Lagos cabinet members fully equipped to deliver, says Omotoso (Nation)
Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso has assured Lagosians that members of the executive council have been fully equipped to deliver on the promises of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Omotoso gave the assurance while addressing correspondents in the company of some of his colleagues and the Head of Service (HoS) Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola on the outcome of a 4-day retreat organised for the exco members and permanent secretaries at Eko Hotel and Suite, Victoria Island, Lagos. He said the retreat has prepared them fully for the tasks ahead, promising that Lagosians will see a lot of actions from the government. Read more
N13m: We don’t sponsor thugs, APC counters Wadume, says he’s PDP member (Punch)
The All Progressives Congress has disowned the kidnap suspect, Hamisu Wadume, saying he got no N13m from the party. Wadume had claimed in media reports that he got N13m from the APC for campaign fund during the general election but spent only N7m. But the ruling party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, on Saturday challenged him to name his sponsor, saying it would never allocate money to kidnappers and murderers. Read more
Shehu Sani denies coordinating rumoured Tinubu presidential campaign (Guardian)
Former Nigerian lawmaker Senator Shehu Sani Saturday denied coordinating the purported 2023 presidential campaign for Bola Tinubu in the Northern part of Nigeria. “Disregard the fake stories planted in some obscure online outfits that I’m appointed to coordinate the Presidential campaign of The Asiwaju in the North West,” Sani said in a Facebook post. “I don’t coordinate anything for him or anyone.” Read more
Don’t believe everything on social media, Soyinka cautions (Punch)
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has again cautioned Nigerians not to believe everything they read on the social media but rather take such online publications “with a pinch of salt.” Soyinka gave the warning on Saturday in Badagry at the unveiling of an art gallery in commemoration of his 85th birthday. “Be very, very careful what you believe even when you read such materials in social media or sometimes in newspapers because in this country, we have a most fertile multiplier effect. Read more
We will deliver on Buhari’s mandate, says Minister (Nation)
Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs Ramatu Aliyu, has assured Nigerians that she will work cordially with her counterpart, the FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Bello on the prompt delivery of the mandate given to them by President Muhammadu Buhari. She said this during her speech at a dinner organised in her honour by friends and women of worth, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. Read more
NAF to deploy additional fighter jets, helicopter gunships to North East (Guardian)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it is planning to deploy additional fighter jets and helicopter gunships to complement ground forces fighting insurgents and bandits in the North East and North West Zones. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said this during his operational visit to NAF 115 Special Operations Group in Port Harcourt on Saturday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abubakar was at the NAF base to witness the reactivation and air display of the EC135 attack helicopter which was damaged in 2016. Read more
Soldiers intercept Mine Resistant Military Vehicles in Adamawa (Punch)
No fewer than six Mine Resistant Military Vehicles were intercepted by joint security operatives in Konkol, a borderline village in Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State, between Nigeria and Cameroon. It is not clear whether the vehicles were exiting or coming into the country. The identity of those manning the military hardware is yet to be ascertained. Read more
NYSC to punish corps members on unapproved journeys (Nation)
The National Youth Service Scheme, NYSC has vowed to invoke relevant extant laws of the scheme and punish truant corps members who embarked on any unapproved journeys especially between local Government areas and interstates The Katsina State Coordinator of the Scheme, Alhaji Ahidjo Yahaya who made the declaration at the katsina orientation camp, during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2019 batch B stream 2 orientation program for corps members deployed to the state, said the rules and regulation guiding the activities of the scheme have been there since 1973, including such provisions that might lead to extending the services of erring members or remobilizing them. Read more
Aregbesola to correctional officers: focus on reformation of inmates (Nation)
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has urged officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), to always focus on the reformation of inmates. Aregbesola gave the advice in Abuja when he visited the headquarters of the NCS. He said all hands should be on deck to ensure that inmates are better citizens when they leave the walls of the correctional facilities. Read more
Clashes: Wike promises to beef up security in Ogoni communities (Punch)
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that the State Security Council will deploy more security personnel to troubled Ogoni communities with a view to restoring peace. Wike, who spoke on Saturday when he led the State Security Service Commanders to Kono-Boue and Kereken-Boue Towns in Khana Local Government Area, said that the security agencies had been mobilised to go after the cultists operating in parts of Ogoniland. Read more
Ogun to demolish houses harbouring kidnappers (Nation)
Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun, again warned that houses harbouring kidnappers or being used by kidnappers to perpetrate acts of kidnapping would be pulled down and their certificates of occupancy revoked. Abiodun who issued the warning at the inauguration of reinvigorated Ogun State Security Trust Fund, assured that with the launch of the fund, the full security architecture for internal safety of lives and property has been fully emplaced. Read more
Enugu govt to carry out autopsy on slain pregnant woman (Punch)
The Enugu State Government has directed that an autopsy be carried out on the remains of a pregnant woman, Mrs Regina Mba, who was killed by unknown assailants on Thursday. Mba, a native of Nchatancha Nike community in Enugu East Local Government Area of the state, was killed while returning from farm. A statement on Saturday by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, said that the autopsy would assist security agencies in their ongoing investigation. Read more
Tanzanian journalist regains freedom after ‘false’ news arrest (Punch)
A Tanzanian journalist arrested for “publishing false information” after broadcasting a story about police brutality was released on Saturday, his lawyer said. Joseph Gandye, who works for local station Watetezi TV, was arrested in the financial capital Dar es Salaam on Thursday after airing a story on August 9 about police in the central city of Iringa forcing six young detainees to sodomise each other. “He has just been released on bail by the police in Iringa,” his lawyer Jones Sendodo told AFP. Read more
South Africa seizes Air Tanzania plane in Johannesburg (BBC)
South African authorities have seized a plane from Tanzania’s national carrier, the Tanzanian government said. The Airbus 220-300 was due to fly from Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday to Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam. It was not immediately clear why the action was taken, and South African authorities have not commented. Read more
Fresh fighting breaks out in northeastern DR Congo (Punch)
Fighting has erupted again in the northeastern Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the army said on Saturday. The Congolese army said it lost three soldiers and killed 20 militiamen in the unrest overnight Friday to Saturday in the Djugu area. Authorities say at least 160 civilians died in Ituri in June in clashes between militias. Read more
Amazon fires: Fines for environmental crimes drop under Bolsonaro (BBC)
The record number of fires in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has coincided with a sharp drop in fines for environmental violations, BBC analysis has found. Official data from Brazil’s environment agency shows fines from January to 23 August dropped almost a third compared with the same period last year. At the same time, the number of fires burning in Brazil has increased by 84%. Read more
French police fire tear gas at anti-G7 protesters near summit (Punch)
French police used tear gas and water cannon to break up anti-G7 protesters in the southern city of Bayonne on Saturday, as leaders from the world’s leading industrialised nations arrived for their summit just a few kilometres away in Biarritz. Since Monday, anti-capitalist activists, environmentalists and other anti-globalisation groups have been flocking to a counter-summit in southwestern France that organisers insisted would be peaceful. More than 9,000 anti-G7 protesters took part in the largest protest on Saturday — a mass march over a bridge linking France and Spain that took place without incident. Read more
Four teenage girls arrested after group of boys stabbed at fireworks display (Metro)
Four teenage girls have been arrested after three boys were stabbed at a fireworks display in Bournemouth last night. The attack happened after thousands of people had gathered in Lower Garden to watch the spectacle. Three boys, 17, from Saudi Arabia were rushed to hospital after they suffered stab wounds, along with a boy, 17, from Bournemouth who sustained a cut to his head. Read more
Bangladesh ‘to be tougher’ on Rohingya refugees (BBC)
Bangladesh has said it will harden its stance towards Rohingya refugees currently in the country. Hundreds of thousands of people, mainly Muslims, are living in refugee camps after fleeing violent persecution in neighbouring Myanmar. Foreign Minister Abdul Momen told the BBC that Bangladesh was unable to keep bearing the economic burden but did not say exactly how policy would change. Read more
Man, 60s, stabbed to death in west London (Metro)
A murder investigation has been launched after a man was stabbed to death in west London. Police were called to St. Mary’s Avenue in Southall at 6.41pm on Saturday, following reports of a man being stabbed. When officers and emergency services arrived at the scene they found a man, in his 60s, suffering with a stab wound. Read more
Tom Holland vows to make Spider-Man ‘even cooler’ as he breaks silence over Sony and Marvel feud (Metro)
Tom Holland has addressed the Spider-Man feud between Sony and Marvel for the first time, during an appearance at the D23 Expo. It was reported the superhero – played by the 23-year-old – would be leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe, after the two studios were unable to come to an agreement over money. And, after fans threatened to boycott Sony, and launched petitions attempting to change the news, Tom has broken his silence over the drama. Read more
Salah and Matip on scoresheet for Liverpool (BBC)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says his side “do not need to excite everyone in every second” after a comfortable victory over Arsenal maintained their place at the top of the Premier League. The Reds also preserved their 100% start to the Premier League season as Mohamed Salah scored twice to add to Joel Matip’s first-half header in a dominant performance at Anfield. “It was a performance full of power, energy, greed and passion, which I think you need against a team like Arsenal.” Klopp told Sky Sports. Read more
Unai Emery reacts to Liverpool defeat and names two areas Arsenal must improve (Metro)
Unai Emery says Arsenal’s performance against Liverpool gave him reasons to be optimistic despite losing 3-1, though feels there were two key areas where his side were second best. The Gunners’ 100% start to the season ended at Anfield on Saturday evening as a header from Joel Matip and a brace from Mohamed Salah – one from the spot and the other a brilliant move and finish – put the home side three goals ahead. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts to Paul Pogba’s mistake in Crystal Palace’s winner against Manchester United (Metro)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has defended Paul Pogba after he lost the ball in the build-up to Crystal Palace’s injury-time winner against Manchester United. United fell behind in the first half at Old Trafford following Jordan Ayew’s goal against the run of play but after Marcus Rashford missed a penalty in the second half, Daniel James scored an equaliser in the 89th minute. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer responds to Manchester United fans over Jesse Lingard criticism (Metro)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has defended Jesse Lingard after the midfielder received criticism from Manchester United supporters over his performances this season. Lingard has started in all three of United’s Premier League games so far but has struggled to make an impact. United suffered their first defeat of the campaign on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace. Read more
David Luiz says Mohamed Salah didn’t feel shirt pull and bemoans penalty decision (Metro)
David Luiz has criticised the decision to award Liverpool a second-half penalty in Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat at Anfield and says Mohamed Salah told him he didn’t even feel the shirt pull. The Brazilian centre-back, a deadline day arrival from Chelsea for £8million, tugged Salah back inside the box at the start of the second half and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Salah made no mistake from 12 yards – and later bamboozled Luiz again to score his second goal – but the Arsenal defender felt there was not sufficient contact to award a penalty and claims Salah agreed. Read more
Bale and James start but Madrid held by Valladolid (Guardian)
Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez started together for the first time in over two years on Saturday but Real Madrid were denied victory after a late equaliser by Real Valladolid. Bale and James both looked certain to leave Madrid this summer but each were included by Zinedine Zidane in a line-up that was without a single new signing for the second game in a row. Read more
Unai Emery admits Nacho Monreal could leave Arsenal after Real Sociedad make late move (Metro)
Unai Emery has confirmed that Nacho Monreal could leave Arsenal before the end of the month after Real Sociedad made a late move to bring him back to Spain. Reports emerged over the weekend that the 33-year-old has agreed a two-year contract, with the option for a third, with Sociedad, with the Spanish club currently in talks with Arsenal over the transfer. Monreal was picked to start at Anfield in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool despite the speculation surrounding his future, though Emery has conceded he could be allowed to leave. Read more
Ronaldo goal ruled out in Juve win (BBC)
Cristiano Ronaldo had a goal ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee as Juventus started their season with a slender win over Parma. Captain Giorgio Chiellini scored the Serie A champions’ goal, poking in from close range after Alex Sandro mis-hit a shot from a corner. Ronaldo looked to have doubled his side’s lead but his head was judged to have been narrowly offside by VAR. Read more
Lewandowski nets hat-trick as Bayern beat Schalke (BBC)
Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick as Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich collected their first victory of the season by comfortably beating Schalke. Niko Kovac’s side responded in style after starting the season with a 2-2 draw against Hertha Berlin. Polish striker Lewandowski netted the opener from the penalty spot, before adding two more in the second half for his ninth league hat-trick. Read more
EFL warns Bolton could face league expulsion over takeover delay (BBC)
Bolton Wanderers have been set a deadline of 17:00 BST on Tuesday to complete the club’s sale or provide “credible plans” they can complete this season, or else face expulsion from the English Football League. The League One club have been in administration since May. They are the subject of a takeover bid by Football Ventures but the EFL are “concerned” by ongoing delays. “The current situation cannot continue,” the EFL said in a statement. Read more
Australia end United States’ 78-game basketball winning streak (BBC)
The United States suffered their first loss in 13 years in a shock defeat by Australia in a World Cup warm-up in Melbourne on Saturday. The Boomers won 98-94 to end the American’s 78-game winning streak in front of 52,079 fans – a record crowd for the sport at Docklands Stadium. “Obviously, this was a great step for us,” Australia guard Joe Ingles said. The win also gave the Australians their first win over the Americans after 26 attempts dating back to 1964. Read more
Kovalev stops Briton Yarde in thriller (BBC)
Sergey Kovalev survived an eighth-round scare to knock out Britain’s Anthony Yarde and defend his WBO world light-heavyweight title in a thrilling fight. Russia’s Kovalev, 36, dominated early on in his home city of Chelyabinsk but was close to being beaten in the eighth round when under a sustained attack. Yarde looked on the brink of glory but the champion’s know-how shone through. Read more