Beware! Lagos airport’s car park unsafe for travellers, vehicles (Guardian)
For the third time in less than a week, the Seymour Aviation Multi-level Car Park at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, has recorded multiple vandalisation of vehicles at the fee-for-service facility.
Motorists and travellers alike have complained about forced entries into parked cars, removal of car accessories and personal effects, coupled with harassment of users. Most worrisome is that the operator of the six-storey ultramodern facility is as well handicapped.
A driver, Kehinde Emiola, had parked at the facility on Monday while awaiting his principal’s return around noon. About 30 minutes later, according to him, he fetched the Highlander Jeep and proceeded to pick his boss.
“It was my boss that noticed that one of the side mirrors and rear light were gone. I was totally in shock because I have not seen anything like that before. Some people said such things now happen at the car park,” Emiola said. Read more
Customs Intercepts N1.4b Tramadol In Lagos (Leadership)
The Seme border command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said, it intercepted some items suspected to be tramadol capsules concealed with packaged jumbo size adult diapers in a container
The items, according to the Customs Area Controller, Comp. Bello Jibo have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1, 447,297,050 only.
In a statement by the command’s public relations officer, Hussain Abdulahi, the container number is MRKU 9090415.
Abdullahi, who quoted Comptroller Jibo, said the container was handed over to the Command on November 15, by the Republic of Benin Authorities under transit to Nigeria. Read more
NIMC targets 2.5 million NIN registrations monthly (Punch)
The Federal Government has disclosed that the National Identity Management Commission will enroll about 2.5 million people monthly for the next three years.
It is expected that an additional 100 million people will be registered within this three-year period.
This was disclosed in the National Development Plan 2021-2025 launched by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
According to the plan, identity management has been a major issue for previous administrations. However, the current regime is addressing this challenge through the NIN-SIM linkage currently ongoing in the country. Read more
Lagos, royal family showcase history of late monarch (Punch)
The Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau in partnership with Isale Eko Descendants’ Union and the family of Oba Musendiku Adeniji-Adele II have showcased a historical exhibition of the late monarch.
The Director-General, LASRAB, Mrs Bilikis Adebiyi-Abiola, said this in a statement on Tuesday.
Adebiyi-Abiola, who was represented by Dr Kolawole Oseni, a director in the agency, was quoted to have said this during the exhibition series at Isale Eko House, Iga Idugaran.
She said, “We, at LASRAB, are committed to keeping proper documentation and we thank the family of our late King Musendiku Adeniji-Adele for being very cautious in
keeping all these records and that is why we are able to preserve some of the archival materials being celebrated today. Read more
FG responding to passport supply to Embassy in Italy – NUNAI (Vanguard)
The National Union of Nigerian Associations in Italy (NUNAI) says the Federal Government is already responding to its appeal for the supply of passport booklets to the Embassy in Italy.
NUNAI confirmed this in a video interview with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, debunking recent media publication that over 1.5 million Nigerians are yet to be issued their passports.
Frank David, Secretary of NUNAI, who described the recent report as a fallacy, said the total number of Nigerians in Italy are not up to a million.
David said it is however impossible for over one million Nigerians supposedly living in Italy to be stranded for lack of passport.
He noted that currently, there are 209,000 Nigerians in Italy, 180,000 are legally documented with 29,000 yet to be documented. Read more
Buhari To Sign 2022 Budget On Friday (Channels)
President Muhammadu Buhari will sign the 2022 Appropriation Bill on Friday, the Presidency has confirmed.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, confirmed this to Channels Television on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, the 2022 budget has been transmitted by the National Assembly and the President will sign the bill into law by 10am.
This comes barely a week after lawmakers in the House of Representatives and Senate chambers of the National Assembly passed a budget of N17.126 trillion, increasing the benchmark price of crude from $57 to $62 per barrel. Read more
Oil belongs to Nigeria not Niger Delta, says Obasanjo (Nation)
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday took an exception to Chief Edwin Clark’s reaction to his (Obasanjo’s) insistence that Niger Delta cannot lay claim to the crude oil found in the region.
Chief Obasanjo reminded the leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ijaw National Congress (INC) that the mineral resources found in any particular state or territory does not belong to the area of location, but to Nigeria.
Obasanjo emphasised that there cannot be two sovereign entities within a country, stressing that this situation cannot change until the Nigerian federation is dissolved.
He refuted claims by Clark that he hated the people of Niger Delta due to resource control agitation. Read more
2023: Masari Insists On Power Shift to South (DailyTrust)
Katsina state governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has reiterated his position on power shift to the southern part of the country, saying that would help consolidate the nation’s confederation system.
Masari said this while responding to questions from journalist during a media parley held at his residence on Tuesday.
“Let me make my position very clear. This constitution is made for us, not us made for the constitution. Yes, constitution does not say we must shift power, but if you shift have you violated any part of the constitution?”
“I still believe that, from my personal opinion as Aminu Bello Masari, until such a time when we have stable polity, I think rotation or shifting power from time to time will
help consolidate our confederation. I support that and I still maintain my stand and I have the constitutional right to make such comment,” he said. Read more
Nwosu: Uzodinma Ordered Security Operatives To Strip Me Half Naked (DailyTrust)
Governorship candidate of Action Alliance in the 2019 elections in Imo State, Uche Nwosu, has said his arrest while attending his mother’s memorial service was sanctioned by Governor Hope Uzodinma.
Nwosu was arrested on Sunday at St Peter’s Anglican Church Eziama Obaire in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state four days after the burial of his mother.
Nwosu, a son-in-law to a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, who spoke to journalists in Owerri, on Tuesday, said the plan was to assassinate him.
The politician chronicled how he arrested and taken to Enugu airport, where he boarded a chartered aircraft to Abuja.
He said that the governor used his chief Security officer and other security operatives attached to the state government house to arrest, humiliate and possibly put him away. Read more
Kanye West ‘buys house across street from Kim Kardashian’ 10 months after divorce (Metro)
Kanye West has bought a house across the street from estranged wife Kim Kardashian, 10 months after she filed for divorce, it has been claimed.
The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, who shares children North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm with the Stronger rapper, confirmed her split in February of this year, after six years of marriage.
She has since moved on, sparking a rumored romance with SNL star Pete Davidson, while her former beau has publicly asked to reunite.
According to reports, the dad-of-four has now purchased a new property just a stone’s throw from his ex’s mega mansion in LA. Read more
Boris Johnson says UK will have no new COVID-19 restrictions before New Year (TheHill)
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said he will not introduce any new coronavirus restrictions in England before the New Year.
The decision goes against new, restrictive measures made in other parts of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
The U.K. like other countries is battling a deadly surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations driven by the omicron variant.
“We will continue to monitor the data carefully, but there will be no new restrictions introduced in England before the New Year,” Johnson tweeted. Read more
Malcolm in The Middle’s Frankie Munitz reveals Bryan Cranston still checks in ‘every two weeks’ 15 years after show ended (Metro)
Over 15 years since Malcolm In The Middle came to an end, Frankie Muniz has revealed the incredible gesture Bryan Cranston has continued ever since.
Frankie, 36, starred as the titular Malcolm in the sitcom, which followed the child genius keeping his head afloat while at the centre of his hectic family, with Bryan, 65, playing his frantic father Hal.
Bryan has gone on to be one of the most acclaimed actors, nominated for an Oscar and multiple awards as Walter White in Breaking Bad, one of the most recognised and celebrated characters of the 21st century.
Speaking about Bryan on the Steve-O’s Wild Sis podcast recently, Frankie told the Jackass star: ‘No lie, he’s the greatest human being alive, as an actor, as a person. Read more
‘It’s about bloody time’: Mohale Motaung’s sister blasts cyberbullies (TheSouthAfrican)
Mohale Motaung has defended himself after nasty comments from cyberbullies following his separation from his estranged husband Somizi Mhlongo a few times.
Mohale’s sister Palesa Kwanaite has now taken matters into her own hands and defended her brother, specifically highlighting that he did not “want a cent” from the former Idols SA judge.
On 1 August this year, Sunday World released audio clips where Mohale dropped several bombshells about his marriage to Somizi. In the audio clips, the actor claimed Somizi tried to sabotage his relationship with Connie and Shona Ferguson after he was planning to work with them.
The award-winning media personality also claimed that Somizi threatened him with a knife. Read more
Tutu’s daughter recalls day he saved man from being burnt alive (TimesLive)
As South Africans celebrate the life of anti-apartheid hero Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who died on Sunday, his daughter Nontombi Naomi Tutu recalls the day her father stepped in to save a young man from being burnt alive by an angry mob as one of her proudest memories.
In 1985, the country was in a state of emergency as banned liberation parties, including the now ruling ANC, sought to ratchet up political pressure and overthrow white-minority rule.
At a funeral in July of that year on the outskirts of Johannesburg, archived video footage shows Tutu, clearly visible in his purple clerical robes, stepping in to push back against angry young mourners who were beating and kicking a defenceless man curled up in the fetal position on the dusty ground.
Accused of being an apartheid collaborator, the man is doused with petrol and is moments away from being “necklaced” — the term used to describe having a tyre placed around your neck, doused with flammable liquid and then set alight. Read more
Bo Burnham & Kid Cudi Vinyl Releases Spur Big Gains on Top Album Sales Chart (Billboard)
The vinyl releases of Bo Burnham’s Inside (The Songs) and Kid Cudi’s Man On the Moon III: The Chosen pushes both albums back onto Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated Jan. 1, 2022) — and straight into the top five.
On the Top Album Sales chart, Inside (The Songs) re-enters at No. 3 (a new high, and its first week in the top 10) with 44,000 copies sold in the U.S. in the week ending Dec. 23 (up 15,220%; and easily the album’s best sales week). The album was released on vinyl and CD for the first time on Dec. 17. Of its 44,000 sold for the week, vinyl sales comprised 36,000; CD sales comprised 8,000 and digital download sales comprised a negligible sum.
Inside (The Songs) was initially released on June 10 as a digital download and via streaming services. It spent five weeks on Top Album Sales (the June 19 through July 17-dated charts) and then left the tally until it re-entered this week.
Meanwhile, Kid Cudi’s Man On the Moon III: The Chosen also scores a new high on Top Album Sales, as it re-enters at No. 4 (surpassing its previous high-water mark of No. 10) with 42,000 sold (up 4,359%; its best sales week). The Chosen dropped on vinyl LP for the first time on Dec. 17. Vinyl sales comprised 41,500 of the album’s sales for the week. Read more
China asks US to stop Elon Musk’s satellites approaching its space station (SCMP)
China’s foreign ministry has urged the United States to prevent its satellites approaching the Chinese space station Tiangong again, following two close encounters.
“The United States should take immediate measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, and adopt a responsible attitude to safeguard the lives of astronauts in orbit and the safe and stable operation of space facilities,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday.
Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) Starlink satellites twice approached the Tiangong in orbit, in July and October, forcing it into avoidance manoeuvres.
The Chinese delegation to the United Nations sent a diplomatic note to the UN secretary general this month to complain of the close encounters with SpaceX Starlink satellites, citing the Outer Space Treaty. Read more
Napoli may stop Osimhen from 2022 African Cup of Nations (Guardian)
Super Eagles Striker, Victor Osimhen’s hopes of playing in Nigeria’s opening game at the Cameroon 2022 African Cup of Nations against Egypt is hanging in the balance as his club’s doctors have said he is not yet fit for action.
In fact, Napoli may even stop the striker from representing Nigeria at Cameroun 2022 to allow his collar bone injury to heal properly.
Napoli is expected to return to Serie A action on January 6 against Juventus, which is three days before the kick-off of the African Cup of Nations.
Nigeria’s game against Egypt is on January 11, but Napoli’s doctors say Osimhen may not be sufficiently healed before the game.
According to football-italia.net, Osimhen spent the Christmas break in Nigeria, but he is expected to return to Naples on Friday for a medical check after a cheekbone surgery undergone at the end of November. Read more
Jurgen Klopp reacts to Leicester City defeat as Liverpool hit bump in title race (Metro)
Jurgen Klopp insists he is not worrying about the growing gap between Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table and felt Leicester deserved their win on Tuesday night.
The Merseysiders missed a host of gilt-edged chances at the King Power Stadium, with Mohamed Salah’s penalty saved and his follow-up header hitting the crossbar before Sadio Mane scuffed a one-on-one over the bar at the start of the second half.
Substitute Ademola Lookman then punished the visitors’ profligacy, bursting into the box and firing past Alisson at his near post as Leicester’s injury and Covid-hit squad dug in to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
The result means Liverpool are six points adrift of City at the halfway stage of the season – and it could be 12 points by the time Liverpool next play – though Klopp is not panicking just yet. Read more
Orlando Pirates handed major transfer boost for star Nigerian! (TheSouthAfrican)
Orlando Pirates have been handed a major transfer boost in their quest to sign Nigerian striker Chibuike Ohizu.
The Sekhukhune United striker has reportedly caught the eye of the Buccaneers after a stellar debut season in the Premier Soccer League.
According to reports, Orlando Pirates may very well be able to land the 25-year-old Nigerian striker from Sekhukhune United.
Sekhukhune however will only let their star striker go if their financial conditions are met meaning the Buccaneers will have to dig deep in their pockets. Read more
‘For sure’ – Jurgen Klopp defends Mohamed Salah after noticing what James Maddison did before Liverpool penalty (LiverpoolEcho)
Jurgen Klopp says he expects a big improvement when Liverpool are hosted by Chelsea on Sunday.
And the Reds boss refused to point the finger at Mohamed Salah, who missed a penalty in the 1-0 defeat at Leicester on Tuesday night.
The Reds failed to shine at the King Power and were beaten by Ademola Lookman’s second-half strike after Salah had missed from 12 yards in the first period following a foul from Wilfried Ndidi.
Klopp says he and his squad will talk things through at their AXA Centre training base this week as they get set to go head-to-head with Chelsea, who moved level on points with Reds after a 3-1 win against Aston Villa on Boxing Day. Jurgen Klopp says he expects a big improvement when Liverpool are hosted by Chelsea on Sunday. Read more
Lee Dixon backs Arsenal’s push to sign Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Metro)
Lee Dixon believes Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin would be an excellent signing for Arsenal.
The Gunners have been linked with a move for the 24-year-old, who scored 16 Premier League goals last season but has been sidelined for the majority of the current campaign due to a broken toe.
Arsenal are set to be in the market for a new striker at the end of the season with Alexandre Lacazette’s contract set to expire, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future at the club is in major doubt after he was stripped of the captaincy earlier this month.
And Dixon has supported Arsenal’s push for the Everton forward. Read more
John Madden, Legendary NFL Coach and Broadcaster, Dies at 85 (Newsweek)
Football legend John Madden has passed away at the age of 85, the National Football League (NFL) announced Tuesday.
“We all know [John Madden] as the Hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who worked for every major network, but more than anything, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“Nobody loved football more than coach. He was football. He was an incredible sounding board to me and so many others,” Goodell continued. “There will never be another John Madden, and we will be forever indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today.”
A cause of death has not been released, but the NFL said that Madden died “unexpectedly.” Read more
Verstappen can’t afford to be ‘very clean’ like Hamilton (Formula1News)
Max Verstappen needed to be very aggressive and take all the opportunities that presented themselves to triumph in 2021, in contrast to Sir Lewis Hamilton, who has won his F1 championships in a “very clean way.”
That’s according to ex-F1 driver David Coulthard, who suggested that the Brit can afford to be less aggressive due to him often driving a much-superior car.
Verstappen won 10 races last season and finished on the podium on 18 occasions en route to championship glory.
He dramatically beat Hamilton to the championship on the final lap of the season finale in Abu Dhabi, after a controversial decision by race director Michael Masi to allow only the five lapped cars between the race leaders to un-lap themselves. Read more