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NAOSRE CONFERENCE: MD Abubakar, Attah, Ubani, Akhaine task security agents on discipline

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In pursuit of a re invigorated game plane for a well secured environment, necessitated by prevailing Covid-19 security challenges in Nigeria, high ranking military operatives, legal and human rights experts, the academic on Thursday, July 30, converged on a National Security Virtual Conference, eNAOSRE’20, to proffer short and long-term solutions.
At the conference organised by the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, speakers identified distrusts, extortions, lack of political will, policy inconsistency and poor implementation of the rule of engagements as some of the ugly scenarios associated with managing insecurity in the pandemic.
Various speakers at the webinar harped on the twin evils of physical and health security challenges confronting the citizens and took exemptions to the gross abuse of rights by military agents. They pointed out an urgent need to check the disturbing trend from further escalation into an untamed monster.
The Keynote speaker, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, former Inspector General of Police, ret’d started by commending the organizers of the conference saying security is the basis of being secured and safe for economic development. He emphasized that Nigeria’s security landscape and the current architecture are vulnerable to various risks generated by peculiarities as a country, adding that since the universal essence of government is security, those in authority should endeavour to fund training of military officers for effective discharge of security duties.
Said he: “Intelligence gathering is very key in modern security operations. Officers must think outside the box. They must engage in information sharing to be able to nip criminal activities in the bud. Retired and experienced security experts should be included in the security architecture so that citizens and businesses can move unhindered.”
He asserted that security is a situational discipline involving direct and indirect threats. This, according to the former IGP, requires sound understanding of the operating environment through effective intelligence for decision mechanism capable of mitigating security risks.
Abubakar further sued for adequate welfare for officers and men in uniform. “How much is the salary? Most of the officers went about their duties at the early stages of Covid-19 without nose masks. They would go on duty for several hours without adequate provision for welfare. They were sufficiently exposed to dangers. I call on the high command to give attention to officers training and welfare,” he said.
One of the speakers, Barrister Monday Ubani, said Covid-19 insecurity provoked infringements on citizens’ fundamental rights, a development, he said, requires permission for accused persons to be allowed access to phones for incident recording while in security agents’ custody.
“In the month of March, security agents wasted more lives than save lives. Records revealed that while the disease killed 11 people in the period under review, security agents killed 18,” he said.
On the theme of the conference, ‘Tackling Insecurity in Nigeria Amidst Covid-19: The Nigeria Experience,’ he sees it as timely in view of twisted mindset of security agents who cash in on the prevailing situation to exploit innocent and unsuspecting citizens.
“Recently, I travelled to the eastern part of Nigeria. At Niger Bridge, the boundary between Delta and Anambra States, security agents were in open market collecting money from passengers and drivers. They made so much money. Their primary mission to ensure unauthorized persons were not allowed to move about freely as a way of checking further spread of the disease became a lucrative enterprise for extortions. Government’s genuine plan to halt further spread was defeated on the altar of unpatriotic personal enrichment,” he lamented.
He however, commended the Police high command who consistently assured Nigerians of protection and admonished citizens to video record any untoward attitude exhibited by any of its officers for prompt disciplinary actions.
Professor Odion Akhaine of Lagos State University agreed with Ubani’s overview of the lockdown and lamented the prevailing high level of ignorance amongst security agents who were extorting raw cash from citizens “The raw cash they were collecting as bribe from motorists may have been contaminated. They were oblivious of the dangers in their actions, thereby spreading it to family members and friends,” he said.
As a remedy, Akhaine advocated a creative response to the abnormalities that define security operations. He called for training and intelligent approach to tackling insecurity including political will that transcends political party affinity to deal with all forms of immediate and foreseen insecurity threats.
Nigerian Customs spokesman, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah, espoused the needs for citizens’ co operation with security agents for effective tackling of insecurity in Nigeria amidst Covid-19 saying the challenges are quite enormous than envisaged. He pointed out the risks of securing borders, sea and air ports given that goods cleared by Customs officers are coming from high risk countries. He explained that the Customs Service is a frontline agency that engages what goes out and what comes into the country every second of the day. “Most of our officers suffered consequences. Some were and still being quarantined because we are always available to receive items even from high risk countries.”
However, he urged citizens to capture violation of their rights including illegal fee collections with short video recording for necessary disciplinary actions, assuring that the Customs is committed to adequate and professional border security including respects of the rule of law.
All the speakers unanimously agreed that government must, as a matter of urgent national importance, review the nation’s security policy to reflect current security challenges.
They called on citizens, security personnel, stakeholders, private security sector, traditional and religious leaders to synergize for collective solutions to the prevailing pandemic insecurity.
Earlier, NAOSRE’s President, Samson Oki, in his remarks, re affirmed the association’s focus in bridging information gap between the public and security operatives. He solicited for proactive measures in not only solving security issues but promoting peaceful communities and attracting foreign investments.
Oki, who foresees probable citizen’s weakened trust on operatives on the hegemonic curves called for prompt rescue remedies through working relationship and synergy between security formations and NAOSRE.
In her remarks, the association’s Vice President, Favour Benson explained the Covid-19 complex modes of insecurity in Nigeria occasioned by different narratives of abuse of rights, extortions and outright molestations. The situation, she stated, requires immediate review for sustainable solution.

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Libya vs Nigeria: Confusion As CAF keeps parties in suspense

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Libya vs Nigeria: Confusion As CAF keeps parties in suspense

Libya vs Nigeria: Confusion As CAF keeps parties in suspense

 

The Confederation of Africa Football is keeping all concerned in suspense after failing to announce its verdict on Wednesday as regards the botched AFCON qualifying Group A fixture scheduled for October 15 at Benina Martyrs Stadium.

 

It appears the football body has yet to arrive at a decision, with BeIN Sports revealing that the Disciplinary Committee entertained explanations from both parties on Wednesday via video conference, with Libya and Nigeria duly represented.

 

CAF had previously decided to cancel the Libya-Nigeria match after the Nigerian national team left Libya in protest at the diversion of its flight to Labraq Airport, where they were locked in for 18 hours with neither food nor water.

 

Nigeria had called on CAF to intervene to rescue them from detention inside Labraq Airport, according to the Nigerian side’s allegations.

CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, said that the incident was under investigation as the rules for receiving visiting teams are being reviewed, stressing that CAF will take strict decisions in this crisis and will not tolerate any deviation.

 

 

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Full List: Lookman, Ekong nominated for 2024 CAF men’s footballer of the year award

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Full List: Lookman, Ekong nominated for 2024 CAF men’s footballer of the year award

Full List: Lookman, Ekong nominated for 2024 CAF men’s footballer of the year award

 

Ademola Lookman and William Troost Ekong have been nominated for the 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) men’s player of the year award.

The duo will battle Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, Simon Adingra of Cote d’Ivoire, and Serhou Guirassy of Guinea for the most coveted individual prize for male footballers on the continent.

 

Lookman was the standout performer in Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League triumph last season, netting a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.

 

The 27-year-old winger also made an impact for Nigeria, scoring three goals in seven appearances at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

At the 2023 AFCON, Troost-Ekong was named the tournament’s best player, scoring three goals and leading Nigeria to a second-place finish.

The CAF Awards ceremony will take place in Marrakech, Morocco, on December 16.

 

 

FULL LIST OF NOMINATIONS FOR 2024 CAF AWARD

Men’s national team of the year

  • Angola
  • Burkina Faso
  • Ivory Coast
  • DR Congo
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Nigeria
  • South Africa
  • Sudan
  • Uganda
  • Men’s Young Player of the Year
  • Carlos Baleba
  • Karim Konaté
  • Oumar Diakite
  • Yankuba Minteh
  • Abdul Aziz Issah
  • Bilal El Khannouss
  • Eliesse Ben Seghir
  • El Hadji Malick Diouf
  • Lamine Camara
  • Amanallah Memmiche

Men’s Interclub Player of the Year

  • Oussama Benbot
  • Issoufou Dayo
  • Ahmed Sayed ‘Zizo’
  • Hussein El Shahat
  • Mostafa Shobeir
  • Abdul Aziz Issah
  • John Antwi
  • Amanallah Memmiche
  • Yassine Meriah
  • Ronwen Williams

Men’s Player of the Year

  • Ademola Lookman
  • Amine Gouiri
  • Achraf Hakimi
  • Chancel Mbemba
  • Ronwen Williams
  • Sehoru Guirassy
  • Simon Adingra
  • Soufinane Rahimi
  • William Troost-Ekoong

Men’s Club of the Year

 

  • Petro Luanda
  • TP Mazembe
  • Al Ahly
  • Zamalek
  • Dreams FC
  • RS Berkane
  • Mamelodi Sundowns
  • Simba SC
  • Yanga
  • Esperance de Tunis

Coach of the Year

  • Pedro Gonçalves (Angola)
  • Brahima Traore (Burkina Faso)
  • Emerse Faé (Côte d’Ivoire)
  • José Gomes (Zamalek)
  • Marcel Koller (Al Ahly)
  • Chiquinho (Mozambique)
  • Hugo Broos (South Africa)
  • Florent Ibenge (Al Hilal)
  • Kwesi Appiah (Sudan)

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Adron Homes Champions Sports Sponsorship and Talent Discovery with 7th Edition of Adron Games

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Adron Homes Champions Sports Sponsorship and Talent Discovery with 7th Edition of Adron Games

Adron Homes Champions Sports Sponsorship and Talent Discovery with 7th Edition of Adron Games

After six successful editions, Adron Homes & Properties continues to play a pivotal role in the development of sports and talent discovery in Nigeria through its annual sporting event, the Adron Games. What began as a corporate wellness initiative has now grown into one of the nation’s premier platforms for identifying and nurturing young talents, while promoting physical fitness and community engagement.

The 2024 edition, themed “Fit to Be the Biggest”, marks the 7th consecutive year of Adron Games, further cementing the company’s commitment to the sponsorship of grassroots sports. With each edition, Adron Homes not only creates a space for corporate teams and individuals to compete but also paves the way for the next generation of athletes to shine on a national stage.

This year’s event, set to take place at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan from November 29th to 30th, brings even more opportunities for young athletes to showcase their abilities across a wide variety of sporting disciplines, including Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Athletics, Table Tennis, Snooker, Shot Put, Long Jump, E-sports, and Tug of War. With two Nigeria’s Ex International, Daniel Amokachi and Mutiu Adepoju both legendary figures in Nigerian football serving as ambassadors, the games underscore the crucial role of sports in shaping lives and fostering unity.

Daniel Amokachi, while addressing the media at the event’s unveiling, emphasized the need for consistent support from businesses and brands to nurture talent in Nigeria. “Sports in Nigeria need more support from businesses and brands to help discover and nurture young talent. Through initiatives like the Adron Games, we’re able to uncover the next generation of stars while also promoting a healthy lifestyle,” said Amokachi.

In line with Adron Homes’ strategic goals, Emmanuel Oladapo, Director of Sport Adron Homes and the Organising Department, shed light on the innovative developments and strategies being brought to this year’s games. During his speech, Oladapo emphasized the importance of preparation and structure in making this year’s Adron Games the most successful yet.

“We’re focused on ensuring that every aspect of this year’s games is elevated. From athlete development to team preparation, my team and I are introducing new strategies that will provide a more competitive and organized experience for all participants. We want to make sure the games grow bigger each year while also ensuring that they remain an important platform for talent discovery,” Oladapo stated.

He further highlighted a series of pre-event activities leading up to November, which have been designed to ensure that teams are fully prepared for the competition. These preparatory events, which include team training sessions, practice tournaments, and fitness camps, will help refine skills and foster teamwork among the athletes. “We want the teams to have ample opportunity to train, strategize, and perfect their game before the main event in November,” Oladapo explained.

As part of the unveiling, Oladapo also showcased the official team jerseys, which were presented to the respective teams. The jerseys, designed to promote team spirit and a sense of unity, reflect the vibrant and competitive nature of Adron Games. “These jerseys represent more than just clothing; they symbolize the hard work, dedication, and passion that each team will bring to the field. We’re proud to have created a look that inspires pride and excellence,” he added.

By investing in sports sponsorship, Adron Homes not only encourages a culture of fitness and wellness but also contributes to the larger goal of empowering youth and developing Nigeria’s sports industry. The company’s Group Managing Director, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, has been at the forefront of these efforts, recognizing the transformative power of sports as a tool for positive change.

Mutiu Adepoju, speaking at the media briefing, echoed this sentiment, stressing the unifying power of sports and commending Adron Homes for their ongoing dedication to its promotion. “Sports is not only about fitness but also about unity and creating opportunities for the youth. Adron Homes’ commitment to this cause is invaluable in the continued development of sports in Nigeria,” Adepoju remarked.

As Adron Games 2024 approaches, the spotlight is once again on sports as a catalyst for talent discovery and community development, with Adron Homes & Properties leading the charge.
For more information, sponsorship, vendor registration and inquiries, please contact:
Mr Emmanuel Oladapo: 08100760100
Adron Sports Foundation: 08061594375

 

Adron Homes Champions Sports Sponsorship and Talent Discovery with 7th Edition of Adron Games

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