ICYMI: Bulldozers destroy goods as council orders demolition of Lagos market (Punch)
Traders at the popular Ikosi-Ketu Fruit Market bewailed their losses on Friday as two bulldozers were used to pull down shops in the market, crushing the traders’ wares in the process.
The demolition which started around 10 am reportedly caught the traders, leaving them confused as they struggled to salvage some of their goods.
It was learnt that the facility, also known as Jakande Market, was demolished for the reconstruction of a N2.8bn modern market in the area. Read more
Appeal Court upholds Sanwo-Olu’s election (Nation)
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Saturday upheld the election of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the five-man panel in two separate judgments upheld Sanwo-Olu’s victory in the March 9 poll and dismissed the appeal by governorship candidates of Labour Party (LP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD).
The two parties and their candidates had appealed the Sep. 23 judgment of the Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal which upheld Sanwo-Olu’s victory.
The appellate court in both judgments upheld the decision of the Election Petition Tribunal that the appellants failed to prove that Sanwo-Olu was not competent to contest the March 9 governorship poll by virtue of his alleged mental incompetence. Read more
Appeal Court declares Akpabio winner of senatorial election (NewTelegraph)
Godswill Akpabio has been declared winner of the senatorial election for Akwa Ibom North West District.
The former governor was first elected senator from the district in 2015 when he concluded his two terms as governor.
He was appointed into President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet in July, serving currently as the Niger-Delta minister. Read more
Fayemi presents N124.7b budget estimate to Ekiti Assembly (Guardian)
Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has presented the 2020 Appropriation Bill of N124, 724,869,355.95 to the House of Assembly. The bill, which is christened ‘Budget of Deliverables’, has N53,538,093,806.59 (43 per cent) as capital expenditure, while the recurrent expenditure is N71,186,775,549.36 (57 per cent). Fayemi said the budget was tailored after his administration’s five-pillar agenda for development, which is aimed at enhancing good governance and speedy economic transformation of the State.
The breakdown of the budget along the five pillars give Agriculture and Rural Development N3,677,992,233.29 (three per cent), Knowledge Economy N24,704,934,736.29 (20 per cent); Social Investments N11,188,372,994.37 (nine per cent), Infrastructure and Industrial Development N39,728,043,550.73 (32 per cent), and Governance N45,425,522,841.27 (36 per cent). Read more
Nigerians will benefit from border closure – Minister (Nation)
Alhaji Mustapha Baba-Shehuri, the Minister of State, Agriculture and Rural Development, says Nigerians would benefit from the border closure policy adopted by the Federal Government.
Baba-Shehuri said this while fielding questions from newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri.
He described the measure as a right decision that would be of great benefits to Nigerians in view of its positive impacts on social and economic development of the country. Read more
NCC to push for data price slash, halt illegal deductions (Guardian)
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it is working to resolve and implement the Federal Government’s directive on the challenges of illegal data deductions and to review the cost of data downward in the country.
Mrs Uwa Suleiman, Spokesperson to the Communication Minister, Dr Isa Pantani, said in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday that this was contained in a letter the commission sent to the minister.
“This is sequel to the five day ultimatum issued to the commission by the minister on illegal data deductions.
“The NCC explained in the letter, that it had issued a directive to all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) on the attendant penalties associated with Automatic Renewal and Forceful Subscription to Data and Value Added Services. Read more
Eid-el-Maulud: Emir of Daura urges faithful to imbibe qualities of Prophet Muhammad (Punch)
The Emir of Daura, Farouk Umar has enjoined Muslim faithful in the country to imbibe the qualities of Prophet of Islam Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions.
Umar said this while speaking at an event to mark 2019 Eid-el-Maulud on Saturday in Daura, Katsina State.
He emphasised the need for Muslim faithful to embrace peace, unity, honesty, endurance and perseverance as exemplified by Prophet Muhammad throughout his 63 years on earth. Read more
Panic as petrol tanker falls again in Anambra (Nation)
There was panic in Awka, Anambra state early Saturday morning as tanker fully loaded with petrol fell into a ditch along the ever- busy Zik’s Avenue
Residents and passersby ran for safety as the products spilled out, while some others started scooping it opposite Saint Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral church in Awka.
However, security operatives, including men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the State fire service were on hand to forestall what happened in Onitsha few weeks ago. Read more
Three arrested, guns seized in Greek anti-terrorism raid (Guardian)
Greek police arrested three people and seized an arms cache in an ongoing anti-terrorist operation officials likened to high profile arrests of Revolutionary Struggle group members in 2010.
Greek police stated on Saturday two men — a 41 and a 45-year-old — and a 39-year-old woman, allegedly implicated in terrorism, were arrested during a “wide operation” launched in the Athens on Friday. They added a 46-year-old man remains at large.
During the raids in 13 houses, Greek anti-terrorist squad seized weapons including five AK-47 automatic rifles, detonators, dynamite and grenades. Read more
2019 AFCON U-23: Ghana scores late to hold Cameroon (Punch)
Ghana Black Meteors scored three minutes from full time to hold Cameroon to a 1-1 draw at the Cairo International Stadium as both sides shared spoils in the Group A Match Day 1 of the ongoing Total U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019.
While things seemed settled in favour of Les Lions Olympiques who took the lead through Frank Evina at the hour mark, Mohamed Habib made use of a scramble inside Cameroon’s goal area to give his side what looked as a fair point.
The first half was a story of scarce chances as both sides rarely threatened each other to go to the break with a barren stalemate. Read more
EPL: Chelsea go second with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace (Nation)
Second-half strikes by Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic handed Chelsea a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace and a sixth consecutive Premier League victor on Saturday.
The victory also pushed the Blues up to second in the standings.
Abraham broke Palace’s resolute defensive line in the 52nd minute after a first-touch pass from Brazilian midfielder Willian and the centre-forward sidefooted past goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
Pulisic capped a fine display on the wing by making it 2-0 in the 79th minute when a shot by substitute Michy Batshuayi was blocked by former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill. Read more
2021 AFCON qualifiers face TV blackout (Nation)
Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Lagardere Sports are in a tough battle after the federation scrapped a $1 billion television and marketing rights deal with the organisation in the wake of separate judgments that it breached competition rules.
According to reports, Lagardere Sports officials have been saying that they would fight to enforce the contract.
The French-based company called CAF’S move “unlawful, unreasonable and unjustified” and said it would defend its agreement with the Africa Football ruling body that runs from 2017 to 2028.
It suggested that it may accept changes to the terms of the deal, but that if all else fails it would seek compensation in cash. Read more
Bundesliga commemorates fall of Berlin Wall 30-years on (Punch)
A replica of the Berlin Wall separated the teams before Hertha Berlin’s home Bundesliga tie against RB Leipzig at the city’s Olympic Stadium, part of Saturday’s celebrations making the 30th anniversary of the fall of the original wall.
During the warm-up a lightweight replica of the Berlin Wall, which fell on November 9, 1989 stood on the halfway line, bearing the message “Against walls together with Berlin”, which was then “knocked down” before kick-off.
Hertha, who organised the gesture, played in the same style shirts they wore in the 1989/90 season. Read more
Seth tips Olympic Eagles for Tokyo 2020 (Nation)
Boluspor FC of Turkey defender Sincere Seth believes that the Olympic Eagles have the quality to pick one of the three tickets at U23 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt and qualify for men’s football event of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Seth is one of the 21 players picked by the team’s head coach Imama Amapakabo to represent the country at the third edition of the U23 AFCON which starts today in Egypt.
He told NationSport from their training camp in Cairo that that the team is blessed with great set of players that can make Nigeria proud in the tournament. Read more
Bayern didn’t turn me down, we decided to talk next week – Wenger (Punch)
Arsene Wenger has contradicted a claim by Bayern Munich that they turned him down for the vacant head coach’s job and accused the defending German champions of a lack of discretion.
Bayern need a new coach after Niko Kovac was sacked last Sunday with former Germany assistant Hansi Flick appointed interim boss for Wednesday’s win over Olympiakos and Saturday’s home league game against Dortmund.
On Thursday, Bayern put out a statement claiming Wenger had called club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to express interest in replacing Kovac, but said the former Arsenal boss had been turned down. Read more
Klopp rules out move for France superstar Mbappe (Punch)
French star Kylian Mbappe is out of Liverpool’s price range, the Premier League leaders manager and long-time admirer Jurgen Klopp says.
The 20-year-old Paris Saint Germain striker — who was instrumental in France’s lifting of the 2018 World Cup — has been linked with Real Madrid.
This gathered momentum earlier in the week when Real’s coach Zinedine Zidane remarked that Mbappe had always said it was his dream to play for the Spanish side. Read more