Reject social media regulation bill, SERAP tells Akpabio, Abbas (Punch)
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, “to reject the recently reintroduced social media regulation bill.”
SERAP noted that the passage of the bill “would unduly restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy,” and urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to stop its efforts to compel technological firms like Google and YouTube to restrict such “fundamental human rights.”
This was contained in a statement by the group’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday, and available to PUNCH. Read more
Opebi-Link Bridge: Lagos adjusts traffic diversion plan for reconstruction (Vanguard)
In line with the ongoing construction of the Opebi Link Bridge, the Lagos State Government has adjusted the traffic diversion plan for the re-construction of Thomas Ajufo inwards Sheraton Link Bridge axis from Monday, 16th October, 2023 for a duration of 4 weeks.
Commissoner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, announced the diversion plan.
According to him, “Consequently the following alternative routes will be available to motorists during the diversion period; Motorists heading towards Opebi Road will be allowed to use one side of the Opebi Road Carriageway as the construction requires the second lane to be closed; Read more
Nigerian Professor, Abubakar, wins prestigious Roux Prize (Leadership)
Nigeria’s Professor Ibrahim Abubakar has been awarded the coveted Roux Prize 2023, cementing his status as one of the world’s foremost public health professionals.
This honour recognises his unwavering commitment to improving health outcomes over the last three decades.
A beacon of excellence and transformational force,
Professor Abubakar is currently serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences at University College, London. Read more
Appointment of 24-year-old fresh graduate as FERMA chairman sparks outrage (DailyTrust)
The appointment of Imam Ibrahim Kashim Imam as board chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has continued to generate mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media.
FERMA is the agency involved in road construction, improvement and connectivity between states. The mandate of this agency which is under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Work, is also to monitor and administer road maintenance with the objective of keeping all federal roads in good condition.
On Friday, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had appointed the 24-year-old first-class graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Brighton University in that capacity. Read more
NDLEA arrests drug barons for ingesting 175 wraps of heroin (Tribune)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has taken into custody two wanted heads of transnational criminal organisations with multi-billion-naira worth of illicit drugs and assets seized from them.
This was after weeks of intelligence-led operations across the country and outside Nigeria.
A statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja, said that the arrest of the suspected drug lords came on the heels of the interception of some consignments of cocaine and heroin. Read more
Shettima Leaves for Beijing to Attend Road Initiative Forum for International Cooperation (ThisDay)
Vice-President Kashim Shettima will depart Abuja Sunday for Beijing, China, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the upcoming 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum scheduled to hold from October 16th to 18th, 2023.
The vice-president’s delegation to the Forum include Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf M. Tuggar; Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu; Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali; Works, Senator David Umahi; Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite; Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria and the Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Michael Ohiani.
The vice-president, according to a release issued by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, will be joining world leaders from over 130 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America at the Forum to deliberate on the theme ‘High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity’. Read more
My parents’ killers shouldn’t bother seeking family’s forgiveness – MKO’s son (Punch)
Son of the late MKO Abiola, Jamiu, has said those responsible for his parents’ death should not bother seeking the family’s forgiveness since they have yet to admit any wrongdoing.
The late MKO, who was the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, died on July 7, 1998, while Kudirat was assassinated in Lagos on June 4, 1996 while her husband was still in detention.
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Jamiu stated, “The family did not need to forgive Nigeria because it was certain individuals who killed my father and mother and not Nigeria as a country. Those individuals can go ahead to seek forgiveness from God but they shouldn’t bother seeking forgiveness from our family since they have not admitted any wrongdoing. God will provide justice to the family and the souls of my parents will rest in peace.” Read more
Stop paying lip service to Universal Basic Education in Nigeria, Falana tells NASS (Vanguard)
Human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, has advised the National Assembly to stop paying lip service to Universal Basic Education in Nigeria.
He made the appeal in a statement he sent to Vanguard on Sunday morning.
Falana equally advised NASS to address the refusal of state governments to make counterpart contributions to the Universal Basic Education Fund pursuant to section 2 of the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act. Read more
US actress Piper Laurie, star of The Hustler and Carrie, dies at 91 (BBC)
US actress Piper Laurie – best known for her roles in The Hustler and Carrie films – has died aged 91, her manager has said.
Marion Rosenberg told the Associated Press that the three-time Oscar nominee passed away in her Los Angeles home.
She described the actress as “a superb talent and a wonderful human being.”
Her talents were not limited to acting – Laurie took a 15-year-break from acting to campaign for the civil rights movement. Read more
Inside Brian Austin Green’s life as a father of 5 (E!)
While he didn’t star in Party of Five, Brian Austin Green definitely has one.
The Beverly Hills 90210 star became a father of five when he welcomed son Zane Walker with his now-fiancée, Sharna Burgess, in June 2022. Green also shares son Kassius Lijah, 21, with ex-girlfriend Vanessa Marcil and sons Noah Shannon, 11, Bodhi Ransom, 9, and Journey River, 7, with ex-wife Megan Fox.
And to hear the 50-year-old tell it, they’re nailing every step of the blended family life. “They cannot get enough of him,” he told E! News of his older sons’ reaction to Zane’s arrival, “which is such a huge blessing because it could have not gone that way.” Read more
Mali’s junta says departure of UN troops will not be delayed, sends soldiers to northern region (France24)
The UN said on Saturday it was worried its drawdown could be hampered by an escalation of fighting in the north — where rival armed groups are seeking to seize territory as the UN pulls out — and by an influx of Malian troops there.
The UN also said the ruling junta had not given it permits to send in convoys to retrieve its equipment from its bases there.
The departure of the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA by the end of 2023 is part of a ongoing security reconfiguration launched by the military junta, which seized power in 2020. Read more
Sir Mick Jagger on encouraging bandmates to produce Rolling Stones’ new album (BelfastTelegraph)
Sir Mick Jagger has revealed he had to encourage his bandmates and label to record the new Rolling Stones album as no one had any “urgency” to make new music.
Their new studio album Hackney Diamonds, which will be released on October 20, will be their first collection of original songs for 18 years, and the first since the death of drummer Charlie Watts in August 2021.
The 12-track offering will feature appearances from original member Bill Wyman, singing superstar Lady Gaga and their late drummer Watts. Read more
6 months into war, Sudanese seek refuge outside chaotic capital (VOA)
Six months after tensions between rival Sudanese generals ignited a devastating war, thousands lie dead, millions are displaced, and the once-thriving capital, Khartoum, is a shadow of its past glory.
When the first bombs fell on April 15, the capital’s residents looked on in terror as entire neighborhoods were razed and essential services were paralyzed, exacerbating their misery.
Those who could escape the bloodshed and destruction rushed to the Red Sea coast about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) to the east. Read more
Taylor Swift concert film scores highest sales at box office on its opening day (DigitalSpy)
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert film had the highest ticket sales at the Vue International UK and Ireland box office on its opening day.
The cinema chain has said the film, which was released on Friday, is on track to top the box office across the weekend after it had a record-breaking opening week of pre-sales for a concert.
The US superstar’s concert movie was recorded during the US leg of her Eras Tour, which features songs spanning her entire career. Read more
Gen. David Petraeus: Hamas’ attack on Israel was ‘‘far worse than 9/11’’ (CBS)
Retired Gen. David Petraeus, who commanded America’s wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, knows from experience what Israel is facing in its war against Hamas – sending an army, even one as powerful as Israel’s, into the densely-populated neighborhoods of Gaza. “This is going to be a very, very tough fight,” he told CBS News. “I almost can’t imagine a more challenging contextual set of circumstances here than what they face.
“There are tunnels; there will be rooms that will have improvised explosive devices,” he said. “You have to clear every building, every floor, every room, every basement, every tunnel. Civilian losses are inevitable, and tough Israeli losses lie ahead as well.”
Petraeus, along with British historian Andrew Roberts, has just written a book titled “Conflict,” a word which has come to define the century which began on 9/11. Last week’s surprise attack by Hamas terrorists is, Petraeus said, “far worse than 9/11.” Read more
Insurance humble Plateau Utd as Katsina Utd hold Lobi (DailyTrust)
Bendel Insurance have moved to the top of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League table after defeating former champions, Plateau United 1-0 in matchday 3 of the season at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
The hosts got off the mark in the early minutes of the game from the penalty spot after Austin Oyunye was hacked down by a Plateau United defender.
Benjamin Tanimu who took the penalty kick sent his shot into the upright left of the goalkeeper to give his side the only goal of the match in the 15th minute. Read more
Adesanya takes UFC break (Punch)
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has announced a sabbatical from fighting professionally a month after losing his belt but promised to return to the sport.
The Kiwi fighter lost his middleweight championship to Sean Strickland by unanimous decision in Sydney in September in one of the biggest upsets MMA has ever seen.
Now the 34-year-old Lagos-born fighter has revealed plans for an extended exit from UFC to regroup, change his lifestyle and prepare himself for the future, following his third competitive defeat in the UFC.
“I’m not making any excuses. Strickland got me on the night because he was the better fighter on the night, and he did his work well. He had a good team behind him. Now I’m going to take time to look after myself. I’m not going to fight for a long time. I’m definitely not going to retire, because that’s not me,” Adesanya told The Rock FM in his native New Zealand. Read more
England ready for big test against “revitalised” Italy in Euro 2024 qualifier (National)
England return to Euro 2024 qualifying action on Tuesday when they take on reigning champions Italy at a sold-out Wembley Stadium.
Manager Gareth Southgate named a much-changed line-up for Friday’s home friendly against Australia with the only goal of the game coming just before the hour mark courtesy of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
Next up will be the Group C match against Italy with the Three Lions sitting top of the table having won four and drawn one of their games so far. The Azzurri are third, six points behind. Read more
No Scottish FA request for VAR audio of Scott McTominay disallowed goal against Spain (BBC)
The Scottish FA has not asked Uefa for the audio of the match officials in the defeat by Spain amid confusion over Scotland’s disallowed goal, says president Mike Mulraney.
Scott McTominay’s second-half free kick was disallowed by Dutch referee Serdar Gozubuyuk after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.
The call was initially communicated on-screen in the stadium as a foul by Jack Hendry on goalkeeper Unai Simon. Read more
Dillon Danis spotted partying with brunette in cocktail bar night before Logan Paul fight (DailyStar)
MMA fighter Dillon Danis is in a relaxed state of mind ahead of his bout against Logan Paul.
Come Saturday night, months of back and forth between the two will be finally settled when Danis and Paul square off for their boxing match at Manchester’s AO Arena. And the bitter feud between the two has seen Danis frequently mock and harass Paul’s fiancee Nina Agdal on social media.
However, just hours after their Friday afternoon weigh in, which saw Paul turn up for the event wearing a balaclava, Danis was spotted enjoying himself on a night out. And the 30-year-old was even seen chatting to a brunette at a cocktail bar in Manchester. Read more
Ruthless Man City put 5 past Bristol City (BBC)
Jill Roord and Khadija Shaw each scored twice as Manchester City thrashed Bristol City with five first-half goals at the Joie Stadium.
Dutch midfielder Roord opened the scoring on nine minutes, nodding home from close range after Shaw’s effort ricocheted off the cross bar.
Shaw had the ball in the back of the net herself just a few minutes later but the offside flag prevented last season’s second top goalscorer getting her first Women’s Super League goal of this campaign. Read more