Sanwo-Olu seeks partnership between Church, govt to curb social vices (ThisDay)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reiterated the commitment of the state government to tackling the menace of drug abuse among youths in the state.
He said his government was building a massive rehabilitation hospital in Ketu-Ejirin to tackle drug abuse, adding that his administration would ensure strategic partnership with the Church to better the people’s lives
The governor, who stated this when the bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) led by the Archbishop of Metropolitan and Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican), The Most Rev Henry Ndukuba, paid him a courtesy visit in Lagos, said governance starts from the leadership of spiritual homes, noting that government and the Church can jointly build a community that would outlive all.
He restated the commitment of his administration to improve the movement of people on road, water as well as building rail infrastructure to make Lagos a resilient and livable city. Read more
BBNaija S6: Confusion as Biggie calls ‘missing’ Nini to Diary Room (Punch)
Big Brother Naija Shine Ya Eye housemates were thrown into confusion after Biggie called ‘missing’ Nini into the Diary Room.
This happened on Wednesday, day 60 of the show, after the housemates woke up to discover that Nini had disappeared from the house.
During her Diary Session on Tuesday, Nini was tasked to prank the housemates with a 24-hour exit.
In the early hours of Wednesday, day 60 of the show, Nini, in line with Biggie’s secret mission, snuck out of the house to a private room outside the main house. Read more
Group congratulates new LASTMA boss, urges govt to invest more in agency (Independent)
Traffic Ambassadors, a non-governmental organisation, has congratulated Mr Bolaji Oreagba, on his recent appointment as the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), urging him to put more vigour, finesse and panache into the organisation.
The group noted that negative perceptions held by the public and some private individuals about LASTMA ought to be corrected through a new promising and favourable corporate image for the organisation, built on professionalism and core dedication to laid down rules of engagement as enshrined in the agency’s mandate.
The Traffic Ambassadors asked the new helmsman to pursue a programme of training and retraining of its men and officers while encouraging and supporting dedicated, loyal and productive ones.
Bolaji Aberuagba Olorunnishola, Head of the group, noted that with over 20 million people calling for the services of LATMA on Lagos roads, the state government should provide more equipment and fund for LASTMA to pursue its programme and services, considering the role that LASTMA plays in the social and economic development of the state. Read more
Lagos begins experimental boarding fees (ThisDay)
editorSeptember 22, 2021 12:06 Am
The Lagos State Ministry of Education is set to commence implementing the experimental fee regime for its new model colleges.
Speaking during a meeting involving officials of the Ministry of Education, parents and lawmakers, the Commissioner for Education Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, disclosed that N35,000 would be paid by all model colleges and upgraded school students for the next two terms.
“There will be a review after the second term; to analyse the expenditures, gaps, needs and adequacy of N35,000 to cater for a boarding student per term. This will allow for a true reflection of the workability of the new boarding school fee,” she said.
The menu list of the students will also be reviewed and standardised in terms of necessary nutrition. Schools are also expected to incorporate available local menus and seasonal foods.
The commissioner said the government would incorporate the parents’ body representatives into the boarding house committee to ensure inclusive supervision. Read more
Northern Elders Forum regrets supporting Buhari instead of Jonathan in 2015 (Guardian)
Goodluck Jonathan gives his handover notes to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. The Northern Elders Forum says it regrets throwing its weight behind Buhari back in 2015.
The Northern Elders Forum has said that it regrets throwing its weight behind then candidate Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election, instead of Goodluck Jonathan, adding that Buhari has let down a majority of Nigerians who trusted in his leadership prior to 2015 polls.
According to the NEF’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the forum wants the next president of Nigeria to be one who would act in the “opposite direction” of the incumbent Nigerian leader.
Speaking on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’ breakfast programme monitored by The Guardian, Baba-Ahmed said: “Is there any Nigerian who is not disappointed in President Buhari including diehard APC people? Is there anybody who would not tell you he wished President Buhari had done much better? Read more
Fani-Kayode’s defection: Joe Igbokwe erupts again, says APC has inflicted maximum shame on APC foot soldiers (Tribune)
Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Drainage and Water Resources, Joe Igbokwe, has again criticised his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), for accepting Femi Fani-Kayode into its fold.
Taking to Facebook on Wednesday to vent his displeasure he wrote, “APC deliberately inflicted maximum shame and pains on diehard APC heroes and foot soldiers across Nigeria by admitting the political prostitute and apostate, Femi Fani-Kayode into the fold.”
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s special adviser has not hidden nor been silent about his disaffection concerning the latest defection by Fani-Kayode who was personally welcomed into the APC by President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last week.
On the day Fani-Kayode defected, Igbokwe wrote on Facebook: “Despite all my push for APC Abuja has not given me a phone call talkless of inviting me for a coffee with C in C, but here is a political charlatan and prostitute being given a red carpet in the seat of power, Abuja.” Read more
For the 2nd time in 3 months, armed men invade same Abuja hotel, kill policeman, injure 3 (Punch)
Armed men on Tuesday night attacked Hilltop International Premium Hotel at Tunga-Maje in Gwagwalada Area of the Federal Capital Territory.
They were said to have engaged policemen in a gun battle that led to the death of a policeman.
Our correspondent also gathered that three persons who lodged in the hotel were injured, while one of them was hit by a stray bullet.
The PUNCH had, in June, reported that gunmen abducted a former member of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Friday Makama, and eight others from the same hotel. Read more
Sit-at-home: No candidate missed exam in Enugu, says WAEC (Guardian)
The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has said that no candidate in Enugu state missed its ongoing examination in spite of the IPOB-declared Mondays’ sit-at-home order.
The Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator, WAEC, Mrs Eucharia Onodu disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.
Onodu said the sit-at-home order only affected the students emotionally, as many of them had to sleep over in their schools to be able to meet up.
According to her, some had to trek long distances, while others squatted with those in the hostels to be able to write the examination. Read more
Okonjo-Iweala meets Buhari in New York, mobilises vaccines manufacturers to Nigeria (Tribune)
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Monday night met with President Muhammadu Buhari, briefing him on her efforts to mobilise Covid vaccine manufacturers to Nigeria.
Speaking to correspondents after the meeting at Millennium Plaza, Manhattan, New York, she said she requested the president’s support for some ongoing initiatives of the world body.
The former Nigerian Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy lamented the inequities in Covid vaccine distribution, saying that even the vaccinated are unsafe where most of the population is not vaccinated.
On the meeting with the president, she said: “It’s been a wonderful engagement. I came to brief His Excellency on the WTO and the work that it is ongoing and to talk about how the WTO may be supportive to the continent and so, to ask His Excellency to support some of the work we are doing on some of the negotiations, like fisheries, what we’re doing on health, on COVID, trying to get manufacturers of vaccines to come into the country and into the continent. So, these are some of the things we talked about.” Read more
Rihanna enjoys low-key family dinner ahead of Savage x Fenty fashion show (Metro)
Rihanna proved to be the definition of low-key glamorous as she headed out for a family dinner, ahead of her Savage x Fenty fashion show.
The singer turned beauty and fashion mogul has been very busy putting the finishing touches to her upcoming event, which promises to be a star-studded bash.
Taking a moment off from planning, the 33-year-old headed out for a swanky meal in Santa Monica.
The Love On The Brain star looked predictably incredible in a loose black vest top and trousers, clutching a mini bag for the outing. Read more
President Biden pledges 500m more vaccine doses to developing world (BBC)
The US is to donate 500 million more doses of the Pfizer vaccine to developing nations.
President Joe Biden will make the pledge at a virtual Covid-19 summit on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, US officials have said.
The additional jabs will see the total US commitment on vaccine sharing exceed one billion jabs.
Experts say some 11 billion doses are required to vaccinate at least 70% of the global population. Read more
Give ‘moi’ a break: UK PM Johnson tells France to get over their AUKUS deal grievances (RT)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has blasted France for its reaction to the AUKUS pact, which saw Canberra pull out of a major submarine deal it had with Paris, saying that its Gallic neighbours need to get over it.
Speaking in Washington on Wednesday, Johnson burst into Franglais to make a stab at the French when asked about the ongoing dispute over the new AUKUS alliance: “I just think it’s time for some of our dearest friends around the world to prenez un grip [get a grip] about all this and donnez-moi un break [give me a break].”
Johnson insisted that the three-way agreement between Australia, the UK and US is not “exclusive,” nor is it “trying to shoulder anybody out” or be “adversarial towards China.” The AUKUS alliance, he said, “is three very like-minded allies standing shoulder to shoulder and creating a new partnership for the sharing of technology.” Read more
Winning $432 million Mega Millions ticket was bought in a Manhattan pizza joint (NYPost)
That’s a lot of dough.
A Mega Millions lottery ticket bought in a Manhattan pizza joint won a staggering $432 million on Tuesday night — the biggest in Big Apple history.
The lucky ticket, sold at Pronto Pizza on West 48th Street in Midtown, was the only winner in the mammoth draw. The jackpot will be about $315 million as a cash lump sum, working out to about $192 million after taxes, Mega Millions said.
The pizza joint will also get a slice, with a $10,000 commission for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.
Pronto owner David Khirala, 55, told The Post that the winning ticket was bought Tuesday night, just before all six numbers were drawn: 36, 41, 45, 51, 56 and Mega Ball 13. Read more
Afghanistan: Ex-Bagram inmates recount stories of abuse, torture (AlJazeera)
Bagram, Afghanistan – Hajimumin Hamza walks through a long, dark corridor and carefully inspects the area as if he has never seen it before. Today, the 36-year old bearded man in a black turban and a traditional two-piece garment is a guide to fellow Taliban fighters in the place whose name he would rather forget. His eyes stop at a solitary chair standing on the pathway.
“They used to tie us to this chair, our hands and feet, and then applied electric shocks. Sometimes they used it for beatings, too,” Hamza says, recounting the torture he underwent during his captivity in Bagram prison between 2017 and the onset of the fall of Kabul last month, when he managed to escape.
The United States set up the Parwan Detention Facility, known as Bagram, or Afghanistan’s Guantanamo, in late 2001 to house armed fighters after the Taliban launched a rebellion following its removal from power in a military invasion. Read more
Trump sues niece and New York Times over tax story (BBC)
Former US President Donald Trump is suing his niece and the New York Times over a 2018 article that alleged he was involved in “dubious tax schemes”.
The lawsuit, filed in New York, accuses Mary Trump and newspaper reporters of being “engaged in an insidious plot” to obtain confidential documents.
It alleges that Ms Trump, 56, breached a settlement agreement barring her from disclosing the documents.
In response, Ms Trump said the lawsuit was a sign of “desperation”. Read more
No Cristiano Ronaldo in Manchester United squad for Carabao Cup clash as Solskjaer rotates team (Metro)
Cristiano Ronaldo will play no part in Manchester United’s clash with West Ham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rotates his squad for the fixture.
The Red Devils secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Hammers in the Premier League on Sunday, but their immediate rematch will see United field a drastically different side.
David de Gea was the hero at the London Stadium, saving Mark Noble’s stoppage-time penalty, but the Spaniard, as well as Ronaldo and Paul Pogba, have all been rested. Read more
Anthony Joshua v Tyson Fury will happen if both win next fights, says Frank Warren (BBC)
Tyson Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren is confident an all-British undisputed heavyweight title fight with Anthony Joshua will happen.
But he added both fighters will “go where the money is” when it comes to deciding where they meet.
Warren is hoping Joshua successfully defends his belts against Oleksandr Usyk in London on Saturday.
“Let’s keep our fingers crossed. I’ll be cheering like a lunatic for Anthony Joshua, as will Tyson,” Warren said.
“We want the fight.” Read more
‘World’s sexiest athlete’ Alica Schmidt lands Milan modeling gig as she puts Olympic woes behind her (RT)
German sprinter Alica Schmidt – regularly dubbed ‘the world’s hottest athlete’ – has put the disappointment of her Tokyo Olympics flop behind her by announcing she will be modelling at Milan fashion week.
Schmidt, 22, was part of the German track and field squad which traveled to Japan in the summer but was ultimately overlooked for a spot in the women’s and mixed 4x400m relay events.
The blonde bombshell revealed after her Olympic disappointment that she was “going to take a break” but was “looking forward to coming back feeling fresh and ready to train hard again.”
However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom in Tokyo as Schmidt added a reported 400,000 followers to her Instagram account, taking her tally to a whopping 2.4 million. Read more
Manny Pacquiao ‘felt like ending my life’ in dark moment (NYPost)
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao considered taking his own life, he revealed in an interview with Toni Gonzaga.
The four-time welterweight champion opened up about his previous mental health struggles just one day after announcing his bid for the 2022 Philippines presidency.
Pacquiao, 42, is a self-proclaimed Christian and said he once considered suicide due to habits he struggled with in the past that went against his faith.
“I was reading this book called ‘[The] Purpose-Driven Life’ and I would read the Bible too,” Pacquiao said. “I felt like ending my life at that moment because I was repenting for my sins. I was alone in my room and I was crying uncontrollably. I asked myself what I should do. ‘Lord am I not worthy?’ If I could just turn back time and undo all I’ve done against you.” Read more
Wayne Rooney’s Derby County hit with 12-point deduction and plummet to bottom of the Championship (Metro)
Derby County are now bottom of the Championship after officially entering administration and being deducted 12 points by the English Football League (EFL).
The Rams are now on minus two points after the penalty for financial mismanagement which has seen administrators brought in.
Owner Mel Morris has blamed the situation on the pandemic, which he says has cost the club £20m in revenue.
An EFL statement on Wednesday read: ‘The EFL can today confirm that, in accordance with EFL Regulations, a 12-point deduction has been immediately applied to Derby County Football Club’s 2021/22 season total. This follows the lodging of the Notices of Intention to Appoint Administrators on Friday evening, and the subsequent announcement that the process of appointment was completed earlier today. Read more
LA police union slams decision not to charge NBA star after alleged attack on cop (RT)
A sizeable LAPD police union is going after the Los Angeles District Attorney after it was decided that NBA star Jaxson Hayes would not be charged with a felony after allegedly attacking an officer during his arrest in July.
The New Orleans Pelicans center was booked for a felony charge of battery on a law enforcement officer and then hospitalized to treat his minor injuries after reportedly being involved in a violent confrontation.
Local police were first called out to a domestic disturbance in the Los Angeles area, after Hayes’ girlfriend supposedly said she was scared he was about to physically harm her.
Once they attempted to gain access to the address, Hayes allegedly got physical for real, which caused a brawl to break out. Read more