N1b worth of water pipes looted away from Ishasi waterworks – Lagos Govt (DailyTrust)
The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) has decried what it called mass looting of Water Pipes estimated at over N1bn at current market value at Ishasi major Waterworks.
Ishasi Water Works is one of the facilities supplying water to residents of Lagos.
The LWC Public Affairs Assistant Director, Anifowoshe Rasaq who confirmed the looting of the facility in a statement expressed concerns over the development.
According to him, the World Bank and State Government funded Water Pipes of different sizes were being carted away by unknown persons. Read more
Pasuma, Shina Peters, others for Lagos Independence Cultural Carnival (Leadership)
The 2022 Ikosi-Magodo Cultural Festival, Lagos will feature some of Nigeria’s artistes.
The two-day carnival themed, Our Culture, Not Our Religion, holds from 30th September to October 1, 2022, and features some of Nigerians finest artistes.
These include, Pasuma, Sir Shina Peter, K1 Ultimate, Bella Shmurda, Obesere, Fela (the born again), DJ Sebastian, and Apala music maestro, Wasiu Haruna Ishola. Others are actor Saidi Balogun; award-winning comedians and actors, Lepecious Bose, Owen Gee and Koffi the Great.
Other activities to hold at the carnival are carnival floats, pageantry, raffle draws and awards to distinguished Nigerians and institutions. Read more
Obi’s supporters march on Uyo (Nation)
Supporters of the Labour Party(LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi on Friday caused traffic gridlock on the streets of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom during a ‘two million march’.
The ‘Obidient’, as they are called, marched from the Water Fountain along Nwaniba road towards the city centre referred to as the Plaza up to Ikot Ekpene road and other major roads in Uyo.
For over two hours, there was disruption of human and vehicular traffic as security personnel were on ground to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order.
Former chairman, Agulu Peoples Union, Uyo, Jude Anyanwor, said the crowd is not a rented one rather people who are tired and dissatisfied with ‘bad leadership’ in the country.
Anyanwor, who is also a stakeholder in the “Obidient Movement Group’, described the suffering in the country as unprecedented, urging the people to ensure that Nigeria regains its lost glory by voting Peter Obi in 2023. Read more
Nigerian doctor detained by Saudi police begs FG for help (Vanguard)
A Nigerian medical doctor resident in Saudi Arabia, Omafuvwe Jerome Ighowho has appealed to the Director-General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa to come to his aid in the custody of the law enforcement agents.
Ighowho made the appeal following an incident of alleged assault levelled against him by his Sudanese colleague identified as Dr Adel Idris, over which he had been detained by the Saudi police.
According to a letter addressed to the commission and copied to the Nigerian Consulate General in Jeddah, the medical doctor revealed that he had only been in Saudi Arabia for 23 months before Idris developed a brawl against him. Read more
Oyo rehabilitation centre receives 33 mentally retarded persons evacuated from streets in Ibadan (Sun)
Emmanuel Rehabilitation Centre for mentally ill people, a nongovernmental organization has received not fewer than 33 mentally retarded persons from evacuated destitute from streets of Ibadan in Oyo State.
Recalled that Oyo State Government on Wednesday evacuated destitute and beggars swarming around major areas, such as Challenge – Orita- Ring Road- Molete – Odo Oba- Idi Arere- Bere – Oje Gate, Jembewon – Sabo- Mokola- Bodija-Eleyele- UI –Ojoo, Idi Ape- Iwo Rd -Acedemy-Monatan-;Bashorun- Akobo Oju Rin, Alesinloye- Odo ona-Apata in the state capital. Read more
Port terminals concession: NPA concludes lease renewal, awaits FG’s approval (Guardian)
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it has concluded the renewal of concession agreement with five terminal operators after the expiration of their leases.
The Managing Director of NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, noted that the agreement would be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Transportation for final approval before the close of work on Oct. 4.
Bello-Koko said this during the visit of the Minister of Transportation, Mr Mu’azu Sambo, who conducted a familiarisation tour of the agency on Friday in Lagos.
He, however, said discussions among some terminal operators were inconclusive, while others were yet to give necessary feedback to the authority. Read more
NGX Group bows to pressure, cancels N35b capital raising exercise (ThisDay)
The management of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) on Friday canceled the N35 billion capital raising exercise amid pressure from market shareholders.
This was disclosed by the outgoing Chairman, NGX Group, Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo, at the Group’s 61st Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos.
The group had proposed that shareholders approve the raising of additional capital of up to N35 billion through a hybrid offering of equity and debt through N20 billion (or its USD equivalent) in equity and up to N15 billion in debt (capital raise transaction).
The AGM was held against all odds amid a threat by some shareholders, calling on the management of the Group to stop the controversial N35 billion capital raise for which management was seeking approval. Read more
Nigeria does not have healthcare management system of our dreams — Lagos NMA (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, on Saturday decried the state of Nigeria’s health system, saying, 62 years after Nigeria’s independence; the country has no healthcare management system of their dreams.
In its message to mark the 62nd Independence Anniversary of Nigeria, the State Chairman of the NMA, Dr Benjamin Oluwatosin Olowojebutu said the current system is still plagued by strikes, unhealthy professional rivalry, inadequate facilities, and poor working conditions adding that the list goes on.
“A critical examination of our current Healthcare Management system does not make for a pleasant prognosis. It is even more worrisome that the present stochastic services have encouraged unprecedented brain drain.
“Many Healthcare Practitioners are religiously seeking greener pastures in climes where things work, where they can get better remuneration and fulfil their God-given aspirations. Read more
2023: Adeniyi warns Nigerians against electing leaders on sentiments (Channels)
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, former presidential spokesman, Segun Adeniyi, has warned Nigerians against electing leaders based on sentiments.
Adeniyi, who is also the Chairman of ThisDay Editorial Board, issued the warning during The Platform: A Better Nigeria Is Possible, an event organised by the Covenant Christian Centre to mark Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Day Anniversary on Saturday.
He said Nigerians have the opportunity to change the narrative as they go to the polls next February, applauding the Covenant Christian Centre for organising the programme.
“As voters, we have a choice to make and it is about our future. Should our decision be based on sentiments by placing our inheritance on those we know will not manage it well?” he asked. Read more
Rita Ora gushes over ‘fairy-tale’ romance with Taika Waititi after marriage news (PageSix)
Rita Ora rarely gives insight into her relationship with rumored husband Taika Waititi — but she recently raved about the filmmaker.
The singer gushed about how “in love” she is with Waititi on an episode of the “Greatest Night Ever” podcast last week.
“[I’m] in love, very much in love. I’m in love, I’m in love,” Ora said in the Sept. 20 interview. “Amen! I love love.
“I’ve always been such a believer in it and I always felt like — I always wanted the fairy tale,” the songwriter, 31, continued.
She noted that her parents, who have been married for more than 30 years, are her inspiration. Read more
Courtney Love joins The Lemonheads at London gig for ‘‘Into Your Arms’’ (NME)
Courtney Love was a surprise guest during The Lemonheads‘ London gig last night (September 30).
The band are currently on a 30th anniversary UK tour for their 1992 album ‘It’s A Shame About Ray’, which runs for the next two weeks.
On Friday night at London’s Roundhouse, Evan Dando and co. welcomed the Hole vocalist to the stage to perform one of their biggest hits.
Before performing the song, Love praised Dando, saying that he “doesn’t have a bad bone in his body”. Afterwards, the singer posted selfies with fans. Read more
American crooner Richard Marx opens up about the difficulties of working with Aussie country star Keith Urban (DailyMail)
American singer-songwriter Richard Marx has revealed that Keith Urban can be fickle when it comes to writing a hit.
Marx, 59, who has written top-selling records for Barbara Streisand and U.S. boy band NSYNC, says that the Aussie superstar has trouble making up his mind when it comes to choosing which songs to record.
The pair had a difference of opinion over the tune One Day Longer, which they co-wrote for Marx’s latest album, Songwriter.
‘This song, like several songs I’ve written with Keith over the years, was something that he was madly in love with while we were writing it and completely off it three days later,’ Marx said in an interview with the Herald Sun. Read more
Turkish ‘Madonna’ faces jail as crackdown on pop music intensifies (RFI)
One of Turkey’s leading pop stars, Gulsen, dubbed the Turkish Madonna, is facing jail as a crackdown on pop music intensifies. The crackdown is seen as an attempt by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erodgan to court his religious base as elections loom amid youth dissatisfaction at economic malaise.
Drawing thousands, Gulsen regularly performs at sell-out concerts. Her music, her outfits, and her support of LGBTQ rights, has seen her widely dubbed the “Turkish Madonna”.
But Gulsen ended up in court and jail when a video of a private joke denigrating religious schools went public on social media.
“Gulsen has become a target for Islamists for a long time not just because of the way she appears in her shows but also for her support for LGBT movements,” said sociologist Nazli Okten of Galatasaray University, an expert on popular culture. Read more
New York Film Fest: ‘White Noise’ kicks it off, angling to break into wide-open Oscar race (THR)
The 60th New York Film Festival kicked off Friday night with the North American premiere of the film that had previously opened the Venice Film Festival, Noah Baumbach’s adaptation of Don DeLillo’s allegedly “unadaptable” 1985 novel White Noise.
The satire about existential angst, which stars Baumbach’s two most frequent muses, Adam Driver (Frances Ha, While We’re Young, The Meyerowitz Stories, Marriage Story) and Greta Gerwig (Greenberg, Frances Ha, Mistress America), was warmly received at both its press and public screenings. (It’s currently at 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.) And in a year in which the Oscar race seems wide open, Netflix — which was behind the opening night film and Tavern on the Green after-party for the second time, three years after The Irishman, with co-CEO Ted Sarandos on hand for the festivities — hopes that there may be a path to recognition for an unconventional project that is rumored to have cost the streamer nearly $100 million.
White Noise is set in a 1980s college town where the Gladney family — comprised of husband Jack (Driver), wife Babette (Gerwig) and a collection of precocious children from their respective multiple prior marriages — enjoy a rather happy life … until, that is, a nearby train derailment results in an “airborne toxic event” that sends them fleeing and forces them to confront their mortality even more than usual. Read more
Bond Producer Michael G.Wilson reveals that 007 aspirants are given “From Russia With Love” bedroom scene for auditions (Deadline)
James Bond film producer Michael G. Wilson, who runs Eon Productions with Barbara Broccoli, has revealed that a seduction scene from the 1963 thriller From Russia With Love is always used to test those aspiring to play Ian Fleming’s ruthless spy.
During an ‘In Conversation’ event at London’s British Film Institute to celebrate 60 years of James Bond, Wilson noted that they always need a good actress to play opposite the actor participating in the audition. “We always use the same scene … and that’s the one in From Russia With Love where Bond comes back after the assassination to his room, and he starts taking off his shirt, goes into the room to bathe, then he hears something, takes his gun, goes in and the girl’s in the bed,” he told the audience at the BFI on Friday night, referring to the moment in From Russia With Love where Sean Connery’s Bond finds Soviet military clerk Tatiana Romanova, played by Daniela Bianchi in the middle of his bed wearing only a black velvet choker.
After introducing themselves, Bond offers compliments to her beauty. She, however, laments: “I think my mouth is too big.”
Before kissing her, Bond assures her all is well. “No, it’s the right size.For me, that is.” Read more
Russian troops withdraw from Ukrainian town of Lyman (DW)
Russia’s military has acknowledged its withdrawal from the strategically important town of Lyman in Donetsk. The town is in the areas Vladimir Putin unilaterally declared as annexed Russian territory.
Russia said on Saturday that it had withdrawn its forces from the Ukrainian town of Lyman, several hours after Kyiv reported encircling the strategically important settlement in the Donetsk region.
“In connection with the creation of a threat of encirclement, allied troops were withdrawn from the settlement of Krasny Liman to more advantageous lines,” the Russian Defense Ministry said, using the Russian name for the town.
The ministry claimed that the Russian troops had inflicted considerable damage on Ukrainian forces prior to them being withdrawn, outnumbered.
Kida congratulates Nigeria on Independence Day celebration (Nation)
In his goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of the Independence Day celebration, president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Ahmadu Musa Kida has enjoined Nigerians to remain patriotic and God-fearing in all their doings, stating that Nigeria is a blessed nation and with a very bright prospect of regaining its enviable pride of place in the comity of nations.
“On this auspicious and momentous day, I celebrate with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Nigeria Basketball family, and indeed, all the good people of this great country.
“It is a fact that these are not the best periods in our national life. The country is presently bedeviled by several political and socio-economic challenges. Read more
Arsenal sink Spurs to prove title credentials (France24)
Arsenal underlined their credentials as genuine contenders for the Premier League title with an impressive 3-1 win over 10-man Tottenham in a bruising north London derby on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s side made it seven wins from eight league games this season as they moved four points clear at the top of the table.
The 192nd meeting between these bitter rivals from opposite ends of the Seven Sisters Road was a typically frenetic occasion from the moment Thomas Partey put Arsenal ahead early in the first half.
Harry Kane equalised with a penalty but third-placed Tottenham imploded after the interval as Hugo Lloris’s mistake allowed Gabriel Jesus to restore Arsenal’s lead. Read more
Miguel Almiron: Newcastle star scores stunning goal vs Fulham (GMS)
Miguel Almiron scored a wonder goal for Newcastle in their Premier League clash against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.
The Paraguayan was in the starting lineup for the match at Craven Cottage.
Fulham were reduced to 10 men after just eight minutes when Nathaniel Chalobah was shown a straight red card after a heavy foul.
Newcastle were ahead shortly after through their talisman, Callum Wilson. Read more
Napoli 3-1 Torino: Anguissa and Kvara inspire leaders (FootballItalia)
Napoli consolidated their Serie A leadership with victory over Torino, as Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa bagged an early brace before Kvicha Kvaratskhelia on a trademark solo run.
The Partenopei were joint Serie A leaders going into the break for international duty. Victor Osimhen was still out of action, so Giacomo Raspadori started upfront with Matteo Politano recovering from injury in the new Halloween-themed kit. Toro missed Pietro Pellegri, Samuele Ricci and Mergim Vojvoda, but Aleksei Miranchuk returned.
The Granata’s last victory in this stadium was in May 2009, and it took just six minutes to break the deadlock this time, Mario Rui combining with Kvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left to float in a cross for the head of Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa from eight yards.
The midfielder was clearly fired up, as moments later he gathered the ball near the halfway line and ran forward down the right, beating Vanja Milinkovic-Savic at the near post. Anguissa became the first Napoli player to score a brace in the opening 15 minutes of a Serie A game since Daniel Fonseca in January 1994 against Cremonese. Read more
Charles Leclerc claims pole for Ferrari, Max Verstappen in 8th for Red Bull (Eurosport)
Charles Leclerc took pole in qualifying at the Singapore Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen well down in eighth.
In a last dash for pole, Leclerc took the top spot from Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez took second spot, with Lewis Hamilton in third.
Verstappen took eighth as he aborted his final lap, with Red Bull confirming he was forced to come back in with at least a litre of fuel to meet regulations.
This Sunday could be the race that sees Verstappen emerge as the world champion for a second successive season if results go his way. Read more
Famed Japanese wrestler turned politician Antonio Inoki dies aged 79 (CNN)
Former Japanese professional wrestler Antonio Inoki has died aged 79, according to his organization.
Inoki – who was one of Japan’s most well-known wrestlers – famously faced boxing great Muhammad Ali in a mixed martial arts match in 1976.
The New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) — an organization promoting Japanese wrestling that Inoki founded in 1972 – tweeted Saturday that it was “deeply saddened at the passing of our founder, Antonio Inoki.”
“His achievements, both in professional wrestling and the global community, are without parallel and will never be forgotten,” the tweet added, saying the organization’s thoughts “are with Inoki’s family, friends and fans.” Read more
Novak Djokovic hints he may end season early in last-minute change to 2022 schedule (Express)
Novak Djokovic has thrown some doubt on him following through on his current planned schedule to end the 2022 season with talks planned with his team following the Astana Open. Djokovic took part in his first competitive match in nearly three months last week at the Laver Cup and is competing at the Tel Aviv Open this week.
The No 1 seed got off to the perfect start with a superb 6-0 6-3 win over Pablo Andujar before defeating Vasek Pospisil to reach the semi-finals. Djokovic will take on Roman Safiullin for a place in Sunday’s final where he could face either Marin Cilic or Constant Lestienne.
There weren’t many top seeds who decided to take part in the first ATP Tour event in Tel Aviv since 1996. Having missed all of the North American hardcourt swing along with the US Open, Djokovic was looking to build up some momentum in the final few months of the 2022 season. Following the Tel Aviv Open, Djokovic will take part in the stacked field at the Astana Open where the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas are all set to feature.
There are then just a few weeks before the Paris Masters and then the ATP Finals in Turin. Djokovic has maintained that Paris and Turin remain his final two goals for the end of the 2022 season. Read more