Don’t vote for APC, Atiku tells North-East people (Punch)
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on the people of the North East geopolitical zone not to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2019 general elections. The former Vice President made the call on Saturday during a reunion with his supporters upon return to his home state. Read more
ASUU demands are valid — Buhari (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said in Ibadan, Oyo State that the agitation by the Academic Staff Union of Universities for improved welfare, infrastructure, funding and other contentious issues affecting the nation’s universities were genuine. Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the 70th Foundation Day ceremony and award of certificates to the PhD graduands and honorary doctoral degree awards to some notable Nigerians by the University of Ibadan, however, said the government could not do it alone. He called for alternative sources of funding education. Read more
Minimum wage: Govs waging war against workers, says Wabba (Punch)
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, has described position taken by governors that they cannot afford N30,000 minimum wage as an expression of a class war they are waging against workers. He reiterated the resolve of organised labour not to accept anything less than N30,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers, adding, “And we have directed workers to vote out any state governor or his successor who says he is not ready to pay.” Read more
Boko Haram set to deploy drones – US Intelligence (Nation)
Faced with increasing loss of personnel and strongholds, ISIS and operatives from its affiliates, including Boko Haram, are nearing advanced stages in turning ‘civilian’ drones into deadly weapons of warfare, expert intelligence and counter-terrorism evaluations from the United States have warned. A global alert from the US-based Combating Terrorism Centre based in the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York, notes that the Islamic State has effectively reached a threatening stage in the use of modified commercial drones as weapons. Read more
FG to raise funds from capital market to fund universities (Nation)
Striking university lecturers and other stakeholders in education sector were told a bitter truth yesterday: Federal government does not have the financial ability to plug funding shortfall in Nigerian universities. President Muhammadu Buhari, who made the revelation at the convocation of the University of Ibadan which coincided with the institution’s 70th anniversary, said the federal government will therefore raise funds from the capital market to fund universities. Read more
NGO wants improved sanitation in IDP camps (Guardian)
Ebim Social Development Initiative (ESDI), a non-government organisation has called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector to ensure Nigerians living in Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) are provided water and sanitary facilities. In a statement commemorating World Toilet Day, Bankole Ebisemiju, ESDI’s Executive Director, lamented the present sanitation situation at the different IDP camps. Read more
Akeredolu’s ally, Tunji Abayomi, dumps APC (Punch)
Following the unresolved internal crisis that is rocking the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, a senatorial aspirant of the party, Dr Tunji Abayomi, has defected from the ruling party to the Action Alliance. Abayomi, a close associate of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, made the announcement on Saturday, few hours to the deadline given to political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission, to submit the final list of their candidates for the 2019 general election. Read more
Cross River APC chairman killed in car crash (Nation)
The Cross River State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Mathew Achigbe, was killed in an autocrash along Afikpo Road in Ebonyi State, The Nation gathered yesterday. Even though details of the incident could not be immediately ascertained, it was learnt a couple of other people died in the crash with him. Read more
US ‘yet to conclude’ who killed Khashoggi (BBC)
The US is yet to reach a final conclusion on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, officials say, despite reports the CIA believes it was ordered by the Saudi crown prince. “Numerous unanswered questions” remain, a State Department statement said. Sources told US media they did not believe the murder could take place without Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s approval. Read more
Norway sinks its own warship by accident (CNN)
A maritime blunder then a ruinous rescue attempt has left a multi-million-dollar warship under NATO command almost entirely submerged in a Norwegian fjord. A large hole was torn into the side of KNM Helge Ingstad when it collided with a Malta-registered oil tanker, Sola TS, in the early hours of November 8. The frigate, one of five in the Scandinavian country’s navy, had been moving around inner fjords in western Norway for navigation training before it collided with the 250-meter long tanker (820 ft) that was sailing out of an oil terminal. Read more
Eagles best disciplined team I ever managed — Rohr (Vanguard)
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has disclosed that the Nigeria team is the best disciplined he ever managed in Africa. Rohr has managed Tunisia, Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Gabon in his coaching career. “Africa is very special, it is different. We need a lot of discipline, organization and collective spirit.” Read more
BBC African award nominees revealed (BBC)
The five-man shortlist for the 2018 BBC African Footballer of the Year award has been announced.This year’s nominees are Medhi Benatia (Morocco), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal), Sadio Mane (Senegal), Thomas Partey (Ghana) and Mohamed Salah (Egypt). The vote opened on Saturday, 17 November at 19:00 GMT and closes on Sunday, 2 December at 20:00. Read more
Zverev beats Federer to reach ATP final (BBC)
Roger Federer must wait until 2019 for another chance to reach 100 career titles after semi-final defeat by Alexander Zverev at the ATP Finals. Zverev, 21, tipped by many as a future Grand Slam champion, triumphed 7-5 7-6 (7-5) at London’s O2 Arena. On Sunday, he will face Novak Djokovic, who beat Kevin Anderson 6-2 6-2. Read more
Mbappe deserves Ballon d’Or, says Hazard (Vanguard)
Chelsea and Belgium star Eden Hazard has dismissed the idea he deserves to win this year’s Ballon d’Or and has backed France attacker Kylian Mbappe to claim the prize. The race for the 2018 Ballon d’Or is arguably the most unpredictable in over a decade, with several players said to be in the running. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have won the last 10 between them, but neither are considered to be among the favourites after failing to make much of an impact at the World Cup. Read more
I will marry her! Man, 50, pleads after narrating how he raped autistic girl in bathroom (Vanguard)
A 50-year-old carpenter and father of three, Tunde Ogunlade, who allegedly took advantage of an autistic girl by raping her in Akure, Ondo State capital, says he is prepared to marry his alleged victim if her parents insist. The victim was said to be a virgin before she was allegedly enticed with N50 by the suspect. Read more
Kidnap gang notorious for selling children nabbed by police (Punch)
It seems to be the end of the road for a gang of notorious kidnappers that specialises in the sale of children. It was gathered that the syndicate were nabbed by the men of the Inspector General of Police’s Special Intelligence Response Team. It was gathered that the suspects identified as Kenneth Anaba, Emmanuel Izuchukwu, Ikechukwu Ajagbu, Joshua Samuel, Emmanuel Azumara, Chinedu Samuel, Ukonu Anurika, Chidinma Okpara, Chimezie Okpara and Favour Christopher, were caught after members of the gang kidnapped a woman in September 2018, in Aba, Abia State, and collected a ransom of $13,000 (approximately N4.7m at the official exchange rate of N363 to $1) from the hostage’s relatives before she was released. Read more