Motorists protest enforcement of temporary one-way rule along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway (Guardian)
It was an agonising moment for commuters traversing Oshodi to Mile-Two in Lagos yesterday as commercial motorists mounted a roadblock along the expressway in protest against erection of a one-way sign by the Federal Government.
Many road users had to treked long distances as the protest lasted, while others rode on prohibited commercial motorcycles to their destinations.
The one-way signage was erected on Monday morning allegedly without prior information, and many motorists lamented what they termed high-handedness of Lagos Task Force officials, who were enforcing compliance on the service lane between Five-Star and Toyota Bus Stops inward Apapa.
According to a passer-by, the one-way signage was not erected last week, but people just discovered it on Monday when the task force started arresting vehicles. Read more
Brain Drain: Over 500 Nigerian doctors take Saudi recruitment test in Abuja (DailyTrust)
Over 500 Nigerian doctors turned up for a recruitment exercise the Saudi health ministry organised in Abuja on Tuesday.
The exercise, which commenced at 7am continued way past afternoon.
Officers gunned down, ‘two majors’ kidnapped as bandits break into NDA
Mpape demolition to continue till December
Our correspondent observed a large crowd of doctors within and outside the building during the exercise.
The Saudi Ministry of Health had earlier called on doctors with different specialties to attend the interview.
The specialties are anesthesia, ICU, pediatric surgery, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, ENT, and emergency medicine. Read more
YCE cautions Sanwo-Olu against recognising Seriki Fulani of Lagos (Guardian)
The Senior Elders Forum of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has warned Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu against recognising someone as Seriki Fulani of Lagos State.
It also alerted the governor and other critical stakeholders about influx of foreign herders into the state. The body stated that unless something urgent is done, the trend portends a great danger for the state.
YCE also wondered about alleged insensitivity of Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, over a recent claim and show of authority being displayed by a person who called himself Seriki Fulani of Lagos State.
The elders, who spoke, yesterday, through a former National President of YCE, Dansaaki Samuel Agbede, said the influx of the foreigners coincided with the recent unfortunate comments credited to one Alhaji Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who allegedly said all Fulani people in the world are Nigerians. Read more
Wizkid’s “Made in Lagos” hits No. 1 on Billboard world album chart (Punch)
Wizkid’s fourth studio album, Made In Lagos, has clinched the No. 1 spot on the Billboard world album chart, 10 months after its release.
Released in October 2020, Made In Lagos gained international recognition early this year after several international stars drummed support for ‘Essence’, the eleventh song in the album.
‘Essence’, featuring Nigerian breakthrough star, Tems, made history by being the first Nigerian song on the Billboard Hot 100 and Global 200 music chart in July.
Earlier in August, Wizkid featured Canadian star Justin Bieber on the remix of Essence. Popularly referred to as song of the summer, the remixed version of Essence also sits at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard world digital song sales chart as at Tuesday. Read more
Burna Boy teams up with Don Jazzy qor “Question” music video (Guardian)
Grammy and three-time BET award-winning Afrofusion superstar, Burna Boy reinvents himself yet again in a banging new tune ‘Question’.
Produced by Mavin boss, Don Jazzy, ‘Question’ is the second song by the African Giant after hit track ‘Kilometer’ was released shortly after his epoch Grammy win.
The accompanying video – directed and shot in Lagos, Nigeria, by TG Omori – opens with an endearing interaction in pidgin English between Burna Boy and a group of children – in a clear distinction that the African giant, once again is doing things differently, charting a new musical direction and comes correct to this visual, which is different from all classic Burna Boy visuals. Read more
NAFDAC approves Sinopharm vaccine for COVID-19 (Punch)
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency on Tuesday said the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control had approved Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV COVID-19 vaccine for use in the country.
The Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said this at the national vaccines briefing in Abuja.
He said the vaccine was developed by Sinopharm’s Beijing Institute of Biological Products.
Shuaib said, “It completed phase 3 trials in Argentina, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru and United Arab Emirate with over 60,000 participants. BBIBP-CorV shares similar technology with CoronaVac, Covaxin, and other inactivated virus vaccines for COVID-19.
“Its product name is SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine ‘Vero Cell’ not to be confused with the similar product name of CoronaVac.” Read more
4 modular refineries complete construction, to start operations soon – Sylva (Leadership)
The Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva says the modular refinery programme to boost local production of crude oil in the country is on course.
Some of the refineries are Waltersmith Refining & Petrochemical Company Limited with 5,000 barrels per day (BPD), OPAC Refineries, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (Train 3), Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company limited and Lowrie Refinery Limited.
Other licensed refineries include Excel Refinery Limited in Bayelsa state, Conodit Refinery Nigeria Limited, Duport Midstream, Duport Midstream in Delta State, Clairgold Oil & Gas Engineering Limited, Ogini Refinery Limited, Etopo Energy Plc and Gasoline Associates International Limited,
Also, NPDC/ND WESTERN OML 34 JV, Frao Oil Nigeria Limited, Kingdom Global Trading Petroleum & Gas Nig. Ltd. Resource Petroleum & Petrochemicals International Incorporated, Gazingstock Petroleum Company Limited and Amakpe International Refineries Limited, Atlantic International Refineries and Petrochemical Limited, Azikel Petroleum Limited, Allegiance Energy and Power Limited, Alexis Refinery Limited and Dangote Oil Refinery Company. Read more
NPHCDA deploys Moderna vaccines to 29 states (Punch)
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency says the Moderna vaccines donated by the U.S. to step up efforts to battle a third wave of the COVID-19 have been deployed to 29 states.
The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, at the National COVID-19 vaccines briefing.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the donation was part of President Joe Biden’s promise to give 500 million vaccines to the world by the end of 2022.
The vaccines are brought in through COVAX, the international aid initiative that seeks to ensure global access to vaccines. Read more
“Matrix 4” trailer and title unveiled During Warner Bros’ CinemaCon Reel (Deadline)
Warner Bros came with a huge reveal Tuesday at its CinemaCon presentation: the trailer for its Village Roadshow co-production Matrix 4. And Warners also gave us the official title too: The Matrix: Resurrections.
The trailer begins with Neil Patrick Harris talking to Keanu Reeves’ Neo. A near future San Francisco. It appears that Neo is trapped in a humdrum world, much like his first self in the 1999 movie. He’s just not getting his surroundings.
“Am I crazy?” asks Reeves’ Neo. “We don’t use that word in here,” says Harris’ therapist.
Reeves comes in contact with Carrie Anne Moss’ Trinity in a cafe: “Have we met?” she asks Neo. Read more
US court rules asylum seekers must stay in Mexico (BBC)
while their claims are processed
The US Supreme Court has ordered President Joe Biden to reinstate a policy of making asylum seekers stay in Mexico while claims are processed.
The policy was put in place by his predecessor, Donald Trump, as part of his measures to restrict the number of asylum seekers entering the US.
But Mr Biden suspended it on his first day of office.
Rights groups say the policy subjects migrants to dangerous conditions in Mexico’s border towns. Read more
“Night of the Living Dead” actress Marilyn Eastman dies ‘peacefully in her sleep’ aged 87 (Metro)
Marilyn Eastman has died at the age of 87, it has been confirmed.
The actress, who was best known for starring in classic zombie horror Night of the Living Dead, died ‘peacefully in her sleep’ on Sunday.
Her son, John Eastman, announced the news in a Facebook post and said: ‘I’m very sad to announce the passing of my mother, Marilyn Eastman on 8/22/21 in Tampa, Florida. Marilyn Marie Johnson was born in Davenport, Iowa on December 17th, 1933.
‘My mother moved to Pittsburgh in the early 60’s and eventually joined Karl Hardman at Hardman Associates. Later in life Marilyn and Karl became business and life partners until Karl’s passing in 2007.’ Read more
Jessica Chastain says makeup for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” has done “permanent damage to my skin” (HollywoodReporter)
Jessica Chastain’s major transformation into famed televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker for the upcoming biographical drama The Eyes of Tammy Faye has done permanent damage to her skin.
That’s according to Chastain, who in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, revealed that the process for becoming Faye involved an average of four hours in the makeup chair, with the longest session being more than seven hours. “I think for sure I’ve done some permanent damage to my skin on this,” Chastain said.
While the actress says she eats “very pure” and takes care of her skin, the makeup was “heavy” and stretched out her skin. “When you’re wearing it all day every day — the weight of it on your body, it stretches your skin out,” Chastain said before joking, “I finally took it off and I was like, ‘I look 50 years old!’” Read more
Japanese yakuza mobster sentenced to death (BBC)
A court in south-western Japan has sentenced the head of a powerful crime syndicate to death by hanging.
The court in the city of Fukuoka found that Nomura Satoru, aged 74, had ordered four assaults, one of which resulted in death.
The verdict came despite a lack of direct evidence against Nomura, local media said. He denied any involvement.
It is believed to be the first time a senior member of Japan’s mafia, the yakuza, has been sentenced to death. Read more
“Avengers 5” started but not coming anytime soon (Metro)
Kevin Feige has suggested that we won’t be seeing Avengers 5 in cinemas anytime soon, while praising Robert Downey Jr as ‘the most important thing in the founding of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’.
The Marvel Studios president admitted there needs to be ‘a reasonable amount of time’ from 2019’s Avengers: Endgame to the next occasion the superheroes assemble again, but he admitted work on a new project is ‘already underway’.
He explained: ‘I think we want there to be a reasonable amount of time from the Endgame to start a new saga, which is already underway and already started.’
Speaking to Collider, he added: ‘And then you need time, as you did in Phase 1, to build that saga before you start bringing everyone together.’ Read more
World Cup: Pinnick sweats over release of Eagles stars (Punch)
Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, says the federation is working on a Plan B after the English Premier League shockingly announced it will not release players in the league for next month’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Premier League said Tuesday that its clubs would not release any players for travel to so-called red list countries during September international break, a brazen rejection of protocol that sets up a significant confrontation with the sport’s governing body, FIFA.
The decision, a reflection of continuing public health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, will affect roughly 60 Premier League players from the 26 countries currently on the British government’s red list. The British government warns residents that they “should not travel” to any of the countries on the list; those who do face either strict quarantine conditions or outright exclusion if they attempt to return to Britain.
The decision to withhold players will affect World Cup qualifying matches for the national teams of more than two dozen countries, including Nigeria, Argentina, Brazil and the rest of South America, and also those from coronavirus hot spots like Egypt, Mexico and Turkey. Read more
Omagbemi hails Aisha Buhari Cup tourney as Cameroun unveil squad (Guardian)
Pioneer captain of Nigeria’s Senior Women National Team, Florence Omagbemi, said that the upcoming Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament is a great booster to the development and sustainability of women football on the African continent.
The 46-year-old, who is the first woman to have won the Women Africa Cup of Nations both as a player and as coach, stated that the tournament will help the six teams to prepare ahead of their AWCON qualifiers.
“The Aisha Buhari Cup is a big boost to women football development in Africa. This will allow the coach a better look at the squad against African teams and also give the fans an opportunity to watch their darling team compete against some of the best in Africa,” she said.
She added that the tournament will be an opportunity for Super Falcons’ Coach, Randy Waldrum, to see his team play against fellow top African teams. Read more
Premier League clubs will not release players for international games in red-list countries (BBC)
The Premier League says its clubs have “reluctantly but unanimously” decided not to release players for matches in red-list countries during September’s international break.
Under current UK government rules, players would be forced to miss several games because of the 10-day isolation period required on return to the UK.
The Premier League said “extensive talks” had taken place with the Football Association and government “to find a solution” but that “no exemption had been granted”.
It added that it “strongly supported” the move made by top-flight sides, which “will apply to nearly 60 players from 19 clubs who are due to travel to 26 red-list countries”. Read more
Paris Saint-Germain reject Real Madrid’s first offer of €160 million for Kylian Mbappe (Metro)
Paris Saint-Germain have rejected Real Madrid’s first offer of €160 million (£137m) for Kylian Mbappe.
The France international has been Madrid’s top target this summer but PSG have stood firm over the 22-year-old’s availability, despite his precarious contract situation.
Mbappe has entered the final year of his current deal with the French club and has yet to reach an agreement, which means he could leave on a free transfer next summer.
Madrid are looking to capitalise and have been hopeful of securing a deal before the transfer window closes. Read more
FIFA awarded $201m in forfeited funds after corruption probe by US (BBC)
FIFA will receive $201m (£146m) in forfeited funds seized during a corruption probe, the US Department of Justice has announced.
More than 50 defendants have been criminally charged since the Department of Justice unveiled its corruption probe in 2015.
Twenty-seven people and four corporate entities have pleaded guilty, with two people convicted at trial.
The repayment will begin with an initial $32.3m (£23.5m). Read more
Ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reunites with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in Liverpool training (Metro)
Arsene Wenger was reunited with former Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during Liverpool’s training session on Tuesday.
The 71-year-old, who is now FIFA’s chief of global football development, was at Liverpool’s training ground to present awards to Jurgen Klopp and several players.
Klopp was awarded the 2020 Best FIFA Men’s Coach prize, while Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Thiago Alcantara all received trophies for being named in the 2020 FIFA FIFPro Men’s World XI.Wenger watched Liverpool’s training session alongside Klopp and also shook hands with Oxlade-Chamberlain, who he managed for six years at Arsenal. Read more