Construction: LASG announces road closure in Apapa (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government has announced the closure of Creek Road from Mr Biggs to Warehouse road junction in Apapa area of the state, for construction.
The State Ministry of Transportation, in a statement on Friday by Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, Head, Public Affairs Unit, said that the closure which commenced on Friday night would span through May 15.
Also read: Covid-19: Bauchi to purchase 500 tricycles to cushion effect of Okada ban
Ogunlola said that the closure was in line with the State Government’s mandate to create an effective transportation system. Read more
253 Nigerians evacuated from UK arrive Lagos (Guardian)
No fewer than 253 Nigerians evacuated from the United Kingdom (UK) by the Federal Government arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, aboard a British Airways flight, yesterday.
The evacuees were the second batch in a series of evacuation scheduled to bring about 4,000 stranded Nigerians back home.
The British Airways aircraft, Boeing 747 BA9155 with registration Number G-CIVO, touched down Lagos Airport at 1.45pm. Read more
After 5 days: Lagos, Ogun, Abuja residents neglect lockdown lessons (DailyTrust)
“On my way to Ikeja with my friend, we were stopped by an official of the Lagos State Transport Management (LASTMA). The offence was that the person with me wasn’t wearing a mask. We tried to tell him that my friend had his face mask with him but was uncomfortable wearing it and had to remove it. Even though he saw the face mask with him, he insisted on arresting us. It took much pleas from our side before we were allowed to move. Are they supposed to arrest or just tell everyone to use the mask?” Olatunji Sulaiman asked. Blessing Michael, a Kabusa, Abuja resident, said she always moved with a nose mask but only wears it when asked to, especially at entrances to malls, offices, and taxis. Read more
Two feared dead as tanker explodes in Ibadan (Guardian)
Two persons were yesterday feared dead at Moniya area of Ibadan, Akinyele Local Government of the state, as a fuel-laden tanker went up in flames leaving several shops and vehicles completely razed by fire.
Traders, commuters and residents of the area were seen scampering for safety as the inferno continued unabated with high intensity. The extent of the damage could not yet be determined at the time of filing this report as firemen and sympathisers were still battling the fire late into the night. The extent of the fatality could also not be ascertained as a result of the confusion. Read more
Wike orders prosecution of 14 ‘illegal’ entrants into Rivers (Guardian)
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the prosecution of the 14 persons who hid in two trailers conveying cattle from Adamawa State to come into Port Harcourt.
This is some indigenes of Cross River State have described the recent verbal attack on Governor Ben Ayade by Wike as an unwarranted and reckless ranting.
With the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Rivers State now at 17, the governor alleged that security personnel at the various boundaries of the state were collecting bribe to allow people into the state. Read more
How man was stabbed to death over face mask (DailyTrust)
The security guard, Nwoju who murdered Chisom What would have been mere enforcement of wearing of face mask in Anambra State on Monday turned into a tragedy as 22-year-old Cletus Chisom was stabbed to death by Mr. Ibuchi Nwoju, a security man. According to a witness, the security guard was monitoring the use of face mask at Coca Cola Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, when the ugly incident occurred. Ibuchi Nwoju, from Asa village in Abia State, but resides in Onitsha Anambra State, allegedly killed the deceased following an argument over non wearing of face mask, while his mother was trying to gain access into the market. Read more
Ebenezer Obey, Tunde Kelani pay tributes to Ayinla Omowura after 40 years (Nation)
Forty years after the tragic demise of the traditional music icon, Ayinla Omowura, prominent dignitaries including Ebenezer Obey and Tunde Kelani pay tributes.
Celebrating the hero, a book on his life was launched on Wednesday, May 5.
The book, entitled: “Ayinla Omowura: Life and Times of An Apala Legend,” is a 537-page research work written by Festus Adebayo.
According to the author, the actual presentation, which could not be done due to COVID-19 lockdown, will be virtual by the two notable Nigerians from their different bases. Read more
COVID-19: FG to withhold passports of returning Nigerians (Punch)
As Nigerians stranded in different foreign countries arrive in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government will keep their passports and places them under surveillance for one week, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
This is contained in the guidelines for the repatriation of Nigerians issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the nation’s missions and embassies abroad.
The document dated May 1, 2020, was signed by the acting Director, European Affairs Division, Mr George Edokpa. Read more
Another White House staffer tests positive for coronavirus (CBC)
A member of US Vice-President Mike Pence’s staff has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, briefly delaying his Friday flight to Iowa and prompting some fellow passengers on Air Force Two to disembark, according to a White House official.
Pence’s flight was delayed more than an hour on Friday morning and, according to press pool reports, passengers who were Pence staff members appeared to disembark before departure. It was not immediately clear whether the infected staffer had been aboard Air Force Two on Friday morning.
“This morning we had someone on the vice-president’s staff test positive and so out of abundance of caution we went back and looked into all the person’s contacts most recently,” the official told reporters travelling with Pence, according to a media pool report. Read more
China’s new spaceship returns safely to Earth (France24)
China’s new prototype spacecraft “successfully landed” on Friday, marking an important step in its ambitions to run a permanent space station and send astronauts to the moon.
The spacecraft – which was launched Tuesday – arrived safely at a predetermined site, the China Manned Space Agency said, after a hitch in an earlier part of the key test.
It said the cabin structure of the spacecraft had been confirmed on site as being intact.
The test vessel was launched with a cargo capsule aboard a new type of carrier rocket from the Wenchang launch site on the southern island of Hainan. Read more
US jobless rate spikes to 14.7%, highest since Great Depression (VOA)
The U.S Labor Department said Friday the coronavirus-caused unemployment rate surged to 14.7% in April, a depth of turmoil in the world’s biggest economy not seen since the Great Depression in the 1930s. The jobless rate in March was 4.4%.
As the rate suggests, about one of every six workers in the U.S. labor force of 164.6 million people is currently unemployed, with the coronavirus pandemic forcing factories with thousands of workers to shut their operations, small mom-and-pop-owned shops (small, independent businesses) to close their doors and white-collar offices to lay off workers.
A total of 33.5 million workers have filed for unemployment compensation since mid-March, with a declining number each week over the seven-week period. Read more
VE Day: The Queen addresses the nation (BBC)
The Queen has addressed the nation to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
The monarch’s pre-recorded message marks the exact moment her father, King George VI, gave a radio address 75 years ago.
She said: “We are still a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire.” Read more
Gogglebox pays tribute to June Bernicoff as star dies aged 82 (Metro)
Gogglebox has paid tribute to its star June Bernicoff, after she sadly died aged 82. At the end of the latest episode, Channel 4 cut to a black screen, which read: ‘In loving memory, June Bernicoff, 1937 – 2020.’ The show’s official Twitter account also shared a sweet video of June and her late husband Leon, with the same message.
June died after a short illness, after Leon passed away back in December 2017. The sad news was confirmed in a statement by Gogglebox’s Executive Producer, Tania Alexander, which she shared on social media. Read more
Vera Wang is sexy at 70 (PageSix)
Vera Wang is looking abs-olutely amazing.
The 70-year-old bridal designer has been sharing a number of stylish outfit snaps while quarantining in Miami Beach — and setting social media ablaze with her toned midriff and endless legs.
“THIS BITCH VERA WANG IS 70?!?!” a social media user tweeted on Wednesday, sharing shots of the fashion icon in an orange Palm Angels sports bra and a tangerine evening gown layered atop black hot pants.
The tweet quickly went viral, with other awestruck fans chiming in on Wang’s youthful appearance. Read more
Mike Tyson snubs Joshua, names top five boxers (Guardian)
Mike Tyson named Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder in his top five favourite current boxers but didn’t include two-time heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua.
Fury, who recently claimed the WBC heavyweight title in a rematch with Wilder, has always earned the respect from Tyson since his comeback in 2018 and the former American heavyweight said he ‘respects’ the Gypsy King. However, he did not mention Fury’s next potential opponent and rival heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua when listing his favourite current fighters. Read more
Coronavirus: Tunisia federation says football could resume in August (BBC)
Tunisia’s football federation (FTF) said its current top-flight domestic campaign could resume in August – if the government agrees.
In a statement on its website on Friday, the federation said it had revised its hopes for a 10 June restart after authorities had not approved its schedule for a return to training.
Football was suspended in Tunisia in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic with Esperance top of the standings.
The FTF said an August restart would mean the campaign could be played to a finish with the new top division season kicking off on 24 October. Read more
Son Heung-min: Tottenham forward wins award as South Korea military service ends (BBC)
Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min has completed his three-week mandatory military service in South Korea – and won an award for the best performance.
Officials said the 27-year-old excelled in shooting skills and was the top performer among 157 trainees.
Son had returned to his homeland in March to continue his recovery from a fractured arm while the season is suspended because of coronavirus. Read more
AC Milan president says some players recovering from coronavirus (Guardian)
AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni revealed on Friday that some of his squad members were still recovering from coronavirus.
Serie A has been on hold since mid-March but Italian Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora said on Thursday he was hopeful group training could resume on May 18.
“We have some infected players in the process of recovery,” Scaroni told local media.
Scaroni believes Italian football must live with COVID-19 and take an example from the Bundesliga which will restart on May 16. Read more
China FA draws up plans to complete 2020 Super League season (DailyTrust)
The Chinese Super League (CSL) season could kick off in late June with the country’s football association preparing various plans to complete the campaign delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The league was scheduled to start on Feb. 22 but was pushed back because of the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 82,000 people in China, killing 4,633. “Plan A is to finish the season with 30 rounds,” Chinese Football Association (CFA) President Chen Xuyuan said. “We have a Plan B if the league were to kick off in late June and finish in December, and we have also designed Plan C for a later restart. Read more
Messi, teammates return to training as La Liga eyes restart (Vanguard)
Barcelona returned to training on Friday after the La Liga champions allowed their stars to enter their facility to prepare for a potential restart to football in Spain.
Lionel Messi and company took the fields at Joan Gamper training centre for individual sessions, for which the players arrived alone in kit and took to the three pitches without passing through the changing rooms.
As well as doing their routines, they were also subjected to tests to see what effect two months of coronavirus quarantine has had on their bodies. Read more