Building Collapse: Lagos, insurance industry to enforce occupiers’ liability insurance (Vanguard)
To curb the menace of building collapse, the Lagos State Government, in partnership with the insurance industry, is putting modalities in place to implement and enforce ‘Occupiers’ Liability Insurance’ in the state.
This came as the state government lamented that no fewer than 480 buildings had collapsed in Lagos State alone, in the last 44 years.
Speaking at a press briefing at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting on compulsory insurance (Public Buildings), in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, the Director-General/CEO of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, said that the state government will ensure that Lagosians are safe and protected through the implementation of the Occupiers’ Liability Insurance.
Mojola said: “There is a need to enforce insurance on public buildings. Over 480 buildings have collapsed in Lagos State in the last 44 years. Many times when these dangerous disasters occur, the government is forced to compensate the victims.” Read more
Buhari meets APC govs over party crisis 3 days to convention (DailyTrust)
President Muhammadu Buhari is currently holding a closed-door meeting with the governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The governors, operating under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), were led to the meeting by their Chairman, who is the Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu.
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They arrive at the Presidential Villa after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting earlier chaired by the President.
Daily Trust learnt that the meeting was convened towards reaching a consensus ahead of Saturday’s National Convention of the ruling party, following signs of disagreements among party stakeholders over the choice of personalities purportedly endorsed by the President. Read more
Russia/Ukraine Crisis: Nigeria must act fast to avoid food crisis – Oxfam Nigeria (Independent)
A non-governmental organization (NGO) known as OXFAM Nigeria, has decried the regional war between Russia and Ukraine, warning that if something is not done to abate the situation, it may cause a devastating global food crisis.
The organization stated that governments must support the development of sustainable, resilient and local food systems, based on small-scale production and family farming that would form the very foundation of people’s food security as the current crisis underscores the urgency and importance of this.
This is contained in a press release by Oxfam International Country Director in Nigeria, Dr Vincent Ahonsi and signed by Rita Abiodun.
The statement said that in the short-term, donor governments must bridge the gap between what people can pay and higher prices, and deliver much-needed aid to people facing severe hunger who will be even more impacted by the rise in food prices. Read more
3 arrested for murder of 20-year-old Girl in Benue (ThisDay)
The Benue State Police command has arrested three persons in connection with the death of a lady in a hotel in Benue state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Catherine Anene, disclosed this while confirming the incident in Makurdi.
The young lady was found dead, last weekend, at a hotel around the Nyiman area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
A source disclosed that the lady, of about 20 years, had lodged into the hotel with a man, yet to be identified, but was later found dead in the room. Read more
Defection: Court fixes April 11 for judgment in suit seeking Dogara’s sack (Nation)
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, fixed April 11 for judgment in suit seeking for the declaration of the seat of Rep Yakubu Dogara vacant on account of his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Donatus Okorowo, who fixed the date, said though the judgment was earlier scheduled for today, it was not ready.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had asked the court to remove the former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dogara, as member representing Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, over his defection to APC.
While the PDP and its Bauchi State Chairman, Hamza Akuyam, are the plaintiffs, Dogara, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC are 1st to 5th defendants respectively in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1060/2020. Read more
ASUU: Students embark on skill acquisition as strike enters 6th week (Guardian)
Some tertiary institution students have resorted to learning different kinds of skills following the announcement of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to extend its one-month warning strike by another two months.
Some students made this known in separate interviews with the News Agency Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna.
Hajara Muhammed, a student of Nigerian Languages, Bayero University Kano(BUK), stated that she had anticipated resuming school after the initial warning strike; but was disappointed with the extension.
Mohammed explained that she would use the two months to learn fashion designing in order to develop herself and get busy.
“I am a 300 level student, going by our school calendar, we are supposed to round up the semester in one month but this strike has disrupted our plans. Read more
AMAA partners StarTimes to reward filmmakers at 2022 short film festival (Nation)
The African Movie Academy Awards, (AMAA) has partnered with one of Nigeria’s leading pay-tv companies, StarTimes, to hold a unique film festival for short films.
AMAA’s founder, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, made the announcement in Lagos, saying, “I am happy to announce a new venture in the long-term partnership between AMAA and StarTimes. The two media and television companies have partnered to grow the Nigerian and African film industry through a film festival solely for short films.”
On his part, StarTimes CEO, Alex Jian, said the collaboration with AMAA is very crucial and strategic with the growing demand for quality local content by Nigerian and African film practitioners. Jian further noted that StarTimes is glad to strengthen its partnership with AMAA to bring significant impact to the Nigerian and African film industry by ensuring the growth of filmmakers and getting value for their productions.
Ms Anyiam-Osigwe further shed more light on the film festival saying, “Our partnership will see short films airing from Mondays to Fridays on StarTimes leading channels like ST Nollywood plus, ST Nollywood, and ST Yoruba between 4PM and 6PM amongst other offerings. Read more
Senate passes amended Proceeds of Crime Bill
(Guardian)
The Senate has passed a reworked version of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Bill, 2022, after amending the provision of clause 74.
The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; and Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate had, on March 15, while relying on Orders 1(b) and 52(6) reconsidered its decision on clause 74 of the bill as passed.
The upper chamber had re-committed same to the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes.
Chairman, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters Committee, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, in his presentation said after the passage of the bill, series of reactions trailed its passage with respect to clause 74 which was amended in the course of deliberations.
He said, “In the original bill, clause 74 provides that, “Subject to the provisions of this Act, the defendant in any proceedings under this Act bears the burden of proving that he is is legitimate owner of the assets suspected to be proceeds of crime or derived from unlawful activity or that the assets is of legitimate origin and is not proceeds of unlawful activity.” Read more
Toyota Service Centre to develop auto industry – Osinbajo (Leadership)
Vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo has said the newly inauguratedToyota-certified service centre in Oshodi, Lagos stands out as a milestone achievement that would contribute immensely to the development of the auto industry and the nation’s economy.
He described the facility built by Toyota Nigeria Limited along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos, as a legacy project comprising a standard showroom, a collision repair centre, a general repair workshop with sophisticated equipment and a spare parts warehouse.
Speaking at the commissioning, Osinbajo said: “I must confess to being quite fascinated by the multiple resources and outcomes that this facility possesses and is designed to achieve.
“It is not merely a service centre for providing quality after-sale service (although we are told that is one of the objectives for establishing it), it is actually developed as a teaching, research and resource centre, to provide dealers with world-class, practical hands-on training.”
Arcade Fire to perform at 2022 Juno Awards (CBC)
Arcade Fire has been teasing its first album in five years, We, for weeks, and now it has been announced that the band will also perform at the 2022 Juno Awards. This will be the event’s first in-person iteration since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The band, which got its start in the Montreal indie scene more than two decades ago, is no stranger to the Junos: Arcade Fire has won 11 Juno Awards, nabbed 27 nominations and has also won a Grammy for album of the year for its third album, 2010’s The Suburbs. When Arcade Fire won its 2010 Grammy, many Americans didn’t yet know who the band was.
But that’s not the end of the resumé: as one of the most influential bands to come out of Canada, Arcade Fire has also been nominated for an Academy Award, won the Polaris Music Prize, released a horror film, collaborated with David Bowie and Mavis Staples, wrote a 45-minute instrumental piece for meditation app Headspace and recorded a heartstring-tugging version of “Baby Mine” for the live-action 2019 Disney film Dumbo.
This will be Arcade Fire’s first performance at the Junos since its 2018 appearance, where the band played the title cut from its 2017 album, Everything Now, which also won album of the year. Current members of the band include Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. Longtime member Will Butler, Win’s brother, announced earlier this week that he is no longer part of the band, though he did record on their upcoming album. Read more
Joe Perry touts the return of Aerosmith’s Las Vegas residency: ‘Fans want live music’ (USAToday)
Joe Perry hasn’t seen his Aerosmith bandmates since they walked offstage after a concert in Las Vegas in February 2020.
But the quintet that Perry calls “America’s garage band” will storm the city again in June with the return of its Deuces are Wild residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM.
The acclaimed show, which adeptly knits the fiery rock hits of Aerosmith’s five-decade career – “Walk This Way,” “Dream On” and “Living on the Edge,” among them – with deeper cuts such as “Hangman Jury” and “Seasons of Wither” is also a sonic and visual indulgence.
None of that will change during a spate of 24 dates from June 17 to Dec. 11– especially, Perry tells USA TODAY, the massive lift that juts the guitar hero and flamboyant frontman Steven Tyler over the audience during the encore. Read more
Young Thug, Meek Mill, Gunna, Nav + more to appear on YSL rapper T-Shyne’s new album
(HipHopDX)
Young Stoner Life rapper T-Shyne is set to drop his new album Confetti Nights via Young Thug’s label on April 1. Ahead of its release, the New York rapper has shared the tracklist for the project with some big-name features.
Made up of 15 tracks, the album includes guest spots from Gunna, Meek Mill, NAV, Swae Lee, JID, 6LACK and Dougie F, along with three appearances from Young Thug. The follow-up to 2018’s The Immaculate also contains his recent singles “Top 5” and “Feed the Fam.”
Additionally, Kevin Durant is on board as an executive producer alongside Young Thug.
Confetti Nights has been in the works for two years. During a recent interview with AllHipHop, T-Shyne explained the meaning behind the album. Read more
Lin-Manuel Miranda thanks TikTok fans for helping ‘Encanto’ soundtrack hit No. 1 (Variety)
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the multihyphenate who composed eight songs for Disney’s “Encanto” soundtrack, gave thanks to TikTok users who have made hits like “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” go viral on the platform — and helped push the film’s album to the top of the charts worldwide.
“I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for all of your outstanding videos featuring songs from ‘Encanto’ that have helped make it one of the top soundtracks on TikTok and all over the world,” Miranda said in a video shared by TikTok’s PR team.
He cited TikTokers’ “truly surreal and incredible ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ dances” and “the heartfelt stories set to ‘Dos Oruguitas.’” The latter song was nominated for an Oscar, while Disney did not submit “Bruno” for consideration.
Miranda continued, “It’s amazing what you’ve done and the way you guys have taken these songs and been inspired by them and made amazing artwork of your own — and I’m truly grateful.” Read more
Kodi Smit-McPhee called Kirsten Dunst after Oscar nomination: ‘My mother away from my mother’ (People)
Kirsten Dunst was Kodi Smit-McPhee’s first post-nominations phone call.
The 25-year-old actor scored his first Oscar nomination, Best Supporting Actor, for his role as Peter in The Power of the Dog.
When he found out the news, he was with his girlfriend, mom and younger brother, and he immediately called his onscreen mother Dunst to celebrate. Smit-McPhee’s costars Dunst, her fiancé Jesse Plemons, and Benedict Cumberbatch each got Academy Awards nominations as well, and their movie is the most nominated of the year with 12 total.
“I actually called Kirsten, I believe first. We had a little celebration and I asked where Jesse was, and he was on a set so I couldn’t contact him until the next day. But, yeah, it was my mother away from my mother!” says the actor as part of PEOPLE’s 2022 Oscars portfolio in this week’s issue. Read more
Nicolas Cage stands by every VOD movie he’s ever done (IGN)
Nicolas Cage has admitted that he starred in dozens of straight-to-VOD movies to pay off his debts, but he maintains that he genuinely cared about every role he signed up for.
In a new interview with GQ, Cage cleared up a common “misconception” about the reason why he’s accepted so many VOD movie roles over the past decade, explaining that he used the money from those jobs to help stabilize his fractious financial situation but that he never “phoned in” a performance, as he gave each role careful consideration before accepting it.
“When I was doing four movies a year, back to back to back, I still had to find something in them to be able to give it my all,” Cage said. “They didn’t work, all of them. Some of them were terrific, like Mandy, but some of them didn’t work. But I never phoned it in. So if there was a misconception, it was that. That I was just doing it and not caring. I was caring.”
The article notes that Cage blew through his $150 million fortune and spiralled into debt. He reportedly owed the IRS around $14 million and other creditors millions more, while also juggling the costs of caring for his elderly mother, so when traditional studio movie offers came to a halt, he sought an alternative that would keep him from filing for bankruptcy. Read more
Nigeria vs Ghana: Ademola Lookman arrives Super Eagles camp, Noble still expected (Punch)
No fewer than 23 Super Eagles players have arrived at the Super Eagles of Nigeria camp in Abuja as they prepare for a crucial 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off against the Black Stars of Ghana.
Ademola Lookman, who is newly invited to join the team, arrives at camp on Friday.
There was doubt over the Leicester City forward’s availability earlier after he was absent in Leicester’s weekend victory against Brentford.
The players in camp include: Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa) Read more
2 PL Clubs in touch with Pogba for Summer Move
(Sky)
Paul Pogba is attracting plenty of interest with his contract at Manchester United winding down this summer, with Premier League clubs among those keen on his services.
A number of European clubs – including Real Madrid, PSG and Juventus – remain in contact with the France international’s representatives about signing the midfielder on a free transfer this summer.
Sky Sports News understands no official offers have been made yet, but two Premier League clubs have also been in touch with Pogba’s camp.
The 29-year-old has not ruled out staying at Old Trafford – but there has been no new contract offer since last summer. Read more
Roman Abramovich makes first big footballing decision after Chelsea sanctions were announced (FootballLondon)
Soon to be former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is reportedly in talks to buy Turkish Super Lig club Goztepe amid his sale of the west London club.
With the appointed Raine Group in charge of choosing the next set of owners alongside senior figures like Marina Granovskaia and Bruce Buck at the club, the Russian’s views on his successor are being left in the hands of his trusted allies. Whilst the process is ongoing with all interested parties set to hear back by Thursday, Abramovich is already moving on with his life post Chelsea.
The billionaire has been sanctioned by the UK government and more recently the EU. What wasn’t expected was the major implications freezing his assets would have on the club and the day to day running has stretched the Blues to the limits with complications with selling tickets, merchandise and even getting to games coming to the fore in recent weeks.
However, Thomas Tuchel has ensured that these complications have not affected on-pitch performances, as shown by the six-game winning streak that has been achieved during these turbulent times. With the international break upon us though, the takeover situation will now dominate the agenda until a conclusion is reached with the Brentford game in mind for Todd Boehly’s consortium if they were to be the chosen one. Read more
Ferrari’s car inspected by the FIA after the Bahrain GP (RacingNews365)
The Ferrari of Carlos Sainz was called in for a randomly-selected inspection by the FIA after the Bahrain Grand Prix, it has been confirmed.
A Technical Delegate’s Report has been released, which states that Sainz’s car was chosen as part of a process in which a car that finishes inside the top 10 is selected at random for further physical inspections.
The document from Jo Bauer, FIA Formula 1 Technical Delegate, reads: “After the race of the Bahrain GP, car number 55 was randomly chosen among the top 10 cars for more extensive physical inspections.
“Subject to these physical inspections were front and rear wheel bodywork, front and rear wheel covers, front and rear wheel rims and front and rear wheel fasteners.” Read more
Hearn on Canelo matchmaking criticism: He can’t win! Résumé speaks for itself (BoxingScene)
Eddie Hearn thinks Canelo Alvarez is in an impossible situation as far as his “haters” are concerned.
The head of Matchroom Boxing recently decried those critics who are holding the Mexican superstar to ludicrously high standards.
Hearn was responding to a meme that the 31-year-old Alvarez re-posted on his Instagram story showing how his critics keep “moving the goalposts.”
“If he fought Charlo he ducked Bivol,” the post read. “If he fought Bivol he ducked Charlo. If he fought Beterbiev he ducked Bivol. If he fought Benavidez he ducked Charlo. If he fought Charlo he ducked Benavidez,” he posted on Instagram.”If he fought Bivol he ducked Beterbiev. If he fought Beterbiev he ducked Charlo. If he fought Benavidez he ducked Beterbiev. If he fought Bivol he ducked Benavidez. If he fought Charlo he ducked Beterbiev. If he fought Benavidez he ducked Bivol. If he fought Beterbiev he ducked Benavidez. My brain is fried.” Read more
‘Absolutely unexpected’: Rafael Nadal injury a ‘real shame’ ahead of French Open (Eurosport)
Rafael Nadal’s injury sustained at Indian Wells was “absolutely unexpected” and a “real shame”, according to Eurosport expert Alex Corretja.
The 2022 Australian Open champion has been ruled out for four to six weeks with a cracked rib suffered during his defeat in the final against Taylor Fritz in the California desert on Sunday.
Nadal was visibly struggling to breathe during the match, saying afterwards that he was finding it “difficult”, having had to lie down at times to receive treatment.
The 35-year-old had been struggling with a pectoral injury during the tournament, but on his return to Spain on Tuesday he told reporters that he was “all good”. However, after consultation with doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, it was revealed that he has a stress fracture in the third-left costal arch – an injury that occurred during the match. Read more