‘Lagos education still underfunded despite 2020 increased allocation’ (Guardian)
Some stakeholders in the education sector have said the sector in Lagos is still underfunded despite increased allocation in the 2020 Appropriation Act. This is aside the fact that infrastructure and resources required for Information Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance learning are virtually non-existent in public schools.
In a communiqué at the end of a one-day Citizens’ forum on COVID-19, safe school reopening and inclusive education organised by Human Development Initiatives (HDI) and ActionAid, the participants noted that awareness on the Lagos State Inclusive Education Policy is low, even among key stakeholders. Read more
Lagos teacher, Ogun generator repairer arrested for defiling minors (Punch)
A teacher at a private primary school in the Ago Okota area of Lagos, Moses Fabusola, has been arrested by the police for alleged defilement of his seven-year-old pupil.
Fabusola, who is said to also be the girl’s lesson teacher, reportedly molested her in February 2020 by inserting his finger into her private parts.
Sunday PUNCH learnt that the girl had an infection sometime in June which made her mum to be curious.
After questioning, the girl was said to have opened up on the act to her mum, who reported it at the Ago Palace Way Police Station. Read more
Third Mainland Bridge partial closure: Lagos pledges alternative routes will remain safer, motorable (Guardian)
Due to the partial closure of Third Mainland Bridge for repairs, Lagos State government has pledged to continually make alternatives routes safer and motorable for ease of movement.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, stated this while on tour of the alternative routes, assuring that the state government will do all within its capacity to ensure safer roads and ease of movement for all road users.
He said his ministry would continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and other relevant government agencies to ensure that the alternative routes are always in good condition and motorable throughout the duration of the rehabilitation works and beyond. Read more
Newborn found alive in Anambra gutter after downpour (Punch)
A day-old baby was on Saturday found inside a gutter in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
An eyewitness told our correspondent that the baby who was abandoned in the gutter by an unknown person was picked after an early morning downpour in the area.
The incident, it was gathered, occurred at Abuja Estate near Government House, Awka.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident. Read more
We either restructure or breakup – Pastor Adeboye (Guardian)
The General Overseer, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said the way forward to overcoming the myriad of socio-economic crises Nigeria is grappling with is restructuring.
Speaking at the 60th Independence Day Celebration Symposium organised by RCCG and the Nehemiah Leadership Institute, yesterday, Adeboye said: “Why can’t we have a system of government that will create what I will call the United States of Nigeria? Let me explain. We all know that we must restructure. It is either we restructure, or we break up, you don’t have to be a prophet to know that. That is certain – restructure or we break up.
“Now, we don’t want to break up, God forbid. In restructuring, why don’t we have a Nigerian kind of democracy? At the federal level, why don’t we have a President and a Prime Minister? If we have a President and a Prime Minister and we shared responsibilities between these two, so that one is not an appendage to the other. Read more
Why some Nigerian families lock up children and the mentally ill (BBC)
A spate of cases in which people have been rescued after being locked up for many years by their families has shocked Nigerians, and shone a spotlight on both parental neglect and the lack of mental health provision.
Some adults, said to be mentally ill, were found with iron chains around their ankles, and forced to eat, sleep and defecate within the same confined place.
In one case, a 32-year-old man was chained up for at least seven years in his parents’ garage in north-western Kano state.
There have also been reports of children being treated violently while under the care of step-mothers or relatives.
In the most recent case in September, a seven-year-old’s step-mother was arrested after he was allegedly battered to death at his home in Kano, the biggest state in northern Nigeria. The step-mother has not yet been charged, and hasn’t commented. Read more
Music can effectively unite Nigerians –Famisa (Punch)
Gospel singer, Ebenezer Famisa, has said music can be used as a unifying factor for the nation to encourage forgiveness and preach peace.
Famisa told the News Agency of Nigeria that with the many challenges, including COVID-19 pandemic and insecurity, music could foster the needed peace, justice and love in the country.
According to the gospel artiste who is also an evangelist, as Nigeria attains 60 years, it should be strengthening the proclamations of the national anthem and pledge, rather than struggling to achieve them. Read more
NAF Partners Nollywood to Immortalise Arotile (Thisday)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says in honour of the late first female combat pilot in Nigeria, Tolulope Arotile, it has concluded plans, in partnership with the Nigerian film industry, to immortalise the fallen hero. The Force also presented to members of the public an animated storybook to encourage young people to take up careers in military aviation, with the book series titled, “Mom I Can Fly.” Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this at the weekend in Abuja, during an event, “My Nigerian Dream”, organised to commemorate the country’s 60th Independence anniversary. It was organised by I Choose Life Foundation.
NAF said the film titled, “Eagles Wings”, which would be made available in cinemas, would encourage Nigerian youths to appreciate their heroes. It noted that many youths had the tendency to celebrate the heroes of other countries, while ignoring their own.
Abubakar said after the death of the 24 years old Arotile, many young girls had indicated interest to join the force. Read more
How many of these things do you know about Trump’s COVID-19 infection (Aljazeera)
The US president’s diagnosis has thrown the US election into chaos as campaigning is halted amid fears of more infections.
US President Donald Trump’s diagnosis as COVID-19 positive adds extraordinary drama to an already fast-moving and tumultuous election campaign.
A lack of clear information about Trump’s diagnosis, symptoms and current health condition, despite assurances from White House officials and physicians that he is doing well, has also fuelled a sense of uncertainty for many in the United States.
Here are five facts about the US president’s infection:
Where is Trump now?
Trump will spend the coming days in a military hospital just outside Washington, DC, to undergo treatment for the coronavirus, but will continue to work, the White House said on Friday.
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Trump “will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days”. Read more
Covid: UK announces more than 10,000 daily cases for first time (BBC)
The UK has announced more than 10,000 daily coronavirus cases for the first time since mass testing began.
There were 12,872 new cases, while a further 49 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.
However, the government said a technical issue meant some cases this week were not recorded at the time so these were included in Saturday’s data.
It comes after data released this week suggested infections may be increasing more slowly than in previous weeks. Read more
At least 1 dead, several missing as storms lash southern France, Italy (France24)
One person died and authorities listed some 20 as missing Saturday after heavy storms lashed southern France and northern Italy with hundreds of aid workers deployed to villages cut off by the deluge.
Italian civil protection officials said a 53-year-old volunteer firefighter died in the Aosta Valley as severe flooding hit the country’s northwest after torrential rain overnight.
Regional authorities said 11 people were missing in the Piedmont region, where several villages were cut off after the downpour rendered roads impassable.
They said the situation was “extremely critical.”
Authorities in Venice expected the city — which also suffered violent storms in August — to be submerged by an ‘acqua alta’, an occasional tidal peak coming in from the Adriatic to reach the Venetian Lagoon and flood as far as the iconic Saint Mark’s Square. Read more
Ghost hunter horrified that Poundland is selling ouija boards for Halloween (Metro)
A paranormal investigator has spoken of his horror at ouija boards being sold in Poundland for Halloween.
Paul Marsters, member of True Paranormal Events UK, said he was ‘gobsmacked’ that such an item was on the shelves, claiming they can release deadly demons if not handled by trained mediums.
He said: ‘Ouija boards are most certainly not a toy and should not be available for kids to buy in pound shops for Halloween mind adults that are not trained in how to use them. ‘It does not matter if they are plastic or wood, if the planchette spells the word “Zeus” it is a demon trying to come through and you should not even say the name, never mind continuing to communicate with it. Read more
Covid: NME owner says pandemic impact wasn’t all negative (BBC)
As an already reeling music industry is hit by the coronavirus, the owner of UK publication NME says the pandemic has brought challenges and opportunities.
Singapore-based BandLab also owns music brands ranging from guitar-making to retail and digital platforms.
The virus came at a time of already seismic change for the industry as firms seek new ways to make profits.
In recent years, the recording industry has been revolutionised, while instrument and magazine sales fell. Read more
India Records 100,000 COVID Deaths; Solomons No Longer Coronavirus-Free (VOA)
As the world approached 35 million cases of coronavirus Saturday, India reached a grim milestone of more than 100,000 dead from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. It is the third country in the world to pass that mark, following the United States and Brazil, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
India’s health ministry reported 100,842 deaths, while the number of infections reached 6.47 million, adding nearly 80,000 new cases in one day.
With winter approaching, and the Hindu festival of Diwali next month, the world’s second most populous country could see a jump in cases, health experts said. Read more
F9 release date pushed back to spring 2021 after James Bond move (Metro)
The release date for the latest instalment in the Fast and Furious franchise has been pushed back to May 2021.
F9 – which stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson and John Cena – was originally meant to premiere in May this year but the coronavirus outbreak meant they had to move it to April 2021. But it will now be released on Memorial Day weekend on May 28, 2021, according to Variety.
The move comes after No Time To Die’s premiere date was delayed yet again from November 2020 to April 2, 2021. We can’t have anything this year, it seems. Read more
Finidi’s time as National team coach will come, says Gara-Gombe (Guardian)
One-time Gombe FA chairman, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, has stated that former international, Finidi George, should wait for his time as national team coach, saying that opportunities still abound as far as handling national was concerned.
Finidi had expressed disappointment after been left out in the list of coaches announced last week by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to handle the various age-grade categories of the national teams.
The former Super Eagles winger, who is currently the assistant manager of the Spanish side, Real Mallorca, had expressed interest to nurture the U-17 national cadet team as part of given back to the country that exposed him to the world. Read more
COVID-19: Osimhen doubtful for Eagles friendlies (Punch)
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is doubtful the Super Eagles’ friendly games against Algeria and Tunisia on October 9 and 13 respectively, in Austria, following COVID-19 restrictions put in place by his Italian club.
Osimhen’s club Napoli announced on Saturday that COVID-19 tests were carried out on all their players, with only Macedonian midfielder Elif Elmas testing positive.
However, ASL local health authority decided it was unsafe for the Napoli squad to travel and has banned the team from travelling outside the region to Turin for their Serie A clash at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday (today).
Napoli later announced that their players and staff were in isolation and would not travel for their international fixtures. Read more
French Open 2020: Novak Djokovic eases through; Daniel Altmaier stuns Matteo Berrettini (BBC)
World number one Novak Djokovic put in another assured performance to beat Daniel Elahi Galan and reach the French Open fourth round.
The 33-year-old Serb, bidding for his 18th Grand Slam title, beat the Colombian qualifier 6-0 6-3 6-2.
Djokovic, who took the first set in 25 minutes, has lost just 15 games in his opening three matches.
He will face 15th seed Karen Khachanov of Russia for a place in the quarter-finals in Paris.
“I felt I played OK. Played some fine shots, played OK at the baseline,” said Djokovic. Read more
Jamie Murray brands Mats Wilander’s Andy Murray criticism ‘unfair’ (Metro)
In a week where British tennis has come under the microscope after a clean sweep of first-round singles exits, doubles players Jamie Murray, Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury served a timely reminder that there is strength in depth in that format of the sport. Murray and Skupski booked their spots in the quarter-finals with a three sets win over second seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, while Salisbury and American partner Rajeev Ram – who are yet to drop a set – cruised past French pair Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin. There has been a British doubles Grand Slam champion in each year since 2016. Prior to this year, seven-time Slam champion Murray has won a major in each of those seasons. Read more
Edinson Cavani: Manchester United set to sign former PSG striker (BBC)
Former Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is due to fly into England on Sunday to join Manchester United.
The Uruguay international, 33, has been in talks with United and although there is no deal yet, it is growing increasingly likely Cavani will join on what could be a two-year contract.
Cavani is out of contract having left Paris St-Germain at the end of June.
He left PSG under a cloud following a disagreement with Neymar and feels he has more to give to European football. Read more
Frank Lampard defends Edouard Mendy’s decision to speak French to Chelsea’s defenders (Metro)
Frank Lampard insists he has no issue with Edouard Mendy communicating in French to his Chelsea defenders after watching his new signing keep a clean sheet in Saturday’s resounding win over Crystal Palace. Second half goals from Ben Chilwell and Kurt Zouma, allied to a brace of penalties from Jorginho, helped Chelsea bounce back from their midweek Carabao Cup defeat against Tottenham. Mendy made his debut against Spurs and was unable to play the starring role in a disappointing penalty shootout loss that was ultimately settled by Mason Mount’s costly miss. Read more