NIGERIA AM NEWS

ANAMBRA CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH CULTURAL FESTIVAL

THE ongoing Anambra State Cultural Carnival for the three senatorial districts in the state shifted to the South senatorial zone, weekend, with over 100 masquerades, wrestlers and exhibitors of arts and crafts participating.

The event, which took place in Nnewi, attracted traditional rulers and leaders of thought from all the communities in the seven local government areas that make up the zone.

Nkem Okeke, who represented Governor Willie Obiano at the carnival, said that like agriculture, where the state had excelled in recent times, Anambra would soon be exporting culture.

 FG, N-Deltans responsible for region’s problems – Ogbeha

Senator Tunde Ogbeha, a two -term Senator representing Kogi West and former military governor of Akwa Ibom and old Bendel states, in this interview conducted in Lokoja, bares his mind on some national issues and justified the ongoing war against graft.

I think government should have a crack economic team, a team that is devoid of political interest and has competent technocrats who are known to have delivered in this area to give it an economic blueprint that can salvage the country otherwise, there will be no improvement as nothing is happening now.

S/Korean firm to build 550 megawatts power plant in C-River

A South Korean firm, Kingline Integrated Power Development Limited, has expressed its readiness to build a 550 Megawatts gas-fired power plant in Cross River State.

Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Sean Kim, dropped the hint when he led a delegation from the firm on a courtesy visit to the governor, Senator Ben Ayade, in Government House, Calabar, yesterday.

He said: “We have already done some preliminary checks in Cross River State and the proposed sites meet all of the requirements, which is why we are here today.”

Getting serious about Made-In-Nigeria

The current frenzy about promoting Made-In-Nigeria goods is the third attempt in living memory. It invariably occurs when we run out of petrodollars accumulated during years of oil boom in our external reserves, only to abandon it once crude oil prices start rising again.

In 1978, the General Olusegun Obasanjo regime introduced a package of economic reforms termed Austerity Measures. For the first time since the end of the Civil War, we took a $2.8 billion foreign loan, which the technocrats of those days assured Nigerians would be easily repaid. Not much is known of how the loan was spent to improve Nigeria’s economic situation.

Robbers attack Delta bank with dynamite, cart off N25m

DARE-devil robbers, weekend, attacked an Ughelli branch of Union Bank, and carted away N25 million after blowing up the bank's vault with dynamite.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, who were dressed in army camouflage, used dynamite and welding tools to break into the ATM inside the bank and the bank's vault, where a bulk of the cash was kept.

Confirming the incident yesterday, a staff of the bank, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the bank's manager and some senior staff were arrested and taken to Asaba for questioning in connection with the incident.

 Navy in mop-up operations at Arepo, other creeks

The military, through its joint operation, code-named Operation Awatse, has begun a mop-up operation of the Arepo, Ishawo and Elepete creeks in Lagos and Ogun states, after the aerial bombardment that took place three months ago.

Flag Officer Commanding, FOC Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy and the Chairman, Operation Awatse, Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai, who visited the Ishawo creeks at the weekend, to monitor the mop-up operation, revealed that several arrests were also made in the process.

Bobai said; "We are aware that the militants are returning and we are ready to take them on.

Oshonaike defies age, reclaims African title

Olufunke Oshonaike reclaimed her long lost African title at the ITTF African Senior Championships after beating Egypt's Dina Meshref 4-2 in the final of the women's singles.

The Egyptian has been unbeaten in the last two years, but Oshonaike with her experience confused the young North African to emerge as the new continent number one star.

I feel great and I am so excited that I can still do it and this is also an inspiration for girls that no matter your age, you can achieve whatever you put your mind into in life," she said.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi has 'X-ray' vision - Man City boss Pep Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Barcelona star Lionel Messi has "X-ray" vision when it comes to picking out a teammate on the pitch.

Guardiola knows Messi well from his days as Barca coach and will come up against his former player when City face the Catalan club in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Guardiola will be hoping his City players are better prepared to deal with Messi this time around, with the forward having hit a hat trick the last time the two sides met as Barca ran out 4-0 winners earlier this month.

Southampton 0-2 Chelsea: Hazard & Costa fire Blues into top four

Chelsea moved back to within a point of Premier League leaders Manchester City courtesy of a comfortable 2-0 win against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday. Antonio Conte kept faith in the players that destroyed Manchester United 4-0 on Monday, and they enjoyed similar control to rack up another win. 

Chelsea enjoyed a strong start as Hazard shot between the legs of Fraser Forster in just the sixth minute.

Costa struck a brilliant second 10 minutes after half-time to double Chelsea's lead and the visitors never looked like surrendering their advantage on a ground where they have lost just once in nine league visits.

Mourinho could face stadium ban after being sent to the stands against Burnley

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho faces two games away from the touchline as the FA decides whether to hand him his second ban in two seasons, according to reports. The Portuguese manager may be banned for the second time in two seasons as The FA will decide whether they may have had enough of his antics. 

Already facing a charge of improper conduct due to comments made about referee Anthony Taylor before the 0-0 draw at Anfield two weeks ago, the FA could examine his past record.

Mourinho was sent to the stands not long before half-time in United's frustrating 0-0 draw with Burnley, after protesting furiously against referee Mark Clattenburg's refusal to give a penalty when Jon Flanagan felled Matteo Darmian in the area.