Lagos community protests against child, forced marriage (Nation)
Residents of Idi-Araba community in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, have kicked against the cultural practice of child and forced marriages in the area and the state by extension.
Following a Town Hall meeting organized by the Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN), a non-governmental organization on Saturday January 11, 2020, at Idi-Araba, women and young girls took to the streets with their placards chanting anti-child marriage messages. They condemned the practice of child and forced marriages in very strong terms, advising older men to stop the practice of marrying young girls and consequently denying them their right to education.
CEWHIN, under its Campaign against Child Marriage Initiative (supported by Rise up based in the Public Health Institute Oakland, California USA), exposed the participants which included girls, boys, parents and community leaders to the gains of educating the girl child, the health implications of child marriage among others. Read more
Lagos building collapse: I thought I was dreaming, says survivor (Punch)
Eze Christian, a resident of an uncompleted building on Alasepe Street, off Community Road, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos State has recounted his close shave with death when the three storey building collapsed on Friday.
Christian, who lived on the ground floor of the building, said he was jolted from his sleep by the bang of the collapse around 8am.
He said, “I was sleeping when I heard a loud sound. It was as if I was dreaming. I opened the door and ran out. While I was trying to escape, some bricks fell on my leg. One person was trapped but he had been rescued. His leg broke.”
A neighbour, Ijedu Nnaya, said his in law was trapped in the building but was rescued by firefighters. Read more
Why you should stop drinking Garri – Medical expert (DailyTrust)
The Director of Public Health, Enugu State, Dr Boniface Okolo, has cautioned Nigerians against the consumption of soaked garri to avoid contacting Lassa fever. Okolo, who gave the warning in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Saturday in Enugu, said the rats that caused the disease were mostly in contact with Nigerian most popular staple food ‘garri,’ a cassava product. He added that it was necessary to discourage consumption of soaked garri since it did not require boiled water. Okolo noted that boiled water could go a long way to kill bacteria caused by pest or rodents in garri. Read more
Distinguished agronomist, PUNCH director, Dr Lekan Are, dies at 86 (Punch)
PUNCH director, businessman, distinguished agronomist and respected senior citizen, Dr. Lekan Are, is dead.
A family member who confirmed his death to PUNCH on Saturday said Dr. Are died at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, shortly after midnight. He was 86.
Are, the longest-serving director on the board of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, was the Chairman of Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State and a former Chairman of University Press Plc.
A distinguished and well-regarded agriculture and water resources expert, he also served as General Manager of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority. Read more
I’m still in shock over Supreme Court verdict – Ihedioha (DailyTrust)
Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo state. A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, who was sacked by the Supreme Court last Tuesday as governor of Imo State, has said he is still in shock but calm. Hon. Ihedioha said the Nigerian judiciary and the electoral system were on trial, adding that he still had faith in the nation’s democracy. Speaking at his residence in Abuja when the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) paid him a solidarity visit, Ihedioha said the verdict will not question his commitment to democracy but rather strengthen his resolve to match forward with other well-meaning Nigerians to make Nigeria better. Read more
‘My waist beads saved me from rape in Lebanon’ (Guardian)
“When I bought my waist-beads some two years ago, I did so because of fashion. But do you know that the beads eventually saved me from the hands of those who lured me to the far Lebanon for slavery related endeavours?”
That was one of the narratives of 33-year-old Gloria Tayelolu Bright, an Eruku-born lady in Ekiti Council of Kwara State, who was recently rescued from servitude in far away Lebanon.
Gloria, a single mother of two children, a boy and a girl, had kept her planned move to Lebanon secret, thinking the trip would land her a gold mine.
She told The Guardian in Ilorin before being handed over to officers of the National Agency for Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Oshogbo, Osun State, on Thursday, that she had mistaken any trip abroad for “instant wealth and Eldorado.” Read more
Gunmen invade Southern Kaduna village, kill two (Punch)
Gunmen were said to have opened fire on youths at Gora Dan in Zango-Kataf Local Government Area in Southern Kaduna State, killing two.
It was gathered that the gunmen in large numbers invaded the village and opened fire on youths at the market square in the area.
The attack was said to have occurred Friday evening.
A source who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said the gunmen in their numbers invaded the village market square shooting indiscriminately and in the process, two persons were killed. Read more
Powerful exhibition draws light to the challenges faced by homeless people in the UK (Metro)
At the start of 2020, at least one out of every 200 people in the UK is living without permanent or safe accommodation. Homelessness is on the rise. It’s a crisis. And yet according to research conducted over the past five years, 91% of local authorities can’t answer ‘basic questions’ about homelessness in our community. That’s what a new exhibition in London explores. Anthony Luvera: Taking Place is an exhibition curated by Futurecity that showcases the challenges facing those experiencing homelessness, displaying works from Assembly and Frequently Asked Questions. Read more
Cold weather warning issued as temperatures set to plunge to -6C (Metro)
Temperatures are expected to plunge below freezing in many parts of the country this weekend, with forecasts of -5 to -6C for Saturday and Sunday evenings. A cold weather alert has been issued by health authorities from 6pm on Sunday to 6pm Tuesday and people are urged to look out for the vulnerable. Most areas will stay dry and bright during the day on Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures between 5 and 8 Celsius, before the chill sets later on. Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said: ‘The South West of England could see -2C (28.4F) locally on Saturday (evening) while the West and East Midlands will experience temperatures as low as -3C (26.6F). Read more
World’s shortest man who could walk dies aged 27 (Metro)
The world’s shortest man who could walk has died in hospital in Nepal aged just 27. Khagendra Thapa Magar, who measured 67.08 centimetres (2ft 2.41 inches), passed away from pneumonia, his family said. His brother Mahesh Thapa Magar added: ‘He has been in and out of hospital because of pneumonia. But this time his heart was also affected.’ Khagendra was first declared the world’s shortest man in 2010 after his 18th birthday and his title was verified by Guinness World Records. Read more
Arsenal to hold transfer talks with Bruno Guimaraes (DailyTrust)
Arsenal sporting director Edu is set to hold talks with the representatives of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to reports. The Gunners have been linked with a move for the 22-year-old, who currently plays for Athletico Paranaense in his home country. Paranaense chief Mario Celso Petraglia recently claimed Arsenal have been among a number of clubs monitoring the player. Benfica are also understood to be interested in securing Guimaraes’ signature, but Goal and Globoesporte report that Edu is due to meet his representatives in London over the next few days. Read more
Erling Haaland matches Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s record with hat-trick on Borussia Dortmund debut (Metro)
Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick on his Borussia Dortmund debut to inspire his new side to a comeback victory over Augsburg on Saturday. The 19-year-old was one of the most in-demand players ahead of the January transfer window with several top European clubs in the running for his signature. Manchester United were confident about securing a deal for the striker, and he was even visited by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, his former manager at Molde, in December as United stepped up their charm offensive. But it wasn’t enough as Haaland opted to sign for Dortmund and the Bundesliga club went on to pay his €20 million (£17.1m) buyout clause in his contract with Red Bull Salzburg. Read more
New Barcelona coach demands attractive football from players (Punch)
New Barcelona boss Quique Setien threw down a challenge to his players on Saturday when he said he will never be happy if the Catalans fail to play the beautiful game – even if they win.
Setien faces his first game as Barca coach against Granada on Sunday, having replaced the sacked Ernesto Valverde earlier this week.
He arrives with a reputation for attacking, possession-based football but his team cannot afford much of a transition period, given they sit top of La Liga but level on points with Real Madrid.
They play Granada at home after a run of one win in five games. Read more
Chelsea’s Victor Moses may be heading to Inter Milan (DailyTrust)
Inter Milan are after Chelsea’s Victor Moses as a potential target in January. The Nigeria international, Moses, is currently on loan at Turkish club Galatasaray. Sky in Italy reports that the Blues have asked for £10million to recall him and then sell him on to Inter. Moses made 34 Premier League appearances when Chelsea last won the Premier League (2016/17). Inter boss Antonio Conte was in charge of Chelsea then. Read more
Immobile hat-trick as Lazio thrash Sampdoria 5-1 (Punch)
Ciro Immobile scored a hat-trick as Lazio thrashed ten-man Sampdoria 5-1 on Saturday to close in on Juventus and Inter Milan and consolidate third place in Serie A.
Simone Inzaghi’s side extended their winning streak to 11 consecutive games as they target a first Serie A title since 2000 with Immobile the runaway top scorer in Serie A with 23 goals.
Sampdoria had beaten Brescia 5-1 last time out but were overrun by the Romans who move three points behind Juventus and one adrift of Inter Milan. Read more
Bruno Fernandes angered after Manchester United’s bid was rejected by Sporting (Metro)
Bruno Fernandes was angered after Sporting informed the midfielder that they would not accept Manchester United’s current offer, according to reports. United have been working on a deal with the Portuguese club for over a week but an agreement has not been reached. Fernandes may have potentially played his last game for Sporting on Friday evening as they were beaten 2-0 by rivals Benfica in the Lisbon derby. United are hopeful of completing a deal for the 25-year-old having decided against a move for him last summer. Read more
Mourinho’s winless run continues as Watford draw Tottenham 0-0 (Punch)
Watford held Tottenham to a goalless draw on Saturday to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League and further damage Spurs’ Champions League ambitions.
When Nigel Pearson took over at Vicarage Road last month Watford looked doomed to relegation but he has put together a remarkable run of results to lift the club out of the relegation zone.
It is a different story for Jose Mourinho’s Spurs who, without the injured Harry Kane and with uncertainty over the future of Christian Eriksen, could be 11 points off fourth spot by the end of the day. Read more
Paul Gascoigne has anti-alcohol pellets sewn into stomach (Metro)
Footballing legend Paul Gascoigne has had anti-alcohol pellets sewn into his stomach in a bid to beat his alcoholism. Gazza, 52, paid £20,000 to travel to Australia for the revolutionary operation, which he says has transformed his life. The former England star said he still has to fight the urge to booze but the pellets make him feel ill if he drinks too much. He told the Mirror: ‘It means you can have a beer or a glass of wine and socialise, but you cannot have any more. Read more
Gazzaniga saves Tottenham Hotspur at Watford (DailyTrust)
Goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga was the hero for Tottenham Hotspur as he saved Troy Deeney’s penalty in a goalless draw with Watford. Lucas Moura had the best chance of the first half for Spurs but his strike was kept out by Ben Foster. Deeney had an opportunity to put the hosts ahead in the 70th minute after Jan Vertonghen was adjudged to have handled in the box, but Gazzaniga stopped his spot-kick. Watford debutant Ignacio Pussetto cleared the ball off the goal-line in stoppage time to help Watford move up to 16th on 23 points. Read more
VAR: EPL referees set to use pitch side monitors (Nation)
Premier League referees have been told to start using pitch side monitors for red card decisions where it is felt they should have the final say.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body that manages elite referees, has issued the guidance.
The only time the monitors have been used this season is by Michael Oliver in an FA Cup third-round tie between Crystal Palace and Derby County. Read more
Arsenal held again by late Sheffield leveller (Punch)
Arsenal’s faint hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League suffered another blow as John Fleck’s late equaliser secured a valuable point for Sheffield United’s own European ambitions in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates.
Gabriel Martinelli had filled the void left by the suspended Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang by opening the scoring for the Gunners on the stroke of half-time.
But Mikel Arteta’s men were devoid of inspiration for most of the match and paid for one moment of poor defending as Fleck drove high past Bernd Leno eight minutes from time. Read more
Arsenal held again by late Sheffield leveller (Punch)
Arsenal’s faint hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League suffered another blow as John Fleck’s late equaliser secured a valuable point for Sheffield United’s own European ambitions in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates.
Gabriel Martinelli had filled the void left by the suspended Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang by opening the scoring for the Gunners on the stroke of half-time.
But Mikel Arteta’s men were devoid of inspiration for most of the match and paid for one moment of poor defending as Fleck drove high past Bernd Leno eight minutes from time. Read more