Nigerian Army has announced the elimination of four members of the suspected Boko Haram insurgents at Gawasa village in Guzamala local government area of Borno State, recovering from them, among others, 100 loaves of bread, a bag of rice and a bag of flour.
According to the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, in a statement today, Friday, the suspected Boko Haram members were captured and killed by soldiers of operation LAFIYA DOLE who were on clearance operation in the area. He said that other items recovered from them include five motorcycles, 250 litres of premium spirit, 60 Containers of five litre of vegetable oil and some quantity of drugs.
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the fuel tanker fire which led to the death of no fewer than nine people and burn to ashes of many vehicles in Lagos today, Thursday evening as one of the greatest tragedies witnessed in the country in recent times. This was even as the Lagos State Government commiserated with families of the victims of the tanker explosion.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said that the President expressed shock and sorrow over the fire incidence.
Buhari was quoted as saying that he is saddened by the tragic loss of lives, tens of vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire, even as he expressed his condolences to the government and people of Lagos State on the tragedy.
“Sadly, this seems to be one of the greatest tragedies we have seen in recent times.”
The President urged the emergency services and law enforcement officials to do their best to limit the losses and damage from the incident.
He said that the priority now should be how to save those people who could still be in danger.
Also, a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, described the incident as a sad development, most unfortunate and regrettable.
“On behalf of the Lagos State Government, we extend our deepest commiseration to the families of persons who lost their lives as well as properties to the incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this time of pain and grief.
“As a government, we would not relent in putting measures in place to ensure safety of lives and property of all residents.”
Bamigbetan said that Governor Ambode had directed all relevant agencies to move into the area to normalise the apprehension that had taken over the area and to also ensure that those in need are adequately taken care of.
The governor assured that clearing of the highway of damaged vehicles to establish normal traffic flow would continue throughout the night until the objective is achieved.
He called for the co-operation of all citizens with the officials of the agencies to restore the situation to normalcy.
He also urged motorists to continue to adhere to the safety standard and the State Traffic Laws so as to prevent a reoccurrence of such incidents.
The incident, which occurred at about 5pm today, Thursday, led to the loss of lives and many vehicles burnt.
The President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Professor Silas Dada has revealed how President Muhammadu Buhari revived and rejuvenated the Nigeria mining sector after years of neglect by the previous governments.
Professor Dada, who spoke today, Thursday, when he led his executive members on a courtesy visit to the President, emphasized that the Buhari government “revitalized and rejuvenated” the mining sector in the country, from its “moribund and chaotic state, following years of neglect and abandonment.”
He expressed said that President Buhari is the first Nigerian leader to be conferred with the Society’s Grand Patronship in person, shortly after conferring the laurel on the President who now becomes Grand Patron of the NMGS.
This was even as the President said that the federal government’s key policy objective of rejuvenating the mining sector is being realized, as witnessed by the diversification of the economy and broadening of the country’s revenue base.
The President expressed delight with the ongoing formalization of illegal mining as a way of curbing its implications on national security, revenue generation, the environment, health and safety of the citizens.
He said that his administration has been vindicated in its assumption that the nation’s endowment in mineral resources, the mining and solid minerals sector has the potential to create employment, increase revenue and reduce poverty.
Buhari attributed the successes recorded so far to the Federal Government’s policy of increasing budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development; formalization of illegal mining; approval of funds from the Natural Resources Development Fund to support small miners; enhancing capacity and human capital development.
The President said that the strengthening of the regulatory framework, enhanced transparency in the licensing process, and the ease of doing business played significant roles in the achievements recorded in the mining sector.
He pledged continued government support to the sector.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has vowed that the House will not relent until all allegations of misuse of $30 billion (about N10.08 trillion) by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) is unraveled. The Speaker who spoke at the opening of a public hearing by an Ad hoc committee of the House, on the alleged Constitutional breaches, impunity and other infractions of the NDPHC, and the need to ensure probity and statutory oversight functions, said that it is of great concern that about half of the funds were reportedly sourced through the Excess Crude Account, which belong to the nation’s three tiers of government. “From the information made available to the National Assembly, the NDPHC Ltd. has since 2005 invested over thirty Billion US Dollars (US$30B), over half of which was sourced from the Excess Crude Account belonging to the three tiers of Government, while the balance consists of funds from other investors. “As a Limited Liability Company, the operations, management and accounting procedures of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited is subject to the overriding provisions of the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in general, and the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA), in particular. However, the available information is that the Company has failed to comply with very serious and important provisions of the Law, such that the very essence of the company, and by extension the NIPP, is seriously threatened. “Furthermore, the NDPHC does not submit its annual budget and project plans for appropriation by the National Assembly, while, as alleged, it also generates Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) in trillions of Naira, which cannot be determined because it is neither divulged nor paid into the coffers of the Government, but rather expended by the company without Legislative approval or input from the other tiers of Government. “Most importantly, information available from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) conveys very disturbing signals that the trillions of Naira purportedly invested into the NIPP by the Federal, the 36 States and the 774 Local Governments have not been securitized as only two billion Naira is said to be registered as shares in the CAC for the three tiers of Government.” Dogara charged the committee to do a thorough job, even as he emphasized that the House is committed to finding a lasting solution to the challenge in the power sector, which has adversely affected all efforts to transform our economy.
“ In particular, we are concerned about making the NDPHC to work to fulfil its intended objectives as an important agency in our electricity industry.”
The Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has described the violent protest which led to the destruction of some valuables at the Plateau Government House by hoodlums, hiding under some Christian organizations as a mockery of the grief of the victims of the attack in Gashish District and other areas of the Northern Senatorial District.
The governor, who reacted to the protest organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Northern Zone of Plateau State, the Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Plateau State and Bazata Gospel Team, said that the protest represented one of the saddest commentaries in the States collective resolve to stand as a people united against evil.
He regretted that while Government is making concerted efforts in sustaining the tempo of arrest and prosecution of those who have over the years, threatened the peace, and worked so hard to turn the State into the sad era of bloodletting, unpatriotic elements are choosing to frustrate this good intention. “What is more worrisome about the protest is that protesters were not willing to listen to the voice of reason in allowing the Governor attend to visiting Senate President, Distinguish Senator Bukola Saraki and the Former President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR who were on a condolence visit to the State ahead of his addressing them.” The Governor said that he found it regrettable that while Government has chosen to recognize the right of its citizens to peacefully assemble and protest within the confines of the law,“the conveners of the protest under the joint auspices of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Northern Zone of Plateau State, the Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Plateau State and Bazata Gospel Team allowed the protest to be hijacked by hoodlums who took advantage of the procession led by these Organizations, to destroy Government properties and vehicles of Civil Servants and visitors to the Government House running into millions of naira.” Governor Lalong said that the attack on the seat of government is a serious affront on the authority of the State which should not be taken lightly because of the very clear and obvious unpatriotic self serving interest of a few who have chosen to make He said that the name of the Church as a moral rectitude should not have been associated in any way with any person or group of persons who would contemplate violence as a show of discontent especially in this period that all Godly and peace loving citizens are sharing in the grief of the bereaved, and calling on God in prayers and sober reflection for healing in the Land. “While Government mourns the loss of innocent lives and has extended deep commiseration to victims of the unfortunate attacks, with assurances that it will not rest on its oars in fishing out the perpetrators, it would not fold its hands and watch disgruntled citizens throw the State into a state of anarchy and chaos under the guise of mourning.” The Governor insisted that this should be the time for a united effort, prayers and vigilance as the People of Plateau State collectively seek to find a solution to the resurgence of the vicious circle of violence after the State had made considerable effort in restoring relative peace.
“ In this regard, Government has identified the sponsors of this protest which resulted in the destruction of properties and will certainly bring them to account for their unpatriotic conduct.” The Governor assured the people in the state that government will not relent in ensuring that the safety of citizens in guaranteed and peace restored in the affected areas and the whole of the State.
A group made up of academics, practitioners and selected policymakers with peace building mandate, under the umbrella of Forum on Farmer-Herder Relations in Nigeria (FFARN), has suggested some measures that should be taken by the federal and state government to resolve the lingering crisis that had led to killings of many people.
The group, which Condemned in strongest term, the recent attacks on communities in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bassa and Jos South local government areas of the state, insisted that the crisis is criminally motivated, adding that since such criminality had gone unpunished for a long time, the impunity had become a major defining feature of their operations.
“FFARN recognizes that the recent attacks is beyond farmer-herder conflict, however, embedded in this conflict is the question of criminality which is manifesting in form of attacks on communities, killing and stealing of cattle, destruction of farmlands and similar criminal activities.”
The group recommended the following measures for the resolution of the crisis and killings: • That Plateau state government work with the federal government to put in place sustainable structures that address the underlying factors and drivers of the lingering conflict between farmers and herders in the state. An inclusive, all-people approach should be used to engage stakeholders to holistically address the drivers of the conflict. • The Plateau State government in concert with the federal government, development partners, civil society, traditional and religious leaders among others should invest more resources in prevention of violent conflicts, conflict transformation and peacebuilding as well as humanitarian response, post-conflict rehabilitation and recovery targeted at rebuilding the lives and livelihoods of the affected populations. • Noting that the security of citizens is the primary purpose and responsibility of the government, we hereby call on the federal government to in the short term deploy appropriate security measures to address the growing trend of criminality in rural communities which is challenging state’s capacity to secure its citizens. Security and governance structure should be strengthened at the local level to address some of the push and pull factors of criminality embedded in the farmer-herder conflicts. • There is the need to arrest and prosecute of persons from all sides involved in these criminal acts of violence to serve as deterrence and break the culture of impunity that has continued to embolden the attackers.
The federal government has lamented what it called ‘drastic’ fall in the standard of education at the state level, constituting a committee, made of mainly State governors to look into the problem.
Rising from its monthly meeting today, Thursday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the National Economic Council (NEC), headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, noted that the standard of basic education at the State level has fallen drastically.
The Council resolved that a Committee comprising Governors of Kano, Osun, Delta and Anambra States, as well as the Central Bank Governor and the minister of education to look into what needs to be done urgently in the education sector at the State level and report back to the Council.
The minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu had earlier presented a Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) (2016 – 2019) for the Education Sector to the Council The presentation centred on the achievements, challenges and way forward in the Education Sector. ·The Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) 2016 – 2019 has 10 pillars as follows: – Out of School Children – Youth and Adult literacy – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technology, Vocation Education and Training (TVET) – Basic Education – Teacher Education, Capacity Building and Professional Development – Curriculum Policy Matters – Tertiary Education – Education Data and Planning – ICT in Education and – Library Services. · The presentation highlights the need for effective collaboration, cooperation and coordination by all stakeholders to consolidate the gains and successfully implement the reforms in the Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) 2016 – 2019. · It also recognised that more investment is needed in the education sector, while emphasizing that collaboration among the Federal, States, Local Governments, Private Sector and Development Partners is very necessary. Below are highlights of the NEC meeting: FAAC UPDATE The Honourable Minister of Finance briefed the Council on the reported deadlock of the Federation Allocation Account Committee, FAAC, which she chairs. She briefed that the issue was about NNPC remittance figures which the committee found unacceptable. She, however, assured NEC that the FAAC meeting will reconvene very soon. REPORT ON EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT (ECA) The Honourable Minister of Finance also reported to the Council that $80.6 million has been added to the ECA, and that the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at June 26, 2018 stands at $1,916, 742,289. 60 UPDATE ON STABILIZATION FUND ACCOUNT: · Honourable Minister of Finance reported to the Council that the current balance in the Stabilization Account as at JUNE 26, 2018 stands at N18, 892,864,216.65 UPDATE ON NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FUND · Honourable Minister of Finance equally reported to the Council that the current balance in the Natural Resources Development Fund as at June 28, 2018 stands at N133,715,427,387.37 Decision on Stabilization Fund Council appointed a Committee of 4 comprising Governors of Kaduna, Kogi, Ebonyi and Lagos to review the administration and operation of the Stabilization Fund Account. B. PRESENTATION ON ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS OF THE NIGERIA SOVEREIGN INVESTMENT AUTHORITY (NSIA) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 2016 AND UPDATE ON 2017 ACTIVITIES · NSIA reported 5th straight year of profitability in all its funds with core profits (excluding FX transaction gains) of N26.28 billion ($88 million) for the year. · NSIA also reported that total assets under management was about US$1.25 billion for the most part of the year, as the additional contribution of $250 million was not received until the third quarter of 2017. · It also reported that the return on asset was up to 6.60% in dollar terms. · NSIA is shifting focus to infrastructure and direct investments in Nigeria.
2017 Activities – NSIA activities among others: · NSIA implemented the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) in 2017. · Commenced construction of first three healthcare projects in Lagos, Kano and Umuahia respectively. · Continued work on Second Niger Bridge Projects. · Invested in and own 13% of Bridge International Academics Ltd – a network of Schools which delivers affordable high-quality Primary education to lower-income families. · Invested in Babbar-Gona – an agricultural franchise that empowers smallholder farmers. · NSIA in 2018, will focus on executing infrastructure investments strategy in its core focus areas of Power, Toll Roads, Agriculture and Healthcare etc., in addition to exploring opportunities in other sectors of investment such as refining, transport infrastructure and industrial real estate. Decision Council resolved that account of NSIA be approved. C. EDUCATION MINISTERIAL STRATEGIC PLAN PRESENTATION ON THE NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY- PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD BY THE HON MINISTER OF EDUCATION: · Minister of Education presented a Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) (2016 – 2019) for the Education Sector to the Council · The presentation centred on the achievements, challenges and way forward in the Education Sector. · The Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) 2016 – 2019 has 10 pillars as follows: – Out of School Children – Youth and Adult literacy – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technology, Vocation Education and Training (TVET) – Basic Education – Teacher Education, Capacity Building and Professional Development – Curriculum Policy Matters – Tertiary Education – Education Data and Planning – ICT in Education and – Library Services. · The presentation highlights the need for effective collaboration, cooperation and coordination by all stakeholders to consolidate the gains and successfully implement the reforms in the Ministerial Strategy Plan (MSP) 2016 – 2019. · It also recognised that more investment is needed in the education sector, while emphasizing that collaboration among the Federal, States, Local Governments, Private Sector and Development Partners is very necessary. Decision Council noted that the standard of basic education at the State level has fallen drastically and resolved that a Committee comprising Governors of Kano, Osun, Delta, Anambra, CBN Governor and the Honourable Minister of Education should look into what needs to be done urgently in the education sector at the State level and report back to the Council. D. UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL ADDRESSING SYSTEM BY THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Highlights of the Presentation: · The National Addressing Policy (NAP) was developed by the Ministry of Communication Technology in conjunction with the Stakeholders and was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on November 27th, 2013 · The policy provided the governance structure and membership in the National Addressing System Council, NAS Committee, NAS Secretariat; as well as list of strategic stakeholders · NAP Governance Structure has the Vice President as its Chairman and 18 other members, and among its function is to make guidelines and provide strategic direction for the National Addressing System · NAS Committee is headed by the Honourable Minister of Communication as Chairman, with 16 other members cutting across multi-discipline, inter-agency and inter-sect oral, which function among others is to develop the implementation framework for NAS programme. Objectives of NAP: Objectives of the NAP Policy include; · To harness physical development in LGs to ensure orderliness through spatial development strategies and processes · To facilitate increase of the proportion of Nigerians to be formally assigned street addresses that can be authenticated in local govts’ databases where they reside · To develop a standardized and globally acceptable addressing infrastructure that support; Easy identification of locations on Geographic Information System platform, National development and enhanced socio-economic activities Funding: NAS funding will be provided by the FG, States and LGs. Other sources are; Levies, Tariff, MDG, Donations from private/public Corporate Organizations Update on Implementation of NAS: · Nigerian National Addressing Standards and Guidelines (NNAS&G) was developed and approved by NAS Council in October 2017 in line with the provisions of the policy Prayer: Council invited to: · Consider and approve the proposed National Addressing Data Ecosystem Architecture for the implementation of the National Addressing System (NAS). · Consider and accord high priority status for the implementation of the NAS program, and · Support the full implementation of the NAS programs with adequate funds. Decision Council approved the prayers and sample of organising address format. ANY OTHER BUSINESS (AOB) Council also condoned with the Plateau State Government over the recent tragedy on the state and prayed God to comfort those affected by the conflict.
The sad and unfortunate killings in Plateau State over the weekend have been turned to opportunity to once again play irresponsible politics, particularly by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which says it is declaring seven days of mourning.
These are dolorous times that call for deep introspection on how cheap human lives have become, and the proffering of actionable ideas on how to get out of the bind. But the PDP would rather dance on the graves of the dead, playing cheap, infantile politics.
The comatose and prostrate party is declaring seven days of mourning, during which flags in its offices would be flown at half mast nationwide. But unknown to the party, those flags had been forcefully lowered since its 2015 loss at the polls, and may remain so for a long time to come, because Nigerians are politically discerning, and cannot be hoodwinked by cheap antics.
A quick checklist of some savage and brutal killings in Nigeria during PDP rule, between 1999 and 2015, for which no national mourning was declared:
– November 20, 1999. Odi, in Bayelsa State, was invaded on orders of a PDP President. About 2,500 people killed. No national mourning.
– Between February and May, 2000, about 5,000 people were killed during riots over Sharia law in different parts of the North. No national mourning.
– In 2001, hundreds of people, including the old, infirm, women and children were killed in Zaki Biam. No crocodile tears.
– Between September 7-12, 2001, Jos, Plateau State, erupted in internecine killings. Between 500 and 1,000 people were killed. Flags were not flown at half mast.
– In February, 2004, at least 975 people were killed in Yelwa-Shendam, Plateau State. No mourning by the then ruling PDP.
– Between November 28 and 29, 2008, Jos was in flames again, with 381 deaths. No mourning.
– In 2010, 992 people killed in Jos. Mum was the word.
– In 2014 alone, according to Global Terrorism Index, at least 1,229 people were killed in the Middle Belt. No mourning.
– Boko Haram killings in PDP years were over 10,000. PDP flags were still fluttering proudly in the sky.
Those who take pleasure in twisting statements from the Presidency may claim we are saying that many more people were killed under PDP than under President Muhammadu Buhari. It would be unconscionable to do so. The intendment of this statement is to show that wanton killings had been with us for awhile; this government is working towards enduring solutions; and should be given the opportunity to do so.
Even a single soul is precious, and no man should take a life, which he cannot create. But when tragic situations as had happened in Plateau State occur, such should never be used to play crude politics. Those who are wont to do so should have change of hearts, or lose their very humanity.
FEMI ADESINA, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity wrote in from Abuja.
Ex-Nigerian Super Eagles super star and sports administrator, popular ly named ‘Mathematical’ Segun Odegbami has made it known that he would be contesting in the Ogun state governorship election soon.
Odegbami, in a Facebook post today, Wednesday, said: “I am going to stay around for a little while longer, still watch and report any interesting events around here, and properly think through my next project.
“Now more than ever before, I know for sure why I want to contest for the office of governor of my State. The thought of a Footballer in government house excites many who have heard the rumour here. It will surely attract all manner of reactions back in my State,” he wrote.
Odegbami added: “Politics in the most sophisticated environment in Nigeria, for all things progressive, may never be the same again. I am looking forward to the challenge in faith and with hope.” [myad]
South Korea today, Wednesday, edged out by 2-0 from the ongoing World Cup tournament, German, which is the current defending champion.
Nothing captures the implausibility more than one simple fact: Germany, the defending champion, took its earliest exit from the tournament since 1938, when only 15 teams participated.
Germany, perceived as a dynamic soccer machine that rarely sputters, broke down in an inglorious way, losing, 2-0, to South Korea and leaving Russia about three weeks before anyone expected it to.
Toni Kroos, Germany’s star midfielder, looked stunned, nonetheless: standing all but motionless just outside the center circle and staring into space with a hand on each hip as South Korean players celebrated one of the bigger upsets in this tournament’s 88-year history.
On Saturday, Kroos had given Germany, the defending champion, what looked like a reprieve, with his curving marvel of a free kick to beat Sweden at the last minute.
Germany always finds a way, said those in the know as Kroos’s shot curled into the Swedish net as if guided by GPS. But that rush of pure adrenaline turned out to be a false dawn instead of the cathartic boost this talented but ultimately ineffectual team required.
With stars like Kroos, Mesut Özil and Mats Hummels, Germany won every match in qualifying for this World Cup, the first German team to do so. But it could not even make it out of the group phase in Russia.
It failed to score in its 1-0 upset loss to Mexico and failed to score again in its 2-0 defeat to South Korea.
It appeared the Germans would need just one goal in the closing minutes on Wednesday to win and secure their place in the round of 16. Instead, they surrendered two goals in added time, to Kim Young-gwon and Son Heung-min, and lost.
Instead, Sweden and Mexico were the teams to qualify for the knockout phase from Group F. With Sweden defeating Mexico 3-0, in Yekaterinburg, each finished with six points to Germany and South Korea’s three.
There seems to be a World Cup curse at work. Since the 1998 edition, the defending champion has been eliminated in the group phase on four occasions: France in 2002, Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014 and now Germany.
But this team’s early exit was still an undeniable shock, and Joachim Löw, the German coach since 2006, used that same word — “schock,” in his own language — to describe the experience on Wednesday.
“The disappointment of being eliminated is just huge,” said Löw, who said the team deserved to go out early. “It turned sour. I must take responsibility for this.”
The surprise was visible on the painted faces of the German fans in the late-afternoon light in Kazan. Above all, it was etched on the features of the German players as they cried on the field or hunched forward, hands on their knees, trying to absorb the blow.
“Of course, we had high expectations for ourselves, but I don’t think we could fulfill it any of the three games,” said Hummels, the central defender who missed the Sweden game with an injury but returned to the lineup on Wednesday. “There was no game where we can say, ‘Yeah, we played the style we used to play and we expect ourselves to play.’ So we have to be disappointed in ourselves after such a tournament.”
A four-time World Cup winner, Germany was a finalist in 2002, third in 2006 and 2010 and the champion in 2014 after dealing the host nation of Brazil a 7-1 defeat in the semifinals, the memory of which still leaves many Brazilians wincing.
But Brazil will be the team going deeper in this World Cup after qualifying for the knockout round later on Wednesday. Germans themselves now have reason to grimace at the memory of 2018 after their own team scored just two goals and allowed four in three matches.
“Football is a simple game,” once said Gary Lineker, the former English player. “Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.”
On Wednesday, Lineker, now a BBC pundit, updated his old quip, tweeting: “Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans no longer always win. Previous version is confined to history.”
The Germans certainly have historical company, however. The list of defending champions to crash out in the group stage is an unmistakable sign of how difficult it is to maintain momentum and focus with national teams whose players practice and play together much less frequently than they do with their clubs.
Asked if this was the end of an era of German domination, Hummels shook his head and referred to the team’s loss in the 2016 European Championship after winning the World Cup.
“We didn’t dominate; we won one tournament,” he said. “You have to be honest. It was no domination. We’ve always been one of the strongest national teams. We wanted to prove that once again when we came back together again in September, but this tournament we haven’t been on the level we have to be at a World Cup. I think many teams have big problems, but somehow they survived. We did the same against Sweden when it was almost over for us, but we didn’t make it a second time.”
The recent struggles of defending champions also reflects the increasingly global nature of the sport, where talent now finds its way to the highest level of the club game.
Son, the South Korean forward who scored the second goal on Wednesday, plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. Midfielder Koo Ja-cheol plays for F.C. Augsburg in Germany’s Bundesliga, where many of Germany’s stars make their excellent livings.
The intimidation factor is not what it was, but Germany was still a rightful favorite coming into this World Cup. Löw, at least in public on Wednesday, was grasping for answers, but did suggest self-satisfaction had played a role.
“It was a bit of overconfidence ahead of Mexico,” he said. “That we can press the button and win.”
Löw tried to press a few of his own in Russia. He benched Özil and midfielder Sami Khedira for the second game against Sweden and then, after noting publicly that they had shown a good reaction in practice, reinserted them in the lineup on Wednesday while leaving out Thomas Müller, a longtime national team fixture who had struggled to find his form in the first two games.
But the lineup shuffling could not solve the team’s attacking issues. The Germans certainly had opportunities. They repeatedly struck at the South Korean goal on Wednesday afternoon, just as they had done against Mexico in the second half last week.
They took 26 shots to the South Koreans’ 11, but the finishing touch was lacking.
There was a low and dangerous shot from Kroos that was saved by the diving Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, who was excellent on Wednesday.
“Our coach told us that Germany probably wouldn’t think the Koreans are very strong,” Jo said. “I just tried to relax during the game and enjoy the experience.”
There were also unchallenged headers from Hummels and the substitute Mario Gómez that missed their target late in the game.
“We had enough chances to score,” Hummels said. “I had a big chance in the 87th minute. I have to score this one. This chance will haunt me for a few weeks.”
Müller, who had been sent on to replace Leon Goretzka in the 63rd minute, could not change the equation. But unlike the previous defending champion to be eliminated this early, there was a modern twist to the German exit.
This is the first World Cup in which the video assistant referee system, or V.A.R., is being used, and in the third minute of added time, the South Koreans took a corner kick that the Germans struggled to clear. Amid the crowd, Kroos, one of the sport’s most accurate passers, flicked the ball back toward his teammate Niklas Süle, who, surprised, let the ball go through his legs.
It rolled on to Kim, deep in the box. He had time to control it and then score into the upper right corner past the charging German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
The celebration was cut short when the line judge raised his flag to indicate offside, but referee Mark Geiger of the United States reviewed the sequence on a video screen after consulting via his earpiece with V.A.R. officials in Moscow. He ruled that Kim’s goal was valid.
Son celebrated after scoring South Korea’s second goal against Germany, into an empty net in the sixth minute of added time. Credit Michael Probst/Associated Press
The celebration resumed, and when it ended, Germany pushed forward in desperation, with Neuer abandoning his goal altogether and turning himself into an extra midfielder. He soon lost possession of the ball in the South Korean half, and Ju Se-jong lofted a long pass toward the empty German goal.
Son ran it down ahead of Süle and made it 2-0 with a flick of his left foot in the sixth and final minute of stoppage time.
Germany, as it turns out, does not always find a way, something that Kroos and his teammates will now have four years to reflect upon.
As the minutes ticked by after the defeat, Kroos remained with his hands on his hips until he was the last German player on the field. When he finally decided it was time, he walked slowly, very slowly, toward the tunnel.
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The President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Professor Silas Dada has revealed how President Muhammadu Buhari revived and rejuvenated the Nigeria mining sector after years of neglect by the previous governments.
A group made up of academics, practitioners and selected policymakers with peace building mandate, under the umbrella of Forum on Farmer-Herder Relations in Nigeria (FFARN), has suggested some measures that should be taken by the federal and state government to resolve the lingering crisis that had led to killings of many people.
The federal government has lamented what it called ‘drastic’ fall in the standard of education at the state level, constituting a committee, made of mainly State governors to look into the problem.
South Korea today, Wednesday, edged out by 2-0 from the ongoing World Cup tournament, German, which is the current defending champion.
PDP’s Crocodile Tears On Plateau Killings, By Femi Adesina
The sad and unfortunate killings in Plateau State over the weekend have been turned to opportunity to once again play irresponsible politics, particularly by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which says it is declaring seven days of mourning.
These are dolorous times that call for deep introspection on how cheap human lives have become, and the proffering of actionable ideas on how to get out of the bind. But the PDP would rather dance on the graves of the dead, playing cheap, infantile politics.
The comatose and prostrate party is declaring seven days of mourning, during which flags in its offices would be flown at half mast nationwide. But unknown to the party, those flags had been forcefully lowered since its 2015 loss at the polls, and may remain so for a long time to come, because Nigerians are politically discerning, and cannot be hoodwinked by cheap antics.
A quick checklist of some savage and brutal killings in Nigeria during PDP rule, between 1999 and 2015, for which no national mourning was declared:
– November 20, 1999. Odi, in Bayelsa State, was invaded on orders of a PDP President. About 2,500 people killed. No national mourning.
– Between February and May, 2000, about 5,000 people were killed during riots over Sharia law in different parts of the North. No national mourning.
– In 2001, hundreds of people, including the old, infirm, women and children were killed in Zaki Biam. No crocodile tears.
– Between September 7-12, 2001, Jos, Plateau State, erupted in internecine killings. Between 500 and 1,000 people were killed. Flags were not flown at half mast.
– In February, 2004, at least 975 people were killed in Yelwa-Shendam, Plateau State. No mourning by the then ruling PDP.
– Between November 28 and 29, 2008, Jos was in flames again, with 381 deaths. No mourning.
– In 2010, 992 people killed in Jos. Mum was the word.
– In 2014 alone, according to Global Terrorism Index, at least 1,229 people were killed in the Middle Belt. No mourning.
– Boko Haram killings in PDP years were over 10,000. PDP flags were still fluttering proudly in the sky.
Those who take pleasure in twisting statements from the Presidency may claim we are saying that many more people were killed under PDP than under President Muhammadu Buhari. It would be unconscionable to do so. The intendment of this statement is to show that wanton killings had been with us for awhile; this government is working towards enduring solutions; and should be given the opportunity to do so.
Even a single soul is precious, and no man should take a life, which he cannot create. But when tragic situations as had happened in Plateau State occur, such should never be used to play crude politics. Those who are wont to do so should have change of hearts, or lose their very humanity.
FEMI ADESINA, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity wrote in from Abuja.