Killings rising because Buhari thinks he knows everything — PDP (Punch)
The Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that the myriad of crises facing the country is as a result of the know-it-all posture of President Muhammadu Buhari. It claimed that rather than seek help from Nigerians across party lines and beyond the shores of the country, the President had been carrying on as if he could solely rule the country. The main opposition party said it was worrisome that months after he was declared the winner of the presidential election, the President had refused to nominate his ministers. Read more
Sanwo-Olu sends 25-man list of commissioners, advisers to assembly (Guardian)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Sunday submitted a twenty-five names list of Commissioner-designates to the State House of Assembly for ratification. Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu’s spokesman, who disclosed this in a statement said his principal “carefully picked the nominees based on their cognate experience in their respective professions.” “We took our time to pick the best hands for the tough job Lagosians have elected us to do,” Akosile said. Read more
IGP special forces comb Ondo forest, Afenifere, Ohanaeze attack Buhari (Punch)
The Inspector-General of Police Special Forces and policemen from the Ondo State Command have moved into the state government reserve with the purpose of hunting for herdsmen, who allegedly killed Mrs Funke Olakunrin, a daughter of the Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti. The Ondo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, who gave this indication in an interview with one of our correspondents in Akure on Sunday, said policemen had been deployed in the state government forest, which the killer herdsmen had converted into their camp. Read more
Many corrupt Nigerian leaders started with exam fraud — JAMB (Punch)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said it is determined to sanitise the examination sub-sector in Nigeria, noting that many corrupt leaders started with examination malpractices. JAMB stated this in its weekly bulletin obtained by our correspondent on Sunday. The board said, “Corruption is not a peculiar African or Nigerian problem. Regrettably, most of the measures deployed to fight corruption, more often than not, fail to yield desired results. Read more
NUJ commends Gbajabiamila, Wase for appointing members as media aides (Guardian)
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Correspondents’ Chapel has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and his deputy, Ahmed Idris Wase, for appointing its members as media aides. In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its Chairman, Philip Nyam, and Secretary, Jide Oyekunle, it said by the appointments, Gbajabiamila and Wase have confirmed their confidence in the Nigerian media. Read more
NAHCON airlifts 5,307 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia (Guardian)
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has so far transported 5,307 Nigerian pilgrims in 11 flights to Saudi Arabia for the forthcoming 2019 hajj exercise. Statistics released by the Command and Control Centre of the commission yesterday further revealed that pilgrims from Kano, Kaduna, Birnin Kebbi, and Kwara had been airlifted to the holy land. The Guardian learned that transportation is being carried out by the approved three airlines, Max Air Ltd, Medview and Flynas. Read more
Minimum wage: TUC warns of imminent strike (Punch)
The newly elected President of the Trade Union Congress, Quadri Olaleye, on Sunday said the union would issue an ultimatum for an industrial action if the Federal Government continued to delay the implementation of new N30, 000 minimum wage. In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, Olaleye said that TUC had begun mobilising workers ahead of an industrial action, accusing government of showing no serious commitment to the implementation of the minimum wage. Read more
World Bank $15m aid to lift 54,000 Kebbi women (Guardian)
The Kebbi State Government in collaboration with the World Bank assisted ‘Nigeria for Women Project’ will spend $15m on the execution of a programme to empower 54,000 women in three councils of the state. Fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the closed meeting with the delegate from the World Bank when paid him a courtesy visit weekend in Birnin- Kebbi, Governor Atiku Bagudu said the programme was aimed at empowering women to improve their economic wellbeing. Read more
I make N18,000 daily from pickpocketing, says suspect (Guardian)
A suspected pickpocket arrested in Computer Village, Ikeja area of Lagos State has confessed to operatives of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) that he made at least N18,000 daily selling stolen phones. The suspect, Lawal Daodu, 31, was arrested on Friday at about 5:00 p.m. when he unsuccessfully picked a phone from the pocket of a passerby in Ikeja Under-Bridge. Read more
Ebola in DR Congo: Case confirmed in Goma (BBC)
The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed the first case of Ebola in the eastern city of Goma, home to more than a million people. The health ministry confirmed that a pastor tested positive for the virus in a centre in Goma after arriving there by bus on Sunday. The ministry says that risk of the disease spreading is low. More than 1,600 people have died since the Ebola outbreak began in eastern DR Congo a year ago. Read more
Trump under fire for racially-charged tweets against congresswomen (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has been accused of racism after posting tweets attacking Democratic congresswomen. He claimed the women “originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe”, before suggesting they “go back”. He then said Speaker Nancy Pelosi “would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements”. It comes a week after Ms Pelosi clashed with “the squad”, a group of four left-wing Democratic women of colour. Read more
China’s economy grows at slowest pace since 1990s (BBC)
China’s economic growth slowed in the second quarter to its weakest pace since the early 1990s, official figures showed. In the three months to June, the economy grew 6.2% from a year earlier. The result was in line with forecasts. China has moved to stimulate its economy this year by boosting spending and delivering tax cuts. Read more
Chandrayaan-2: India space launch delayed by technical problem (BBC)
The launch of India’s second lunar mission has been halted less than an hour before the scheduled blast-off, due to a technical problem. The countdown stopped 56 minutes before the launch after a “technical snag was observed in launch vehicle system,” India’s space agency said. The satellite had been scheduled for launch at 02:51 local time on Monday (21:21 GMT Sunday) from Sriharikota space station on India’s eastern coast. Read more
Ex-Falcons keeper Aluko down with breast cancer (Punch)
Former Super Falcons goalkeeper, Bidemi Aluko, is currently battling with breast cancer. The cancer, according to her, developed in 2017 while still playing for Rivers Angels in the Nigerian Women’s Premier League. She explained that immediately the cancer was detected, she was asked to undergo surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, which she did. Read more
Fit again, Christian Chukwu wants to play in Super Eagles’ defence (Guardian)
A Couple of months ago, the Nigerian football community was worried when the news broke that one of the biggest icons of the game was down and needed help to stay alive. According to the report, Christian Chukwu, who led Nigeria to win its first African Cup of Nations trophy in 1980, was hit by an undisclosed ailment that made it impossible for him to do anything unaided. Such was the worry, especially when it became known that he needed urgent medical attention abroad to survive, that some of his friends called on well-meaning Nigerians to support the bedridden hero. Read more
Mahrez’s magic kills Eagles’ African Cup of Nations dream (Guardian)
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Riyadh Mahrez was touted as one of the likely best players of the on-going African Cup of Nations in Egypt and yesterday, the Manchester City midfielder showed why he is so highly rated. With the regular time just a minute to end, Mahrez, whose cross in the first half forced William Troost-Ekong to score an own goal, picked up a dead ball and struck it beyond Daniel Akpeyi for Algeria’s winning goal. Read more
Senegal beat Tunisia to reach Afcon final (BBC)
Senegal reached the Africa Cup of Nations final for the second time as Tunisia defender Dylan Bronn’s extra-time own goal gave them victory. Both sides had penalties saved in normal time before Bronn inadvertently headed the only goal of the game. Mouez Hassen tipped Sadio Mane’s free-kick on to Bronn’s head as Senegal – who face Algeria in Friday’s final – moved closer to a first Afcon title. Read more
Antoine Griezmann: Atletico reaction to Barcelona move ‘a pity’ (BBC)
Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann said former club Atletico Madrid’s angry response to his transfer is “a pity.” Griezmann joined Barca this week after the Catalans met his 120m euro (£107m) buyout clause. Atletico complained Barcelona and Griezmann had negotiated the deal before the buy-out price dropped from 200 million euros at the start of July. Read more
Marotta firm over securing Lukaku from Man United (Guardian)
Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta said he is “optimistic about everything” amid the club’s ongoing battle to sign Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku revealed that he expects an update on his future next week as Inter try to price the Belgium star from Old Trafford, where Marcus Rashford has become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-choice striker. Read more
Novak Djokovic beats Roger Federer in longest Wimbledon singles final (BBC)
Novak Djokovic saved two championship points in Wimbledon’s longest singles final to retain his title in a thrilling win over Roger Federer. On a Centre Court, with an atmosphere that felt at times more akin to football than tennis, Djokovic won 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 13-12 (7-3). As the clock ticked to four hours 57 minutes, Federer hit a ball high to hand the Serb victory. Read more
England men win first Cricket World Cup (BBC)
England beat New Zealand to win the men’s World Cup for the first time after one of the most amazing games of cricket ever played was tied twice. In an emotional and electric atmosphere at Lord’s, both sides scored 241 in their 50 overs and were level on 15 when they batted for an extra over apiece. It meant England were crowned world champions by virtue of having scored more boundary fours and sixes – 26 to New Zealand’s 17 – in the entire match. Read more