Pastor, 6 others die after suya, fruit juice meal in Abia (Punch)
The Abia Government has appealed for calm over the death of one Sunday Ugba, a Deacon at the Assemblies of God Church, who died on Monday night, along with six other persons in his house in Umuahia.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ugba and others, including four children that came on holiday in his house, died after taking suya and fruit juice.
His wife was rushed, unconscious, to Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where she is currently receiving medical treatment.
Reacting to the incident in a statement in Umuahia on Tuesday, Abia Commissioner for Information, Okiyi Kalu, advised relatives of the deceased persons to remain calm.
Kalu stated that government had contacted all the relevant agencies “to investigate the unfortunate incident.”
“We wish to call for calm and patience to enable relevant medical authorities to properly determine the cause of the death of the seven persons,” he stated. Read more
Lagos police task citizens on security as church donates gadgets (Guardian)
The Lagos State Police Command has urged citizens to be security-conscious and report any suspicious movement or actions capable of threatening the safety of residents.
Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Ahmed Kontagora, stated this during the presentation of security equipment to 10 police formations by the Lagos Province 44 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at Area C Command Headquarters in Surulere at the weekend.
Commending the RCCG for the gesture, he said the equipment, which comprised crowd control gadgets, walkie-talkie, body camera and other devices, would assist the police to effectively check crime and arrest security breaches in the state. Read more
We’ll invest in traditional medicine, Sanwo-Olu tells practitioners (Punch)
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised to invest in traditional medicine.
He stated this on Tuesday during the 2021 African Traditional Medicine Day celebration held at Alausa, Ikeja.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, also said traditional medicine practitioners would be regulated like medical doctors.
He said, “This administration, in addition to the provision of necessary infrastructure for Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, will also invest in clinical trials, research works, evidence-based healing process and publication of findings of the traditional medicine practitioners. Read more
Motorcyclists defy ultimatums, take over Obalende-Ikoyi axis (Guardian)
Despite several ultimatums by the Lagos State government to Okada riders to leave Lagos roads, the motorcyclists have refused to quit major roads in the state.
Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had, in May, said those who had taken up Okada riding for lack of jobs should take opportunities in agriculture, wealth creation, poverty alleviation and other government programmes.
Sanwo-Olu added that the strings of lawlessness witnessed in confrontation between commercial motorcyclists and law enforcement agencies required urgent actions, including prohibition.
But the number of Okada riders on Lagos roads, despite arrests, has increased. The riders have increased in number around Obalende and have taken over the Obalende-Ikoyi link bridge, causing traffic jam as drivers struggle to avoid hitting them. Read more
Housewife remanded for forcing maid to drink peppered hot water (Punch)
Ten-year-old Ifunanya is currently battling for her life in an undisclosed hospital in Abia State after she was allegedly scalded with hot water by her employer, Ojiugo David.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim lived with David at their residence on Aba Road, in the Umuahia area of the state.
It was alleged that the suspect on Sunday boiled water and mixed it with pepper.
She was reported to have forced Ifunanya to drink it.
A witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the water scalded the lips of the victim and destroyed her voice box. Read more
Bus drivers, task force clash in Lagos over alleged extortion (Guardian)
Men of the Lagos State Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Task Force) yesterday dispersed protesting drivers at Oba-Akran with tear gas.
According to bus drivers in the area, the task force officers shot several rounds of tear gas in the area to chase the protesting motorists away.
A bus driver, known as Moshood, said: “It was around 9:30a.m. and we came from Ikeja to Oba-Akran to ask the government to stop the task force from arresting us and collecting money from us.
“Suddenly, the task force members started shooting tear gas at us and everybody ran away.”
An eyewitness alleged the officers came with hoodlums who engaged the drivers in a battle with sticks and bottles.
A trader, Iya Kemi said: “We saw them coming from Guinness’ side and the drivers were at Mosalashi-Alajah. The policemen were armed and the hoodlums beside them were carrying bottles. All the traders had to run for safety. But the clash did not last beyond 30 minutes.” When The Guardian visited the area at about 3p.m., normalcy had been restored as traders were seen displaying their wares. Read more
Electricity Tariff: ActionAid urges NERC to stop planned increase (Leadership)
ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to halt the planned electricity tariff increment.
It also urged the NERC to uphold its values of transparency, fairness, and accountability by ensuring continuous consultation with the masses while protecting consumers’ rights.
Country director of the non-governmental organisation, Mrs Ene Obi, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday.
She decried the alleged resolution of NERC directing the 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in the country to increase their tariffs from Sept. 1. Read more
Open grazing ban: 11 southern states fail to meet deadline, 6 comply (Sun)
AS the September 1 deadline on ban on open grazing ban in Southern Nigeria agreed on by the 17 southern states dawns, no fewer than 12 states have failed to comply.
Apart from Abia, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ebonyi states that have passed the law, others are either in the process or have not begun at all. In fact, five states – Anambra, Lagos, Imo, Edo and Cross River- have ignored the agreement while Rivers, Delta, Osun, Ondo, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom and Enugu, are just in the process of complying.
It is expected that as from today, it would be unlawful for anybody or group of persons to graze farm animals openly throughout the southern region.
This development, coupled with the Federal Government’s recent statement that it had disbursed money running into billions of Naira to reactivate the moribund grazing routes totaling over 300 across the country have been generating varied reactions, particularly among the ethnic nationality groups. This is not unexpected as the announcement by the Federal Government has, by extension, ignored the open grazing ban in the south. Read more
Japan finds black particles in Moderna vaccine (BBC)
Japan has put a batch of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine on hold after a foreign substance was found in a vial.
A pharmacist saw several black particles in one vial of the vaccine in Kanagawa Prefecture, according to authorities.
Some 3,790 people had already received shots from the batch. The rest of the batch has now been put on hold.
It comes less than a week after Japan suspended the use of about 1.63 million Moderna doses due to contamination. Read more
Final trailer for “No Time to Die” released as Daniel Craig prepares to say goodbye to James Bond (Metro)
Daniel Craig is back as James Bond for one last time, and the final trailer for No Time to Die has dropped.
The 53-year-old first graced our screens as Bond in Casino Royale in 2006, but No Time to Die is to be his last portrayal of the secret agent, the man himself has confirmed.
Following the 25th installment of the legendary franchise, the actor will leave space for someone else to fill the shiny shoes of everyone’s favourite MI6 agent, confessing the realisation that ‘there are other things that are more important’ made him decide to bow out.
In the actor’s final Bond movie, the nearly 60-year-old franchise promises to deliver on action and thrill on a whole new level. Read more
Logan Architecture and ICON complete “first 3D-printed homes for sale in the US” (DesignBoom)
A quartet of houses designed by local firm Logan Architecture and built from 3D-printed concrete by construction tech company ICON has completed in Austin, Texas.
The East 17th Street Residences in East Austin are now on the market, which construction company ICON and developer 3strands claim is a first. “They are the first 3D-printed homes for sale in the US and ready for move-in,” ICON told Dezeen.
The East 17th Street Residences development includes four homes of varying sizes and layouts
The four dwellings have ground-floor walls built using ICON’s Vulcan construction system, which uses a robotic armature to layer Portland-cement-based material Lavacrete into striated surfaces.
ICON claims that this process creates a stronger and longer-lasting building material compared to traditional techniques, and makes the homes tougher in the face of extreme weather. Read more
Filming on new Russell Crowe thriller suspended as crew member tests positive for Covid-19 (Metro)
Work on Russell Crowe’s upcoming movie Poker Face has been halted after a member of the crew tested positive for Covid-19.
Filming in Australia has been suspended while cast and crew members isolate.
In a series of tweets the Gladiator star confirmed production had been suspended temporarily but he hoped to get back to business soon.
He explained that they had been following public health guidelines during the shoot with everyone on set getting tested for the virus three times a week while crew members wore masks, apart from three who are exempt. Read more
The Queen of the Jungle returns with new Sheena series (FlickeringMyth)
Dynamite Entertainment has announced that Sheena, Queen of the Jungle is set to return this November as the publisher kicks off a brand new series from writer Stephen Mooney (Half-Past Danger, Black Widow) and artist Jethro Morales (Bettie Page).
The first female comic book character to have her own title, Sheena, Queen of the Jungle was created by Will Eisner and Jerry Iger, and debuted in 1937, pre-dating Wonder Woman by four years. An orphan stranded in Africa following the death of her explorer father, Sheena is raised by a witch doctor and learns the ways of the jungle, using her skills to fight evil.
“It’s exciting getting to play with these kinds of toys and accepting that challenge of adding something new and worthy to the established mythos,” said writer Stephen Mooney. “The fact that Sheena was a bit of a trailblazer is fantastic, but that in itself does not a good story make. It’s up to us newbies to add something perhaps a little more contemporary, without robbing Sheena of any of the elements that already made her great.” Read more
Image of bird at US-Mexico border wall wins contest (BBC)
Mexican photographer Alejandro Prieto’s image of a bird at the US-Mexico border wall has won a prestigious photo contest.
Mr Prieto was named the grand prize winner of the Bird Photographer of the Year competition after his image was selected from 22,000 entries.
His winning photograph depicts a roadrunner bird that has stopped in front of the wall.
He says the image highlights the threat to biodiversity that the wall poses. Read more
FIFA ranks €81m Osimhen world’s 18th most expensive player (Punch)
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, is the 18th most expensive player in the world, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
In a report released by FIFA, which has records of transfers done in the last 10 years, Osimhen ranks 18th in the world after his €81m move from French Ligue 1 side Lille to Serie A side Napoli in August 2020.
The move also makes him the most expensive signing in Africa, eclipsing Ivoirian Nicolas Pepe’s €80m move to Arsenal from Lille a year earlier.
Brazilian forward Neymar is the world’s most expensive player, after moving from Barcelona to PSG for €222m in 2017. He is followed by Eden Hazard, who joined Real Madrid for a fee that could exceed €174m two years later. Read more
Igali sets Olympic Gold Medal target for Team Nigeria (Nation)
Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) Hon. Daniel Igali said his target now is producing an Olympic and World Championships gold medallist in the next three years for the country , after Blessing Obourududu won a historic silver medal at the recent Tokyo 2020 Games.
By winning a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games, Oborududu became Nigeria’s first-ever medallist in wrestling at the Olympics, since the country’s first participation in the sport in 1980.
Under Igali’s watch, Nigeria has won three World Championships medals (two bronze and a silver) plus five Commonwealth Games gold medals and multiple African champions.
According to the Olympic and World Championships gold medallist, the above achievements were part of a plan to produce champions at all levels, which he believes will climax with an Olympic and World Championships gold medal on or before 2024. Read more
Real Madrid sign France teenager Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes (BBC)
Real Madrid have signed highly-rated France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes on a six-year deal.
The 18-year-old had entered the final 12 months of his contract with the Ligue 1 club, who were not prepared to lose him on a free transfer next year.
He completed his medical at France’s Clairefontaine training centre on Monday.
In April 2019, Camavinga became the youngest Rennes debutant aged 16 years and four months. Read more
US Open rocked by ‘crazy’ Novak Djokovic drama (Yahoo)
Fans were left gobsmacked at the US Open on Tuesday when Novak Djokovic’s quest to complete a calendar year grand slam got off to a bizarre start.
Djokovic was a class above young opponent Holger Rune in the opening set at Flushing Meadows, blitzing his rival 6-1.
However the second set was a completely different story as 18-year-old qualifier Rune stunned the tennis world to win it in a tie-breaker.
The Danish youngster took a shock 3-0 lead in the second before Djokovic managed to right the ship.
However Rune sent fans into meltdown when he prevailed 7-5 in the breaker to level the match at one set all. Read more
Real have to wait for Mbappe as PSG decide they don’t need the money (Guardian)
Paris Saint-Germain got Lionel Messi but that has somehow turned out not to be the most remarkable moment of the transfer window for them.
There can hardly be a bigger statement from the Qatar-owned club than turning their noses up at an offer understood to be worth 180 million euros ($212m) from Real Madrid for Kylian Mbappe with the France striker in the final year of his contract.
Real are understood to have made two bids for Mbappe last week and there were reports on Tuesday they were prepared to go to 200 million euros — but PSG decided they would rather not sell, and risk losing the France forward for free at the end of the season.
“He is one of the best, one of the most important players in the world today and for him to be with us is a gift,” said PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino at the weekend. Read more
Tottenham sign Barcelona defender Emerson Royal but Serge Aurier leaves (BBC)
Tottenham have signed Brazil defender Emerson Royal from Barcelona for 30m euro (£25.8m) on a five-year contract.
The 22-year-old spent the past two seasons at Betis, scoring five goals in 79 games, before Barca exercised their option to bring him back for a reported 9m euros (£7.7m) in June.
Emerson featured in Brazil’s run to the Copa America final this summer.
Serge Aurier, 28, has left Spurs after a mutual agreement to terminate his contract a year early. Read more