News

CAF Confederation Cup Qualifier: Obaseki Confident Of Victory As Bendel Insurance Host RS Berkane

Published

8 months ago

September 13, 2023

Editor

Football enthusiasts in Edo State are brimming with anticipation as the State capital, Benin City, wears new look, with different parts of the city painted in yellow, the iconic hues of Bendel Insurance, as the Benin Arsenals get set for the highly-anticipated CAF Qualifiers clash with Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RSB) of Morocco.

The Edo-based Benin Arsenals will play host to the 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup winners this Saturday, September 16, 2023, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, in the first leg of the Second Qualifying Round of the competition. The teams will battle for 90 minutes for a place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup Competition.

The Benin Arsenals who are Nigeria’s Federation Cup holders, secured their spot in the Second Round of the CAF Confederations Cup after an impressive first and second-leg performance against Aso Chlef of Algeria, who are the 2022/23 Algerian Cup winners.

There are improved economic activities in the city centre as local businesses have seized the opportunity to capitalise on the feverish excitement, witnessing increasing sales with several vendors selling the team’s merchandise, such as jerseys, flags, and scarves at every nook and cranny of the city.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Andrew Okungbowa, while speaking to journalists ahead of Saturday’s continental showdown, urged the people to come out in their numbers to cheer the team to victory.

He said, “Our team has been enjoying the best of support from the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led state government. They have been preparing tirelessly for this all-important Saturday encounter and are ready to give their all on the pitch and perform at their best. We are sure of victory after 90 minutes of electrifying football experience.”

On the atmosphere ahead of the encounter, Okungbowa noted, “We can feel the energy on the streets of Benin even outside the city. The excitement is palpable, and fans are counting down to the kickoff, hoping for a memorable encounter that will be talked about for years to come.”

He added, “Governor Godwin Obaseki has given us a matching order to mobilise Edo people just as we did in the first leg against Aso Chlef last month. We will continue to mobilise our people to ensure they come out in their numbers to give our team overwhelming and rousing support to victory on Saturday.”

Okungbowa also disclosed that as part of this mobilisation, free bus services would be offered across 12 different locations of the city to take supporters and fans to and from the stadium on match day, utilising the services of the States’ transport company, ECTS.

He enjoined the people to take advantage of this offer by Governor Obaseki, who is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the 12,000 capacity stadium is filled to the brim by the people in support of the team and cheering the team to victory.

News

JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints Spokesperson, Ngelale, As Special Envoy On Climate Action

Published

54 mins ago

May 19, 2024

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has appointed his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, as Nigeria’s Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.

This was as he established a 25-person committee to oversee the country’s green economic initiatives.

“Ngelale will serve in this role as part of a larger Presidential Committee, to be chaired by the President,” the office of the secretary to the government of the federation revealed in a statement signed Sunday by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen.

“Ngelale will retain his role as the Official Spokesperson of the President and Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity while serving on the committee,” it added.

The statement is titled, ‘President Tinubu establishes a committee to oversee green economic initiatives, appoints Chief Ajuri Ngelale as special envoy on climate action.’

Imohsien said the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions will “coordinate and oversee all policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development.”

“This is to remove the constraints to coordination, foster a whole-of-government approach to climate-action programmes, provide an efficient governance architecture, and ensure that all relevant institutions in the sector are plugged into the President’s vision and are collectively implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda on climate action,” it further explained.

The new committee which has the President as its Chairman also includes the Minister of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Lawal as its Vice-Chairman, and Mr. Ajuri Ngelale as its Secretary/Special Presidential Envoy.

Members are the CEOs of, InfraCorp, Mr. Lazarus Angbazo; National Council on Climate Change, Mr. Salisu Dahiru; Infrastructure Council Regulatory Commission, Mr. Michael Ohiani, Nigeria Investment Promotion Council, Mrs. Aisha Rimi and National Social Investment Fund, Mr. Aminu Umar-Sadiq.

The committee also consists of the CEOs of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Mr Yusuf Maina-Bukar, Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mr Abdullahi Mustapha; Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu; CreditCorp, Uzoma Nwagba, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Halilu Member, Solid Minerals Development Fund, Fatima Shinkafi; CBN Deputy Governor (Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate) Mr Bala Bello; UN SE4ALL, Lolade Abiola; Member and an Adviser to the NCCC Adviser, Teni Majekodunmi.

Others are representatives of the Federal Ministries of FCT, Finance, Industry, Trade & Investment, Water Resources, and Agriculture & Food Security.

The committee also consists of representatives from the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.

The OSGF outlined eight objectives of the Presidential Committee. They are to:

“Identify, develop, and implement innovative non-oil & non-gas climate action initiatives.

“Coordinate all activities of relevant federal institutions towards the attainment of all agreed climate action and green economic objectives and non-oil/non-gas ambitions of the federal government.

“Collaborate with all relevant government, subnational governments, non-government, and civil society entities towards the attainment of the climate action objectives and ambitions of the federal government.

“Collaborate with national governments and multilateral institutions towards the attainment of the climate action objectives and carbon market ambitions of the federal government.

“Monitor, evaluate, and guide the progress of all climate action and renewable energy projects and activities of the federal government.

“Track and guide the implementation of initiatives and developments conducted by the Energy Transition Working Group.

“Supervise the work of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen and

“Prepare a half-yearly green ambitions update, covering all associated climate action achievements of the federal government.”

News

Hilton Expands Presence in Nigeria With Two New Hotel Signings

Published

4 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Editor

By Tari Ayesinghan | Lagos

Hilton has announced the signing of two new hotels in Nigeria, Canopy by Hilton Lagos Victoria Island and Hilton Garden Inn Enugu.

The move marks a significant expansion of the global hospitality company’s presence in the country.

Canopy by Hilton Lagos Victoria Island will feature 176 guest rooms and suites, a rooftop bar, and a conference room.

The hotel is located in the heart of Victoria Island, with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Hilton Garden Inn Enugu will have 150 guest rooms and suites, a gym, and an outdoor pool.

The hotel is situated in the HELIU Health Tourism District & Residences, a new development that includes a hospital, shopping mall, and office park.

The two new hotels will join Hilton’s existing properties in Nigeria, Transcorp Hilton Abuja and Legend Hotel Lagos Airport, Curio Collection by Hilton.

The company has also announced plans to develop Koko Beach Resort Ilashe Lagos, Curio Collection by Hilton.

Carlos Khneisser, Hilton’s Vice President of Development for the Middle East and Africa, said: “We are excited to announce the signing of Canopy by Hilton Lagos Victoria Island and Hilton Garden Inn Enugu. These new signings reaffirm Hilton’s commitment to Africa’s hospitality sector and confidence in Nigeria as a dynamic and growing market.”

The new hotels are expected to provide guests with a unique and welcoming experience, with a focus on local culture and hospitality. Hilton Garden Inn Enugu is set to open in 2025, while Canopy by Hilton Lagos Victoria Island is expected to open in 2026.

News

Gunmen Kidnap A’Ibom Monarch

Published

7 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Editor

Paramount ruler in Mbo Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom state, HRM Ogwong Okon A. Abang, has been kidnapped in his palace at Ebughu.

The abduction was said to have been carried out at about 9pm on Saturday. Recall that doctors in the state have downed tools over the kidnap of their colleague, Dr John Robbin Esu, who remains in the kidnappers den nearly three weeks after.

Like the case of Dr. Esu who was kidnapped in Oron LGA, the kidnap of the Paramount Ruler of Mbo, has raised more concern over the collapsed security architecture in Oron nation.

Only last week, the wife of Chief Asukwo Eweme Ulap Okon, aka Levile, a prominent political figure was also abducted in Oron.

Akwa Ibom State Police Command was yet to offer a word on the monarch’s abduction, but Commissioner of Police, CP Waheed Ayilara and other service Commanders were moving to the Ebughu Palace of the victim at the time of filing this report.