Yuletide: Lagos residents form vigilante over livestock theft (Vanguard)
Funny as it may sound, some residents of Igando, Akesan, Egan and environs in Alimosho Local Government Area of the State have deliberately deprived themselves of sleep, just to keep watch over their live stock.
This followed cases of reported disappearance of some of their domestic animals which were reared for the purpose of selling them this season.
One of the residents who spoke with Crime Guard, Mrs Gboyega Ajiboye, said, “my family depends on this business for survival. We rear chickens, goats, ducks and pigs, just like other families. But we noticed that whenever festive period like this is approaching, these live stock would be disappearing. Read more
Officials hoarding LAKE rice, prospective buyers claim in Lagos (Punch)
Some prospective buyers of the Lagos State rice, LAKE rice, on Friday, expressed difficulty in getting the product.
The buyers, who besieged the Ojo Warehouse, venue of the sales, claimed that the officials were hoarding the rice and making it difficult for them to get.
One of the eager buyers, an Islamic cleric, Mr Femi Taire, who spoke to our correspondent said they were being cheated and sidelined by the officials. Read more
Lagos APC formally receives Ogunlewe, other PDP defectors (DailyTrust)
Former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, formally defected to the ruling APC yesterday. Ogunlewe was received by chieftains and members of the state working committee led by the Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun.
Daily Trust reports that after several denials, Ogunlewe who served as Minister under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, dumped the PDP few weeks after the 2019 election. Read more
Lagos-Ibadan rail: CCECC delay becoming embarrassing, says Amaechi (Punch)
The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has described as embarrassing the delay by the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation in completing the 10 railway stations along the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line.
Amaechi made the remarks on Friday at the Abeokuta rail station under construction, during the monthly inspection of the on-going Lagos to Ibadan Rail project.
According to him, CCECC, the contractor handling the 156km rail line, has reduced the pace of work between the last two inspections in November and December. Read more
Lagos Dep Gov calls on Lagosians to be alive to their civic responsibilities (Vanguard)
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat on Friday called on Lagosians to be alive to their civic responsibilities and obey the state’s laws.
The deputy governor made the call at the opening of the civic week celebrations organised by Lagos State Office Of the Civic Engagement in Ikeja.
Hamzat said that civic engagement all over the world had become a veritable tool of governance that served as the mechanism for implementing programmes and policies easily. Read more
Dad of 17 kids impregnates 16-year-old daughter (DailyTrust)
The police in Ogun State have arrested a 42-year-old man, Taofeek Oyeyemi, for allegedly impregnating his 16-year-old daughter. The suspect, a father of 17 children with different mothers, according to a statement by the command’s spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi in Abeokuta on Thursday, was arrested following a complaint from the mother of the victim at Ewekoro Police station. The victim’s mother reported to the police that her daughter, who had been living with her ex-husband informed her that she was impregnated by her father who also took her to a quack medical practitioner for abortion. Read more
Johnson’s Brexit deal secures first win in new parliament (Punch)
Britain’s new parliament on Friday initially approved a revised EU divorce deal that sets up a high-stakes clash with Brussels over their future ties.
The 358 to 234 vote paves the way for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to deliver on his winning general election promise to “get Brexit done” by January 31.
But it also pushes Britain and the remaining 27 European Union member states closer to another cliff edge that could end decades of unfettered trade when the post-Brexit transition period shuts at the end of 2020. Read more
US diplomat’s wife charged over driving death of Harry Dunn (Metro)
An American diplomat’s wife has been charged over the death of British teenager Harry Dunn. Anne Sacoolas, 42, is charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of Harry, 19, the family’s spokesman Radd Seiger said.
Harry was killed when a car Sacoolas was allegedly driving crashed into his motorbike outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August. Read more
Trump to give annual address to Congress amid impeachment drama (BBC)
The top Democrat in the US Congress, Nancy Pelosi, has written to President Donald Trump inviting him to give his State of the Union speech on 4 February amid the partisan impeachment battle.
The annual speech would come during or soon after his trial in the Senate, where he is likely to be acquitted.
He was formally impeached by the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
House Speaker Pelosi told Associated Press he would be “impeached forever, no matter what the Senate does”. Read more
Prince Philip taken to hospital from Norfolk to London (Metro)
The Duke of Edinburgh has travelled from Norfolk to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition, Buckingham Palace said. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh travelled from Norfolk this morning to the King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition. ‘The admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness’ Doctor.’ Read more
Son of Russian spies feels “relief” to be Canadian (BBC)
The son of Russian spies has spoken of his relief after a court decided to let him keep his Canadian citizenship.
Alexander Vavilov had his citizenship revoked after his parents, who worked for Russia’s foreign intelligence service, were arrested in 2010.
He was born in Canada, and until their arrest he believed his parents were Canadian too.
It is the first time he has spoken since Canada’s Supreme Court ruled his citizenship was valid. Read more
Mikel Arteta: Arsenal manager insists he is ready and calls for new energy (BBC)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he must change the “energy” at a club he feels have lost their way since he left after retiring as a player in 2016.
Arteta, 37, has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract to succeed Unai Emery, who was sacked in November.
He has served as an assistant coach at Manchester City but has never managed.
“I have so much respect for this club, if I didn’t feel I am ready and prepared for this I wouldn’t be sitting in this chair,” Arteta told reporters. Read more
Why Nigeria performs poorly in sports – Yakmut (DailyTrust)
Nigeria’s 4x100m female relay team at the IAAF World Championships in Doha Former Director-General of the National Sports Commission Mallam Alhassan Yakmut has said Nigeria’s greatest challenge in the quest for podium success in sports was lack of sustainability of grassroots programming system. He made this known during his keynote address at the one-day Lecture Series organised in honour of late sports journalist, Olajide Fashikun by Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), FCT chapter held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Monday.
He said grassroots programming system like school sports stick and succeed are not readily available, and called for collaboration among the relevant agencies for the development sports at the grassroots. Read more
Turkey fined for fan behaviour, players warned over salutes (Vanguard)
UEFA on Friday fined Turkey’s football federation 50,000 euros ($55,360) for their supporters’ behaviour and warned several players following military salutes performed during two Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Turkey fans caused crowd disturbances in the 1-1 draw with France on October 14, while Hakan Calhanoglu and Cenk Tosun were among a number of players reprimanded for “manifestations of a non-sporting nature”.
In their two October qualifiers against Albania and France, The players made salutes — seen as supporting their military operation in Syria — as they celebrated late goals. Read more
Manchester United players disagree with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer over Paul Pogba’s future (Metro)
Manchester United officials and first-team stars are reportedly convinced that Paul Pogba has played his final match for the club despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggesting otherwise. Pogba has been out with an ankle injury since the end of September and the 26-year-old midfielder was due to return earlier this week. After attending his brother’s wedding in France at the weekend, though, Pogba picked up a mystery illness and missed United’s Carabao Cup clash with Colchester on Wednesday night. Solskjaer has been adamant that Pogba remains a key part of his plans amid intense speculation that the France international is angling for a move to Real Madrid. Read more
Why Arteta left Manchester City for Arsenal – Guardiola (Punch)
Pep Guardiola says Mikel Arteta had to “follow his dream” as the Manchester City manager’s former assistant was announced as Arsenal’s new head coach on Friday.
Arsenal have turned to their former midfielder Arteta to replace the sacked Unai Emery after agreeing a compensation package with City.
And while he was reluctant to lose Arteta, Guardiola said it was difficult to stop his compatriot taking up his first managerial post at a club where he also spent five years as a player. Read more
Adam Lallana welcomes arrival of ‘fantastic’ Takumi Minamino after Liverpool confirm transfer (Metro)
Adam Lallana says Takumi Minamino is a ‘fantastic signing’ for Liverpool and insists he is excited for the Japan international to arrive at Anfield. On Thursday, Liverpool confirmed they will sign Minamino from Red Bull Salzburg when the transfer window opens on January 1. The Japanese winger has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Premier League leaders, keeping him at Anfield until the summer of 2024. Read more
NPFL: Akwa United aim for consecutive victories (Vanguard)
It has been a very disappointing start to the season by Akwa United and the sacking of John Obuh eight games into the season defined the troubled position the club has found affairs.
After the 2-1 win midweek against Rivers United (their second win of the season) Akwa United seemed poised to go on a winning streak.
Assistant coach Abdullahi Umar and striker Orok Akarandut who spoke to www.npfl.ng following the nervy win, predicted that the rough times are over. Read more
Rangers ease to victory at 10-man Hibs (BBC)
Rangers narrowed the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic to two points with a convincing victory over 10-man Hibernian at Easter Road.
A blistering start did the damage, with Ryan Kent profiting from an Ofir Marciano error to steer in the opener before Joe Aribo added a classy second inside eight minutes.
Jermain Defoe marked his first start in almost a month with the third after the break to seal victory, before Ryan Porteous saw red on the hour for a reckless lunge on Borna Barisic. Read more
I’m 100% Tottenham, Mourinho says ahead of Chelsea clash (Punch)
Jose Mourinho insists his loyalties are completely with Tottenham as the former Chelsea boss prepares for an emotional clash with his old club.
Mourinho once claimed he could never manage Tottenham due to his two successful spells with their London rivals Chelsea.
But the Portuguese coach accepted Tottenham’s offer to replace Mauricio Pochettino in November and on Sunday he will come face to face with Chelsea for the first time since taking charge in north London. Read more
French wrestler Khadjiev suspended over doping (Punch)
French wrestler Zelimkhan Khadjiev, a world bronze medallist who has qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has returned a positive doping test and has been provisionally suspended, the international wrestling federation announced Friday.
The freestyle wrestler, of Chechen heritage, tested positive for an unspecified drug at September’s world championships in Kazakhstan, where he finished third in the under-75kg category. Read more
Plateau Utd duo of Mustapha, Maikaba win November LBA (DailyTrust)
The influential League Bloggers Award has announced Plateau United’s duo of Ibrahim Mustapha and Abdul Maikaba as winners of their Player and Coach of the month awards for November. Mustapha and Maikaba emerged winners for their impressive outings in the month under review.
In the player’s category, Mustapha edged Wikki Tourist’s Daniel Jackson, Dakkada’s Isaac George and Enyimba’s Austin Oladapo to claim the gong. Read more