Horrible Lagos-Badagry road: Motorists’ nightmare, cash cow for miscreants (Punch)
If there was a competition for bad roads in Lagos, the Lagos-Badagry Expressway will most likely outshine other numerous ones across the state. But the large potholes in-between Trade Fair Under Bridge and Barracks bus stop along the road are the worst of the terrible fate that has befallen the road, findings by Saturday PUNCH revealed. On days when that portion of the road is flooded as a result of downpours, vehicular movement stops at the waterlogged spot, rendering many passengers stranded for hours. Read more
Man who climbed airplane wing at Lagos Airport, Nigerien, says Police (Punch)
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos Police Command, has identified the man who climbed an aircraft at the airport on Friday as Usman Adamu from the neighbouring Republic of Niger. The spokesperson for the Command, DSP Joseph Alabi, disclosed the identity of the 32-year-old Nigerien to the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos. Alabi said the Nigerien, who is currently being held by the command, could not speak or understand English Language. Read more
Insecurity: It’s time to hold national dialogue to proffer solutions —Ortom (Punch)
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Saturday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, convoke a National Dialogue Forum that would afford all Nigerians the opportunity to speak on issues affecting the country, particularly insecurity and proffer solutions. Ortom stated that such a forum would serve as an interim measure to put an end to the wave of threats and counter-threats emanating from different sections of the country. The governor who made the call while playing host to the President of Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, Reverend Stephen Panya Baba, at Government House, Makurdi, enjoined security agencies not to ignore those beating drums of war. Read more
Election results were collated in the coven, witness tells Tribunal (Nation)
A prosecution witness for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Okpafo Victor, has told the National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin City that election results for Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency were collated in the coven. Victor was testifying in the petition filed by Hon Johnson Agbonyinma against the election of Jude Ise-Idehen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Read more
Bandits attack Katsina community, loot homes, rustle animals (Punch)
Bandits, on Friday night, struck again at Danbirgima in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, stealing residents’ money and rustling an unspecified number of animals in the process. No death was reported during the two-hour attack on the community. Residents said the bandits stormed the town around 9:45 p.m. and carried out their activities for the next two hours. Read more
Tribunal upholds election of Ibrahim-Umar Potiskum (Nation)
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal for Yobe sitting in Abuja on Saturday upheld the election of Mr Ibrahim-Umar Potiskum, as member representing Potiskum/Nangere Federal Constituency. Delivering judgment, Justice U.S. Sakwa, a member of the three-man tribunal, dismissed the petition filed by Alhaji Sabo Garba of the PDP, for lacking in merit. Read more
66,725 voters to participate in Plateau by-election – INEC (Guardian)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 66,725 voters will be participating in the by-election into the Pengana Constituency of Bassa Local Government Area in Plateau House of Assembly. Mr. Osaretin Imahiyereobo, Head, Voter Education and Publicity of the Commission in the state, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Saturday. The by-election scheduled for Aug. 3, was necessitated by the death of Mr. Ezekiel Afon of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who died just after he was declared the winner of the election in March. Read more
Plateau Assembly member employs 25 youths (Nation)
Hon Dalyop Fom, Member, representing Jos South Constituency in the Plateau House of Assembly, has employed 25 youths and will be paying them with his entire monthly salary. Fom made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Saturday. The lawmaker said that the painstaking decision was to reduce unemployment in his constituency. Read more
Nigerian Army graduates 259 cadets in Jaji (Nation)
The Nigerian Army has graduated 259 Cadets of Direct Short Service Course from Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji, Kaduna State. The officers, who comprised serving and non-serving personnel, graduated in different fields in the six months intensive training at the school. The new officers were conferred with the rank of Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin. Read more
Dangote, Bill Gates restate commitment to polio eradication in Kano (Punch)
The Dangote and Bill & Melinda Gates foundations have restated their commitments to sustaining the fight against polio in Kano State. This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Malam Abba Anwar, on Saturday in Kano. According to the statement, Dangote and Gates reiterated their promises via a video teleconference at a mid-year review meeting on strengthening strategic routine immunisation held at the Government House in Kano. Read more
Suspected female robber arrested with gun in Anambra (Nation)
Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 20-year old woman, Ifeoma Joy over alleged cases of robbery in Eziowelle, Idemili North local government area of Anambra State. The spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed who disclosed this on Saturday in a statement in Awka, said the suspect was arrested with her accomplice, Ifeanyi Chinweze. He said the suspects, both from Oranto Ukpo, Dunukofia have been terrorising residents of the area. Read more
Zambians march against graft in government (Guardian)
Hundreds of people wearing yellow T-shirts rallied on Saturday in Zambia’s capital Lusaka — to kick start a campaign against corruption in President Edgar Lungu’s government. The protesters — led by prominent anti-graft activists Laura Miti and musician Pilato (also known as Chama Fumba) — picketed outside the parliament, singing anti-government songs and waving yellow cards. “This is just the beginning of our yellow card campaigns,” Miti, who is the leader of a non-profit organisation Alliance for Community Action, told the jubilant crowd. Read more
Last Kadhafi PM freed in Libya for ‘health reasons’ (Guardian)
Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, Libya’s last prime minister under ousted dictator Moamer Kadhafi, has been released from jail for health reasons four years after being sentenced to death, Tripoli’s justice ministry said Saturday. Mahmoudi, in his 70s, was premier when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled and killed Kadhafi. He was handed the death sentence in July 2014 along with eight other Kadhafi-era officials including the leader’s son Seif al-Islam, over their alleged role in a bloody crackdown on protesters. Read more
Merkel marks Hitler assassination attempt with anti-extremism appeal (BBC)
German Chancellor Angela Markel has used the 75th anniversary of the most famous plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler to call on citizens to counter rising right-wing extremism. Ms Merkel thanked the German officer, Claus von Stauffenberg, and other plotters who tried in 1944 to kill the Nazi dictator with a briefcase bomb. Stauffenberg and some 200 co-conspirators were caught and executed. Read more
UK voices ‘extreme disappointment’ to Iran over seized tanker (Guardian)
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he told his Iranian counterpart Saturday of his “extreme disappointment” after Tehran seized a UK-flagged tanker in the Gulf. In a tweet, Hunt said he had spoken to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif “and expressed extreme disappointment that having assured me last Saturday Iran wanted to de-escalate situation they have behaved in the opposite way”. “This has to be about actions, not words if we are to find a way through. British shipping must and will be protected.” Read more
Police hunt two men after gas released on Tube at Oxford Circus (BBC)
Police are looking for two men after suspected CS gas was released during a fight on a London Underground train. It happened at 09:13 BST on board a Victoria line Tube train at Oxford Circus in central London. British Transport Police (BTP) said a number of people were treated at the scene by paramedics for coughing and shortness of breath. Read more
Two soldiers, civilian killed in east Ukraine ahead of polls (Guardian)
Two Ukrainian soldiers and one civilian were killed in incidents involving Kremlin-backed separatists, Kiev said Saturday, a day before the country votes in a parliamentary election. The Ukrainian army’s press secretary, Dmytro Gutsulyak, said the two soldiers were killed by sniper fire, and added that four other servicemen were injured. In a separate incident, a 60-year-old civilian was killed just outside the separatist stronghold of Donetsk, he added. Read more
Hong Kong protests: Police probe link of huge explosives haul (BBC)
Hong Kong police are investigating whether a haul of explosives found there is linked to ongoing protests. The police said it was the biggest seizure of the explosive TATP they had ever made. Other weapons and protest leaflets were also found on Friday. The find came ahead of a weekend of mass protests by both pro- and anti- China demonstrators in Hong Kong. Read more
20,000 rally in Moscow for free and fair city elections (Guardian)
More than 20,000 people packed a Moscow square Saturday to protest the authorities’ refusal to allow opposition candidates to register for local polls. Joined by opposition leaders such as Alexei Navalny, protesters gathered in the capital after authorities refused to register independent politicians seeking to contest the September vote for the capital’s parliament. The crowd chanted: “This is my city!” Read more
Veteran Indian politician Sheila Dikshit dies at 81 (BBC)
The former chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit has died aged 81, following a long illness. The veteran politician was the longest-serving chief minister of the Indian capital, serving for three terms from 1998 to 2013. Dikshit also served as the governor of the southern state of Kerala and as president of the main opposition Congress Party in Delhi. Read more
ASAP Rocky detained in Swedish jail at least another week (BBC)
ASAP Rocky will stay in a Swedish jail for at least another week after prosecutors were granted more time to investigate an alleged assault. The American rapper has been held since being arrested on suspicion of assault on 3 July. A prosecutor now has until 25 July to decide whether to charge him, Stockholm District Court decided. Read more
Africa Cup champs Algeria return to hero’s welcome (Guardian)
Africa Cup of Nations champions Algeria arrived home Saturday to a hero’s welcome from a huge crowd of joyful supporters and a “water salute” for their plane at Algiers airport. “One, two, three, viv a Algeria!” tens of thousands of flag-waving fans lining the road from the airport chanted as the players went on a victory parade through the capital in an open-top bus. An early strike earned a 1-0 victory over Senegal in Friday’s final in Cairo, propelling Algeria, known as the Fennec foxes, to a first Cup of Nations title in 29 years. Read more
Wolves beat City on penalties to win Asia Trophy (Guardian)
Goalkeeper Rui Patricio was the hero for Wolves, saving three spot-kicks after their Asia Trophy final against Manchester City went to penalties on Saturday in Shanghai. Wolves won the exhibition tournament 3-2 on penalties after the game against the Premier League champions ended 0-0 after 90 minutes. It was a story of missed penalties for Pep Guardiola’s City. Read more
Guardiola desperate to keep ‘incredible’ De Bruyne fit (Guardian)
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is desperate to keep Kevin De Bruyne fit this season after the influential Belgian missed a chunk of last year because of injuries. The attacking midfielder is among the City players in the running to succeed the departed Vincent Kompany as captain when the Premier League begins in three weeks. The 28-year-old wore the armband and impressed in the English champions’ Asia Trophy final defeat on penalties to Wolves in Shanghai on Saturday. Read more
Romelu Lukaku: Man Utd reject £54m Inter Milan bid (BBC)
Manchester United have rejected a 60m euro (£53.9m) bid from Inter Milan for striker Romelu Lukaku. The bid falls well below United’s valuation of the 26-year-old Belgium international, who joined them from Everton two years ago for £75m. Inter boss Antonio Conte has made Lukaku – who will not play for United against the Italian side in Singapore on Saturday – his number one target. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Axel Tuanzebe is the future of Manchester United (Metro)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is already impressing on Manchester United’s right flank as the £50 million summer signing’s superb tackling prowess was on show against Inter on Saturday. United sealed a 1-0 victory over Antonio Conte’s side in Singapore following Mason Greenwood’s excellent effort with 14 minutes remaining. Read more
Edu urges Arsenal to rediscover winning mentality (Guardian)
Arsenal’s new technical director Edu has challenged the Gunners to find a winning mentality as they bid to erase memories of last season’s disappointments. The former Arsenal midfielder, who was a member of Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invicibles’ squad who won the 2004 Premier League title without losing a game, says it is vital for the club to build the mental strength that was so key to their success in those glory days. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rules out loan transfer for Manchester United starlet Mason Greenwood (Metro)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Mason Greenwood will not be sent out on loan this season. The 17-year-old made his first Premier League start against Cardiff in May and has enhanced his reputation during the course of Manchester United’s pre-season tour of Australia and Asia. Greenwood, who was prolific at Under-23 level last season, scored in Wednesday’s convincing win over Leeds and struck the only goal of the game as Solskjaer’s side beat Inter in Singapore on Saturday. Read more
VAR will cause ‘controversy’ admits Premier League chief (Guardian)
Premier League interim chief executive Richard Masters admits VAR is certain to cause “controversy” when the technology makes its English top-flight debut in the forthcoming season. The video referee system will be used for the first time in the Premier League after its introduction was delayed for a year to allow time to develop the system. VAR has been used in England in the FA Cup and League Cup, as well as in numerous other foreign leagues and tournaments including the Champions League. Read more
Man Utd fans boo Ashley young during pre-season friendly against Inter (Metro)
Ashley Young was booed by Manchester United fans during Saturday’s friendly against Inter in Singapore. The 34-year-old is one of the leading contenders to be confirmed as club captain following Antonio Valencia’s departure at the end of last season. Young’s place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first XI is far from certain following Luke Shaw’s re-emergence and the £50million signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has made an ultra-positive impression during United’s pre-season campaign. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Axel Tuanzebe is the future of Manchester United (Metro)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has claimed that Axel Tuanzebe is ‘the future of Manchester United’. The 21-year-old, who has been with United’s academy since the age of eight, spent last season on loan at Aston Villa. But the defender looks set to stay at United this term having featured heavily during the club’s pre-season campaign this summer. Read more
Six Cuban football players defect in US (Punch)
Six Cuban football players from a national youth team defected in New York, Cuba’s state-run daily Granma said. The team was on its way to the US Virgin Islands to play a qualifying match for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan. During a stopover in New York, six members of the 23-and-under squad deserted, the newspaper said Friday. Read more