Ikoyi building collapse: Sanwo-Olu suspends Lagos building agency boss (Punch)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered the suspension of the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mr. Gbolahan Oki,
The governor also said the government will find out what went wrong and punish those indicted in the 21-storey building that collapsed in Ikoyi, Lagos State on Monday.
The Governor, as a first step, has directed that the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr. Gbolahan Oki, an architect, be suspended from work immediately. The suspension is indefinite.
This was contained in a press statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso. Read more
NNPC allays fear over fuel scarcity (Vanguard)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has allayed fears of any hitch in petroleum products supply following reports of resurgence of queues in some parts of the country.
Malam Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, NNPC, gave the assurance while speaking at the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) 2021 Strategic International Conference on Tuesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference had as its theme: ‘Petroleum Industry Act: Energy Transition and the Future of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas.’
Kyari said NNPC’s objective was to provide energy security for Nigeria and ensure availability of petroleum products in the country. Read more
Burna Boy, mum accused of extortion, promoter demands N28m refund (Punch)
Nigerian singer and songwriter, Burna Boy and manager mum, Bose Ogulu have been accused of extortion by United States-based show promoter Emmanuel Chinyere Uzoh.
Uzoh, who is the CEO of Gold Moola Entertainment, made the allegation against Burna Boy and his mum on the company’s official Instagram handle on Tuesday.
He claims the singer refused to perform at a scheduled show despite being paid in full and how Burna Boy’s mom extorted him of $10,000.
He wrote, “Bose Ogulu attempted to extort me of $10,000. After the agreed sum was paid in full, she proceeded to ask for an additional $10,000(sic). Read more
Counterterrorism: CSO lauds General Irabor over achievements (Guardian)
The Global Peace and Life Rescue Initiative (GOPRI), a civil society group with a vested interest in peacebuilding in Nigeria, has commended the Chief of Defence Staff,Lt. General Lucky Irabor, for leading the policy and operational initiative in the counterterrorism warfare.
The group also hailed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Farouq Yahaya, for living up to expectations of Nigerians within the few months of his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.
GOPRI, in a statement, Tuesday, however, regretted that in spite of the tremendous achievements being recorded by the Nigerian Military, saboteurs were busy instigating the public with the view of painting negative pictures about the Nigerian Military, especially the Army.
To this end, the group, in the statement by its Executive Director, Amb. Melvin Ejeh has vowed to support the military with an initiative aimed at not only boosting its morale in the counterterrorism war but also changing public perception about it. Read more
Religious leaders benefit from bad governance, says Aisha Yesufu (Punch)
Activist Aisha Yesufu has said religious leaders benefit from bad governance, adding that the situation helps them “sell cheap miracles and power points”.
She said this in reaction to a post by the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, William Kumuyi, which warned believers in Christ not to hate those in government.
Kumuyi also spoke against engaging in the destruction of private and public properties in reaction to the failure by those in power to deliver on electoral promises.
The clergyman had written, “We teach that if you’re a genuine believer in Christ, you wouldn’t hate your neighbour. Nor would you disdain those in power because they appear not to be delivering on electoral pledges such that you would go on the rampage, destroying government property or pillaging the public till. Read more
Improving health professionals’ condition of service will stem brain-drain — expert (Vanguard)
President of the West African College of Surgeons, WACS, Prof Peter Donkor on Monday in Lagos said improving the working conditions of medical professionals in-country will stem the tide of brain drain in Nigeria and West Africa at large.
Speaking at the official launch of its WACS’s Wall of Fame in Lagos, Donkor losing a surgeon after training in the region was a big loss, adding that the tide must be stemmed urgently.
According to him, the brain drain in the health sector was majorly due to poor conditions of service and family pressures.
“We will like to work with our governments to see how best this can be stemmed because it is a problem, the more we train, the more we lose them a problem is. It is like pouring water down the drain.” Read more
Mechanic jailed 15 months for stealing neighbour’s ATM card, withdrawing N30,000 (Vanguard)
A Karu Grade I Area Court, Abuja on Tuesday sentenced a teenager, Sadiq Abdullahi to 15 months imprisonment for stealing his neighbour’s ATM card and withdrawing N30,000
The judge, Inuwa Maiwada, however, did not give the convict an option of fine, rather ordered that he should pay N10,000 as compensation and warned him to desist from committing crimes.
The convict, 18, who resides in Karu village, pleaded guilty to three counts of joint acts, criminal trespass and theft, but begged for leniency.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Ayotunde Adeyanju told the court that the victim, Mary Trimiya reported the matter at the Karu Police Station on Sept. 9. Read more
Shi’ites drag FG, Army before ICC over alleged killing of 50 members in Abuja (Tribune)
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has threatened to drag the Nigerian government and the Nigerian Army before the International Criminal Court for alleged killing of 50 of it members in Abuja in 2018.
IMN also known as Shi’ites in a statement signed by Abdullahi Musa on behalf of the Academic Forum of the Islamic movement said they had compiled the details of the killings and had petitioned human rights organisations and also in the move to file the case at the ICC.
“We would like to remind the public that three (3) years after the killing of 50 followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) within three (3) days while on Arbaeen religious procession (symbolic trekking) in October 2018 in Abuja, the Buhari regime remained silence.
“The public will recall that between 27 to 30th October, 2018 the Presidential Guard Brigade and Police killed 50 unarmed citizens in Abuja what we termed as #Abujamassacre. The incident started on 27 October, 2018 at Zuba, continue on 29th at Karu Bridge (Kubau Checkpoint) and ended on 30th at Ahmadu Bello Way, Central Area, Abuja. Read more
ISWAP holds 76 farmers for 2 days in Borno (Guardian)
Islamic State-aligned jihadists held 76 farmers for two days in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state near the border with Cameroon, militia sources said Tuesday.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters kidnapped the farmers from a displaced people’s camp in Ngala on Friday while they were burning thick vegetation to make a clearing for their harvest, the sources said.
The men, women and children were taken to a camp in the nearby town of Chikongudo under ISWAP control where they were kept until Sunday, the militia sources said.
“ISWAP had warned farmers from burning shrubs and thicket in the area which give them cover from Nigerian troops,” militia leader Umar Kachalla told AFP. Read more
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos pledges €1.72b for land restoration in Africa (Examiner)
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has pledged 2 billion dollars (€1.72bn) for land restoration in Africa.
The billionaire announced the funding, paid as part of the Bezos Earth Fund, at a Cop26 event.
He said his flight to space in July had made him realise how fragile the planet was.
Mr Bezos had previously indicated the investment would be 1 billion dollars (€861m) at an event on Monday which focused on the Great Green Wall initiative to plant more than 20 million trees across Africa to counter desertification on the continent. Read more
Ed Sheeran shatters The Mountain Goats’ hopes of playing SNL (AVClub)
When Ed Sheeran announced that he’d tested positive for COVID ahead of his upcoming SNL performance, musicians decided to shoot their shot at potentially replacing him.
The Mountain Goats in particular had a steady campaign going, trying to take advantage of their 2002 song “No Children” becoming part of a TikTok dance craze. Their tweet asking to replace Sheeran amassed over 23,000 likes. But alas, The Mountain Goats will not take the SNL stage.
Ed Sheeran gave an update on social media that reads:
“Posting this pic to say I’m released from COVID isolation today, so if you see me out and about I’ve had the all clear and done my quarantine. Excited to hit the ground running with work again, and SNL is still on, so tune in Saturday, see you there x” Read more
Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr. join Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” (HollywoodReporter)
Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr. have joined Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s biopic on J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the fathers of the atomic bomb.
Emily Blunt is already on board the Universal project, and with Damon and Downey now flying in, Oppenheimer has become one of the most stacked feature projects in recent memory.
Universal is calling the movie an “epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it.”
Murphy is portraying the theoretical physicist who helped develop the atomic bomb during World War II. According to sources, Blunt is playing his wife, Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer. Read more
Dwayne Johnson says the Vin Diesel jokes in his movies aren’t his idea (EntertainmentWeekly)
Dwayne Johnson’s once red-hot feud with Vin Diesel has cooled to the tune of a few lighthearted jokes about his Fast franchise costar making their way into his movies, but the Red Notice actor has revealed he can’t take credit for their inclusion in his new projects.
“The jokes never end. People were asking me about that and they just find a way. It’s interesting, these Vin Diesel jokes — which play great, by the way, to the audience, which is always a good thing, because it’s really all about them — but people think these jokes come from me and they actually don’t,” Johnson said during a recent interview on The Jess Cagle Show. “You’d be surprised with how many people come to me with, ‘I’ve got a great one! I’ve got another great Vin Diesel joke!’ I’m sure you do. It’s always funny.”
The latest jab appears in his new Netflix action flick Red Notice, which sees the cast joking about Diesel auditioning for a role in the beloved musical Cats.
Reports of a feud between Johnson and Diesel began in 2016, during production on the Fast & Furious series’ eighth installment. In an Instagram post, he referred to some of his colleagues — which many assumed to be Diesel — as “candy asses,” adding: “When you watch this movie next April and it seems like I’m not acting in some of these scenes and my blood is legit boiling — you’re right.” Read more
Addis Ababa government urges residents to register arms (VON)
Authorities in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Tuesday urged residents to prepare to defend their neighbourhoods after rebellious forces from Tigray region, who have been fighting the central government for a year, indicated they might advance on the city.
People should register their weapons and gather in their neighbourhoods, the city administration said in a statement carried by the Ethiopian News Agency.
House-to-house searches were being conducted and troublemakers arrested, the statement said.
“Residents can gather in their locality and safeguard their surroundings,” the statement added. “Those who have weapons but can’t take part in safeguarding their surroundings are advised to handover the weapon to the government or their close relatives or friends.”
The appeal came after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, TPLF, claimed to have captured several towns in recent days and said it was considering marching on Addis Ababa, about 380 km (235 miles) to the south of their forward positions. Read more
Leonardo DiCaprio brings star power to Glasgow for COP26 (BBC)
Actor and environmental campaigner Leonardo DiCaprio has arrived in Glasgow for the COP26 summit.
The Hollywood star, who is a UN climate change representative, was seen at the Kew Carbon Garden exhibit on Tuesday at the main conference centre.
He was mobbed by journalists, fans and delegates as he entered the building.
The Titanic star also took part in a fringe event on Monday, posing with film producer Paul Goodenough, founder of charity Rewriting Extinction. Read more
Yahoo pulls out of China due to ‘challenging’ environment (National)
Yahoo said on Tuesday it has pulled out of China, citing an “increasingly challenging business and legal environment”.
Chinese authorities maintain a firm grip on internet censorship in the country and require companies operating in China to censor content and keywords deemed politically sensitive or inappropriate.
“In recognition of the increasingly challenging business and legal environment in China, Yahoo’s suite of services will no longer be accessible from mainland China as of November 1,” the company said.
It added that it “remains committed to the rights of our users and a free and open internet”. Read more
WCQ: Italian media knocks Gernot Rohr over injured Victor Osimhen (Soccernet)
The Napoli striker is Nigeria’s leading goal scorer during the qualifying campaign, and his contribution could be crucial in the last two matches
A section of the Italian media has expressed its displeasure at Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr for inviting injured Napoli forward Victor Osimhen for Nigeria’s final World Cup qualifying matches in November.
The Super Eagles top their qualifying group after four games and need to win at least one of the remaining two matches to secure a spot in the final round of the series.
It was, therefore, not surprising when coach Rohr named leading goalscorer Osimhen in a 22-man list to prosecute the games against Liberia and Cape Verde. Read more
Odell Beckham Jr.’s dad shares video highlighting Browns’ missed opportunities when OBJ has been open (USA Today)
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been open many times this season when quarterback Baker Mayfield has either not passed to him or missed him because of an off-target throw or miscommunication.
Anyone who watches the Browns (4-4) closely already knows that.
But for those who aren’t aware, Beckham’s father, Odell Beckham Sr., apparently wants them to know.
Early Tuesday morning, a video was posted on Beckham Sr.’s verified Instagram account highlighting the Browns’ missed opportunities from Weeks 3-6 when OBJ was open. Read more
England vs Tonga: Marcus Smith doubtful for Autumn Nations Series opener but Eddie Jones ‘cautiously optimistic’ (EveningStandard)
England coach Eddie Jones has revealed that Marcus Smith is a doubt for the Autumn Nations Series opener against Tonga at Twickenham on Saturday, while three players in his back division have already been ruled out.
Max Malins and the uncapped scrum-half Raffi Quirke will not be fit to face Tonga having come into England’s camp last week with injuries, while Louis Lynagh is also unavailable. He was called up on Sunday after Quins’ loss to Saracens but was “a bit beaten up”, according to Jones.
Smith, who made his debut for England in the summer and was then called up by the Lions, will be given until 48 hours before the game to prove his fitness but has not been able to train a great deal this week. Jones said he was “cautiously optimistic”.
“He hasn’t done much this week, just a bit of ball handling,” said Jones. “We’re being conservative with him but we’re cautiously optimistic that he’ll be right to play. Read more
Ex-FIFA bosses Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini charged with fraud in Switzerland (DW)
Swiss prosecutors charged Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, former officials of the international soccer’s governing body FIFA, with fraud on Tuesday.
The 85-year-old Blatter — former president of FIFA — and the 65-year-old Platini — the former head of the European confederation UEFA — were accused of offenses related to the suspicious payment of 2 million Swiss francs (€2.19 million, €1.89 million).
The charges against Blatter include fraud, criminal mismanagement and forgery of a document. Platini has been charged with fraud as well as participating in mismanagement as an accomplice as well as forgery of a document.
The charges were the result of a six-year investigation. The Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona will have to decide whether to take the two men to trial. Read more
Tyson Fury wants Anthony Joshua to beat Oleksandr Usyk and is serious about helping him (DailyStar)
Tyson Fury’s head trainer has insisted their camp’s offer to help Anthony Joshua prepare for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is “100 percent serious”.
Joshua was outclassed by the Ukrainian fighter in their first meeting in September, and lost his status as a world heavyweight champion for the second time.
Like he did against Andy Ruiz Jr, the Londoner is hoping to bounce back straight away and take back his WBA, WBO and IBF belts at the first attempt – though it will certainly not be so easy this time.
Usyk, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, will not give up his new titles easily and Joshua will have to be at his very best to win when they meet again in the ring next year. Read more
Diego Simeone says he will again avoid a post-match handshake with Jurgen Klopp after Atletico Madrid face Liverpool (Eurosport)
Diego Simeone has confirmed that he will not be shaking the hands of Jurgen Klopp after his Atletico Madrid side travel to England to play against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The two clubs last met two weeks ago at Wanda Metropolitano in the UEFA Champions League group stage match which saw Liverpool come out 3-2 winners in a tight spectacle.
However, the match was filled with controversy as Antoine Griezmann was sent off after scoring two goals and Mohammed Salah converted a winning penalty.
Simeone ran down the tunnel and didn’t shake Klopp’s hands after the match which he will do again as he does not agree with the British tradition. Read more
Modern pentathlon votes to ditch horse riding after Tokyo Olympic turmoil (IrishTimes)
Modern pentathlon’s governing body has secretly voted to remove horse riding from the sport and replace it with cycling.
The decision, which is said to have been taken by the UIPM’s executive board in recent days, was hastened by the distressing scenes at the Tokyo Olympics when a horse was punched by a German coach after refusing to jump a fence.
Those pictures made global headlines and the UIPM is understood to have acted in order to preserve its status as an Olympic sport ahead of Paris 2024. The sport, which has been a core Olympic event since 1912 despite attempts to remove it, consists of fencing, freestyle swimming, showjumping and a combined event of pistol shooting and cross-country running.
The UIPM refused to comment when asked about the story. However, it in a statement it said: “As part of UIPM’s commitment to maintaining a strong, dynamic profile for modern pentathlon, a series of strategic meetings are being held. These meetings will include an upcoming call with national federations later this week. The outcome of these meetings will be detailed in a press release to be published on 4 November.” Read more