Category: Featured

By Our Reporter

Steve Eboh, Nollywood actor and Chairman of National Electoral Committee of the Actors Guild of Nigeria(AGN), has pledged the committee’s commitment to ensure that the forthcoming election for the guild is credible.

Eboh, popularly known as Ajebo, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to him, the election is slated to take place at the 2019 National Convention of the AGN scheduled to hold on Oct. 30 to 31 in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom.

He explained that having passed through leadership crisis in the recent past, it was imperative to have an election that would produce leaders that would build on the success recorded by the current executives of the guild.

“As an electoral committee, we are determined to have credible elections in Uyo, in order to build a strong, united and peaceful guild for Nigerian actors.

“We are expecting nine delegates from every state, apart from observers, because constitutionally, we operate the guild with nine executives both at the state and national levels.

“There is office of the president and nine other positions to be contested for, including six zonal vice presidents coming from the six geo-political zones,” he explained.

Eboh, a former vice president and former chairman National Caretaker Committee of the AGN, also said that a new constitution would also be unveiled by the guild at the conference.

He noted that besides the election, the conference would present an opportunity for interaction between the actors, relevant stakeholders and their fans.

“Particularly, interactions of the stars with the public and their fans, and there would be a novelty football match also.

“There is a going to be presentation of a documentary of what the present government of National Unity has done within the last two years.

Also, Sani Danja, ace actor and musician and member of the electoral committee, said that there was need to have a formidable guild for Nigerian actors.

He, therefore, urged all delegates to attend the conference and participate in the forth coming elections.

After successive factional leadership crisis , the AGN in August 2017 had a Peace and Reconciliation Conference in Awka, Anambra, in which an open election was also conducted.

Its current president, Emeka Rollas, and other executives were then elected to serve a two-year term, with the first mandate of healing the ‘wounds’ of the past and reconciling warring factions.(NAN)

By Our Reporter

Santos missed a chance to close the gap on Brazilian league leaders Flamengo on Sunday after suffering a 2-0 Serie A defeat at Atletico Mineiro in Belo Horizonte.

Luan put the home side ahead in the second minute with a left-foot strike and then Leonardo Silva doubled their lead midway through the first half when he headed home a corner kick.

Third-placed Santos started the day 10 points behind leaders Flamengo and two behind second-place Palmeiras.

Flamengo stretched their lead when they beat Fluminense 2-0 in the Rio derby later on Sunday, while Palmeiras are away to Athletico Paranaense.

Atletico Mineiro are in 12th place with 35 points.(Reuters/NAN)

By Our Reporter

Olympique Marseille broke into the Ligue 1 top four after goals from Boubacar Kamara and Kevin Strootman gave them a 2-0 home win over struggling Strasbourg on Sunday.

In the day’s early fixtures, Monaco eased their relegation woes with a last-gasp 3-2 defeat of Rennes while Girondins Bordeaux suffered a 1-0 setback against visiting St Etienne.

Kamara netted a third minute opener for 1993 European Cup champions Marseille, blasting a deflected shot past goalkeeper Matz Sels.

This came after Strasbourg failed to clear a low free-kick driven into the area from the left.

The home side then missed several chances as Croatian defender Duje Caleta-Car and Serbia winger Nemanja Radonjic hit the woodwork while Argentine Dario Benedetto scuffed a close-range shot wide.

Dutch midfielder Strootman sealed the win with a stoppage-time penalty kick after Benedetto was brought down by a visiting defender.

The result left Marseille fourth on 16 points from 10 games while Strasbourg stayed bottom on nine points.

Wissam Ben Yedder scored a 90th minute winner for Monaco to cap a memorable evening.

That was after he had given his side an early lead in a rollercoaster, as the visitors hit back through Faitout Maouassa and Adrien Hunou.

Algeria striker Islam Slimani, on loan at Monaco from Leicester City, levelled in the 56th minute.

Ben Yedder then delighted the home fans as the principality side moved up to 14th place, two points clear of the bottom three.

A 90th minute penalty kick from Denis Bouanga gave St Etienne a surprise win at sixth-placed Bordeaux and allowed the visitors to move up to 10th place. (Reuters/NAN)

By Our Reporter

A stunning stoppage time equaliser from Lecce’s Marco Calderoni denied Stefano Pioli a win on his debut as AC Milan coach.

His side were held to a 2-2 home draw in Serie A on Sunday.

Hakan Calhanoglu smashed in the opening goal during an impressive first half from the hosts, but Lecce drew level after the break through Khouma Babacar.

Substitute Krzysztof Piatek restored AC Milan’s lead with nine minutes remaining, but Calderoni’s long-range pile-driver in the second minute of stoppage time levelled the scores.

Former Inter Milan coach Pioli made his debut in the AC Milan dugout after succeeding sacked boss Marco Giampaolo earlier this month.

The draw leaves his side in 12th place on 10 points, three ahead of 15th-placed Lecce.(Reuters/NAN)

By Our Reporter

The journey from the bench to the pundit’s studio is so quick in the modern game that some could be forgiven for thinking Manchester United had two managers after Sunday’s game.

Manchester United had a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford.

So, after Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp criticised Manchester United’s tactics and said their opening goal should have been ruled out for a foul, he received a surprising response.

It came not only from his Manchester United counterpart Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but also Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho was in charge of the club until he was sacked in December last year.

Klopp had made some pointed comments about the way Solskjaer set Manchester United up with a 5-3-2 formation and the way they focused on frustrating his side.

They had won all eight of their previous matches in the 2019/2020 English Premier League (EPL).

“Manchester United had momentum in the first half because they were purely there to defend against us,” said Klopp, who has yet to win at Old Trafford with Liverpool.

“Since I’m in England Manchester United always played like this,” he continued.

“I’m not the person who should be frustrated by Manchester United’s style. In the last years they just defend. That’s how it is, it’s no criticism, it’s just a fact,” he added.

“When you think Manchester United versus Liverpool, you think both teams attacking. But it’s not,” he said.

Solskjaer rejected the suggestion his team were defensive, saying they had been set up to pressure and attack.

And, he quickly received some support from his predecessor, who was more than once accused of “parking the bus” at Anfield.

Mourinho said Klopp had clearly not enjoyed the way Manchester United made the game difficult for Liverpool.

“He didn’t like the menu. He likes meat and he got fish. So, he was not happy,” said Mourinho, who noted that Solskjaer’s tactics had worked.

“They are of course much stronger against opponents who give them a chance of transitions and counter-attacks. Manchester United didn’t do that. And he didn’t like the menu.”

“They were organised. They had a plan. You can agree or disagree, but they had a game plan, they stuck to it.

“If I was Ole I would be proud, and a little bit frustrated, because I think the boys gave everything,” said Mourinho who had heard his name sung by Manchester United fans in the Stretford end.

Klopp was also upset that referee Martin Atkinson had not seen what he considered a foul by Victor Lindelof on Divock Origi

This was at the start of the move that led to Manchester United’s goal.

The German was annoyed that VAR had not overturned the goal but Solskjaer, unsurprisingly perhaps, felt the referee was correct in his verdict.

“Foul? No chance. We’re not playing basketball. He touched him, but it’s not a clear and obvious error,” he said.(Reuters/NAN)

By Our Reporter

Combined troops of Operation Thunder Strike, Operation Whirl Punch and 312 Artillery Regiment have destroyed two bandits camps in Kaduna State, spokesman of Army 1 Division,
Col. Ezindu Idimah, has said.

Idamah said the operation was carried out from about 2am to 4am on Sunday following credible information from well meaning Nigerians.

“The offensive action was aimed at destroying remnants of bandits and their camps at Kankomi, close to Tantu and Daban Goje Mountains in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State,” Idamah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

“During the operation, the troops destroyed the two camps used by the bandits to perpetrate their nefarious activities.

“One of the bandits was neutralised while one AK47 riffle, 3 motorcycles, 2 mobile phones, and the sum of N5,000 were recovered.”

Idimah said, “this is the fourth time within the last 10 days that the troops aggressive action had neutralised bandits and led to the recovery of arms and rescue of victims.”(NAN)

By Our Reporter

The House Committee Chairman on Foreign Affairs, Rep. Yusuf Buba, says President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to promoting foreign investment and industrialisation in Nigeria.

Buba spoke at the inauguration of the Floating Glass Production Line of CNG Glass Nigeria FTZE on Friday in Ota, Ogun.

The production line located in Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, has a daily melting capacity of 500 tons.

He said the president had taken steps in the four and half years of his administration to attract foreign investments and industrialise the country.

The House Committee chairman described the floating glass production line as one of the results of the enabling environment the Federal Government was creating to promote investment.

Buba commended the Ogun-Guangdong FTZ for promoting industrialisation and CNG Glass for deeming it convenient to establish the factory and create jobs.

He said that the legislature would continue to engage the executive to attract investments and improve operating environment.

”One of the cardinal objectives of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government is to see that Nigeria becomes an industrialised nation.

”This is what the government has been doing in the past four years, trying to create an enabling environment for companies like this to operate freely and successfully.

”We want to assure the management of Ogun Guangdong FTZ, CNG Glass and other companies in the zone and elsewhere, of government ‘s support in terms of security, infrastructure and others so that they can thrive,” he said.

Buba said that establishment of the glass production line was another plus for the economic relations between China and Nigeria.

He said the two countries were strategic partners in many areas, adding that he was optimistic of more positive results from the partnership.

The committee chairman said he was elated by the setting up of the factory, adding that it would not only improve glass supply, but create jobs for young Nigerians.

He appealed to those employed by the company to work hard and be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

”For those of you who are employed in the company, I urge you to be good ambassadors, put in your best to see that the company grows as it will be to the benefit of both countries,” he said.

Also, an Administrator of Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA), Mr Juwon Falope, described Nigeria as the biggest investment point of Africa.

Falope said that the country has the market, infrastructure and all the other wherewithals to guarantee return on investments.

Falope commended CNG Glass for making the decision to establish the glass production line, assuring them that they were in the right place.

He said government would continue to do its best to promote investment in the country.

In his remarks, the Consul-General, of the Peoples Republic of China Consulate in Lagos, Mr Chu Maoming, praised the strong relations between his country and Nigeria.

Chu said China would continue to partner Nigeria to promote the development of the country.

The consul-general noted that the Glass production line was proof of China’s commitment to contribute to Nigeria’s development and create jobs.

He congratulated CNG for the 500 tons of floated glass and online-Solar coated glass per day.

Also, Mr Cui Xiangdon, Chief Executive Officer, China Glass Holdings, the parent company of CNG Glass, said that the project used coating technology with independent intellectual property rights of China glass holdings to produce high quality float and coated glass products of 4-12mm.

“The annual capacity is 150,000 tons, which can meet the glass needs in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

“The completion and operation of the 500 t/d floating glass production line could positively promote the development of local economy and benefit the Nigerian people.

”’CNG Glass (Nigeria) FZE could create around 200 employment positions directly, more than 1000 employment positions indirectly and promote dozens of industries development from upstream to downstream prospering the local economy,” he said. (NAN)