Sanwo-Olu sets 2025 target to achieve health coverage in Lagos (Nation)
Lagos State has set a six-year target to achieve universal health coverage, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosing on Thursday that the government would work assiduously towards achieving the goal and making affordable healthcare accessible for all residents by 2025.
The Governor spoke at the commissioning of 149-bed Maternal and Child Centre (MCC) sited in Alimosho General Hospital, Igando. The facility was built and donated to the State by the Federal Government through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire. Read more
Man disguises as prostitute, defrauds patrons at Lagos clubs (Punch)
Luck has run out on a 29-year-old man, Victor Monday, one year after he started disguising as a prostitute to defraud men.
Monday was arrested by a police team from the Mushin Police Station around 12am on Ogunmokun Street while he was in female costume waiting for “a client” by the roadside.
He was initially apprehended for staying late outside without giving any genuine reason. Read more
Fashola, monarchs commend Jandor Foundation for empowering Lagosians (NewTelegraph)
Former First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and traditional rulers in Lagos State, have lauded a group, Jandor Foundation, for empowering people across Lagos State.
Speaking during the commissioning of Jandor Foundation head office, named Liberty Place, on Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Mrs. Fashola, who is the wife of the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said the gesture of the Foundation should be emulated by all and sundry to make the society a better place. Read more
Chinese seeking road contract pays fraudsters N29.6m bribe (Punch)
Two members of a fraudulent gang have been arrested by the police for allegedly parading themselves as officials of the Kaduna State Government to commit fraud.
The suspects are Adamu Garuba, who impersonated a lawmaker in the state and his sister-in-law, Rita Waziri, who acted as the Commissioner for Works. Read more
FRSC arrests 1,750 riders over non-possession of number plates, licence (Guardian)
Pursuant to the earlier public statement by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Joint Tax Board (JTB) that they would begin a clampdown on tricycles and motorcycles without number plates and riders without class ‘A’ licence from October 2, 2019, the FRSC has commenced full enforcement of the policy.
According to the agency, it has arrest over 1,750 violators, for non-compliance to the policy nationwide since last Wednesday when the enforcement kicked off. Read more
Abductors of Kaduna Schoolgirls Demand N50m Ransom (ThisDay)
Abductors of the six female students and two staff of Engravers College, Kakau Daji, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state have demanded for a N50 million ransom.
The students and the staff were abducted on Thursday at about 12:10am when the bandits invaded the school. Read more
NYSC denies Benin Republic-trained graduates of certificates (Guardian)
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), yesterday, has allegedly refused to issue a certificate of national service to some former corps members who graduated from institutions in the Republic of Benin and some other African countries after a rigorous one-year compulsory service.
A young lady identified as Gloria Afiah Adjei, who took to social media to call out NYSC after she was allegedly robbed of the joy of getting her certificate, said the institution refused to issue her the certificate she deserves after serving her fatherland for one year. Read more
Buhari Returns from South Africa (ThisDay)
President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Abuja on Friday after a three-day official visit to South Africa.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while in South Africa, the Nigerian leader held bilateral meeting with his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa. Read more
Trump-Ukraine inquiry: Democrats demand documents from White House (BBC)
US Democratic lawmakers have demanded documents from the White House as part of their impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.
The documents relate to a call between Mr Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 25 July.
In the call, Mr Trump pushed Mr Zelensky to investigate his leading Democratic political rival, Joe Biden. Read more
Australian digital rights organisations defend encryption (Independent)
Access Now and Digital Rights Watch have expressed deep concerns about attempts by members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance to convince Facebook to abandon its plan to introduce end-to-end encryption in its messaging services.
“End-to-end encryption is like a lock on a door. It is a basic requirement for security in any form of online communication in the digital age,” said Tim Singleton Norton, Chair of Digital Rights Watch. Read more
Iraq protests: Death toll soars after four days of protests (BBC)
The death toll in anti-government protests that have swept Iraq the past four days has soared to at least 60, security and medical sources say.
The figure has more than doubled in the past 24 hours, as clashes between protesters and police intensified. Read more
Hong Kong: Face mask ban prompts thousands to protest (BBC)
Thousands have taken part in unplanned protests in Hong Kong after the territory’s government announced a face mask ban, which came into effect at midnight (16:00 GMT).
Chief executive Carrie Lam invoked a colonial-era emergency law in a bid to quell months of anti-government unrest. Read more
Demi Lovato apologises for ‘offending anyone’ following Jordan river baptism (Independent)
Demi Lovato has apologised for “offending anyone” after she travelled to Israel to be baptised in the country’s Jordan River.
The pop singer, 27, detailed her “absolutely magical” experience earlier this week, including a visit to the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem.
Lovato said the trip, which took in other holy sites around the city, had filled “the God-sized hole in my heart”. Read more
China Open: Naomi Osaka ends Bianca Andreescu’s 17-match winning streak (BBC)
Naomi Osaka fought back from a set down to defeat Bianca Andreescu at the China Open on Friday – ending the US Open champion’s 17-match winning streak.
Former world number one Osaka advanced to the semi-finals with a 5-7 6-3 6-4 victory in just over two hours in Beijing.
Japan’s Osaka, 21, will face defending champion Caroline Wozniacki in the last four. Read more
Teenager Odin Bailey gives Birmingham dramatic win over Middlesbrough (BBC)
Teenager Odin Bailey saved Birmingham City’s blushes as his late goal earned them a deserved victory over Middlesbrough at St Andrew’s.
The 19-year-old headed in from close range a minute from full-time, moments after Daniel Ayala had bundled home an equaliser for Boro. Read more
Floyd Mayweather ‘to fight Chinese boxer in 2020’ (SCMP)
It looks like Floyd Mayweather is getting back in the boxing ring. But, sadly for Manny Pacquiao and his hopes for a rematch, it’s another exhibition bout, and this time in China.
“Money” made US$9 million for 136 seconds of work knocking out Japanese kick-boxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Saitama, just outside Tokyo, on New Year’s Eve. Read more
Victor Osimhen: From street hawker in Lagos to football king in Europe (Guardian)
When French clubside, Lille, sold two of their players, Nicolas Pepe and Rafael Leao, in the summer transfer, fans feared their club would find it difficult to get a good replacement: But the arrival of Nigerian young star, Victor James Osimhen, has changed things for the modest European clubside.
Since the beginning of the season, Osimhen has been one of Europe’s hottest players, scoring great goals and accolades. Read more
‘This is the worst Man United team for decades’ (Guardian)
Former England striker Michael Owen has labelled the Red Devils’ squad “the worst Manchester United team for decades”.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has overseen the departures of high-profile names such as Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera, while investing heavily in young, British talent. Read more
Team Nigeria crash out of men, women’s relays (Punch)
Nigeria’s women and men’s 4x100m relay teams failed to make the final of the relay event after finishing seventh while the men’s team were disqualified.
The quartet of Enoch Adegoke, Usheoritse Itsekiri, Ogho-Oghene Egwero and Seye Ogunlewe ran in lane 8 and finished last in in 38.62sec but were later disqualified. Read more
Brazil, Nigeria friendly forces change in league date (Punch)
The international friendly game between Nigeria and Brazil scheduled to take place on October 13 in singapore, has saw a change in the date of the Brasileiro Série A after club owners and managers criticised the timing of the match with seven players from the league invited.
Tite’s invitation of the players who ply their trade in the topflight has not gone down well with local clubs as the game coincides with match day of the Brazil national championship. It is a situation that has led to friction between club and country. Read more
I would have been surprised to see Tomori play for Eagles –Efe Ambrose (Nation)
Former Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose has declared that he would have been very surprised to hear Fikayo Tomori turned down England for Nigeria
The former Celtic ace recalled that while at Derby County, Tomori never for once mentioned or discussed anything concerning his origin, noting that he was very British all the way. Read more