Don’t compromise when drivers come for test, LASG tells LASDRI staff (Nation)
Lagos State government on Saturday urged staff of Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) not to compromise whenever drivers come to the institute for test and certification.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Whenu Sewedo Oluseyi, gave the advice while declaring open a ‘Train the trainers’ workshop for LASDRI workforce’, organised by the institute in its premises at Oshodi.
He said traffic management is major in ensuring that things move freely and smoothly in Lagos and that is why “we must key into the arrangement of the state government in ensuring that there is free and smooth flow of traffic in the state.” Read more
Motorcyclist killed as LASTMA official, driver struggle for steering wheel (Punch)
A bike-hailing service rider, John Abanna, has met a tragic end in the hands of an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and a commercial bus driver.
Abanna was knocked down by the bus at Apogbon, Lagos Island, while the LASTMA official was reportedly dragging the steering wheel with the Danfo driver.
City Round learnt that two officials had flagged down the driver along the road last Saturday for violating a traffic law.
In an attempt to evade arrest, the driver reportedly made to zoom off but one of the officials pounced on his steering wheel. Read more
Group empowers pregnant women in Lagos (Nation)
As part of the effort toward reducing maternal mortality in Lagos, Steer for Change Mother and Newborn Foundation organized Medical Outreach for Pregnant Women and Nursing mothers recently in Lafaji area in Lekki, Lagos.
The event brought together 100 pregnant women and nursing mothers within Lafiji community which featured medical awareness, free medical checkup, distribution of baby kits, baby care product, medical consultation, prescription and distribution of medications. Medical personnel were on ground to carry out blood pressure test, pulse check, blood sugar check, urinalysis test and medical consultation for the women with support from George Memorial Medical Center.
Its started with a free health talk to the pregnant women and nursing mothers present. They were educated on the necessary vaccines that pregnant women need to take during pregnancy as well as ante-natal procedures, malaria, gestational diabetes and the importance of taking vitamins. Read more
Police, family disagree over mechanic’s death in custody (Punch)
There is a twist to the alleged extrajudicial murder of one Chima Ikwunado, a mechanic at the popular Ikokwu mechanic workshop in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
While Anthony Ikwunado, brother to the late Chima, insisted that his 38-year-old brother was hale and hearty before he was arrested by the police, the Rivers State Police Command claimed that autopsy report revealed that the deceased had high sugar level.
This is as the Nigerian Bar Association in the state called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved in the alleged torture and extrajudicial killing of Chima inside the Mile 1 Eagle Crack Division. Read more
FG, states, LGs shared N15.9tn in two years – Investigation (Punch)
The three tiers of government received a total allocation of N15.9tn from the federation account between January 2018 and December 2019.
The figure was arrived at based on an analysis of the Federation Account Allocation Committee’s distribution to the three tiers of government for the two-year period.
The committee, headed by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, is made up of commissioners for finance from the 36 states of the federation, the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris, and representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Others are representatives of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Nigeria Custom Service, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Read more
How Ibori laundered unexplained millions of pounds – Crown Prosecutor (Guardian)
Ex-convict and former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori had about 17 bank accounts linked to him in different locations across the world, including Ghana, Guernsey, Austria, London and Denver, United States.
Crown Prosecutor, Jonathan Kinnear, made the startling disclosure at the Confiscation of Assets hearing of the two-time governor in Courtroom Three of Southwark Crown Court, on Friday.
“Very large sums of money went into these accounts and Mr Ibori has never explained the source of these funds,” he told the hearing, which opened on Thursday and is expected to last about two weeks, though scheduled for four. Read more
Bowen Varsity cautions Nigerians against deforestation (Nation)
Nigerians have been warned to do away with deforestation and overgrazing to prevent climate change.
A senior lecturer in Bowen University, Iwo in Osun State, at the College of Agriculture, Dr. Vincent Ishola, said that it was expected that climate change would disrupt world inhabitants by causing extinction of some species, adding that Africa would be more vulnerable than other continents.
Speaking on the topic with the theme “Stop Soil Erosion, Save Our Future”, to commemorate the 2019 World Soil Day, Ishola said that 33 percent of the fertile soil had been washed away by erosion which, according to him, could be prevented and controlled by planting grasses. Read more
Kenya to export 400,000 barrels of oil annually (Punch)
Kenya plans to export two crude cargoes a year under the early oil pilot scheme up to late-2023, when first oil from the major Turkana oil development is expected to come online, the Petroleum Principal Secretary, Andrew Kamau, has said.
Kamau said the East African country will send two consignments totaling 400,000 barrels a year from 2021 to 2023, according to S&P Global Platts.
“We target to export some 400,000 barrels of crude annually beginning with the financial year 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23,” he said. Read more
Libya civil war: UN envoy Salamé says foreign intervention must end (BBC)
The UN’s Libya envoy Ghassan Salamé has called on foreign powers to stop interfering in Libya’s civil war.
On the eve of peace talks in Berlin, Mr Salamé said foreign support of proxy groups in the conflict had created a “vicious cycle” of violence.
But Mr Salamé told the BBC that he was optimistic about the negotiations.
It comes after nine months of conflict between the powerful General Khalifa Haftar and the UN-backed government in the capital Tripoli. Read more
Harry and Meghan drop royal duties and HRH titles (BBC)
Prince Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles and will not receive public funds for royal duties, Buckingham Palace has announced.
The couple will also no longer formally represent The Queen.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex intend to repay £2.4m of taxpayer money for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home, the statement added.
The new arrangement comes into effect in spring this year, the palace said. Read more
US Space Force mocked for unveiling camouflage uniforms (BBC)
The US Space Force has defended its newly unveiled camouflage uniforms after they were roundly mocked on social media.
The force, officially launched by US President Donald Trump last month, posted a picture of the uniform to its Twitter account.
The uniform in the picture has a woodland camouflage design with badges embroidered on the arm and chest.
Reacting to the uniform, many critics had the same question: “Camo in space?” Read more
Jimenez inspires thrilling comeback for Wolves in 3-2 win over Southampton (Vanguard)
Wolves secured their first win in six games with a stunning comeback away at an in-form Southampton side on Saturday afternoon.
Wolves started the better of the two sides but Southampton still took the lead after the visitors failed to clear from a corner. Polish defender Jan Bednarek was left free at the back post and tucked home from a sweet free-kick from James Ward-Prowse.
Southampton managed to double their lead prior to the half-time whistle when Shane Long glanced a lovely header past Patricio after a great cross from Cédric.
The Saints almost extended their lead to three as Long hit the post, but he was made to pay for this miss as Pedro Neto controlled the ball on his chest and fired home past Alex McCarthy ten minutes after the break. Read more
Oriyomi: Mother of two in search of boxing fame (Nation)
Ayisat Oriyomi nee Yusuf has faced many challenges in life; from being abandoned by her mother, maltreated by her step mother, having a baby at 13 to finding redemption in Boxing at 15. The Oyo-State indigene now 25 and a mother of two, dreams of Olympic glory and international recognition in a sport that not long ago was considered not ideal for women. The 2018 Commonwealth Games athlete and two-time Lagos State Governor’s Belt winner talks to Oluwamayomikun Orekoya on her journey, challenges and future plans.
After her parents divorced when she was in junior secondary school, Ayisat Oriyomi was forced to live with her father’s new wife, whom maltreated her. Then, at the age of 13, she became pregnant and gave birth to her daughter who now lives with her mother. Whilst pregnant, her stepmom threw her out of the house and Ayisat became homeless. She lived with some friends before her biological mother came to her rescue and she was able to return to secondary school after giving birth. At 15, at a chance meeting in a school sports programme, Ayisat met her future husband and personal coach, Micheal Oriyomi who introduced her to the sport in 2010. Read more
Madrid go top after scrappy win over Sevilla (Punch)
Real Madrid climbed above Barcelona to top La Liga on Saturday as Casemiro scored twice in a gritty 2-1 win over Sevilla.
Casemiro’s double proved the difference amid a three-goal flurry early in the second half, with Luuk de Jong briefly drawing Sevilla level.
Madrid were underwhelming at the Santiago Bernabeu, at times reverting back to the stodgy days of last season when the team struggled for goals under Julen Lopetegui, who is now in charge of Sevilla.
Yet with Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos all missing from their starting line-up, this might be the kind of victory that could prove crucial to their hopes of winning the title in May.
Sevilla stay fourth, eight points off the top. Read more
Troost-Ekong: Fatherhood teaches me responsibility (Nation)
William Troost-Ekong became noticeable in the Nigeria’s defence line as one of the almost lookalike ‘oyinbos’ (a local parlance for fair skin or half caste Nigerians). The other member is Leon Balogun. Gradually, the 6 ft. 3 tall player, who was born in the Netherlands into a mixed Dutch and Nigerian family, began to carve a niche for himself and he is today the vice-captain of the team. A feat achieved in five years, since he made his debut for the Super Eagles in June 2015 against Chad.
He was eligible for both Netherlands and Nigeria following appearances for the Netherlands at under-19 and under-20 youth levels, but he opted to commit his senior career to fatherland-Nigeria.
He made his senior international debut for Nigeria on 13 June 2015, playing 90 minutes in an AFCON qualifier against Chad and three starts for the senior team in 2016 before being selected by Nigeria’s under-23 team in their 35-man provisional squad for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. In June 2018, he was named in Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Read more
Australian Open: Roger Federer says he did care about players’ health (BBC)
Roger Federer says he could not have “gone on court and told people to stop” when poor air quality affected players in Australian Open qualifying.
Bushfires in Australia have caused air pollution issues and several lower-ranked players criticised the top stars for not publicly supporting them.
Swiss great Federer said he spoke to tournament officials, telling them they needed to communicate better.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner said: “I don’t think I can do more than I did.” Read more
Fernandinho own-goal costs City more points (Punch)
Wilfried Zaha played a key role in a dramatic Crystal Palace equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Manchester City, after two goals in the final eight minutes from Sergio Aguero had appeared to have secured all three points for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The Palace winger was sent racing clear by James McCarthy in the 90th minute and his cross was turned into his own goal by Fernandinho, under pressure from Connor Wickham.
Trailing to Cenk Tosun’s first half goal, City struck back through Aguero who took his tally to 179 Premier League and 251 career goals for the club.
Following a delightful floated cross from Gabriel Jesus after 82 minutes, Aguero slid in ahead of his marker to volley left foot into the open net, with his second goal following five minutes later. Read more
Australian Open: Defending champion Naomi Osaka doesn’t see herself as ‘top player’ (BBC)
Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka says she still does not see herself as a “top player” despite preparing to defend her Australian Open title next week.
The 22-year-old, who won her first major at the US Open in 2018, is seeded third in Melbourne.
“It’s funny, you guys tell me this top player thing and I never really see it like that,” said Osaka.
The Japanese starts against unseeded Czech Marie Bouzkova on Monday. Read more
Ashley Young lists three unforgettable things about Manchester United (Punch)
Ashley Young has completed his move from Manchester United to Inter Milan on a six-month deal, with an option to extend for a further year.
He says three things excited him as a Manchester United player.
He listed as unforgettable playing with legends, under greatest managers and being the captain of the club.
A deal between the two clubs was agreed on Thursday, with Inter paying a £1.3m (€1.5m) fee plus bonuses for the full-back. Read more
UFC 246: Conor McGregor v Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone – all you need to know (BBC)
Conor McGregor will make his much-anticipated return to the octagon when he fights Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone at UFC 246 in Las Vegas this weekend.
It is the first time the Irishman has fought professionally since his controversial fourth-round defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018.
Despite the welterweight bout being a non-title fight, it is set to break pay-per-view figures, with 31-year-old McGregor saying he will earn a record £80m.
But what has McGregor been up to since his last bout? What do we know about his American opponent? And how can you follow the fight on the BBC? Read more