Pupils protest over mass failure in Lagos public schools (Punch)
There has been protest by pupils in public secondary schools in Lagos State against mass failure following their promotional examination from SSSII to SSSIII.
The state Ministry of Education determined to reduce the promotion of ‘incompetent’ pupils from SSS II to SSS III implemented a new policy.
The policy recommends that for a pupil in SSS II to be promoted to SSS III and the state to pay the West African Examination Council fees, the pupil must pass the third term examination. Read more
Minimum Wage: Labour Urges FG Not to Raise Fuel Price, Taxes (ThisDay)
Organised labour has urged the Federal Government not to embark on any policy measures that will erode the expected gains of the new N30,000 new minimum wage for workers.
In a statement issued Saturday by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the labour specifically asked the federal government not to approve any further tax policy or increase in the prices of petroleum products.
“We also call on government to refrain from introducing counterproductive economic policies and decisions that would erode the current wage gain achieved by workers. Read more
Parents aid sex-for-marks in varsities – VC (DailyTrust)
Pampering of children by parents and exposing them to excessive affluence makes them unable to pass examinations and contributes to sex-for-marks scandals in Nigeria’s universities, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba, said yesterday. Speaking on Radio Nigeria Kaduna programme monitored in Zaria, he also identified decay in the moral upbringing of children as another factor aiding the trend. Read more
This is the best time to close Nigeria’s borders – Customs spokesman (Nation)
Spokesman for the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah, in this interview, explains the reason for the clampdown on car dealers across the country and the gains of the closure of borders.
What is the reason for the sudden visit to a hotel in Abuja to seize exotic vehicles?
All vehicle dealers have been asked to pay duty for the vehicles in their shops. It was in the course of that, that we got intelligence that some people quickly moved their exotic vehicles, including bulletproof vehicles, from their shops in Abuja to a hotel. Read more
Army commissions 4,832 soldiers (DailyTrust)
The Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, yesterday commissioned 4,832 soldiers of the 78th Regular Recruits Intake (RRI) into the Nigerian Army.
Performing the commissioning as Reviewing Officer, the Chief of Defence of Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, urged the newly commissioned soldiers to uphold the virtues of selfless service and professionalism. Read more
Panic as lion escapes from Kano zoo (Guardian)
A lion Saturday night escaped from its cage at Kano zoo, settings off panic among residents of the community close to the zoo.
A resident of Gandu Albasa quarters, near the zoo, told The Guardian that residents of the area have started relocating for the safety of their lives. When contacted on phone, managing director of Kano Zoology, Saidu Gwadebe confirmed the Lion’s escaped.
Saidu told our correspondent that the animal escaped from its cage at about 8 pm and dashed into the wild zoo forest. Read more
Nigeria searches for more solid minerals (Nation)
With the discovery of already 55 minerals in Nigeria, the Federal Government is set to discover more.
This, it says, is all that the country needs to face the fourth revolution which is all about minerals.
Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uchechukwu Ogah, said Nigeria, with it’s over 55 minerals, is at a very vantage position to become one of the world’s top industrial hubs. Read more
Headies 2019: Teni, Burna Boy, Falz, win big at Headies 2019 (Punch)
Singer Teni won big at the star-studded 2019 Headies Awards held in Lagos, on Saturday night.
She won the Best Recording of the Year, Best Pop Single, Best Vocal Performance and Viewers Choice awards.
Falz won the Best Rap Single and Best Rap Album awards while Burna Boy won the Best Collabo and Artiste of the Year awards. Read more
Egypt unveils trove of ancient coffins excavated in Luxor (Guardian)
Egypt revealed on Saturday a rare trove of 30 ancient wooden coffins that have been well-preserved over millennia in the archaeologically rich Valley of the Kings in Luxor.
The antiquities ministry officially unveiled the discovery made at Asasif, a necropolis on the west bank of the Nile River, at a press conference against the backdrop of the Hatshepsut Temple.
“This is the first discovery in Asasif by dedicated Egyptian hands, comprised of archaeologists, conservationists and workers,” head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa al-Waziri, told reporters. Read more
Six killed in Mali attack on pro-government forces (Guardian)
Six people were killed late Friday when unknown assailants attacked a post held by armed pro-government groups in strife-torn northeastern Mali, the groups said in a statement.
Four more people were missing after the attack in Aguelhok, an alliance of pro-government forces calling itself Platform of the June 2014 Movements said.
The security situation in Mali has been deteriorating steadily with separatists, salafists and jihadists mounting deadly insurrections since 2012. Read more
Atlanta ’96 stars lament: Our gold medals have been stolen (Punch)
Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games remains Nigeria’s best outing at the global multi-sports event. Unfortunately, some of the gold medallists have had their gold medals stolen, while others lost theirs, reports ’TANA AIYEJINA
Memories of Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games are still fresh amongst the country’s sports faithful, as it remains Team Nigeria’s best ever performance at the Games since first competing in 1952.
Nigeria recorded a total medal haul of two gold, one silver and three bronze. It was the first and only time –till date – that the country won two gold medals in the Olympics. Read more
Super Eagles beat Togo but won’t be going to CHAN 2020 (Vanguard)
The home-based Super Eagles will now miss out of the party at the CHAN 2020 in Cameroon in spite of a 2-0 win against Togo at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.
The Nigerian side put on a spirited effort to overturn the 1-4 first leg deficit, but they failed and thus lost 3-4 aggregate.
The Eagles had to ring seven changes from the players who featured in Lome and were soon rewarded with two goals, courtesy Sikiru Alimi’s brace in the 4th and 66th minutes. Read more
Di Maria, Mbappe guide PSG past nine-man Nice (Punch)
Angel Di Maria grabbed two goals while Kylian Mbappe struck on his return from injury as Paris Saint-Germain won 4-1 at Nice on Friday to surge five points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
PSG lost Neymar and the influential Idrissa Gueye to injury over the international break while Mbappe and Edinson Cavani were only fit enough to make the bench for the trip to the Cote d’Azur.
“At the start of a run of six very intensive matches, it’s always good to start with a win,” said PSG coach Thomas Tuchel. Read more
Festus Ezeli: Mutombo made me dump medicine for basketball (Nation)
Adeyinka Adedipe on a face-to-face encounter with NBA star, Ifeanyi Festus Ezeli, as he speaks on his tough road to frame
When Nigeria NBA star Ifeanyi Festus Ezeli left the shores of Nigeria 16 years ago a freaky face 14-year lad, he never knew he would one day become a basketball star.
“My dream originally was to become a doctor,” he told The Nation during the Power Forward Basketball programme in Abuja. Read more
EPL: Man.City whip Wolves, Chelsea pip Newcastle as VAR confuse Tottenham fans (Nation)
Gabriel Jesus and David Silva were on target as Manchester City issued a fine response to their Wolves setback with a convincing 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.
A limp 2-0 home defeat before the international break left City eight points adrift of unbeaten Premier League leaders Liverpool, a gap cut to five – at least until Sunday – at Selhurst Park.
City dominated the first half but it took until the 39th minute for Jesus’ diving header to break the deadlock, with Silva finishing Raheem Sterling’s exquisite assist just 93 seconds later. Read more
Guardiola’s City secure three points after nervy C’Palace win (Vanguard)
Quickfire goals from Gabriel Jesus and David Silva set up a comfortable 2-0 win for Manchester City over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
The result meant the English Premier League champions closed the gap on leaders Liverpool to five points.
With Jurgen Klopp’s side not playing until Sunday, Pep Guardiola sought to keep up the pressure by making four changes after two City defeats in four league games. Read more
Record-chasing Liverpool Visit Floundering Man United (ThisDay)
This afternoon, the age-long rivalry between England’s two most successful sides will be rekindled at Old Trafford as a struggling Manchester United host high-flying Liverpool.
Even though Liverpool have found victory difficult to come by at Old Trafford in recent times, their form and United’s travails means the European champions are favourites to extend their winning run in the Premiership.
An 18th consecutive league win for Liverpool would equal the top-flight record, set by Manchester City between August and December 2017. Read more
West Brom retain Championship top spot, Leeds celebrate anniversary with win (Guardian)
Hal Robson-Kanu kept West Brom top of the Championship with a dramatic 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, while Leeds celebrated their centenary by beating Birmingham on Saturday.
Albion preserved their position at the top of the table after Wales forward Robson-Kanu scored in the 82nd minute at the Riverside Stadium.
Robson-Kanu’s goal, which secured Albion’s first win at Middlesbrough since 2009, was the perfect way to celebrate after he signed a two-year contract extension this week. Read more
Real Mallorca claim stunning win over Real Madrid (Vanguard)
Real Madrid’s unbeaten start to the La Liga season came to an abrupt and surprising end as Real Mallorca claimed a stunning 1-0 victory at a rocking Son Moix on Saturday to climb out of the relegation zone.
The Balearic Islanders had only managed six goals in their opening eight games of their first season back in the big time, but needed just one more to down their illustrious visitors.
It was a cracker too, thrashed home in the seventh minute by Lago Junior who with one swing of his right foot wrote his name into Mallorcan sporting folklore. Read more
Polo: President Buhari Expected to Grace Georgian Cup Finale (ThisDay)
As the battle for top honours at the ongoing 2019 First Bank Georgian Cup centenary Polo Tournament reaches feverish heights this weekend, there are strong indications that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, would lead a long convoy of dignitaries to the closing ceremony of the international Polo fiesta today.
President of Kaduna Polo Club, Suleiman Abubakar who dropped this hint, lauded the ground breaking participation of the Presidency with the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika leading the campaign for the First Bank powered 400 Georgian Trophy that is celebrating its 100th edition this year. Read more