Consumers kick over silent increase in electricity tariff amid fuel scarcity (Punch)
Electricity consumers on Thursday kicked against the silent increase in the tariff payable by customers to power distribution companies for electricity consumed.
They said it was worrisome that the government was allowing Discos to raise electricity tariff amid fuel scarcity across the country.
Adulterate fuel imported into country about two weeks ago had led to fuel scarcity and long queues in filling stations in states.
It was gathered that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission had adjusted the tariffs payable to Discos, as some of the power firms got a raise in their tariffs, while others had theirs reduced.
This, however, was not announced or published or the website of the regulator as it used to publish it in the past. Read more
17 people die as truck, bus catch fire on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (DailyTrust)
At least 17 dead bodies were reportedly recovered as a truck collided with a commercial bus and went up in flames along Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred a few metres away from Isara Bridge at about 5am on Friday.
It was learnt that the truck and the Mazda bus marked ZT728 KLD were coming from opposite directions before they collided on the highway.
In the process the bus went up in flames killing many of the passengers.
The spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ogun Command, Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident, saying some victims were burnt beyond recognition.
Okpe said the command could not ascertain the number of those involved in the crash, but 17 bodies have been recovered from the scene.
“The total number of people involved is not ascertained, but a total 17 bodies ( killed) have been identified. Read more
Lagos seals school over flogging of 2-year-old student (Channels)
The Lagos State government has sealed Unic Vilos Montessori School, Maza Maza, over the flogging of two-year-old, Cherish Ohamadike, by her teacher, Miss Joy Igile, who inflicted marks on her back.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo, told Channels Television that the case is within the context of informal education because the victim is a toddler.
According to her, since the school is located within an elementary school, the ministry ordered the closure after confirming the story. She also said that Unic Vilos Montessori School operates
without approval, adding that the Lagos State government is working to clamp down on such centres of learning.
The victim’s mother, Faustina Ohamadike, told Channels Television that she was initially weary of taking up the case. She, however, said when the perpetrator threatened her, she decided to share her daughter’s story online. Read more
Ikoyi Building Collapse: Consortium of Professionals to scrutinise high-rise buildings (Tribune)
Lagos State government has accepted the recommendation that an audit exercise by an independent consortium of professionals should scrutinise all high-rise buildings in the state.
Besides, it also accepted that there should be training for all officials involved in the building approval section, with more hands recruited to assist agencies that are short staffed.
These and others were contained in a White Paper prepared by the Lagos State government on the report submitted to it by the panel that probed the collapsed 21-storey building in Ikoyi, Lagos, in November 2021.
The White Paper was released barely three and a half months after the 21-storey building collapsed on Gerrard Road in Ikoyi and over one month after the probe panel submitted its report. It recommended the prosecution of Fourscore Homes and trial of indicted civil servants, adding that the company will face criminal prosecution. Read more
Baba Ijesha: Defense witness says CCTV recording was scripted (Independent)
Lawrence Ayeni, the first defence witness in the trial of Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James alias Baba Ijesha, charged with defilement has claimed that portions of the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage on the allegation, were edited.
NAN reports that he also testified before an Ikeja Special Offences Court that the actor and the minor he allegedly defiled were both acting out a script in the footage.
Ayeni, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering, said that he was experienced in video production and CCTV installation and maintenance.
Led in evidence by co-lead defence counsel, Mr Babatunde Ogala (SAN), the witness told the court that one of the CCTV recordings of the alleged encounter had been tampered with at the point of editing. Read more
Nigeria needs a national plan to eliminate cholera – Global task force (Guardian)
The Global Task Force For Cholera Control (GTFCC) on Friday urged the Nigerian Government to implement a National Cholera Plan towards eliminating the disease in the country.
Mr Abel Augustinio, Manager, GTFCC Country Support Platform for Nigeria, made this call at the ongoing Cholera Preparedness, Prevention and Response Training for Stakeholders in Abuja.
The GTFCC is a network of governmental and non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, and scientific partner institutions that helps coordinate activities for cholera control.
According to him, the plan is a comprehensive document covering all aspects of a country’s cholera prevention and control strategies. Read more
Insecurity: Oyo to commence talk with area boys, cult groups for peace (ThisDay)
The Oyo State Government yesterday stated its determination to engage in talks with all street urchins (area boys) and cult groups in the state to foster peace in the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, made the disclosure yesterday after a closed-door meeting with representatives of the militant groups that include Agbekoya, Odua People’s Congress (OPC), Vigilance Group of Nigeria, among others in Ibadan.
He said the state government in collaboration with all the militant groups was determined to proffer peaceful solutions to the unrest between area boys and cult groups, stating that the time to end bloodshed in the state is now.
Olatunbosun added that the meeting was aimed to solve the problem from the root, noting that the state government will work closely with security agencies and leaders of the militant groups to meet with the cult sects and mediate between warring parties in the state. Read more
SPW: 2800 beneficiaries yet to receive stipends in Zamfara (DailyTrust)
No fewer than 2800 beneficiaries of the federal government’s Special Public Works programme in Zamfara State are yet to receive their stipends one year after flag off, Daily Trust has learnt.
The affected beneficiaries are from Bungudu, Shinkafi and Talata Mafara local government areas.
The unpaid participants drawn from the affected local government areas had cried out for help over their situation.
The group, led by Kabiru Abubakar, said their colleagues have been paid, adding that; “we did all we can to see that our payment was effected but up till now nothing was done.” Read more
Nigerian serial romance scammer faces 20-year jail term in US (Guardian)
A Nigerian residing in Dorchester has pleaded guilty in an American court in Boston to his role in online romance scams targeting individuals in the United States.
US Department of Justice (DoJ) in a statement said 42-year-old Mike Oziegbe Amiegbe pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for May 23, 2022. Amiegbe was charged by criminal complaint in March 2021, DoJ said.
From approximately 2017 through at least 2020, DoJ said Amiegbe and others participated in a series of romance scams designed to defraud victims into sending money to accounts controlled by them.
DoJ disclosed that romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. Read more
Singer Rudeboy sustains injury after performance in Liberia (Punch)
Nigerian singer, Paul Okoye, popularly known as Rudeboy, has revealed that he sustained a leg injury after a performance in Liberia.
Rudeboy, a member of the music group P-Square, disclosed this on his Instagram story on Friday, where he shared a video of himself being treated after the injury.
He captioned the video, “Injury after performance”. In another video shared on his stories, the singer’s leg was being stitched after the incident.
This comes two days after the singer shared pictures of his return to Nigeria on his Instagram Page. Read more
Francis Ford Coppola says modern blockbusters are all the same “prototype movie” (NME)
Francis Ford Coppola has shared his thoughts on modern blockbuster films, saying they’re all based on the same “prototype”.
The director, known for films like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, criticised the similarities among big studio films in an interview with GQ.
“There used to be studio films,” Coppola said. “Now there are Marvel pictures. And what is a Marvel picture? A Marvel picture is one prototype movie that is made over and over and over again to look different.”
Coppola believes that even “good” studio films like Dune and No Time To Die share formulaic similarities. Read more
Kid Cudi joins forces with Pharrell on ‘Want It Bad’ and unveils debut clothing line (HipHopDX)
Kid Cudi is set to release two new albums this year — including the long-awaited Entergalactic, which will be accompanied by an animated Netflix series — but his first musical offering of 2022 comes courtesy of A Bathing Ape founder NIGO.
The Japanese streetwear icon is gearing up to drop his own new project called I Know NIGO featuring a bevy of big names — from Tyler, The Creator and Lil Uzi Vert to Pusha T and the late Pop Smoke — on March 25.
After grabbing A$AP Rocky for the lead single “Arya,” NIGO follows up by blessing his BAPE followers with a brand new collaboration between Kid Cudi and Pharrell.
Titled “Want It Bad,” the latest I Know NIGO single finds Mr. Rager lending his soaring vocals and rhythmic raps over spacey, pulsating production from Skateboard P as he invites listeners into his late-night fantasy. The dance floor-friendly feel evokes some of Cudi’s earlier, more club-oriented efforts such as David Guetta’s “Memories.” Read more
Burning cargo ship carrying thousands of sports cars adrift in Atlantic Ocean (NYPost)
That’s a lot of burning rubber.
Thousands of Porsches, Audis, and Lamborghinis were marooned on an unmanned burning cargo ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean Thursday.
Crew members of the 650-feet-long Felicity Ace were evacuated from the transport ship to a hotel in the Azores Islands, as the ship was adrift 100 miles away from the Portuguese archipelago, according to the country’s military. None of the 22 sailors were harmed.
The ship was still burning and billowing out clouds of white smoke as a Portugal navy ship inspected whether it was in danger of sinking, officials said.
Felicity Ace was likely too large to be towed to a port in the archipelago, which is more than 900 miles from the European mainland. The ship had been en route to Rhode Island from Germany. Read more
Rihanna ‘to release surprise album this year’ as she prepares to become a 1st time mum (Mirror)
Rihanna is set to release a brand new surprise album while she prepares to welcome her first child to the world.
It would be the 33-year-old singer’s first new album since her award-winning Anti in 2016 and is sure to delight her fans.
The pregnant star is said to be dedicating the new tunes to her loyal fans and a source told The Sun: “It’s happening. Rihanna will drop an album this year. She is getting ready to release it this year.
“It is always something she had planned to do for her fans. She has heard their calls for her new tunes, and knows they have been waiting so patiently. Read more
US TV actor Rockmond Dunbar sues Disney over Covid ‘discrimination’ (BBC)
US actor Rockmond Dunbar is suing the makers of TV drama 9-1-1, saying he was fired after claiming exemption from having a Covid-19 vaccination.
Dunbar played Michael in seasons 1-5 of the police show.
He says he was denied medical and religious exemptions and faced racial discrimination when 20th Television stipulated actors had to be vaccinated.
The Disney-owned company says it complied with its legal obligations and denied making decisions based on race. Read more
Sony Pictures nabs Latin American rights to Cabral’s ‘Hotel Coppelia’ from Latido (Variety)
Closing in on one of the leading voices in Caribbean cinema, Sony Pictures Television has acquired from Latido Films Latin American rights to “Hotel Coppelia,” directed by Dominican filmmaker José María Cabral.
Produced by Santo Domingo-based Rafael Elías Muñoz at Lantica Media and Cabral’s outfit Tabula Rasa, “Hotel Coppelia” is a real events-inspired drama, set during the 1965 Revolution in Dominican Republic.
The story focus on a forlorn band of prostitutes, forced to pick sides when the American military invades and the soldiers hole up in their seaside brothel.
“It would be impossible to think of a better house to have ‘Hotel Coppelia’ seen in Latin America,” Latido Films CEO Antonio Saura told Variety about the Sony Pictures deal. Read more
Mark Wahlberg talks about his faith whilst promoting his 1st Christian film (TheMix)
Actor Mark Wahlberg recently took the opportunity to talk about his faith whilst promoting Father Stu, a Christian film that the actor is not only starring in but also producing, declaring that he needs to “stop focusing so much on Mark and start doing much more work for God.”
“People need to have faith and hope,” said Wahlberg in a recent interview with Pure Flix Insider published on February 15th. “Young men need to know what it’s like to be a real man. And you could list a million reasons — just turn on the news, anywhere you look there are reasons for encouraging people to have faith and to have hope.”
According to the actor, while researching for the role, he realised that he had a lot in common with the real world Father Long.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life. I have been focused since I was 16, 17 years old to turn my life around and that is a daily task,” Wahlberg disclosed. Read more
‘I’m tired of trying’, Oshoala posts depressive tweet, deletes later (Punch)
Many fans have expressed worry about a depressive post by Super Falcons and FC Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala.
In the now-deleted tweet, Oshoala said she was “tired of trying”.
This came as a surprise to many fans as the superstar is in good form. Last Wednesday, she made history for Barcelona Femeni after reaching a landmark 100 appearances for the Spanish giants and scoring twice in their 9-1 demolition of Real Sociedad at the San Sebastian.
The 27-year-old has scored six goals in the last four games and she is currently among the top scorers in the La Liga female league. Read more
Mamelodi Sundowns seek Sudanese double in Champions League (TimesLive)
Mamelodi Sundowns continue to be the standard bearers for SA teams in the Caf Champions League, and having brought up a new milestone in last weekend’s victory over Al-Hilal in their Group A opener, are seeking a Sudanese “Double” on Saturday.
When Themba Zwane netted early against Al-Hilal it was Sundowns’ 200th goal in the Champions League, with the second 100 of those coming in the last five-and-a-half years.
It took The Brazilians 22 years to reach a century of goals in Africa’s elite club competition, but the pace of their scoring has quickened since then as they have regularly made it into the pool stages of the competition and beyond in the past seven years.
The late Bennett Masinga scored Sundowns’ first Champions League goal against Lesotho side Arsenal in 1994, and Khama Billiat their 100th in the semifinals versus Zesco United in 2016. Read more
Man United boss Ralf Rangnick denies rift rumours, says atmosphere ‘better’ now (ESPN)
Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick said the dressing room atmosphere at the club has improved since his arrival as interim boss.
There have been reports of rifts within the squad at Old Trafford but Rangnick said the mood is “better” after allowing “unhappy players” like Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek to leave on loan in the January transfer window.
“My focus is on the team, the next game,” Rangnick told a news conference on Friday. “Obviously, I have heard about what was written. I can only tell you from my personal experience in the last 12 weeks, yes there were players unhappy.
“The squad was too big, players realised they wouldn’t get game time and the atmosphere is better than it used to be a couple of weeks ago for all those reasons I spoke about. Read more
Denmark withdraws from Algarve Cup after COVID-19 outbreak (USAToday)
The Danish women’s national soccer team has pulled out of the Algarve Cup in Portugal because of an outbreak of COVID-19 in its squad.
The team’s game against Sweden scheduled for Friday was canceled.
The Danish soccer federation said three members of its team, including coach Lars Søndergaard, tested positive for the coronavirus.
The federation said after talks with organizers Thursday it decided to withdraw from the tournament “to protect the health of both players and staff.” Read more
Jayson Tatum voices his displeasure with All-NBA voting process (CBS)
Jayson Tatum is heading to his third straight All-Star Game this weekend, as the Celtics star is finally getting some recognition as one of the best players in the NBA. But he does have a mighty big beef with the All-NBA voters that cost him quite a bit of recognition last year — not to mention a large chunk of cash.
Tatum narrowly missed getting the second All-NBA nod of his career (he made the third team in 2019-20), which had some massive implications when it came to his rookie-scale extension. The Celtics forward said that he heard one voter left him off their ballot because they were not a fan of his shot selection.
That ultimately cost Tatum $30 million over the course of his extension with Boston. All because one writer didn’t like his shot selection.
Tatum usually brushes stuff like this off, because he certainly hears enough of it from the Boston media. But this snub really stuck with him, and the Celtics star voiced his issues with the
All-NBA voting process during a chat with J.J. Redick on his “The Old Man and the Three” podcast. Read more
Lewis Hamilton will not let controversial end to 2021 season ‘define’ his career (Independent)
Lewis Hamilton said he will not allow the controversial conclusion to last season define his Formula One career.
But a defiant Hamilton – back in the public spotlight two months and six days after the contentious Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – also demanded that the FIA must be held to account to ensure what happened to him is never repeated.
Hamilton, the most decorated driver in the sport’s history, was on course to win a record-breaking eighth world championship before race director Michael Masi seemingly broke the rules to allow Max Verstappen the chance to take the title following a late safety car.
The FIA appeared to accept that a mistake was made when Masi was eventually dismissed from his position on Thursday. Read more
Amir Khan reveals family trauma inspiring him to beat Kell Brook in bitter grudge match (Mirror)
Amir Khan claims his mum’s victory over cancer has fired him up to beat Kell Brook on Saturday night.
Falak was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given just three months to live at the start of last year.
Khan kept a vigil by her side with his family and rejoiced when she was given the all-clear following surgery a few months ago.
She is now in remission and Khan says seeing her overcome the odds to beat cancer has motivated him to settle his 20-year score with Brook at Manchester’s AO Arena. Read more