News
AFCON: Super Eagles Grab Semi-Final Ticket: Trounce Cote D’ Ivoire 2-1 … Jonathan, Mark, PDP Hail Eagles
Nigeria shocked tournament favourites Ivory Coast 2-1 yesterday to progress to the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals in Rustenburg.
The Super Eagles took a first half lead through Emmanuel Emenike just before the break, but the Ivorians levelled on 50 minutes through Cheick Tiote.
However, Sunday Mba netted the winner 12 minutes from time for a sensational victory.
Elephants coach Sabri Lamouchi made eight changes from the team that drew 2-2 with Algeria in their last match, and it showed as Nigeria got out of the blocks faster, with Victor Moses firing in a shot on 10 minutes which Boubacar Barry parried to safety.
Emenike fired another shot over the bar on 27 minutes before their dominance was finally rewarded just before the break – the striker slotting a great free-kick after Moses was brought down just outside the area.
The Ivorians looked much better after the break and were duly rewarded just five minutes in when they drew level through Tiote, who headed in Didier Drogba’s free-kick at the back-post.
The Elephants kept up the pressure, though a warning sign of the Nigerian danger should have been forthcoming when Brown Ideye’s close-range header was well saved by Barry.
Yaya Toure was put straight through and looked certain to score, but the excellent Vincent Enyeama was equal to the task.
It proved a crucial save as Nigeria scored the decisive goal just 12 minutes before the end – Mba beating three defenders before his deflected shot left Barry with no chance.
Ivory Coast threw everything forward and had a number of chances, but just could not get the ball into the back of the net as the Eagles held on for a famous win.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated the Super Eagles for their superlative performance at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.
A message on the Twitter account of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said Jonathan thanked the players “for their masterly and superlative performance.
“President Jonathan thanks the Super Eagles for their masterly and superlative performance in the just-concluded AFCON encounter with CIV.
“President Jonathan says to the Super Eagles now is the time to really begin to soar like the Super Eagles that they are.
“President Jonathan joins all Nigerians in celebrating today’s victory by the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
“The President has watched all the matches, including this last one.”
In a semilar vein, the Senate President, David Mark, has also thanked the Super Eagles for their 2-1 victory over the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.
The defeat of the Ivorians, the pre-tournament favourites, has ensured the National team’s qualification for the semi-finals.
A statement released in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Paul Mumeh, quotes Mark as saying that football remained a unifying factor for the Nigerian people.
Mark urged the Eagles to stay focused and committed to the ultimate goal of winning the trophy.
“This victory has brought joy and smiles to the faces of Nigerians. I want you to sustain this triumphant momentum and go all the way to lift the trophy.’’
He, then, commended Nigerians for supporting the Eagles and pledged that the National Assembly would take necessary steps to reward the team.
“I salute Nigerians for their overwhelming support to the Eagles. We at the National Assembly will do the needful to reward them.’’
The Senate President urged Nigerians to pray for the continued success of the team when they battle Mali in the semi-finals.
In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the Super Eagles’ victory over the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire as a good omen and a sign that the nation will soon surmount all its challenges under the present dispensation.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement yesterday said the party was overjoyed that the players did not let Nigerians down, adding that the victory was an indication that Nigeria is already coming out of the woods in all spheres of life.
The party said the victory over the Elephants, who had in the past stopped the Eagles in the tournament was an indication that nothing is impossible for Nigeria and that the doors have been opened for the nation to achieve other goals.
“The victory of the Super Eagles is a good omen. It is a sign of good things to come. The PDP sees it as a sign of a new beginning. It shows that we, as a nation can surmount all our problems. It is an indication that there is nothing impossible and that collectively we will overcome all the challenges we are facing as a nation. We will surmount all of them the way we surmounted the Elephants”, he said.
Stating that the victory did not come to it as a surprise, the party called on Nigerians to always believe in the potentials of the nation and urged pessimists to turn a new leaf especially as it has become clear that the country has already started experiencing a new dawn .
The PDP reminded that as a party that has the interest of the nation at heart, it had joined other well meaning Nigerians in praying for the Eagles. It said the victory showed that God answers prayers.
It however charged the team not to relax at this moment but to increase their zeal as they meet their next opponent in the semi final stage.
It told the players not to forget that millions of Nigerians are now counting on them to bring the cup home at the end of the tournament adding that they cannot afford to fail the nation at this critical time.
Each Super Eagles player yesterday pocketed $15,000 (about N2.4million) each for beating Cote d’Ivoire and qualifying for the semi-final of the 2013 AFCON.
A top Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official disclosed that each player will also be $20,000 richer if the team triumphs in the semi-final.
For victory in the championship game on February 10, inside the National Stadium in Johannesburg, each player will pocket another $30,000.
Each player received $30,000 a day after the team qualified for the quarter-final last Tuesday.
Team sponsor, Guinness has also made a financial commitment for goals scored at the AFCON, while the Eagles are expecting billionaire, Aliko Dangote to splash more cash after they reached the last eight.
Each player was paid about $80,000 when Nigeria finished third at the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola.
Yesterday afternoon in Rustenburg, the Eagles faced 1992 champions, Cote d’Ivoire, and at the end of the game, trounced the Elephants, 2-1 to advance to the semi-finals.
The Super Eagles will now meet Mali, which eliminated hosts, South Africa in the quarter-final match last Saturday.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.