Community petitions Sanwo-Olu over dredgers’ activities (Punch)
Some residents of the Tunde Afolabi Street in the Ajah area of Lagos have petitioned the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over alleged illegal activities of sand dredgers in the community.
The community, in a petition filed by its solicitor, SkyFall Partners, and signed by one Cookel George, alleged that the sand dredgers had destroyed the roads, disrupt movements with their trucks and instilled psychological trauma on landlords and residents of the street.
The residents urged the governor to deploy the state’s special task force and the Environmental Sanitation Corps to curtail the activities of the dredgers in the community.
The petition read in part, “Sadly and most regrettably, the sand dredging operators have deliberately refused to shut down their sand dredging operations. Their actions have frustrated the administration’s effort to free the Ajah interchange and achieve enduring peace as canvassed by the Commissioner for Transport and the Commissioner Physical Planning. Read more
Workers protest over poor pay, working condition at OK Foods (Guardian)
Hundreds of casual workers protested against what they described as their pathetic situation at OK Foods, a subsidiary of Olam International Limited, at Toyota bus-stop, on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, yesterday.
They alleged poor pay, poor working conditions and constant threats of being laid off.
It took the intervention of policemen to restore order to the axis and calm frayed nerves of angry workers, who took to the road and barricaded the route as early as 8 am.
The workers, armed with stones, sticks and iron, chanted several protest songs and threatened to bring down the company to her kneels. They were locked out by the firm’s security guards before they forced the gate open and broke into the company. Read more
614 emergencies tackled in three months, says LASEMA DG (Punch)
The Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osayintolu, has said the agency responded to about 614 major and minor emergency situations in different parts of the state from December 2020 till date.
Oke–Osanyintolu stated this during a road traffic accident simulation organised by the agency on Monday at the LASEMA Cappa Base in the Oshodi area of the state.
The DG stated that the exercise was conducted to demonstrate the readiness of the state government in terms of managing emergency situations.
He said, “We have carried out a simulation exercise on mass casualty to ensure that we keep to our slogan which is working better together. LASEMA is a total packaged agency that has its fire service unit, pre–hospital care unit, heavy duty unit, and a good maintenance workshop. Read more
Four die in Tangale stool tussle, 16 arrested (Guardian)
No fewer than four people have been killed in the protest that followed the appointment of another Mai (monarch) for Tangale in Biliri Council of Gombe State.
Disclosing this yesterday, the State Security Council (SEC) headed by Governor Mohammed Yahaya noted that 16 people, including a security operative, were arrested in connection with the protest.
It said: “So far, four corpses have been recovered by the police.”
The SEC vowed to arrest the sponsor, an undisclosed politician now at large.
“The council expresses sadness over the senseless killings and destruction of people’s property in Biliri with religious and political undertones. It expresses dismay over the spread of fake news, especially through social media by some unscrupulous elements who try to create situations that were never there. Read more
Economic growth in Q4, a surprise – LCCI (DailyTrust)
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said the economic growth of 0.11 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 was a pleasant surprise.
Reacting to the announcement of the growth recently indicating that Nigeria was out of recession, the Managing Director of LCCI, Dr Muda Yusuf said the annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth declined by 1.92 per cent which was at its lowest level since 1994.
The surprise he said was in the fact that real GDP growth rose by 0.11% in Q4-2020, compared to 3.62% contraction in the preceding quarter.
“From the analysis of the just-released GDP report, the following sectors were the top performing in the fourth quarter 2020.
“Quarrying and other minerals (48.42%); telecommunications & information services (17.64%), cement (6.59%), broadcasting (4.42%) and crop production (3.68%). Read more
Southwest govs tackle Lawan, say crisis entrepreneurs won’t be dignified (ThisDay)
Southwest governors yesterday took on President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, over his attack on them for allegedly inciting the recent ethnic violence, which erupted in some states in the region.
They, however, said they would not engage in a media war with those they described as crisis entrepreneurs and divisionists on matters affecting the security of residents of the country, especially the South-west.
In another dimension to the crisis which has pitted governors against one another, the Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, accused his Bauchi State counterpart, Senator Bala Mohammed, of being part of the Fulani terrorist organisation terrorising Nigeria.
Lawan, in an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), had accused the governors of instigating the crisis through their unguarded utterances. Read more
Trader jailed for pirating Bible in A’Ibom (Punch)
Justice F. O. Riman of the Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced a trader, Chinonso Ugochukwu to one year imprisonment for pirating the Bible.
Ugochukwu was arraigned on two counts bordering on pirating, being in possession and offering for sale various literary works.
The offence contravened Section 20(2)(c) of the Copyright Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
During the trial, one of the prosecution witnesses, Martins Umoh, an employee of the Nigeria Copyright Commission, told the court that the agency received complaints from copyright owners, including the Bible Society of Nigeria, alleging that their literary works were being pirated. Read more
1 killed, many injured as park managers clash (DailyTrust)
A middle-aged woman, popularly called Mama Wunmi, was killed in Ojoo area of Akinyele LGA of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Sunday during the time men of the park managers were on rampage.
An eyewitness told Daily Trust that many residents of Ojoo were attacked while traders took to their heels.
A State High Court had in last week nullified the appointment of the Park Managers system inaugurated by Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration after proscription of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Justice M. A. Adegbola, who presided over the case filed by the former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state, Abideen Olajide, popularly called Ejiogbe, described as illegal the collection of rates by the park managers appointed by the state government. Read more
US wants to ‘strengthen’ Iran nuclear deal (DW)
The United States and its partners will work to “lengthen and strengthen” the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged at a UN-backed disarmament conference in Geneva on Monday.
At the same time, President Joe Biden’s administration will address “Iran’s destabilizing regional behavior and ballistic missile development and proliferation,” Blinken said. Read more
Video shows Perseverance rover’s dramatic Mars landing (BBC)
NASA has released stunning videos of its Perseverance rover landing on Mars.
The movies cover the final minutes of last week’s hair-raising descent, up to the point where the robot’s wheels make contact with the ground.
The sequences show a whirl of dust and grit being kicked up as the vehicle is lowered by its rocket backpack to the floor of Jezero Crater.
Perseverance was sent to Mars festooned with cameras, seven of which were dedicated to recording the landing. Read more
88-year-old Venezuelan man with terminal cancer fulfills dying wish of becoming US citizen (USAToday)
Felix Taborda Romero proudly raised his right hand and recited a solemn oath Monday afternoon, pledging his allegiance to the United States.
“…I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God,” he said.
Family erupted in applause — Taborda Romero, an 88-year-old man in hospice care battling end-stage metastatic colon cancer, was officially a US citizen.
“I am really emotional and excited, more than excited,” said Romero, of an unincorporated area of Martin County, Florida. “I love freedom and liberty…and all the good things that you have in this country.” Read more
“Mortal Kombat” director Simon McQuoid on bringing iconic characters Scorpion and Sub Zero to life (Metro)
Mortal Kombat director Simon McQuoid has spoken about bringing iconic game characters Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim) to life on the big screen in the upcoming live action film. Chatting to IGN, he explained he wanted to keep Scorpion as close to the game version as possible, keeping the ‘dignity and elegance’ of his armour. ‘We really wanted to be very true to his heritage and make it feel very genuine. ‘That’s really why it was born out of this touch of samurai about it. Obviously, there’s been many, many versions of Scorpion’s costume and how he looks, but out of authenticity came this version of Scorpion that kind of felt real but also felt very powerful. Read more
Myanmar: EU threatens sanctions against military junta (DW)
With the death toll rising in Myanmar, world leaders have repeated their calls for the military junta to step down and US officials have announced new sanctions.
The European Union is poised to impose sanctions against the military leaders in Myanmar, according to a joint statement released after EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday.
The statement came as protesters in Myanmar continued to take to the streets despite a deadly crackdown by military and police forces. At least three protesters have died since Friday, and the military has reported that one policeman had also lost his life. Read more
Donald Trump ordered to hand over tax returns to prosecutors (BBC)
Donald Trump has been ordered by the US Supreme Court to hand over his tax returns and other financial records to prosecutors in New York.
The former US president has been refusing to release the documents for several years, despite a precedent that presidential candidates should do so.
A lower court had earlier ruled that the records were pertinent to a criminal investigation.
The ruling does not necessarily mean the files will be made public. Read more
El Chapo’s wife arrested on drug trafficking charge (USAToday)
The wife of convicted drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera was arrested at a suburban Washington, D.C. airport Monday, for her alleged role in the distribution of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines and marijuana.
Emma Coronel Aispuro, 31, a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen who had been a fixture at her husband’s 2019 trial in Brooklyn, N.Y., is expected to make her first court appearance Tuesday in Washington.
Guzmán, a leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa narcotics cartel, was sentenced to life in prison following his trial. Read more
Osimhen rejoins Napoli teammates after concussion (Punch)
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen rejoined his teammates on Monday night after he lost consciousness in the final minute of Sunday’s Serie A clash against Atalanta.
Osimhen hit his head on the turf after a Cristian Romero challenge during Napoli’s 4-2 defeat at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital.
Accompanied by Napoli’s doctor, the striker was rushed to Bergamo’s Papa Giovanni Hospital, where he spent the night under observation until Monday night, when he was cleared after series of test.
The I Partenopei, while giving updates on their injured players, said Osimhen was fine and had rejoined the team.
“Victor Osimhen, following the injury with head trauma suffered in the final minutes of Atalanta-Napoli, underwent tests with negative results,” Napoli wrote on their official website. Read more
Champions League: Algerians Bensebaini and Mahrez come face-to-face (BBC)
On Wednesday German club Borussia Monchengladbach play their first ever European Champions League knockout game against England’s Manchester City.
The match will also see Algerian team-mates Ramy Bensebaini for ‘Gladbach take on Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez.
In 2019 the pair played alongside each other to help the Desert Foxes win the Africa Cup of Nations title in Egypt.
“I’ve really wanted to play against him. Now let’s wait for the game and see if he can nutmeg me!” Bensebaini told BBC Sport Africa.
“We trained together, we played an Afcon together, so I have a rough idea of his playing style. That being said, he is still Riyad, he is still a great player and it’s my problem to find the solutions to stop him. Read more
Champions League: Bayern Munich battle Lazio and exhaustion (DW)
Having struggled since the Club World Cup, Bayern Munich’s aura of Bundesliga invincibility has slipped. Hansi Flick’s “exhausted” team travel to Rome, where Robert Lewandowski will meet the man who tried to replace him.
Lazio have won seven of their last eight Serie A games and convincingly topped their Champions League group ahead of Borussia Dortmund. But, for coach Simone Inzaghi, Bayern Munich remain “the side we really did not want to meet” in the Champions League last 16.
Given Bayern’s status as the trophy holders, and their Italian opponents’ lack of experience and pedigree in the competition, Inzaghi’s comments may not seem so surprising. But the German champions are currently some way short of the side that tore to victory in last year’s hastily arranged knockout tournament in Lisbon.
A condensed season, a number of players contracting coronavirus and the extra demands of the Club World Cup in Qatar have taken their toll on Hansi Flick’s side. Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt followed a 3-3 draw with lowly Arminia Bielefeld in their two games since that successful trip to the Middle East. The Bavarians still lead the Bundesliga, but now by just two points. Read more
Boris Johnson confirms 10,000 spectators to be allowed inside stadiums from May 17 (Metro)
Up to 10,000 fans will be allowed back into English stadiums in step three of the easing of coronavirus restrictions, with plans to allow even more spectators following a series of pilots. Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined his roadmap out of lockdown on Monday with the relaxation of rules meaning football fans could be allowed to watch their Premier League team before the end of the season. The government will allow up to 10,000 fans – or one quarter capacity at stadiums that hold less than 40,000 spectators – to attend events from May 17 onwards. Read more
Ronaldo scores two headers in Juve win (BBC)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two headers as Juventus beat bottom side Crotone to go within eight points of leaders Inter Milan.
Ronaldo turned home an Alex Sandro cross before powering a header in from Aaron Ramsey’s ball, his 70th Serie A goal in just over two and a half years.
Crotone are the 78th team in Europe’s top five leagues to concede a league goal to Ronaldo.
Weston McKennie scored Juve’s third from close range.
Ronaldo is now Serie A’s top scorer this season, with 18 – overtaking Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku. Read more
Las Vegas Raiders CB Kemah Siverand arrested after street-racing incident (USAToday)
Las Vegas Raiders practice squad cornerback Kemah Siverand was arrested Saturday morning after an alleged street-racing incident in Houston and has been charged with a third-degree felony of evading arrest.
Houston Police said that traffic enforcement officers saw five cars racing on the North Loop East highway, northeast of downtown Houston. Officers were able to stop three of the five cars to make arrests.
Siverand was not charged with racing on a highway, while the other two suspects were. Houston Police said Siverand “initially stopped for officers, then continued to drive another mile before stopping.” Read more
Tottenham decide top choice to replace Jose Mourinho if poor form continues (Metro)Jose Mourinho is running out of time to save his job as Tottenham Hotspur manager with the north London club having already decided their preferred choice to replace him, according to reports. Spurs have gone from the top of the league to ninth place in a matter of months, winning just won of their last six Premier League matches – against lowly West Brom – and losing the other five. They were defeated last time out against West Ham to fall nine points adrift of the Champions League places while they also exited the FA Cup at the hands of Everton. According to The Telegraph, Mourinho now faces a decisive 12-day period in which Spurs play four games against Wolfsberger in the Europa League, then Burnley, Fulham and Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Read more