Author: tdpel

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, says the Federal Government will recommend the Sokoto State Modern Stadium for international sports events when completed.

Dare, who was led to the Sports Arena by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, stated this while speaking with journalists after inspecting the sports facility undergoing construction.

He described the sports facilities at the stadium as massive and impressive, and pointed out that they met international standards.

“What I have seen here is quite impressive. The templates being used here meet international standards. I am pretty confident and I know what I am saying.

“I have seen quite a number of stadia since I became minister, but at the level of a state government, investing in such a sports complex is impressive.

“I have seen the indoor sports hall or multipurpose hall. This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest. Even the one built by the federal government is not of this size and capacity.

“I have seen the multi-sports provisions made in the multi-purpose hall. The capacity of the stadium — 11,000 — is impressive. I have seen the engineering and the brick and water works being done here.”

Dare said that with what he had seen the federal government could comfortably put the stadium forward to get certified to host both continental and international games.

“With what we have seen here, meeting international standards, the Federal Government will put up this as one of the sports infrastructure that will be recommended for international events

“We have a similar one in Edo, and another one in Lagos State. We are glad that the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja is back on stream and when you look at it, we need so many more for a country of our size, 220 million, for the reputation we have as a sports nation.

“The number of sports infrastructure we have is just less than 20 per cent of what we need.

“So, when we have state governments having this kind of investment is very important because the resources could have been used for something else

“This facility is going to be used for years to come. It will not just serve the people of Sokoto State, it will also serve different generations of our youths that will come from this state and the nation,” the minister said.

He commended the state governor for investing in the stadium, saying investment was not just in sports, but also in the youths of Sokoto State, the northern states and also the country.

Dare noted that 68 per cent of those involved in sports in Nigeria were between the ages of 12 to 35.

“So, when you invest in infrastructure like this you invest in the present and the future.”

The minister expressed the belief that when completed the facility would keep the youths busy, generate revenue for the state, as well as foster unity in the state and Nigeria.

“This is a project not just for Sokoto State, but a project that comes into the calculation of the Federal Government of Nigeria towards helping our youths, and keeping them busy.

“I also believe that through this facility we are going to have young athletes that will compete, represent Nigeria and be part of our team to the Commonwealth Games, the African Games, the Olympics and other international competitions,” Dare said.

In his brief remarks, Tambuwal assured that the minister’s observations would be factored into the execution and cost of the project which was initially at N3.5 billion.

Some of the facilities inspected by the minister include the 2,000-capacity indoor games hall.

It is expected to accommodate all the indoor sports activities, such as lawn tennis, hockey, badminton, squash, among others, when completed. (NAN)

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, says the Federal Government is deepening effort to spur oil production to take advantage of global crude oil price.

Sylva said this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the forthcoming Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2022) slated from Feb. 27 to March 3.

He was reacting to the global oil benchmark Brent crude which rose over five per cent to trade at 103.33 dollars a barrel with escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oil prices jumped on concerns of global supply disruptions from the impact of trade sanctions on major crude and fuel exporter Russia after it invaded Ukraine.

Reacting to the rising prices of crude, including Brent, which rose to 103.33 dollars from 96 dollars per barrel in the global market, the minister said Nigeria’s production was not optimal hence it was encouraging increased production.

He said that already Nigeria’s oil production was not where it was few months ago, adding that it needed to climb up gradually and before the end of 2022, Nigeria would have completely regain its production.

According to him, our oil production at this point is not very optimal; we will rather like to have a production that can take advantage of the high price through high input.

“A lot is going on, we are not happy that we are not able to take advantage of high prices, it is our loss, and we are doing everything to ensure that we increase our production.

“In the industry, the price of oil was being determined by a lot of fundamental issues.

“When oil prices go high it means that there are other competing production that will also come up, for example the shale oil producers in U. S. will now find it profitable whereas if it is at a certain level, it will not be profitable for them to produce.

“Once oil prices go up to a certain point, you are encouraging other production that otherwise will not be in the market.

“We are not happy when oil prices go to a certain level rather it should be at a point which will be optimal for us,” he said.

Describing Nigeria as a net importer of Petroleum, he said when crude oil prices rose globally it could also affect the price of petroleum products which would not be good for the country.

“It is not as if we are happy with the prices because we are taking from one side and giving away from another side, at the end we are not gaining we are taking from the high prices and also importing high petroleum products.

“We are encouraging more producers to neutralise the market for us,” he noted. (NAN)

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By Thompson Yamput
Tima Foundation, an NGO, on Wednesday donated millions of Naira educational materials to primary and secondary schools in the eastern and western Senatorial districts of Kogi.

Dr Fatima Alfa, the Founder of the foundation, made this known, while presenting hardcover notebooks to students in Yabma International Science Academy (YISA) in Lokoja.

Alfa, a U.S.-based accountant, said besides supporting schools, the foundation was into empowering women towards supporting humanity in the pursuit and acquisition of skills and knowledge, especially at the foundation levels.

She said the foundation had at different times donated set of computers, hardcover notebooks and other educational materials to various Institutions in Kogi and Lagos states.

“Tima Foundation has, over the years, been giving grants, scholarships and tuition assistance to indigent students in Kogi as our way of giving back to the society.

“Aside promoting education, our foundation has also empowered women through various skills acquisition and support to small scale businesses,’’ she explained.

Responding, Mr Yakubu Yunusa, the Proprietor of YISA and former Majority Leader of Kogi State House of Assembly, commended the foundation for supporting the educational advancement of the state with quantum of qualitative educational materials.

Yunusa, also former Majority Leader of Kogi State House of Assembly, represented by Mr Emmanuel Yusuf, Principal of YISA, applauded the foundation for the gesture and the show of love to Nigerian students.

Also speaking, on behalf of YISA students, Miss Khadija Ahmed, an SSS-3 student, said the foundation had lifted their spirits and made them happy and proud to have such high quality materials.

Also speaking, Alhaji Mohammed Adams, the Principal of Secondary Commercial College, Anyigba, one of the benefitting schools, commended the foundation for supporting the students.

Adams prayed God for more grace to the foundation to continue with the good works and handsomely reward it by enlarging its coasts. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Company Income Tax (CIT) recorded N124.71 billion decline from N472.52 billion in quarter three, 2021 to N347.81 billion in quarter four, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said.

The Bureau said this in its “Company Income Tax (CIT) Quarter Four, 2021” data obtained from its website on Thursday.

It also said that on a year-on-year basis, CIT collections in the period under review increased by 17.61 per cent from quarter four, 2020.

The report said that Information and Communication sector accounted for the highest CIT at N51.05 billion, followed by Manufacturing at N45.09 billion, while Financial and Insurance Services and Mining and Quarrying accounted for N31 billion each.

However, activities of households as employers, undifferentiated goods and services-producing activities of households for own use at N189.44 million accounted for the lowest remittance of CIT, though it recorded a 563.56 per cent growth.

This was followed by activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies which remitted N447.01 million and water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities which accounted for N328.57 million.

It said real estate activities which stood at N1.68 billion, and human health and social work activities accounted for N2.83 billion.

The NBS said that on a quarter-on-quarter basis, positive growths were recorded in accommodation and food service activities (116.01 per cent); activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies (128.92 per cent).

Growths were also recorded in construction at N5.384 billion (33.32 per cent) and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply N5.17 billion (representing 84.68 per cent).

“On the other hand, decreases in collections were recorded in administrative and support service activities (-72.15 per cent), agriculture, forestry and fishing (-34.52 per cent), arts, entertainment and recreation (-25.31 per cent).

“Others are education (-1.61 per cent), financial and insurance activities (-5.52 per cent), information and communication (-4.33 per cent), manufacturing (-23.21 per cent) and mining and quarrying (-7.56 per cent).”

The report said that local CIT payments recorded N258.85 billion, while foreign CIT payment stood at N88.96 billion.

The NBS said that data for the report was provided by Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS, verified and validated by NBS. (NAN)

Sen. Ahmad Sani Yarima has met with the Women wing of Christian association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) ahead of his 2023 presidential aspiration.

The event, which was held in Abuja, saw the attendance of WOWICAN Leaders from the 19 northern states and FCT.

In her remarks, the WOWICAN deaconess Mrs Victoria Ihesiulor, expressed optimism in the person of Yarima to lead the country come 2023.

She said that by this consultation he has shown that he is ready to work with everyone, adding that Yarima belonged to the class of people who would not be influenced by religious or sectional difference.

“Yarima is a man of peace, tranquility and he is someone who believes in the oneness of Nigeria.

“You can see from the attendance today, women of the Christian background from all the northern states are consulting with him in order to have a proper decision on who to vote come 2023”

Yarima expressed satisfaction and assure them of his mandate aimed at bringing unity and peace to the county.

“If I become the president of this country, I will ensure we work with you to ensure unity and progress of this country, you will find in me a good leader who will be fair and just to everyone in this country” he said.