19 ‘land grabbers’ face prosecution (Nation)
Nineteen suspected land grabbers arrested by the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers (LSSTFLG) will appear in court soon, the Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) has said.
They included 18 men and a woman.
Onigbanjo said on Thursday that they will be prosecuted for offences bothering on “trespassing, illegal occupation, forceful land take over and prevention of lawful of entry by violence”.
They were arrested in a sting operation in connection with a land situated at Plot 1Block II, Ogudu Phase II Government Residential Scheme in Kosofe Local Government Area. Read more
Robbers kill policeman, injure others during Lagos robbery (Punch)
Some suspected robbers fleeing a robbery scene on Thursday shot dead a policeman in the Falomo area of Ikoyi, Lagos State.
Another yet-to-be-identified policeman and a security guard were said to have sustained gunshot injuries as residents fled for safety.
PUNCH Metro learnt that a man had withdrawn money from a bank in the area around 12pm when the robbers, who had been monitoring his movement, accosted him on the Falomo Bridge.
They were said to have dispossessed the victim of his valuables. Read more
Four arraigned for ‘stealing’ cows (Nation)
Police on Thursday arraigned four men at Ojo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos for allegedly stealing four cows from Alaba Rago Market.
Yusuf Abdullahi, 31; Ahmadu Musa, 25; Bright Jacob, 30, and Abuchi Okafor, 42, were charged with conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen goods.
Prosecutor Simon Uche told the court that the defendants committed the offence with one other person, who is currently on the run, sometime in 2017.
The prosecutor alleged that Abdullahi and Musa stole the four cows worth N660,000 from one Ismaila Fabrin. Read more
Think globally, Lagos commissioner urges workers (Punch)
The Lagos State Commissioner for Local Governments and Community Affairs, Yetunde Arobieke, has urged all the public officials in the 57 local governments and local council development areas in the state to think globally to facilitate the developmental agenda and blueprint of the state government.
The commissioner gave the advice while speaking at an advocacy programme on procurement process organised by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency for chairmen, council managers, council engineers, council treasurers and procurement officers in the 57 LGAs and LCDAs. Read more
Why bill to criminalise estimated billing may not work’ (Guardian)
Some stakeholders in the power sector, yesterday, expressed serious worry over a bill at the National Assembly aiming to criminalise estimated billing of electricity consumers by distribution companies, stressing that the proposed law will not work.
The industry players, who insisted that the bill was not the right way to go, stated that the sector is failing not because there were no enough legislations, but poor implementation of existing laws. The House of Representatives had passed the bill, which was sponsored by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila. If approved by the Senate and assented to by the President, the bill will award either a one-year jail term or a fine of N1m or both for utility providers involved in arbitrary billing. Read more
Reps okay compulsory genotype test for intending couples (Punch)
The House of Representatives has okayed compulsory genotype tests for intending couples as part of measures to prevent sickle cell disease.
The House charged government registries, churches and mosques with demanding the tests before joining persons as husband and wife.
This is part of the resolutions passed by the lawmakers at the plenary on Thursday when they unanimously adopted a motion moved by Mr Umar Sarki, titled ‘Call on the Federal Ministry of Health to develop an efficient system for management of sickle cell disease in Nigeria.’ Read more
Customs intercepts rice hidden under sugarcane (Nation)
What trick will smugglers not try to remain in business? Last month Customs personnel intercepted a petrol tanker filled with smuggled rice on the notorious Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
On Thursday, the Niger/Kogi command of the Service announced another interception, this time of a truck loaded with 292 50kg bags of imported rice concealed beneath a stack of sugarcane.
The Iveco truck was flagged down along Dikko-Suleja-Abuja Road of Niger State. Read more
Diabetic patients demand free treatment in public hospitals (Guardian)
Diabetic patients in Nigeria have appealed to the federal and state governments to subsidise or make the treatment of diabetes free in public hospitals.
They made the appeal in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, yesterday, at the opening ceremony of the 2019 Triennial Delegates Congress and World Diabetes Day Celebration, organised by the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN).
The patients bemoaned the high cost of managing diabetes in Nigeria and urged the government, international organisations, support groups and private individuals to come together and fight the disease.National President of DAN, Dr. Mohammed Alkali, said that diabetes had become a major global epidemic among non-communicable diseases, saying that between five and nine million Nigerians have the disease “but over half of them are not aware of it.” Read more
Dismissed soldier with baby detained in Kwara (Nation)
A dismissed female soldier nursing a two-month-old baby has been detained at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Kwara State police command.
Blessing Egbogwu and her baby have been in detention since November 12 as attempts to secure her bail were unsuccessful.
Mrs. Egbogwu’s lawyer Onwa Emmanuel told The Nation that her summary dismissal from the military was hasty, describing the refusal of the police to grant her bail as unfair. Read more
AIB releases report on Air Peace, seeks review of SOP (Guardian)
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) yesterday released three preliminary reports on Air Peace Airlines’ serious incidences, with recommendations that sought immediate review of Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) across all local airlines.
The reports were focused on two recent hard landings in Lagos and a runway excursion in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. An Air Peace B737-300 plane with registration number 5N-BUK had a hard landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on May 15, 2019. Its 133 passengers and six crew occupants disembarked safely.
Though investigations were still ongoing, AIB recommended that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should mandate all airline operators to review their Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) to include the process for isolating power to the cockpit voice recorder to preserve its contents from being overwritten, in the event of any reportable occurrence. Read more
California school shooting: Santa Clarita attack leaves two dead (BBC)
Media captionEmotional reunions after California school shooting
Two students have been killed and three others injured by a gunman who opened fire at a secondary school in California, officials say.
The shooting took place at the Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles, minutes before the school day was due to begin.
A 16-year-old male suspect, who was also injured, was taken into custody.
Many US schools have implemented active shooter drills in recent years after fatal attacks around the country. Read more
China’s economy shows further signs of weakness (Guardian)
China’s economy betrayed further signs of strain on Thursday with data showing a sharp slowdown in consumer spending and factory production while investment growth hit a record low as the trade US war takes its toll.
The readings are the latest to give a headache to leaders in Beijing, who are battling the tariffs row with the US as well as a weak global outlook, while trying to control a debt mountain at home.
Officials said retail sales, a key gauge of spending by the country’s vast army of consumers, grew 7.2 percent on-year last month, down 0.6 percentage points from September and short of expectations.
The figures from the National Bureau of Statistics also showed growth in industrial production came in at 4.7 percent, from 5.8 percent a month earlier. Read more
Super Eagles goalkeeper undergoes successful surgery (SportingLife)
Nigeria goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho has successfully undergone surgery to correct a ligament tear in his knee which will rule him out for the rest of the season, according to Cyprus based news outlet omonianews.
“Francis Uzoho, was successfully treated. The player-owned by Spanish La Coruna, issued a statement shortly after informing of Uzoho’s successful operation. Now, after the surgery, Francis will launch a special recovery program to return to normal racing. Read more
Euro 2020: England demolish Montenegro at Wembley (BBC)
England celebrated their 1,000th game in style as they secured qualification for Euro 2020 and won Group A with an emphatic demolition of Montenegro at Wembley.
Captain Harry Kane moved to fifth in England’s list of leading scorers as a first-half hat-trick took his tally to 31, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain opened the scoring on his first start for 18 months and Marcus Rashford was also on the scoresheet in that 45-minute barrage.
As England and the Football Association enjoyed this landmark occasion, with a parade of legends and 1966 World Cup winners in attendance, Montenegro proved the most amenable of opponents, particularly in the opening half when Kane and company ran riot and the visitors’ defending was shambolic. Read more
Pre-Olympics qualifiers: D’Tigress walk over DR Congo (Punch)
D’Tigress started their FIBA Africa pre-Olympics qualifiers on a winning note strolling over DR Congo, 20-0 points.
The coach Otis Hughley side performed a walkover ceremony over DR Congo, who failed to show up for the competition in Maputo, Mozambique.
Currently ranked first in Africa and 16th in the world, Nigeria now lead Group A with one game to go.
Afterward, team captain Ezinne Kalu said D’Tigress were in high spirits ahead of their next game. Read more
It’s now or never as Nigeria tackle South Africa for semifinals ticket (Guardian)
Group B leaders, South Africa say they are ready to do to the Olympics Eagles exactly the same treatment they handed to Cote d’Ivoire when both sides meet today, according to Cape Town midfielder, Teboho Mokoena, reports sport24.co.za.
The Amagluglug defeated the Ivoirians courtesy of a fine free kick from Mokoena, leaving them in confident mode ahead of their final U-23 AFCON Group B clash against coach Imama Amapakabo’s side at the Al Salam in Cairo, Egypt today.
The Olympics Eagles will have their work cut out against a South Africa, who are the only side yet to concede a goal at this tournament and are top of the group with four points. Read more
Kids given foam footballs because normal ones cause too much damage (Metro)
Children in a seaside town have been told to play with foam footballs following complaints that normal ones cause too much damage.
The kids were hit with a ‘no ball-games’ policy on their street after residents said wayward shots were smashing into cars and homes.
It meant football-mad youngsters had nowhere to play as there was no designated area for the sport nearby. Read more
Roger Federer beats Novak Djokovic at 2019 ATP Finals in London (BBC)
Roger Federer beat Novak Djokovic to reach his 16th semi-final in 17 appearances at the season-ending event
Roger Federer moved into the ATP Finals last four at the expense of Novak Djokovic with a scintillating win over his great rival at the O2 Arena.
Swiss third seed Federer, 38, won 6-4 6-3 in a round-robin match which eliminates the Serb second seed from the season-ending tournament in London.
Federer will meet top seed Rafael Nadal or Stefanos Tsitsipas in the last four. Read more
Mikel returns after injury layoff (Punch)
Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has returned to training after a one-month injury absence.
Mikel picked up a muscle injury in Tabzonspor’s training on October 14 and has been out of action ever since.
He missed his club’s league games against Gaziantep, Instanbul Basaksehir, Goztepe and Alanyaspor.
He was also out of their Europa League home and away games against Krasnodar. Read more
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry returns to management with Montreal Impact (Metro)
Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact have announced the appointment of former Arsenal star Thierry Henry as the team’s new manager. The Frenchman has been out of work since he was sacked by Monaco back in January, having mustered just four wins – and 11 defeats – in 20 games in charge of the Ligue 1 outfit. He has been linked with other jobs in Europe since, but has opted to sign a two-year deal with the option for a third to move to Canada. Read more
Brazilian GP: Lewis Hamilton to negotiate new F1 contract (BBC)
Lewis Hamilton wants to continue in Formula 1 – but will take his time over finalising a new contract.
The British driver, who clinched his sixth world title at the US Grand Prix, is almost certain to stay at Mercedes.
“When you’ve been with a team for so long, we are kind of joined at the hip,” the 34-year-old said. “All that detail can take its time. Read more
Troost-Ekong, Osimhen delighted with Benin win (Punch)
Stand-in captain, William Troost-Ekong and striker, Victor Osimhen, have revealed their excitement after helping Nigeria start their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on a bright note
Both players have since switched their focus to their next game against Lesotho.
Osimhen and Samuel Kalu’s goals in both halves gave Nigeria the maximum points after the hosts were stunned by an early goal by Benin danger man Stéphane Sessègnon. Read more
Didier Drogba snubbed Chelsea coaching offer to pursue top Ivorian FA job (Metro)
Didier Drogba says he was offered a ‘perfect’ coaching role at Chelsea but rejected a return to Stamford Bridge so he could bid to become the next president of the Ivorian FA. The 41-year-old hung up his boots at the end of last year after a spell with Phoenix Rising and announced in September that he would run for the top job at the Ivory Coast Football Federation. On Wednesday, he met with a large number of presidents and representatives of lower tier clubs in the country and shared his plans to replace Augustin Sidy Diallo. Read more
New home for football (Nation)
Six years after the completion and handing over of a befitting edifice named, Sunday Dankaro House, to the Nigeria Football Federation to serve as its secretariat, Sports Minister Sunday Dare has issued an ultimatum to the leadership of the football house to move there next month, writes SEGUN OGUNJIMI.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will start operating from its new secretariat by next month if the wish of Sports Minister Sunday Dare comes through.
The edifice was built by an indigenous company, Messers Paul-B Nigeria PLC and was inaugurated with fanfare on July 18, 2013, and handed over to the NFF by former Vice-President Namadi Sambo. The building was named after a former NFA chairman, Sunday Dankaro. Read more
Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers: Egypt held as Comoros win (BBC)
Egypt’s Mahmoud ‘Kahraba’ Abdel-Moneim plays in Portugal for Aves
Egypt were held to a 1-1 draw by visitors Kenya while Comoros stunned hosts Togo 1-0 in Group G of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Elsewhere on Thursday Mozambique scored twice in as many minutes to beat Rwanda 2-0 in a game interrupted by floodlight failure.
A sparse crowd watched Egypt’s stalemate with Kenya at the Borg El Arabia near Alexandria th fans preferring not to make the long trek to the watch the Pharaohs. Read more