Lagos dislodges land grabbers from Lekki (Nation)
Lagos State Government has dislodged suspected land grabbers from some parcels of land in Ajah.
An enforcement exercise was carried out by officials of the Lagos State Taskforce on Land Grabbers (LSTFLG) on Thursday to dislodge the suspected land grabbers from the parcels of land measuring 50.06 hectares situated at Block E, Plot 2 at Sangotedo, Lekki Peninsula Subregion in Eti-Osa Area of the State.
Reacting to the development, the Ajah Community Developers Association (ACDA) expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government for helping out. Read more
Motorists lament barricades, gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Punch)
Security agents enforcing the curfew imposed by the government as a result of the coronavirus pandemic around the Kara end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway are exposing motorists and commuters plying the area to untold hardship, PUNCH Metro investigation reveals.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had recently directed that the nationwide curfew be enforced from 10pm to 4am instead of the previous 8pm to 6am.
To enforce the curfew, security agents have been using barricades to block both the inward and outward lanes of the expressway, thus making entry into and exit from Ogun and Lagos states difficult even in the daytime. Read more
UNILAG makes Forbes’ entrepreneurs’ list (Nation)
The University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoko has been ranked third most productive school in educating entrepreneurs in Africa.
According to a report by Forbes entitled: “If You Want To Start A Tech-Company In Africa, Go To College”, the university is the startup powerhouse of Nigeria.
The University of Cape Town and the Makerere led in the ranking ahead of UNILAG; while the University of Nairobi, Kenya and Stellenbosch University followed in the fourth and fifth positions.
The article, written by Meghan McCormick, CEO & Co-founder of OZÉ and contributor on FORBESWOMEN, analysed the importance of education in entrepreneurship in Africa.
This was deduced from a research report entitled: “Gender & Demographics in Africa’s Green & Digital Transformation”, by Briter Bridges, a data-driven research company in Africa. Read more
Two sentenced to death for armed robbery (Punch)
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere has sentenced two men, Williams Udoh and Ubong Isaiah, to death for armed robbery.
The court also sentenced Isaiah to additional 21 years’ imprisonment for raping a married woman during the robbery operation.
The convicts were arraigned on July 13, 2017, on amended five counts bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and rape.
The prosecution had told the court that the convicts and others at large committed the offences on August 2, 2015, at the Shepherd Estate, Daramola Street, Ijegun, and No. 8 Ologun Ijegun Street, Ijegun, Lagos. Read more
Only ‘real democracy’ can accord Nigeria international respect – Abiodun (Punch)
Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun says only “real democracy” could move Nigeria forward toward progress and earn it the respect it deserves from the international community.
Abiodun made the observation in Abeokuta in his speech at this year’s June 12 celebration.
He, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation and continue to remain united and patriotic.
The governor noted that June 12, 1993, presidential election was Nigeria’s closest link to real democracy and called for a return to the virtues displayed at the poll. Read more
Obaseki vows not to appeal ‘unjust’ disqualification (DailyTrust)
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has bemoaned his disqualification from contesting for the primary elections of the All Progressives Congress, APC ahead of Edo 2020 governorship election. He described the disqualification as unjust but vowed not to appeal it. Edo gov’ship: PDP will dethrone APC—Fintiri Court stops Edo government from prosecuting Oshiomhole A statement by his media aide, Crusoe Osagie described the action as a mockery of the democratic process. He said they have watched the mockery which the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is administering and superintending over the APC. Read more
Benue workers get two days for farming (Punch)
The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has declared two work-free days for all civil servants in the state.
This, according to the governor, is to allow workers in the state to engage in farming activities.
Ortom, during an interaction with journalists in Makurdi, said the work-free days were Thursday and Friday (today).
The directive, according to the governor, would help the state to produce more food. Read more
Edo 2020: APC clears Ize-Iyamu, two others (DailyTrust)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu to contest the party’s primary ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State. The party’s screening committee led by Professor Jonathan Ayuba also cleared two other aspirants, Dr Pius Odubu and Mr Osaro Obazee for the primary scheduled for June 22, 2020. PDP stalwart carpets INEC over election disruption threat Swear me in, lone PDP member-elect begs Kwara assembly The party had earlier announced the disqualification of the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki and two other aspirants, Chris Ogiemwonyi and Matthew Iduoriyekemwe from contesting the primary. Obaseki and his predecessor, Oshiomhole, have been at loggerheads over the governor’s second term bid and other issues. Read more
Rafiki, Uganda’s rare silverback mountain gorilla, killed by hunters (BBC)
One of Uganda’s best known mountain gorillas, Rafiki, has been killed.
Four men have been arrested, and they face a life sentence or a fine of $5.4m (£4.3m) if found guilty of killing an endangered species.
Investigations showed that Rafiki was killed by a sharp object that penetrated his internal organs.
There are just over 1,000 mountain gorillas in existence and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) described Rafiki’s death as a “very big blow”. Read more
Burundi court rules president-elect to take power after Nkurunziza’s death (France24)
Burundi’s constitutional court on Friday ruled that the country’s newly elected leader Evariste Ndayishimiye be sworn in following the sudden death of former leader Pierre Nkurunziza earlier this week.
“No interim necessary, the president-elect… must be sworn in as soon as possible,” presidential advisor Willy Nyamitwe wrote on Twitter of the court’s announcement, which was also confirmed by the ruling party’s information secretary.
Nkurunziza, who died on Monday aged 55, had been due to step down as Burundi’s president in August after his surprise decision not to run in an election last month won by the ruling party’s handpicked successor. Read more
Newly-released PS5 design leads to mass mocking online (RT)
Sony has unveiled the design of its next-generation console, the PlayStation 5 – but with its sleek white sides and black interior, it quickly found itself being mercilessly memed.
Some people on Twitter noted the PS5’s striking resemblance to a household router, while others highlighted its similarity to the Tower of Sauron from the Lord of the Rings.
The jokes, of course, didn’t stop there, as people across the internet continued to pile on.
Among the flurry, one user switched the new console, predicted to retail at $499, with a coffee maker. Others pointed out the PS5’s likeness to a range of household items. Read more
Lebanon protests escalate as currency dives (BBC)
Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in cities across Lebanon amid escalating protests as the country faces a collapse in its currency.
Anger has surged as the Lebanese pound tumbled to record lows, having lost 70% of its value since October when protests began.
In response, the government announced a series of measures intended to stabilise the value of the currency.
The protests paused during coronavirus lockdown, but recently resumed. Read more
French cops reject government chokehold ban (RT)
French police have marched in protest through central Paris, saying the government is denying them life-saving tools with its new ban on chokehold and chest-pinning, imposed in the wake of the death of George Floyd in the US.
A French police union staged a protest march from the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs-Elysees boulevard on Friday morning, with dozens of police vehicles gathering in front of the iconic Paris landmark.
One van carried a poster showing graphic images of injuries sustained by police in the line of duty and the words: “Who is massacring who?” Another slogan asked why nobody was talking about the hate and physical assault targeting officers. Read more
Da 5 Bloods: Spike Lee’s Netflix film couldn’t have landed at a more poignant time (Metro)
Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods is out on Netflix today, and it could not have been released at a more important and poignant time. Ok, I may be dealing in hyperbole here – when have Spike Lee’s films never felt like they’re perfectly on the pulse? – but the Oscar-winner’s take on looking at the past and seeing how far we’ve not come is mighty powerful. Only last week the director released the short film 3 Brothers, which centred on the deaths of Do The Right Thing’s Radio Raheem and the very real deaths of Eric Garner and George Floyd, as he asked ‘Will History Stop Repeating Itself?’ Read more
Ideye mulls future with Greek club (Nation)
Nigerian striker Brown Ideye is weighing up his options at Greek club Aris amid Coronavirus epidemic.
The vastly-travelled joined Aris in June 2019, on a one-year contract, said he would decide his future at the end of the on-going 2019/2020 season campaign.
“I had a conversation with the director of the club (Aris) and I’ve told him that I will finish the season in Greece,” the former Bayelsa United was quoted as saying in the interview aired on Greek Mega Channel. “But I will travel to my homeland, I’ll then decide if I will continue next season with Aris.” Read more
Dortmund hoping to extend Hakimi loan after impressive displays (Vanguard)
Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has confirmed his club’s interest in having on-loan Real Madrid full-back Achraf Hakimi remain at Westfalenstadion for a third season, while the player himself is not thought to be against the idea after so far thriving in Germany.
Still only 21, Hakimi joined Dortmund as a teenager in 2018 on a temporary two-year deal, after failing to consistently earn a place in Real Madrid’s matchday squads.
The switch to Germany has proven to be a masterstroke for Hakimi, whose development has been substantial, particularly this season. He has scored 12 goals in 70 total appearances for Dortmund and is now considered one of the brightest full-back talents in Europe. Read more
Lisbon set to host final stages of Champions League (DailyTrust)
The final stages of this season’s interrupted Champions League will be played in Lisbon, with the final on August 22 or 23, German newspaper Bild reported on Friday. The assertion by Bild follows reports by several other European media in recent days. An official announcement is expected when UEFA’s Executive Committee meets by videoconference next Wednesday, June 17. Champions League qualification ‘will be worked out on sporting merit’ – UEFA Empty stadium may help Arsenal against Manchester City — Arteta Bild also reported that the closing stages of the Europa League are set to be moved to Germany, with matches being played in the region around Cologne, in the west of the country. Read more
NFL coach says team inquired about Colin Kaepernick as calls mount for ‘Take a Knee’ initiator to return to league (RT)
A return to NFL action could still be in the works for Colin Kaepernick after Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll revealed he had taken a call from an unnamed team inquiring about the sidelined quarterback.
Kaepernick has been out of action since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March of 2017.
That decision came amid the maelstrom of the ‘Take a Knee’ protests which Kaepernick initiated against police brutality in the US.
The 32-year-old has since sued the NFL for alleged collusion among league owners not to sign him – a case which was settled with a confidential agreement last year. Read more
Transfer windows can open before season ends – FIFA (Punch)
FIFA will allow leagues to open their transfer windows before the current, delayed season has been completed as football recovers from the impact of the lengthy coronavirus shutdown, the game’s world governing body announced on Thursday.
FIFA has passed a series of temporary amendments to help deal with the havoc to the football calendar caused by the health crisis.
Most notably, these include allowing the “first registration period” — better known in Europe as the summer transfer window — to “overlap” with the delayed end to this season by up to four weeks. Read more
Ex-athletics chief Diack admits delaying the treatment of Russian doping cases (France24)
Lamine Diack, the former head of World Athletics, on Thursday told a French court he had slowed the handling of Russian doping cases between 2011-2013 to save a sponsorship deal with a Russian bank.
Diack, 87, said he had not sought to protect the athletes caught up in the scandal, some of whom later competed in the London 2012 Olympics, but to ensure the cases did come to public attention all at once. This, he said, would have caused a scandal.
Diack, once one of the most influential men in athletics, faces charges of corruption, money laundering and breach of trust. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail.
The former long-jumper has consistently denied wrongdoing. Read more