Allow merit in selection of LASU VC, Group, alumni tell Sanwo-Olu (Vanguard)
A group of lecturers at the Lagos State University, LASU, The Liberators and members of the Alumni Association of the institution have appealed to the Visitor to the University, who is also the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to allow merit to prevail in the selection of the ninth substantive Vice Chancellor of the institution.
TheLiberators, in a memorandum to the Visitation Panel set up by the governor to look into certain things in the university, noted that anything short of selecting the next VC on merit would reverse the gains recorded in the university in the last few years.
Thememorandum was signed by Professors Adeleke Fakoya, Biodun Akinpelu and Sola Fosudo on behalf of other members of the group. Read more
Expert to LASG: Start planning for 40m residents now (NewTelegraph)
As Lagos city moves beyond being a megacity to a metacity, an expert has called on the state government to begin pragmatic physical and urban plans to enable the state to cater for the needs of an estimated 40 million residents by the next 25 years.
According to the expert, the term ”metacity” which was coined in 2006 by the UN-Habitat as massive sprawling conurbations of more than 20 million people, was more appropriate to describe since the term megacity – is used to describe cities of over ten million people.
Speaking at the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) Lagos State Chapter Lagos Architects Forum 2021, the National President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, (NITP), Mr Olutoyin Ayinde said that there is an urgent need for the state government to take the issue of planning seriously to meet the future needs of the city. Read more
Policeman injured as gunmen invade station in Abia (Nation)
Gunmen have attacked Ubani Police Station named after the former IGP, Mike Okiro, in Umuahia North Local Government Area, few distance away from the state capital.
The establishment of Ubani police station by immediate past Governor Sen. Theodore Orji was to provide security for traders at the Ubani Ibeku market and other suburbs.
Sources said a police officer was injured while repelling the hoodlums, stating no life was lost.
The attack was said to have occurred around 9am on Sunday.
It was gathered the hoodlums razed exhibit cars parked in the premises of the police station. Read more
Bandits kill ex-soldier, wife, daughter-in-law in Kaduna village (Leadership)
Kaduna State government, on Sunday, said a retired Sergeant of the Nigerian Army, Christopher Madaki, his wife, and daughter-in-law were shot dead by bandits in Golkofa community, Jama’a local government area of the state.
In a statement issued by the commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, he explained that the incident occurred during an attack on the community on Saturday night.
The statement, however, said Madaki’s son, Clement, survived the attack with injuries.
Aruwan said the Kaduna State Police Command and a military outfit, Operation Safe Haven, reported the incident to State Government. Read more
Passport issuance resumes May 31 – Aregbesola (Punch)
Several months after the delay in the issuance of passports, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on Saturday said the Nigeria Immigration Service was working to ensure all outstanding passport applications were issued by May 31.
He also said that from June 1, passports would be issued within six weeks, explaining that the COVID-19 pandemic affected the issuance of passports in the country.
He, however, said the government had launched the electronic temporary passport to ease the burden on Nigerians.
Aregbesola spoke on Saturday during a virtual inaugural quarterly lecture series of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission which was monitored by Sunday PUNCH. Read more
Bello appoints speech impaired ex-cleaner as aide (Guardian)
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has appointed a speech impaired youth and former cleaner, Peter Aliyu, as his Senior Special Assistant on Sanitation.
This was made known in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
The appointment, Muhammed said, was part of Bello’s efforts to foster inclusion in governance. Read more
Nigeria’s debt profile unsustainable – LCCI DG (Punch)
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry boss, Dr Muda Yusuf
The Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muda Yusuf, says Nigeria’s debt profile is unsustainable.
Yusuf said this in an interview with Channels TV.
The video of the interview was posted on the television station’s YouTube channel on Sunday.
According to Yusuf, Nigerians should be worried about the level of accumulated debt as it appears the nation lacks the capacity to service the debt. Read more
Police nab notorious armed robber in Kaduna (Guardian)
The Police Command in Kaduna State says it’s operatives have arrested a notorious suspected armed robber and cultist, and recovered a Baretta pistols from him.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Mohammed Jalige, made the disclosure in a statement in Kaduna on Sunday.
Jalige said that the command acted on credible intelligence received from a good Samaritan through the DPO Kabala West on May 8, at about 07:00hrs
“We were reliably informed that a suspected armed robber responsible for terrorizing and dispossessing unsuspecting commuters of their valuables on Nmandi Azikwe Expressway, Kaduna, was sighted at an usual spot. Read more
NDLEA busts drug trafficking hideout in Abuja, arrests five (Punch)
The Abuja Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency busted an online drug trafficking hideout in Abuja, arresting five members of the criminal group in the process.
An official statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the raid by the NDLEA Abuja Command between Friday and Saturday led to the arrest of the culprits who were specialized in selling drugged cakes, cookies, brownies and other substances through social media platforms.
The arrested drug dealers include Queen Nvene, Collins Ozoemena, Samson Peter, Chika Nvene, and Habila Musa.
“The group specialises in clandestine production of drug based cookies, brownies and other edibles; markets and sells some online, through their Twitter and Instagram handles,” the statement partly read. Read more
Elon Musk shows humility, hubris in Saturday Night Live appearance (CBC)
Elon Musk showed a combination of humility and hubris as he opened his highly anticipated hosting gig on Saturday Night Live.
The Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder opened his monologue by mocking his monotonal speaking style, saying no one can tell when he’s joking.
“It’s great to be hosting Saturday Night Live and I really mean it,” said Musk standing on the stage in a black suit with a black T-shirt. “Sometimes after I say something, I have to say that I mean it.”
Musk also joked about his Twitter account, which has more than 50 million followers, and the tweets that led some critics to object to his being invited to host the show. “Look I know I sometimes say or post strange things, but that’s just how my brain works,” he said. Read more
Russia celebrates WWII Victory Day with traditional grand military parade in Moscow (RT)
An annual military parade was held on Moscow’s iconic Red Square as Russia celebrates victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
World War II is often called the Great Patriotic War in Russia, and May 9 is one of the country’s most revered holidays.
More than 12,000 uniformed soldiers, military police officers, national guardsmen and cadets marched through Red Square on Sunday shortly after a moment of silence was observed in honor of the millions killed in the war.
The number of participants was slightly scaled-down compared to last year when Russia marked the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany and its allies. Read more
Thousands to march in France demanding real action on climate change (France24)
Some 160 demonstrations calling for substantive action on climate change are set to take place across France on Sunday, a day before the Senate is expected to reject a bill that would enshrine a commitment to “environmental protection and biological diversity” in the French constitution.
President Emmanuel Macron’s promise to enshrine the fight against climate change in the French constitution via a referendum was in doubt on Sunday as senators appeared poised to torpedo the plan.
The initiative to state in the constitution that France “guarantees environmental protection and biological diversity, and combats climate change” originated in a citizen’s body set up by Macron last year. Read more
Spain celebrates end of COVID lockdown with street parties (DW)
Hundreds of young people across Spain danced in the streets as the clock struck midnight on Saturday, celebrating the end of a six-month-long national state of emergency.
With COVID-19 infection rates stabilizing and progress in the vaccination drive, most of Spain’s 17 regions were able to relax coronavirus restrictions.
Scenes of unmasked dancing and group singing in Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol square resembled pre-pandemic nightlife. Police had to usher revelers out.
In Barcelona, police also had to move people on after the last curfew began at 10 p.m. but let them back at midnight when it ended for good. Revelers headed to the beach with drinks in hand. Read more
DJ Khaled gets stopped for speeding in the middle of the water in Miami in latest jet ski debacle (Metro)
DJ Khaled is known for his love of jet skis but that’s not to say he hasn’t had a few run-ins while on the water. The producer, 45, was spotted enjoying a day out on his multicoloured jet ski in Miami, where he was ripping his way through the water. However, his fun was cut short when he appeared to be stopped by police on a Miami Beach Marine Patrol boat for speeding in the Collins Waterway, which is a no wake zone. DJ Khaled and the policeman appeared to have a casual chat before the music star went on his way once more. Read more
Researchers detect link between teenage brain thinning and onset of psychosis later in life (RT)
Scientists in the US have discovered a link between differences in the thickness of gray matter in teenagers’ brains and a subsequent increase in the risk of developing psychosis later in life.
The findings could pave the way for earlier detection, through more focused analysis of MRI scans, as well as more effective and targeted treatment for patients.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Maastricht University in the Netherlands examined the MRI scans of 3,169 volunteers with an average age of 21.
Some 1,792 of the scans were of brains of patients already deemed to be at “clinical high risk for developing psychosis.” Sadly, 253 of the study’s participants went on to develop psychosis within two years. Read more
Michael Jordan: Basketball legend’s North Carolina jersey sells for a record £1m (BBC)
A game-worn jersey belonging to Michael Jordan from his second season at the University of North Carolina sold for a record $1.38m (£1m) on Saturday.
It is the only known shirt photo-matched to the basketball legend’s 1982-83 season with the Tar Heels.
It sold for more than three times the previous record for a Jordan jersey.
“As the final price tag proves, this jersey has everything any serious collector could possibly want,” Chris Ivy of Heritage Auctions said. Read more
Naomi Osaka conflicted over holding the Tokyo Olympics (CBC)
Naomi Osaka is conflicted over whether the Tokyo Olympics should be held amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The second-ranked tennis player, who represents Japan, was asked about the games at the Italian Open on Sunday.
“Of course I would say I want the Olympics to happen, because I’m an athlete and that’s sort of what I’ve been waiting for my entire life,” she said. Read more
Gibbs-White gives Wolves dramatic late win over 10-man Brighton (BBC)
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo says now is the right time for Wolves to “build and improve players” after his youthful side came back from a goal down to beat 10-man Brighton.
Morgan Gibbs-White, 21, scored a dramatic last-minute winner for the home side, who trailed at the break but benefited from Lewis Dunk’s sending-off early in the second to take control of the game.
Dunk had earlier headed the visitors in front from a corner, but was punished for pulling back Fabio Silva after the forward had darted goal-side of him.
Substitute Adama Traore made a big impact on the game, providing a threat and scoring the equaliser after a one-two in the box with Silva. Read more
Mercedes masterstroke in Spain helps Hamilton deny Verstappen (France24)
Lewis Hamilton claimed his fifth successive Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after a Mercedes pit-stop masterstroke.
Hamilton moved on to 98 career wins after a surprise second change of tyres hoodwinked Red Bull to lift him 14 points clear of Verstappen in the drivers’ standings.
Valtteri Bottas took third with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in fourth.
Hamilton had set off from pole for the 100th time but was beaten to the first corner by Verstappen, with Leclerc dishing out the same treatment on Bottas on turn two.
On lap eight Yuki Tsunoda’s Sunday drive in Catalonia came to a premature end when his Alpha Tauri came to a grinding halt. Read more
Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit fails drugs test (BBC)
Trainer Bob Baffert congratulates jockey John Velazquez after Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby earlier this month
Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, who provided trainer Bob Baffert with a record seventh win in the race, has failed a drugs test.
Baffert said he was “shocked” after the horse tested above the limit for betamethasone and insisted he had never administered the substance.
“I got the biggest gut punch in racing for something I didn’t do,” he said.
Medina Spirit, ridden by John Velazquez, won America’s most famous race at Churchill Downs on 1 May. Read more
Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium holds track and field test event, minus fans (CBC)
Seated inside Tokyo’s new $1.4 billion US National Stadium, Sebastian Coe again tried to reassure athletes and skeptical residents of Japan that the postponed Olympics will be safe when they open in just under 11 weeks.
An IOC member and two-time Olympic gold medallist , Coe heads track and field’s world governing body World Athletics, which ran a test event on Sunday with 420 athletes, only nine of whom entered from outside Japan to compete.The Olympics and Paralympics will draw 15,000 athletes and tens of thousands of officials, judges, media and broadcasters. They will enter a country that has essentially had its borders sealed for more than a year. Read more