Third Mainland Bridge is safe — Ministry (Guardian)
The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, on Sunday said that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos was safe for use, contrary to a Facebook posting spreading fears about the bridge. The Ministry in a statement attached a video of ongoing under water confirmatory tests on the bridge’s piles. The statement, signed by Mr Hakeem Bello, Special Adviser, Communications, to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, added that the expansion joints being speculated to be dangerous was among those slated for repairs. Read more
Seven Lagos traffic robbery suspects confess to snatching N25,000, valuables from victims —Police (Punch)
A team of surveillance experts attached to the Police Command in Lagos State has arrested seven traffic robbery suspects in separate sting operations, the spokesperson of the Command, DSP Bala Elkana, has said. Elkana said in a statement that while five of the suspects were arrested by the Police patrol team on surveillance along the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, two others were arrested along the Lagos Badagry Expressway. Concerning the five suspects arrested on the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, the statement said, “The policemen sighted some armed bandits at Toyota bus stop, under Daleko bridge, taking advantage of the traffic congestion, robbing motorists and other unsuspecting members of the public of their valuables such as laptops, cell phones and money. Read more
Tinubu speaks on rumoured 2023 presidency bid (Guardian)
A former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress has panned the reports that he is backing Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila to become Nigeria’s Senate president and Speaker respectively for selfish reasons. Bola Tinubu’s critics say his backing for Lawan and Gbajabiamila, both of whom were endorsed by the party, was to shore up his chances of becoming the ruling party’s presidential candidate in 2023. But Tinubu said he only aligned with the party wishes on whom become the leaders of Nigeria’s National Assembly in June. Read more
JAMB’s ex-official being investigated for alleged N100m fraud didn’t serve under Oloyede —Spokesman (Punch)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said that a former official that is being probed over an alleged diversion of N100m belonging to the Board did not serve under the current leadership. The Board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos. Fabian said, “Right now, we have just read from a major national daily that an ex-JAMB staff is about to be arraigned by the EFCC over an alleged diversion of about N100m belonging to the Board. Read more
Police restore law, order after protest on alleged kidnapping in Kaduna (Guardian)
The Kaduna State Police Command on Sunday said it had restored law and order on Nnamdi Azikiwe express way after irate youths blocked the byepass over an alleged overnight kidnapping in Kaduna. The News reports that at about 1:00 a.m., suspected gunmen stormed Rariya community near Kabala and allegedly kidnapped some people, leading to protests over the incident. A resident, Abubakar Ladan, alleged that three women, a teenager and a man were kidnapped. Read more
Don’t come to Kaduna, Shehu Sani warns tourists, others (Punch)
The Senator representing Kaduna Central at the Senate, Shehu Sani, has warned tourists and any adventurer thinking of visiting Kaduna, to stay away, at least for now. He said his advice was based on the observation that gunmen who have laid siege to the state meant business. Sani made this known via his verified Twitter handle @ShehuSani on Sunday; just as the Kaduna State Government announced its partnership with the World Bank Group and the Rockefeller Foundation to launch what it called @ClickOnKaduna — a set of digital programmes designed to train youths aged 18-40 including women and disadvantaged groups with digital skills and digital entrepreneurship skills. Read more
Banditry: Emir of Zurmi once asked me to wipe out an entire village – Yari (Nation)
Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, says the government will not apologize over the alleged killing of villagers in the state during bombardment of suspected bandits camps in Dumburum village in Zurmi local government area of the state. The governor, who made the statement when a 7-man investigation team on the matter visited him at his Talata-Mafara private residence, said Dunburum village had served as hideout for criminals over the last three years. The Council of Chiefs had a fortnight ago alleged that innocent citizens were recently bombarded through air strikes in the area by personnel of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF). Read more
2019 UTME: We’ll cancel results of candidates who cheated —JAMB (Punch)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said that once it establishes evidence of any form of examination malpractice against any candidate who wrote the 2019 UTME, it will cancel, outright, the result of such candidate rather than deduct marks as speculated. The Board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos. Benjamin had explained that it was not true that JAMB was deducting some marks from candidates with proven cases of examination malpractice. Read more
Akeredolu’s suspension from APC, mere rumours (Nation)
A group, The Campaign Concourse (TCC) has described as mere rumours, the purported suspension of Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu by the National Working Commitee (NWC) of the party. The group said the insinuation was sponsored by enemies of good governance ‘who are not pleased’ with the developmental revolution Akeredolu was offering the state presently leading to massive infrastructure, industrialization and grass root development. The group in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Amudipe Marcus in Akure, the state capital pointed out that the NWC of the party has not issued any official statement from Abuja or anywhere to pronounce the purported suspension. Read more
We’ll contact you via phones when 2019 UTME results are ready, JAMB tells candidates (Punch)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board says though it is intensifying efforts to ensure that results of the 2019 UTME are released after the Easter break, it would reach out to candidates through their telephone numbers as as soon as all the results are ratified. The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos. According to him, candidates should not be carried away by what he described as rumours and misleading information in some sections of the media, especially the social media. Read more
Briton among two people shot dead at Kaduna resort – UK govt (Punch)
A British national, Faye Mooney, was among the victims of the attack on Kajuru castle in Kaduna last Friday by unknown gunmen who also abducted three others. The victims were said to have travelled from Lagos to have some fun at the resort when they were attacked around 11pm. Mooney, who worked with a non-governmental organisation, Mercy Corps, was killed alongside Mathew Oguche, a staff member of an international NGO, Safety Organisation. Read more
Sudan protesters cut ties with military (BBC)
Protest leaders in Sudan have said they have broken off contact with the ruling military council that replaced ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. They accused it of being composed of “remnants” of Mr Bashir’s regime. Thousands of protesters have gathered outside army HQ in Khartoum for a meeting to announce a civilian council they now want to take power. The military says it is committed to handing over power and will consider a joint military-civilian council. Read more
Morocco protests: Thousands demand release of activists (BBC)
Thousands of people have protested in Morocco’s capital Rabat, demanding the release of 42 activists who had rallied against corruption and unemployment. Sunday’s “march of the Moroccan people” was organised by political and civil rights groups, as well as the families of detainees. It comes weeks after a court upheld prison sentences for the activists, who held protests in 2016 and 2017. Authorities accuse them of threatening the security of the country. Read more
Sri Lanka attacks: Country under curfew after bomb attacks kill 200 (BBC)
Sri Lanka has been placed under a nationwide curfew, as the government responds to a string of deadly bomb attacks on Sunday. More than 200 people were killed and hundreds more injured in eight blasts that targeted busy luxury hotels and Easter services at churches. The government has not yet attributed blame for the attacks. There are also reports of social media networks being temporarily limited to try and stop misinformation spreading. Read more
Comedian wins Ukrainian presidency (BBC)
Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelensky has won a landslide victory in the country’s presidential election, exit polls suggest. The polls give the political newcomer, who dominated the first round of voting three weeks ago, more than 70% support. Mr Zelensky, 41, challenged incumbent president Petro Poroshenko who has admitted defeat. The apparent result is being seen as a huge blow to Mr Poroshenko and a rejection of Ukraine’s establishment. “I will never let you down,” Mr Zelensky told celebrating supporters on Sunday. Read more
Teenagers arrested for journalist Lyra McKee’s murder released without charge (Metro)
Two teenagers who were arrested in connection with the murder of journalist Lyra Mckee have been released without charge. The pair, aged 18 and 19, had been held under the Terrorism Act after they were suspected members of the dissident republican group the ‘New IRA’. Miss Mckee, 29, died after being shot in the head as she was reporting on the civil unrest in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Read more
Colombia landslide: At least 14 killed and five injured (BBC)
At least 14 people have been killed by a landslide on Sunday in south-western Colombia, officials say. Five others were injured and several houses destroyed in the town of Rosas in the Cauca region. The landslide happened after days of torrential rains hit the region and authorities are continuing to search the rubble. Landslides are common in the Latin American country, especially during the annual rainy season. Read more
Lauren London ‘missing’ boyfriend Nipsey Hussle in heartbreaking tribute to slain rapper (Metro)
Lauren London has shared that she is ‘missing’ her late boyfriend Nipsey Hussle almost a month after he died. The Game actress posted her grief with an image of the pair smiling at each other during a red carpet Grammy interview with Extra TV earlier this year. After tearfully speaking about the Ocean View rapper at his memorial service on 11 April, the mother-of-two shared a black-and-white tribute to her longtime love on Easter Sunday. Read more
Sloppy Arsenal’s top four bid rocked by Palace (Guardian)
Arsenal’s bid for a top four finish in the Premier League suffered a major setback as Crystal Palace punished their sluggish display to claim a shock 3-2 win on Sunday. Unai Emery’s side paid the price for a defensive horror show at the Emirates Stadium to leave their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via the domestic route hanging in the balance. The Gunners, who can also reach the competition by winning the Europa League, fell behind to Christian Benteke’s first goal for a year before Mesut Ozil equalised early in the second half. Shkodran Mustafi’s blunder allowed Wilfried Zaha to put Palace back in front. Read more
Martin Keown slams Shkodran Mustafi after woeful Arsenal performance against Crystal Palace (Metro)
Martin Keown believes Shkodran Mustafi was at fault for all three goals Arsenal conceded in their shock 3-2 defeat against Crystal Palace. After keeping six clean sheets in their last seven matches, Mustafi’s presence in the starting XI heralded the return of familiar defensive failings which blew the race for the top four wide open. Christian Benteke was given the freedom of the penalty area to head home his first goal in a year, while Mustafi was guilty of switching off and allowing Wilfried Zaha a clear run on goal shortly after Mesut Ozil’s trademark finish had put Arsenal level. Read more
Liverpool motivated by fans – Klopp (BBC)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says his players are not motivated by the “Holy Grail” of the Premier League title but by the club’s supporters. The Anfield club have not won the title since 1990 but went back to the top with a 2-0 win in Cardiff. They are two points clear of Manchester City. “If you are only motivated to win the Holy Grail, then something is wrong with you,” said Klopp. “We want to win football games because we enjoy the ride with the fans.” Read more
Mohamed Salah annoyed with James Milner for taking crucial Liverpool penalty against Cardiff (Metro)
Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with a hardfought win over Cardiff on Sunday but it wasn’t all smiles for Jurgen Klopp’s players. Gini Wijnaldum’s brilliantly taken opening goal broke the deadlock 10 minutes after half-time but Liverpool had to wait until the closing stages to seal three more crucial points in pursuit of their first league title in 29 years. After Sean Morrison’s panicked clearance allowed Salah the chance to run into the penalty area, the Cardiff defender compounded his initial mistake by grabbing the Liverpool forward who need no invitation to hit the deck. Read more
Maurizio Sarri makes controversial Champions League claim as Arsenal hand Chelsea top four chance (Metro)
Maurizio Sarri believes the Champions League is overhyped. The Chelsea boss concedes Europe’s top-tier competition remains the world’s premier club tournament, but insists its importance is overstated. Chelsea must win the Europa League or secure a top-four Premier League finish to qualify for next term’s Champions League. Exclusion from the continent’s top table hampers recruitment and hits revenue, leaving Sarri’s employers possibly unimpressed with his Champions League views. Read more
Paris Saint-Germain win sixth French title in seven years (Guardian)
Paris Saint-Germain won the French Ligue 1 title for a sixth time in seven seasons on Sunday after second-placed Lille could only draw 0-0 at Toulouse. Qatar-backed PSG are now 16 points ahead of Lille who have five games to play after a season which saw them only lose on three occasions in another dominant league campaign. Christophe Galtier’s Lille, three-time French champions themselves, stumbled to a stalemate at lowly Toulouse but had Thiago Mendes’ second-half effort chalked off by VAR for handball. Read more
Fognini wins maiden Masters title in Monte Carlo (Nation)
Flamboyant Italian Fabio Fognini followed up his shock victory over Rafael Nadal with a 6-3 6-4 final win over Serbian Dusan Lajovic on Sunday. The win helped him to claim his maiden Masters title in Monte Carlo. The 31-year-old triumphed in spite of suffering from an apparent muscle problem to become the lowest seeded player, at 13, to claim the title since Gustavo Kuerten in 1999. Five weeks before the French Open kicks off at Roland Garros, Fognini produced some brilliant tennis on Monte Carlo’s red clay to snatch his ninth ATP singles title. Read more