Here are the stories that drove the conversation today:

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday left Abuja to attend the inauguration of President Julius Bio in Freetown, Sierra Leone. According to a statement by Mr Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Osinbanjo is expected to return to Abuja later in the evening.

Bio won the country’s presidential run-off election on March 31. The occasion also coincides with the 56th birthday anniversary of the president.

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Saturday lifted the shutdown order on three companies closed on May 7 as the agency investigated the alleged unethical distribution of codeine cough syrups.

The companies include the Emzor Pharmaceuticals Industry Ltd, Lagos; Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Limited and Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited in Ilorin, Kwara State.

According to a statement from the agency, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the affected companies can now continue normal production schedule following meetings between the companies and the agency’s Directorates of Investigation and Enforcement, Drug Evaluation Research and Narcotics and Controlled Substances.

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An 18-year-old girl Abubakar Kofoworola Lateefat was on Saturday killed at Idi Oro in Ibadan North West Local Government Area of Oyo State.

A security agent on election duty who was reportedly trying to disperse the crowd at one of the polling units when he accidentally shot the girl who died on the spot. Angry youths from the area thereafter took to the streets protesting the injustice and demanding that the security agent responsible for the murder be brought to justice.

In a statement by the Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy to the governor, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, said that the governor who was pained by the disturbing news condoled with the family of the victim and vowed to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for citizens who registered in the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR)  between April and December 2017 will be ready for collection on May 21.

The commission disclosed this in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi in Abuja on Friday. “This includes registered citizens who applied for transfers and replacement of their lost PVCs within the said period,” he added

“Such persons are to report at the INEC Local Government Offices and other designated registration centres nationwide with their Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) to collect their PVCs.’’

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The 6th Okpekpe International 10km Road Race at Okpekpe in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State ended on Saturday amidst heavy rains, with Kenyan athletes clinching the top prizes.

Alex Kibet won the race in 29.47seconds. Simon Cheprat came second, returning in 30.29 seconds, while Ronoh Kiplagat was third with a time of 30.39 seconds.

In the female elite category, Yami Dida from Ethiopia won 33.01seconds, Tuei Chebet from Kenya came second in 33.33 seconds and Kipyojei Chemtai also from Kenya emerged third in 34.24 seconds.

The winner of the male and female categories each got 20,000 dollars 13,000 dollars and 9,000 dollars respectively for their efforts.

Emmanuel Gyang won the Nigeria Male Elite race, while Deborah Pam won the Nigeria Female Elite Category and went home each with One Million Naira

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And stories from around the world:

Iraqis have voted in the first parliamentary elections since the government declared victory over so-called Islamic State (IS) last year.

Around 7,000 candidates from rival coalition alliances are vying for seats in the 329-member assembly.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had called on “all Iraqis” to take part in the election.

“Today Iraq is powerful and unified after defeating terrorism, and this is a huge achievement for all Iraqis,” he said after casting his vote.

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North Korea will make a public show of its promise to close its nuclear testing site, north of the country in a ceremony scheduled for between May 23 and 25, depending on weather conditions.

According to the South Korean news agency, Yonhap, North Korea said it is taking “technical measures” to dismantle its nuclear test site, moving closer to honouring an offer made by its leader Kim Jong-un during the inter-Korean summit last month.

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Ex-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been banned from leaving the country after his long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition suffered a shock electoral defeat.

Mr Najib who had been accused of diverting $700m (£517m) from a state investment fund in 2015, but has since been cleared by the authorities, said that he and his wife were planning to go on an overseas holiday on Saturday.

In a tweet (in Malay), he said he would abide by it and also announced he is quitting as chairman of the Barisan Nasional coalition and as president of his United Malay National Organisation party.

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Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, whose flamboyant presence has long dominated the nation’s politics, will be allowed to stand for political office again, an Italian court has ruled.

The Court of Milan ruling on Friday opened the door for the 81-year-old billionaire to run for office next time elections are held, as it granted Berlusconi “rehabilitation,” effectively lifting the ban on him re-entering politics that has been in place since his 2013 conviction for tax fraud.

Berlusconi has been Prime Minister four times for a total of nine years, longer than anyone since fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and has been tried 22 times on charges ranging from tax evasion and bribery to corruption and association with the Cosa Nostra.

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 Hamburg SV were relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in 55 years as fans delayed the end of the match against Borussia Monchengladbach by throwing flares on to the pitch.

Despite winning their final game of the season 2-1, Hamburg were sent down to join Cologne in being relegated to the second tier by Wolfsburg’s 4-1 home win over Cologne while Wolfsburg play Holstein Kiel in the promotion-relegation play-off.

Hamburg, who needed to win and for Wolfsburg to lose, had been the only team to play every season in the Bundesliga since its 1963 formation.