SABINEWS EVENING NEWS UPDATE FOR MAY 16, 2017
Ambode Bans VIOs from Lagos Roads Permanently
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday asked Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to stay permanently off all roads across the state, thereby challenging them to come up with technology to monitor and track vehicle registration and MOT certifications.
Also, Ambode asked the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) officials to stay off the inner-city roads and the main streets of Lagos, saying the operation of the federal agency should henceforth be restricted to the fringes and highways over which the federal government has jurisdiction. Read more
Policemen to serve in communities of origin
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, said on Tuesday that policemen would soon be deployed to their communities of origin to enhance community policing.
The IGP told a security stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja that the bulk of the 150,000 policemen to be recruited over the next five years would serve in their respective communities. Read more
Sokoto to Construct 1,000 Houses for Low Income Earners
Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal on Tuesday said the state government will construct 1,000 units of one-bed room houses for low income earners in the state.
Tambuwal made the disclosure when the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Malam Mustapha Baba Shehure, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Sokoto. Read more
FRSC, Police to Tackle Masked Commercial Motorcyclists in Ekiti
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has expressed worries over the activities of commercial motorcyclists in Ekiti State, saying allowing them to mask their faces during operation could pose serious threat to security in the state.
The traffic maintenance organisation added that the commission is
partnering with the police and Department of State Services (DSS) to effect the arrest of those masking their faces to perpetrate robbery in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Read more
PDP Crisis: Makarfi-leadership Asks State Chapters to Adopt Alternative Platforms
The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked state chapters of the party to adopt alternative political parties for their candidates in the up-coming elections pending the ruling of the Supreme Court on the crisis rocking the party.
Under the circumstance, the Caretaker Committee said state chapters of the party are allowed to take any decision they consider appropriate. Read more
Court adjourns case of journalist allegedly assaulted by Customs officials, their lackeys
A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed June 19 for further adoption of oral evidences in a suit against the Nigerian Custom Service over assault on a journalist, Otunba Olomofe.
The trial judge, Abdulazeez Anka, fixed the date after a cross examination of the applicant by the respondent. Read more
Oshiomhole’s wife, 334 others get Nigerian citizenship
A total of 335 foreign nationals were on Tuesday in Abuja granted citizenship by the Federal Government after statutory clearance and due diligence by the relevant security agencies, the government announced.
The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, who presented the certificates of citizenship to the recipients, charged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria Read more
Works, Housing ministry has created 193,469 jobs in two years – Fashola
The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has created 193, 469 jobs, with 40,429 direct and 153,040 indirect jobs, within the two years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the minister, Babatunde Fashola, said Tuesday.
Speaking in Abuja at a town hall meeting to celebrate the mid-term of President Buhari’s implementation of the economy recovery and road plan, Mr. Fashola said the construction of roads, power project, housing project and macro impact on jobs was gradually increasing the purchasing power and money in the economy. Read more
NNPC spends N1.6 billion on repair of Kaduna-Kano pipeline
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said it had spent over N1.6 billion on the repairs of the vandalised pipeline between Kaduna and Kano in 2016.
The NNPC Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Tuesday in Kano. Read more
Senate summons Amaechi over ‘exclusion’ of eastern corridor from rail project
The Senate has resolved to invite the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, for briefing, after a Senator said the eastern corridor rail line had been excluded from the federal government’s proposal for loan to finance railway projects across the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in April sought the approval of the National Assembly for the federal government to secure loan from the China EXIM Bank for modernization of Lagos-Kano modernisation projects, Lagos-Ibadan segment $1.231 billion; Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project, Kano-Kaduna segment $1.146 billion; and coastal railway project, the Lagos-Calabar segment, N3.474 billion Read more
Why Nigeria-produced rice is more expensive than imported ones – Agric Minister
The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, on Tuesday gave reasons why imported rice is still cheaper than locally produced rice, despite government efforts.
Mr. Ogbeh, while responding to questions at a Town Hall meeting in Abuja, said one of the major reasons was that most of the imported rice was subsided by the foreign governments. Read more
Ambassador-designates set to get postings – FG
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that most Nigerian ambassador-designates would be posted to the country’s various missions abroad by July.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, on Tuesday in New York said that the ministry had started receiving “agreemo”. ‘Agreemo’ is a memorandum from one country to another agreeing to the appointment of an ambassador or envoy. Read more
Zamfara varsity rusticates 15, expels two students
The Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State, has rusticated 15 students and expelled two others over examination misconduct, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Magaji Garbage, made the disclosure while inspecting ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in Gusau on Tuesday. Read more
Nigerian govt has freed 12,000 Boko Haram captives – Official
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Ali, said on Tuesday, that 12,000 Boko Haram captives, mainly women and children have been freed, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Mr. Ali said those freed include the over 100 Chibok girls freed by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in two batches. The latest batch of 82 Chibok girls were freed in a swap deal with the Boko Haram with detained members of the group also released by the government. Read more
FG creates 193,469 jobs in Ministry of Works, Housing
The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has created 193, 469 jobs, with 40,429 direct and 153,040 indirect jobs, within the two years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The Minister, Mr Babatunde Fashola disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the Town Hall Meeting to celebrate the mid-term of President Buhari’s implementation of the economy recovery and road plan. Read more
Adeleke: Coroner threatens to arrest O/C Homicide, DPO
The Coroner investigating the sudden death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Mr. Olusegun Ayilara, has threatened to issue a bench warrant for arrest against the Officer in Charge of Homicide, Osun State Police Command as well as the Divisional Police Officer, Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo if the duo refuse to appear before his court on Wednesday.
Ayilara issued this threat during the sitting of the panel on Tuesday due to the failure of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, to appear and give evidence as scheduled. Read more
Money laundering: Ex-Niger gov, Babangida Aliyu, gets N200m bail
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned former governor of Niger, Babangida Aliyu, in a Federal High Court, Abuja, on eight counts of money laundering.
Aliyu was arraigned alongside his former Chief of Staff, Umar Nasko, while both were admitted to bail in the sum of N200m each, with two sureties each in like sum.
The judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, ordered that the two sureties could be business men or public servants; and where in the public service, must not be below a director. Read more
Ford to sack 20,000 salaried workers
US auto giant Ford is poised to cut thousands of jobs worldwide, with reductions expected to total about 10 percent of its global workforce, the Wall Street Journal reported late Monday.
A source confirmed to AFP that massive job cuts are planned at Ford in the coming days, affecting as many as 20,000 salaried workers. Read more
Watford Starlet Success Advises Rohr : Iheanacho Is A Support Striker
Watford wonderkid Isaac Success named Kelechi Iheanacho as the best footballer he has played with in his career when he was put on the spot, and has reminisced about their partnership in the Nigerian youth teams.
Success is on the same page as Nigeria U15 coach Danladi Nasidi, saying the Manchester City talent is best when he’s playing as a second striker not a number nine. Read more
Adetunji restates season’s goals target and Warriors aspirations
Sunday Adetunji has quietly gone about his business of scoring goals in the Nigeria Professional Football League in the past three seasons.
The attacker, born in Osun State but raised in Lagos, has traversed the three major divisions of the country in four years. Adetunji was a household name in Maiduguri where he carved a niche for himself in the colours of El-Kanemi Warriors before going West to represent Shooting Stars last term. Read more
Chelsea Nigerian Goal Machine, New Mikel Named In England Squad For Toulon
Two players of Nigerian descent have been rewarded for helping Chelsea win the treble at U18 level, with England head coach Neil Dewsnip naming both on the roster for the forthcoming Toulon Tournament.
The versatile midfielder Tariq Uwakwe and prolific striker Ike Ugbo have a chance to show off when one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in the world begins in the South of France on May 29.
Ugbo has been in the international wilderness in the past one year or so but has been recalled on the back of his imperious display for Chelsea youth teams, with 25 goals in 40 appearances over the course of the season. Read more
Paul Pogba will miss Man Utd’s trip to Southampton after death of his father
Paul Pogba will miss Manchester United’s game at Southampton on Wednesday after being granted compassionate leave following the death of his father, manager Jose Mourinho has revealed. Pogba’s father, Fassou Antoine, passed away last Friday following a long-term illness. Pogba was left out of the squad for United’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday. Read more
Moussa Dembele back in training ahead of Celtic’s Scottish Cup final
Moussa Dembele injured his hamstring during Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final win over Rangers Moussa Dembele is back in light training as he continues his fight to be fit for the Scottish Cup final.
Celtic’s top scorer has been out since injuring a hamstring during the semi-final win over Rangers, and the final against Aberdeen is now less than a fortnight away.
Dembele remains a doubt for Hampden Park, but Hoops assistant boss Chris Davies revealed on Tuesday the striker is on the mend and could return to full training next week. Read more
Arsenal star to have daily injury treatment for rest of his career
Some worrying news was revealed by Arsenal star Laurent Koscielny today, with the Frenchman admitting that he will require treatment on an achilles injury everyday for the remainder of his career.
Key man
The 31-year-old has become the heart and soul of the North London side in recent years, with his exceptional reading of the game and tenacious aggression enabling Koscielny to become one of the Premier League’s standout defenders. Read more
Manchester United forecast record revenues for 2017
Manchester United are predicting record revenues of up to £570m (€665m) this year, despite struggling domestically and without Champions League football this season.
United, who are sixth in the Premier League but have the Europa League final against Ajax to look forward to next week, have increased projected revenue in their third quarter results to between £560m to £570m – a £30m (€35m) rise on the second quarter prediction. United regained the top spot in the Deloitte rich list from Real Madrid with record revenue of £515.3m (€600.8m) for the 2015-16 season. Read more
Theresa May and the battle for the Conservative Party’s soul
One of Theresa May’s most impressive qualities is her willingness to give offence. In 2012, she stood before a baying crowd at the Police Federation – whose budgets she was slashing – and told them to “stop pretending” they were being “picked on”. Two years later, she returned to tell the Federation that she was breaking open its closed shop. Then there was the relish with which she dispensed with George Osborne and Michael Gove.
But there is one insult of May’s which is still echoing through the Conservative movement – and may, Brexit apart, provoke the defining battle of her premiership. Read more
Ukraine’s latest sanctions against Russia target social media, web portals, software and TV companies
The Ukrainian authorities have extended the country’s sanctions against Russia by blacklisting 1,228 individuals and 468 entities. These include popular Russian social media sites, e-mail portals, software companies and television stations.
Kyiv and Moscow are locked in a bitter sanction counter-measures dispute following Moscow’s illegal annexation of Crimea and its support for pro-Russian rebels in East Ukraine. Many Russian media have already been banned in Ukraine. Read more
Sweden testing Christian refugees on the Bible before granting asylum
Sweden’s Migration Agency has received backlash due to its policy of testing Christian asylum seekers on Bible knowledge.
Asylum seekers who have converted to Christianity are required to answer technical questions on the faith such as the difference between the Orthodox and Protestant Churches. Lawyers and church leaders have condemned the practice claiming the exam tests technical knowledge instead of the person’s faith. They also said it’s unfair the applicant’s answers have weight in whether or not they are granted asylum. Read more
Teenager collapses at school and dies after ‘drinking caffeine too quickly’
A teenage student who collapsed in class died because he drank too much caffeine too quickly, a coroner has ruled.
Davis Allen Cripe, 16, drank a McDonald’s latte, large Mountain Dew soda and another highly caffeinated drink in under two hours last month.
The pupil, who studied at a school in Columbia, South Carolina, collapsed shortly after and died about an hour later. Read more
Mississippi man jailed for transgender killing
A Mississippi man has been sentenced for killing a transgender woman in the first US federal prosecution of a hate crime based on gender identity.
Joshua Vallum was given 49 years in prison for the murder of his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend Mercedes Williamson. Vallum pleaded guilty to stabbing and bludgeoning Mercedes after friends learned of their relationship. Read more
Renata: Cameroon’s ‘army of aunties’ unite to protect vulnerable girls from sexual abuse
With its sunset-like colours, Charnelle Lumiere’s painting would seem warm and happy, were it not for the limp body of a young girl hanging from a tree, suspended by a rope around her neck.
“This was me,” the 27-year-old says in a voice barely louder than a whisper, staring at the painting, oblivious to the rumble of traffic outside the window in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde. Read more
