Apapa gridlock disappears as Buhari visits Lagos (Leadership)
The perennial traffic gridlock on the Lagos Ports access road, Apapa and Tincan, have disappeared as President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to commission the Deep Blue Project of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Thursday.
The project is aimed at combating piracy on the nation’s coastal waters and Gulf of Guinea (GoG) region.
The two ports are currently deserted as security operatives restrict movement and access to the port environment, thereby grounding economic activities at the ports.
The ports, which were always bustling with activities, have been deserted even trucks, which have always been a nightmare on the roads leading to the ports, have all disappeared. Read more
Eko Bridge repairs: Fashola assures speedy completion (Nation)
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday, assured Lagos residents of speedy completion of the rehabilitation of Eko Bridge.
Fashola said this during the inspection of the work on the bridge, which he said was targeted at ensuring the safety of residents and road users.
“Let me again thank the people of Lagos, the governor of Lagos and the government of Lagos for their understanding and forbearance that we have to close this section of this bridge starting from the 4th of June this year for nine weeks.
“The purpose is to ensure that this infrastructure continues to deliver for us. Read more
TB Joshua’s family seeks Lagos govt’s participation in pastor’s burial outfits (Sun)
Family of Prophet TB Joshua has requested active participation of theLagos State government during the burial of the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).
The widow, Evelyn made the appeal when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu paid a condolence visit to the family yesterday.
Though the burial program has not been announced, she said the family would need the presence and support of the state government during the burial.
She described the death of her as an act of God.
“What happened is an act of God. There is a time for everything. It didn’t come to me as a surprise. I appreciate your coming,” she said. Read more
FG to commence Kaduna-Kano rail line project (Leadership)
The federal government said the extension of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line to Kano will begin by end of June.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, stated this during the official commissioning of the Lagos-Ibadan rail line project on Thursday in Lagos.
According to him, “we have about three or four projects. This month, we will start Kano-Kaduna and then we will also start Port Harcourt to Maiduguri which also is done by CCECC and then Kano-Maradi.”
The minister also called for the maximum utilisation of the commissioned Lagos-Ibadan rail facility. Read more
1,000 houses demolished in Ogun for $1.5b Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line, says Amaechi (Vanguard)
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed that over 1,000 houses were demolished in Ogun State for the construction of the $1.5b Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line.
Amaechi said this during the flagged off of the rail line by President Muhammadu Buhari in Lagos on Thursday.
The project is the third standard gauge rail commissioned by President Buhari in the last five years after Kaduna-Kano and Itakpe-Warri rail lines.
The 157 kilometers rail line runs from Apapa-Wharf in Lagos through Ogun State and terminates at Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Speaking during the inauguration, Amaechi expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo state governments, adding “in Ogun State alone over 1,000 houses were demolished in the course of the construction.”
Shortly after the inauguration, President Buhari took a ride from Ebute Metta Station to Energy Nature Light, ENL, Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos. Read more
Nigeria’s gas reserves hit 206.53 trillion standard cubic feet (Guardian)
Proven gas deposits in Nigeria has moved to 206.53 trillion cubic feet, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said yesterday in Abuja.
Speaking at the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit, Director of DPR, Auwalu Sarki disclosed that indigenous oil and gas companies are now contributing as much as 33 per cent to the nation’s crude oil reserves and about 30 per cent of gas reserves.
While the companies contribution to the reserves was less than 10 million barrels in 2005, it has grown significantly to about 62 million barrels in 2020.
Speaking on the gas reserves, Auwalu attributed the growth to recent efforts being made on gas exploration in the country, especially the “Decade of Gas Initiative’. Read more
Catholic Bishops want Sharia law expunged from 1999 Constitution (Vanguard)
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has asked the National Assembly to expunge from the 1999 Constitution all references to Sharia Islamic law.
The Bishops also urged the lawmakers to project the secularity of Nigeria pursuant to Sections 10 and 38 of the Constitution as no other religion is recognised by the supreme law of the country except Islam.
In the copy of its memorandum presented to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review obtained by Vanguard on Thursday in Abuja, the CBCN stated that there must be an end to the established status that Islam enjoys in the Constitution before Nigeria can have lasting peace and unity.
The memorandum, which was co-signed by the CBCN President, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, and the Secretary of CBCN, Bishop Camillus Umoh, maintained that the 1999 constitution was an imposition of the military, adding that it has put Christians and adherents of other religions at a disadvantage in any place with a Muslim majority. Read more
We’ll not support scrapping of NYSC – National Assembly (Guardian)
The call for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has suffered a setback as the House of Representatives, Thursday said it would not support the move to abolish the scheme.
A House of Representatives member, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, had in a Bill that has passed the second reading in the National Assembly called for the scrapping of the scheme founding to 48 years ago to boost national integration.
But, Chairman, House Committee on Youth, Yemi Adaramodu, said the National Assembly has no plan to abolish the NYSC.
According to him, the NYSC is the most successful national programme. Read more
COVID-19: One case of adverse side effects, as 75000 vaccinated in Oyo (Vanguard)
One person has been reported having complications from the COVID-19 vaccination in Oyo State and other 398 persons with mild symptoms like a slight headache and pain at the point where the injection needle was inserted, as about 75000 people were vaccinated against the infection in the first round of the vaccination exercise.
The Oyo Emergency Operations Center’s Co-lead on Risk Communication and Community Engagement Pillar, Dr Olusola Oriniowo, while speaking at an interactive session yesterday, with media on COVID-19 in the state, said a sample of 1000 people to know-how many developed adverse effects following vaccination found 58 per cent had mild side effects, with pain at injection site the overwhelming majority of these effects.
Dr Oriniowo, stressed that there was underreporting of cases of side effects of the vaccine in the state, adding that individuals are expected to report any symptom they noticed following the vaccine to be able to access correct advice and medical care on how to manage any effects of taking the vaccine.
Speaking on the current COVID -19 situation in the state, he said as at June 6, 2021, 42,870 samples were tested, 6,558 tested positive for COVID-19; 6,731 people had recovered from the infection; 124 deaths recorded and 3 active cases of COVID-19 on treatment. Read more
Italian woman wakes up after 10 months in coma (BBC)
An Italian woman has woken from a coma after 10 months, according to local media reports.
Cristina Rosi, 37, was seven months pregnant when she suffered a heart attack in July last year.
Her daughter, Caterina, was delivered by emergency Caesarean section. However, Ms Rosi was left in a coma with suspected brain damage.
She has now woken up and spoken her first word, “Mamma”, her husband has said. Read more
“Narcos” creator scores deal on $2.7m downtown NYC home (NYPost)
A side by side of Chris Brancato and his new building he now lives in.
Gangster’s paradise: The man behind “Narcos” and “Godfather of Harlem” bought in West Soho.Mike Coppola/Getty Images; Alan Tansey
“Narcos” and “Godfather of Harlem” creator Chris Brancato just bought a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in West Soho.
The unit is at Greenwich West, a new 30-story brick building on Charlton Street that was completed during the pandemic, with interiors by Parisian architect Sebastien Segers.
The 1,400-square-foot condo features oversize casement windows, wide white-oak floors, a windowed chef’s kitchen and views of downtown and lower Manhattan.
Brancato, 58, paid around $2.75 million for the unit. Read more
Billionaire race for the stars: Richard Branson to beat Bezos to space (Metro)
Richard Branson looks likely to go to space aboard a Virgin Galactic ship as early as next month.
That comes from a report on Parabolic Arc suggesting plans are afoot at Virgin Galactic to get the billionaire into orbit over the July 4 holiday weekend in the US.
In an unbelievable co-incidence, this news reaches us just days after it was announced that Jeff Bezos will fly to space on July 20.
Bezos, another billionaire who happens to own his own private space company, will join his brother and the winner of an auction aboard a flight to low-Earth orbit on Blue Origin’s New Shephard spaceship. Read more
4 months jail for man who slapped Macron on official visit (BBC)
A medieval combat enthusiast has been given four months in jail after he admitted slapping French President Emmanuel Macron.
Damien Tarel told the court it was an act of impulse, but the prosecutor said it was a “deliberate act of violence”.
The court heard that Tarel subscribed to right-wing or far-right politics and was close to the yellow-vest movement.
President Macron said the attack should not be trivialised but had to be kept in proportion. Read more
Monkeypox outbreak confirmed in UK as cases under investigation (Metro)
Matt Hancock has confirmed the UK is dealing with an outbreak of monkeypox.
The Health Secretary did not give any further details about where or how many cases there had been, but it is understood two infections were reported in Wales.
Mr Hancock made the announcement while being grilled by a committee of MPs after Boris Johnson’s former top adviser Dominic Cummings tore into his handling of the pandemic.
He said: ‘As Health Secretary, you’re dealing with these sorts of outbreaks all of the time. I’m currently dealing with a monkeypox outbreak and cases of drug resistant TB, and that is absolutely standard. Read more
EA hacked and source code stolen (BBC)
Hackers have stolen valuable information from major game publisher Electronic Arts (EA), the company said.
The attackers claimed to have downloaded source code for games such as FIFA 21 and for the proprietary Frostbite game engine used as the base for many other high-profile games.
News of the hack was first reported by news site Vice, which said some 780GB of data was stolen.
EA said no player data had been stolen in the breach. Read more
Plumptre: Leicester City female star eager to play for Nigeria (Nation)
Leicester City Women’s defender Ashleigh Plumptre has expressed her desire to meet with Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, who plays for the men’s team while also revealing her interest to play for Nigeria.
The 23-year-old is currently having her second spell with the Foxes and in the 2020-21 season, she helped the club to win the FA Women’s Championship title, earning a two-year contract for her fine showings in the campaign.
Since her return to the Foxes in 2019, she has been unable to link up with Super Eagles stars Iheanacho and Ndidi whom she described as her role models.
“With Leicester, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho have been good role models for me,” Plumptre told BBC.
“It’s funny we haven’t met but that’s all because of Covid but at some point hopefully we’ll be able to meet each other.” Read more
Manchester United make opening summer transfer bid for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho (Metro)
Manchester United have reportedly failed with an ambitious opening offer to land Borussia Dortmund and England sensation Jadon Sancho this summer.
Sancho has been at the top of United’s shortlist of targets for the past 18 months and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains intent on strengthening his ranks with a quality right-sided attacker after missing out on the forward’s signature ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
It’s understood Sancho and his camp have been receptive to the Red Devils’ advances ever since they made their first move and the 21-year-old was left disappointed when Dortmund’s £108million asking price was not met last year. Read more
Euro 2020: Goretzka out of Germany’s opener against France (Punch)
Leon Goretzka has been ruled out of Germany’s opening Euro 2020 match against world champions France, it was confirmed Thursday.
The 26-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder is back in training after a leg injury but will sit out Germany’s Group F match against the French on Tuesday.
“It is out of the question that he could play in the first game,” Germany’s team director Oliver Bierhoff said at their European Championship base in Bavaria.
Busquets contracts COVID-19, leaves Spain’s Euro training camp
“But he’s a great personality and an important player. I am sure he will play an important role at this tournament.”
Goretzka, who has scored 13 goals in 32 appearances for Germany, faces a race against time to prove his fitness as the ‘Mannschaft’ also host holders Portugal on June 19, then Hungary four days later in their other group games. Read more
Kemba Walker seems headed for Celtics divorce halfway through $141m deal (NYPost)
The Celtics apparently aren’t great at relationships.
Boston and point guard Kemba Walker are likely to part ways this offseason in a mutual agreement, according to Bleacher Report.
The rumoured split comes one week after the Celtics announced that Brad Stevens is moving from head coach to president of basketball operations, replacing the retiring Danny Ainge. The staffing move followed Boston’s first-round playoff elimination to the Nets in Game 5.
Walker, sources told the outlet, feels unwanted in Boston, specifically by Ainge, who reportedly attempted to trade him in his first year with the team.
After the Celtics failed to defeat the Heat in Game 6 of the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals, Ainge reportedly tried to trade Walker for guard Jrue Holiday, who ended up going to the Bucks — where he is currently competing in the East semifinals against the Nets. Read more
CAS cuts Ajax keeper Onana’s doping ban to nine months (Guardian)
The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday reduced on appeal Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana’s year-long doping ban to nine months.
In a statement CAS said the it had “partially upheld the appeal and reduced the period” meaning his ban, which began on February 4, now ends on November 3 this year.
Traces of the banned diuretic Furosemide were found in the urine of the 25-year-old Cameroon international on October 30 during an unannounced check-up, but Ajax claimed that Onana felt ill and accidentally took his wife’s medicine.
“In coming to its decision, the CAS Panel also found that no ‘significant fault’ could be attributed to Andre Onana who had ingested medication destined for another person in error,” the statement continued. Read more
Romelu Lukaku’s agent confirms forward is ‘happy’ at Inter Milan amid Chelsea transfer rumours (Metro)
Romelu Lukaku’s agent has shut down mounting speculation the striker could be set to return to Chelsea and insists his client is ‘happy’ with life at Inter Milan.
Antonio Conte steered Inter to the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years last season but subsequently quit due to differing views on how the club should conduct their transfer business this summer.
The Italian’s shock departure has sparked talk of a possible exodus at the San Siro, with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich ready to capitalise on the turbulent situation to lure Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge.The Belgium international is thought to have been placed at the top of Blues’ shortlist of attacking targets along with Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland and wantaway Tottenham forward Harry Kane. Read more