FIFA Tips Godswil Akpabio Stadium For Opening/ Closing Ceremony Of U20 World Cup

Akwa Ibom State Government has assured the Federation of International Football Association ,FIFA , of adequate facilities that will enhance the hosting of 2020 U-20 Female World Cup Football Tournament in which Nigeria is bidding to host.


The State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel gave the assurance while exchanging views with the FIFA Inspection Committee for the 2020 Junior Female World Cup Tournament led by President, Nigeria Football Federation NFF, Amaju Pinnick who were on a courtesy visit at the Government House, Uyo.

Governor Emmanuel canvassed for the hosting of the tournament in the state, stressing that the state is adequately positioned in terms of physical structures, sport facilities, transport system, security and medicare.

Hear him: "in our preparedness in terms of sport facilities, transport, security and medicare, I think we have covered all and only waiting for your nod come September 12th. I want to thank you in advance for giving Nigeria a good report that will earn us the hosting right "

The Governor intimated the FIFA delegation that apart from owning an airport, Akwa Ibom is the only state in the country that runs a commercially viable airline with a world class business model that will allow for easy movement of the players, officials and supporters within the country using the state Airline.

As regards security, Mr Emmanuel said that adequate measures have been taken to guarantee safety of lives and property, explaining that plans have been concluded for installation of a safe city security infrastructure and expressed optimism that the facility will boost the existing security architecture in the state.

"Our security is quite good and you can actually feel the aura of peace in the atmosphere", The Governor assured.

He said that the state administration has upgraded the secondary health care facilities to cater for the medical needs of the citizens and assured that the  the expected guests will be benefit from  the services provided in the health institutions.

" in sports development what you urgently need is a secondary health care facility and I can say we have one of the best in the country. Presently we are developing a quaternary health facility which can cater for the medical needs of the entire FIFA team and i assure you of it completion before 2020", he stated.

Earlier, the President Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick informed the Governor that the team was in the state to inform him that Uyo has been selected as one of the cities that will host the Women World cup tournament in 2020 ,expressing the hope that Nigeria wins the hosting right to be decided by FIFA come September 12th .

He said that Uyo is the home which qualified Nigeria's National Team for the last world Cup and  commended the state administration for the excellent sports facilities put in place, saying that the facilities have boost sports tourism in the state .

" last year we were privileged to host Atletico Madrid in this city , a week after they won the European Cup so we are excited that the state gives a positive narrative for Nigeria in terms of sports development", he explained.

Mr Pinnick said that NFF has lauded the state government's initiative in building sport centres across the Federal constituencies in the state and particularly commended the maintenance of the Nest of Champions which he acknowledged ranks with international stadium across the globe.

Court sentences Archibong Eden 7 Years Over 28.2 Million Niara Fraud In Akwa Ibom

Justice Archibong Sends Archibong to Jail over N28m Fraud

Justice Archibong Archibong of the Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, on Wednesday, August 7, 2019, convicted and sentenced Archibong Effiong Edem to seven years imprisonment over N28, 234, 735 fraud.

The convict was arraigned by the Port Harcourt's Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on two-count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence.  The case was later transferred to an Akwa Ibom State High court, Uyo owing to issues of jurisdiction.

Edem's journey to jail began when a petitioner, Godwin Utumude, alleged that sometime in 2004, in the United States of America, he met the convict who showed him a property in Texas that was up for sale.

According to the petitioner, the prize of the said property was initially $218,000 (Two Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Dollars), but the convict eventually agreed to sell at $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars) which was an equivalent of N28, 234, 735 (Twenty Eight Million Two Hundred and Thirty Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Five Naira) at the time, and on September 1, 2004, he paid N20million to the convict who assured him that by December 2004, all documents regarding change of ownership of the said property would be handed over to him.

To ensure that the necessary change of ownership was perfected,  the petitioner said the convict further requested the balance payment of N8,234,735 which he made on January 17, 2015.

All efforts by the petitioner to get the said documents proved abortive, hence the petition.

In the course of trial, the Commission called three witnesses: Godwin Utumude, the petitioner (PW1); Michael Adukwu,  an operative of the EFCC (PW2) and Chukwuma Ekezie Amadi, Deputy Compliance Officer, Zenith Bank  (PW3).

The EFCC also tendered several documents which were all admitted in evidence.

The documents comprised: A copy of the petition dated November 22, 2016 as exhibit A; a cover page of a document showing the picture of a building as exhibit B; Pages 1 and 2 of a document also showing the building as exhibit B1; Pages 3, 4 and 5 of a document titled: "Seller Disclosure Notice" as exhibit B2, amongst others.

Delivering judgement, the court noted that the prosecution had overwhelmingly established a case of obtaining by false pretence against the defendant through the evidences tendered before the court by the three witnesses.

Justice Archibong said that:  "The prosecution has satisfactorily proved his case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused person to warrant his conviction in counts 1 and 2 of the charge against him. The defendant is hereby found guilty as charged and is accordingly convicted on counts 1 and 2 of the charge".

Before the convict was sentenced, the judge asked him if he had anything to say.

The convict, without showing any remorse, maintained that he never admitted to have collected the said amount: "it is not true that I admitted under cross examination that I collected N28million from the petitioner. I have always told him that I will pay him his money and I will do so if permitted", he said.

At this point, the defence counsel, S. A. Ngbe, prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy on age and health grounds, "consider his age and ailing health. My lord, he is over 70 years of age", he pleaded.

The court immediately sentenced Edem to 7years imprisonment on each of the two counts without an option of fine. The sentence runs concurrently from the date of his conviction.

Justice Archibong also ordered the convict to restitute by paying the petitioner the entire sum which is N28, 234, 735.00.

We Are Ready To Host 2020 Women Under 20 World Cup - Gov Emmanuel

Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Mr Udom Emmanuel has assured the visiting Fifa delegation led by the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, that the state is ready to host the 2020 Women World Cup tournament.

Emmanuel gave the assurance when the Fifa delegation paid him a courtesy call at the Government house, Uyo.

He solicited for Akwa Ibom to be given the right to host both the opening and the closing ceremonies when the mundial commences.

The governor noted that the choice of Uyo as one of the stadia earmarked to host the mundial is a mark of appreciation for the State's contributions towards the development of football in Nigeria.

He informed the visitors that the state has three teams currently in the Premiership.

He remarked that Uyo has a functional Airport and a good network of roads for easy air and road transportation.

The governor also intimated the Fifa delegation that apart from owning an airport, Akwa Ibom is the only state in the country that runs a commercially viable airline with a business model that allows visitors from outside to come in, transact business and can return same day.

Besides, Emmanuel also assured that the state has good medical facilities that can cater for any number of teams and visitors expected in Uyo during the tournament.

In terms of security, the governor disclosed that Uyo will be the first city to have a safe city security system in Nigeria which is expected to be operational from the end of this year.

Earlier the President of the Nigeria Football federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick told the governor that they were in the state to inform him on the choice of Uyo by Fifa as one of the cities that will host the under 20 Fifa women World cup tournament in 2020 in Nigeria.

Ubong Friday Promises More Goals On Return To Akwa United

UBONG'S SECOND SPELL WITH AKWA UNITED: I WANT TO SCORE MORE GOALS

By FAVOUR ITUA

Akwa United have completed the signing of Ubong Friday for a second spell with the team.

The Winger who played for Armenia club FC Lori last season signed a one-year deal with the Promise Keepers.

Speaking Exclusively to Our Correspondent Favour Itua, the mercurial winger  says the love he has for the team is key as he hopes to improve on his game and score more goals.

" There is nothing so special, Akwa United is Al a family, me coming back I am grateful.

My target for the season is to improve my game and score more goals, I know the fans will expect a lot from me, I want to give my best."

The 2017 Aiteo Cup winner spoke of the new players coming to the team as there will be synergy since he knows them.

" Most of the new players coming are my friends because most of them we played the WAFU Cup together in Ghana, I think I know most of them, we will blend together,

To my fans, I pray things go well this season, we will make it to the top this season".

It will be recalled that Friday scored Four goals in seven matches for FC Lori last season and will hope to apply his experience this season with Akwa United.

2020 Women World Cup : FIFA To Inspect Godswill Akpabio International Stadium On Wednesday

2020 Women World Cup :  FIFA To Inspect Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Wednesday



A five-man inspection team from world –football governing body, FIFA will arrive in Lagos on Monday for a four-day inspection of facilities and equipment that Nigeria has put forward to host the 10th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup championship next year.

 The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium is amongst the four stadia pencilled down for inspection, others include Lagos, Benin City and Asaba for the hosting of the 16 –nation finals.

The delegations are Christopher Exley, Sara Jane Booth, Kliment Taseski, Rhiannon Ceirwen Martin and Heyral Kaj Jurgen will arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday evening, to be received by President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick,  his team and top officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission led by the Executive Chairman, Dr. Kweku Tandoh.




The inspection team will begin its work in Lagos on Tuesday, with visits to the Onikan Stadium (match venue), St. Nicholas Hospital and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (referral hospitals), Teslim Balogun Stadium, National Stadium Legacy Pitch, Eagle Club, Campos Square and the University of Lagos Sports Centre (training sites), before a courtesy call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Government House in Alausa.

  The team will fly to Benin City same day to inspect facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium (match venue), Western Boys College and University of Benin Sports Centre (training sites) and the Edo Specialist Hospital and University of Benin Teaching Hospital (referral hospitals).



The contingent will check out the facilities in Asaba and Uyo on Wednesday.

In Uyo, the focus will be on the Godswill Akpabio Stadium (match venue), Ikot Ekpene Stadium and Godswill Akpabio Training Pitch (training sites) and Ibom Specialist Hospital and University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (referral hospitals).

The inspection party will then fly to Abuja on Thursday for a meeting with the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Olusade Adesola (representing the Honourable Minister) and a courtesy call on His Excellency, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (GCON) at the Presidential Villa.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is one of only four countries to have participated in every edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s Cup since the competition was launched in 2002 in Canada as an U19 Championship.

Benue State Government Convicts 81 Herdsmen, Seize 3,000 Cows

Benue State Govt convicts 81 Herdsmen, seize 3,000 cows

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Saturday in New York said no fewer than 81 herdsmen had been convicted and 3,000 cows arrested under the state’s anti-open grazing law.

Ortom, who gave the update in a keynote address at the 2019 annual convention of the Idoma Association USA, said implementation of the law had brought relative peace to the state.

“We are implementing our law, and there is relative peace. As at today, we have convicted 81 herdsmen. Some have paid fines; others are still in prison as I talk to you.

“We have gone a step further. Anywhere we see cattle doing open grazing, we go after them. So far, we have arrested over 3,000 cattle.

Herdsmen along with their cows wait for buyers at Kara Cattle Market in Lagos, Nigeria, on April 10, 2019. – Kara cattle market in Agege, Lagos is one of the largest of West Africa receiving thousands of cows weekly due to the massive consumption of meat in Lagos area.
“The law stipulates that within seven days, owners of such cattle should pay fines and reclaim them. We have been collecting fines from them,’’ he said.

While insisting that ranching remained the best solution to the farmers/herders conflict, the governor challenged anyone with a better alternative to bring it forward.

Ortom spoke on the topic, “Security and Economic Challenges in Benue State’’, which was a modification of the theme of the conference that centred on Idoma land.

He said all parts of the state were facing similar development challenges, including insecurity, infrastructural deficit, unemployment, health and sanitation issues, among others, hence his decision to broaden the scope.

The governor said only four of the 23 local government areas in the state, namely Otukpo, Konshisha, Ushongo and Vandeikya, were spared of conflict between locals and herdsmen in the last six years.

“As at today, herdsmen have attacked 19 of the 23 local governments in Benue, claiming over 5,000 lives between 2013 and 2018.

“Over 195,000 homes and 30 churches worth billions of Naira were destroyed in the attacks,’’ Ortom said.

He thanked Idoma people in the U.S. for their support to victims of the Agatu attack in 2016; award of scholarships to Benue students, among others.

The governor also lauded them for being of good conduct, noting that to the best of his knowledge no criminal case or report had been brought against them.

Ortom used the opportunity to brief his hosts on the policies, programmes and projects being executed by the state government under his leadership.

Governor Emmanuel Congratulates Amos Etuk For Emerging NUJ Chairman

GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL CONGRATULATES NUJ CHAIRMAN, AKWA IBOM STATE COUNCIL, AMOS ETUK

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has congratulated the newly elected NUJ Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council, Amos Etuk on his election.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh, Governor  Emmanuel praised the peaceful and orderly manner the election was conducted and pledged his administration’s readiness to work in close collaboration with the newly elected NUJ EXCO.

"Be rest assured of our willingness to continue to work with you and support your efforts as we collectively tell the Akwa Ibom story of peace, prosperity and development.

"We appreciate the role the media has played in deepening our democracy and we know we can always count on you as partners in our developmental strides. Once again, congratulations and God’s speed’.