Sanwo-Olu unveils first three months strategic plans (Vanguard)
Barely six days to the handing-over of administration to another, Lagos State Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Thursday, rolled out his strategic plans to be embarked upon by his administration in the first three months of assumption.
Sanwo-Olu, however said that he was yet to receive full details on both completed and on-going projects to be inherited from outgoing administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. The governor-elect, who is billed to take over the rein of power from Ambode next week Wednesday, at a ceremony taking place at Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, made the remarks at an interactive session with media at Ikoyi, Lagos Island. Read more
General manager arrested for stealing companies’ cars in Lagos (Punch)
Personnel of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested the general manager of an unnamed company, Ade Segun, for allegedly stealing over 10 cars belonging to his previous employers.
The state Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Mu’azu, said during a press briefing on Thursday that Segun usually applied for management positions in prominent companies with the sole aim of stealing their cars and selling them to unsuspecting buyers. Read more
Lagos-Ibadan rail project’ll be completed in 2020 – CCECC (Punch)
The Executive Director, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Mr Jacques Liao, has given the assurance that the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan rail project, which is at 79 per cent completion, will be concluded in April next year.
Liao, who made this disclosure while interacting with journalists at the corporate headquarters of the company in Abuja on Thursday, explained that track-laying was challenging, adding that the project would be delivered as promised. Read more
Police recover Edo girl sold for N850,000 (Guardian)
The Edo State police command has recovered Christabel Omokpia in Enugu State who was sold for N850,000 by an orphanage in Rivers State. Christabel was two years old when she and her sister, Amanda, were stolen away from Utesi village in Ovia North East local government area by two female tenants of their father in June last year.
Their mother, Faith, left them in the care of the tenants, Mary and Rose, who disappeared with the children to an unknown destination. Christabel was first sold for N450,000 by the tenants and resold for N500,000 to one Ogechi Favour. She was later sold again for N850,000 to one Anioke Augustine in Enugu State. Read more
Scores held as police battle criminals in Lagos, others (Nation)
The police had bountiful harvests – of suspected criminals – yesterday.
In Lagos, Commissioner Zubairu Muazu paraded 159 suspects who were hauled in by the new anti-crime strategy “Operation Puff Adder”.
Among them were robbery, kidnapping and cultism suspects.
On display were 43 arms and 80 ammunition, which the police chief said were recovered from the suspects.
In Jigawa State, 27 suspects were arrested, also in “Operation Puff Adder”, which Police chief Mohammad Adamu, whose appointment as Inspector-General was confirmed yesterday, directed all state commissioners to launch in a bid to push back criminals who are troubling Nigerians across the states. Read more
Buhari confirms Mohammed Adamu as IGP (Guardian)
Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari Thursday confirmed Adamu Mohammed as the new Inspector General of police.
Mohammed’s confirmation was announced at the police council meeting which was presided over by Buhari in Aso Rock, Abuja.
The IGP was appointed in the acting capacity on January 15. He took over from former IGP, Ibrahim Idris who retired from service. Read more
Fulanisation: We’re hundred percent behind Obasanjo – Christian Elders (Vanguard)
National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, have thrown their weight behind Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s call for an end to insecurity in the country.
While NCEF agreed with the former president that Boko Haram and herdsmen activities have become a tool to Fulanise West Africa and Islamise Africa, Soyinka said the country was undergoing horrendous descent to the abyss.
This is even as Southern and Middle Belt leaders kicked against plans by the Federal Government to float a Fulani radio station that would broadcast only in Fulfude. Read more
Buhari hails Nigeria, Israel bilateral ties (NewTelegraph)
President Muhammadu Buhari has lauded the existing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Israel. The President stated this on yesterday while receiving Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Mr. Shimon Ben-Shosan at the presidential villa, Abuja. He noted that diversity would remain a source of strength for the development of the country.
The President, who said Nigeria and Israel had enjoyed cordial bilateral relations, said many Nigerian Christians looked forward to performing pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Israel. Read more
Court restrains NUJ from conducting women journalists’ election (Nation)
A National Industrial Court (NIC) in Lagos yesterday restrained the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) and four others from conducting yesterday’s National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) election, following an application by a contestant.
Justice R. H. Gwandu made the order after hearing a motion ex parte filed and argued by Omotayo Olatunbosun, a counsel representing a NAWOJ chairmanship contestant, Mrs Sekinah Lawal. Read more
Tinubu-Ojo denies appointing rival leader in Ladipo market (Guardian)
The Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs.) Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, has described as untrue the rumoured appointment of a rival Babaloja (chief male market leader) in Ladipo auto parts market, Mushin.
Her clarification followed the alarm raised by two groups, the Lagos State Auto-Parts Dealers Association (LASAPDA), Mushin zone and Concern Citizens and Stakeholders of Papa Ajao/Ladipo Community that a trader in the market was parading himself as Babaloja of the market. Read more
Windows 10 May 2019 Update: the 10 best new features (Theverge)
Microsoft’s latest Windows 10 May 2019 Update is being made available to existing machines this week. After an extended period of testing, Microsoft is making this update available to everyone via Windows Update. Like previous updates, the May 2019 Update includes a bunch of new features, minor tweaks, and other changes.
I’ve been testing the Windows 10 May 2019 Update recently, and here are my favourite new additions. Read more
Disney’s Aladdin remake feels weirdly unfinished (Theverge)
It’s understandable if it took people a while to come around to the idea of a live-action adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin directed by Guy Ritchie. The Howard Ashman and Alan Menken musical numbers in 1992’s Aladdin are iconic. They seem even more so after the death of the film’s original Genie, Robin Williams, who brought a memorable, highly personal performance style to “Prince Ali” and “Friend Like Me.”
So the idea that Ritchie — who specializes in fast-paced crime dramedies, and has never directed a musical — was going to come in and grasp the nuances of staging songs in a way worthy of the original vision was questionable at best. Read more
FIFA U-20 World Cup: F’ Eagles target win against Qatar (NewTelegraph)
The Flying Eagles will go all out for the three points when they take to the pitch of the 15,300 –capacity Tychy Stadium against Qatar in the opening match of Group D of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals on today. “It is a big match for us, as every other match in this competition. We know the importance of picking up the three points in our first match, which is why we are determined to go all out,” team captain Ikouwem Utin declared. “Taking the first three points will help us plan our approach better for the remaining matches in the group phase, and also boost our confidence,” Utin added at the team’s Vienna House Hotel in Katowice on Thursday. Read more
Kanu wants Monimichelle to re-grass National Stadium, Lagos (Guardian)
Nwankwo, who spoke at the Agege Stadium, described Egbe’s firm as Africa’s leading stadium construction outfit, even as he urged federal and state governments to partner with him to change the face of Nigerian football pitches. Read more
PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi charged with corruption for part in Qatari athletics bid (90min)
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been charged with corruption for his part in Qatar’s bids for the world athletics championships in 2017 and 2019.
The charges were administered by a French judge as part of an investigation into bribery claims relating to both the unsuccessful bid for the 2017 championships – which were ultimately held in London – and the successful one for the tournament this year. Read more
CAF CL Final: Babatunde, Okechukwu optimistic ahead of Esperance clash (Nation)
Ahead of the CAF Champions League final, Super Eagles duo players Babatunde Michael and Gabriel Okechukwu, are very optimistic of victory against Espérance de Tunis in the first leg to be played in Morocco on Friday.
Wydad Casablanca of Morocco will be out for revenge against Esperance of Tunisia having met first in 2011 CAF Champions League final which the Tunisians won 1-0 on aggregate. Read more
Barcelonaa welcomes Antoine Griezmann (90min)
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has offered his support to Antoine Griezmann ahead of his expected arrival from Atletico Madrid, as Barça continue their search for another striker to play back up to Luis Suarez.
After being snubbed by Griezmann last summer thanks to the infamous ‘La Decision’ video, La Blaugrana are expected to finally sign the Frenchman when his release clause comes into play on July 1, but until then they are seeking further striking reinforcements to alleviate the strain on Suarez. Read more
Eagles must work hard for AFCON success, says Adepoju (NewTelegraph)
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has told national team players getting set for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to work hard in order to ensure they emerge champions for the fourth time. Adepoju, who was a member of Nigeria’s winning team at Tunisia ’94 AFCON, admitted that the continental soccer showpiece was a major championship that other teams will also love to win, but stressed that the Eagles could become four-time champions through hard work. Read more
Boxing expected to maintain status at Tokyo Olympics (BusinessStandard)
Boxing is set to appear on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games calendar, while the recognition of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should be suspended, according to the recommendation of the IOC’s Executive Board to next month’s IOC Session.
Former AIBA president Gafur Rahimov, an Uzbek businessman who has been linked to organised crime by US authorities, is the driving force for any suspension inflicted on the AIBA, despite his resignation in March, reports Xinhua news agency. Read more
Arsenal defender shuns England for Nigeria (Vanguard)
Highly-rated Arsenal defender Joseph Olowu has ended speculation about the country he will represent internationally by choosing to play for Nigeria.
A product of the Gunners Hale End Academy, Olowu was born in Ibadan nineteen years ago before moving to England. Read more