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Edo Recommits To Grassroots Sports Devt, Inaugurates Secondary schools’ -Games Organizing c’ttee
The Edo State Government, on Tuesday, inaugurated the state’s Secondary School Games Committee in line with the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s commitment to grassroots sports development.
The 12-man committee is headed by the Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Yussuf Alli with the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe (co-chairperson) and Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, and Commissioner for Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Andrew Emwanta as members.
Other members of the committee are Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria; Permanent Secretary, Edo State Sports Commission, Mrs. Sabina Chikere; Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Dankwara; Chairman SUBEB, Mrs. Ozavize Salami; Dr. Kweku Tandoh; Mr. Osawe Osagie; Dr. Emmanuel Igbinosa and Barr. Osayaba Osarenren.
Inaugurating the Committee, the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comr. Philip Shaibu, charged the team to be diligent and committed to their duty and not betray the trust reposed on them by the government and people of Edo State.
He said, “You’re aware of the mandate of the state governor to bring sports back to its native land, Edo State, and produce 10,000 athletes in 5 years so that those issues that are associated with backwardness as far as sports are concerned in Nigeria are written off.
“The governor has charged us that we must produce more athletes that will not just set but break records and that is the only way we can go to tournaments, both national and international.
“When Nigeria was Nigeria, winning laurels, most of the people that were representing this country were Edo indigenes. Sadly, Edo State also contributed to where we are today in the country in terms of sports because the state went to sleep for two to three decades and stopped producing athletes that will represent our country.”
Shaibu added “Today, we go to a tournament, no hope of winning any medal, and our sons and daughters born abroad are the ones representing our country in sports tournaments. What happened to our indigenous boys and girls? What happened to our grassroots sports development? This is the country we have found ourselves in, where our local players cannot meet up to the challenge.
“We have, in Edo State, decided not to lament but to recreate the engine room of sports in Nigeria, revamp the sporting architecture and activities in Edo State.”
Speaking on the link between sports and education, the deputy governor added, “We discovered that sports and education should be married together. It enhances our mental stability, and physical well-being and at the same time, helps to exhibit the God-given talents and skills we have.”
He further noted, “The governor has mandated us to develop sports, merging and making sure education is in the forefront to provide second office and broader perspectives for our teeming young sports boys and girls. So, we must all put our hands on deck.
“We are very clear on what we want to do, to make Edo State continue to produce athletes for other states and countries who are not able to do what we want to do.”
“The Edo State Government has invested a lot in physical infrastructure (sport), second to none in this country, and the only way we can maintain these facilities is by injecting life into them, starting with merging games/sports with education,” he noted.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of N1.29 billion to the Federal Government in favour of Sterling Bank Plc, following allegations of fraudulent withdrawals due to a system glitch.
According to a statement released on Saturday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Justice Deinde Dipeolu granted the final forfeiture order after hearing a motion on notice dated January 8 and filed by EFCC counsel, Hannatu KofarNaisa.
The funds were reportedly part of a larger sum of N2.5 billion unlawfully withdrawn by certain individuals after a system malfunction at the bank.
Acting on a petition from Sterling Bank, the EFCC launched investigations that led to the tracing of the stolen funds to several bank accounts.
The affected accounts include:M Sharif Inter-Trading and Marketing Company Ltd’s UBA account (N900 million),Mustapha Abubakar’s UBA account (N255.8 million),Mustapha Sharif Abubakar’s UBA account (N12.2 million),Jaiz Bank account (N41.1 million),First Bank account (N19 million), and and Sterling Bank Imal account (N30.8 million).
An interim forfeiture order was earlier granted by the court on March 12, with the directive that it be published in a national newspaper to allow any interested parties to contest the forfeiture. The publication appeared in The Punch on March 24.
KofarNaisa told the court that no objections were filed, and urged the court to grant the final forfeiture as the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Dipeolu, in his ruling, said, “Having gone through the motion and attachments, I find the application meritorious and same is accordingly granted,” ordering the final forfeiture of the N1.29 billion to the Federal Government.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the bill aimed at establishing state police forces.
During a joint meeting with members of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council in Kaduna on Saturday, Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, emphasized the need for this legislative action. He also called for a comprehensive review of the nation’s security strategy to effectively address the recent surge in Boko Haram attacks and violent incidents in the north-central region.
Yahaya indicated that the forum reached a consensus regarding tax reform bills, highlighting the collaborative efforts involved. He commended President Bola Tinubu for engaging with stakeholders and reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive governance.
Through platforms such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the National Economic Council, Yahaya stated that a productive path forward has been identified, emphasizing the importance of a cooperative approach in managing intergovernmental relations for the benefit of the populace.
The Gombe governor expressed significant concern over the state of infrastructure in Northern Nigeria, noting that many previously awarded projects have suffered from neglect. While recognizing President Tinubu’s dedication to completing key infrastructure initiatives, such as the Kaduna-Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line and the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, he pointed out that other vital projects, including the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line and the Kano-Maiduguri expressway, remain unaddressed.
Yahaya stressed the necessity for innovative financing solutions, such as public-private partnerships and infrastructure bonds, to bridge the existing gaps and establish a robust foundation for agricultural production and industrial growth.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the forum declared its intention to create inter-state platforms aimed at enhancing surveillance along shared borders. Additionally, they resolved to collaborate with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to develop strategies for bolstering support for federal security forces.
The forum reiterated its backing for the establishment of state police, urging the National Assembly to take swift action in enacting the necessary legal framework for its implementation.
Currently, the state police bill is under consideration in the National Assembly, proposing to move the term “police” from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
However, some critics caution that such a system could be misused by state governors to suppress dissent. Supporters argue that state police would empower local authorities to effectively address security challenges without relying solely on federal intervention.
Two members of the 135 Special Forces Battalion are currently under investigation for suspected collaboration with ISWAP terrorists, raising significant concerns about national security in Yobe State.
Security operatives intercepted and analyzed the soldiers’ phone conversations, which indicated their involvement in the May 9 abduction of commuters along the Gashua–Azare highway.
A reliable source involved in the investigation reported that the soldiers allegedly disclosed the movements of their patrol team along the Buratai–Kamuya–Azare–Gashua route, facilitating an ambush by ISWAP fighters that temporarily hindered civilian travel until a counter-offensive successfully dispersed the terrorists.
Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama indicated that this betrayal likely allowed the terrorists to orchestrate the ambush. However, the same battalion’s troops quickly intervened, leading to the rescue of four kidnapped civilians and the recovery of weapons and equipment.
Military authorities have initiated a comprehensive internal inquiry into the incident. The two soldiers are presently in custody, and their identities are being withheld pending further investigation.
This development has raised alarms about potential internal sabotage and underscores the urgent need for enhanced intelligence monitoring within military ranks to prevent future breaches and safeguard the integrity of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the North-East.
A senior security official emphasized, “The system will not tolerate any uniformed personnel found collaborating with enemies of the state. The fight against insurgency must be supported by unwavering loyalty and trust.”