MIAMI (AFP) – LeBron James says the Miami Heat started seeing red when officials began prepping the court for the San Antonio Spurs’ victory celebration with less than a minute left in game six of the NBA finals.

With the Spurs ahead by five points, 94-89, with just 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter, American Airlines arena officials began surrounding the playing surface with yellow tape to keep the spectators from rushing the court.

James said once the Heat players witnessed the decorations going up they decided the Spurs weren’t going to partying on their home court.

“There’s a few guys in the locker room (after the game) that talked about it,” James said. “We saw the championship board already out there and the yellow tape.

“That’s why you play the game, to the final buzzer. And that’s what we did tonight. We gave it everything that we had and more.”

Ray Allen drained a three pointer with five seconds left to send it into overtime and James hit the game-winning jump shot with 1:43 remaining in overtime as the defending NBA champs rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat the Spurs 103-100 and forced a game seven.

LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat goes up to shoot while playing against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the 2013 NBA Finals

James was brilliant in game six finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for his 11th career playoff triple double. James had 23 points in the second half after scoring just nine in the first half.

“I was just trying to be aggressive and help the team get back into the game,” said James, who posted his fourth career finals triple double.

The Heat staved off elimination and now have a chance to win their second title in a row if they can pull out a victory in game seven Thursday at home.

Thursday’s deciding game will be the 18th game seven in NBA finals history and the third since 2005. The home team has won 14 of the previous 17 game sevens.

Four time league MVP James called game six — which had eight lead changes — the most satisfying game he has ever been involved in.

“It was by far the best game I’ve ever been a part of,” James said. “The ups and downs, the roller coaster, the emotions, good and bad throughout the whole game.

“To be a part of something like this is something you would never be able to recreate once you’re done playing the game.”

Miami all-star Dwyane Wade was playing on two balky knees and he appeared to re-injure his left knee in the first quarter so he wasn’t able to give James much help on offence.

But the Heat’s supporting cast came up huge, including former Boston Celtic Allen who missed his first four shots from the field Tuesday before finishing with nine points, all coming in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“My focus is to help this team win,” Allen said. “We put ourselves in the situation we are in. Good or bad we are going to fight to try and make it to the top.”

Kawhi Leonard scored a career playoff high 22 points and Mario Chalmers matched his 2013 post-season high with 20 points for the Heat who are a perfect 7-0 in games following a loss in the 2013 playoffs. The Heat have not lost back-to-back games since early January.

SALVADOR (AFP) – Despite contrasting results in their opening games, Uruguay and Nigeria both approach Thursday’s encounter between the sides in Salvador knowing defeat could spell the end of their Confederations Cup ambitions.

Uruguay lost 2-1 to Spain on Sunday, before Nigeria surged to the Group B summit with a 6-1 demolition of minnows Tahiti, but the meeting of the South American and African champions was always destined to be pivotal.

With both teams expected to lose to world champions Spain and beat Tahiti, a win at Arena Fonte Nova would leave the victors in a very strong position to progress to the last four.

Nigerian players celebrate a goal: will they celebrate against Uruguay on Thursday?

Speaking prior to the Spain defeat, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez had described the Nigeria fixture as “our key match”, while captain Diego Lugano said the game was “our final”.

Striker Diego Forlan echoed their sentiments, although a draw would leave the qualification situation in the balance ahead of Uruguay’s final group game against Tahiti.

“Losing to Spain is something normal. Now we must forget that match and prepare ourselves to play against Nigeria,” said the talismanic striker, who now plays for Brazilian club side Internacional.

“We knew before coming to Brazil that our most important game was against Nigeria and nothing has changed because we lost to Spain.”

Nigeria’s preparations for the tournament were dogged by controversy after the squad initially missed their scheduled flights to Brazil in protest at a row over bonus payments.

Uruguay players train for Nigeria showdown

Coach Stephen Keshi said he was relieved to put the furore behind him with the one-sided victory over Tahiti, although he was critical of his forward players for not putting the game to bed more quickly.

“I wouldn’t say I was annoyed, but I was worried when we did not take our chances because it gave our opponents hope,” he said.

“We had clear chances, 100 percent chances, and you need to bury the goals.”

Keshi hopes to have Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi available, after he missed the Tahiti game in order to undergo treatment on a knee injury in Nigeria.

Although Uruguay’s players were made to look statuesque by Spain’s passing carousel during their opening match in Recife, Luis Suarez did give the South Americans’ fans a moment to cherish with a fine late free-kick.

The talented Liverpool striker will be central to Uruguay’s hopes of success in Salvador, and he is confident that his countrymen will rise to the occasion.

“Us Uruguayans are used to having it tough. For that reason, we’re really not worried,” he told the FIFA website.

“You just have to look at how we went into the last World Cup (in 2010, when they qualified via the play-offs) and also the result we just picked up in Venezuela (a 1-0 win in World Cup qualifying on June 11).

“Uruguay can go toe to toe with anybody. We’re fully aware of that. We might have had a setback against Spain, but there’s still a long way to go and we’re going to bounce back.”

Arena Fonte Nova, in Bahian state capital Salvador, northeast Brazil, is a re-built 48,747-capacity stadium constructed especially for the Confederations Cup and next year’s World Cup.

The old stadium, home to local club sides Bahia and Vitoria, was demolished in 2010.

Few days after suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed seven students and two teachers in Nigeria’s north eastern city of Damaturu, Yobe state, the militants have struck again in Maiduguri, Borno state, attacking students in a private school.

This time, they killed nine students as they sat for their final exam, local people said Tuesday.

The latest attack, in a region that is a stronghold of the Islamist rebel group Boko Haram, happened on Monday in the Jajeri suburb of the city, they said.

Shekau: his men attacked private school

Mohammed Saleh, a relative of one of the deceased students, said school officials had told him that the attack happened soon after the end-of-year exam had started.

“Nine of the students died instantly,” he said, blaming members of Boko Haram.

David Buba, a student at the school who was on the premises when the attack happened, told AFP he had lost a friend in the attack.

“I was within the school premises on Monday afternoon when I started hearing gunshots,” he said.

“I initially thought it was outside the school but when I saw people running, I was confused and hid somewhere in fear until 30 minutes later when corpses of our students were brought out of the exam hall.”

A security force spokesman could not be reached to confirm the attack.

Overnight Sunday to Monday, suspected Boko Haram gunmen opened fire on a secondary school in Damaturu, in the neighbouring state of Yobe to the west, killing seven students and two teachers.

Two of the attackers were also killed, said the army.

Boko Haram, whose name roughly translates as “Western education is sin,” has carried out multiple attacks on schools in violence-torn northeast Nigeria.

The group has said it is fighting to create an Islamic state in the country’s mainly Muslim north.

In May, the army launched a major offensive against the group in Nigeria’s three northeastern states: Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, and imposed a state of emergency.

In an audio message obtained by AFP on Tuesday, Abu Zinnira, who claimed to speak for Boko Haram, accused the youth of Maiduguri and Yobe of collaborating with the authorities.

“We hereby declare an all-out war on you because you have formed an alliance with the Nigerian military and police to fight our brethren,” he said.

Speaking in Hausa, the most common language in northern Nigeria, he added: “We call on any parent that values the life of his son to stop him from exposing our members otherwise he is dead.”

A statement issued on Monday by army spokesman Brigadier General Chris Olukolade praised the initiative of some local people, “…particularly youths organised into vigilante groups to join the efforts to fish out the terrorists within their communities”.

At least 9,000 Nigerians, mainly women and children, have fled the recent army operation to neighbouring countries, mainly Niger and Cameroon, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday.

In addition, a local official in the northeast of the country said some 19,000 wheat and rice farmers had been forced from their fields, raising concerns over potential food shortages.

The Boko Haram insurgency has left some 3,600 people dead since 2009, according to Human Rights Watch.

That figure includes killings by the security services, who rights groups have accused of carrying out widespread abuses.

A year after seeking refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Julian Assange remains fearful of US “revenge” over the WikiLeaks disclosures and aware that the diplomatic deadlock over his case may continue for months, if not years.

“All I ask is to be treated like a normal person and not have the politics affect judicial decisions,” said the Australian ahead of the anniversary Wednesday of his confinement.

Assange was arrested in London on December 7, 2010, on a warrant issued by Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning for the alleged sexual assault of two women.

The 41-year-old denies the claims, which he says are motivated by the release of top-secret US documents by his WikiLeaks website.

He spent ten days in custody and then 590 days under virtual house arrest in the English countryside while he fought his extradition through the courts.

When he lost, he sensationally avoided deportation by seeking asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy. But Britain refuses to allow him safe passage out of the mission, so there he remains.

Today, Assange’s biggest fear is still his transfer to the United States, where he could face prosecution for the release by WikiLeaks of hundreds of thousands of secret diplomatic and military documents.

Even if Sweden dropped its case against him, he says would stay in the embassy to avoid being handed over to Washington, which he accuses of a “desire for revenge”.

Assange, Wikileaks founder

“If I walked out of this door, I would be arrested. The strong view of my lawyers is that there is already a sealed indictment” against him approved by a grand jury, he said in an interview with AFP and several other reporters at the embassy.

“It is highly unlikely that Sweden or the UK will ever publicly say no to the US in this matter,” he said, adding: “We can see how political the case is, and the collapse of the rules of law.”

Although he would in theory have recourse to the International Court of Justice, “it could take years”.

When he first entered the small apartment near the fabled Harrods department store on June 19 last year, Assange thought he might be there “six months to two years”. He added: “I still think that now.”

The Australian is pale — a combination of natural pallor and a year spent indoors — takes long breaks between his sentences and often closes his eyes as he weighs how to answer a question.

But Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, who stayed up talking with Assange until 4.30am on a visit on Sunday, said he retained his appetite for a fight.

“He said he was strong enough to stay in our embassy for at least five years if he is not granted safe passage,” the minister said.

Patino spoke after a meeting on Monday with his British counterpart William Hague to try to resolve Assange’s situation, but they failed to reach a breakthrough, only promising to bring in more lawyers.

Patino said he hoped Assange “will not grow old and die in our embassy”.

The Australian himself said his case could be swiftly resolved but “this is a matter on which great prestige rests” — for Britain, the United States and Sweden.

He said there have been other situations like his, noting the Hungarian cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty, who spent 15 years in the US embassy in Budapest between 1956 and 1971.

Patino has described Assange’s situation as an “injustice” but said there was no question of resolving it by smuggling him out of the embassy in the boot of a car or through an underground tunnel.

“He is going to go out the front, to our country, to freedom,” he said.

Assange has calculated that every day he remains in the embassy costs the British taxpayers £11,000 ($17,000, 12,800 euros) in security.

While he waits, he takes comfort from the continuing work by WikiLeaks and “heroes” such as Edward Snowden, the former US spy who leaked details of a massive US Internet surveillance.

He noted London had warned airlines that Snowden should not be allowed into Britain. “Why? Presumably because it doesn’t want to end up with another Assange.”

.Reported by AFP

Deputy Senate President in Nigeria’s Third Republic, Senator Albert Legogie, is dead. He was aged 76.

Legogie who represented Edo North Senatorial District during the ill-fated Babangida transition programmes, was a pioneer member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP.

First son of the late Senator, Victor Legogie who confirmed the death of his father, said “he suffered malaria and was taken to the hospital,” adding that he later recovered and was taken home.

“In fact, he was doing well. But later he was ill again and we rushed him back to the hospital and unfortunately, he died at the hospital.

“As you know, my dad was a man of many parts, so we have to inform the National Assembly and the state government before we will be able to fix date for his burial. We are consulting with a lot of people. We never expected this, it is shocking to us,” he said.

Asked why his late father stayed away from politics before his death, Victor said “it is not as if he has not been playing politics, it is just that he has been at the back ground mentoring people. My Dad mentored a lot of politicians. He believed that the younger ones should be given opportunity to take over power. That was his philosophy and that was why he decided to be at the back ground.”

Meanwhile Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has described Legogie, as a true democrat who gave his all for the growth of Nigeria’s democracy.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, Comrade Oshiomhole said “news of the death of Senator Albert Legogie came to me as a rude shock. I offer my personal commiserations and the condolence of the people and government of Edo State on this sad loss.

“His death is a great loss not only to his family, but also to the people of Edo State whom he served so devotedly culminating in his emergence as Deputy Senate President in the Third Republic.

“As an elder statesman, Senator Legogie refused to be constrained by political differences as he willingly offered his advice on ways to move our dear state forward.

“His death has robbed our State and indeed the nation of a true democrat who gave his all for the enthronement of true democracy in the country. As a democrat who believes in the welfare of the people and the sanctity of the ballot box, Legogie was at the forefront in the struggle for democracy in the post-military Nigeria and was part of those who gave teeth to the democratic process.

Also responding to the death of Legogie, the member representing Etsako Central local Government in the State Assembly, Hon. Johnson Oghuma, expressed shock at the death of the former Deputy Senate President, describing him as a gentleman.

He said Legogie’s contribution to national development would remain indelible, “He would be remembered for making political sacrifice for Nigeria even when he had the opportunity to aspire higher, his community leaders that will be missed by all.”

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Three local government areas in Nigeria’s Rivers State that have been inaccessible by road would soon heave a sigh of relief as a 42Kilometre Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo road is being built by the Rivers State Government.

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi said the historic 42 Kilometre Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity road being constructed by his administration would be ready soon.

Amaechi, who spoke recently during an inspection tour of the road project stated that the road has 11 bridges, and presently two more bridges are needed to link Opobo town with the other parts of the State.

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi (right) on inspection of one of the state projects

Governor Amaechi is optimistic that the road project will be delivered in December, while one of the bridges that connects Ikuru town to Opobo should be ready in August, this year.

He further stated that his administration has built the road and bridge linking Bolo town in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area to the rest of the State, which has also increase economic and social activities in the area.”People can now travel to Bolo by road. I was very pleased that the people of Bolo can now go by road. We have done the same thing in the Okrika ring road”, Amaechi said.

Speaking on some of the achievements and prospects of his administration, Amaechi said apart from the provision of power, the training and retraining of teachers is key in the education sector.“Because we are looking at content, and we have also employed doctors twice, in the Health sector. We are looking at Health institution, and we have decided that, nobody will go to the Secondary health care without passing through the Primary Health care system. We are providing as many health care centres as possible, already, we have about 140 to 145 health centres ”, he said.

Amaechi also stated his administration’s commitment to build new tertiary health Institutions in the three senatorial districts, while a fourth hospital will be built in Etche.

Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has assured the residents of Elioparanwo community and its environs that the Elioparanwo road will be completed before the end of the next raining season.
Mr.Tele Ikuru,the Deputy Governor is from Andoni,while Gabriel Toby, the former Deputy Governor under Dr.Peter Odili’s administration hails from Opobo.

Taiwo Samson

African champions Nigeria, in upbeat mood, arrived in Salvador, north-eastern Brazil Tuesday afternoon ahead of their much-hyped clash with South American champions Uruguay on Thursday.

The Eagles are perched at the top of Group B of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup following a 6-1 trouncing of Tahiti in Belo Horizonte on Monday evening.

Spain’s Furia Roja (Red Fury) who edged Uruguay 2-1 in the first match of the pool on Sunday night, are second behind the African champions on goals difference.

While the Spaniards will look to pile up the goals against Tahiti on Thursday, the Eagles have confidence they can overpower Uruguay and earn a semi final ticket ahead of their final group phase tango with world champions Spain in Fortaleza on Sunday.

Ademola Olajire, Assistant Director (Media) of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, said in a statement on Tuesday that Alhaji Aminu Maigari, President of the federation, elated by the Eagles’ performance against the Oceanians charged the boys to increase the tempo against the tactically-aware Uruguayans.

Super Eagles

“The Eagles have started well, and they are perching on top of the table as expected. We believe they have the strength and the savvy to go all the way and do our country and Africa proud.

“I want them to forget about the win over Tahiti and appreciate that Uruguay are a different ball game. They should work very hard and come out on top on Thursday,” Maigari said.

Salvador, the capital of Bahia State, is home to about 2.7 million people and is Brazil’s third most populous city. It was Brazil’s first capital city until 1763. It is also regarded as the black capital of Latin America, as more than 80 per cent of its inhabitants are of African descent.

In other words, the African champions will not lack support inside the renovated Arena Fonte Nova when they clash with the Uruguayans starting from 7pm Brazil time (11pm Nigeria time) on Thursday.

Coach Stephen Keshi has also been telling his boys to believe in their ability as the boys cruised into the Hotel De Ville Tuesday afternoon.

“Nobody gave us the chance to triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. We love the status of underdogs that we have here and it will help us to achieve our objective of making Nigeria and Africa
proud.”

Keshi was in the Nigeria squad that spent close to three months training and playing friendly matches in Brazil before going ahead to win the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1980. He missed the final cut because Brazilian Coach Otto Gloria, who took Portugal to third place at the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England, felt he was too young.

However, Keshi has been eager to give the younger generation in his team good opportunities to showcase their wares, with the likes of Kenneth Omeruo, Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed Musa, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Brown Ideye appearing to enjoy every moment of it.

“The year 2012 marked the first time since the surge in piracy off the coast of Somalia that the reported number of both ships and seafarers attacked in the Gulf of Guinea surpassed that of the Gulf of Aden and of the western Indian Ocean,” the report said.

Of the 206 hostages taken last year off West Africa, five were killed, the document said.

Despite the rising danger, the report stressed that the area “has not received the attention that was brought to Somalia,” where 851 sailors were attacked last year.

The Gulf of Guinea, which includes waters off Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, has emerged as a new danger-zone with pirates typically targeting fuel cargo and loading it onto other ships to sell on the lucrative black market, rather than seeking ransom to release ships, the IMB said.

“In Nigeria, money moves quite quickly, unlike in Somalia,” explained one contributor to the report document.

“In Somalia, it would take months. In Nigeria, the pirates take our (oil) cargo and the money of the (shipping) company. It would take only weeks, it is quite fast.”

A French-flagged tanker was released on Monday after it was captured four days ago in the piracy-plagued waters off West Africa.

The report said that “co-operation between efforts at sea and those on land to build maritime security and provide job opportunities to potential pirates” was essential to reduce piracy levels in Somalia and West Africa.

A member of staff of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kwara State Command, northcentral Nigeria, Mr. Yemi Afolayan, has been arrested by the police for allegedly inflicting severe bodily injuries on a 12-year old girl, Favour Emmanuel, with a hot pressing iron after tying her up and beating her to the point of comma.

P.M.NEWS gathered that the girl, a native of Anambra state, whose mother is in Lagos State, was staying with the Immigration officer’s family in Ilorin.

“My master, Mr. Afolayan, had asked me to prepare rice but as it was taking too long for the food to be ready he first beat me mercilessly and latter tied me up and used an electric pressing iron to inflict all the injuries on my body,” the victim narrated.

A source in the neighbourhood along Basin Road in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the manner in which the girl was treated was dehumanising and inhuman, adding there was little they could do since they were not a party to her being brought into the house, hence they could not challenge the couple.

When A neighbour, however, noticed the manner the girl was being maltreated and reported the matter at the Ministry of Women Affairs.

While reacting to the dastardly act, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Mrs. Comfort Afolayan, said the ministry went to report at the anti-child trafficking department of “A” Division Police Station after which Afolayan was arrested.

“The victim has been arrested, while the child is in our custody at the Motherless Babies’ Home, Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin, where she is being taken care of before we take her back to her family.

“As a mother, not even as the Commissioner for Women affairs And Social Welfare, the act is very horrible. As a mother, who has gone through the process of child bearing, you cannot see that situation and keep quiet.  Such a treatment is not acceptable.

“The Ministry will not relent in its efforts to protect the rights of children. We have been embarking on rigorous  enlightenment programmes on child abuse and child labour, even after all these efforts, people are still involved in such practices,” she said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Fabode Olufemi, confirmed the incident, saying a warrant of arrest has been issued to effect the arrest of the suspect, assuring that the police would do everything possible to bring the culprit to justice.

—Stephen Oni/llorin

Working with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport and the Lagos State Ministries of Transportation, Works & Infrastructure, Science & Technology, the IBM team of experts proposed technology-driven strategies called ‘Smart Transportation’ to make travel easier.

According to a recent report,  20 per cent of Lagos’ geographical area is taken up by water, but most commuter travel in the state is by road. City authorities predict a 350 per cent growth in the number of vehicles in the state over the next 25 years, with the population doubling to 40 million by 2030. The potential of both rail and water transport remains largely untapped, carrying less than one per cent of overall traffic in the state.

The recommendations included better coordination between agencies responsible for traffic management, police, fire and medical care. More efficient decison-making would be based on data gathering and analysis from a variety of sources such as cell phones, call centres, cameras, and global positioning systems devices. This accurate and up-to-date information would assist the agencies better manage traffic flow.  It would also enable them to wirelessly provide travelers with information such as road and traffic conditions, as well as bus, boat and toll schedules.

Also included among the proposals was a single, integrated e-ticketing system for all modes of transportation (similar to New York City’s Metro Card or London’s Oyster card systems) and integrated fare management. The introduction of roadway toll rates based on traffic density would also help encourage the use public transportation, bringing less pollution and increased revenue. The state was also advised to create a single platform for all its traffic and transportation-related data, integrating all agencies and modes of transport, allowing seamless passenger transfers.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola said: “The need to deploy innovative approaches that address civic challenges in Lagos State has never been greater. Keeping up with the state’s growing appetite for services and resources is a herculean and continuous process. Our ability and growing success in attracting home-grown and international trade and investment activity, is generating a need for better governance and management practices. Technology is the key to the future, and we welcome IBM’s support in this regard.”

The team’s recommendations incorporated existing infrastructure, and proposed strategies for self-funded projects.

“IBM’s set of recommendations address our key transportation challenges and clearly enhance our ongoing efforts to fix the myriad of issues faced by our fast developing state,” Kayode Opeifa, Lagos State Commissioner for Transport said. Further confirming this point of view, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure said the state’s “blueprint for transforming our struggling infrastructure into a modern ecosystem driven by data intelligence and efficient resource management has been further authenticated by these set of recommendations from IBM.”

The collaboration between Lagos and IBM was funded by a Smarter Cities Challenge grant — one of only some 30 awarded globally for 2013.

The firm will tomorrow present its solution to licensed mobile money operators in a workshop organized by Private Networks Nigeria Limited, its Nigerian strategic partner.

According to Mayowa Dada, special projects executive, Private Networks Nigeria, the technology being introduced into Nigeria is the same mobile money infrastructure that transformed financial interactions around the world, including India

Dada said in Lagos  that the solution was being introduced due to need for service providers in the financial services sector in Nigeria to implement cutting-edge technology that small and medium-sized businesses as well as customers with limited access to banks can benefit from.

He said once such technology is delivered, permanent, positive change in financial service delivery in the country would be created.

“The days of crowded banking halls may become a thing of the past, as mobile money gives people a dynamic, efficient alternative to pay for goods and services from anywhere in the country. Mobile money is an innovative way to move and manage money as Nigeria transforms into a cashless society, ” he said.

Mr. Raj Hajela, Chief Executive Officer, Estel Technologies, said the collaboration of bringing the workshop to Nigeria with PNN is to educate CBN licensees on the possibilities in the sector as well as to provide multiple channels through which the infrastructure technology can be acquired and managed.

He said: “Our professional staff have been working with banking clients in the financial and technology sectors to provide training and information about important new microbanking solutions, plus how to reduce infrastructure costs, manage businesses more efficiently and analyse client data.  This is important for strategic growth to improve business management and maximise profit.”

According to him, to extend the reach of the average commercial bank, the mobile money technology the firm is to introduce delivers convenient access to a broad range of services specifically for mobile phones for the under-banked and unbanked population, including small- and medium-enterprise business owners.

This, he noted, includes transferring funds, payment for services and paying utility bills directly from a mobile phone.

Dada stated that in Nigeria, the main challenge to implementing mobile microbanking has been lack of infrastructure that would attract commercial banking players into the sphere and that this is the problem the firm was out to solve.

Again, the nation was treated to a needless power show on Sunday when Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State and his counterpart in Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, issued different conflicting statements on a meeting of the Governors’ Forum.

While we acknowledge the schism in the forum caused by the re-election of Governor Amaechi as Chairman on 23 May, 2013, we believe that governors who are leaders in their own right, should display maturity and diplomacy in handling the leadership crisis, instead of tarnishing their image by engaging in a war of words publicly.

The leadership crisis which is threatening to consume the forum degenerated on Saturday when Jang in a statement publicised in the media, notified his colleagues of a meeting of the forum to be held in a new secretariat he has just acquired for the forum in Abuja. He disclosed in the statement that the meeting will hold before the governors’ scheduled meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on Monday.

As the news of the meeting hit the airwaves, the authentic Chairman of the Forum, Amaechi countered in a statement, also publicised on Sunday, that Governor Jang should stop impersonating him and stop parading himself as chairman of the Governors’ Forum.

In his statement, Amaechi declared that as the duly elected chairman of the forum, he is the only one who can convene a meeting of the forum and that he has not called for a meeting of the forum.

He appealed to Governor Jang to protect the integrity of his colleagues and not impugn their integrity by making a mockery of the forum. He advised him to stay within the confines of decorum and not to rubbish his colleagues in the eyes of the masses.

We are surprised that the governors have allowed the leadership crisis rocking their forum to degenerate to this level. We are baffled that a voluntary association such as the Governors’ Forum, which was formed to promote peer review and exchange of ideas on development issues, has been turned into a battleground where members engage in pursuit of narrow and selfish political interest.

We are dismayed that instead of channeling their energy towards promoting good governance and democratic norms, the governors now engage in petty struggle for transient political power.

Is it not a shame that governors are fighting dirty over chairmanship of their forum instead of teaming up to provide succour to their people through provision of medicare, housing, schools, potable water, tackling floods and construction and rehabilitation of bad roads in their states.

As a dispassionate observer of the ongoing crisis among the governors, we are of the view that the chairmanship of the Governors’ Forum is not such a big deal that governors should dissipate unnecessary energy on. Governors should concentrate on effective governance and do away with the unprofitable bickering over the chairmanship of a forum.

Governors should stop overheating the polity with their squabbles over the chairmanship of a voluntary association that is not recognised by the constitution. Governor Jang should retreat from the dangerous path he has chosen. At the end of the day, it will serve him no good. By now, he ought to know that in any election, there is bound to be a winner. Once a winner emerges, the loser should accept defeat and work with the winner to develop the polity.

The controversial election which led to the splitting of the forum into two was well documented for all to see. It was clear that Governor Jang lost the election. 19 governors elected Amaechi as their chairman and that decision should stay.

The Special Fraud Unit of Nigeria Police Force are making effort to arraign them today as of the time of going to the press.

In the four-count criminal charge, FHC/L/218c/13 filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos by police prosecuting counsel Effiong Asuquo, it was alleged that Stonebridge Oil Ltd, Samuel Owa, MD/CEO, of Stonebridge Oil Ltd, Vibrant Ventures and Olori Onassis Wagutom, a cargo superintendent/surveyor of Vibrant Ventures between the month of June/July 2011 in Port Harcourt, conspired together with other persons now at large to commit a felony to wit obtaining money under false pretence.

It was further alleged that Stonebridge Oil Ltd, Samuel Owa, MD/CEO of Stonebridge Oil Ltd, other persons now at large during the month of June and July 2011 in Port Harcourt with the intention to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,784,715,258,14 fuel subsidy from the Federal Government of Nigeria by falsely pretending that they have imported and discharged 15,000 metric tonnes of premium motor spirit (PMS) via Vessel MT, Brave, Exstarling, Exmtpysis Delta.

At the time of filing this report, efforts were being made by the Nigeria police from Special Fraud Unit to bring the accused to court for arraignment.

—Akin Kuponiyi

By Makinde Collins

“We must evolve clear cut initiatives that will not only fast track our industrialization process but one that will also see us within the shortest possible period to be able to build our own motor vehicles, our own boats and our own aircraft and of course launch our own satellite manufactured in Nigeria, from a launch site in Nigeria on a launch vehicle made in Nigeria,” these were the words of President Goodluck Jonathan last week’s Tuesday as he formally inaugurated a 13-member National Space Council (NSC), headed by him as Chairman and Vice President Namadi Sambo as Vice-Chairman.

The Federal Government rolled out plans to use space technology to enhance national security, communication, industrialisation and sustained socio-economic development is a welcome initiative and Nigerians must rally round the government.

Since the Russians launched SPUTNIK into the orbit in 1957, space exploration and the exploitation of space resources have become dominant factors in communication, national security, natural resources management, prediction, navigation and management of natural disasters.

The spin-offs of space exploration are generating new products, new ideas and solutions in medicine, manufacturing industry, agriculture, microwave engineering, food technology and material science. Thus space technology can impact on the socio-economic development of any nation when integrated into the development strategy.

However, It is well commendable that the Federal Government is tapping into this by  targeting industrial breakthrough in space technology in  its bid to stimulate socioeconomic development as well as enhanced security measures.

One must commend the President for coming up with this initiative, considering the fact that the critical need to properly structure and drive our national space programme cannot be over-emphasized given the critical place of space technology in the areas of national security, communications, industrialization and sustained socioeconomic development.

There is need for aggressive awareness campaign on the importance of space technology in the country.

On May 24, Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, said that the Federal Government needed $244 million to install electronic surveillance round the country’s borders.

He said the amount, if available, would be enough to provide security around the country’s borders. This is a welcome measure that ought to have been taken much earlier by the Federal Government, but National Space Council (NSC) must pay attention to Global Positioning System (GPS).

GPS, according to Wikipedia, is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.

The system provides critical capabilities to military, civil and commercial users around the world. It is maintained by the United States government and is freely accessible to anyone with a GPS receiver.

Currently GPS is the most popular navigation system in the world, but it has some shortcomings. GPS was created by the Defence ministry of the USA and America can switch it off or make signal worse for some regions if they decide that it is necessary to secure their interests. In this case they don’t inform users. Such decision can paralyse all navigation services if a country uses only one system. To avoid it, countries should have an opportunity to use different navigation systems. Now there are some navigation systems in the world. For example Russia and Europe are developing their own navigation systems GLONAS and Galileo, respectively.

Russia which is one of the main partners of China in BRICS is ready to cooperate with different countries to provide better services for them. If Nigeria uses both GPS and GLONAS it will have a guaranty that the national navigation system is operational in any possible situation in the region.

Even American experts admit that GLONAS receivers can provide better precision, than GPS. Russian system GLONAS can be used on free of charge base for civil purposes and GLONAS devices can receive signals both from GPS and GLONAS.

Russia can grant access to civil navigation signals of GLONAS without any restriction. For further cooperation Russia can provide all necessary data to help organize manufacture of GLONAS/GPS devices in Nigeria as well as conduct training of national experts and specialists in navigation sphere.

Nigeria needs relevant satellites and sensor platforms and applications to tackle its problems and President Jonathan reposed the council with the responsibility of coming up with an action plan that will enable the country utilize space technology to accelerate industrial development quickly, so that Nigeria will not only venture into space but also manufacture boats, aircraft and other things.

Due to the low level of awareness and misconceptions many have viewed Nigeria going to space as needless venture, but it will interest you to know that Nigerian engineers and scientists trained in the past 14 years in the space programme rank among the best in Africa.

Irrespective of the fact that Nigeria is a developing country and lack competent manpower in space research and development, a few modest achievements have been recorded by the country through international collaborations with space technology developed countries and companies all over the world.

Nigeria has good experience of cooperation in this sphere with Russia and China which launched NigeriaSat-2, NigeriaSat-X and NigComSat-1R.

If Nigeria continues to cooperate with these countries it can help Nigeria to increase the number of satellites during a short period of time. Nigeria signed an agreement with Russia and China about cooperation in mutual space development. This agreement can help Nigeria to train its experts, to design, to launch, to operate and to utilise satellites together with Russia.

Nigeria, therefore, needs to embrace and incorporate the use of satellite technology-based solutions. However, in order to incorporate the use of satellite for disaster management, there is a need to increase awareness, build national capacity and develop satellite applications.

Nigerian authorities should activate cooperation with international partners in space technology that will help to develop the economy of the country and to attract new investments in the country.

•Collins is Lagos-based public analyst. Email: makindecollins@yahoo.com

By Uche Joe Anigbata

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), as a government agency, was set up with the mandate to maintain and enforce product quality and standard due to the influx of substandard goods into the country. The major operational base of the organization was the seaport and airport. But in 2011, the agency was forced out of these major operational bases – sea and airports by the same government that set it up. While government may have acted in good faith as it tries to take measures aimed at sanitizing, standardizing, transforming and repositioning such agencies and institutions to align with international best practices, the collective cost of its action in this case is counter-productive and therefore needs to be re-addressed without further delay.

Considering the obvious negative multiplier effects of this singular action or policy, it is right to say that it is probably one of government’s bad decisions in recent times. Many concerned Nigerians have been appealing to the government to take necessary steps to review its stand on this issue with a view to reducing the monumental socio-economic pressure exerted on the economy and people by the menace of fake and substandard products in Nigeria, but to no avail.

On the vexed issue of massive importation of fake and substandard goods into the country, there is overwhelming evidence that Nigeria ranks among the world’s highest market for fake and substandard products and equipment. This is evidenced by the shameful scene of all kinds of poor quality goods and products that litter our open markets, shops, supermarkets, chemist and other retail shops.  These fake and substandard products span across all classes and categories of items including drugs, electrical, electronics household appliances and equipment, building materials, tyres and tubes, automobiles, machine spare parts, food and machines to mention a few. Both the government and Nigerians appear to have been so overwhelmed by this problem that they have almost given up, thereby allowing it to  redefine their  lives and mentality as well as reshape their culture and destiny.  It is no longer news or strange when a mechanic or generator technician tells you that he will go for a “tokunbo” or fairly used parts instead of new ones because the so-called new ones are obviously fake.  Nigerians are now prisoners of a clear culture of collective failure, carelessness, insensitivity, weakness, indolence, incompetence and ignorance.

If government can really identify the gravity of this problem, estimate its size and multi-dimensional nature as well as correctly weigh its multiple socio-economic costs and effects on Nigerians and the economy, it will certainly discover the urgent need to return SON to the ports

The cankerworm called fake and substandard goods is seriously eating deep into the fabrics of Nigeria with major consequences. Lives and properties are lost due to building collapse and fire outbreak occasioned by substandard electrical and building materials. Substandard tyres and other fake motor spare parts have sent many people to their untimely graves.

Nigerians are not getting value for their money because it is spent on substandard goods that cannot stand the test of time. On the average, Nigerians may be spending about five times more money and time maintaining these products because of their poor quality. Added to these, is the undue pressure that substandard goods bring to bear on the environment. As a result of the high frequency of replacements caused by the use of poor quality materials and considering the fact that we have a poor recycling culture, our environment is always littered and over burdened with replaced and unusable parts.  The chain effect of environmental pressure and pollution as a result of this problem as it relates to our farmlands, marine and aquatic life, blockage of our canals and drainage channels call for serious attention on the part of government.

Dumping of substandard goods in Nigeria is creating a disincentive to production and investment, thereby negating the whole essence of the protection of infant industries.  Many Nigerian businessmen and women who risk importing quality goods are fast closing down because they cannot compete with the fake products dumped in Nigeria from Asia.  A typical scenario is where a Chinese company manufactures a product for a Nigerian at a relatively fair quality and almost at the same time produces the same product for another Nigerian importer at a reduced quality.  Due to low consumer awareness, these products get into the Nigerian market and sell at the same price, making the man that insists on bringing in quality goods to incur losses.  In some cases, these foreigners play the role of importers, wholesalers, retailers and clearing agents at the ports, thereby jeopardizing our national interest.  Where lies the survival of Nigerian businesses if Chinese and Indians with their Nigerian collaborators are allowed to perpetually flood our markets with fake and substandard products at large, medium and small scale with impunity. SON has synergy advantage in the port. Other security agencies like the Police, Navy, Air force, State Security Service are at the ports.  The customs, immigration, Quarantine, NAFDAC and NDLEA are visibly at the ports. Bearing in mind the enormous problem posed by this growing economic ailment, SON needs to be present at the ports in order to nip these nefarious activities in the bud.  SON can also tap the advantage of their cooperation in the pursuit of its tasks at the ports by working closely with them.  Such a cooperation is not the same when SON operates outside the ports.

To adequately fight this threat to the Nigerian economy, SON needs to be brought back to the ports.  It is obvious that outside the ports, SON lacks the capacity in terms of workforce, facilities, logistics and even the legal framework to meet the challenges posed by imported fake and substandard products in Nigeria. The geographical size of the country, the poor consumer awareness and the obvious security challenges make it difficult for SON to confront the problem in the open market.

SON no doubt could have come under criticisms while at the ports due to poor quality performance, lack of integrity and transparency in the performance of its duties, poor enlightenment and training on the economic importance of SON’s task for the staff on how to achieve zero tolerance on the issue of fake and substandard products, especially on such life threatening items as electrical, tyres, building materials and other items.

Considering the circumstances of the Nigerian situation, system and environment, can SON achieve any reasonable measure of success in fighting this ill if it does not operate within the nation’s sea and airports?  The answer is no.  Government should therefore, as a matter of urgency, put the necessary law in place in order to return SON to the ports.

We as Nigerians also owe one another both moral, social and official responsibility as well as liability which should consistently manifest not only in the form of a deep sense of nationalism and love for ourselves but also in continuous flow of sacrifices targeted at reclaiming our lost  glory and renewing the face of our nation in this generation so as to restore the DIGNITY OF MAN in our nation.

•Anigbata, a public affairs analyst wrote from Lagos. •E-mail: challenge _2020@yahoo.com

By Tayo Ogunbiyi

They looked lost, confused and helpless. Staring occasionally at a few of their possessions that were salvaged from the debris that their once beloved habitation has become. They caught quite a pitiable sight, occasionally staring into space, searching perhaps, for the way out of their present predicament. They were the occupants of a three-storey building at 353, Agege Motor Road, which recently collapsed. The sad incident, which took place in the afternoon, claimed a nine-month-old baby aside causing various degrees of physical injuries to many others in addition to loss of other vital belongings.

The ugly phenomenon of building collapse in Nigeria, with resultant loss of lives and properties, injuries, structural and collateral damage to other properties as well as public infrastructures, is becoming quite alarming. Though cases of building collapse are not peculiar to Nigeria, the trend in the country is, however, becoming quite bothersome and a source of concern to all well meaning individuals.

Here in Lagos, we have had a fair share of cases of building collapse with its ensuing trauma and agonies. The case of Lagos is particularly aggravated by its population density, the wet nature of the environment as well as the landscape of the state which most builders do not often take into consideration before embarking on building activities. The situation is further exacerbated by the refusal of residents to heed government’s warning to vacate buildings that are discovered to have faulty structures and therefore unsuitable for human habitation. This is often the situation with most collapsed buildings in the state. For instance, it is on record that the state government had warned the occupants of the collapsed building at 353, Agege Motor Road, Lagos of the imminent collapse of the building two years ahead of the eventual occurrence.

Similarly, the influx of many people to Lagos, on a daily basis, exerts much pressure on the available housing, leading to overcrowding in most houses with its resulting extra load and apparent distress of most buildings, particularly in densely populated areas. Lagos is said to have the highest urban population, which was put at about 5.171 persons per per square kilometre as at 2008 and 27.4% of the national estimate. The desperate attempt by the residents to get out of the hook of terrible and shylock landlords by getting roof over their heads at all costs, coupled with the eagerness of developers, both professionals and non-professionals, to get quick returns on their investments often lead to a situation where regulations are deliberately or ignorantly circumvented thereby compromising standards at the expense of people’s lives.   There is no point in apportioning blames in respect of the ugly trend of building collapse in the country. Everyone simply has a role to play if the trend is to be reversed. Governments across the country need to ensure that building regulations are strictly adhered to while the people must be willing to play by the rules. Unfortunately, Nigeria is a place where illegality thrives, people build structures without approved plan, building permit and other necessary authorizations, while estates spring up without approved layout plan. It is estimated that more than 60% of structures across the country falls within this category. To cut cost, many people resort to using substandard materials which are prevalent and abundant in Nigeria, both homemade and imported. Sadly, every cheap thing comes with a price.

In Lagos, the State Government is not oblivious of the threat which the occurrence of collapsed building has over the years posed to government’s efforts to protect lives and property. The State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola  recently inaugurated a six-man tribunal of enquiry on collapsed buildings. While inaugurating the tribunal, Fashola warned that any state officials found guilty of compromising standards in the issuance of permits to builders would be sanctioned while buildings constructed without compliance to necessary regulations would be pulled down. He, equally, appealed to residents to patiently follow due process and report structurally defective buildings in their immediate environment to appropriate quarters.

Similarly, the demanding housing situation in the state is being tackled through series of policies aimed at stemming the challenges

In the housing sector. The strengthening of the Ministry of Housing and other affiliated agencies such as Lagos State Property Development (LSDPC), Lagos Building and Investment Company (LBIC) is a direct response by the state government to meeting the urgent intervention required in the sector.

Presently, the New Towns Development Authority (NTDA) provides site and service schemes for individual middle-income housing. Equally, the State Government is also providing various forms of housing opportunities to Lagosians through the construction of various categories of homes across the state. This is in addition to encouraging private sector involvement in the provision of housing.

If we are to avert future occurrence of building collapse, governments across the country must intensify the conduct of integrity test on old buildings particularly multi- storey to determine their structural stability and safety for habitation. This must be done on a regular basis as a matter of policy.

Equally, where it already exists, legislation against illegal building activities should be strengthened while monitoring activities from relevant government agencies should also become more effective. Similarly, efforts must be made to step up prosecution of professionals/developers who move to site without development permit and engage in other sharp practices such as the use of sub-standard materials, to serve as deterrent to others. The only condition that makes evil to thrive is for evil to go unpunished.

As earlier stated, citizens also have a role to play in curbing the trend of building collapse in the country. It is a fact that most construction activities take place in full glare of the people. Hence, it is important that people take interest in the safety of human lives by reporting structurally deficient building or any illegal construction and contraventions in their environment to the appropriate authorities. The human life is sacrosanct and it must be treated as such. This is why we must all come together to put an end to this menace.

It is, therefore, essential to commend the efforts of professionals under the umbrella body of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) in rallying against building collapse in the country. Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, recently joined the guild, whose membership cut across all the 20 Local Government Councils and Local Government Development Areas in Lagos. The involvement of BCPG, and other such bodies in the country, is a right step in the right direction in the bid to raise consciousness among built environment professionals both in government and private sector on the need to ensure that due process is followed in all their assignments to prevent structural failure.  To effectively tackle the hazard of building collapse, we need to build synergy, build network, harmonise efforts and frequently review success recorded. This is the only way forward if we are to put an end to the agonies and trauma associated with the dreadful incidence of building collapse in Lagos, and indeed the country•Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

—Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

African champions Nigeria, as expected, beat minnows Tahiti 6-1 in their Confederations Cup opening Group B match on Monday in Belo Horizonte, but they were slammed over their wastefulness.

The entire team came under serious criticism over their shyness in front of goal against a makeshift Tahitian team.

Two ex-internationals, Etim Esin and Henry Nwosu flayed the team for not utilizing the litany of goal scoring chances that came their way warning them to up their game if they want to qualify for the semi-finals ahead Spain and Uruguay.

ON THE MOVE…Super Eagles of Nigeria midfielder, John Obi Mikel (top) drives the ball past Tahiti’s defender, Nicolas Vallar during their FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 Group B match, at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte on 17 June, 2013. Nigeria won 6-1. AFP PHOTO

Esin stated further that the performances put up by the Eagles was below expectation, adding that the coaching crew need to make changes in the team ahead of their next game.

“I am impressed with the result we got in our first match against Tahiti but I am not totally comfortable with the performance of our players, especially in front of goal,” Esin fumed.

Corroborating Esin’s stand, Nwosu said Eagles could have scored more than 10 goals if they had used their chances and avoided selfish plays by some of the players. “The standard put in by the Super Eagles is worth more than six goals because as far as I’m concerned, if they had been more coordinated upfront and avoided the selfish plays by few of them especially Ahmed Musa, Brown Ideye, John Ogu, Anthony Ujah among others, the goal tally would’ve gone up to 10 goals or more,” Nwosu opined.

Adding his voice to the growing criticism of the team, the newly appointed coach of Sunshine Stars of Akure, Fatai Amoo, who believes the solution to Eagles’ profligacy in front of goal is to be calm and shoot at goal.

According to him  “We won against Tahiti but our players played below expectation. The finishing was poor but I expect the team’s handlers to work on them before the next match against Uruguay on Thursday. In all, what really matters most is the fact that we started on a winning note.”

Nigeria lead Group B on three points the same points as European champions, Spain but on superior goals. Elderson Echiejile scored a brace while Nnamdi Oduamadi achieved a hat-trick and Tahiti’s hitman, Jonathan Jehau who pulled one back for his side later scored an own goal to complete the 6-1 routing.

—Adebobola Alawode & Bamidele Olowosagba

Renowned athletics coach, Tobias Igwe, has commended the country’s preparation for the 2013 International Association of Athletics Federations, IAAF World Athletics Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine, saying it was geared towards a successful outing.

Igwe gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN Monday in Lagos.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN had on 12 May, invited 40 athletes to camp in Benin to prepare for the championships.

Igwe told NAN that the athletes would be further evaluated at the All Nigeria/Cross River Athletics Championships in Calabar on 19 June.

“We have seen improvement from the athletes; preparation is in top gear to ensure that we redeem our image at these championships, we have worked hard and we expect good results.

“We intend to use the All Nigeria/Cross River Athletics Meet in Calabar to evaluate ourselves and work on areas in which we are lagging behind,’’ he said.

Igwe urged the athletes to act on their coaches’ instructions to ensure a successful outing in Donetsk.

“If they follow instructions, I believe they will go far. I just want to encourage them to make the country proud’’.

NAN reports that the World Championships is scheduled to hold from 10-14 July.

Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC of Ibadan says its target is to finish in the first four of the Glo Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL and earn a Confederation Cup ticket next season.

3SC Coach, Akeem Busari, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN Sunday in Ilorin after the team lost 0-2 to old western arch-rival, Kwara United, in Ilorin

NAN reports that the defeat had further lowered 3SC to the 14th position on the log.

Busari said that although he was not satisfied with the position on the log, he was still optimistic that 3SC would meet up the target of finishing in the first four.

“We are not satisfied with our position for now. We really want to be among the first four. But here we are today.

“The league is not yet over; we still have 19 matches with double home matches.

“The team has double home matches in the next round of the league, where I can assure you we will gain back our first round losses,“ he said.

EYES ON THE BALL…Gbolahan Salami of 3SC (right) battle Nelson Ogbonaya of Heartland FC during the 2013 Glo/Nigeria Professional Football League match between 3SC and Heartland FC on 14 April, 2013 at Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan

The coach rated the league high, claiming that it had improved from the previous seasons.

He charged stakeholders to maintain the tempo and allow the league to progress with sincerity of purpose.

Reacting to the 0-2 defeat, the Oluyole Warriors’ handler claimed that the Afonja Warriors– as Kwara United are fondly called– were lucky to have converted their chances.

He pledged to get back the points when the Ilorin side would visit Ibadan for their week 20 return leg match of the NPFL.

According to Busari, his boys got their chances, but were unable to make better use of them.

NAN reports that Adamu Yahaya’s double was enough to seal home victory for the hosts.

The Executive Secretary of NPFL, Tunji Babalola, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN Monday in Lagos that the first stanza of the league ended on Sunday after Week 19 fixtures and went on a two-week break.

Babalola told NAN that all outstanding matches would be played during the break, to ensure that the league ended as scheduled.

The secretary added that most of the outstanding matches were as a result of the continental engagement by some clubs.

“Most of the outstanding matches are as a result of continental engagements, especially for Rangers International of Enugu. So, we have to give concessions.

“We intend to use this break for all outstanding matches, we are positive that we will trash this out before the commencement of the second stanza.

“The second stanza will be better than the first, the first was fair and we intend to build on that.

“We are not going to rest on our oars, there is a lot that still needs to be done,’’ Babalola said.

On when the LMC will disburse funds from Glo sponsorship package to clubs, he said the committee would soon invite club managers to discuss the sharing formula.

“During this break, we will meet with all the stakeholders, it is at this meeting that we will decide on how and when the money will be disbursed,’’ Babalola said.