Buhari to study governors’ position on N30,000 wage (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with representatives of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) over the proposed N30,000 minimum wage logjam. It was not immediately clear what the Aso Villa, Abuja meeting decided. The governors did not brief the media. A source, however, said the governors stuck to their line of argument that should they be made to pay the least paid worker N30,000, their states should earn more from the Federal purse. Read more
APC members threatened in PDP states, says Oshiomhole (Nation)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over threats to the lives of its members in states controlled by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole accused the police in those states of aiding such actions. Oshiomhole, who spoke with reporters at the end of a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), said six committees to visit the six geopolitical zones had been set up with a view to resolving some of the crisis in those states. Read more
2019: Ezekwesili asks Nigerians to reject mediocrity, low standards (Punch)
The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has called on Nigerians to reject mediocrity and resist low standards which, according to her, characterised previous administrations. Ezekwesili, who made the call in Abuja on Monday, lamented the social-economic and political challenges confronting Nigeria. Read more
Enugu restates commitment to job creation initiatives (Guardian)
The Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has reiterated the commitment of the state to the creation of job opportunities in the state. He stated this recently during a courtesy visit by a non-governmental organisation, God’s Agenda Men and Ladies International. The Governor, who said his government was passionate about the wellbeing of the poor and downtrodden, noted: “I am not taking for granted the prayers of these categories of people for our administration, which has continued to attract God’s presence in all we do. Read more
Court dismisses EFCC’s application to re-assign Shekarau, others’ suit (Guardian)
Justice Lewis Allaguo of Federal High Court, Kano, has denied application filed by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking re-assignment or transfer of alleged N950 million money laundering charges slammed against former Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau; former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wakil and Mansur Ahmed. Counsel to the EFCC, J.A. Ojogbane, had informed the presiding judge of the prosecution’s application forwarded to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with subsequent reply to the presiding judge for necessary action. Read more
Thugs invade Akwa Ibom Assembly (Nation)
There was panic yesterday at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as thugs invaded the complex to stop the House from sitting. Over hundred hoodlums arrived the complex situated at Udo Udoma Road, Uyo, in the early hours of yesterday, and blocked the main entrance. The thugs, sources said, were mobilised by the five lawmakers, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Read more
Fire guts EFCC office in Abuja (Guardian)
A fire incident yesterday night gutted the Wuse 2 office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This was confirmed in a statement by the EFCC Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Tony Orilade. According to Orilade, men of the Federal Fire Service, FFS, Wuse Zonal office successfully subdued the inferno that almost razed down the Wuse 2 Zonal office of the EFCC. Read more
Kenya launches first coastguard patrol (BBC)
Kenya’s president has launched the country’s first coastguard to protect and monitor its territorial waters. It will guard against illegal fishing, which President Uhuru Kenyatta says costs Kenya about $100m (£78m) a year. It is also intended to secure territorial waters against smuggling and drug trafficking. Until now, Kenya’s maritime security depended solely on the Navy. Authorities say it will now be free to focus on security and military affairs. Read more
White House restores CNN reporter’s pass (BBC)
The White House has restored the press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta, less than two weeks after withdrawing them over an argument with President Trump during a news conference. The reversal came days after a judge ordered the administration to reinstate the journalist’s press pass. Announcing its decision on Monday, the White House also issued “rules governing future press conferences”. Read more
Obasanjo inaugurates Stephen Keshi Stadium (Punch)
ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday inaugurated the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, urging Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to effectively utilise the facility. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Obasanjo, who was in the state on a two-day visit, also inaugurated other road projects in Agbor in the state. The former President, while noting that the stadium might not mean much to the ordinary man, said the gains of the project could however not be over-emphasised. Read more
AWCON: Dennerby rues Falcons’ missed chances (Punch)
Super Falcons head coach Thomas Dennerby has rued his side’s missed chances in Sunday’s 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations opener against South Africa in Cape Coast, Ghana. A stunning strike from substitute Chrestina Thembi Kgatlana five minutes from time handed South Africa a 1-0 win over defending champions, Nigeria in their Group B opener on Sunday. Read more
Godwin Izilien blames NFF for Super Falcons’ defeat (Guardian)
Former handler of the Super Falcons, Coach Godwin Izilien wants the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to terminate the appointment of expatriate coach, Thomas Dennerby with immediate effect following the team’s 0-1 defeat by the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in their opening group match at the on-going African Women’s Nations Cup in Ghana. The eight-time African champions, Falcons, who defeated South Africa 1-0 in the semifinal on their way to retaining the AWC title two years ago in Cameroun under Coach Florence Omagbemi, were reduced to ordinariness in Sunday’s encounter in Cape Coast, Ghana, by the youthful South Africans. Read more
We prepared hard to beat Falcons – Banyana (Punch)
South Africa forward Thembi Kgatlana has said Banyana Banyana worked hard to beat Nigeria in their Group B Ghana 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations match on Sunday. Super Falcons, the defending champions of the competition, fell 1-0 to the South Africans at the Cape Coast stadium in the first match of the group. A goal in the 85th minute from substitute Kgatlana gave the COSAFA Cup champions their second ever victory over Nigeria in 11 meetings. Read more
Late drama as Dutch reach semi-finals (BBC)
Virgil van Dijk’s 90th-minute equaliser against Germany sent the Netherlands through to the semi-finals of the Nations League following a dramatic late fightback at the Veltins-Arena. The Liverpool centre-back volleyed in from close range from Tonny Vilhena’s cross in Germany. Dutch winger Quincy Promes had scored their first five minutes earlier, drilling in from the edge of the box. Read more
Family blames Ikeja Electric as wire electrocutes Lagos churchgoer (Punch)
The family of Veronica Oboh has been thrown into mourning after she got electrocuted by a high tension wire that fell off a power pole in the Ijaiye area of Agege Local Government, Lagos State. The family and eyewitnesses blamed Ikeja Electric, an electricity distribution company, for Oboh’s death, noting that the tragedy would have been averted if the firm’s officials had quickly attended to the fallen wire. Read more
Police, residents foil attempted bank raid in Ile-Ife (Punch)
An attempt by some armed men to attack some commercial banks in the Lagere Area of Ile-Ife, Osun State, was on Monday foiled by the police and some residents of the area. Seven commercial banks have branches in the Lagere area and the suspected robbers arrived in the area at about 10am. According to eye witnesses, the robbers, who stormed the area in a Toyota Camry car and a bus, parked the vehicles near one of the bank branches and shot into the air in order to scare the people away. Read more