Lagos opens boarding houses as schools resume next week (Nation)
The Lagos State Ministry of Education has approved for its boarding schools to receive SS3 pupils resuming next Monday.
In a statement announcing the resumption of schools for SS3 and Technical College 3 students, the Education Commissioner, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo said day and boarding students would be expected back in school August 3 for revision ahead of the West African School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) starting August 17.
“Only SS3 and Technical Study Three (TEC3) students are permitted to resume at day and boarding Schools on August 3 for revision classes and examinations,” she said. Read more
How container-laden truck killed my 27-year-old daughter – Mother (Punch)
A resident of Lagos State simply identified as Mrs Ajoku has decried the activities of container-laden trucks in the state, calling on the authorities to check their operations and put in place necessary regulations to secure the lives of road users.
Ajoku’s plea was contained in an emotional video obtained by our correspondent on Friday.
In the five minutes and 13 seconds video, the widow narrated how her 27-year-old daughter was killed by a reckless trailer driver on Sunday in the Isolo area of the state. Read more
Police shut hotel over guest’s death (Nation)
The Lagos State Police Command has shut down a hotel in Ipaja following the mysterious death of a guest identified as Emmanuel Ayuk.
Ayuk’s dead and unclad body was said to have been discovered on July 26, days after he checked into the hotel.
It was gathered that the police temporarily shut the hotel for investigation because contact details of the deceased, his personal belongings and any other means of identifying were not found. Read more
Buhari reacts to investigations in NDDC, EFCC, says appointees abused trust (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja reacted for the first time on the allegations of corruption levelled against the leaderships of some Federal Government Agencies and Commissions.
These commissions include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The president, who spoke after observing his Eid prayers at the forecourt of the presidential villa, observed that some appointees of the government in both his administration and the previous one have abused their trust. Read more
Four dead in Niger auto crash (Punch)
The Federal Road Safety Corps, Niger Sector Command, has confirmed the death of four persons in an accident that occurred on Lambata–Minna road on Friday.
The state’s Sector Commander, Mr Joel Dagwa, told the News Agency of Nigeria, in Minna that six other persons sustained various degrees of injuries.
He said the accident, which occurred at about 11.40am at Kwanan Bakwai village of Gurara Local Government Area, involved a Mazda car and an articulated vehicle. Read more
Olumide Akpata emerges NBA President, pledges transformational leadership (Guardian)
A former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law, (NBA-SBl) Mr Olumide Akpata, has emerged the 30th President of the NBA.
Akpata polled 9,891 votes to defeat two senior advocates – Mr Dele Adesina and Dr Babatunde Ajibade.
Ajibade polled 4,328 votes and Adesina 3,982 votes.
The 2020 Elections into national offices of the NBA opened at 11.00p.m. on Wednesday (July 29) with a total of 29,635 accredited voters, and ended at 11.00p.m. on Thursday (July 30).
A total of 18,256 ballots was cast. Read more
Maiduguri attack death toll rises to six (Punch)
Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu on Friday said the death toll during Thursday’s attack on Maiduguri by suspected Boko Haram has risen to six.
The Commissioner also disclosed that the number of those fatally injured has risen to 27.
The Commissioner of Police, who provided more updates on the incident to journalists, said five more bodies were discovered between Thursday (yesterday) and Friday (today).
Aliyu said that the victims included one female at Gwange II and five others who were hit by the explosives in separate locations within the city. Read more
Resumption: Wike distributes protective kits to 257 schools (Nation)
Ahead of resumption of schools for exit classes, the Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike, has distributed COVID-19 protective kits to 257 public schools in the state.
Wike, who distributed the items acquired by his government, said the move was in line with the guidelines for resumption of schools.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, said his government attached premium to the education and health of Rivers children. Read more
Hong Kong postpones elections for a year ‘over virus concerns’ (BBC)
The Hong Kong government has postponed September’s parliamentary elections by a year, saying it is necessary amid a rise in coronavirus infections.
Hong Kong is currently experiencing a spike in Covid-19 infections, and reported 121 new cases on Friday.
However, the opposition has accused the government of using the pandemic as a pretext to stop people from voting. Read more
Dad has penis hanging from his arm for four years after his natural one fell off (Metro)
A man who had a new penis grown on his arm after his first one fell off due to a blood infection has waited four years for it to be transferred to the right place.
Malcolm MacDonald, 45, became the first man in the world to undergo the £50,000 NHS-funded procedure but delays have meant his new penis has remained stuck on his arm. The mechanic from Norfolk threw his old appendage in the bin after suffering a long-term perineum infection which caused it to turn black and drop off in 2014. Read more
ISIL bride Shamima Begum’s UK return put on hold after British government wins right to appeal decision (RT)
Shamima Begum’s return to UK shores has been cast in doubt after the British government dramatically won a court battle allowing it the right to appeal an earlier decision. The appeal will be heard by the UK’s Supreme Court.
Begum, now 20, who was one of three east London schoolgirls who traveled to Syria to join Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in 2015, won a High Court appeal earlier this month, allowing her to return to the UK and challenge the withdrawal of her British citizenship.
However on Friday, the Court of Appeal ruled that the case raised a point of law of public importance, meaning that Begum’s return must be paused while the UK government appeals the decision. Read more
Spacecraft carrying Perseverance switches to ‘Safe Mode’ after glitch, but NASA says not to worry (Gizmodo)
True to this agonizing year that is 2020, yesterday’s launch of NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover was not without problems.
As scheduled, a ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida yesterday morning.
Now in space, the Mars 2020 mission is expected to reach the Red Planet in February 2021.
Everything seemed picture perfect, but NASA said a couple of glitchy things happened during the launch, neither of which are expected to jeopardise the mission. Read more
Crowds descend on England’s southern beaches (BBC)
Police and council officers are patrolling the seafront in Bournemouth and Poole as thousands descend on the towns’ beaches on the UK’s hottest day of the year.
By 09:00 BST roads were gridlocked and a mobile app to aid social distancing on the beaches was showing red in three areas – meaning “avoid”.
In June, a major incident was declared in Bournemouth because of the crowds.
Concerns have also been raised about the number of people in Brighton. Read more
AFRICOM confirms HQ is leaving Stuttgart, German defense minister says US withdrawal is ‘regrettable’ (RT)
The US Africa Command will seek to move its headquarters as the Pentagon plans a major reduction of American forces based in Germany. The German Defense Ministry is now considering how to help regions after the US withdrawal.
Since its establishment in 2008, the US Africa Command has been headquartered in Stuttgart, the capital of Germany’s southwestern Baden-Wurttemberg state. Now the command “will look first at options elsewhere in Europe, but also will consider options in the United States,” AFRICOM said in a statement.
AFRICOM chief US Army General Stephen Townsend noted that the decision-making will “likely take several months” as the command searches for a new home. Read more
Where can you watch and listen to Beyonce’s new visual album Black Is King? (Metro)
Beyoncé’s Black is King was released today, 31 July, sending fans buzzing with excitement at the return of their Queen B.
Black is King is a visual album that’s both a re-imagining of the live action version of the Lion King, which starred Beyoncé, and a companion to the studio album that accompanied the film.
Ahead of the release today, the teasers for Black Is King alluded to the project ‘[reimagining] the lessons of The Lion King for today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns’ and celebrating ‘the beauty of tradition and black excellence.’ Read more
Osimhen joins Napoli from Lille (DailyTrust)
Nigeria forward, Victor Osimhen, has signed for Serie A side, Napoli, from French outfit, Lille, the two clubs announced on Friday.
Neither club officially gave details of the transfer, but a source from Lille who was familiar with the transfer told AFP that the Ligue 1 team would receive 70 million euros ($82.8 million) with add-ons potentially worth 10 million euros.
Osimhen has set high standard for Nigerian players – Elaho Why Osimhen signed for Napoli despite ‘racism fear’ Italian media report, however, that Napoli have shelled out 50 million euros before add-ons. Read more
Mikel Arteta hails Frank Lampard ahead of Arsenal’s FA Cup final clash with Chelsea (Metro)
Mikel Arteta has been impressed with the ‘really good job’ Frank Lampard has done since taking charge at Stamford Bridge and believes Chelsea’s head coach is already beginning to imprint his steely personality and ‘ambition’ on his squad.
The two young managers are looking to pick up their first piece of silverware at Wembley this weekend in what will be a repeat of the 2017 FA Cup final.
Arsenal came out on top to secure to win the trophy for a 13th time three years ago – with Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sanchez getting on the scoresheet – and the result meant they overtook Manchester United as the most successful team in the history of the competition. Read more
NBBF celebrates as Ibekwe wins Arizona Women Player of the Decade award (Guardian)
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has showered encomiums on Ifunanya Ibekwe, who was recently voted University of Arizona Women Basketball best player in the last 10 years.
Ibekwe, who became the first ever basketballer to record 55 double-doubles, was announced winner after days of voting by fans across the world.
In his congratulatory message, NBBF President, Musa Kida, said, “We are very happy for this deserved recognition of the hard work of this worthy Nigerian and we are proud of what she has achieved. Read more
LeBron James on NBA Kneeling: ‘I Hope We Made Kaepernick Proud’ (TMZ)
After the game, LeBron James credited Colin Kaepernick for inspiring the kneeling demonstration — and said, “I hope we made Kap proud.”
“I hope we continue to make Kap proud. Every single day I hope I make him proud on how I live my life, not only on the basketball floor, but off the floor.”
“I want to always speak out against things that I feel like are unjust. I always want to be educated on things and go about it that way.” Read more
Christian Pulisic provides fitness update ahead of FA Cup final (Metro)
Christian Pulisic says he’s feeling ‘100 per cent’ fit and confident ahead of the FA Cup final but has issued a word of caution to his Chelsea team-mates about ‘incredible’ Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who he knows well from their time at Borussia Dortmund. The 21-year-old initially struggled to make a significant impact after arriving from Dortmund last summer but has been one of the in-form attacking players in Premier League football since the season’s restart. Read more
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter calls for successor to be suspended (RT)
Disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has reacted strongly to the news that criminal proceedings have been brought against his successor, Gianni Infantino, saying FIFA’s ethics commission has no option but to suspend him.
Swiss authorities revealed on Thursday that proceedings had been launched against Infantino by a special prosecutor, with the investigation focusing on meetings between Infantino and Swiss Atorney General Michael Lauber. Both men have denied any wrongdoing in the case. Read more