Lagos considers options for reopening schools (Punch)
The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, has said the state is considering different options in its bid to reopen schools.
Adefisayo, at the annual ministerial press briefing of the state Ministry of Education on Tuesday, said although the Federal Government would decide when schools would open, the state was putting measures in place to protect pupils.
She said, “Recall that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday said schools remain closed. I can’t give you a date when schools will resume in Lagos, but we are working with development partners and ministries of education across the country to come up with a series of protocols on how we will be able to manage when we open schools. Read more
Churches, mosques to remain closed in Lagos (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said that churches and mosques in the state might not be reopened soon for worshippers.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, said this on the sideline of the 2020 Ministerial Press Briefing commemorating the first year in office of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Federal Government had on Monday, June 1, lifted the ban on mosques and churches in the country, based on guidelines and protocols agreed with state governments. Read more
Court jails driver 10 years over illicit drug importation (Guardian)
Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court, Lagos State, yesterday sentenced a driver, Akinola Suleiman, to 10 years imprisonment for importing 11 kilogrammes of hard drugs.
The judge convicted Suleiman following a nearly seven-year trial before two judges.
He said the convict’s jail term would run from August 30, 2013, when the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested him.
The judge also ordered that the drugs seized from the convict be destroyed if there was no appeal against the judgment within the period stipulated by the law. Read more
Lagos records eight new COVID-19 related deaths, total now 67 (Tribune)
Lagos State government on Tuesday said it recorded a total of eight additional COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the total number in the state since the deadly virus broke to 67.
This was just as the state government said 192 new COVID-19 confirmed cases were in the state as of Monday night, making the total so far recorded in the state since the index case was reported in February to 5,151.
The state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, disclosed this on his Twitter handle while giving an update as the Incident Commander for the state. Read more
LASUTH to begin COVID-19 testing – CMD (Punch)
The Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, has said the hospital would soon begin testing for COVID-19.
Fabamwo, at a briefing, said the institution had the potential to test for COVID-19, adding that it would help to increase the testing capacity in the state.
“As we speak, LASUTH has the potential to test for COVID-19. There is a molecular machine in our College of Medicine which can be used to test and we have a gene expert machine that can be adapted to test for COVID-19.
“We have been asked by the state to know what is required to make the machine and the gene machine to work and they have been ordered. We are expecting that by freight. Read more
IPMAN: We can’t sell petrol at N121.5 per litre (Nation)
Oil marketers yesterday said it was impossible for its members to sell petrol at the new government regulated N121.5 per litre.
Acting under the aegis of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), the marketers said they have directed their members to sell petrol at N123.5 per litre.
Reacting to the new price announced by the Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), IPMAN said the agency has advised them to either sell at the new pump price or adjust to what will make Nigerians happy. Read more
Markets, religious centres remains closed in Kaduna despite FG’s order (Guardian)
Despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for the relaxation of restriction placed on churches and mosques starting from Tuesday Kaduna State Government said worshipping places and markets will remain closed in the state till further notice.
In a statement by Muyiwa Adekeye Special Adviser to the Governor, he said the public spaces, of which comprises of religious places and markets were closed in March 2020 as the state stepped-up Covid-19 prevention efforts and relevant government agencies will engage the business, community, and religious leaders to discuss and agree on the protocols for the safe opening of businesses and market, and resumption of congregational worship. Read more
Govt: If you’re 55 and above, avoid mosques, churches (Nation)
From the Federal Government on Tuesday came an advisory to Nigerians: If you are 55 years old and above, avoid churches and mosques.
Those with health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, HIV, among others, are also enjoined to stay at home to worship, the government added.
It noted that the advice was necessary because places of worship have been recognised as a major avenue of potential spread of Coronavirus.
The government stated this through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 Control. It released the guidelines for states to follow in discussions with religious leaders before the reopening of churches and mosques for worshippers. Read more
Trudeau says Canadians watching US events in ‘horror’ (CBC)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paused for a long 21 seconds when asked Tuesday to comment on US President Donald Trump’s threat to use military force against protesters in the United States demonstrating against the death of African American George Floyd in police custody.
After several false starts, Trudeau avoided criticizing the president directly while taking aim at social “injustices.”
“We all watch in horror and consternation at what is going on in the United States,” he said. “It is a time to pull people together … it is a time to listen. It is a time to learn, when injustices continue despite progress over years and decades.” Read more
George W. Bush virtually endorses Joe Biden in powerful statement (Politicus)
Former President and First Lady George W. and Laura Bush issued a statement on the riots that echoed Joe Biden’s language of empathy and unity.
In part, the statement read:
America’s greatest challenge has long been to unite people of very different backgrounds into a single nation of justice and opportunity. The doctrine and habits of racial superiority, which once nearly split our country, still threaten our Union.
The answers to American problems are found by living up to American ideals — to the fundamental truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by God with certain rights. We have often underestimated how radical that quest really is, and how our cherished principles challenge systems of intended or assumed injustice. Read more
State of Minnesota files racial discrimination charges against police department over George Floyd death (RT)
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has announced the state’s Department of Human Rights will be investigating Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) for signs of racial discrimination, following the death of George Floyd.
According to state officials, the investigation will go far beyond the death of Floyd – who was choked to death by a police officer during his detention in Minneapolis on May 25 – and look into the policies and practices of the police department for the past 10 years to “determine if the MPD has engaged in systemic discriminatory practices towards people of color and ensure any such practices are stopped.” Read more
Death toll from Covid-19 surpasses 30,000 in Brazil, Latin America’s worst-hit country (France24)
Brazil surpassed 30,000 deaths from the coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday as the disease continued to rip through South America’s worst-hit country.
Figures released by the health ministry showed a new record 1,262 deaths in the previous 24 hours, as well as 28,936 new infections.
The figures come as some Brazilian states began to emerge from weeks of economically-stifling quarantine measures despite warnings from the WHO and epidemiologists.
The overall number of confirmed cases — 555,383 — makes Brazil the second most affected country after the United States. Read more
Tokyo issues warning for COVID resurgence (VOA)
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has issued a warning in the city for a possible resurgence of the coronavirus.
Tuesday’s notice comes after 34 new cases were reported, the highest total in a month, and coming just days after the city lifted its state of emergency.
Only a handful of new cases were reported at the end of May.
Koike said she is not ready to reimpose an official citywide alert but said if the number rises to at least 50 new cases a day, she will again order businesses to shut down.
The governor said she suspects the return of Japanese nightlife, such as karaoke bars, has brought on the new infections. Read more
Zoom sales boom as video meetings become pandemic norm (France24)
Zoom on Tuesday reported that its earnings soared as its video-meeting service became a popular way to work or socialise while hunkered down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Zoom said it made a profit of $27 million on revenue that leapt 169 percent to slightly more than $328 million in the fiscal quarter that ended April 30.
In the same quarter a year earlier, Zoom reported zero dollars per share in net income for stockholders.
“The Covid-19 crisis has driven higher demand for distributed, face-to-face interactions and collaboration using Zoom,” founder and chief executive Eric Yuan said in a release. Read more
Lyon sign Toko Ekambi on permanent deal (Punch)
Lyon have signed Cameroon international Karl Toko Ekambi on a permanent four-year contract from Villarreal, the French Ligue 1 outfit announced on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old joined Lyon in January on a loan deal with an option to buy for 11.5 million euros ($12.8 million), which ‘OL’ have taken.
Toko Ekambi, who has scored three goals in 30 international appearances, netted twice in 12 games during his loan stint at Groupama Stadium. Read more
NPFL club chairmen ‘missing’ as COVID-19 stifles allocations (DailyTrust)
Most of the club chairmen in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, are said to have vanished into thin air following paucity of funds caused by the non-release of monthly allocations from their respective state governments.
Following the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, the federal and state governments are focused on efforts to contain the killer virus.
Consequently, state governments have not been able to maintain regular release of funds to the clubs due to the battle with the coronavirus. Read more
Manchester City dismiss Manchester United’s interest in Raheem Sterling (Metro)
Manchester City are more confident than ever of keeping Raheem Sterling and are unconcerned by Manchester United’s interest in the England international. Reports on Monday suggested United were monitoring the winger’s future at the Etihad, particularly in view of City’s two-year Champions League ban. While a deal is considered unlikely at Old Trafford, it’s claimed United would press ahead with a move should Sterling become available City have appealed their ban but there is no doubt that two years outside of Europe’s elite competition would leave the club more susceptible to losing their most coveted players. Read more
Lewis Hamilton ‘overcome with rage’ at events in the US (BBC)
Lewis Hamilton says he is “completely overcome with rage” at events in the USA following George Floyd’s death.
It is the second time Hamilton has spoken out this week in the wake of protests breaking out across the US.
Floyd, an unarmed black man, died on 25 May after a white police officer, since charged with murder, knelt on his neck for several minutes.
“This past week has been so dark. I have failed to keep hold of my emotions,” Hamilton, 35, said. Read more
11yo British skateboarding star survives horrific crash (RT)
British 11-year-old skateboarding prodigy Sky Brown was taken to hospital in a helicopter after fracturing her skull in a horrific training accident.
Brown, who is on course to become Britain’s youngest-ever Olympian, shared a video of the terrifying crash on her Instagram account, and assured fans that she is fine despite sustaining multiple injuries.
The 2019 World Skateboarding Championship bronze medalist was in a regular training session when she fell off a ramp, landing head-first on the hard ground. Read more
Nedum Onuoha: Former Man City defender says he does not feel safe in USA (BBC)
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha says he does not feel “100% safe” in the USA.
Onuoha plays for Utah-based Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer after spending six years at QPR.
“I am always very wary of how I behave and how it could be viewed by people who have power,” Onuoha, 33, told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“For me personally, overall I don’t like to say it but I have a fear and distrust towards police.” Read more