Several persons injured, vehicles burnt in gas explosion in Lagos (Vanguard)
Scores sustained injuries and several vehicles burnt in the afternoon when a gas laden truck suddenly exploded after a lone accident at Cele Bus stop, Iju Ishaga, Lagos, Ogun states border.
According to an eyewitness, the truck with an unknown registration number while conveying gasoline had a lone accident and exploded in the process.
Director-General of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr Femi Oke-Osayintolu confirmed the incident.
According to Oke-Osayintolu, ” The impact of the explosion led to fire at adjoining buildings and several vehicles were burnt. Read more
Imota rice mill ready by first quarter of next year, says Sanwo-Olu (Nation)
The Lagos State Government says its multi-billion naira 32-metric tonnes per hour rice mill at Imota, will be completed within the first quarter of next year.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this Thursday during FATE Foundation’s 5th Annual Virtual Alumni Conference.
Sanwo-Olu said that the rice mill when operational will ensure a steady supply of freshly processed rice of about 2.4 million bags of 50kg per annum to Lagosians, in addition to over 250,000 jobs to be created in both the upstream and downstream sectors of the rice value chain. Read more
How cultists blinded me for refusing to join group (Vanguard)
Emotion ran high, as 23-year-old Olamilekan Ibidokun, gave a blow-to blow account of how he lost his sight after he was attacked by members of the Aiye confraternity in the Ketu area of Lagos, for refusing to join the confraternity.
The incident, according to him, occurred in December 2016, during a street carnival in the Ketu area of the state. He claimed that the attackers are still roaming the streets of Lagos freely, without justice meted out.
He traced the genesis of his predicament to the day he met one Abass, who lived in the same neibhourhood (Ketu) with him. He alleged that Abass, a member of Aiye confraternity consistently invited him to join his group but that he refused. Read more
Owasonoye, Ojukwu top shortlisted candidates for SAN rank (Thisday)
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offence Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasonoye, his counterpart in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Anthony Ojukwu, are among 137 successful candidates shortlisted for conferment with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
A press release by the Legal Practitioner’s Privileges Committee (LPPC) on Wednesday said the 137 candidates emerged successful both at advocate filtration stages and academic pre-qualification exercise.
Acting Chief Registrar of Supreme Court/Secretary, Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, Hajo Sarki, stated: “All qualified candidates shortlisted are graded under the category system of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee Guidelines, 2018.” Read more
Yemi Alade Wants To Help Women In New UN Role (Guardian)
Yemi Alade plans to use her new role as a United Nations goodwill ambassador to help vulnerable people, most especially women.
Alade, 31, on Wednesday joined a list of celebrities including actor Antonio Banderas and footballer Didier Drogba as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to raise awareness of poverty, inequality and climate change.
The singer gained global fame after becoming the first female Afro-pop artist to get more than 100 million views on YouTube, winning multiple music awards and featuring on Beyonce’s “The Lion King: The Gift” album last year.
“Women are among the 4 billion people who are trying to survive COVID-19 without any form of social protection,” Alade said in a video statement. Read more
Wizkid thanks Banky W, Tunde Demuren for changing his life (Punch)
Multiple award-winning singer, Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has taken to his Instagram Stories to share an appreciation post on the men who changed his life.
Wizkid seized the moment to thank singer, Banky W and his best friend, Tunde Demuren for transforming his life.
The reason for this show of gratitude is not far-fetched as the duo paved way for Wizkid’s success when they signed him to their record label, Empire Mates Entertainment, in 2009.
In his post, the Ojuelegba showed support for his former record label, EME, even though he has since floated his record label, Starboy Entertainment.
The singer posted, “Thank you to these guys for changing my life @Bankyw @captdemuren. EME 4 ever.” Read more
Oil, gas suppliers lament n320bn loss, caution Labour against planned strike (Thisday)
The Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) Thursday bemoaned its huge losses to the tune of N320 billion as a result of alleged government-controlled product prices foisted on its members.
The body also pleaded with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as well as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to have a rethink on its planned industrial action, saying that the action will have unquantifiable impact on businesses.
A statement by the spokesman of the organisation, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, in Abuja, stated that its members would be forced to lay off staff with the increasingly difficult business terrain. Read more
South Africans march to Nigerian Embassy, protest against immigrants (Guardian)
Some protesters yesterday delivered a memorandum to the Nigerian Embassy in South Africa to protest against alleged human trafficking and other criminal activities of some immigrants, particularly Nigerians.
The march to the Nigerian Embassy trended on social media with the hashtags: #23SeptemberCleanSA and #PutSouthAfricansFirst, sparking a conversation about the ongoing protests against immigrants in South Africa.
Frustrations amongst citizens, including a sense of helplessness with increased corruption allegations within government, and steady economic decline, have resulted in some South Africans turning to immigrants with suspicion. Read more
Rwandan genocide orphan’s ‘miracle’ WhatsApp reunion (BBC)
A girl who was orphaned at the age of two during the 1994 Rwandan genocide has recently found some of her relatives thanks to the “miracle” of social media.
Grace Umutoni, who did not know her birth name, put up several photos of herself on various WhatsApp groups, Facebook and Twitter in April to see if she could track down members of her family – having failed to find them through more official routes.
All the 28-year-old nurse knew about her background was that she had been brought to an orphanage in the capital, Kigali, from the city’s Nyamirambo neighbourhood, with her brother, who was four at the time and later died.
There are thousands of children like Ms Utomoni, who lost or were separated from their parents during the chaos of the genocide in which more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in 100 days. Read more
GoodRx shares jump 40% in Nasdaq debut after $1.1bn IPO (NYPost)
Shares of private equity-backed GoodRx Holdings surged 40 percent in their debut on the Nasdaq on Wednesday after the online prescription drug platform raised $1.14 billion in its initial public offering.
The stock opened at $46, compared to the IPO price of $33 per share. At its opening price, the company is valued at nearly $18 billion, more than six times the valuation it commanded during its last private fundraise in 2018.
GoodRx’s shares hit a session high of $49.57, a jump of over 50 percent.
The company, which counts PE firm Silver Lake among its biggest backers, sold about 34.6 million shares. It had initially set a target range between $24 and $28 per share. Read more
Fatah, Hamas say deal reached on Palestinian elections (Aljazeera)
The two biggest Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, have agreed to hold the first elections in Palestine in nearly 15 years.
Polls will be scheduled within six months under a deal agreed by Fatah, Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniya.
“We have agreed to first hold legislative elections, then presidential elections of the Palestinian Authority, and finally the central council of the Palestine Liberation Organization,” said Jibril Rajoub, a senior Fatah official, on Thursday. Read more
Larynzo Johnson charged in shooting of two Louisville police officers (NYPost)
The suspect who was arrested in the shooting of two Louisville police officers has been identified as 26-year-old Larynzo Johnson, according to a report.
Johnson was charged with wanton endangerment and assault of a police officer, WLKY reported.
He is expected to face an arraignment hearing Friday morning, according to CBS News, which noted that it will likely be remote because courts are closed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Emma Stone ‘marries fiance Dave McCary’ nine months after getting engaged (Metro)
Emma Stone has reportedly married her fiancé Dave McCary, nine months after their engagement was confirmed. The couple were said to have wed recently in a secret ceremony, according to a report from Page Six, with a source telling the publication that they have ‘definitely tied the knot’. Emma, 31, and Dave, 35, were said to have planned to marry in March, but had to postpone the ceremony due to the coronavirus pandemic. It comes after the two had both been spotted wearing matching gold wedding bands on their ring fingers while out and about earlier this month. They also sparked marriage rumours in May when Emma was seen sporting the same band while chatting to Reese Witherspoon on the Hello Sunshine show. She dropped a further hint when Dr Harold Koplewicz later made an appearance and spoke about marriage. Read more
Sir Harold Evans: Crusading editor who exposed Thalidomide impact dies aged 92 (BBC)
Former Sunday Times editor Sir Harold Evans has died at the age of 92.
The British-American journalist, who led an investigation into the drug Thalidomide, died of heart failure in New York, his wife Tina Brown said.
His 70-year career also saw him work as a magazine founder, book publisher, author and – at the time of his death – Reuters’ editor-at-large.
Sir Harold was editor of the Sunday Times for 14 years and oversaw many campaigns in that time.
He then went on to become the founding editor of Conde Nast Traveller magazine and later president of the publishing giant, Random House. Read more
John Legend reveals lockdown helped overcome fertility issues (Metro)
John Legend may have lockdown to thank for his first child to be conceived without the help of IVF. Watching the Brit contestants’ frisky antics on TV’s Love Island may also have been a factor during his extended period of being shacked up at home with model wife Chrissy Teigen.
They were stunned when Chrissy discovered she was pregnant with their third child. ‘It was truly a surprise,’ said the La La Land star, 41.
‘We had struggled to conceive naturally all this time and figured it would never happen.
‘I guess all of our time spent at home together was enough to conquer any fertility challenges we had.’ Read more
Kamaru Usman, happy to pave way for emerging African mixed martial artists (Guardian)
Kamaru Usman last year became the first African-born mixed martial artist to win a world title with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and he has since witnessed a generation of fighters from the continent rise in his wake.
The 33-year-old Nigerian, a welterweight champion, believes this is only just the beginning for African fighters already signed by the Las Vegas-based UFC – the sport’s leading global promotion – and for the next wave of African fighters who will follow them.
“There’s just so much talent coming out of Africa,” Usman told AFP in a virtual interview. “I know there are kids now who see me and I look like them. They know I’ve seen their paths, I’ve walked that journey. It’s powerful.” Read more
Mike Tyson says he is willing to fight Anthony Joshua after Roy Jones Jr. (Metro)
Boxing legend Mike Tyson has opened the door to fighting heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua once he has seen off Roy Jones Jr. in their upcoming exhibition match.
Iron Mike is set to return to the ring 15 years on from his last professional fight against Kevin McBride, with the 54-year-old taking on former four-weight world champ Jones in California in November. The fight has been put on to raise money for charity, with the referee ordered to step in if the match goes ‘beyond the boundaries of a competitive boxing exhibition’. Read more
Edouard Mendy: Chelsea sign Senegal goalkeeper from Rennes (BBC)
Chelsea have signed Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy on a five-year deal.
The Senegal international, 28, made 25 league appearances for the Ligue 1 side after joining from Reims in 2019.
He completed his medical on Tuesday, with manager Frank Lampard having said he wants to increase competition with club record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga, who cost £71m.
“I’m so excited to be joining Chelsea,” Mendy said. “It’s a dream for me to be a part of this exciting squad.” Read more
Dayot Upamecano speaks out on his future amid Manchester United transfer speculation (Metro)
Dayot Upamecano has poured cold water on rumours that he could be set for a move to Manchester United and insists he remains fully ‘focused’ on playing for Leipzig for the time being.
United head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to bring in a central defender with pace to make up for Harry Maguire’s lack of mobility and has reportedly identified Upamecano as his priority target in this position.
The 21-year-old is regarded as one of the finest young centre-backs in European football and his performances in last season’s Champions League, most notably his outstanding display against Atletico Madrid, made clubs across the continent sit up and take notice. Read more
Yunus Musah: Who is Valencia’s exciting English teenager? (BBC)
The departure of several key stars has made for a tough summer for Valencia – but one talented English teenager is offering room for optimism at the Mestalla Stadium.
Former Arsenal academy star Yunus Musah became the first English player to represent the Spanish side when he started their opening 4-2 La Liga win over Levante on 13 September.
And at 17 years 289 days, it also made England youth international Musah the club’s youngest foreign player, as well as putting him in the top 10 youngest overall.
Musah made his second successive start in a 2-1 defeat by Celta Vigo on Saturday, meaning he has played 171 of Valencia’s 180 league minutes so far as he seeks to consolidate a place in the first team following the club’s turbulent pre-season. Read more
Ibrahimovic tests positive for COVID-19 (Punch)
AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has tested positive for coronavirus, the Serie A club have confirmed.
The announcement comes just hours before Milan are due to take on Norwegian side FK Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League third qualifying round on Thursday.
The club say that they have informed the “relevant authorities” and that Ibrahimovic will now enter a period of quarantine at home.
Milan added that no other members of the squad have tested positive in the latest round of testing, although defender Leo Duarte did return a positive result on Wednesday and has already begun isolating. Read more
Gordon Hayward FaceTimes into delivery room for birth of first son (NYPost)
Celtics forward Gordon Hayward originally planned to leave the NBA bubble when it was time for his wife, Robyn, to give birth.
However, that all changed after an ankle sprain suffered in the Celtics’ first playoff game forced Hayward to leave the bubble. While at home, it was decided that the 6-foot-7 sharpshooter would return to the Orlando campus and not leave again, even for the birth. So Hayward FaceTimed into the delivery room Wednesday in Indiana for the birth of his son, Gordon Theodore, ESPN.com reported. Read more