See the pictures of Yusuf Buhari’s fiancee that set tongues wagging (DailyTrust)
Pictures of the bridal shower of the Emir of Bichi’s daughter, Zahra Bayero, who will be getting married to Yusuf, President Muhammadu Buhari’s only son, in a few weeks, have got many talking on social media platforms.
Daily Trust reports that the President’s son had on Sunday released pictures of his outing with his fiancée ahead of the wedding.
However, the pictures from the shower as posted on Instagram have generated reactions amongst many on social media.
While some berated the Emir’s daughter ‘for wearing a bare chest gown and not covering her head as expected of a Muslim lady”, others complimented her beauty and prayed for a successful wedding. Read more
Lagos Assembly fumes as contractors abandon projects after payment (Guardian)
Abiodun orders contractor back to abandoned Mowe/Ofada Road
The Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Waterfront Infrastructure Development has vowed to arrest some contractors who have collected money from the government to execute projects in the state and failed to deliver on such projects.
Chairman of the committee, Olumuyiwa Jimoh, stated this, yesterday, when he led other members of the committee on an oversight function to ongoing waterfront projects in Amuwo-Odofin and Badagry axis of the state.
The committee expressed displeasure about a particular contractor, Cosmos Forum Nigeria Limited, who got about four projects in 2017 to construct a jetty with waiting shelter and shoreline protection in Badagry; construction of jetty with waiting shelter and shoreline protection in Ilado, and two other projects but is yet to complete any of the projects.
Similarly, the Ogun State Government has ordered the contractor handling the Mowe-Ofada Road reconstruction in Obafemi-Owode Local Council back to site. Read more
Sanwo-Olu inaugurates waste trucks, seeks cleaner Lagos (Punch)
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has inaugurated 102 units of compactor trucks and 100 units of double waste bins to the fleet of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority.
He said the move was part of his administration’s plan to boost waste management in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, while inaugurating the equipment on Wednesday at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, said the new assets would improve waste evacuation in the state.
He said, “Today, we are unveiling new equipment that will enable LAWMA to effectively fulfil its mandate.
“We are confident that the addition of these new assets to our existing ones will bring about visible improvements in waste evacuation and reduce the incidence of black spots that blight our roads and clog our drains.” Read more
Lagos seeks proactive measures to tackle mental illness in over 50m Nigerians (Guardian)
With over 50 million Nigerians having mental issues, Lagos State Government, yesterday, said there must be proactive measures in curbing the menace.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Office of Internal Audit, Mrs. Olusola Oduguwa, who stated this at the opening of mental wellness workshop for internal auditors in Lagos, said with over 50 million Nigerians having mental issues, any government that wants its workforce to deliver quality services to the residents must promote mental wellness.
She tasked residents and civil servants on paying attention to their mental health, stating that their overall job performance is highly determined by the mental state.
Oduguwa stated that the administration desires a healthy workforce that can significantly contribute to the realisation of a 21st Century economy and ultimately achieve the greater Lagos dream. Read more
My daughter crying for her father, says widow of policeman lynched by Lagos protesters (Punch)
Three-year-old Goodness cried in a feeble attempt to stop her father, Gabriel Igwe, from going out on October 21, 2020, the day he was lynched by #EndSARS protesters in Lagos.
Ten months later, she has not stopped crying as she demands his return home.
Her mother, Doris Igwe, told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday that the family had been going through tough times, adding that both the Lagos State Government and the police authorities had abandoned them.
Doris, who spoke amid sobs, recalled that tragedy befell the family on October 21, 2020, around 10am when her husband left their residence in Ologunfe, Awoyaya, Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos, to withdraw money from an Automated Teller Machine. Read more
What I discussed with Tinubu in London —Sanwo-Olu (DailyTrust)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday declared that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is hale and hearty thus dispelling the rumour that he was hospitalised.
The social media was recently awash with reports that Asiwaju Tinubu was hospitalised and undergoing major surgery in Maryland, United States. Sanwo-Olu had on Tuesday visited the APC national leader in London, the United Kingdom to see things for himself.
Sanwo-Olu told journalists at the Lagos House, Ikeja few hours after his return from London that he discussed happenings in APC, national issues and other matters with the national leader during his visit.
He also said the picture he took with Asiwaju Tinubu during his visit to London was to dispel the rumour that he was hospitalised. Read more
UniAbuja students stranded as FCTA demolishes houses (DailyTrust)
Hundreds of students were yesterday left stranded after the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) resumed demolition of houses in Iddo Sarki, a community opposite the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) along the airport road.
At least 350 buildings, mostly occupied by students, were pulled down over alleged land use infractions.
Donatus Ugwu, one of the students, who spoke to Daily Trust, said he found the location ideal as it was just across the university.
He said, “We feel oppressed and we feel like we are strangers in our own country.” Read more
FEC okays $15.44b rail, refinery rehabilitation contracts (Guardian)
Sanctions 20 per cent minority stake in Dangote Refinery
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), yesterday approved $15.44 billion for contracts in the Transportation and Petroleum Resources Ministries.
The virtual meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, also sanctioned other contracts presented to it by the Ministries of Education and Power.
Addressing newsmen after the gathering, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, whose presentation was conveyed by his Information and Culture counterpart, Lai Mohammed, said Council okayed two memoranda for his ministry, including the $11.2 billion Lagos-Calabar standard gauge coastal rail line. Read more
150 Nigerian doctors ready for exams ahead practicing in UK (Punch)
No fewer than 150 Nigerian doctors interested in practising in the United Kingdom are currently waiting to take the clinical examination, the result of which will decide their eligibility to practise in the UK, The PUNCH has learnt.
It was further gathered that the coronavirus pandemic delayed the examination usually conducted by the General Medical Council.
The council is responsible for granting licences to medical doctors in the UK.
The PUNCH had reported that no fewer than 8,384 Nigerian medical doctors were practising in the UK as of June 9, 2021. Read more
Mexico sues US gun manufacturers over arms trafficking (BBC)
The Mexican government has sued some of the biggest US gun manufacturers, accusing them of fuelling bloodshed through reckless business practices.
The lawsuit alleges that the companies knew they were contributing to illegal arms trafficking, which has been linked to many deaths.
Officials say Mexico is seeking as much as $10bn (£7.2bn) in compensation, though any amount would be decided by the court.
The companies have not yet commented. Read more
Athens covered in thick pall of smoke from wildfires (Vanguard)
The city of Athens was covered in a thick pall of smoke from the wildfires in its northern suburbs.
Greek fire fighters largely subdued a major fire in the northern suburbs of Athens on Wednesday, before gusts that could have fanned them returned.
Since the first morning light, helicopters and planes have been deployed to contain the fires.
However, the entire city was now covered in a thick pall of smoke that would not dissipate due to lack of wind, while a fresh gust could reignite the fire. Read more
Camila Cabello dazzles in first trailer for live action Cinderella (Metro)
Camila Cabello leads a stellar cast in the new live action version of Cinderella, which promises to deliver a well-known love story with fun and modern twist.
The Havana singer shows off her acting chops as well as her incredible vocal talents in the first trailer from Amazon Studios.
Camila plays downtrodden Cinderella, who spends her days in the basement of her home making dresses under the label Ella, while her Stepmother (Idina Menzel) and ugly sisters lord it over her. Read more
Bangladesh lightning strike kills 17 wedding party guests (BBC)
At least 17 members of a wedding party have died in Bangladesh after being struck by lightning, officials said.
Fourteen other people, including the groom, were injured. The bride was not with the wedding party.
The party was disembarking from a boat at the riverside town of Shibganj, heading towards the bride’s house, when they were caught in a thunderstorm.
Local people said several bolts of lightning hit the group. Read more
Vanguard: Investment giant to pay vaccinated workers $1,000 (BBC) Vanguard, one of the world’s top investment firms, is to pay its US workers $1,000 if they get vaccinated.
Staff must prove they have been jabbed by October and will still qualify if they were inoculated before the company made its offer.
It speaks to the different approaches US firms are taking to vaccination as the Delta variant of coronavirus surges across the country.
Some like Microsoft and Google are mandating that all staff get jabbed. Read more
Dolly Parton’s rapper nephew Sabyn puts creative spin on country legend’s smash hit 9 to 5 (Metro)
Dolly Parton’s nephew has taken inspiration from his iconic aunt after putting a new spin on her hit single, 9 to 5.
Yep, the 75-year-old gave the rapper full permission to get creative with her hit single and he’s delivered a 2021 take on the classic titled 9 to 5 to 9.
Sabyn, 40, samples the same backbeat and chorus as the original 1981 single however he uses his rhymes to bring give the song a new vibe.
Speaking to People about Dolly’s reaction to the track, he stated: ‘She is very kind and very supportive and very gracious to me. Read more
Euro 2020 racist abuse – 11 people arrested (BBC)
Police have arrested 11 people as they continue a hate crimes investigation into social media messages sent after the Euro 2020 final.
The UK Football Policing Unit received 600 reports of racist comments sent to England’s black players after the defeat and judged 207 to be criminal.
Of these, 123 were posted by people overseas, while 34 came from the UK.
Police said people who think they can hide behind social media accounts “need to think again”. Read more
Tokyo Olympics: Dollar rain for Oborududu, Brume (Vanguard)
Blessing Oborududu and Ese Brume
Silver Medalist Blessing Oborududu and bronze medalist Ese Brume have been
rewarded with their promised cash of $10,000 and $7500, respectively in a ceremony held at Grand Prince Hotel, Tokyo Japan on Tuesday.
Oborududu and Brume were presented their cash by the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister said “There’s no point delaying the reinforcement of these athletes who have made the country proud, that is the reason they were rewarded immediately for their record breaking performance.”
Chioma Ajunwa was the first person who won gold medal for Nigeria in the Long Jump at Atlanta 1996, Brume thus follows suit with a bronze, while Oborududu is the first Nigerian Wrestler to win an Olympic medal in Wrestling. Read more
Olympics: Nigeria’s Enekwechi loses in men’s shot put, America’s Crouser wins gold (Punch)
Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi fails to win a medal in the men’s shot put final at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Thursday.
He finished 12th after throwing 19.74m on his third attempt.
He fouled in his first attempt, and on his second, he’s thrown 18.87m.
Bare 24 hours before the game, Enekwechi was seen in a video washing the jersey for the final.
The video, which went viral got many Nigerians angry. Read more
Elaine Thompson-Herah: Instagram blocks gold medallist who shared race win (BBC)
Olympic gold medallist sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah was mistakenly blocked on Instagram, its owner Facebook Inc has confirmed.
Thompson-Herah, the fastest woman in the world, was blocked on Tuesday for sharing videos from her 100 and 200 metre races on her Instagram account.
Her access to the app was reinstated several hours later.
There are strict copyright restrictions on sharing content from the Games online.
Thompson-Herah said on Twitter that she was blocked from accessing her account because she posted videos that she “did not have the right to do so”. Read more
Aston Villa sign forward Danny Ings from Southampton (Guardian)
Journeyman striker and former England international Danny Ings joined Aston Villa from Southampton on a three-year deal on Wednesday, the Premier League club announced.
The 29-year-old arrives on the same day Villa announced the signing of Jamaican striker Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen on a deal running until 2025.
With Villa bracing themselves to lose captain Jack Grealish to Manchester City for a British record £100million (117m euros), boss Dean Smith said he hoped Ings’s experience would have a knock on effect in the squad.
“Danny is an outstanding Premier League footballer who has scored goals wherever he has played,” Smith said of the former Burnley and Liverpool man. Read more
Jack Grealish: Manchester City closing in on £100m signing of Aston Villa captain (BBC)
Manchester City are closing in on the £100m signing of Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish.
A deal could be concluded in time for the England midfielder to play in the Community Shield against Leicester City on Saturday.
The move for the 25-year-old would make it a British record.The fee for him would surpass the £89m Manchester United paid to re-sign France midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus in 2016. Read more