Residents express relief as Sanwo-Olu flags off reconstruction of Ibeju Lekki-Epe highway (Guardian)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, rolled out a major infrastructural overhaul in the Epe division of the state, flagging off the reconstruction of the Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe expressway.
The governor flagged off the first phase of the road project at a ceremony held at the Pan-Atlantic University in Eleko, Ibeju-Lekki area. The first phase, which will be completed in 20 months, will cover 18.75km, stretching from Eleko to T-Junction in Epe.
Residents have heaved a sigh of relief at the kick off of the reconstruction. The road was constructed in 1981 as a single carriageway but underwent an upgrade to a two-lane carriageway in 2006. Its condition, however, became deplorable as a result of population growth and increased vehicular traffic. Read more
NDLEA intercepts 16.65kg cocaine at Lagos airport (Punch)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala Mohammed International airport, Lagos Command has arrested two passengers arriving from Sao Paulo, Brazil with 10.40 and 6.25 kilograms of cocaine, respectively.
The airport commander agency, Garba Ahmadu, said the two suspected traffickers identified as Okwubunne Simeon and Aniakar James who were arrested on October 28 concealed the drugs expertly to avoid being detected.
Ahmadu said the concealment was done in eight children duvets which contained seven absorbent towels soaked with cocaine and neatly concealed in tins labelled ‘Schramn’, according to a statement received on Sunday. Read more
#EndSARS: We can’t guarantee security during yuletide – Law enforcement officers (Vanguard)
Law enforcement officers in areas worst affected by the #EndSARS protests in the southern part of the country have resolved to continue to stay off their duty posts, especially during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Rising from a joint meeting of the law enforcement officers weekend, a Divisional Police Officer, DPO, who attended the meeting, told PRNigeria, that Nigerians should rather find a way to protect themselves from thugs, hoodlums and miscreants during the seasonal period.
According to him, the meeting which was attended by officers of the Nigerian military, security, intelligence and response agencies analysed how the violent assaults on innocent security personnel during the #EndSARS protest significantly dampened the morale of many of the servicemen and women. Read more
Furore over appointment of VCs in FUOYE, UI (Guardian)
The crisis of confidence rocking the Akure Zonal Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has taken a new twist as lecturers at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) have distanced themselves from the alleged maladministration by the management of the university, led by Prof. Kayode Soremekun.
The FUOYE lecturers, under the umbrella of Concerned ASUU (CASUU) and Congress for University Academics (CONUA), among others, accused the zonal body of a deliberate plot to destabilise the young university.
The Akure zonal chapter of ASUU, led by its Chairman, Prof. Olufisayo Olu, had, at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti, urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, address the anomalies at FUOYE to avoid administrative and academic matters at the institution. Read more
APC, PDP bicker over rescued American hostage (Vanguard)
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were at daggers-drawn yesterday over the American hostage kidnapped in Niger Republic but rescued in Nigeria by the US Navy Seals.
While APC slammed PDP for attempting to play politics with the incident, saying the world has not forgotten how the PDP mishandled the Chibok school girls abduction in 2014, PDP said the swift operation by the United States to rescue her citizen held hostage by bandits on Nigerian soil further confirmed that the Buhari Presidency could neither secure the territorial integrity of the nation nor arrest the wave of insecurity ravaging the country under its watch. Read more
Businessman nabbed for alleged takeover of late brother’s property (Punch)
The police have arrested a businessman, Tochukwu Kama, for his alleged involvement in the abduction of his brother, James, and appropriation of his property after his demise.
Tochukwu was arrested in Abuja on Sunday and remanded in custody while his sister, Princess, was directed to report at the force headquarters on Monday (today).
The Investigating Police Officer, ASP Patrick Obeta, confirmed that Tochukwu and his sister would be interrogated on the allegations levelled against them by the widow of their late brother, Mrs Olubunmi Kama.
“Tochukwu was arrested this morning (Sunday) and remanded in custody. His sister Princess has been directed to report at our office tomorrow (Monday),” the IPO said. Read more
Kwara approves new minimum wage (Guardian)
Kwara State Governor, Abdulrazak Abdulrahaman, has approved a new minimum wage for Kwara workers and lifted the embargo on annual salary increment, promotions, and conversions.
He made this known on his official Twitter page monitored yesterday in Ilorin, saying: “I’m delighted to announce that the implementation of the new minimum wage for Kwara workers will commence on November 1, 2020.”
This followed the review of the recommendations of the Government and Labour Committee that was set up to work out the modalities for resolving all workers’ welfare-related issues.
“Additionally, we have lifted the ban on annual salary increment, which was last done in 2012. Embargo on promotions and conversions have also been lifted with immediate effect. Read more
Nine Nigerians to contest in US elections Tuesday (Punch)
No fewer than nine Nigerian Americans are on the ballot in Tuesday’s general elections in the United States.
Running mostly on the platform of the Democratic Party, the candidates are bidding for different offices at the federal, state, and local levels.
NAN reports that besides the presidential election, governorship polls are holding in 11 states and two territories, in addition to other state and local elections. Read more
Robert Fisk, veteran UK journalist, dies aged 74 (BBC)
Veteran foreign correspondent Robert Fisk has died of a suspected stroke at the age of 74.
The Irish Times reported that he was admitted to St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin after falling ill at his home on Friday, and died shortly afterwards.
Fisk won numerous awards for his coverage of the Middle East, where he reported from 1970s.
But he also drew controversy for his sharp criticism of the US and Israel, and of Western foreign policy. Read more
Justin Bieber gets frank about his struggle with suicidal thoughts (Metro)
Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has reflected on his struggle with suicidal thoughts and mental health issues in a new documentary about the singer. Bieber, who has sold over 150 million records and won numerous awards, reflected on his mental health in new YouTube Originals documentary, Justin Bieber: Next Chapter. The artist spoke openly about contending with suicidal thoughts. Bieber said of his experience: ‘There were times where I was really, really suicidal. Like, man is this pain ever going to go away?’ Read more
Edward Snowden to apply for Russian citizenship after 7 years in legal limbo (RT)
Exiled US whistleblower Edward Snowden has announced his decision to apply for Russian citizenship so that his son doesn’t have to share his fate, living separated from family and without a place to call home.
“After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no desire to be separated from our son,” former CIA and NSA contractor turned-whistleblower wrote in a series of Tweets on Saturday.
That’s why, in this era of pandemics and closed borders, we’re applying for dual US-Russian citizenship. Read more
Biden and Trump criss-cross the US as vote nears (BBC)
Donald Trump and Joe Biden are travelling across the nation on Sunday as the US election enters its closing stage.
President Trump planned to visit five battleground states while his challenger Mr Biden spoke at a campaign event in Pennsylvania.
The Democratic candidate maintains a solid national lead in the polls ahead of Tuesday’s general election.
But this advantage is narrower in key states which could decide the result.
More than 90 million people have already cast their ballots in early voting, putting the country on course for its highest turnout in a century. Read more
American Idol star Nikki McKibbin dies aged 42 after suffering aneurysm (Metro)
American Idol star Nikki McKibbin has died, her husband Craig Sadler has said. He wrote on Facebook that the singer, 42, had suffered an aneurysm. Craig, who wed Nikki in 2007, wrote: ‘Many of you already know something is wrong. The love of my life Nikki Sadler suffered an aneurysm on Wednesday. She would already be gone, but she’s an organ donor and has been kept on life support to make that possible. That shouldn’t be a surprise to us. Even at the end she is still giving. ‘She was so loved that I know thousands of you will be grieving with us. There are only a few hours left for me to hold her hand and kiss her forehead. Read more
Covid 19: Prince William ‘tested positive in April’ (BBC)
The Duke of Cambridge contracted Covid-19 earlier this year, palace sources have told the BBC.
It is believed he tested positive in April at a similar time to his father, the Prince of Wales.
According to the Sun newspaper, which first reported the story, Prince William, 38, kept his diagnosis private to avoid alarming the nation.
Kensington Palace, the office and home of Prince William, refused to comment officially. Read more
Oil investments are drying up as crude demand falters (RT)
The COVID-19-induced shortage in key oil investments could spell trouble for the entire industry for years to come.
Thirty-five percent: this is the size of the spending cuts oil and gas companies are likely to have made this year in response to the effects that the coronavirus pandemic is having on demand, according to the International Energy Agency. And this is just the spending slump in upstream oil and gas. This is just part of a wider trend of investment cuts in the energy industry, according to the IEA, which earlier this month published an update of its World Energy Investment report, first released in late spring. At the time, some thought we were seeing the worst of the pandemic. They were, apparently, wrong. Read more
Moses ruled out of Sierra Leone clash (Punch)
Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has been ruled out of Nigeria’s 2021 Africa Cup on Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone, The PUNCH reports.
The 25-year-old, who was named in Nigeria’s 24-man squad for qualifiers against the Leone Stars on November 13 in Benin City, Edo State and Freetown four days later, suffered a groin injury in Nantes 3-0 loss to Paris Saint Germain on Saturday at the Stade de la Beaujoire.
Simon is expected to be out of action for at least two weeks, a close source informed The PUNCH on Sunday. Read more
Bale heads winner against Brighton to send Spurs second (BBC)
Gareth Bale’s first goal since re-signing for Tottenham helped his side beat Brighton to go second in the Premier League table.
In an action-packed game, Harry Kane put Spurs ahead from the penalty spot, his 149th Premier League goal, after a video assistant referee check deemed Adam Lallana had fouled the England captain.
Tariq Lamptey scored a controversial equaliser, the exciting 20-year-old sweeping home after Solly March appeared to foul Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the build-up. Read more
Paul Pogba blames himself and Arsenal’s tactic after Manchester United’s defeat (Metro)
Paul Pogba admits his ‘stupid’ mistake cost Manchester United in their defeat to Arsenal and says he was surprised by the Gunners’ midfield formation. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side slipped to their third defeat in the Premier League this season as Mikel Arteta’s side sealed a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal from the penalty spot was the difference after Pogba fouled Hector Bellerin inside United’s area. Following the defeat, Pogba blamed himself for his error and admitted that he is ‘not the best defensively in the box’. Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice after Covid-19 recovery (BBC)
Substitute Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on his return after two weeks out with Covid-19 as Juventus won at Serie A rookies Spezia.
The 35-year-old, who missed four games, slotted in to make it 2-1 three minutes after coming on in the second half.
His second was a cheeky Panenka penalty after Adrien Rabiot’s cool finish had given Juve a two-goal advantage.
Alvaro Morata gave the visitors the lead with a low angled strike before Tommaso Pobega equalised for Spezia. Read more
Deontay Wilder claims his water was ‘spiked’ before Tyson Fury loss (Metro)
Deontay Wilder has claimed that his water was ‘spiked’ before his defeat to Tyson Fury. Wilder lost his WBC heavyweight title to Fury following his seventh-round KO in February. But after months of silence, the Bronze Bomber has finally spoken out after the first defeat of his career and has accused Fury of tampering with his gloves during the fight. Wilder has also claimed that his drink before he stepped into the ring was drugged. Read more
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty decides tight Arsenal, Manchester United encounter (BBC)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second-half penalty gave Arsenal their first Premier League away win over Manchester United since 2006.
Aubameyang ended a run of five games without a goal by sending David de Gea the wrong way on 69 minutes after Paul Pogba had fouled Hector Bellerin.
United tried to rally but came no closer to an equaliser than when Donny van de Beek’s cross-shot flicked off Mohamed Elneny and then into the face of goalkeeper Bernd Leno before bouncing to safety off a post. Read more