THISISLAGOS MORNING NEWS UPDATE AUGUST 18, 2018
INEC releases 2019 general elections notice in Lagos (Punch)
As part of its preparations for the 2019 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos State on Friday published the notice of elections at its state office, INEC Local Government offices, and state Registration Areas. INEC gave this directive in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mr. Femi Akinbiyi. “The action is in accordance with the approved deadline for the conduct of the 2019 general elections, as contained in Section 30 of the Electoral Act,’’ Akinbiyi said. The Electoral Act states that: “The Commission shall, not later than 90 days before the day appointed for holding of an election under this Act, publish a notice in each state of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.” Read more
Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos chides hate-speech peddlers (Vanguard)
Following the recent anti-Igbo moves and hate speech on social media to bring division between Ndigbo people and Yoruba people in Lagos, the Secretary, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos State Chief Everest Ozonweke has described the inflammatory anti Igbo speech as the hand work of mischief makers who have lost touch with the realities on ground. He also advised them to verify facts before publishing as this could cause a rift between the people. Chief Ozonweke stated this in a release made available to media that the governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Akinwumi Ambode is the governor of everybody in Lagos State and has in all time demonstrated this in his words and action. Read more
Sallah Celebration: Lagos CP deploys additional 1000 Policemen (ThisDay)
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Imohimi Edgal, has deployed additional 1000 policemen for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebration to boost the number of men designated for that purpose in the command. Edgal said the deployment was to ensure a hitch-free Sallah celebration through effective coverage of the prayer grounds, holiday spots and the neighbourhoods. According to him, specialised units like the Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), the Canine section (Police dogs), the Air-support unit, Marine police and the Mounted troops (Horsemen), have been activated and sufficiently mobilised to guarantee security during the holidays. Read more
Osinbajo visits site of collapsed building in Abuja (Punch)
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has visited the site of a four-storey building that collapsed in Abuja on Friday afternoon. At least 18 people are trapped beneath the rubble of the four-storey building which collapsed around 1.30pm in the Jabi area of Abuja on Friday. Our correspondent who was at the scene reported that the building, which was under construction when it collapsed, had over 25 people inside. Rescue officials were said to have rescued about six persons, while a corpse was also evacuated. However, a heavy rain had hampered rescue operations. Read more
2019: I won’t interfere with INEC, Buhari assures Nigerians (ThisDay)
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would not interfere with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before, during and after the 2019 general elections. The president also gave an undertaking that he would ensure that next year’s polls are free, fair and credible. The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojodu, expressed the Buhari’s positions when he read the president’s speech at the 2018 Annual Nigeria Political Parties summit held in Abuja yesterday. “Today, I pledge to Nigeria, my country to promote free fair and credible election devoid of any form of interference in the activities of INEC, to ensure security and promote a violence free election devoid of animosity and hate speeches, to abide by the extant laws governing political parties and adhere strictly to the code of conduct of political parties in Nigeria. Read more
Lagos public schools and Hijab distraction (Guardian)
Provided that a formal stay of execution of the judgment of the Appellate Court has been obtained, the Lagos State Government’s decision to maintain its ban of hijabs in its public schools is remarkable and it will serve public good. While reassuring the public the other day of the state’s commitment to the rule of law, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Abdulateef Abdulhakeem, had stated that the use of hijabs in Lagos public schools would not be allowed until the Supreme Court “determines an appeal seeking to upturn the decision of a Court of Appeal.” Read more
FOI: Despite court of appeal ruling, Lagos refuses to open its books (PremiumTimes)
Despite a Court of Appeal decision in April stating that the Freedom of Information Act is applicable to all states in Nigeria, the Lagos State government has refused to disclose its education budget. An appellate court in Akure in March had ruled that Nigerian states had no powers to reject requests filed under the FOI Act, especially on information around public expenditure. Last May, two civic organisation, BudgIT, filed an FOI request to the Lagos State government asking for a breakdown of the state’s education budget between 2015 and 2018. The state government, through its ministry of justice, refused to accede to the request. Read more
PDP having sleepless nights over Buhari’s achievements – APC (Nation)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Friday that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was having sleepless night over the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and doing everything possible to frustrate the government from achieving a credible election in 2019. The Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, said in a statement in Abuja that the PDP is however hiding behind the yet to be signed Electoral Act amendment bill to draw attention away from the refusal of the Senate President to reconvene the National Assembly to consider the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) budget. Read more
Sowore emerges AAC Chairman (ThisDay)
The publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has emerged the protem national chairman of the newly registered African Action Congress (AAC). AAC was among the 23 new political parties unveiled on Wednesday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Addressing party faithful, Sowore said the party’s unique ideology was a clear departure from other parties’. Speaking on the evolution of AAC, Sowore, who is also a presidential aspirant, said: “First we started this as a movement and it has distinguished itself in the last six months as a movement that is driven by a strong vision to change Nigeria for the better”. Read more
You’re heating up polity, cleric tells APC, PDP (SUN)
General Supervisor (GS) of ThankGod Awaited Liberation Ministry, Ikeja, Lagos, Francis Otukwu, has said the the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) are heating up the polity with the current defections and leadership tussle at the National Assembly. He lamented that the development is playing down on increasing rate of poverty, serious security threats posed by the Boko Haram terrorists and rampaging Fulani herdsmen. The GS stated this during the 12th anniversary thanksgiving/founder’s anniversary commemoration of the church with the theme: “Jesus Christ the Life-giving Water.” Read more
AFRIMA unveils nominees for 2018 awards (Vanguard)
The 13-man Jury of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, on Tuesday, unveiled the nominees list for the 2018 edition. The event which held at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, had officials of the African Union Commission, Jury members and some stakeholders in attendance. The released nominees list covers the five Regional Categories divided into Female and Male categories as follows: Best Female Artiste in Central Africa; Best Male Artiste in Central Africa; Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa; Best Female Artiste Read more
$3.8b EGINA FPSO Project: Don’t ignore foreign companies’ corrupt activities in Nig, group cries out to govt (Vanguard)
A group of young professionals have raised an alarm over what it describes as colossal attempt by foreign companies with the intent to instigate massive corruption and further undermine existing local content laws in Nigeria through what the group termed contract manipulation and advanced form of bribery which, it says, has caused an increase in youth unemployment and led to massive capital flight with thousands of jobs created for young South Koreans with Nigerian resources. It warned that the governments’ drive to attract foreign direct investment may be damaged by these dubious companies. Read more
Phyno drops new music video, Nyem Ego (Punch)
Nigerian singer and producer, Chibuzor Azubuike, popularly known as Phyno, has released the much anticipated video of the song, Nyem Ego, alongside Lagos based rapper, Tope Onimowo, aka Phenom. The Fada-fada and Connect crooner on Friday took to his Instagram handle @phynofino to inform his fans and followers, “Nyem Ego VIDEO is out now fam!!! Phenom X Phyno@phenomgram.” The audio of the song was first released in June. Nyem Ego is a sentence in Igbo language which means ‘Give me money.’ Read more
2 suspected cultists arraigned in Lagos (Punch)
Two men, Oluwafemi Adelaja and Jacob Sunday, suspected to be members of an unlawful society, were on Friday docked before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State. Adelaja, 26, and Sunday, 21, are facing a two-count bordering on affray and belonging to an unlawful society. They, however, pleaded not guilty. According to the prosecutor, Superintendent of Police Nurudeen Thomas, the two men committed the offences on August 9, at 12.30p.m. at Kampala Hotel in Bariga, Lagos. Read more
Falconets’ quarter-finals’ exit hurts – Ajibade (Punch)
Rasheedat Ajibade, the Falconets’ stand-in captain, on Friday said it was massively disappointing to lose to Spain on Thursday at the ongoing FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in France. Ajibade, while expressing her disappointment over the team’s quarter-finals exit after a 1-2 loss, said the national under-20 women football team’s loss was a bitter pill for her to swallow. Ajibade who captained the team in their last group game against China took to her Twitter handle to express her disappointment over the team’s loss. Read more
NFF saga: Anxiety as court fails to vacate Giwa’s ex-parte order (Punch)
A Federal High Court sitting in Jos on Friday failed to vacate the ex-parte granted Chris Giwa, one of the parties in the leadership crisis that has engulfed the Nigeria Football Federation. The court had granted the order on June 5, 2018, which gave Giwa the impetus to pose as the President of the NFF. Following that order, Giwa moved into the NFF headquarters last month, a development that did not go down well with Giwa’s rival, Amaju Pinnick, who rushed to the court with three motions on notice asking the court to vacate the order. Read more
FIFA threatens 4 clubs with points deductions for failing to pay players (Channelnewsasia)
Four clubs – two in Qatar, one in the United Arab Emirates and one in Iran – have been fined and threatened with points deductions for ignoring orders to pay “overdue” amounts to players, FIFA said on Friday. World soccer’s governing body said in a statement that Qatar Sports Club and Al-Shamal Sports Club, both based in Qatar, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Saba Qom (Iran) had been given deadlines of between 30 and 90 days to pay up. Any club which did not meet its deadline would be deducted six points in its domestic league and banned from signing players for the next one or two transfer periods, FIFA added. Read more
‘I couldn’t be happier with him!’ – Mourinho rejects Pogba feud and confirms him captain for Brighton tie (Goal)
The midfielder has suggested disharmony at United this week, but his manager has shrugged off the player’s comments. Jose Mourinho says he has “never been so happy” with Paul Pogba and the midfielder will stay as captain against Brighton and Hove Albion, despite his comments suggesting he is unsettled at Manchester United. Pogba caused a stir following his man-of-the-match performance in last Friday’s win over Leicester City, when he said he would always strive to perform for fans and team-mates but also claimed: “There are things I can say and there are things I cannot say… otherwise I will get fined.” Read more
Messi left out of Argentina squad for friendlies (Sports24)
Barcelona star Lionel Messi was left out of the first post-World Cup Argentina squad announced on Friday ahead of four upcoming friendlies. The move was widely expected following media reports earlier in the week claiming the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had asked to be excused from the country’s four remaining friendlies in 2018. Also absent from interim coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad are Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria of Paris Saint-Germain and new AC Milan loan signing Gonzalo Higuain. Argentina will play Guatemala and Colombia next month in the United States, with two more friendlies scheduled before the end of the year. Read more
Mbappe set for first PSG appearance after World Cup (AFP)
World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe has been named in Paris Saint-Germain’s squad for the first time this season as the French champions go to Guingamp in Ligue 1 on Saturday. Mbappe did not play in their league opener, a 3-0 win over Caen last weekend, having only returned to training a few days earlier following a post-World Cup holiday. The 19-year-old, who scored one of France’s goals in their 4-2 win over Croatia in last month’s final in Moscow, will hope to feature alongside Neymar in the PSG attack in Brittany. However, Edinson Cavani is again missing as he continues his recovery from a calf injury suffered during Uruguay’s run to the quarter-finals in Russia. Read more
100 Women: The artist redrawing ‘sexist’ comic book covers (BBC)
An artist in India is challenging sexist drawings of women in comic books by parodying them using male heroes in poses typically associated with women. She-Hulk has superhuman strength and speed and is one of the most formidable hand-to-hand combatants in the Marvel world. Like Hulk, not only does she have physical power, she’s also completely green. Yet, on a 1991 comic book cover, she is shown in a seductive pose, wearing a G-string bikini, with her curves sharply accentuated. Indian artist Shreya Arora was shocked when she saw the image. “For Hulk, the visual representation focuses on his strength. For She-Hulk, all we see is an emphasis on sexuality,” says Arora, who grew up reading comic books. Read more
Police officer chasing a suspect on foot is RUN OVER by colleague’s van in shocking footage (Dailymail)
This is the shocking moment a police officer chasing a suspect on foot was hit by his own colleague’s van. Following the incident in Manchester yesterday, the officer needed hospital treatment after suffering leg injuries. In the footage a police van can be seen pulling up at the junction of Leicester Road and Symons Street. A 29-year-old was arrested on prison recall after the collision, the spokesman added. A spokesman for the North West Ambulance Service said: ‘We received a call at 3.03pm. We sent an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle to the scene. ‘The patient was taken to North Manchester General Hospital with leg injuries.’ Read more