Gunmen kill son of former Milad at drinking joint In Lagos (Guardian)
Suspected assassins, on Thursday, shot dead the son of a retired Army General and one-time military administrator (Milad) of Ondo State, Brig-Gen. Opaleye (rtd).
The deceased, identified as one Muyiwa Babafumilayo Opaleye, was shot dead at a popular drinking joint on Adekunle Kuye Street in Surulere, Lagos. It was learnt that the gunmen, about four in number, shot Muyiwa dead at a close rang before bolting away.
One of the deceased’s friends, identified as Kunle, who tried to rush him to the hospital, was arrested and taken to Soloki Police Station. It was learnt that all efforts made at convincing the Police that the deceased was his friend fell on deft ears. Read more
BRT users lament bus shortage, time spent on queues in Lagos (Independent)
Some users of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Friday in Lagos decried shortage of buses being released for services since the ease of lockdown on May 4.
The commuters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews at the BRT Bus Stations that inadequate deployment of the buses had increased the time they spent in queues.
NAN reports that it appeared the operator had withdrawn many of the buses from the roads, because of the government new operational guidelines restricting them to carry only 20 passengers instead of 70 per buses. Read more
Apapa Gridlock: Logistics practitioners seek removal of presidential task force (Guardian)
Members of the Logistics Practitioners Association of Nigeria (LPAN) has called for the removal of Presidential Task Force and unregistered truck owners in Apapa over alleged consistent exploitations.
They also called for proper restructuring of the traffic management system at the ports to ease movement. They disclosed that the consistent exploitation of truck drivers before they are allowed to gain access into the Tin Can Island port from Mile 2 axis was the cause of the recent deadly clash between members of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), unregistered truck owners and members of the Presidential Task Force at Mile 2. Read more
Lagos targets 37,589 homes for school feeding food distribution (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) has disclosed its readiness to commence distribution of food to primary school pupils at home.
The chairman of the board, Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, who disclosed this when he visited the warehouse where the food palliatives were kept in Ikeja, described the initiative as part of the presidential directive that the home-grown school feeding programme must continue in spite of school closure.
Alawiye-King disclosed that over 37,589 homes were being targeted for the pilot scheme of the programme. Read more
Police arraign man who beat wife, posted photo online (Guardian)
The Nigeria Police, yesterday, arraigned one Afobaje Maiyegun, alias Afobaje, before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court in Igbosere for allegedly beating up his wife, Mariam Omolara Gabriel.
Maiyegun, who had, after the incident, posted her photograph showing her bruised face online, boasting in a viral Facebook post that he had just beaten up his wife, was arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful assault before Magistrate Folake Oshin.
He pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The Police prosecutor, Shinaolu Adeoye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 5, this year at Maiyegun Town, Jakande Estate in Eti-Osa Council. Read more
COVID-19: Again, Ogun extends lockdown by one week (Punch)
For the third time, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, announced the extension of COVID-19 lockdown in the state for another one week till Sunday, May 24.
Abiodun said this while addressing newsmen at the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta on Friday night.
The governor cited non-compliance with the safety regulations and the community spread of the virus as reasons for extending the sit-at-home order.
He stated that the state officials would continue to monitor the level of compliance with the lockdown measures and the incidence of community transmission to determine easing of the lockdown.
He said “Consequently, in view of the evidence of community transmission and poor compliance with the lockdown measures, we are constrained to extend the lockdown by another week till Sunday 24th of May. Read more
Revenue drops by N174bn in April as FG, States, LGs share N606bn (ThisDay)
The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) yesterday distributed a total of N606.196 billion as April allocation to the federal, state and local governments, representing a N174.73 billion shortfall when compared to the N780.926 billion distributed in the preceding month of March.
The distribution was conducted via a virtual conference, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse.
A communique issued after the conference indicated that the N606.196 billion comprised Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange Gain, Solid Mineral Revenue, Excess Bank Charges and Excess Oil Revenue.
The gross revenue available from the VAT for April was N94.495 billion as against N120.268 billion distributed in the preceding month of March resulting in a decrease of N25.772 billion. Read more
Terrorists abandon wives, kids as troops intensify onslaught (Nation)
In a bid to avert further fatalities, Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) fighters have dropped off their families as troops intensify onslaught against the insurgents, it was learnt.
According to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, 72 family members of the insurgents, including 33 women and 39 children were found at the entrance of Ngala town in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State. Read more
Tunisia eases lockdown as zero cases registered in five days (Guardian)
Retail shops and supermarkets reopened Friday in Tunisia after the government announced zero coronavirus cases for the fifth consecutive day.
In a statement published overnight, the health ministry also said that 217 patients still carry the COVID-17 virus, three of whom are being treated in hospital.
But for the fifth consecutive day no new cases were registered in the North African country which has declared 1,032 cases of coronavirus, including 45 deaths, since March 2. Read more
Air Canada to lay off 20,000 workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic (CBC)
Air Canada plans to cut its workforce by at least half as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the airline industry, according to an internal memo obtained by CBC News.
Effective June 7, “approximately 50 to 60 per cent” of the company’s 38,000 employees will be laid off, the company said in the memo sent to all staff on Friday.
“We estimate about 20,000 people will be affected.”
Air Canada said the move comes after a “fundamental review of what we must do to successfully emerge from this crisis and begin rebuilding our airline.”
The airline said it is currently flying at about five per cent of the capacity it flew last year and hopes to ramp up to 25 per cent later in the year if government-imposed travel restrictions are eased. Landry said in the memo that the airline was burning $22 million a day. Read more
Supermum of 11 with 8 adopted children gets as little as one hour’s sleep each night (Metro)
A ‘supermother’ of 11 who adopted eight of her children spends $1,200-a-month on food for them and sleeps for as little as one hour each night. Julie Chambers, 48, was a mom of three when she and husband David, 50, began fostering in 2008. The couple, from San Diego in California, initially refused to consider adopting, but soon realized they couldn’t bear to part with the children they’d taken in, or inflict further upheaval on them. Julie said; ‘We never wanted to adopt and our only intention was to foster, but look where we are now. David even said he wasn’t sure if he could love another person’s child. Read more
UN warns against hasty lockdown lifting as global death toll tops 300,000 (RT)
The global death toll in the Covid-19 pandemic has crossed 300,000, hitting another dark milestone as the United Nations voiced concerns that lockdown measures are being lifted too quickly, warning of a “second wave” of the virus.
Surpassing a total of 300,000 fatalities and nearing 4.5 million cases globally on Thursday, according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University, the worldwide viral outbreak continues to expand across some 188 nations, infecting tens of thousands every day. The latest figures came on the heels of a new warning from the UN’s Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, who said countries that repeal containment policies too fast risk a resurgence of the virus. Read more
Gregory McMichael leaked viral video of Ahmaud Arbery shooting to press in shocking twist (NYPost)
Viral video of the shooting of unarmed Georgia jogger Ahmaud Arbery was first leaked to the press at the request of the dad now accused of his murder — because he thought it would make him and his son look better.
The ironic shocker — that it was ex-cop Gregory McMichael who leaked the very video that would expose the Arbery shooting to the world, leading to father-son murder charges — was reported Friday by WSB-TV in Atlanta.
The video shows McMichael standing in the back of a pickup truck as his son, Greg, confronts and opens fire on the jogger with a shotgun. Read more
Katy Perry strips off in a waterfall and reveals her beautiful baby bump in dreamy new music video for Daisies (Metro)
Katy Perry is an absolute queen as she strips naked while showing off her baby bump in her new music video for Daisies. The Firework singer, 35, has released her new single after revealing back in March that she’s having a baby girl with fiance Orlando Bloom, 43. Her new song, Daisies, is out now and, although Katy wrote it before the pandemic, she said now feels like it’s taken on a new meaning; that everyone has their ‘own story of strength and resilience to tell’. The mother-to-be has now released a gorgeous video for the song, in which she gives us major dreamy vibes with her flowing white dress before she strips completely nude in a waterfall. Read more
Nigerians in race to save ailing Ex-Eagles defender, Sunday Eboigbe (Guardian)
Some football-loving Nigerians are rallying round to save the life of former Super Eagles defender Sunday Eboigbe. Eboigbe, nicknamed ‘The Destroyers’ in his playing days, is said to be suffering from stroke in Benin City, Edo State capital.
He made over 58 appearances for the national team, grabbing a silver medal with the then Green Eagles at 1984 African Nations Cup in Abidjan, where Nigeria lost to Cameroun. He also picked another silver medal with the national team at Maroc ’88, losing the gold a second time to the Lions of Cameroun.
Eboigbe remains a household name in Nigerian club football, having featured for prominent clubs including Bendel Insurance, New Nigeria Bank (NNB), Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Elkanemi Warriors and Abiola Babes between 1982 and 1993.Read more
BBC set to show live Premier League matches for first time ever (Metro)
Premier League matches are set to be shown live on the BBC for the first time ever as league bosses draw up plans to show all remaining 92 games on television. The 20 Premier League clubs have held extension talks over how to restart the campaign though there have been disagreements over a number of issues, with the bottom six sides all wanting relegation to be scrapped – something the FA will not sanction. Another sticking point was the notion of playing at neutral venues, a plan that was shelved with clubs given the green light to play their remaining games at their stadiums behind closed doors. Read more
League two clubs end season in England (Guardian)
League Two’s season has been brought to an early conclusion following discussions between clubs and the English Football League. The final table will be decided using a points-per-game method, but promotion and relegation has yet to be finalised.
There are still plans for the play-offs to take place as usual, with two-legged semi-finals and then a final. Meanwhile, teams in League One will have to meet again on Monday after failing to come to an agreement.
On Thursday, six third-tier clubs had said they were determined to complete their remaining fixtures. Read more
Lucas Torreira’s agent provides update on Arsenal star’s future (Metro)
Lucas Torreira would ‘love’ to return to Italy amid fresh speculation surrounding the Arsenal midfielder’s future. The Uruguay international enjoyed an impressive first season in English football following his arrival from Sampdoria after the 2018 World Cup, establishing his place in front of the back four, adding a combative and tenacious edge to Unai Emery’s side. Torreira, however, fell out of favour with the Spaniard towards the end of his turbulent reign and was redeployed in an unfamilar attacking role during the early part of the current season. Read more
Mark Cuban: Shaq and Charles Barkley wrong about cancelling NBA season (NYPost)
Charles Barkley retired two decades ago. Shaquille O’Neal hasn’t stepped on a court in nine years.
But Mark Cuban still has something to play for.
Following criticism of the league from the Hall of Famers, who believe the NBA should cancel the 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuban reiterated his belief that games should resume because the players — and the country — crave them. Read more
Tennis extends coronavirus suspension: ATP and WTA Tours on further hold (BBC)
Professional tennis on the ATP and WTA tours has been suspended further because of the coronavirus pandemic.
All ATP tournaments in July have been suspended, including the Hamburg Open – a third-tier 500 level event.
WTA events in Bastad, Bucharest, Lausanne and Jurmala have been called off, with similar events in Palermo and Karlsruhe set to follow.
The US Open, which takes place in New York at the end of August, remains pencilled in for that date. Read more
