APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) A Zimbabwean cabinet minister has threatened to ban aid agencies that get involved in the country’s politics by openly taking sides in the long-running power struggles among the main parties, state television reports here Wednesday.
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Tag :ban
Zimbabwe minister threatens to ban “interfering” NGOs
US-based group bans trade in Zimbabwe’s Marange diamonds
APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) The New York-based Rapaport Diamond Trading Network has banned gems from Zimbabwe’s controversial Marange fields and threatened to expel any of its members who violate the ban, APA learns here Sunday.
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Nigerian gov’t lifts Super Eagles ban amid FIFA threats
APA-Pretoria (South Africa) Having eaten humble pie, the Nigerian government has lifted its hasty decision to ban the national football team, the Super Eagles, from participating in FIFA and Confederation of African Football competitions in the next two years.
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Nigerian govt gives reasons for lifting two-year ban on int’l football
APA - Lagos (Nigeria) The Nigerian government has said that the decision to lift the ban placed on Nigerian football teams to compete internationally for two years was based on assurances given by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that it would evolve an enduring football development programme for the country.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ima Niboro, said on Monday in Abuja that the decision to lift the ban was taken at a closed-door meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at the Presidential Villa on Monday afternoon.
“NFF at a meeting with President (Goodluck) Jonathan today tendered unreserved apology to the president and the Nigerian people on the dismal performance of the country’s football team, the Super Eagles, at the World Cup appearance.
“They also informed the president of their decision to disband the team and address the numerous shortcomings evident in the management of football in Nigeria.
“They assured the president of their commitment to evolving an enduring football development programme and grow a new senior national team that will bring glory rather than consistent embarrassment to Nigeria on the world stage.
“They informed the president that as a first step, they have proceeded to put their own house in order by removing the former leadership of the NFF and replacing it with an interim leadership.
“Based on these assurances and the appeals of well-meaning Nigerians, including former leaders, President Jonathan has decided to review the earlier two-year ban on the country from all international football competitions,’’ the statement said.
Niboro said the review would enable other categories of Nigerian players to participate in global football competitions, while a new senior national team was being developed.
He said the president had directed the sports minister to call a meeting of all relevant stakeholders to resuscitate football academics and other talent spotting outlets to produce a new crop of footballers and other sportsmen and women for the country.
Niboro expressed the hope “that this kind of rather embarrassing outcome we had from South Africa will not repeat itself.’’
Following the Super Eagles dismal performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Jonathan on June 30 directed that Nigeria should withdraw from all international competitions for the next two years.
The Presidency had said that the ban would enable the country to put its house in order and enable it to work out a more meaningful way to engage the global stage in terms of football.
Jonathan also ordered a comprehensive audit of the finances of the 2010 World Cup project with a clear instruction that perceived misapplication of funds be investigated.
He said relevant agencies of government must be involved in finding out any wrongdoing and bring those found culpable to book.
The world football governing body, FIFA had, however, considered the decision as government interference in football administration and gave the Federal Government till 6 pm on Monday to reverse the decision.
FIFA, in a letter to the NFF, had restated its rules, which prohibit political interference in football, and stated that Nigeria would be suspended from FIFA membership if it failed to rescind the decision.
FIFA had also hinted that it had commenced the process of inviting another team to replace Nigeria at this month’s FIFA Under-20 Women’s Championships in Germany.
“We consider that this governmental decision would only completely isolate Nigerian football and could thus stall reforms and further development and improvement of Nigerian football for a long time,” FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke had reportedly said.
The NFF had in Abuja on Sunday impeached its Chairman, Mr Sanni Lulu, over the Super Eagles poor outing in South Africa 2010.
Also impeached at the meeting involving nine of the NFF 13-member executive committee, were NFF Vice- President Amanze Uchegbulam and Technical Committee Chairman, Taiwo Ogunjobi.
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We will not interfere with Nigeria’s decision : LOC
APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) FIFA’s World Cup Local Organising Committee in South Africa has said that it will not to get involved in the decision the Nigerian government made to suspend the Super Eagles from international football for the next two years following the team’s poor showing at South Africa 2010.
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Nigerian soccer administrators, fans endorse two-year ban on int’l competitions
APA - Lagos (Nigeria) Nigerian soccer administrators and fans have expressed support to the decision of the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw Nigerian football teams from international competitions for the next two years.
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Nigerian leader imposes two-year ban on international sporting activities
APA, Abuja (Nigeria) Irked by the dismal performance of the Super Eagles in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday imposed a ban on the country’s participation in international sporting events for two years.
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Liberian leader bans exportation of bush meat and wild animals
APA-Monrovia (Liberia) Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by proclamation banned the exportation of wild animals and bush meat from Liberia, APA learns here.
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Zimbabwe telecoms regulator blocks MDC audio service
APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe’s telecommunications regulator has jammed an audio service launched by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party to counter the propaganda churned out by the pro-President Robert Mugabe public broadcaster, APA learnt here Tuesday.
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MISA appeals for review on ban on private radio’s coverage of VVIP events
APA-Lilongwe (Malawi) The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)’s Malawi chapter on Monday appealed to government to review its decision to stop private radio and television stations from covering Very Very Important Persons (VVIP) functions live.
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UN boss Ban satisfied with Malawi’s development efforts
APA-Lilongwe (Malawi) United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has expressed satisfaction over the developments undertaken at a rural Mwandama Village Project aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
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Ethiopia lifts travel ban for embassies, international organizations
APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The Ethiopian government on Monday announced the lifting of the travel ban it imposed on employees of embassies and international organizations, which was imposed on 10 May 2010 for the period of the elections, APA learns here on Monday.
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