I’ll swing into action immediately –Sanwo-Olu (Sun)
As he is inaugurated, today, as the sixth civilian governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured Lagosians he will hit the ground running.
Sanwo-Olu spoke shortly after he received hand-over documents from the former governor, Akinwummi Ambode, at Government House, Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday.
Sanwo-Olu, dressed in a brown suit with a black shoe to match, had arrived the seat of power around 12.15pm, in company with his deputy, Dr. Olufemi Hamzat, in an unmarked black Range Rover sports utility vehicle. Read more
Ambode: Our policies lifted more people from poverty (ThisDay)
Shortly after he addressed the state, the outgoing governor equally presented his handover note to the incoming governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, privately alongside his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at the State House, Alausa. Read more
Inauguration: Service chiefs assure Buhari of tight security (Vanguard)
Amidst alleged plot to disrupt the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s swearing-in, service chiefs and heads of security agencies, yesterday, assured the president of water tight security at the ceremony.
The Nigerian Army had on May 4 said it uncovered a plot to derail the inauguration of President Buhari for second term in office by those it referred to as mischief makers and unpatriotic elements. Read more
Second term: What we want from Buhari (Sun)
- Nigerians set agenda for president on economy, security, infrastructure, healthcare, education, others
Today marks the beginning of another four-year journey for President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration, as he, alongside Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, takes his oath of office for a second tenure. And for millions of Nigerians, the expectations are high. They are looking up to the number one citizen and his administration to turn their fortunes around for the better. Read more
20 years of unbroken democracy (ThisDay)
The 20th anniversary is a reminder that much more could be done for the people
As President Muhammadu Buhari takes the oath of office for his second term in office today, Nigerians are ushered into two decades of unbroken democratic rule. It is something to crow about. For being able to keep the restless and adventurous military at bay and for offering some windows to freedom of expression and other civil liberties, democracy is proving gradually not to be too frail a plant to survive within our hostile environment. Read more
Don tasks journalists on need to make leaders accountable (Guardian)
A university teacher, Prof. Anthony Kola-Olusanya, has urged journalists to be more critical in the monitoring and appraisal of government activities as they play vital role in the development and survival of the current democratic journey.
He noted that the media by virtue of their role and position have the weapon to expose and call the rulers to order from arbitrariness, urging them to raise the stake of holding public officials accountable for Nigeria to make progress. Read more
Spate of fake soldiers worries Lagos police boss (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, has expressed the command’s concern over what he described as “the increasing number of fake soldiers” perpetrating crimes in the metropolis. Muazu expressed the worry following the arrest of one Musa Muhammed Agile, who claimed to be a soldier. Read more
Lagos hospital MD, wife arraigned for negligence (Punch)
The Medical Director of Excel Medical Centre, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, Dr Ejike Orji, and his wife, Dr Ifeayinwa Orji, were on Tuesday arraigned before a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere for causing grievous bodily harm on a teenager, Somtochukwu Ezi-Ashi.
They were arraigned on three counts of causing grievous harm, recklessness and negligence.
The couple, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Read more
Another female justice set to join presidential tribunal (DailyTrust)
The President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, has indicated that a female senior judge will be drafted to preside over the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
Justice Bulkachuwa dropped the hint on Wednesday shortly after stepping down as the head following pressure from the PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to recuse herself from the tribunal over her husband’s position as a senator-elect of the APC. Read more
I will do better in second tenure, says Ortom (ThisDay)
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday said he would improve on his performance in office as he prepares for second term in office.
He said his first term was bedeviled by paucity of funds and the herdsmen attack on the state which he said would be a thing of the past as he is determined to take the state to a higher level in his second term. Read more
France 2019: NWFL to provide 30% players (Sun)
A total of 225 of the players who ply their professional trade in foreign leagues will trade tackles at the tourney just less than two weeks away.
According to the World football ruling body, Super Falcons, nine-times African champions will supply (7) 30% of home-based players in the tournament, while two other African countries, South Africa and Cameroon will feature (15)65% and (8) 34% respectively. Read more
Halep progresses in Paris despite second-set blip (Punch)
Reigning champion Simona Halep started her French Open title defence with an ultimately comfortable victory on Tuesday despite a second-set blip against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.
The Romanian was pegged back on Court Philippe Chatrier but raced through the decider to win 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
Halep seeded third, will face Poland’s Magda Linette in the second round. Read more
Enyimba versus Rangers: Super Six play-off kicks off next week in Lagos (Guardian)
Oriental neighbours, Enyimba of Aba and Enugu Rangers will kick off this year’s Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Super Six Championship in Lagos on June 4, the League Management Company (LMC) has announced.
Rangers won Group A of the abridged league, while Enyimba placed third behind Lobi Stars of Makurdi. But this competition is the real deal as the winner will be crowned Nigerian champions for the 2018/2019 season. The game kicks off by 3.00 p.m. Read more
Fraud: Court fixes July 1 for arraignment of NFF chiefs (DailyTrust)
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 1 for Federal Government’s arraignment of five officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) over alleged $8.4m fraud.
NFF president, Amaju Melvin Pinnick; General Secretary, Muhammed Sanusi; First Vice President, Oluseyi Akinwumi, Second Vice President, Shehu Dikko and Executive Commitee member, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh were charged with 17-count allegations of converting to their personal use the sum of $8,400, 000 paid by FIFA to the NFF. Read more
FA Elections: Akinwunmi, Fresh, Okenwa, Alkali re-elected (ThisDay)
The First Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation, Seyi Akinwunmi has been re-elected as Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association.
The amiable legal practitioner with over 30 years in the bar, who is also a Member of the CAF Youth Competitions Committee, defeated his only challenger, Alhaji Gafaar Liameed at the elections held at the LSFA secretariat in Surulere Monday. Read more
Arsenal, Chelsea ready for Europa League battle in Baku (Punch)
The build-up to the Europa League final has been marred by the controversy surrounding UEFA’s choice of venue, but it is now time for the football to do the talking as familiar foes Chelsea and Arsenal prepare to do battle in the unfamiliar setting of Baku on Wednesday.
Two and a half weeks after the Premier League season ended, here is a London derby exported almost 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometres) to Azerbaijan’s capital, by the Caspian Sea. Read more
Enyimba getting closer to NPFL title, says Abd’Allah (DailyTrust)
The Technical Adviser of Enyimba FC Usman Abd’Allah has said the club is getting closer to actualizing their dream of winning this year’s Nigeria Professional Football League title.
Enyimba ensured their qualification for the six-team tournament on the final day of the NPFL first round, finishing third in group A despite slipping to a 1-2 loss at Katsina United. Read more
Rocchi: The man at the centre (ThisDay)
Gianluca Rocchi is delighted and proud to have been chosen by UEFA’s Referees Committee to take charge of today’s UEFA Europa League final between Chelsea and Arsenal in Baku – and the Italian is determined to enjoy the moment.
“It’s a fantastic appointment for me – it’s a London derby, so it’s a special match,” says the 45-year-old father of two, who comes from Florence. Read more
Nigerian golf is ripe for Olympics, says Awoyungbo (DailyTrust)
The captain of the IBB Golf and Country Club Abuja, Shola Awoyungbo has said going by the massive progress the sport has made in Nigeria, the country is now ripe enough to compete at the Olympics. After 112 years, the game of golf returned to the Olympics at the 2016 Games in Rio, Brazil. Read more
Napoli ready to press bid trigger on offer for Tottenham target (Independent)
Napoli have been in touch with Udinese as they move towards putting in an official bid for Rodrigo De Paul, who is also the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
De Paul has caught the eye of several teams, owing to his consistent performances in Serie A for Udinese during the recently concluded season. Read more