Lagos CAN honours leaders, holds carol service (Nation)
The Lagos chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has celebrated leaders whose contributions were described as exemplary.
The award ceremony also coincided with the carol service of the body.
Among the honourees were deceased leaders whose families received the awards on their behalf.
Chairman Lagos CAN, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, said: “The essence of the event primarily is to thank the Lord for His goodness to all the Christians. Read more
Lagos, developers to deliver 8,200 hostel accommodation for LASU (Guardian)
Lagos State Government has signed a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement with six private property developers to deliver 8,272 units of hostel for Lagos State University (LASU) in the next 18 months.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu officially approved the BOT agreement at a short ceremony held at Lagos House, Marina on Friday evening. The deal, which will lead to the construction of six blocks of Hall of Residence, was wrapped under the state Public-Private Partnership (PPP) policy. The concessions will run for 35 years.
When the private developers deliver the projects in 2021, it is expected that 30 per cent of the school’s 26,000 student-population will be served; thereby reducing the pressure resulting from oversubscription of privately owned off-campus residences. Read more
Power situation in distress, calls for emergency – Stakeholders (Guardian)
With the despondent state of the Nigerian electricity market, stakeholders in the power sector may have found themselves in a cul-de-sac as the current administration appear clueless in the face of persistent grid collapse, poor coordination and looming strike action by electricity workers.
While the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) is currently looking at resumption of its suspended one-day nationwide strike should government fail to quickly implement its demands, electricity consumers, who spoke to The Guardian insisted that power situation was getting from bad to worse.
Experts in the sector, who also expressed displeasure over the Federal Government’s inability to take any meaningful step five years after coming on board, called for a state of emergency, which would make for strategic coordination as the government and private sector players have been engrossed in blame trading. Read more
2020: Anxiety over FG’s threat to block accounts without TIN (NewTelegraph)
There is palpable fear across the social and economic strata of Nigeria as the countdown to the January 2 date set by the Federal Government for all Nigerians to ensure their bank accounts have their Tax Identification Number (TIN) or risk being blocked. Most Nigeria spoken to on the preparedness for the commencement of the policy in less than two weeks’ time, described the policy as draconian, urging government to look for other ways to ensure people pay their taxes.
Many said that they are not even aware that their accounts will be blocked by January 2 if it does not have their TIN numbers. Speaking, Mr. Chinazo Ibeneche, a spare parts trader at Ladipo Market Lagos, said: “I pay my tax, I have my TIN but what of my old mother and father in the village? Read more
Lagos committed to youth development, says Gov Sanwo-Olu (Nation)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated his commitment to youth development and inclusion in the state.
He made this charge during the maiden convocation of Mountain Top University, Ogun State, on Friday.
In his lecture entitled : “The future of job and the world of work: The need for graduates that are globally competitive,” noted that Lagos State truly cherishes the potential of the youth in the state and is committed to support them fully. Read more
Seven days, five venues, 35 concerts, Greater Lagos Extravaganza will be unforgettable –Sanwo-Olu (Nation)
To celebrate the yuletide and usher in a new decade, the Lagos State government has planned a week-long celebration.
Tagged Greater Lagos Extravaganza, the festivities which starts on December 25, and extends to December 31 into 2020, holds simultaneously in different venues across Lagos.
The festival would feature 35 free concerts in five IBILE regions of the state – Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Mainland and Epe. Read more
ECOWAS needs enduring security partnership to defeat terrorism – Buhari (DailyTrust)
President Muhammadu Buhari says recurring attacks by terrorist groups have underscored the need to build an enduring security partnership to confront and defeat cross-border insurgency.
President Buhari made the remarks yesterday in Abuja at the 56th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority Heads of State and Government.
He stressed that terrorism remained the major threat to the peace and progress of the region. Read more
APC crisis: How lack of consensus stalled Oshiomhole’s removal (NewTelegraph)
The inability of the “Oshiomhole must go” governors to have consensus has stalled the removal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from office.
There has been a running battle among the chieftains of the APC on how to remove the National Chairman. While some governors and party leaders believe that the party’s National Chairman should resign, other governors and some state party chairmen are of the opinion that he has done nothing wrong to warrant his resignation.
According to the Chairman of the Forum of the APC State Chairmen, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, 25-state APC Chairmen are behind the party’s National Chairman. For him, and his members, Oshiomhole has not committed any offense that would warrant his removal. Read more
Policeman kills colleague, commits suicide in Abuja (DailyTrust)
A police inspector attached to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command yesterday shot a corporal and injured a deputy superintendent. The inspector, who was yet to be identified, committed suicide after he shot dead his counterpart in Dutsen Alhaji area of Bwari Area Council.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma said the incident happened at about 4:30am in the area. Read more
Danger looms over outbreak of deadly cattle, sheep disease (NewTelegraph)
With the Christmas three days away, there is palpable fear in the land over the outbreak of the deadly Charcoal Anthrax disease in sheep and cattle in neighbouring Niger Republic. This is as experts say over 40 per cent of the sheep and cattle eaten in the country are from the Niger, Nigeria’s next door neighbour in the north, adding that there is free movement of animals across Nigeria’s international frontiers in that area.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and the Nigeria Customs Service had in their respective alerts to their officers on the outbreak of the deadly anthrax disease urged them to exercise vigilance on the movement of the animals from Niger Republic into the country.
The Nigeria Customs Service in circular to its officers across the country, signed by the Controller Enforcement, Comptroller Victor Dimka on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller- General in-charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection said: “The headquarters received a report which reveals that the Nigerien Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock had notified the World Organisation for Animal Health of an outbreak of Charcoal Anthrax disease, Bacterium Bacillus Anthracis variant, in sheep and cattle in the country.” Read more
ECOWAS countries now spend more on security than development – AfDB (DailyTrust)
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has said security expenditures are rapidly displacing development expenditures in the ECOWAS sub-region because of increased levels of insecurity. Dr Adeshina, who spoke at the 56th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority Heads of State and Government, said he was already discussing with International Monetary Fund (IMF) on how they could come up with new financing instruments to address the exogenous security-related shocks.
He said while opportunities abound in the region, growth and future prosperity were under multiple threats because of a number of countries especially Niger, Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Nigeria now spend a high share of their public budgets on security expenditures. Read more
Mbappe double keeps leaders PSG’s cushion over Marseille (Guardian)
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain maintained their seven-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 with a 4-1 victory over Amiens on Saturday.
World Cup winner Mbappe, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Friday, netted either side of Neymar’s effort before Mauro Icardi added a late fourth at the Parc de Princes.
Steven Mendoza claimed a consolation effort for the visitors who dropped into the relegation zone. Read more
2019 Jos Winter Polo tourney gallops off festivities (DailyTrust)
Jos based teams locked in a fierce local derby contest for top honours during the 2018 winter polo tournament last December. Polo enthusiasts in Lagos and its environs will be treated to eight days of top-notch experience as the 2019 Jos Winter Polo tournament gallops off at the popular General Hassan Polo ground with over twenty teams vying for honours in major titles. The glamorous festival holds from December 26 to January 2, 2020. Three glittering major cups categories, Governor Cup, NASCO Cup and President Cup would have participating teams locked down in a weeklong battles royals to decide the proud champions of the winter polo festival. Read more
From Lagos’ streets to Champions League: I’m work in progress – David Okereke (Nation)
Nigeria and Club Brugge exciting striker David Okereke is not carried away by his achievement this season. The 22-year-old has scored 10 times and played in most of his club’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) matches in Europe.
You would think helping the Belgian top flight club to a modest third place in the CL Group stage behind Paris St Germaine and Real Madrid would propel him to Cloud Nine, not the Lagos-born quick silver, who has pronounced that he’s ‘a work in progress’.
Hear him: “Playing in the Champions League is a dream come true for me. Though you know in life you don’t have to rest in one position. You still need to keep on working because I’m still young and I still have a lot of games to play, so every game for me is an opportunity to learn.” Read more
Firmino fires Liverpool to FIFA World Club cup glory (DailyTrust)
Firmino fires Liverpool to FIFA World Club cup glory Liverpool became world champions for the first time as Roberto Firmino struck in extra time to hand Liverpool a first Fifa Club World Cup triumph. Jurgen Klopp’s side ended the resistance of Brazilian champions Flamengo in Doha in a 1-0 victory. Firmino, who scored a dramatic injury-time winner against Monterrey to send Liverpool into the final, produced a composed finish in the 99th minute as the Reds became the second English side to win the tournament, after Manchester United in 2008. Read more
I’m not on break, ready to return to football – Pochettino (NewTelegraph)
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino says he is ready to return to management quickly, showing no interest in an extended break from the game.
The Argentine had led Spurs to the UEFA Champions League final last season and remains one of the most sought-after coaches in the game. But he was sacked by the north London club last month and replaced by Jose Mourinho. Yet, while talking in an interview of his “love” for Tottenham, he did not rule out a return to Spurs at some stage in his career.
The Argentine, in his first comments to journalists since his exit from Spurs, also said there was no club he would not talk to – even Arsenal. Pochettino said that after spending time with his parents and family in Argentina he is now getting prepared for whatever his next challenge will be, reports Reuters. Read more
Trailblazers: Nigeria cricket teen terrors set for global challenge (Nation)
They are trailblazers in their own right and indeed first among peers as Nigeria U-19 cricket national team made history to qualify for the World Cup. For the first time, the country’s flag will be hoisted the first time at the 2020 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup come January, reports Sport Editor MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.
The 2020 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup is an international limited-overs cricket tournament scheduled to be held in South Africa between 17th January and 9th February 2020. It will be the thirteenth edition of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, and the second to be held in South Africa. Sixteen teams will be taking part in the tournament; split into four groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super League, with the bottom two teams in each group progressing to the Plate League.
Hitherto, Nigeria Under-19 cricket team, otherwise known as the Junior Yellow-Greens, took part in the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup qualification ICC Africa Division One tournament, held in Namibia. Read more
EPL: Iwobi suffers hamstring injury against Arsenal (NewTelegraph)
Alex Iwobi has suffered a hamstring injury in Everton’s home game against Arsenal on Saturday. The 23-year-old, who was making his 16th Premier League appearance of the season, was replaced by Cenk Tosun in the 11th minute. Iwobi felt some discomfort around his hamstring which meant he could not continue to play at Goodison Park.
He was cheered by the Gunners fans as he hobbled off the pitch for further treatment. Everton will be hoping the injury does not keep the Super Eagles midfielder out of action for a substantial period as they are just three points away from the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Everton and Arsenal played out a drab goalless draw at Goodison Park as respective new bosses Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta watched from the stands. Read more
Nadal aims to carry momentum into 2020 (DailyTrust)
Rafael Nadal has a shorter than usual offseason this year but he believes he can work it to his advantage as he looks to carry his Davis Cup-winning form into 2020. The world No 1 led Spain to the Davis Cup title just over three weeks ago then went on a short break before beginning his preparations for the new season.
On Friday, Nadal picked up right where he left off as he surprised himself by putting together a devastating 6-1, 6-3 performance against Russian world No 17 Karen Khachanov in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi. Read more
Struggling Fiorentina sack manager, Montella (NewTelegraph)
Fiorentina announced on Saturday that they had fired coach Vincenzo Montella with the club struggling in 14th in Serie A.
“Vincenzo Montella has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the first team,” the club announced on its web site. “The decision was taken following a long and detailed analysis of the team’s performances and results.”
“Given the need to rediscover the necessary grit and determination on the pitch and produce an immediate turnaround, the owners and management decided that a change of coach was the best option,” the club continued. Read more
Eagles stars axed from World’s Best 100 (Nation)
No Nigerian player is listed in the 100 Best Football Players in the World after the influential soccer magazine Four-Four-Two revealed the identities of stars for the 2019 edition.
The annual ritual is usually an endorsement and embodiment of the best players in the world as the magazine listed the likes of Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Neymar, Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool) amongst others on the list.
In fact, Messi who recently won a record sixth Ballon d’Or, was listed in the number one position with the magazine saying: “Barcelona’s wizard continues to dazzle and delight, producing another calendar year of extraordinary consistency in front of goal and almost single-handedly carrying the Catalan club at times. He thought he’d achieved the best possible recognition when he was handed a record sixth Ballon d’Or earlier this month. That was until he topped the FFT100 (OK, fine). Again. The greatest, bar none.” Read more