COVID-19: Lagos Govt gives update on reopening of schools

The Lagos State government has explained that it does not have the authority to unilaterally order the reopening of schools in the State.

This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo during an online programme, ‘Covinspiration show,’ moderated by a United Nations (UN) Youth Ambassador, Dayo Israel in Lagos, while giving scorecard of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration within the last one year.

Adefisayo disclosed that the State government was meeting with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education to draw up guidelines ahead of reopening of schools.

According to Adefisayo: “Like other sectors already approved by the Federal Government to reopen, the state government is meeting with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education to design guidelines that must be adopted before the schools will be reopened.

“We are watching the behaviour of the pandemic to see what happens next and we are working with the Federal government on the reopening of the schools in the country as soon as possible.

“This is not a decision that any state can unilaterally take on its own. If we are certain that the children are safe, we will reopen the schools for learning to resume.

“We are already working with the Federal Ministry of Education and they are working with National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on the guidelines that could be adopted when the need arises for the schools to reopen.

“After the protocol is completed and health officials assured us that the coast is clear, we will give the schools some days to adjust their premises in accordance with the guidelines on commencement of academic activities”.

EPL: Five players Solskjaer reportedly wants to leave Man Utd revealed

Manchester United coach, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is reportedly ready to sell five players- Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Andreas Pereira, Chris Smalling, and Jesse Lingard to help fund a summer rebuild amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Manchester Evening News, Solskjaer is keen to add Aston Villa captain, Jack Grealish, to his ranks.

Man United are ready to offer any one of the five players to Aston Villa in a bid to drive down their £80million asking price for Grealish.

Rojo is enjoying his time back at Argentina side, Estudiantes LP on loan.

Smalling is happy at AS Roma on loan, while Jones, Pereira and Lingard have not really impressed at Old Trafford so far this season.

Meanwhile, Solskjaer recently acknowledged that the club would seek to exploit clubs when the transfer window starts this summer as COVID-19 continues to disrupt sporting activities across the world.

“Football is going to get back to normality, and United have to be ready,” Solskjaer said on Sky Sports.

“Indeed, we discuss players, we examine plans, and we evaluate what we need.

“There might be a situation that Man United can exploit because we are the biggest club, and we are well off.

“I’m sure we are capable of doing the business that we want too.”

La Liga: Resumption date for Spanish top-flight league finally revealed

Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez has disclosed that La Liga will be able to resume from June 8.

We recalled that La Liga had been suspended for the past two to three months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sanchez disclosed this on Saturday afternoon during a press conference, in which he assured “the worst is behind us” after COVID-19 deaths and new cases fell significantly in recent weeks in Spain.

He said: “La Liga can begin again from June 8.

“The ball will roll with all the necessary health and safety conditions in place.”

The Prime Minister also announced that the borders were opening up again to tourists from July onwards.

Until you make it big, always buy second hand liabilities – Omokri advises

Popular social media commentator, Reno Omokri has advised his followers that until they make it big in life, they should always buy second-hand liabilities.

Speaking via his official Twitter handle, the popular commentator gave the list of liabilities as Car, phone, designers, electronics and every other thing whose value goes down over time.

He concluded by saying a new house is better than a new car.

He wrote: “Until you make it big, always buy second-hand liabilities, so you can have more money to buy assets. Anything whose value goes down over time is a liability. Car, phone, designers, electronics are liabilities. A new house is better than a new car.”

Until you make it big, always buy second hand liabilities, so you can have more money to buy assets. Anything whose value goes down over time is a liability. Car, phone, designers, electronics are liabilities. A new house is better than a new car!#FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets

— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) May 22, 2020

FG asks schools to resume June 8

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) has announced Monday, June 8,2020, the official resumption date for Universities, polytechnics, and other schools.

This was disclosed by Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, he assured and raised the hope Nigeria students and the general public when he stated that President Muhammadu Buhari will open up all financial Institutions, schools and also spiritual houses after this second stage of lockdown which will end June 1 and activities will begin normal on 8 June, 2020.

Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari will open up all financia Institutions, schools and also spiritual houses after this second stage of lockdown if they adopt the new strategies under the COVID-19 era in line with the guidelines.

Resumption Date For Schools

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) has announced Monday,June 8,2020, the official resumption date for Universities,polytechnics, and other schools. this was disclosed by Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, he assured and raised the hope Nigeria students and the general public when he stated that president Muhammadu Buhari will open up all financial Institutions, schools and also spiritual houses after this second stage of lockdown which will end June 1 and activities will begin normal on 8 June, 2020.

Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari will open up all financia Institutions, schools and also spiritual houses after this second stage of lockdown if they adopt the new strategies under the COVID-19 era in line with the guidelines.

Henderson has felt ‘safe’ since return to Liverpool training

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson insists he has felt “very safe” since his club returned to training amid the coronavirus crisis this week.

Jurgen Klopp’s side began socially-distanced training in small groups on Wednesday as the Premier League steps up its bid to resume the season in June.


Although all players and staff at top-flight clubs have been tested for the virus, Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and Watford striker Troy Deeney opted against returning to work because of fears they would not be safe.

However, England midfielder Henderson is sure everything has been done to keep players as safe as possible at Liverpool’s Melwood training base.

“I feel very comfortable with all the measures that the Premier League and the club have put in place, along with my team-mates,” Henderson told Sky Sports on Thursday.

“The testing, the temperature control, the social distancing and disinfecting everything has been at a really high level since we’ve been back. They’re doing everything they can to make it as safe as possible.

“We do feel comfortable and that’s why we’re here training. I feel very safe at the training ground, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

The Bundesliga returned to action last weekend and Henderson is hopeful contact training and then a resumption of Premier League games will follow.

“We want to follow the right protocol and follow the next steps. We want to start bigger group training and then hopefully start playing games again soon rather than later, whenever it’s safe to do so,” he said.

Henderson said he understood the decision of players at other clubs who have stayed away.

“I fully respect their opinion. Everyone is in a different situation at home and, ultimately, if you don’t feel comfortable you shouldn’t feel forced or pressured to come into work,” he said.

“I fully respect the opinion of any players who don’t feel comfortable yet. If any of my team-mates felt like that I would respect and support them.”

With Liverpool 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League before the March shutdown, Henderson has been motivated to keep as fit as possible during the lockdown.

“My mindset hasn’t changed from where we left off. I always felt the season needed finishing whenever it was safe to do so,” he said.

“I’ve stayed as fit as I can so am ready when times come to perform at highest level and finish the season off. That’s been our motivation.”

How I got Kanu angry at Arsenal – Fabregas

Former Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas, has revealed how he made ex-Nigeria international, Nwankwo Kanu angry during their time at the London club.

The Spanish midfielder joined the Gunners as a 16-year-old in 2003 from Barcelona and was highly rated by manager Arsene Wenger, but largely unknown to the more established Arsenal stars.

Speaking in an Instagram live session with Thierry Henry, the 33-year-old revealed that while trying to impress the manager and his teammates in his first training at the club, he tackled Kanu, which made the Nigerian unhappy.

“My first training when I joined Arsenal, I was all in my head trying to impress and I made a tackle on Kanu and he was so upset with me,”

“When you’re young, sometimes you don’t think; you just want to go there and prove yourself without realising that you’re playing alongside World Cup winners. At that moment you just want to do your best and most times, the passion gets the best out of you,” he added.

Both players featured for the Gunners for one season before Kanu left for Portsmouth in 2004, after spending five years at the club.

Fabregas went on to become a club legend at the North London side, scoring 57 goals and providing 92 assists in 304 appearances.

EPL: Dimitar Berbatov reveals player Chelsea should sign as Hazard’s replacement

Former Manchester United striker, Dimitar Berbatov, has urged Chelsea to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger, Kai Havertz, as former Blues star, Eden Hazard’s replacement at Stamford.

Hazard left Chelsea last summer for Real Madrid, but Berbatov believes Havertz could replace the Belgium international at Chelsea, adding that the 20-year-old German star has excellent quality.

“I think it’s interesting to see Chelsea linked with him, they have not really replaced Hazard since he left and it was always going to be difficult to do so,” Berbatov told Betfair.

“I think for sure they need to go for a young player with a lot of football ahead of them, and if that is the case, then they will also have to be patient as well because sometimes young players need time to adjust to the physicality and speed of the Premier League.

“Havertz is an option for them, but it has only been the first week back of the Bundesliga, and I hope that he continues to the way he has a comeback, by scoring and producing the goals that he has done so far.”

He added: “Havertz has great quality, and he will become even better in the future.”

BREAKING: Republic Of Benin Businessman Investigated By EFCC For Alleged €29m Fraud Dies In Kirikiri Prison

A businessman from the Republic of Benin, Jean Codo, who is being investigated for alleged €29m fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has died at the Kirikiri prison, Lagos.
Codo, who owns Transport and Port Management System Limited, died on Thursday due to lack of proper medical attention.

He was granted bail in November 2019 but could not fulfil the bail conditions and despite appeals to have him released on compassionate ground due to COVID-19 outbreak, the Nigerian authorities refused until he died in custody. 

The Beninese was said to have collapsed in prison and rushed to the military hospital in Lagos where he died on Thursday morning.
Like Codo, a suspected cross-border robbery kingpin, Hamani Tijani, died at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in January 2014 after suffering partial stroke for nine months.
Spokesperson for the Nigerian Prisons Service, Lagos Command at the time, DSP Biyi Jeje, confirmed the development to journalists.

Jeje said 42-year-old Tijani died in the clinic of the maximum prison.
A citizen of Niger Republic, Tijani was arrested in 2003 in Benin Republic and spent 11 years in prison while facing trial before his death at Kirikiri.

Buhari has planted more animosity among Nigerians than Biafran civil war – HURIWA

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, on Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments since assuming power has planted so much animosity among Nigerians.

HURIWA said Buhari’s appointments in the past five years has caused animosity among Nigerians than the Biafran civil war did.

A statement by HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf lamented that Muslims have enjoyed the “topmost juicy” appointments under Buhari.

The statement reads: “Buhari’s administration in the last five years has planted animosity between different ethnic nationalities than the civil war created.

“It will take the Grace of God and the will to overpower our differences for Nigeria to rebuild the bridge of unity that the selective administrative style of President Muhammadu Buhari has destroyed in the last five years.

“It is regrettable that even within the core Moslem North which enjoys the topmost juicy federal appointments made so far since the last five years of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, there is a widening chasm between few elites who have cornered all the juicy positions and discontented but restive youths who out of frustration have launched large scale social upheavals in the forms of armed banditry and outright unleashing of blood against soft targets in the North leading to the destruction of many towns.”

Fake Army officer collects N2.3m from job seekers

The Police on Thursday arraigned a fake Army officer, a 36-year-old man, Suleiman Dukku in a Wuse Zone 6 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja.

He allegedly defrauded job seekers of N2.3 million.

Dukku, a resident in Sanka area of Kuje, was charged with two counts of impersonation and cheating.

Prosecution counsel, Sanda Jibril told the court that the complainant, Gambo Hamza, reported the matter at the Dawaki Divisional Police Headquarters, FCT Command on February 24.

The matter was transferred to the Monitoring and Mentoring Unit of the FCT Command, Abuja on May 5 for investigation.

The defendant, in December 2019, allegedly convinced Hamza to transfer N2.3 million to his First Bank account to secure employment of 35 persons into the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy.

Jibril said the applicants were never given the job nor was their money returned.

The prosecutor recalled that during investigation, the defendant confessed to committing the crime.

The offence contravened the provisions of sections 132 and 322 of the Penal Code Law.

Suleiman Dukku pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Ahmed Ndajiwo admitted him to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned to June 15 for hearing.