Okei-Odumakin tasks Sanwo-Olu on road maintenance (Independent)
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, has called on Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to tackle road dilapidation to reduce hardship.
Okei-Odumakin said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday that bad roads had become a source of concern to many Lagos residents.
She said that good roads were crucial to the economic growth of the state and movement of people.
“They will ease traffic and facilitate movement of goods,” she told NAN.
Okei-Odumakin said that bad roads in some parts of the state had caused much hardship on the residents. Read more
Tenant arraigned for biting off landlord’s lip (DailyTrust)
A mild drama took place on Tuesday in court when a police prosecutor asked a magistrate for a stiff punishment on a tenant for allegedly biting off his landlord’s lip for asking for money meant for his rent.
The tenant, Ernest Ekeh, was charged with assault and breach of peace before an Ejigbo Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos.
The prosecutor, Kenneth Asibor, said the tenant had before the attack, threatened to deal with his landlord, Matthew Kunle, if he dare to show face at his door post over the issue of rent payment.
The police said the incident which occurred at Igando area of Lagos was reported to the police at Igando Division by the landlord.
“My Lord, the accused, who was visibly angry at the sight of his landlord, grabbed him by his shirt, rained down blows on him before biting off his lower lip. Read more
Lagos residents embrace digital communications to achieve goals (Independent)
Some Lagos residents on Saturday said they would engage in digital communications for personal and business purposes as a strategy to accomplish their goals in 2021.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that experiences from 2020 taught them that doing business the same way would not help to them realise their dreams.
Mr John Osinnowo, an education consultant, said his goal in 2021 was to increase his client base.
Osinnowo, also the Founder of Promising Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, which seeks to promote patriotism among the youths, said he planned to reach more people. Read more
Mixed reactions as teenager confesses to setting boyfriend ablaze (Punch)
Nigerians on Facebook and Twitter have reacted to the confession of a 17-year-old prospective Law student of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Alex Esther, on how she set her boyfriend, Chidinma, ablaze after he allegedly made her abort three pregnancies.
Esther, who said she couldn’t really explain why she killed her boyfriend, said, “I was just angry over all the issues we had.
“Our relationship was really serious to the extent that we had to take a blood oath before I allowed him to deflower me.” Read more
Sanwo-Olu extends work-from-home order to public servants on Grade Levels 14 downwards (Independent)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has approved a further extension of the work-from-home order to all State Public Servants on Grade Levels 14 and below from Monday, 18th January 2021, to Monday, 1st February 2021, to curtail the spread of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A statement signed by the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, noted that the directive excludes staff on essential duty as well as First Responders, urging all public servants to stay safe and ensure continued observance of all COVID-19 protocols for physical distancing, use of face masks, regular washing of hands with soap and running water as well as the use of hand sanitisers.
Muri-Okunola also stated that the weekly duty rosters should be maintained for effective service delivery by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the State Government. Read more
Soldiers missing as insurgents overwhelm Borno army installations (DailyTrust)
Several soldiers and few officers reportedly ‘went missing’ on Friday after insurgents overwhelmed 153 Infantry Battalion and the 22 Armored Brigade, Marte, Borno State in a surprise attack.
Both army formations were in one base when the insurgents launched an assault on them. Troops were said to have withdrawn from their positions when they were overpowered.
“Troops tried very hard and almost suppressed the offensive but the insurgents sent reinforcements. Troops could not withstand the superior firepower of the insurgents and had to abandon their positions,” a military source confirmed on Saturday.
Most of the soldiers and officers sought refuge in Dikwa town which had army base while many others have not been accounted for, the source added. Read more
Okowa felicitates ace comedian, Gordons at 50 (Vanguard)
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has congratulated award-winning ace comedian, Godwin Komone, popularly known as “Gordons” as he clocked 50 on January 15
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Saturday in Asaba, Okowa said Gordons was a quintessential comedian whose contributions to the development of the entertainment industry, especially comedy, in Nigeria were remarkable.
He extolled the comedian, who is a chief in Udu Kingdom in the state, for his patriotism, humility, mentorship and support to budding talents, adding that he remained a good ambassador of Delta. Read more
Akeredolu raises committee on new political appointees (Nation)
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has constituted a handover strategic implementation committee to facilitate the off-boarding of current administration personnel as well as ease the on-boarding process of incoming personnel.
The Committee, according to Ondo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, is to help coordinate the hand over process and ensure the administration’s records were appropriately archived.
Members of the Committee are the Head of Service, Mr. ‘Dare Aragbaiye to serve as Chairman; Dr. Patrick Tolani, Ms Cecilia Akintomide, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, Mr. Omololu Elegbe and Mr. Babajide Akeredolu. Read more
Dr Dre released from hospital after brain aneurysm (PageSix)
Dr Dre has been released from hospital after suffering a brain aneurysm earlier this month.
The music producer, 55, was discharged on Friday and will be monitored 24 hours a day by medical professionals, at his home, TMZ reports.
It has been a tumultuous few months for Dre, who has been in the midst of a bitter divorce with estranged wife Nicole Young. Last week, he agreed to pay Young $2 million in temporary spousal support.
But that’s not the only tribulation the “Let Me Ride” rapper has had to endure of late: His Los Angeles home targeted by a burglary ring while he was still recuperating in the hospital. Read more
5 Hong Kong democracy protesters arrive in US to seek asylum (France24)
Five Hong Kong democracy protesters who reportedly fled to Taiwan have arrived in the United States intending to seek asylum, an activist group said on Saturday.
Their escape follows the mass arrest of democracy figures in Hong Kong under a new national security law that is part of a mounting crackdown by China on the financial hub.
The Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC), a US-based group, said it had welcomed a group of young activists to America this week and their journey had been “arduous and perilous”.
“The activists, all under the age of 30, took part in the ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, faced protest-related arrests and charges, and fled the city by boat last July,” Samuel Chu, founder of HKDC, told AFP. Read more
SLS: NASA’s ‘megarocket’ set to fire up engines in crucial test (BBC)
The four main engines of Nasa’s new “megarocket” are to be fired in unison for the first time, demonstrating the launcher’s raw, explosive power.
The Space Launch System (SLS) is part of the US space agency’s Artemis programme, which aims to put Americans back on the lunar surface by 2024.
The engine “hotfire” is the last in a series of tests known as the Green Run.
It will help NASA certify the rocket for its maiden flight, scheduled to take place later this year. Read more
Ugandan President Museveni wins sixth term as vote rigging alleged (France24)
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni won a decisive re-election victory on Saturday, elections officials said, but his main rival Bobi Wine alleged widespread fraud and said citizens should reject the result.
Museveni won 5.85 million votes, or 58.6%, while main opposition candidate Wine had 3.48 million votes (34.8%), the Electoral Commission said at a news conference on the final results from Thursday’s election.
Earlier, Wine accused Museveni of fabricating the results and called the poll “the most fraudulent election in the history of Uganda”. In a phone interview before the final results were announced, he urged citizens to reject the results.
Wine, a singer-turned-lawmaker, also said his home in the capital, Kampala, was surrounded by hundreds of soldiers and that the military was not allowing him to leave. Read more
How art reflects children’s struggles during pandemic (CBC)
A collection of children’s drawings made during the pandemic illustrates the mental toll the pandemic is taking on Canadian youth, says the researcher behind a project analyzing their artwork.
Many of the submissions by kids and teenagers on childart.ca depict people alone, haunted by shadowy spectres, or worse, their own thoughts.
Collectively, the images paint a stark picture of how the trials of young life under lockdown could shape the next generation, says Nikki Martyn, program head of early childhood studies at University of Guelph-Humber. Read more
Tintin painting fetches record €3.2m at Paris auction (France24)
An original painting by Tintin creator Herge sold for a record 3.2 million euros ($3.9 million) at an online auction on Thursday, auction house Artcurial announced.
The item, intended as a front cover for “The Blue Lotus” volume from 1936, easily beat the previous record for the sale of comic book art of 2.65 million euros, which was reached in 2014 for a double-page drawing by Herge.
The gouache, ink and watercolour creation measures 34 by 34 centimetres (13 inches) and features Tintin and his dog Snowy emerging from a porcelain jar in front of a menacing depiction of a Chinese dragon.
It was judged to be too expensive to reproduce by the Herge’s publisher, which ultimately used a simplified version of the same scene for “The Blue Lotus” cover. Read more
Armin Laschet elected leader of Merkel’s CDU party (BBC)
Centrist Armin Laschet has been elected leader of Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU), the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Mr Laschet, premier of North Rhine-Westphalia state, defeated two rivals in the party’s virtual conference.
He is now in a good position in the race to succeed Mrs Merkel when she steps down as German chancellor in September, after 16 years in office.
But he faces a changed political landscape following the Covid pandemic. Read more
CHAN 2021: Cameroon, Zimbabwe Open African Fanfare (NewTelegraph)
The seventh Total African Nations Championship kicks off on Saturday evening and host nation Cameroon takes on Zimbabwe in the curtain-raiser of the tournament. The Warriors of Zimbabwe are making their fifth CHAN appearance, and they will be looking to begin their Group A campaign on the front foot at the Yaounde Omnisport Stadium.
Head coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile has been recalled for his second stint in charge of Cameroon, after guiding the Indomitable Lions to the quarter-finals of the 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda. Cameroon have never made it past the quarter-final, and crashed out in the group stages in 2011 and 2016, but Mpile and his team have been tasked to go a step further and improve in this year’s edition.
The Lions’ current form is, however, worrying for the fans, who watched their nation fall to a disappointing draw against Uganda, before suffering defeats to Niger and Zambia in last week’s pre-CHAN invitational competition. Read more
Whyte-Povetkin II: Heavyweight rematch confirmed for 6 March (BBC)
Briton Dillian Whyte will have the chance to get his revenge against Alexander Povetkin as Matchroom Boxing confirmed their rematch for 6 March.
The Russian, 41, produced a stunning knockout win in the fifth-round of their WBC interim title bout in August.
Whyte, 32, was originally set to meet Povetkin for a second time in late November 2020 at Wembley Arena.
However, the fight was postponed after the the veteran Russian tested positive for Covid-19.
“This is the fight of my career – the fight of my life,” said Whyte. Read more
Justin Thomas: Ralph Lauren ends sponsorship over homophobic slur (BBC)
Clothing brand Ralph Lauren has ended its sponsorship of world number three Justin Thomas following his use of a homophobic slur.
The American apologised for the remark, which was made during the third round of the Sentry Tour of Champions in Hawaii earlier this month.
“It’s inexcusable,” said the Ryder Cup player, 27, after making the comment.
However, Ralph Lauren said it was “disheartened” by use of “language entirely inconsistent with our values”.
The clothing company added: “While we acknowledge he has apologised and recognises the severity of his words, he is a paid ambassador of our brand and his actions conflict with the inclusive culture we strive to uphold.” Read more
Knicks burned by Andre Drummond, Damyean Dotson in fifth straight loss (NYPost)
It was going to be a sweet end to a four-game losing streak. Rookie point guard Immanuel Quickley was weaving an electric performance. RJ Barrett was playing like a bull. Julius Randle again looked like an All-Star.
But it all came tumbling down Friday in Cleveland, delivering the Knicks their fifth straight loss in a heartbreaking 106-103 loss to the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Arena.
Damyean Dotson for extending the Knicks’ woes, as they fell to 5-8.
Drummond, who will be a free agent this summer, had a fine audition in pounding the Knicks for 33 points and 23 rebounds. Dotson landed the knockout blows with seven points in the final 2:40. Read more
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil close to Fenerbahce move (BBC)
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil is close to completing a move to Turkish club Fenerbahce.
The 32-year-old still has half a season left on his Arsenal contract but both parties are in advanced talks which they expect to lead to an agreement to terminate it.
That would pave the way for the move to Istanbul in the coming days.
Ozil has not played for Arsenal since a 1-0 win over West Ham in March and has been frozen out by boss Mikel Arteta.
He joined the club in a £42.4m move from Real Madrid in 2013 and helped them win the FA Cup three times.
Ozil spoke of his admiration for the Turkish side during a social media question-and-answer session during the week. Read more
Garcia on verge of Barca switch (Nation)
Despite claims that Pep Guardiola does not want the defender to leave the club this transfer window, this report claims that he is in fact set to seal a deal to join Barcelona.
Not only is Garcia set to complete a move to the La Liga side but the deal is believed to be on a free transfer – meaning that City won’t receive a fee for him. In his youth, Garcia played for the Catalan giants before switching to England and to Man City.
He then continued to play for the Premier League side’s reserve teams before making his league debut as an 18-year old last season.
He went on to make 13 league appearances for City and has continued to feature for the side this campaign. Making three appearances so far this season, boss Guardiola seems keen to keep the player. Read more