Corps member may suffer 30-day service extension for criticising Tinubu (Guardian)
A Lagos-based member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Ushie Uguamaye, could have her service year extended by 30 days with half pay following her criticism of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
This is according to the NYSC Bye Laws (Revised 2011).
Recently, Uguamaye, known on TikTok as @talktoraye, shared a video in which she called out the Tinubu administration over the economic hardship Nigerians have faced since it was sworn in. Read more
NDLEA intercepts cocaine wrapped in shoes, prayer beads bound for Holy Land (DailyTrust)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted cocaine concealed in prayer beads and locally made shoes.
According to the agency, the suspects were intercepted while attempting to smuggle the illicit substances into the Holy Land.
Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, disclosed this in a statement which was attached with pictures of the confiscated contraband. Read more
How subsidy removal, tension worsened Niger’s fuel scarcity (Punch)
Less than two years after President Bola Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy in Nigeria, the effect of the decision is now being felt deeply by neighbouring Niger Republic.
Also, findings by THE PUNCH on Sunday from fresh data sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics indicated that trade between Nigeria and Niger Republic surged by 82 per cent in 2024 despite ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
This came as oil dealers raised concern about the closure of filling stations at border towns, stressing that marketers were losing so much revenue due to the development. Read more
Reps recover N28.7b from 2 oil coys in 1 week (NewTelegraph)
The House of Representatives, through its Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has recovered $19,241,109.35 (approximately ₦28.7 billion) from two oil companies indebted to the Federation Account in ongoing efforts to recover outstanding revenues due to the Federal Government.
Akin Rotimi, spokesperson for the House, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the committee’s investigation, which is based on findings from the 2021 Audit Report, focused on 45 oil companies collectively owing $1.7 billion in outstanding liabilities to the Federation.
He explained that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has been furnished with evidence of the payments for final verification. Read more
Diphtheria: Nigeria records 1,319 deaths amid vaccination gaps (Leadership)
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that 1,319 deaths have been recorded from diphtheria between epidemiological week 19 of 2022 and week 10 of 2025, highlighting significant gaps in vaccination coverage.
On Sunday, NCDC‘s epidemiological report, posted on its official website, said that 42,642 suspected cases were recorded across 37 states and 350 local government areas (LGAs). Of these, 25,812 cases (60.5%) were confirmed, while 5,470 cases remain unclassified.
The report revealed that the hardest-hit states include Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa, which accounted for 96.3 per cent of all suspected cases. Read more
2027: Why North won’t defer presidential aspiration for Tinubu’s re-election — Shettima (Vanguard)
ALHAJI Yerima Shettima, a human rights activist and pro-democracy advocate from Kaduna State, is the president-general of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF).
Shettima, who is a strong advocate for true federalism and restructuring, was at the 2005 Pro-National Conference, PRONACO, led by late Chief Anthony Enahoro, in Lagos.
In this interview, he spoke on the state of the nation and why Nigeria must get it right in 2027 among others. Read more
FG must stop threatening Nigerians for criticising govt – Amnesty Int’l (Channels)
Amnesty International on Sunday said the Federal Government must stop threatening individuals and groups who criticise the current administration.
“The Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions — in utter disregard for Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime,” the organisation in a statement on its X handle.
It also condemned the alleged threats and intimidation being faced by Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps member, Ushie Uguamaye. Read more
Lagos NUJ holds Ramadan lecture on Wednesday (Nation)
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council will on Wednesday hold the second edition of its Annual Ramadan Lecture at the Combo Hall, LTV Complex, Agidimgbi, Ikeja.
Addressing reporters during a pre-event briefing, NUJ Lagos Council Chairman, Mr Adeleye Ajayi, said Ramadan was characterised by self-examination, charity and desire for righteousness.
He urged journalists to use the opportunity of the Ramadan season to reflect on their practice and uphold ethical standard at all times. Read more
Cardi B clarifies ‘i don’t cook, i don’t clean’ lyric from ‘WAP’ (HipHopDx)
Cardi B didn’t fully mean it when she said “I don’t cook, I don’t clean” on her chart-topping 2020 smash, “WAP.”
Showing off the mac and cheese she cooked on her Instagram Story on Thursday night (March 13), the Bronx superstar clarified that she actually is able to do both – she just doesn’t want to.
“Let me tell you something. When I say I don’t cook I don’t clean, it’s because I don’t want to,” Bardi said. “And you know, I don’t really have the time for it. That’s why I hired a muthafuckin’ chef. And I got a lot of muthafuckin’ kids. But I can cook, you know what I’m saying?
“And I have expectations. If a n-gga wants me to be cooking for him, I expect head every single time I cook for his muthafuckin’ ass. N-gga gotta top me off if I’m cooking like that!” Read more
Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne dead at 43 (Le Monde)
Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne died of a rare cancer on Sunday, March 16, in a hospital just outside Paris, her family and her agent told AFP. She was 43 years old.
She revealed in October 2023 that she was suffering from adrenocortical carcinoma, a cancer of the adrenal gland. Her first role in the film “Rosetta”, by the Dardenne brothers, launched her career after she won best actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance in the film, which also won the Palme d’Or.
She picked up a string of other awards in appearances in mainly French-language films, including the 2009 movie “The Girl on the Train” and the 2012 drama “Our Children”. Read more
French Lawmaker Demands US Return Statue of Liberty (Newsweek)
Raphael Glucksmann, a member of the center-left Place Publique party in France, demanded on Sunday that the United States return the Statue of Liberty, accusing it of siding with “tyrants.”
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment by email on Sunday evening.
The Context
Europe has negatively responded to President Donald Trump’s approach to Ukraine and Russia amid their ongoing war, with many accusing Trump of siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin against Ukraine in ceasefire negotiations. Initial talks excluded Ukraine, with Trump insisting that Kyiv had “no cards” to play in negotiations. Read more
Pope seen for the first time since going to hospital (BBC)
The Vatican has released the first image of Pope Francis since he was admitted to hospital a month ago.
The photo shows the pontiff sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar at a chapel in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been recovering from pneumonia.
Earlier on Sunday, in his written Angelus message, the Pope said he faced a “period of trial” as he thanked well-wishers for their prayers, and prayed for peace in “countries wounded by war”. Read more
Paul Rudd discusses Ant-Man’s appearance in upcoming Avengers films (EW)
Don’t ask Paul Rudd if we’ll see him in the next Avengers movie, which will be directed by the Russo brothers, Anthony and Joe.
“As far as the Russos, they have my number,” Rudd recently said when asked by Collider about rumors Ant-Man would appear in Avengers: Doomsday. “They know where I’m at, and that’s all I can say.”
Rudd went on to joke with his Death of a Unicorn costar Jenna Ortega, “I don’t really know how to play these things…. I blink, can I send messages?” Rudd began to make wild facial gestures and hand movements, making light of the strenuous confidentiality that Marvel expects of its stars around upcoming projects. “Morse code, some Johnny Got His Gun. I’ll tap out things with my head.” Read more
At least 59 people killed in nightclub fire in North Macedonia (AlJazeera)
At least 59 people have been killed and more than 150 injured in a devastating fire at a packed nightclub in Kocani in North Macedonia, according to Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that arrest warrants have been issued for four individuals in connection with the fire.
The blaze erupted at the Pulse club at about 3am (02:00 GMT) on Sunday during a concert by the band DNK when pyrotechnics were set off inside the venue in Kocani, located about 100km (62 miles) east of the capital, Skopje. Read more
Long before superheroes, Jason Momoa was in a forgotten soap opera (Movieweb)
You might know him best for his 10-year portrayal as Aquaman, Protector of the Deep. Future moviegoers might remember him more as Lobo, The Ultimate Bastich.
Whether Jason Momoa is a member of The Justice League or an intergalactic bounty hunter, the Hawaii-based actor had very different breaks on the small screen. Rather than cementing himself in the superhero world, Momoa first found himself in the soap opera scene. When the longstanding NBC series Baywatch was renamed Baywatch: Hawaii in its last two seasons, the then 19-year-old actor made his small-screen debut as one of the mainstay lifeguards.
But as interesting as that beach drama could be (after 10 years on television), what’s more eye-opening is that Momoa tried for that same type of slow-burning and scintillating soap opera once more after Baywatch: Hawaii was canceled in 2001. But this time, he found himself on FOX. Just two months after he made his big-screen debut (in 2004’s Johnson Family Vacation), Momoa would step into the shoes of Frankie Seau on the premiering primetime show North Shore. Read more
Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout, 17, runs fastest 200m time in the world this year (CNN)
Australian 17-year-old Gout Gout continued to demonstrate why he is the most exciting talent in sprinting right now, running the fastest 200-meter time in the world this year on Sunday.
Competing in the heats of the Queensland State Championships, Gout ran a world-leading time of 20.05 seconds, just 0.01 outside his own Australian record.
In the final, he then followed it up by becoming the first-ever Australian to break the 20-second barrier with his victory in 19.98 seconds. However, the time won’t stand as an official record because of illegal wind conditions (+3.6m/s). Read more
El-Kanemi Warriors lose at home; Nasarawa hold Pillars in Kano (DailyTrust)
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) week 29 matches played yesterday produced one away victory as Rivers United secured a crucial 2-1 victory against El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri while newcomers, Ikorodu City rallied back to draw 2-2 with Enyimba in Lagos.
Title contenders Rivers United took the lead through Tofeek Otaniyi in the 47th minute, Samson Obi doubled the lead in the 61st minute before Risilanu Ismail reduced the deficit for El-Kanemi Warriors in the fifth minute of second half added time.
At the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, Ikorodu United shared the spoils with the ‘peoples elephants’ after Cole Ayomide scored the equaliser in the eighth minute of second half added time. Read more
Atletico Madrid 2-4 Barcelona: Stunning comeback sends Blaugrana top of La Liga (Standard)
Barcelona’s Ferran Torres’ scored twice to help secure a late 4-2 comeback win at Atletico Madrid in a pulsating La Liga clash on Sunday that took the Catalans back to the top of the table.
Barca have 60 points and a game in hand after last week’s postponement of their home game with Osasuna. They are level on points with Real Madrid, who won 2-1 at Villarreal on Saturday.
Atletico remain third on 56 points from 28 games.
The hosts took the lead on the stroke of halftime through Julian Alvarez after Antoine Griezmann broke quickly and found Giuliano Simeone, who curled a precise pass for the Argentine to score his 11th league goal of the season. Read more
Jack Draper secures Top 10 debut with win over Carlos Alcaraz in Indian Wells semifinals (Tennis)
Jack Draper has dethroned two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of Indian Wells, 6-1, 0-6, 6-4, to not only reach his first Masters 1000 final, but to secure his Top 10 debut.
He’ll become the fifth British player to break into the Top 10 on the ATP rankings since they officially began in 1973.
The first three names on the list all reached the Top 5, too, with Rusedski and Henman both peaking at No. 4 and Murray going all the way to No. 1. Norrie’s career-high ranking is No. 8. Read more
Angel City draws with rival San Diego on second-half Thompson goal (ESPN)
Alyssa Thompson scored early in the second half and Angel City FC pulled into a 1-1 draw with rivals San Diego Wave FC on Sunday in the National Women’s Soccer League season opener for both teams.
Thompson, 19, scored from the corner of the box in the 54th minute. The goal drew cheers from new owner Bob Iger, the Disney CEO, who was sitting next to NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman.
Thompson led Angel City with five goals and seven assists last season. Read more
McIlroy and Spaun face Monday play-off at the Players (BBC)
Rory McIlroy says he “should be going home with the trophy” but will have to return on Monday for a play-off after American JJ Spaun erased his lead over the final few holes at a storm-affected Players Championship.
After a four-hour delay for lightning in Florida, the 2019 champion raced into a three-shot lead at the 12th hole, only to lose his touch on the greens and be dragged back by overnight leader Spaun.Indeed, Spaun was inches from winning it but his fine birdie putt from 31 feet on the 18th green stopped agonisingly short. Read more