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Suicide bomber in Somali kills two, wounds three

Hauwa Mustapha
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At least two Turkish nationals were killed and three others were wounded after a suicide bomber targeted the workers of a Turkish company in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

“We continue the treatment of 14 injured people, three of them Turkish, in our Mogadishu Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital. Our injured citizens do not have a risk of death,” the minister tweeted referring to a hospital named after Turkey’s president.

The attack killed at least five people and injured 14.

Meanwhile, the Turkish foreign ministry condemned the attack which targeted employees of a Turkish company that undertook the Mogadishu-Afgoye road construction.

In a written statement, the ministry noted that the company’s work “contributes to the development and prosperity of Somalia.”

The construction project is funded by the Qatar government and carried out by a Turkish company.

Al-Qaida affiliated group al-Shabaab in Somalia claimed responsibility for the attack in a post by its Shahada News Agency.

Hauwa Mustapha

 

Arteta hopeful for Arsenal after 3 consecutive victories

Aisha John-Mark
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Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta said the prospects for Arsenal’s season are “completely different” after thrashing West Brom 4-0 to complete three Premier League wins in eight days.

Prior to last weekend, the Gunners had gone eight league games without a win to find themselves battling at the bottom end of the table.

But nine points from nine has propelled Arsenal back into contention for the European places as they climb to 11th and within three points of the top six.

 

“I’m so happy we were able to achieve the target that we had because the table looks completely different,” said Arteta, who had found his job under threat just four months on from winning the FA Cup.

“The energy we have around the place is much better and wins bring a lot of confidence. You can see that today in the way the team played.”

West Brom are yet to win in four games since Sam Allardyce took charge and the former England manager needs to quickly instill the defensive discipline he has made his trademark at previous clubs if his new team are to have any chance of survival.

Arteta’s decision to finally put faith in his crop of talented youngsters has turned his side’s season around. Bukayo Saka was again the shining light, while Kieran Tierney and Emile Smith Rowe also impressed.

Arsenal’s poor run was principally caused by a struggle to score goals, but they were a threat from the off despite the treacherous conditions on a snow-covered surface.

Sam Johnstone denied Hector Bellerin and Saka inside the first 10 minutes, but he was powerless to stop Tierney’s stunning opener on 23 minutes.

The Scotland international left Darnell Furlong trailing in his wake before cutting inside onto his weaker right foot and curling into the top corner.

Arsenal’s second was reminiscent of their flowing football at the height of the Arsene Wenger era as Saka fed Lacazette, whose brilliant pass played Smith Rowe in behind the West Brom defence and he squared for Saka to tap into an empty net.

Israel dismisses ‘nonsense’ Iran charge

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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An Israeli official on Sunday dismissed as “nonsense” an allegation by the Iranian foreign minister that Israel was trying to trick the United States into waging war on Iran.

Washington blames Iran-backed militia for regular rocket attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq, including near the U.S. embassy. No known Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility.

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter: “New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans — putting an outgoing (President Donald) Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli.”

“Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump. Any fireworks will backfire badly, particularly against your same BFFs,” Zarif wrote, in what appeared to be a veiled threat against Israel.

Steinitz said the remarks showed that Iran, after mounting U.S. sanctions billed as curbing its nuclear programme and involvement in regional conflict-zones, was “under pressure – economic pressure, and pressure in terms of national security”.

“We hear this nonsense by Zarif, that Israel would set off terrorist attacks against the United States – this really is total nonsense,” Steinitz told Kan public radio.

“But on the other hand it is a warning sign – a warning sign that Iran is taking aim at Israel, is looking for excuses to lash out at Israel, and therefore we need to have our finger on the pulse and be at the highest state of alert.”

The U.S. military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a message of deterrence to Iran on Wednesday, but the bombers have since left the region.

Interviewed separately on Kan, Israeli Culture Minister Chili Tropper, who like Steinitz sits in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, confirmed media reports that Israel was on heightened alert for the Soleimani anniversary.

Asked what possible Iranian reprisals Israel was anticipating, Tropper said: “I cannot comment.”

Price of onions drops

Mosunmola Ore
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Few months ago, the price of onions hit an all-time high record due to scarcity and other factors.

But currently, the price has crashed as a result of new harvests.

An Onions farmer, Buhari Malamawa from Kwalkwalawa, a community known for onion farming, told newsmen that they used to sell a bag of onions between N60,000 and N90,000 before the new harvest.

“In the last three months, onion was like gold; the demand for it was high.

“It was very scarce at the time because of the flood disaster experienced in many states.

At that time, a bag of fresh onions was sold between N60,000 and N70,000 and the old ones were between N80,000 and N90,000, but the prices are relatively down now because fresh ones have hit our local markets,’’ he said.

Malam Kasimu Na Malam Abdul, a marketer at the popular market for perishable items, called Kasuwan Dajin, said the fluctuation of the prices was destined by God.

“The prices were up in the last few months because of the flood disaster that occurred in many states.

“And you know that natural disaster is beyond man’s control. Now it is down because God made it so by blessing our Fadama farmers with bumper harvest.

It is not our making or something we wanted, so people should stop blaming us. There was nothing we could do about it at the time,’’ he said.

Umar Usman Dandare, the secretary of Marhaba Onion Farmers and Processors Association suggested that stablising the production of onions could go a long way in controlling its prices.

“The government should ensure stability in onion production by supporting an all-round season,” he said.

According to him, onion farmers are not getting support from the government.

He, therefore, called for their involvement in the Anchor Borrowers Programme of the Central Bank.

He said they were working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the price of a bag of onions is not beyond N30,000 in Sokoto and even when there is scarcity of the produce.

A survey of markets across the states, including Port Harcout, the Rivers State capital, showed that prices of the commodity would further go down in the coming days.

findings, however, showed that the price of the commodity per bag has reduced to N56,000.

In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the prices of onions have also come down.

A small basket that hitherto cost N5,000 is now between N2,500 and N2,000 at the Utako and Dutse markets.

Sellers like Jabrin Abduallahi believes the prices would further come down as more harvests and supplies come from Sokoto and Kebbi states.

He, however, said the cost of transport was another factor that may determine the prices of the commodity in certain locations across the country.

Scottish referendum : UK PM says vote should only happen once in a generation

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said referendums should only happen once in a generation, when asked about the possibility of a fresh vote on Scottish independence.

“The only point I would make is that referendums, (in) my … direct experience in this country, are not particularly jolly events,” Johnson told the BBC.

“They don’t have a, notably unifying force on the national mood, they should be only once in a generation.”

Probe health ministry for missing N3.8bn – SERAP urges

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari “to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to probe allegations that N3,836,685,213.13 of public funds meant for the Federal Ministry of Health, teaching hospitals, medical centres, and National Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) are missing, mismanaged, diverted or stolen.”

The report was stated from the letter dated 2 January 2021 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare where he said: “Corruption in the health sector can cause serious harm to individuals and society, especially the most vulnerable sectors of the population. These missing funds could have been used to provide access to quality healthcare for Nigerians, and meet the requirements of the National Health Act, especially at a time of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The organization said the allegations are documented in Part 1 of the 2018 audited report released last week by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

The organization is also urging the President to, “promptly investigate the extent and patterns of widespread corruption in the Federal Ministry of Health, teaching hospitals, medical centres, neuro-psychiatric hospitals, National Health Insurance Scheme, and NAFDAC indicted in the audited report, and to clean up an apparently entrenched system of corruption in the health sector.

According to SERAP, “The Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja spent without approval N13,910,000.00 to organize a 2-day Training and Bilateral discussion with Chief Medical Directors and Chairmen Medical Advisory Council and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to prepare 2019 Personnel Budget. N4,860,000.00 was originally budgeted for the programme.”

“The National Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) paid N48,885,845.00 for services not rendered and goods not supplied. According to the Auditor-General, NAFDAC used fake and fictitious receipts for these payments.

“NAFDAC also paid N25,734,018.49 to companies/firms who were never awarded any contracts and never executed them.”

“Investigating and prosecuting the allegations of corruption by these institutions would improve the chances of success of your government’s oft-repeated commitment to fight corruption and end the impunity of perpetrators, as well as serve the public interest.

“Any failure to promptly investigate the allegations and prosecute suspected perpetrators, and to recover the missing public funds would breach Nigeria’s anti-corruption legislation, the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), the UN Convention against Corruption, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.

“Similarly, the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Management Board Aro-Abeokuta, Ogun State failed to account for N28,662,265.32, which was to be used to procure drugs, implants, and other inputs, as approved by the Federal Government. The Auditor-General wants the money returned to the treasury.

“The National Health Insurance Scheme spent N355,510,475.00 on projects between 2016 and 2017 without appropriation. The Scheme also spent N32,299,700.00 to provide ‘financial medical assistance’ to individuals who have not been enrolled in the scheme (NHIS).”

“The Scheme also spent N72,383,000.00 on verification exercise without any supporting documents. The Scheme awarded contracts of N66,798,948.12 to members of staff for procurements, instead of making the procurement through the award of contracts.

The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Enugu, Enugu State paid N5,200,000.00 as salary advance to the Medical Director. However, the Medical Director was neither proceeding on transfer, on posting nor on the first appointment to qualify for a salary advance.

The Auditor-General is asking the Medical Director to refund the money collected. Another N3,387,139.00 is said to be missing but the Hospital management has failed to report the case, or recover the money.

“The Irreal Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua Edo State paid N58,829,426.84 to two contractors for supplies and installations but without payment vouchers.

“Also, Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos, Plateau State failed to remit N333,386,549.15 being 25% of its internally generated revenue of N1,333,546,196.60 to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. The Hospital also failed to account for N8,572,777.25.

“The Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, failed to remit N945,422,478.23 to the appropriate tax authority. The Hospital also failed to remit N237,007,828.05 to the Consolidated Revenue Fund and failed to remit ₦22,307,735.21 being withholding tax deducted from contracts in 2018.

“The Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State also failed to remit N8,519,506.75 being 25% of its internally generated revenue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. The Medical Centre also spent N542,877,312.77 as personnel cost between 2015 and 2016 instead of ₦12,761,350,337.00 appropriated for the same period. “The Medical Centre failed to account for ₦898,076,719.14 of its internally generated revenue and failed to account for N23,598,074.38 of personnel cost.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abuja spent without approval N19,564,429.91 as estacode allowance to the various staff of the Agency.” “The Federal School of Occupational Therapy, Oshodi, Lagos failed to remit ₦3,250,962.98 of its internally generated revenue for 2018 to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. The School also failed to remit N4,018,252.81 being funds deducted from various contracts. It spent ₦10,507,393.00 without any appropriation or approval.

“The Federal Medical Centre, Keffi Nasarawa State failed to remit N2,147,036.00 of its internally generated revenue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. It also failed to remit N5,810,438.05 to the Federal Inland Revenue Service. The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria failed to remit N68,604,040.68 of its internally generated revenue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Allegations of corruption in the health sector undermine public confidence in the sector and obstruct the attainment of commitments made through Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, Goal 16 to create effective and accountable institutions.

The letter is copied to Mr Abubakar Malami, Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, and Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Thousands march in Baghdad on Soleimani assassination anniversary

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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A mock funeral procession in Iraq marked the first anniversary of the drone strike near Baghdad by the United States that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Thousands of mourners joined the march on the highway leading to the Baghdad airport on Saturday evening where the strike that killed the two men took place.

As the highway remained blocked with cars, demonstrators carrying posters of Soleimani and al-Muhandis adorned both sides of the road lined with tents that served food and drinks for those walking.

The scene of the bombing was turned into a shrine-like area sealed off by red ropes, with a photo of Soleimani and al-Muhandis in the middle, as mourners lit candles.

 

Flowers laid near pictures of Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis [Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters]

Shrapnel marks were still visible on the asphalt and walls in the area.

 

Soleimani headed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force, responsible for the Islamic republic’s foreign operations and frequently shuttled between Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.

His assassination dramatically ratcheted up tensions in the region and brought the US and Iran to the brink of war.

 

Demonstrators in Baghdad mark the first anniversary of Soleimani’s killing [Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters]

Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from Baghdad, said more protests are expected across Iraq on Sunday.

 

“The protests are focused on demanding that the Iraqi government put pressure on the Americans to withdraw the remaining soldiers from the country,” he said.

“Meanwhile, people on the streets are concerned about any potential escalation or any kind of deterioration in security of this country.”

.

The statement on Saturday said Iraqi authorities have opened an investigation into the incident. No group has claimed responsibility for placing the mine.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have been rising in the run-up to the first anniversary of top Iranian general’s killing.

In a letter to the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, Iran condemned US “military adventurism” in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and “fake information, baseless accusations and threatening rhetoric” against Tehran.

A day earlier, the US military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over the Gulf in a message of deterrence to Iran, the latest in a series of such moves in the past month.

“New intelligence from Iraq indicate(s) that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans – putting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli (act justifying war),” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a tweet on Saturday.

“Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump. Any fireworks will backfire badly,” Zarif wrote.

With less than a month left in the White House, Trump is under pressure from key Middle East allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia, to act against Iran, Danny Postel, assistant director of the Center for International and Area Studies at Northwestern University, told Al Jazeera.

“Trump is a very wounded and very cornered animal in an end-game scenario. He’s got a few weeks left, and we know that he is capable of extremely erratic behaviour,” Postel, an expert on Iran and US foreign policy, said.

Golden Eaglets arrive in Togo for WAFU U-17 Tournament

Aisha John-Mark
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Nigeria’s U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets have arrived in Lome, for the West African Football Union (WAFU B) U17 Tournament taking place in Togo from 5th–20th January 2021.

The five-time world champions Nigeria and three-time world champions Ghana will headline the seven-team that will feature at the competition which serves as a qualifying process for this year’s CAF U17 Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco.

Pedigree, pride and career aspiration aside, the Eaglets are sure to derive some kind of vicarious motivation from the below-par outing of the Nigeria U20 Boys at the WAFU B U20 Tournament in Benin Republic last month.

Nigeria conquered the world in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013 and 2015, and alongside Ghana have dominated cadet football on the African continent, with Mali, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal to be reckoned with as well on the basis of investment and focus on youth development.

The Eaglets’ first encounter in Lome will be against the Ivorians, at the Stade Municipal on Wednesday from 4pm, and should serve as a pointer to how much the Eaglets are keen to conquer Africa again.

On Saturday at the same venue, they clash with Ghana’s Black Starlets in a potentially explosive encounter between two teams with eight world titles between them.

Hosts Togo will open the two-week tournament against the Niger Republic at the Stade Kegue on Tuesday, hours before Group A’s other teams the Benin Republic and Burkina Faso clash at the same venue. Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire make up the three-team Group B.

GOLDEN EAGLETS TEAM FOR WAFU TOURNEY

Goalkeepers: Destiny Emuwahen; Abdulbasit Abbas: Saheed Jimoh

Defenders: Victor Udoh; Joseph Kuteyi; Chukwuemeka Egbu; Philip Titiloye; Oludapo Akintola; Emmanuel John

Midfielders: Benjamin Mustapha; Oluwatomiwa Kolawole; Rabiu Ahmed; Samuel Akere; Vince Osuji; Haruna Hassan

Wingers/Forwards: Michael Emmanuel; Gideon Atoyebi; Samson Ogunmola; Christian Nwachukwu; Peter Asuquo; Basheet Hamzat; Ahmed Abdullahi; Abdullahi Bewene; Joseph Arumala, Stanley Iheanacho

Lagos market shifts resumption of business activities to January 11

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Caretaker Management Committee of Balogun market, Lagos Trade Fair Complex, has shifted its resumption, earlier scheduled for Jan. 4, to Jan. 11, for security reasons.

Mr Leonard Ogbonnia, the Secretary of the committee, said in a statement on Sunday, in Lagos, that it would be risky to reopen the market, earlier closed on Dec. 24 for the Christmas holidays, on the stated date because of the security situation in the market.

A committee, led by Mr Anslem Dunu, was inaugurated to manage the affairs of the multi-billion-Naira market for three months; pending an election that would usher in new executives.

Ogbonnia noted that reopening the complex, as earlier scheduled, may endanger the lives and property of members, and hence the shift in dates.

“Regrettably, I wish to inform us that the security reports reaching the office of the caretaker committee on a daily basis are threatening, alarming and unpalatable to the original plans to reopen on Jan. 4, 2021.

“Obviously, non-opening of other neighbouring markets within the trade fair complex until Jan. 11, will equally add to security porosity of our own complex,  if opened.

“The committee having weighed all options, merits and demerits, therefore, came to a decision to reopen the market on Jan. 11, to enable it to address the lurking dangers.

“We passionately regret all inconveniences this change may cause some individuals and humbly appeal to such individuals to also consider the importance of taking preventive security measures,” he said.

He said that the committee wished to reassure the market community of its readiness to serve and make the place better for business to thrive.

Suzan O

 

Nollywood Sci-fi Film Finally Hits Cinemas Nationwide

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Despite the pandemic bringing activities to major halts in 2020, the year still brought movie lovers a number of great releases from Rattle Snake to Nneka the Pretty Serpent, Omo Ghetto the Saga, Citation, and several others.

While the movies are still doing the numbers on the big screens, moviegoers have been ushered into the new year with the sci-fi film, Day of Destiny.

The film whose production had long been concluded in 2020 was released in cinemas nationwide on January 1, 2021.

Written and directed by Akay Mason and Abosi Ogba, the movie follows the adventures of two teenage brothers who travel back in time by 20 years to change their family fortune.

An Inkblot and Anthill productions collaboration, the movie features Denola Grey, Olumide Oowru, Ini-dima Okojie, Nobert Young, and several others.

Meanwhile, many are anticipating Kemi Adetiba’s King of Boys 2 and a co-production by Kunle Afolayan and Tunde Kelani, titled Ayinla.

 

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