I’ll beat COVID-19, says Lagos health commissioner (Punch)
Lagos Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, says he is responding positively to treatment after testing positive for COVID-19.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, had in a statement on Monday disclosed Abayomi’s COVID-19 status.
Abayomi, in a message posted on his Twitter account, @ProfAkinAbayomi, said that he remains committed to discharging his duties to the state, while expressing optimism that he will beat the virus.
“With utmost sense of responsibility, I am obliged to make it known to the general public that I have tested positive to #COVID-19.
“Consequently, I have proceeded on 14 days self-isolation and treatment at home.
“Nevertheless, I remain committed to continuing to discharge my duties as the Commissioner for Health and Deputy Incident Commander for COVID-19 responses in Lagos State. Read more
ASUU, NASU pledge support for new UNILAG acting VC (Tribune)
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), both of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, branch, have said they would support and cooperate with Professor Folasade Ogunsola, who was appointed on Monday as the new acting Vice-Chancellor for the university.
Professor Ogunsola, 62, who until her new role, is deputy vice-chancellor of the university in charge of development services and the first female to be appointed to the office in the history of UNILAG, was elected by the university’s senate at its emergency meeting on Monday. Read more
Lagos pledges to collaborate with NEPZA (ThisDay)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) of the state’s collaboration to create a platform for businesses to thrive in Nigeria.
Speaking when the newly appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPZA, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba and his team paid him a courtesy visit in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said free zone as a catalyst for exports and development could bring about real growth of the economy as non-oil export if well utilised.
He said: “What you see around the world is that many countries have been able to turn their free trade zones into a catalyst for export and development. It is only when those kinds of things happen that you can see the real growth of the economy, attract foreign direct investments and create a very competitive environment. Read more
Ogunsola emerges UNILAG Senate nominee as acting VC (Punch)
Professor Folasade Ogunsola has secured the highest number of votes in the election held by members of the University of Lagos Senate to choose an acting Vice-Chancellor.
She was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services at UNILAG before her emergence.
Ogunsola’s nomination took place on Monday during a Senate meeting attended by 167 professors.
The result of the election obtained by one of our correspondents showed that she secured 135 of 167 votes while Prof. Ben Ogbojafor, who was also considered for the post by members of the Senate, secured 31 votes. Read more
At least 1,100 villagers killed in Nigeria this year: Amnesty (Guardian)
More than 1,100 villagers have been killed this year by armed gangs in several states across central and northwest Nigeria, where raids have escalated, Amnesty International said in a report Monday.
“The Nigerian authorities have left rural communities at the mercy of rampaging gunmen who have killed at least 1,126 people in the north of the country since January,” the rights watchdog said, giving a tally until the end of June.
The killings, during attacks by “bandits” or armed cattle rustlers, and in clashes between herders and farming communities for access to land, have been recurrent for several years. Read more
Buni reconciles Amaechi, Sylva (Vanguard)
Indications emerged on Monday that the subtle political rivalry between the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the Minister of State, Petroleum, Timipre Sylva may have been laid to rest following a meeting with the national leadership of the party.
Both ministers had separately arrived the national secretariat of the party at about 2pm and met with the Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the party, Gov. Mai Mala Buni. Read more
Akeredolu swears in 18 council chairmen, urges them to eschew impunity (Guardian)
Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has urged the newly elected executives of the 18 councils in the state to prioritize people-oriented policies, urging them to shun impunity.
Akeredolu said this in Akure during the inauguration ceremony for the 18 chairmen, who won the local government election in Saturday, on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Despite the shortfall in revenue and allocation, he stated that his administration had tried to deliver dividends of democracy to the people. Read more
Suspected armed robbers kill middle-aged man in Ibadan (Vanguard)
A middle-aged man, Taoreed Olusola, on Monday, was shot by two yet to be identified after being attacked on a bike along the Government House road, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Reports reaching Vanguard have confirmed that the victim has given up the ghost and his remains have been deposited at the Adeoyo Hospital mortuary, Ring road, Ibadan.
It was reliably gathered that the man was being trailed by the two men from a bank after withdrawing the sums of N150,000 and N296,000 respectively.
The two suspected armed robbers, according to further investigation, followed Taoreed closely to the spot, before descending on him to dispossess him of the money. Read more
Nigerian economy contracts by 6.1% in 2nd quarter (Guardian)
Nigeria’s economy shrank by an annualised 6.1 percent in the second quarter of 2020, the statistics agency said Monday, owing to low oil prices and effects from the coronavirus.
Economic activity in Africa’s largest producer of crude oil had expanded by 1.87 percent in the first quarter, compared with the same period a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a report.
Nigeria, which relies on the oil sector for 70 percent of government revenue and 90 percent of its foreign exchange earnings, has seen oil output and revenue battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Ramaphosa Addresses South Africa’s Corruption (VOA)
South Africa’s president has delivered a withering description of the corruption that plagues the ruling African National Congress.
Cyril Ramaphosa, in a letter dated August 23, 2020 that was sent to all ANC members, began his castigation with the controversy surrounding the awarding of contracts to help the country deal with the COVID-19 contagion.
“What has caused the greatest outrage is that there are private sector companies and individuals (including civil servants) who have exploited a grave medical, social and economic crisis to wrongfully enrich themselves,” the letter said. “This is an unforgivable betrayal for the millions of South Africans who are being negatively affected by the impact of COVID-19, experiencing hunger daily, hopelessness and joblessness.” Read more
100 nudists test positive for coronavirus after outbreak at French resort (Metro)
There has been a large outbreak of coronavirus at a nudist colony in France, with some 100 people testing positive.
French regional health authorities said the situation at the Cap d’Agde resort was ‘very worrying’.
A spokesman for the Hérault Prefecture said: ‘We are in an alarming situation, therefore we ask that all the people of the village be tested before leaving the place and going elsewhere.
‘And we also ask all the people who wish to come to this naturist village to postpone their arrival.’ Read more
Bomb attacks in southern Philippines kill at least 10, wound dozens (France24)
At least 10 people were killed and dozens wounded — including soldiers and police — in a twin bombing Monday involving a suicide attacker on a southern Philippine island that is a stronghold of Islamist militants, officials said.
The attack happened in Jolo in Muslim-majority Sulu, where government-backed security forces have long been fighting the Abu Sayyaf group.
Five soldiers and four civilians were killed in the first blast, when an improvised explosive device attached to a motorcycle parked outside a supermarket blew up, Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan told reporters.
Sixteen soldiers were wounded in the explosion, which happened at around midday. Read more
Storms Marco and Laura plough through Caribbean, killing 12 (BBC)
At least 12 people have been killed as two storms tore through the Caribbean on Sunday.
Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura brought high winds and rough seas leaving at least nine people dead in Haiti and another three in the Dominican Republic.
Heavy rains have also battered Cuba and the US territory of Puerto Rico.
Marco is expected to make landfall in the US state of Louisiana on Monday, with Laura hitting Texas by Thursday. Read more
Gas pipeline explosion leads to blackout across Syria (France24)
A suspected attack on a pipeline in Syria caused a nationwide blackout overnight, the state news agency quoted authorities as saying Monday.
According to SANA, the electricity minister said a pipeline explosion in the Damascus area late Sunday “led to an electricity blackout across Syria”.
The oil and mineral resources ministry said the explosion of the gas pipeline, between Adra and al-Dhamir, was “the result of a terrorist attack”, but provided no further details.
Speaking from Geneva, the United States’ Syria envoy said the explosion appeared to bear the hallmarks of an attack by the Islamic State (IS) group. Read more
Hangover cure breakthrough after successful trial in Finland (Metro)
A team of researchers from Finland reckon they’ve cracked the elusive hangover cure.
They reckon a dose of an amino acid called L-cysteine is enough to reduce nausea and headaches in those of us who’ve imbued too much of a good time the night before. L-cysteine can be sold as a dietary supplement as it has a role in making proteins within the body.
According to the study, which was published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, a 600mg does was enough to reduce anxiety while 1,200mg was enough to alleviate the effects of a hangover. Read more
BTS’s Dynamite explodes YouTube records and heads for UK number one (BBC)
Dynamite precedes a new album from BTS, which is due later this year.
Dynamite, the latest single by Korean boy band BTS, has smashed YouTube records – and looks set to be the UK’s number one single this Friday.
The pastel-coloured, dance-heavy video was watched 101.1 million times in 24 hours after its release last Friday.
That surpasses the previous record, set by fellow K-Pop band Blackpink, whose song How You Like That racked up 86.3 million views in 24 hours in June.
Dynamite is also the first video to achieve 100 million views in one day. Read more
Dare gets briefs on Principal Cup (Nation)
The organisers of the forthcoming National Principal’s Cup, HideaPlus Limited, are to announce the ambassadors for the rebranded competition which has produced top stars for the country in the past.
HideaPlus Limited met with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports development at its office in Abuja on last week to present its ‘roadmap for the national principals and headmasters cup’ and also shared her action plans with the Honourable Minister and members of the sports ministry.
The Roadmap highlighted the level of work done by HideaPlus Limited as well as strategies the marketing firm would adopt to kick start the competition once there is an all clear to resume sporting activities in the country. Read more
Arsenal transfer target Philippe Coutinho speaks out on his future after winning Champions League (Metro)
Philippe Coutinho admitted he’s ‘not sure’ if his future lies at Barcelona after ending his loan spell with Bayern Munich by winning the Champions League.
Coutinho came off the bench in Bayern’s 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final but the Bundesliga giants have decided against signing him on a permanent basis.
His parent club Barcelona look set for a fire sale this summer and Coutinho is not expected to remain at the Camp Nou. Read more
Lewandowski ends Champions League as top scorer (Punch)
Robert Lewandowski ended the 2019/20 Champions League season as the tournament’s top scorer with 15 goals.
He was close to 16 when a first-half attempt came back off the post in the 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final. Read more
Paul Pogba makes u-turn on Manchester United future after informal agreement with board (Metro)
Manchester United star Paul Pogba has made a u-turn on his future at Old Trafford and is now open to signing a new long-term contract at the club.
The 27-year-old rejoined the club for a then-world record fee of £89million but he’s requested to leave the Red Devils in two of the last three summer transfer windows.
Those requests have been blocked by United’s board, who feared an exodus if their star man was allowed to leave while the clubs was in transition. Read more
Swiss lift immunity on ex-legal chief probing FIFA corruption (Guardian)
Switzerland’s Parliament on Monday lifted immunity on the country’s former top prosecutor who had been in charge of the probe into the towering corruption scandal within FIFA, opening the door for criminal proceedings.
Michael Lauber, who last month resigned from his job, is suspected of collusion with the governing body’s president Gianni Infantino after a series of alleged informal meetings between the pair in 2016 and 2017. Read more
PSG star, Neymar reflects on Champions League defeat (Vanguard)
Neymar said “losing is part of the sport” as the Paris Saint-Germain star took to his twitter handle on social media to congratulate Bayern Munich on being crowned Champions League winners.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PSG were unable to cap their first Champions League final appearance with silverware following a 1-0 defeat to Bayern in Lisbon on Sunday.
Neymar was caught emotional and teary at the post-match after PSG failed to add a maiden European crown to their domestic 2019-20 title in France. Read more