LABSCA demolishes illegal building, seals others (Punch)
The Lagos State Building Control Agency has pulled down an ongoing illegal construction built along Church Street, off AIT Road, Alagbado, Lagos. It has also sealed off over seven more illegal buildings.
A statement quoted the General Manager of the agency, Mr Gbolahan Oki, as disclosing this during the agency team’s routine monitoring and enforcement exercise carried out at the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos.
Oki, who was represented by the Director of Enforcement and Compliance Unit, Olusoji Olaopa during the monitoring exercise, stated that the owner/developer did not only build under the power line but the entire structure violated the state’s building code.
He said, “Some of the other violations include: inadequate setbacks, airspace, built on the fence wall as well as being too close to a transformer, an action which poses a threat to the occupants and other residents in the area. Read more
NUPENG threatens strike in Lagos from Nov 6 over harassment by hoodlums (Sun)
The Nigeria Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), yesterday threatened to withdraw the services of its members in the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) in Lagos State from the midnight of November 6, due to the harassment and threat to their lives by some criminal elements operating along Lekki Free Trade Zone Road, Eleko Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos state.
The union in a letter to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-OIu, noted that all efforts to resist the hoodlums have been met with stiff resistance and they have continued unabated to assault and inflict bodily injuries to the members of the union and damage their petroleum trucks.
The letter titled, ‘Criminal and violent acts inimical to lives, properties and industrial peace and harmony in Lagos State: Demand for urgent actions’, read, “We are deeply constrained to bring to your urgent attention, the unwholesome activities of some criminal elements parading themselves along Lekki Free Trade Zone Road, Eleko Ibeju, Lekki, as Community youths under the name of Indigenous unity Forum, harassing, intimidating and extorting money from every petroleum truck drivers, who are NUPENG/PTD members plying the road. Read more
Adebanjo insists on Obi as Fasoranti backs Tinubu (Punch)
The leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, and several South West leaders on Sunday endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu received their endorsement during a meeting he had with the leaders of the organisation at Fasoranti’s residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Some members of the group, including Pa Ayo Adebanjo, and the Secretary-General Chief Sola Ebiseni, were however absent at the meeting.
Adebanjo had earlier declared support for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi. Read more
Government will protect our researchers, innovators – Mamora (Sun)
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Senator Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora, has disclosed the government’s commitment to protect researchers, inventors and innovators in the country.
Mamora stated this while declaring open, South West Dialogue on the Establishment of the Technology and Inovation Centre in Lagos.
He said that the establishment of the centre is in line with Presidential Executive Order No, 5 STI Policy of 2022, and the Abuja adopted recommendations FARI, to protect researchers, inventors, and Innovators, with appropriate legal framework.
These frameworks, he said, include, issuance of patent and other intellectual property rights, creation of conducive and enabling environment for work, reward to scientists and researchers for successful commercialisation of research and innovation efforts. It is aimed at attracting more women and children into research and innovation. Read more
Sokoto village head, 10 others arrested over 991,320 opioid pills, 1,251kg skunk (Guardian)
The village head of Gidan Abba in Bodinga local government area of Sokoto State, Abubakar Ibrahim, was among eleven suspects arrested in interdiction operations in which Nine Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand Three Hundred and Twenty (991,320) pills of pharmaceutical opioids and 1,251kgs of cannabis and khat, as well as 46.637 kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, were recovered by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) across seven states.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, NDLEA operatives attached to the SAHCO import shed on Wednesday, October 26, intercepted a total of 15 cartons containing 802,000 pills of Tramadol imported from Dubai, UAE and Karachi, Pakistan. While 10 cartons of Tramadol 225mg came in from Dubai on an Ethiopian Airlines flight, four cartons of 100mg and a carton of 225mg Tramadol came from Karachi, Pakistan on another Ethiopian Airlines flight.
According to NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, “On the same day, operatives at the SAHCO export shed intercepted cans of tomato paste going to the United Kingdom. A thorough search of the consignment revealed that the tomato cans were used to conceal 36 pellets of cannabis with a gross weight of 21.30 kilograms while a cargo agent, Sodehinde Akinwale has been arrested in connection with the seizure. Read more
CBN has my backing to replace Naira notes – President Muhammadu Buhari (Leadership)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, said that the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to launch new designs and replace high value Naira notes had his support and is convinced that the nation will gain a lot by doing so.
Speaking in a Hausa radio interview with the famous journalist Halilu Ahmed Getso, and Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai to be aired Wednesday Morning on Tambari TV on Nilesat, President Buhari in a statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said reasons given to him by the CBN convinced him that the economy stood to benefit from reduction in inflation, currency counterfeiting and the excess cash in circulation.
He said he did not consider the period of three months for the change to the new notes as being short.
”People with illicit money buried under the soil will have a challenge with this but workers, businesses with legitimate incomes will face no difficulties at all.” Read more
Terror Alert: Operation stop-and-search begins at NASS on Monday (Tribune)
The last may not have been heard over the security advisory in the country, especially the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja issued last week by the embassies of the United States of America and the United Kingdom respectively as the Management of the National Assembly at the weekend announced that new strict security arrangements would commence on Monday.
According to the NASS Security Management Committee, the new measure would commence with “a stop and search policy” with the complex being a vulnerable target for insurgent attacks.
In a memo signed by the Director, Administrative, Dr. Tahir Sani, the committee resolved to adopt several proactive measures in the short and long terms.
According to the memo, “one of such measures is the directive to security agencies and the Sergeant-at-Arms Department to ensure that effective Monday, October 31, 2022, all vehicles coming into the National Assembly premises are thoroughly searched. Read more
Drunken police officer in viral video sanctioned, says spokesman (Guardian)
The Nigeria Police high command said it has sanctioned a drunken mobile police officer captured in a video that went viral on social media.
Spokesman of the police, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi told newsmen that the Force wishes to state emphatically that the Mobile Police officer captured in a drunken state sitting on the ground and being mocked by some children, in a viral video currently trending on social media, had been appropriately sanctioned for the unprofessional and unethical conduct displayed in the video.
According to him, “Recall that the video trended in the year 2020, and the Force took diligent steps to ensure the Inspector was disciplined in line with extant laws regulating the Force, which led to his demobilization from the Police Mobile Force and other disciplinary sanctions as contained in letter CH:5660/DOPS/PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.78/116 of 11th December 2020. It is however appalling to find the same video being trended for clout without recourse to existing facts.
“The Police, while charging officers to maintain proper, professional, and ethical conduct in and out of the uniform, calls on all and sundry to discountenance the video and its content as it serves no genuine purpose.” Read more
Meghan Trainor wants to go back on tour (MusicNews)
Meghan Trainor wants to go back on tour.
The 28-year-old pop star – who has been married to ‘Spy Kids’ actor Daryl Sabara since 2018 and has 20-month-old son Riley with him – has not been on the road since she headlined ‘The Untouchable Tour’ across the US in 2016 but realised how much she has “missed” performing since she saw Harry Styles perform in concert and would love to get a series of shows done as soon as possible so she can then have another baby.
She said: “I saw Harry Styles perform last week and it made me miss touring. I thought, ‘We should knock out a tour real fast and then get pregnant.’ I want to come to the UK as soon as possible. My favourite place is that biga*** mall-Harrods!”
Meanwhile, the ‘Lips are Movin’ hitmaker – who has now released her fifth studio album ‘Takin it Back’ – went on to reveal that in the early days of motherhood, she felt “guilty” for accepting her dream television job because she had to spend so much time away from the little one.” Read more
Brazil’s Bolsonaro defeated as Lula makes comeback (BBC)
Brazil has taken a turn to the left as former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva beat far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in the presidential election.
After a divisive campaign which saw two bitter rivals on opposite sides of the political spectrum go head to head, Lula won 50.9% of the votes.
It was enough to beat Jair Bolsonaro, whose supporters had been confident of victory.
But the division which this election has highlighted is unlikely to vanish.
It is a stunning comeback for a politician who could not run in the last presidential election in 2018 because he was in jail and banned from standing for office. Read more
Coldplay support Iranian protests by playing banned anthem during Buenos Aires stadium gig (Metro)
Coldplay showed their support for people protesting against the regime in Iran by performing a song that has been banned in the country at their sold-out stadium gig in Buenos Aires on Saturday night.
The chart-topping band played Shervin Hajipour’s song Baraye, which has become an anthem for the protest movement in Iran.
Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, who has been exiled from the country since 2009 after appearing in an American film, joined Coldplay on stage to sing the song in Farsi at their concert, which was broadcast live to 80 different countries.
Introducing the song, front man Chris Martin began: ‘Maybe you see on the news right now that there are so many places where people are not able to gather like this and be free to be themselves. Read more
The Voice UK winner: Music helped to process working in the NHS during pandemic (Standard)
The Voice UK champion Anthonia Edwards said she has written songs inspired by her emotions as a trainee nurse during the “hard times in Covid.”
The singer-songwriter, 25, was coached by Sir Tom Jones to scoop the coveted title during Saturday’s episode of the ITV talent competition, winning a recording contract.
Edwards told the PA news agency she applied for the ITV singing competition while she was a student nurse and “didn’t expect to win.”
She said: “I was a student nurse at the time when I applied and obviously we had just come off the back of Covid and how tense it was and I knew I was about to graduate so I wanted to do something different just before I go into my nursing career. Read more
Marvel’s Ironheart adds Better Things and Batman star to cast (DigitalSpy)
Marvel’s Ironheart has got a new bit of casting news, with a legendary actor joining the series.
Deadline reports that Cree Summer has been cast in a mysterious role, with no mention as to whether it’s a live-action or voice role.
We mention that specifically because Summer is a veteran in the voice acting industry, with an immediately recognisable voice that’s been heard in Rugrats (as Susie), Batman Beyond (as Max), Batman: Arkham Asylum (as Dr Young), Drawn Together (as Foxxy), Tiny Toon Adventures and Pinky & the Brain (as Elmyra), Atlantis: The Lost Empire (as Princess Kira), Inspector Gadget (as Penny), Codename: Kids Next Door (as Numbuh Five), Voltron: Legendary Defender (as Witch Haggar), The Proud Family revival (as Peabo) and Final Fantasy X/X-2 (and Belgemine, Lenne and Calli).
In terms of Marvel specific roles, Summer voiced She-Hulk in the ’90s Incredible Hulk animated series, Nebula in the Guardians of the Galaxy animated series, and Magma in X-Men: Legends. Read more
Brooklyn Nets’ Irving defends promoting antisemitic movie (TimesOfIsrael)
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving on Saturday said he “won’t stand down” amid growing controversy over his support for an antisemitic film.
“I’m not here to argue over a person or a culture or a religion and what they believe,” Irving said during a post game press conference, according to ESPN.
“Nah, this is what’s here. It’s on a public platform. Did I do anything illegal? Did I hurt anybody? Did I harm anybody? Am I going out and saying that I hate one specific group of people?” he said.
The player said that he respected team owner Joe Tsai, who said last week he was “disappointed” that Irving promoted the film. Read more
Lebanon: Aoun vacates presidential palace leaving unprecedented power vacuum (MEE)
Michel Aoun, the 89-year-old Christian president who presided over Lebanon’s cataclysmic financial meltdown and the deadly Beirut port blast, left the presidential palace on Sunday with his term ending, leaving a void at the top of a failing state.
Parliament has so far been unable to agree on a successor in the role, which is reserved for a “Maronite Christian and has the power to sign bills into law and appoint new prime ministers.
Aoun’s departure leaves Lebanon in the unprecedented situation of having a presidential vacuum and a caretaker cabinet with limited powers, as the premier-designate has been unable to form a government for six months.
In an interview with Reuters a day before his departure, Aoun said Lebanon was sliding into “constitutional chaos”, given the lack of clarity over what prerogatives the caretaker cabinet and the parliament should each have. Read more
Pablo Mari: Arsenal players pay tribute to recovering defender after stabbing (BBC)
Arsenal’s players have paid tribute to Pablo Mari as he recovers from being stabbed in an Italian supermarket.
The 29-year-old defender, on loan at Monza from the Gunners, was stabbed in the back on Thursday during an attack in which one person was killed.
Arsenal’s players held up a shirt with Mari’s name on it before their home game against Nottingham Forest.
Gabriel Martinelli, flanked by his team-mates, did the same after he put Arsenal in front. Read more
Pundit criticises Chelsea summer signing after Brighton loss (Football365)
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has not impressed Gabby Agbonlahor this season.
The Spaniard joined the Blues from Brighton and Hove Albion for around £60million in the summer transfer window.
He made his debut on matchday one, coming on for the final 15 minutes during the win at Everton.
Cucurella then started the next five Premier League matches, playing the full 90 minutes of four of them. Read more
Jake Paul won 6 of the 8 rounds in his unanimous decision victory over Anderson Silva (DailyMail)
Jake Paul took six of the eight rounds in an impressive victory against Anderson Silva on Saturday evening according to two of the judges, the scorecard has revealed.
The undefeated YouTuber-turned-boxer is now 6-0 after recording the best win of his short career against the UFC legend, 47, in an entertaining battle at the Desert Diamond Arena in Arizona, USA.
And despite it being a close and competitive fight on the night, judges scored the bout 78-73, 78-73, 77-74 to the 25-year-old Ohio native.
Dennis O’Connell, Paul Calderon and Chris Wilson gave Paul the victory by unanimous decision. Read more
Max Verstappen boycotts Sky Sports after Ted Kravitz comments about 2021 title win (ESPN)
Max Verstappen is refusing to talk to British F1 broadcaster Sky Sports at the Mexican Grand Prix following comments made by pundit Ted Kravitz.
The reigning double world champion is unhappy at comments Kravitz made in his “Ted’s Notebook” show after the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, when he referred to Lewis Hamilton being “robbed” of the 2021 title.
Verstappen beat Hamilton to the 2021 championship by passing him on the final lap of the final race in a controversial finish.
The FIA later acknowledged that “human error” from former race director Michael Masi had seen the restart procedure applied incorrectly, forcing a one-lap sprint finish. Masi was sacked as a result. Read more
Johnson gets chance to take LIV earnings past $17m (France24)
Dustin Johnson will have the chance to end the maiden season of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf with over $17 million in the bank after reaching Sunday’s final of the team championships.
The American tops the LIV Golf money rankings with $13.6 million after winning the individual title and has a shot at another $4 million if his 4Aces team claim the $16 million prize at stake at the Blue Monster on Sunday.
The tournament switches from matchplay format to strokeplay on Sunday with all players’ scores counting.
“It’s no different than any other tournament we play. Go out and try to shoot as low as we can,” said Johnson who insisted that the huge numbers on offer had no impact on play. Read more
Brighton thump Chelsea on Potter’s return (BBC)
Graham Potter endured a nightmare return to Amex Stadium as Brighton thrashed Chelsea to claim a first victory under their new manager Roberto de Zerbi.
In a chaotic opening, Leandro Trossard’s calm finish put the home side in front after Thiago Silva – who had already produced two goalline clearances to deny the Seagulls – surrendered possession cheaply in his own half.
Two own goals extended Brighton’s lead before the break, Ruben Loftus-Cheek putting through his own net from a Solly March corner before Trevoh Chalobah slid Pervis Estupinan’s low cross past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Kai Havertz nodded in Conor Gallagher’s exquisite cross to give the visitors hope two minutes after the interval, but a second-half Chelsea recovery failed to materialise.
Pascal Gross capped a miserable afternoon for Potter and his players with a close-range finish after Edouard Mendy – who had replaced the injured Arrizabalaga at half-time – parried Julio Enciso’s shot into the German’s path..Read more