Lagos lawmaker under fire for saying youths always high on drugs (Punch)
The lawmaker representing Amuwo Odofin Constituency I at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, has received backlash over her comments alleging that most Nigerian youths on social media are always high on drugs.
Alli-Macaulay, in a video of her address at an October 26 plenary of the House on the looting and violence that trailed the #EndSARS protests, had said, “We need to begin to orientate our young people. They are high on drugs all the time, most of them.
“They go to social media and do all sorts of things. I’m even scared to give my young children phones because I am scared of what they may see on social media. It is that bad.”
The lawmaker argued that unemployed graduates could get a job in the informal sector instead of complaining about joblessness. Read more
Mayhem: How we secured Surulere from hoodlums – Lagos youth leader (Vanguard)
A youth leader in Surulere, Lagos, Mr Adedeji Adeoti, has narrated how young people in the area secured the community from attack by hoodlums during the recent EndSARS protest.
Adeoti told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday that the concerned youths had to safeguard the community because “it’s our heritage.
“During the crises, we had to mobilise the youths to come out to protect the streets and its environs from the hoodlums,
“We had to come out to safeguard our neighborhood from miscreants because our aged parents and loved ones are all at home and needed protection. Read more
#EndSARS protests: Lagos govt directs MDAs to forward list of destroyed properties (Tribune)
Sequel to the recent unrest in Lagos State which resulted in wanton destruction to some government properties, items, and valuables, the state government on Friday directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to send the list of all affected properties, items and other valuables in their domain.
It would be recalled that the peaceful #EndSARS protests in the state had turned violence following the shooting by military men, resulting in hoodlums vandalizing government and private properties across the state.
The State Head of Service (HoS), Mr Muri Okunola, gave this directive in a circular with Ref. No: CIR/HoS/20/Vol.1/114, dated 30th October 2020, titled: ‘Processing of Indemnity for State Property Damaged in the course of the recent civil unrest,’ saying the directive was to enable the affected MDAs to obtain indemnity from Insurance companies for the properties involved. Read more
Every household in Lagos will be metered by 2023 – LASG, EKEDC (Vanguard)
The Lagos State government has on Friday disclosed that it’s working with the Electricity Distribution Companies in Lagos to ensure all households are metered before the end of the current administration.
The LASG disclosed this during the official launch of the Federal Government National Mass Metering Program, NMMP, organised by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC in Lagos State.
According to the Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resource, Lagos State, Olalere Odusote, “Our intention is to mitigate the complaints of Lagos residents, through the elimination of estimated billing in the country. Read more
Our leader coordinated operations from prison – Ex-soldiers, others arrested for robbery (Punch)
Robbery suspects arrested in connection with the attack on a bullion van and killing of four policemen in Ebonyi State in July have explained how their gang leader, one Clement Abanara aka Millions, planned their operations from Ikoyi prison, Lagos, where he is remanded.
The suspects are two dismissed soldiers, Ayeni Samuel and Emeka Ariston, Abanara’s cousin, Alfred Robinson and four others identified as Sunday Solemu, Abuchi Alfred, Emeka Ilo and Ekene Igbanifore.
They were apprehended recently by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team while they were reportedly planning to rob a commercial bank in Asaba, Delta State. Read more
Lekki Shooting: Lagos judicial panel summons LCC Boss (Guardian)
The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuse and Other Matters, yesterday, invited the Managing Director of Lekki Concession Company (LCC), Mr Abayomi Omomuwa, to testify before it over the event of October 20, 2020, where soldiers allegedly fired at and killed peaceful #ENDSARS protesters at Lekki tollgate.
This is as the Lagos State government, yesterday, announced that the curfew imposed on the state following the break down of law and order during the protests would now be observed from 10pm till 6am.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, made the announcement in a statement.He said: “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu praises Lagosians for observing the curfew, which is expected to restore normalcy in our communities. Read more
#EndSARS: Celebs knock Desmond Elliot, Fashola (Punch)
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, were trending topics on social media at different times during the week. Fashola ‘trended’ on Sunday and Monday, while Desmond started ‘trending’ on Thursday.
Elliot was criticised by many celebrities and youths because of his comments on regulating social media while in the Assembly chambers. Though he initially denied making such comments, the video was released online and the actor-cum-politician was thoroughly bashed on the Internet. The 46-year-old later apologised over his comments on Friday, October 30. He wrote on Twitter, “I did not mean to be insensitive with this. It was borne out of the magnitude of destruction and looting of businesses I witnessed when I went on a tour of my constituency. Read more
Nigeria Committee reopens submission portal for 2021 OSCARS (Vanguard)
The Nigeria Official Selection Committee (for the Academy Awards IFF Submissions) NOSC, formerly known as the Nigeria Oscars Selection Committee, has announced the reopening of the submission portal for the 93rd Academy Awards from Thursday, October 29, through Tuesday, November 3.
In a statement by the committee, the reopening of the submission portal was due to the fact that after several stages of screening of films received for selection, including basic technicality checks by the committee, and the unavailability of the required supporting documents (streaming distribution or video on demand agreements) by the filmmakers, some of the submissions received by NOSC are yet to meet all eligibility rules. Read more
“Tell my children I love them”: Final words of mum killed in Nice terror attack (Metro)
A mum-of-three who staggered into a burger bar after yesterday’s knife attack in Nice told medics ‘tell my children I love them’ right before she died. Brazilian-born Simone Barreto Silva, 44, was one of three worshippers murdered during yesterday morning’s Mass at the Notre Dame basilica. She had lived in France for 30 years and had three children. Brazilian reports say she had three sons, but photos on her Facebook profile show her with two boys and a girl. According to local reports her final words were ‘tell my children I love them’ as paramedics rushed to the scene, where two people were decapitated and several others were injured. Also among the dead is dad-of-two Vincent Loquès, 54, and a 70-year-old woman who was murdered while praying near the font during the 10am ceremony. Read more
UK govt admits it trained Nigeria’s infamous SARS police unit (RT)
The United Kingdom has acknowledged it provided training and equipment to a now-disbanded Nigerian law enforcement unit whose alleged abuses have sparked large protests in the African nation.
The minister for Africa, James Duddridge, admitted that officers in Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) received instruction from UK officials between 2016-2020.
An “End SARS” protest movement began in Nigeria in early October amid accusations of widespread police brutality. The unit has been accused of torture and extrajudicial killings by human rights groups. SARS was disbanded in mid-October but protesters continue to demand law enforcement reforms. Read more
Tanzania elections: President Magufuli in landslide win amid fraud claims (BBC)
Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has won re-election with a landslide victory in a poll that the opposition has described as fraudulent.
Mr Magufuli’s main rival, Tundu Lissu, has said his party’s agents were prevented from entering polling stations during Wednesday’s election.
The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has dismissed the claims of fraud.
In its final results, the NEC said the president took 84% of the vote, while Mr Lissu received 13%. Read more
Trump brags about ‘best in usa history ’GDP as economy barely pulls out of Covid-19 slump (RT)
As US President Donald Trump boasted about the country’s record GDP rise during the third quarter of 2020, his detractors rushed to remind him the “growth” was merely a partial recovery from the catastrophic Covid-19 recession.
Trump bragged that the 33.1 percent GDP growth recorded for the quarter was the “BEST IN USA HISTORY” on Twitter on Friday, firing up his supporters by promising to do even better next time.
“IF I AM ELECTED [sic], NEXT YEAR WILL BE OUR BEST EVER!” he tweeted exuberantly. Read more
US early ballots hit 90 million on Friday (Guardian)
Four days to Election Day, the number of early votes for Tuesday’s Presidential Election in the United States has hit 90 million, with 53 million ballots coming as drop-box mail votes.
Of the 240 million U.S eligible voters, experts estimate a 158 million turnout in this year’s crucial elections.
In what appears a strong motivation for change, over 20 million more Americans are expected to vote in 2020 than in 2016.
Speaking to a handful of international journalists on integrity of the 2020 election, as it relates to mail-in voting, Executive Director and Founder, Centre for Election Innovation and Research at Washington DC, David Becker, said, “Most people are returning those (mail) ballots much earlier than expected.” Read more
Coronavirus: US sees record-high daily Covid numbers as election nears (BBC)
The US saw a record high of 91,000 new Covid-19 cases reported on Thursday, with spikes in dozens of states just days before the presidential election.
The same day, over 1,000 Americans died with the virus, as the national death toll and number of patients in hospital continue to trend upward.
Over nine million total cases have been reported in the US, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.
The contest between Donald Trump and Joe Biden comes to a head on Tuesday.
This is the third time this month that the US daily death toll has surpassed 1,000, according to Reuters. Read more
Internet clashes over black model cast to play English Queen Anne Boleyn (RT)
Black model Jodie Turner-Smith is set to play 16th-century Queen of England Anne Boleyn, who was, of course, a white woman. The head-scratching choice tore the Internet apart, many suggesting it amounted to cultural appropriation.
Turner-Smith’s turn as the medieval monarch was announced on Friday. The project was described by entertainment outlet Deadline as being a three-part “convention-defying” psychological thriller by Channel 5, set to “shine a feminist light” on the life of Boleyn, famously sent to her death by her husband King Henry the Eighth.
Social media quickly began overflowing with complaints about Turner-Smith playing a white queen. Read more
Iwobi set for second EPL start (Punch)
Alex Iwobi is set for another English Premier League start when Everton travel to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle on Sunday.
A red card to Brazilian Richarlison in the Toffees’ 1-1 draw against Liverpool meant Iwobi was handed his first Premier League start of the campaign by manager Carlo Ancelotti in Everton’s 2-0 loss to Southampton last Sunday.
The Nigeria international could make another start on Sunday after the club manager confirmed that former Real Madrid star, James Rodrigues, would not be available for the trip to Newcastle. Read more
Terence Davis: Toronto Raptors co-operating with NBA after guard arrested (BBC)
The Toronto Raptors say they are co-operating with the NBA’s investigation after guard Terence Davis was arrested in New York this week.
Davis, 23, was charged with seven offences, including two counts of assault, after an incident involving a woman in Manhattan on Tuesday.
The criminal complaint alleges Davis hit the woman in the face, also causing her son standing nearby to fall.
The Raptors said they “take these issues very seriously” in a statement. Read more
Juventus confirm Cristiano Ronaldo tests negative for COVID-19 (RT)
Cristiano Ronaldo has tested negative for Covid-19, Juventus have confirmed. The Bianconeri announced the news on Friday that the star had returned negative results and is no longer forced to self-isolate following a swab test.
Ronaldo has been in isolation since he tested positive for Covid on October 13 whilst on international duty with Portugal.
Unable to take part in Portugal’s 3-0 win over Sweden, he returned to Italy the following day in a private air ambulance to continue his self-isolation at home. Read more
Vienna Open: Novak Djokovic suffers shock defeat in quarter-finals (BBC)
World number one Novak Djokovic suffered a shock defeat by Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the quarter-finals of the Vienna Open.
The Serb was beaten 6-2 6-1 by the world number 42, who only came into the tournament as a lucky loser.
Sonego will face Dan Evans in the semi-finals after the Briton outlasted Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.
Evans showed plenty of determination to come through 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-2 in two hours and 42 minutes. Read more
Chelsea boss Lampard dismisses ‘anti-US Pulisic bias’ after discussion with rival coach (RT)
Chelsea coach Frank Lampard has dismissed reports that he doubted the talent of Christian Pulisic due to his US nationality, saying that RB Salzburg’s American manager Jesse Marsch misinterpreted a conversation they had.
Marsch, who is among the most respected coaches working outside the United States, recently stated that Lampard told him that he doubted Pulisic’s talents upon his arrival in West London last summer following a £58 million ($75 million) move from Borussia Dortmund – but Lampard has maintained that Marsch got the wrong end of that particular conversation.
As recounted by Marsch, Lampard told him that Pulisic, who was just 20 years old when he arrived at Chelsea, still had “a lot to learn” about top-level football despite scoring two times in the pre-season friendly against Marsch’s Salzburg team. Read more
Nobby Stiles: World Cup winner and former Man Utd midfielder dies aged 78 (BBC)
World Cup-winning England midfielder Nobby Stiles has died aged 78 after a long illness.
The former Manchester United player had prostate cancer and advanced dementia.
Stiles is the seventh member of the England team that started the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany to die, after captain Bobby Moore, Alan Ball, Ray Wilson, Gordon Banks, Martin Peters and Jack Charlton.
Manchester-born Stiles was made an MBE in 2000. Read more