Rio 2016 Olympics: Minister denies letter asking athletes to buy flight tickets

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Solomon Dalung, on Saturday denied that the Ministry had directed foreign-based athletes taking part in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games to buy their own flight tickets to the games.

Dalung in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Nneka Anibeze on Saturday said that the letter which has been trending on the social media did not originate from the ministry.

“We did not write any mail asking athletes to pay their way to Rio.

“As the overseers of sports in the country, it is our duty to take care of all our athletes.

“The letter did not come from us and we will investigate the writer of the letter.

“It does not represent our position on the movement of athletes to Rio and the writer or anybody asking athletes to buy their tickets to Rio will be investigated.

“We ask Nigerians and the athletes in particular to disregard the mail.”

NAN

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Flying Eagles crash out of U - 20 Nations Cup

Sudan has edged out Nigeria 4-3 in the U - 20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Details later.

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President Buhari on the murder of RCCG female preacher

“As a government, we want to inform you that all the perpetrators of this act
will not go free and will be brought to book. All Nigerians should be safe and free to practice their religion anywhere. Government’s resolve is to fish out the perpetrators. We pray to God not only to forgive them, but pray that the perpetrators seek for repentance. On behalf of the President and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, May God console you.”

That was President Muhammadu Buhari's declaration at the funeral of the murdered Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG preacher, Mrs Eunice Elijah Olawale who was buried on Saturday.

The president was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr David Babachir Lawal.

Mrs Elijah was murdered by suspected religious fundamentalists while on early morning evangelism on July 9, 2016.

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Kano's Sabon Gari market burns again

Shops at the popular Sabon Gari market in Kano have been razed by fire for the second time in four months.

This time however, only shops at the meat, fish and vegetable section of the market were affected by the fire which eyewitnesses said started around 5am on Saturday.

The Director of Kano State Fire Service Fire Service, Mustapha Rilwan, said that although the fire destroyed many stalls, his men were able to bring it under control before it could spread to other sections.

“The affected shops were made up of shift but our people were able to put off the fire in time.

“The fire was said to have been caused by some people believed to have been cooking in the market,” he said.

NAN

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Munich shooting: Buhari offers Germany a helping hand.

Following the recent shooting in which several people were killed in Munich, President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the free world to unite against terrorism.

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina, Buhari said that Nigeria is ready to help Germany to defeat terrorism.

"On behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Buhari sends his most sincere condolences to the families and friends of victims of the barbaric act.

"The President says it is quite unfortunate and inconceivable that the forces of evil do not relent on their activities, but expresses confidence that with the unanimity of purpose from all forces around the world, the workers and perpetrators of these evil acts will not prevail.

"The President also assures the people of Germany that Nigerians as a people are standing with them at this time and are ready to assist in any way to defeat the planners and executors of such crimes."

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Security fee for farmers: ignore mischievous stories, says FG

22 JULY 2016 | MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT PRESS STATEMENT

Farmers Will Not Pay Any Mandatory Protection Fees, Ogbeh Assures
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development – Chief Audu Ogbeh has assured Nigerian farmers that there would be no mandatory fees for protecting them and their farms under the Civil Defence Corps special force unit being planned in conjunction with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
He gave the assurance today while reacting to a news report published in a daily newspaper and circulated in the social media alleging that he said Nigerian farmers would be made to pay fees to be protected under the scheme.
The claims, which have generated huge controversies, were drawn from a media report after the Honourable Minister’s media interview at the State House, following the endorsement of the Road map of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Green Alternative.
The Minister wishes to reassure Nigerian farmers that no security fees will be imposed on them, and that the government will continue to protect and support them with relevant incentives to help them grow and stay in business, adding that the special unit force idea was primarily conceived to protect Nigerian farmers in fulfilment of government’s responsibility to secure the lives and properties of its citizens, in addition to providing security at the proposed ranches to guard against rustlers and prevent the cows from wandering around.
For the avoidance of doubt, and to clear the confusion that has been generated by the media report, the Honourable Minister wishes to state unequivocally that the NSCDC officials will be available on request by big farm corporation especially those in which the owners live, who can apply for them just as big companies and corporate organisations apply, requesting for security personnel to secure their businesses for a token.
Chief Ogbeh urges the Nigerian public to therefore ignore the mischievous stories in circulation that the Minister will impose some fees on all farmers, big and small, for security services to be offered by the NSCDC. He further encourages Nigerians to remain hopeful that with the implementation of the new policy roadmap for Nigeria’s Agricultural development, the economy will improve and the present food crisis and hardship being faced by Nigerians will be over.
July 22, 2016

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Mastermind of anti Buhari coup hoax in DSS net

Jones Abari, aka Gen. Akotebe Darikoro has been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS for allegedly masterminding a phantom coup plot by the military against President Muhammadu Buhari.

A statement issued by DSS spokesman Tony Opuiyo in Abuja on Saturday said that the suspect was picked up in Yenagoa on July 21.

He said that the suspect who is also the leader of the Joint Revolutionary Council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Forces, JNDLF has confessed to other crimes including threats of missile attacks on sensitive targets in Abuja.

Opuiyo said that Abari was also behind threat messages to the management of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC and Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC demanding  N500 million and N250 million respectively. He added that Abari also masterminded the destruction of NAOC trunk line in Ogboinbiri, and an SPDC oil pipeline.

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