FG playing politics with Apapa gridlock, says Sanwo-Olu, Lagos gov-elect (Sun)
Ahead of his May 29 inauguration, Lagos State governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured that the Apapa gridlock will be resolved in his first 60 days in office.
Sanwo-Olu spoke at the weekend, in Lagos, during a congratulatory dinner organised in his honour by the 1999/2000 MBA class of University of Lagos (UNILAG).
He blamed the Federal Government for the gridlock, saying it is playing politics with the road. Read more
School gardener arrested over murder of SSS 3 student in Lagos (Independent)
The student was among those sitting for the ongoing SSCE examination conducted by WAEC. Read more
Road users beg Ambode to fix Oba Akran road before handing over (Guardian)
The Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has been commissioning some signature projects in the last days of his administration. At the weekend, he was at Agege stadium for his testimonial match.
As Lagosians bid him farewell next week, some citizens have urged him to as a matter of priority fix the eyesore that the Oba Akran Road in Ikeja has become. Read more
Prioritise construction of Agege bridge, says Small Doctor (Nation)
Musician Adekunle Temitope popularly called ‘Small Doctor’ has urged Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to impress it on the incoming administration to prioritise the construction of Agege bridge.
The artiste spoke at the weekend at Agege Stadium as African legends gathered for a testimonial match in honour of Governor Ambode… Read more
Govs neglect health care as state hospitals rot away (Punch)
Like teaching hospitals, state hospitals across the country are fast collapsing following the neglect of the health facilities by the state governors, The PUNCH investigations have revealed.
Findings by our correspondents across the country showed that buildings in many of the hospitals were in a state of disrepair while the health institutions lacked equipment as well as basic consumables needed to treat patients. Read more
Governors lose more amid battle for local govt funds (Nation)
Governors are pleading with President Muhammadu Buhari to pull the brakes on the implementation of the controversial guidelines on local government funds.
They are advising the President to call the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to order because, according to the governors, the guidelines are in violation of the 1999 Constitution.
They believe NFIU is stoking mischief and seeking to cause “disaffection”, and “overheat the polity”. Read more
PDP governors reject el-Rufai in two-man race for NGF chairman (Nation)
Ahead of the election of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) chairman, there are indications that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors prefer their Ekiti State colleague, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai. Read more
The seventh NGF poll will hold on Wednesday in Abuja.
El-Rufai may back out of the contest following talks among All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, The Nation learnt last night. Read more
Benin Airport upgraded to operate night flights (Vanguard)
The federal airport in Benin City, Edo State, was weekend, upgraded by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
Benin airport The airport can now operate night flights and flights during low visibility with the installation of Precision Approach Lighting System and Instrument Landing System, ILS Category II, commissioned byMinister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika. Read more
Power should be major priority in Buhari’s second term – Wabba, NLC president (Sun)
As President Muhammadu Buhari takes the oath of office on May 29 to lead Nigeria for another four years, the president the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, in this interview, says fixing power should be the main priority.
On the new minimum wage, the labour leader warns that any governor that fails to pay the new wage of N30,000 should be ready to have his state made ungovernable, including operators in the private sector of the economy. Read more
Equities market to sustain upward trend on MTN’s listing (Vanguard)
Operators in the capital market have projected that the gains recorded in the equities market last week following the listing of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc will be sustained as excitement over the listing still lingers.
They also pointed to bargain hunting activity by value investors as another booster that would keep the market in the positive territory within the week. Read more
Super Falcons begin pre-World Cup Final camp in Austria (Independent)
Daily Independent gathered that former junior international, Uchenna Kanu who finished the WAFU Cup tournament with nine goals, and alongside goalkeepers Chiamaka Nnadozie, Alaba Jonathan and Christy Ohiaeriaku, defenders Evelyn Nwabuoku and Chidinma Okeke, midfielder Amarachi Okoronkwo and forward Alice Ogebe, will fly to Austria today’s evening for Nigeria’s pre-World Cup final camp, with technical and administrative staff. Read more
FIFA U-20 World Cup: Flying Eagles arrive Poland (Sun)
Nigeria’s national Under-20 male football team, the Flying Eagles, yesterday arrived in Poland for this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup which begins on Thursday.
They arrived in the southern Polish city of Katowice after rounding off a three-week residential training at Bad Gogging on the outskirts of Munich in Germany on Saturday.
Ademola Olajire, the Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation, disclosed in a statement that the team flew out of Germany via Munich yesterday morning. Read more
Solskjaer approves Pogba’s £120m Real move (Independent)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Manchester United manager, is prepared to let Paul Pogba join Real Madrid this summer in a £120million move.
The Frenchman was seen as key to Solskjaer’s rebuilding project at Old Trafford when he took over the reins last December and the Norwegian was confident he could convince Pogba to stay. Read more
Google celebrates late Okwaraji with Doodle (Sun)
Google has celebrated the late Samuel Okwaraji’s 55th posthumous birthday with a doodle on its home page .
The doodle depicted Okwaraji in the Super Eagles green home jersey in action with his iconic dreadlocks. Read more
AAG qualifiers: Nimrod charges volleyball team to beat Ivory Coast (DailyTrust)
The president of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engr. Musa Nimrod has charged the Nigeria men’s senior volleyball team to go all out for victory today in their second match of the 2019 All Africa Games qualifiers against host Ivory Coast.
The Nigerian team inspired by their three foreign based players, Arinze Nwachukwu (Fernabache of Turkey), Samuel Ogwuche (Asaria of Libya) and Uchenna Ofoha (CVM of Germany) had beaten Niger Republic 3-0 ((25-20, 25-18, 25-20) in their opening match of the qualifiers on Saturday. Read more
Piatek, Suso keep Milan’s Champions League hopes alive (Guardian)
Krzysztof Piatek and Suso struck in the second half as AC Milan kept their Champions League hopes alive with a hard-fought 2-0 win over relegated Frosinone on Sunday.
Polish striker Piatek got back scoring after 57 minutes in the San Siro with Spanish winger Suso adding a second nine minutes later as Milan move equal on points with Alatanta, who travel to champions Juventus later on Sunday. Read more
AFCON 2019: Diouf tips Nigeria, Egypt, Senegal for title (NewTelegraph)
Former Senegal striker, El Hadji Diouf, has mentioned the Super Eagles of Nigeria as one of the teams that could emerge champions at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The African showpiece will take place from 21 June to 20 July in four Egyptian cities with 24 countries vying for honours.
Speaking with the media in Lagos at the weekend, the former Liverpool striker said he expected the competition to be tough with only physically and mentally ready teams coming tops. Read more
Kompany to join Anderlecht after City exit (Punch)
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany will leave the club this summer, after securing an historic domestic Treble, to become player-manager of Belgian club Anderlecht.
Kompany, 33, is City’s longest-serving player, having joined in August 2008, but his contract runs out at the end of the season – and though ESPN FC had been told that there was a willingness from both the club and the player to agree a new deal, he revealed he would be leaving after City’s FA Cup final win over Watford. Read more
Anxiety grips AFN as IAAF’s deadline over ‘missing’ $134,000 expires soon (Guardian)
Top officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) are running from pillar to post in their bid to save the country from ban, as the deadline issued by World athletics ruling body, IAAF over the ‘missing’ $134,000, expires soon.
The IAAF had given Nigeria two weeks to refund the money, which was mistakenly paid into a Treasury Single Account (TSA) of the Sports Ministry two years ago. Read more
Nadal beats Djokovic in Rome final (NewTelegraph)
Rafael Nadal claimed his first title of the year by defeating world number one Novak Djokovic 6-0 4-6 6-1 in the Italian Open final in Rome.
The Spaniard raced through the opener in 39 minutes, the first 6-0 between the great rivals in 141 previous sets. Read more