Lagos records 959 emergency incidents in 11 months (Nation)
A total of 959 emergency incidents were recorded in Lagos between January and November 2019, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said on Wednesday.
Olufemi Oke-Osanyitolu, boss of the agency stated this at a meeting on collapsed building, road accidents and flooding tagged “synergising in managing emergencies and disasters” held at Alausa.
According to him, 515 of the incidents occurred between January and June, while 444 occurred from July to November. Read more
Yaba hospital admits 727 psychiatric patients in 2019 (Guardian)
The Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba (FNPHY), Lagos, Dr Oluwayemi Ogun, on Wednesday said the hospital admitted a total of 727 psychiatric patients this year.
Ogun, made the disclosure at the hospital’s 2019 Presentation of the Medical Director Score Card in Lagos.
She said the 727 admitted psychiatric patients was in contrast to the 720 patients admitted in 2018, representing one per cent increase. Read more
Lagos CP orders probe into US returnee’s murder (Punch)
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered an investigation into the death of a United States of America returnee, Mutiu Agbosasa, who was murdered in the Ikorodu area of the state on Sunday.
It was gathered that Agbosasa, who returned to the country early this year after spending 45 years in the US, was murdered by gunmen while returning from the Island Club.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the gunmen attacked the victim when his guard opened the gate for him to drive into the compound. Read more
Lagos seeks N14b agric boost (Nation)
Lagos state Government is seeking N14 billion investments towards implementing its State’s five-year Agricultural Roadmap (2020-2025), to boost large-scale food production.
Speaking on Wednesday in Lagos at a Roundtable Discussion on the Implementation of the State’s 5-year Agricultural Roadmap (2020-2025), the commissioner for Agriculture,Prince Gbolahan Lawal said thestate needed investments in infrastructure to develop markets and boost its agricultural and fisheries capacities.
To attract enough investments to implement the roadmap, he said the government was working with Bank of Agriculture (BoA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Bank of Industry (BoI) to drive institutional reforms. Read more
4th Mainland Bridge: Lagos government unveils 39 bidders (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday unveiled 39 construction companies who have expressed interest in the construction of the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had advertised for expression of interest on the Fourth Mainland Bridge some weeks ago.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, said the opening of the bid was the first of the six stages before a winner would be selected to construct the proposed bridge. Read more
LASEPA reopens 26 facilities (Nation)
The General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, Dr Dolapo Fasawe on Wednesday said the agency has reopened 26 out of the 28 facilities shut due to non-compliance of environmental laws in the state.
Dr Fasawe said the affected facilities had now complied with the environmental laws guiding their operations, while warning Lagos citizens to be cautious in their celebration so as not to disturb the peace of their neighbours during the festive season.
The warning, she said, became necessary considering the rate of reports of infractions received by the agency in recent time. Read more
IPPIS: Varsities face fresh strike in Jan, FG enrols 8,000 lecturers (Punch)
A nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities is imminent in January with the failure of the Federal Government and the union to settle their disagreement on the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System.
The PUNCH on Wednesday gathered that the two sides had not resolved their differences over the payroll system.
While ASUU said it was still waiting for the National Assembly’s invitation as part of efforts to resolve the disagreement, a top officer of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning said the regime’s decision on the IPPIS remained the same. Read more
FAAC: Revenue dwindles as FG, states, LGs share N635.826bn for November (DailyTrust)
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils a total of N635.826 billion as federal allocation for the month of November 2019. This amount, which was shared at the FAAC meeting in Abuja yesterday, N66.232bn less than N702.058 shared for October this year. ADVERTISEMENT The amount was inclusive of VAT, Exchange Gain and Forex Equalization, according to FAAC. Read more
How eating hot pepper can save your life (Guardian)
Eating spicy meals and most especially hot chilli pepper may not be your favourite food choice because of the burning sensation, however, it can save your life.
A new study has revealed that a diet that includes chillies could help lower the risk of heart disease, so start firing up your pepper intake.
According to the study which was published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, people who consume chilli pepper on a regular basis have a reduced mortality risk by 23 per cent compared to those who do not. Read more
Man receives 12 lashes for stealing bread, eggs, butter (Punch)
The Presiding Judge of Upper Area Court in Zuba, Abuja, Mr Gambo Garba, on Wednesday ordered that a convict, Yakubu Nasiru of Dakwa, Abuja, be given 12 lashes for stealing.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Garba also warned the convict to desist from committing crimes and find legitimate means of earning a living.
The prosecution counsel, Mr Chinedu Ogada, had told the court that on December 14, a complainant, Aminu Lawal, also of Dakwa, Abuja, reported to the police that the convict burgled his shop. Read more
Impeached Trump says Democrats ‘consumed with hatred’ (Vanguard)
US President Donald Trump railed against a Democratic Party “consumed with hatred” after he was impeached Wednesday for abuse of power and obstructing Congress.
“While we’re creating jobs and fighting for Michigan, the radical Left in Congress is consumed with envy and hatred and rage, you see what’s going on,” the Republican leader seethed at campaign rally in the state. “These people are crazy.” Read more
Barcelona, Real stalemate in politically-charged Clasico (Guardian)
Barcelona and Real Madrid could not be separated on Wednesday in a Clasico that was briefly interrupted by Catalan independence protests, when dozens of yellow beach balls were thrown onto the pitch at Camp Nou.
After being postponed in October, there were renewed fears of unrest around Spain’s most famous fixture.
Protestors held banners, waved flags and even threw inflatable beach balls. Read more
Carabao Cup semi-final: Man City to face United, Leicester vs Aston Villa (Punch)
Holders Manchester City will face Manchester United in the semi-finals of the League Cup after both sides saw off lower league opposition to make the last four on Wednesday.
Raheem Sterling’s second half double ensured City warded off a shock to win 3-1 at League One Oxford, while United ended fourth-tier Colchester United’s fairytale run with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford.
Leicester set up a semi-final meeting with Aston Villa after the Foxes survived a second half fightback from Everton to secure their place in the last four 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park. Read more
Andy Ruiz demands third fight from Anthony Joshua (Vanguard)
During an interview after the match he lost to Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz shouted into the microphone, “Who wants to see a third fight”,
Joshua replies: “If you’ve heard, you’ll see a third.” I take that as a confirmation they’ll go again.
Ruiz admits he was too heavy for the fight. Read more
Tsitsipas targets top-three breakthrough (DailyTrust)
Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas is eyeing a top-three finish next season as he hopes to break the rankings stranglehold of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. The 21-year-old concluded his 2019 season with a bang, lifting the ATP Finals crown in London on his debut in the tournament to end his year at No 6 in the world. Read more
Arteta has great future but no top job experience, Wenger tells Arsenal (Guardian)
Spaniard Mikel Arteta, in talks to be the next Arsenal coach, has “no experience” as a manager and will need help, former Gunners manager Arsene Wenger said on Wednesday.
Former Arsenal captain Arteta, the assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, is the leading candidate to succeed Unai Emery at the London club.
This emerged after their chief executive, Vinai Venkatesham, was pictured outside the 37-year-old’s house early on Monday. Read more
Ronaldo fires Juventus top as Buffon equals Maldini’s Serie A record (Punch)
Cristiano Ronaldo continued his hot streak as his towering header gave Juventus a 2-1 win at Parma to put Juventus top of the table as Gianluigi Buffon equalled Paolo Maldini’s Serie A appearance record.
Ronaldo met Alex Sandro’s looping cross with an incredible leap and header just before half-time to put Juve on 42 points, three ahead of Inter ahead of their match with struggling Genoa on Saturday.
His 10th league goal of the season came after Samp’s Gianluca Caprari had levelled Paulo Dybala’s superb volleyed opener.
The Argentine met Alex Sandro’s raking cross in the 19th minute with the most delicate of volleys, caressing the ball past Emil Audero from the edge of the box. Read more
CWC: I was scared of extra time, Klopp confesses as Liverpool fly to Cup final (Vanguard)
Roberto Firmino’s stoppage-time goal set up the clash the world has been craving for here – a Liverpool versus Flamingo final in the Club World Cup final on Saturday.
Fans were already preparing for the extra time when the stadium erupted in ovation. It gave the European champions a 2-1 victory in a match that met the expectations of fans.
Jurgen Klopp heaved a sigh of relief and said; ‘I was scared of extra time and was delighted we scored at the last moment’. Read more
Serie A’s monkey compaign ‘too provocative’, say Lazio (Guardian)
An anti-racism campaign by Serie A featuring monkeys was “too provocative”, Lazio president Claudio Lotito said Wednesday, stressing however that the league was not racist.
Monday’s launch of the campaign was aimed at promoting “integration, multiculturalism and fraternity” but immediately drew widespread criticism and ridicule.
“The spirit was not to accentuate the racist side, but unfortunately, it was not seen in a positive light, judging from the reaction,” Lotito told reporters in Rome. Read more
Minamino to undergo Liverpool medical ahead of £7.25m move (Vanguard)
Takumi Minamino will undergo a medical on Wednesday ahead of his £7.25 million move to Liverpool.
Barring no hitches, the Salzburg midfielder will join the Reds when the transfer window reopens on January 1, and could make his debut for the club in the FA Cup third-round tie at home to Everton four days later.
Liverpool believe they have pulled off a coup in landing the 24-year-old Japan international, having taken advantage of a release clause in his Salzburg contract. Read more
Liverpool’s Elliott,16, close to first team call-up, says coach (Punch)
Liverpool’s 16-year-old midfielder Harvey Elliott is “not too far” away from making his mark on the first team, according to under-23s coach Neil Critchley.
Elliott showed why Liverpool signed him from Fulham in July, despite being on the receiving end of a 5-0 League Cup quarter-final hiding from Aston Villa on Tuesday as the Reds fielded the youngest team in their history.
The England youth international impressed at Villa Park and only a brilliant save from Orjan Nyland denied him a goal. Read more