I have not disappointed Lagosians, says Sanwo-Olu (Nation)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu rendered his account of stewardship, saying that his administration has not disappointed Lagosians in service delivery.
He said, he had run an open, democratic, inclusive, transparent and people-oriented government that has lived to expectation in the last two years.
Sanwo-Olu reeled out facts and figures to support his claim of efficient service delivery, prudent management of resources and implementation of his THEMES agenda.
He tendered his stewardship in transportation, infrastructural development, education, health, revenue generation, and security. Read more
Ex-minister, Olanrewaju, warns Sanwo-Olu against appointing non-indigene as LASU VC (Guardian)
Former Minister of Communication, Maj.-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd), has warned Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the danger inherent in appointing a non-indigene as the vice chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU).
In a statement, yesterday, Olanrewaju, on behalf of a Lagos group, Omo Eko Pataki, said it is rather disingenuous and sad the untidy subterfuge and deliberate attempt by Governor Sanwo-Olu and other wielders of power, who are bent on short-changing indigenes of Lagos by attempting a crude imposition of a non-native as LASU vice chancellor.
The statement read: “We at OmoọEko Pataki will continue to defend the Lagosian culture and collective heritage. We will resist with all legal tools the stark, duplicitous manoeuvre to impose another non-native in a very crucial institution like LASU. Read more
Lagos APC inaugurates screening, appeal committees for council poll (Nation)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State yesterday set up its Local Council Primary Screening Committee and Appeal Panel as part of efforts to ensure hitch-free shadow polls.
The Screening Committee is chaired by a world renowned medical scholar, Prof Abayomi Durosinmi-Etti, while the Appeal Committee is led by former Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro.
The two panels were inaugurated by the party Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, who advised the members to serve honourably, diligently and creditably.
Yesterday, the sale and submission of nomination forms ended. According to the party, no fewer than 1,000 aspirants are warming up for screening. They include over 800 councillorship aspirants and 250 chairmanship contenders. Read more
Lagos proposes electricity policy (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is set to have a State Electricity Policy that will serve as a blueprint for the attainment of universal access to electricity in the state.
This was made known on Tuesday by the State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olalere Odusote at the year 2021 Ministerial Press Briefing in commemoration of the second year anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Lagos Electricity Policy is to accelerate the ‘Light-up Lagos’ power programme that will drive the social and economic development aspirations of the state in consonance with the government’s 30-year Development Plan (2021 – 2051), currently being developed.
He also said the governor has approved the procurement and installation of 20,000 prepaid meters for low-income communities in the State. Read more
Southern governors call for urgent national dialogue (Nation)
The clamour for dialogue to discuss the national question, got a huge boost yesterday.
Governors of the 17 southern states joined the fray by calling for the convocation of a national dialogue “as a matter of urgency.”
They took the position at their meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The meeting was attended by 13 governors and two deputy governors who represented their principals.
Two governors – Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), who is in Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj, and Ben Ayade (Cross River) were absent.
It was the first such meeting since the President Muhammadu Buhari dispensation.
Hitherto, the governors met along their geo-political groups. Read more
Ogun takes delivery of new buses for mass transit (Guardian)
The dream for mass transit scheme by the Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration has become a reality as the state government has taken delivery of new buses equipped with modern technological capabilities.
The bus mass transit scheme is part of government’s deliberate efforts at modernising and promoting efficiency in the transport sector.
The new buses, which are first batch, are designed to have better capacity and reliability than a conventional bus system with a view to providing commuters a safe, affordable, fast and pleasurable experience on the roads. Read more
Sultan declares Thursday as Eid-El-Fitr day (DailyTrust)
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Thursday, May, 13 as Eid-El-Fitr day.
He said the new crescent was not sighted anywhere in the country on Tuesday.
The Sultan added that consequently, Muslims are expected to fast on Wednesday.
This is contained in a statement Tuesday night by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Salisu Shehu.
“Ramadan fast will therefore continue tomorrow Wednesday, 12 May 2021 as the 30th day of Ramadan.
“Consequently, Thursday 13 May 2021 is hereby declared as 1st of Shawwal, 1442 AH and the day of Eid-il-fitr,” Shehu said. Read more
Banks slash dollar-cash deposits to $5,000 Monthly (ThisDay)
Nigerian banks have reduced the amount of United States dollars customers can pay into their domiciliary accounts from the previous $10,000 to $5,000 monthly.
A top bank official who craved anonymity confirmed the new policy to THISDAY yesterday.
However, the new policy does not apply to customers making electronic transfers as well as oil and gas companies and dollar payments into government accounts.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive, according to findings by THISDAY, is to discourage the strong appetite for the greenback, which has continued to rise.
A report had revealed that about 40 per cent of bank deposits in the top 10 banks in the country was in dollars. Read more
Review governance as Nigerians are hungry, angry, Okorocha tells FG (Guardian)
The representative of Imo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Rochas Okorocha, has charged the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to review its style of leadership, noting that Nigerians were hungry and angry in the face of the worsening security and economic challenges in the country.
Identifying injustice and poverty as main factors behind the current insecurity in the land, the former Imo State governor said if government hoped to mitigate the anger in Nigeria, it must begin to tackle every sense of injustice and do all that is needed to make the people happy.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker made the appeal when he joined the Ona of Abaji and hundreds of Muslim faithful in the breaking of their Ramadan fast on Monday in Abuja. Read more
Ethiopian election expected to deepen rifts (DW)
On June 5, Ethiopians will elect a new parliament as well as regional and municipal councils. The polls were originally scheduled to take place in October last year, but were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Peaceful elections seem increasingly unlikely in this conflict-ravaged East African nation where more than 80 nationalities and ethnic groups reside and unresolved grievances persist.
“The big problem is the level of violence we’re seeing across the country at this time, which is obviously kind of a run-up to the elections in early June,” William Davison of the International Crisis Group (ICG) told DW.
This applies particularly to the regional states of Benishangul-Gumuz and Oromia, the latter of which is the largest of Ethiopia’s nine administrative regions, and where — according to Davison — insurgent activity has increased. Read more
India Covid: Dozens more bodies wash up on Ganges river bank (BBC)
Dozens more bodies have washed up on the banks of the Ganges in northern India as the country struggles with a second Covid wave.
More than 50 bodies have been discovered in Gahmar, Uttar Pradesh over the past few days.
On Monday, at least 40 bodies were pulled from the river some 55km (34 miles) downstream from Gahmar.
How the bodies got there is unclear, but it is thought they are Covid-19 victims. Their identities are unknown. Read more
Netanyahu vows to step up ‘might and frequency’ of Israel’s attacks on Gaza (RT)
Tel Aviv will ramp up its airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, PM Benjamin Netanyahu has warned, as Israel and Hamas exchanged fire in the aftermath of violent clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Israel will continue and increase its assault, Netanyahu said in a video address on Tuesday.
At the conclusion of a situational assessment, it was decided that both the strength of the attacks and the frequency of the attacks will be increased.
Over the past two days, the region has seen a serious outbreak of fighting between Israel and the Palestinian enclave, which is controlled by the Islamist Hamas group. The militants fired dozens of rockets into Israel, while Tel Aviv launched airstrikes against Hamas targets. Read more
Queen carries out first major royal duty since Philip’s death (BBC)
The Queen has carried out her first major public engagement since the death the Duke of Edinburgh, as she attended the State Opening of Parliament.
Prince Philip spent decades accompanying the monarch to the event.
This year’s ceremony was pared back because of the pandemic.
It was the monarch’s first official appearance in public in her role as head of state and her first engagement outside Windsor Castle since the death of her husband on 9 April, aged 99. Read more
Police arrest driver after chasing flaming truck through Los Angeles (RT)
Police pursued a stolen U-Haul truck for two hours through Los Angeles and Orange County in California. The driver kept the pedal to the metal, stopping only when his shredded tires set the truck ablaze.
The chase began in Buena Park, to the southeast of Los Angeles, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Irvine Police Department reported a stolen U-Haul truck, and the driver fled from officers in the direction of Los Angeles. Followed by cars from multiple police departments and California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers, the suspect drove towards the city and then back toward Orange County for two hours, all while towing a trailer behind him, local media reported.
The truck was slowed with spike strips but the driver kept going, even as his bare metal wheels showered sparks down the road. Slowed to a crawl, the driver pressed on as fire spread from the torn tires up to the truck’s cab. Read more
Children and teacher killed in Russia school shooting (BBC)
Seven children and two adults have been killed in a shooting at a school in the Russian city of Kazan, officials say.
Twenty one other people, mostly children, were injured. A 19-year-old suspect was detained.
The attack happened in the capital of the republic of Tatarstan, 820km (510 miles) east of Moscow.
Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin spoke of “great sorrow” while Tatarstan’s leader Rustam Minnikhanov described the attack as a “major tragedy”. Read more
Thai police arrest 3 journalists who fled Myanmar (DW)
Thai authorities on Tuesday confirmed the arrests of three Myanmar journalists who crossed the border to escape the country’s military crackdown.
The reporters worked for the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), a news outlet that had its license to broadcast revoked after the coup in February.
The military junta in Myanmar, which ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi , has since tried to silence independent news media.
It has detained some 40 journalists, including at least two who work for DVB. Read more
Man City win Premier League after Man Utd defeat (NewTelegraph)
Manchester City have won a third Premier League title in four years after closest challengers Manchester United were beaten by Leicester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side are now 10 points ahead of second-placed United, who have just three games remaining, reports the BBC.
It is the seventh time City have finished top of the English football pyramid and the fifth in nine years.
Manager Guardiola, 50, has now won eight domestic trophies since arriving in Manchester in 2016.
City had the chance to wrap up the title themselves on Saturday, but suffered a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Etihad Stadium.
However, Leicester completed the job for them with a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
It is City’s second trophy in a little over two weeks after they beat Tottenham to claim the Carabao Cup and they are also in their first Champions League final after beating Paris St-Germain in midweek. Read more
NFF Plans Germany Friendly For Eagles (NewTelegraph)
The Super Eagles may play a high-profile friendly match with Germany during the next FIFA window in June, New Telegraph can confirm.
The Nigeria Football Federation has been working on friendly matches for the team after the world football governing body FIFA sanctioned the postponement of the World Cup 2022 qualifiers in Africa from June to September.
Sources in the federation told our correspondent that both Germany and Nigerian football authorities are currently studying the proposals and an agreement could be reached anytime soon.
“The idea of the friendly is appealing to Germany as they seek to add an African team to the list of the matches they plan to play ahead of Euro Championships which starts in June. The match is likely going to hold in Austria. There are other options the NFF is looking at but it seems this one is likely going to happen,” one of the sources said. Read more
Anthony Joshua v Tyson Fury: Fight to take place in Saudi Arabia, says Eddie Hearn (BBC)
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title fight will take place in Saudi Arabia, says Eddie Hearn.
A specific venue and date is yet to be confirmed for the all-British bout, which will see the winner become the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, suggested it could take place on either 7 August or 14 August.
“It’s a very bad secret that the fight is happening in Saudi Arabia,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
He added they were working with the “same people” as they did for Joshua’s rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. Read more
Gianluigi Buffon: Goalkeeper to leave Juventus at end of season (BBC)
Veteran Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says he will leave the Serie A club at the end of the season.
Buffon, 43, has won 10 Serie A titles and four Italian Cups over two spells with Juve. He returned to Turin in 2019 after a season at Paris St-Germain.
The keeper told beIN Sports: “We have reached the end of a cycle and so it is right for me to take my leave.
“This beautiful and very long experience with Juve will come to a definitive end this year.” Read more
Aussie basketball star Cambage reverses Olympic boycott threat, thanks ‘white’ critics for ‘making me money’ (RT)
Australian basketball star Liz Cambage has walked back her threat to boycott the Tokyo Olympics over a diversity row, but defiantly labeled herself a “psycho b*tch” as she thanked her critics for “making me money.”
Last week two-time Olympian Cambage, 29, threatened to skip this year’s Summer Games in Japan after claiming promotional photos released by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and clothing company Jockey had failed to include a sufficiently diverse range of athletes.
“If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times. How am I meant to represent a country that doesn’t represent me. #whitewashedaustralia,” Cambage seethed as she shared the images on Instagram. Read more
Dustin Johnson pulls out of AT&T Byron Nelson a week before US PGA Championship (BBC)
World number one Dustin Johnson has pulled out of this week’s AT&T Byron Nelson tournament with a knee injury – a week before the US PGA Championship.
American Johnson, 36, who had knee surgery in 2019, said “discomfort I occasionally experience has returned”.
The two-time Major winner last played at the Valspar Championship two weeks ago, where he finished tied for 48th.The US PGA, the second men’s major of the year, begins on the Ocean course at Kiawah Island on 20 May. Read more