FRSC warns motorists to desist from carrying children in front seats (Nation)
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists to desist from carrying children in front seats or on their laps while driving. The FRSC Sector Commander in Enugu State, Mr Ogbonaya Kalu, gave the advice during the National Road Safety Club Day held on Monday in Enugu. Kalu said that the Road Safety Club Day, which was themed; “Creating Awareness of Road Safety on Young Children’’, was meant to take the road safety ideals to the grassroots and catch-them-young. Read more
Buhari, Northern governors meet over insecurity (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari and some northern state governors are meeting in Abuja over insecurity challenges. The meeting is taking place behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa. Among the governors in attendance are Kashim Shettima (Borno); Simon Lalong (Plateau); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina); and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto). Read more
AfCTA: Nigeria should solve its problem, not bring it to the AU, says Obasanjo (Punch)
A former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said on Monday that the African Free Continental Trade Area Agreement will not be hindered by Nigeria’s reluctance to sign up to the process. Obasanjo made the remark in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the opening session of the Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Continental Trade and Strengthening the Implementation of the AfCTA. The dialogue was organised by the African Union Commission and the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa. Read more
I’m leaving N42.5b in Imo coffers, says Okorocha (Nation)
Outgoing Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha on Monday disclosed he has kept N42.5 billion in the coffers of the state for his successor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha. Okorocha stated he decided to keep such amount for the in-coming governor so that there won’t be excuses in carrying out activities of government. The governor, who made the disclosure while swearing-in eleven Permanent Secretaries as well as the new Accountant-Genera, Deacon Donald Igbo and the new Head of Service Mrs. Ngozi Ama Eluma, explained that N8.1billion of the money was meant for the payment of salaries and capital Projects while N5.2billion was for Pension Arrears. Read more
Children’s Day: We are praying for the release of Leah Sharibu, others, says Saraki (Punch)
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday, revealed that he is praying for the release of Leah Sharibu and other children, who are in captivity. He went on to describe children as Nigeria’s most important treasure as a nation. Saraki said this in a message to mark the 2019 Children’s Day. The statement, which was signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, felicitated with Nigerian children and urged leaders at all levels to recommit to the continuous empowerment of the Nigerian child. Read more
Children’s welfare will be our priority, says Kwara Gov-elect (Punch)
Kwara State Governor-elect Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has said that his administration will give priority to issues concerning children in the state. Abdulrazaq gave this assurance in a congratulatory message sent to Nigerian children on the occasion of the 2019 Children’s Day and signed by his Media aide, Mr Rafiu Ajakaiye. He said, “The greatness of any society will be determined by how much premium it places on the welfare of its children. This is why we will pay better attention to the rights of our children to basic education and conducive environment to succeed in life.” Read more
Tribunal refuses to strike out petition against Ekweremadu’s election (Punch)
The National and State Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Enugu State on Monday refused an application filed by the Peoples Democratic Party to strike out the petition challenging the re-election of Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu. The petitioner, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu of the All Progressives Congress, is challenging the results of the February 9 senatorial election in Enugu West that returned Ekweremadu, PDP, as winner. In a ruling, tribunal chairman, Justice Haruna Kereng, after listening to arguments by counsel in the matter, fixed June 10 for commencement of hearing. Read more
Ayade inaugurates CAN secretariat, to sponsor 300 Jerusalem pilgrims 9Nation)
Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has inaugurated the newly-built secretariat of the state’s branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). He also pledged to sponsor 300 pilgrims to the holy land this year. Inaugurating the secretariat on Monday in Calabar, Ayade said that the association had contributed greatly towards the development of the state. Read more
Children’s Day: I will implement laws promoting development of Imo children —Gov-elect (Punch)
Imo State Governor-elect, Emeka Ihedioha, has promised to implement laws promoting the development of the children of the state once he assumes office on Wednesday. Apart from existing laws, the Governor-elect said that he would sponsor executive bills in the state House of Assembly that would encourage special skills for children of the state. Ihedioha said this in a statement issued in Owerri, the state capital on Monday by his media aide, Chibuike Onyeukwu, on the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day celebration. He said that government must make committed efforts towards promoting the welfare of the Nigerian child. Read more
Malawi election: President Mutharika re-elected after court battle (BBC)
Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika has been narrowly elected to a second term in office with 38.5% of the vote. The incumbent leader, 78, had faced stiff competition in the 21 May election, including from his deputy. The result was announced on Monday after an injunction ordered by the country’s high court was lifted. Read more
30 dead, dozens missing in DR Congo boat accident (Punch)
At least 30 people died and dozens more were missing on Sunday after a boat accident on a lake in the western Democratic Republic of Congo, a local mayor said. “So far, we have recovered 30 bodies, 12 women, 11 children and seven men,” the mayor of Inongo, Simon Mbo Wemba, told media including AFP, adding that there had been more than 350 passengers on board the boat with only 183 survivors. The accident happened on Saturday night on Lake Mai-Ndombe. Read more
Trump in Japan: US president backs Abe-Kim talks (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has backed a possible face-to-face meeting between the leaders of Japan and North Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Mr Trump pledged “full support” to the proposed meeting, in which he wants to have “frank” talks about North Korea’s nuclear policy and Japanese abductees. The US president said he expected “good things” to come from North Korea. Read more
UK interior minister Javid enters leadership race (Punch)
UK interior minister Sajid Javid, on Monday, became the ninth candidate to enter the race to replace Theresa May as premier, promising to “deliver Brexit” after repeated delays. Referring to the drubbing May’s Conservatives received in European Parliament elections, Javid said the new party leader had to restore voters’ trust. “As last night’s results made all too clear, we must get on and deliver Brexit to make sure there is renewed trust in our democracy,” Javid said in a video message posted on Twitter. Read more
Sebastian Kurz, Austrian leader, faces removal in confidence vote (BBC)
Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz faces being removed from office in a no-confidence vote on Monday afternoon. His previous coalition ally, the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), said it would support the motion being brought by the opposition Social Democrats. The FPÖ had become embroiled in a political scandal caused by a secret video, which ended the coalition. Read more
‘If you run, I will resign,’ Philippine president tells son seeking speakership position (Punch)
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he would resign if his eldest son bids for the speakership of the House of Representatives, having won a seat in the lower chamber of parliament in elections earlier this month. The 74-year-old leader has asked his son, Paolo, to let him know three days in advance of announcing his bid for the speakership of the House so he can tender his resignation. “If you run, I will resign. Read more
Rohingya massacre: Myanmar grants soldiers early release (BBC)
Seven soldiers jailed in Myanmar for killing 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys have been released early from prison. The soldiers were sentenced in 2018 to 10 years in prison for the Inn Din village killings, but they “are no longer detained”, prison officials say. Reuters, which uncovered the massacre and first reported the early releases, said the men were freed in November. Read more
Man threatened to ‘beat the baby out of’ his pregnant girlfriend (Metro)
An abusive boyfriend has been jailed after he threatened to ‘beat the baby out’ of his pregnant partner. Jack Farley, 25, attacked his girlfriend multiple times, including once throwing a glass bottle of Calpol at her head. One of the attacks was sparked when the woman visited Farley to tell him that she was six weeks pregnant with his baby on April 15 last year. Read more
Melania Trump summons fish in Tokyo on Japan trip with Donald (Metro)
Cheeseburgers, wrestling and golf may not be Melania Trump’s cup of tea, but the First Lady seemed to genuinely enjoy herself as she experienced some real Japanese culture. While Prime Minister Shinzo Abe continued his bid to make Donald Trump his best friend amid US-Japan trade tensions, Melania enjoyed a nature-themed cultural experience with her Japanese counterpart. Read more
Aladdin casts box office spell (BBC)
Aladdin still has the magic according to cinema-goers who turned out in their droves for the first weekend of Disney’s live-action remake. Guy Ritchie’s take on the 1992 movie brought in more than $86m (£68m) in its first three days in North America. The film, released on the US’s four-day Memorial Day weekend, is expected to earn $105m (£83m) when Monday’s ticket sales are included. Read more
Deadpool might be making his way into next Spider-Man movie (Metro)
When Disney bought Fox, a whole new world of crossover opportunities opened up including one between the Marvel cinematic universe and the world of X-Men. While there’s not a lot of certainty surrounding which X-Men characters will make the jump over to Disney productions in their current form, there’s one hero who seems to be more safe than the others: Deadpool. And now the rumour mill – courtesy of fan site MCU Cosmic – is churning out a number of ideas for when we’ll get to see him on our screens next. Read more
Aston Villa promoted to Premier League after playoff final win (Punch)
Aston Villa were promoted to the Premier League on Monday after beating Derby County 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium. Anwar El Ghazi put Villa ahead with a header on the stroke of half-time before John McGinn capitalised on a goalkeeping error to score Villa’s second just shy of the hour mark. Derby substitute Jack Marriott ensured a nervous finish for Villa with a goal nine minutes from time but Dean Smith’s side held on to return to the top flight. Read more
Harry Kane: Tottenham striker ‘ready’ for Champions League final (BBC)
Tottenham captain Harry Kane says he is “ready to go” after recovering from injury in time for Saturday’s Champions League final against Liverpool. Kane, 25, suffered “significant lateral ligament” damage to his left ankle when he slipped in the quarter-final first leg against Manchester City on 9 April. Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino initially feared the England skipper would miss the rest of the season. Read more
Liverpool’s Van Dijk, Wijnaldum deserve to win Champions League, says Koeman (Punch)
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman believes Liverpool pair of Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum deserve to win the Champions League on Saturday. Koeman expects the two players to join up with his squad in a positive mood after the Champions League win for the European Nations League campaign. Liverpool faces Tottenham Hotspur in an all-English final of the UEFA Champions League on June 1 at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid. Read more
Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno wants to start Europa League final against Chelsea (Metro)
Arsenal shot-stopper Bernd Leno has made it clear he wants to play in the Europa League final against Chelsea despite Petr Cech being the club’s designated Cup goalkeeper. Despite the significance of Wednesday’s game in Baku – with Champions League qualification on the line for the Gunners – back-up keeper Cech is expected to start, just as he has done in each of Arsenal’s previous European knockout matches. Read more
UEFA will block Arsenal from showing support for Henrikh Mkhitaryan in Europa League final against Chelsea (Metro)
Arsenal players were considering showing support for the absent Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the Europa League final on Wednesday, but they will be blocked in their plans by UEFA. Mkhitaryan has decided not to travel to the final in Baku, Azerbaijan as he does not feel safe in the country where Armenian citizens are not permitted to travel. Read more
AC Milan miss out on top-four finish despite SPAL win (Punch)
Former European Cup winners AC Milan endured a bittersweet 3-2 win at SPAL in the last round of the Serie A, finishing the campaign outside the top four after their nearest rivals both booked their Champions League berths on Sunday. The result left Milan fifth on 68 points, one behind third-placed Atalanta and fourth-placed city rivals Inter, meaning they will have to be content with the Europa League next season. Atalanta came from behind to beat Sassuolo 3-1 at home, while Inter eked out a 2-1 win against relegated Empoli at the San Siro. Read more
Lyon star Maxwel Cornet ‘flattered’ by Liverpool transfer speculation (Metro)
Lyon star Maxwel Cornet has claimed that he’s ‘flattered’ to be linked with a ‘big club’ like Liverpool this summer. Cornet had an impressive season for Lyon, scoring 12 goals in 36 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit, and the 22-year-old forward has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months. Watford and Fulham both flirted with the idea of signing Cornet and reports suggest Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has registered an interest in the Ivory Coast international. Read more
Rafael Nadal begins quest for 12th French Open title with routine win (Metro)
Rafael Nadal kicked off his quest for a 12th French Open title with a routine win over Yannick Hanfmann. Nadal, as expected, did win in straight sets. But the German qualifier didn’t completely roll over, particularly considering it was his first appearance at Roland Garros. It couldn’t have been a larger gap in Grand Slam experience between the world’s No. 2 and 180. Nadal is targetting an 18th major win during this fortnight. Read more
