Amaechi slams pace of work on Lagos-Ibadan rail line (Nation)
Mr Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation has said that he was not impressed with the pace of work at the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project. Amaechi expressed his disappointment during the monthly inspection of the project in Ibadan on Tuesday. “There is a slow pace of work in Lagos axis of the project, “The expectations from the sub-contractor appointed for relocation of pipes and all that were not met. Read more
We’ll end Shiites’ protests, IGP promises (Punch)
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Wednesday promised to put an end to the protests by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria that has left some people dead and properties destroyed within the Federal Capital Territory. Idris made the promise in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after joining others to witness the inauguration of the 2019 Armed Forces Day Emblem at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Read more
Northern Christians urge Buhari to probe killings (Nation)
Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC) has urged the Federal Government to constitute a probe panel to investigate the recent Kaduna crises, discover the cause, the perpetrators and ensure peace. Speaking through its Media and Publicity Secretary Larry Joseph Yammai, the Christian body noted that the panel of inquiry will ensure that the crises do not spill to other parts of the state and other states. It also called for a commission to resettle those displaced from their homes to enable them go back and live their normal lives. Read more
N-Power expels illegal beneficiaries (Guardian)
Federal Government’s youth empowerment scheme, N-power, Wednesday, named some beneficiaries of the programme that have been expelled from the scheme. The scheme disclosed that the affected beneficiaries were kicked out because they were civil servants who had flouted its prior warning that intending beneficiaries, who are gainfully employed, should not apply for the programme. Read more
11 pregnant women, 130 other Nigerians return from Libya (Guardian)
No fewer than 141 Nigerians including 11 pregnant women have voluntarily returned from Libya to Nigeria with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU). Mr Segun Afolayan, Chief Planning Officer, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos. Read more
UN launches radio talk to educate Nigeria’s illegal migrants (Nation)
The UN migration agency has launched a radio series in Nigeria to sensitise vulnerable people seeking to pursue economic opportunities abroad on the perils of irregular migration. The International Organisation of Migration (IOM) said no fewer than 37,550 Nigerians arrived on Italian shores in 2016 while many more went missing or died. The UN agency warned that migration done outside the regulated frameworks was dangerous and provided information on pathways to migrate legally and safely. Read more
US missionary killed in Cameroon (BBC)
A US missionary has been killed in Cameroon about two weeks after moving there with his wife and eight children. Charles Wesco was in a car with his wife, son, another missionary and a driver on their way to a market in the city of Bamenda when he was shot. He was caught in cross-fire between the security forces and separatist fighters, a government statement said. Read more
Austria pulls out of UN global migration pact (Vanguard)
Austria on Wednesday backed out of a UN pact on migration over concerns that it will blur the line between legal and illegal migration. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was approved in July by all 193 UN member nations except the United States, which backed out in 2017. Read more
Trainee nun quits convent, becomes porn star (Punch)
A 28-year-old lady, Yudi Pineda, has revealed, how she quit the convent, where she was training to become a nun and opted for the life of a porn star. Pineda, who is described as Colombia’s best-loved porn star, hails from Ituango in the north-western Colombian department of Antioquia, reports Sun UK. The 28-year-old reportedly said: “I went to Uraba and I was at school when nuns came to visit us, and I knew then that I wanted to do that.” Read more
Nigeria records first win in Amputee World Cup (Guardian)
After two losses at the ongoing Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico, the Nigeria team, nicknamed ‘Special Eagles’ have finally recorded their first victory at the tournament. The Special Eagles defeated their opponents El Salvador by a lone goal scored by Ezeji Kennedy who is the first Nigerian player to score in an Amputee World Cup. Read more
FIFA bans Ghana’s former football president for life (Guardian)
Along with the ban, Nyantakyi faces a fine of CHF 500,000 ($496,000, 438,000 euros). In June, a documentary by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas was broadcast showing hidden camera footage of Ghanaian officials taking bribes, including Nyantakyi. Nyantakyi was accused of requesting $11 million (9.3 million euros) to secure government contracts. Read more
Neymar risks prison over Barca move, says Spanish magistrate (Guardian)
A Spanish magistrate leading an investigation into alleged irregularities in Neymar’s move to Barcelona in 2013 said Wednesday the Brazilian superstar could face up to six years in prison. “The term imposed, in principle, could be between four and six years,” said a decree issued by judge Jose Maria Vazquez Honrubia, a copy of which was seen by AFP. Read more
Imo Police nab alleged kidnappers of corps members (Punch)
The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command has arrested the alleged kidnappers of five corpers. The victims were kidnapped on the Umuapu axis of the Owerri/Port Harcourt expressway on October 23 on their way to the NYSC orientation camps in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. Their kidnappers had accosted the vehicles they were travelling in. Read more
Women beheaded, tongue, gullet cut off in Delta (Vanguard)
There was pandemonium in Oghara, headquarters of Ethiope West local government area of Delta State following the discovery of the beheaded remains of a woman with her tongue and gullet severed out and taken away by her assailants. The incident has caused tension in the community over what locals described as barbaric and unheard of in the community which is the country home of former Governor James Ibori. Read more