Xenophobic attack: Protect Nigerians in Ghana, FG tells envoy (Punch)
Following the xenophobic attacks against some Nigerian traders in Accra, the Federal Government has asked the Ghanaian government to protect Nigerians residing in Ghana. The Chief Executive Officer, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa made the demand during a visit to the High Commissioner of Ghana to Nigeria, Rasheed Bawa, at the Ghanaian High Commission in Abuja, on Thursday. She expressed concerns over the attacks on the businesses of Nigerians in Accra by some disgruntled Ghanaians who were protesting the alleged involvement of some Nigerians in the abduction of two Canadians and other criminal activities. Read more
Another final year student of UNN commits suicide (Guardian)
A final year student of Department of Religion and Culture, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Samuel Elias, 25, has allegedly committed suicide by drinking Sniper. The mother of the deceased, Kate Elias, a staff of the university, told the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the unfortunate incident happened on Monday June 17, around 5.30pm in her house at Justina Eze Street, Nsukka. Mrs Elias said she came back from work on that fateful day and discovered that the mood of her first child was bad and he was staggering when he came to collect a bottle of coke from the fridge. Read more
Pay attention to security, education, health, agriculture, Buhari tells govs (Punch)
President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged state governors to pay more attention to the areas of security, health, education and agriculture so as to address the menace of poverty in the society. The president gave the challenge when he inaugurated the 2019 to 2023 National Economic Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday. NEC, which is established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), as amended, is chaired by the Vice-President. Read more
ACFTA: former President Obasanjo urges FG to sign (Guardian)
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the Federal Government to sign the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFT) agreement. Obansanjo made the call at the ongoing 2019 Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on Thursday in Moscow Russia. He said Nigeria had no justifiable reason why it had not signed the agreement as countries like Eritrea, Niger and even Benin that were our neighbors had signed. Read more
Local production of tactical vehicles, good for Nigeria, says Army (Punch)
The Nigerian Army says light tactical vehicles and other weapons being locally produced by its company, Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company will help in addressing Nigeria’s internal security challenges. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday after he toured production lines of the company located at Rigachikun in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Buratai disclosed that the first set of the indigenous “light tactical vehicles’’ produced by the company would be exhibited on July 6. Read more
PDP fixes N20m nomination fee for Kogi, Bayelsa gov polls (Nation)
The national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed a N20 million fee for aspirants intending to contest the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. The N20 million is exclusive of the mandatory Expression of Interest fee of N1 million for every aspirant. Briefing newsmen shortly after the party’s emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday, the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, however clarified that nominations for female aspirants remained free. Read more
Corps member kidnapped by B’Haram freed (Nation)
A member of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Halima Umar, abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in January, has been freed. She was handed over to the Borno State Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur on Thursday by the GOC 7 Div Brgd General Abdulmalik Biu alongside the State director of the DSS. The Borno State government in a statement, said the release of the female corp member was as a result of coordinated effort of a journalist and security agencies. Read more
Collapsed Synagogue building was in ‘perfect condition’, says witness (Nation)
An Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Tuesday heard that a Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building that collapsed on September 12, 2014 and allegedly killed 116 worshipers was in ‘perfect condition.’ A volunteer in the church’s maintenance department, Dayo Fabiyi, told Justice Justice Lawal-Akapo that the building had no crack or any deflection on its beams before its collapse. He however noted that he was not part of the team that investigated the beams after the incident. Read more
Househelp kills employer, mother two days after resuming duty (Nation)
The police, yesterday arrested a 22-year-old househelp, Joseph Ogbu, who allegedly murdered his employer Oreoluwa John, 38, and her 89-year-old mother, Adejoke John, two days after he was employed. The Nation learnt that the incident occurred between 2am and 3am in the deceaseds’ No. 4, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos, home. Ogbu, from Benue State, is said to have stabbed Oreoluwa to death and is also being held for Adejoke’s death. Read more
US drone: Trump says Iran made a ‘very bad mistake’ (BBC)
Iran “made a very big mistake” in shooting down a US military surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump says. However, he told reporters it could have been the result of human error, saying: “I find it hard to believe it was intentional.” Iran said the drone had violated Iranian airspace, but the US military denied this. Read more
EU extends economic sanctions against Russia (Punch)
European Union leaders on Thursday extended punishing economic sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine for another six months. “Russia sanctions unanimously extended for another six months because of a lack of Minsk Agreements implementation,” a spokesman for EU President Donald Tusk tweeted from a summit in Brussels. The sanctions target whole sectors of the Russian economy including its valuable oil businesses. Read more
Georgia protests: ‘Thousands storm parliament’ over Russian MP (BBC)
Protesters have attempted to storm Georgia’s parliament as thousands held a mass rally against the appearance of a Russian lawmaker. Thousands gathered to protest about Russian MP Sergei Gavrilov’s visit to parliament in the capital, Tbilisi. Mr Gavrilov was attending an assembly of MPs from Orthodox Christian countries. Tensions flared when he addressed delegates from the seat of Georgia’s parliamentary speaker. Read more
Daycare worker ‘deliberately dropped 11-month-old boy on his head’ (Metro)
A daycare was arrested after she deliberately dropped an 11-month-old boy on his head, police say. Bethan Pringle, 23, was charged with felony child abuse for allegedly dropping the boy on purpose, causing him to suffer head trauma. The incident happened while Pringle was at work at a Childcare Network Daycare center in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina on June 10, police said. Read more
Dramatic late goal takes Cameroon to women’s World Cup last 16 (Punch)
Ajara Nchout’s brilliant goal at the death gave Cameroon a dramatic 2-1 win over New Zealand on Thursday and took the Indomitable Lionesses through to the women’s World Cup knockout stage. Just 10 seconds of the allotted five minutes of added time remained in Montpellier when Nchout curled a shot into the net at the end of a slaloming run to give her side the victory. Nchout, who plays club football in Norway, had earlier given Cameroon the lead in the 57th minute, controlling with her shoulder before slotting home. Read more
Netherland beat Canada to top group (BBC)
Substitute Lineth Beerensteyn scored a second-half winner as the Netherlands beat Canada 2-1 to take top spot in Group E of the Women’s World Cup. Anouk Dekker gave the Dutch the lead when she headed in before Christine Sinclair equalised to achieve the feat of scoring in five World Cups. Beerensteyn’s close-range finish ensured the Dutch finished their group campaign with a 100% record. Read more
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ‘likes’ Instagram post calling Arsenal boss Unai Emery a ‘puppet’ (Metro)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got Arsenal fans a little concerned on Thursday evening when he ‘liked’ an Instagram post criticising the club and calling Unai Emery a ‘puppet’. The Gabon striker has been linked with a summer move away from the Emirates, having reportedly received a £300,000-a-week offer to play in China, while Manchester United have even been credited with an interest in him. Arsenal’s board made it clear that they will not allow players to run down their contracts any more, and Aubameyang – who has two years left on his current deal – could potentially be offloaded if he does not sign an extension. Read more
Tennis: Federer survives Tsonga scare to reach last eight in Halle (Punch)
Roger Federer avoided a major setback in his preparations for Wimbledon as he scrapped to a 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-5 victory over Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round of the ATP event in Halle on Thursday. Federer, 37, appeared firmly on course for a place in the quarter-finals at a set and a break up before an impressive comeback from Tsonga took the match to a decider. The Swiss, who is eyeing a record tenth career title at Halle this year, prevailed in a tense third set and faces Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the last eight on Friday. Read more
Angry Nick Kyrgios slams ‘idiot’ Queen’s umpires and ‘idiots in the crowd’ after exit (Metro)
Nick Kyrgios tumbled out of The Fever-Tree Championships on Thursday night after playing two matches in a controversy-filled day at Queen’s and took aim at match officials and ‘idiots in the crowd’. The Australian is never far from drama and in his opening match with Roberto Carballes Baena, he lambasted umpire Fergus Murphy and his officials over a line call and threatened to stop playing. Read more
Tennis: Murray makes winning return at Queen’s (Punch)
Former world number one Andy Murray made a victorious return after what he described as “life-changing” hip surgery at a raucous Queen’s on Thursday. The three-time Grand Slam champion partnered Spain’s Feliciano Lopez to a 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 victory in his first competitive match in five months. Playing on a packed centre court including his wife Kim, Murray showed little fear in stretching himself despite being off the circuit since January. Read more