News

Delta Ethnic Unity Cup: Sodje, Fuludu, Other Ex- Internationals Grace Sheriff Mulade’s Football Competition

Published

3 hours ago

November 18, 2024

It was jubilation galore on Saturday, November 16, 2024 in Ode-Itsekiri, the ancestral community of Itsekiri people home and abroad otherwise called ‘Big Warri’ as the 2024 edition of the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Football Tournament was formally declared open in the ancient town.

The opening ceremony featured popular Ex-football internationals including Sam Sodje, Edema Fuludu and Bright Omokaro, among dignitaries that graced the flag-off ceremony.

Other notable personalities in attendance comprised the chairman of Local Organising Committee, Hon. Kenneth Nwaomucha, representatives of Ode-Itsekiri in the likes of Hon. E.A.E. Otare Aja, Comr. Ejoh Dimas (Secretary-General of Ode Itsekiri), Emma Ogungbemi, Rieco Tsoluwa, Comr. Asakpi Richardson (Chairman, Warri South-West NULGE, and Training Officer, Delta State Football Referees Council). Others are Prince Samson Ochuko (Chief Inspector of Education, Warri South-West LGA), Rev. Oreva Idudhi (Vice Principal, Kokodiagbene Secondary School), with officiating referee Ede Gift and assistant referees Asakpi Toritseju and Ogaga Diare, just to mention a few.

It will be recalled that the Delta Ethnic Peace and Unity Cup Competition is organised and sponsored by the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) in collaboration with the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), among others.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony which featured a novelty football match between two teams comprising Ijaw and Itsekiri in one team and Ndokwa, Ika, Isoko and Urhobo in another team, the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Chief Sheriff Mulade revealed that this year’s competition, which is the fifth edition of the tournament, has spanned over 10 years and is aimed at promoting peace and unity among the various ethnic nationalities in Delta State. The CEPEJ boss noted that the November 16 flag-off date for the tournament “was deliberately picked to buttress the importance of peace as the date marks the United Nations International Day of Tolerance celebrated worldwide”.

Chief Mulade therefore called on all peace-loving people of Deltan State to “embrace the tournament as a competition which promotes peace and foster unity, and also see it as an avenue for improved opportunities for more meaningful development and empowerment in the various communities across the State

The Peace Ambassador expressed gratitude to the host community, Ode Itsekiri, “for the warm reception accorded stakeholders at the flag-off ceremony”. He appealed to other stakeholders to key into the peace and unity project for the good of all Deltans.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Executive Chairman of Ode-Itsekiri, Mr. Anthony Odonghanro, thanked the organisers “for availing the community the opportunity to host the flag-off ceremony of the tournament”.

Comrade Sheriff Mulade and some ex-international at the kick-off of the competition
Odonghanro lamented the “under-usage” of the world standard Ode Itsekiri football pitch, built by the former chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinniki, and called on sports enthusiasts within and around the community to see the tournament as a wak

News

USAID Provides $22 Million to Support Resilience and Food Security in Madagascar

Published

2 minutes ago

November 18, 2024

Austin Ojomah

The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing more than $22 million in additional assistance to build resilience and improve food security for Madagascar’s most vulnerable people.

The funding, representing the first year of two new five-year resilience and food security projects, will help our partners reach up to 88,000 extremely poor and marginalized households in the Androy, Anosy, and Atsimo Atsinanana regions of Madagascar. This assistance, which will be implemented by consortiums led by USAID partners Catholic Relief Services and Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, will support marginalized households to build sustainable livelihoods, develop financial capital, and increase their savings and assets. It will also support households to access existing health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services, and bolster households’ capacity to withstand future shocks and stresses.

This support builds on USAID’s long standing emergency programming in Madagascar to respond to recurrent disasters like drought and cyclones, as well as efforts to strengthen emergency response and increase resilience in the face of these disasters. The United States has provided nearly $103 million for humanitarian assistance in Madagascar in Fiscal Year 2024 and remains committed to supporting the people of Madagascar.

News

Shipping firm offer US citizens four- year trip to avoid Trump’s 2nd term

Published

6 minutes ago

November 18, 2024

Austin Ojomah

A Florida-based cruise company, Villa Vie Residences, is offering Americans an unconventional way to “escape” from Donald Trump’s second term as United States President.

The Independent reported on Monday that the company has unveiled its Tour La Vie programme, allowing passengers to embark on a global adventure spanning four years, visiting over 140 countries without stepping foot in the US.

The Villa Vie Odyssey offers several package options, including a one-year “Escape from Reality” cruise, a two-year “Mid-Term Selection” voyage, a three-year “Everywhere but Home” option, and the four-year “Skip Forward” trip.

The founder and CEO of Villa Vie Residences, Mikael Petterson, explained that the program was not politically motivated but aimed at providing an escape for those feeling unsettled.

“We came up with this marketing campaign before we even knew who would win. Regardless of who would have won, you would have half of the population upset,” Petterson told Newsweek.

He added, “Quite frankly, we don’t have a political view one way or the other. We just wanted to give people who feel threatened to have a way to get out.”

Sky News quoted the founder as saying, “If you’re looking for an escape… there is no better place than on a ship, right, where you can wake up every day to a new backyard and get everything you need taken care of.”

Passengers will enjoy amenities including food, drinks, WiFi, medical visits, weekly housekeeping, and bi-weekly laundry services.

Prices start at just under $40,000 per year, with a full four-year journey costing up to $320,000 for a double-occupancy cabin. Alcohol is included at dinner, though other drinks incur extra charges.

Sky News reports that the ship, which accommodates up to 600 residents, is already sailing and allows guests to join at various ports.

It was also reported that recently, the Villa Vie Odyssey faced a four-month delay in Belfast due to necessary repairs.

News

Nigeria Struggles With 6% Tax GDP Ratio – Speaker Abbas

Published

1 hour ago

November 18, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…say Reps has not take any definitive position on tax reform bills

….as presidency say bills not designed against any region

By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed concerns over Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio, which currently stands at a mere 6 per cent.

The Speaker noted that this figure was significantly below the global average and the World Bank’s recommended minimum benchmark of 15 per cent necessary for sustainable development, despite Nigeria being Africa’s largest economy.

Abbas stated this at an interactive session on Tax Reform Bills at the National Assembly Complex on Monday in Abuja.

He stated, “Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest economy, struggles with a tax-to-GDP ratio of just 6 per cent, far below the global average and the World Bank’s minimum benchmark of 15 per cent for sustainable development. This is a challenge we must address if we are to reduce our reliance on debt financing, ensure fiscal stability, and secure our future as a nation.”

The Speaker highlighted the importance of the proposed tax reforms in diversifying Nigeria’s revenue base, ensuring equity, and fostering an environment conducive to investment and innovation.

“The proposed tax reform bills aim to diversify our revenue base, promote equity, and foster an enabling environment for investment and innovation. However, as representatives of the people, we must approach these reforms thoughtfully, understanding their potential implications for every segment of society.

Taxes should be fair, transparent, and justifiable, balancing the need for public revenue with the burdens they impose on individuals and businesses”, Abbas added.

Acknowledging public concerns and debates surrounding the bills, Speaker Abbas emphasized the need for thorough deliberation and clarification of contentious issues.

“The controversies surrounding these bills, whether in the media, civil society, or among governance stakeholders, are a reflection of their importance.

Such debates are healthy and necessary in a democracy, and this session aims to channel those discussions into productive outcomes. It is critical that we listen to diverse perspectives, ask probing questions, and seek clarity on any unclear provisions,” he stated.

He reassured Nigerians that the House has not yet adopted a position on the bills and is committed to ensuring that the final legislation serves the best interests of the nation. “The House has not yet taken a definitive position on these bills. Our role is to scrutinise them thoroughly, ensuring they align with the best interests of our constituents and the nation at large. We owe this duty to Nigerians,” he said.

The Speaker also stressed the importance of balancing national interests with the needs of citizens, reiterating that “Taxes should be fair, transparent, and justifiable, balancing the need for public revenue with the burdens they impose on individuals and businesses.”

Rep. Abbas underscored the significance of pre-legislative scrutiny as a vital parliamentary practice to resolve ambiguities and ensure alignment with constitutional provisions, and described the interactive session as an opportunity for lawmakers to engage with experts and stakeholders to better understand the potential implications of the proposed reforms.

Addressing the session, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, clarified that the proposed tax reform bills were not designed to undermine or marginalize any region.

Iyedele emphasized that the reforms aim to enhance efficiency and boost revenue allocation to states based on consumption patterns.

He explained, “Currently, under Section 40 of the VAT Act, VAT revenue is allocated 15 per cent to the Federal Government, 50 per cent to the States and FCT, and 35 per cent to Local Governments. There is no negative thinking about any region or anything.”

Oyedele outlined key aspects of the reforms, which include amendments to income tax laws to support remote work opportunities, particularly in the global business process outsourcing sector.

Other provisions include tax exemptions for small businesses with an annual turnover of N50 million or less, alongside initiatives aimed at boosting exports and promoting the digital economy to create more opportunities for Nigerian youths.