Lagos eases curfew by 10 hours (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government has eased the 24-hour curfew imposed in Lagos State to allow movement of persons from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm from Saturday.
Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Governor, announced this on Friday while inspecting some places that were affected by the destruction during the mayhem in the aftermath of the Lekki Toll Plaza incident on Tuesday night.
He said that there were still pockets of insecurity in the state, adding that the curfew might be reviewed on Saturday after consultations with security agencies. Read more
Lekki shootings: We hid behind barricades to escape, say eyewitnesses (Punch)
With an emotion-laden voice, Philip Chukwu initially refused to relive his experience on Tuesday at the Lekki Toll Gate area of Lagos. He said he was still in shock and unwilling to grant any interview. But after much persuasion, the 29-year-old teacher at one of the private schools on Lagos Island obliged, on condition that neither his audio nor picture would be published.
He said scores of youths had gathered at the Toll Gate area, playing music and eating, in continuation of the #EndSARS protests that had lasted about two weeks in the country.
Earlier in the day, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had declared a 24-hour curfew which was to start by 4pm but later postponed to 9pm. Read more
My heart bleeds with level of destruction, says Sanwo-Olu (Nation)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday said his heart bleeds and he was pained after seeing the level of destruction that took place in the state on Wednesday and Thursday as a result of the #EndSARS protests.
Sanwo-Olu was addressing the press after a tour of the areas where massive destruction that took place in the state.
The governor visited 27 locations which includes: Palace of the Oba of Lagos, Ajeromi Ifelodun LG, FRSC, VIO office Ojodu Berger, BRT park at Berger, Lekki toll gate, bus terminals, police stations, historic government buildings, City Hall, private malls, offices, banks ATM etc. Read more
#EndSARS: Lagos, police count losses (Punch)
Following violence that trailed the #EndSARS protests, the Lagos State Government and the state police command have begun to count their losses.
Hoodlums who took advantage of the protests had carried out wanton destruction of government and private properties, setting them on fire while carrying out acts of looting.
On Friday, the state government said 80 Bus Rapid Transit vehicles were burnt by hoodlums in the Oyingbo and Ojodu Berger areas of the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, in an exclusive interview, noted that 27 of the destroyed BRT vehicles cost $200,000 each, while 57 of them cost $100,000 each, all totalling about N3.9 billion. Read more
Lagos Puts 20 Policemen on Trial for Murder, Rights Abuses (Thisday)
The Lagos State Government has set dates for the prosecution of 20 policemen, including the dismissed Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan, whom the police found guilty of killing Kolade Johnson in March, 2019, for various infractions.
The 20 policemen, whose charges were listed in several tweets yesterday by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, are being prosecuted for offences ranging from alleged murder, manslaughter and violation of human rights in Lagos.
Beginning his tweets yesterday, Governor Sanwo-Olu gave a list of the pending cases reflecting the identities of the various judges assigned to each of them. Read more
Lagosians live in fear as touts take over unsecured city (Guardian)
The curfew declared by the Lagos State Government may have exposed the residents to the most dangerous dimension of insecurity in recent times as touts have taken over
lonely roads and major streets.
The Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had on Monday imposed a 24-hour curfew in the state following heightened tension over #EndSARS protests. On Tuesday, the curfew was extended by three days notwithstanding the obvious inability of the government to enforce it and provide security for essential services professionals.
On Wednesday, hoodlums hijacked the protests amid outrage over the Lekki tollgate shootings on Tuesday night, destroying property in different parts of the metropolis. Read more
We don’t know where to start from – Owners of Lagos shops emptied by hoodlums (Punch)
On July 1, Mrs Idowu Oluwaseun managed to rise from the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on her clothing business and switched to selling beverages.
She stocked up her shop at Cherub Mall, opposite Alpha Beach Junction, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, with varieties of wine.
The single mother of three was gradually pulling back from the pandemic upset when a looting spree perpetrated by hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protest plunged her into a fresh economic hardship.
“I am heartbroken,” she intoned. “They stole valuables worth N6m in my shop. They stole everything; expensive wine, chandeliers, freezer, chiller.” Read more
Lagos 2021 budget gender, climate sensitive, says Bankole Michael (Vanguard)
The Director, Climate Change and Environmental Planning, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Bankole Michael, has said Lagos State 2021/2022 budget preparation has catered for gender-based climate action.
Michael, who said this at a one-day capacity building event on “Climate Finance and The Green Climate Fund for Women in South-West” in Lagos, said women were the most impacted when it comes to climate change.
The programme, organised by The Centre for 21st century Issues (C21st) in collaboration with Lagos State Ministry of Environment (Department of Climate Change), Lagos, trained over 40 local women representatives from the South-West region. Read more
#EndSARS: Akeredolu lifts curfew as peace returns to Akure (Guardian)
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has lifted the 24 – hour indefinite curfew he imposed on the state, following the return of peace to Akure, the state capital.
Mr Donald Ojogo, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said on Friday in Akure, that the decision is with effect from Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akeredolu imposed the curfew on Wednesday to prevent loss of lives and properties as #EndSARS protesters took to the street in some major cities of the state. Read more
KSI teams up with Craig David for new ‘winter anthem’ single (Metro)
KSI has teamed up with Craig David for a brand new single, and it’s the duo we never knew we needed.
The YouTube star has blessed us with the track, Really Love, which he worked on with his ‘childhood hero’. ‘To say I’m excited is a complete understatement,’ he explained.
‘I’m still in disbelief. I’m working with Craig David, a childhood hero of mine. ‘Absolutely unreal. The song we’ve made together is really gonna be a winter anthem.’ He went on to say that he’s ‘always here to prove people wrong’, and his new song – also featuring Digital Farm Animals – is another example. Read more
Coronavirus: US cases reach record high amid new wave of infections (BBC)
US coronavirus cases have hit a record daily high as states grapple with a renewed wave of infections.
Citing data from local state health authorities, the Covid Tracking Project reported 83,010 new cases on Friday.
US Surgeon General Jerome Adams has warned that hospital admission numbers are growing, but mortality rates are falling due to better patient care.
It comes as pharma giants AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson resume US vaccine trials after approval from regulators. Read more
2 crew dead as US Navy aircraft crashes into Alabama home, sparking fire (RT)
A US naval aircraft has come crashing down on a residential neighborhood in Magnolia Springs, Alabama, igniting a major fire. The US Air Force confirmed the crew did not survive. No injuries on the ground have been reported.
“A US Navy T-6B Texan II aircraft crashed in Foley, Alabama, at approximately 5 pm CST today. The aircrew did not survive the crash. We are not aware of any civilian casualties this time,” US Naval Air Forces reported on Friday afternoon.
The single-engine turboprop aircraft crashed into a home on Mansion Street in the small town of Magnolia Springs, Baldwin County, Alabama – directly adjacent to Foley – at around 4:23 pm local time. Read more
Communities back footballer’s school meals campaign (BBC)
Footballer Marcus Rashford has said he “couldn’t be more proud to call myself British” after the community response to his campaign to get free meals for children during the half-term holiday.
Councils and businesses have offered to provide food during the break for those who are entitled to free school meals.
The England striker told BBC Newsnight he was “overwhelmed” by the support.
It comes after a Commons bid to extend free school meals during the Covid-19 pandemic was rejected by MPs. Read more
Arnold Schwarzenegger undergoes gruelling heart surgery two years after emergency operation (Metro)
Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed he underwent gruelling heart surgery to replace a valve – two years after his emergency operation. The Terminator star confirmed the news on Instagram, sharing a series of snaps with fans – including one from his hospital bed. Proving there is no way he can be kept down for long, the 73-year-old also blessed us all with photos as he took in the sights of Cleveland during his recovery. ‘Thanks to the team at the Cleveland Clinic, I have a new aortic valve to go along with my new pulmonary valve from my last surgery,’ he penned. Read more
Hacker says he correctly guessed Trump’s Twitter password (Metro)
A security researcher claims he successfully managed to hack in to Donald Trump’s personal Twitter account after guessing the password. Victor Gevers says the password to the president’s Twitter profile was ‘maga2020!’ – something the White House has denied.
According to a report in Dutch newspaper Vrij Nederland, Gevers guessed the password on the fifth attempt and secured a screengrab to prove he gained access.
He then alerted the US government and suggested that Trump may want to update his security settings. Read more
Scientists create whitest paint ever, which reflects 95.5% of light & keeps buildings cool (RT)
Engineers have created a paint capable of reflecting 95.5 per cent of sunlight back into space, while keeping a building cooler than the ambient temperature, which might one day dramatically reduce the need for air conditioning.
In research undertaken at Purdue University, in Indiana, engineers have produced the remarkable acrylic paint. It makes use of passive radiative cooling technology, which keeps surfaces 10 degrees Celsius below the ambient temperature at night and at least 1.7 degrees Celsius below the ambient temperature at noon.
“It’s very counterintuitive for a surface in direct sunlight to be cooler than the temperature your local weather station reports for that area, but we’ve shown this to be possible,” said Xiulin Ruan, a professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue. Read more
Iheanacho scores as Leceister begin Europa campaign with 3-0 over Zorya (Vanguard)
James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho all scored as Leicester City began their Europa League campaign with a routine 3-0 win over Zorya Luhansk.
In their first meeting with Ukrainian opposition, Leicester had to withstand a sharp start from their Group G rivals at the King Power Stadium on Thursday.
However, Maddison’s 29th-minute effort put Brendan Rodgers’ side ahead, with Barnes – who had played a crucial role in the opener – doubling the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Wesley Fofana missed a chance to make matters even more comfortable, though the points were wrapped up when Iheanacho slotted in a low finish.
Vladyslav Kabaev should have capped a dominant start for Zorya with an opener in the 22nd minute, only for the forward to fail to beat Kasper Schmeichel from close range. Read more
Africa calls on CAF president Ahmad to seek second term (BBC)
A potential second term in office for Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad is looking considerably more likely after 46 of the continent’s 54 association presidents have called on him to run again.
The support comes despite Madagascar’s Ahmad, who took charge in 2017, having yet to formally announce his intention to stand in March’s elections.
The deadline to apply is 12 November, with no formal bid having yet been submitted by any candidate.
A statement signed by the heads of all Africa’s six regions suggests that the 60-year-old will have widespread backing should he opt to run again, even though he is the subject of an ongoing Fifa Ethics case. Read more
African ‘Man City’ aim to put squeeze on Orange Boys (Guardian)
Pyramids FC of Egypt are called the ‘Manchester City’ of Africa because they share with the English Premier League club the benefits of huge investment from the Middle East.
Formed in 2008 as Al Assiouty Sport, the club made no impact until Saudi Turki al Sheikh took over, changed the name to Pyramids and splashed millions of dollars signing stars and coaches.
When Emirati Salim al Shamsi succeeded Al Sheikh he followed a similar pattern with the goal of challenging domestic giants Al Ahly and Zamalek and becoming a force in Africa. Read more
Atletico striker Luis Suarez buys 1,000 Big Macs for children’s charity event (RT)
Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarez bought and donated 1,000 Big Macs for children in his native Uruguay as part of a charity event.
The 33-year-old spent €4.75 ($5.63) on each of the burgers – which he donated to children in a youth league in Pando, a small city north west of Uruguayan capital Montevideo – raising a total of €4,750 ($5631) for the Ronald McDonald House Association and the Liceo Impulso school.
McDonald’s Uruguayan Twitter account thanked him for his donation to the annual event, which matched the donation made by Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez last year. Read more
Huge boost for Frank Lampard as Chelsea squad is revealed for Manchester United clash (Metro)
Frank Lampard will be able to name his strongest Chelsea XI in Saturday’s clash with Manchester United with all of his summer signings travelling to Old Trafford.
The Blues arrived in Manchester on Friday afternoon ahead of their massive clash against the Red Devils, checking in at the Hilton Garden Inn at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground. Lampard had explained at his pre-match press conference that Kepa Arrizabalaga and Billy Gilmour would not be available, while there were three more absentees. Read more
Bamford hat-trick as Leeds end Villa’s perfect start (BBC)
Leeds United ended Aston Villa’s winning start and ruined their chance of going top of the Premier League thanks to a brilliant Patrick Bamford hat-trick.
Villa came into Friday’s game having won their first four games of a league campaign for the first time since 1930-31, but three expert finishes from the Leeds striker prevented the hosts making it a club record five victories on the spin to open their season.
The result lifts Leeds to third – their highest position at the end of a day in the division since September 2002. Read more
Arsenal hand trial to Dennis Bergkamp’s 22-year-old son Mitchel (Metro)
Arsenal have handed a trial to Mitchel Bergkamp, the son of club legend Dennis, who is looking to link up with the Under-23 side in north London.
The midfielder has been at London Colney this week with Under-23 boss Steve Bould who will continue to assess his potential.
The 22-year-old was released from Almere City over the summer, a team which operates in the second tier of Dutch football. Read more