6 feared killed as okada riders, transport union members clash in Lagos (Punch)
Controversy is trailing the casualty figure in Monday’s clash involving okada riders and Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria members in the Iyana Iba area of Lagos State.
While a transport worker told PUNCH Metro that no fewer than six people lost their lives to the clash, a marshal insisted that four persons were killed in front of the Lagos State University and inward the Alaba Rago area, close to Iyana Iba.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the clash started when the union members allegedly accosted a yet-to-be-identified Hausa motorcyclist and demanded his ticket.
The request reportedly led to an argument between the union members and the motorcyclist, which degenerated into a fight. Read more
How Lagos agencies promote violation of building code (Guardian)
More than a month after building regulations agencies were notified about a structure under construction, which is being built in violation to Lagos State building code, there has not been positive reaction from Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the New Town Development Agency (NTDA) to stop work.
The two agencies were notified about the status of the building and both agencies pledged to look into the infraction, but surprisingly, construction work continued on the building.
Counsel to one of the property owners sharing fence with the building under construction had notified the LASBCA about the illegality over a year ago and after looking into the case, the agency affirmed that the building was being constructed in violation of Lagos State building code. As a result of this, the building was sealed before the lockdown. Read more
NURTW not involved in LASU Okada riders clash – MC Oluomo’s aide (Punch)
Jimoh Buhari, spokesman for the Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, has said no NURTW official was involved in the clash between a transport union and Okada riders in the Iyana-Iba and Ojo areas of the state on Monday.
Buhari, who spoke in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday, said another transport union in the state, the Road Transport Employers’ Association Of Nigeria, was involved in the clash.
“NURTW was not involved in the clash. RTEAN and its Okada arm were the ones involved in the clash,” he told The PUNCH. Read more
Bandits kill 2 more Greenfield varsity students (Independent)
The Kaduna State Government said bandits have killed two more students of Greenfield University Kaduna, who were abducted on Tuesday.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said in a statement issued on Monday in Kaduna.
Aruwan said, “On a sad note, security agencies have just reported to the Kaduna State Government the recovery of two more dead bodies of Greenfield University students, killed by armed bandits today, Monday 26th April.
“The retrieved corpses have been evacuated to a mortuary, and the university has been notified of the development. Read more
NGE, others condemn NBC threat to suspend Channels licence (Punch)
The National Broadcasting Commission on Monday ordered the stoppage of Politics Today on Channels Television.
The commission said it took the decision following the interview the station had with the spokesperson of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Emma Powerful.
The acting Director-General of NCC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, said this in a letter to the Managing Director of Channels TV titled, ‘Inciting comments by proscribes group: Politics Today. Read more
Armed Bandits Sack 8 More Niger Communities (Independent)
Armed bandits suspected to be Boko Haram members last weekend continued their advancement into Niger state with the sacking of eight more communities, abducted no fewer than 30 women, including an Igbo businesswoman and her sales boy in Fuka district, Shiroro Local Government Area.
The affected eight communities and environs, our correspondent learnt have been deserted for fear of further invasion as at Monday morning following the attack by the armed men numbering over sixty.
Residents of the affected district consisting of 1,569 villagers and environs, according to an eye witness have relocated to Sarkin-Pawa, headquarters of the Munya local government as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) while others joined their relatives in Minna, the state capital and beyond. Read more
NERC mulls another electricity tariffs review (Nation)
Plans are underway for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to review tariffs that customers pay to the 11 Distribution Companies (Discos) and to also approve a new capital expenditure (capex) for the energy distributors.
The source of discord between the regulator and the DisCos has always been the capital expenditure allowance approved by NERC since the distributors insist that it is too low and has limited their capacity for network expansion.
Going by the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2015, the approved average capital expenditure allowance to DisCos remains $12million or roughly N5 billion per DiCco annually.
On the other hand, MYTO, is a framework that guides the pricing of electricity in the country and by the rules is supposed to be adjusted twice a year. Read more
Six soldiers, one officer die as troops kill Boko Haram/ISWAP Fighters In Borno (Tribune)
The Military High Command on Monday said that the Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed to Mainok, Borno State as part of the ongoing efforts to end insurgency activities in the area came under multi-directional attacks by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on Sunday, leaving one gallant officer and six soldiers dead while five other soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima.
He stated that the insurgents who mounted an unconfirmed number of gun trucks, as well as foot soldiers with possible intent of establishing a phantom caliphate in the town, were held by the gallant troops of 156 Task Force Battalion until the arrival of reinforcement teams from 7 Division, Special Army Super Camp Ngamdu and Army Super Camp 4, Benesheik. Read more
Police arrest 6 suspects for robbery in Abuja (Independent)
The FCT Police Command has arrested six suspects for car snatching and armed robbery along Kubwa, Garki and Lokoja axis.
Amongst the suspects, according to the Command’s Spokesperson, ASP Miriam Yusuf are one Beneth Idiwogu 31 years, Uche Victor 37 years and Julius Kilotomo 22 years.
She said the suspects were arrested during different coordinated intelligence operations by the Command’s Anti-Car Theft Unit.
“The suspects confessed to being members of the notorious syndicate terrorizing the FCT. Exhibits recovered are two silver coloured Toyota Corolla, two silver coloured Toyota RAV4 and one black coloured lexus.” Read more
Registration: JAMB introduces USSD code (Nation)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) says the board will introduce the use of USSD code as an option to the SMS process of generating a profile code for registration.
This, it said, was part of measures it had put in place to address some challenges experienced by candidates of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The Registrar of the board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, disclosed this during a news briefing at the board’s headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, on Monday.
Oloyede said the use of the USSD code would commence from Friday, April 30. Read more
Miscarriage rates ‘over 40% higher’ in black women (BBC)
Black women face a significantly higher risk of having a miscarriage than white, research suggests.
The Lancet analysis of data on 4.6 million pregnancies in seven countries suggests being black increases miscarriage risk by 43%.
It calls for people in the UK to be given support after their first pregnancy loss.
Currently, referral to specialist clinics usually occurs after three consecutive losses only. Read more
Myanmar rebel group says has captured military base near Thai border (France24)
A prominent ethnic rebel group attacked and captured a military base in eastern Myanmar near the Thai border early Tuesday morning, an official from the group said.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 1 coup, triggering an uprising that has seen security forces mount deadly crackdowns against protesters.
The anti-coup movement has garnered broad support across the country, including among some of Myanmar’s armed insurgent groups which have for decades been fighting the military for more autonomy. Read more
US will begin sharing its AstraZeneca vaccines with the world (Metro)
The US will start sharing with the world its inventory of AstraZeneca vaccines, which have not yet received federal safety clearance. As many as 60million AstraZeneca doses are expected to be distributed around the globe once the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants approval, the White House told the Associated Press on Monday. ‘Given the strong portfolio of vaccines that the US already has and that have been authorized by the FDA, and given that the AstraZeneca vaccine is not authorized for use in the US, we do not need to use the AstraZeneca vaccine here during the next several months’, White House Covid-19 coordinator Jeff Zients stated. Read more
Anthony Hopkins gives belated Oscars ‘speech’ honouring Chadwick Boseman amid ‘woke’ uproar (NYPost)
Anthony Hopkins has finally given his Best Actor acceptance speech — honoring Chadwick Boseman amid uproar that he beat the late star at what has been dubbed the “wokest” Oscars ever.
The 83-year-old actor was noticeably absent from Sunday’s awards show where he won the top honor in a shock decision over the “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” star — which sparked outrage online and among fans.
Hopkins’ best work in years
Critics slammed the choice to award Hopkins — who won for his performance in “The Father” — over Boseman as proof that the awards show was still “just doing what they do.” Read more
Man admits kidnap and rape of girl, 13, on her way to school (Metro)
A man has admitted raping and kidnapping a girl on her way to school in south west London. Kadian Nelson, 27, followed the 13-year-old before creeping up behind her and putting one hand over her mouth and another on her head. He also threatened to kill the girl, and forced her to walk towards an alleyway in Mitcham. After telling her to take off her coat and school blazer, he sexually assaulted her, then put his own jacket on her. Read more
Man living alone on Italian island to leave after 32 years (BBC)
An Italian man is to leave the island he has lived on for more than 30 years after pressure from authorities.
Mauro Morandi, 81, moved to Budelli off northern Sardinia in 1989.
Last year, however, Mr Morandi said the owners of the island, which is famed for its pink beach, wanted him to relocate.
“I will leave hoping that in the future Budelli will be protected as I have protected it for 32 years,” he wrote on Facebook on Sunday. Read more
Daniel Kaluuya’s career from Skins to Get Out, winning an Oscar and retirement plans (Metro)
Daniel Kaluuya’s journey to the Oscars 2021 has been a long yet fruitful one. The 32-year-old actor made history at last night’s Academy Awards as the first Black British star to win best supporting actor, scooping the accolade for his role as Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah. Awkward sex jokes aside, Daniel used his speech as an opportunity to honour the real life Hampton’s work as a civil rights activist in the Black Panther movement. However in light of his historic win, it’s only right that we look at Daniel’s own achievements over the years – including his humble beginnings. Read more
Osimhen scores in Napoli win (Punch)
Napoli’s target of featuring in next season’s UEFA Champions League received a massive boost following Monday’s 2-0 away defeat of 10-man Torino.
First-half goals from Tiemoue Bakayoko and Victor Osimhen were enough for the Parthenopeans to secure all points at stake.
Both teams arrived at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino chasing contrasting ambitions. While the visitors are pursuing their European dreams, Davide Nicola’s Maroons needed a win to help their battle against relegation. Read more
I will provide selection options for Hughley, Enabosi boasts (Guardian)
Ahead of the 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo, 24-year-old Nicole Enabosi is confident in her ability to add top quality as the D’Tigresses preparation hots up.
Enabosi, who prides herself as a versatile player adept at playing multiple positions, is confident of providing selection options for Coach Otis Hughley after she was invited to the team’s Atlanta camp.
Having watched the team play she said, “I think I can bring more to the defence. I am a very handy player, love stealing the ball and playing full court defence. Read more
Usman, McGregor in war of words (Punch)
There might be a clash in the future between reigning UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Conor McGregor after both superstars reignited their rivalry on social media on Monday.
Usman defended his welterweight title for the fourth time with a second round knockout victory over Jorge Masvidal at the UFC 261 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, on Sunday in front of 15,000 screaming fans.
McGregor has created a knack for taunting Usman after every win the Nigerian records, claiming he will one day come for the title in the welterweight division.
The Irish fighter, in a post on Twitter, accused Usman of copying his moves in knocking out Masvidal, stating that he would destroy the Nigerian when they clash. Read more
Leicester beat Palace to move closer to Champions League qualification (Nation)
Leicester City moved closer to Champions League qualification as they came from behind to beat Crystal Palace.
Wilfried Zaha put the visitors ahead after only 12 minutes, with a first-time finish following a fine through ball from Eberechi Eze.
But Timothy Castagne equalised for the Foxes within five minutes of the second half by firing the ball into the roof of the net after being set up by Kelechi Iheanacho.
Palace nearly retook the lead but a superb sliding challenge from Jonny Evans denied Christian Benteke what would have been a tap-in into an unguarded goal. Read more
Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry inducted into Premier League Hall of Fame (Nation)
Former England striker Alan Shearer and ex-France forward Thierry Henry have become the first players to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Shearer is the Premier League’s record scorer, with 260 goals for Blackburn Rovers – whom he won the title with in 1995 – and Newcastle United.
Henry scored a club record 175 Premier League goals in 258 appearances for Arsenal.
He was the league’s top scorer in a season a record four times.
Henry won the title twice and was part of the Arsenal side that went unbeaten in the league in the 2003-04 season.
“When you look at some of the unbelievable players to have graced the Premier League – week in, week out, year in, year out – I feel very honoured to join the Hall of Fame,” said 50-year-old Shearer, who moved from Southampton to Blackburn before the Premier League era began in 1992-93.
“I have to thank all of my team-mates, as well as the managers and coaches that I’ve worked with. Read more
Zlatan Ibrahimovic investigated by UEFA over ‘alleged financial interest’ in betting company (BBC)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is to be investigated by Uefa over an “alleged financial interest in a betting company”.
According to reports in his native Sweden, the AC Milan striker, 39, has broken rules after becoming a partner in a betting company.
Uefa’s disciplinary regulations state players should not have a financial interest in betting.Last week he signed a new contract that will run until after his 40th birthday. Read more