I’m not happy with Zamfara killings – Buhari (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday, expressed his sadness at the killings going on in Zamfara State. In a statement issued by his New Media aide, Bashir Ahmad, Buhari wondered how he could be unconcerned about the killings and the pain of the families of those who had lost their lives to bandits. He said, “How can I be happy and indifferent to the senseless killings of my fellow citizens by bandits? I am human and I understand the pains of the victims and their families who have been traumatized and impoverished by constant ransom demands by bandits”. Read more
Adeleke qualifies to be governor, says Appeal Court (Nation)
The Akure division of the Court of Appeal has said the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the September governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke was eligible to contest the election. With the ruling, the controversies surrounding the eligibility of the lawmaker to contest the election or hold the office as a governor might have ended. The Appeal Court in its ruling dismissed an appeal against the judgment of an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo which had earlier confirmed the eligibility of Adeleke to contest the governorship election. Read more
NERC to begin mass metering on May 1 (Punch)
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission will begin mass metering for electricity consumers by May 1, to bridge the metering gaps in the country. Dr Usman Arabi, NERC General Manager Public Affairs in a statement said the metering will be executed under the Meter Asset Providers programme of the Federal Government. “The commission issued permits to MAPs on April 5, in accordance with section 4(3) of the MAP Regulations 2018, to MAPs that were successful in the procurements. Read more
Customs committee distributes 8,834 bags of rice, others to Orphanage, IDPs (Nation)
The Nigeria customs Service Sub-Committee on distribution of relief materials to orphanage and IDPs nationwide, has distributed over 8,834 bags of foreign rice, spaghetti, foreign sugar, mosquito coils, as well as vegetable oils and bales of used clothes to orphanage and IDPs in Kano. The Chairman of the committee, comptroller of Customs, Yakubu Salihu, told reporters in Kano on Saturday during the documentation exercise, said that over 110 orphanage homes including IDPs has benefited from the on-going distribution exercise. According to him, “the compilation of issuing the landing certificate is still in progress as it is now, we have over 110 orphanage homes and IDPs that has been attended to. We have gone round and verify the authenticity of those orphanage homes of which we have seen that really, they do exist. Read more
Saraki leads National Assembly delegation to IPU meeting in Qatar (Punch)
President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Saturday morning arrived Doha, Qatar, as leader of the National Assembly’s delegation to the 140th Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting that commenced on 5th April, and would end on 8th April, 2019. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yussuff Lasun, according to a statement on Saturday by Saraki’s Chief Press Secretary, Sani Onogu, is the deputy leader of the delegation. Other lawmakers on the trip according to the statement are, Senators Duro Faseyi, Ibrahim Rafiu Adebayo, Ikon Samuel Okon, Igbokwe Raphael Nnanna, Fulata Abubakar Hassan, Goodhead Boma and Dasuki Abdussammad. Read more
Niger senators back Lawan’s race for Senate President seat (Nation)
Serving and elected Senetors in Niger under the platform of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), on Saturday endorsed Sen. Ahmed Lawan for the ninth senate president seat. The endorsement was contained in a statement issued in Minna and signed by three senators, Mohammed Sani Musa – Niger East, Sabi Abdullahi – Niger North and Senator-elect, Muhammad Bima-Enagi – Niger-south in Minna. According to them, Lawan has an impeccable character and undeniable wealth of experience as a lawmaker to drive the aspirations and vision of the 9th Senate towards achieving its mandate. Read more
We intend to woo aggrieved members —Anambra APC (Punch)
The All Progressives Congress in Anambra State, says it is set to reposition the party to ensure victory in future elections in the state. The state Acting Chairman of the party, Mr Basil Ejidike made the disclosure while briefing newsmen at the end of the party’s State Working Committee meeting in Awka on Saturday. Ejidike said the party would hold a summit in May, which would be geared towards redefining, and repositioning the party in the state. Read more
Conflict claims over 100,000 babies in Nigeria, other countries annually – Report (Nation)
At least 550,000 babies reportedly died as a result of armed conflict between 2013 and 2017 in the 10 worst-affected countries, according to a new report by an international nongovernmental organisation, Save the Children. The organisation said this is an average of over 100,000 every year. The countries include: Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Iraq, Mali, Nigeria and Somalia. Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children International, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, in a statement in Abuja, said these were the countries where children were hardest hit by conflict in 2017. Read more
Algeria lawmakers to meet Tuesday to name interim president (Punch)
Algeria’s parliament is set to meet Tuesday to name an interim successor to president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, state media reported, after mass protests pushed the ailing leader from power. “It was decided to hold a meeting of the two chambers of parliament on Tuesday… at 9:00 am (0800 GMT),” the upper house of parliament said Saturday in a statement carried by the official APS news agency. Algeria’s constitution stipulates that the speaker of the upper house of parliament, currently 77-year-old Abdelkader Bensalah, should take the presidential reins. Read more
Sudan: Protesters converge on army headquarters in Khartoum (BBC)
Thousands of demonstrators across Sudan have taken part in what appears to be the biggest series of rallies against President Omar al-Bashir since protests began in December. In Khartoum, demonstrators reached the army headquarters for the first time. The presidential compound is nearby. Security forces used tear gas and made several arrests. The rallies marks the 34th anniversary of the coup that overthrew the regime of former President Jaafar Nimeiri. Read more
Stalker who camped near ex’s home and stole her underwear avoids jail (Metro)
An estranged husband who stalked his wife and stole her underwear has avoided jail. Stephen O’Reilly, 50, camped out in a tent near his ex-partner’s home and even used a spare key to break in, Guildford Crown Court heard. He also left letters in his wife’s car and sent messages to her brother on WhatsApp while using an image of her in her underwear as his profile picture. In a victim impact statement read out by Prosecutor James Caldwell, Mrs O’Reilly said: ‘The whole experience has changed me and how I see life. I’ve become extremely nervous. Read more
Two men swing at each other with machetes in middle of road (Metro)
This is the chilling moment that two young men armed with machetes swung at each other in Newcastle city centre. A court heard that an argument between Abdul Kefia and Twayne Bailey turned into a potentially fatal confrontation when Kefia pulled a blade from his hoodie. CCTV footage then shows Bailey taking a large machete out of his friend’s rucksack, before the two men faced up to each other on George Street. Read more
Manchester City reach FA Cup final (BBC)
Manchester City stayed on course for the quadruple as they reached the FA Cup final after edging out Brighton at Wembley. Pep Guardiola’s side were nowhere near their best but a largely undistinguished contest was settled by Gabriel Jesus’ stooping header after only four minutes, converted from Kevin de Bruyne’s perfect right-wing cross. Brighton battled manfully but could not turn possession into prolonged threat, although City were grateful to Aymeric Laporte’s clearance from right under his own crossbar after the break with Glenn Murray poised to score. Read more
Benzema double gives Real late win (BBC)
Real Madrid needed a late Karim Benzema strike to complete a comeback victory against Eibar in La Liga. Zinedine Zidane suffered his first defeat since returning as Real boss in a 2-1 loss at Valencia on Wednesday, and saw his side go behind again when Marc Cardona struck after 39 minutes. But Benzema levelled up in the second half, heading in Marco Asensio’s cross. And the Frenchman secured three points with another header 10 minutes from the end, converting Toni Kroos’ delivery. Read more
Five-goal Bayern thrash Dortmund to go top of Bundesliga (Guardian)
Robert Lewandowski humiliated his old club on Saturday as Bayern Munich obliterated Borussia Dortmund with a scintillating 5-0 win to reclaim their spot at the top of the Bundesliga. “We are so happy, everything went according to plan today,” Lewandowski told Sky. Bayern began the day under immense pressure, having slipped two points behind Dortmund in the title race a week earlier. They ended it on cloud nine, after a masterful first-half performance left Dortmund in the dust and put Bayern on course for a seventh successive league title. Read more
Barca 11 points clear after late goals (BBC)
Barcelona moved 11 points clear at the top of La Liga after two late goals ended the stubborn resistance of Atletico Madrid, who had Diego Costa sent off in the first half. Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored superb goals to leave Barca huge favourites to win a fifth title in seven years. Former Chelsea striker Costa was shown a straight red card for abusing referee Jesus Gil Manzano in the 27th minute. And Suarez and Messi made Atletico pay. Read more
What Diego Costa said to the referee to get straight red card against Barcelona (Metro)
Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa was given a straight red card in the 28th minute of his side’s clash against Barcelona at the Camp Nou after insulting the referee’s mother, according to reports in Spain. A free-kick was given against Costa after he was adjudged to have fouled Barcelona midfielder Arthur but the former Chelsea forward was adament that the decision should have been given Atletico’s way. Costa emerged from the tussle with Arthur believing that Atletico were about to be awarded a foul but could not believe the referee’s decision to give it the other way and he sprinted immediately towards the official to scream in his face. Read more
