FG warns public over Lagos airport road flyover (Punch)
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Olukayode Popoola, on Friday advised the public to stay off the Airport Road Flyover in Lagos which was dangerously burnt by fire, pending the determination of its structural safety.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the bridge which runs over Toyota Bus Stop on the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway was engulfed by fire when a petrol tanker burst into flames on Thursday.
The federal and Lagos State governments on Friday carried out a joint inspection to know the extent of damage to the bridge and adjoining roads.
Leading the state and federal officials, Popoola raised concerns over the safety of the bridge, saying that its structural integrity had yet to be ascertained. Read more
Bed Occupancy Level In Lagos COVID-19 Care Centres Increases To 51% (Independent)
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, says that the bed occupancy level in the state’s public and private COVID-19 care centres has increased to 51 per cent.
Abayomi made this known through his verified Twitter account @ProfAkinAbayomi, on Friday while giving the state’s COVID-19 update for Jan. 6.
He said that the eight care centres are; Infectious Disease Hospital 1 and 2, Yaba, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Armour, Paelon, Vedic, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, and Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta.
Abayomi said the care centres had 448 bed capacity, with 219 bed spaces currently unoccupied. Read more
Rebuilding Lagos will take a long time, says Sanwo-Olu (Nation)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the task of rebuilding the infrastructure destroyed in the state during the #EndSARS protest last October will take some time to achieve.
The governor, who spoke on Thursday to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, said state government had begun the rebuilding process with the tasks he described as ‘low hanging’, such as providing support to small and medium scale businesses caught up in violence during the period.
He said rebuilding major infrastructure would take a longer time to achieve.
According to him, pooling resources from all possible angles and sources to tackle the task would have to be creative, coupled with the fact that the crisis that led to the destruction is still very fresh. Read more
NUC orders universities to resume January 18 (Guardian)
National Universities Commission (NUC) on Friday, directed vice-chancellors of universities to resume academic activities on January 18, 2021.
Chris Maiyaki, NUC’s deputy executive secretary (administration), in a statement, said the instruction was given in line with the directive of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on the resumption of schools across the country.
Maiyaki urged the universities to safeguard lives by strictly adhering to the extant safety protocols and the guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on COVID-19. Read more
NIN: NIMC workers suspend strike (Punch)
Workers of the National Identity Management Commission have suspended the industrial action which they embarked upon on Thursday over the fear of COVID-19 spread in the agency.
It was gathered that the workers decided to put the strike on hold after a meeting with the Federal Government, where it was agreed that the demands of the employees would be addressed.
The President, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NIMC Unit, Asekokhai Lucky, confirmed the suspension of the strike to our correspondent in Abuja. Read more
Cross River commissioner in EFCC net over alleged money laundering (Guardian)
The Cross River State Commissioner for Environment, Mfon Bassey, was on Thursday arrested by men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It was gathered that Bassey was arrested at his residence in Calabar and has since remained in detention at the EFCC office in Uyo.
Further investigation revealed that the commissioner was arrested in connection with allegations of fake contracts and forged documents to obtain funds for Cross Rivers State Governor Ben Ayade’s younger brother, Frank Ayade. Read more
Pioneer LASU VC, Folabi Olumide, dies at 81 (Punch)
The pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Prof Folabi Olumide, is dead.
He was 81 years old.
His death was confirmed by LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, on Friday in a press statement titled, ‘LASU announces the passing away of its Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, professor Folabi Olumide at 81 years’.
Olumide was said to have died after a brief illness.
The statement read, “The Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, SAN, NPOM, on behalf of the University Governing Council, the Senate, University Management, Staff and Students, with deep regret, hereby announces the passing away of its first Vice Chancellor, Professor Folabi Olumide. Read more
Exclusive screening of “The Milkmaid” holds January 10 (Thisday)
An exclusive screening of ‘The Milkmaid’, Nigeria’s official selection to the 93rd Oscars, will hold on Sunday, January 10.
The exclusive screening titled “An Evening With The Milkmaid”, which will hold at Terra Kulture at 5.00pm, will be graced by the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as the special guest of honour while Bright Okpocha a.k.a. Basketmouth is the event compere.
In December 2020, The Milkmaid was announced by the 12-member Nigeria Official Selection Committee (NOSC) as Nigeria’s representative to the 93rd Oscars in the category of Best International Feature Film, following a statutory vetting and subsequent voting of entries received from Nigerian filmmakers at home and abroad. Read more
The dangerous dark side of intermittent fasting for weight loss (NYPost)
As the much-hyped diet plan promoted by the rich and famous of Hollywood and Silicon Valley, intermittent fasting has reached peak popularity in recent years.
But experts fear that the restrictive regimen — a quasi-religion followed by the likes of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and actresses Jennifer Aniston and Vanessa Hudgens — can be a dangerous cover for an eating disorder.
“It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” registered dietitian Tammy Beasley told The Post. “I wish intermittent fasting had a warning stamped on it.”
The buzzy fad, touted as a weight-loss and maintenance strategy, suggests people eat only at certain times of the day or, in one of its stricter forms, the week. It was the most-Googled diet of 2019 and the second-most-searched diet, after keto, in 2020. Read more
Satya Paul: Indian designer who made the sari fashionable dies at 78 (BBC)
Indian fashion designer Satya Paul, whose prints helped to modernise the traditional sari, has died at 78.
A favourite of many Bollywood stars, the designer made his name with his use of contemporary colours, patterns and materials.
He set up India’s first sari boutique in 1980 and launched his own label six years later.
Paul died on Wednesday after suffering a stroke last month, his son Puneet Nanda said. Read more
Sundance cancels LA drive-in screenings, Cannes considers postponing (PageSix)
The coronavirus pandemic will continue to affect the world’s film festivals.
The spread of the novel virus resulted in the cancellation of several such festivals in 2020, and it seems the trend will continue this year.
The Sundance Film Festival’s planned drive-in screenings will now take place online due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles, where it was set to take place.
“The safety and well-being of our audiences, community and staff is the most important thing to Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival,” organizers said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. Read more
Democrats weigh another Trump impeachment bid (CBC)
Congressional Democrats on Friday were weighing impeaching US President Donald Trump for an unprecedented second time after his supporters, inflamed by his false claims of election fraud, stormed the US Capitol.
Democrats in the House of Representatives, which holds the power to impeach the president, will hold a midday conference call to discuss their next steps, according to two Democratic aides.
Amid mounting calls for his removal from office, Trump finally denounced Wednesday’s violence that left five people dead, including a police officer. In a video released on Thursday evening, the Republican president also promised a smooth and orderly transition of power later this month, although he stopped short of abandoning his claims of fraud. Read more
New Zealand: Woman dies in rare suspected shark attack (BBC)
A young woman has died after a rare suspected shark attack in New Zealand.
Police named the victim as 19-year-old Kaelah Marlow, from Hamilton.
Marlow was taken out of the water still alive but died at the scene despite efforts to save her life. Police said it appeared she had been injured by a shark.
The attack happened at Waihi Beach on North Island not far from the country’s biggest city Auckland.
“Police extend our deepest sympathies to Kaelah’s family and loved ones at this very difficult time,” police said in a statement. Read more
Israel PM Netanyahu says all citizens over 16 will be vaccinated by end of March (NYPost)
As Israel enters a third strict lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there will be enough vaccines to inoculate all citizens over the age of 16 by the end of March, according to a report.
“We will be the first country to emerge from the coronavirus,” Netanyahu said Thursday night, the Jerusalem Post reported. “We will vaccinate all relevant populations and anyone who wants to can be vaccinated.”
He said another shipment of vaccines is expected to arrive Sunday, with many more to follow, adding that an agreement was struck with Pfizer to send more doses, and faster, transforming Israel into a “model nation” for how to beat the outbreak.
“This is a breakthrough that will take us out of the coronavirus crisis and return us to life,” Netanyahu said, according to the news outlet. “This is how we will open the economy, go back to work, to the synagogue … to the lives that we love and miss.” Read more
2020 ties with 2016 as world’s hottest year on record (CBC)
Last year tied with 2016 as the world’s warmest on record, rounding off the hottest decade globally as the impacts of climate change intensified, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service said on Friday.
After an exceptionally warm autumn and winter in Europe, the continent experienced its hottest year on record in 2020, while the Arctic suffered extreme heat and atmospheric concentrations of planet-warming carbon dioxide continued to rise.
Scientists said the latest data underscored the need for countries and corporations to slash greenhouse gas emissions quickly enough to bring within reach the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement to avoid catastrophic climate change. Read more
Osimhen clears air on controversial party (Nation)
Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has revealed that he did not host the controversial birthday party, adding that he knew nothing about the party, according to reports.
The Napoli star had taken part in a surprise birthday party without wearing a protective mask and the Partenopei have fined the 22-year-old after he tested positive for coronavirus upon his return to Naples after the Christmas holiday.
He later apologised to the club and the fans with Napoli stating the most expensive African footballer would be fined for his actions.
“Before I went to Nigeria, I told my sister that I wouldn’t celebrate my birthday,” he reportedly said.“I was not in the right mood because of my injury. Read more
NFF could’ve replaced Rohr if he’s Nigerian, says Ndubuisi Egbo (Punch)
The first African coach to take a team to the European Champions League, Ndubuisi Egbo, has expressed concern over the poor treatment of black coaches abroad.
He complained that many black coaches were not given equal opportunities like their counterparts from other countries.
The former Super Eagles goalkeeper illustrated that Nigeria’s coach Gernot Rohr might have been removed by the Nigeria Football Federation if he was a Nigerian.
According to him, some Super Eagles coaches of Nigerian origin were not given much time before they were replaced. Read more
Galatasaray preparing to end Etebo’s loan deal (Guardian)
Turkish giants Galatasaray, according to reports in Turkey, are preparing to terminate the loan deal of Stoke City and Nigeria midfielder Peter Etebo in order to fund the signing of Jean-Michael Seri from Fulham.
Ivory Coast international Seri was previously on loan with Galatasaray last season but has been omitted from Fulham’s 25-man Premier League squad, meaning he has made just two cup appearances for Scott Parker’s side since his return from Turkey.
Etebo, who is only due back in England in June after leaving the bet365 Stadium in September on a season-long loan, has struggled to live up to expectations in Turkey and has only made five appearances in all competitions for the Turkish club, including three starts in the Super Lig under coach Fatih Terim. Read more
Percy Tau: South Africa striker is poised for Brighton debut (BBC)
South Africa forward Percy Tau is available to make his first Brighton appearance against Newport in the FA Cup this weekend.
The 26-year-old joined the club two-and-a-half-years ago but has only just secured a work permit to play in the United Kingdom.
Tau, who has 28 international caps, has been recalled from his latest loan spell in Belgium, where he had playing at Anderlecht.
“We have closely monitored his performances in Belgium in the last three years.” Brighton manager Graham Potter said. Read more
Real Madrid coach Zidane gets Covid clearance (Guardian)
Zinedine Zidane has tested negative for Covid-19 and has been given the green light to oversee Real Madrid’s game at Osasuna on Saturday, a source at the club said.
The Frenchman had been self-isolating since Thursday after contact with a person infected with the virus.
“He’s negative and the league have given him their okay,” the source told AFP.
Real Madrid is second in La Liga after a run of seven wins in eight games, including a crucial win over leaders Atletico Madrid who are two points ahead with two games in hand. Read more
Renee Montgomery: The basketball star partially responsible for Raphael Warnock’s Senate success (BBC)
In basketball, nothing is more important than the championship series.
But seven months ago, Renee Montgomery realised some things are bigger than basketball. In fact, there are things for which she would even give up her championship medals.
Montgomery is part of a social justice movement gaining momentum in the United States’ WNBA and, a month after George Floyd died while in police custody, added her name to the list of players pausing their careers in the pursuit of other causes.
The 34-year-old two-time WNBA champion’s most recent win goes right to the top of American politics. She is partially responsible for Raphael Warnock’s successful and decisive Senate campaign in Georgia. Warnock, a Baptist pastor, becomes the first black senator for Georgia – a slavery state in the US Civil War – and only the 11th black member of the Senate in US history. Read more
