Commuters stranded as tanker explodes on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Independent)
Road users on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway have been stranded as a result of a diesel tanker that exploded near the Mountain of Fire camp.
It was learnt that the fire incident caused panic among motorists along the ever-busy expressway on Thursday afternoon.
Though details of the fire incident were sketchy as of the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the crash occurred as a result of a crash between a car and a tanker. Read more
NURTW Crisis: Police beef up security at Lagos motor parks (Vanguard)
Lagos state commissioner of police, Abiodun Alabi, has ordered beef up of security at all motor parks across the state following the crisis in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
NURTW on Thursday suspended its Lagos chapter’s Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo, indefinitely, over alleged misconduct, insubordination, and inciting members of the state chapter against the apex body.
Prior to the announcement of MC Oluomo’s suspension, leaders and members of the NURTW, Lagos State Council, had protested a query sent by the national body to the Lagos boss.
They called on the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to do everything within his power to forestall a repeat of bloody crisis in Lagos.
MC Oluomo’s supporters warned that the ongoing interference of the union’s national body in the Lagos NURTW’s affairs could trigger bloody violence. Read more
Lagos reviews operating standards for health facilities (Tribune)
The Agency of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has reviewed basic operating standards for health facilities in the state.
The four-day event, held at the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, according to the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Abiola Idowu is aimed at ensuring best performance by health facilities and also maximise benefits for Lagosians accessing healthcare in the state.
In her welcome address, Idowu disclosed that the standards would serve as a benchmark to measure the services provided by health facilities and a framework for existing facilities to review and improve their service provision.
“In order to maintain the safety and quality of service to patients and provide an environment conducive for staff, these standards serve as a benchmark against which health services can be measured, and a framework for existing facilities to review and improve their service provision,” she said. Read more
Why we let Chidinma, others compete in beauty pageant – Prisons (Nation)
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), formerly known as Nigerian Prison Service, has explained why it permitted a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, Chidinma Ojukwu, and other inmates at its facilities to participate in a beauty pageant.
Ojukwu, prime suspect in the alleged murder of the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga in June 2021, is standing trial for the offence at the Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos.
Pictures of the pageant have flooded social media since Wednesday and sent tongues wagging on the propriety or otherwise of allowing non-convicts such as Miss Ojukwu to participate in the event.
The beauty pageant held within the NCoS’ Kirikiri facility on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Read more
Kidnappers kill victim after collecting N1m ransom (DailyTrust)
Bandits have killed a kidnapped victim in their custody after collecting N1 million ransom from his family, Daily Trust reports.
In February, Daily Trust reported that the bandits invaded the house of the victim at Rigachikun in Igabi Local Government Area and abducted him with others in the area including a bride-to-be.
During the invasion, a customs officer who worked with Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone B, Kaduna was shot and later died in the hospital.
A lady in the area told Daily Trust that the news of the victim’s death came on Tuesday night after his relatives took the ransom to the bandits.
“They shot him after collecting the payment from the man that took the money to them. All the residents were in shock after hearing the news of his death,” she said. Read more
IWD: Stallion Auto KeKe reiterates support for women empowerment (Leadership)
Stallion Auto Keke Limited, a member of the Stallion Group and the Sole Distributor of the world-leading Bajaj 3-wheelers and 4-wheelers in Nigeria has expressed its desire to continue to assist women in achieving their goals.
Managing director, Stallion Auto KeKe Limited, Mr Manish Rohtagi, gave the assurance Tuesday, while addressing women on the occasion of International Women Day 2022, held at the VON Automobiles Nigeria in Ojo, Lagos State with the theme: “Breaking The Bias”.
Mr Manish said that, the company has the plan to have women occupying 50 per cent of their workforce.
Already, Stallion Auto Keke is delivering huge value to the Nigerian society through their various initiatives. One of such initiatives is its committed to the empowerment of Nigerians in general and especially young women through the company’s expansive Stallion Empowerment Initiative (SEI) programme focused on female three-wheeler drivers, mechanical training and assembling. Read more
FCTA orders commercial sex workers out of Abuja Airport Road (ThisDay)
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered commercial sex workers to stay off the Abuja International Airport road ahead of the flagging-off ceremony of the landscaping and beautification of the gateway to the country’s capital on March 22.
The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, issued the directive yesterday while briefing journalists.
He said all street hawkers, beggars, unapproved parks, gas sellers, kiosks, artisans, motor spare part dealers, car marts, commercial riders, and other related artisans are also affected by the directives.
He warned that defaulters risk arrest and prosecution under the relevant sections of the laws of the federation. Read more
IPPIS: ‘246 NECO Staff salaries not paid since 2015’ (DailyTrust)
The Chairman, Non-academic Staff Union of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Mohammed Sham-Una Aliyu, has said that 246 staff of the council have not been paid their salaries since 2015 that the transition to the IPPIS platform took effect.
He made this known during the union’s 10th anniversary at the NECO Headquarters, Minna, Niger State on Thursday.
He said efforts by the management of the council and the union to see to the payment of the salaries of the affected staff have not yielded positive results.
Aliyu also said there were various unpaid promotion allowances since 2017 and unpaid transfer allowances dating back to 2015 due to the transition to IPPIS. Read more
Pete Edochie lauds Gov Okowa’s contribution to entertainment, fashion industry (Vanguard)
As the stage is set for the maiden edition of Delta Music Comedy and Fashion Expo, Nollywood legend Pete Edochie has commended the Governor of Delta State, for his massive contribution to the development of the entertainment and fashion industry in Delta state and Nigeria at large, while confirming his participation as a celebrity guest for the event, he alluded to the unique nature of the people of Delta State.
Speaking on preparation for the event, Mr Ediri Obada, Production Partner for the event, stated that all is set for the biggest entertainment and fashion show in the region.
Obada also revealed that the event has attracted several brand sponsorship and notable Nigerian celebrities including the Nollywood Legend Pete Edochie, IgoDye, Gordons, Harrysong, Destalker and a host of others are set to storm the state capital for the event, on March 15th.
His Excellency Gov, Ifeanyi Okowa will be the special guest of honour with other heads of government agencies and Royal fathers in attendance. Read more
APC Chairmanship: Musa congratulates Gov Bello, seeks support (Sun)
An All Progressives Congress (APC) frontline national chairmanship aspirant, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, has congratulated Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello on his appointment as the acting Chairman of the APC Caretaker/ Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
Sen Musa who congratulated the acting chairman while on a solidarity visit in Abuja, expressed his support and wished him a successful assignment.
The Chairman, Senate Services Committee, who deliberated behind closed doors, with the acting Chairman, on salient issues bothering on ways to reposition the party, promised to ensure that APC remains a strong, progressive and united political party working in synergy and support of APC governments at all levels.
Musa further assured that he will bring a new beginning to the APC leadership that will re-engineer the internal structures and workings of the party ahead of its March 26 national convention and the 2023 general elections. Read more
Spider-Man spin-off Kraven the Hunter finds its villain as Girls star joins the cast (DigitalSpy)
Girls star Christopher Abbott is feeling villainous as he joins Kraven the Hunter.
Part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, this upcoming blockbuster puts Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Tenet) front and centre as Russian big-game hunter Sergei Kravinoff, who’s blessed with a masterful tactical mind and the power of a jungle cat.
According to Deadline, Abbott’s character will be the movie’s main baddie, The Foreigner.
Sergei (commonly referred to as Kraven) certainly has his hands full here, with assassin The Foreigner not only possessing incredible martial arts and disguising skills, he’s also famed for placing his opponents under a 10-second state of hypnosis through eye contact. Read more
Sony Music suspends operations in Russia (Variety)
Sony Music has suspended all of its operations in Russia, the company has confirmed to Variety.
“Sony Music Group calls for peace in Ukraine and an end to the violence. We have suspended operations in Russia and will continue our support of global humanitarian relief efforts to aid victims in need.,” the company said in a statement.
Sources tell Variety that the company’s staffers will continue to receive their salaries for an undetermined time; the artists’ situation is still being worked out.
Universal Music Group announced that it is suspending its operations in the country on Tuesday. All three major labels — Universal, Sony and Warner — have local labels and operations in Russia; Warner is expected to make an announcement in the coming days. The three companies all have made donations to Ukraine relief efforts. Read more
Kanye West celebrates Donda 2’s exclusion from Billboard charts (MusicNews)
Kanye West has celebrated his new album Donda 2 being ruled ineligible for the Billboard charts.
Earlier this week, Billboard officials announced that the rapper’s latest release won’t appear on any of their charts in America because it violates their policy against merchandise bundles. Albums sold with merchandise are ineligible for inclusion and Donda 2 was only released via West’s Stem Player device, which most fans had to purchase in order to hear his new music.
Reacting to the news, the 44-year-old wrote on Instagram on Wednesday, “Big win for the kid We can no longer be counted or judged We won we won we won we won We make my own systems We set our own value aaaand yesterdays price is not todays price baaaaabeeeee (sic)!!!!!”
Over the weekend, West announced that he made over $2 million (£1.5 million) in sales of the Stem Player in the 24 hours after he revealed fans could only listen to Donda 2 on the device. Read more
Nick Cannon’s daytime talk show canceled after one season (AllHipHop)
Clips from Nick Cannon’s syndicated daytime talk show went viral on social media several times. However, it appears that online engagement was not enough to keep the program on the air.
According to reports, The Nick Cannon Show will not be renewed for a second season. Original pre-taped episodes will continue to air through May.
“It’s never easy to cancel a production with clear potential, but after a great deal of deliberation and examining various options, we have made the difficult business decision to end production on Nick Cannon,” stated Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein, co-presidents of Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury production company.
The Nick Cannon Show premiered on September 27, 2021. Superstar comedian Kevin Hart was the first guest. Other celebrities – such as Master P, Brandy, Eve, Ja Rule, Charlamagne Tha God, and Treach – made appearances as well. Read more
Stanley Tucci embraces his sex-symbol status at 61′ (People)
Stanley Tucci isn’t sure why he’s considered a sex symbol, but he’s not mad about it.
In an exclusive interview for this week’s People cover story, the 61-year-old actor says he “feel(s) great about” the label, even if “I don’t get it.”
“Who goes, ‘I feel terrible about that’? People think I’m sexy? How awful,” he quips. “It’s wonderful. I don’t get it, but I’m very glad.”
As for his general popularity, the host of CNN’s food and travel series Searching for Italy says his Instagram following “explod(ed)” back in 2020, after her posted a video of himself putting together a Negroni cocktail. Read more
Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight rises as a Marvel superhero with mental-health struggles (USAToday)
Many A-list actors, from Robert Downey Jr. to Chris Evans to the late Chadwick Boseman, broke into the expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe by playing an iconic character. In “Moon Knight,” Oscar Isaac embodies a whole bunch of them.
The new six-episode Disney+ series (streaming weekly, starting March 30) introduces Isaac as a supernatural vigilante – and two-fisted avatar of the Egyptian deity Khonshu – with several other sides surfacing due to dissociative identity disorder. There’s American mercenary Marc Spector, British gift-shop employee Steven Grant, caped crusader Moon Knight and the mysterious, suit-clad Mr. Knight. And those are just the personalities we can mention before the show starts.
Isaac loves every one of them, although he allows that it all sounds bonkers. “He’s this Jewish Chicago guy who is enslaved to an Egyptian god. And one of his alters is English,” Isaac says. “It’s already like, ‘What?!’ ”
While the Disney+ Marvel shows – including “WandaVision,” “Loki” and “Hawkeye” – until now have been continuations of personalities from the feature films, “Moon Knight” adds a completely new character to the MCU. The show has its own style: a globetrotting action-adventure with mystery and horror elements reminiscent of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Ghostbusters.” But just as critical as the derring-do is the series’ emphasis on one man’s struggle with his mental health issues. Read more
Oshoala to remain at Barcelona until 2024 (Vanguard)
Asisat Oshoala, Super Falcons striker and four times African Women’s Player of the Year has signed a contract extension with Barcelona Femeni that will see her remain at the club until 2024.
The announcement was made on the official Twitter handle of the club that had a photo of Oshoala with club president Joan Laporta and women’s team manager Xavier Puig.
Oshoala, 27, since joining has scored a total of 80 goals in 101 appearances and currently leads the scorer’s chart of this season’s Primera Iberdrola with 16 goals in 19 games.
The tally has already made her the sixth highest goalscorer in the team’s history. Read more
Sports Minister affirms support for school sports development (Nation)
The Aguiyi Ironsi Cantonment was a cynosure of sporting excellence, as Paris Africana International School, led by Director, Engr. Gbenga Nowoola hosted its 3rd Annual Inter-house Sports, with Ex-Super Eagles Stars thrilled with top-notch sporting performances.
Ex-Super Eagles stars threw support for a system through which sports men were unearthed decades ago. President, Nigerian Players’ Union, Tijanni Babangida, 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist, Emmanuel Babayaro, and NFF Technical Officer, Garba Lawal were at the ground to light up the torch and provide mentorship for the young and aspiring sports starlets of the institution.
The Minister of Sports, Hon. Sunday Dare, reiterated that the ministry will not stop working round the clock to ensure Nigeria returns to the era it produced international athletes for the country from a robust school sports system.
In his remarks delivered by his media aide, Kola Daniel, he said: “sports stars like Daniel Amokachi, Emmanuel Babayaro and so on were unearthed through a functional school sports system and my principal, Hon. Sunday Dare is committed to returning our schools to its invaluable place in sports stars development.” Read more
UK Government puts Abramovich, Chelsea on Ice (SI)
Chelsea Football Club was plunged into chaos on Thursday with the news that the U.K. government has imposed sanctions on its owner, Roman Abramovich. He was one of 204 individuals named in the list of sanctions, along with 65 organizations. Although the club has been granted a special license until the end of May to allow it to fulfill its remaining fixtures this season, it will be functioning under major restrictions.
Although the threat of sanctions has been looming since Russia invaded Ukraine 15 days ago, leading Abramovich initially to offer to hand over “stewardship and care” of the club to its trustees and then to acknowledge he had to sell, the timing of the move and the scale of the government denouncement of him still came as a shock.
“These measures,” said a spokesman for the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, “are obviously designed to punish Putin and ensure any revenue generated cannot make its way through to the Russian war machine.”
The document released by HM Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation described Abramovich as “a pro-Kremlin oligarch” who was “associated with a person who is or has been involved in destabilizing Ukraine and undermining and threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, namely Vladimir Putin, with whom Abramovich has had a close relationship for decades.” Read more
Pep Guardiola hoping for positive Man City injury update for Crystal Palace ‘final’ (MEN)
Pep Guardiola is keeping his fingers crossed that Manchester City’s injury situation will improve in time for Crystal Palace.
The Blues had just three senior defenders fit for their Champions League game at home to Sporting on Wednesday, with Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake all absent from the squad. Dias is out with a hamstring injury, Walker is available as his ban only applied to European competition, and the club will wait on Ake and Cancelo.
Ake has been sidelined since the FA Cup win over Peterborough last week but is expected to return to training this week and could make the squad for Selhurst Park to provide an extra option in the centre of defence. City will also hope Cancelo will be available after he missed the Champions League game with sickness.
Guardiola knows how good Palace can be having lost to them earlier in the season, and is also aware that there is little margin for error as Liverpool press at the top of the table. Read more
Josh Taylor v Jack Catterall: Judge Ian John-Lewis downgraded after controversial bout (BBC)
One of the judges from Josh Taylor’s controversial split-decision world title victory over Jack Catterall has been downgraded by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC).
Taylor, 31, retained his WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO light-welterweight belts against the 28-year-old Englishman at Glasgow’s Hydro in February.
But BBBoC general secretary Robert Smith was “very surprised” Ian John-Lewis gave it to the Scot by 114-111 and, after an internal review, have downgraded the English judge.
After considering his explanation, the organisation have downgraded him from an A Star Class to an A Class Official. Read more
World champion Verstappen relishing more ‘fun times’ with Red Bull (France24)
World champion Max Verstappen said Thursday he was relishing more fun times with Red Bull after being rewarded with a five-year contract extension after last season’s thrilling Formula One victory.
The 24-year-old Dutch driver beat Lewis Hamilton in a last-lap sprint at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi to claim his first world title.
“Of course the success is very important, that’s what we were targeting and we achieved in the championship last year, that was necessary, let’s say it like that,” Verstappen told journalists at pre-season testing in Bahrain.
“But I also find it important that you have a good time while in F1 and you have actually fun with the people you’re travelling with, and I definitely have that, so why would you change that?” Read more
Elina Svitolina shows appreciation to Ukrainian soldiers (TennisWorld)
Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina was grateful to all players that participated in a charity event organized for Ukraine. Svitolina was one of the players that took part in the Tennis With the Stars event, from which all profit was redistributed to support relief fund for Ukraine.
Svitolina arrived to Indian Wells alongside her husband Gael Monfils. USA’s Frances Tiafoe, Nick Monroe, Jessica Pegula and the Bryan brothers all participated in a charity event organized for Ukraine. Also, Svitolina took a moment to show appreciation to those who are fighting for Ukraine or helping the country in any way.
“I am really happy that we were able to organize this event to raise funds and help people who are in need. I am really grateful to all the people who defend Ukraine and the people living in Ukraine who are going through hell.
Truly grateful to all soldiers and volunteers who have taken up arms and are doing their best to defend our nation and Ukrainian land,” Svitolina said. Read more