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Youth Groups Condemn Attack On Imo State Reps Candidate

Confidence Okwuchi
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Socio-cultural groups in Nigeria, Ohanaeze and Arewa Youths have condemned the second attack and home invasion of the Spokesman of Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, Ikenga Ugochinyere.

The youth groups in separate statements signed by Ohanaeze Youth group Secretary General, Nwada Amaka and Arewa Youths leader, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf called on security agencies to ensure that the culprits are arrested and prosecuted.

They urged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and Police service commission to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.

The Ohanaeze Youths are accusing the Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma of using FIB officers to invade Ugochinyere’s house.

On its part, the Arewa Youths who raised alarm over alleged involvement of masked FIB officers and gunmen, also urged the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba and Police service commission to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.

The groups said, “Recall that on January 14th in Akokwa, Imo State, motorcades conveying the gunmen invaded Ugochinyere’s House, burnt his house, cars and killed his uncle and three others. While the police has sadly been silent on this matter, again, on Tuesday masked gunmen invaded q house with explosives.

“Security agencies shouldn’t keep let the attackers go scot-free. Not only was the House invaded, we also heard they surveyed the house and all areas for a possible future invasion. We are urging the the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba and Police service commission to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.”

Masked gunmen had on Tuesday again invaded Ugochinyere’s house. This invasion is coming barely, three weeks after his was attacked by gunmen which led to death of some people.

Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Imo states has also asked the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police to look into the invasions and bring the culprits to book.

In a statement signed by the Imo state PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Collins Opurozor, the PDP says this latest attack, apart from its core objective to assassinate Ikenga Ugochinyere, was also contrived to intimidate his supporters and weaken the resolve of ideato people who are fully determined to elect Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as member of the House of Representatives at the polls on February 2Sth, 2023,

“What our Party finds deeply disturbing is that President Muhammadu Buhari’s and the Federal Government have remained silent over these continuous bloody attacks on our candidate by ostensible agents of the imo APC regime. We are aware that Ugochinyere has written series of petitions to various security agencies and also to the National Security Adviser, yet Aso Rock has not deemed it necessary call the rampaging petty-dictator in Imo to order
More worrisome is the fact that despite our calls for the disbandment of Ebubeagu Militia, redeployment of heads of security agencies who arc in bed with the immoral administration of Senator Uzodinma, and the establishment an independent panel of inquiry to unravel imo killings, nothing has done by the Federal Government,” the PDP said.

It urges Ideato people and PDP members and supporters of Ikenga Ugochinyere to stand strong and never allow forces of darkness prevail over the land.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Plight of Homeless Deepens

Shakirat Sadiq
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The plight of hundreds of thousands of people left homeless by earthquakes in Turkey and Syria grew more desperate on Thursday, while hopes faded of many more people being found alive amid the ruins of cities.

The death toll from Monday’s quakes, which struck in the early morning, passed 17,000 on Thursday across both countries.

“It was the biggest natural disaster to strike the region since 1999, when a similarly powerful quake killed more than 17,000 people in Turkey.”

A Turkish official said the disaster posed “very serious difficulties” for the holding of an election scheduled for May 14 in which President Tayyip Erdogan has been expected face the toughest challenge in his two decades in power.

With anger simmering over the slow delivery of aid and delays in getting the rescue effort underway, the disaster is bound to play into the vote should it still go ahead.

On the ground, “many people in Turkey and Syria spent a third night sleeping outside or in cars in freezing winter temperatures, their homes destroyed or so shaken by the quakes they were too afraid to re-enter.”

Hundreds of thousands of people have been left ”homeless in the middle of winter.” Many have camped out in makeshift shelters in supermarket car parks, mosques, roadsides or amid the ruins, often desperate for food, water and heat.

At a gas station near the town of Kemalpasa, “people picked through cardboard boxes of clothes dropped off as donations.”

In the port city of Iskenderun, people huddled round campfires on roadsides and in half-crushed garages and warehouses. The only lights were the spotlights focused on cranes trying to remove slabs of debris. Reports said.

Authorities say some 6,500 buildings in Turkey collapsed and countless more were damaged in the quake zone where some 13 million people live.

 

 

Reuters /Shakirat Sadiq

Google loses $100bn

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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Google has announced a slew of features powered by Artificial Intelligence, but a mistake in an advert caused its share price to tank.

Shares of Alphabet, Google parent’s company nose-dived by nearly eight percent after new artificial intelligence chatbot Bard gave inaccurate information as reported following a Twitter advertisement for the service, which generates answers for user queries and is debuting to a limited group of testers before a wider release, causing the company to instantly lose $100 billion in market value.

The search engine giant is rushing into the space after the bot ChatGPT caught the imagination of web users around the world with its ability to generate essays, speeches and even exam papers in seconds.

Microsoft has announced a multimillion-dollar partnership with ChatGPT maker OpenAI and unveiled new products while Google tried to steal the march a day earlier by announcing its “Bard” alternative.

The bots are quickly being integrated into search engines and Google is battling to preserve its two-decade dominance of the web search industry.

But astronomers on Twitter quickly noticed that Google’s Bard had given out an error in an advert on Twitter touting its new technology.

In the advert, the bot was asked about what to tell a nine-year-old about discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope.

It incorrectly offered the response that the telescope was the first to take pictures of a planet outside Earth’s solar system when that honor actually belongs to the European Very Large Telescope.

The mess-up sent the share price spiraling down by more than seven percent on Wednesday with investors also underwhelmed by the latest announcements.

Before the problem emerged, Google Vice President Prabhakar Raghavan told an event in Paris that Bard was now being used by “trusted testers” but did not give a timeline for a public release, which is expected within weeks.

 

NP/ Dominica Nwabufo

Nigeria and Germany Sign €16.9m Grant On Health Project 

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Nigerian and German governments have signed a €16.9m grant for Reproductive Health and Pandemic Resilience project.

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, signed for the Nigerian government while the KFW Development Bank and Marie Stopes International Organisation Nigeria, MSION’s Country Director, Emmanuel Ajah signed for Germany.

Through the Project, the German government would support Nigeria by improving the quality of life of women and girls and, by extension, the generality of the Nigerian population.

Agba stated that the Nigeria National Development Plan 2021-2025  identified the issues of women as part of the cardinal objectives for promoting healthy habits, healthy behaviours and lifestyles across all life stages.

He said, “the implementation of the Project would further deepen and promote effective partnership between Nigeria and Germany.”

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

NYSC DG Commends DSS For Supporting Scheme

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed has applauded the Department of State Services for supporting the Scheme.

He also pledged his readiness to work closely with the service to strengthen the existing relationship between the two agencies.

According to a statement by NYSC’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Eddy Megwa, the Scheme’s Director General, Ahmed stated this on Thursday, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the Department of State Services, Dr Yusuf Bichi in his office in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Security and welfare

He said that upon assumption of duty as the 22nd Chief Executive of NYSC, he unveiled five policy thrust of his administration, in which Security and Welfare of Corps Members and Staff were his topmost priority.

General Ahmed thanked the DSS for the agelong support being offered to the Scheme and pleaded for more support that would guarantee the safety of Corps Members, especially during and after the conduct of the forthcoming 2023 General elections

Successful tenure

Responding, the Director General of the Department of State Services, Dr Yusuf Bichi congratulated General Ahmed on his appointment as the Director General of NYSC, and prayed for God’s guidance and successful tenure.

The Security Chief called for stronger synergy between NYSC State Coordinators and Directors of the Service at the State level for more efficient work delivery.

Lateefah Ibrahim

Napoli Rule Out Osimhen Sale

vonsports
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Napoli president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has insisted that Nigeria international Victor Osimhen is not for sale despite reports linking the striker with a move away from the club in the summer.

Laurentiis made this assertion while giving an update on the future of the prolific striker amid reports that Manchester United are preparing a mega-money swoop for his talismanic frontman and the statement of the Italian club’s boss wont be encouraging for Erik ten Hag.

Ten Hag is understood to be torn between signing Osimhen or Harry Kane at the end of the season, when he intends to add a new marquee No.9 to his ranks.

But his hand could now end up being forced by the hard-nosed De Laurentiis, who wants to continue building for the future as Napoli close in on the Serie A title.

When quizzed on Manchester United’s interest in Osimhen, the Italian told Bild, “I can tell you that Osimhen is not for sale.

“Our players are in demand but I don’t have to sell anyone. We don’t have any debts.”

Osimhen’s current deal is due to run until the summer of 2025, meaning Napoli hold all the cards should they receive any bids for this season’s impending Capocannoniere winner.
The former Lille attacker currently tops the goalscoring charts in Italy having struck 16 times in 17 outings for the Partenopei.

United could be forced to explore alternative striker targets after being told under no uncertain terms that Osimhen is not for sale this summer.

Chelsea are also said to be tracking the Nigerian but ultimately, there is every chance he will remain at Napoli where he is playing the best football of his career.

 

Also read: Napoli, Juve directors face ban over Osihmen, others’ transfers

 

 

 

Punch/Samuel Isaiah

Nollywood Actor Advises Nigerians To Channel Anger To Ballot Box

Oluwasola Akintonde
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Popular Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, has used his latest Instagram post to advise Nigerians to take their anger to the ballot box and vote for their candidate of choice on February 25th.

He advised Nigerians not to burn banks, petrol stations, and government properties all in the bid to express anger. Rather, he advises every Nigerian to prepare to go cast their votes soon.

It is indeed a very good advice, because there is no point in destroying valuables when we know that the citizens will suffer in the long run.

In the statement he made on his Instagram page, he said, “Don’t burn any banks; don’t burn petrol stations.” Don’t burn government properties. Take your anger to the ballot box on February 25, 2023.”

 

Pulse/Olusola Akintonde

Mikel And Okocha Pay Tribute To Turkey Earthquake Victims

vonsports
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Ex Nigerian international footballers, Austin Okocha and Mikel Obi has joined the rest of other famous individuals to send goodwill messages to victims of the recent Turkey earthquake.

As widespread relief efforts and support get underway for Turkey following the deadly earthquake that hit the country and Syria early Monday morning, retired Nigerian football Austin Okocha and Mikel Obi, have also joined as send goodwill messages to all the victims of the incident.

Turkey experienced a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on Monday, the worst to hit the country in over 100 years.

As of the time of writing, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, while speaking in Hatay province, close to the epicentre of the quakes, said the number of people confirmed dead in Turkey had increased to 9,057.

Syrian officials and a rescue group in rebel-held north-west Syria also said the death toll there has reached 2,662, bringing the combined tally to 11,719.

While the disaster has claimed at least 11,719 dead, scores are injured and many others are under the rubbles of collapsed buildings.

Among the casualties was Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan, a Turkish goalkeeper.

Former Chelsea midfielder, Mikel, who also played in Turkey in the twilight of his career, on his Instagram page sent his condolences to the victims of the earthquake.

“My heart breaks seeing videos of the earthquake in Turkey yesterday,” he wrote.

“I am sending my sincere condolences to the people who have lost their loved ones to this very unfortunate incident. May God grant you all the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

Okocha also wrote, “My thoughts and prayers are with the entire people of Turkey. My deepest condolence to the families that have lost their loved ones.”

 

 

Punch/Samuel Isaiah

BOI, AFD Collaborate To Combat Climate Change In Nigeria

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The Bank of Industry (BOI) and the French Development Agency (AFD), have signed a grant agreement of 2.5 million Euros, delegated by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to enhance their partnership to fight climate change in Nigeria.

The Project Manager at AFD, Ms. Aïssatou Kumagangue made this known in a statement made available to the media on Thursday, in Abuja.

The statement stated that Xavier Muron, Country Director of AFD, Nigeria, and Olukayode Pitan, Managing Director (MD) of BOI, met under the patronage of Emmanuelle Blatmann, Ambassador of France in Nigeria and ECOWAS to fight climate change in Nigeria.

According to the statement, because France committed more than 1.5 billion Euros to the Green Climate Fund since 2019, it was only natural that the meeting was held at the French Embassy.

Expansion of green finance

It stated that on August 23, 2022, BOI and AFD signed a 100-million-Euro credit-line for the expansion of green finance in Nigeria.

This was approved under AFD’s Transforming Financial Systems for Climate (TFSC) Programme with the Green Climate Fund (GCF), a US$ 650 million-Programme developed in 17 countries for 100% climate investment projects.

The TFSC Programme focuses on financing investments that contribute to climate change mitigation, specifically projects focused on renewable energy, low carbon and efficient energy generation, climate smart agriculture technologies, clean urban transportation and others.

BOI and AFD have a better understanding of the importance of mainstreaming Climate Finance within BOI’s strategy and operations.

Technical assistance

Therefore, the grant agreement sets up a technical assistance scheme for BOI.
The objective is to build the capacity of BOI, thereby providing tools for effective identification and development of eligible bankable climate-related projects and improving the readiness of the bank’s customers to implement green practices in their operations.
He said the implementation of the Environment and Social Governance framework provided for in the credit agreement would be an important part of the technical assistant mandate.
“Given the serious threat that climate change poses to equitable and sustainable development in Nigeria, it is critical for BOI to take the lead in mobilizing capital for green and sustainable investment.
In addition to the line of credit, the 2.5 million-Euro Technical Assistance funds will support capacity building for BOI and its customers, thereby enabling the scaling of current efforts by BOI towards climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Mr. Olukayode Pitan, MD, BOI, said it would contribute significantly to reducing Nigeria’s carbon footprint, with specific reference to Gender Equality.
He said it would also support BOI in the development and implementation of gender equality and gender lens investing policies.

NAN/Lateefah Ibrahim

State Of Emergency At Psg Ahead Of Bayern Clash

vonsports
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Having shown worrying shortcomings in all departments this year, Paris St Germain desperately need to get their act together if they want to stand a chance against Bayern Munich in their Champions League last 16 clash next week.

The Ligue 1 leaders have lost three games in 2023, the latest on Wednesday in a 2-1 defeat at bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille in the French Cup last 16 when they were overwhelmed by the Provence side’s aggressiveness throughout.

With Kylian Mbappe out injured for another two weeks, meaning he won’t play against Bayern at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, PSG are without a match winner while Neymar was hugely disappointing against Marseille.

Only Lionel Messi up front has been up to his standards recently and that will not be enough against the Bundesliga giants.

“When they get bumped into, nobody really responds. It’s always the same thing: if they can play at their pace, there’s no problem,” former OM and PSG player Edouard Cisse told reporters  on Thursday.

“As soon as the opposing team put on the intensity, they are lost.”

In midfield, PSG were hugely dominated as only Marco Verratti has the capacity to stand his ground, and Vitinha, who has been fielded as a playmaker behind Messi and Neymar as Christophe Galtier reshuffled his team in the absence of Mbappe, has yet to show he can put his forwards in the best positions.

Bayern, instead, have been rediscovering their form, scoring eight goals in their last two Bundesliga matches – not a good omen for PSG, whose defence has often been at a loss.
Sergio Ramos might have scored the equaliser on Wednesday but his aggression does not make up for his lack of pace and poor sense of anticipation and the Spaniard often leaves Marquinhos on his own.

The Brazilian, once again, urged his team mates to rise up on Wednesday.

“We need to shut our mouths and work,” he said.

PSG’s best course of action might be to dig deep and find some pride ahead of a Ligue 1 game against Monaco on Saturday and Tuesday’s match against Bayern.

“We are disappointed and we are angry,” said keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

If talent has been lacking at PSG lately, anger might take them somewhere.

 

 

 

Reuters/Samuel Isaiah

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