3 suspected Coronavirus patients discharged in Lagos (DailyTrust)
Nigeria has only one confirmed case of coronavirus as at yesterday, as the three suspects quarantined in Lagos have tested negative to the disease, Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said yesterday. One of the suspects quarantined was a Nigerian who travelled to France eight days ago and arrived the country four days ago. He developed headache and respiratory problems which led to his isolation. Two other travelers from England and China were also quarantined after they developed certain symptoms. According to Abayomi, their samples were collected for tests to ascertain if they have been affected by Coronavirus. However, the commissioner tweeted that the three suspects had tested negative and discharged after they were certified free of the virus. Read more
Endless bloody cult wars fuel panic among helpless Lagos, Bayelsa residents (Punch)
Her heart still aches of the wound she suffered about six months ago when her husband, Sheriff Sani, was shot dead in their apartment. Their only child was just 23 days old then when some cult members stormed their residence in Imota, Ikorodu area of Lagos and snuffed life out of the 40-year-old surveyor.
At 23 and with a tender baby deserving all the care parenting could afford, Temitope Sani suddenly found herself in widowhood and shouldered the parental burden all alone. That cruel fate wasn’t what she bargained for when she married Sani in 2018. With the care and love he showered on her, she had no cause to think her husband was a suspected cult member the police tagged him, let alone anticipate the tragedy that struck on Sunday, September 1, 2019.
A cult clash between Eye and Aiye members disrupted the oro festival held in the community that day, resulting in the gruesome killing of Sani and three others. Read more
UTME candidates can print examination slips – JAMB (Guardian)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says prospective candidates for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are free to print their examination slips for the Computer Based Test.
The board’s UTME is scheduled to commence nationwide on Saturday, March 14.
The Head, Media and Information of the board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos that the examination slips could be printed anywhere.
According to him, candidates are expected to look out for the locations of their centres before their examination dates. Read more
Group enlightens professionals on Finance Act (ThisDay)
In order to provide more clarity on the Finance Act 2020, a group, Joint Minds International, JMI, has gathered professionals in the tax environment to discuss and demystify the Act.
This has followed the issue of misconceptions and vagueness that surrounds the Act which they said may threaten its objectives.
The gathering had tax pundits from the public and private sectors, as well as members of the professions, including accountants and students.
Speaking on the theme of the seminar, “Finance Act and The Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria”, Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Muhammad Nami, reiterated the gains of the bill to improve the ease of doing business and attract more investments into the country. Read more
Nigerian government to go after users of unregistered SIM cards (DailyTrust)
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has vowed to nab users of unregistered SIM cards. The Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, said the commission will collaborate with security agencies in achieving its target. Speaking in an interview with journalists after the NCC special day at the ongoing Kaduna International Trade Fair, the NCC boss, who was represented by the commission’s Director of Zonal Operations, Hajiya Amina Shehu, said the commission’s target is to ensure that all SIM cards are registered. He said: “If a SIM owner has his or her details registered on the SIM, it is very crucial in assisting the security operatives in nabbing perpetrators of evil using the sim… Read more
IDPs community in Abuja gets primary health care centre (Nation)
In its effort to see that there is easy access to qualitative health services, especially among the poor and most vulnerable, the Christ Embassy Church has commissioned a multi-million state-of-the-art primary health care centre for the Waru community in Abuja.
The community, which is home to several camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), had been bedeviled with little or no adequate health services, which had led to several deaths in the community, especially women and children.
However, when the Innercity Mission arm of the Christ Embassy Church visited the area, it decided to build the modern health care centre in the heart of the community. Read more
I’m glad I survived, passed out in good health – Ex-corper who survived Lassa fever (Punch)
A 2019 Batch ‘A’ corps member, Olayinka Emmanuel, who contracted Lassa fever in Asaba, the Delta State capital, was full of praise during the passing out parade in Asaba on Thursday.
Emmanuel was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, a month ago by his colleagues, where he received first aid before he was referred to the Emergency Unit of the Specialist Hospital, Irrua, in Edo State.
The following day, rumour had it that he died of the disease.
But glittering in his fully-kitted NYSC regalia at the Cenotaph on Thursday Yinka, as his fondly called by his friends, said, “Here I am, I am alive.”
He said since the rumour had gone round that he was dead and he survived, all would work together for long life and prosperity for him. Read more
Police, DSS bar Oshiomhole’s aides from APC secretariat (DailyTrust)
Some personal staff of the embattled All Progressives Congress Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomohle, who tried to enter the party’s national secretariat in Abuja yesterday were stopped by a retinue of policemen and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives who mounted sentry at the secretariat. No fewer than 20 police vans were stationed at the entrance of the party secretariat at Blantyre Street in Wuse 2, Abuja, to guard the building. Read more
Renewed killing forces Benue govt to suspend return of IDPs to their homes (Vanguard)
The Benue State Government has announced the suspension of plans to return the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, to their original habitations, citing sudden heightening state of insecurity occasioned the renewed influx of armed herdsmen and resurgence of armed attacks on innocent people in the state.
Meanwhile, the state has called on the Federal Government to urgently release its share of the N10 billion it promised for states that were affected by herdsmen attacks resulting to killings and IDPs. Benue State Government had a share in the money and was yet to receive any amount since over a year the government made the promise. Read more
Hotel collapse traps 70 in eastern China (Guardian)
Around 70 people were trapped after a hotel collapsed in China’s eastern Fujian province on Saturday evening, officials said.
Xinjia Hotel collapsed around 7:30 pm (1130 GMT) and around 23 people had been rescued by 9:00 pm, according to a Quanzhou city government statement.
The 80-room hotel was recently converted to a quarantine facility for people who had recent contact with coronavirus patients, the People’s Daily state newspaper reported.
State news agency Xinhua said rescue efforts were ongoing. Read more
Visa policy: Kano instagram lovers’ wedding on hold (DailyTrust)
The proposed wedding between the 26-year-old Kano university student and his 46-year-old American girlfriend has been postponed till further notice over United States government’s policy on visa ban for Nigerians. The wedding was earlier scheduled for the end of this month, but had to be shifted indefinitely due to the visa ban to allow the woman explore other lawful alternatives for the relocation of her husband to the United States after their wedding in Kano. Speaking in a telephone chat with Daily Trust, the will-be-groom’s father, Malam Suleiman Isah, said a new date would be announced as soon as the woman, Jeanine Sanchez, obtains the necessary papers for his son’s relocation to the US. Read more
Coronavirus cases hit 100,000 as China exports dip (Punch)
The number of cases from the new coronavirus topped 100,000 worldwide as official data Saturday showed a significant hit to Chinese exports after the deadly outbreak brought much of the country to a halt.
The World Health Organization called the spread of the virus “deeply concerning” as a wave of countries reported their first cases of the disease — which has now killed nearly 3,500 people and infected more than 100,000 across 92 nations and territories.
The US was battling to contain an outbreak on a cruise ship where 21 people have tested positive for the virus. Read more
Torrential rain kills at least 20 in Pakistan (Guardian)
At least 20 people in Pakistan are dead and dozens more injured after torrential rainstorms collapsed several homes, officials said Saturday.
Heavy rains have lashed stretches of the country near the Afghan border since Thursday.
Fourteen children and three women were killed in “rain-related incidents” in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local relief official Taimur Ali said.
The National Disaster Management Authority confirmed those deaths, adding that three more people had died in southwest Balochistan province. Read more
Joseph McCann: Girl, 17, raped by serial sex attacker speaks out (BBC)
A teenage girl who was raped by serial sex attacker Joseph McCann has said she feels “failed in every single way”.
The 17-year-old and her younger brother were both attacked after McCann tied up their mother in their home in May.
The girl told the BBC she now lives in a “constant fear of everything” and is “confused” as to why the 35-year-old was not recalled to prison.
It comes after a report said probation staff were warned he posed a risk of sexual offending. Read more
Nine killed in Mexico shootout with police (Punch)
Nine people were killed in a bloody confrontation Friday in western Mexico between a criminal gang and agents investigating a suspected kidnapping, officials said.
The dead included two officers and six people believed to have been held captive in a house in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco state, the state prosecutor’s office said.
Another man died on the street.
Jalisco has been hard-hit by violence linked to organized crime, particularly the powerful Jalisco New Generation drug cartel.
In the latest incident, the kidnappers opened fire on the officers and shot their captives when they were cornered, state prosecutor Gerardo Octavio Solis Gomez said. Read more
Sacked DR Congo general died by ‘hanging’ (Guardian)
DR Congo’s sacked former deputy chief of military intelligence, who was under European Union sanctions, died by hanging, President Felix Tshisekedi said Saturday.
Delphin Kahimbi, 50, a close associate of former president Joseph Kabila, had died of a heart attack on February 28 at home in Kinshasa, his wife and media reports said.
But rumours abounded that he was killed or committed suicide.
Tshisekedi ordered a probe into the death, and the preliminary findings were made public on Saturday after a cabinet meeting. Read more
Woody Allen book pulped after walkout at publisher (BBC)
Ronan Farrow supports his sister’s allegations against their father
A US publishing house has cancelled plans to publish a memoir by Woody Allen, the award-winning film director who has been accused of sexual abuse.
Hachette Book Group (HBG) acted on Friday a day after its employees staged a walkout in New York and Boston to protest against the publication.
Allen’s son and daughter, Ronan and Dylan Farrow, had condemned the deal.
Mr Farrow, a journalist, wrote a book for HBG last year about how powerful men avoid punishment for misconduct.
Mr Farrow is Allen’s son with actress Mia Farrow. Read more
Liverpool bounce back to beat Bournemouth (Guardian)
Liverpool recovered from back-to-back defeats and conceding the opening goal on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth to move to within three wins of ending a 30-year wait for the Premier League title.
Callum Wilson’s controversial early opener sent shockwaves around Anfield after a run of three defeats in four games in all competitions.
However, the prolific duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane quickly turned the game around and a heroic goal-line clearance from James Milner in the second half secured the win to open a 25-point lead at the top of the table.
Jurgen Klopp’s decision to make seven changes for Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea in the FA Cup had been questioned as Liverpool lost the chance to build some momentum heading into a big week. Read more
Coronavirus: LeBron James says he will refuse to play if LA Lakers games go behind closed doors (BBC)
LeBron James says he would refuse to play if the Los Angeles Lakers had to stage games behind closed doors because of the coronavirus outbreak.
On Friday, the NBA asked teams to start preparing for the possibility of playing without fans in attendance.
In a memo obtained by ESPN, the NBA has also asked teams to identify “essential staff” in order to limit attendees. Read more
Playing in Germany has toughened me up – Mbosowo (Punch)
Alemannia Aachen U-19 team winger, Eddie Mbosowo, in this interview with ’TANA AIYEJINA, talks about his ambition to represent Nigeria, playing in Germany as a teenager and more
How would you describe your experience playing in Germany as a teenager first for Mehring FC and then Alemannia Aachen’s U-19 team?
Coming from America, it was very difficult to adjust to the German style of play. I used SV Mehring to help me get used to the speed, physicality and mental side of their game. Now I play for an U-19 Bundesliga team. It is the highest level of youth football in Germany. Read more
Solskjaer frustrated over scheduling ahead of Manchester derby (Guardian)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has voiced his frustration over how Manchester United’s preparations for their derby against Manchester City have been impeded by the scheduling of their midweek FA Cup tie.
United cruised through to the quarter-finals at second-tier Derby on Thursday, when Luke Shaw’s second career goal and two strikes from January signing Odion Ighalo wrapped up a 3-0 win.
Europa League football this season means United are used to playing on Thursdays, but City have an extra day to prepare for Sunday’s Old Trafford encounter after beating Sheffield Wednesday the previous evening. Read more
Liverpool giant slayer Sarr snubbed Barcelona switch (DailyTrust)
Ismaila Sarr has been making plenty of headlines for ending Liverpool’s 44-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, but the Watford forward says he could have been generating more at Barcelona. Back in the summer of 2017, eye-catching exploits at Metz saw the Senegalese forward attract interest from across Europe. Admiring glances were shot in his direction from Camp Nou, with La Liga heavyweights eager to buy into obvious potential. Sarr was, however, to shun Barca’s advances and remain in France at Rennes. Read more
Adesanya’s family, fans invade Las Vegas for title defense against Romero (Guardian)
Nigeria born New Zealand-based UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya will not lack home support when he files out against his Cuban challenger, Yoel Romero, in today’s main event of UFC 248 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, USA.
Romero, a silver medalist for Cuba at the Sydney 2000 Olympics in freestyle wrestling, is one of the most feared fighters in UFC. Nobody wants to fight him but Adesanya feels he has what it takes to overpower the imposing Cuban wrestler/salsa dancer later today.
To give Adesanya the support he needs, members of his family as well as large number of supporters and fans have arrived in Las Vegas.His father, Femi Adesanya told The Guardian in a telephone chat yesterday that Israel was in perfect condition ahead of the fight. Read more
U-17 World Cup qualifier: Chidinma, Deborah confident of victory against Guinea (Punch)
Ahead of their 2020 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup second round qualifying game against Guinea on Saturday (today), Flamingos duo, Chidinma Ogbuchi and Deborah Abiodun, have said they are not under any pressure as they target qualification for the major tournament.
The Flamingos left Nigeria for Conakry on Thursday and the team, led by Bankole Olowookere, are confident that they can go on to win away from home.
Chidinma, who could make her international debut, is looking forward to the much anticipated game with victory the only thing on her mind.
“I am not under any form of pressure because I am ready and set to give my best in the game against Guinea,” the Robo FC defender said. Read more