Lagos to produce first forensic dentist in West Africa (Nation)
Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs Ajibola Ponnle has disclosed that the Lagos State Public Service will be producing the first forensic dentist in the whole of West Africa soon.
This the commissioner said is the result of the massive investment of the State Government in the human capacity development of its workforce which “is already attracting global attention.
The Commissioner disclosed this during the Year 2020 Ministerial Press Briefing organised as part of activities to commemorate the first year in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the JJT Park, Alausa, on Wednesday. Read more
Lagos settles N1.24bn debt among residents through mediation (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government said it has facilitated the settlement of N1, 242, 765, 569 debt among residents through mediation in the last one year.
Speaking at the year 2020 annual ministerial press briefing, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), said the sum came out of the 22,896 cases that were amicably resolved among parties by the Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC).
He said the CMC, which is an agency under the Ministry charged with the responsibility of providing free legal services to residents, received 39,586 cases for mediation in the last one year, out of which 30,017 were mediated. Read more
Sanwo-Olu inaugurates community policing in Lagos (Punch)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Wednesday inaugurated community policing in the state, The PUNCH reports.
He said the launch of the State Community Policing Advisory Committee and its operations arm, the State Community Policing Committee was geared towards improving security in the state.
The governor instituted members of the two committees at a ceremony held at the State House in Alausa, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile.
The SCPAC is co-chaired by the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, and the Chairman of Council of Obas and Chiefs in Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu. Read more
Lagos reverts to pre-2018 land use charge (Nation)
Relief will soon come the way of property owners in Lagos as the State Government has said it is reverting to the pre-2018 land use charge rate.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, at the 2020 Ministerial Briefing marking the first year anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in office.
He said the state government had to review the increase in land use charge assessment to accommodate the agitations of Lagosians and reduce the financial pressure on citizens as it relates to land use charge. Read more
Lockdown ease: FRSC impounds 2,019 vehicles, records 33 crashes in Lagos (Guardian)
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos State Command, said it impounded 2019 vehicles for various offences during the COVID-19 lockdown ease between May 4 and May 31.
The Sector Commander, Mr Hyginus Omeje, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday, said the corps would not tolerate disregard for road safety rules and regulations.
Omeje, who was recently promoted from Corps Commander to an Assistant Corps Marshal, said the corps recorded 33 road traffic crashes within the period. Read more
NCAA lists five airports for domestic flight resumption (Nation)
The Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu said on Wednesday that only five airports will be allowed to open for domestic flights effective June 21, 2020.
This is coming on the heels of the announcement by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on the easing of and restart of the second phase of the COVID-19 lockdown and restart of flights .
In a letter to accountable Managers of all domestic and foreign airlines in the country dated 1st June, 2020 with ref NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/121, Captain Nuhu listed five airports to be opened to with the gradual start of Operations to include, “Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja, the Omagwa International airport, Port-Harcourt Mallam Aminu Kano international airport, Kano and the Sam Mbakwe airport, Owerri. Read more
Kwara explains rising COVID-19 cases, restates need for test centre (Tribune)
Kwara State government has described as unfounded and reckless, insinuations about the lack of personal protective equipment (PPEs) or shortage of same in management of COVID-19 patients in the state.
Spokesman of the State Technical Committee on COVID-19, Rafiu Ajakaye, in a statement on Wednesday, said that the state’s performance in COVID-19 management is one of the best in the country.
“As of May 30, our percentage of recoveries/discharges is 43%, far above the national average of 29%. Our percentage of mortality is 1.15%. It is well below the national average of 2.81%. Read more
AfDB: Nigeria is with you, Buhari assures Adesina (DailyTrust)
Embattled president of the AfDB visited Buhari at Aso Villa on Tuesday President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday assured Akinwumi Adesina that Nigeria would “stand solidly behind” his bid to get re-elected as president of the African Development Bank. Buhari gave the assurance at the State House, Abuja, while hosting Adesina on a courtesy visit.
He promised that Nigeria would work with all other leaders and stakeholders in AfDB to ensure Adesina was elected for a second term built on the record of his achievements during his first term. “In 2015, when you were to be elected for the first term, I wrote to all African leaders, recommending you for the position. Read more
Woman ‘sent severed pig’s head to ex-boyfriend’s workplace’ (Metro)
A woman stands accused of sending a severed pig’s head to her ex-boyfriend’s place of work during a campaign of stalking. Tia Mariah McBean, 22, is said to have repeatedly visited Oralton Robinson, pinned notes to his front door and ordered takeaways to his home and the Brixton restaurant where he works. An application for an interim stalking protection order against McBean will now be heard on June 23 at Bromley Magistrates’ Court. The application states: ‘Tia Maria McBean has been trying to make contact with Oralton Robinson via phone calls and sending takeaways to his place of work and home address. Read more
Boris Johnson: UK would admit 3 million people from Hong Kong (NYPost)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United Kingdom will not abandon Hong Kong if China imposes a harsh national security law and would admit 3 million people from the former British colony.
“Hong Kong succeeds because its people are free,” Johnson wrote in the Times of London newspaper. “If China proceeds, this would be in direct conflict with its obligations under the joint declaration, a legally binding treaty registered with the United Nations.”
“Many people in Hong Kong fear that their way of life – which China pledged to uphold – is under threat,” he added. Read more
Coronavirus: Barcelona beach trip for recovering patients (BBC)
Spanish coronavirus patients are taking trips to the seaside as part of their recovery from the illness.
Medical teams at the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona have been photographed wheeling people to the beach as part of a programme designed to humanise intensive care units.
In total, Spain has confirmed 239,932 infections and 27,127 deaths.
The government has slowly begun to ease what was one of Europe’s most restrictive lockdowns. Read more
Peaceful protesters defy curfews in cities across US (VOA)
Protests in the United States were largely peaceful Tuesday night in cities all over the country as people continued to express anger and frustration at the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Peaceful protesters defied nighttime curfew orders in some areas, including in New York City, where hundreds of people remained on the Brooklyn Bridge for several hours after marching from the Brooklyn side to find their path into Manhattan blocked by police.
In Atlanta, police fired tear gas to break up a crowd of hundreds who remained after the start of the city’s 9 p.m. curfew.
Officers were seen detaining people in both cities. The Associated Press says police have arrested at least 9,300 people nationwide during the past week. Read more
US Transportation Dept set to block Chinese passenger flights in tit-for-tat dispute (RT)
The US Department of Transportation has confirmed it will suspend Chinese passenger carriers’ flights into the US starting June 16 after Beijing refused to approve several US airlines seeking to resume flights to China.
The department clarified that it hopes to pressure China into permitting Delta Airlines and United Airlines to resume servicing passenger routes to China after both airlines paused service due to the coronavirus pandemic, insisting its aim is not “the perpetuation of this situation” in a statement released Wednesday.
“Should the [Chinese aviation authority] adjust its policies to bring about the necessary improved situation for US carriers, the Department is fully prepared to revisit the action it has announced in this order,” the statement continued. Read more
Coronavirus: Sweden’s Tegnell admits too many died (BBC)
Sweden’s controversial decision not to impose a strict lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic led to too many deaths, the man behind the policy, Anders Tegnell, has acknowledged.
Sweden has seen a far higher mortality rate than its nearest neighbours and its nationals are being barred from crossing their borders.
Dr Tegnell told Swedish radio more should have been done early on.
“There is quite obviously a potential for improvement in what we have done.” Read more
Osihmen, Moses win player of the year awards for Lille, Nantes (Guardian)
Nigeria’s Super Eagles duo of Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses have received player of the year awards from their respective club sides in Europe.
Osimhen won the player of the year award at Lille in France while Moses won the same award for Nantes in the same French League 1.
Osimhen won the award after spending a season (not completed due to coronavirus outbreak) with Lille. The 21-year old scored 18 goals and provided eight assists in all competitions for the French Ligue 1 side.
The stellar performances in his first season have linked him with a move away from the Les Dogues (The Mastiffs). Read more
George Floyd death: Jadon Sancho will not face disciplinary action over T-shirt (BBC)
Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho and other Bundesliga players will face no further disciplinary action after they made anti-racism statements during matches last weekend.
England international Sancho unveiled a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ T-shirt after scoring against Paderborn.
Floyd, an unarmed black man, died while being restrained by a white Minneapolis police officer on 25 May.
Protests have been held across the United States and globally. Read more
Tottenham’s Son Heung-min enjoyed ‘tough’ military service (Guardian)
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min says he enjoyed the “tough” challenge of his three-week spell doing military service in South Korea.
Son completed his mandatory training last month while Tottenham waited for the Premier League season to resume after the coronavirus shutdown.
The enforced break has also allowed the 27-year-old to complete his recovery from the arm fracture he suffered in Tottenham’s win against Aston Villa in February. Read more
Spanish football to resume a day early with second half of abandoned match (BBC)
Spanish football will return a day earlier than planned when the second half of a second division match that was abandoned because of offensive chanting is played on 10 June.
Rayo Vallecano fans chanted that Albacete’s Roman Zozulya was a “Nazi” during their match on 15 December.
It was goalless when the match was abandoned at half-time.
La Liga will resume on 11 June while the Segunda Division will properly restart the following day. Read more
Man Utd fans ‘gutted’ as Saul Niguez reveals new club (Independent)
Atletico Madrid star Saul Niguez has trolled Manchester United supporters by announcing his next club… is actually a new academy project backed by Nike.
The 25-year-old midfielder sparked rumours he could be about to sign for the Red Devils after teasing on social media he would reveal his ‘new club’ in just three days.
“The Premier League giants were already linked with an interest in the Spain international, with reports Atletico were even ready to lower their asking price from his rumoured £135m buy-out clause to around £86m.
Those reports gave many supporters hope of landing the midfield talent, who has been one of Atleti’s key players in recent seasons, and they practically went into meltdown after Niguez’s announcement at the weekend. Read more
Chris Russo: Fired NBA voice Grant Napear is not a racist (NYPost)
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo said NBA announcer Grant Napear — who was fired from one job and resigned from another after his “All Lives Matter” tweet amid the George Floyd protests was met with backlash — is not a racist.
Russo — who has known Napear since “1965-66” — said others who know Napear in different periods of his life may have a different view, but the man he knows is not a racist.
“I have known Grant personally for 54 years,” Russo said on his “Mad Dog Sports Radio” show in a clip provided by the Funhouse Twitter account. “To say that Grant Napear is a racist is absurd. In my knowledge of him … Grant Napear, trust me when I say this, this is me, is anything but a racist.” Read more