Lagos to become tech talent hub — Hamzat (Punch)
The Lagos State Government on Saturday said it was positioning the state as a technology talent hub for the world through training and job placement. The Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said this at an Engineering Summit Africa, organised by the engineering students of Lagos State University in Lagos. The theme of the summit is, “Engineering, Technology, and Economic Growth: A Global View”. Read more
We expect ministerial list in two weeks, senators say (Guardian)
Preparations for the formation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet is expected to take proper shape within the next two weeks, The Guardian learned on Saturday. The Ahmad Lawan-led 9th Senate would upon resumption from its two weeks recess in July begin a speedy screening and confirmation of persons whose names are expected to have been submitted by the Presidency before the July 2 resumption of the upper legislative chamber. A ranking Senator who volunteered off-the-record information on the issue to The Guardian, however, stated that at the moment, nothing is on grounds regarding the list of persons to be confirmed as ministers. Read more
2019 polls: Large number of political parties creates logistics problem —INEC (Punch)
The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that a large number of political parties that participated in the 2019 general elections created a lot of logistics problem for the agency. Malam Mohammed Haruna, the National Commissioner in charge of Kwara, Kogi and Nasarawa States, said this on Saturday in Ilorin while speaking with journalists. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that INEC organised a workshop in Kwara State to review the 2019 general elections. Read more
EU urges Nigeria electoral reform after disputed polls (Guardian)
European Union election observers on Saturday called on Nigeria to consider urgent electoral reforms after identifying “systemic failings” in the recent presidential, parliamentary and governorship elections. The EU mission, which was in Nigeria between January and April, said the elections were marred by serious operational and transparency shortcomings, electoral security problems and low turnout. President Muhammadu Buhari won 56 percent of the votes to secure a second term in office. Buhari, who headed a military regime in the 1980s, was elected to his first term in 2015. Read more
Ekweremadu congratulates Abaribe, other minority leaders (Punch)
Former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated the principal officers of the minority caucus of the ninth Senate on their emergence. Ekweremadu, in a statement on Saturday by his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, expressed confidence in the abilities of the minority leaders to effectively perform their roles. He noted that they had what it takes to rally the Peoples Democratic Party members in the red chamber as a formidable opposition in the Senate and the polity. Read more
24 ships carrying petrol and various products expected at Lagos ports (Guardian)
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says 24 ships laden with petroleum products, food and other goods will berth at Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports between June 15 and June 29. The NPA made this known in its daily publications, ‘Shipping Position’. It said that one of the ship would sail in with petrol, the other 23 ships would bring in bulk salt, bulk gypsum, buckwheat, steel products, bulk sugar, semi-trailer and general cargo. Read more
We have started clamping down on abuse of naira notes —CBN (Punch)
The Central Bank of Nigeria on Saturday said that it had started clamping down on the abuse naira notes nationwide. CBN director of Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor, who spoke at a one-day interactive session with stakeholders in Owerri, said that the abuse of the naira notes was a crime in the country. Okorafor said the spraying of naira was an offence, as it amounted to “abusing the country’s symbol of sovereignty.” Read more
Abiodun appoints Tokunbo Talabi as SSG, Amosun’s ex-aide as Chief of Staff (Punch)
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has announced the Chief Executive Officer of Superflux International Limited, Mr. Olatokunbo Joseph Talabi as the Secretary to the State Government. The Governor also announced former deputy Chief of Staff to ex-governor Ibikunle Amosun, Shuaib Afolabi Salisu as his Chief of Staff. The Governor disclosed this in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin on Saturday. Read more
Army arraign 14 officers, soldiers accused of murder, kidnapping (Guardian)
The Nigerian Army said on Saturday it has begun proceedings to court martial 14 officers and soldiers accused of murder, kidnapping and desertion, among other criminal offences. Inaugurating the court proccedings in Port Harcourt, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Army 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, said the suspects were officers and soldiers of the division. Sarham said the General Court Martial was convened in compliance to Section 131 of the Armed Forces Act guiding professional conduct of the nation’s military. Read more
ATM air conditioner catches fire in UNICAL (Punch)
An air conditioner installed in an Automated Teller Machine at the gate of the University of Calabar caught fire on Saturday morning shortly after cash was loaded into the machines by bank officials. The incident was confirmed by the State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo shortly after it happened. She told our correspondent, “It was the air-conditioning unit in the ATM that caught fire. You know they work for 24 hours. But we were able to bring the situation under control. There was no casualty and the money in the ATM was intact.” Read more
NERC rates EKO DisCo as best performed distribution company (Guardian)
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has commended the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) for being the best distribution company in Nigeria. The NERC chairman, Prof. James Momoh, gave the commendation at the premier edition of EKEDC training for the newly employed 100 graduates by the EKEDC in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the newly employed graduates of the EKEDC participated in the session on Friday. Read more
Ekiti clears drains, waterways ahead of raining season (Punch)
Ahead of the raining season, the Ekiti State Government has commenced the dredging of waterways and clearing of drains across Ado-Ekiti metropolis. The state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resource, Mr Gbenga Agbeyo, disclosed this on Saturday while speaking with newsmen during the inspection of projects at the state Water Works premises and Basiri areas in Ado-Ekiti. He said that the governor approved the projects to solve ecological problems affecting the state. Read more
Sex for Marks: Ekiti varsity investigates, queries don (Guardian)
The Management of Ekiti State University, (EKSU), Ado Ekti says it has begun investigations into allegation of sexual misconduct involving one of its lecturers, Dr O.O Aduwo. Mr Bode Olofinmuagun the Head, Directorate of Information and Corporate Affairs of the institution. in a satement he signed in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, said that the university had also queried the lecturer concerned. “The attention of the management of Ekiti State University has been drawn to a video that has gone viral on an alleged sex scandal involving one of our lecturers. Read more
NANS laments state of higher education in Nigeria (Punch)
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students has lamented what it described as the poor state of education across the states of the federation. Mr. Adeyemi Azeez, Public Relations Officer of the association made this known in a statement in Abuja on Saturday. Azeez noted that it was imperative to make the remark about the country’s educational sector after a general overview from all the states of the federation. Read more
Drought forces Namibia to auction 1,000 wild animals (Guardian)
Drought-hit Namibia has authorised the sale of at least 1,000 wild animals — including elephants and giraffes — to limit loss of life and generate $1.1 million for conservation, the authorities confirmed Saturday. “Given that this year is a drought year, the [environment] ministry would like to sell various type of game species from various protected areas to protect grazing and at the same time to also generate much needed funding for parks and wildlife management,” environment ministry spokesman Romeo Muyunda told AFP. Read more
Sudan’s Bashir to appear in court on graft charge (Guardian)
Ousted Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir will appear in court next week to face charges of corruption and possessing foreign currency, the country’s acting prosecutor general told reporters on Saturday. The announcement came more than two months after the military overthrew Bashir on April 11 following months of nationwide protests against his 30-year iron-fisted rule. Bashir “will appear in court next week following charges of corruption and possessing foreign currency,” Al-Waleed Sayyed Ahmed said, without specifying the day. Read more
Gulf of Oman tanker attacks: Saudi Arabia urges ‘decisive’ response (BBC)
Saudi Arabia has urged a “rapid and decisive” response to recent attacks on oil tankers in the area. Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih warned of a threat to energy supplies and market stability. On Thursday two tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman, a month after four others were targeted off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Read more
Nine civilians killed in Somalia revenge attack (Guardian)
Nine civilians were executed by a local militia in war-torn Somalia after the killing of a policeman by the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab, police said Saturday. The revenge attack on Friday just outside Galkayo — one of the most developed cities in the centre of the country — targeted the Rahanweyn clan, several of whose members are suspected of being Shabaab fighters. “This was a horrible incident, a gruesome killing against nine unarmed innocent civilians in southern Galkayo. All of the civilians belong to one clan and the gunmen shot them dead in one location a few minutes after suspected Shabaab gunmen killed” a policeman, Mohamed Abdirahman, a local police official said. Read more
Hong Kong extradition protests: Government suspends bill (BBC)
The Hong Kong government has suspended its highly controversial plan to allow extraditions to mainland China, Chief Executive Carrie Lam has announced. She had previously refused to scrap the bill despite mass protests from Hong Kong residents. “I feel deep sorrow and regret that deficiencies in our work – and various other factors – have stirred up substantial controversies,” she said. Read more
Mexico publishes Trump’s ‘secret deal’ on migration (Punch)
Mexico published the document Friday that Donald Trump earlier flaunted as a secret deal to curb migration, but denied it had capitulated to the US president’s demands for a so-called “safe third country” agreement. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard underwent a grilling in Mexico’s Congress, where some lawmakers insisted otherwise and demanded more details on what exactly he agreed to in the last-minute deal brokered a week ago to dodge Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Mexican goods. Read more
Slovakia swears in first woman president Caputova (Guardian)
Slovak environmental lawyer Zuzana Caputova was on Saturday sworn in as the EU member’s first female president, surprising observers with a speech that lacked the government criticism she was known for on the campaign trail. The community activist, who ran on the slogan “Stand up to evil,” was largely unknown before she launched her presidential bid in the eurozone member of 5.4 million people. Read more
Seven die while cleaning hotel sewer in India’s Gujarat (BBC)
Seven people have died whilst cleaning a hotel sewer in western India, according to local police. The four sanitation workers and three staff at Darshsan Hotel fell unconscious and died on Friday night after inhaling toxic fumes. Their bodies have been recovered in the village of Fartikui, and the hotel’s owner is reportedly on the run. Read more
Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli dies at 96 (BBC)
Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli has died aged 96, Italian media report. The Florence native directed stars including Elizabeth Taylor in the 1967 film Taming of the Shrew and Dame Judi Dench on stage in Romeo and Juliet. Italian media said Zeffirelli died after a long illness which had grown worse in recent months. Read more
Diddy congratulates ex Cassie Ventura on pregnancy with new boyfriend Alex Fine (Metro)
Diddy has congratulated his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura after she announced the exciting news that she’s pregnant with her first child. The Me & U singer, 32, who split from Diddy in October, shared the joyful news in an Instagram post of her and fitness trainer Alex posing in a car together. In the caption, Cassie confirmed that she and boyfriend Alex Fine, 49, are expecting a baby girl after eight months of dating. Read more
Women’s World Cup: Netherlands beat Cameroon 3-1, clinch last 16 berth (Punch)
Vivianne Miedema scored twice as the Netherlands saw off a spirited Cameroon 3-1 on Saturday to secure a place in the last 16 of the women’s World Cup. Miedema’s goals came either side of a close-range Dominique Bloodworth strike for the European champions in Valenciennes, with Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene netting for Cameroon. The Netherlands have won two out of two in Group E and their place in the knockout rounds is therefore secure before they take on Canada in Reims next week. Read more
Women’s World Cup: England boss Phil Neville proud after emotional win over Argentina (BBC)
England boss Phil Neville told of his pride on an “emotional day” after a 1-0 win over Argentina sealed a place in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup. Following the victory in Le Havre, Neville hugged tearful forward Fran Kirby, who played on the anniversary of her late mother’s birthday. Goalkeeper Carly Telford made her major tournament debut less than a year after her mum died. Read more
Bournemouth send message to Arsenal over Ryan Fraser transfer in official statement (Metro)
Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake has confirmed Ryan Fraser will not be sold this summer in an official statement released by the Cherries. The Scottish international is a target for Arsenal and the winger is entering the last 12 months of his contract on the south coast. The Gunners had hoped to capitalise on the uncertainty over Fraser’s future with a £25million bid. Read more
Defending Queen’s champion Marin Cilic delighted to welcome ‘incredible figure’ Andy Murray back (Metro)
Andy Murray will make his long-awaited return to tennis this week at Queen’s, partnering Spain’s Feliciano Lopez in the doubles. Having undergone a hip resurfacing operation at the end of January, the former world No. 1 has undergone extensive rehab in order to catapult himself back to the professional circuit. On home soil, the 32-year-old hopes to play doubles at the Fever-Tree Championships, Eastbourne and Wimbledon to get his competitive juices flowing before pushing hard to make a return to singles before the end of the year. Read more
Andy Ruiz Jr’s trainer Manny Robles dismisses rumours Anthony Joshua was knocked out in sparring (Metro)
The trainer of Andy Ruiz Jr., Manny Robles, does not believe Anthony Joshua was hurt in sparring prior to his shock defeat at Madison Square Garden and says AJ was simply beaten by the better fighter. Joshua was knocked down four times by the unfancied Mexican at the start of the month, with rumours quickly emerging that he suffered from a panic attack in the locker room beforehand and had even been knocked out while preparing for the fight. Read more