Lagos transport worker dies during fight over N500 bet (Punch)
A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Rasheed Yinusa, has lost his life during a brawl with a lotto agent, Abdulazeez Olasupo, around the Benson area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Yinusa, aka Apase, visited the lotto agent’s shop and placed a bet of N500.
A resident, who gave his name only as Segun, told our correspondent that things took a different turn when Olasupo, after printing the bet, requested payment.
“Yinusa became annoyed and complained that he was asking him for the money as if he would run away. Read more
Clergyman docked after absconding with N870,000 meant for “spiritual oil” (DailyTrust)
A-70- year-old clergyman has landed in court after collecting N870,000 to buy “spiritual oil” for washing and cleaning dollar notes.
Emmanuel Bello, who resides in Idimu, appeared before an Ikeja magistrate’s court in Lagos to face three counts of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.
Prosecutors told the court Bello fraudulently obtained the money from Mrs Bilikisu Olabisi, with a promise to supply “spiritual oil “ for the washing and cleaning of dollar notes.
The defendant and others, at large, committed the offence on March 2 at Council area of Idimu, Lagos State, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Mojirade Edeme, told the court. Read more
Lagos to divert traffic in Ikeja for six days (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has said traffic will be diverted on Oduduwa Way in the Ikeja Local Government Area as it commences the construction of culverts from 31st of August 2021.
According to a statement on Monday, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, said the duration of the diversion would be six days.
He said, “Traffic will be diverted on Oduduwa Way and Crescent for the construction of culverts that will channel storm water towards the outfall across Agege Motor Road by Sogunle Bus Stop.
“Alternative routes have been suggested to ease movement during the construction period which will start on August 31, 2021 and last for six days. Read more
Lagos tackles Illegal dredgers over negative impact of activities (Guardian)
Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has commenced monitoring activities of sand dredgers in the Awoyaya area of the state and its environs by placing ‘stop work’ order on 10 illegal dredging sites in the area.
Director of Mineral Resources and Solid Minerals in the ministry, Cardoso Emillo, said the visit to the area was in response to the several petitions the ministry received on the illegal dredging activities said to be causing environmental degradation of the area.
Emillo, who led the enforcement team following the directive of the Commissioner, Olalere Odusote, explained that the ‘stop work’ order was necessitated by the need to curb the illegal activities of the dredgers and protect the environment from further ruin. Read more
3 killed as sit-at-home in Southeast turns bloody (Nation)
Security agents on Monday killed three hoodlums who were purportedly enforcing the suspended sit-at-home directive of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Imo State.
Another set of hoodlums burnt this newspaper’s distribution car after trying to extort N100,000 from the driver.
The incident occurred in Awo Omamma, in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo.
Businesses and offices were shut again in the Southeast as residents stayed indoor for fear of being harmed or killed.
Not even the reassurances of governors and security agencies, as well as the threat of a sack or sanction, could make them come out. Read more
BBNaija: 15 housemates up for eviction (DailyTrust)
Aside Jackie B and Jaypaul, winners of the Head of House game, all other housemates in the ongoing edition of Big Brother Naija are up for possible eviction.
Jackie B and JayPaul emerged Head of House after they finished the task they were given completely and on time as well.
Before the game started, Biggie introduced a new twist called “The double Heads of House”.
Biggie stated clearly that there will be two Heads of House for this week and there would be no nomination for possible eviction process as the remaining housemates would all be up for eviction. Read more
Nigerians say no to return of tolls on roads (Guardian)
Two years after the federal government indicated plans to bring back toll gates, which were scrapped during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2004.
The idea was formally endorsed, recently, through the Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy and Regulations, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) weekly meeting in Abuja.
The approval signalled reintroduction of toll gates on federal roads across Nigeria.
Giving the breakdown of the rates, the Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, revealed that bicycles, pedal cycles, tricycles, motorcycles, and other two or three-wheeled transport are exempted. Others to benefit from the exemption are diplomatic vehicles, military and paramilitary vehicles. Read more
Nasarawa lecturer sues ex-commissioner for snatching wife (Punch)
The Deputy Provost, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, Dr Peter Aboki, has dragged a former Nasarawa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Water Resources, Prof. Alanana Otaki, to an Upper Area Court for allegedly snatching his wife, Mrs Felicia Aboki, from him.
Otaki was among commissioners sacked by Governor Abdullahi Sule on Monday.
At the court sitting on Monday in Lafia, the presiding judge, Mr Abubakar Lanze, adjourned the case till September 15, 2021, for hearing of the application.
He explained that the adjournment was to allow the applicant, Peter, study the counter affidavit filed by the respondents, Felicia and Otaki. Read more
2 suspected kidnappers killed in Ogun State (Guardian)
Two suspected kidnappers have been killed in a gun battle with Ogun State Police Command while hibernating in a bush at the back of ICT Polytechnic, Itori in the Itori area of Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who disclosed this in a statement, said the suspects met their Waterloo when policemen in Ewekoro divisional headquarters received information about 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, that some armed hoodlums with face masks were sighted hibernating in a bush behind the institution.
According to him, the anti robbery team of Ewekoro Division was dispatched to fish out the hoodlums as many suspected kidnappers have been traced to the same forest before.
He said: “On sighting the policemen, the gang opened fire on them and the policemen engaged them in gun battle which lasted for about 40 minutes. At the end of the encounter, two members of the syndicate were gunned down while others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries. Read more
Here’s Charlamagne tha God’s criticism of Kanye West’s new album “Donda” (Complex)
After much anticipation and plenty of build-up, Kanye West’s Donda is finally here, and Breakfast Club host Charlamagne tha God isn’t impressed with it.
On Monday morning, Breakfast Club hosts Charlamagne, DJ Envy, and Angela Yee offered their thoughts on the new record. Envy admitted that he hadn’t listened to it, nor does he plan to because of the way Kanye has been acting as of late—he even went as far as to call Kanye a “clown”—but Charlamagne gave his input and said he liked some of the tracks but it didn’t entirely click with him.
“Upon first listen, it was lackluster for me,” said Charlamagne after he agreed with Yee that “Jesus Lord, Pt. 2” with Jay Electrionica and the Lox was the best song on the album. “But it’s an hour and 48 minutes long, so like Kanye West it can be very exhausting. I like the joint with Westside and Kanye, I like ‘Jesus Lord’ with the LOX and Jay Electronica… I think if he just scaled the project down, to like 12-13 records, it could be a great album. But 28 songs with all the part twos, an hour and 48 minutes, it’s too long and it drags to me. And the music sounds kinda dated, man.”
Envy chimed in and asked who his co-hosts think wrote the album, and they agreed it was probably a “by committee” effort from him and his collaborators. “I’m sure Consequence, Jay Electronica… I don’t know,” added Charlamagne. Read more
Billy Porter, Hilary Swank and more stars rally around Sharon Stone after the death of her 11-month-old nephew (NewsBreak)
After being diagnosed with organ failure, Sharon Stone‘s nephew lost his battle on Monday, August 30.
“River William Stone Sept. 8, 2020 – Aug. 30, 2021,” Stone captioned a video compilation of the little one via Instagram on Monday.
The actress previously explained that her nephew was in the hospital, although she didn’t offer further information on his condition at the time.
“My nephew and godson River Stone was found in his crib w total organ failure today. Please pray for him. We need a miracle🤍💥🙏,” she posted alongside a photo of River in his hospital bed with tubes and wires attached to him on Friday, August 27. Read more
The United States’ 20-year military mission in Afghanistan ends with an FAA notice (TheWeek)
The United States’ 20-year military mission in Afghanistan has ended.
The first clear indication that the evacuation operation had wrapped up was when the Federal Aviation Administration sent a notice declaring that Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Aiport is “now uncontrolled” (the Taliban would likely beg to differ with that assessment) and warning that any aircraft operating into or out of the city “should use extreme caution.”
Not long after that, Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, issued an official statement on the matter. He revealed that the last U.S. military plane carrying Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ross Wilson aboard departed from the airport at 3:29 p.m. ET. McKenzie clarified that while military operations are complete, “the diplomatic mission to ensure additional U.S. citizens and eligible Afghans who want to leave continues.” Read more
Train attack in Japan exposes misogyny and gender violence (GlobalVoices)
A knife attack on a train in Tokyo in August has highlighted a culture of misogyny in Japan, while leaving some women fearful for their own safety on their daily commute.
On August 6, a 36-year-old man was arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly attacking passengers with a knife on a train on Tokyo’s Odakyu commuter line. Four women and five men were injured in the attack, with one woman transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
When arrested, the suspect allegedly stated his motivation for the attack was that he was targeting women. Read more
Canada’s housing crisis is so bad its government wants to change the rules for buying a home (BusinessInsider)
Canada sits in a housing crisis of its own, and its government is eyeing some unconventional fixes.
Prime minister Justin Trudeau aims to ban blind bidding, which keeps buyers from seeing others’ offers.
The ban will “crack down on predatory speculators,” he said. “You shouldn’t lose a bidding war … to speculators.”
Canada desperately needs affordable homes. Revamping the homebuying process might be the key, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Home prices in Canada surged 22% over the past year, and the median home price sits at a record high, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. Material shortages and soaring construction costs also place the country in a bleak supply shortage. The Bank of Nova Scotia estimates the country has fewer homes per 1,000 residents than any other G7 nation.
The government is taking a multipronged approach to address the problem. On the supply front, Trudeau rolled out a plan last week that aims to build 1.4 million homes over the next four years. Yet the prime minister’s plans for accessible homebuying are perhaps more ambitious.
For one, Trudeau seeks to ban blind bidding. In that process, bidders can see the asking price of the home, but not what other prospective buyers bid. It’s been criticized as a way for sellers to pad prices. Outlawing such bidding would help “crack down on predatory speculators” and make for a fairer market, Trudeau said in an August 24 speech. Read more
Blinken confirms US left hundreds of Americans behind in Afghanistan
(Yahoo)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed that the US will continue to help Americans and Afghan allies leave Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country, in a speech at the White House on Monday evening.
Blinken said the U.S. has suspended its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan and transferred that presence to Doha, Qatar. Diplomats stationed in Doha will “coordinate engagement and messaging to the Taliban” moving forward.
The last U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan flew out of Hamid Karzai International Airport on Monday, ending a two-decade war. U.S. Central Command head, General Frank McKenzie, admitted at a press conference that “we did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out,” referring to Americans and Afghans stranded in the country. Read more
Team Nigeria now 29th as Oluwafumiayo wins gold, sets new world record (Guardian)
Team Nigeria is now the 29th best side at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games following the addition of one more gold and a silver medal in the para-powerlifting event of the world sports festival.
Team Nigeria is now the 29th best side at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games following the addition of one more gold and a silver medal in the para-powerlifting event of the world sports festival.
Team Nigeria’s Folashade Oluwafemiayo lit up the arena when she took the women’s up to 86kg gold medal and beat her own world record twice on the final day of Para powerlifting.
She registered a competition-winning third lift of 151kg, before using a fourth and final power lift to set a new world mark of 152kg.
Speaking after her feat, she said, “I feel very, very great. I thank God, because it was God all this way. Not by my own power, but by the power of God. He was giving me grace, and I give him the admiration for standing right behind me. I’ve been asking for this from god, and he gave it to me.” Read more
Konta pulls out of US Open due to injury (Punch)
British number one Johanna Konta has pulled out of the US Open due to injury.
The news broke just hours before the 30-year-old was set to play her opening match in New York on Monday against France’s Kristina Mladenovic.
The withdrawal marks a further instalment on a frustrating summer for the Sydney-born player.
She also missed Wimbledon and the Olympic Games, as she deals with a long-term knee problem. Read more
Nigeria battles Uganda for Afrobasket quarterfinals ticket (Guardian)
Nigeria will make its final push for a quarterfinal ticket today when D’Tigers will file out against Uganda at the ongoing 2021 FIBA Afrobasket Championship.
After narrowly failing to top its group on the back of a narrow loss to Côte d’Ivoire in their last group game, Nigeria will square off against the third placed team in group D for a quarter final place.
Coach Mike Brown at the end of their training yesterday charged the team to use their loss to Côte d’Ivoire as a learning curve when they step out against Uganda.
He advised the players to play as a cohesive unit while sticking to their plays against their East African opposition who are also in search of a rare quarter final ticket. Read more
Fans rage after ‘awful’ scenes rock US Open (Newz)
Fans have been eagerly awaiting their chance to attend the US Open after a two-year wait, but thousands were left fuming over ‘awful’ scenes ahead of the Grand Slam.
The 2021 US Open kicked-off with the exciting news fans, who have been double vaccinated, would be able to attend the final Grand Slam of the year after Covid-19 forced the tournament to be held with no spectators last year.
This prompted thousands to make their way to Flushing Meadows for the start at 11am.
However, new protocols requiring attendees to show vaccination cards and go through metal detectors sparked chaos. Read more
F1 bosses are ‘apoplectic’ at Lewis Hamilton for accusing the sport of greed (DailyMail)
Formula One bosses are ‘apoplectic’ with Lewis Hamilton for accusing the sport of putting money ahead of all else in the farce of the rain-sabotaged Belgian Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion accused the sport that has made him a fortune worth more than £250million of greed by staging a ludicrous ‘race’ of just two laps behind the safety car on Sunday.
He said the 75,000 fans who were drenched to the bone should be refunded their ticket price, worth between £107 and £505.
Hamilton made a worthy point in recognising that some form of compensation is required, an argument Formula One bosses yesterday acknowledged they were looking into, but the Briton’s stinging remarks that the non-event was a charade for commercial reasons has landed badly with the sport’s hierarchy. Read more
Andy Murray suffers x-rated wardrobe malfunction at US Open (Yahoo)
Andy Murray stole the show during the first round of the US Open in more ways than one overnight, with the high temperatures in New York causing havoc.
The Scottish fan favourite surprised many tennis fans by taking the first set against world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in their first round clash and ultimately pushing it to five sets.
It was a pleasantly surprising turn of form from one of the tour’s most beloved players, with the match ultimately going the five set distance.
That meant fans got a much closer look at Murray’s outfit, which had become drenched in sweat and unfortunately began to go somewhat see-through. Read more