Accident claims 3 lives on Lagos-Ibadan expressway (Guardian)
Three persons were confirmed dead in an accident involving a Toyota Sienna and a Mack tipper around Onigaari on Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Spokesperson for Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), confirmed the incident to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta on Monday. Akinbiyi said that the accident was caused by speeding and recklessness of the driver of the Siena car marked MUS 932 FE which rammed into a stationary tipper. Read more
Osinbajo, ministers meet on $9.6bn judgment, decline comments (Punch)
Top officials of the Federal Government held a meeting on Monday to discuss the government’s response to the $9.6bn judgment entered against Nigeria in favour of Process and Industrial Developments by a United Kingdom court. The meeting, which was presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, came as the economic implications of the controversial judgment on Nigeria gained national and international focus. Read more
FG may clash with South Africa over xenophobic attacks (Punch)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has said the Federal Government would take “definitive measures” in the aftermath of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. He was, however, silent on the measures that would be taken over the increasing violence against Nigerians and other foreigners in the country. He described the attackers as mindless criminals, noting that the police intervention was ineffective. Read more
Special Forces to combat insecurity in Southwest (Nation)
Special Forces will be deployed in the Southwest to battle the escalated insecurity in the region, the police announced on Monday. The forces, to be commanded by a commissioner of police, will be supported with technology, better equipment and Community Police Officers (CPOs). The CPOs will complement the police, by performing low-risk and non-sensitive functions. Read more
Mambilla project: Nigeria risks another $2.3bn fine (Punch)
Nigeria may face another $2.3bn fine in arbitration in France over an alleged breach of contract on Mambilla Hydroelectric project. This is coming after a British commercial court awarded $9.6bn against the country in favour of Process and Industrial Development Company in a botched gas processing deal. The Mambilla project is currently a subject of litigation instituted by Messrs Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited. Read more
We’re targets of attacks in Benue — Igbo residents (Punch)
Igbo communities in various parts of Benue State, especially Gboko on Monday alleged that the Igbo were being targeted for kidnapping and murder by native gangs and bandits. Addressing journalists at a press conference in Enugu, Mr Okafor Nnolim, one of the leader’s of the Igbo community in Gboko, claimed there was no week an Igbo person was not kidnapped or murdered in Benue State, saying, “We have been subjected to paying millions of naira in ransom.” Read more
NYSC ties corpers’ pay rise to minimum wage (Punch)
The National Youth Service Corps has said it will increase the monthly allowance of corps members “immediately the Federal Government starts the payment of the new minimum wage.” The NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, stated this on Monday while assuring corps members nationwide that efforts were being made to ensure adequate welfare. Read more
Zamfara gov to give N2bn to women (Punch)
The Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Belllo Matawalle, has earmarked N2bn for women in the state. The governor, who spoke on Zamfara Radio phone-in programme as part of activities to mark his 100 days in office, said the amount would be distributed to women in batches. He said, “About 1,800 women will be selected every month who will receive N20,000 each for the next four years.” Read more
Abiodun bows to OOU resident doctors, orders recruitment (Punch)
The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has ordered the immediate recruitment of doctors into the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu in response to the demand of the resident doctors of the institution. Abiodun gave the order five hours after the doctors announced their intention to embark on an indefinite strike against the failure of the government to recruit doctors for the institution. Read more
Seme customs seize 875 bags of foreign rice, other goods worth N40m (Guardian)
The Customs Service, Seme Border Area Command, says it has intercepted 875 bags of foreign parboiled rice and other goods, valued at N40m, in two weeks. ASC Nuruddeen Saidu, the Customs Public Relations Officer, Seme, Area Command, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, in Lagos. The statement quoted that the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Garba, as saying that the efforts of the enforcement unit of the Command, with regard to suppression of smuggling, was yielding remarkable results. Read more
Dozens arrested in South Africa as looting rocks Johannesburg (BBC)
Dozens of people have been arrested in the South African city of Johannesburg after rioters looted shops and torched buildings and vehicles. Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades in an attempt to quell the unrest on Monday. Many of the targeted shops are reported to be owned by foreign nationals. Read more
General Election ‘will be tabled if MPs vote for Brexit delay’ (Metro)
We could be headed for a General Election on October 14 if the government is defeated in Parliament tomorrow. The stage is set for a historic showdown, with the government threatening to call an early election if rebels succeed. A motion for an early General Election will be tabled if the Government is defeated by a cross-party bid to delay Brexit, a Downing Street source said. Read more
Afghanistan war: US-Taliban deal would see 5,400 troops withdraw (BBC)
The United States would withdraw 5,400 troops from Afghanistan within 20 weeks as part of a deal “in principle” with Taliban militants, Washington’s top negotiator has said. Zalmay Khalilzad revealed details of the long-awaited deal for the first time in a TV interview after briefing Afghan leaders on the agreement. But he said final approval still rested with US President Donald Trump. Read more
Texas shooting: Gunman had just been fired, police say (BBC)
The suspected gunman in Saturday’s mass shooting in Texas had been fired that morning, and called police and the FBI before his attack, US media report. Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke reportedly said both the shooter and his company rang 911 after he was fired but he left before police arrived. FBI agent Christopher Combs described his phone statements as “rambling”. Read more
California boat fire: Four bodies recovered off Santa Cruz Island (BBC)
Four bodies have been recovered and four more spotted on the ocean floor after a boat was destroyed by fire off the coast of California, US authorities said. Five crew of the commercial diving boat Conception escaped the blaze. The fire started in the early hours of Monday. The boat was anchored just metres off Santa Cruz Island, about 90 miles (145km) west of Los Angeles. Read more
Justin Bieber reflects on his past drug abuse and ‘disrespectful’ treatment of women: ‘I was a shell of a person’ (Metro)
Justin Bieber has reflected on his past struggles with drugs in a searingly honest Instagram post. The 25-year-old singer opened up about substance abuse and his ‘disrespect’ towards women while battling the pressures of child stardom. Posting a lengthy note to Instagram, Bieber wrote: ‘It’s hard to get out of bed in the morning with the right attitude when you are overwhelmed with your life your past, job, responsibilities, emotions, your family, finances, your relationships. Read more
Kevin Hart is ‘awake and doing fine’ in hospital after shock car collision (Metro)
Kevin Hart is ‘awake’ and doing ‘just fine’ in hospital after being involved in a horrifying car collision. The comedian, 41, suffered a ‘major back injury’ after his vintage car reportedly careered off the road into a ditch at 1am on Sunday. Kevin’s wife, Eniko Parrish, told TMZ that the actor is doing ‘great’ and is expected to make a full recovery after his Plymouth Barracuda smashed through a wooden fence. Read more
Don’t allow cabal intimidate you, Dalung tells Dare (Punch)
Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has urged the new sports minister, Sunday Dare, not to allow the cabal in the sports sector to intimidate him. According to the ex-minister, he fought “untouchable” cabal during his tenure and succeeded. Dalung boasted that his tenure liberated the sports ministry, adding that the new sports minister would have a smooth administration. Read more
Ahmed Musa charges Olympic Eagles to beat Sudan in Omdurman (Guardian)
Super Eagles’ captain, Ahmed Musa has charged the U-23 National Team, Olympic Eagles, to go all out and make the nation proud as the team intensified preparations for the final round of this year’s U-23 AFCON qualifiers against Sudan. Musa made the call when he showed up at the team’s training session at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja on Sunday evening. Read more
Falcao arrival sees Mbaye Diagne sent on loan by Galatasaray (BBC)
Senegal striker Mbaye Diagne has been sent on a season-long loan to Belgian side Club Bruges by Turkish champions Galatasaray. The move comes despite the 27-year-old scoring 30 goals in 29 Super Lig matches last season to finish as top scorer and helped the Turkish giants to a domestic double. His switch follows the shock arrival of veteran Colombia striker Radamel Falcao from Monaco. Read more
Mauro Icardi: Argentina striker joins Paris St-Germain on season-long loan from Inter (BBC)
Argentina striker Mauro Icardi has joined Paris St-Germain on a season-long loan from Inter Milan. The 26-year-old has also signed a two-year contract extension at Inter but PSG have the option to make the move permanent for a reported fee of 65m euros (£59m). Icardi spent six years at Inter, scoring 124 goals in 219 appearances. Read more
Bernd Leno says he ‘did a very good job’ in north London derby after mistake for Spurs opener (Metro)
Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno felt he was ‘unlucky’ for the mistake that saw Tottenham take the lead in the north London but was pleased with his response as he made a number of important stops. The German was picking the ball out of his net after just 10 minutes when he meekly palmed a tame effort from Erik Lamela into the path of Christian Eriksen, who tapped home from close range. Read more
Ryan Kent: Liverpool forward completes Rangers move (BBC)
Ryan Kent has completed his £7m switch from Liverpool to Rangers on a four-year deal. The 22-year-old Englishman spent last season on loan at the Scottish Premiership side, making 43 appearances and scoring six goals. Kent featured for Liverpool during pre-season, but his only competitive game for the Premier League club in January 2016. Read more
US Open 2019: Naomi Osaka loses to Belinda Bencic in last 16 (BBC)
Defending champion Naomi Osaka has been knocked out of the US Open, losing 7-5 6-4 to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the last 16. Osaka, 21, was broken late in the opening set and then again in the fifth game of the second under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof at Flushing Meadows. Japan’s Osaka will lose her world number one ranking, with Ashleigh Barty of Australia to return to the top spot. Read more
Roger Federer on how he and Serena Williams are still competing at the top (Metro)
By the end of this month, Roger Federer and Serena Williams will have a combined age of 76. It’s possible by that time they will boast a collective haul of 45 Grand Slam titles, with both firmly in the hunt to make more history at the US Open. The pair will be involved in Tuesday’s night session – with a spot in the semi-finals up for grabs against Wang Qiang and Grigor Dimitrov – and few would write them off going all the way. Read more
US Open 2019: Rafael Nadal beats Marin Cilic to make quarter-finals (BBC)
Spanish second seed Rafael Nadal responded to the challenge thrown down by 2014 champion Marin Cilic as he battled to reach the US Open quarter-finals with a four-set win. Nadal, 33, ultimately had too much quality for the Croatian 22nd seed in a 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-2 victory in New York. Cilic, 30, briefly rediscovered his best form to level before wilting. Read more
‘Learn from Roger and Rafa’ – Zverev aims dig at Medvedev and Tsitsipas after US Open exit (Metro)
Alexander Zverev was satisfied with his own performances at the US Open despite serving 17 double faults in a fourth-round defeat to Diego Schwartzman but turned on some of his fellow Next Gen stars. The German sixth seed has seen his form drop off a cliff in 2019 and he struggled once more against Argentina’s Schwartzman, particularly on his second serve. ‘My first serve is still fine. My second serve needs to be worked on,’ he said after the 6-3 2-6 4-6 3-6 defeat. ‘But I’ll deal with it. Read more
Christian Coleman: US Anti-Doping Agency withdraws case against sprinter (BBC)
The US Anti-Doping Agency has withdrawn its case against sprinter Christian Coleman, the fastest man in the world this year. Coleman, 23, had been charged with missing three drugs tests and was facing an automatic one-year ban. Usada said it had withdrawn the charge after receiving guidance from the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada). Read more
