Day: April 29, 2023

The Federal Government on Friday said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF C-130H) plane and Airpeace plane have been cleared to fly Egyptian airspace for the evacuation of Nigerians stranded in Sudan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this followed the outbreak of war between the Sudanese armed forces and para-military Rapid Support Forces.

The government confirmed this in a joint press statement issued to newsmen by the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Janet Olisa, and that of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Sani Gwarzo in Abuja.

”The NAF C-130H is scheduled to leave Abuja on April 28, 2023, to commence the airlift of the stranded students.

” Similarly, arrangements have been concluded to airlift all Nigerians that have already escaped on their own to safety in countries neighbouring Sudan.

”However, forty buses have been secured in Sudan to convey the students and other Nigerians from Khartoum to Aswan border in Egypt.

”Which is one of the identified safe reception borders, as at time of this statement, first batch of buses had already departed Khartoum,” the statement said.

The federal government however said the initial hitches during transportation of stranded Nigerian students from Khartoum where bus drivers stopped and dropped the students in the desert over non-payment transport fees have been resolved.

”Some Nigerian students who found their way to the Ethiopian border were allowed entry into Ethiopia, following the interventions of some Nigerian leaders.

”The students are in safe condition. Similarly, another group of Nigerians assisted by government of United Arab Emirate have arrived Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and arrangement are been made to return them back home,” it assured.

The government said it has already convened a Situation Room to monitor the evacuation exercise.

It stated that the situation room is chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Rt Rev Emmanuel Kwesi Ansah, a Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, has encouraged societies under the diocese to put in place pragmatic social intervention initiatives for positive impact on the vulnerable in the church. He said, the welfare and financial well-being of members in these perilous times must be tackled holistically to give Christ-like hope to the believer and the new convert. ‘This would be against the creeping, ‘No contribution no chop welfare systems’ gradually gaining roots in the body of Christ,’ the cleric said. Bishop Ansah, who oversees the Sekondi Diocese said: ‘We need to support our members particularly the poor. I wonder why we should spend over GHC10, 000 on a funeral of a member who may only need a few cedis to turn things around. ‘Our current welfare schemes must be revisited and paupers and those requiring help properly counselled and supported in line with the mandate to do good to the brethren in the household of faith. The Bishop made the call at the 62nd Annual Synod of the Sekondi Diocese on the theme: ‘Discipleship: Living a Transformed Life in Jesus.’ He said: ‘When a poor person dies of hunger, it has happened because God did not take care of him or her, because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed…and that is why we need to do away with the ‘no contribution no chop’ syndrome in the church.’ He said Christians also needed to move from sentimental Sunday worship to living the true Christian lives to ensure that the church did not lose touch with the generality of people in years to come. ‘We are reminded of our roles as salt in society…we should not make our religion a sentimental Sunday affair or else we will have our churches empty,’ the bishop said The bishop said the lukewarm and ineffective attitude must thus be removed from the mist of Christians through repentance and self-examination. The bishop, reported of Comprehensive Leadership Training for schools to develop all round personnel who would contribute positively to the development of Society. He said the church would continue to support schools with intentional chaplaincy services to shape the moral lives of the Ghanaian child. The bishop thus called on all societies to support education delivery as well as the Methodist Education Week celebration aimed at enhancing the image of Methodist schools. The diocese, though it had fair share of the economic crunch in 2022, managed to stock its William De-Graft Retreat Centre with 250 chairs, tables, fridges, television to make waiting on the Lord a great moment of spiritual revival and renewal. The registration of the Centre was also on course, he added. He reported that the Methodist Development Fund was also doing well with no circuit owing while a Wesleyan Cooperative Union to help create financial empowerment among members had been instituted. The bishop added that the Methodist Club 120 had been revived under the tagline, The Methodist Macedonia Mission Club to raise resources for special projects in the church. The diocese, he said, would embark on outreaches, crusades and revivals in line with the vision of revival, transformation and church growth. Bishop Ansah encouraged the church to prioritize true worship, service to God and Humanity …’we should aim at positively changing our attitude to bring about transformation wherever we find ourselves.’ Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister urged Christians to be true ambassadors in changing the current falling standards in values, morality and ethics in society. The Regional Minister said some people had begun questioning the basis of Christianity, which must be a matter of great concern to the body of Christ to begin to live the transformed life as real testimony. He prayed that the providence of God Almighty would sustain the church in the years ahead.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms. Anna Adukwei Addo, the Municipal Chief Executive, Tema West Municipal Assembly, has stated that 29.55 kilometres of roads in the municipality in the Greater Accra Region have been asphalted. She announced this during the first ordinary meeting of the fourth session of the second Assembly, which was held at Baatsonaa within the Municipality. She stated that the 29.55 kilometres of asphalted roads were part of a 50.0-kilometer package of roads to be asphalted within the municipality, and that Tema West Municipality would soon lead the Tema enclave in terms of good asphalted overlays. According to the Municipal Chief Executive, one of the essential areas that required enormous commitment and investment was road development and maintenance, hence the Assembly’s policy to ensure residents and motorists enjoyed good roads within the various communities. Ms. Adukwei Addo hinted that the Tema West Municipal Assembly had made significant progress in different aspects of the local economy and was eager to do more to improve the lives of the people under its authority. She stated that the municipality’s gains in agriculture and food security, environmental health and sanitation, work development control, social welfare, education and sports, and health, among other critical sectors, had been stifled. The Tema West MCE urged citizens and stakeholders, including Assembly Members, to continue to assist the Municipal Assembly in carrying out its mandated duties to people.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Lausanne Academy club of Yaounde is in total mess. The homologation and disciplinary commission of the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT has slammed the elite two club a year ban from all its activities.

In addition to the ban, the club has also been fined 17 million FCFA to be paid to FECAFOOT. This comes after violence occurred on April 26, 2023 after championship match day 25 against Rangers FC Bafut in Yaounde.

The decision is issued in a press release signed by Nkengni Felix, president of the homologation and disciplinary commission on April 28.

According to the release, coach Noufessi Samuel of Lausanne will pay a fine of 5 million FCFA and has been banned for 5 years.

In addition, two players of the elite two club, Yannick Ngono and Andrien Jordan who were found guilty of fueling the act, have been fined 2 million FCFA. They have also been banned from all FECAFOOT competitions for two years.

All 3 points of the match were awarded to Rangers FC Bafut after the commission met. It also agreed that scores of the match is 0-2, though it ended 1-2 for Rangers.

On that Wednesday, fans of the Yaounde based elite two club molested match officials at the end of the game, claiming the officials favored Rangers FC. Two of the officials ended up in the hospital.

However, the club have 5 days, according to the rules to appeal the decision.

Few months ago, Unisport of Bafang was sanctioned on a similar act. All these is coming at a time when FECAFOOT President, Samuel Eto’o is trying to give a new face to football in Cameroon.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Sagrada Esperança versus Petro de Luanda match, on Saturday, is the main higfhlghty of the 27th round of the national first division football championship.

The leader of the championship Petro de Luanda, with 59 points, must not draw or risk losing the lead to 1º de Agosto,currently in the second position with 57 poitns.

In case of defeat, Sagrada, third with 49 points, can lose the last place on the podium that gives access to the African Cups, as they are being closely chased by Wiliete de Benguela and Interclube, with 46 points each, in fourth and fifth position respectively.

In the history of encounters between them, Petro have the advantage with 24 wins and 11 defeats in 48 matches.

Saturday’s match also includes Interclube (5th, with 43) vs Sporting de Cabinda (12th, with 23).

1º de Agosto face Académica do Lobito (9th, with 31 points).

Bravos do Maquis (8th, with 32 points) face Desportivo da Huila (10th, with 26pts) Desportivo da Lunda Sul (11th, with 24 points) face Isaac de Benguela (14th, with 15 points).

The round concludes on Sunday with the following matches:

Santa Rita (6th, with 32) face AS Dragão do Uíge (15th, with 8),Williete (4th, with 43) face Sporting de Benguela (13th, with 17).

Recreativo do Libolo have the day off due to the withdrawal of Cuando Cubango FC

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)