revenue, a total of N34.82 billion was distributed to the relevant states.

The gross revenue available from VAT in December 2021 was N201.25 billion. This was N5.08 billion more than the N196.175 billion available in November 2021.