The Nigerian Navy has announced the arrest of the coordinator of the Niger Delta Avengers who have carried out series of attacks on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Chevron oil and gas facilities in Delta. The Commander of the NNS in Niger Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, told news men at the Warri Naval Base that the suspect was apprehended on June 2. Mohammed, who presented the suspect alongside others allegedly involved in the act of vandalism and criminal activities in the maritime sector, described the arrest as a major breakthrough. He, however, said the identity of the suspect would not be disclosed now. “I am pleased to announce that after several weeks of persistent effort the Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with other security agencies, have arrested the main coordinator of attacks on NNPC and Chevron oil and gas facilities. “The attacks were the bombing we witnessed since May 4 with the attack on Chevron Okan valve platform offshore in Escravos in Warri South-West. “We have recovered some Impoverished Explosive Devices (IED) for blowing up and vandalizing pipelines. “We have decided not to give out the name of the suspect because he is helping us with useful information that could lead to the arrest of others,’’ Mohammed said. The Commander said the suspect was deeply involved in pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, saying that his arrest came after several weeks of trailing and arrest of some of his foot-soldiers. “The suspect has stolen crude oil from about 35 abandoned oil well heads and crude oil pipelines in Okpoko and Obodo in Warri South-West Local Government Area,’’ he said. Mohammed also said that the navy had apprehended another suspect identified as Michael John, who allegedly murdered three soldiers in Jones creek and one soldier and a policeman in Batan community. “The suspect has confessed to the crime.” The commander also said that another suspect was being quizzed for alleged involvement in the June 3 attack on the 48 inches crude oil pipeline in Forcados oil terminal. The crude oil pipeline is operated by Shell Petroleum and Development Company (SPDC) at Ogulagha in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta. He said that the suspect had provided useful information that would facilitate the arrest of the other culprits by the Command. While commending the Delta Government for its cooperation, Mohammed assured that the navy would continue to protect the nation’s territorial waterways. Items recovered from the suspects included rolls of cables, two car batteries, three Shovels, Hammers, Saw, suspected dynamites, cutlass, among others. [myad]
Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi is dead. He died in the early hours of today, Wednesday, June 8, at the age of 54, about six months after his wife died of Cancer, at the age of 35.
In a statement, family spokesman, Emmanuel Ado confirmed that Keshi died of cardiac arrest, saying: “with thanksgiving to God, the Ogbuenyi Fredrick Keshi family of Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, announces the death of Mr. Stephen Okechukwu Chinedu Keshi.
“Our son, brother, father, father-in-law, brother-in-law, has gone to be with his wife of 35 years (Nkem ), Mrs. Kate Keshi, who passed on on the 9th December 2015.
“Since her death, Keshi has been in mourning. He came back to Nigeria to be with her. He had planned to fly back today Wednesday, before he suffered a cardiac arrest. He has found rest.
“Though deeply mourning the shock exit, Mr. Ado said the family remained grateful to God for the life spent by the Big Boss.”
Keshi, who was Nigerian football defender, was born on January 23, 1962. He was one of only two people, along with Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohry, to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach.
After a playing career mostly with Belgian clubs, Keshi went to the United States to be educated in coaching.
In 1996 he was joined by Augustine Eguavoen, who once coached the Nigerian national team. They played together in California as the backbone of the defence for the short-lived Sacramento Scorpions. Keshi has been a part of the coaching staff for the Nigerian national team, most notably as head coach for the Junior Eagles at the 2001 African Youth Championship which also served as qualification for the 2000 FIFA World Youth Champion, without success.
Between 2004 and 2006 Keshi coached the Togo national football team, surprisingly bringing them to their first World Cup tournament, German 2006. Having secured Togo’s unlikely qualification, he was promptly replaced by German coach Otto Pfister prior to the World Cup finals, after Togo showed a dismal performance and failed to advance to the knock-out stage in 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.
However, Pfister did not last beyond a controversial World Cup campaign that nearly resulted in a player’s strike over pay and Togo remained without a manager until February 2007 when they re-engaged Keshi in time for a friendly against Cameroon.
He worked as manager of the Mali national football team, after being appointed in April 2008 on a two-year deal. Keshi was sacked in January 2010, after Mali’s early exit in the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Keshi became coach of the Nigerian National Team in 2011. He led Nigeria to qualification for the 2013 African Cup of Nations, which they went on to win, defeating Burkina Faso 1–0 in the final. The following day Keshi handed in his resignation, only to reverse his decision the day after. Keshi led Nigeria to the 2015 Confederations Cup, defeated Tahiti 6–1, and lost 1–2 to Uruguay in the second game, and also lost 0–3 to World Cup winners, Spain in their final group game.
On 16 November 2013, Keshi’s Nigeria secured qualification to the 2014 World Cup by beating Ethiopia 4–1 on aggregate in a play-off.
On 18 November 2013, Stephen keshi set a record in African football by being the first African coach to successfully qualify two African nations (Nigeria and Togo) to the World Cup Finals. He also helped Nigeria become the first country to achieve an African Cup of Nations trophy and World Cup qualification, both in 2013.
On 25 June 2014, Keshi’s Nigeria progressed to the knockout stage of 2014 World Cup. They started the tournament with a 0-0 draw against Iran, followed by a controversial 1-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. They lost the final group stage match 2-3 against Argentina, but progressed to the knockout stage, courtesy of a 3-1 win by Bosnia Herzegovina over Iran.
On 30 June 2014, the Super Eagles lost to France in a 2014 World Cup Round of 16 match. After the match, Keshi announced his resignation as Super Eagles coach but later reversed the decision after the Nigerian Football Federation renewed his contract.
On 14 October 2014, his team failed to win a single game in the ongoing Morocco 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifying series and he announced he would move to another job if pressure continues to mount because of certain people, whom he refused to name, were trying to “sabotage” him. However, he stated that he will continue to coach the Super Eagles because he loves the team and he loves his country.
In July 2015, following Nigeria’s exit from the World Cup, Keshi’s contract with the Nigerian Football Federation expired and was not renewed.[13] A statement by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee said the decision was made, having thoroughly reviewed the reports/findings of the NFF Disciplinary Committee and NFF Technical and Development Committee, as well as having reviewed the actions and inaction of Stephen Keshi, in the performance of his duties as Super Eagles’ Head Coach, which NFF found to lack the required commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives as set out in the Coach’s employment contract.
Keshi was married to his wife Kate (née Abureme) for 33 years. She died on 10 December 2015, after battling cancer for three years. They had four children.
Honours
Club, New Nigeria Bank FC
West African Club Championship (2): 1983, 1984
Stande d’Abidjan
Coupe Houphoet Boigny (2): 1985, 1986
Africa Sports
Côte d’Ivoire Premier Division (1): 1986
Côte d’Ivoire Coupe (1): 1986
Anderlecht
Belgian Cup (2): 1988, 1989
Jupiler League (1): 1991
International
Nigeria
Africa Cup of Nations (1): 1994
Manager
International
Nigeria
Africa Cup of Nations (1): 2013
Confedrations of African Football – African Coach of the Year 2013. [myad]
Bayelsa State is said to be owing medical doctors in the state five month salaries even as the doctors are threatening to withdraw health services in public hospitals. The state Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Israel Jeremiah, who made this known at a news conference in Yenagoa, gave the mandatory 21 days notice to the Bayelsa State Government. The strike notice, dated June 6, was for the three affiliates of the NMA in the state. The NMA said that the non-payment of salary in Bayelsa State since January 2016 has taken a negative toll on the health sector as residents could no longer afford to seek medical attention and compelled to either patronize quacks or resort to self medication. Jeremiah listed the affiliates as the Association of Resident Doctors in Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri; the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria; and the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners. He noted that the worst affected were the House Officers who were the most vulnerable in the medical profession could no longer meet their obligations and faced untold hardship. Jeremiah said: “In spite the untold hardship occasioned by this non-payment of salaries for five months now, our members have kept faith with our Hippocratic Oath and continued to render services and ensured that Bayelsa people get the needed healthcare. “The continued non-payment of salary has adversely affected healthcare delivery in the state. “Hospital attendance has markedly reduced; patients can no longer procure drugs, pay for tests, settle bills on discharge and in the worst case scenario, opt to die at home.” The NMA noted that the association was not part of the agreement that the Bayelsa State Government reached with organized labour to pay workers in the state 50 per cent salary pending the improvement of the state’s revenue. The association maintained that it will insist of full payment of their members’ salary as it was excluded from the meetings where the agreement to accept 50 per cent salary was reached and therefore cannot be bound by the agreement. Jeremiah said: “We dissociate ourselves completely from the purported agreement between NLC/TUC and Bayelsa government where a payment of 50 per cent monthly salaries among other agreements were said to have been reached. “We insist on full payment of our salaries 100 per cent in full.” The association noted that if the outstanding salaries were not paid before the expiration of the strike notice, which will lapse on June 27, 2016, all affiliates of NMA will be compelled to go on indefinite strike and full withdrawal of medical services. They urged well-meaning people of Bayelsa State, the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Royal fathers, opinion leaders and statesmen to intervene to avert the looming strike and its disastrous consequences. [myad]
No fewer than 32 political groups have applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be registered as political parties. INEC officials said that more of such groups are still applying but that “so far, we have received 32 applications. The applications are being processed.” Chairman of INEC, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, who spoke on Tuesday at the second quarterly consultative meeting with the Chairmen and Secretaries of registered Political Parties, at the Commission’s headquarters assured political parties: “the Commission remains committed to the opening of the democratic space in line with the law and our guidelines.” He said that the meeting was a forum for the Commission to brief party leaders on developments in the management of the democratic system. He addressed the recent revelations of alleged involvement of INEC staff in the subversion of 2015 general elections through cash inducement. “INEC will also take further administrative action against staff found culpable in this dastardly conduct. We will not hesitate to interdict staff where prima facie cases have been established against them by EFCC and immediately terminate the appointments of those indicted.” Professor Yakubu said that despite the severe constraints on the Commission with regard to the prosecution of election offenders, as exemplified by the recently held bye-election in Minjibir Constituency in Kano State. “INEC legal team and the Police have successfully secured the conviction of 42 suspects. This is the highest number of convictions in a single case ever achieved by the Commission.” On the outstanding re-run elections, the INEC Chairman explained that out of 80 court ordered re-run elections, the Commission had successfully conducted 49 and has 31 elections pending as well as one bye election. They are: one election in Anambra, four in Imo, one bye-election in Kano, three in Kogi, one in Plateau and 22 in Rivers. He maintained that except for Anambra and Plateau re-run elections which are sub-judice, we have started the processes of consultation leading to the completion of the outstanding elections. Professor Yakubu welcomed suggestions and inputs from the political parties on areas of constitutional and legal amendments. “We welcome suggestions by political parties on areas of amendment you consider important for inclusion in the comprehensive proposal we intend to submit to the National Assembly.” [myad]
A 26-year-old Army officer from the District of Columbia, Deshauna Barber, has been crowned winner of the 2016 Miss US pageant. Barber, an Information Technology analyst at the Department of Commerce, triumphed over 51 other contestants, including first runner-up, Chelsea Hardin, representing Hawaii, to claim victory in the annual contest. The other finalists included contestants from Georgia, Alabama and California. Barber is an American model, beauty queen and officer in the United States Army Reserve. She emerged Miss District of Columbia USA 2016 on December 19, 2015, the state she represented at the national pageant. The new Queen was crowned by outgoing Miss USA, Olivia Jordan of Oklahoma, at the event which was held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Barber is the eighth African-American woman to wear the crown. She will go on to compete as the US representative at the annual Miss Universe pageant later this year. Reuters/NAN. [myad]
The embattled former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has described the caretaker committee, headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi as contraption. Modu Sheriff said: “my attention has been drawn to the activities at the National secretariat of the PDP to the effect that some individuals masquerading as leaders have handed over to Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi under a contraption called “caretaker committee.” In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Inwa Bwala, the sacked chairman said that going by proceedings still pending in the courts to the effect that he remains the National Chairman, whatever transpired was null, void and of no effect whatsoever. Modu Sheriff said that he has not mandated anybody, nor was his authority obtained by Uche Secondus, who has been parading himself as acting on behalf of the National Chairman. “While we await the verdicts of the courts, we wish to state that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is and remains the National Chairman of the party, until otherwise declared by the courts. “We allowed the charade to go on at the secretariat without any form of challenge in strict obedience to careful pronouncement on the matter, but we must also state that there is no gathering of groups or individuals, however powerful, such groups or individuals may be, that can be said to take precedence over the law. “For the avoidance of doubts, we state categorically that what took place at the PDP secretariat on Tuesday June 7, 2016 was a total disregard to court orders. And an extension of the impunity for which the party has been accused of and which has taken the party to where it is today. “The public should disregard all the actions and pronouncements. [myad]
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has started preparations towards the 2019 general elections. The operations and logistics officers of the commission has scheduled a-one week workshop in Lagos from June 12 to 18. The workshop is expected to lead to the development of Electoral Operations Road Map for the 2019 General Elections, to be submitted to the Commission for consideration. The workshop, with the theme: “Developing Effective Electoral Operational and Logistical Strategies for 2019 General Elections”, will hold at Westown Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, from 9am to 5pm daily. Papers to be presented at the workshop include: · Electoral Process and Automation Beyond the Smart Card Reader · Election Officials Management: Issues and Challenges · Prospects and Modalities for Out of Country Voting · The Challenges of Managing Electoral Logistics Transportation in Nigeria · Election Logistics Management in INEC: Challenges and Way Forward · Forward and Reverse Logistics for Election Materials and Personnel · An Overview of Election Administration Platforms: Issues and Prospects · Presentation and Consideration of Report of the Committee on Review of Electoral Forms and Materials · Election Material Warehousing: Imperatives for Effective Store Management · Use of Inventory Data and Supply Chain Management in Electoral Logistics and · Delimitation of Constituencies in Nigeria: Impediments and Achievables. [myad]
Federal Government has rallied the major stakeholders in Niger Delta states to develop a common and united strategy to deal with the recent resurgent militant attacks on the nation’s oil installations. At a meeting held today at the Presidential Villa, and presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors from Niger Delta states, three ministers and military service chiefs met behind closed doors to discuss the situation, and forge a common strategy to halt what is considered by both federal and state governments as acts of economic sabotage by the militants. At the end of the meeting, which lasted over two hours, it was made known that the federal government is proceeding on a collaborative strategy with the governments, communities in the Niger Delta region and other relevant stakeholders towards tackling the situation holistically. Speaking to news men, at the end of the meeting, Delta State Ifeanyi Okowa, said that the meeting identified the need for synergy between the federal and the state governments as a very important step going forward. Governor Okowa said: “one thing that we have identified is the synergy between the federal government and states is very important and this meeting has actually revealed a lot of issues and we believe that the collaboration between the Federal Government and States would help us to tackle the issues in the Niger Delta.” Governor Okowa said that a lot of decisions were taken at the meeting after they were briefed by Service Chiefs. “We have taken a lot of decisions which we think will help us to mitigate what is going on currently in the states particularly in Delta and Bayelsa. “We are going to find a solution very soon.” The governor said that it was decided that military presence in the region should be de-escalated, though it was agreed that the forces should be kept to provide security and presence while government begins immediate engagement process with the communities in the affected areas. On the fate of the amnesty programme, Governor Okowa said that the Presidential Adviser on the Amnesty Programme briefed the meeting and that it said the programme was still on-going. “We have a Special Adviser in charge of Amnesty and he is doing a lot of work.” Those at the meeting were Governors from the Niger Delta states which include Governors of Edo, Ondo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, and the Deputy Governor of Cross River. On the side of the federal government were the Minister of Defense, Rtd. Major General Mohammed Dan Ali, Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu. Military service chiefs were also in attendance led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin and all the Service Chiefs who briefed the meeting on the security situation in the region. [myad]
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the dismissal of Agudosi Chika Maryann from the service of the Commission for absenteeism, in line with INEC Staff and Condition of Service. It also sanctioned three others for offences bordering on misconduct, even as it re-instated 20 others who were unduly retired or dismissed. The Commission explained that Agudosi Chika Maryann was dismissed from the service for being absent from duty without leave in line with INEC Staff and Conditions of Service Section 3.02(c). It also approved the reduction of the rank of Ameh Mathew Onoja, and his posting out of Kogi state for misconduct (dereliction of duty) in line with Public Service Rules (PSR) Part V, Rule 15(i), and INEC Condition of Service. Similarly, Leah Abalaka and Abor Tabitha have been given written warning and are to be posted out of the State for general inefficiency and incompetence, in line with INEC Condition of Service, 3.04 (c). INEC has also complied with court orders by re-instating 20 (twenty) Officers who were unduly retired/dismissed or whose appointments were terminated by the Commission but reinstated by the Industrial Court, Regular Courts or the Court of Appeal respectively. The names of the re-instated Officers are: 1. Michael Chinedu Nwankwo 2. Chineye Doni Amakiri 3. Benjamin Nwajagu 4. James Packeme Ukaba 5. Dennis Ogbu 6. Henry Okechukwu Mbonu 7. Obinna C. Nwosu 8. Friday C. Mgbere 9. Dayan Chude Moore 10. Cordelia Modeme 11. Asuquo Akpan Affia 12. Ifeyinwa Umeadi 13. Osunlola Akinyinka 14. Barr. Emmanuel C. Owette 15. Alex Ejesieme 16. Chukwujekwu Okeke 17. Mr. Emmanuel Ambrose Bassey 18. Akao Innocent James 19. Oni Babajide 20. Gbenga Ajayi. [myad]
National Contractors Association of Nigeria has promised to put an end to government abandoned projects across the country. The National Chairman of the Association of Nigeria, Onuche Okoh, who led his team on a courtesy visit to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello on Tuesday, frowned at several numbers of uncompleted buildings scattered across the country and promised to help eradicate abandoned projects. According to him, the Association will go back to the basics by monitoring the activities of the contractors by entrenching transparency and integrity. This was even as the minister asked the Contractors to register their association with the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) as Non-Governmental Organization to enable it monitor activities of contractors in the country. The Minister said that the Procurement Act has given Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society Organizations a window to register with the BPP to participate as watchdogs in the entire contract processes in the country. Muhammad Bello encouraged the Association to study the Act and take advantage of the window provided to strengthen the performance of contractors in the country. He welcomed the Association’s interest to partner with the FCT Administration but said that the relationship can only be consummated when the BPP writes the FCT Administration in that regard. [myad]
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The Nigerian Navy has announced the arrest of the coordinator of the Niger Delta Avengers who have carried out series of attacks on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Chevron oil and gas facilities in Delta.
