Buhari’s education policy anti-masses, says ASUU (Punch)
The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Sunday described the President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy on education as anti-masses. It accused the All Progressives Congress government of a deliberate plan to starve public education with funds in order to deny Nigerian youths the right to know and challenge misrule. In a release in Ibadan on Sunday and signed by the Chairman, University of Ibadan Chapter of the union, Prof. Deji Omole, ASUU lamented that the sacrifices of understaffed and underpaid Nigerian academia would be futile if President Buhari did not increase funding for education. Read more
Edo govt to probe hospital contracts awarded by Oshiomhole (Punch)
The Edo Government says it will probe contracts for construction of structures and supply of equipment to the Benin Central Hospital, awarded by the administration of Adams Oshiomhole. The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Special Adviser to Edo Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Cruise Osage, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Benin, saying a commission of enquiry would soon be constituted to probe the contracts. Read more
Almajiri, a menace and security threat to our state —Nasarawa gov (Punch)
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has vowed that his administration would not condole street begging in the state and warned parents who subject their wards to begging in the name of Almajiri to desist from it or face the wrath of the law. The governor added that there were about 10 million children in Almajiri system in the entire northern states, affirming that most of them serve as beggars and spending all their time on the streets begging. According to him, the Almajiri system of education was completely misunderstood. Read more
Senators decry poor state of primary health centres (Nation)
Senators have decried the poor state of primary health centres across the country. Worried by the prevailing condition in primary health centres, the lawmakers unanimously resolved to prevail on the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation for the management of primary health care. They also urged the Ministry of Health to create awareness on the benefits of Health and Life insurance as well as directed the Ministry of Employment to put in place policies that will ensure that every employer of labour has health insurance package for employees. Read more
Stop inviting Olubadan, high chiefs to same event, Mogajis tell Makinde (Punch)
Some Ibadan family heads, also known as Authentic Mogajis, on Sunday asked the Oyo State Government to respect the status of Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and stop inviting his chiefs, who were elevated to kingship status by the last administration, to same event as monarchs. Citing a court judgment which nullified the processes through which the former governor Abiola Ajimobi crowned the chiefs and some baales in Ibadan, the Mogajis described invitation to the ‘rival chiefs’ to government functions “as an affront to the Olubadan.” Read more
Ekiti ‘ll turn brain drain to gain, says Fayemi (Nation)
Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said his government will explore knowledge economy to turn “brain drain into gain”. This, Fayemi, said would help to boost the growth of Ekiti State for multiplier effects on the lives of the citizens. He spoke as a special guest of honour at the 9th Annual Law Week of the Ado- Ekiti branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The governor, in a statement signed in Ado Ekiti by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said digital and knowledge economy, if properly harnessed, will turn ‘brain drain’ in the state to ‘gain’. Read more
We’ll investigate petitions against ex-gov Yari, says EFCC (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Sunday said it would commence investigation into the petitions against ex-governor Abdulaziz Yari by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the 2019 elections, Sani Shinkafi, after ascertaining that they had merit. The commission spoke in response to enquiries by The PUNCH to confirm if the acknowledged stamped copy had been received and if investigation had commenced. Read more
Court orders release of detailed payments on electricity contracts since 1999 (Nation)
Justice Chuka Obiozor of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered the Federal Government to release details of payments to all defaulting and allegedly corrupt electricity contractors and companies under the governments of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari. The judge gave the order while delivering judgment last Friday in a suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the Federal Government and the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. Read more
Lack of investor confidence slowing Nigeria’s growth —Utomi (Punch)
A professor of political economy, Pat Utomi, and the CEO of Linklegal Consulting, Prof. Ademola Abass, have said the lack of investors’ confidence is slowing the economic growth of Nigeria. Utomi said there were enormous investment opportunities in the country but said the country must first be business-friendly. According to a statement, the don stated this recently at the launch of Linklegal, an investment advisory provider, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. Read more
Lagos pastor arrested for raping, impregnating teenager (Punch)
Men of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a pastor, Pope Paul, for allegedly raping and impregnating a 15-year-old girl at his place of residence in the Igando area of the state. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, in a statement on Sunday, said the mother of the victim discovered that her daughter was pregnant after she brought her to live with the suspect in Lagos. He stated that the victim, during interrogation, said the suspect was responsible for the pregnancy, adding that he started having sexual intercourse with her in January 2018. Read more
Mandla Maseko: Would-be African astronaut dies in road crash (BBC)
A South African who won the chance to be the first black African in space has died in a motorbike accident before turning his dream into reality. Mandla Maseko, 30, was killed on Saturday, a family statement says. In 2013, the South African Air Force member beat one million entrants to win one of 23 places at a space academy in the US. Nicknamed Afronaut and Spaceboy, Maseko described himself as a typical township boy from Pretoria. Read more
Former Brexit chief: We should all worry about no deal (BBC)
Everyone should worry about no deal, the civil servant who was, until March, head of the Brexit department has said. Philip Rycroft, who resigned after 18 months, told the BBC’s Panorama no deal was “fraught with risk”. And NI police said no deal could help recruitment for paramilitary groups. Both the candidates in the race to replace Theresa May as prime minister – Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson – have said they would be prepared to leave the EU without a deal. Read more
Venezuela crisis: Opposition announces talks in Barbados (BBC)
Venezuela’s opposition says it has agreed to resume talks with President Nicolás Maduro to try to resolve a prolonged political crisis. A meeting between opposition and government officials will be held in Barbados, self-declared interim President Juan Guaidó says. A date for the talks mediated by Norway was not given. Dialogue between the two sides broke down in May. There was no immediate comment from Mr Maduro’s government. Read more
EU to take migrants from Alan Kurdi rescue ship (BBC)
Malta has allowed a group of 65 migrants rescued off Libya to disembark on its territory after picking them up from a rescue ship. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said after talks with the European Commission and German government that all 65 would be relocated to other parts of the EU. The migrants were brought ashore after being transferred to the Maltese navy from the Alan Kurdi rescue ship. Two other rescue ships defied a ban by docking in Italy in recent days. Read more
Greek elections: Centre-right regains power (BBC)
Greece’s centre-right opposition party New Democracy has won the nation’s snap general election. With most districts counted, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras admitted defeat to his rival, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. New Democracy has 39.8% of the vote so far, with Mr Tsipras’s leftist Syriza party in second place with 31.6%. Current projections give New Democracy an outright majority, as the winner receives 50 extra seats in parliament. Read more
Pair arrested over second fatal shooting in London over weekend (Metro)
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was gunned down in east London early this morning. He was the second man to be shot dead in the capital this weekend, after a man in his 30s was killed in Wembley on Friday night. Firearms officers were sent to the Phoenix snooker club in Leyton around 3am after reports of a number of shots being fired. Read more
Iran announces new breach of nuclear deal (BBC)
Iran has announced it will break a limit set on uranium enrichment, in breach of the landmark 2015 deal designed to curb its nuclear ambitions. Deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran still wanted to salvage the deal but blamed European countries for failing to live up to their own commitments. The US unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018. It has since reimposed tight sanctions affecting the Iranian economy. Read more
Mulan trailer teases epic warrior battles (Metro)
Mulan has officially joined Disney’s slate of big-budget reboots and fans are absolutely loving the new trailer. Just over a minute long, the teaser trailer features Liu Yifei taking on Disney’s iconic warrior and she’s not taking any prisoners with Mulan getting to work with preparation for battle. Her mother says: ‘The matchmaker has found you an auspicious match,’ to which Mulan promises: ‘Yes, I will bring honour to us all.’ She adds: ‘It is my duty to fight.’ Read more
Eagles not favourites yet – Omeruo (Punch)
Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has revealed that Nigeria should not be seen as favourites to win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations despite their thrilling 3-2 Round of 16 win over defending champions Cameroon in Alexandria. Two quick second half goals from Man-of-The-match Odion Ighalo and Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi saw the Eagles come back from 2-1 to knock out the Lions and progress to the quarter-finals, where they face 1996 champions South Africa. Read more
Madagascar shock DR Congo at Afcon (BBC)
Africa Cup of Nations debutants Madagascar produced another upset to beat DR Congo 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw and seal a quarter-final spot. In a thriller, Madagascar took a surprise lead through Ibrahim Amada’s superb 20-yard strike before Cedric Bakambu equalised with a header. The Indian Ocean islanders restored their lead through Faneva Andriatsima’s header before Chancel Mbemba’s 90th-minute equaliser forced extra-time. Read more
USA beat Netherlands to win World Cup (BBC)
The United States won the Women’s World Cup for a record fourth time as they eventually overpowered the Netherlands in Lyon. Megan Rapinoe’s penalty and Rose Lavelle’s fine run and finish gave the defending champions victory in the second half, after resilient first-half defending from the Dutch. Veteran winger Rapinoe’s calmly-slotted opener came from a spot-kick awarded after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, at the end of a tournament in which the system has been a major talking point. Read more
USA’s Rapinoe wins World Cup Golden Boot (BBC)
USA striker Megan Rapinoe has won the Fifa Women’s World Cup Golden Boot after helping her side beat the Netherlands 2-0 in Sunday’s final. The 34-year-old scored a second-half penalty to finish the tournament with six goals and three assists. Team-mate Alex Morgan also scored six and provided three assists in France, but Rapinoe took the award on minutes per goal (428 to 490). Read more
Brazil beat Peru to win Copa America (BBC)
Gabriel Jesus scored one goal and assisted another before being sent off as Brazil won a first Copa America title in 12 years, beating Peru 3-1. Manchester City forward Jesus set up Everton to volley in the opener before scoring the decisive second. Paolo Guerrero had briefly given Peru hope when he equalised from the penalty spot minutes before Jesus struck. Read more
Shkodran Mustafi drops a cryptic hint over his Arsenal future on Instagram amid transfer speculation (Metro)
Shkodran Mustafi has dropped a hint that he could be on the move this summer after removing ‘Player for Arsenal’ in his Instagram bio. The 27-year-old is available for transfer following a string of high-profile gaffes and despite featuring regularly last season, Unai Emery has reportedly informed the Arsenal board to get rid of the defender. Although Arsenal are keen to offload Mustafi and get his reported £90,000 weekly pay off their wage bill, there is yet to be any concrete interest in the Germany international who cost the club £35m from Valencia in 2016. Read more
Show some respect, Brazil coach Tite tells Messi (Punch)
Brazil coach Tite told Lionel Messi to show some respect following claims from the Argentina captain that the Copa America had been “fixed” so the hosts would win. Brazil clinched the Copa by defeating Peru 3-1 at the Maracana on Sunday but Tite felt that his side had been hard done by in some refereeing decisions and said Messi’s words had weighed on the officials. “He has to show some respect, he must understand and accept when he’s defeated,” said Tite, whose side beat Argentina 2-0 in a controversial semi-final. Read more
Novak Djokovic reveals the Next Gen player he likes the most amid Wimbledon struggles (Metro)
Novak Djokovic has sung the praises of 18-year-old tennis prodigy Felix Auger-Aliassime, even though the Canadian become the latest next generation talent to fluff his lines at Wimbledon. Auger-Aliassime was beaten in straight sets 6-4 7-5 6-3 by Ugo Humbert, ranked 45 places lower, on Friday evening, missing out on the opportunity to take on Djokovic in the fourth round. He is not the only Next Gen player to have disappointed at SW19 in the first week, with Stefano Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem all exiting in the opening round. Read more