How 16 passengers died in Badagry boat accident – Survivor (Punch)
Moruf Kelani, a survivor of the July 29 boat mishap in which 16 passengers drowned on Badagry waterways, has blamed the tragic incident on greed by boat operators and regulatory officials.
The Lagos State Waterways Authority had said an open boat carrying 19 passengers capsized at about 6.00PM en route to Badagry on July 29.
LASWA reported that a survivor’s account stated that the boat captain got distracted trying to collect fares from passengers and the boat was overturned by the current while most passengers were yet to put on their life jackets properly.
But Kelani said that 22 passengers were on board of the ill-fated boat, including two operators – the boatman and his assistant. Read more
Project Enable feeds over 900 families of Persons With Disabilities (Guardian)
In catering for the wellbeing of Persons With Disabilities (PWD) in the community, Project Enable Africa (PEA), in partnership with Ishk Tolarm Foundation has put food on the tables as the world keeps fighting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. on those with disabilities in different parts of Lagos.
Speaking at the final batch of the food drive which held in Alimosho, Lagos, founder PEA, Mr Olusola Owonikoko in his statement said that collaborations between corporate organisations and development outfits can better enhance the delivery of sustainable development solutions to the underserved communities, stating that business-NGO partnership will aid the co-creation of inclusive and sustainable development.
The food drive project catered for families of those with disabilities in several parts of Lagos. The beneficiaries included those with visual impairment, hearing impairment, the physically challenged, albinos amongst others.
The food packs contained sizeable kilograms of rice, beans, garri, and other items like pasta, vegetable oil, tomatoes paste, sanitizers, nose masks, COVID19 sensitisation materials, and a transportation stipend. Read more
Lagos SARS brutalise, extort money from man for holding brother’s passport (Punch)
A man, identified simply as Debola, has accused men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of brutality and extortion over his brother’s passport found in his possession during a stop-and-search operation in the Epe area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Debola was travelling to Akure when the policemen stopped the bus conveying him and subjected all the passengers to a search.
When it got to Debola’s turn, it was learnt that the policemen found nothing incriminating on him, but took him into custody because of his brother’s passport found in his possession.
Debola said in a series of tweets, which was reposted on Instablog9ja, that the policemen accused him of going to assassinate his brother, adding that when he got to the Ketu Ereyun Police Station, the cops demanded N1.5m for his release. Read more
Driver jailed 14-month for stealing tricycle windshield, stereo (Vanguard)
An Upper Area Court sitting in Kasuwan Nama, Jos, on Monday sentenced a 22-year-old driver, Auwal Ibrahim, to 14 months imprisonment for stealing a tricycle windshield and stereo set.
The Judge, Mr Lawal Suleiman, sentenced Ibrahim after he pleaded guilty to the three counts of criminal trespass, mischief and theft and begged the court for leniency.
Suleiman gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N30,000 and N2,000 as compensation to the nominal complainant.
Earlier, the police prosecutor, Sgt. Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported at the Laranto ‘B’ Division Police station, on Aug.5, by Egbe Matthias, who resides at No 50 Busabuji Street in Jos. Read more
NECO releases 2020 examination timetable (Guardian)
The National Examinations Council (NECO) on Tuesday released the timetable and guidelines for the conduct of its 2020 examinations for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination for students in exit class.
Professor Godswill Obioma, Registrar of NECO announced the release of the timetable at a press briefing at the Council’s Headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
He explained that the council is exploring the possibility of installing CCTV cameras in all its examination centres and custodian points.Read more
Court orders substituted service of disqualification suit on Ize-Iyamu (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered substituted service of a suit seeking the disqualification of the All Progressives Congress’ governorship candidate in the forthcoming election in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and his running mate, Audu Ganiyu.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo, granting the plaintiffs’ application for substituted service, ordered that Ize-Iyamu and Ganiyu be served with the suit by pasting the court documents and the hearing notice for next sitting at the residences of the duo in Benin, the Edo State capital.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo adjourned the proceedings till August 24. Read more
Violence: NMA President apologises to Nigerians over conduct of Enugu doctors (Vanguard)
The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Prof Innocent Ujah has apologised to Nigerians over the reported clashes of violence during the Enugu State branch of the NMA election that held last week.
Ujah, who spoke through a statement, said electoral violence in any form does not represent what the Nigerian doctor stands for.
It could be recalled that the election of the Enugu State branch of the NMA turned bloody on Thursday last week following the subsequent appointment of one of the Deputy Vice-Chairman Enugu East, Dr Kinsley Ugwuonye, as acting chairman by a faction of the state NMA which announced the suspension of the incumbent chairman, Dr. Ike Okwesili, for alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office two weeks ago. Read more
Nigeria may impose visa restriction on Americans, others- Immigration (Punch)
The Nigerian Government may reciprocate the visa restriction imposed on its citizens by the United States and other countries, the Nigeria Immigration Service has said.
This Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mohammed Babandede, said this while explaining the new visa policy that was launched by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) earlier in the year.
The US had in January said it would suspend the issuance of visas that can lead to permanent residency for nationals of Nigeria, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar. However, they could apply for other visa categories. Read more
France to step up security for its citizens in Africa’s Sahel region, Macron says (France24)
France will step up security measures to protect French nationals in Africa’s Sahel region, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday, two days after six French aid workers were shot dead in Niger.
“We will do everything we can to support the families of the victims and to respond to the attack that cost the lives of six of our compatriots and two Nigeriens. These six young people, who were members of the NGO ‘ACTED’, showed extraordinary commitment to the local population,” Macron tweeted. Read more
New Zealand orders lockdown after four new COVID-19 cases emerge (NYPost)
Four new cases of COVID-19 have been detected in New Zealand — the first reported cases the country has seen in 102 days, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Tuesday as she ordered another lockdown.
The positive coronavirus cases are from a single household in Auckland, the nation’s largest city.
Ardern ordered a lockdown for the city beginning midday Wednesday through midnight Friday — shuttering bars and businesses and prohibiting people from leaving their homes except to conduct essential activities. Schools will also be closed. Read more
Belarus election: Opposition leader Tikhanovskaya fled ‘for sake of her children’ (BBC)
Belarus’s main opposition leader says she took a “very difficult decision” to leave the country, after disputing an election result she claimed was rigged.
In a YouTube video, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said she did it for her children as protests continued for a second night. One person has died.
A second video, apparently filmed when she was detained on Monday has also been released.
She was “safe” now in Lithuania, the country’s foreign minister said. Read more
Kevin Hart shows off impressive boxing skills one year after car crash (NYPost)
Kevin Hart showed off his impressive boxing skills on Instagram just one year after his near-fatal car crash. Sparring with a trainer, the “Jumanji: The Next Level” star jabbed, crossed, undercut and more without skipping a beat.
“Coming back slowly but surely….Getting my speed back for sure. Slow progress but progress for sure 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾 #HustleHart,” he captioned the video.
Last month, Hart said he was “lucky to be alive” to celebrate his 41st birthday after sustaining “major back injuries” following the crash, in which he and a friend veered off the road, crashing through a fence into a gully in the Malibu Hills. He fractured his spine in three places and underwent surgery before entering an in-treatment rehab facility for physical therapy. Read more
Stilton drives wedge between UK-Japan Brexit deal (BBC)
A post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and Japan may have met an unlikely obstacle – stilton cheese.
On Friday, the two sides said they hoped to agree the details of a post-Brexit trade agreement by the end of the month.
The Department for International Trade said talks are ongoing.
But progress has reportedly been blown off course after International Trade Secretary Liz Truss requested better terms for British blue cheeses. Read more
Syrian villagers along Euphrates accuse Turkey of cutting water access (France24)
Since May, residents of northeastern Syria have noticed a visible decrease in the Euphrates’s water levels. The legendary river’s source is found in Turkey, and it irrigates all of northern Syria. In the self-proclaimed autonomous Kurdish region, controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, villagers are accusing Turkish authorities of damming the river to monopolize the precious resource.
The waters of the Euphrates have rarely been filmed at such a low levels. In videos shared on social media, residents of northeastern Syria comment on how the mighty river has been reduced to a stream in some areas.
“Turkey has cut off the Euphrates today,” said the author of a video shot on June 29 near Raqqa that has been widely shared since early July. “We walk and we walk, towards the void. The water is cut off for all Syrians. This is what remains of the Euphrates.” Read more
How China’s top-notch mass surveillance system threatens global freedoms (NYPost)
Every millimeter of Beijing is monitored by state-of-the-art surveillance cameras, according to the Beijing Public Safety Bureau. Facial recognition algorithms matched with images filed away in a secret database could see you in legal trouble for something you did near your front door.
A semi-political post made in a private chat could lead to the loss of your job.
Yet it is only the tip of the iceberg — and the very beginning — of the rise of technologically-advanced China and its dystopian dreams. Read more
Bayern chief ‘cautiously optimistic’ Alaba will sign contract extension (Vanguard)
Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is “cautiously optimistic” that David Alaba will sign a contract extension with the Bundesliga champions.
Versatile defender Alaba has less than a year remaining on his existing deal at the Allianz Arena but, according to reports, the club are unwilling to meet his demand for a €20 million annual salary.
Hansi Flick has expressed his hope that the Austria international will finish his career at Bayern, who are gearing up for a Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona in Lisbon on Friday. Read more
Sierra Leone coach John Keister aims to rebuild squad (BBC)
Sierra Leone coach John Keister Keister (left) being unveiled by sports minister Ibrahim Nyelenkeh
Newly appointed Sierra Leone coach John Keister says his immediate goal is to build a new national team.
The former Sierra Leonean international was named coach of Leone Stars for a second time on Monday on a deal until 2023.
The 49-year-old replaces former Ghana and Rwanda coach Sellas Tetteh, who resigned in March citing personal reasons. Read more
NFF okays $2m COVID-19 relief for clubs, leagues (Guardian)
Nigeria’s Football Federation (NFF) said on Tuesday it would disburse $2 million to clubs and leagues to cushion the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
“After consultations with the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Board endorsed the proposal from the secretariat for the lump sum of $2 million only to be shared across the various football clubs and governing bodies of the various Leagues,” NFF said in a statement here.
The relief fund was made up of $1 million from FIFA’s support for restarting the football season; $500,0000 from FIFA’s grant for women’s football; $300,000 of CAF support to member associations and $200,000 from sponsors of the Nigerian FA. Read more
Referee punched in face at amateur friendly game (BBC)
A referee was punched in the face at an amateur pre-season friendly after sending off a Sporting Club de Mundial player in London on Sunday.
Police and ambulance services attended, and referee Satyam Toki, 28, says he is deciding whether to press charges.
Sporting Club de Mundial, set up by the Mundial media outlet, say the player has been removed from the club and will be offered mental health support.
“We categorically condemn the horrific actions,” they added on Twitter. Read more
How the Nets became a humongous NBA bubble surprise (NYPost)
It was bad. Then, it got worse. Then, it got ridiculous.
Before departing for the NBA bubble in Orlando, the Nets knew they would not look like they wanted to. Kevin Durant had been out all season. Kyrie Irving underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. Then, a series of COVID-19 cases triggered opt-outs by DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince. Wilson Chandler decided to stay home, too.
Sans so many significant contributors, the Nets filled out their roster with players who hadn’t been in the league all season, resembling a highly paid pickup team. The ninth-place Wizards were close enough to force a play-in game. Missing the playoffs looked like the most attractive route, allowing the Nets to retain their own first-round pick, otherwise off to Minnesota. Read more
Aberdeen and Celtic games called off after Covid-19 breaches (BBC)
Celtic and Aberdeen have had their next two Scottish Premiership matches postponed after their players broke lockdown rules.
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon demanded the cancellation after Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli flew to Spain, failed to quarantine, then played in a match.
Ms Sturgeon said this was a “flagrant breach” of the guidelines, while Celtic manager Neil Lennon described himself as “livid” after the “incredibly selfish” player went “rogue”. Read more