Lagos Assembly laments rift at Lagos Polytechnic (Leadership)
The Majority Leader of Lagos State House of Assembly Hon. Sanai Agunbiade on Tuesday stated that the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) had been embroiled in crisis which had paralyzed academic activities.
Speaking during plenary at the State House of Assembly said, “I wish to present to this House the crisis in the only polytechnic in the state which is within my constituency.’’ Read more
Lagos tackles gridlock with layby, slip road (Nation)
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has unveiled the newly-constructed layby at Allen roundabout and Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja.
He pledged to explore ways of easing movements on the roads.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Transportation ‘Ladi Lawanson, said yesterday that the layby and slip road with bus shelter were constructed to decongest traffic occasioned by the loading and offloading of passengers, especially during peak hours. Read more
Emotions as activists, others celebrate Leah Sharibu’s 16th birthday (Nation)
There was an outpouring of emotions yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, when a coalition of Christian groups gathered at the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) to celebrate the 16th birthday of Leah Sharibu, a schoolgirl being held captive by Boko Haram insurgents since February 2015.
The birthday ceremony at the headquarters ECWA in Jos was characterised by prayers for Leah, her parents and churches across the country as well as special prayers for God’s intervention in Nigeria’s security situation. Read more
9th National Assembly: 469 members to receive N4.68bn welcome package (Punch)
Four hundred and sixty-nine lawmakers who were elected on the platform of various political parties in the February 23 National Assembly elections and the subsequent supplementary election will get N4.68bn as welcome package immediately after their inauguration in June, The PUNCH investigation has shown.
The package is to help the lawmakers sort out accommodation and furniture issues.
According to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, accommodation and furniture allowances are two of the irregular entitlements of lawmakers and other political office holders. Read more
I raped my neighbour’s daughter only three times, says suspect (Punch)
A 40-year-old labourer, Sani Ibrahim, was on Tuesday, remanded in the Katsina Prison for allegedly raping his neighbour’s seven-year-old daughter.
Ibrahim, who will be in prison custody till June 26, 2019, is facing a rape charge under Section 283 of the Penal Code.
The police told the court that the victim’s father, Hamisu Lawali, reported the incident at the Bindawa Police Station on May 9, less than two hours after Ibrahim was allegedly caught in the act. Read more
June 12: Tinubu seeks urgent legislative action (Nation)
All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday urged the National Assembly to be on the same page with the Presidency in ensuring a constitutional amendment for the establishment of June 12 as the National Democracy Day.
He was commending President Muhammadu Buhari for taking what he called an important step towards full recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day. Read more
FG abolishes degree/HND dichotomy in civil defence, immigration, others (DailyTrust)
The Federal Government has abolished the dichotomy between holders of Bachelor’s degree and those with Higher National Diploma (HND) in all the services under the ministry of interior.
The agencies affected are the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Prisons Service and Federal Fire Service. Read more
NNPC saves $1.6bn from arbitration with Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept (Independent)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has recorded a $1.6bn savings from the arbitration between its flagship Upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), and the Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Nigeria Limited.
Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, made this disclosure during his conferment with an Honorary Fellowship Award by the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Professionals of Nigeria (CIFIPN) at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Tuesday. Read more
Nigeria escapes IMO delisting of 87 countries (Guardian)
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), plans to delist about 87 countries for non-compliance with requirements of the 1978 Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention as amended from its Whitelist.
As nations express worry over the new development, The Guardian gathered that Nigeria escaped the IMO hammer, and has maintained its position on the Whitelist, an indication that it is a healthy member of the United Nation (UN) agency. Read more
NFIU’s CEO lauds FIRS’ tax reforms (ThisDay)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Modibbo Hamman Tukur, has credited the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) with revolutionising tax administration in the country. Tukur made his view known during a courtesy visit to the FIRS Chairman, Mr. Tunde Fowler, in Abuja, at the weekend.
According to Tukur, FIRS’ contribution to the country’s revenue through tax is almost at par with oil revenue, adding that Fowler’s exploits, in addition to what he inherited, are revolutionary. Read more
Reggae awards score trifecta on return to homeland (CaribbeanLife)
Jamaicans at home had at least three reasons to revel to reggae music last weekend when significant and historic events coincided for a celebration of the beat that was birthe on the island.
On May 11, the 38th anniversary date since Robert Nesta Marley made his transition, the International Reggae and World Music Awards, IRAWMA returned to the island for the fourth time since it was established and also memorialized the avowed king by celebrating its 37th anniversary in the capital city of Kingston. Read more
Cannes has plenty of titles for sale, but fewer of the ones that buyers want (Indiwire)
The Cannes Film Festival competition began today with the premiere of Jim Jarmusch’s The Dead Don’t Die, but top North American distributors can’t afford to be distracted.
They serve a market in which only the most carefully calibrated selections will thrive — and those who hesitate will almost certainly lose to the streaming buyers. With some of the best stuff already bought, theatrical distributors are forced to look toward films that have yet to be shot.
Before the festival, HBO Sports scooped up Diego Maradona, British documentarian Asif Kapadia’s follow-up to Oscar-winning Cannes hit Amy. Read more
Game of Thrones Showrunners to Helm Next Star Wars Film (Space)
Disney Chairman Bob Iger has confirmed that the first of the recently announced post-Skywalker Saga Star Wars films will be created by Game of Thrones showrunners Dan Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
“We did a deal with David Benioff and D.B Weiss, who are famous for Game of Thrones, and the next movie that we release will be theirs,” Iger said at a media summit (via i09). “And we’re not saying anything more about that.” Read more
Ecuador honours Valencia for his decade at Man United (Guardian)
Ecuador President Lenin Moreno presented Manchester United stalwart Antonio Valencia with the prestigious National Order of Merit medal in recognition of his decade playing for the Premier League giants.
“I’ve ended a wonderful period in Manchester, but now there’s a difficult match ahead and I hope to play well, which is being a good father, and this is a commitment to my country’s children and youth,” said Valencia, who bowed out of Old Trafford on Sunday following 25 goals in 339 appearances since joining from Wigan Athletic in 2009. Read more
Serena Williams withdraws from Italian Open due to knee injury (SI)
Tournament organizers made the announcement on Tuesday, a day after Serena opened her clay-court season with a straight-sets win over Swedish qualifier Rebecca Peterson. Read more
Mikel confirms Super Eagles return for 2019 AFCON (DailyTrust)
John Obi Mikel Captain John Obi Mikel has confirmed that he will return to the Super Eagles fold for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Mikel’s last game for Nigeria was against Argentina at the 2018 Fifa World Cup and he is yet to feature for the country since their group stage exit in Russia. Read more
Manchester City could face a Uefa ban from Champions League for a season (BBC)
Uefa investigators want Manchester City to be banned from the Champions League for a season if they are found guilty of breaking financial rules.
However, according to one well-placed source, a final decision is yet to be made by chief investigator Yves Leterme.
The former Belgian prime minister, chairman of the investigatory panel of Uefa’s independent financial control board, is set to make a recommendation this week. Read more
Boxing news: Dominic Breazeale gunning for Anthony Joshua rematch (Mirror)
Dominic Breazeale claims he will dethrone Deontay Wilder to earn another shot at Anthony Joshua.
Breazeale challenges unbeaten fellow American Wilder for his WBC heavyweight belt at the Barclays Center in New York on Saturday.
The 33-year-old suffered his only pro loss when Joshua stopped him in the seventh round three yeears ago, and knows victory this weekend would go a long way to landing him a huge unification rematch with Britain’s undefeated WBA Super, IBF and WBO king. Read more