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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya on Tuesday 29 March 2022 visited the scene of the Kaduna – Abuja train attack just as he ordered troops to leave no stone unturned in hunting down the terrorists responsible for bombing the rail track.

The COAS, who was accompanied by some principal staff officers of the Army Headquarters and the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, on arrival at the scene, assessed the security situation around the general area of the attack and inspected the attacked train, as well as the rail track to evaluate the degree of damage.

Also Read: Breaking: Tinubu cancels colloquium over victims of Abuja-Kaduna train bombing

He ordered the troops of the NA and other security agencies to intensify their search and rescue operations to ensure that the kidnapped victims are rescued unconditionally.

The COAS has also assured Nigerians that the troops will be undeterred and vehement in the fight against banditry and other forms of criminality.

He urged members of the surrounding communities and all Nigerians to continue to avail troops with credible information to enhance their operations across the country.

Nigeria 1-1 Ghana (1-1 agg.): Black Stars qualify for 2022 World Cup on away goals

A crucial goal in Abuja was enough to seal Otto Addo's men qualification for the global showpiece in Qatar

Ghana have qualified for the 2022 Fifa World Cup after holding Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their final qualifying tie.

The Black Stars held the three-time African champions to a goalless draw in Kumasi on Friday, and they scored an away goal in Abuja to advance to Qatar.

Nigeria coach Augustine Eguavoen made five changes to the team that played in Kumasi last Friday while his Ghana counterpart Otto Addo stuck to an unchanged XI.

It was an action-packed first 45 minutes at the Moshood Abional National Stadium with Francis Uzoho making a huge error that led to Ghana's opening goal in the 10th minute.

Arsenal's Thomas Partey fired a powerful shot from outside the penalty area and it sneaked under the Omonia Nicosia shot-stopper and into the back of the net.

Nigeria responded immediately to the first goal and they got a penalty in the 19th minute after Ademola Lookman was brought down by Dennis Odoi.

The Tunisian referee initially waved off the foul but it was overturned after a VAR review.

Captain William Troost-Ekong stepped up to take the penalty which he converted to get Augustine Eguavoen’s side level.

Four minutes after the half-hour mark, Osimhen had the ball in the back of the net after connecting to a through-ball from Leon Balogun but it was ruled out for offside by the VAR.

The second half started on a bright note for the Super Eagles with Abdullahi Shehu replacing Onyeka but they struggled to break down a solid Black Stars defence.

Moses Simon was introduced in the 61st minute for Lookman while Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo replaced Oghenekaro Etebo and Emmanuel Dennis, respectively, in the 78th minute.

Osimhen put Ghana's defence on their toes but his backheel attempts on two occasions could not beat goalkeeper Joe Wollacott.

The Black Stars defended their advantage while Almeria striker Umar Sadiq was also thrown into the fray in the final six minutes but he could not change the outcome of the game for the Super Eagles..

Action Alliance (AA) party has announced a 50 per cent discount for nomination forms for women, youth and People with Disabilities (PWDs) interested in contesting the 2023 general elections.

Mr James Vernimbe, the party’s National Secretary, made the statement available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

According to Udeze, the party is giving 50 per cent discount on the form for youths and women between 25 years and 35 years of age with verifiable birth certificates or evidence of age declaration.

Also PWD aspirants would only pay for the cost of intent form, while the nomination form would be obtained for free.

“The intent form for Presidential aspirants is N5,000,000, while the nomination form is N10,000,000.

“The form is sold for N2,000,000 and N4,000,000 for the party’s Governorship aspirants; and for Senatorial aspirants, it is N1,000,000 and N2,000,000 respectively.

“The House of Representatives go for N500,000 and N1,000,000, while State Houses of Assembly form is N100,000 and N400,000 respectively.

“All payments are to be made at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja and no refunds of money after payments.

“Last day for the sales of both intents and nomination forms is May 15, while the last day for the submission of all completed forms is May 16,” he said.

He said that the mode for the conduct of the party’s primaries would be made known in due course.

He, however, said a special national convention would be held on June 3, for the presidential primaries when all qualified candidates would be issued certificates of return.

He said that the criterion for accreditation of delegates for all the party primaries and the national convention was via presentation of a valid party membership card.

“The screening of state Houses of Assembly aspirants would be on May 17, and appeals made same day at the party’s national headquarters.

Screening for National Assembly aspirants to hold May 18, and appeal to hold same day, while screening for all governorship and presidential aspirants would hold on May 19 at the party’s headquarters.

“The list of all successfully screened and qualified candidates with other accompanying documents would be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 30, as required,” he said.

Udeze said that state Houses of Assembly primaries would hold across the country at the states’ constituencies’ headquarters on May 28.

He said primaries for the National Assembly would hold May 29, and May 30, at the house of representative federal constituencies and senatorial district headquarters.

He added that the governorship primaries would be held nationwide on May 31, at the states’ capitals.

He said that the party’s National Think Tank Committee (NTTC) would converge to confirm the lists of all party candidates and make final submission to INEC on June 2.

Sharwama!