Ogun, Lagos to toll Lagos-Abeokuta expressway (Nation)
Ogun and Lagos States have requested for the handover of the Lagos-Sango Ota-Abeokuta expressway for reconstruction, rehabilitation and management. Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed this on Saturday. Abiodun disclosed he and Governor Jide Sanwo – Olu had put the request in writing, which he personally presented to Buhari few weeks ago. Read more
Xenophobia: Mission says over 400 Nigerians ready for evacuation from South Africa (Guardian)
The Nigerian Mission in South Africa says no fewer than 400 Nigerians have indicated interest and registered to be evacuated from South Africa following the recent xenophobic attacks. Nigeria’s Consul General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, said this in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. Adama noted that Air Peace had offered to airlift those willing to return home sequel to the attacks on Nigerians and their businesses by South Africans. Read more
SERAP asks African commission to sue South Africa for $10bn for victims (Nation)
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has requested the Chairperson, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Mrs Soyata Maiga, to file a case on the escalating xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African citizens in South Africa before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. SERAP asked Maiga and other members of the African Commission to seek an effective remedy and reparation for Nigerian victims to the tune of $10 billion. Read more
FRSC tasks motorists on attitudinal change, warns under-age drivers (Guardian)
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged motorists to have a change of attitude while behind the wheels to avoid crashes during the ember months. The ember months include September, October, November and December and they are characterised by increased vehicular movements due to associated activities before, during and after the yuletide. Read more
Troops arrest weapons supplier of Benue wanted kingpin (Punch)
Troops of Operations Whirl Stroke operating in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States have arrested 19 suspects in different parts of Benue and Nasarawa States for various offences bothering on armed banditry, kidnapping and weapons supply. Parading the suspects at Tactical Air Command, Nigeria Air force, Makurdi on Saturday, the Force Commander of OPWS, Major General Adeyemi Yekini said that 13 of the suspects were arrested in Gboko and Katsina-Ala areas of Benue State. Read more
I’ll be re-elected Gov- Yahaya Bello (Nation)
Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has declared that he is fully prepared to win the forthcoming governorship election in the state. He is seeking reelection at the 16th November, 2019 governorship election in the state. Bello briefed State House correspondents at the weekend after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari alongside the All Progressives Congress(APC) National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. Read more
PDP ready to reclaim Kogi, pledges peaceful, issue-based campaign – Wada (Guardian)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate in Kogi, Mr Musa Wada, says the party is ready to reclaim the mantle of leadership in the state by Nov. 16. Wada, who said this while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, said that Kogi traditionally belongs to the PDP and the party was ready to take over the state. Read more
Ganduje gets ‘Best Governor’ award (Guardian)
An African Group of Democrats under the aegis of African Democracy Assessment Network (ADAN) based in Dakar, Senegal, has selected Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state to be honoured with an award of “Best Governor in 100 Days in office’’. This is contained in a statement signed by Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Ganduje and issued to journalists on Sunday in Kano. Read more
Do more to revamp agriculture, economy, Clark urges FG (Punch)
Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has called on the Federal Government to do more to revamp the agriculture sector and the economy. Clark, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, said it had become necessary for the country to explore all available means to reposition the agriculture sector to cushion the shortfalls from oil revenue in the near future. Read more
SON adopts American standards to boost oil, gas industry (Guardian)
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), says it has adopted 10 American Petroleum Institute (API) standards for international best practices in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria. The Director-General of SON, Mr Osita Aboloma, said in a statement on Sunday that the idea was made at a Joint Technical Committee meeting held with stakeholders in the oil and gas sector in Lagos. Read more
Sokoto records hitch-free 2019 hajj (Punch)
Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, leader of Sokoto State Pilgrims to 2019 Hajj (Amirul Hajj) has described the just concluded 2019 Hajj exercise as hitch-free and successful. Dan’iya, who is also the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State said this while answering questions from journalists immediately the last batch of 235 pilgrims arrived Sokoto from Jeddah Airport. Read more
UNN student attempts suicide (Punch)
The Enugu State Police Command has said that a student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, on Saturday drank a substance believed to be ‘Sniper’ insecticide in a bid to take her life. The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu on Sunday that the student was, however, responding to treatment. Read more
I’m not TBoss’ baby daddy —Dino Melaye (Punch)
Senator Dino Melaye, on Sunday, denied being the father of former Big Brother Naija housemate, TBoss’ baby. He made the denial on his official Twitter handle. The Senator representing Kogi West revealed that he had never dated TBoss and was not the father of the baby. Read more
Huge crowds attend Pope’s Mass in Madagascar (BBC)
An estimated one million people attended a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis on the outskirts of Madagascar’s capital city, Antananarivo, the Vatican said. Worshippers braved the windswept dust to ensure a place at the Mass. Catholics turned up early in the morning for the service at 10:00 local time to ensure finding a space. Read more
Mugabe’s body may return home next week (Guardian)
Robert Mugabe’s nephew said Sunday that a delegation was expected to leave Zimbabwe on Monday to collect the hero-turned-despot’s body from Singapore where he died two days ago. Mugabe, a guerilla leader who swept to power after Zimbabwe’s independence from Britain and ruled for 37 years, died on Friday, aged 95. His health took a hit after he was ousted by the military in November 2017, ending his increasingly tyrannical rule. He had been travelling to Singapore for treatment since April. Read more
South African crowds walk out of anti-xenophobia speech (BBC)
South Africans have disrupted a speech in Johannesburg by a veteran politician who was trying to quell tensions following a recent wave of deadly riots and xenophobic attacks. Mangosuthu Buthelez was heckled by a rowdy section of the crowd. Dozens of men marched through the area calling for foreigners to leave. Read more
Taliban says US has most to lose from cancelled deal (BBC)
The Taliban says Americans have the most to lose from cancelling peace negations that sought to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan. In a statement, the group claimed all was going well until the last moment. US President Donald Trump fired off a series of tweets on Saturday night, calling off the secret meeting at his Camp David retreat the following day. Read more
Boris Johnson will test law to block no-deal ‘to the limit’ (Metro)
The Prime Minister will look ‘very carefully’ into loopholes to circumvent no-deal Brexit legistation, the foreign secretary has said. Describing the new bill as ‘lousy’, Dominic Raab told Sky News’ Sophie Ridge the PM’s actions would be the ‘responsible thing to do’. The bill, expected to be given Royal Ascent and made law Monday, requires Boris Johnson to ask Brussels for an Article 50 extension by 19 October, allowing the UK to stay in the European Union until 31 January. Read more
Iranian tanker row: Oil ‘sold’ in defiance of US threats (BBC)
A tanker suspected of trying to deliver Iranian oil to Syria in defiance of international sanctions has now sold its cargo, Iran says. Satellite images appeared to show the vessel, the Adrian Darya-1, off the coast of Syria on Friday. But an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman would only say the ship had delivered its cargo after docking “on the Mediterranean coast”. Read more
Mark Sanford: Long-time Trump critic joins Republican race to unseat Trump (BBC)
Mark Sanford, a former South Carolina governor, has become the latest Republican to challenge President Trump in the party’s primary contest. “I’m here to tell you now that I am going to get in,” Mr Sanford, a long-time Trump critic, said in an interview announcing his candidacy. He is the third person to challenge Mr Trump for the nomination. Read more
Bed-bound cancer patient, 86, must travel 200 miles to stay in UK after Brexit (Metro)
A Dutch national who moved to the UK nearly 60 years ago has been told that despite being treated for cancer in hospital she must travel to London in order to stay in the country after Brexit. Sonja Brain, 86, has lived with husband Paul by the river in Loughor near Swansea, Wales, for nearly 30 years. She first moved to Britain 59 years ago and has spent her entire life working here, raising four British children. Read more
Catherine McKenna: Canada environment minister given extra security (BBC)
Canada’s environment minister says she has been assigned a security detail because of abuse she has received both online and in person. Catherine McKenna said in one recent incident a man in a car pulled up alongside her and her children, swore and called her a “climate Barbie”. In Canada, government ministers rarely need high levels of protection. Read more
Putin, Zelensky eye new talks after prisoner swap (Guardian)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have discussed holding new peace talks after a landmark prisoner exchange. Their offices said Putin and Zelensky spoke by phone late on Saturday after the long-awaited swap of 70 prisoners. Zelensky’s office said both leaders were “satisfied with the result of the implementation of the agreements” on the exchange. Read more
Storm Dorian: Widespread power cuts as winds batter Nova Scotia (BBC)
Storm Dorian has smashed into the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, toppling trees and cutting power to more than 450,000 homes. Now a post-tropical cyclone, Dorian hit Halifax on Saturday with winds of 100mph (160km/h) and is due to cross into Newfoundland. The Canadian government said the military would help recovery efforts. Read more
Teacher ‘had sex with student, 15, and sent him explicit Snapchat videos’ (Metro)
A teacher has been accused of having sex with a student and sending him explicit Snapchat videos and pictures. Talia Warner, 23, has been charged over the alleged relationship with the boy, 15. She is accused of driving the pupil from a sports game to her home in Minnesota, US, where they had sexual intercourse. Read more
Student with stoma accused by Wetherspoons staff of taking drugs (BBC)
A student who was accused of taking drugs while using a disabled toilet at a Wetherspoons pub is calling for better awareness of invisible disabilities. Amber Davies, 21, from Builth Wells, has a stoma after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis aged 13. While on a night out in Birmingham, she was “grabbed” by a bouncer after coming out of the disabled toilet. Read more
Norway dogs die in mystery illness (BBC)
A mystery illness has killed a number of dogs in Norway over the past few days, officials say. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority said up to 40 dogs had fallen ill with vomiting and diarrhoea, and several later died. The first cases were in the capital Oslo, and others have since been reported in at least 13 other towns. The Veterinary Institute said it was unclear if two suspect bacteria types found in autopsies were the cause. Read more
Ed Sheeran’s star-studded ‘festival-style wedding’ to Cherry Seaborn with giant circus big top (Metro)
Even though he confirmed in July he tied the knot with Cherry Seaborn last year, Ed Sheeran was still keen to celebrate as a giant big top was erected in a field for wedding celebrations this weekend. It’s been claimed the Shape Of You hitmaker, 28, and his 27-year-old wife were keen to hold another party, this time with a star-studded guest list, months after initially marrying in a small church in Suffolk. Read more
D’Tigers book 2020 Olympic ticket (Nation)
D’Tigers have confirmed their place in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games after beating China 86-73 at the FIBA World Cup game played at the Gyangzhou Gymnasium, China. The Nigerians pipped African champions, Tunisia to the ticket after Sunday crucial win. Read more
Basketball World Cup referees sent home after blunder (Punch)
Basketball’s governing body on Sunday removed from the World Cup blundering match officials who made an error in the dying seconds of Lithuania’s tournament-ending loss to France, but the result stands. Lithuania’s furious coach Dainius Adomaitis lashed out at FIBA after Saturday’s 78-75 defeat to France, who moved into the quarter-finals at his team’s expense. The crucial mistake occurred with the French leading just 76-75 at the time. Read more
Claudio Ranieri in race to take over as new Guinea coach (BBC)
Former Chelsea and Leicester City coach Claudio Ranieri has been shortlisted for the vacant position of Guinea national coach. Ranieri, who won the English Premier League with Leicester in 2016, was among 87 applicants for the job and is one of 17 coaches listed for interview by the Guinea Football Federation (Feguifoot). Read more
Premier League star Danny Drinkwater ‘attacked by thugs outside nightclub’ (Metro)
Burnley FC’s Danny Drinkwater faces four weeks on the sidelines after he was assaulted outside a club in Manchester last weekend. It’s reported he picked up ankle ligament damage after he was attacked by a group of six men outside the Chinawhite club on Deansgate in the city. Burnley and Chelsea, his parent club, both reported Drinkwater had been sidelined with an ankle injury, but The Sun on Sunday today revealed details of the attack, during which a group allegedly jumped on his ankle. Read more
Chelsea beat Spurs in front of 24,000 at Stamford Bridge (BBC)
Beth England’s excellent 25-yard strike gave Chelsea victory over Tottenham in their first Women’s Super League match at Stamford Bridge. England, who made her international debut for Phil Neville’s team against Belgium last week, fired into the top-left corner within four minutes. Chelsea could have extended their lead when Guro Reiten and Drew Spence both hit the woodwork in the second half. Read more
US Open final: My poor showing ‘inexcusable’ – Serena (Punch)
Serena Williams is wondering when she will start playing like a 23-time Grand Slam champion again in a major final, calling her poor showing in Saturday’s US Open final loss “inexcusable.” Williams fell to 19-year-old Canadian Bianca Andreescu 6-3, 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium on the same court where she won her first Grand Slam title 20 years ago, nine months before Andreescu was born. Read more
Italian GP: Charles Leclerc wins in Italy after ‘dangerous’ defending on Lewis Hamilton (BBC)
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc just held on under intense pressure from both Mercedes drivers to win a nail-biting, incident-filled and controversial Italian Grand Prix. The 21-year-old pushed the rules on driving conduct to hold off Lewis Hamilton through the middle of the race before Valtteri Bottas took up the challenge in the closing laps after a mistake from the world champion. Read more
Great North Run: Mo Farah wins record sixth straight title (BBC)
Britain’s Mo Farah has won a record sixth successive Great North Run with a personal best time. Farah, 36, finished in 59 minutes seven seconds after racing ahead of Ethiopian Tamirat Tola in the final mile. Kenyan Brigid Kosgei, who won the London Marathon in April, set a new half marathon world best to take the women’s race in 1:04:28. Read more