Lagos launches new buses with free service on five routes
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday launched the new buses under the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) with free service on five routes, assuring that the development would redefine public transportation and make the State globally competitive.
Specifically, the free service was launched across five routes including Berger to Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Berger to Oshodi, Oshodi to TBS, Ikeja to Alausa and Ikeja to Oshodi to commemorate the Workers Days, after which normal service is to start on May 2, 2019. Read more
Cultists on rampage in Lagos, kill guard (Vanguard)
A private guard was Tuesday night hacked to death by some cultists along Joseph Akinoola street, Alasia, in Ijanikin area of Lagos.
The death of the guard identified simply as Abiodun, brings the number of persons killed in the ongoing cult war between Aiye and Eiye confraternities in the area to five, in three months. A resident, Mrs Foluke Kolawole, told Vanguard that Abbey, as he was fondly called, “was engaged two years ago, owing to series of robbery attacks in the area”. Read more
Ikeja, Magodo, Alausa houses for demolition in seven days (NewTelegraph)
Akinole Oshiun family yesterday said it had issued a seven-day notice to owners of some property at Ikeja, Alausa, Magodo and other areas, to regularise their titles on its land or risk demolition. Solicitors to the family, Ayo Opadokun & Co, at a media briefing in Lagos, said the notice was issued on April 29. Mr. Kayode Akano, who spoke on behalf of the firm, said the Supreme Court had granted ownership of 398 acres of the hitherto disputed land, covering areas in Agindingbi, Alausa, Magodo, Ikeja and others, to the family.
Akano listed the areas on which properties had been built to include Alhaja Ashabi Cole, Hakeem Balogun and LTV Way, MKO Abiola Way, Sections of IPM Road, Otunba Jobifele Way and Adeleye Street. Read more
May Day: Workers demand quick revamp of economy (Leadership)
Nigerian workers yesterday joined their counterparts across the globe to mark the annual May Day celebration with a demand on President Muhammadu Buhari to take immediate steps to revamp the country’s economy. In the coming years, the workers specifically urged the president to check the worrisome unemployment among the youths and the widespread poverty in the country. The demands were made by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the rally to commemorate the day in Abuja. Read more
Okowa, Ikpeazu, Lalong, Ganduje reassure workers of N30, 000 pay (Guardian)
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa yesterday reassured workers in the state, that the N30, 000 minimum wage will be paid as and when due, just as he described labour unions as defenders of employees’ welfare.
Okowa gave the assurances while addressin members of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the May Day celebration in Asaba. Read more
Nigeria can make a lot of foreign exchange through migration – Awosika (Punch)
The Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, Ibukun Awosika, says Nigeria can earn a lot of foreign exchange from the movement of its citizens to other countries.
Awosika said this on Wednesday at the 2019 edition of The Platform, a forum for national discourse organised by the Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos.
She said, “Our easily and obviously celebrated asset is our population. We are so many. By 2050, we are going to be the third largest country in the world, after China and India. We are probably going to be around 400 million people.
“It’s good for numbers, but it’s not the population that is the real asset; it is how we handle that population and turn it into a real asset.” Read more
How Buhari, Dabiri saved Zainab (Nation)
Contrary to the popular impression that the Foreign Affairs ministry facilitated Zainab Aliyu’s and Ibrahim Abubakar’s release, it actually failed to move when told of the duo’s ordeal, The Nation learnt yesterday.
The personal interventions of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, got freedom for Zainab and Abubakar, who were arrested for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia. The offence carries a death sentence. Read more
April slump worsens investors’ loss to N2.65tr (Nation)
Nigerian equities suffered a major contraction in April as the bearishness at the stock market defied earnings reports and dividend recommendations.
Quoted equities recorded net loss of N714 billion in April, increasing the net capital depreciation so far this year to N762 billion. With the decline in April, average decline in investors’ portfolio over the past 16 months now stand at 25.03 per cent, with net decline of N2.65 trillion in total market value of quoted equities. Read more
Anambra Assembly passes law banning marriage between sickle cell carriers (Punch)
The Anambra State House of Assembly has outlawed marriages involving people living with sickle cell anaemia.
The bill was sponsored by the member representing Anaocha II state constituency, Charles Ezeani and 15 others.
The law, to be cited as Sickle Cell Disease Control and Eradication Repeal, sought to eradicate sickle cell anaemia in Anambra State and set those living with it free from all kinds of oppression, abuse and exploitation. Read more
Fuji Lord, K1 births bread, coffee shops in Lagos (Vanguard)
In a renewed bid and vigour to further expand his business horizon and interests outside his original thriving music career, acclaimed and undisputed King of Fuji music, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has just introduced his highly-successful bakery business to the Lagos market.
This is sequel to the one he earlier opened in his country home Ijebu Ode, not too long ago. The new massively hi-tech confectionary outfit, aptly called Anjola Bakery,named after one of his beloved daughters, Anjolaoluwa, has since commenced baking for the Lagos market, and promises to be a Mecca of sorts for lovers of pastries and related baked items. Read more
Fate of DisCos shaky as govt plans other options (Nation)
Years after it was privatised, the power sector has failed to deliver the desired result, the Federal Government said yesterday.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who delivered the verdict, spoke of other options to re-engineer the sector for effective power supply to meet domestic and industrial needs of Nigerians. He was not specific on the options. Read more
NFF confirm Zimbabwe, Senegal friendlies for Super Eagles (DailyTrust)
Nigeria will face Zimbabwe and Senegal to prepare for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) campaign.
On June 2, Gernot Rohr’s men will start their pre-Afcon camp in Asaba where they will take on Zimbabwe at the Stephen Keshi Stadium on June 8.
A day later, they will depart Nigeria for Ismaila, Egypt for their final camp ahead of the tournament. Read more
Iker Casillas in stable condition after heart attack (Guardian)
Spain 2010 World Cup winning captain, Iker Casillas is reportedly in stable condition after after suffering a heart attack during training with his club, Porto yesterday.
The club said Casillas was taken to hospital after suffering a heart attack at their training ground, adding that the 37-year-old is “stable” and remains under observation.
Casillas won three Champions League titles, and La Liga five times, at Real Madrid. Read more
Lady golfer leaves social media after round with Trump (ThisDay)
LPGA pro Lexi Thompson spent part of Easter weekend golfing with President Donald Trump and right-wing pundit Rush Limbaugh.
The White House released photos of the threesome from the golf course at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
On Sunday, Thompson announced on Instagram that she would be taking a break from social media because of “hurtful things being said to me” and that any subsequent posts would be from her management team. Read more
Alves warns Neymar on self-control (Punch)
Paris Saint-Germain’s Dani Alves has urged teammate Neymar to display more self-control after his altercation with a fan following last weekend’s Coupe de France final penalty loss to Rennes.
Alves and Neymar both featured as PSG lost again on Tuesday, this time 3-2 away to Montpellier in Ligue 1, and the former admitted that he was unable to defend Neymar’s recent behaviour. Read more
Super Eagles open AFCON camp June 2 in Asaba (Independent)
Super Eagles will begin their final phase of preparations for the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Sunday, June 2 when the team camp’s opens in Asaba, Delta State.
As part of preparations for the tournament, the team will play Zimbabwe and Senegal in friendly matches in June. Read more
NPFL can produce next Messi — La Liga official (Punch)
Javier del Rio, Head of La LigaNigeria Office, on Wednesday in Abuja said the Spanish league organisers have been working closely with the League Management Company.
Del Rio told the News Agency of Nigeria the close relationship with the Nigeria Professional Football League organisers was aimed at establishing a proper youth structure for Nigerian clubs. Read more
Semenya loses landmark appeal against IAAF testosterone rules (ThisDay)
Caster Semenya has lost a landmark case against athletics’ governing body meaning it will be allowed to restrict testosterone levels in female runners.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) yesterday rejected the South African’s challenge against the IAAF’s new rules.
But CAS said it had “serious concerns as to the future practical application” of the regulations. Read more
Pogba to accept Real pay cut (Sun)
Manchester United’s Paul Pogba will have to be prepared to earn less money if he wants to join Real Madrid, according to reports.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who returned to Old Trafford for £89million in August 2016, was now said to be flirting with a summer move to the Bernabeu.
But the World Cup winner will have to take a pay cut as Real will refuse to equal his United wage of £290,000 per week, reported ESPN. Read more
Ibrahim, Ekpeyong win again, Ameh stumbles (Guardian)
Top seed of the Girls 16 event, Rebecca Ekpenyong won a testy and decisive round-robin match against Oiza Yakubu yesterday to effectively secure her place in the semifinals of the 2019 CBN Junior Championship.
The match that attracted the attention of Nigerian junior tennis followers, who took advantage of the May Day holidays to attend the event, was pitting the current Girls 16 champion against an opponent just back from the African Girls 14 Championship in Togo and it lived up to its billing. Read more