Woman attacked on Lekki/Ikoyi link bridge (Guardian)
A woman was attacked, yesterday, along Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge in Lagos while passersby watched. She was left with bruised face, a broken finger and a gash on her thigh.
Her sister, whose name appeared on Twitter as Lisa Folawiyo, said: “It was my sister screaming. She was mugged and really roughed up. Traumatic. She screamed but no one helped. Everyone walked by like nothing was happening. I love humans.
“Other than the broken finger, bruised up face and hands and a gash in her thigh, she’s doing okay. Thank God. It could have been worse. But it has left her quite shaken and traumatised.”
People have been advised to be careful when jogging on the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge as joggers are now getting attacked while streetlights are off. Read more
2 Lagos cultists nabbed during gun battle with police (Punch)
Two suspected cultists, Timileyin Omobolaji and another identified simply as Waliyu, have been arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly terrorising residents of Igbelara in the Ikorodu area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Tuesday that the suspects were arrested during a gun battle with the cops and that others escaped with bullet wounds.
Adejobi said, “Police operatives attached to the Ikorodu Division, on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, around 12.30pm, engaged some suspected members of the Aiye Confraternity in a gun duel in the Igbelara area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
“The police responded to a distress call from members of the public that some suspected cultists were seen in the Igbelara area with weapons to foment trouble and the police, with the help of some community members, raced to the scene and the gang opened fire on them. Read more
Youths overpower robbers, recover arms, operational motorbike in Lagos (Vanguard)
Plans by a six-man robbery gang to carry out an operation in Igbolerin area of Lagos have been frustrated by youths in the area. The robbers said to have been armed, stormed the area at about 11.30 pm, Monday. They were said to have parked their operational motorbikes close to the building they intended to attack its occupants when one of the youths raised the alarm which alerted others. By Clever Advertising The robbers fired some shots in a bid to scare the youths but exhausted their bullets in the process. They managed to escape, abandoning some of their weapons. Also read: Soldier, 5 civilians Killed, three others injured in Maiduguri A spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, explained further that “The suspected armed robbers came on two unregistered motorbikes with the intention of attacking their targets before they were repelled by the youths who have been involved in the community policing strategies of the command. Read more
Treat malaria symptoms as COVID-19, says Sanwo-Olu (Punch)
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has advised residents of the state to consider and treat any malaria symptom as COVID-19 until proven otherwise.
Sanwo-Olu, at a briefing on Tuesday, also raised the alarm that the oxygen demands for COVID-19 patients at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, had increased to 350 six-litre cylinders daily from 70 six-litre cylinders.
He said, “In this second wave of the current pandemic, any malaria-like symptoms should be considered as COVID-19 virus infection unless and until otherwise proven. Any affected individual with COVID-like symptoms should proceed to any of our public health facilities and/or laboratories to get tested for free.
“Over the last few weeks, the demand for oxygen has risen from 70 six-litre cylinders per day to 350 six-litre cylinders in our Yaba Mainland Hospital. This is projected to more than double to 750 6-litre cylinders, before the end of January 2021. In addition to providing oxygen at our isolation centres, the Lagos State Government has decentralised the availability of oxygen across the state through the provision of 10 oxygen and sampling kiosks. Read more
Danger averted in Lagos as PMS-laden tanker spills content (Vanguard)
Men of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), and another rescue team, on Tuesday, averted what could have resulted into fire disaster when a tanker with registration number LSD 155XT, loaded with 50,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, overturned, spilling its content in the process at Ogudu, under bridge inward Alapere area of Lagos State.
The incident with no casualty happened at about 1.30 pm was immediately put under control by emergency responders even as miscreants and residents stormed the scene to scoop the split fuel.
The incident resulted in terrible gridlock as the entire area was cordoned off to traffic. Motorists were diverted to alternative routes to access their destination.
Also read: Police parade 26-year-old man for allegedly killing 30-year-old mother of three over sex
According to Oke-Osanyintolu, “On arrival at the above scene, it was observed that an Iveco truck loaded with 50,000 litres of PMS had a leakage in one of its compartment leading to spillage on the road. Read more
12.3m subscribers await SIM linkage with NIN (DailyTrust)
As 47.8m phone users cleared
FG urged to limit mobile lines possession to 2
About 12.3 million active SIM cards are yet to be linked with their owners’ National Identity Numbers (NINs), Daily Trust reports.
This is as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday confirmed that a total of 47.8m phone users had supplied their NINs to telecom operators.
It was learnt that the over 12 million SIM cards were pending because most of the users do not have the national identity numbers.
There is an average of three to four SIMs per telecom subscriber in the country, according to the NCC.
This means about 191.2m active SIM cards have so far been linked to their owners’ unique identity numbers. Read more
Bandits kill four in Kaduna, kidnap two professors (Guardian)
Armed bandits have killed four people in Igabi and Giwa councils of Kaduna State. They also kidnapped a professor in Wusasa Community, Zaria. Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, stated yesterday that security operatives reported the incidents on Monday evening. He stated: “One Lawali Abdulhameed, a resident of Anaba village, was shot dead by the bandits.
“Security agencies also reported that armed bandits, last night, invaded Wusasa in Zaria Council, and kidnapped the Wazirin Wusasa, Professor Aliyu Mohammed; killed his son, Abdulaziz Aliyu; while his nephew, Abba Kabiru, was injured and now receiving treatment in hospital.”
According to him, armed bandits on motorcycles swarmed Iyatawa village of Giwa; but local vigilante groups drove them away. Read more
COVID-19: First 100,000 vaccine doses to arrive Nigeria in 2 weeks – FG (DailyTrust)
The federal government has said that the first set of vaccines, expected from Pfizer is expected to arrive in the country by the end of January 2021.
The Executive Secretary, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said this on Tuesday in Abuja during the facility tour of the three new Ultra Cold Chain (UCC) and other storage facilities in preparation to receive the 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Though he was not specific on the actual date for the arrival of the vaccines, he said government will leverage on the polio eradication programme in the country just as he acknowledged that the 100,000 doses are just a drop in the ocean.
According to him, “they (vaccines) are going to be applied on 50,000 Nigerians, comprising frontline health workers and elites within the polity, particularly State Governors, traditional and religious leaders, among others and each recipient of the vaccine is also expected to take two doses. Read more
Ekweremadu, Enugu West leaders pledge support to Ugwuanyi’s peace drive (Sun)
Leaders of Enugu West Senatorial District, led by former senate deputy president and senator representing the zone in the National Assembly, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, pledged their commitment towards the sustenance of existing peace and good governance entrenched in the state by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
The leaders who made the pledge when they paid a visit to Ugwuanyi at Government House, Enugu, to wish him a Happy New Year, reassured the governor of the support and solidarity of the people of Enugu West senatorial district.
Speaking on behalf of the zone, Senator Ekweremadu told Governor Ugwuanyi, whom he described as “a symbol of peace” that the people of Enugu West would continue to stand by him to ensure that he actualises all his lofty visions for the state. Read more
Duchess of Sussex claims privacy and copyright broached by paper group (BBC)
The publication of a letter from the Duchess of Sussex to her father was a “triple-barrelled invasion” of her privacy, the High Court has been told.
Meghan is suing the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online over articles that reproduced parts of the private handwritten letter.
She claims her privacy and copyright were breached by the newspaper group.
Her lawyers are asking for summary judgement – a dismissal of Associated Newspapers’ defence instead of a trial. Read more
Italian PM wins Senate confidence vote, salvaging a fragile government (France24)
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte won a confidence vote in the upper house Senate on Tuesday, allowing him to remain in office after a junior partner quit his coalition last week in the midst of the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
He failed to secure an absolute majority, however, meaning that Conte now heads a minority government that will struggle to implement its policy programme in the divided parliament unless it can flip some opposition lawmakers over the coming weeks.
Having overcome a similar confidence motion in the lower house on Monday, Conte won in the 321-seat Senate by 156 to 140, with 16 abstentions.
Had he lost, he would have had to resign, thrusting Italy deeper into political turmoil and potentially opening the way to new national elections, two years ahead of schedule. Read more
Lady Gaga ‘prays’ Joe Biden inauguration is ‘day of peace’ as she rehearses with J-Lo (Metro)
Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez have attended a rehearsal for the inauguration of president-elect Joe Biden. The Bad Romance singer, who supported Biden on the campaign trail in the run up to the election, will sing US national anthem The Star Spangled Banner at the swearing-in ceremony on January 20. The 34-year-old, real name Stefani Germanotta, appeared at a drive-in rally in Pittsburgh ahead of the election, urging people to vote for Biden. Gaga and Biden also worked together to create a PSA about sexual assault the It’s On Us campaign. J-Lo will also perform at the inauguration, however it is currently unknown what she will sing. Read more
Drama as ECOWAS lawmakers in underwear, cook, smoke at parliamentary Zoom meeting (Vanguard)
It was a bizarre scene at the online second ordinary session of the ECOWAS parliament as some lawmakers were seen dressed in underwears and the other smoked with flagrant impunity.
It seemed fellow lawmakers tacitly gave their nods to these social anomalies but journalists invited to the parliamentary session voiced against the indecent behaviour of the lawmakers.
They also called on the Speaker of the Parliament, Sidie Tunis to address the lawmakers on virtual meeting etiquette before the commencement of any other meeting.
One of the journalists who spoke on anonymity said, “The most annoying one I saw was when Hon Wahab Suhiyini Wumbei was in his panties dressing up on camera as if he was acting a movie. Read more
Germany to extend Covid-19 lockdown until mid-February (France24)
Germany on Tuesday toughened a partial lockdown and extended it to February 14, with Chancellor Angela Merkel warning of possible border checks to contain “the danger” of new coronavirus variants believed to be more contagious.
Speaking after hours of crisis talks with the leaders of Germany’s 16 states, Merkel said the latest restrictions were necessary as “a precaution for our country, the health of our citizens and also for the economy”.
According to a final text seen by AFP, Merkel and the state premiers agreed to make medical masks mandatory on public transport and in shops—meaning only surgical masks or the so-called FFP2 masks will be allowed.
They also said employers must make it possible for staff work from home wherever it is feasible. Read more
Pink seesaws at US-Mexico wall win design award (BBC)
While a wall is usually designed to keep people apart, this see-saw installation managed to bring people on both sides of the Mexico-US border together.
And now the Teeter Totter Wall has won the 2020 Beazley Design of the Year award, which is run by London’s Design Museum.
The seesaws were placed through sections of the wall and allowed people in both countries to play together.
They were installed by Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello at the Anapra zone in Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. Even though they were only in place for 20 minutes, video footage of people using them went viral. Read more
Robbie Williams ‘tests positive for coronavirus and is quarantining in Caribbean’ (Metro)
Robbie Williams has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus and is quarantining in the Caribbean with his family. The Angels hitmaker jetted to St Bart’s in late December for a New Year getaway with his wife Ayda Field and their four children. However, the star is said to have since contracted the virus. A source told The Sun: ‘Robbie’s been fairly sick. Read more
Ukwenya predicts bright future for women cricket (Guardian)
President of Nigeria Cricket Federation, Professor Yahaya Ukwenya, has said the entry of about 300 female cricketers from 21 states for the ongoing PwC National Under-17 Cricket Championship bodes well for the country.
“The effort that has been invested at the state level to raise these players to the competitive stage will be taken to a higher level at the national level,” Ukwenya said.
He continues: “In our five strategic imperatives that we set from the beginning of the administration; making a conscious effort to allow equal development along gender lines was key for us.”
Ukwenya also added that some created upsets also underscores the hard work and passion they brought to the regional event. “Examples is Ekiti State which shoved aside Oyo State, regional champion in the South West and humbled Lagos State in the last match. Ekiti has proven that development is not exclusive to major cities anymore. Read more
Dare, others mourn late ex-sports minister Ka’oje (Punch)
Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, has joined other sports administrators in the country to mourn one of his predecessors in office, Bala Bawa Ka’oje, who died on Tuesday.
Ka’oje, 60, was sports minister between June 2006 and July 2007.
Dare described his death as a loss to the sports community.
“I received with sadness the news of the death of Nigeria’s former Sports Minister and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Hon. Bala Bawa Ka’oje. It is a big loss to the sporting community. He will be remembered for his contributions to sports development. My prayers are with the family,” the sports minister stated on Twitter. Read more
Leicester top after dominant win over lacklustre Chelsea (BBC)
Leicester City moved to the top of the Premier League table and increased the pressure on struggling Chelsea manager Frank Lampard with an impressive victory at The King Power Stadium.
The Foxes knew a win would see them overhaul Manchester United and they were on their way after only six minutes when Wilfred Ndidi fired in off the inside of the post from 20 yards.
Chelsea rarely threatened, although they were denied a first-half penalty by VAR when Christian Pulisic went down under a challenge from Jonny Evans, only for the technology to confirm the offence took place just outside the area.
Lampard’s misery was swiftly reinforced as Leicester City broke clear to add a second four minutes before the break, James Maddison sweeping a cool finish past Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy on the half-volley from Marc Albrighton’s pass. Read more
Norwich City tell Arsenal to forget signing Emiliano Buendia as Mesut Ozil’s replacement (Metro)
Norwich City manager Daniel Farke has told Arsenal to forget about signing Emiliano Buendia as Mesut Ozil’s replacement in the January transfer window. Ozil travelled to Turkey over the weekend and is on the verge of officially completing his move to Fenerbahce. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta is keen to add creativity to his midfield and Buendia is one of the Arsenal manager’s top targets for the window. However, Norwich are demanding a £40 million fee for the Argentine midfielder, who impressed in the Premier League last season. Read more
Nissay stays on as Williams test driver (DailyTrust)
Roy Nissany will continue as Williams test driver for the 2021 season.
The 26-year-old Israeli will have three outings in practice sessions at Grands Prix, plus one day of pre-season testing as part of his deal.
It means race drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi will have one day in the car each before the season-opening Bahrain GP on 28 March.
Last season, Nissany took part in free practice sessions for Williams at the Spanish, Italian and Bahrain Grands Prix. Read more
Nearly 50 players to lose Australian Open practice time due to Covid-19 (France24)
Forty-seven players were barred from practising for a fortnight Saturday in a major setback to their Australian Open preparations after passengers on two charter flights that brought them to Melbourne tested positive for Covid-19.
One of the positive tests was returned by Sylvain Bruneau, the coach of Canada’s 2019 US Open winner Bianca Andreescu.
He said he was “saddened and sorry for the consequences” after arriving on a flight from Abu Dhabi.
Everyone on board the two flights, considered as close contacts, has been ordered to stay in their hotel rooms for the entire 14-day mandatory quarantine period. Read more