NFF apologises, moves to hire new foreign coach after Finidi’s abysmal performance

The Nigerian football governing body also promised to tighten regulations in compliance with FIFA standards.

PRESS RELEASE • JUNE 13, 2024

The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation held a meeting on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in hybrid mode to deliberate on important issues in Nigeria Football and resolved as follows:

NFF apologises, moves to hire new foreign coach after Finidi’s abysmal performance

The Nigerian football governing body also promised to tighten regulations in compliance with FIFA standards.

PRESS RELEASE • JUNE 13, 2024

NFF and Finidi

NFF and Finidi

The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation held a meeting on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in hybrid mode to deliberate on important issues in Nigeria Football and resolved as follows:

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1) The Executive Committee wholeheartedly apologised to Nigerians for the dismal output and subsequent very poor returns of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, in four out of 10 matches in the ongoing qualification series for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals and pledged to work assiduously and put necessary measures in place to ensure a better-prepared squad ahead of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers in September this year and the resumption of the World Cup qualifiers in March 2025. 

2) Further to (1) above, the Executive Committee resolved to employ an expatriate Technical Adviser for the Super Eagles in the coming weeks, ahead of the AFCON qualifiers and the remaining FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

3) Still further to (1) above, the Committee resolved to beef up the NFF Technical Department with more qualitative hands. Equally, the Technical and Development Sub-Committee will be re-jigged with immediate effect. 

4) Notwithstanding the challenges that attended the team’s preparations for the Day 3 and Day 4 games of the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, owing to a 38-hour nationwide industrial action, the Board expressed displeasure with the poor attitude of some of the players to the national assignment and unanimously decided in favour of a more robust scouting programme of outstanding Nigeria-eligible players from across the four corners of the universe, who can add tremendous value to the nation’s flagship team.

5) The Executive Committee also resolved that a Stakeholders’ Forum be convened in a few weeks to deliberate amendments to the current NFF Statutes in conjunction with FIFA, the world football governing body.

6) While appreciating the fact that the preparation of teams involved in the Olympic Games falls squarely within the purview of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, the Executive Committee stated unequivocally that it will provide robust support, within the room allowed it, to the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, to adequately prepare for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, taking place in France from 24 July to 11 August.

6) In order to ensure an impressive performance of the U20 Women’s National Team, Falconets, at this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia, 31st August – 22nd September, the Executive Committee mandated its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to diligently and swiftly consider the programme submitted by the Head Coach for the team’s preparation. The Board approved a two-phase camping for the team, with a four-week camping in Nigeria to be followed by a two-week final camping programme in Colombia before the commencement of the tournament.  

7) Impressed by the performance of the U17 Women National Team, Flamingos, so far in their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup African qualification series, the Executive Committee charged the Secretariat to ensure the team’s total readiness for its final round, final leg encounter against its Liberian counterparts, scheduled for the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Friday, 14th June 2024.

IN ATTENDANCE: Ibrahim Musa Gusau (President); Felix Anyansi-Agwu (1st Vice President); Gbenga Elegbeleye (2nd Vice President); Yusuf Ahmed (Member); Babagana Kalli (Member); Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (Member); Sunday Dele-Ajayi (Member); Aisha Falode (Member); Ganiyu Majekodunmi (Member); Nse Essien (Member); Margaret Icheen (Member); Timothy Heman Magaji (Member); Silas Agara (Member); George Aluo (Member); Nkechi Nneka Obi (Member); Mohammed Sanusi (Secretary).

Bassey Ukpong 

The Southern Post Sports

Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

SMEDAN, Sterling Bank Introduce N5bn loan for small businesses

                 BUSINESS

     BY THE SOUTHERN POST

                  3min reads

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), in collaboration with Sterling Bank Ltd, has unveiled the N5 billion initiative-Databanc loan to address financial gaps for small businesses.

Recall that the initiative was launched in Lagos with the theme: “Building with Data: Promoting Economic Growth through Data-Driven Insights.”

Databanc is a five billion single-digit loan to engender easier access to funds by Nano, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( NMSMEs).

The Lagos State manager, SMEDAN, Mr. Bunmi Kole-Dawodu said, the funding tool would be geared towards providing local and tailored support for business at the smallest levels.

Kole-Dawodu added that the funding tool would provide access to markets and all factors to drive entrepreneurship.

He said the initiative would aid Nigeria’s export potential and provide accurate data information about nano enterprises to drive their growth and sustainability.

Kole-Dawodu noted that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) had hitherto complained about not having easy access to financial interventions.

“Now this platform would provide accurate data on nano, micro and small businesses in Nigeria while facilitating the requisite business support for these businesses.

“It is important to have the support of business membership organisations to help encourage members to go on the platform and register to foster data-driven insights,” he said.

Kole-Dawodu restated SMEDAN’s commitment to the development of small businesses across the country and urged SMEs to trust in the agency for all-round support.

He pledged to collaborate with partners, stakeholders and business organisations to further advance the cause of small businesses in the country.

The director general of SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii, said, data was critical to the agency to help it make more informed economic decisions to build a small businesses ecosystem.

Odii said, the agency, as the vanguard for livelihood enhancement, would continue to bridge the gap between the government and small businesses.

“One thing we have observed is that businesses are not responding or taking advantage of the various interventions out there for them.

“Databanc as a platform would help build products’ knowledge about small businesses and it is very important for entrepreneurs to be aware of this to help grow their businesses,” he said.

Head of SME Products, Sterling Bank Ltd., Mrs Bolanle Tyson, said, Databanc was a five billion single-digit loan to engender easier access to funds by nano and micro businesses.

Tyson said the Databank, a formalised portal to access funding without a human interface for businesses with tax identification numbers, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, provided funding from N250,000 to N2,500,000 for one year.

She said that with the “SMEDAN Databanc Platform,” NMSMEs would be appropriately captured with unique identifiers for business data integrity.

Dangote said Oil Mafia Attempted to Halt our Refinery Operations

Aliko Dangote, the founder of the Dangote Group, has revealed that both local and international criminal organizations, which he described as "mafia", made repeated attempts to sabotage his $19 billion refinery project in Lagos.

Speaking at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings, Dangote likened the oil cartels to a mafia that is stronger than the drug mafia, hell-bent on maintaining their grip on the industry.

"Well, I knew that there would be a fight. But I didn't know that the mafia in oil, they are stronger than the mafia in drugs. I can tell you that. Yes, it's a fact," he said.

Dangote, who described himself as a fighter, said they "tried all sorts" to stop him, but he has been fighting all his life and considers it part of his life.

"As a matter of fact, during the COVID period, some of the international banks were really looking forward to making sure that they push us into default of our loans so that the project will just be dead. And that didn't happen with the help of banks like Afreximbank," he added.

Dangote also revealed that he has paid off $2.4 billion of the $5.5 billion borrowed for the Lagos-based refinery.

Furthermore, Dangote unveiled plans to diversify into the steel sector, aiming to utilize solely Nigerian-produced steel and achieve self-sufficiency.

Dangote Refinery recently rescheduled the launch of its petrol sales to July 10-15, pushing back its initial June target due to "minor" logistical issues.

HARDSHIP: Governor of Delta State, Oborevwori flags-off 3rd phase palliative distribution in Delta ...Tasks workers on small subsistence farming

HARDSHIP: Oborevwori flags-off 3rd phase palliative distribution in Delta 

...Tasks workers on small subsistence farming 

NEWS DESK

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Thursday, flagged-off phase  three of the state's grains palliative distribution exercise with a charge on civil servants and other workers in the state to engage in small -  scale farming to mitigate rising hunger across  the country. 

Governor Oborevwori gave the charge at the Delta Agricultural Procurement Agency, (DAPA) Warehouse, Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state.

 

The Governor, who said food security was very important in the light of the rising incidence of hunger in the country, charged the subsidy palliative distribution committee to ensure that all farmers were carried along, insisting that not all farmers were members of the farmers' association. 

Governor Oborevwori said: "We have done the first and second phases. But we decided to do this very one in a grand style because, if you don't announce yourself, nobody will announce you. 

"All the things we have been doing for the past one year, we don't even showcase them. Some people will not know that we are doing a lot. On the issue of palliatives, Delta State was the first in Nigeria to consider the Civil Servants. 

"When the issue of fuel subsidy removal came, we looked at it, it was real hard time for our Civil Servants; we discussed and the first thing we did was to pay all the outstanding promotion arrears amounting to over N5.6bn. We didn't even know how the future was going to be then. 

"That wasn't enough;  at the critical time of the fuel subsidy removal, we also sat down and even with a lot of workers of 50,193. We also agreed that for the 50, 193 workers, we will be giving them small stipends of N10,000 for three months. We did it and it cost the state over N1.5bn. 

"As for the issue of this palliative, we shared it last year; we are here today to say we are grateful to God for what He has been doing for us. Today, we are going to flag off  distribution of the rice and maize that we have received. 

"We received 24,000 units of 25kg bags of rice from Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria RIFAN; we received 4,700 units of 25kg bags of Garri and 18,770  units of 50kg bags of maize from the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Security Adviser's Office. 

"This palliative was received last month, which is May, 2024 and we are grateful to all the donor agencies for their support. 

"You may also recall that between August and September 2023,  we received 17,400 units of 50kg bags of rice and 40,000 units of 50kg bags of maize in a joint venture with the Federal Government. 

"The items were distributed across the state in the first and second phases of this programme to take care of most especially, the  most vulnerable in our state. 

"I have told the SSG to ensure that this phase of distribution should get to even some notable farmers who do not belong to the different farmers' associations. The committees at the Local Government Areas comprise the NLC, faith- based organisations, community Presidents- General, the traditional institutions and NGOs. 

"We also took a decision that the Civil Servants from levels 1-14 should run shift. Monday to Wednesday, others Thursday and Friday. We have not even cancelled it and we feel it's an opportunity  for them to go into farming. 

"There is no farming that is too small. We did that so that the money they would have used to buy fuel and come to work, they can save it and invest it in their farms. If everybody, the fifty thousand and something workers we have in this state, 60 per cent of them are engaged in farming, there will be food sufficiency. 

"I want to thank that lecturer who is a farmer. She has encouraged people to go into farming. Food is very important. We have fertile lands in Delta State. 

"As an administration that prioritises the welfare of citizens, we shall continue to explore ways and means to expand our coverage and mitigate the current hardship thereby bringing succour to our people." 

Earlier, Chairman of the State Subsidy Palliative Committee and Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, commended Governor Oborevwori for the ongoing 317 road projects across the state with 76 of them spanning 170km length initiated by the Governor in the last one year. 

He said road projects in the state had contributed immensely to the ease of  evacuation of farm produce and the economy of the state. 

Emu lauded the donors- the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the National Security Adviser's Office, for the various donations. 

In their separate remarks, the representatives of poultry, fishery and piggery farmers in the state, Chief Eric Tomfawei, Ogbueshi Adim Nwokobia, Dr Amatu Edozie, Mary Odiatu and Dr Emmanuella Clinton, commended Governor Oborevwori for supporting farmers and pledged their unalloyed commitment to ensuring sustainable food security in the state and country.

SOURCE:@ TIMI BLACK