Bus conductor faints after LASTMA arrest (Punch)
A yet-to-be-identified commercial bus conductor reportedly fainted on Saturday after officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority intercepted his vehicle to arrest him and his driver for violating the state traffic rule in the Maryland area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that during the operation, there was an altercation between the conductor and the LASTMA officials.
However, the altercation reportedly degenerated into a physical combat and the conductor fainted in the process.Footage of the incident, which went viral on the social media, showed passengers in the bus, including a riot policeman, condemning the action of the LASTMA official, who allegedly assaulted the conductor, after efforts to make him regain consciousness proved abortive. Read more
LASTMA assures justice on alleged beating of bus conductor by official (Guardian)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) says it will ensure that justice is done to all parties concerned following an alleged assault on a commercial bus conductor by one of the LASTMA officers at Maryland on Saturday .
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olajide Oduyoye, in a statement issued by the authority’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Olumide Filade, gave the assurance on Sunday while reacting to the trending video of the alleged assault.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the video allegedly showed that a LASTMA official allegedly assaulted a commercial bus conductor after he had apprehended. Read more
Mortuary attendant sells human skull to herbalist (Punch)
A mortuary attendant, Seun Falana, has been arrested for allegedly exhuming a corpse from where it was buried and severing the skull at the Trinity Cemetery, Ajegunle, in Lagos State, which was sold to a herbalist, Olawale Shodolamu, for N10,000.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the duo of Falana and Shodolamu met their waterloo when one Dauda Tijani, whom the herbalist had sent to pick up the skull from the mortuary attendant, was accosted by policemen, who were on stop and search around the Alakija bus stop on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday that during interrogation, Tijani confessed that Shodolamu sent him to pick up the skull, adding that when the herbalist was arrested, he revealed the identity of the mortuary attendant, who was also apprehended. Read more
179 Lagos pupils get Duke of Edinburgh awards (Nation)
The International Award for Young People in Nigeria (IAYPN) has presented the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award to 179 pupils in Lagos senior secondary schools under the Agboju Education District.
The presentation held at the Awori Ajeromi Senior Grammar School in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area.
Those selected have completed award requirements involving emotional, intellectual, physical, spiritual and social development programmes.
They successfully underwent skill learning, social services engagement, physical/sporting activities and adventurous journeys. Read more
Gombe, Osun govs felicitate with Osinbajo on 63rd birthday (ThisDay)
Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State and his Gombe State counterpart, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, have felicitated with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the occasion of his 63rd birthday anniversary.
Oyetola in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, commended Osinbajo for the sterling leadership qualities he has exhibited as the vice president of the country and head of the National Economic Council (NEC).
The governor described Osinbajo as a successful legal practitioner, an accomplished public servant, committed and patriotic Nigerian, whose commitment to the unity and progress of the country is never in doubt.
He appreciated him for his selfless service to the nation, noting that the country and its people have benefited immensely from his vast knowledge and brilliance, wealth of experience in public service and leadership qualities. Read more
President licenses 65 new digital TV, radio stations (Guardian)
The Federal Government has approved the issuance of operating licences to 65 successful companies and institutions of higher learning for digital television and radio stations.
A statement issued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) yesterday in Abuja disclosed that while 43 companies were granted FM radio broadcasting licences, eight others got campus FM radio broadcasting licences; one community FM radio broadcasting licence and 13 free-view digital terrestrial television licences.
The regulator explained that there were no available frequencies for Lagos and Abuja. Read more
NCC deactivates 2.2m improperly registered SIM cards (Vanguard)
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has completely deactivated 2.2 million improperly registered Subscriber Identification Module, SIM, cards across telecommunication networks nationwide.
Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, who disclosed this in a statement by Dr Henry Nkemadu, Director, Public Affairs in Abuja, yesterday, said the commission’s effort in this regard was in line with one of the key agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen security of lives and property of all Nigerians.
He said: “We have since initiated the second phase of SIM deactivation based on the ministerial directive and as at today, we have completely deactivated the remaining 2.2 million lines on the networks.
“This is contrary to reports by a section of the media, suggesting that nothing has been done with respect to the issue of improperly registered SIM cards.
“Following the September 2019 ministerial directive, however, the NCC, within a week, intensified efforts by reducing the number of improperly registered SIM cards from 9.2 million to 2.2 million.” Read more
NAPTIP rescues two trafficked girls from Lebanon (Punch)
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons says it has rescued two female Nigerians trafficked to Beirut, Lebanon.
The NAPTIP Press Officer, Mr Vincent Adekoye, in a statement on Sunday, also said the agency arrested a Lebanese for allegedly aiding the trafficking of the victims.
He explained that the victims were rescued from their task masters and brought back to Nigeria within 72 hours after information about them was brought to the attention of the Director-General of the agency, Julie Okah-Donli. Read more
Nigerian tests positive for coronavirus in US (Nation)
A man, who reportedly lives in Nigeria, has tested positive for coronavirus in Washington DC, United States.
U.S. News & World Report quoted Mayor of District of Columbia Muriel Bowser, as saying the man tested positive for the virus on Saturday.
This is coming as about 19 people have died out of about 450 reported cases of coronavirus in the U.S.
More than half of the 50 U.S. states have reported cases. As the outbreak spreads, daily life has been increasingly disrupted, with concerts and conferences cancelled and universities telling students to stay home and take classes online. Read more
WHO lauds Nigeria’s swiftness, transparency on coronavirus (Vanguard)
The Director-General of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus has lauded the efforts of the Nigerian government on measures taken to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Ghebreyesus in a tweet on his twitter handle @DrTedros admitted the Nigerian government’s effort in containing the outbreak. He further commended the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, for its efforts since the index case of the virus was reported late February.
Ghebreyesus stated that Nigeria was swift and transparent in the manner it shared the sequence of coronavirus from the country’s first case. Read more
North Korea fires projectiles into sea for second week running (Guardian)
North Korea has fired three unidentified projectiles off its eastern coast a week after firing two short-range missiles, South Korea’s military said.
The projectiles were launched on Monday from the coastal town of Sondok, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The town hosts a military airfield and North Korea fired missiles from the area last year.
“The military is monitoring for additional launches and maintaining readiness,” the JCS said in a statement. Read more
Fury fuels historic women’s strike in Mexico (BBC)
Shocking femicide statistics have prompted a furious reaction from women’s rights groups in Mexico. Anger over the violence is a key part of a one-day national women’s strike in the country.
In the hours before she was murdered, Abigail Guerrero Mondragon had been enjoying her nephew’s sixth birthday. At the low-key family gathering, the 20-year-old law student had been happily playing with the boy and chatting to guests at her mother’s house.
The next morning, her lifeless body was found near some football pitches where the last man she had been seen with worked. Her new boyfriend’s buddy, Juan Velazquez, was detained along with the boyfriend, Ivan, and his cousin, all of whom had been with Abigail in her final moments. Read more
International Women’s Day photoshoot celebrates the diversity of disabled women (Metro)
There is no one way to be or look like a womxn. But in images we often see advertised online, it’s usually conventionally attractive, able white women. This International Women’s Day, a modelling agency which represents those with disabilities and visible differences is celebrating all kinds of women. Zebedee Management has made headlines as they represent children with Down’s syndrome who have appeared in advertising for big name brands. But they also represent adult women from different races, sizes, and abilities. Read more
International Women’s Day: asylum seekers protest at Turkish border (Guardian)
Female asylum seekers stage a demonstration at the Turkey’s Pazarkule border crossing.
Female asylum seekers have staged a demonstration at the Turkish border demanding to be let into the EU as part of protests around the world on International Women’s Day.
All over the globe, thousands of women took to the streets, including South Americans campaigning for access to abortions and topless demonstrations in London and Paris.
Women and children carried placards with the words “Help us” and “Don’t Kill Us — We Are Human” at the Pazarkule border crossing between Turkey and Greece on Sunday, where thousands of migrants have gathered since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan decided to open the Turkish side of the border. Read more
Flight MH17: Trial to start of four men accused of murdering 298 over Ukraine (BBC)
Four men go on trial in the Netherlands on Monday, in the first criminal case over the murder of 298 people on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was shot down over Ukraine in 2014.
The Boeing 777 went down amid a conflict in eastern Ukraine, after Russian-backed rebels seized the area.
Investigators say they have proof the Buk missile system that shot it down came from a military base in Russia.
The four suspects are unlikely to take part in the trial. Read more
Woman arrested after baby found dead in woodland (Metro)
A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a newborn baby boy was found dead in woodland. The 36-year-old woman was arrested as part of the investigation into the death and is currently in police custody. The infant was found wrapped in a white towel by a horrified dog walker close to Shore Road, in Hythe, Hampshire, just after 2pm on Thursday. Detective Chief Inspector Liz Williams said: ‘This is a difficult and complex investigation, and we have a dedicated team working hard to establish the exact circumstances of what took place. Read more
Stephen King attacks axing of Woody Allen book (Guardian)
Woody Allen’s memoir, Apropos of Nothing, was dropped by Hachette after a staff walkout.
Author Stephen King has hit out at publisher Hachette over its decision to drop publication of Woody Allen’s memoir after a protest from his son, the author Ronan Farrow, prompted a walkout of staff at the publishing group’s New York office last Thursday.
“The Hachette decision to drop the Woody Allen book makes me very uneasy,” King, the horror writer, said on Twitter. “It’s not him; I don’t give a damn about Mr Allen. It’s who gets muzzled next that worries me.”
In Britain, Hachette’s decision was branded “worrying for writers and for readers” by Jo Glanville, the former director of writers’ group English PEN and award-winning editor of Index on Censorship.
“I am always afraid when a mob, however small and well-read, exercises power without any accountability, process or redress. That frightens me much more than the prospect of Woody Allen’s autobiography hitting the bookstores,” she writes in the Observer online this weekend. Read more
Black Widow release date ‘won’t change’ despite coronavirus fears (Metro)
Disney was reportedly set to delay the Black Widow release date due to the coronavirus outbreak, but the studio will go ahead with their original schedule. Movie industry insiders sparked rumours that Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson, would be pushed back to later this year as Hollywood and the entertainment industry continue to feel the effects of the coronavirus spread. Black Widow is currently set for release on 1 May but Deadline reported that it could take the 6 November spot occupied by Marvel’s Eternals. It was expected that Eternals, starring Angelina Jolie and Richard Madden, would then be delayed until 2021. Read more
Manchester United: United players can get even better, says delighted Ole Gunnar Solskjær (Guardian)
Ole Gunnar Solskjær believes Manchester United are heading back towards the top after his team recorded a third victory over Manchester City this season at an Old Trafford which celebrated vociferously.
Goals from Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay – both due to mistakes by City’s keeper, Ederson – ensured United recorded a league double for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign. This was also an eighth clean sheet in 10 outings.
Solskjær said: “The desire, attitude, commitment, connection between fans and players pleased me most. With all the clean sheets we have been getting it’s impressive, we are getting better. At times we pressed them, pushed them back. We tried to be aggressive. We made them make mistakes and we are happy with the result. Read more
Horoya halt Enyimba (Nation)
Bolaji Sakin and Boubacar Samassekou were on target as Horoya beat Nigerian outfit Enyimba 2-0 at the Stade 28 Septembre in Conakry on Sunday to progress to the semi-finals with a 3-1 aggregate victory.
The first leg played in Aba last weekend ended 1-1 and the Guineans finished off the work at home with a comfortable win that earns them a date against Egyptian debutants Pyramids in the last four.
Nigerian forward Sakin broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with a sublime goal, curling the ball to the far post from the edge of the area after the Enyimba defense half-heartedly cleared away a corner. Read more
Juve beat Inter in empty ground to go top of Serie A (BBC)
Juventus beat Inter Milan to go top of the Serie A table – in a surreal match behind closed doors because of coronavirus.
One of the biggest games of the Italian season took place with no fans, with all sport in Italy being played in empty grounds until 3 April at least.
Some 366 people in Italy have died of coronavirus, with 7,375 infected.
Aaron Ramsey and Paulo Dybala scored the goals to take Juve one point above Lazio at the top of the table. Read more
Chelsea: Frank Lampard says Chelsea still face a major fight for fourth (Guardian)
Frank Lampard said that Chelsea have to keep their feet on the ground after his side tightened their grip on fourth place with a 4-0 victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Mason Mount, Olivier Giroud, Pedro and Willian secured Chelsea’s biggest home win of the season and kept them three points clear of Manchester United with nine games left, but Lampard insisted that there is a long way to go in the race to qualify for the Champions League.
“In terms of performance, we’ve been close to that level a lot here and then, in the end, I’ve been left mulling over a 1-0 defeat,” said the Chelsea manager. “We’ve played some good stuff here, with energy, but haven’t got the unpredictable bit right – the goals – that makes it comfortable. Read more
Real Madrid’s shock defeat by Betis hands title initiative to Barcelona (BBC)
Real Madrid sustained a shock defeat at Real Betis to hand the initiative to Barcelona in the La Liga title race.
Barca had beaten Real Sociedad 1-0 on Saturday to go two points clear and Zinedine Zidane’s side were unable to respond with a victory of their own.
They fell behind to Sidnei’s stunning strike into the top corner, but levelled via Karim Benzema’s penalty.
Ex-Barcelona forward Cristian Tello was Betis’ match winner, stroking in on 82 minutes. Read more
Roy Keane praises Manchester United new boy Odion Ighalo for motivating Anthony Martial (Metro)
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has praised January signing Odion Ighalo for igniting a ‘reaction’ from Anthony Martial and motivating the Frenchman to up his game. Martial has enjoyed a strong campaign since being deployed through the middle by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and has stepped it up another level since February, scoring in three of United’s last five Premier League matches – none of which they have lost. The 24-year-old was on the scoresheet again at Old Trafford on Sunday against rivals Manchester City, latching onto Bruno Fernandes’ smart free-kick to open the scoring in a 2-0 victory. Read more
Bayern go clear at top as Bundesliga faces virus threat (Guardian)
Thomas Mueller scored as Bayern Munich opened up a four-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a 2-0 victory over Augsburg at the Allianz Arena on Sunday, while the spread of the coronavirus threatened to curtail the season.
Bayern lacked fluency in the opening stages despite scoring 13 goals in their previous three Bundesliga games, but did enough to edge closer to an eighth straight title.
German health minister Jens Spahn on Sunday called for the cancellation of all gatherings of more than 1,000 people in the country over fears surrounding the spread of the new coronavirus. Read more