Eguavoen Undergoes Major Medical Procedure.

Super Eagles caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen is recuperating after undergoing surgery in Belgium.
The operation, according to ScoreNigeria, was a major medical procedure that the former national team captain put on hold several times to guide the Super Eagles to AFCON 2025.
In Eguavoen's absence, Remo Stars' coach Daniel Ogunmodede, assisted by Rangers' manager Fidelis Ilechukwu, took charge of the Super Eagles B in a CHAN 2024 playoff against Ghana's Black Galaxies.
“It was a successful surgery and he will now do the usual follow-ups,” a source close to Eguavoen disclosed.
Eguavoen is the NFF Technical Director and was given temporary charge of the Super Eagles pending the appointment of a foreign coach.
...by Kelechi Bernard @woramangra

FRSC to man twenty-three camps and help areas, deploys over one thousand offers to all roads.

As the Christmas and New Year festivities draw closer, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has put in place Mobile Courts on all the highways across the country to check excesses of motorists and try violators of traffic rules.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed also directed Commanding Officers to ensure 24-hour observation along high volume traffic/gridlock-prone areas, full mobilization of the 23 Help Areas, proper use of the 59 Emergency Ambulances whenever the need arises, full mobilization of roadside (RTC) Clinics, and 24/7 broadcast on a National radio.
Other areas to look out for are Excessive speeding, Overloading, Dangerous Driving/Overtaking, Lane indiscipline/Route violation, Road Obstructions, Use of Phone while Driving, Overloading Violation, Seatbelt/Child restraint Use Violations, Passengers’ Manifest Violations, Mechanically Deficient Vehicles, Latching and Twist-Locks Violations. 
The operation, which compliments the ongoing months of aggressive sensitization, will cover the broad areas of traffic control/decongestion, Public enlightenment, Enforcement, prompt response to crash victims, and route lining, among others. 
To achieve the set goals, the FRSC boss noted that officers and men, including Special Marshals, have been deployed to the highways to ensure hitch-free movement as commuters travel from one destination to another.
" The directive also mandates the Commanding Officers to ensure effective collaboration with Military Units, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)". Adding that Directorate of State Services (DSS), NGO Ambulance Service Providers, National Network on Emergency Road Services (NNERS) and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA). he said 
The Corps Marshal further stated that the operatives are to identify alternative routes to assist motorists during gridlocks and give notification of traffic-distressed areas for intervention. "
He however called on the motoring public to download the FRSC Mobile Application for real-time reporting and updates on traffic situations, utilise all FRSC social media handles such as
facebook.com//frscnigeria,Instagram.com//frscnigeria, twitter.com//frscnigeria, and in the case of emergency, call the 122 tolls free number as well as the National Traffic Radio live lines: 08052997848 and 09139600107 which are available means to reach FRSC to report Traffic situations anywhere in the Country. The public can also reach the situation room on 07054005754 and 07054005712 
  The 2024 Operation Zero Tolerance commenced on 15 December 2024 to span through to 15 January 2025. 
The operation which is programmed to run in shifts as follows 0600hrs - 1400hrs, 1400HRS - 2000hrs, 2000hrs - 2200hrs, and Night Rescue teams on standby at all operational Commands is billed to cover the following critical corridors; Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi corridor, Katsina-Kano-Wudil-Dutse-Azare-Potiskum corridor, Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor, Okene-Ogori-Isua-Owo corridor, Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo Afor-9th Mile corridor, Asaba-Abraka-Ughelli-Warri corridor, Ibadan-Ogere-Sagamu corridor, Sagamu-Mowe-Lagos corridor, amongst others.

Abuja Ready for ECOWAS Traditional Wrestling 2025

 
Nigeria will host the 13th edition of the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament, billed to be held between 4 and 10 March 2025. 
The National Sports Commission, NSC,  Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko gave the assurance after playing host to the Director of Youth and Sports Development, ECOWAS, Francis Njoaguani, yesterday,y, 17 December 20,25, in Abuja.
"I want to assure you that we are committed. We will do everything possible to host the tournament. And we don't want it to be just a one-off. We want to do more of these tournaments,' Dikko explained to the ECOWAS Sports Director.
Njoaguani came to ascertain the country's preparedness to stage the event, which will be held two months before ECOWAS' 50th anniversary.
Aside from traditional wrestling, Dikko expressed Nigeria's readiness to host other sporting events from ECOWAS.
"Mr President is committed to having first-class facilities in the country, starting with the Abuja Stadium. We want to fix our stadium to make it available to host all sorts of tournaments. We are open to hosting daily events in this stadium. So you can bring, not just the traditional wrestling, but bring other sports that we can make our facilities available," he stated.
"The more events we can host, the more we can activate the sports economy we are trying to advance because anytime you host an event you create a value chain of activities, market activists, sustained jobs, wealth distribution and all of that. We are ready to partner with ECOWAS to bring critical events to Nigeria, not just in Abuja, but any State in Nigeria at all that is capable of hosting your events."
Dikko added that such events would help to keep the youths positively engaged and deal with restiveness in the entire ECOWAS subregion.
"All the issues we have around security in ECOWAS, we can use sports as a foundation and pathway to see how we can get that mellowed down. So that our youths can have their energies redirected into doing the right things."
Njoaguani seized the opportunity to inform the NSC chairman on the 3rd edition of the ECOWAS Abuja International Marathon, also slated for March 2025, which Dikko also assured of the Commission's commitment to ensure its success and more value addition to the economy.
By Kelechi Bernard @woramangra

Minister of State for Health launches Ultra MEGA PCR Laboratory in Lagos.

A Laboratory that will provide critical diagnostic support for the management of HIV and other infectious diseases outbreaks of public health, such as COVID-19, Lassa fever, and similar viral infections, has been launched in Lagos.  
Sited within the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research premises in Yaba, its advanced Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology, provides rapid and accurate molecular diagnostics on an unimaginable scale. 
Launching the Laboratory, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Isaq Adekunle Salako described the Ultra MEGA PCR facility as a transformative leap in the health sector.
He said, "By fostering synergy between research, diagnostics, and policy, we are taking proactive steps toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, adding this Ultra MEGA PCR Laboratory underscores our commitment to building a resilient healthcare system". 
"It will further enhance our capacity not only to respond to pandemics but also to anticipate and mitigate health risks, contributing to the overall stability and well-being of our society".
Dr Isaq stressed that, with the technology and capacity, the lab will become a cornerstone in the fight against HIV and other infectious diseases, particularly in diagnostics, epidemiological surveillance, and biomedical research.

He said, and I quote, "The facility will also serve as a hub for training the next generation of molecular scientists and researchers, ensuring that their workforce is equipped to tackle present and future health challenges ".
According to the Minister, "the Laboratory aligns with the broader national strategy for health security and a key pillar of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, HSRII.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Akin Abayomi commended the Minister for launching the Ultra MEGA PCR Laboratory and urged the NIMR to maintain the lab and other facilities appropriately.

The Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Prof. John Obafunwa, appreciated the Minister and reassured NIMR's commitment to research and service.
The DG NIMR also Commended the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Akin Abayomi, for his doggedness, saying that the collaborative spirit was necessary for the advancement of health research in the state.

The DG, who appealed to the Minister to prioritize research and research funding, said the advancement of ethical research practices was critical for the development of the healthcare systems and the well-being of the people.

Shipper's Council to check discrepancies in Ports Operations, want Port Regulatory Agency Bill signed into law.

The Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) has called on stakeholders in the Maritime sector to support its Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill 2023 into law. 
Executive Secretary of the Council, Barrister Akutah Pius made the call at the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) 2024 annual conference and awards on Thursday in Lagos with the theme: "Nigeria's Maritime Industry Under the Renewed Hope Agenda: What is New?"
The bill, when it becomes law, he explained would enhance regulatory authority, enforce compliance, regulate charges, improve efficiency, eliminate exploitative practices, bring about fairer trade conditions and fast dispute resolution, amongst others. 
According to him, the bill will also boost maritime competitiveness based on global best practices and position Nigeria as a regional hub for shipping. 
Akutah, who was represented by the Director of Strategic Planning and Research, Rotimi Anifowose, while speaking on the topic, "Achieving a Profitable Port System: NSC Duty as Port Economic Regulator", said all hands must be on deck to see it actualised. 
He said: "For a country that wants to have the renewed hope agenda placed placedigeria maritime industry, we must collectively emphasise the functionality and role of the port economic regulator. 
"For us, the Council NSC boss noted, "We have Wen in the forefront of the promotion of the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill 2023. and assured that" the bl, when passed into law, will empower the Council to effectively perform its regulatory function in the port sector. I can tell you that the bill, as of now, has been done concurrently by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
"We are calling on everybody to support us in making sure that the President assent to this bill to make it an act that will be very instrumental in the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda within the industry. We need everybody to join us ". Anifowose
" He stated, and I qu,ote, " There are so many things that we can fix, not because we cannot fix them, but because we need to put structures on the ground that will fix them. If you are talking about port efficiency, there is a need for regulatory functions to be addressed. 
" If you are talking about effective trade facilitation, there is also a need for the port economic regulation to be addressed". Anifowose explained 
Speaking on some of the recent achievements of the NCS, he said the Council had signed a formal bond with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy in May 2024, facilitated the official commissioning of the Funtua Inland Dry Port, negotiated and facilitated the signing of the agreement on minimum standards of provision of service for maritime workers who were hitherto being treated like slaves. 
He listed others to include the elimination of incidences of illegal capital flight and also the development of a mobile application that provides real-time trade, shipping and logistic information to industry stakeholders. 
According to him, these efforts by the council committed to making sure that the Renewed Hope Agenda for the maritime sector is realised and for Nigeria to take its rightful place in the global market. 
 "If not 90 per cent, 85 per cent of the cargo in Lome Port are Nigeria bound. What we have is just in shipment. We need to put our hands on deck " he revered 
"Mr Anifowose stated that the Cusoms are getting revenue from the government and can do more with the creation of a conducive environment that will improve and exporters have confidence in the ports. 
"That's why we must all come together and support the Nigerian Shippers' Council drive to make this reform an act so that the effective port economic regulatory function can be attained". he stated

Osimhen Makes Galatasaray's Substitute Bench on Injury Comeback.

Victor Osimhen is back in Turkish Super Lig  action for Galatasaray at home against Trabzonspor.

The Napoli loanee is on Gala's substitute bench after a minor muscle injury kept him briefly on the sidelines.

The injury the Super Eagles' forward copped in previous Super Lig game at Sivasspor earlier this month ensured he missed his team’s UEFA Europa League trip to Malmo of Sweden.

If subbed on, Osimhen could come face-to-face with fellow Nigerian star Anthony Nwakaeme who is listed as a starter, donning jersey number 9.

Nwakaeme returned from injury to score his first goal, an equaliser, for Trabzonspor last week to keep his team one place above relegation in 15th place.

Galatasaray top the standings on 38 points from 14 matches, three points ahead of second-placed Fenerbache.

Kick-off  for Galatasaray versus Trabzonspor is 7pm.

Report Installs Lookman as Overwhelming Favourite for Africa's Best Player Award.

Super Eagles' winger Ademola Lookman is the “absolute favourite” to replace Victor Osimhen as Africa’s best player for 2024, according to leading Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reports.

Osimhen's successor will be known tonight at the CAF Awards which takes place in Marrakech, Morocco.

The respected Italian sports outlet said Lookman's Europa League final heroics will give him the edge over Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and PSG) and Serhou Guirassy (Guinea and Borussia Dortmund).

Lookman was the only African nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

He eventually finished 14th on a final 30-man short list.