Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Eagles Confident, As Nigeria Draw Argentina Again
THE Super Eagles were Friday at the luxurious Costa do Sauípe
in Salvador, Brazil handed a group that contains perennial foes, Argentina in
the 2014 World Cup draws conducted by FIFA’s Jerome Valcke.
Valcke was assisted by Cafu, Fabio Cannavaro, Alcides
Ghiggia, Fernando Hierro, Sir Geoff Hurst, Mario Kempes, Lothar Matthaus and
Zinedine Zidane, who were representing the eight World Cup winners.
The 2014 World Cup would be the fourth Mundial that
Nigeria will face Argentina in the opening round having met the South Americans
at the USA 1994, Japan/Korea 2002 and South Africa 2010 editions of the
Mundial.
In all the three previous encounters, the Argentines
had the upper hand a tricky combination of Maradona and Claudio Canniggia
accounting for their 2-1 defeat of the Eagles, even after Samson Siasia had
given the Eagles the lead in that game.
At the Korea/Japan edition, a header by Gabriel
Batistuta settled the game, while the Argies relied on a Gabriel Heinze header
to win the game. And now, both teams will meet again in their last group game
on June 25, 2014 at Porto Alegre.
But the Eagles are not daunted by the presence of the
South Africans once again in their group.
Speaking after yesterday’s draw, the Eagles, who
watched attentively to discover their opponents in the first round, agreed that
they have a fair draw in Group F.
The other teams in the group are Bosnia and
Iran.
Nigeria will open its participation at the Mundial
with a game in Curitiba against Iran on June 16 and travel to Cuiaba on June 21
for their game against Bosnia before the last game against Argentina.
Super Eagles’ midfielder, Nnamdi Oduamadi, who rates
Argentina as the only serious threat to Nigeria’s qualification for the second
round, believes the game against Iran is the most crucial of the three group
matches.
He said, “I am happy with this group and we are in the
second round already as far as I am concerned. Argentina looks the toughest,
but we are good enough to beat them.
“the task is to beat Iran in the first game, get a
good result against Bosnia before settling qualification with the Argentine
game,” Odumadi said.
Efe Ambrose also believes that the draw is
favourable, but he cautions the Eagles against complacency.
“This is a fair group. It won’t be an easy ride
for us because every team in the group have chance to qualify, we will take all
games with all seriousness needed,” he said.
In the other groups of the competition,
defending champions, Spain, will meet 2010 finalists the Netherlands in the
so-called Group of Death.
Spain, who defeated the Dutch 1-0 in the South Africa
final, are also joined by Chile, world-ranked 15th, and Australia in Group B.
England, the 1966 World Cup winners, also face a tough
route to the second round of the Brazil World Cup next summer.
They were drawn with Uruguay, Costa Rica and Italy in
Group D. The omens are not good. Uruguay defeated Brazil 2-1 in the 1950 World
Cup final, the last time the tournament was staged in South America.
Five-time world champions Brazil, the host nation,
have arguably the easiest draw, with Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon standing in
their way of advancing to the knockout stage from Group A.
Brazil v Croatia is the opening game of the June 12 to
July 13 World Cup.
Germany, who lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2010 World Cup
semi-final, face Ronaldo’s Portugal, Ghana and USA in Group G.
The draw not only revealed who will face who in the
group stages of the 32-team tournament, but it also determined where the teams
would play their games and how far they would have to travel from their
training bases.
French troops kill fighters in fresh CAR's onslaught
FRENCH troops have killed several armed fighters in Central
African Republic as Paris on Friday rolled out a United Nations-backed
operation to restore security after a bloodbath that left dozens of bodies
strewn across the capital.
The French army said its soldiers killed the armed men on
Thursday in a dawn clash near the airport in the capital, Bangui.
"An armed pick-up opened fire three times in the
direction of civilians and French troops. After the third time, we retaliated
and destroyed the vehicle," a spokesman for the French general staff said.
On Friday, warplanes overflew Bangui, a day after at least
140 civilians were killed in the capital – many clubbed or hacked to death in
violence that erupted amid international warnings that the country risked
sectarian massacres.
The country has descended into chaos since a motley coalition
of rebel fighters known as Seleka overthrew the government in March and
installed their own chief, Michel Djotodia, as president – the first Muslim leader of the majority
Christian country.
It was the latest in a string of rebellions and coups in the
impoverished, strife-torn country, where life expectancy is 49 years and the
average income is less than $2 a day.
Reports from UN staff on the ground indicate the situation
remains "very tense" in Bangui, with ongoing sectarian violence, said
Adrian Edwards, a spokesman for UN refugee agency, UNHCR.
As Nigeria Prepares To Talk... The Germane Issues
CAN
a nation possibly look forward without looking back? Is it not often said that
“looking backward is looking forward”? It is also a truism that “the solution
to every problem could be found in the source of that problem”.
One may be tempted to think that Kaufman had Nigeria in mind when he scripted
“The Abomunist Manifesto” “which sought to outline a movement of semi serious
protest against sacred cows and idols with feet of clay and heads of pure rock
that may, if it attracts disciples rival Dada or Pataphysics”.
There are about 14 items in the Abomunist Manifesto, but I chose to pick out
only four in order not to bore the reader: Abomunists join nothing but their
hands or legs or other same; in times of national peril, Abomunists stand ready
to drink themselves to death for their country; Abomunists believe that the
solution of problem of religious bigotry is to have a “Muslim” candidate for
president and a “Protestant” candidate for Pope, “while the Catholics are
on-lookers”; Abomunists’ children must be reared Abomunistly.
Looking backwards some 61 odd years ago and precisely in 1952, one may begin to
trace the source of some of Nigeria’s problems. Before 1952, otherwise known as
“the good old days” it did not matter what native language you spoke, what food
you ate or what marks you had on your face. Dress code was not restrictive
rather all encompassing because nearly every Nigerian wore “Agbada, Danshiki or
Baba Riga. The head gear was also not restrictive except for those signifying
thrones, titles and religion.
At that time, to become a member of the House of Representatives, you had to
first be elected a member of the Regional House of Assembly. This provision
accorded the Regional House of Assembly pride of place and made it possible for
most politicians to pay attention to grassroots people who in the first place
are the purpose of democracy. At that political time the House of Assembly had
a red carpet that separate the government of the day from the opposition and
the Speakers Bench was at the centre; the party in government sat one side
while the opposition sat over the other side and as at this time Lagos was part
of Western Region.
In 1952, there were elections to the Western House of Assembly, which included
Lagos that was controlled by NCNC who had put up four candidates that included
H.O. Davis, Adeleke Adedoyin, Olorunimbe and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. It was the
defeat of Action Group in Lagos election by NCNC with its consequent control of
Lagos by NCNC that seemed to be the genesis of what historical midgets fail to
relate with. It is important to note here that NCNC was not an Igbo party.
Indeed, it was founded by Herbert Macaulay, a true Yoruba.
It is also instructive to learn that in fact Awolowo was a member of NCNC who
left the party to form Action Group. His leaving NCNC was not unconnected with
his disapproval for Earnest Okoli’s leadership of Nigerian Youth Movement/Lagos
Legislative Council as well as the direction of the constitutional debates
during the colonial period particularly regarding the status of Lagos
designated “no man’s land” as against his desired part of Western Region and
not a colony. In fact it is worthy to note that Herbert Macaulay remains the
only Nigerian that did not form an ethno-based Political Party. No body or
group seem to have been able to emulate what Herbert Macaulay and his group did
in August 1944 by weaving diverse organisations and nationalities together in
founding NCNC.
It was pure political sagacity that saw close to 40 Unions, Associations and
clubs come together to found the most formidable Political Party in Nigeria.
These include Egbado Improvement Union, Ekiti Parapo Society, Edo National
Union, Ila Patriotic Union, Igbanke Union, Ezii Welfare League, Bende Union,
Council of Ijebu National Society, Yaba Estate Social Club, Bamenda Improvement
Union, Akure Federal Union, Commercial Biz Leaque, Ebute Butchers Union
of Lagos, Calabar Improvement Leaque, Associated Press, Trade Union Congress of
Nigeria, National Democratic Party, Demobilised Soldiers Union, Lagos Market
Women Union, Tailors Union of Nigeria, Nigerian Union of Students, Mbaise
Union, Ahoada District Union, Enugu Divisional Union, West Africa Union of
Seamen, Ekpoma Progress Union, Igbotako Progressive Society, Ijebu Igbo
Patriotic Society, Iperu Improvement Union, Youths Literary Improvement,
Ishan Progressive Union, Council of Ijesha Societies, Farmers Committee of West
Africa. Association of Master Tailors of Nigeria, Nigeria Reconstruction Group
and Kwale Improvement Union.
It is only fair also to note that Action Group (AG) was a transformation of
Egbe Omo Odua while Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) transformed from Jam’Iyyar
Mutanen Arewa which was a cross-fertilization of the old Baruwa Boys Alumni and
Northern Teachers Association. It also should be noted that out of the
four candidates put up by NCNC, only one was of Igbo extraction while the rest
were of the Yoruba extraction. This situation was not restricted to Lagos as
NCNC had a very comfortable majority in the rest of Yoruba land and
consequently in the western House of Assembly. Further to the provision of
“must be a member of the House of Assembly before you can aspire for the House
of Representatives” the constitution also had it that the leader of the party
with the majority in the House would be the leader of the House and that when
self government is achieved from the British, the leader would be designated
PREMIER OF THE REGION.
When the elections were concluded and NCNC enjoyed a comfortable majority in
the Western House of Assembly with only ONE IGBO who represented Lagos, the
leadership of Action Group would not have the election mandate. The real
suspicion then was that even as it was only one Igbo that was elected, that his
position in NCNC which he earned himself not as an Igbo but as a Nigerian, a
freedom fighter, a pan Africanist and above all a detribalised Nigerian, the
danger of the constitutional provisions would mean, that if allowed, an Igbo
man would become the leader of the western House of Assembly and consequent
upon that, one day an Igbo man would be the Premier of Western Nigeria. The
Action Group leadership quickly mobilized the Ooni of Ife and several other
Yoruba Obas who quickly bought into the provisions of the constitution as being
dangerous for Western Region.
This message as true as it was hit home and hard too. The Yoruba members of
NCNC came under very intense pressure and finally yielded to the vicious lobby
to cross over to Action Group with a singular motive “To stop an Igbo man from
becoming the premier.” The then winning NCNC on that fateful day being in the
majority occupied the government side and the red carpet separated them from
the losing Action Group. The Governor of Western Nigeria then was the
Speaker/Chairman of the Western House. When the Governor took his seat, Chief
Awolowo got up and said that he had an urgent matter to raise to forestall a
situation that could lead to riots and anarchy which he said, many members of
the House had decided to correct.
Soon after that, one after the other, the NCNC members got up and said to the
Governor “Your Excellency, I don’t want to be part of a situation where Yoruba
land would be set on fire, so I am crossing over to the other side”. That was
genesis of the infamous “CARPET CROSSING”.
The first to walk across the Red Carpet were representatives from Ibadan led by
Adisa Akinloye and followed by Adelabu, and Richard Akinjide. It must be noted
that Mojeed Agbaje held to his democratic principles and refused to cross over.
It should also be noted that all the people who came from Lagos with Azikiwe
led by Adeleke Adedoyin crossed the Red Carpet.
After the Carpet Crossing, the majority enjoyed by NCNC was reduced to a very
poor minority and it was this situation that led to the “famous” cry as Okotie
Eboh broke down in tears, crying uncontrollably. It therefore was the
introduction of this word “CARPET CROSSING” into the political lexicon of
Nigerian politics that planted the seed of tribalism into Nigerian politics and
has since grown in leaps and bounds from regionalism to tribalism, minoritism,
statism, and these days, geo political zonism, religionism, cultism,
separatism, and most recently terrorism, and politics of fear of domination.
TRIBALISM:
Consequent
to the already established carpet crossing was the dilemma faced by NCNC. It
was the NCNC leadership that decided that it was no use for their party to
allow Azikiwe to take up the leader of opposition in the Western House of
Assembly. This decision was informed by the very poor minority that a previous
very comfortable win had been reduced to. The NCNC in their wisdom decided that
it was better for Azikiwe to go to the East where he came from to head the
government of his own region. This decision by the leadership of NCNC was based
on their understanding then that the politics of Nigeria had been reduced to a
great absurd level of tribalism.
The
same NCNC leadership in turn persuaded one of their members representing
Onitsha to resign for Azikiwe to take his place at the House of Assembly of
Eastern Nigeria. It was also decided by NCNC that Professor Eyo Ita, the then
leader of Government Business in the Eastern House of Assembly, should resign
for Azikiwe to assume that position.
This decision by NCNC leadership was resisted by Eyo Ita as he refused to
resign. Eyo Ita was supported by Ubani Ekeoma, A.C. Nwapa and R. I. Uzoma all
who were then Ministers at Enugu. When Azikiwe was pushed away from Ibadan,
Yoruba land and eventually displaced Eyo Ita at Enugu, tribalism gained space
in Nigerian politics. This regional politics as against national politics
evidenced in 1952 reared Abomunistly in all pre-independence conferences, the
falsification of 1952 census and false delineation of electoral constituencies.
The 1959 federal elections perpetuated regionalism when the AG/UMBC scored a
total of 1,992,364 votes that could earn them only 73 seats in the Federal
House. The NPC scored 1,992,179 votes which are 185 votes less than the votes
posted by AG/UMBC yet the NPC secured 142 seats at the Federal House, NCNC
scored 2,594,577 votes and could only secure 94 seats at the Federal House why
in 1959 did the British officer Sir James Robertson instruct Sir Belewa to form
his Government even before the election was concluded.
If not for the Abomunist Manifesto, one may want to ask, “Is Democracy about
people or Land Mass?” How was Northern Laws adopted in the Amalgamation
Proclamation? How come that the official gazette announcing amalgamation was
published on December 27, 1913, during Christmas holidays, and within three
days on January 1, 1914, when the amalgamation took effect, “A great Durbar of
30,000 horsemen was held on the great Kano Plain”. This Durbar was attended by
Chief Moslem rulers from Sokoto to Chad to swear allegiance to his Majesty and
to celebrate the amalgamation while the southern protectorate were yet to know
what has hit them.
How did the symbol of Ancient Fulbe find its way on modern Nigerian currencies?
Why and what is the significance of returning the Attahiru flag captured by the
British Force in 1903 back to the Sultan of Sokoto and in a ceremony in 1960.
One may want to ask politicians like Femi Fani Kayode, looking at the 1959
election results, why AG and NCNC coalition could not have formed government?
Is British parliamentary system with its attaining regionalism really an option
when structural imbalances such as 40 Local Government Areas for Kano and 20
Local Government Areas for Lagos is manifest?
Mandela To Be Buried On Dec 15 In Qunu
Jonathan Declares Three Days Of National Mourning
“DEATH is what we all know is something inevitable. When a man has done what
he considers to be his duty to his people, his country and the world, he can
rest in peace.
“I believe I have made that effort and that is,
therefore, why I will sleep for eternity.”
Those were the wishes of former South African
President, Dr. Nelson Mandela in 1994. Mandela passed on at 8.50 p.m. Thursday,
surrounded by his family and South African President Jacob Zuma.
In the final years of his life, secret plans
were made by the South African government, the military and his family, as they
prepared for a befitting farewell for this great man.
And it will climax on December 15 in Qunu, Eastern
Cape Province, where his remains will be interred at a ceremony to be broadcast
to millions of people across the world, and a very private farewell for those
closest to him.
In Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has declared
three days of national mourning for former South African President.
According to Zuma, the 10 days of mourning would
combine both Western traditions and those of the Thembu, Mandela’s native clan,
although no formal public events were expected be held until five days after
his death.
Tomorrow has been declared a day of national prayers
to reflect on the life and achievements of Madiba.
There will be an official memorial service in his
honour on December 10 at the FNB Stadium, also known as Soccer City in Soweto,
to be attended by tens of thousands of people.
FNB Stadium was where Mandela made his last public
appearance during the 2010 World Cup final, amidst fears that he might be
strong enough to show up due to his failing health.
Between December 11 and 13, his body will lie in
state for three days at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the seat of the South
African government, where he was inaugurated as South Africa’s first
post-apartheid black president on May 10, 1994. The first day has been reserved
for dignitaries, while the public will be allowed to file past his casket on
the remaining two days during daytime.
Nine days after his death, a military aircraft
will leave a Pretoria airbase and fly south to Mthatha, the main town in the
Eastern Cape Province.
Thembu elders and members of the Mandela family will
make the journey with Mandela’s casket, with thousands of mourners expected to
line the streets from Mthatha airport to watch as the military transports
Mandela’s casket on a gun carriage to the remote village of Qunu, where the
former leader spent his childhood years.
Once at Mandela’s house, the military will formally
pass responsibility for his remains to his family.
The South African flag, to be draped over the coffin,
will be replaced with a traditional Xhosa blanket, symbolising the return of
one of their own.
At dusk, African National Congress (ANC) leaders,
local chiefs and Mandela’s family are expected to gather for a private vigil
before a very public funeral the next day.
The funeral and burial will be on the grounds of
Mandela’s Qunu home, where thousands of people, including dozens of heads of
state, will gather for the state funeral under a large tent nestled in the
hills where Mandela ran and played as a child. The ceremony will be broadcast
to millions of people around the world.
At midday, when the summer sun is high in the sky, his
remains will be laid to rest into the rocky soil of his homeland, specially
built for him and where some of his long deceased family members are already
interred. The interment will be witnessed by only a few hundred close
family members in what is traditionally regarded as a customary home-coming.
The site is surrounded by rocky outcrops, hardy grass
used for the grazing cattle and bright orange aloe plants.
A statement issued by President Jonathan’s
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati in Abuja said flags
are to be flown at half mast across Nigeria during the period.
The President urged all Nigerians to unite in
solidarity with the brotherly people of South Africa as they mourn “the great
liberator, freedom fighter and hero of the black race.”
Jonathan also called for special prayers in mosques
and churches in Nigeria during the period, which began yesterday, for the peaceful
repose of Mandela’s soul.
The statement added that a special
inter-denominational memorial service for Mandela would be held at the State
House Chapel Sunday.
Friday, 6 December 2013
U.S. firm stakes $130m on Edo’s power project
The
company said in a media statement that with a goal of becoming the leading
power development company in West Africa, Azura will utilize ACEI’s investment
to fund the first and second phases of the Azura-Edo power project, pursue its Greenfield
development pipeline and future acquisitions, expand its team, and grow its
construction and operational capabilities.
It stated: “The Azura-Edo power project is a proposed 450MW open cycle gas
turbine power station being developed near Benin City in Edo State and
represents the first phase of a 1,000MW power plant facility. Azura and
the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc signed a groundbreaking power
purchase agreement on April 22, 2013, which is being used as a template for other
project-financed independent power producers in the country.
“The transaction has been showcased by President Goodluck Jonathan as critical
to the Nigerian power sector reform process. The first phase of the plant,
which is targeted to reach financial close in early 2014 and come on stream in
2016/2017, is forecast to create over 1,000 jobs during its construction and
operation. The project is expected to have a positive impact on the industrial
and social wellbeing of the area, leading to further economic development and
job creation”.
The Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of ACEI, Paul Hanrahan, stated: “We
are extremely pleased to announce our investment in Azura, a good example of
the type of investment in high growth platforms in the energy infrastructure
space that we are targeting. Our investment is in recognition of the
significant progress made by the Azura co-founders on the first phase of the
Azura-Edo power project, the growth opportunities in the Nigerian and West
African markets, and our confidence in the Federal Government of Nigeria’s
power sector reform program.
“In
line with our Power Africa efforts, ACEI is investing in the leading
independent power producer platform in this key African market,” said Lisa
Pinsley, ACEI Director of Africa Investments.
“Nigeria
is the most populous country in Africa with one of the highest growth rates in
the world. With a current population of over 170 million, the seventh
largest in the world, Nigeria’s expanding economy suffers from a lack of power
infrastructure. The United Nations estimates that Nigeria’s population
will reach 230 million within the next 20 years, and the total grid-based power
generation capacity must rise tenfold to 40,000MW to meet the demand. Azura is,
and will continue to be, a key driver in this growth in capacity.”
The
co-founder of Amaya Capital Partners, the lead sponsors of Azura, Sundeep
Bahanda, and Managing Director of Azura, Dr. David Ladipo, said in a
joint statement that ACEI’s investment will exert a transformative impact on
our business and accelerate Azura’s drive to create a flagship, multi-asset,
power generation company.
They said that the development of Nigeria’s electricity supply industry is a
vast undertaking that requires a long term commitment from all parties.
“Together with ACEI, the Federal Government of Nigeria, state governments and
our partners and advisers, we are committed to the creation of an indigenous
world class business that will provide electricity to the people of Nigeria
and, in so doing, will boost the country’s industrial growth, its job creation
and its social welfare."
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Nelson Mandela Dies, President Confirms
Nelson Mandela has died, South African President Jacob Zuma has confirmed.
Mr Zuma said "the nation has lost its greatest son", adding "he is now resting. He is now at peace."
He died surrounded by his family at his Johannesburg home at 8.50pm local time.
Mr Mandela, who was 95, will get a state funeral and national flags will be lowered to half mast, said Mr Zuma.
He had been receiving medical treatment for the last three years and for the last six months has been critically ill.
The anti-apartheid icon served as South Africa's first black president from 1994 to 1999, after spending 27 years in the notorious Robben Island prison.
Madiba - as he was affectionately known by many in South Africa - was released in 1990 and went on to guide his country to democracy.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: "A great light has gone out in the world.
"Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time. I've asked for the flag at No10 to be flown at half mast."
US President Barack Obama said Mr Mandela had achieved "more than can be expected of any man" and that his journey from prisoner to president had inspired the world.
Amid protests from Rivers, Senate confirms new NDDC board
Senate yesterday brushed aside protests from two members to
confirm the appointment of a new board for the Niger Delta Development
Commission (NDDC), led by Senator Bassey-Ewa-Henshaw (Cross River) as chairman.
Also on the board of the NDDC are Bassey Dan-Abia, Managing
Director (Akwa Ibom); Itotenaan Henry Ogiri, Executive Director, Finance and
Admin (Rivers); Tuoyo Omatsulu, Executive Director, Projects (Delta); Ball
Turofade Oyarede state representative (Bayelsa) and Chief Ephraim Sobere Etete,
state representative (Rivers).
Others are Etim Inyang Jnr. (Akwa Ibom), Adah Paul
Andeshi (Cross River), Sir Tom Amioku (Delta), Samuel Okezie Nwogu
(Abia), Uchegbu Chidiebere Kyrian (Imo), Major General Suleiman B. Said,
Niger State, representing North-Central and Alhaji Abdulmalik Mahmud (Bauchi)
representing North-East.
The confirmation came amid serious objections to the
nomination of Itotenaan Henry Ogiri for the position of the Executive
Director, Finance and Administration as well as Ephraim Sobere Etete, as
representative of Rivers State in the commission from Senators Magnus Abe and
Wilson Ake.
The two senators contended that the slot, being that of Rivers
State by right, the state should have been consulted on the nominations.
Senator Abe formally wrote to register his objection but the chairman of the
committee said he did not receive the correspondence.
Shortly after the chairman of the Committee on Niger Delta,
Senator James Manager concluded his presentation and asked the Senate to
confirm the nominees, Senator Ake quickly rose to protest the nomination.
Brazil 2014: Our fears for Super Eagles
Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF) has expressed concern over the preparation of the
Super Eagles for the Brazil 2014 World Cup, lamenting that there is only one
FIFA free window in March next year before the tournament.
Speaking
to Daily Sunsports in his office in Abuja on the programme for the tournament,
the General Secretary of the federation, Mr. Musa Amadu revealed that the
Nigerian contingent to Brazil for the World cup draw would finalise the
countries for the Eagles friendly.
Asked the
programmes for the World Cup, Barrister Amadu said: “First, we have to
understand that there are very limited matches that we can play before the
commencement of the World Cup tournament. In fact, the only FIFA free window
before the World Cup is in March 5 next year.
“The
Nigerian representatives in the draw today will be able to pinpoint a
particular country among those that qualified for the World Cup that we can
play. We really want to have a feeling of what to face when the hostility
starts in Brazil.
“Because
of the league in Europe, the only release date for the national players would
be from May 16 to camp until June 10. It is a window period of about 24 days
that all the national team players have to train for the tournament, but the
good thing is that by and large, it is going to be the same thing with all the
31 national teams.
“Of
course, our home-based Eagles would be in South Africa for CHAN and about four
or five of them may likely make the boys going into the final training camp
before the selection of the final team for the World Cup. It is going to be a
level playing ground for everybody and I don’t think any team will have any
advantage over the other because of the choked international programme,” he
noted.
The Nigeria Goverment approves $1.354bn for Lekki deep sea port
The
Federal Government of Nigeria has
approved about N200 billion ($1.354 billion) for the construction of the Lekki
deep sea port in Lagos State, South-West Nigeria.
The
was announced made on Wednesday by the Minister,for Information Labaran Maku,
while briefing the press at the end of the weekly meeting of the Executive
Council of the Federation (FEC) presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
Maku
said the port, expected to be completed in about four years, will put an end to
the present congestions at the various ports in the country, including the
Apapa port complex. He said the sea port, which would be the first in Nigeria,
has been in the pipeline for several years after receiving anticipatory
approval about ten years ago.
“The
current administration, seeing the huge benefit of the project, had taken over
the project to be executed under a PPP arrangement, while Federal Government
also renegotiated the concessionary period in favour of Nigeria from 50 down to
45 years,” Maku said.
The
funding for the project is to be provided by the Federal Government, state
government, and private investors.
The
Federal Government is expected to contribute 20 per cent equity; Lagos State
Government, 18.5 per cent; while the private investors are to contribute 61.85
per cent.
The
port is designed to handle the largest vessels in the world and is expected to
cover an area of 90 hectares with room for expansion and 6 KM in length which
will be dredged by the contractors.
Maku
said the port is designed to handle 4 million tonnes of cargo. He said the
width of the chanel leading to the port is put at 200 meters to be dredged to a
depth of 17.5 meters, with a width of 300 meters making it the deepest in the
West Africa.
The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, is also
expected to garner over $9.3 billion made up of $2.6 billion from marines
services and royalty and $6.7 billion from share of profits from the
investments, over the 45 years.
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