Buhari’s ministerial list can’t tackle Nigeria’s challenges —PDP (Punch)
The Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday, described the list of ministerial nominees released by President Muhammadu Buhari as colourless and inspiring no hope in Nigerians. In a statement issued via its verified Twitter handle, the party said, the list showed the regard in which the President and his All Progressives Congress hold Nigerians. It said, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list presented to the Senate today is colourless, stagnant, uninspiring and do not convey any sense of hope or purposeful governance under the APC. Read more
Shi’ites vow to continue protest till El-Zakzaky is freed (Guardian)
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), known as Shiites Tuesday vowed to continue protesting for the release of its leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. “Even though heavily armed forces laid siege of brothers and sisters at Banex Plaza today, teargassing and shooting live rounds of ammunition, free EL-Zakzaky protests will continue nonstop unless our leader regains his freedom to go and tend for his seriously deteriorating health condition,” Shiites spokesman Abdullahi Muhammad Musa said. Musa, who spoke at the funeral ceremony of their dead members in Suleja, Niger State, said about 40 members of the Shiites died during Monday’s protest in Abuja. Read more
Nigerians deserve more under Next Level agenda — Omo-Agege (Nation)
Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, has said Nigerians deserve a better deal under the “Next Level” agenda of the current administration. A statement by his Media Office in Abuja on Tuesday said the Deputy President of the Senate disclosed this at the 2019 summit of Association of Professional Bodies in Nigeria(APBN). Omo-Agege, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Legislative and Plenary Matters, Mr Efe Duku, said the 9th National Assembly would evoke legislative interventions to achieve national development as contained in the “Next Level Agenda” of the current administration. Read more
Gbajabiamila seeks collaboration to make Nigeria succeed (Guardian)
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila says the house needs the support of seasoned Nigerians to succeed in making laws for good governance of the country. Gbajabiamila made the call while receiving a delegation of the University of Lagos Alumni Association led by its President Worldwide, Dr. John Momoh, a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Lanre Lasisi in Abuja said. According to the speaker, governance, especially in Nigeria, is not a tea party, everybody must be on board for leaders to make Nigeria work. Read more
Our priority is to create more jobs – Buhari (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja said that the priority of his administration “is to create as many jobs as possible.” He spoke during an audience with the National Executive Council of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers led by its President, Comrade John Adaji, at the State House, Abuja. President Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said the Federal Government deployed limited resources to job-creating sectors like agriculture and mining in the last four years. Read more
Senate President seeks Britain’s assistance on capacity enhancement of lawmakers (Guardian)
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday sought the assistance of the British High Commission in Nigeria to help in capacity enhancement for the lawmakers. Lawan, in a statement by Isa Mohammed, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President of the Senate, made the call while receiving the High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, in his office. “Our committees, when we constitute them, we will need your support. Read more
Why we withhold Imo North senator-elect’s certificate of return —INEC (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that it would not be stampeded into issuing a certificate of return to the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Imo North in the last general elections, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu. The Commission said this in a statement issued by the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja. Read more
Ministerial list: Enugu APC rejects Onyeama’s reappointment (Nation)
The Enugu state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed displeasure over the reappointment of former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the development as a “terrible mistake” It said going by Onyeama’s alleged abysmal performance during the president’s first tenure in office, such “character ought not to have any business in the next level second-term agenda of the APC led federal executive council. Read more
Carry indigenous professionals along in next level, APBN urges Buhari (Guardian)
Professional organisations in the country, under the aegis of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) said the Next Level agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari administration may be difficult to achieve if indigenous professionals in the country are not carried along. The Association, therefore, urged the president to carry professionals along in the formation and implementation of his policies. Read more
Gunmen abduct 18 traders in Niger (Nation)
18 traders have been abducted by unknown gunmen in Rafi local government of Niger state. The traders were travelling from Pandogari town in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State to Bassa village for the weekly market. The incident was said to have occurred on Saturday last week. The traders were in an 18 sitter bus when they ran into a blockade by the gunmen who were shooting sporadically. Read more
Army attacks Bayelsa community as hoodlums kill two soldiers (Nation)
Troops of the Nigerian Army on Tuesday attacked Azagbene Community in Ekeremor, Local Government Area, Bayelsa State in search of suspected militants, who ambushed and killed two soldiers. It was gathered two soldiers protecting an oil facility belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in the community were shot dead by the hoodlums. Following intelligence the killers fled into the community, soldiers invaded Azagbene early in the morning pulling down and burning structures in the area. Read more
Suicide bombers injure six troops at Mali base (Punch)
Suicide bombers in a vehicle painted with UN markings injured one French, several Estonian troops and two Malian civilians in an attack on an international peace-keeping base in Mali, France’s military said Tuesday. The car bomb blast at the base — which is shared between the French military, the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, and Mali’s armed forces — targeted the entrance to the French part of the camp on Monday. French military spokesman Colonel Frederic Barbry told AFP that a “suicide vehicle” was used in the attack. Read more
Russia-China ‘joint air patrol’ sees Japan and South Korea scramble jets (BBC)
Russia says it has carried out its first ever joint air patrol with China, prompting both South Korea and Japan to send jets in response. The Russian defence ministry says four bombers, supported by fighter jets, patrolled a pre-planned route over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. South Korea says its jets fired flares and machine-gun warning shots when Russian planes intruded. Read more
Regime strikes kill seven civilians in northwest Syria (Guardian)
Regime bombardment on northwestern Syria killed at least seven civilians including children on Tuesday, a monitor said, a day after dozens were killed in raids targeting the opposition bastion. The Syrian regime and its Russian ally have stepped up their deadly bombardment of the Idlib region and adjacent areas in Aleppo and Hama provinces since late April. Three children were among seven civilians killed in Tuesday’s air strikes and artillery fire in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Read more
Europe heatwave: French city of Bordeaux hits record temperature (BBC)
The French city of Bordeaux has hit its highest temperature since records began, as Western Europe braces for the second heatwave to hit this summer. On Tuesday, Meteo France registered 41.2C (106.1F) in the south-western city, breaking a 2003 record of 40.7C. Forecasters predict a record-breaking run across Europe this week, including Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Read more
Spain PM loses first parliament vote to remain in power (Punch)
Spanish caretaker prime minister Pedro Sanchez lost a first parliamentary confidence vote on Tuesday as he seeks to remain in power after an inconclusive general election. A second, decisive vote has been scheduled for Thursday afternoon, before which Sanchez needs to reach a coalition deal with far-left Podemos, a party that was once arch-rival. If he manages to form a coalition government, it would be the first in post-dictatorship Spain. Read more
Greta Thunberg speech: French MPs boycott teen ‘apocalypse guru’ (BBC)
Teen activist Greta Thunberg has lashed out at French lawmakers for mocking her in a speech to parliament that was boycotted by far-right politicians. The 16-year-old addressed legislators on Tuesday, telling them to “unite behind the science” of climate change. She and other children were invited to France’s parliament by a cross-party group of politicians. Read more
Two teen suspects on the run after killing couple (Punch)
Police in Canada on Tuesday named two suspects wanted in connection with three murders, including the killings of an American woman and Australian man whose bodies were found in rural British Columbia. Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, had been reported missing in British Columbia but are now believed to be on the run. They were last seen in the north of Saskatchewan province, driving a gray Toyota RAV-4, a spokeswoman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Sergeant Janelle Shoihet, told a press conference. Read more
Germany shooting: Eritrean attacked ‘because of skin colour’ (BBC)
An Eritrean man was wounded in the stomach in a drive-by shooting in central Germany in what police have condemned as a xenophobic attack. The gunman targeted his victim “completely at random and purely because of the colour skin,” said Frankfurt prosecutor Alexander Badle. A 55 year-old man, whom police believe to be the gunman, was found dead in a car with a bullet wound to his head. Police believe he killed himself and they found weapons at his home. Read more
Callum Hudson-Odoi agrees five-year deal to stay at Chelsea (BBC)
Callum Hudson-Odoi has agreed a five-year deal worth more than £100,000 a week to stay at Chelsea. The England winger, 18, handed in a transfer request in January after Chelsea rejected a £35m bid from Bayern Munich. But he is set to sign a new contract before the start of the season. The youngster is understood to have been encouraged by positive words from new manager Frank Lampard, who said he wanted Hudson-Odoi to stay. Read more
Argentina football chief punished over Copa referee attack (Punch)
South American football’s ruling body CONMEBOL on Tuesday sanctioned Argentine federation president Claudio Tapia over an attack on a Copa America referee. Tapia saw red after Argentina led by Lionel Messi were knocked out 2-0 in the semi-finals by eventual winners Brazil. In a letter to CONMEBOL Tapia complained of “serious and gross refereeing mistakes” which he claimed had penalised Argentina. Read more
Manchester United sent Harry Maguire transfer warning by Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers (Metro)
Brendan Rodgers has told Manchester United they will need to meet Leicester City’s valuation if they are to strike a deal for Harry Maguire during the summer transfer window. The Red Devils have made England defender Maguire their top target this summer, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer desperate to bolster his defensive options following a dismal season. But Rodgers says Maguire will not leave the King Power Stadium unless a suitable offer is presented. Leicester value the 26-year-old at £80million. Read more
Newcastle sign Joelinton from Hoffenheim for record €45m (Punch)
Newcastle United have signed Brazilian forward Joelinton from Hoffenheim, the Premier League club said Tuesday in what is the biggest transfer fee in their history. The 22-year-old will wear Newcastle’s number nine shirt — made famous by Alan Shearer among others — after agreeing to a six-year deal reported to be worth up to 45 million euros. Joelinton Cassio Apolinario de Lira started his football career at Brazil’s Sport Recife, before joining Bundesliga side Hoffenheim. Read more
Jurgen Klopp speaks out on Liverpool transfer plans amid Nicolas Pepe and Philippe Coutinho links (Metro)
Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool will not be the busiest club during the current transfer window but says he is ‘still looking’ at possible deals. The Reds, who won the Champions League and finished second in the Premier League last season, have only signed young defender Sepp van den Berg so far this summer. Liverpool continue to be linked with moves, however, and Lille winger Nicolas Pepe and Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho are believed to be figures of interest. Read more
Arsenal offer Reiss Nelson on loan in £65m bid for Crystal Palace ace Wilfried Zaha (Metro)
Arsenal have raised their bid for Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha by offering £65million plus Reiss Nelson on loan. The Gunners have been frustrated in their pursuit of the Ivory Coast winger and have had two bids rejected by the Eagles. Palace have already made £55m from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s move to Manchester United and are under no financial pressure to sell Zaha, who they value at £90m. Read more
Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev dies after fight (Guardian)
Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev has died from brain injuries sustained in a fight in Maryland, the Russian boxing federation announced on Tuesday. “Maxim Dadashev has died in the United States following injuries sustained during his fight with Subriel Matias,” the federation said in a statement. The 28-year-old underwent emergency brain surgery in Washington after his super-lightweight bout with Puerto Rican Matias on Friday was stopped after the 11th round by his cornerman James “Buddy” McGirt. Read more