Lagos APC denies impending power tussle between Sanwo-Olu, Abiru (Guardian)
Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the report that its candidate for the forthcoming October 31, 2020, Lagos East senatorial bye-election, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, is being deliberately prepared by the leadership of the party to deny Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu opportunity of seeking re-election on its platform in the 2023 governorship election.
In a statement, yesterday, the media office of APC for the Lagos East bye-election said Sanwo-Olu personally endorsed Abiru’s senatorial aspiration and worked for his emergence as the party’s candidate.
“This claim is as good as the figment of the author’s imagination. Sanwo-Olu is a strong supporter of Abiru’s senatorial aspiration. He also endorsed him. There is no basis for a power struggle,” the statement said. Read more
Lagos registers continuous assessment scores for JSS 1 admission (Nation)
The Lagos State Examinations Board has called on private schools to submit Continuous Assessment Scores (CAS) of Primary Six pupils seeking admission into JSS1 classes of public secondary schools before the September 11 deadline.
Friday is also deadline for registration for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for JSS3 pupils and the Screening test for admission into JSS1 classes of the 16 Lagos State model colleges and upgraded schools.
Public Affairs Officer of the board, Mr. Fatai Bakare, noted that placement test into secondary schools would be done with the use of the CAS as directed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu – though the modalities are still being worked out. Read more
Sanwo-Olu to give 20 ‘outstanding teachers’ cars (Vanguard)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has reiterated his administration’s commitment to reward excellence service delivery in the Lagos State Post-Primary teaching service, pledging 20 cars to deserving outstanding teachers across the six education districts in the state.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the pledge during the virtual training of teachers tagged “Eko Educators Webinar Performance Series 3.3”, noting that teachers are key change agents who will be remembered for shaping future generation of leaders.
He went further to advice teachers to embrace technology in improving the quality of teaching, which ultimately makes them great teachers. Read more
LASEPA, foundation partner to boost eye health among workers (Guardian)
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has partnered with Kingstripes Care Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, to boost clearer vision among staff in the agency.
In a statement made available to The Guardian yesterday, 200 workers of the public health agency benefited from a two-day free eye screening facilitated by the partnership.
Themed ‘Enabling Clearer Vision for a Cleaner Environment,’ the event addressed boosting morale among the agency’s staff for effective performance and increased awareness for environmental sustainability. Read more
Insecurity: North-Central breaks away from ACF, announces new group (Punch)
Prominent leaders from the North-Central geopolitical zone have announced their exit from the Arewa Consultative Forum, citing the worsening insecurity in northern Nigeria.
The leaders announced the formation of the North Central Peoples Forum as a platform to fight insecurity and marginalisation.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the group said in spite of the abundant mineral and human resources in the zone, the North-Central was bedevilled by vices, like kidnapping, banditry and other forms of criminality. Read more
Shell donates medical centre to Ogun community (Guardian)
Trains over 200 health workers
The Ogun State Government and leaders of Ogijo community in Sagamu Local Government Area have described the 20-bed ultramodern medical centre donated to it, as a model of primary healthcare facility worthy of replication across the state.
Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, who took delivery of the facility in a virtual ceremony, last week, said the donation was timely, coming at a time that the state was struggling with the dearth of facilities to manage the increasing cases of infection of the novel coronavirus.
He added that the state government alone cannot bear the burden of public healthcare delivery. Read more
Sex-for-mark: Imo varsity probes HoD in viral video (Punch)
The Imo State University, Owerri, has set up a committee to investigate the authenticity of the footage circulating on the Internet in which the Head of Department of Biochemistry of the institution, Prof. Emmanuel Agumuo, was allegedly having sex with ones of his students.
The HoD, who was handcuffed in the footage, was arrested by plain-clothed security men.
Sources said the don, apart from allegedly collecting N150,000 as bribe from the female student, also demanded sex from her in order to pass her. Read more
Nigeria’s debt hits N31tr (Nation)
Nigeria’s total debt stock has risen in the last three months to N31.009 trillion ($85.897 billion), from N28.628 trillion ($79.303billion), according to the Debt Management Office (DMO).
DMO yesterday in Abuja new total debt figure comprises the debt stock of the Federal Government, the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The N2.381trillion (or $6.593 billion) increase recorded in the debt Stock, the DMO said, “was accounted for by the $3.36 billion Budget Support Loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).” Read more
‘Trader Moni’ beneficiaries unwilling to repay loans – NSIP (Punch)
Beneficiaries of ‘Trader Moni,’ one of the programmes of the Federal government’s National Social Investment Programme designed to reduce poverty in Nigeria are reluctant to repay the loan.
The Kwara State Focal Person for the NSIP, Hajia Bashirah Abdulrazaq-Sanusi, stated this on Wednesday.
Abdulrazaq-Sanusi said that about 10,000 people benefitted from “Trader Moni” programme in the state with over N1.3bn disbursed to them,
She, however, lamented that the people were not willing to repay the loan. Read more
Wildlife in ‘catastrophic decline’ due to human destruction, scientists warn (BBC)
Wildlife populations have fallen by more than two-thirds in less than 50 years, according to a major report by the conservation group WWF.
The report says this “catastrophic decline” shows no sign of slowing.
And it warns that nature is being destroyed by humans at a rate never seen before.
Wildlife is “in freefall” as we burn forests, over-fish our seas and destroy wild areas, says Tanya Steele, chief executive at WWF.
“We are wrecking our world – the one place we call home – risking our health, security and survival here on Earth. Now nature is sending us a desperate SOS and time is running out.” Read more
Mozambique committing abuses in fight against rebels: Amnesty (Aljazeera)
Amnesty International on Wednesday accused Mozambique’s government forces of torturing suspected members of an armed group in the country’s northern Cabo Delgado province, as well as “possible extrajudicial executions” and “discarding a large number of corpses into apparent mass graves”.
“This behaviour flouts fundamental principles of humanity. The abuses attributed to the group known as al-Shabab can never justify further violations by the security forces of Mozambique,” Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s director for East and Southern Africa, said.
“The government of Mozambique must now order a swift, transparent, and impartial investigation to bring all those responsible for such crimes to justice in fair trials,” Muchena said. Read more
Covid vaccine: 8,000 jumbo jets needed to deliver doses globally, says IATA (BBC)
Shipping a coronavirus vaccine around the world will be the “largest transport challenge ever” according to the airline industry.
The equivalent of 8,000 Boeing 747s will be needed, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said.
There is no Covid-19 vaccine yet, but IATA is already working with airlines, airports, global health bodies and drug firms on a global airlift plan. Read more
United States: End of Qatar blockade possibly ‘in weeks’ (Aljazeera)
Progress may be made within weeks to end a three-year blockade of Qatar by Arab states, a senior US State Department official said on Wednesday, citing signs of “flexibility” in negotiations.
David Schenker, the department’s top diplomat for the Middle East, was quick to urge caution, however, because there has not been any fundamental shift in talks that would quickly lead to a resolution.
The dispute dates from 2017 when the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt imposed a boycott on Qatar, severing diplomatic and transport ties and accusing it of supporting “terrorism”.
Qatar vehemently denies all allegations. Read more
George Bizos: Anti-apartheid lawyer who defended Mandela dies aged 92 (BBC)
Top South African human rights lawyer George Bizos, who famously defended Nelson Mandela, has died aged 92.
After representing some of the country’s best known political activists during the apartheid years, Mr Bizos became one of the architects of South Africa’s new constitution.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his death, saying Mr Bizos had “contributed immensely to our democracy”.
His family said he “died peacefully at home of natural causes”.
Leading tributes on Wednesday, President Ramaphosa described Mr Bizos as an “incisive legal mind”, and said his death was “very sad for us as a country”.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation said “another giant of South African history and of global struggles for justice has fallen.” Read more
New fire extinguished on oil tanker off Sri Lanka’s coast (Aljazeera)
A new fire on the large oil tanker drifting off Sri Lanka’s coast was extinguished on Wednesday after burning for two days as experts prepared to salvage the vessel.
A new blaze broke out on the MT New Diamond on Monday. Officials have warned of enormous environmental damage to Sri Lanka’s coast if the ship, which was carrying nearly two million barrels of crude oil, leaks or explodes.
“The fire has now been brought under control and the ship is being towed by a tugboat out to sea,” said Sri Lanka navy spokesperson Indika de Silva.
“There are no flames or smoke to be noticed as of now,” he said, adding that a navy team will join firefighting experts from India’s coastguard and specialists sent by the ship’s owner to assess the situation. Read more
Kirstie Alley claims new Oscars diversity rules are a ‘disgrace to artists everywhere’ (Metro)
Actress Kirstie Alley has shared her feelings about the Oscars new diversity rules for the best picture award.
The Cheers star was clearly unimpressed by the announcement made by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences about the new representation and inclusion standards for award eligibility.
Kirstie, 69, took to Twitter on Tuesday and wrote: ‘This is a disgrace to artists everywhere…can you imagine telling Picasso what had to be in his f**king paintings. ‘You people have lost your minds. Control artists, control individual thought .. OSCAR ORWELL.’
The star’s post was meant with both criticism and support as the world reacted to the Oscars new rules. Read more
‘Osimhen rejected Man United to avoid competing with Ighalo’ (Guardian)
Victor Osimhen turned down a potential move to Manchester United before joining Napoli for £54 million, his brother has revealed.
The 21-year-old moved to the Italian club from Lille in a big-money deal earlier this summer, but Andrew Osimhen has explained that United was also in for him. But the fact that fellow Nigerian Odion Ighalo already played at Old Trafford meant Victor did not contemplate the move out of respect.
“It is very true that Manchester United wanted Victor but he told me something like he had too much respect for Odion Ighalo to be competing for shirts with his senior colleague,’ Andrew told completesports.com. Read more
Abducted ex-Nigeria scrabble captain Sodje found dead (Punch)
Former captain of Nigeria scrabble national team, Paul Sodje, has died after he was abducted by suspected herdsmen.
Chairman of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Publicity Committee, Akintunde Akinsemola, told our correspondent that Sodje’s body was found inside the bush in Idoani, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, September 1.
Sodje was said to have taken ransom money to the kidnappers, who had abducted his brother, Chris, four days earlier.
“Chris was going for his uncle’s funeral in Okwagbe, Delta State on August 28, when he was kidnapped at Ifon, Ondo State. The Fulani men demanded N100m but later reduced it to N1m. His wife Flora and friends rallied round to raise the ransom. Read more
Visa partners Drogba on ‘Where You Shop Matters’ (Thisday)
Visa Inc. has unveiled a partnership with former footballer, Didier Drogba for its ‘Where You Shop Matters’ initiative, that is championing and supporting small businesses (SMBs) around the world while encouraging people to shop local.
As the Official Payment Services Partner for Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021, Visa and Drogba would continue to partner to inspire and ignite excitement around one of the world’s most watched football tournaments, taking place in Cameroon in January 2022.
“Having lived and played in countries around the world, I have seen the important role that small businesses and entrepreneurs play in supporting communities everywhere,” Drogba said. Read more
US Open 2020: Serena Williams overcomes Tsvetana Pironkova to reach semi-finals (BBC)
Serena Williams kept alive her hopes of a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 win over Tsvetana Pironkova in the US Open quarter-finals.
The American six-time champion, 38, struggled early on with the variety of shots from the unranked player who was in her first tournament in three years.
The Bulgarian, 32, broke in the fifth game en route to taking the first set.
Pironkova tired as Williams took the second and broke twice in the third.
Whenever you can birth a baby, honestly you can do anything
The veteran will now play former world number one Victoria Azarenka, whom she beat in the 2012 and 2013 US Open finals. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer talks up ‘special’ Manchester United teenager Teden Mengi (Metro)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has talked up Manchester United’s ‘special’ youngster Teden Mengi, but is waiting for the right moment to give him his first real opportunity.
The 18-year-old centre-back enjoyed an impressive season for the Under-23s last term, which culminated in his first-team debut as a late substitute in the 2-1 win over LASK in August.
Solskjaer has made his intent to use the academy products at his disposal clear, integrating both Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood into the senior squad to great effect last season. Read more
US Open 2020: Daniil Medvedev beats Andrey Rublev to reach semi-finals (BBC)
Last year’s US Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev saw off fellow Russian Andrey Rublev in straight sets to reach the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.
The third seed won 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 7-6 (7-5) to set up a meeting with second seed Dominic Thiem or Alex de Minaur.
Medvedev, who was beaten by Rafael Nadal in the 2019 final, was dominant on Arthur Ashe Stadium despite needing a medical timeout in the final set.
It means the 24-year-old is yet to drop a set in New York this year. Read more