People should be cornerstone of your polices, Tinubu tells Sanwo-Olu (Punch)
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday urged the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to make the welfare of people the cornerstone of his administration’s programmes. Tinubu said this at the retreat organised for members of State Executive Council and Permanent Secretaries. According to a statement issued by Sanwo-Olu’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, the former Lagos governor also urged the current governor to work hard to achieve the programmes of the party in the state. Read more
Buhari will not fail Nigerians –Presidency (Punch)
The Presidency has assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will not disappoint them in this second and last term in delivery of his promises. Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity stated this on Friday in Abuja. Shehu was speaking on behalf of some aides of the President, who were given a special award of recognition ‘for their contributions in projecting a solid and impressive image of the President in the discharge of their patriotic service to the Nigerian people.’ Read more
Osinbajo, former US envoy discuss polio eradication (Punch)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former US Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Andrew Young, on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, met to discuss ways to sustain the fight against the Wild Polio Virus in Nigeria. Young, who came under the aegis of Emeka Offor Foundation, was accompanied by Offor, a Nigerian businessman, whose foundation also worked to eradicate the WPV in Nigeria. Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Young said that the struggle to eradicate polio had been going on for 70 years and that it would soon be achieved. Read more
US massive wire frauds: EFCC will fish out suspects, Magu vows (Nation)
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu has declared the agency will fish out some of the 77 Nigerian suspects involved in massive wire fraud schemes in the United States. He said he suspected that the number of Nigerian suspects would be more than 77 going by the joint operation of the EFCC and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the past few months. He said the EFCC is on the watch-out and will not leave any stone unturned. Read more
Thanks for supporting Oyo-Ita, Deputy Speaker commends Buhari (Punch)
The Deputy Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, Mr. Joseph Bassey, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for standing with the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita. Bassey told News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Calabar that the allegations of fraud against Oyo-Ita was false and baseless, stressing that she has exhibited good character and integrity in service. It would be recalled that Oyo-Ita was drilled by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission for allegations of financial mismanagement of over N3bn. Read more
FG to enroll newspaper vendors into N-Power programme (Punch)
The Federal Government has promised to enroll members of the Newspaper Vendors Association of Nigeria into the N-Power programme, to enable them acquire some skills. Labour and employment minister, Chris Ngige, made the promise on Friday in Abuja when members of the Federal Secretariat branch of the association, led by its chairman, Desmond Obiagwu, paid him a courtesy visit. Ngige commended the vendors for being good citizens by choosing to earn a decent living through newspaper vending, instead of engaging in criminal activities. Read more
Zaria water project: Kaduna government seeks refund of N24.4bn from FG (Guardian)
Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has asked the Federal Government to refund N24.4 billion, representing 30 percent of the money spent by the state on Zaria water project. According to the governor, the refund was in line with relevant laws that stipulated 30 percent refund to states for any capital project executed. The governor’s demand was contained in a statement by his Senior Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adeleke, issued in Kaduna on Friday. Read more
Amaechi fixes September for groundbreaking of Transport University, Daura (Nation)
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday said the groundbreaking of the Transport University, Daura, would take place in Septemeber. Amaechi disclosed this while inspecting Lagos -Ibadan rail line construction. The minister said the ministry would also establish a factory in Kajola, Ogun, to produce materials for the rail project. Read more
Security presence at Seme border not same as closure —Customs (Punch)
The Nigeria Customs Service has denied closure of the Seme-Krake border with the Republic of Benin, explaining that the ongoing joint security exercise in the area was to tackle trans-border crimes. The Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr. Joseph Attah, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday that the joint security exercise was simply staged to respond to trans-border crimes and criminality. Read more
Cultists invade two Rivers communities, kill six (Punch)
Six persons were killed on Thursday in Kereke Bo-Ue and Nyokoro communities in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, when gunmen suspected to be cultists invaded the area. It was gathered that the gunmen belonging to a particular cult group had attacked the communities between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., causing panic in the area. Some persons were also injured during the incident as the attackers were said to have shot indiscriminately during the separate attacks. Read more
Trump says US firms ‘hereby ordered’ to quit China (BBC)
President Donald Trump says he has “hereby ordered” American companies to leave China, after Beijing announced plans to slap new tariffs on US goods. The White House did not immediately say what authority the president had to compel private firms to quit a country. The US president also vowed swift retaliation against Beijing after it unveiled plans for duties of 10% on $75bn (£61bn) of US goods. Read more
British travellers warned of stricter checks in Hong Kong airport amid protests (Metro)
British travellers heading to Hong Kong have been warned their electronic devices could be checked at the border between the city and mainland China amid the ongoing protests. The Foreign Office has updated its advice for those seeking to travel. In light of the recent demonstrations, it cautions that ‘there are reports of greater scrutiny from mainland authorities at border crossings’. Read more
Jeffrey Epstein case: France launches rape inquiry (BBC)
French prosecutors have opened an inquiry into rape allegations against the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein. The 66-year-old died in a New York prison cell on 10 August as he awaited trial over allegations that he had run a network using underage girls for sex. He had an apartment in Paris, and French gender equality minister Marlène Schiappa had called for an inquiry into any abuses committed on French soil. Read more
Brazil’s president sends army in to help battle Amazon fires (Metro)
Brazil’s president has signed an order deploying military troops to help battle the huge wildfires searing through the Amazon. Jair Bolsonaro has previously described rainforest protection as an impediment to economic growth, in the face of critics pointing out its importance in containing global warning. But as vast swathes of forest continue to go up in smoke the governor of the Amazon state of Roraima, Antonio Denarium, told reporters in Brasilia that the president had signed off on sending the army in to help combat the wildfires. Read more
Erdogan accuses dismissed pro-Kurdish mayors of serving ‘terrorists’ (Guardian)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday defended his government’s decision to remove three pro-Kurdish mayors from office and accused them of serving “terrorists”, in comments published in the official Anadolu news agency. The mayors of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van provinces in eastern Turkey — all members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) elected in March — were suspended on Monday over alleged ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Read more
Ocean Viking: EU nations to take in migrants stuck near Malta (BBC)
Six EU countries have agreed to take in 356 African migrants aboard the rescue ship Ocean Viking, which has not been allowed to dock in Italy or Malta. The migrants, mostly from Sudan, cheered and danced on hearing the news. Malta’s navy will ferry them ashore, but Malta will not let them stay. France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Romania will host them. Read more
Ruth Bader Ginsburg treated for cancer (BBC)
US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has received treatment for a cancerous tumour on her pancreas, a court spokeswoman says. She “tolerated treatment well” and the tumour was “treated definitively”, the court added in a statement. Ms Ginsburg, 86, has survived previous battles with cancer, as well as fractured ribs from falls. As the most senior liberal justice, her health is watched closely as a possible indicator of changes to the court. Read more
Teenagers charged with murder after Great Britain athlete knocked off bike (Metro)
Three teenagers have been charged with the murder of a former Great Britain athlete after knocking him off a bike. Amrou Greenidge, 18, was left with fatal injuries after he was hit by a car in Fulham, south west London, on Sunday August 18. He had been riding on his bicycle when he was struck by the vehicle and was rushed to hospital. Read more
‘First vape death in the US’ recorded in Illinois (BBC)
A patient has died after developing a severe respiratory disease due to vaping, say health officials, in what may be the first such death in the US. The US state of Illinois’ health agency said the unnamed patient was between 17 and 38 years old. It comes amid an outbreak of illness across the US that officials have linked to use of e-cigarettes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday 149 people nationwide have become ill from vaping. Read more
Doctor finds huge venomous spider living inside woman’s ear (Metro)
A woman went to the doctor with what she believed was water trapped in her ear – then discovered the blockage was actually a venomous spider. Susie Torres first noticed discomfort in her ear Tuesday morning, and thought it may have been a side-effect of a recent allergy shot. Susie, of Kansas City in Missouri told Fox4KC: ‘I woke up Tuesday hearing a bunch of swooshing and water in my left ear. Read more
Nine-goal Ahly equal CAF Champions League record (Punch)
A Hussein el Shahat hat-trick helped Al Ahly of Egypt overwhelm Atlabara of South Sudan 9-0 Friday and equal the record for a CAF Champions League aggregate winning margin. The Cairo Red Devils won the preliminary tie 13-0 overall to match the margin achieved by Young Africans of Tanzania 10 years ago. Ahly had the benefit of playing both legs in Egyptian Mediterranean city Alexandria because the national stadium in South Sudan capital Juba is being renovated. Read more
Villa win for first points of season (BBC)
Aston Villa collected their first Premier League points of the season as goals from Wesley and Anwar El Ghazi gave them victory over Everton. Brazilian Wesley, who arrived from Bruges for a club record fee, opened his account in English football with a close-range effort from Jota’s incisive pass. El Ghazi sealed victory late on after collecting John McGinn’s pass and sliding a shot underneath Jordan Pickford from six yards out. Read more
Gary Neville warns Unai Emery against using Arsenal youngsters against Liverpool (Metro)
Gary Neville has urged Unai Emery to take some of his young Arsenal stars out of the starting XI for Saturday afternoon’s trip to face Liverpool at Anfield. The two clubs are the only sides in the Premier League who have made 100% starts to the new season, with a quartet of youngsters – Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock, Matteo Guendouzi and Reiss Nelson – all starting in both matches for the Gunners. Read more
Virgil van Dijk insists Liverpool aren’t playing a higher line after criticism of defence (Metro)
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has rejected suggestions that the side are playing a higher defensive line this season amid criticism of their performances at the back. The Merseysiders are yet to keep a clean sheet this season despite being dominant defensively in the 2018/19 campaign, while Jamie Carragher was notably critical of the way they have tried to play teams offside. Read more
Pochettino won’t do any favours for Spurs stars (Punch)
Mauricio Pochettino has warned Tottenham’s stars he won’t pick players out of “charity” if they don’t meet his standards. Pochettino has frozen out Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen for the opening two games of the Premier League season, while Kenya midfielder Victor Wanyama is reportedly set to be sold. Both players have been regulars for Tottenham in the past, with Vertonghen’s omission especially notable given his largely impressive form. Read more
Harry Redknapp: West Ham would have won the Premier League – our kids were as good as Man Utd (Metro)
Harry Redknapp reckons he had a generation of young players at West Ham who were as good as the famous Class of ’92 and would have claimed Premier League titles if they had stayed together. A former West Ham player himself, Redknapp managed the Hammers for more than 300 games between 1994 and 2001 but claimed no major silverware in that time, although he did help them qualify for the UEFA Cup. Read more
Roger Federer: Caravan holiday helps Swiss prepare for US Open (BBC)
Roger Federer says a caravanning holiday around the Swiss countryside has left him feeling the best he has “in years” before the US Open. Federer, 38, is going for a record sixth Open era men’s singles title in New York. The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who last won at Flushing Meadows in 2008, says the trip helped him process his Wimbledon defeat by Novak Djokovic. Read more
Rafael Nadal reacts to Roger Federer landing in Novak Djokovic’s half of the US Open draw (Metro)
Rafael Nadal was taken out by Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the two Grand Slams outside of the French Open in 2019, but he won’t have to face either before the final at the US Open. The three-time champion will begin against Australia’s John Millman – who knocked Federer out here last year – on Tuesday as he targets a 19th Grand Slam title and most would argue he’s been handed the best draw of the ‘Big Three’. Read more
Serena Williams: Carlos Ramos will not umpire Williams sisters at US Open (BBC)
Carlos Ramos will not umpire any matches involving Serena or Venus Williams at this year’s US Open, tournament officials have confirmed. The Portuguese umpire docked Serena Williams a game for verbal abuse in last year’s final against Naomi Osaka. Williams, 37, called Ramos a “liar” and a “thief” having already received a point penalty for smashing her racquet. Read more