More questions than answers on ending Lagos gridlock (Guardian)
There were more questions than answers yesterday at the Lagos Transportation and Traffic webinar organised by the United States Consulate General in Lagos.
The traffic problem was described as “the other pandemic, a transportation virus” by Prof. Bola Akinterinwa.
With the advent of the rainy season with its attendant flooding and huge craters doting many parts of the state, the fear of severe congestion in the coming days was on Monday heightened with the announcement that the Third Mainland Bridge would be closed for six months for repair.
The virtual event, which drew stakeholders in the transportation industry, government officials, scholars and media practitioners, lived up to the billing of its theme: ‘The never-ending story, Lagos traffic congestion: What can be done? Will it be done? Read more
Lagos launches retirees’ portal (Nation)
The Lagos State government has unveiled a portal to allow prospective retirees and retired officers interact with the state Pension Commission (LASPEC) on the management of retirees’ entitlements.
The portal is a web interface that access information and interactions by retirees in the state and will assist in attending to their complaints.
LASPEC’s Director-General, Mr Babalola Obilana, in a statement, stated that the initiative was part of the programmes of the Commission to enhance its service delivery to retirees. Read more
Police recover woman’s corpse in Lagos community (Punch)
Personnel of the Lagos State Police Command have recovered the remains of a yet-to-be-identified woman on Idera Estate, in the Odogunyan area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim was on her way to a destination in the area when she suddenly slumped and fell on the ground.
She was said to have died a few minutes afterwards, as her remains were abandoned on the road. Read more
SERAP calls for fair trial for suspended EFCC boss, Magu (Independent)
A Lagos- base Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged the Nigerian authorities to treat the case of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, fairly by giving him the right to fair trial.
SERAP has also expressed concerns about reports that the apparently arbitrary arrest of the acting chairman of EFCC, Magu, might be the outcome of power-play at the highest levels of government. Read more
Detectives search Magu’s house as probe continues (Nation)
Three shortlisted for job Detectives on Tuesday searched the personal house of the embattled Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu.
The EFCC boss is under investigation by an Administrative Panel, headed by Justice Isa Ayo Salami, a former president of the Court of Appeal. He appeared at the panel on Tuesday for the second day. Read more
FUOYE student wins hospitality competition (Guardian)
Oyesomi Fatimah, a student of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), has emerged winner of the Build Africa 2020 Career Presentation Competition, which held online on July 3 and 4 on the zoom platform.
She won a cash prize of N100,000 and free UK Institute of Hospitality student membership registration. The competition was organised for hospitality and tourism students in tertiary institutions.
Build Afrika, 2020 is an initiative of Tourism Afrikania with the aim of promoting travel, tourism and hospitality education in Africa through presentations from stakeholders, and competitions among participants. Read more
2 injured as hoodlums engage customs officers in shootout at Seme border (DailyTrust)
Two persons were said to have sustained gunshot injuries in a shooting incident that occurred between some customs officers and suspected hoodlums at Seme-Border, in Badagry, Lagos on Friday night.
The injured persons who were treated at the Custom clinic at Seme were, identified as Adomeh Henry, 10, and Hunsu Taiwo, 12. One shot, as hoodlums attack Customs officers, Soldiers in Ogun 2 customs officers killed, 1 injured as hoodlums ambush patrol team.
It was gathered that trouble started when operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, attempted to evacuate several jerrycans which they said contained stolen petrol stockpiled at Carpenter village, Seme in Badagry. Read more
Kwara Chief of Staff dies of COVID-19 complications (ThisDay)
The Kwara State Government has confirmed that the late Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Mr. Adisa Aminu Logun, died of COVID-19 complications.
In a statement issued in Ilorin yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, said: “Late Loogun died of the complications from COVID-19, only a few hours after the test of his result returned positive”
The statement also said that the governor has declared seven-day mourning in honour of the late Chief of Staff. Read more
FBI chief says China threatens families of overThes critics in US (Aljazeera)
FBI Director Christopher Wray on Tuesday urged people born in China and living in the United States to contact the FBI if Beijing officials tried to force them to return to the country under a programme of coercion that he said is led by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Wray issued the unusual appeal in an address to the Hudson Institute think-tank in which he reiterated US charges that China is using espionage, cyber theft, blackmail and all other means as part of a strategy to replace the US as the world’s dominant superpower.
Wray said that almost half of nearly 5,000 active FBI counterintelligence cases now underway are related to China. Read more
Coronavirus: Airborne transmission cannot be ruled out, WHO says (BBC)
The World Health Organization has acknowledged there is emerging evidence that the coronavirus can be spread by tiny particles suspended in the air.
The airborne transmission could not be ruled out in crowded, closed or poorly ventilated settings, an official said.
If the evidence is confirmed, it may affect guidelines for indoor spaces.
An open letter from more than 200 scientists had accused the WHO of underestimating the possibility of airborne transmission. Read more
Kenya: Arrests at Nairobi protest against police brutality (Aljazeera)
Kenyan police fired tear gas and detained protesters in the capital Nairobi demanding an end to police brutality.
About 100 people took part in demonstrations across Nairobi on Tuesday.
Many Kenyans have been angered by a fresh wave of alleged police abuses carried out while enforcing coronavirus-related restrictions.
“We are not armed, and we just wanted to take our petition very peacefully, but as you can see they are very armed, they have arrested some of us, and they have injured some of us,” protester David Oluoch said. Read more
French feminists criticise choice of justice, interior ministers over sexism and rape claims (France24)
French feminists have reacted strongly to the appointment on Monday of Gérald Darmanin as interior minister and Éric Dupond-Moretti as minister of justice in France’s reshuffled government. Dupond-Moretti has been accused of making sexist remarks while judges last year ordered that an investigation be reopened into rape allegations against Darmanin.
Several feminists started expressing their dismay on social media soon after the appointments were announced on Monday.
“How can you imagine for one moment that the fight against gender-based and sexual violence will be advanced with the appointment of a rapist at the interior ministry and a sexist at the justice ministry? This government is a disgrace,” tweeted the activist group Osez le féminisme (Dare to be feminist). Read more
Coronavirus: Trump moves to pull US out of World Health Organization (BBC)
President Donald Trump has formally moved to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The president had made his intentions clear in late May, accusing the WHO of being under China’s control in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite calls from the EU and others, he said he would pull out of the UN agency and redirect funds elsewhere. Read more
Toronto police officer charged in connection with homicide of former Liberian rebel leader (CBC)
Police were contacted regarding suspicious individuals entering a home in the area of Pochard Lane and Woodfern Road, off Gore Road in London, Ont., on June 21, 2020. (Amanda Margison/ CBC News)
A Toronto police officer has been charged in connection with the homicide investigation of Bill Horace, a former Liberian rebel leader who was shot in London, Ont., in June.
Const. Trevor Gregory, 46, is the father of a suspect charged in the death of 44-year-old Horace. Read more
John Boyega celebrates joining ‘vengeance fuelled chase movie’ Borderland with Felicity Jones (Metro)
John Boyega has landed a new role in the ‘vengeance fuelled chase movie’ Borderland. The actor joins Felicity Jones, Jodie Turner-Smith and Jack Reynor in the film, directed by Tom and Charles Guard. John plays an SAS sergeant called Tempest, who shoots dead a pregnant woman in front of her Irish paramilitary husband Michael, played by Jack. Michael joins an active service unit which causes chaos in London, where Tempest has been sent to front a counter-terrorist operation. Michael is hell bent on hunting Tempest down and exacting revenge for the death of his wife. Read more
Rangers to present n20m cheque to late player’s family (Independent)
Rangers International of Enugu will present to the family of Ifeanyi George, a N20 million cheque, the late striker’s insurance benefit.
The player died in an auto crash on March 22, 2020 along Asaba-Benin Expressway.
Prince Davidson Owumi, the chairman of Rangers, who disclosed this on Monday, stressed that July 21, 2020, has been picked as a convenient date for both the Government of Enugu State, late Ifeanyi George’ family and the insurance firm, Premier Brokers Limited, for the presentation. Read more
Sports ministry disowns ‘fake’ director general as AFN crisis gets messier (Guardian)
Those hoping to witness peace in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) may have to wait a little longer, as the emergence of one Mr. Pepple S.Y., who claims to be the Director-General of the Federation, is causing more ripples within the sports family.
An Abuja High court had on Tuesday last week delivered judgment reinstating Ibrahim Gusau as the president of AFN. While stakeholders were waiting for the outcome of an appeal already filed by the Olamide George-led AFN board, a new twist cropped up yesterday with one Mr. Pepple S.Y. claiming to be the director-general of AFN. Read more
Napoli table N6.5b for Osimhen (Nation)
Napoli are reportedly trying to close the deal with Victor Osimhen in the next few days, currently in contact with Lille to complete the transfer.
Italian journalist Nicolò Schira claimed LOSC forward Osimhen has been offered a five-year deal worth €3m (N1.3b) a year totalling (N6.5b) for five years plus add-ons at the San Paolo, President Aurelio De Laurentiis is certain the Partenopei will get the deal across the line very soon.
Schira writes the two clubs are currently working to complete the move as soon as possible. Read more
Vardy’s late goal salvages draw for Leicester against 10-man Arsenal (BBC)
Jamie Vardy’s late equaliser gave Leicester City a vital point to keep their Champions League hopes on track and end Arsenal’s recent winning streak.
The Gunners looked on course for a fifth successive victory to maintain their own outside chance of a place in Europe’s elite competition next season after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang swept in his 20th league goal of the season in the first half.
Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel kept Arsenal at bay with a string of fine saves before the interval, twice denying Alexandre Lacazette as well as Bukayo Saka – and it proved to be a vital contribution. Read more
Chelsea edge out Palace in five-goal thriller (BBC)
Chelsea further strengthened their position in the Premier League’s top four with victory over Crystal Palace in an entertaining encounter at Selhurst Park, that included a stunning long-range strike from Wilfried Zaha and a rare goal from Christian Benteke.
There was an element of fortune about the game’s opening goal, with Palace defender Gary Cahill pulling up with a match-ending injury to allow Willian to charge into the box unimpeded and set up Olivier Giroud to finish.
But the rest of the match was a testament to the kind of competitive, high-octane, see-saw football that draws so many viewers to the English top flight, even when the grounds are empty of fans. Read more
Nathan Ake, Tyrone Mings and Alessio Romagnoli on Manchester United’s centre-back shortlist (Metro)
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has identified three defenders in his search for a centre-back partner for Harry Maguire.
The Red Devils spent £80m on Maguire last summer and the former Leicester City man has improved United’s defence to the point in which he’s been made club captain.
Solskjaer’s side have come on leaps and bounds since the arrival of Bruno Fernandes in January and for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement it appears the side needs minimal changes rather than a large overhaul. Read more