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Nigerian-born, Toronto Argonauts safety, Royce Metchie, named CFL Honour Roll’s Top offensive, defensive player
Royce Metchie, Nigerian-born, Toronto Argonauts safety, was on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, named CFL Honour Roll’s Top offensive, defensive player. He was named alongside Shea Patterson.
The 27- years old player received a grade of 92.7 for his play in Toronto’s 27-23 setback to the Calgary Stampeders and tied a career high with nine tackles while adding an interception and forced fumble over 62 total snaps and earned a 91.6 grade on 48 coverage snaps.
The league’s weekly honour roll highlights players in nine positions based on data points registered and compiled by Pro Football Focus, a sports analytics company.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ offensive line earned a top grade of 73.0 for its play in a 33-16 home loss to the Montreal Alouettes. Its top three performers were Brendan Bordner (71.8), Jordan Murray (71.7) and Coulter Woodmansey (69.8).
Edmonton’s Shane Richards had the highest individual grade among offensive linemen at 76.1.
The other top-graded players included Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira (83.2), Calgary receiver Marken Michel (75.6), defensive lineman Willie Jefferson (88.1) and linebacker Adam Bighill (76.2), both of the Blue Bombers
Metchie was born in Lagos Nigeria on September 11, 1996, to a Nigerian father and Taiwanese mother.
His father, Ambassador Dr. John Metchie is the African Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA) as well as the Prime Minister of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU).
Royce Metchie spent his childhood in in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and later lived in Ghana and Taiwan.
His younger brother, John Metchie III, is a wide receiver who played college football for Alabama and was drafted in the 2022 NFL draft by the Houston Texans.
While in the University, Royce Metchie played U-Sports football for the Guelph Gryphons from 2014 to 2017. His professional football started in 2018 when he was was drafted by the Stampeders in the third round, 25th overall, in the 2018 CFL Draft and signed with the team on May 14, 2018. He began the 2018 season on the practice roster, but was soon elevated to the active roster and played in his first game on June 28, 2018, against the Ottawa Redblacks. He dressed in seven regular season games in his rookie season and recorded five special teams tackles. He was on the practice roster during the playoffs when he shared in the Stampeders’ 106th Grey Cup victory.
Following the off-season departure of two players from his team, Metchie became the Stampeders’ starting safety for the 2019 season and recorded his first career CFL interception during the Labour Day Classic on September 2, 2019, against the Edmonton Eskimos. He played and started in 17 regular season games for the team in 2019 where he had 48 defensive tackles, seven special teams tackles, and three interceptions.
He signed a contract extension with the Stampeders on January 18, 2021 and played in seven games in 2021 where he had 31 defensive tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble.
Metchie was on February 4, 2022, traded to the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for Cameron Judge as both players had contracts expiring the following week. He played in 17 regular season games where he had 72 defensive tackles and two interceptions while also playing in both post-season games, including the 109th Grey Cup, where he recorded three defensive tackles as he won his second Grey Cup championship in the victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
On February 3, 2023, it was announced that Metchie had signed a two-year contract extension with the Argonauts.
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Petrol price to drop by N50 as independent marketers load at N990/litre at Dangote
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN has disclosed that over 30,000 of its members are set to buy Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in bulk.
IPMAN also revealed that the price of petrol from the refinery was N940/litre and N990/litre when purchased using ships and trucks, respectively.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, IPMAN President, Abubakar Garima, said the pump prices of petrol at its retail outlets will drop following the agreement with the Dangote refinery to lift products directly from the plant.
On Monday, IPMAN agreed with the Dangote refinery to directly lift petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products.
This agreement follows months after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation suspended its plan to serve as the sole off-taker of petroleum products from the 650,000 barrels per day refinery.
The IPMAN president explained that the Dangote refinery had been obliged to allow marketers to lift PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for onward supply to their depots and retail outlets but didn’t reveal the price.
Giving an update on pricing during the interview, the IPMAN national officer said the Refinery has provided two different rates for marketers based on their preferences.
He said marketers can load at the gantry at a price of N990 per litre or N940 through vessel transportation.
Garima said, “Presently, we have been given two different arrangments on how to buy fuel from the refinery. There is the one that we can load the vessels and carry to our various depots at the rate of N940 per litre. Then for the depots, it is at the rate of N990 per litre.
“The difference is because we have to load it and carry it to another part of the state. We use vessels to carry these products and there is another one to load from the gantry.
“For Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar, we have to use vessels because there is no Dangote loading gantry there, we have to carry it to our private depot and discharge and distribute it to our members.”
News
Zulum reinstates 23 suspended health workers, deploys others
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the reinstatement of 23 health workers previously suspended for absence from their duty posts at Gwoza General Hospital.
This decision was announced during the Governor’s inspection of the hospital’s newly renovated maternity and child center, as well as other ongoing projects.
Dauda Iliya, Spokesperson and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, in a statement Tuesday, said the health workers had initially been suspended after Zulum’s earlier visit, where he found them absent from their duties.
Addressing the staff, Governor Zulum emphasized the importance of dedication to work and assured them of improved working conditions and other incentives.
“Complaints were made about the 23 medical workers who were absent during my last visit,” he noted. “No one is perfect, so the government has pardoned them, although no arrears will be paid.”
In response to a staff shortage raised by the Principal Medical Officer of Gwoza General Hospital, Dr Nuhu Nasiru Wakawa, Governor Zulum directed the immediate deployment of four additional doctors and ten nurses to the facility.
He further announced that Gwoza General Hospital will be upgraded to support training for nursing students from the new school of nursing under construction.
“The Commissioner of Health, together with the Chief Medical Director of the Hospitals Management Board, will work on this deployment,” Zulum added. “We will also recruit community health workers from Gwoza to strengthen local healthcare services.”
In addition to his healthcare initiatives, Governor Zulum inspected the crusher plant base under construction in Pulka, which will produce up to 300 tonnes of stones per hour.
He said the completion of the crushing and asphalt plants is expected to facilitate new road networks across Borno State.
The Governor also visited other development sites, including the 500-unit mass housing project in Wala B, Gwoza Local Government Area, and a proposed site for a high Islamic school in Bama, underscoring his administration’s commitment to infrastructure and educational advancement.
News
Dangote to begin direct supply of petroleum products to marketers
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has secured an agreement with Dangote Refinery to lift products directly.
IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Garima, announced this at an ongoing press briefing on Monday in Abuja, following a meeting of the National Working Committee of the Association.
He said the partnership would ensure a steady, affordable supply of PMS products nationwide.
“After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, we are pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets.”
Garima urged IPMAN members to support Dangote Refinery, citing the benefits of backward integration and its positive impact on Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.
“IPMAN members should rely on Dangote Refinery and Nigerian refineries for white products, creating more job opportunities and supporting President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.”
The latest development concludes several months of negotiations between both parties and is expected to increase efficiency, affordability, and economic growth.
The Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa and Europe, has already commenced the production of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, with plans to supply products to over 30,000 IPMAN members and 150,000 retail outlets nationwide.
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