Lagos landlords, motorists groan over poor road, gridlock, accidents (Punch)
Residents and shop owners have decried the poor state of Old Ipaja Road, Agege, saying that it impedes free flow of traffic and causes avoidable accidents.
Motorists plying the corridor also complained over the regular damage done to their vehicles by the decrepit road.
Our correspondent, who visited the neighbourhood on Wednesday, observed that potholes and craters littered several portions of the road.
Drivers and tricycle riders were seen making effort to avoid potholes and slowing down to navigate some spots they could not escape. Read more
Mixed reactions trail Lagos Bill barring parade of suspects (Guardian)
Mixed reactions have continued to trail the recent passage of an amended version of the Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State by the House of Assembly barring parade of suspected criminals before the media by the police.
Section 9 (A) of the bill passed on Monday at a sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni states: “As from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.”
The proposed law further states: “A person who is arrested shall be given reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making arrangements for defense or release.
“A suspect should also be accorded humane treatment, with the right to dignity of the person; not subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; be brought before the court as prescribed by this law or any other written law; or be released conditionally or unconditionally.” Read more
FAAN owes MMA2 over N200bn, says Bi-Courtney (Punch)
Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos Terminal Two, says the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria owes the company over N200b.
This was said in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mikail Mumuni, in response to the Federal Government’s earlier claim that Bi-Courtney was owing the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had said that the ministry would begin to intensify its efforts to recover the over N37bn owed by airlines in the country and cited Bi-Courtney Limited as owing about N13bn.
Bi-Courtney’s statement read in part, “On the contrary, it is FAAN that owes Bi-Courtney over N200bn by depriving it of its legitimate earnings over the past 14 years.” Read more
Lagos uses L’explore Technology to boost literacy level (Vanguard)
The Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), Lagos State Ministry of Education, is sharing the successful results of the OEQA Pilot Literacy Innovation Programme using L’explore Technology to boost the literacy levels of young students who have reading challenges.
The Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, has therefore reaffirmed Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s decision to make Lagos State a 21st Century technology hub as it aligns with the education sector.
According to her, “400 students at the primary 3 level from 6 public and private schools have participated in the pilot scheme of this laudable initiative. The pilot scheme, which took place last month, was conducted by the OEQA and Mirai Partners using the L’explore application.
“A complete assessment involves the use of artificial intelligence through an eye tracker, and a computer to record student eye movements.” Read more
TAMPAN Suspends Yomi Fabiyi Indefinitely Over Controversial Film “Oko Iyabo” (Guardian)
The Theatre Arts & Motion Picture Practitioners’ Association Of Nigeria (TAMPAN) has suspended actor and filmmaker Yomi Fabiyi over his controversial film “Oko Iyabo”.
Fabiyi’s film “Oko Iyabo”, suffered backlash from social media users after it was released to YouTube last week. The film which was pulled down from the video-sharing platform less than 24-hours after it premiered, depicted the sexual assault case involving fellow actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha. Baba Ijesha was arrested in April for sexually assaulting a minor, the foster daughter of comedienne, Princess. One of the scenes in “Oko Iyabo” was an exact reenactment of the viral CCTV video footage which implicated Baba Ijesha.
Fabiyi had earlier insisted that the film was meant was actually meant to “correct” the child abuse and assault. “The movie is however to correct CHILD ABUSE, ASSAULT, HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE AND OTHER VICES and to state clearly I am not what they claim I am initially. Don’t rush on any negative narrative guys. I am human but will never down play the real issues that concerns children. It is just an expression and I respect polite and superior arguments or opinion. Thank you lovelies,” he wrote in a long-deleted Instagram post. Read more
Kaduna abduction: Baptist Church orders emergency prayer in over 100 countries (Punch)
Following the abduction of 121 students of Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna State, the Nigerian Baptist Convention said it had started organising prayers in all Baptist churches in Nigeria and abroad.
The President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Revd Israel Akanji, said this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, which he said was the last day of the Baptist World Alliance.
Akanji said the alliance comprised 127 countries of the world and that the event held via Zoom, a virtual meeting platform.
The clergy said at the event hosted by Brazil, the 127 countries that make up the Baptist World Alliance were informed of the abduction of students of the Bethel Baptist High School. Read more
2 men bag life imprisonment for kidnapping minor in Kano (Vanguard)
Two men identified as Umar Salisu and Abba Tijjani have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Federal High Court for kidnapping a minor in Kano State.
The duo was said to have been convicted before the court for conspiring and kidnapping the three (3) year old boy, Attahiru at Kofar Waika Quarters Kano.
Delivering his judgment, the Judge, Justice J. Daggard maintained that the prosecution counsel proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the first and second defendant.
Daggard also said that the prosecution did not prove its case against the third defendant, Alhassan Jamilu and therefore declared him discharged and acquitted. Read more
Ogun okada rider stabs tricyclist to death over right of way (Punch)
A commercial motorcycle rider well known as okada rider, Denis Nwambam, has been arrested for the alleged murder of a tricycle rider, Wasiu Osinowo, in the Matogun area of Ogun State.
Nwambam reportedly stabbed Osinowo to death in a fight over right of way while they were both plying the road around 11pm on Wednesday.
City Round learnt that Nwambam and Osinowo had struggled over right of way, leading to an exchange of words.
Some minutes later, Osinowo was said to have flagged down Nwambam along the road and challenged him to a duel during which the latter stabbed him in the stomach. He reportedly bled to death. Read more
No going back on return of artefacts to palace -Oba Ewuare II (Vanguard)
The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, on Friday, insisted that the people of Benin Kingdom including himself and the entire royal family would not accept the reparation of the artefacts, which were stolen from the palace during the 1897 invasion by the British, to any other location except the palace where they were looted from.
Addressing the media in his palace on Friday, Oba Ewuare II said the initiative of Governor Godwin Obaseki on the return of the artefacts with the establishment of Trusts and planned establishment of an Edo Museum of West African Arts (EMOWAA) was not part of the discussion he had with the governor, even as he said he sensed some persons trying to make money from the exercise.
At the briefing were palace chiefs, heads of all the dukedoms in the kingdom, members of the royal family, Ohens (heads of shrines and priests), the Okhaegeles (representatives of the youths) and several Benin sons and daughters. Read more
‘Nothing was the same after that’: Lenny Kravitz on the childhood concert that changed his life (CBC)
Lenny Kravitz was just five years old when he went to his very first concert — one that would change the course of his life forever.
Kravitz was in first grade, and his father Sy Kravitz, an NBC news producer in New York, picked him up from school and took him to Madison Square Garden, not telling him who they were going to see.
The band was the Jackson Five.
“My mind was blown away when they came out on the stage. Nothing was the same after that,” says Kravitz in an interview with q host Tom Power. Read more
Heart inflammation link to Pfizer and Moderna jabs (BBC)
Heart inflammation is a “very rare” side-effect of the Covid vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna, according to regulators in Europe.
The European Medicines Agency said the side-effects were more common in younger men.
The medicines safety body said the benefits of Covid vaccines continue to far outweigh any risks.
But doctors and patients have been advised to be aware of the symptoms of heart inflammation. Read more
WHO concerned for Afghanistan healthcare as Taliban advances (Guardian)
The World Health Organization voiced deep concern Friday over healthcare access in Afghanistan amid a sweeping Taliban offensive as US troops pull out of the war-torn country.
“It’s a terribly concerning situation, and it’s very fluid right now,” said Rick Brennan, the WHO emergencies director in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
“We are clearly concerned about the decline in the access to healthcare,” he added, speaking to journalists in Geneva via video-link from Cairo.
His comments came as the Taliban on Friday claimed to be in control of 85 percent of Afghanistan, including a key border crossing with Iran, as US troops continued to withdraw. Read more
Manuscript version of famous erotic text bought by French state (RFI)
The French state has acquired the original manuscript of the Marquis de Sade’s “120 Days of Sodom” for nearly 5 million euros, safeguarding for the country a work declared to be a national treasure, the culture ministry said on Friday.
The 18th-century erotic masterpiece has endured a turbulent destiny over the centuries but the future of the original text now appears secure after a private benefactor stepped in with the money.
The culture ministry in December 2017 stepped in to prevent the sale of the manuscript at auction, declaring it a national treasure and banning its export.
The ministry said in a statement that it had paid 4.55 million euros to acquire the work for France. Read more
DR Congo: Measles vaccines missed because of Covid focus (BBC)
With many children missing out on measles vaccines because of disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, fears are growing that there could be an outbreak of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“In the last two to three months we’ve not been able to carry out routine measles vaccinations, which is worrying,” says Eugénie Ngabo Nzigire, a nurse based in the eastern city of Bukavu.
“It takes just one sick child and the whole community is in danger,” adds the 57-year-old head of the maternity unit at Skyborne Hospital.Read more
UK FCDO, AREAi host digital equity dialogue on education divide (Vanguard)
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, FCDO, through the Digital Access Programme earlier in 2021 provided a grant to a non-governmental organisation, Aid for Rural Education Access initiative, AREAi, towards promoting community-based initiatives to enable students from low-income families to access remote learning materials, digital education resources options and digital opportunities.
A statement said: “The core of our collaboration is premised on ensuring children in low-income rural clusters have access to quality education through equal access to digital learning.
“The Education Digital Equity Initiative closed out with a National Digital Equity Focus Group Session on Wednesday, July 7, with key stakeholders in attendance from Internet Service Providers, Mobile Network Operators, Federal Ministry of Education, Development Practitioners and Civil Society Organizations.” Read more
NBA Finals: Phoenix Suns beat Milwaukee Bucks 118-108 in game two to take a 2-0 series lead (BBC)
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 42 points but his Milwaukee Bucks trail 2-0 in the NBA Finals after losing 118-108 to the Phoenix Suns.
Antetokounmpo, the NBA’s most valuable player of the past two seasons, has overcome a knee injury to play in the finals and added 12 rebounds.
Devin Booker led the Phoenix, scoring 31 points, while Mikal Bridges posted 27 and Chris Paul scored 23.
Milwaukee hosts game three of the best-of-seven series at 01:00 BST on Monday.
Suns coach Monty Williams was quick to praise Booker for his contribution over the opening two games. Read more
Nigeria’s chances on eve of the strangest Olympics (Guardian)
The world of sport has been agog with action this past week. As much attention is being paid to the Games as to the resurgent Coronavirus.
From the ongoing Wimbledon Tennis championship to football across 11 European cities for Euro 2020, to athletics meets all over the world, to the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the COPA America, to qualifying events in different parts of the world, and protests in Japan against going ahead with the Games in the midst of rising cases of the pandemic, it has been an explosion of sports everywhere.
It is hard to imagine that in the middle of all that, an NFF-selected national team (for it is not the Super Eagles as we know Nigeria’s ‘first eleven) of hurriedly assembled home-based players in the domestic league went to the United States of America to take on the full national football team of Mexico in what the NFF says is ‘exposure’ for faster development of Nigerian football. Read more
Shapovalov ousted as Djokovic to play for 6th Wimbledon title (CBC)
Denis Shapovalov’s run at Wimbledon has ended, with the Canadian losing in straight sets to top-seed Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
Djokovic edged the 22-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5 at the All England Club today to secure his seventh final at the grass-court Grand Slam.
Shapovalov, the tournament’s 10th seed, pressured Djokovic, but won just 1-of-11 breakpoints and committed 36 unforced errors.
Djokovic saved all five break points he faced in the second set before Shapovalov double-faulted again to hand him a 6-5 lead. Read more
Diaz stunner downs Peru to give Colombia Copa 3rd place (RFI)
Luis Diaz scored a sensational winner with virtually the last kick of the match as Colombia beat Peru 3-2 in Brasilia on Friday to finish third in the Copa America.
The goal was the 24-year-old Porto forward’s second of the match and came just 10 minutes after Gianluca Lapadula looked to have sent the game into a penalty shoot-out.
It was a thrilling encounter that ebbed and flowed, with Yoshimar Yotun giving Peru a first half lead before Colombia captain Juan Cuadrado equalized early in the second period.
“We’re happy, it was important to finish by winning,” said Cuadrado, whose side lost their semi-final on penalties to Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who play Neymar’s Brazil in Saturday’s final. Read more
D’Tigers, US clash in pre-Olympics friendly (Punch)
D’Tigers will play reigning world and Olympic champions USA in an exhibition game in Las Vegas on Saturday (today) ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Saturday PUNCH reports.
The game will offer coach Mike Brown an opportunity to prune his 15-man squad down to 12 players for the Games.
He is expected to announce his final squad on July 17, before the team’s departure to Kizarazu city in Japan two days later for the Pre-Games training camp, before moving into the Olympics Village.
D’Tigers will play Italy, Germany and Australia in Tokyo. Read more
Copa America 2021 final: Argentina v Brazil match preview (BBC)
Lionel Messi has the chance to win his first major tournament with Argentina when they meet Brazil in the final of Copa America in Rio on Saturday.
Messi, 34, has won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues during a trophy-laden career at Barcelona.
But the six-time Ballon d’Or winner’s only success with the senior Argentina team is at the 2008 Olympics in China.
“We’ll try to stop him achieving this objective,” said Brazil defender Marquinhos.The 2021 Copa America is Messi’s 10th major tournament with Argentina – comprised of four World Cups and six editions of the competition to determine the champions of South America. Read more
