Buhari’s ministerial inauguration, a poor parade —PDP (Punch)
The Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday described the inauguration of 43 ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari as “a poor parade of recycled foot-travelers.” The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement also alleged that many of the ministers had failed Nigerians in governance assignment in the past. According to him, in assembling a team made up of persons “indicted for corruption and treasury looting,” Buhari demonstrated that he has nothing to offer to the nation other than “condoning and encouraging corruption,” as well as “perpetuating incompetence, failure and ineffectiveness in governance.” Read more
I don’t know much about Interior ministry, Aregbesola admits (Punch)
The newly appointed Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said he knows little about the policies and operations of his ministry, adding that all he knows about the ministry was what he read in the newspapers. He said this when he visited the ministry shortly after he was inaugurated and assigned a portfolio alongside others by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, on Wednesday. The former Osun State governor said, “I don’t really know much about the operations or policies of the ministry apart from stories about the ministry on the pages of newspapers. My relationship with the ministry is distant. What I know about the ministry is what I read in the newspapers.” Read more
Tribunal dismisses Shehu Sani’s petition (Guardian)
The National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Kaduna on Wednesday dismissed the petition of Sen. Shehu Sani of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for lack of merit. Shehu Sani had approached the Tribunal asking it to nullify the election of Sen. Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as senator of Kaduna Central Senatorial District. Uba Sani, a former Political Adviser to Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, won the Feb. 16, 2019 election with 355, 242 votes. Read more
Cabinet: I was reappointed because Buhari trusts me —Lai Mohammed (Punch)
Newly sworn-in Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, charged Directors in the ministry to redouble their efforts and justify the confidence reposed in them by President Muhammadu Buhari. Mohammed said his reappointment “is a measure of the confidence he (the President) has and posting me back in this Ministry is also a measure of that confidence.” The Minister who stated these while addressing Directors and senior management staff told them to work hard to achieve the goal of leaving a lasting legacy for the Buhari’s administration. Read more
Fashola expresses need to reduce cost of projects implementations (Guardian)
Nigeria’s newly appointed Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Wednesday in Abuja advised the staff of the ministry to consider how they could reduce cost and wastages in projects’ implementation. Fashola, the former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, made the submission while addressing a cross section of workers shortly after resuming duty. Read more
Take bribe, get dismissed, FRSC threatens personnel (Punch)
The Federal Road Safety Corps has vowed to dismiss from service any of its personnel found extorting motorists. FRSC Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem gave the warning while reacting to the recent arrest of 37 FRSC operatives for alleged extortion of motorists on the highway. Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Kazeem said there were reports that a team comprising the FRSC, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Department of State Services arrested the erring personnel. Read more
Ekiti removes homeless people, lunatics from streets (Punch)
No fewer than 50 destitute and lunatics were on Wednesday evening removed from the streets of Ado Ekiti and Ikere Ekiti in a bid to rehabilitate them. The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief Moji Fafure, said they would be reunited with their families to begin normal lives after rehabilitation. Fafure said in Ado Ekiti after the exercise that “the move became necessary to clear the streets of such deranged people that are becoming a nuisance and could pose a threat to public peace”. Read more
Army dismisses Lance Cpl. Ajayi Johnson who allegedly killed Abia motorcycle rider (Punch)
The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army has dismissed Lance Cpl. Ajayi Johnson, who allegedly killed a commercial motorcyclist, Mr. Chimaobi Nwaogu, at Umoukereke Ngwa in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. The Deputy Director, Public Relations of the Division, Col. Aliyu Yusuf, announced this in a statement issued in Enugu on Wednesday. Yusuf stated that Johnson has been handed over to the Police Command in Abia for prosecution. Read more
Travelers stranded as Nigeria suddenly shuts down Seme Border (Guardian)
Many travelers were Wednesday stranded at Nigeria and Benin Republic border as officials closed the border on both sides without formal notice. “Just on my way to Nigeria now they have close border chai,” a stranded traveler Sebomi told The Guardian. “The Benin-Nigerian borders are closed. At Chikanda and around Kwara state and other borders, the passages are carefully filtered.” Read more
Woman allegedly kills eight-year-old daughter for stealing N350 (Punch)
The Plateau High Court on Wednesday ordered that a 37-year-old woman, Adeyola Afonja, who allegedly beat her eight-year-old daughter to death for stealing N350, be remanded in prison custody. The Police charged Afonja, who resides in Etobaba Village, Jos North, with culpable homicide, an offence punishable with death if convicted. Read more
Greenland: Trump criticises ‘nasty’ Denmark over cancelled visit (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has called the Danish leader “nasty” after she rebuffed his idea of buying Greenland. He lashed out hours after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she was “sorry” that Mr Trump had abruptly called off a state visit to Denmark. She has dismissed the suggestion of such a land deal as “absurd”. Read more
Angela Merkel gives Boris Johnson 30 days to solve Irish backstop problem (Metro)
Boris Johnson has insisted a Brexit deal with the European Union is still possible, as long as the Irish backstop is scrapped. But Angela Merkel has challenged him a 30 day ultimatum to come up with an alternative solution. The German Chancellor has told Johnson the European Union is bracing itself for a no-deal Brexit on October 31 if the standoff is not resolved. Read more
Trump accuses Jewish Democrat voters of ‘great disloyalty’ (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has said Jewish Americans who vote for the Democratic Party show “either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty”. The remark drew sharp criticism that Mr Trump had used an anti-Semitic trope accusing Jews of dual loyalty. The Jewish Democratic Council of America said the president was trying to “weaponise and politicise anti-Semitism” for political gain. Read more
Two US soldiers killed in Afghanistan (Guardian)
Two US military personnel were killed on Wednesday in Afghanistan, NATO announced, as talks between the US and the Taliban are set to resume in Qatar, with Washington seeking a way out of America’s longest war. The identity of the two service members “killed in action” was not released, pending notification of their next of kin, Resolute Support, the US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan, said in a statement. The deaths bring to at least 14 the number of members of the US military to be killed in action in Afghanistan this year. Read more
Neglected child, 5, brought huge bag of cocaine to school (Metro)
A neglected five year-old stunned teachers by bringing a huge bag of cocaine to school. The youngster was spotted with a bag of white powder in their clothes by a kindergarten teacher in Slidell, Louisiana. They contacted police, with an officer finding two additional bags of crack cocaine stuffed into the child’s clothing. Police said the student, whose gender has not been specified, had no idea what the drugs were, or why they were in their outfit clothes. Read more
Iran celebrities ‘using ambulances to skip Tehran traffic jams’ (BBC)
Celebrities and well-paid private tutors are using ambulances illegally to avoid traffic jams in Tehran, Iran’s private ambulance services chief says. Mojtaba Lohrasbi told Isna news agency that reports about “such a phenomenon” were correct, but that the situation was “not as grave as some say”. The capital’s prosecutor-general has ordered that regulations governing the usage of ambulances be enforced. Read more
Man spared jail for knocking parents unconscious in front of terrified children (Metro)
A man has been spared jail after battering a mum and dad unconscious in front of their terrified young children. CCTV footage captured the moment Jack Lomas, from North Reddish, Stockport, punches Suzanne Webb so hard it leaves her out cold on the pavement. Gavin and Suzanne Webb were left bloodied and bruised by Lomas on Buxton High Street in Derbyshire on February 24. Read more
Boy, 8, takes mum’s car on 87mph motorway joyride (Metro)
An eight-year-old boy hit speeds of nearly 90mph when he took his parent’s car for a motorway joyride. The child jumped in his mum’s VW Golf and went for a nighttime spin in Soest, western Germany. The mother called police early this morning after noticing her son and car had gone missing. Officers found the him in a lay-by on the A44 autobahn to Dortmund 50 minutes later. Read more
Ryan Reynolds jokes about Spider-Man leaving Marvel after fans beg him to save Peter Parker (Metro)
Ryan Reynolds may have quite a big responsibility on his hands with fans pleading for the Deadpool actor to save Spider-Man from leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel fans are reeling from the reports that studio boss Kevin Feige and Disney struggled to agree terms with Sony Pictures about Spider-Man’s future in the MCU. It’s sparked outrage, petitions, boycott threats and, now, fans pleading with Ryan’s character Deadpool to swoop in and save the day. Read more
Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington finally explains Jon Snow’s final scene after Night’s Watch plot twist (Metro)
Kit Harington has finally revealed key details about Jon Snow’s last ever scene on season eight of Game of Thrones – and it’s got to do with the Wildlings. Spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t watched the last ever season of Game of Thrones, what are you doing with your life?! The end of Game of Thrones was rather emotional for fans who hated it and fans who loved it; villains died unfairly peaceful deaths [Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), we’re looking at you], Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) took her place as Queen of an independent North and Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) embarked on a journey to the other side of the world. Read more
Tunisia part ways with coach Alain Giresse by mutual consent (BBC)
The Tunisia Football Federation have announced that coach Alain Giresse’s contract has ended by mutual consent. The Frenchman only began work on 1 January and his deal was due to run until June 2020. Under Giresse the Carthage Eagles finished fourth at the Africa Cup of Nations last month in Egypt. Read more
Romelu Lukaku hits out at Manchester United’s treatment of him before Inter transfer (Metro)
Romelu Lukaku has slammed Manchester United for his treatment at the club before he made his move to Serie A this summer. The Belgian striker joined Inter in a £73million transfer after months of speculation that the Red Devils were prepared to offload the forward. Solskjaer, who took over last December, preferred Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford upfront and although Lukaku accepted he fell down the pecking order, he felt the club hung him out to dry. Read more
Davide Zappacosta: Chelsea defender joins Roma on loan (BBC)
Chelsea right-back Davide Zappacosta has joined Roma on an initial six-month loan. As part of the deal there is the option to extend the loan until the end of the season. Chelsea said he has also signed a one-year contract extension with the Blues until June 2022. “I am pleased to join Roma, after an experience overseas that helped me progress as both a player and a person,” Zappacosta, 27, said. Read more
Messi back in training ahead of Betis clash (Punch)
Lionel Messi gave Barcelona a timely boost on Wednesday by returning to training with the rest of the squad after a calf injury. Messi trained alone in the morning before joining his team-mates in the afternoon, increasing hopes that Barca’s captain could play a role against Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday. He strained his calf on August 5 in his first training session back following the Copa America and subsequently missed the club’s pre-season. Read more
Nketiah helps Leeds maintain good start (BBC)
Eddie Nketiah scored on his Championship debut to earn Leeds United a late but deserved win at home to Brentford. The 20-year-old, on loan from Arsenal, tapped in from Helder Costa’s square ball within four minutes of coming on as a substitute. The hosts had the better of the game and victory gave them 10 points from a possible 12, seeing them top the early Championship table on goal difference. Read more
Fulham have 84.5% possession in thrashing Millwall (BBC)
Ivan Cavaleiro scored twice and Aleksandar Mitrovic netted his third goal in as many games as free-flowing Fulham demolished Millwall to register a third successive Championship victory. Cavaleiro lashed a fine opener into the top corner for Fulham – who enjoyed a remarkable 84.5% possession – and later latched on to Tom Cairney’s pass to round Bartosz Bialkowski for their fourth goal. Read more
Tyson Fury predicts he could beat Andy Ruiz Jr with one hand tied behind his back (Metro)
Tyson Fury believes he could beat Andy Ruiz Jr with one hand tied behind his back. The heavyweight star has already slammed Anthony Joshua for losing to Ruiz Jr and his British rival is preparing for a shot at revenge against the new champion in December. Fury has repeatedly hit out at Joshua for his hypocrisy when it comes to opponent selection and the Gypsy King predicted he would make easy work of Ruiz Jr, if they were to fight. Read more
Fed Cup 2020: Great Britain to face Slovakia away in qualifier for Finals (BBC)
Great Britain will face Slovakia away from home in a qualifying tie for next year’s new Fed Cup Finals. Anne Keothavong’s team will play the five-match tie, for a place in the 12-team Finals, on 7-8 February. This year’s finalists Australia and France, hosts Hungary and wildcards the Czech Republic have already qualified for April’s Finals in Budapest. The new format means Great Britain, for the first time since 1993, will begin a year with a chance to win the trophy. Read more