Gas pipeline leakage causes panic, disrupts commercial activities in Lagos (Guardian)
Eighteen months after a major tragedy was averted at Ibafo on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, when an excavator operator working for Julius Berger mistakenly ruptured a gas pipeline buried on the road, a similar incident was recorded by the same company yesterday, causing panic among residents of Arepo, Magboro, and neighbouring communities, while disrupting operations of road users and many industrial firms connected to the gas pipeline.
An eyewitness told newsmen the gas pipeline ruptured while Julius Berger was working on its construction site on the Lagos-Ibadan highway around Punch Newspaper head office.
He said: “We suddenly heard a loud sound around 9:30 a.m. It was caused by men of Julius Berger during construction.”
As of the time of this report, emergency responders have turned off the gas stopping the leakage. Read more
Presidential Task Team on Apapa Ports dismisses corruption allegations (Thisday)
The Executive Vice Chairman of the now rested Presidential Task Team on Apapa Restoration of Law and Order, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, yesterday dismissed allegations of corruption against its officials.
He blamed those he described as interested parties used to disorderliness in Apapa for sponsoring the allegations.
Opeifa, who had submitted a report on the organisation’s activities to the presidency, said the Lagos State Government would now continue where the task force stopped while the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) would fix its call-up system to manage the movement of trucks in and out of the ports.
Opeifa, at a media interaction yesterday in Lagos, described what it called coordinated negative media reports on the axis as the handiwork of those benefitting from the hitherto corrupt system in the nation’s busiest port. Read more
New traditional leader promises development in Ipaja (Guardian)
Residents of the Ipaja area of Lagos State are expectant of unprecedented development in their community following the assurances given by Oba Kolawole Ajani Egundupe, Ilufemiloye I, the Olu of Ipaja, during his coronation ceremony recently.
Egundupe emerged from Arole Onishile Dosumu’s ruling house to succeed Oba Sylvester Ajibola Akinniyi, who joined his ancestors in June 2015.
Egundupe, who ascribed his emergence and subsequent enthronement to God, thanked the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for endorsing his appointment. Read more
All abducted students alive in Zamfara forest, says Masari (Punch)
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State said on Wednesday that the kidnapped students of Government Secondary School, Kankara were alive and currently in a forest in Zamfara State.
Masari, who made this remark in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, said, “They (kidnapped schoolboys) are in Zamfara forests, we have got the information.”
Also speaking during an interview with Channels Television, the governor said efforts were on to ensure that the students returned home safely, adding that discussions were on with the suspected abductors through Miyetti Allah, to ensure the students’ release. Read more
Gunmen kill lawyer, wife, blind septuagenarian in Benue (Guardian)
Gunmen have again attacked Agbougul Community in Makurdi Council of Benue State, killing a lawyer, Moses Udam; his wife, and a blind septuagenarian, Nyikor Mazugu, in their homes.
When The Guardian, on the entourage of Governor Samuel Ortom, visited the scene of the incident yesterday morning, locals disclosed that the bandits also vandalised two vehicles belonging to the lawyer and his wife and left two sons of the septuagenarian with severe gunshot wounds.
It was gathered that the tragedy occurred about 11.45 pm when Mr. Udam and his family had just retired to their rooms after the celebration of his birthday. The attackers reportedly took away their phones and other valuables. Read more
Reps blame NIN demand for SIM registration on #EndSARS (Punch)
The House of Representatives on Wednesday said it was forced to summon the National Communications Commission when strange persons were calling and messaging public office holders during the recent #EndSARS protests.
The House stated that the identities of the owners of the telephone lines could not be ascertained as the Subscriber Identification Module cards used were not registered.
The NCC had threatened that SIM cards not linked to NIN issued by the National Identity Management Commission would be blocked.
However, the House called for an extension of the deadline issued to subscribers from two weeks to 10 weeks. Read more
FRSC enforces NIN requirement for driver’s licence (Guardian)
Following the Federal Government’s directives on the harmonisation of citizens’ data by relevant agencies, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had in compliance with the directives earlier put members of the public on notice.
As a follow up to that, FRSC has resolved that effective 21 December 2020, all applicants for the National Driver’s Licence in Nigeria must present the National Identification Number (NIN) from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) before they can be captured for any class of the licences produced by the FRSC.
According to the press release signed by the Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem, fsi, all driver’s licence applicants are therefore, expected to present their National Identification Number from the date, before they can be attended to, adding that there would be no waiver for anyone. Read more
CSO expresses concern over dangerous trend of insecurity (Vanguard)
A Civil Society Organisation, CSO, One Love Foundation, OLF, Wednesday, expressed concern over dangerous trend and dimension of insecurity across the country, especially with recent bloody attacks in Borno, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger States, with over 70 persons killed.
Speaking with Vanguard on the bloodshed, the Founder and President, OLF, Chief Patrick Eholor, said the country is currently on a dangerous and alarming proportion of insecurity that jeopardizes lives and property of Nigerians including foreigners.
Eholor said there must be an urgent strategy to address the menace and malaise called insecurity that has engulfed the country and made Nigerians apprehensive and agitated by the sad development. Read more
China biodegradable plastics ‘failing to solve pollution crisis’ (BBC)
A massive increase in biodegradable plastic production in China is outpacing the country’s ability to degrade the materials, according to a new report published by the charity Greenpeace.
China – the world’s largest producer of plastic waste – introduced bans earlier this year on several types of non-degradable single-use plastics, prompting manufacturers to ramp up production of biodegradable versions.
According to Greenpeace, 36 companies in China have planned or built new biodegradable plastic manufacturing facilities, adding production capacity of more than 4.4 million tonnes per year – a more than sevenfold increase in less than 12 months. Read more
Bomb kills Malian soldier, wounds five (France24)
A Malian soldier was killed and five others were wounded when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device on a highway, the nation’s army said Wednesday.
Mali is struggling with an Islamist insurgency that first erupted in the north but has since spread to the centre of the country, as well as spilling over into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
The patrol was travelling between the cities of Gao and Mopti on one of the country’s only tarred highways when the explosion occurred early Tuesday, the army said. Read more
Same-sex couples banned from adopting children in Hungary (Metro)
Same-sex couples have effectively been banned from adopting children in Hungary after a new law was passed. Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced yesterday that only married couples can adopt, with some exceptions for single relatives of the child. Same-sex marriage is illegal in Hungary, but adoption was previously possible if one single partner applied on their own. Now, single people will require special approval from the government to adopt. Read more
Marshall Islands: Record drugs haul washes up on shore (BBC)
Police in the Marshall Islands have discovered a record haul of drugs thought to have drifted across the Pacific Ocean from Latin America.
About 649kg (1,430lbs) of cocaine was found hidden inside a vessel that had run ashore.
Police said the drugs were incinerated on Tuesday, apart from two packets, which have been sent to the US Drug Enforcement Administration for testing.
The drug haul has an estimated street value of $80m (£61m). Read more
5,000-year old Egyptian ruler found inside Aberdeen cigar box (Metro)
An ancient Egyptian artefact from the Great Pyramids of Giza, long thought lost, has been discovered in a cigar box in Aberdeen. The fragment of wood, found by chance by a staff member at Aberdeen University in a collection review, is thought to be ‘hugely significant.’ Thought to be used as a measuring ruler in the construction of the pyramids, the precious piece of cedar was originally discovered in 1872, when British engineer Waynman Dixon entered the pyramid’s Queen’s Chamber. Read more
Fiji braces as Category 5 Cyclone Yasa bears down (CBC)
Fiji closed schools and urged people to stock up on emergency supplies Wednesday as a potentially devastating cyclone was expected to hit the island nation within days.
Cyclone Yasa, a Category 5 storm, is expected to bring high-speed winds and torrential rain to Fiji’s two largest islands when it makes landfall on Friday.
“We emphasize the need for people to please, please tie down your homes, stock up on dry food, stock up on fresh water and ensure the [safety] of your children,” said Vasiti Soko, Fiji’s director of the National Disaster Management Office.
“Do not try and cross any flooded river or any flooded walkway, and minimize movement.” Read more
Netflix launches new talent fund in its search for ‘innovative and emerging’ young filmmakers (Metro)
Netflix is giving young filmmakers the opportunity to create a short documentary film as part of the streaming platform’s search for the next big talent behind the screen. It’s been announced that Netflix has launched a brand new Documentary Talent Fund that will support and nurture the ‘most innovative’ emerging filmmakers across the UK. Looking for the next generation of writers and directors in the industry, the streaming service is giving 10 filmmakers and their teams a budget of £20,000-£40,000 to create a short documentary film. Read more
Rise in COVID-19 cases may stall NPFL resumption (Punch)
The League Management Company may delay the start of the Nigerian Professional Football League season due to the spike in new coronavirus cases in the country, The PUNCH has learnt.
The league was last played in March, after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
A club chairman, who spoke to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the LMC officials were monitoring the situation, but would only sanction the commencement of the league when it is safe to do so.
“There are new recorded (COVID-19) cases now and the LMC won’t want to risk the lives of players and officials. A lot of issues need to be ironed out before the league can start and that can happen until maybe January or February,” our source said. Read more
Firmino’s late winner sends Liverpool clear of Spurs at top (BBC)
Roberto Firmino’s last-minute header broke Tottenham’s stubborn resistance at Anfield and sent Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table.
An entertaining encounter looked set to end in stalemate before – with the game entering stoppage time – Firmino soared to flash a header high past Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris from Andrew Robertson’s corner.
Liverpool flew at Spurs in the opening exchanges and went ahead when Mohamed Salah’s shot took a big deflection off Eric Dier and looped over Lloris.
Spurs had barely left their own half but struck with a counter punch seven minutes later when Son Heung-min raced clear to slip a composed finish past Alisson. Read more
West Brom appoint Sam Allardyce as new head coach (Metro)
West Brom have appointed Sam Allardyce as their new head coach following Slaven Bilic’s dismissal. Bilic, 52, became the first managerial casualty of the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, despite leading the Baggies to a 1-1 draw away at Manchester City on Tuesday evening. Allardyce was identified as West Brom’s top target to succeed the Croatian and the 66-year-old put pen to paper on an 18-month deal with the club earlier today. The vastly experienced former England boss has brought trusted assistant, Sammy Lee, with him to the Hawthorns. Read more
Barca win knocks Real Sociedad off top (BBC)
Barcelona came from behind to beat Real Sociedad and knock the Basque side off top spot in La Liga.
Barca move up from eighth to fifth with the win, while Atletico Madrid take over from Real Sociedad on goal difference at the top.
Willian Jose tapped La Real into the lead from Portu’s unselfish ball but Jordi Alba levelled with a fine right-footed strike.
Frenkie de Jong scored the winner from Alba’s deflected cross.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but given after a video assistant referee review. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals Paul Pogba’s favourite position in Manchester United’s midfield (Metro)
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has seemingly confirmed reports that Paul Pogba is unhappy with his midfield role at Old Trafford. Mino Raiola confirmed last week that the Frenchman is ‘unhappy’ at the club and will seek to leave next summer, with former club Juventus leading the race for his signature. Pogba played in an advanced midfield position when Solskjaer took charge in December 2018 and he thrived, scoring 11 goals in the half season that the Norwegian was in charge. Read more
Arsenal end losing run despite Gabriel red card against Southampton (BBC)
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hopes a draw with Southampton will prove the start of his side’s recovery after they ended a three-match losing run in the Premier League despite going down to 10 men.
Theo Walcott opened the scoring for the in-form Saints on his return to his former club with a delightful dink over onrushing goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finished smartly after the break to level as Arsenal ended a run of 797 minutes in the Premier League without a goal from open play.
However, the Gunners’ ill-discipline cost them once again as Gabriel was sent off after being booked twice in four minutes. Read more