7 years after, Lagos health facility still under construction (Guardian)
The building and the services it renders are in sharp contrast – The roof of the building is partially ruined, with the walls and the ground floor partly plastered; yet to residents of Low-Cost Housing Estate, Abesan, Ipaja, it is their lifesaver.
Akinyele Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), Abesan, besides being an uncompleted building, lacks the basic facilities of a healthcare centre.
Interestingly, the construction of the PHC started in 2013, and it is yet to be completed seven years after. The process for the construction started with an invitation to tender, advertised on May 20, 2013. Read more
SARS men, Lagos traders clash over suspects arrest (Punch)
There was tension on Monday when men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad stormed the Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos State, to arrest two suspects and were prevented by traders in the area.
It was gathered that the SARS operatives, who were said to be from the Ogun State Police Command, were on official duty and had notified the Lagos State Police before visiting the market to initiate the arrest.
On getting to the market, it was learnt that the traders and the policemen had a shouting match during the arrest as the traders insisted that SARS had been banned.
Footage trending online, which was reposted on Instablog9ja showed the traders preventing the arrest as they blocked the vehicle of the police men from leaving the premises. Read more
Lagos targets 3,004 housing units by December (Guardian)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared his commitment towards making befitting accommodation available to Lagosians.
This, he said, would be done through pragmatic models that will incorporate private sector partnerships, encourage local content and cut costs while also creating employment.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat stated this, yesterday, during the celebration of World Habitat Day.
In a related vein, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has promised to deliver 12,500 housing units before 2023. Read more
Robbers raid Benue priest’s residence, seek forgiveness while robbing (Punch)
Suspected armed robbers, on Monday, invaded the residence of a Catholic priest in Makurdi, Benue State, Rev. Fr. Solomon Ukeyima, and robbed him.
The priest, who is in charge of the St. Augustine’s Parish, Demekpe, in the Makurdi Catholic Diocese, said one of the robbers kept begging for forgiveness as he was picking different items from the parish house.
Fr. Ukeyima said the operation lasted less than an hour, adding that the robbers shot in the air as they scaled the fence into the residence.
The priest added that the robbers were calm throughout the operation and that one of them spoke impeccable English. Read more
El-Rufai presents 2021 draft budget to Kaduna Assembly today (Guardian)
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, will present the state’s 2021 proposed budget to the House of Assembly today, three days after the document was presented at a town hall meeting for citizens to make inputs.
Before the town hall meeting, the state government had proposed to spend N237 billion – N157.56 billion for capital projects and N79.96 for recurrent expenditure.
The Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Thomas Gyang, noted that the presentation was the sixth annual budget since 2015 to be discussed at a town hall meeting. Read more
Osun graduate killed on his way to poultry farm (Punch)
A 30-year-old poultry farmer, Afeez Kegbeyale, has been stabbed to death in Erin Osun, Osun State, following a disagreement with three men, whose identities cannot immediately be ascertained.
According to elder brother of the deceased, Saheed, the incident occurred in on Thursday, October 1, 2020, while the victim was on his way to his poultry farm around 8.15 pm.
Saheed explained that the deceased, a graduate of Food Science Technology from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, after completing his mandatory service in 2018, invested in poultry and had a farm in Erin Osun.
On the day of the incident, Saheed said his brother was on his way to feed the birds. Read more
Flood: 2 years after, 22 persons still missing (Thisday)
No fewer than 22 persons are still missing in the flood that wreaked havoc on Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State in 2018, the state Commissioner for Environment, Hamza Suleiman, has revealed.
The commissioner, who disclosed this during a ministerial briefing with journalists at the Government House, Monday, lamented that two years after the occurrence of the natural disaster, 22 victims are still missing despite efforts to know their whereabouts.
The flood, caused by torrential rains on Nigeria’s border town with Niger Republic, killed more than 52 persons and destroyed thousands of houses, according to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Read more
Buhari approves special salary for teachers (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a special salary scale for basic and secondary schools teachers across the nation.
He also announced an increase in the number of service years for the teachers from 35 to 40.
The teachers will also enjoy special provisions for rural posting allowance, science teachers allowance and peculiar allowance.
The gestures was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and announced by Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in commemoration of the 2020 World Teachers’ Day on Monday in Abuja. Read more
Trump Covid: President downplays virus on leaving hospital (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has made a dramatic return to the White House to continue his treatment for coronavirus after a three-night hospital stay.
The president removed his mask on the balcony of the White House, where several staff and aides have tested positive for the virus in recent days.
“Feeling really good!” Mr Trump tweeted earlier. “Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life.”
The US has had 7.4 million cases of Covid-19 and 210,000 deaths. Read more
Scientists studying whether the common cold could fight Covid-19 (Metro)
Researchers are looking at whether the common cold could offer some protection against contracting Covid-19.
A recent study by scientists at Yale University found that rhinovirus – the most frequent cause of common cold – could jump-start the body’s antiviral defences, providing protection against the flu.
They discovered that the presence of rhinovirus triggered production of the antiviral agent interferon, which is part of the early immune system response to invasion of pathogens. The researchers are now looking at whether introduction of the cold virus before infection by the Covid-19 virus offers a similar type of protection. Read more
Democrats insist on barrier during upcoming Pence-Harris VP debate – report (RT)
Plexiglass barriers will reportedly be used in the upcoming debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Joe Biden’s running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, said to be requested by Democrats after President Donald Trump caught Covid-19.
Trump tested positive for the coronavirus just two days after debating Biden in Cleveland, Ohio. While Biden has so far tested negative, the Commission on Presidential Debates – the NGO running the process – decided to almost double the distance between Pence and Harris, from 7 feet (2.1 meters) to 13 (4 meters). Read more
Kyrgyzstan election: Protesters storm parliament over vote-rigging claims (BBC)
Protestors in Kyrgyzstan calling for the country’s parliamentary election to be annulled have broken into parliament in the capital, Bishkek.
Footage showed people in the office of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, and throwing paper from windows. Parts of the building appeared to be on fire.
The break-in follows a day of clashes with police, who initially dispersed crowds with water cannon and tear gas. Read more
Man’s pet geese come with him to the pub wearing special nappies (Metro)
A man who adopted two pet geese during lockdown has started taking them to his local pub wearing nappies.
Sven Kirby, 34, is regularly spotted walking the birds, named Norbert and Beep Beep, around the streets of Leeds and the odd trio have now branched out into socialising in their local.
The admin assistant hand-reared the birds from five days old after buying them for £40 each in June. Read more
Long Covid’: Why are some people not recovering? (BBC)
For most people, Covid-19 is a brief and mild disease but some are left struggling with symptoms including lasting fatigue, persistent pain and breathlessness for months.
The condition known as “long Covid” is having a debilitating effect on people’s lives, and stories of being left exhausted after even a short walk are now common.
So far, the focus has been on saving lives during the pandemic, but there is now a growing recognition that people are facing long-term consequences of a Covid infection. Read more
Tom Cruise spotted filming stunts on roof of moving train for Mission: Impossible 7 by eager fan (Metro)
Tom Cruise was seen filming stunts for his upcoming movie Mission: Impossible 7 on the roof of a moving train in Norway.
The actor, 58, is reprising his role as Ethan Hunt – an agent of the Impossible Missions force – for the seventh movie in the Mission: Impossible franchise.
The movie is set to drop next year and Tom has been busy filming, now production has picked up again, after being halted back in February due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mikel Arteta hails ‘high quality’ Thomas Partey as Arsenal shirt number is revealed (Metro)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta couldn’t hide his excitement after the Gunner finally completed a £45m deal for Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey.
The 27-year-old signed a long-term contract with the Gunners in the final hour before the transfer window closed following a chaotic deadline day.
Arsenal had wanted to sign Partey earlier in the window but the club wanted to offload some deadwood at the Emirates before activating the Ghanian’s £45m release clause. Read more
Edinson Cavani: Man Utd sign ex-PSG striker on free transfer (BBC)
Manchester United have signed former Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani on a free transfer.
The 33-year-old Uruguay international, who left PSG at the end of June, has signed a one-year contract.
Cavani has scored 341 goals in 556 club matches, including a record 200 in 301 appearances for the French giants. He also has 50 goals in 116 Uruguay games.
One of his first United games could come against PSG in the Champions League group match on 20 October.
Before that, United face Newcastle United in the Premier League on 17 October, the first game after the international break. Read more
Jack Wilshere posts statement after being released by West Ham (Metro)
Jack Wilshere has been released by West Ham after making just 19 appearances in his two-year spell at the Premier League club.
The England midfielder joined West Ham on a three-year deal in the summer of 2018 from London rivals Arsenal.
Wilshere had made 197 appearances for the Gunners and won two FA Cups but struggled with injuries during his time in north London.
Those injury problems continued during his spell at West Ham, with Wilshere making just 16 Premier League appearances for the Hammers. Read more
French Open: Novak Djokovic says hitting another line judge with ball was ‘awkward’ (BBC)
Novak Djokovic says it was a “a very awkward situation” when a ball flew off his racquet into a line judge’s face during a French Open fourth-round win.
The 33-year-old Serb was defaulted from the US Open last month when he hit a line judge after swatting away a spare ball in frustration.
This time – in a straight-set win over Karen Khachanov – there was no chance of a default as the ball was still in play and it was not a dangerous action.
“I hope he’s fine,” Djokovic said. Read more
German ace Siegemund eats meal during French Open win (RT)
Tennis star Laura Siegemund caused a stir at the French Open again on Monday after she was seen eating a meal during a timeout in her win over Paula Badosa.
The German beat the Spaniard 7-5, 6-2 to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, but the match will be best remembered for her eating habits on the sidelines.
While it’s a common sight to see tennis players chow down on a banana or a chocolate bar to give them a much-needed energy boost during a match, Siegemund took advantage of a medical timeout for Badosa to retrieve what appeared to be a large tub of noodles. Read more
Bayern Munich transfer news: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting signs, Douglas Costa returns on loan (BBC)
Bayern Munich have signed Cameroon international Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on a one-year contract.
The Hamburg-born striker, 31, was a free agent after his contract expired at Paris St-Germain last month.
Brazil winger Douglas Costa, 30, has also rejoined Bayern from Juventus on a season-long loan deal. Read more
Brazillian winger Alves joins Kwara United on one-year deal (Punch)
Kwara United have snapped up exciting Brazilian winger Lucas Ribeiro Alves on a one-year loan deal, The PUNCH has learnt.
The new arrival will be unveiled soon, according to the player’s Greece-based Nigerian agent Peter Denise Alade.
Alves is the second high-profile signing to join the Afonja Warriors, ahead of the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League, following the arrival of former Super Eagles goalkeeper Dele Ayenugba from Isareli side Hapoel Afula. Read more