Lagos NURTW generates N123b annually –Report (Punch)
The Lagos chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, locally called agberos, generates about N123.08 billion annually which could service the annual budget of Nasarawa, Niger, and Yobe states put together, a statistical report by the International Centre for Investigative Report has shown.
The data which was released on Thursday showed that the money was realised through levies on passenger vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles only.
Other sources of income not included in the report were money levied on hawkers, articulated vehicles, and persons who visited certain markets to buy goods.
The report recorded a total of 75,000 buses; 50,000 tricycles; and 37,000 motorcycles. Read more
Former council vice chair remanded on drug trafficking charge (DailyTrust)
A federal high court sitting in Lagos has ordered the remand of Mr Sakiru Kehinde Ashekun, a former Vice Chairman of Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area (LCDA), for allegedly trafficking in 1.0 kilogrammes of cocaine.
At the court hearing yesterday, two officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) testified against Ashekun.
Anebi Ajihma and Okwunjor Augustine, the agency’s forensic and exhibit experts respectively testified before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The two witnesses also tendered several documents, samples of the tested drug and others which were admitted by the court as exhibits. Read more
Yoruba Nation rally: Lagos police keep mum on salesgirl’s autopsy report, shield killer cop (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has kept mum on the murder of Jumoke Oyeleke, the salesgirl who was allegedly killed by a stray bullet during the Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos on July 3.
Despite the release of an autopsy report which showed that the victim was killed by a bullet, the police had yet to recant an earlier statement that she was stabbed.
Agitators for the Yoruba Nation gathered at the Gani Fawehinmi Park at Ojota amid the heavy presence of armed policemen and soldiers on July 3, 2021.
Some of the operatives reportedly fired gunshots, tear gas canisters and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators and journalists shortly after the rally took off. Read more
LG Polls: Lagos restricts movement on Saturday (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Government has announced a restriction of movement across the State between the hours of 8 am and 3 pm on Saturday, July 24, 2021.
This is to enable the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to conduct hitch-free local government and local council development areas elections.
LASIEC is to conduct elections into positions of chairmen and councillors in all the 57 local government and local council development areas in the State on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, the restriction will facilitate the ease of movement of the electorate, election materials and LASIEC officials for the sanctity of the election, effective monitoring and enhanced security.
Omotoso urged all eligible voters to participate in the elections while also calling for the cooperation of all residents. Read more
Lagos community laments poor state of access road (Guardian)
Residents and commuters in Mafoluku in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area (LGA) have decried the poor state of roads in their neighbourhood, especially Mafoluku Road, which links the community Oshodi market.
With potholes and craters, especially at Ayoni Bus Stop, on the Mafoluku Road, commuting on the road has become a nemesis for motorists and commuters in the community.
When it rains, plying the route becomes a nightmare for commercial drivers, who complain of frequent breakdown of their vehicles.
Commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as (Okada), and tricycle operators, sometimes fall iinto the drainages as a result of the bad road, while residents find it difficult to bring their vehicles home daily, especially whenever it rains. Read more
Insurgency: 6 Super Tucano aircraft finally arrive Nigeria (DailyTrust)
The first batch of A-29 Super Tucano, on Thursday afternoon, arrived Kano from the United States.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja.
The aircraft, which arrived at about 12.34 pm were received by Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd), Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.
The six jets are part of the 12 aircraft to be supplied by the United States of America. Read more
Obaseki pledges better support for security agencies to curb crime (Guardian)
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said his government will continue to partner with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and other security outfits in the state to ensure the protection of lives and property of citizens.
Obaseki gave the assurance when he received the Edo State Commandant of NSCDC, Aniekan Udoeyup, who visited him at the Government House, Benin City.
His words: “I will continue to help you advocate to the Federal Government to support you with more funding to enable you and your men to function optimally. Read more
COVID-19 testing stops in 13 states, Delta variant hitting unvaccinated Nigerians (Punch)
There were indications on Thursday that at least 13 states had stopped testing for COVID-19 despite the impending third wave of the disease propelled by the highly infectious Delta strain.
Epidemiological data obtained from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control showed that since the first case of the Delta variant was reported on July 8, 2021, only about 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory had been sending reports to the NCDC.
These came to the fore on Thursday as data from the NCDC showed that the COVID-19 tests reduced from 735,573 to 521,738 in three months amid warning by the Federal Government that Delta variant was spreading among unvaccinated Nigerians.
The NCDC, on its website revealed that 735,573 tests were conducted between January 10 and April 11. more
FG fails to file extradition charges as Benin court remands Igboho (DailyTrust)
Self-styled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, was arraigned before the Cour D’Appel De Cotonou on immigration-related offences by the government of the Benin Republic.
The Court ordered that Igboho, who is being tried for obtaining a Beninese passport without being a citizen, be remanded in the custody of Brigade Criminelle in Cotonou as the case will continue today (Friday).
However, his wife, Ropo, who is a German citizen, was set free by the court, which didn’t find her guilty of any crime.
Igboho and his wife, Ropo, were arrested at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport, Cotonou on Monday while trying to catch a flight to Germany. Read more
8-week gap seen as sweet spot for Pfizer jab antibodies (BBC)
A longer gap between first and second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine makes the body’s immune system produce more infection-fighting antibodies, UK researchers have found.
The government-funded work is published in a pre-print paper not yet peer reviewed.
Experts say the findings support Britain’s decision on dosing intervals.
And an eight-week gap may be the sweet spot for tackling the Delta variant of Covid now dominating the UK. Read more
China’s Zhengzhou starts clear-up after deadly Henan storms (DW)
Residents in the storm-hit Chinese city of Zhengzhou are clearing up the debris and mud after a deluge that killed more than 30 in Henan province. Rescue teams are still searching for individuals reported missing.
Zhengzhou residents on Thursday began to clear up, hauling away cars and the debris of wrecked buildings from floods that killed at least 33 people.
A sudden downpour overwhelmed the city’s drainage systems, sending floodwater gushing through streets, road tunnels, and the subway system.
Questions have arisen on social media about how prepared authorities had been for such a disaster. Read more
Jordan Peele’s new horror film revealed (Metro)
The details of Jordan Peele’s next horror film have been announced and fans are completely obsessed with the casting.
Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun are set to star in the upcoming movie, which is set for release in 2022.
Titled Nope, the specific details are being kept under wraps with it just being described as ‘a new terror from the mind of Jordan Peele’.
The unnerving poster for the film shows a dark sky, with a cloud attached to what appears to be a kite string hovering over a lit-up town. Read more
How social media gave Cuban protesters a voice (VOA)
When thousands of Cubans took to the streets to protest this month, their calls for freedom and an end of “the dictatorship” were heard across the world, thanks to the rise in social media.
In the town of San Antonio de los Baños, 20 kilometers southwest of the capital, Havana, residents gathered on July 11 to protest the shortage of basic products and medicine. Their calls were shared via Facebook Live in broadcasts known on the island as “direct.”
The images revealed an unprecedented crowd, replicated in at least 20 towns and cities throughout the island.
But by about 4 p.m., the broadcasts suddenly came to an end in several areas, due to internet service restrictions and selective blocking of some networks. Read more
Emily Ratajkowski sponsors Bantry Basketball Club in County Cork (BBC)
Two teen basketball teams in a small Irish coastal town will soon have a spring in their step after securing sponsorship from a US supermodel.
Emily Ratajkowski answered a funding appeal for kit for the under-15 and under-16 boys of Bantry Basketball Club in County Cork ahead of the new season.
Her support has set the teams’ Snapchat group “on fire”, said coach Pat Curran.
He said the family of the model, actress and activist had long been “ingrained” in the Bantry community. Read more
The legendary voice and life of Amy Winehouse (DW)
The London singer’s voice and style were inimitable, and her music changed the shape of British pop. Ten years after her death at 27, what has been learned about her life and why it ended?
Amy Winehouse’s untimely death sent shockwaves to every corner of the British capital, as her love for London and its buzz had always been the cornerstone of all her creative work. She was particularly dedicated to the neighborhood of Camden Town — so much so that in 2008, she famously dedicated her five Grammy Awards to her chosen home.
Ten years after her death, you can still find memories of Winehouse all over Camden and other parts of in north London, where she had spent much of her childhood and formative years, helping to shape her as an artist.
Her family also played a role in her musical development, exposing her to many mid-century musical influences starting at an early age. Winehouse’s grandmother, Cynthia, worked as a professional vocalist, and her father, Mitch, was a big fan of the Rat Pack. Read more
Athletes need your support, Ese Brume speaks from Tokyo (Guardian)
One of the star athletes Team Nigeria is banking on for medals at the Tokyo Olympics, long jumper, Ese Brume has pleaded with Nigerians to continue to support the athletes as the Games officially begins today.
Brume, who was Nigeria’s only athlete in a final event at the last Olympics in Rio, Brazil 2016, has proved her status as one of the best horizontal jumpers in the world. Her African record setting 7.17m leap at the end of May is the farthest any long jumper has landed so far this year.
Speaking from the Athletes’ Games Village in Tokyo yesterday via facebook, Brume, a Commonwealth Games and African Championship gold medallist said: “The accommodation here is good, the food is nice and we are improving in our training. Nigerians should keep supporting us and we pray that at the end of the Games, we will get something good for our country.” Read more
All eyes on Team Nigeria as Tokyo Olympics begin (Punch)
The opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which kicks off today comes as cheering news for the sports faithful after the Games, which were initially set to hold between July 24 to August 9, 2020, were postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19 globally.
The Olympics – which won’t have fans in attendance – has over 11,000 athletes from 205 countries competing in 339 events in 33 sports.
Nigeria – competing in its 17th Olympics – has a total of 60 athletes taking part in 10 sports.
The Olympics has brought mixed fortunes for Nigeria, with 1996 still Nigeria’s best outing where Chioma Ajunwa and the country’s men U-23 football team won gold medals. Read more
Ahmed Musa joins Fatih Karagumruk in Turkish League (DailyTrust)
Turkish Super Lig club Fatih Karagumruk have announced the signing of Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa on a free transfer.
The move marked a return to Europe for Musa who was playing in the Nigeria Professional Football League with Kano Pillars since April.
Karagumruk are yet to disclose the contractual details but the 28-year-old is expected to boost the club’s push in the Turkish top-flight in this campaign.
He left Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr last year October after helping the Riyadh-based outfit win the Saudi Pro League and the Super Cup. Read more
Evian Championship: Pajaree Anannarukarn and Yealimi Noh lead after first round (BBC)
Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn and the USA’s Yealimi Noh sit one shot clear at the top of the Evian Championship leaderboard after day one.
Rounds of 65 saw both players end the day six under par on a sultry day by the banks of Lake Geneva in France.
Anannarukarn, 22, shot a bogey-free round, while Noh, 19, hit an eagle and five birdies to share the lead.
Five players trail them on five under, while world number one Nelly Korda is nine off the lead after a round of 74.
Five bogeys, including a fresh-air shot out of a bunker, saw American Korda end on three over par in pursuit of her second major.
Korda’s compatriot Noh got off to a blistering start with an eagle on the par-four first.
“I have never done that before, but sometimes it is tough when you start so well,” said Noh. Read more
Flagbearers to send messages of equality and justice at Olympic opening ceremony (VOA)
Many Olympic nations are expected to demonstrate their support for gender equality and racial justice on Friday night with their selections of athletes to carry flags at the opening ceremony.
The International Olympic Committee changed it rules and asked each nation to select two flagbearers in an effort to increase gender equality at the Tokyo Games.
Gold-medal rower Mohamed Sbihi will be the first Muslim to carry the British flag at the Games, alongside sailor Hannah Mills.
“It is such an honor to be invited to be the flagbearer for Team GB,” Sbihi said. “It is an iconic moment within the Olympic movement – people remember those images.” Read more
Phil Neville’s Inter Miami suffer sixth straight MLS loss (BBC)
Phil Neville’s Inter Miami side have lost six straight matches in the MLS
Phil Neville says he “knows the consequences” after his Inter Miami side were thrashed at home by New England Revolution for their sixth straight defeat in the MLS.
Miami, who are part owned by David Beckham, are bottom of the Eastern Conference in Neville’s first season as boss.
Neville said: “I feel the owners’ full support, the concern is me. They don’t need to tell me their concerns.
“Our run puts me under pressure.”With eight points from 12 matches this campaign, Miami have the worst record of all 27 MLS sides and their six-match losing run has seen them score once and concede 13. Read more