We’ll work together to give drug addicts new life – Sanwo-Olu (Punch)
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday said his administration would collaborate with organisations and individuals to give everyone with drug issues a new life.
The governor said this during the inauguration of Ile Ayo Drug Rehabilitation Facility in Alausa, Ikeja.
The rehabilitation facility was set up by the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Freedom Foundation toward empowering the youths and addressing social vices such as drugs abuse and substance abuse.
Sanwo-Olu said, “We will ensure that we work collaboratively to assist everybody that needs help and those who have issues that need to be resolved; be it drug, substance use and abuse, would be assisted to give everybody a new hope, a new life, a new beginning so that they can become better citizens for Nigeria, better Lagosians and better individuals for their families. Read more
5 Northern states join FIRS in VAT dispute against Rivers, Lagos (Guardian)
As all eyes are fixed on the Supreme Court, awaiting its verdict on the Value Added Tax (VAT) dispute between the Federal Government and Rivers State, indications emerged yesterday that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and the governments of Adamawa, Plateau and Kaduna states will join the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in its appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt that empowered Rivers to collect the tax.
The high court had in the judge ruled against FIRS in the tax collection tussle and ordered that Rivers was the rightful collector of the tax. The FIRS, thereafter, challenged the judgment at the Court of Appeal seeking that the high court verdict is set aside.
However, dependable sources close to the AGF and governors of the three states, yesterday, confided in The Guardian that they would file a leave of the court to be joined in the suit on Tuesday. Read more
How Whitemoney, 27, won BBNaija’s N90m (Nation)
Twenty-seven-year-old Hazel Oyeze Onou (popularly called Whitemoney) yesterday became the sixth winner of the Big Brother Nigeria (BBNaija) reality TV show after 72 days of an interesting show.
Whitemoney, who has millions of fans, polled the highest votes to defeat his runner up, Liquorose, at the finale.
The winner, who is also called Mazi by other 25 ex-housemates, first made his impact in the house a week after the show began on Saturday, July 24, 2021.
It did not take long before his culinary expertise made him the show’s resident chef. Read more
Burnt Lagos airport link bridge: Motorist to wait till December for opening (Guardian)
Ten months after the burnt Lagos Airport link bridge was closed to traffic for the structural test, House of Representatives member representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency II, Mr. Ganiyu Johnson, has assured that the flyover would be reopened to traffic before December.
Ganiyu made this known during a press briefing at Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency secretariat, Isolo while reeling out his administrative accomplishment since 2019.
He said: “When that fire incident occurred, I visited the site and I called on the Minister of Work and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, that they should carry out an integrity test on that bridge and also close the bridge. In fairness to him, it was carried out. But I can report to you today that the project has been awarded and is in progress. We hope that before the end of the year, we will complete the job and open it to traffic.” Read more
Nigeria’s high debt servicing figure worrisome, says Adeboye (Nation)
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has described as worrisome Nigeria’s current economic woes.
Adeboye said he was alarmed when he learned that debt servicing alone gulps a high percentage of the nation’s income.
He said this yesterday at the Special Thanksgiving and Prayer for President Muhammadu Buhari, governors, lawmakers, royal fathers, and their families held at the RCCG national headquarters, Throne of Grace in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
The thanksgiving was monitored live by RCCG members in their parishes. Read more
Ogun police arrest suspected robber during operation (Punch)
Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a suspected robber, Bolanle Ojomu, during an attack on residents at the Ilese Ijebu area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Oyeyemi noted that the suspect was arrested following a distress call received by the police in the Ilese Ijebu divisional headquarters around 12.30 am.
The PPRO said the police were hinted that some robbers were terrorising residents on Silva Estate, in the Odomalasa area of Ilese Ijebu. Read more
Nigerian youth activist to speak at John Hopkins’ Varsity conference (Vanguard)
John Hopkins University in the United States has invited a Nigerian youth development activist and tech enthusiast, Abideen Olasupo, alongside other youth activists to speak on shrinking civic spaces at its second annual conference on improving democratic principles.
According to the letter of invitation made available to Vanguard, the conference, themed, “Global Youth Activism Amidst Democratic Decay,” is in partnership with a global think-tank, Democratic Moves, is scheduled to hold between 18 and 20, October 2021, and will feature a host of youth activists and scholars from different countries who will deliberate on issues affecting young people around the world.
Olasupo, the Executive Director of Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), will speak on how youth activists can maintain their activities, amidst governments’ repressive policies.
Reacting to his invitation to speak at the conference, Olasupo said he was excited to be lending his voice to the shrinking civic space on a global platform after witnessing a gross violation of human rights across the country, including the government’s repeated utter disregard for court orders. Read more
Okada riders’ registration will curb criminality in Ogun’ (DailyTrust)
Ogun State government has said the ongoing registration of commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders is meant to combat the spate of criminality in the state.
The government noted that the registration is also necessitated following the influx of motorcyclists into the state.
Speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta, the Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Inter-Ethnic Affairs, Hadi Sanni, said motorcyclists’ operation has posed a lot of threat to security of the country hence the need to sanitise the business.
He revealed that the registration is also to have database of all motorcyclists in the state, revealing that the scheme is not a threat to them. Read more
Church sex abuse: Thousands of paedophiles in French Church, inquiry says (BBC)
Thousands of paedophiles have operated within the French Catholic Church since 1950, the head of a panel investigating abuses by church members says.
Jean-Marc Sauvé told French media that the commission had found evidence of 2,900 to 3,200 abusers – out of a total of 115,000 priests and other clerics.
“That is a minimal estimate,” he added.
The commission is to release a lengthy report on Tuesday. It is based on church, court and police archives, as well as interviews with victims. Read more
Aspiring actress killed in Georgia when neighbour accidentally fires gun (NYPost)
An aspiring actress died in Georgia when she was struck by a bullet that her neighbor accidentally fired through the wall of their apartment building, authorities say.
Carlether Foley, 36, who has film credits in several independent productions, was asleep when the bullet entered her apartment in Duluth on Sept. 26 and struck her in the head, KTRK-TV reported.
Foley’s son, Keyandre, 17, found his mom unresponsive and contacted 911, the outlet said.
Officers discovered a bullet hole in Foley’s wall and spoke to her 22-year-old neighbor, Maxwell Williamson, who told them that he was cleaning his gun when it accidentally discharged, authorities said. He claimed that he had forgotten it was loaded. Read more
Pandora Papers: Secret wealth and dealings of world leaders exposed (BBC)
The secret wealth and dealings of world leaders, politicians and billionaires has been exposed in one of the biggest leaks of financial documents.
Some 35 current and former leaders and more than 300 public officials are featured in the files from offshore companies, dubbed the Pandora Papers.
They reveal the King of Jordan secretly amassed £70m of UK and US property.
They also show how ex-UK PM Tony Blair and his wife saved £312,000 in stamp duty when they bought a London office.
The couple bought an offshore firm that owned the building. Read more
Orlando Bloom helps Katy Perry fix her dress at Power of Women event (PageSix)
Orlando Bloom has fiancée Katy Perry’s back. Literally.
While on stage at Variety’s Power of Women event, Perry needed some help undoing the corset of her gorgeous Schiaparelli gown – and requested her future hubby’s assistance.
“Orlando, can you undo my corset?” the singer, 36, asked in a video captured by someone in the crowd.
Perry then explained to the audience that her dress was “a little tight” and that she couldn’t “sing” until it was loosened.
Bloom, 44, didn’t waste any time, immediately jumping up on stage to help his lady. Read more
Lars Vilks: Muhammad cartoonist killed in traffic collision – media reports (BBC)
A Swedish cartoonist who sketched the Prophet Muhammad’s head on a dog’s body has died in a traffic accident, according to local media.
Lars Vilks was reportedly travelling in a civilian police vehicle which collided with a truck near the town of Markaryd in southern Sweden.
Two police officers were also killed and the truck driver was injured.
Vilks, 75, lived under police protection after being subjected to death threats over the cartoon. Read more
Duffy shares ‘passing thoughts’ as she returns to Instagram (Metro)
Singer Duffy has returned to Instagram with what she labels some ‘passing thoughts’, which touch on themes including acceptance, history and love.
The Mercy chart-topper last posted on her otherwise-empty account on September 11, sharing a picture of herself looking into the distance, with the caption of a sunshine emoji.
The 37-year-old has been quiet in recent months, following the February 2020 revelation of her horrific rape ordeal, when she said that she had been ‘raped, drugged and held captive’ before spending several years trying to recover from the experience.
Taking to Instagram to share a series of nine posts she’d signed with her name, Duffy wrote on the first one, simply titled ‘Hi’: ‘Sharing passing thoughts. I don’t envisage this being a permanent thing, something to connect. Nervous. Doing it anyway. Duffy. Read more
Pregnant Jennifer Lawrence attends Rally for Abortion Justice with Amy Schumer (PageSix)
Jennifer Lawrence put her baby bump on full display at the Rally for Abortion Justice in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.
The actress – who is expecting her first child with husband Cooke Maroney – attended the the Women’s March and Planned Parenthood-supported rally with her pal, Amy Schumer, who documented the outing on Instagram.
Lawrence, chic in a checkered dress and denim jacket, proudly held up a sign that read, “Women can’t be free if they don’t control their bodies,” while Schumer’s stated, “Abortion is essential.”
In the caption for the pic, Schumer referenced her recent surgery to have both her appendix and uterus removed due to extensive endometriosis. Read more
All set for CAR matches as Eagles open camp today (Guardian)
Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, arrived in Lagos on Saturday to set the tone for his team’s preparations for the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying doubleheader against the Central African Republic (CAR).
Nigeria will host CAR in Lagos on Thursday and then travel to Douala, Cameroun for the reverse fixture, which holds on October 10.
According to team officials, the players were expected to start arriving in Lagos yesterday and today after their weekend matches in Europe.
Earnest training will start tomorrow when all the invited payers are expected to have arrived in Lagos.
Apart from Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi, who have been ruled out of the matches by different shades of injury, the 22 players listed for the game will move into the Eko Hotel camp on arrival, latest today. Read more
Serie A: Napoli hold top spot after maintaining perfect start at Fiorentina (Punch)
Napoli will stay top of Serie A after maintaining their 100 percent start to the season with a gritty 2-1 win at Fiorentina, while Roma bounced back from derby defeat with a 2-0 win over Empoli.
Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli have a perfect 21 points from their first seven league matches thanks to their come-from-behind victory at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, which came thanks to strikes from Hirving Lozano and Amir Rrahmani either side of half-time.
It was a tough defeat for Fiorentina, who lost in a similar fashion to how they fell at home to Inter a few weeks back after deservedly taking the lead through Lucas Martinez Quarta.
Vincenzo Italiano’s side stay fifth on 12 points, nine behind Napoli and three away Roma in fourth.
“We suffered a bit after we went ahead, but we also had situations where we could have put ourselves 3-1 ahead which we didn’t manage to exploit,” said Spalletti to DAZN. Read more
Manchester City complain to Liverpool about fan allegedly spitting at member of staff (BBC)
Manchester City have made a complaint to Liverpool after alleging a home fan spat at their backroom staff in the first-half of the 2-2 draw at Anfield.
Manager Pep Guardiola said he was not aware of the incident at the time but was subsequently notified.
“They [the staff] told me but I didn’t see it,” he said after the game, which saw his side come from behind to draw.
“I’m pretty sure Liverpool FC will take measures against this person. I know they are greater than this behaviour.” Read more
Tom Brady rallies Buccaneers by Patriots in New England return (NYPost)
Tom Brady rallied the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 19-17 victory over the Patriots on a rainy Sunday night in his return to New England, with Ryan Succop hitting the winning 48-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.
Brady was 22 of 43 for 269 yards with no touchdowns, but engineered the fourth-quarter drive to beat his former team. Ronald Jones added an 8-yard scoring run for defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay (3-1). Brady broke Drew Brees’ NFL career passing yardage record and became the fourth quarterback with victories against all 32 NFL teams, joining Brees, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. Read more
Frankfurt beat Bayern in first defeat under coach Nagelsmann (Punch)
Julian Nagelsmann suffered his first defeat as Bayern Munich coach on Sunday as Eintracht Frankfurt snatched a dramatic, smash-and-grab 2-1 away win with a late winner from Filip Kostic.
Kostic struck on the counter-attack seven minutes from time to hand Frankfurt their first win in Munich for more than two decades and condemn Bayern to their first defeat of the season.
Despite dominating Frankfurt for much of the game, Bayern succumbed to their first league home defeat since 2019, and now sit just one point clear of Borussia Dortmund in the table. Read more
Pep Guardiola takes dig at Liverpool and Man Utd after Man City draw at Anfield (Metro)
Pep Guardiola aimed a dig at Liverpool and Manchester United after being left unimpressed by the officials during Manchester City’s draw at Anfield.
Guardiola was adamant Liverpool should have been reduced to ten men during Sunday’s clash after James Milner – already on a yellow card – chopped down Bernardo Silva.
Referee Paul Tierney gave Man City a free-kick but did not pull out a second yellow card, while VAR did not intervene as it was not deemed a ‘clear and obvious error’.
Guardiola reacted furiously on the sidelines and his mood got that bit worse just minutes later when Mohamed Salah produced a moment of brilliance to given Liverpool a 2-1 lead, following earlier goals from Sadio Mane and Phil Foden. Read more