‘Regulate us, don’t kill our means of survival’ (Guardian)
In protest against today’s take-off of the ban on the operations of commercial motorcycles on some major Lagos roads and bridges by the Lagos State Government, riders of e-hailing motorcycles yesterday took to the streets to express their grievances.
They expressed their concerns over the recent decision of the state government to restrict their movement/operations in some local government areas, bridges and highways in the state.The operators, majorly those of Gokada and Max.ng, carried various placards with inscriptions, such as “Save our jobs, Regulate us; not kill us;” Na all of us get Lagos, no be only the rich; “Our jobs matter;” “Mega city no dey pay bills;” “If you no use helmet, no ride;” “Ban no be solution; We need more jobs, not less”, ”I am trained, certified and tracked always” and “Over two million trips, zero fatality,” among others. Read more
492 families benefit from Sanwo-Olu’s housing scheme (Nation)
It was all outpouring of emotions and joy, on Friday, at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Alausa on Friday when Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, presented keys to beneficiaries of his administration’s maiden rent-to-own housing scheme.
Sanwo-Olu allotted all the apartments of the Lateef Kayode Jakande Housing Estate in Igando to 492 families certified by the State’s Mortgage Board to benefit from the scheme. The allocation came four months after the housing estate was completed by the Sanwo-Olu administration.
A 56-year-old widow, Mrs Fatimat Kosoko, betrayed emotion as her name was being announced to benefit in the scheme. Read more
Oshodi: A gradual return to filth, nuisance (Guardian)
Oshodi, no doubt, is one of the melting pots of Lagos. Apart from Ikeja, where the seat of power is situated, no part of the state, which otherwise is regarded as Nigeria’s ‘Centre of Excellence’ correctly gives first impression about the nation other than Oshodi.
From its infamy of blight to its notoriety for gridlocks and massive wastes on the streets, the sprawling community, shares border directly with Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), the nation’s first airport (domestic and international), and indeed, West Africa’s aviation hub. It has always been a huge burden for successive governments in Lagos State since the dark era of military rule to make the area a model community and gateway to the country. Read more
Gokada, Max.ng operators protest over Okada ban in Lagos (DailyTrust)
Ride hailing bike operators in Lagos on Friday stormed the Alausa Government House to protest against the ban of Okada which takes effect on February 1 (Saturday). The operators are those of the registered firms – Gokada, Max.ng, among others who have been banned from operating in 15 local governments and various highways and bridges. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho had on Monday announced the ban of Okada and tricycles. Read more
Bandits abduct district head, tax community (DailyTrust)
Gunmen yesterday invaded Gayari community in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State and abducted the district head, Daily Trust gathered. Residents told our correspondent that the gunmen arrived in dozens of motorbikes and stormed the residence of the district head, Alhaji Hassan Muhammad Gayari. “They didn’t kill anyone, but they told him that they were at his residence to go with him. They took his son too and asked the community to mobilize N40 million for them to avoid an attack, “ a resident said. Read more
NAPTIP rescues woman from Egypt (DailyTrust)
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) yesterday rescued a Nigerian girl earlier trafficked to Egypt. This came two weeks after the rescue of another Nigerian who was trapped in Lebanon. The girl was received by officers of NAPTIP on Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 14:28hrs. She was said to be elated as she stepped on home soil. Read more
Easyjet reveals electric plane that will make flying greener and cheaper (Metro)
Easyjet has revealed plans for an electric plane that could make flying around the world cheaper and more environmentally friendy. It’s collaborating with an American firm and has started working on engine development for a 186-seater plane. Wright Electric hopes to launch test flights using the motor in 2023, with the full aircraft taking to the skies in 2030. Read more
Donald Trump declares coronavirus a public health emergency (Metro)
Donald Trump’s administration declared the coronavirus a public health emergency in the US. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who is the chairman of Trump’s coronavirus task force, made the announcment Friday after the US State Department recommended that Americans not travel to China. The Trump administration said it will deny travelers who pose a threat of transmitting the disease from entering the country and quarantine US citizens returning from Hubei province in China, which is the epicenter of the outbreak. Read more
US travel ban: Trump restricts immigration from Nigeria and five other countries (BBC)
The US has announced it is expanding its curbs on immigration to include six more countries, including Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation.
Citizens from Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar will now be blocked from obtaining certain types of visas.
People from those countries will still be able to visit the US as tourists.
In 2018 the US issued twice as many immigration visas to Nigeria than to the other five nations combined. Read more
UK finally leaves European Union three-and-a-half years after Brexit vote (Metro)
The UK has finally left the European Union, drawing a line under one of the most divisive political issues in British history. 52% of people voted to leave the bloc in June 2016, but it took three-and-a-half years, two prime ministers and two general elections to deliver on that result. After three deadline delays, bonds dating back to 1973 when the UK joined the European Economic Community have broken. Read more
Brexit’s happened… so what now? (BBC)
What now? It’s happened.
A dreary night didn’t discourage those celebrating in Parliament Square. We wake this morning out of the European Union. But we follow their rules until the end of the year, without a say.
We are separate after more than 40 years, but remember much of the status quo will hold for now – the UK and the EU, the awkward couple, finally divorced – but still sharing a house and the bills.
But what the prime minister hails as a new era, a bright new dawn, starts months of hard bargaining with our neighbours across the Channel. Read more
Manchester United officially confirm shock loan signing of Odion Ighalo on six-month deal (Metro)
Manchester United have managed to secure a last-minute loan deal for Shanghai Shenhua striker Odion Ighalo, with the forward joining on a six-month loan deal from the Chinese club. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had made it clear he was keen to bring in a striker to provide cover in the absence of injured frontman Marcus Rashford, who suffered a double stress fracture in his back. United’s hopes were looking slim, but just before the deadline passed they sealed a loan deal for Ighalo that will reportedly see them pay £4million to Shanghai Shenhua. Read more
Anxiety as qualifiers beckon on ‘coach-less’ Flamingoes, Falconets (DailyTrust)
It was an American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin who once said, “You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again.”. The above aptly captures the dilemma of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, as the football ruling body is said to be dillydallying even as the qualifying tournaments for the two cadet female national teams, the Flamingoes and falconets beckon on them. There is panic among stakeholders because most Nigerians are yet to forget the football disasters recorded in 2019 and attributed to ‘fire brigade’ approaches adopted by the NFF. Read more
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains why Manchester United decided to sign Odion Ighalo (Metro)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is delighted to have landed Odion Ighalo on a short-term loan deal from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua and believes he will bring a different threat to Manchester United. The Red Devils boss had been eager to bring in a new striker after Marcus Rashford was ruled out with a double stress fracture in his back, with United short on attacking options having let Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez leave last summer. After links with the likes of Edinson Cavani and Krzysztof Piatek, United made a last-minute swoop for Ighalo and landed him just before Friday’s 11pm deadline. Read more
How Man Utd landed lifelong fan Odion Ighalo (BBC)
Odion Ighalo scored 39 goals in 99 matches for Watford between 2014 and 2017.
A largely uneventful January transfer deadline day ended with one almighty twist, as Manchester United sealed a loan move for former Watford striker Odion Ighalo.
Plying his trade in the Chinese Super League with Shanghai Shenhua, lifelong United fan Ighalo emerged as the answer to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s striker shortage on Friday and agreed a six-month deal.
So, how did the Old Trafford side get here? And what can they and their supporters expect from the 30-year-old Nigeria forward? Read more
Tariq Lamptey explains decision to leave Chelsea for Brighton (Metro)
Tariq Lamptey says it was a very difficult decision to leave boyhood club Chelsea but felt his development was best served at Brighton, where he has signed a three-and-half year contract. The 19-year-old’s old deal with Chelsea was due to expire in the summer, though there was a feeling around the west London club that he could be convinced to remain at Stamford Bridge after being handed several appearances in the first team recently. But Lamptey made it clear he would not be signing a new deal – a decision which shocked old boss Frank Lampard – and says Brighton offers a better platform for his career. Read more
‘I can still win Slams’ – Federer has no plans to retire (DailyTrust)
Former world number one tennis player, Roger Federer Injury-hit Roger Federer has said he had no plans to retire and insisted he was still in good enough shape to win Grand Slams after crashing out of the Australian Open semifinals to Novak Djokovic. The 38-year-old fell to the Serb 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 6-3, admitting he only had “a three per cent” chance as he nursed a groin injury picked up in his quarterfinal epic against Tennys Sandgren, where he saved seven match points. Despite the disappointment, the Swiss great believes he is still a force to be reckoned with. Read more
Plateau United, Rivers in titanic battle (Guardian)
The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) will witness some great matches this weekend with as many as eight games on the card. It is matchday 18 games across all centres.
The games, Warri Wolves against Enyimba, and that of Rangers versus Katsina United are postponed due to their continental engagement of Enyimba and Rangers.
Akure-based Sunshine Stars, who were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Kano Pillars will take on Heartland FC of Owerri in Okigwe with the home side smarting from the 1-3 loss they suffered on the road against Akwa United last time out. Read more
Transfer window closes: Jarrod Bowen and Odion Ighalo lead done deals on deadline day (BBC)
West Ham’s late capture of Hull City forward Jarrod Bowen for an initial £18m was the only big-money move of the lowest-spending Premier League January transfer deadline day since 2010.
Premier League clubs spent £230m in the month, the second highest total ever.
But only £25m of that was spent on deadline day.
Odion Ighalo’s move from Shanghai Shenhua to Manchester United dominated headlines, but was a loan deal – like five of the 11 top-flight signings. Read more
Rahm plays down bid for world No 1 golfer (DailyTrust)
Jon Rahm is adamant that the prospect of becoming world No 1 for the first time will not affect his mindset at this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. Victory at TPC Scottsdale could see Rahm leapfrog above both Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka to the top of the world rankings, an achievement that would make him only the second Spaniard to be world No 1 after the late, great Seve Ballesteros. Rahm has been a model of consistency since the middle of last year, collecting three wins on the European Tour and posting nine further top-10 finishes worldwide from his last 15 starts in a remarkable run that has taken him from 11th to third in the world rankings. Read more
Enyimba targets away victory against Ivorian opponent (Guardian)
Despite standing no chance of progressing from the group stage, Enyimba head coach Fatai Osho believes CAF Confederation Cup opponents FC San Pedro still have much to play for at the Stade FHB in Abidjan tomorrow.
Osho’s Enyimba are up against FC San Pedro, who are occupying the bottom in Group D in their final match of the phase with sight firmly set on picking the group’s second quarter-final ticket.
While the Ivorian are already eliminated from the competition following an indifferent run that has seen them manage just three points from five matches, Enyimba need only a point to confirm progress to the last eight. Read more