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05/31/20
JUST IN: English Premier League To Resume June 17 Amid COVID-19
The English Premier League will resume on June 17 after the 20 clubs in the division agreed “in principle” to return to play and complete the remainder of the 2019-20 season that was halted in mid-March due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
It was revealed that Manchester City versus Arsenal will be one of the first matches to be played.
Aston Villa’s home clash with Sheffield United will also be played same day to mark the return of the English top flight, it was disclosed as well. 
Apart from the EPL, many football leagues and other sporting events around the world were put on hold as a result of the pandemic that had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives across many countries.
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Ex-Eagles Coach Onigbinde Speaks On Nigeria’s Dwindling Fortunes In Sports Amid Coronavirus Concerns
Festus Onigbinde, former Super Eagles Coach, has attributed the static nature of sports in Nigeria to lack of development policies by the Nigerian government.
Onigbinde told SaharaReporters on Wednesday that instead of setting and achieving clear goals that would lead to the development of the sport in the country; the government has only focused on organising competitions and participating in competitions.
He said, "In some of these countries, the level of technology is much higher than what we have here and that will eventually have some effects.
“It appears that we are helpless. Are we making any effort? I was reading this afternoon of a country making efforts to use technology for cheering during games. Do we have that type of technology here? The Coronavirus has affected and will continue to affect our sports for some time.
"The greatest challenge of sports in Nigeria is development. We don't have a developmental programme, we are just taking part in sports for the fun of it. For those who are directly involved, it's for what they can get from it -- no developmental programme. Even in the private life of an individual, if you are in a business and you are not developing that business, what will happen? It will fold up and that is the situation with Nigerian sports.
"Things were better in the past but all we think of now is competition, to take part and organise whereas competitions are like examinations in schools. Why does a teacher set up exams? He wants to know how much the students have learned.
"If you are organising competitions in sports, what are you assessing? What have you put into this performance? I maintain that the greatest problem of sports in Nigeria is lack of development, we are not developing sports."
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UK ex-foreign secretaries Hong Kong alliance
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The UK should be leading the response to China's treatment of Hong Kong, seven former foreign secretaries say.
The UK should be leading the response to China's treatment of Hong Kong, seven former foreign secretaries say.
Nigeria's Ruling Party, APC, Accuses Local Media Of Underreporting Killings Under President Buhari's Administration
Nigeria's ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, has accused the country's media of not fairly reporting killings in the society.
The party said that the number of killings that had occurred under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was extremely higher than what was being reported in the media.
The APC made the comments on one of its Twitter handles managed by Philip Obin on Sunday in reaction to a story by SaharaReporters.
Muhammadu Buhari
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how Bandits attacked a village in Katsina State, leading to the death of three persons and the destruction of valuables.
Commenting under the SaharaReporters' post, the APC said, "Over 200 killed in Erei, Biase LGA of Cross River State and Nigerian media and @HQNigerianArmy are silent because it's not Southern Kaduna or North-East?"
To buttress its claim, the APC attached gory pictures of distressed persons to the Twitter post.
Over 200 killed in Erei, Biase LGA of Cross River State and Nigeria Media and @HQNigerianArmy are silent because it's not Southern Kaduna or North East?
— APC Nigeria (@APCNigeria) May 31, 2020
See https://t.co/3Hj96IvrJL pic.twitter.com/85xi30Fzcs
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SERAP Gives Buhari Seven Days To Account For All Foreign Loans
President Muhammadu Buhari has been given a seven-day ultimatum by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project to provide details of all loans obtained by his government since May 29, 2015, including details and locations of projects, which the loans were spent on.
SERAP said if Buhari failed to comply within seven days, it will take all appropriate legal actions under the Freedom of Information Act to force him to comply.
In a letter to President Buhari, SERAP urged him to set up an independent audit of all loans to resolve any allegations of mismanagement and corruption.
The letter was also sent to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and Director-General of Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha. 
Buhari had last week sought the National Assembly’s approval for a fresh loan of $5.513bn to fund the 2020 budget deficit, critical projects, and support some states.
The letter by SERAP read in part, "While access to loans can provide indispensable resources, the mismanagement and squandering of any such resources would be counter-productive. Nigerians should no longer be made to repay debts incurred in their name but which have not benefited them in any manner, shape or form.
"Any unresolved allegations of mismanagement, bribery and corruption in the use of loans would continue to deprive millions of Nigerians access to basic public goods and services, and would leave your government without the resources to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
“We would be grateful if the requested information is provided to us within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions under the Freedom of Information Act to compel you to comply with our request.
“We urge you to ensure that those suspected to be responsible for any mismanagement and corruption are promptly referred to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for further investigation, and where there is relevant admissible evidence, prosecution.”
Politics News AddThis : Original Author : Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2PCtiId
Over 30 Dead Bodies Decomposing In Bush After Kajuru Attacks, Southern Kaduna Residents Say
President of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, Jonathan Asake, has said that over 30 dead bodies of victims of the attacks by armed bandits in Kajuru under Southern Kaduna were decomposing in the bush.
He said security agents had not gone to the affected communities to retrieve the bodies, adding that over 60 people were still missing after the attacks.
He disclosed this at the weekend in Rimau village where many displaced victims were taking refuge at a primary school.
He faulted claims by the police that the attacks only took place in two communities (Ungwar Rana and Gonarogo) on May 12 and 13. 
He revealed that over 15 communities were attacked in the area contrary to the claim by the police.
Asake said, “As of now, many of the people that were killed in the attacks, their dead bodies are still there. Four people cannot go there and recover their dead bodies.
"In fact, over 30 people that they said have been killed are still in the bush. People have not been allowed to go and recover their dead bodies for burial.
"The bodies are already decomposing and no security person has gone there to recover these bodies.”
Asake added that one of the assailants, who was identified as Audu Makau, coordinated the attack and is from Tampole also known as Laduga.
Asake vowed that Southern Kaduna Indigenes would resist any attempt by any group to displace and force them out of their lands irrespective of the worsening security challenges in the state.
When SaharaReporters contacted spokesperson for the police in the state, Muhammad Jilge, he said the information was not true and that the command was not aware of such report.
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Lockdown: 30 Persons Arraigned In Court In Ondo For Flouting Curfew Order
At least 30 persons in Ondo State have been arraigned before a mobile court sitting in Akure, the state capital, for contravening the dusk-to-dawn curfew order of the state government to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The violators were arrested by the state’s COVID-19 Special Task Force led by its Chairman, Mr Doyin Odebowale, in different locations of the state mostly in Ogbese area.
They were handed over to the police for disciplinary actions before being arraigned before Magistrate Bukola Ojo. 
Twenty-four persons out of the violators had earlier pleaded guilty to the offence and were later pardoned by the court.
Counsel to the accused persons, Utenwojo Salihu, applied for their bail and prayed the court to always hold such cases behind closed doors.
In her ruling, Magistrate Ojo sentenced the violators to community service for seven days by cutting grass for two hours around Ogbese Market.
PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis : Original Author : Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2MJr4TP
RRS Arrests 19-year-old YabaTech Student Over Nude Photos Of Nigerian Musician, Salawa Abeni
Operatives of Rapid Response Squad have arrested a 19-year-old student of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, for allegedly blackmailing Nigerian musician, Salawa Abeni, with her nude pictures.
The suspect, Olufowoke Oladunjoye Emmanuel, a resident of Brentfield Avenue, Peace Estate, Magboro, Ogun State, was arrested on Thursday by the decoy team of the RRS.
Oladunjoye in his statement to the police, confessed to having been the mastermind behind the ploy to publish some nude pictures of Abeni in exchange for money, adding that he was alone in the scheme. 
He said he found the nude pictures in a memory card which he picked up on the floor in YabaTech sometime in November 2019.
He added that after downloading the nude photographs of the musician on his phone, he picked up her mobile number from her Instagram page.
He said, “On 1st of April, 2020, I chatted her up and also called her after sending a few of the photos to her online. My intention was to negotiate with her for few bucks and for me to destroy the photographs.
“I thought everything was going on fine until the following day when I heard the news of the blackmail over the radio. I was with my mother, she was even cursing the blackmailer unknown to her that I was the brains behind it.
“I immediately sneaked out, destroyed the memory card and threw my mobile phone and SIM card into a nearby wetland in Magboro. Since then, I never mentioned it to anyone and called Madam Salawa Abeni about it again.”
Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, stated that no individual would be allowed to commit a crime in Lagos from any state or escape to other states in Nigeria to evade arrest.
CRIME News AddThis : Original Author : Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/36M8Idn
Policeman Shoots Colleagues Dead In Lagos
A policeman on Sunday reportedly shot and killed his colleagues at Onikan area of Lagos State.
The yet-to-be named policeman attached to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, opened fire on his colleagues following an argument.
In a trending video, the officer was seen screaming incoherent words, a development suggestive of a possible mental illness. 
It was gathered that immediately after shooting his colleagues, he hijacked their operational vehicle and drove straight to Akoka in Yaba around 5:00am where he attempted to access a compound but couldn’t and started shooting sporadically.
Residents of the area said no fewer than 30 bullet holes were counted in an apartment, corridor and ceiling of the premises.
Lagos State Police spokesperson, Bala Elkana, said investigation into the matter had started, adding that a statement would be released soon.
Police News AddThis : Original Author : Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2MhFJFm
COVID-19: School Owners Reject Nigerian Government's Plan To Turn Hostels Into Isolation Centres
The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools has said it would not allow any of its facilities to be converted into isolation centres.
President of the association, Yomi Otubela, told PUNCH that schools should be reopened rather than converted into a purpose that will make them inaccessible to students.
Otubela was reacting to the comments by Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, that school dormitories could be used to house COVID-19 patients to free up hospital beds for those in need of critical treatment. 
He said, “I don’t know how many of the Western countries whose methods we are copying use schools as isolation centres; I have not seen any. We should copy and copy rightly. Schools are meant for children and we should not use them for a purpose that will make them abandon schooling.
“Private school owners reject this idea. In fact, private schools should be considered for reopening because it is easy to maintain physical distancing than in public schools because they are usually crowded.
“Private school owners will not and never allow the use of their facilities for isolation centres.”
Otubela noted that there were many public places that the government could convert to isolation centres.
“There are large expanses of land and moribund hospital facilities that the government can quickly fix and use for isolation centres,” he added. See Also 
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Bandits Kill Three Persons, Burn Houses, Animals In Fresh Attack On Katsina Village
Suspected bandits on Saturday evening killed no fewer than three persons in Matseri Village of Sheme Ward, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
SaharaReporters gathered that the bandits also burnt down houses, animals and foodstuffs during the rampage.
A source said the bandits attacked the villages around midnight with guns on motorcycles. 
File Photo Qubes Magazine
“They came about 7:00pm on Saturday on motorcycles. The bandits laid siege to the village, shooting and destroying anything they sighted,” the source said.
The attack came a day after 13 others were killed in Unguwar Gizo, Maigora, Sabon Layi and Mai Ruwa in the same council.
Four other persons including a customs officer, were abducted during the attack.
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Glimmer of hope for world's rarest primate
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The discovery of a new breeding pair raises hope for the future of a critically endangered gibbon.
The discovery of a new breeding pair raises hope for the future of a critically endangered gibbon.
Nasa SpaceX launch: What is the Crew Dragon?
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A guide to SpaceX's Crew Dragon vehicle, which carried astronauts to the space station.
A guide to SpaceX's Crew Dragon vehicle, which carried astronauts to the space station.
How Venezuela's fuel crisis is hitting coronavirus victims
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Venezuela's fuel crisis has been so acute that even funeral homes are struggling to transport bodies to the cemetery.
Venezuela's fuel crisis has been so acute that even funeral homes are struggling to transport bodies to the cemetery.
BREAKING: 286 Stranded Nigerians Evacuated From China Arrive Abuja Airport
The Nigerian Government has evacuated 286 Nigerians stranded in China due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Nigerians arrived the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Saturday.
Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, while announcing the arrival said the returnees would be proceeding on compulsory 14 days isolation. 
A tweet by NIDCOM said, "268 stranded Nigerians in China lands in Abuja International Airport at exactly 2:30pm Nigerian time today 30th May 2020.
"All evacuees will be proceeding on compulsory 14 days quarantine as mandated by NCDC and Federal Ministry of Health."
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BREAKING: 286 Stranded Nigerians Evacuated From China Arrive Abuja Airport
The Nigerian Government has evacuated 286 Nigerians stranded in China due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Nigerians arrived the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Saturday.
Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, while announcing the arrival said the returnees would be proceeding on compulsory 14 days isolation.
A tweet by NIDCOM said, "268 stranded Nigerians in China lands in Abuja International Airport at exactly 2:30pm Nigerian time today 30th May 2020.
"All evacuees will be proceeding on compulsory 14 days quarantine as mandated by NCDC and Federal Ministry of Health."
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Social Investment Programme Monitors Ask President Buhari To Sack Minister Of Humanitarian Affairs Over Unpaid Monthly Stipend
Independent monitors of the National Social Investment Programme have called for the sack of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq.
The team made the demand on Saturday while expressing their grievances following the refusal of the minister to pay their accumulated monthly stipends.
Findings by SaharaReporters showed that the NSIP provides young Nigerians with job training and education while also allowing them to receive monthly stipends of N30, 000 from the Nigerian Government.
The independent monitors supervise various programmes of government under the Social Investment Program including N-power, Home Grown School Feeding, Tradermoni, Marketmoni and the Conditional Cash Transfer in the 36 states of the country.
Some of them disclosed that despite pleas and letters to the minister, she had refused to offset their March and April stipends while that of May had also not been paid. 
Titus Omotayo, one of the beneficiaries of the programme, told our correspondent that the NSIP was his full time job as a graduate and that he had been having difficulties paying his bills since his stipend stopped coming regularly.
Omotayo said he and other monitors had been preforming their responsibilities yet 70 per cent have not been paid their accumulated stipend by the minister.
Another beneficiary, Godwin Lerve, said the team members had been in the dark concerning their payment and had resolved on calling out the minister over her refusal to pay their stipends.
He said, “A lot of us have not been paid and that is why they are calling for her removal or redeployment from that office.
“I heard that she is planning to streamline the programme probably to remove some persons from payment and I feel this is not the best.”
Abiodun Ogunleye, another monitor, said they had appealed to the minister several times for the prompt payment of their stipend but she had failed to heed their appeals.
“We are left with no other choice than to passionately appeal to the President to send Mrs Sadiya Umar Farouq back to where he picked her from before she ruins the scheme."
Salisu Na’inna Danbatta, Special Adviser on Media to the minister, could not be reached for comments.
However, an official of the ministry revealed that the matter was already being addressed.
SaharaReporters gathered that issues concerning payment of stipend for the independent monitors began after the Social Investment Programme was moved outside the office of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, by President Buhari last October to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
LABOR/WORKERS' RIGHTS Scandal News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/35zM1Hd
Social Investment Programme Monitors Ask President Buhari To Sack Minister Of Humanitarian Affairs Over Unpaid Monthly Stipend
Independent monitors of the National Social Investment Programme have called for the sack of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq.
The team made the demand on Saturday while expressing their grievances following the refusal of the minister to pay their accumulated monthly stipends.
Findings by SaharaReporters showed that the NSIP provides young Nigerians with job training and education while also allowing them to receive monthly stipends of N30, 000 from the Nigerian Government.
The independent monitors supervise various programmes of government under the Social Investment Program including N-power, Home Grown School Feeding, Tradermoni, Marketmoni and the Conditional Cash Transfer in the 36 states of the country.
Some of them disclosed that despite pleas and letters to the minister, she had refused to offset their March and April stipends while that of May had also not been paid.
Titus Omotayo, one of the beneficiaries of the programme, told our correspondent that the NSIP was his full time job as a graduate and that he had been having difficulties paying his bills since his stipend stopped coming regularly.
Omotayo said he and other monitors had been preforming their responsibilities yet 70 per cent have not been paid their accumulated stipend by the minister.
Another beneficiary, Godwin Lerve, said the team members had been in the dark concerning their payment and had resolved on calling out the minister over her refusal to pay their stipends.
He said, “A lot of us have not been paid and that is why they are calling for her removal or redeployment from that office.
“I heard that she is planning to streamline the programme probably to remove some persons from payment and I feel this is not the best.”
Abiodun Ogunleye, another monitor, said they had appealed to the minister several times for the prompt payment of their stipend but she had failed to heed their appeals.
“We are left with no other choice than to passionately appeal to the President to send Mrs Sadiya Umar Farouq back to where he picked her from before she ruins the scheme."
Salisu Na’inna Danbatta, Special Adviser on Media to the minister, could not be reached for comments.
However, an official of the ministry revealed that the matter was already being addressed.
SaharaReporters gathered that issues concerning payment of stipend for the independent monitors began after the Social Investment Programme was moved outside the office of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, by President Buhari last October to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
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