These are the stories that drove conversation today.

President Muhammadu Buhari Monday, said that his administration is more preoccupied with the three-pronged focus of the current administration than the 2019 presidential elections.

Speaking in a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister, Theresa May on Monday, President Buhari explained that he is still more bothered about security and the Nigerian economy.

“We campaigned on three major issues, to secure the country, revive the economy and fight corruption,” said the president.

“We have elections next year, politicians are already preoccupied with the polls, but I am bothered more about security and the economy.”

He commended British companies like Unilever, Cadbury, and many others, “who have stood with Nigeria through thick and thin. Even when we fought a Civil War, they never left.”

“But like Oliver Twist, we ask for more investments. We are encouraging more British companies to come to Nigeria. We appreciate the support you have given in training and equipping our military, particularly in the war against insurgency, but we want to also continue to work with you on trade and investment.”

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At least one person was killed and over 30 injured as protesting Shiites were dispersed by security operatives in Abuja on Monday, the Islamic group has stated.

According to Premium Times, Shiite’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Musa, stated that over 200 protesters were arrested by the police, who he accused of being the first to attack the protesters.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distanced itself from the news making the rounds that it would recruit ad-hoc personnel to man the 2019 general elections.

INEC, therefore, urged the public to disregard online publications that it is recruiting ad hoc staff ahead of 2019 elections.

The Commission in its online publication said it was aware of some social media publications telling the public that it would recruit 100,000 ad hoc personnel for 2019 general elections.

It said that information in the publications was false and should be ignored.

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The governor of Imo, Rochas Okorocha, says he will succeed President Buhari.

The governor said this on Monday when he hosted some political stakeholders at the state government house in Owerri.

Okorocha said President Buhari’s declaration for a second term is a good development and that he will win again, just like he did in 2015.

“Buhari will win again and again. After Buhari, the turn will come to the south-east and it will be the turn of Okorocha,” he said.

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Senator Ademola Adeleke, (Osun West) has declared his interest to contest the September 22 governorship election.

Adeleke made this known in a letter he addressed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In his letter to the leadership of the PDP, he said the decision to contest the gubernatorial election is born out of a conviction that he possesses “all it takes to unite leaders and members of our party as well as galvanise the general electorate towards ensuring a resounding victory for the PDP in the forthcoming poll.”

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And… stories from around the world.

Russia has denied interfering with evidence at the site of the suspected Syrian chemical attack, which led to Western air strikes on Saturday.

In an interview with BBC‘s Hardtalk, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, “I can guarantee that Russia has not tampered with the site.”

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Zambian-born Black Panther actor Patrick Shumba Mutukwa has expressed embarrassment after a video of him posing naked spread on social media.

“Recently there was an unsavory video released of Shumba Mutukwa to the Zambian public from his 20s,” his publicist Larrissa Long said in a statement published by the Lusaka Times.

However, she said stories that he starred in gay porn were inaccurate.

“He is not now, nor was he ever a gay porn actor,” Ms. Long told BBC Africa Live.

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One of China’s largest social media sites, Sina Weibo, has reversed a ban on online content “related to homosexuality” after an outcry from the country’s internet users.

On Friday, Sina Weibo said that for the next three months it would be removing comics and videos “with pornographic implications, promoting bloody violence, or related to homosexuality”.

The internet company said the initiative was in an effort to “create a sunny and harmonious community environment” and comply with the country’s cybersecurity laws.

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She appeared before MPs in parliament, to justify ordering airstrikes without putting it to a vote in parliament.

“It is my responsibility as prime minister to make these decisions and I will make them,” she told the chamber.

However, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said MPs were given a vote on action in Iraq and Libya and claimed it should be made a legal obligation for governments to seek approval from parliament.

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Kenyan boxer Brian Agina has gone missing at the end of the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Kenya‘s High Commissioner to Australia Isaiah Kabira is quoted in the Daily Nation newspaper as saying they were hoping the boxer would be found before they “press the panic button”.

The newspaper adds that officials reported his disappearance from the athletes’ village this morning and the rest of the Kenyan boxers have now flown out of Kenya.

At least 13 other athletes have gone missing from Cameroon, Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda.