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Osimhen Scores as Napoli Proceeds to Champions League Knockouts

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Napoli

Less than a day after being named the 2023 CAF African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen scored as Napoli defeated Braga 2-0 on Tuesday, 12 December 2023, to proceed to the Champions League round of 16. Victor Osimhen’s first goal since early October and an own goal by Serder Saatci helped the Italian champions qualify second in Group C, behind Real Madrid. Both goals came in the first half. After ending a six-match winless drought at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Walter Mazzarri’s team easily qualified for the next round. They would have advanced even in the event of a single-goal defeat. After defeating Udinese in late September, Napoli had not won at Naples before. As a result, they ended the group stage with 10 points, six more than Braga, who were demoted to the Europa League. With just two minutes remaining, Bruma missed a fantastic opportunity to give the away team the lead following some miscommunication in the Napoli area. Braga knew they needed to win by at least two goals in order to overtake Napoli. But in the ninth minute, Matteo Politano’s low cross caused the unfortunate Saatci to misstep, sending the ball spinning towards his own goal and making their work even more difficult. Despite his great efforts, Braga’s Custodian, Matheus, was only able to claw the ball out after it had crossed the line. Napoli pressed for a second, but Braga’s long-range rocket from Ricardo Horta kept it from levelling thanks to an incredible save by Alex Meret. Read also: Obi Congratulates Osimhen, Oshoala, others on CAF Awards 2023 CAF Award, Full List of Winners But Osimhen, the recently named African player of the year, essentially guaranteed Napoli’s advancement to the next round in the thirty-third minute. The Nigerian striker was left speechless moments earlier when Piotr Zielinski chose to smash a shot straight at Matheus instead of squaring to him when he was absolutely unmarked only yards from goal. However, after sprinting down the left flank, Natan played the right ball this time, allowing Osimhen to bundle in his seventh goal of the challenging season thus far in southern Italy. Braga had to score four goals without reply after Osimhen’s first goal in this season’s Champions League to advance, and there was a palpable sense of relief in the spectators and on the pitch. In the 65th minute, Osimhen set up Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa for a goal, but the Cameroonian midfielder could only shoot straight at Matheus. The sole unfavourable aspect of the proceedings was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s ongoing form struggles; this season, the unmotivated Georgian is yet to make an impression in the highest club tournament in Europe. But in the new year, he will get another chance because of a victory that ended a terrible run of three straight defeats and might give struggling Napoli some confidence.

686 Civil Servants’ Salaries Suspended Over Unverified Records

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Civil Servants

The Federal Government of Nigeria has suspended the pay of 686 civil servants due to unreliable data on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), in an effort to promote efficiency and transparency in the country’s civil service. This action is a component of continuous initiatives to get rid of ghost workers and simplify the nation’s payroll system. On Tuesday, 12 December 2023, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Federation’s Civil Service, announced the suspension in a statement that was signed by Mohammed Ahmed, the Director of Communication. According to the report, 11,447 civil servants had inconsistencies in their records out of the 59, 201 who fully took part in the verification operation earlier in the year. Yemi-Esan, however, issued an order to restore the verification site and invited the 11,447 Civil Servants whose paychecks were halted to update their records online during the verification exercise, which was scheduled to take place from 16–27 October 2023. Just 10,761 of the 11,447 cops took part in the physical verification exercise, and the remaining 686 did not show up. Part of the statement reads: “The records of 59,201 Civil Servants, who participated fully in the verification exercise and had no discrepancies in their records were forwarded to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation for continuous payment of their salaries. However, salaries of 11,447 officers, whose records were not verified, were suspended. “On account of the suspension, the verification portal was reopened for these officers to enable them update their records online. Thereafter, they were invited for verification exercise from 16 – 27 October, 2023.” “A total number of 10,761 officers participated in the physical verification exercise. After the verification exercise, the review of verified records was carried out, in phases, to ensure that only credible records were on the IPPIS platform.” “The names of officers with cleared records were sent to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation immediately they were cleared as follows: i. September 2023 ​​​-​ 818 officers, ii. October 2023 ​​​-​ 650 officers, iii. November 2023 ​​​-​6857 officers, iv. December 2023 ​​​-​ 1407 officers, and v. Total number of officers cleared​ -​ 9,732 officers.” “Some of these officers have received their salaries to date, while others will be paid in the month of December with all the arrears. Files of 1,029 officers, who have discrepancies in their records are still being expected from their MDAs to enable the office to authenticate their records after which their salaries will be restored.” “It should be noted that about 686 officers, whose salaries were suspended, did not show up for the verification exercise and their salaries remain suspended on the IPPIS platform.”

Arewa Consultative Forum Appoints New Chairman, Removes Ex-minister, Aduku

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Arewa Consultative Forum

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a Pan-Northern Socio-Political body, has dismissed Chief Gabriel Aduku, a former Minister of State for Health under former President Goodluck Jonathan, from his position as National Chairman. Aduku was quickly replaced by Nigerian Senior Advocate, Mamman Osman. According to reports, the former Minister was nominated in May 2023 along with other individuals following Chief Audu Ogbeh’s resignation as the forum’s Chairman in March 2023. Aduku, an architect, was supposed to hold the position for three years, but it was short. Answering to questions, Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, the Arewa Consultative Forum’s National Publicity, stated that the former Chairman was chosen rather than elected, which supported the dismissal. “My apologies, but no ACF chairman was elected as such. A set of persons were selected and presented but were never inaugurated.” Read also: Delta Poly Student, Two Others Killed By Suspected “Yahoo boy” 18 Students Hospitalised Over Food Poisoning In Osun State “The list was reviewed by ACF leadership selection committee; it’s the final list that was now presented, approved by the joint assembly and inaugurated.” “Whosoever that wasn’t inaugurated today simply didn’t make it to the final list as presented by the leadership selection committee,” Mohammed-Baba said. In the meantime, Arewa Consultative Forum convened on Tuesday, 12 December 2023, to support the recently authorised and inauguration of the Northern body’s new leadership. Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu was named the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Mamman Osman the National Chairman of the ACF in a communiqué issued by Muhammad-Baba. The others are Senator Fred Orti, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trade, and Ambassador Ibrahim Mai Sule, the Vice Chairman; Secretary-General Murtala Aliyu has not changed positions. According to the press release, the newly appointed ACF chairman honoured the organization’s founding members during his acceptance speech. He, the New Arewa Consultative Forum chairman, promised to “Reinvigorate a new ACF that will be different in outlook and impact as it seeks to contribute to the national discourse on issues relevant to the Nigeria Project.” “The meeting also received a goodwill message from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr George Akume, who also urged the ACF to provide the needed leadership for ushering a new northern Nigeria in its bid to overcome the multi-faceted social and economic problems, as well as and unity.” Mohammed-Baba continued.

Delta Poly Student, Two Others Killed By Suspected “Yahoo boy”

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Yahoo boy

Jenepher Ike, a final-year student at Delta State Polytechnic in Ogwashi-Uku, a 14-year-old SS1 student at Odiagbo Secondary School, and an unidentified female were reportedly murdered in an auto accident in the town by a suspected “yahoo boy.” According to the report, these people died in the collision that occurred on Sunday night, 10 December 2023, along Ogwashi-Uku’s Polytechnic Road. The final-year studentnd the 14-year-old child were killed instantly by the suspect’s vehicle, according to eyewitnesses, while the third female victim was taken to the hospital but passed away early hours of Monday, 11 December 2023. The incident which involved the suspect’s vehicle, a Lexus 350 Salon, Ash colour, happened along the Polytechnic Road, very close to the school. According to another eye witness, “The boy is among these yahoo boys in Ogwashi-Uku. People came to the scene and started beating him and even wanted to mob him before the intervention of some persons who handed him over to the police.” Read also: Obi Congratulates Osimhen, Oshoala, others on CAF Awards 18 Students Hospitalised Over Food Poisoning In Osun State “The deceased, Jenepher, a final year HND Mass Communication student of the polytechnic, just finished her exams and currently writing her project. The 14-year-old-boy was an SS1 student of Odiagbo Secondary School.” “The other female victim whose mother is selling something along the Polytechnic Road was quickly rushed to the hospital but unfortunately, she died Monday morning.” “It is unfortunate that this happened again this December. Every December, there must be an accident of this nature in this road especially involving these ‘yahoo boys’.” An eyewitness said the Yahoo boy has been detained at the Ogwashi-Uku police station. When reached, Mr. Eshiet Udeme, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at Delta State Command, stated he had not yet received the accident brief and that he would get back to our reporter, but at the time this report was filed, he was unable to do so. However, DSP Bright Edafe, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, verified the occurrence and said that one person had died. He said, “One death confirmed, please.”

FG Collaborate with World Bank in Financing the Mining Sector

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Mining

The Federal Government is looking into partnering with the World Bank through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in order to provide funding and technical assistance for the mining industry’s growth. This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, and signed by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori. Shubham Chaudhuri, the Country Director for Nigeria at the World Bank, expressed his delight with the present administration’s increased focus on developing the nation’s mineral resources during a courtesy visit to Solid Minerals Minister, Dele Alake, on Monday, 11 December 2023. According to Chaudhuri, Nigeria is in a good position to have the majority of its resources economically viable, meaning that the mineral sector might contribute significantly to the country’s GDP. He reaffirmed the bank’s willingness to work with the ministry to finance particular areas of intervention and guarantee the successful completion of projects. He went on to say that the bank is not limited to just lending money, adding that it can also provide technical support to enhance mining activities around the nation. Read also: Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community Amotekun Arrest 62 Suspected Criminals in Ondo 18 Students Hospitalised Over Food Poisoning In Osun State The minister responded by applauding the World Bank team for their visit and praising the organisation for leading development initiatives across several economic sectors over the years. “The World Bank has been able to redirect s on developmental issues and projects in countries, especially Nigeria. Just recently, we had the support of the World Bank on palliatives being rolled out after fuel subsidy removal. We had appreciable support from the World Bank.” “I thank you for your involvement in the min diver project, which, unfortunately, is coming to a close. We look forward to strengthening collaboration, which will culminate in the needed funding for critical areas in the mining sector, alongside the requisite technical support, as earlier hinted,” Alake said. In elucidating the industry’s strategy for the mining sector, the minister disclosed that the primary focus is on funding exploration in order to produce the necessary geodata, which will assist investors in making well-informed investment decisions. Additionally, he disclosed that continued efforts are being made to safeguard the mining environment and build effective governance mechanisms. Alake also gave everyone the assurance that the Federal Government is dedicated to creating an environment that protects mining activities while guaranteeing that host communities receive the most benefit and that the government will continue to receive revenue from taxes and royalties.

2023 CAF Awards: Obi Congratulates Osimhen, Oshoala, Others

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2023 CAF Awards

Asisat Oshoala and Victor Osimhen, the respective winners of the 2023 African Players of the Year CAF Awards in the women’s and men’s categories respectively, have received congratulations from Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party and the Former Governor of Anambra State. He also honoured Chiamaka Nnadozie, who won the Nigerian women’s football team and the 2023 Confederation of African Football Women’s Keeper Title. “I like to join all other sports lovers in the country to sincerely congratulate the Nigerian duo of #victorosimhen9 and #AsisatOshoala for emerging African Players of the Year, in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, this year,” Obi wrote in a series of tweets on his X feed on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.” Read also: 2023 CAF Award, Full List of Winners Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community “I also celebrate #Nadoziechiamaka who won the 2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award and our Nigerian Female Football Team, Super Falcons, who won the 2023 CAF Award for the National Team of the Year.” “We are all proud of their awards, which bear witness to their innate talents, passions for growth, and determination for success.” “My sincere desire is that every Nigerian youth will have the needed enablement to explore and develop their talents, and skills and live to fulfill their dreams, and by so doing, help to contribute to the development of our nation.”

Kaduna Abduction: Bandits Kill Two, Nine Rescued

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Bandits

Eleven villagers who were abducted by bandits at the villages of Anguwan Maharba and Dandami have been freed by troops of the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division, which is stationed in Birnin Yero in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. However, before the soldiers arrived, the bandits killed two of the kidnapped captives. According to the report, the forces conducting normal patrols in the Kanzaure area had obtained reliable information regarding the abduction of eleven villagers from the villages of Anguwan Maharba and Dandami. In a statement released on Monday, 11th December 2023, by Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 1 Division, “the troops in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force swiftly mobilised and laid ambush on the bandits’ crossing point on Friday, December 8th, 2023.” Read also: NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community Yahaya revealed that after the military established contact with the robbers, “the bandits withdrew in disarray with gunshot wounds due to the troops’ overwhelming firepower.” The nine kidnapped victims, Inusa Bala, 45; Halima Gambo, 36; Halima Saidu, 35; Ladi Musa, 35; Aisha Basiru, 30; Inusa Saidu, 22; Faiza Inusa, 10; Dahara Saidu, 10; and Shahid Inusa, one year, five months, were all freed by the forces together. “Two of the kidnapped victims—Safiya Saidu, 19, and Saadatu Saidu, 18—were killed by the bandits prior to the arrival of the troops,” Yahaya stated. He said that one AK-47 rifle and one locally manufactured weapon were taken from the bandits by the military during the operation. Yahaya further stated that Major General Valentine Okoro, the Force Commander of Operation Whirl Punch and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 1 Division of the Army, had praised the soldiers for their tenacity and vowed to keep up their efforts to protect the safety and tranquilly of the people living in the Division’s Area of Responsibility. The statement concluded, “Furthermore, the GOC urged the people of Kaduna State to continue availing troops and other security agencies with credible intelligence.”

2023 CAF Award, Full List of Winners

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CAF 2023 AWARD

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) held its 2023 awards on Monday, December 11, 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco. Below is the full list of winners at the 2023 CAF Awards: 2023 Men’s Player of the Year – Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) 2023 Women’s Player of the Year – Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria) 2023 Men’s Coach of the Year – Walid Regragui (Morocco) 2023 Women’s Coach of the Year – Desiree Ellis (South Africa) Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Yassine Bounou (Morocco) Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria) Read also: Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster Amotekun Arrest 62 Suspected Criminals in Ondo Goal of the Year – Mahmoud Kahraba’s 2023 National Team of the Year (MEN) – Morocco 2023 National Team of the Year (WOMEN) – Super Falcons (Nigeria) 2023 Men’s Young Player of the Year – Lamine Camara (Senegal) 2023 Women’s Young Player of the Year – Nesryne El Chad (Morocco) 2023 Men’s Interclub Player of the Year – Percy Tau (South Africa) 2023 Women’s Interclub Player of the Year – Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco) 2023 Club of the Year (MEN) – Al Ahly (Egypt) 2023 Club of the Year (WOMEN) – Sundowns Ladies (South Africa)

Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community

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Legislators

The Legislators’ Northern Caucus has promised the citizens of Kaduna State N350 million on Monday, 11th December 2023, to help restore Tudun Biri, a hamlet in Kaduna State that was unintentionally bombed by the Nigerian Army last week. A bomb that was meant to drive out criminals from Tudun Biri, in Kaduna State‘s Igabi Local Government Area, went off target, killing an estimated 120 innocent persons and injured numerous others. Alhassan Doguwa, the leader of the Northern House Caucus, declared on Monday, 11th December 2023, that he planned to travel to the region to offer condolences to the families and survivors. The legislators expressed their condemnation of the tragedy and their willingness to support the government in restoring normalcy to the area in a statement that the Kano congressman personally signed. “The Northern caucus has announced a monetary donation of Mr. Speaker and that of the Northern regional caucus of the Federal House of Representatives amounting to the sum of N45 million cash,” the statement said in part. Read Also: Kaduna: Bandits Killed Two, Nine Rescued NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster “The Northern caucus is to provide for various developmental projects ranging from the provision of health care facilities, blocks of classrooms, water boreholes, and a community town hall worth N350 million to support the Federal Government’s efforts in rebuilding the community.” Even as they bemoaned the ongoing violent campaigns by bandits and other criminal elements throughout the nation, the legislators praised “The charitable commitment of the Nigerian military and other security agencies for their patriotic commitments to combat the upsurge of insurgency, banditry and other criminal activities that plagued some parts of the country.” “Against the backdrop of such unshakable recurrent mishaps, the caucus has resolved to pay a condolence visit to commiserate with the government, and the leaders of the Tudun Biri community on Monday, 11th December 2023 to commiserate with survivors of the unfortunate incident,” the lawmakers said. “The purpose of the visit is to obtain firsthand accounts of the events that occurred and to enable the collection of valuable data to prevent such incidents in the future. “The caucus applauds the Tinubu-led Federal Government for addressing victims’ welfare and reaching out to them promptly.” The legislators have agreed to follow up with the Federal Government to make sure the victims and the community receive the proper compensation that the federal government promised. The legislators are prepared to offer the compensation’s legal foundation and to make sure that the compensation plan fairly represents the family of the deceased. The statement went on, “The caucus thanks the Government and governor of Kaduna State for keeping to their responsibility of protecting law and order in the state and appeals to the affected community and the leaders to remain calm and law-abiding.”

Amotekun Arrests 62 Suspected Criminals in Ondo

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Amotekun

On Monday, 11th December 2023, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as the Amotekun, paraded no less than sixty-two individuals who are purportedly involved in a range of criminal operations around the state. The suspects were detained in several locations throughout the state’s eighteen local government districts, according to the state security corps. The State Commander of the Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, paraded the suspects at the agency’s headquarters in Akure, the State Capital, and explained that the arrests were a part of the corps’ efforts to make sure the holiday season was free of crime. He claimed that with the help of other sister security agencies, Amotekun was able to make the arrests. Read also: Kaduna: Bandits Killed Two, Nine Rescued  NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community “Distress calls received, surveillance activities of Amotekun men, and all the security agencies in the state, inclusive of the Police, the NSCDC, the DSS, and the Nigeria Army, in various joint operations, led to the arrest of these suspected criminals,” Adeleye stated. “This ember month patrol is strategic because we are committed to ensuring the safety of people travelling via the state’s highways as well as the lives and property within Ondo State. All told, we were successful in apprehending roughly fifteen kidnappers. A few of them were armed.” “However, the sharp-eyed agents managed to apprehend a few of them, particularly in Akure North Local Government’s Ala/Dada/Ago Oyinbo axis. Additionally, there are some alleged kidnappers terrorising the Elegbeka axis in the state’s Ose LGA. Among them are armed robbers who were actually apprehended in the city of Akure as well as individuals who specialise in shoplifting.” The commander mentioned that one Usman Garuba, who was detained on charges of kidnapping and arson, was among the suspects. It was claimed that the suspect, an ex-convict, had set fire to a community. “Garuba was apprehended in the vicinity of the Ala/Dada/Ago-Oyinbo axis. He has successfully abducted more than nine victims and demanded a ransom. He once led five other people back to a village at night and set a community on fire because the villagers had tried to resist him. Thus, he is in our care and was previously incarcerated,” Adeleye said.