Lagos residents decry fatalities caused by one-way drivers, riders (Guardian)
The family of Jegede in Oke-Afa, Ejigbo area of Lagos, was yesterday thrown into mourning over the loss of their son, Kehinde Jegede, 20, who was killed by a commercial motorcycle rider who drove on one-way lane on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
Kehinde was said to have gone to buy recharge vouchers around 6:00pm on Kudirat Street, opposite Destiny Bus Stop, on the Canoe Road, when he was killed.
The family of the deceased told The Guardian yesterday, that he was rushed to a nearby private hospital, but was rejected due to the level of injury. Read more
Woman, 29, docked over alleged assault on neighbour (DailyTrust)
An Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, has granted a 29-year-old woman, Funmilola Ekundayo, bail in the sum of N300,000 for allegedly hitting her neighbour with a bench, causing her bodily harm.
The Magistrate, Mr E. O. Ogunkanmi, also directed that the defendant should produce two sureties in like sum.
Ekundayo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Read more
Relief as govt begins expansion of Isolo-Mushin road (Guardian)
Residents of Isolo, Ejigbo, Mushin, Oke-Afa and environs will soon heave a sigh of relief as the motion sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, on the expansion of the single lane Mushin-Isolo road from Pako Bus Stop, Isolo to Mushin, has been passed at the green chamber and work has begun after receiving the nod of the Federal Government.
The expansion would expectedly reduce congestion and logjam witnessed daily in the axis. The road, which was constructed in the 70s, is a major road connecting the mainland of Lagos to Isolo and also plays host to many alternative roads in the area.
Disclosing this at the weekend, Johnson said: “On completion of the project, it will enhance my desire to transform Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency II economically and also serve as a booster to the expectations of the constituents who spend an average of six hours on a journey that should not last more than 45 minutes.” Read more
Sanwo-Olu, Dele Momodu, others to speak on security challenge, its implications (Tribune)
Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other dignitaries, including Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Basorun Dele Momodu; Chief Kenny Martins, AIG Dasuki Galadmach FCID, Alagbon, Lagos, among others are billed to attend the IntegrityReporters newspaper 4th Annual Public Lecture series.
The publisher of the newspaper, Mr Adewale Ogunniran, made this known in a signed statement, saying that the programme themed: “Security Challenge and Implications on National Development,” is slated for Thursday, March 25, 2021, at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to him, the event which will be chaired by Momodu, one of the most decorated media gurus, with Governor Sanwo-Olu being Special Guest of Honour, will also be graced by other eminent personalities, who as discussants would do justice to the topic. Read more
Irabor talks tough, orders troops to smoke out unrepentant bandits (ThisDay)
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, yesterday charged troops to be ruthless and more aggressive in dealing with unrepentant bandits in the North-west.
Irabor, in his maiden operational directive to the troops, since assumption of office ordered the troops to remain focused, committed and resolute in discharging their duties.
The order came just as troops eliminated 25 terrorists in a fierce encounter in the North-east following an earlier battle order issued by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru. Read more
FRSC receives tow truck to tackle indiscriminate parking (DailyTrust)
The Plateau State Sector Commander Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Alphonsus Godwin, said his command has received a new heavy-duty tow truck.
Godwin said the truck would be stationed at Hawan-Kibo Command corridor to tackle indiscriminate parking and other road obstructions, while explaining that henceforth, no obstacle would be allowed to generate nuisance on the road or highway.
He added that it would relieve the incessant obstruction often caused by vehicles along the steeply and snaky stretch of the road in the area. Read more
AAC Disowns Sowere, Wants Him Prosecuted (Leadership)
The African Action Alliance (AAC) has dissociated itself from Omoyele Sowore who he described as an expelled former member of the party, saying Sowore’s activities are at variance with the stands of AAC.
This is even as the party has called on the security agencies to arrest and prosecute Sowore for various infractions he has committed in the name of the party.
The party in a press conference addressed by the national chairman, Dr Leonard Nzenwa said, “last week some group of people led by one Omoyele Stephen Sowore, a former member of our great party, who was not only suspended and removed as national chairman of the party but also expelled over various proven allegations of financial recklessness and misappropriation of party funds, abuse of party constitution, high-handedness etc started displaying and carrying out dangerously criminal actions, under the name of our great party thereby committing various crimes thereof.” Read more
Labour threatens to shut down economy over minimum wage (Guardian)
Workers, under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), yesterday, came hard on federal lawmakers and threatened to shut down the economy if the House of Representatives passes a bill intended to move the minimum wage legislation from Exclusive List to Concurrent List.
The Bill, sponsored by Mr. Garba Datti Muhammad, scaled second reading at plenary of the House of Representatives presided by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila penultimate week.
It seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to, among others, transfer the subject matter of minimum wage prescription from the exclusive legislative list, set out under Part I of the second schedule, to the concurrent legislative list set out under part II of the Second Schedule of the Constitution. Read more
Biden’s $1.9tn Covid relief bill passes US Congress (BBC)
President Joe Biden’s $1.9tn (£1.4tn) relief bill to help Americans deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has cleared its final hurdle in Congress.
The House of Representatives approved the massive economic aid plan 220-211 on Wednesday along partisan lines, with no Republicans voting in favour.
Having already passed through the Senate, the relief package now heads to Mr Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
This sixth Covid-19 relief bill is a major legislative win for Mr Biden. Read more
Britney Spears can request to end conservatorship at any time but hasn’t, claims dad’s lawyer (Metro)
Britney Spears’ dad’s lawyer has claimed the singer is free to file a motion to terminate her conservatorship at ‘any time’, but says she hasn’t yet done so. Vivian L. Thoreen, from Holland & Knight LLP, who represents Britney’s father Jamie Spears, says the singer is always able to file to have the conservatorship she has been under for the past 13 years removed. She told People: ‘[Jamie has] diligently and professionally carried out his duties as one of Britney’s conservators, and his love for his daughter and dedication to protecting her is clearly apparent to the court. Read more
Prince Harry inherited over $13m from Diana (PageSix)
It’s nice work if you can get it.
On Sunday night, Prince Harry gravely revealed to Oprah Winfrey that he and his wife, Meghan Markle, had been cut off financially by the royal family and they were only able to survive due to the inheritance left to him by his mother.
“I have what my mum left me and without that, we wouldn’t have been able to do this,” he said of the couple’s move to the United States.
“It’s like she saw it coming and she’s been with us through this whole process,” he added, noting “the Netflixes and Spotifys of it all was never part of the plan.” Read more
Hamed Bakayoko: Ivory Coast’s PM dies in Germany (BBC)
The Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, Hamed Bakayoko, has died in a hospital in Germany, authorities say.
Bakayoko, who was receiving treatment for cancer, passed away on Wednesday, just days after his 56th birthday.
He was appointed prime minister in July, following the sudden death of his predecessor Amadou Gon Coulibaly.
President Alassane Ouattara described Mr Bakayoko as a “great statesman, an example to young people and a man of exemplary loyalty”. Read more
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian no longer speaking, despite co-parenting (PageSix)
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are not talking following their divorce — after the rapper changed all his phone numbers and told her she could only contact him through his security.
A source exclusively told Page Six that Kanye, 43, abruptly cut himself off from Kim, 40, even before they filed for divorce.
But despite the animosity, the source added the pair are continuing to co-parent their children, and Kanye regularly visits them at home while Kim is out.
The source said, “Even before Kim filed for divorce, Kanye changed his numbers and said, ‘You can contact me through my security.’ Read more
Climate change could lead to six month summers by the end of the century (Metro)
Climate change could lead to Britain’s summers being six months long by the end of the century, according to a new study. If the rate of global warming continued on its current path, half-year summers could become the new normal for countries north of the Equator by 2100. The shift in climate could have potentially catastrophic effects on agriculture, human health and the environment, the report warned. Read more
Mexico marijuana: Lower house passes recreational cannabis bill (BBC)
Mexico’s lower house has approved a bill that would legalise the recreational use of cannabis.
It will now go to the Senate for a final vote, which President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s party is confident will pass.
This would make Mexico one of the world’s largest regulated markets for cannabis.
Mexico has struggled with a bloody war against powerful drug cartels, with violence killing thousands yearly. Read more
Enyimba down Al-Ahly Bengazi 2-1 in Confed Cup group stage opener (DailyTrust)
Former African champions, Enyimba International football club yesterday kicked off their 2021 CAF Confederation Cup group stage campaign with a convincing 2-1 win over Al-Ahly Bengazi of Libya in Aba.
Enyimba opened the scoring in the 9th minute through Captain Austin Oladapo’s long range left-foot effort that beat the goalkeeper from just outside the area.
Buoyed by the goal, the two-time CAF Champions League winners camped fully in their opponents half, combining well in possession and retaining the ball well in the final third.
However, they couldn’t create clear-cut chances and looked open without the ball, despite Fatai Osho’s three-man defence set up. Read more
Liverpool beat Leipzig to seal Champions League quarter-final spot (BBC)
Fabinho is “one of the best in the world at number six”, Jurgen Klopp said after the Brazilian helped Liverpool beat RB Leipzig to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
The 27-year-old midfielder has had to fill in at centre-back for large parts of this season because of injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, while also suffering from a number of fitness problems of his own.
But restored to his preferred position in the centre of the Reds midfield, he excelled in the last-16 second-leg win over Leipzig, secured through second-half goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
It keeps alive the club’s hopes of a second European title in three seasons at the end of a campaign where their title defence has fallen apart following a run of recent home defeats. Read more
Antoine Griezmann and Gerard Pique praise Barcelona despite Champions League exit at hands of PSG (Metro)
Antoine Griezmann and Gerard Pique praised Barcelona’s character after they went down fighting during their Champions League exit at the hands of PSG. Trailing 4-1 after a one-sided first leg at the Nou Camp, Barca produced a spirited display in the return leg this evening to draw 1-1. Lionel Messi’s stunning equaliser gave the visitors hope of getting back in the tie after Kylian Mbappe put PSG ahead with a controversial penalty. But PSG held firm and benefited from a missed penalty from Messi to keep Barcelona at bay and advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Read more
Tiger Woods: Rory McIlroy says injured golfer is doing better after car accident (BBC)
Rory McIlroy says Tiger Woods is “doing better” and could be home “in a week or so” after suffering serious injuries in a car accident.
The American 15-time major winner, 45, is recovering after suffering a fractured leg and shattered ankle in the crash last month.
McIlroy said Woods was in good spirits.
“Hopefully, if things go well over the next week or so he might be able to get home,” McIlroy told the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in the United States.
McIlroy said Woods even dished out some criticism on his form, including a final round of 76 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday. Read more
Manchester United finally appoint ‘Football Director’ as Darren Fletcher also lands new role in restructure (Metro)
Manchester United have officially confirmed the appointment of John Murtough as the club’s new Football Director after an extensive search, while club legend Darren Fletcher also takes up a new role. The Red Devils have been looking at bringing in a new figure to oversee recruitment and football operations for several years, with the likes of Sevilla transfer guru Monchi and former Lille sporting director Luis Campos linked with the role. But United have opted to promote from within, with former head of football development Murtough – who was brought to United in 2013 by David Moyes – handed the reins. Read more
Victor Oladipo a possibility with Knicks ‘combing’ for trades (NYPost)
The Knicks open the post-All-Star break schedule Thursday in Milwaukee in an unlikely position.
They are in fifth place, looking to remain in playoff position and staring at a March 25 trade deadline at which they have become buyers and not sellers.
Entering the season, it appeared the rebuilding Knicks would unload some of their one-year free-agent signees to a playoff team to collect extra future draft picks. (Last year, they traded Marcus Morris for a late first-round pick that turned into Immanuel Quickley.)This year, their trade candidates were expected to be Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, Austin Rivers and Elfrid Payton. Frank Ntilikina, scheduled to be a free agent, also figured to be on the block, and now he may be used as a pawn to obtain a veteran. Read more
