20 feared dead as explosion rocks pipeline in Rivers (DailyTrust)
No fewer than 20 persons were feared dead following an explosion from a vandalised oil pipeline in Omoku, Ogba/Egebema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday morning, after the youths allegedly broke a pipeline belonging to one of the multinational oil firms operating in the areas.
They were reportedly using jerrycans and buckets to scoop fuel when the tragedy struck. Read more
Lagos community seeks health centre, school (Punch)
The Exclusives Community Development Association, Selewu, in the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, has appealed to the state government to “bring government presence and development” to its domain.
The Chairman of The Exclusives CDA, Pastor Akin Arowolo, made the appeal in a chat with The PUNCH on Tuesday on the sidelines of the community’s praise night held annually on December 26.
Arowolo urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-OLu and well-meaning Nigerians to help establish a health centre and a public school within the community. Read more
Tinubu celebrates Akume at 70 (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu has celebrated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, on his 70th birthday.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu commended the SGF for his consistency and perpetual dedication to duty in coordinating the affairs of the government, noting his rich portfolio of leadership experience and laurels as governor, minister, senator, and top-flight public servant, which he brings to bear in his current role.
The president celebrated Senator Akume, extolling the temperance, affability, harmony, and stability he consistently personifies as he coordinates activities both within and with other arms of government; making himself accessible, focused, and dependable in bridging the divide between policy and implementation. Read more
Osun first lady, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke, visits orphanage, donates cash, food items (Leadership)
In the spirit of Christmas celebration, the wife of Osun State governor, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke, on December 17, 2023, has paid a visit to The Lord’s Heritage Orphanage Home in Oke Gada, Ede, Osun State.
She used the opportunity of the visit to interface with the physically challenged and orphans at the facility.
The governor’s wife also made cash donation and presented other gift items to the orphanage. Read more
Vacant Stool: Onikoyi descendants seek Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu’s intervention (Vanguard)
The Onikoyi Descendants Association of Lagos State has called on President Bola Tinubu and the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene in the crisis rocking the vacant stool of Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Imoba lands.
The association also called for the enforcement of the existing rotational kingship plan.
The Public Relations Officer of the group, Prince Tunde Onikoyi, in a statement yesterday said: “The traditional stool was occupied by the late Patrick Ibikunle Fafunwa-Onikoyi, who passed away at the age of 92. Before his demise, his health condition was kept away from the public. So we didn’t know the exact day he died. His family only announced it to us. And since then his son has been the one operating the family’s account. And this is because they bear the same name. Read more
Only genuine love with real sacrifice can help us – CAN Chairman (Guardian)
Th Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, has said Nigerians only exhibit love when they stand to gain something in return.
The CAN Chairman stated this while speaking on the message titled: Genuine Love (John chapter 1), the Chairman who is also the Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, during the Christmas Mass, held at the Catholic Cathedral Church of St. Michael, Kontagora, adding that there is no genuine love among the people.
He noted that, it is only genuine love with real sacrifice that can help us as a people. Read more
Senate Leader vows crackdown on economic saboteurs in 2024 (Leadership)
The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has revealed that the federal government will clamp down on economic saboteurs who made lives difficult and unbearable for Nigerians next year.
Bamidele, also Chairman of the Southern Senators Forum in the ninth National Assembly, insisted that the National Assembly would pass the 2024 appropriations bill on December 30 to sustain the January-December budget cycle.
According to his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, he made this disclosure at a session with journalists in Iyin Ekiti on Monday, saying all federal lawmakers would have to cut short their holidays to ensure speedy passage of the 2024 appropriations bill. Read more
Obaseki, Shaibu feud rear head in Edo State budget as Gov’s office got N19 billion (Sun)
The unending feud between the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, has shown in the budgetary allocation to the office of the Deputy Governor as contained in the approved 2024 State budget by State House of Assembly.
Recall that the Appropriation bill was signed into law in the evening of Friday, December 15, 2023 by Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House in Benin.
A perusal of the budget shows that the sum of N19, 148, 177, 584 was allocated to the office of the Governor while the office of the deputy governor was allocated paltry sum of N345, 522,729. Read more
50 Cent tells Taraji P. Henson he’s ‘ready to work’ after ‘Empire’ fumble (HipHopDx)
50 Cent wants to bring Taraji P. Henson into his TV and film kingdom, and he has already started recruiting the Empire actress on social media.
While the two entertainment stars used to be at odds during the Empire vs. Power rivalry days, 50 is now looking to bring Henson into the G-Unit Film & TV division fold after seeing headlines that Taraji fired her entire team following her time as Cookie on FOX’s Empire.
“They dropped the ball fvck em @tarajiphenson I’m ready to work let’s get it ! GLG GreenLightGang G-unit Film&Tv,” 50, who stays petty, wrote. Read more
Influencer documented husband’s threats. Then he murdered her in front of daughter before killing himself (People)
A Hawaii mother was shot and killed in front of her 11-year-old daughter by her estranged husband, who later died by suicide, authorities said, according to multiple reports.
Theresa Cachuela, 33, was killed Friday at a shopping center in Honolulu, authorities said, reported Hawaii News Now, Island News and KHON2. Theresa and her daughter were heading to the bank when police said Jason Calchuela, 44, approached them and shot his wife, according to police.
Jason was later found dead behind a residence, KHON2 reported, citing police. Read more
Israel readies for war on 7 fronts as attacks recorded in neighbouring countries (Independent)
Israel has warned they are in a war on seven fronts as attacks recorded in a handful of neighbouring countries in the last 48 hours spark fears of the conflict escalating to the wider region.
In an address to the Israeli government on Tuesday, Yoav Gallant, the country’s defence minister and one of only three members of its war cabinet, said they were coming under attack from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, Iraq, Yemen and Iran.
“We are in a multifront war and coming under attack from seven theatres,” he said, before listing them all. Read more
Ukraine says at least 1 killed in Russian attack on Kherson rail station (Aljazeera)
Ukrainian officials say at least one person has been killed and four others injured in a Russian attack on a rail station in the southern city of Kherson, as Russia’s invasion continues to take a heavy toll on Ukrainian civilians.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenk said the Russian shelling struck the rail station on Tuesday as about 140 people there were preparing for an evacuation, killing a policeman.
“Thanks to the clear actions of the police, everyone was successfully taken to safe places,” Klymenko said on Telegram. Read more
Mariah Carey’s ‘‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’’ adds record 17th week at No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 Chart (Billboard)
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” strings up a record-extending 17th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart (dated Dec. 30).
The modern seasonal standard also tops the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart for a 12th frame.
Plus, Dean Martin’s “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!” hits the top 10 of both the Global 200 (11-7) and Global Excl. U.S. (13-10) for the first time; José Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” returns to the Global 200’s top 10 (12-10); and Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree” makes its first appearance in the Global Excl. U.S. top 10 (11-9), as it rises 10-6 on the Global 200. Read more
Glen Powell reuniting with Scream Queens creator Ryan Murphy for Broadway musical and shares update on Twister film spinoff (Deadline)
Glen Powell is preparing his Broadway debut and is working with producer Ryan Murphy to make it happen.
The Anyone But You star is reuniting with the Scream Queens co-creator, the horror series in which he starred back in 2015, playing the role of Chad Radwell.
“Ryan Murphy and I, we’re actually making a musical together. We don’t really have any plans to be back in the television world together, but we’ll be on Broadway together,” Powell told Vogue. Read more
Color Purple outshines box office predictions by earning 2nd-biggest Christmas day opening of all time (People)
The Color Purple is a holiday box office hit.
The new movie musical starring Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and more surpassed expectations at the domestic box office, taking the No. 1 spot on Monday and accounting for the second-biggest Christmas Day opening of all time, multiple outlets reported.
According to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, the $18.1 million earned in North American theaters makes the Blitz Bazawule-directed musical the largest Christmas opening since 2009. The record ($24.6 million) remains that year’s Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr. Read more
Solanke bags 12th EPL goal of season in Bournemouth’s 3-0 win against Fulham (CompleteSports)
Dominic Solanke netted his 12th league goal in the Premier League this season as in-form Bournemouth thrashed Fulham 3-0 on Boxing Day, Completesports.com reports.
Solanke continued his great form in front of goal as he has now scored in three consecutive games.
Also, the 26-year-old has now scored five goals in his last three games for Bournemouth. Read more
Foxes shop for Ndidi’s replacement (Sun)
Leicester City have reportedly identified Black Stars-eligible midfielder Pierre Dwomoh as a possible replacement for Wilfred Ndidi whose time at the club appears to be coming to an end.
According to Italian media via Caughtoffside, the Championship table-toppers have set sights on the 19-year-old as a replacement for their veteran midfielder.
Dwomoh is currently spending a loan term with Belgian outfit, RWD Molenbeek from Royal Antwerp and has played 21 games this term and has 2 goals and one assist. Read more
USC’s JuJu Watkins is poised to step in as the next big star of women’s college basketball (NBC)
Caitlin Clark — the current Associated Press national player of the year — is in what may be her final season at Iowa. She could stay one more year as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as could Angel Reese of national champion LSU.
Regardless of their futures, JuJu Watkins is poised to step in as the next big star of the women’s game.
The Southern California freshman guard is the nation’s second-leading scorer at 26.8 points per game, right behind Clark, who leads with 30.5. Read more
Jurgen Klopp already gutted as Liverpool prepare to lose ‘very important’ £16m player (HitC)
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has rued the timing of Wataru Endo’s form as he prepares to head off the Asian Cup in early 2024.
The Reds picked up another win on Tuesday evening, beating Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor.
Liverpool were rampant in the first half but only had a 1-0 lead thanks to a lovely Darwin Nunez strike. Read more
Manchester United: Sir Jim Ratcliffe says it will take time and patience to bring success (BBC)
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has said it will take “time and patience” to “bring sporting success” back to Manchester United.
The British billionaire has agreed to buy a 25% stake in the Old Trafford club for about $1.3bn (£1.03bn).
His Ineos Group will take control of football operations and Ratcliffe will also provide $300m (£236m) for future investment into United’s stadium. Read more
Djokovic wants to emulate Brady and play on into his 40s (StraitsTimes)
Novak Djokovic has no plans to hang up his racket any time soon and is hoping he might be able to emulate American football great Tom Brady by extending his career well past his 40th birthday, the 36-year-old Serbian said on Tuesday.
Quarterback Brady played 23 seasons in the National Football League, winning seven Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before finally calling it quits at the age of 45 earlier this year.
World number one Djokovic, who is preparing for the start of his 22nd season as a professional by playing an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Riyadh on Wednesday, said he had already learned plenty from Brady. Read more