Boat passenger jumps into Lagos lagoon, drowns (Punch)
A female adult, Nimotalahi Ishola, has jumped into the lagoon while on-board a ferry at Igando, in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Online learnt that the incident happened around 9 pm on Saturday shortly after the boat left the Isuti jetty in the community.
Ishola was said to be in the boat with 11 other passengers while en route to the Totowu area of Ogun State when she suddenly pulled her life jacket and committed the act. Read more
Again, vandals destroy 330kV transmission line in Abuja (Tribune)
Again, vandals have destroyed the Shiroro-Katampe 330kV transmission line, belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
This is the fifth of such incident recorded between February and March 2024, the Company stated.
Confirming the incident in a statement issued by the TCN Spokesperson, Ndidi Mba, the Company stated that the critical infrastructure had tripped around 9am on Sunday. Read more
‘You lied’, presidency hits Ningi over 2 versions of budget claim (DailyTrust)
The Presidency has refuted the claim by lawmaker representing Bauchi Central senatorial district, Senator Abdul Ningi, that are two versions of the 2024 budget.
In an interview with BBC Hausa over the weekend, Ningi said experts were reviewing the budget because there was a N3 trillion difference in the budget presented and another one passed underground.
Reacting to the development, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Sunday, said there is no truth in the allegation. Read more
Successful Nigerian doctors abroad considering returning home – Health minister (Channels)
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, says successful Nigerian doctors, nurses and health workers overseas are considering returning to Nigeria if the enabling infrastructure is provided.
“Some that have been successful are also begin to think of how to come back if the enabling infrastructure is provided,” Pate said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
The health minister said there are many health workers who chose to remain in Nigeria to serve the country despite the opportunity to move abroad where there are guaranteed of better pay and welfare package. Read more
Lagos to re-establish drainage right of way in Apapa (Nation)
The Lagos state government will begin enforcement operations to re-establish the 3-metre drainage Right of Way for drainages in Apapa on Monday, March 11.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, after an inspection tour to check the level of compliance, said the enforcement is coming after the expiration of notices and meetings with property owners to voluntarily move their fences that fall within the drainage setback earlier in the year.
According to him, the eight major collectors lacked maintenance for many years because the ministry had no access to them due to encroachment. Read more
Customs seize 1,464 bags of foodstuffs meant for Benin Republic (Punch)
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A in Ikeja, Lagos, disclosed that it intercepted three trucks loaded with 1,464 bags of foodstuffs heading to the Republic of Benin.
Addressing journalists at the command on Friday, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Hussein Ejibunu, said the consignments, containing 880 bags of white beans, 584 bags of onions, and 18 bags of dry pepper, were intercepted at Ajilete/Idiroko Road in Ogun State.
Ejibunu added that the intercepted goods were sold to Nigerians. Read more
5-storey building collapses in Anambra (Leadership)
A five-storey building under construction has collapsed in Onitsha, Anambra State’s commercial hub.
The building located at Basden Street, Fegge, Onitsha South local government area of the State, according to sources, caved in on Sunday morning.
Some workers were said to be on the fifth floor working when the building suddenly collapsed. Read more
$3,000 extortion: 2 Police officers in Rivers suspended (Sun)
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the suspension of two Assistant Superintendents of Police, Doubara Edonyabo and Talent Mungo attached to the Rivers State Police Command, for their involvement in the extortion of $3,000 from two citizens.
The State Police Command has on February 13, 2024, dismissed and Inspector Michael Odeyi, following his involvement in the extortion and recommended Edonyabo and Mungo for dismissal.
The trio had abducted the two men, believed to be businessmen, from Aba in neighbouring Abia State and brought them to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they forced them to transfer the said amount to the wallet of one of the officers. Read more
Simu Liu and girlfriend Allison Hsu step out together for glam date night at 2024 Oscars (People)
Simu Liu brought romance to the 2024 Oscars, where he had a date night on the red carpet with girlfriend Allison Hsu.
The couple looked perfect together, with both rocking monochrome looks. Liu, 34, wore all black while Hsu stepped out in all white.
The actor wore a Fendi look — which he described as a “beautiful getup” on Live from E!: The Oscars red carpet pre-show — that consisted of a black suit jacket and black trousers with an eye-catching silver broach. Read more
Kanye West debates not putting ‘Vultures 2’ on streaming services (HipHopDx)
Kanye West has said that he’s considering all options for releasing his new album, including keeping it off of streaming services.
Ye told the fan site YeFantatics, with whom he has been communicating in recent days, that he has been “talking with the team” about the method of release for his new album with Ty Dolla $ign, Vultures 2.
“We sell albums on Yeezy.com. I got 20 million instagram followers,” he wrote to YeFanatics. “When 5% of my followers buy an album [t]hat’s 1 million albums sold[.] That’s 300k more than the biggest album last year. Read more
Muslim countries announce start of Ramadan in shadow of Gaza war (AlJazeera)
Saudi officials have spotted the crescent moon and declared the holy fasting month of Ramadan for many of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims.
The officials saw the moon Sunday night, making Monday the first day of the fasting month, Saudi state television reported.
The month consists of Muslims abstaining from food and water from sunrise to sunset as they reflect more deeply on their faith and hold family gatherings. This year’s observance, for many, is marred by Israel’s war on Gaza. Read more
Robert Downey Jr wins best supporting actor Oscar for Oppenheimer (StraitsTimes)
American actor Robert Downey Jr won his first Academy Award on March 10; a best supporting actor statue for his villainous turn in blockbuster period drama Oppenheimer.
Downey bested a stacked field that included two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon), fan favourite Ryan Gosling (Barbie), Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things) and Sterling K. Brown (American Fiction).
The 58-year-old Downey played Lewis Strauss, the former chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission who mounted a behind-the-scenes campaign to strip scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer of his security clearance by tarring him as a communist. Read more
Oscars 2024: Billie Eilish wins best song, Ludwig Göransson wins best score (Stereogum)
The Barbie track “What Was I Made For?,” which was written by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, won for Best Original Song at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday night.
Eilish beat out a Best Original Song field that included another Barbie nominee in “I’m Just Ken,” which was written by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt and performed by Ryan Gosling; “It Never Went Away” from American Symphony, music and lyrics by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson; “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from Killers Of The Flower Moon, music and lyrics by Scott George; and “The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot, which was written by Diane Warren — her 15th loss in the Original Best Song category. Read more
Indonesian flight veered off course after both pilots allegedly fell asleep in the cockpit (NBC)
A Batik Air Indonesia pilot and his second-in-command are accused of allowing the flight they were operating to veer off course as they both took a snooze in the cockpit midflight, Indonesian officials said in a report.
The Jan. 25 flight, BTK6723, was carrying 153 passengers from Halu Oleo Airport in Kendari to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, said the report from Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee.
Both pilots, whose names were not included, had just completed a trip in the opposite direction, from Jakarta to Kendari, before they made the return, which is when they both fell asleep, the report said. Read more
Man and woman arrested after bodies removed from funeral parlour (Metro)
Two people have been arrested after a number of bodies were removed from a funeral home.
A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of ‘prevention of a lawful and decent burial’, fraud by false representation, and fraud by abuse of position.
They are both currently in police custody. Read more
Sporting Lagos crush Remo Stars 4-1 in Southwest derby (Vanguard)
Sporting Lagos on Sunday crushed Remo Stars 4-1 to claim supremacy in the South West derby.
The Southwest derby played at the iconic Mobolaji Johnson Arena (Onikan) saw the Tech Boys inflict the heaviest defeat so far on the Daniel Ogunbodede-tutored side this season.
Sporting Lagos FC got their first goal in the 4th minutes through a penalty, coolly slotted in by Junior Lokosa after his teammate, Godwin Odibo, was brought down by Remo Stars’ defenders in the 18 yard box. Read more
USWNT defeats Brazil to win inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup (USAToday)
At various points in the Concacaf W Gold Cup, the U.S. women’s national team didn’t appear to have the juice to win in an increasingly competitive regional landscape.
Once the world’s most feared team, the USWNT has looked like a diminished force in recent years. That trend continued at the Gold Cup, particularly in a stunning group-stage loss to Mexico.
But the USWNT kept grinding through this tournament, beating Colombia and Canada in the knockout stage to reach Sunday’s final against Brazil. And though it hardly put together a vintage performance at Snapdragon Stadium, the U.S. managed to do what it has done so many times over the years: win a title. Read more
South Korean golfer Kim Jae-hee wins Singapore Women’s Open on her birthday (StraitsTimes)
Four months ago, South Korean golfer Kim Jae-hee’s opportunity for a maiden Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour victory was snatched out of her hands.
She held the solo lead at the S-OIL Championship on Jeju Island with a few holes remaining. But due to bad weather, she was unable to complete her final round and all scores were voided.
Compatriot Sung Yu-jin, the 54-hole leader, was instead awarded the victory despite being out of contention when play was suspended. Kim, who had begun the day in second spot and one shot behind Sung, had to settle for another joint runner-up finish. Read more
Sinner, Alcaraz demolish Indian Wells opponents (RTHK)
Reigning Grand Slam champions Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz turned in dominating performances on Sunday to roll into the fourth round of the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters.
The two hottest young racquets in the sport showed no mercy in quick-fire victories with Australian Open champion Sinner overwhelming Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4.
“Almost perfect” Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, stepped up his 2023 title defense with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. Read more
Jonas Vingegaard wins Tirreno-Adriatico while Matteo Jorgenson triumphs at Paris-Nice (BBC)
Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard took overall victory at the Tirreno-Adriatico race, while Matteo Jorgenson triumphed at Paris-Nice.
Denmark’s Vingegaard, 27, ended Italy’s seven-stage race one minute and 24 seconds ahead of Spain’s Juan Ayuso.
American Jorgenson, 24, finished behind Remco Evenepoel on the final stage of Paris-Nice, beating the Belgian to overall victory by 30 seconds. Read more
Serie A: Lookman in action in Atalanta, Juventus’ 4-goal thriller (CompleteSports)
Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman was in action as Atalanta played out a 2-2 draw against Juventus in Sunday’s Serie A game.
The Nigerian international, who is making his 22 appearances, has netted 8 goals and bagged three assists this ongoing season.
Lookman replaced Gianluca Scamacca in the 52nd minute and made a positive impact in the game. Read more