Thiago Silva is eager to point out that he is not at Chelsea to “visit tourist sites” and “go through the motions”, with the Brazilian defender determined “to win” with the Blues.

The 36-year-old centre-half has made a habit of doing that throughout his career to date.

Stints with AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain delivered Serie A and Ligue 1 titles, while Confederations Cup and Copa America glory has been savoured with his country.

Silva is now taking on a new challenge at Stamford Bridge after forming part of a serious squad refresh by Frank Lampard in west London.

He is still finding his feet in new surroundings, with a costly error made on his Premier League bow against West Brom, but the intention is to become a commanding presence for the Blues.

Silva told Chelsea’s official matchday programme for a Carabao Cup fourth-round clash with old adversaries Tottenham: “I’m not here just to go through the motions, or just for the experience – I’m here to win.

“I want everyone to be very clear about that: I’m going to give my all to make sure that Chelsea win.“I didn’t come here to dine out in London or visit the tourist sites. I came to play football, to work, and that’s what I’m preparing for.

“I’m certain, with the group of players we’ve got and a coach who’s a natural leader, that we’ll be in the fight for every piece of silverware going this year.”

Silva only signed a one-year contract with Chelsea when leaving PSG as a free agent on the back of their Champions League final appearance in 2019-20.

There are several hurdles for him to clear in English football, with Lampard admitting that a language barrier is proving to be an issue, but the South American has already stated that he could stay on beyond 2021.

He has said: “I’m totally relaxed about the contract and whether Chelsea will want to renew it or not, I don’t know.

“If I haven’t met expectations or contributed then we’ll sit down and talk about that. But I’m not worried at all.

“I will do my best possible and really contribute to this team, this new project. I’ve accepted this new challenge, it’s going to be really good for me.

“Everyone knows that my ambition is to play in the World Cup in two years’ time when I’ll be 38. That’s a great responsibility

The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has endorsed the ongoing protest against brutality and extortion by Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives.

Ogunwusi said on Twitter that his 25-year-old daughter once had a nasty experience with SARS operatives that almost cost her life.

The monarch, therefore, stated that he was happy that the youths of Nigeria were finally standing up for their rights.

Tweeting through his handle, @OoniAdimulaIfe, he said, “I understand your plight, my 25 year old daughter had a nasty experience with SARS, almost losing her life. On her way to the airport, she was stopped and terribly ransacked and surrounded by fully armed plain clothes policemen in a bus, detained for close to 30 minutes of thorough questioning.

“Imagine a young female for that matter; all her belongings completely searched all because she was with a laptop on an official assignment from her office in Lagos. I can only imagine the countless ones that have lost their lives from such ordeals, may their souls rest in peace.

“I assure you that this is the beginning of greater things to come in Nigeria. I implore you to demand for more, but plead with you to do so in a peaceful manner, as anything outside of that will cause unnecessary havoc for all.”

The monarch said he was aware that some protesters had been unjustly arrested by the police.

He said he would do everything to ensure that they are freed.

Ogunwusi advised the police to understand that the protests would also improve the welfare of men and women of the Force and asked them to see it as such.

The monarch stated, “I have been informed of many innocent souls that were arrested and currently being detained, be rest assured that I am pursuing the matter and they will be set free.

“To the men and women of the Nigerian police force, be assured that this movement is also for you, we know you are humans also and your reality is as a result of your environment.

“This movement demands better on your behalf, and is aimed at pushing the government to do better for you and elevate your standard of living. Do not persecute your advocates. God bless Nigerian youths and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The Federal Government has ordered the stoppage of salaries of any university employee who is not enrolled on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System with effect from November 2020.

It gave the directive in its latest memo from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation with reference number OAGF/IPPIS/446/1/159, dated October 8, 2020, and signed by the Director, IPPIS, Nsikak Ben, for the AGF.

The memo, which was sighted by our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday, was issued to all university vice chancellors through the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigeria, Federal Universities.

The order read in part, “I am directed to inform you that any staff of your institution who has not enrolled on the IPPIS, either as a result of study leave (with pay), maternity leave or on medical ground, will no longer appear on the IPPIS payroll.

“This is with effect from November 2020, except such staff presents himself/herself for the biometric data capture at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Abuja.”

The government said such worker would have to appear with an introductory letter/IPPIS enrolment forms duly endorsed by the principal authorities of the institution.

It added that all supporting documents should include evidence of six months’ salary, according to bank statements.

“In view of the above, kindly inform your staff in this category to urgently avail themselves for the biometric data capture at the OAGF,” the government stated in its memo to the vice chancellors.

It, however, noted that exemption might only be given where institutions provided evidence of study leave.

The government explained that in such an instance, the institution must state the duration to justify why such persons should be retained on the payroll.

When contacted for his reaction to the latest memo, the spokesperson for the OAGF, Henshaw Ogubike, confirmed the directive.

Following the decision of the United Arab Emirates to begin visa issuance to Nigerians, Etihad Airways has been approved to operate international flights into Nigeria

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this announcement on Thursday during a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, which held in Abuja.

He noted that the foreign carrier was already talking with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority regarding the process.

Similarly, Emirates Airlines are also scheduled to operate flights into the country starting with Abuja and Lagos.

He said, “UAE has commenced issuance of visas today. Consequent upon that, Emirates Airlines will begin operations from tomorrow. They are allowed to start daily flights into Abuja and Lagos.

“Their sister company from the same country, Etihad are working on their schedule and once they do that, they will let us know. They (Etihad) will be discussing with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

He added, “The only airline that goes to the UAE from Nigeria is Air Peace, they are also working on the resumption and will let you know.”

Sirika revealed that 27 passengers have failed to comply with the laid down rules for the operations of international flights and will be sanctioned forthwith.

He said, “Sadly, we have had 27 cases of passengers in Abuja that are not complying with our requirements for PCR negative result tests. Some of them appeared with rapid result tests which are not accepted and approved. While some of them came with expired PCR and no tests at all.

“Now the protocol and procedure are that the airlines that brought in these passengers will be dealt with according to the law. For these violations, NCAA will be dealing with them accordingly.”

The Minister reiterated that foreign carriers are expected to come in the country with no more than 200 passengers, however, they can carry as many passengers as possible on the return trip.

He added that any other review will be communicated by the taskforce.

Air Namibia, Royal Air Maroc, Lufthansa, TAAG Angola Airlines are among the airlines not yet approved to commence international flight operations.

A yet-to-be-identified policeman is on the run after shooting his girlfriend in her mouth at Salvation Bus Stop in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that after the policeman perpetrated the crime, he fled from the crime scene and abandoned the victim.

Footage of the incident, which had been trending online showed the lady grappling in pain as some good Samaritans rushed her to the hospital for treatment.

In the footage, the lady’s chick had torn due to the impact of the bullet that pierced her mouth.

The lady was also seen sitting on the floor of a hospital wallowing in pain while waiting for a doctor to attend to her.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “The policeman has been identified, not in Lagos command, but works in Lagos State.

“He is the lady’s boyfriend; we will get him. We guess they have a conflict that triggered the shooting. Policemen have been sent to the hospital to visit the lady and get some facts when she is stable.”