There’s no ban on food importation, FG replies Financial Times (Punch)
The Presidency has described as untrue the Financial Times report suggesting that Nigeria has placed restrictions on importation of agricultural products into the country. News Agency of Nigeria reports that the article, with the headline, ‘Muhammadu Buhari sparks dismay over policy on food imports,’ was published on August 15, alleging that the Buhari administration had placed embargo or restrictions on food imports. However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a letter addressed to the Editor of the Financial Times and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, dismissed the content of the article, describing it as incorrect. Read more
PDP flays Buhari’s ‘misrule,’ leaves IPOB out of attack on Ekweremadu (Punch)
The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the attack against immediate past Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in Germany last Saturday. Ekweremadu was attacked by some members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra in Nuremberg, Germany, on Saturday. Ekweremadu has since confirmed the attack in a statement released by his Media Assistant, Uche Anichukwu, in Abuja late Saturday. Read more
US indicts FG, says Nigeria lacks fiscal transparency (Punch)
The United States Department of State has said that Nigeria made no significant progress in fiscal transparency. Fiscal transparency refers to the publication of information on how governments raise, spend, and manage public resources. More specifically, it means publication of high quality information on how governments raise taxes, borrow, spend, invest, and manage public assets and liabilities. This was the submission of the U.S. Department of State 2019 Fiscal Transparency Report spanning January 1 – December 31, 2018. Read more
APC UK chapter disclaims factional group (Nation)
The United Kingdom chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disclaimed the factional group led by Ade Omole saying “he does not represent APC UK as a leader, chieftain or whatsoever title he wishes to appropriate to himself”. In a statement on Sunday, Dr. Philip Idaewor said the party’s UK chapter which was approved by the National Executive Council under his leadership had put out series of public statements in the past. Read more
Attack on Ike Ekweremadu is barbaric —Uwajumogu (Punch)
The Senate Committee Chairman on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Sen. Benjamin Uwajumogu, has condemned the attack on former Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekeremadu by IPOB. Ekweremadu was reportedly attacked by some members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra in Nuremberg, Germany, on Saturday, at a cultural ceremony of the Igbo community. Uwajumogu, representing Imo North Senatorial District, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, described the attack as barbaric. Read more
Nigeria will be poverty-free by 2030, Fayemi assures (Nation)
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has expressed optimism that poverty can be eradicated in Nigeria in 2030, as projected, with diligent prosecution of the Sustainable Development Goal’s policy. Dr. Fayemi said the state would continue to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) vision of ensuring that poverty is banished across the developing nations, especially Nigeria, in 2030. The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Biodun Omoleye, spoke in Ado Ekiti during an event commemorating the 2019 International Youth Day. Read more
Jihadists kill 4 Nigerian soldiers in ambush (Punch)
Four Nigerian troops were killed Sunday in an ambush by fighters suspected to be from an IS-affiliated jihadist faction in the country’s restive northeast, two military sources said. Attackers believed to be from the Islamic State West Africa Province group opened fire on a military patrol in Mogula village close to the border with Cameroon, killing four soldiers and seizing two machine guns, one of the military officers said. “Our troops came under attack by ISWAP terrorists in Mogula in an ambush in which we lost four soldiers,” the first source said. Read more
Lead other monarchs to support Ogun govt, Obasanjo tells Alake (Nation)
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday advised the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo lead other Obas in Egbaland to support the state government to ensure more developments in the zone. Obasanjo also advised Oba Adedotun not to listen to bad counsel and intrigues that could tear the monarchs in Egbaland apart, saying it is high time all traditional rulers in the land work in unity for the socio-economic development of Ogun state. Read more
Ex-Lagos PC, Owoseni, appointed Makinde’s Special Adviser (Punch)
Former Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Benue states, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, has been appointed by the Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, as his Special Adviser on Security Matters. Makinde, according to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, approved the appointment, which took effect from August 1. The statement indicated that Owoseni’s appointment falls in line with the recognition of security as one of the four pillars of the Makinde administration in the State. Read more
UI announces date for Post-UTME Screening (Nation)
The University of Ibadan, UI has fixed Friday 06 and Saturday 07, September 2019 for its post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) screening into all courses/programmes for the 2019/2020 academic year. This was contained in a statement issued by the school’s Registrar, Mrs Olubunmi Faluyi. She advised the prospective students who registered for the post-UTME exercise to check the Admission portal for information on the specific date when and venue where they will be screened with effect from Monday, 02 September, 2019. Read more
Chad declares emergency in east after dozens die in ethnic violence (Guardian)
Chad’s President Idriss Deby declared a state of emergency in two eastern provinces on Sunday, authorising summary shootings to “save the majority”, after violent intercommunal clashes left dozens dead earlier this month. The state of emergency will run for three months in the Sila and Ouaddai regions bordering Sudan where 50 people have died since August 9 in fighting between Arab cattle herders and settled farmers, the president’s office said. Read more
UK to ‘end freedom of movement for EU citizens on day one of Brexit’ (Metro)
Free movement for EU citizens will end on day one of a no-deal Brexit under new Home Office plans, a new report has claimed. Home Secretary Priti Patel is determined for border restrictions to be imposed immediately on October 31, even without a replacement system, says The Independent. Ministers had wanted to delay stopping free movement until new rules are in place, with a stalled bill and heated arguments in the Commons. Read more
Big rescue operation in Poland to find trapped cavers (BBC)
Rescue workers are fighting to save two cavers in Poland after a narrow tunnel flooded with water, blocking their exit on Saturday. More than two dozen rescuers are attempting to reach the pair inside the Wielka Sniezna cave, the longest and deepest in the Tatra mountains. Contact is yet to be established with the cavers and concern is growing. Read more
India orders government employees in Kashmir back to work amid protests (Metro)
Officials in India have ordered government employees in Kashmir to return to work as unrest in the region rumbles on. It comes after Kashmir was placed under curfew for almost two weeks, with internet services, phone networks and schools shutdown, along with a ban on public gatherings. At least two dozen people were reported to have been injured and admitted to hospitals with pellet wounds following violent clashes on Saturday night between protesters and security forces, the Guardian reported. Read more
Jihadi Jack’s parents brand Sajid Javid a ‘coward’ over revoked citizenship (BBC)
The parents of a UK-Canadian man who joined the Islamic State group have said former Home Secretary Sajid Javid is a “coward” for revoking his British citizenship. Jack Letts – dubbed Jihadi Jack – was 18 when he left his Oxfordshire school in 2014 to join IS fighters in Syria. Sally Lane said her son had not been contacted ahead of the move, which his father likened to a “kick in the gut”. Read more
Two further arrests made after teen, 16, was knifed to death in ‘machete’ attack (Metro)
Two further arrests have been made after a 16-year-old was knifed to death with a ‘machete’ in London. Alex Smith, 16, screamed ‘help me!’ and banged on doors begging for help before he was murdered in Munster Square, Camden on Monday night. The teenager, from Brent, north-west London, died from a stab wound to the chest, a post-mortem examination found on Thursday. Two 19-year-old men were taken into custody by police this weekend on suspicion of murder. Read more
Wildfire sweeps Gran Canaria forcing 4,000 people to evacuate (Metro)
Around 4,000 people have been forced to evacuate after wildfire swept one of Spain’s Canary Islands for the second time in a week. The blaze, which was complicated by high temperatures, strong winds and low humidity, started on Saturday afternoon near the town of Valleseco on Gran Canaria. By Sunday afternoon, it had taken two different directions, burning more than 1,700 hectares, the provincial government said. Read more
Man arrested after wife’s body found in suitcase in car boot (Punch)
A man was on Sunday arrested in the French Alps after his wife’s body was discovered in a suitcase in the boot of his car as his two young children sat in the back seat, a source close to the case said. Police acting on a tip-off had put out an alert for the arrest of the man, who is French and known to police. He was detained at Doussard in the eastern Haute Savoie region. Read more
Heartless thieves target mourning family at cancer victim’s funeral (Metro)
A mother and daughter were left devastated when heartless thieves targeted their cars at a funeral of a beloved relative who died from breast cancer. Sarah Ireland, 27 was attending the funeral of her aunt Emma with her mother Mandie when sentimental items were stolen from their vehicles. Before going into Frankby Cemetery in Wirral, Merseyside, on Thursday, August 15, the two hid their handbags from view underneath the seats of their cars. Read more
Lampard denied first win as Leicester draw at Chelsea (Guardian)
Frank Lampard is still waiting for his first win as Chelsea manager after Wilfred Ndidi gave Leicester a 1-1 draw to spoil the Blues legend’s homecoming on Sunday. Thrashed 4-0 at Manchester United last weekend and beaten on penalties by Liverpool in the European Super Cup on Wednesday, Lampard’s side took an early lead through Mason Mount’s first goal for Chelsea. But Ndidi atoned for the costly mistake that led to Mount’s opener as the Nigeria midfielder headed Leicester’s well deserved second half equaliser. Read more
Chelsea star Cesar Azpilicueta reveals Frank Lampard’s half-time warning came true against Leicester City (Metro)
Cesar Azpilicueta revealed Frank Lampard predicted his side would be left disappointed if they did not score a second goal against Leicester City. Chelsea went into half-time a goal up after Mason Mount’s early opener, but had seen Leicester wrestle control of the game away from them after their blistering start. Leicester dominated in the second half and Azpilicueta admitted Lampard warned his players about the necessity of a second goal at half-time. Read more
PSG suffer early season defeat at Rennes (Guardian)
Champions Paris Saint-Germain slipped up in their second league game of the season losing 2-1 to Rennes on Sunday in a repeat of April’s French Cup final. Striker Edinson Cavani scored for the visitors in Brittany after a quarter of an hour before Mbaye Niang and Romain del Castillo responded for the home side just after the break. PSG were without forward Neymar for a third successive game this term with the world’s most expensive player continuing to be the subject of interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. Read more
Balotelli signs for home town team Brescia (Guardian)
Mario Balotelli will return to Italy with home town team Brescia after it was confirmed on Sunday he has signed for the newly-promoted club. The Italian forward has penned a “multi-year contract” and will be officially presented on Monday, the northern team confirmed on their website. “Mario returns home,” Brescia said in a statement. Read more
Czech Masters: Thomas Pieters wins first title in three years (BBC)
Belgium’s Thomas Pieters won his first title in three years with a one-shot victory at the Czech Masters. Overnight leader Pieters, 27, carded a three-under par 69 in his final round to finish on 19 under, with his Spanish playing partner Adri Arnaus on 18 under. England’s Sam Horsfield finished in a tie for third on 16 under with Italy’s defending champion Andrea Pavan. Read more
Ex-NFL star Cedric Benson dead at 36 after motorbike crash (Metro)
Former NFL star Cedric Benson has died in a motorcycle crash along with a woman in her thirties. Police in Austin, Texas, said a minivan was crossing an intersection when it ran into the bike, killing Benson and the woman at the scene. The 36-year-old running back played for the Chicago Bears, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Green Bay Packers during his illustrious career. Read more
Birmingham Grand Prix: Dina Asher-Smith shines to take second in 200m ‘Olympic final’ (BBC)
Dina Asher-Smith underlined why is she seen as a World Championships medal contender with an impressive display in the 200m at the Birmingham Grand Prix. The British double European champion finished second behind Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who has opted to compete in the 400m in Doha. “This was like a Olympic or world final so it would have been a silver,” said Asher-Smith, referring to the field. Read more