Lagos commission verifies clubs, bars for reopening (Guardian)
The Lagos State Safety Commission has commenced physical verification of all social clubs in the state ahead of the planned reopening. The exercise was led by the Director-General (DG) of the safety commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, who paid an assessment visist to Ikoyi Club, Lagos Motor Boat Club, Lagos Polo Club, Ikeja Country Club, Ikeja Golf Club, and Lagos Jetski Club, among others.
The director commended the level of compliance and readiness to reopen some of these clubs and admonished them on the need to maintain social and physical distancing with proper hygiene across the facilities. Read more
4 Americans, 2 Indians, 2 Poles, 1 Brazilian among 48 patients discharged in Lagos (Tribune)
Forty eight patients, including four Americans, two Indians, two Poles, one Brazilian, one Dutch were on Sunday discharged from various isolation centres after testing negative for coronavirus in Lagos State.
The state Ministry of Health, which disclosed this on Sunday night in its twitter handle, said the 10 foreigners and 38 Nigerians, 31 males and 17 females, were discharged to reunite with the society.
According to the ministry, one patient was discharged from Onikan, eight from Gbagada, 10 from Agidingbi, 14 from Lekki, four from Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital and 11 from Eti-Osa (LandMark) Isolation Centres were discharged after testing negative to #COVID19. Read more
Edo guber: How Obaseki lost APC power game (Sun)
The disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki and two other aspirants from participating in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for the September 19, 2020 Edo State governorship election, certainly did not come as a surprise to many political watchers.
To compound his woes, the Screening Appeal Panel has adopted the reports of the Screening Committee and the APC National Working Committee (NWC) had equally endorsed both reports, completely foreclosing any possibility of Governor Obaseki contesting the party primary for the September poll on the platform of the ruling party.
In reality, his disqualification confirmed the worst fears over his dangling fate with the party and ultimately climaxed the unending rivalry and supremacy battle between him and the party’s national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Read more
Reps Oppose Ban On SON, NAFDAC From All Ports, Borders (Leadership)
The House of Representatives has urged the executive arm of government to reconsider its decision restricting the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from all ports and borders as part of the strategy to effectively check influx of substandard goods into the country.
The agency has since November 2011 been withdrawn from all ports and borders on the order of the federal government.
The Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu Godwin (Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency) had in December 2019 introduced the matter and prayed the House to treat it as a matter of urgent national importance. Read more
Community leader tasks residents on COVID-19 compliance (Sun)
Traditional Prime Minister of Obosi community, Anambra State, Austin Anibogwu, has appealed to the people to join hands with COVID-19 community task force to fight against the virus.
Anibogwu made the appeal in Obosi yesterday during presentation of COVID-19 palliatives to women born in Mmakwu village, Obosi who are married to other parts of the community and beyond.
“Women are great mobilizers, please join hands with the government and leaders of the community to fight against community spread of the coronavirus by constant sensitisation of the people around you. Read more
Northern states at the mercy of armed gangs, says NEF (Leadership)
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed dismay at the rising insecurity in communities in the North, lamenting that Northern states are now at the mercy of armed gangs.
A statement issued by the forum and signed by the convener, Professor Ango Abdullahi, he averred that recent escalation of attacks by bandits, rustlers and insurgents left the people with the conclusion that the people of the North are now completely at the mercy of armed gangs who roam towns and villages at will; wrecking havoc.
The forum,therefore conclude that “It will appear that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and governors have lost control over the imperatives of protecting people of the North, a constitutional duty that they swore to uphold”. Read more
Revised 2020 budget still in trouble despite rising oil prices (Vanguard)
Oil price now 32% above benchmark; senators say no further adjustments
By Emeka Anaeto, Business Editor, Emma Ujah, Mike Eboh and Henry Umoru
Despite price recovery recorded last week in the international oil market, the Federal Government’s revised 2020 budget revenue stream would suffer significant pressures. This is because Nigeria will have to bear OPEC cut penalty of over 500,000 barrels per day (bpd), while production cost cutbacks has failed to materialise.
Consequently, the Finance Ministry and the National Assembly are not prepared for any further adjustment to the oil price benchmark as well as the revenue and expenditure estimates even with the rise in oil prices far above the current budget benchmark. Read more
Presidency denies missing N23b in SDGs office (Guardian)
Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) has denied allegations that there was disquiet in the office due to an alleged N23b traced to the personal account of a former staff member.
Describing the claims as false and mischievous, Head of Communication at OSSAP-SDGs, Janet Mcdickson, in a statement described the publication as reckless, saying they would have been wished away, but for the need to set the records straight and put an end to the allegations. Read more
COVID-19: Abuja shopping mall shut over Naira Marley’s concert (Sun)
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministerial Task Team on COVID-19 has sealed Jabi Lake Mall for violating the Presidential Task Force’s directives on the ban on public and social gatherings as well as the dusk to dawn curfew put in place to contain the spread of the pandemic.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Chairman of the Taskteam on COVID-19 Restrictions, Attah Ikharo, lamented that despite several warnings, the management of the mall opted for a concert which featured Naira Marley.
He said they also conducted business activities which exceeded the normal hours allowed by the authorities. Read more
Grenfell survivors and supporters unite online to mark fire’s third anniversary (Independent)
Grenfell survivors and supporters have joined together in a virtual memorial to mark the third anniversary of the disaster.
Sunday marks three years since the fire which broke out in the early hours of June 14 2017, and killed 72 people.
Organised by support group Grenfell United, a memorial was streamed on Sunday evening with messages of support and a two-minute silence for those who died. Read more
Turkish fighter jets attack PKK sites in northern Iraq (AlJazeera)
Turkish warplanes struck Kurdish targets in various regions of northern Iraq on Sunday night in response to an increase in militant attacks on Turkish army bases, the Defence Ministry said.
“The Claw-Eagle Operation has started. Our planes are bringing the caves down on the terrorists’ heads,” the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Twitter.
Turkey regularly targets Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters, both in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast and in northern Iraq, where the group is based. Read more
Macron says France has scored its ‘first victory’ against virus (Guardian)
President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that France had marked its first victory in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, ending much of its lockdown but adding that he would “draw the lessons” from a crisis that has killed nearly 30,000 people in the country.
“The fight against the epidemic is not finished but I am happy about this first victory against the virus,” Macron said in an address to the nation, his fourth since COVID-19 cases began surging in March.
He said all of mainland France, including Paris, would go into a “green zone” of a lower state of alert starting Monday, meaning cafes and restaurants in the French capital could open in full and not just on terraces. Read more
Nuclear powers are modernizing arsenals: SIPRI (DW)
Swedish research institute SIPRI has highlighted a worrying trend among nuclear powers: countries are modernizing their nuclear assets. Researchers have warned of a “new nuclear arms race” without an arms control regime.
Despite a global drop in nuclear arms, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Monday warned that countries are modernizing their arsenals, representing a worrying trend for arms control. Read more
Facebook incorrectly removes picture of Aboriginal men in chains because of ‘nudity’ (Guardian)
Facebook incorrectly removed a post critical of the prime minister’s comments regarding slavery in Australia that featured a photograph of Aboriginal men in neck chains from the late 1800s, claiming the photo featured nudity.
On Thursday, Scott Morrison said that there was no slavery in this country.
On Friday he backed down from those comments and acknowledged the history of blackbirding in Australia – where people were coerced into working as indentured labourers, often through deception or force. He said his Thursday comments related to the principles that existed when the colony of New South Wales was founded – that there was to be no lawful slavery in Australia. Read more
Acting spontaneously might be the key to happiness (NYPost)
The average American makes 6,709 spontaneous decisions every year, according to new research.
A brand new survey of 2,000 American respondents found, when including decisions such as getting coffee, trying a new lunch place, taking a nap and the like, the average American will act spontaneously about 18 times per day.
And is acting spontaneously the key to happiness? According to this survey, it may very well be. Read more
Sports Ministry foots part of Ikhana’s medical bills (Sun)
Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has supported coach Kadiri Ikhana with a sum of money.
It could be recalled that Ikhana came to Abuja some months ago for medical treatment, which included surgery and had cried out for help.
Speaking on the gesture, the Minister Sunday Dare said, “Coach Kadiri Ikhana is an ex-international of note, he served the country, he was part of the historic team in 1980 and a one time Super Falcons’ coach. He brought smiles to the faces of football loving Nigerians on the when he became the first Nigerian coach to win the CAF Champions League trophy. Read more
Nigerian striker, Taiwo Awoniyi hospitalised with severe concussion (Vanguard)
Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi was hospitalised with a severe concussion after a nasty clash of heads during Mainz’s 1-0 loss to Augsburg in Sunday’s Bundesliga relegation battle.
Liverpool loanee Awoniyi, 22, was left briefly motionless after landing awkwardly following an aerial collision with Augsburg defender Felix Uduokhai in the first half.
Awoniyi was stretchered off with his neck in a brace after a long delay while he received medical attention on the pitch.
Mainz said Awoniyi, a former Under-17 World Cup winner, was responsive and taken to hospital for observation. Read more
Erling Haaland: England manager Gareth Southgate explains why call-up was never likely (Independent)
Erling Haaland opting to play for England was not a realistic option after he was “tied up” by Norway, according to Gareth Southgate, despite the Borussia Dortmund striker’s dual nationality.
Haaland was born in Leeds shortly after his father Alf-Inge had left Elland Road to join Manchester City in the summer of 2000.
The Haaland family spent the next three years in England, moving to the Norwegian city of Bryne following Alf-Inge’s retirement through injury. Read more
Bayern Munich one win from glory, relegation battle heats up (DW)
Bayern Munich will win the title for an eighth straight time if they can win for the 11th straight time when they visit Bremen on Tuesday. Elsewhere, the fight for survival has heated up — but Paderborn are all but down.
Good week for: Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, Union Berlin, relegation battle, away teams
Bad week for: Paderborn, Düsseldorf, Mainz, home teams
The headlines:
Bayern one win away from glory
Borussia Mönchengladbach were a few minutes away from getting a big point at the Allianz Arena in Saturday’s late game, but Leon Goretzka put pay to that with an 86th minute winner. Read more
NASCAR’s Ray Ciccarelli says family has been ‘abused’ over Confederate flag post (NYPost)
Ray Ciccarelli, the NASCAR driver who threatened to quit after the sport banned the Confederate flag, tried to set the record straight about his controversial post on Facebook, saying he believes his thoughts were misconstrued but doesn’t regret what he said.
Ciccarelli took part in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series this weekend, finishing 29th, and isn’t sure if he will follow through on his threat about selling off his CMI Motorsports team following the 2020 season.
“I wasn’t raised the way people are portraying me to be. That’s just not me,” Ciccarelli told TobyChristie.com. Read more
Coutinho begs Klopp, ready for pay cut for Liverpool return (Guardian)
Philippe Coutinho is ready to take a wage cut after personally asking Jurgen Klopp to re-sign him for Liverpool, reports say, reports metro.co.uk.The playmaker’s dream move to Barcelona is in tatters after just two years at the club.
Coutinho forced his way out of Liverpool mid-way through the 2018/19 campaign, but was shipped out on loan by Barcelona last summer and is up for sale.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Leicester City are just a few of the sides Coutinho has been offered to, but the Sunday World claim the Brazilian is desperate to return to Liverpool. Read more