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UCL: Hostile environment – Potter justifies Chelsea’s defeat to Dortmund
Chelsea boss, Graham Potter believes Chelsea are heading in the right direction despite their UEFA Champions League last-16 first-leg 1-0 defeat against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
Potter said Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Dortmund was complicated as they played in a hostile environment against a team that is currently in good form.
Karim Adeyemi’s second-half goal gave the Bundesliga side a first-leg advantage against Chelsea at Signal Iduna Park ahead of the return leg at Stamford Bridge on March 7.
“Overall, we were pleased with the performance for big parts of the game,” Potter said at his post-match press conference.
“It is complicated away from home in the Champions League, in a hostile environment against a team that is in a good moment. It was an even first half, we managed the game quite well with good opportunities to counter-attack and we hit the bar.
“Then in the second half, apart from the one decisive action where we did not do well enough, we were the dominant, the better team and created some good chances. We needed a little bit of luck, maybe and a little bit of final execution. It is half-time. It is a tight tie. We look forward to Stamford Bridge,” he added.
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Nigeria deploys troops for peace keeping in Gambia
He said as part of their training, the troops were taken through crosscutting issues like Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Conflict Related Sexual Violence, Conduct and Discipline as well as Protection of Civilians amongst others.
“This graduation is a testament to the capacity and capability of the MLAILPKC as a United Nations accredited Centre to conduct quality training of prospective peacekeepers for deployment to multidimensional Peace Support Operations in fulfillment of her mandate.
“The Centre has within the last six weeks been able to train, retrain and refresh the troops on requisite knowledge and expertise to succeed in a Peace Support Operation environment.
” It is my fervent belief that these men are better informed and equipped to perform their roles in the Gambia, “Adedoja said.
He said the graduation ceremony once more showed the commitment of Nigeria and the Nigerian Armed Forces to global peace and security.
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Tinubu calls for stronger collaboration with FBI to fight cybercrime, terrorism
President Bola Tinubu has called for stronger collaboration between Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the fight against cybercrime, terrorism, and other related crimes.
The President made the call during a meeting with FBI Director, Christopher Asher Wray, at the State House on Friday in Abuja.
Tinubu described the presence of the FBI Director alongside his team in Nigeria as a recognition of the enduring partnership between Nigeria and the U.S. in the fight against financial crimes and terrorism.
Security chiefs who attended the meeting included the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) and Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede; and the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, were also present.
Tinubu said it was an honour for him to receive Wray, the leader of an organisation that had demonstrated consistent procedural sophistication and a reputation for excellence over several years.
“Your visit conveys the importance of Nigeria and Nigerian partnership in the work of America’s law enforcement institutions and vice-versa.
“For us, it is a recognition of what stage we are at, who we are, and the level of interest both countries share in eliminating crimes locally and globally.
“We cannot achieve this important feat of eliminating crimes without collaboration.
“Incidentally, as the Chairman of ECOWAS, Nigeria is also collaborating with other West African countries to fight economic and other related crimes,” the President said.
He told the FBI Director that his administration had prioritised education as a tool against poverty, which was generally believed to be a driver of criminal activities.
“We are working hard to eliminate terrorism, cybercrimes, sextortion, and I am glad that we have a good number of agencies that are involved in reducing these crimes to the barest minimum, and they are also well represented at this meeting,” said Tinubu.
Noting that no single country could combat financial crimes in isolation, he called on the U.S. to support developing countries with the requisite technology and knowledge transfer required to combat complex international crimes.
In his remarks, Wray said he was in the country to enhance the “outstanding partnership” that existed between the government of Nigeria and the government of the U.S.
He lauded Tinubu for supporting the growing partnerships between various agencies of government and the FBI in order to protect the citizens of both countries.
“We appreciate the President’s vision in countering terrorism in the region, which is a dangerous threat, not only to the countries in the region but also to the United States.
“We appreciate your vision in re-engineering the role of the Office of the NSA to effectively coordinate efforts on counter-terrorism, and this has already started to bear fruits in terms of the success you are recording against ISIS in West Africa and other terrorist groups.
“We appreciate your support and collaboration on cyber-enabled crimes and sextortion, which has unfortunately resulted in a few tragic deaths in the United States.
“I want to assure you of our support whether it is on counter-terrorism, cyber-enabled crimes, kidnapping, joint investigations, and intelligence sharing. Our relationship with Nigeria is a very important one,” the FBI Director said.
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Saudi Weather: NACHON urges pilgrims to avoid direct sunlight
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has advised Nigerian pilgrims to use umbrellas to protect themselves from the scorching sun.
The Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Malam Jalal Arabi, gave the advice in an interview with the newsmen, on Friday in Mina, a valley located eight kilometres South-East of the city of Mecca.
This year’s hajj is taking place in sweltering temperatures that test the endurance of worshipers during the mostly outdoor rituals.
He implored the pilgrims to always seek shade whenever possible to avoid direct sunlight.
Arabi said,” It is important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day, even if they do not feel thirsty.
” Pilgrims are also advised to pay close attention to all health advisories and instructions provided by the medical team.
” To limit sun exposure, pilgrims should avoid going outside during peak heat. They should also stay cool by refraining from walking on or touching hot surfaces like rooftops.”
Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health has issued a heat advisory for the pilgrims in the wake of scorching surface temperatures, which pose a significant health risk.
The ministry highlighted the intense heat in Makkah as a major challenge for hajj, adding that prolonged sun exposure could be dangerous.
On Saturday morning, pilgrims will proceed from Mina to the plain of Arafat for the major ritual of standing.
Spanning approximately 33 square kilometers, Arafat hosts over two million pilgrims each year.