Customs, soldiers attack residents over video recording (Vanguard)
Two residents, Taofeek Olatunbosun and Rafiu Abdelmalik, were brutalized by security operatives from the Nigerian Customs Service and soldiers at a checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme Expressway on Sunday, December 1, 2024, after they were caught recording a video.
The officers suspected the victims of being informants supplying journalists with information about smuggling activities on the road. Olatunbosun and Abdelmalik, both transporters, were attempting to update their customers about their location when they were accosted. Read more
Lagos diverts traffic for Christmas youth parade (Nation)
The Lagos State Government has announced traffic diversion on a section of Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, for the Christmas Youth Parade billed for Dec. 8.
The parade will start from 6.00 a.m. and end at 3.00 p.m.
The state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday in Lagos. Read more
Fire razes Trademore Estate’s Market in Abuja (Channels)
An early morning fire has razed the only market in Trademore Estate, Lugbe Abuja.
The fire is said to have started at about 3.30 am when Abuja Electric Distribution Company (AEDC) restored electricity.
However, the exact cause is yet to be ascertained.
Channels Television could not also report what was destroyed in the fire as at time of filing this report. Read more
‘‘It’s better to have 774 thieves than 1 big thief,’’ Oshiomhole backs local govt autonomy (Leadership)
The Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has voiced his support for the financial autonomy for local governments in Nigeria, asserting that decentralisation was vital for grassroots development.
Oshiomhole spoke while addressing participants at a forum on local government autonomy organised by the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution on Monday.
His remarks came in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on July 11, 2024, which grants financial independence of local government councils in the country. Read more
Police arraign 113 foreigners for cybercrime, immigration offences (Punch)
The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned 113 foreign nationals before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges related to cybercrime, including computer-related fraud, marketing scams, money laundering, and unlawful access to data.
According to a statement on Monday via X, by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the arrests were made on November 3, 2024, in Jahi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, following an operation conducted by the National Cyber Crime Centre and Zone 7 Command.
During the operation, police recovered a range of sophisticated digital equipment believed to have been instrumental in the syndicate’s cyber activities. Read more
House of Reps move to make Nigeria more business friendly (VON)
The House of Representatives is poised to make Nigeria more business friendly. This statement was made as the House Committe holds public hearing on two critical bills.
The two significant bills are: A Bill for an Act to Establish the Institute of Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Corporate Governance; and A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Chartered Institute of Business Educators of Nigeria (CIBEN).
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas said that NIgeria is a nation of entrepreneurs, with businesses thriving on every comer. Read more
NCS Apapa sets benchmark with trade facilitation, overall best honours (Independent)
The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has emerged as a standout performer, clinching three prestigious awards at the 2024 Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Awards Night.
Recognitions for trade facilitation, revenue generation, and overall excellence underscore the command’s critical role in advancing Nigeria’s economic development.
Speaking during the awards presentation in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Wale Adeniyi, lauded the achievements of the Apapa Command, emphasizing the significance of celebrating exceptional service. Read more
I never knew you asked Abacha not to kill me, Obasanjo replies Gowon (DailyTrust)
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has replied former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), who said that he (Gowon) pleaded with the late General Sani Abacha not to execute him.
Obasanjo was one of those imprisoned by the regime of Abacha over an alleged coup plot to overthrow Abacha.
Speaking during the first ever Plateau Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carols and Praise Festival at 10 Commandments Prayer Altar in Du, Jos South LGA of the state, at the weekend, Gowon said he pleaded with Abacha to spare Obasanjo. Read more
Lacey Chabert celebrates hitting her 40th Hallmark movie with “The Christmas Quest”: ‘It’s Really Surreal’ (People)
Lacey Chabert is facing a major milestone as her latest Hallmark Christmas movie, “A Christmas Quest”, nears its debut: her 40th Hallmark movie.
The Mean Girls actress, 42, first appeared on the network in 2010’s Elevator Girl, a modern retelling of Cinderella which also starred Ryan Merriman.
“It’s crazy, right?! I’m so, so proud of it,” she tells PEOPLE of the milestone. “It’s really surreal.”
She continues: “I never would’ve known when I did the first one that it would turn into what it has, and I’m just so proud of it and the journey and the excitement of all that filming 40 movies has brought to my life. It’s just been a beautiful experience.” Read more
BBC acquires new drama adaptation with Kin star and Jacob Elordi (DigitalSpy)
The BBC has acquired series The Narrow Road to the Deep North, a new period drama starring Euphoria‘s Jacob Elordi and Kin’s Ciarán Hinds.
The five-parter is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Richard Flanagan and follows the life of Dorrigo Evans, portrayed by Elordi in his younger years and by Hinds later in life.
Directed by Justin Kurzel from a script by Shaun Grant, the drama explores Dorrigo’s passionate love story with Amy Mulvaney, played by Odessa Young, seen in Mothering Sunday opposite Josh O’Connor. Read more
Will Ferrell reflects on Elf legacy: “I’m so lucky to have a movie like that in my catalog” (Deadline)
Will Ferrell is a happy elf.
The Elf star recently reflected on the enduring legacy of his holiday classic more than 20 years after its release in November 2003, saying he felt grateful that the Jon Favreau-directed comedy has cemented itself as a bonafide Christmas rewatch staple.
“It’s really quite special,” the Will & Harper star and producer told People in a new interview. “I mean, it continues to grow by leaps and bounds, and it continues to kind of entrench itself as kind of a holiday classic for people. I’m so lucky to have a movie like that in my catalog.” Read more
Actor Ian Smith, best known as Neighbours’ Harold Bishop, reveals terminal cancer diagnosis (Guardian)
Beloved Neighbours star Ian Smith has announced he has been diagnosed with a “non-fixable” type of lung cancer.
The actor, who has played Harold Bishop on the long-running Australian soap, revealed his diagnosis in an interview on Channel 10, adding that he would be leaving the show.
The 86-year-old first appeared on the show in 1987 as a love interest for Madge Mitchell, played by Anne Charleston, and has had five stints on the program. Read more
Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX” debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 with major first-week sales (HipHopDX)
Kendrick Lamar‘s “GNX” has cruised to the top of the Billboard 200 with the highest first-week sales of any new rap album this year.
According to Billboard, the surprise project debuted atop the chart with 319,000 equivalent album units, becoming Kendrick’s sixth consecutive number one album.
Of that figure, streaming accounted for 285,000 units (amounting to 379.72 million on-demand spins), while 32,000 was comprised of digital album sales. The remaining 2,000 units came from TEA (track equivalent albums). Read more
3 dead after tourist bus crash in France (DailyMail)
Three people have died and eight others are fighting for their lives this evening after a coach carrying tourists crashed into a cliff face in the south west of France.
The bus crash occurred as the coach was driving in darkness close to the Pyrenees ski resort of Porté-Puymorens, near Andorra, after the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle.
It ploughed into the cliff and overturned leaving three passengers dead and eight others – including a four-year-old child – injured. Read more
Trump threatens 100% tariff on Brics nations if they try to replace dollar (BBC)
US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on a bloc of nine nations if they were to create a rival currency to the US dollar.
“The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER,” Trump wrote on social media on Saturday.
Major world powers China and Russia are part of the Brics alliance, along with Brazil, India, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. Read more
Sevilla set to offload Iheanacho in January (Nation)
Sevilla may look to offload Kelechi Iheanacho in January following his struggles in the opening four months of the La Liga season.
The Nigeria international ended a 10-year stay in England when he left Leicester in July to sign for the Palanganas on a free transfer.
However, the move hasn’t quite panned out yet as Iheanacho has failed to score in seven top-flight appearances for Pimienta’s side, with his only two goals coming against lower-league Las Rozas in the Copa del Rey on October 30. Read more
Insurance edge Plateau as Lobi end winless run (Punch)
Bendel Insurance secured a 2-1 victory over Plateau United, while Lobi Stars ended their four-game winless streak with a slim 1-0 win against Kwara United in Saturday’s Nigeria Premier Football League fixtures.
At the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Bendel Insurance took an early lead when Uche Collins struck in the seventh minute. However, Plateau United responded swiftly, with Victor Dawa equalising in the 24th minute.
The tightly contested match was ultimately decided by Kayode Oke’s well-taken goal in the 66th minute, giving the Benin Arsenals the edge over their opponents. Read more
Edoardo Bove “awake and talking” as Fiorentina offer health update after star collapsed (Express)
Fiorentina have shared the positive news that Edoardo Bove is ‘awake and talking’ after a frightening incident where he collapsed during a Serie A match on Sunday.
The club took to social media to inform supporters of the midfielder’s condition: “ACF Fiorentina has announced that Edoardo Bove, following an uneventful night, was awakened and extubated this morning. He is currently awake, alert and oriented.
“He has spoken with his family, club management, the coach and his team-mates, who all rushed to go and see him as soon as they heard the good news. Further tests will be carried out in the coming days to establish what led to the critical situation that took place yesterday. Read more
Real Madrid win after Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham goals (ESPN)
Jude Bellingham converted a penalty and Kylian Mbappé added another goal before half-time to earn Real Madrid a 2-0 victory over Getafe at the Bernabéu on Sunday as they moved within touching distance of LaLiga leaders Barcelona.
Madrid moved to second place on the table with 33 points from 14 matches, one point behind rivals Barcelona, who have played a game more. Getafe are 17th after collecting 13 points from 15 matches.
Madrid were awarded a penalty in the 30th minute after Getafe right-back Allan Nyom brought down centre-back Antonio Rudiger in the box as the ball was being delivered from a corner. Read more
Lakers announcers shocked by Jazz Coach calling timeout to negate game-winner (SI)
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz on Sunday with a little help from Utah coach Will Hardy. The Lakers took a 105-102 lead on a LeBron James jumper with 41 seconds remaining before Walker Kesler cut the lead to one on the ensuing possession.
James then missed a three-pointer on the next trip down the floor that could have put the game away. Instead the Jazz had the ball in Collin Sexton’s hands with a chance to win the game, which Sexton almost did by making a driving layup with less than two seconds remaining. Unfortunately, his coach had called a timeout which negated the would-be game-winner.
Lakers announcers Bill Macdonald and Stu Lantz were beside themselves in disbelief. Read more
Tebogo and Hassan top World Athletics Awards (BBC)
Olympic champions Letsile Tebogo and Sifan Hassan were named male and female athlete of the year at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco.
Tebogo, who was also named male track athlete of the year, became Botswana’s first Olympic champion in Paris when he won the 200m in an African record time of 19.46 seconds.
The 21-year-old also helped to set a new African record when taking silver in the men’s 4x400m relay. Read more