Police raid Lagos black spots, arrest 720 suspects (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command on Sunday said it arrested 720 suspects from different parts of the state for various offences.
The suspects, who were arrested during a raid on black spots in the state, were allegedly arrested with incriminating items.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Sunday, noted that the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department, Panti, to commence further investigation on the suspects. Read more
Obanikoro tasks traditional ruler on education of subjects (Vanguard)
A former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, has advised youths to make the pursuit of education their topmost priority.
Obanikoro gave the advice at the fifth Coronation Anniversary Ceremony of Oba Abraham Ogabi, the Onimeke of Imeke kingdom, in Badagry.
Represented by his son, Mr Ibrahim Obanikoro, the former minister urged Ogabi to always preach the importance of education to youths in the area. Read more
Community raises the alarm over activities of land grabbers (Guardian)
The landlords association of Gbara community in Eti-Osa/Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State has raised the alarm over fraudulent activities of land grabbers in the area. The community called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to quickly intervene to save their lives and properties.
Secretary to the community, Chief Afusat Abimbola Lawal, called on Sanwo-Olu to prevail on some government agents and the town’s traditional ruler from encroaching on their property.
In a Save-Our-Soul letter to the governor dated November 3, 2020, the community asked Sanwo-Olu to investigate the fraudulent plan of some personalities, who are encroaching and building on their land without their consent. Read more
States cautious on ending ex-govs, deputies’ pension (Thisday)
Despite the dwindling revenues of states and their inability to effectively meet workers’ demands and other obligations, many state governments are unwilling to repeal the laws that legalised the payment of pension and other benefits to former governors and their deputies, THISDAY investigation has shown.
Inquiries by THISDAY against the background of the move by the Lagos State Government to abrogate the law, showed that some of the states, including Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Sokoto and Enugu have no immediate plans to review the law and free funds for other critical purposes. Read more
CBN’s policy blocks banks, investors from N622bn illegal earnings (Vanguard)
The new Treasury Bills policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has effectively obstructed about N622 billion interest earnings that would have accrued to banks and other individual and corporate investors in the money market.
The banks had mobilised their customers to invest in the NTB at mouth watering yields (interest rate) shortly after the apex bank increased the Loan-to-Deposit Ratio, LDR, requirement to 60percent in September last year.
Instead of lending to real businesses as required by the new LDR directive, banks embarked on aggressive loans to individuals and companies for investment in the NTB to meet the CBN’s LDR requirements. Read more
FG to realise N434bn from sale of Omotosho Power Plant, 2 others (Thisday)
The federal government’s plan in 2021 to sell the three power plants in Geregu, Omotosho and Calabar will rake in N434 billion into the Federation Account.
Also, the concessioning of Moshood Abiola stadium in Abuja and three other stadia by the federal government next year is put at N100 million.
These were the highlights of the breakdown of the document presented by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) during its budget defence before the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation.
According to the breakdown, Geregu power plant is billed to be sold for N140.7 billion; Omotosho Power Plant will be sold for N151.4 billion while Calabar plant will be available for sale for N143.4 billion. Read more
New police law sets OND as minimum entry qualification (Vanguard)
Nigerians seeking to join the Nigeria Police Force must possess a minimum of Ordinary National Diploma (OND) if a new law being planned to reposition the force and strengthen policing in the country sails through.
Already, the bill, which will seek to repeal the law establishing the Police Service Commission and establish a new one, is being fine-tuned at several levels by the federal government.
Under the proposal, which Vanguard sighted last night, the requirement for ordinary national diploma would apply to both those seeking to join the NPF as constables and others seeking to enlist in the Nigeria Police Academy as cadets. Read more
Nigeria needs new people’s constitution not amendment, says Olanipekun (Nation)
Erudite lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has said only a brand new constitution can address the myriad of challenges bedeviling Nigeria and not an amendment of the operational 1999 Constitution.
Olanipekun regretted that the 1999 legal framework is not adequately enough to handle Nigeria peculiarities.
The eminent lawyer noted that what the country needs is a people-oriented constitution that will recognise its diversity as the present one was foisted on Nigerians by the military. Read more
SpaceX Crew Dragon launches to Space Station with crew of 4 astronauts (BBC)
Four astronauts – three from the US and one from Japan – have launched from Florida on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The crew rode to orbit in a rocket and capsule provided by the SpaceX company.
It’s only the second time the firm has supplied the service.
The US space agency Nasa has said it is now entering a new era in which routine astronaut journeys to low-Earth orbit are being conducted by commercial providers. Read more
Soumitra Chatterjee, iconic Indian actor, dies of coronavirus complications aged 85 (Metro)
Soumitra Chatterjee, an iconic Indian actor who starred in more than 300 films, has died at the age of 85 following complications connected to coronavirus. The actor died on Sunday in Kolkata, India, after being there for more than a month with Covid-19. While he later recovered, complications as a result of the virus soon around and it was those that contributed to his death, family confirmed. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, said of his passing: ‘Shri Soumitra Chatterjee’s death is a colossal loss to the world of cinema, cultural life of West Bengal and India.’ A commemoration was organised in his memory at Nandan Film Center, to give fans a space to pay their last respects. Read more
Lockdown killings: Horrifying stats raise fears of fresh spike in domestic abuse deaths (RT)
With England little over a week into its second lockdown, shocking new statistics have revealed that calls to domestic abuse helplines are surging, and the first lockdown saw nearly 50 suspected domestic killings.
The charity Refuge has raised the alarm about rising reports of domestic violence, saying it is “very concerned” about a spike in demand for the National Domestic Abuse helpline, which it operates.
Refuge said that perpetrators of domestic violence have proven to be adept at using coronavirus restrictions to abuse and intimidate. It added that abusers were increasingly using smart door locks, webcams, and social media, or sharing revenge porn, to target their victims. Read more
COVID vaccine: Major new trial starts in UK (BBC)
A major trial of a vaccine to protect against Covid-19 has launched in the UK – the third such trial in the country.
The jab – designed by the Belgian company Janssen – uses a genetically modified common cold virus to train the immune system.
It comes a week after preliminary results showed another vaccine offered 90% protection.
However, many types of vaccine are likely to be needed to end the pandemic.
The success of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has caused global excitement. However, it has not yet been approved for use and we still do not know how well it works in the elderly or how long immunity lasts. Read more
Samantha Mumba is making a comeback and pop fans are losing their minds (Metro)
2020 has been rough, but pop music has easily been the best thing about the year. And it looks like it’s about to get even better, as Samantha Mumba is making a comeback. The Irish singer has sent all the pop huns into a frenzy by teasing a brand new single coming later this month. Samantha, 37, shared a two second clip of a close-up of her opening her eyes, and wrote: ‘Oh Hi. Hello. Sorry to interrupt your regularly scheduled programming but…. Read more
Boris Johnson self-isolating after MP tests positive for Covid-19 (BBC)
Boris Johnson is self-isolating after meeting an MP who later tested positive for Covid-19.
The prime minister said he was contacted by NHS Test and Trace on Sunday but is not showing symptoms.
Mr Johnson on Thursday spent about 35 minutes with Ashfield MP Lee Anderson who has since tested positive.
The news came as No 10 said Mr Johnson would make “critical announcements” about coronavirus and “levelling up” the UK over the coming weeks. Read more
COVID-19 was present in Italy as early as September 2019, study of lung cancer screenings shows (RT)
The Covid-19 virus had been active in Italy months before it was first officially detected, new research has found, raising further questions about the true origins, extent and actual duration of the ongoing pandemic.
The new groundbreaking study, conducted by scientists with Milan Institute of Cancer and the University of Siena, was published this week by the Tumori Journal. The research is based on the analysis of blood samples from 959 people, collected during lung cancer screening tests conducted between September 2019 and March 2020. Read more
ATP Finals 2020: Rafael Nadal & Dominic Thiem win London openers (BBC)
Rafael Nadal began his bid for the biggest title missing from his vast collection with an ATP Finals win over Russian debutant Andrey Rublev.
Spanish second seed Nadal, 34, won 6-3 6-4 as the season-ending event began in London for the final time.
Earlier on the opening day, third seed Dominic Thiem avenged his defeat by Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in last year’s final with a three-set victory.
US Open champion Thiem won 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-3 at an empty O2 Arena.
Nadal’s straight-set success moved him above the Austrian at the top of Group London 2020 – named in tribute to the event’s 50th anniversary – after the opening matches. Read more
Tiger Woods plays worst hole of his career (RT)
Tiger Woods had a Sunday to forget at Augusta as he shot a 10 on the par-three 12th hole, finding the water on three separate occasions – the worst score he has posted on a hole in his near 30-year career.
The 44-year-old five-time Masters champion didn’t look to be in a chance of claiming his sixth when play began early on Sunday but a little over half-way through his round, his chances hit a brick wall, or more specifically a water trap.
Woods’ first two shots sailed into Rae’s Creek, and another overshot its target to settle in a bunker – with his exit shot also getting inadvertently submerged. Read more
Masters 2020: Dustin Johnson wins at Augusta at record 20 under par (BBC)
World number one Dustin Johnson won his first Masters title by five strokes as he finished with a record-breaking low score of 20 under par at Augusta.
The American posted a four-under 68 on Sunday to hold off Australian Cameron Smith and South Korea’s Sungjae Im.
Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy’s brief charge came too late as he eventually finished nine shots back in tied fifth.
Defending champion Tiger Woods carded a 10 on the par-three 12th but recovered with five birdies to finish one under. Read more
Former Tottenham, Liverpool and England goalkeeper Ray Clemence dies aged 72 (Metro)
Former Tottenham, Liverpool and England goalkeeper Ray Clemence has died aged 72. Clemence, who was widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his era, won five league titles and three European Cup trophies during his time at Liverpool. Following his 14-year stint at Liverpool, Clemence moved to Tottenham in 1981 and helped the club win the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup. Clemence won 61 caps with England during his career before retiring in 1988. Read more
England fail to qualify for Nations League finals after Belgium defeat (BBC)
England’s hopes of qualifying for the Nations League finals were ended by defeat against Belgium in Leuven.
Gareth Southgate’s side had plenty of possession against the world’s top-ranked side but were toothless in attack and ultimately undone by two early goals.
Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans opened the scoring after 10 minutes when his 20-yard shot took a deflection off Tyrone Mings, and Dries Mertens doubled their advantage 13 minutes later with a superb free-kick after Declan Rice was harshly adjudged to have fouled Kevin de Bruyne. Read more
Hamilton in tears after record-equalling seventh F1 world title (Metro)
Lewis Hamilton won a record-equalling seventh F1 world title after a thrilling victory at the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday and vowed to add to his tally next season and eclipse Michael Schumacher’s record outright. The 35-year-old gave a superb display at a very wet and slippery Istanbul Park, coming from way back to deliver a masterful display, taking a risk by staying out on his worn immediate tyres but ploughing through the pack to take the win.Read more