Fear in Lagos community as fuel pollutes wells (Punch)
Residents of the Abule Egba area of Lagos have raised the alarm over pollution of their sources of water supply by fuel that reportedly spilled from the petroleum pipeline ruptured by oil thieves on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. Our correspondent observed that wells, which were the main sources of water supply to houses on Arowolo Street, Adeyemi Close and Segun Akinola Street, among others, had been polluted by petrol after the pipeline was vandalised. Some of the wells have been sealed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Our correspondent, who visited the place on Friday, observed that a red ribbon with caution inscription had been tied round the wells to prevent people from going close to them. Read more
Atiku faults President on release of repentant Boko Haram members (Punch)
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has urged President MuhammaduBuhari to stop releasing perceived repentant Boko Haram members. The Borno Elders Forum had advised Buhari against releasing the repentant Boko Haram members. In a statement on Saturday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku backed call by the Borno Elders Forum, saying he had been vindicated because twice in 2018 he advised Buhari against releasing repentant insurgents. However, Atiku said the President did not heed his advice. Read more
Melaye moved from DSS facility to SARS office (Punch)
The police have moved senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, to the federal special anti-robbery squad office in Guzape district, Abuja. The police transferred the senator from their hospital to a Department of State Services health facility on Friday for treatment after he complained that he was not getting better. But the police hospital had certified him fit for trial. An online news portal, The Cable, reported an associate of the senator on Saturday as saying, “They moved him to SARS office in Guzape. The police moved him without any word. We don’t know what they want to do now.” Read more
Peoples Trust will end security challenges, joblessness — Olawepo-Hashim, Agbakoba (Vanguard)
The Peoples Trust (PT) officially flagged off its presidential campaign in Abuja yesterday with a promise by its leaders to steer the nation away from the current state of hopelessness, insecurity and youth unemployment. Its presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, who addressed a crowd at the Old Parade Ground, venue of the rally, said that the current administration had worsened the security situation of the country, adding that 11 out of 19 Northern states are already groaning under the scourge of insecurity. Read more
Ohanaeze, MASSOB tackle military over Operation Python Dance (Punch)
The Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council on Saturday cautioned the military against creating unrest in the South-East through the ongoing Operation Python Dance 111 in the zone by the Nigerian Army. In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, MASSOB alleged that the military operation was aimed at aiding the Independent National Electoral Commission to rig the February 16 presidential election in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari. Leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, said the presence of soldiers had created tension in the zone. Read more
Aisha Buhari, Rochas disagree over support for gov’s son-in-law (Nation)
The First Lady,Mrs Aisha Buhari yesterday in Owerri canvassed votes for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Imo State ,Senator Hope Uzodinma to the chagrin of Governor Rochas Okorocha. Represented by the wife of the vice president,Mrs.Oludolapo Osinbajo,the first lady was confident that the SouthEast and Imo State in particular would vote all APC candidates in the coming elections. “A vote for Buhari is a vote for progress. APC has done well and we must all support all APC candidates,” she said at a rally in Owerri organized by APC women and youths in the South East. Read more
US ‘hopeful’ on deal to protect Kurds (BBC)
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says he is optimistic an agreement can be reached with Turkey to protect Kurdish fighters in Syria after the US leaves. He was speaking in the United Arab Emirates following a phone call with his Turkish counterpart. US forces in northern Syria have fought alongside a Kurdish militia against Islamic State (IS) militants. Turkey, however, regards the People’s Protection Units (YPG) as a terrorist group and has vowed to crush it. Mr Pompeo is touring the Middle East to try to reassure allies following President Donald Trump’s abrupt announcement last month that US forces would withdraw from Syria. Read more
Siasia signs deal with Mizuno (Vanguard)
Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia and world renowned Japanese sports equipment giants Mizuno Corporation have signed an agreement to usher in the brand into Nigeria. The Japanese sport equipment and sport ware company was founded in Osaka in 1906 and makes a wide range of sports equipment for golf, Tennis, baseball, volleyball, football, rugby, skiing, cycling, Judo, table tennis, Badminton, boxing and athletics. The 2014 Olympic Games bronze medal winning coach has stated that Mizuno coming to Nigeria is a sign of new dawn for the sporting circle as quality equipment and wares will now reach those in need of them at their doorsteps. Read more
CAF confed Cup: Rangers try Bantu for size (Vanguard)
The twenty thousand capacity Setsoto stadium in Maseru the capital city of land-locked, Lesotho in the southern part of the continent will today be hosting one of its biggest football games as Rangers International F.C of Enugu take on Bantu FC the first leg of the 2018/2019 Total Confederation Cup with the ticket to play in the group stage of the competition at stake. It is a known fact that Bantu F.C are two-time league champions and seven-time cup champions and got eliminated by D.R Congo side A.S Vita 5-2 on aggregate to step down to the second tier continental club competition where Rangers is having a fine run in the four matches played, winning three and ending one in a draw in far away, Bel Abbes, Algeria. Read more
We are not childish anymore – Klopp (BBC)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side are no longer “childish” in controlling matches after Mohamed Salah’s penalty edged out Brighton to extend their lead to seven points at the top of the Premier League. The Reds dominated with more than 70% possession against their cagey hosts but created little in a workmanlike performance until Salah was felled in the area by Pascal Gross. The Egyptian duly lashed the spot-kick left-footed across his body and into the net for a 17th goal of the season. Brighton briefly rallied, with Fabinho – at the heart of Liverpool’s defence for the injured Dejan Lovren – producing a key block to deny Gross in the area as the home side failed to register a shot on target. Read more
Important Willian must stay – Sarri (BBC)
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said “very important” Willian “has to stay” with the club after the winger scored a spectacular goal to give the Blues a win over Newcastle. Willian curled the ball past Martin Dubravka in the 57th minute after Ciaran Clark’s header had cancelled out Pedro’s opener. Earlier this week, the Blues reportedly rejected a player-plus-cash bid from Barcelona for the 30-year-old Brazilian in a deal that would have also seen Barca winger Malcom move to Stamford Bridge. “For us Willian is really a very important player,” said Sarri. “We need wingers, so we need Pedro, we need (Callum Hudson-) Odoi, we need Willian of course. Read more
PSG extend unbeaten run to 18 games (BBC)
French champions Paris St-Germain extended their unbeaten run to 18 games in Ligue 1 with a dominant victory over Amiens. Edinson Cavani fired PSG into the lead before the hour after Alexis Blin gave away a penalty for handball. The striker later set up Kylian Mbappe before Marquinhos confirmed the win with a third goal after some neat build-up play from Julian Draxler. Amiens defender Khaled Adenon was sent off for a second yellow card. Top scorer Mbappe has now netted 14 goals in the league this season and has 17 in all competitions. Read more