INSTANT NEWS

Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said in Lagos on Friday that the agency lost about 27 patrol vehicles to the October #EndSARS protest.

Oyeyemi made the disclosure when he visited the FRSC Lagos State Command to assess the extent of damage done to its properties by hoodlums pretending to be protesters.

“We witnessed the highest level of vandalism in Lagos State around Oko-Afo, Lekki, and at our Ojodu Berger Headquarters. It is colossal, I counted it myself 13 vehicles were burnt and three were vandalised in Lagos alone. I think we lost about 27 patrol vehicles nationwide,’’ he said.

According to him, the unfortunate incident has crippled the patrol activities in some areas especially in places like Lagos, Edo, Delta, Imo, Osun, Enugu, Adamawa, and Anambra states where some offices were burnt.

The FRSC boss said that issuance of drivers’ licences had been put on hold in some states as a result of the vandalism of the offices.

“We need to look for vehicles to begin skeletal services, especially in Lagos State. We can’t fold our arms because Lagos State accounts for about 33 per cent vehicular density in the country and we are moving towards the end of the year. Ember months is a critical period and that’s why Lagos State is the first point of my visit. We will rise and ensure our responsibilities are fulfilled,’’ he said.

Oyeyemi added that FRSC personnel were returning to their duty posts in droves after the protest, but that the officers were still facing challenges of hostilities by road users.

“To put a patrol vehicle on the road now will cost about N24 million. It is costly, but I have forwarded my reports to the Secretary to the Federal Government and he has promised to act on them. I enjoin Nigerians to be modest when they are doing things; the level of damage is too much; the money meant for other activities will now be diverted in repairing some of this burnt offices,’’ Oyeyemi lamented.

It has been revealed that the wait to see who will emerge the new DG of the World Trade Organization is not about to end just.

This is because the World Trade Organisation has postponed a meeting where members are expected to pick a new Director-General after the United States blocked the favoured candidate, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The WTO earlier announced that the meeting would hold next week.

But a communication seen by AFP showed that the meeting has been postponed indefinitely.

“It has come to my attention that for reasons including the health situation and current events, delegations will not be in a position to take a formal decision on 9 November,” the head of the selection committee told member states.

“I am therefore postponing this meeting until further notice during which period I will continue to undertake consultations with delegations,” he added.

The PUNCH had reports that the United States opposed Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the consensus candidate to lead the WTO.

The US said it is supporting South Korean trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee, to become the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation because she is a “trade expert”.

However, the European Union and WTO’s ambassadors backed Okonjo-Iweala for the position.

US Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, while giving reasons for opposing Okonjo-Iweala, who gained American citizenship in 2019, said WTO needs “someone with real, hands-on experience in the field”.

Okonjo-Iweala had while addressing the WTO in July explained that she is a trade expert.

She said, “I am a development economist and you cannot do that without looking at trade. Trade is a central part of development. So, I have been doing it. My whole career at the World Bank, I was working on trade policy reform in middle and low-income countries at the bank.

“As finance minister, the customs service in my country reported to me. And that is all about trade facilitation. I helped my country’s negotiation with my trade minister on the ECOWAS common external tariffs. I don’t know how much more trade you can have than that.

“So those who say I don’t have trade, they are mistaken. I think the qualities I have are even better, because I combine development economics with trade knowledge, along with finance, and you need those combinations of skills to lead the WTO. I think I have the skills that are needed. I am a trade person.”

Okonjo-Iweala, who also serves on Twitter’s board of directors, as chair of the GAVI vaccine alliance and as a special envoy for the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 fight, saw her candidacy get another boost this week when the EU threw its weight behind her.

If she eventually gets a majority backing, she would be the first woman and the first African to lead the global trade body in its 25-year history.

Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has disassociated himself from campaign posters advertising his vice presidential ambition for 2023.

Recall that posters of El-Rufai as running mate to Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi had emerged last week.

The messages on the posters read:

“The People’s choice,” “Today may not be the best, but tomorrow will be better”.

Reacting, El-Rufai told State House Correspondents after a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday at the Presidential Villa that he had no knowledge of the posters and neither did he know those behind it.

He also said Amaechi had since denied knowledge of those printing and pasting the pictures.

“I don’t know who is printing those posters, wasting his or her money printing posters. I heard about them. I called Minister, Amaechi, and asked him whether he knew anything about them; he said he didn’t know. I think we need to trace who is doing it and ask that person. I am governor of Kaduna State; I have job to do. I haven’t delivered on the promises I made to the people of Kaduna State. Until I do that I don’t want to discuss anything.”

Speaking on if he had been approached by people and asked to contest the 2023 election, the Governor said

“I am in politics. People will approach you, but whether they are genuine or not is another matter and whether you are interested or not is another matter.” 

‘You’re fired!’: White House security fence is covered in signs telling Trump he has lost as Biden is on track to win the presidency

A temporary security fence outside the White House has been covered in signs, with many calling President Donald Trump a ‘loser’ and demanding he leave the Oval Office.

Federal law enforcement officials revealed a ‘non-scalable’ fence was being added outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in an effort to increase security ahead of Election Day.

Since then, dozens of posters and placards have been pasted across the entire perimeter.

One section of the fence has seven posters that make up a rectangle with the word ‘loser’ written in different colors and different fonts on each one.

Another section has a pink sign that reads: ‘Eviction Notice’ next to another stating: ‘Count Every Vote,’ referring to President Trump’s efforts to stop votes from being counted in states where he was ahead.

It comes as Democratic nominee Joe Biden edged ahead in Pennsylvania and Georgia, drawing closer to the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.

See photos below:

The @followlasg has urged all Lagosians to shun any act that may threaten the peace of our dear state, which is battling to recover from the shock of the carnage unleashed by hoodlums who hid under the #EndSARS protests.

Even as we are still counting our painful losses in lives and property, there are hints of a new protest. The police have warned that no protest will be tolerated.

Any protest under any guise will be disrespectful to the memory of those who died in the violence and unfair to ordinary Lagosians, who have remained peaceful, despite the hardship that the original protests sparked.

It is clear that the original protests, despite their good intentions, have caused more havoc than they were planned to resolve.

The Government hereby appeals to our patriotic youths to shelve any plan for a protest and join the practical efforts to find a solution to the problems that have been thrown up by the actions taken in recent weeks.

Parents and guardians are enjoined to keep their children/wards at home; they should not be used as tools of destruction by enemies of our society.

Anybody who has any grievance against the disbanded SARS should approach the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to make his case.

Governor @jidesanwoolu advises all Lagosians to remain calm and confident that the Govt will guard jealously the emblem of peace that Lagos is famous for. Any person or group of persons who plans to fuel any crisis in Lagos should drop such thoughts or be ready to face the law.

Gbenga Omotoso

Commissioner for Information and Strategy

#LASG
#HealingLagos
#ForAGreaterLagos

Former BBNaija lockdown housemate, Vee, has reacted to the concerns raised by some of her fans who are worried she hasn’t secured an endorsement deal since the show ended in September.

This afternoon, Vee took to her Twitter account to congratulate her fellow housemate, Nengi on her recent appointment as the SSA to Bayelsa state governor, Duoye Diri, and face of Bayelsa state.

However, some Twitter trolls pointed out that she is yet to bag any ambassadorial deal since she left the house. One of her fans however berated the trolls attacking and mocking her.

According to the fan, people should stop being weird and insensitive by constantly reminding her about it.

“I feel it’s weird & absolutely insensitive to keep telling her hers is coming soon when she congratulates her friends. It’s really awkward, stop it pls. Say it in your mind. If you are that concerned, PRAY FOR HER!”

Reacting to the tweet, the BBNaija finalist said people are trying to attach her success to signing contracts for public approval, but it doesn’t work that way.In her words,

“I really wish people understood how these things work. It seems as though people want to attach my success to signing (sometimes strange) contracts for public approval and praise. Anyway sha, the game is the game.” 

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has expressed confidence that he would defeat President Donald Trump in the 2020 United States Presidential Election.

He explained that though votes counting dragged on from Tuesday’s election, he is leading in key battleground states.

He said this in an address monitored by our correspondent on Saturday  He said ,

“ We don’t have a final declaration of victory yet, but the numbers tell us it ’s clear, ” Biden said from Wilmington, Delaware, tonight. We are going to win this race. Just look at what has happened since yesterday. 24 hours we were behind in Georgia, now we’re ahead, and we are going to win that state. Twenty-four hours ago we were behind in Pennsylvania, and we are going to win Pennsylvania. And now we are ahead, but we are winning in Arizona, we ’ re winning in Nevada, and in fact, our lead just doubled in Nevada. We’re on track for over 300 electoral votes, electoral college votes. And look at the national numbers. We’re going to win this race with a clear majority, with the nation behind us. ” Biden also said he would waste no time in addressing the COVID- 19 pandemics upon taking office. I want everyone, everyone to know on day one we ’re going to put our plan to control this virus into action, ” Biden said in a late-night address from his hometown Wilmington, in Delaware. 

Pop artiste Davido has finally got to change his name on Instagram.

The father of three in a tweet on Friday said he had been begging a Brazilian man to let him have the name for about 10 years.

Reports that that initially, the musician was using the handle @davidoofficial on Instagram. The handle has now been changed to @davido.

Taking to his Twitter handle, Davido wrote: “Finally!!!!! NEW IG NAME: DAVIDO … lol I literally begged some Brazilian guy for like 10 years on ig to free this name for me!! Thank you.”

Finally!!!!! NEW IG NAME: DAVIDO … lol I literally begged some Brazilian guy for like 10 years on ig to free this name for me !! Thank you 😀😀😀 pic.twitter.com/0wtGoMXdxf — Davido (@davido) November 6, 2020

The Lagos State Government has confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in a secondary boarding school on the mainland.

Akin Abayomi, Commissioner for Health, made the announcement in a statement Friday night.

A member of the school’s staff was confirmed positive to COVID-19 on the 2nd of November.

Contact tracing has revealed that a student and four contacts of the staff member are positive to COVID-19.

Abayomi noted that the staff fell ill for a few days and received first aid at the school clinic.

She subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday 2nd of November at the Lagos State Biobank.

The Lagos State COVID-19 Incident Command System through the Emergency Operation Center is investigating the incident.

“We would like to assure members of the public and stakeholders of the school that the situation is completely under control. Steps are being taken to contain the spread within the school and reduce exposure to the outside community. All parents are being contacted first through the PTA and a family zoom call is being arranged to further allay their fears.

“It is important to note that COVID-19 presents with very mild symptoms in children and teenagers, compared to other age groups. However, there is the risk of infected children transmitting the disease to adults who they interact with daily and who may be at higher risk of severe disease and death.

“Members of the Emergency Operation Center Lagos, NCDC and our counterparts in the Ministry of Education have been deployed in the school to provide strategic interventions and support. These include psychosocial support, infection prevention control, medical monitoring and risk communication experts to further enlighten affected people”, the statement read.

It added that COVID-19 is still active, adding that everyone must strive to prioritize the safety of all, including students and teachers.

The commissioner appealed to residents to adhere strictly to prevention protocols and guidelines issued by the government.

Citizens were asked to call the 08000EKOMED or 08000356633 toll-free line, if they notice any sign or symptoms of COVID19, which include fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue or loss of taste or smell.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday approved the nomination of Hon. Kamal Ayinde Bayewu, a former aspirant for Lagos West senatorial district and former Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government as Chairman of the state Local Government Service Commission.

Also appointed as members of the commission are Hakeem Adisa Bamgbola, former Chairman of Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and Taofeek Abiodun Adaranijo, a former chairman of Orile Agege LCDA.
Other members of the commission appointed by the Governor are Ahmed Seriki and Engineer Biodun Orekoya.

In a statement released by the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, stated that Sanwo-Olu’s approval of the new nominees, which was in accordance with the provisions of relevant State Laws, was consequent upon the expiration of the tenure of office of the former Commission Chairman and members, to whom he expressed Government’s deep appreciation for the services rendered to the State.

The statement noted that the newly nominated chairman and members, whose appointments is subject to the confirmation of the Lagos State House of Assembly, had been considered based on their sterling credentials, integrity and depth of experience in local government administration.

GENEVA (3 November 2020) – The Nigerian government must set up a credible, independent inquiry into the recent illegal killings of at least 12 peaceful by soldiers, UN human rights experts* said today.

"Since 2005, UN Special Rapporteurs have repeatedly raised the issue of police killings and impunity with the Nigerian government," the experts said. "We have had 15 years of government promises, but nothing has changed.

"Governments come and go, but police brutality is as intractable as ever. Nigerians need justice."

Excessive use of force during peaceful assemblies is always unacceptable, the experts said, but the shootings at Lekki toll plaza in Lagos on 20 October were "especially disturbing because demonstrators were precisely calling for accountability for previous police brutality."

Nigerians have taken to the streets across the country since 8 October to protest rights violations reportedly committed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

"What is particularly disturbing is that the authorities said they had disbanded the SARS and agreed to the protestors other demands, including investigations," the experts said. "But they immediately announced the formation of another similar unit and have not ended the excessive use of force."

Protestors have been met with water cannons, tear gas and live ammunition. Hundreds have been injured and an unknown number killed. In addition, security services have allegedly arrested and beaten protestors, and armed individuals have attacked others.

The fact that in the Lekki toll plaza incident CCTV cameras and lights were apparently switched off shortly before soldiers opened fire on the peaceful protestors indicates "a disturbing level of premeditation," the experts said.

Systematic police brutality and use of excessive force against peaceful protesters must be independently and impartially investigated and the perpetrators brought to the justice, the human rights experts said.

In addition to setting up an independent inquiry, authorities must clarify why the military was deployed and who gave the order, the experts said. "Any investigation must aim to identify lines of responsibility, deliver accountability and justice, provide remedies and reparations, and recommend structural and systemic changes," they said.

The experts also called on the government to release the reports of previous investigations into human rights violations by the security forces. These include the 2019 report by the National Human Rights Commission report on SARS and the 2018 report by the Presidential Investigation Panel to Review Compliance of the Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement ("PIP").

"The authorities have promised for years to address human rights violations by the security forces," said the experts. "Hundreds of victims and relatives of those who died have testified and sent petitions, but they never received any remedy, not even the acknowledgement that their rights were violated. It is crucial that the government releases all these reports to the public before they start new investigations."

The experts have written directly to the Nigerian government, stressing that "it is high time that concrete action is taken to properly look into all incidents and that structural changes be made to prevent any re-occurrence."

Two alleged robbers set ablaze at Upper Sakponba, Benin.

Two young men accused of being armed robbers were set ablaze by an angry mob at Upper Sakponba area of Benin City.

Watch the video below:

Frank Lampard has confirmed that Christian Pulisic won’t be fit to feature against Rennes tomorrow but has cooled any concerns that the American’s injury is serious.

Pulisic was pulled out of the starting line-up at Burnley after feeling some sensation in his hamstring while warming up at Turf Moor, with Timo Werner coming in as a substitute.

However, Lampard confirmed at his pre-match press conference that the forward hasn’t suffered a serious injury, although will sit out tomorrow’s Champions League tie with Rennes, and offered an update via Zoom to the media.

‘Christian had a scan yesterday, which showed a very minor injury to his hamstring,’ Lampard stated in a statement via Chelsea official website. It’s very minor, which is good, and he’s already back outside. He won’t be fit for tomorrow’s game but we will see after that. It’s a relief for the injury to be on the small side, of course, and it felt that way to Christian. He made the right decision to pull out against Burnley. We are pleased it’s not a serious injury and we hope to have him back very soon, because he’s an important player for us. Muscle injuries are things you have to be careful with and some players who play on the edge and have speed could be more susceptible to them. We are looking at ways to manage Christian, we are all working in the same direction on that front. We all know the talent he has and he’s a very important player for us.’

A Nigerian man who identifies as Celestocalculus on Twitter has recounted how he was almost robbed by traffic robbers who attacked him at Ijora area of Lagos.

According to Celestcalculus, the robbers were incapable of removing anything from the car as he got out of the situation before it got worse.

He tweeted;

”Attempted traffic robbery at Ijora. Lagos gave me a very warm welcome.
Got home unscathed & they didn’t succeed in taking my phone, after breaking both my side glass. Their crazy met an even crazier crazy. Thankfully I somehow got out of the situation before it got worse.
Stuck in traffic & wasn’t sure if I was going the right direction, so I pulled out my phone to check the map. Wrong move. Almost immediately, I noticed 2 boys hovering on bot sides of my car. I quickly threw the phone under my seat & quickly worked out a strategy not to get hurt.”

See her post below:

Nigerian music sensation, Tiwa Savage has revealed how she attempted suicide twice after she suffered depression over racist comments while in London.

The mother of one disclosed this in a recent Black Box interview with BBNaija host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on ‘Bounce Live Radio’.

According to her, she attempted to take her own life as a result of the bullying she received as a black kid in London.

Tiwa Savage disclosed she moved to London with her mother at the age of 10. She also said her strong Nigerian accent at the time was mocked by her classmates in school.

In her words, “I was teased so bad. They used to call me ‘African girl’, ‘Foo foo’, ‘Your food smells’ and so on. It was terrible. It was so bad that I literally tried to kill myself two times. I was really depressed.”

Watch the video below:-

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday arraigned a 35-year-old man, Azeez Moshood, before a Federal High Court in Lagos, for trafficking Cannabis.

The prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Sept. 20.

He said that the defendant was arrested on a tip-off on the Lekki-Ajah highway in Lagos while transporting the Cannabis Sativa, weighing 546.4 kg.

The prosecutor said that hemp is a restricted drug similar to Cocaine and Heroine LSD, and listed in the NDLEA schedule as a banned substance.

The offence contravenes the provisions of Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Delivering Judgement, Justice Maureen Onyetenu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million, with two sureties in like sum.

She said the sureties must be civil servants of grade-level 16, and adjourned the case until Feb. 17 and Feb. 18, 2021, for trial, NAN reports.

Popular Nigerian actress, Mercy Aigbe, has turned heads on social media after sharing a photo of her with a bald head and tribal marks all over her face.

The 42-year-old single mother of two said on her Instagram page as she shared the photos that the her new look was for a movie she starred and urged her fans to be on the look out for the movie because of the investment she made into the project.

Captioning the picture, Mercy wrote;

“Happy New Week! I can’t wait for y’all to see my new movie J.B.O ( Jaguda.Baba.Ole ) ….. A @magdiva_films fully powered by @adekazproductions ….. this one is madht and you will over love it”

See Photo Below:

Founder of the Citadel Global Church, Tunde Bakare, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari may end up not leaving any legacy behind after ruling Nigeria as a military and democratically elected President.

Bakare, Buhari’s running mate for the 2011 presidential election, charged the President to work hard on the legacy that would outlive him.

The cleric said though Buhari still has enough time to rewrite his name on the sands of time, he is surrounded by a group of bad councillors.

Pastor Bakare, however, noted that said Buhari can make a difference only if God delivers him from the “bad counsels” and “bad counsellors” around him.

He alleged that bad advisers have prevented the President from seeing and acting on the realities in Nigerian streets.

Bakare said this while featuring as a guest on the Arise Television morning show.

“One of the things I pray for President Buhari is that God should deliver him from wicked counsels and counsellors who tell him life is sweet and that everything is going fine but without giving him the reports from the streets,”

He said.

“In 2015, it seemed as if we had a long time. But, four years had gone and we are into the second year of second term administration which is going to end soon. Time is going and anyone who is thinking of legacy is the best time to go into action – maybe two, or three things which people may see and say in the days of President Buhari, Nigeria took a giant trip in these three areas.

Without that, it will just be like he came twice – first as military head of state and second as democratically elected president without much being ascribed to him as the achievement of his administration.

President Buhari still has enough time to leave behind an enduring legacy. He can still do a lot between 2021 and 2022 because 2020 is already running out.”

The new police unit called Special Weapons and Tactics Unit (SWAT) on Monday began its training with over 400 personnel at the Police Mobile College in Eggon, Nasarawa State.

Present at the training ground was the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, and other officials who came to inspect the training exercise.

In his opening remark, the Minister said he was happy with the progress the personnel was making and charged them to be good role models of the society.

Petr Cech has said he is “100 per cent ready” to help Chelsea if he is called up, after he was included in their Premier League squad.

Cech, who won four Premier League titles and the Champions League at Stamford Bridge, was a shock inclusion in Frank Lampard’s 25-man squad for the 2020/2021 season.

The 38-year-old announced his retirement at the end of the 2018/2019 season and returned to Chelsea as a technical and performance advisor.

However, Cech has been training with first-team goalkeepers Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga and says he is ready to step in if called upon this season.

He told Telefoot:

“It’s true that it would have been a professional error to do this if I wasn’t at Premier League level, but that’s not the way we work here. I know I’m 100 per cent ready to help if needs be. I’m fit, and with the two months of training, I’ve seen I have the same quality. Furthermore, I rested for a year without playing football. It really gave me energy, my body recovered after playing 20 years as a professional. If the circumstances put me on the pitch, I’m ready.”