CBN raises interest rate to 13% (Punch)
The Central Bank of Nigeria on Tuesday raised the interest rate to 13 per cent for the first time in two years.
The interest rate was raised from 11.5 per cent to 13.5 per cent.
The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, announced this on Tuesday while addressing the reporters after the Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Abuja.
Justifying the raise, Emefiele said the MPC is suspicious there might be an aggressive accretion of inflation.
To prevent the looming inflation, he said, the MPC had to increase the monetary policy rate by 150 basis points.
Meanwhile, the nation’s apex bank retained the asymmetric corridor around the MPR at +100 /-700 basis points, Cash Reserve Ratio at 27.4 per cent, and Liquidity Ratio at 30 percent.
“Six members voted to raise the MPR by 150 basis points, four members’ by 100 basis points and one member, by 50 basis points. Read more
Okada ban: Lagos to intensify crushing of seized motorcycles (Guardian)
Amid security reports that some of those parading as commercial motorcyclists are indeed hoodlums and bandits, who have invaded Lagos, the State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, the Task Force, said it will intensify the crushing of seized motorcycles.
According to the Task Force, this will send a signal that the agency is poised to enforce the ban on activities of commercial motorcyclists in six Local Councils of the state as announced by Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu.
Chairman of the Task Force, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Shola Jejeloye, who revealed this, told The Guardian that despite arrests, the number of Okada riders have increased in the state. Read more
I worked for this, Portable celebrates double Headies nominations (Punch)
Fast rising Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has celebrated his double nominations in the 2022 Headies awards.
Portable, who is a first-time nominee, bagged double nominations in the ‘Best Street-Hop Artiste’ and ‘Rookie of the Year’ categories.
Celebrating his nominations, Portable noted that he worked for the recognitions and expressed hope that he would clinch both awards.
Sharing the graphics of his nominations on his Instagram page, the Zazuu Zeh crooner wrote, “I know I worked for this and I know it’s for me base on believe.
“The Headies don show love . Akoi Grace King. ZAzuu Best rookie and best street pop of the year. ZAzuu ZEH. Street ti Take Over @olamide @poco_lee Kala Wuwa Ika ZEH Nation.” Read more
Lagos warns residents to disregard false video over market demolition (Sun)
The Lagos State Government has described the video circulating online showing officials of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) at Alaba-Rago Market as the evil works of mischievous people.
The government has blamed it as the evil plan of some wicked people trying to fuel religious and ethnic crises in the state.
In a statement by Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso,”the video is accompanied by a voice, which is not that of any official of the two agencies. The voice is that of a faceless blogger trying to whip up ethnic and political sentiments over the planned relocation of traders for the remodelling of Alaba Rago Market.
“The video is authentic because Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, and Chairman, Lagos State Task Force, CSP Shola Jejeloye, were in Alaba Rago last Thursday, to brief the traders on the planned relocation. The traders have 14 days to vacate the area to pave the way for the re-modelling. Read more
Lagos Primaries: PDP will come out strong, unlike APC – Bode George (Independent)
Chief Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that despite the crisis in the party’s primary election in Lagos State, PDP will come out very strong at the end of the exercise, unlike the All Progressives Congress (APC) because the main opposition party has better party managers.
George who spoke on Arise Television on Tuesday said that he has been in PDP since 1998, and there has never been a time that the exercise will be smooth sailing.
“There will be a crisis that is why you have leaders, elders and managers. The ability to manage the crisis will be the strength that will convince Nigerians that if they entrust their resources to your hands you will manage them on their behalf.
“It is not the other way that the APC is managing Nigeria. By the end of the week, the people will see which primaries will be best managed, he said. Read more
EKSU announces resumption of academic activities (Tribune)
The management of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (EKSU), has announced the commencement of normal academic activities with effect from Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
This is despite the ongoing nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other non-teaching staff unions.
A statement by the university’s Head of Directorate of Information and Corporate Affairs, Mr Bode Olofinmuagun, said the university management at its meeting held on Monday (May 23, 2022) discussed the impact of the ongoing national strike by the four staff unions as it affects the university vis a vis academic and other activities.
It reads: “The management noted the pains being experienced by students and parents as a result of the ongoing protracted industrial action. It noted further that one academic session (2021/2022) of admission is still outstanding, while the second semester of the 2020/2021 academic session is yet to be concluded. Read more
Bobrisky accuses Tonto Dikeh of diverting foundation donations (Nation)
Ex-besties Tonto Dikeh and Bobrisky have renewed hostilities, washing their dirty linens on social media.
Bobrisky alleged actress Diekh has no foundation but uses donations by fans to purchase packets of cigarettes.
In an audio message, the cross dresser rained abuses on the actress, vowing he was ready to deal with her.
In the audio Bobrisky said: “Listen to me, I’m the worst nightmare you can ever have issues with on this instagram. Read more
Kidnapped Anglican Cleric, son, regain freedom in Ondo (Vanguard)
Kidnapped Anglican clergy in Ondo State, Venerable Olu Obanla and his son have regained their freedom after the payment of N1m ransom to their abductors.
Family sources confided in Vanguard that the victims were released on Monday at about 1230pm.
Recall that they were abducted along Ifon-Okeluse Road, in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo state, last weekend.
They were on their way to Okeluse in Ondo State, when ambushed and marched to the forest by the bandits. Read more
Climate protesters shut down Shell annual meeting in UK (Punch)
Like Nigeria, several climate activists, on Tuesday, stormed an ongoing Annual General Meeting of the British Oil Company, Shell, to protest oil exploration by the company.
The protesters in their numbers gathered at Shell’s venue of its Annual General Meeting in London, United Kingdom, chanting “Shame on Shell”, and singing “all we are saying, stop oil and gas”, and “we will stop you.”
According to the live streaming by @XRUK_Live on Twitter, Shell’s AGM was put on hold as the protesters practically took over the venue.
The PUNCH reported, Monday, that civil society organisations comprising people of the Niger Delta region, environmental activists, representatives of host oil and gas communities, human rights groups, students, youths, artisans, and media practitioners, on Monday, held a rally at the office of Shell, Marina, in Lagos. Read more
“Gory horror Crimes of the Future” sparks walkouts at Cannes Film Festival within first five minutes (Metro)
David Cronenberg’s incredibly divisive horror Crimes of the Future sparked some walkouts at Cannes Film Festival – as well as a six-minute standing ovation.
The film, which stars Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux, and Viggo Mortensen, proved too much for some attendees, with people walking out of the screening during gory scenes.
It’s reported that the majority of the walkouts happened within the first five minutes of the film, while more happened during a gory scene involving Lea and an open wound.
However, it wasn’t exactly unexpected, with director Cronenberg previously predicting people leaving the screening.
‘There are some very strong scenes,’ he said, ‘I mean, I’m sure that we will have walkouts within the first five minutes of the movie. I’m sure of that. Read more
Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas in action-packed trailer for Netflix’s The Gray Man (People)
Ryan Gosling is a man on the run — from Chris Evans — in The Gray Man.
The first trailer for Netflix’s upcoming spy thriller, from Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo, dropped on Tuesday, and shows Gosling, 41, as a CIA agent squaring off against his unhinged former colleague (Evans, 40).
The action-packed footage also gives glimpses of Ana de Armas and Regé-Jean Page in the film.
According to an official synopsis, “The Gray Man is CIA operative Court Gentry (Gosling), a.k.a., Sierra Six. Plucked from a federal penitentiary and recruited by his handler, Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton), Gentry was once a highly-skilled, Agency-sanctioned merchant of death.” Read more
UK festivals: Just 13 per cent of headliners are female, report finds (Independent)
Only one in ten headliners at the UK’s top music festivals will be women this summer.
Out of 200 headline acts, a YouGov survey found 26 were female, one identified as non-binary, 24 had a mixed line-up of male and female performers, and the rest (149) were either an all-male band or a male solo artist.
This means just 13 per cent of UK headliners will be female musicians this summer, a BBC study has found.
This year’s Glastonbury headliners are Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish. Read more
Jesy Nelson hints at musical comeback with Black Eyed Peas (OK!)
Little Mix recently bid a tearful farewell to their fans as they performed their final show in London before going on a hiatus.
But it seems former member Jesy Nelson isn’t letting the grass grow under her feet as she works on her musical comeback.
She sent tongues wagging when she shared snaps of herself in the studio back in February with none other than Black Eyed Peas member and judge of The Voice Will.i.Am.
But now a music industry insider has hinted that, in fact, it’s Will’s band The Black Eyed Peas themselves that Jesy is teaming up with! Read more
Rob Reiner reacts to being on Russia’s ban list (THR)
Rob Reiner is responding to being “permanently banned” from Russia along with 962 other notable Americans.
The Princess Bride director released a statement joking about being on the list.
“No comment, except to say that I’m heartbroken and will have to live with the disappointment,” the director told Deadline on Tuesday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the travel bans Saturday in reaction to sanctions imposed on the country in wake of the country’s devastating Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. Read more
Rape charges against film director Luc Besson are dropped in France (DailyMail)
Rape charges against French film director Luc Besson have been dropped by a Paris court of appeal.
Dutch-Belgian actress Sand Van Roy had accused the Lucy director of raping her over a two-year on-off relationship, and filed a complaint against him in May 2018.
Prosecutors dropped the case in February 2019 citing lack of evidence, but a new investigation was opened later that year after Van Roy brought fresh charges against one of the highest-profile #MeToo controversies in France.
A magistrate then closed the case in December 2021 and prosecutors asked for it to be dropped in April. Read more
Iran buries slain Revolutionary Guards colonel, vows revenge (VOA)
Iran held a funeral procession on Tuesday in the center of the capital Tehran for Revolutionary Guards Colonel Hassan Sayad Khodai, who was shot dead by two people on a motorcycle, and his commander vowed to avenge the attack.
State television showed crowds surrounding a truck carrying Khodai’s casket, wrapped in Iran’s flag and strewn with flowers. Mourners held portraits of Khodai, who was gunned down in broad daylight in front of his home in central Tehran on Sunday.
“Iran’s response to any threat or action will be harsh. But we will determine when and how it will be and in what circumstances. We will definitely take revenge on our enemies,” Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami told reporters.
Iran has blamed such attacks on Israel. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said US support was making Israel more brazen. Read more
Lagos now Africa’s table tennis hub – ITTF Africa President (Sun)
Speaking at the press conference to herald the commencement of the 2022 African Club Championships, the Egyptian specifically thanked the Lagos State government for their commitment to the sport in the last seven years, which he said has helped to produce world-beaters.
“I must commend the government of Lagos State for what they have done for table tennis because the city has become the hub of table tennis,” El-Salhy said.
“All players, within and outside, Africa are always looking forward to competing at the venue (Teslim Balogun Stadium), especially with the huge spectators that most times support the players regardless of their teams,” El-Salhy added. Read more
FG appoints basketball interim management committee amidst protests (DailyTrust)
Despite agitations in some quarters following the decision to withdraw Nigerian basketball from all international competitions for two years, the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development has appointed the members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the development of basketball in Nigeria.
It will be recalled that after the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered for the withdrawal from international competitions, the decision didn’t go down well with some basketball stakeholders especially the camp of factional NBBF president, Engineer Musa Kida.
Few days later, players of the senior women national team, D’Tigress also issued a statement to pick holes in the decision which they said is detrimental to the future of the players and Nigerian basketball. Read more
Prudent Handball: Champions Pillars, Babes win opening games (Punch)
Champions Kano Pillars and Safety Babes started their title defence on a winning note at the first phase of the 2022 Prudent Energy Handball Premier League, which started on Monday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Pillars took to the court against Police Machine in the second game in the male category and were dominant, neutralising the threat of their opponents to win 29-15.
Newly promoted Benue Buffalos shocked Lagos side Seasiders 29-22, while Tojemarine, another Lagos side, lost to Confluence Stars 37-27.
Pillars coach Solomon Yola described the game against the Police team as difficult, commending their opponents for putting up a good fight. Read more
Ten Hag takes over at Man Utd, pledges to end Man City, Liverpool duopoly (ThisDay)
Manchester United’s new Manager, Erik ten Hag, 52, believes it is possible to end the dominance of Manchester City and Liverpool despite taking over a struggling side that finished a lowly sixth in the English Premier League.
United ended up 35 points behind champions City, who pipped Liverpool to the title by a point, as the Red Devils registered their lowest-ever Premier League points tally.
City boss Pep Guardiola has now claimed four titles in five years, while Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp can complete a treble of cup trophies this season should the Reds see off Real Madrid in Saturday’s Champions League final.
Guardiola and Klopp – the managers of United’s two biggest rivals – have consistently battled it out for the major trophies, leaving the Red Devils, without silverware since 2017, as bystanders. Read more
AC Milan eye Osimhen to replace Ibrahimovic (Punch)
The race for Nigeria international, Victor Osimhen, has taken another dimension after Italian champions AC Milan joined in the battle to sign the striker, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Osimhen has been linked with Manchester United and Newcastle United in the past few weeks and recent reports suggest that Arsenal have also tabled a significant bid for the 23-year-old.
Osimhen missed a chunk of last season through injuries and other health-related issues but managed to score 14 goals with six assists in what was his second season with the Italian outfit.
The Nigerian’s performance has now caught the eye of Milan’s director Paolo Maldini, who is targeting the striker as a possible replacement for the ageing Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Read more
D’Tigress captain bemoans FG basketball ban, says action ‘disastrous’(Punch)
D’Tigress captain, Adaora Elonu, says contrary to insinuations that the players of the women’s national basketball team insisted on playing under a particular president of the factionalised Nigeria Basketball Federation, the team never did.
She stated this while reacting to the Federal Government’s ban on international basketball competitions for two years, adding that the move could have “disastrous” consequences on the game.
“We do not agree to the ban, we did not expect this, we did not see this coming. We recently qualified for the World Cup in February. It took a lot of efforts from so many different people, not just the players, the staff, everyone that helps us prepare,” Elonu said.
“The Nigerian women’s basketball team never said we would not play under any president. It’s a little disappointing for us because that’s not a narrative that we created. We’re pretty open about what we feel, and we never said anything to that extent. Read more
Egyptian Veteran Wary of Aruna’s Threat in Africa Cup (ThisDay)
Defending champion of the forthcoming ITTF Africa Cup, Ahmed Saleh of Egypt, has said that the current African number one player on the continent, Aruna Quadri, will be the man to beat when the tournament gets underway.
At 42, Saleh loves to compete in Lagos and as the defending champion of the forthcoming ITTF Africa Cup, the Egyptian veteran believes the atmosphere at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium is a motivating factor for every player.
He is particularly concerned about the threat posed by the present form of Quadri Aruna who set a new record as the first African to reach the semifinal of the WTT Star Contender in Doha, Qatar.
Regarded as the oldest active male table tennis player in Africa, Saleh cannot wait to come to Lagos to defend the title he reclaimed in Tunis in 2020 while admitting that he is ready for the task ahead. Read more
Friendlies: Visa issues may deny Adeleye Eagles chance (Punch)
Former U-20 goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, who is in line to replace injured Maduka Okoye in the Eagles squad for the forthcoming international friendlies against Mexico and Ecuador, may miss out on the games due to visa issues, PUNCH Sports Extra has learnt.
The Nigerian goalkeeper, who pulled out of the games due to a lingering shoulder injury, was one of the goalkeepers invited for the games alongside Ojo Olorunleke and Adewale Adeyinka.
A close source to Adeleye told The PUNCH that the 23-year-old has been contacted by Eagles goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu over his availability for the game despite no official invitation by the Nigerian Football Federation.
“He (Adeleye) has been contacted by one of the coaches for the games but we are hoping this chance is not scuttled by visa because of the timing,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The PUNCH. Read more
2022 Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Begins in Kaduna (ThisDay)
The prestigious 2022 edition of Africa’s premium Fundraising polo platform, the Access Bank-UNICEF Charity, which gallops-off today at the Fifth Chukker lawns of Kangimi Resort in Kaduna with defending champions, Fifth Chukker and other motivated teams from across the country vying for big prizes.
Revered as one of the biggest charity polo platforms in the world, the UNICEF event will be decided in two stages, with teams battling for the Usman Dantata Cup and the events’ second most wanted prize, The Access Bank Cup in the first stage.
Organisers of the prestigious charity event also disclosed that the second and the grand finale stage promises to be one of the most exciting in years, pitting title holders, Fifth Chukker, Jos Malcomines and four determined regulars in a winner-takes-all chase for the UNICEF Cup and tournament top prize, the Charity Shield.Executive Director, Personal Banking, Access Bank Plc. Victor Etuokwu, who confirmed the tournament dates, stated that the title sponsors, and its partners, have taken their commitment to UNICEF Charity polo fundraising platform to a new level, with the commissioning of fully equipped 60-classroom blocks in Kaduna State. Read more