FOOTBALL: Mikel Obi told to join NPFL club like Ahmed Musa

 

Veteran Nigerian coach, Henry Makinwa, has advised John Obi Mikel to consider joining a club in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

According to him, it would be a “massive win” for the Nigerian topflight.

Mikel signed for Championship side Stoke City on a short-term deal after leaving Turkish Super Lig outfit Trabzonspor last year.

However, his contract with the Potters expires at the end of the 2020/2021 campaign.

Makinwa has now encouraged the former Super Eagles captain to borrow a leaf from Ahmed Musa, who is currently with former NPFL champions, Kano Pillars.

“That would be highly welcomed if he can consider that option.

“I once wrote about this many years back but that could not stand then. If he does that, we will welcome him back home.

“It would be a massive win for the NPFL and the local fans,” Makinwa told Goal.

FOOTBALL: EPL. Solskjaer congratulates Man City on winning title following Man Utd’s defeat

 

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has congratulated Manchester City on their Premier League title win.

City were confirmed champions following United’s 2-1 loss to Leicester City.

The result left Solskjaer’s men 10 points behind their cit rivals with three games remaining.

The strength in depth available to Pep Guardiola has no doubt helped in their charge to a third domestic title in four years, and Solskjaer conceded it was something United must strive towards if they are to catch their rivals next season.

Asked whether having 10 players of quality on the bench is the target, Solskjaer told BT Sport: “You know if you want to take up the challenge with them of course we need to strengthen our squad.

“Congratulations to them, they’ve had a fantastic season.

“Very pleased with my boys, because they’ve made it into the last 10 days of the season with a Man City team ahead of us that are lauded as the best in Europe, so we’ve done well.

“But we want to take the next step and it might be that we need a couple more to have a strong squad [for next season].”

Troops, Boko Haram insurgents exchange bullets in Borno

 

Boko Haram insurgents on Monday attempted to overrun Maiduguri, the Borno state capital in northeast Nigeria.

The terrorists, who earlier promised not to strike in this month of Ramadan, were repelled by Nigerian troops, after a gunfire at Jiddari Polo area of Maiduguri, their usual entry point from the Sambisa forest.

DAILY POST gunshots lasted for almost an hour before reinforcement arrived and the militants were repelled.

Residents, who fled their homes are gradually returning under security checks to ensure no terrorist sneaks with the returning residents.

Many who were preparing to go for shopping and others for prayers, were said to have been trapped either at home or in the mosque when the terrorists started shooting Tuesday afternoon.

Eid-El Fitr: Police deploy 2,161 personnel, ban tricycle riders, fireworks in Plateau

 

The Plateau State Police Command in its quest to ensure a hitch free Eid-El Fitr celebrations, has deployed 2,161 personnel.

The Command has also imposed a ban on the use of tricycles (Keke) during the two-day celebration, within Jos metropolis and Bukuru areas of the state.

It further urged Muslims adherents to ensure that COVID-19 preventive protocols are observed.

The Command disclosed this through its Spokesperson, ASP Gabriel Ogaba, saying it has fine-tuned strategies to ensure a crime free Sallah celebration across the State.

Ogaba said, “The Command shall deploy a total of 2,161 personnel to detect and prevent crime as well as control traffic.

“There will be prayers on all Eid grounds, Area/Ward Mosques exception of the Rukuba Road praying ground.

“Muslim faithful should adhere to COVID-19 protocols such as social distancing, use of hand sanitizers and wearing of face mask.

“Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 will be moving round to ensure compliance.

“There is a total ban on the use of tricycles (Keke) during these periods (Wednesday 12th May, 2021) within Jos metropolis and Bukuru areas of the state.”

The Command also warned that, “All recreational centers such as the National Museum, Zoo, Wildlife Park, etc in the State will be closed down for Wednesday 12th and Thursday, 13th May, 2021.

“The ban on the sale and use of fireworks such as knockout, bangers and other explosives is still in force and violators will face the wrath of the law”, it further warned.

The Command urged parents and guardians to counsel their children/wards not to indulge in drugs/substance abuse as well as any other form of anti social activities.

 

Eil-el-Fitri: Police deploy personnel to mosques, Eid praying grounds, strategic points in Osun

 

The Osun State Police Command has deployed personnel for special duties at the Mosques, Eid praying grounds, recreations/shopping centres and strategic points to nip in the bud all the criminal activities that might arise.

This is as the command said it police personnel have been lectured to be civil and to exhibit a high level of professionalism during the festival period.

To ensure that the coming Eid-el Fitri celebration celebrated peacefully, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode said he has put in place adequate security mechanisms as Muslim Faithfuls during the festive.

Olokode assured the people of the state of adequate visibility policing and constant vehicular patrols.

In a statement signed by the police spokesperson in the state, SP Yemisi Opalola, assured the good people of the state and all travelers of the readiness of the state command to guarantee safety of lives and property in all parts of the State during this period and beyond.

The police boss appealed to members of the public for their cooperation and collaboration with the personnel detailed for this special assignment and other vehicles on patrol duties put in place to curb any act of crime and criminality.

He enjoined members of the public to comport themselves within the ambit of the law and they should be vigilant and promptly report any suspicious movement or infraction of the law to the Police for immediate action through these numbers: 08039537995 & 08123823981.

15 terrorists killed in Maiduguri

 

Following the attempt by some Boko Haram elements to overrun Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Tuesday, the police anti-terrorists squad said they have successfully neutralised over 16 of them, while many others escaped with gunshot wounds.

The insurgents at the beginning of the Ramadan fasting promised not to attack during the period but failed to keep to their promise.

DAILY POST reports that insurgents on gun truck and motorcycles came into Maiduguri through Jiddari Polo axis with the intention of overrunning the city as Muslims prepared to break their fast as well as making last minutes preparation for the celebrations of sallah but meet their waterloo as a team of police anti-terrorists squad got some intelligence ahead of their coming.

“It was a bad day for the terrorists but we are also scared to death as we were trapped in between flying bullets in our house. The terrorists have passed our house and we first thought they were soldiers but soon we realised that it was the Boko Haram insurgents,” a resident of Maiduguri told newsmen.

The anti-terrorists squad team led by CSP Mohammed Ibrahim said they got the filers and waited for them to come but the fight was fierce until reinforcement came in a joint force, which pushed the terrorists out of the city.

The police boss said the terrorists came with armored personnel carriers and began shooting sporadically to scare residents and create confusion in the city but failed to operate on good strategy as police operatives opened fire on them from all directions, leaving them to scamper for safety.

“Immediately the terrorists sighted the police team, they attempted to escape. While pursuing them, the police armored personnel carrier overran and killed some of them on the spot.

“We counted at least eight dead bodies while many others were scattered to pieces. As we speak, their bodies are at Jidari Polo. It was actually a bad outing for the terrorists,” the Police boss added.

ASR Africa provides N5billion Health and Social Development grant to Akwa Ibom, Nigeria

 

AKWA IBOM 07 May 2021 – The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) has provided a N5billion grant to the Akwa Ibom State Government targeted at healthcare and social development as 

part of its annual $100 million dollars Annual Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal. This was announced during a presentation of the grant award letter by ASR Africa to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel in Uyo, Thursday.

Speaking at the presentation, Kabiru Rabiu, representing the Chairman of ASR Africa and BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, commended Governor Udom for his strides in upgrading the State healthcare 

infrastructure and referral system at the Primary and Secondary levels, as well as the state’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic for which the BUA Foundation donated 5 ambulances and 50,000 reusable 

facemasks during the pandemic, and which were distributed to students and vulnerable groups across the state. He disclosed that the project initiation process and development of mutual accountability 

frameworks to guide the grant usage will commence immediately whilst adding that ASR Africa has also approved the immediate and initial disbursement of N2.5billion from the total sum to a jointly managed fund guaranteeing the commencement of the programme.

L-R: Kabiru Rabiu, representing the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) presenting an ASR Africa Grant Award Letter for a N5billion healthcare and social development grant for Akwa Ibom state to Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom in Uyo on Thursday.

In his remarks, Governor Udom praised the Founder of the Initiative, Abdul Samad Rabiu for his consistent commitment to social good and philanthropy. He also added that the projects to be funded by the grant will be jointly approved and implemented in line with the ASR Africa Grants Utilisation 

Framework. Furthermore, Governor Udom said that the state will continue to do more to boost social development and improve the healthcare infrastructure for its citizens considering the great strides have already been made.

While reiterating the purpose of ASR Africa, Ubon Udoh, Managing Director of ASR Africa said, “The initiative’s core areas of intervention are Education, Health and Social Development in Africa and our 

main focus is on equipping facilities, researchers, healthcare practitioners and community-level service providers and also supporting the efforts of various Governments in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

“The purpose of this initiative is to give back to the society. ASR Africa has set aside100million dollars annually for social development, health and education intervention in Nigeria and Africa through the ASR Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal. Of this amount, 50million dollars is being 

committed to Nigeria and another $50million for the rest of Africa. Prior to now,, the initiative had donated N1billion each to the University of Ibadan, Oyo State and the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State under our education intervention programme.. Akwa Ibom state will be the first sub-

national government to benefit from this Fund as well as the first to benefit from the healthcare component. We are currently evaluating other beneficiaries within Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

ABOUT ASR AFRICA 

 The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative seeks to support sustainable development initiatives in the Health, Education and Social Development within Nigeria and the rest of Africa, every year. For more information visit asrafrica.org or email asrafrica[at]buagroup[dot]com