THISISLAGOS MORNING NEWS UPDATE AUGUST 4, 2018
Ambode, check impunity on Lagos roads (Punch)
After days of lethargy, the Lagos State Government roused itself from the slumber the other weekend to untangle the traffic chaos that had grounded many parts of the metropolis. Characteristically, the response came by way of a “task force” that had representatives of the federal and state governments, military and police, as well as maritime sector operators and other stakeholders. The problems around the Apapa ports are gargantuan, no doubt, but gridlock has also worsened in the city in recent times. Ambode squarely bears the responsibility to clear the mess. Congestion or gridlock has been part of the Lagos story for decades, earning this metropolis of 23 million population notoriety for disorder on the highways. Read more
Lagos PDP begs for national body’s intervention (Vanguard)
Some leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State on Thursday called for national body’s intervention for a speedy resolution of leadership crisis rocking the party in the state. They said in Lagos that Lagos PDP needed a united front ahead of the 2019 general elections. According to them, only speedy intervention of the national body of our party can bring about sanity into the Lagos PDP before 2019 general elections. Speaking, Mr Anayo Emeanua, a former Legal Adviser and member of the Lagos PDP caucus, blamed the party’s problem on lack of cooperation among the leaders. Emeanua said that the state chairman, Mr Moshood Salvador, along with other state executive members had been working hard to pacify, reconcile and bring all aggrieved party leaders and members together. Read more
Cleaner Lagos Initiative: Gov’s aide sensitizes LCDA stakeholders (Nation)
In a bid to sustain the newest strategy aimed at providing a clean and safe environment for the people of Lagos,, the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Cleaner Lagos Initiative, Engr. Adebola Shabi sensitizes Agboyi-Ketu stakeholders on modus operandi of the initiative . The programme held at Agboyi-Ketu Secretariat, attracted participants from all walks of life, cutting across traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, market men and women, artisans, transport unions, women group, and youth bodies. Welcoming the stakeholders, the council mayor charged them to see cleanliness of their environment as a developmental task that must be accomplished. Read more
Visionscape reiterates commitment to cleaner Lagos (Guardian)
Visionscape Sanitation Solutions has reiterated its commitment to ensure the entire city is rid of waste. This is following complaints about the resurgence of waste across Lagos state, especially Lagos west. Speaking at a press roundtable in Lagos, its Chief Executive Officer, John Irvine, said, “Under the new arrangements for waste management reform by the state Ministry of Environment, our mandate to accelerate waste infrastructure has made it necessary to temporarily close two transfer loading stations in that axis (Lagos West) for upgrades and refurbishment of the facilities. As a result, there is a backlog, as Waste Collection Operators experience a higher turn-around time. Read more
FG, states, LGs got N4.1tn in 6 months (Punch)
Between January and June this year, the three tiers of government received a total allocation of N4.1tn from the Federation Account, investigations have revealed. An analysis of the Federation Account Allocation Committee distribution made by our correspondent showed that unlike in 2017 when the revenue allocation to the three tiers of government was low, the 2018 fiscal period has been very rewarding despite crude oil production shutdown. The committee headed by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, is made up of commissioners for finance from the 36 states of the federation, the Accountant General of the Federation, and representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Read more
Family announces Ras Kimono’s burial date (Guardian)
The family of the late reggae icon, Augustine Ukeleke Onwubuya popularly known as Ras Kimono, the rub-a-dub-master has announced date and activities for his burial. At a media parley held at O’jez Restaurant, Surulere, Lagos on Monday, Mr. Theophilus Ehizibue on behalf of the family of the deceased and in the presence of some members of Kimono’s family, reeled out activities for the funeral arrangements. Activities for the burial will commence from August 20 and run through to August 26. The social wake-keep will hold at his Magodo, Lagos residence on Friday, August 17 from 8pm. Premier Music tribute would hold at the Freedom Park, Lagos, on Monday August 20, while reggae dancehall party holds at his Magodo residence also on the day. Read more
Lagos hots up, as stars rock City Of Friends (Guardian)
The Eagles’ Club, Surulere, yesterday, came under heavy sound of music and loads of comedy, as leading Nigerian entertainers stormed the city of Lagos for the “33” Export sponsored City Of Friends gig. A two-day funfair and merriment for friends, the concert, which was created as part events to celebrate the 2018 World Friendship Day, paraded the likes of Phyno, Kizz Daniel, Simi, 9ice, Small Doctor and the country’s Fuji maestro, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, with comedians MC Shakara and Gordons on ground to crack ribs. As early as 2pm, the DJ had started belting out popular Naija tunes from gigantic woofers positioned at strategic points within the venue. For sure, that was enough sign to residents of Surulere that something big was about to go down. Read more
Lagos teachers arrested for stealing school fees (Punch)
The police have arrested two teachers at a private primary school in Lekki, Lagos State, Divina Oluwadere and Elizabeth Tijani, for allegedly diverting the school’s cooperative funds and fees paid by pupils for their own use. An official of the school, Ijaola Adesola, was also apprehended for the alleged crime. Apart from being teachers, it was learnt that Oluwadare and Tijani performed administrative roles in the school which gave them access to its funds. Oluwadare reportedly diverted the sum of N182,000 while Tijani and Adesola allegedly took N583,000 and N492,000 respectively. Read more
NGO founder allegedly sodomises twin sons in Lagos (Punch)
The founder of a non-governmental organisation, Jephath Ighodaro, has been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, for allegedly defiling his twin sons. Punch Metro gathered that the 37-year-old suspect was arrested in the Aguda, Surulere area of the state by the police and some officials of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender. A source told our correspondent that the case was reported by the suspect’s wife after the two boys, aged four, fondled her breasts in an “adult way.” Read more
Drama as APC chieftain docked for rape appears in court on stretcher (Guardian)
It was double jeopardy for a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief Richard Perekeme Kpodoh, as the State High Court 7, sitting in Yenagoa, presided over by Justice Eradiri, yesterday, failed to grant an application for bail filed by counsel to the defendant, who is standing trial for rape. While the presiding Judge was denying him bail, despite appearing in court on stretcher, his party, through the Publicity Secretary, Doifie Buokoribo, said he was never a member of the party. Kpodoh was first arraigned at the Magistrate Court 10, presided over by E.T. Empire-Ugwa, on two counts of unlawful detention and rape of one Teke Blessing. Read more
CAA Asaba 2018: Delta State breaks 39-yr-old record (SUN)
The ongoing African Senior Athletics Championship in Asaba, Delta State, has recorded a milestone of the highest number of participation since the championship began 39 years ago. The championship, in its 21st edition, has 800 athletes in attendance, the highest in the history of the competition, 46 events and with 52 countries in attendance, also the highest so far since the inception of the championship in 1979. The feat has put Delta State and indeed Nigeria on the pedestal for pulling the whole of Africa together in one competition. Read more
NBBF appoints Hughley as new D’Tigress coach (Punch)
The Nigeria Basketball Federation has appointed NBA coach, Otis Hughley, as an immediate replacement for Sam Vincent whose sack as D’Tigress coach was announced on Friday. The appointment of Hughley, a former NBA coach, was finalised after the NBBF leadership approved his program for the D’Tigress’ participation at the World Cup in Spain. NBBF president, Ahmadu Musa-Kida, said the leadership of the federation settled for Hughley as it became apparent that he was the “most immediate available option.” Read more
Ribery says emotional goodbye to Vidal (Sportskeeda)
Franck Ribery has posted a heartfelt message to farewell Arturo Vidal as the Chile international nears a move from Bayern Munich to Barcelona. Vidal, 31, has played alongside Ribery at Bayern since swapping Juventus for the Allianz Arena in 2015, the pair winning the Bundesliga in each of their three seasons together in Germany. A deal has been agreed to between Barca and Bayern and Vidal is set to pull on the famous Blaugrana shirt next season, should he successfully complete a medical at Camp Nou. And veteran French forward Ribery will miss the energetic midfielder in Bavaria this season. Read more
Chelsea and Manchester City lock horns In Community Shield (Sports.Ndtv)
Sunday’s Community Shield is set to feature various youngsters and fringe players as FIFA World Cup 2018 stars ease their way back into club action. Chelsea take on Manchester City in Sunday’s Community Shield — the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season — but the Wembley showpiece will offer few clues as to the destination of the Premier League title. The glorified friendly between the league champions and the FA Cup winners has been a notoriously poor predictor of success in recent years — no winner has gone on to be crowned champions in the same season since Manchester United in 2010-11. The game, likely to be played in sizzling summer temperatures in London, is set to feature various youngsters and fringe players as FIFA World Cup 2018 stars ease their way back into club action. Read more
Pompeo says optimistic about ending North Korea’s nuclear programme (Reuters)
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday the process of ending North Korea’s nuclear programme would take time but he was optimistic that it would be done within a timeline set by the leaders of the two countries. It was important to maintain diplomatic and economic pressure on the North, he said, and the United States takes very seriously any detraction from enforcing U.N. sanctions, Pompeo said on the sidelines of a regional conference. “I’m optimistic that we will get this done in the timeline and the world will celebrate what the U.N. Security Council has demanded,” Pompeo told a news conference. Read more
North Korea continuing nuclear programme – UN report (BBC)
North Korea has not stopped its nuclear and missile programmes, violating UN sanctions, a report commissioned by the UN Security Council says. It also says Pyongyang has resorted to a “massive increase” of illegal ship-to-ship transfers of oil products and has been trying to sell weapons abroad. The confidential report by a panel of independent experts was submitted to the UN Security Council on Friday. North Korea has so far not commented on the document’s findings. Last week, US officials said Pyongyang appeared to be building new ballistic missiles despite recent warming ties with US President Donald Trump’s administration and pledges to denuclearise. Read more
UN experts: N Korea hasn’t stopped nuke and missile programs (Washingtonpost)
U.N. experts say North Korea has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs and is violating U.N. sanctions including by “a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum productions.” A summary of the report by experts monitoring U.N. sanctions against North Korea, which was sent to the Security Council Friday night and obtained by AP, says North Korea is also violating sanctions by transferring coal at sea and flouting an arms embargo and financial sanctions. The United States said last month that North Korea is illegally smuggling refined petroleum products into the country beyond the quota of 500,000 barrels per year allowed under U.N. sanctions. Read more