Democracy not working in Nigeria — Obasanjo, Obi, Tambuwal, Kukah (Vanguard)
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, and Aminu Tambuwal, the former governor of Sokoto State, yesterday expressed concerns that democracy was not working in Nigeria.
The leaders, who spoke at the 60th birthday celebration of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Emeka Ihedioha, at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Intercontinental Hotel, yesterday, stressed the need for urgent reforms to address the country’s challenges.
Speaking at the event also attended by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku and immediate past governor of katsina State, Aminu Masari, Obasanjo noted that democracy, as currently practised in Nigeria and much of Africa, has failed to meet the need of the people. Read more
Court restrains parties over Ikoyi property, orders mediation (Nation)
The Lagos State High Court in Yaba/Surulere has restrained all parties to Suit LD/15449LMW/2024 from tampering with a building known as Plot 15a and 15b Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State belonging to Manna Real Estate Company Limited.
Justice E. O. Ashade directed the parties to explore mediation at Lagos State Multi-Door Court House (LMDC).
The order followed a Motion On Notice filed by the Manna Real Estate, Toluola Babarinde (Nee Okeowo) and Temitope Solabi (Nee Okeowo). Read more
Thunderstorm sparks fire, sacks Ekiti pupils (Punch)
A fire ignited by a thunderstorm on Sunday razed the building of Saint Peter’s Primary School in Igbemo, Ekiti State.
The building, comprising five blocks of classrooms, was burnt when a thunder strike reportedly ignited a fire during a stormy downpour that lasted for over an hour.
Consequent upon the incident, the teachers at the school on Monday morning relocated the pupils to a contiguous school, AUD Pilot Nursery Primary School, to continue with their learning. Read more
Oil marketers rule out sale of petrol in dollars (Sun)
The Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has ruled out the possibility of sale of Premium Motor Spirits(PMS), also known as petrol in dollars.
National President of PETROAN, Mr. Billis Gillis-Harry, told Daily Sun in an interview that PETROAN is not part of those calling for such a business decision.
He added that the Nigerian economy is not run in dollars but in naira. Read more
Kogi Jailbreak: FG recaptures 5 fleeing inmates (Channels)
The Federal Government said it has recaptured five of 12 inmates who escaped from lawful custody during Monday’s jailbreak at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Koton Karfe, Kogi state.
Spokesman of the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS, DCC Abubakar Umar in a statement said the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday 24th March 2024.
He said during the unfortunate incident, some inmates in a section of the facility manipulated the padlocks, leading to the escape of 12 inmates. Read more
Lagos to redesign Oshodi Transport Interchange – Commissioner (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government says it will redesign the Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI) to prepare for the integration of the Rail Mass transit systems.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
Osiyemi added that the Lagos State Government would address the ongoing developments and challenges affecting the Oshodi Transport Interchange. Read more
Job loss looms as Apapa Port barge operations decline (Tribune)
Checks by the Nigerian Tribune have revealed that due to a slump in barge operations at the nation’s busiest port, Apapa Port, many barge operators may lay off workers or downsize their businesses as many barges are lying idle, doing nothing.
Lamenting over the decline in barge operations at Apapa Port container terminal, APM Terminals, President of the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN), Bunmi Olumekun, revealed that currently, APM Terminals has no berthing space for barges.
According to Olumekun in an exclusive chat with the Nigerian Tribune, “We recently met with the management of APM Terminals to discuss barge operations at the Apapa Port, which is currently very low. Read more
First Lady calls for collective effort to end TB (VON)
The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to get tested and know their tuberculosis (TB) status, emphasizing that ending the disease requires collective effort.
She was speaking at the 2025 World TB Day Community Outreach held at the Sauka Village, Airport Road Abuja.
She said ending TB by 2030 is a collective responsibility of Government, traditional and religious leaders, legislators, the youth, healthcare workers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) among others. Read more
Kanye West releases new album ‘Bully’ on streaming — with a twist (HipHopDx)
Kanye West has dropped an early version of his new album Bully on select streaming services, but not in the way you might think.
Over the weekend, the controversial rap legend released the unfinished project as a 45-minute music video on YouTube and Apple Music.
Titled “BULLY V1,” the video is the same short film that Kanye leaked last week in the midst of yet another explosive rant on social media. Read more
South Africa’s G20 sherpa briefs UN plenary on key priorities
cleared (AfricaNews)
An informal meeting of the United Nations General Assembly plenary was held today in New York to hear a briefing by South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, Zane Dangor, as the country assumes the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025.
The President of the General Assembly, Philemon Yang, emphasized the crucial role of the G20 in advancing global development goals. He stated, “As we advance the implementation of the Pact of the Future, the Group of 20 will be critical to ensuring that inequities are addressed, more resources are provided, and better terms for development lending are negotiated.”
Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and UN Group of 20 Sherpa, underscored the G20’s role in climate action. Read more
Russia accused of ‘hollow’ peace talks as strike injures dozens (BBC)
Russia has launched a missile strike targeting north-eastern Ukraine as US and Russian officials met to push for a pause in the war.
After Monday’s attack, which injured dozens in the city of Sumy, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia must end strikes instead of “making hollow statements about peace”.
The latest round of talks between the US and Russia concluded on Monday in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Top of the agenda was reportedly the revival of a 2022 grain deal allowing Kyiv to export across the Black Sea. Read more
Grimes reveals autism diagnosis as she makes emotional admission about symptoms (Tyla)
In a courageous new update, Canadian singer Grimes has revealed she’s been diagnosed with two neurodevelopmental conditions.
Taking to X on Friday (21 Mar), the mother-of-three announced that she was told by medics recently that she has both autism and ADHD, claiming the revelation made complete sense to her.
Grimes, 37, broke the news by re-tweeting a post by another social media user, which read, ‘i saw a TikTok of how excessive reading in childhood is a sign of dissociation and i can’t stop thinking about it’. Read more
Jamie Laing reveals ‘‘not pretty’’ side effect of running 5 ultra marathons for Comic Relief (Independent)
BBC Radio 1 presenter Jamie Laing has revealed the “not pretty” side effect of running five consecutive ultra-marathons across five days in aid of Comic Relief.
The former Made in Chelsea star ran a total of 150 miles (241 km), from London to Salford, where he crossed the finish line on Friday (21 March), raising more than £2m for the cause.
However, in an update shared on Monday (24 March), Laing revealed he had woken up with swollen “Hobbit” feet. Read more
George Clooney says he is “not doing romantic films anymore’’ (RTE)
George Clooney has said he is “not doing romantic films anymore” and admits he doesn’t want to “compete with 25-year-old leading men”.
The Hollywood actor, 63, who has starred as the romantic lead in films including One Fine Day (1996) and Ticket To Paradise (2022), has reflected on his career and his new role playing journalist Edward R Murrow in Broadway play “Good Night, And Good Luck” on 60 Minutes for CBS News.
“It’s exciting to be here (on Broadway). Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s nerve-racking. And there’s a million reasons why it’s dumb to do”, he said. Read more
Gerard Depardieu arrives at court in Paris for sexual assault trial (Standard)
French actor Gerard Depardieu arrived at a Paris courthouse on Monday for his trial on sexual assault charges, in what is being seen as a potential watershed for the #MeToo movement in France.
Depardieu, 76, is facing charges that he groped two women during production of the film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).
The actor denies any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors allege the incidents included obscene remarks and inappropriate touching, including an incident in which Depardieu allegedly used his legs to trap one of the women before groping her in front of other crew members. Read more
Nwaneri scores on full debut for England U-21 (CompleteSports)
Ethan Nwaneri scored on his full debut as England Under-21s beat Portugal in an entertaining friendly at The Hawthorns, BBC Sport reports.
Midfielder Hayden Hackney fired the hosts in front before Nwaneri, who turned 18 on Friday, curled the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to double the lead after just 10 minutes.
Portugal had come close while it was still goalless and pulled one back through captain Fabio Silva, who tucked away Rodrigo Pinheiro’s cross from close range midway through the first half. Read more
Boniface reacts to boy who sold gifted boots for $100 (Nation)
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has reacted with humour after learning that a Nigerian boy sold the boots he gifted him to a Rwandan player for $100.
The boy received the boots from Boniface after Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda but admitted to selling them to the Rwandan player.
Faced with hunger and financial challenges, the boy had no choice but to sell the boots to a Rwandan player. Read more
World Cup winner fires warning to England manager Thomas Tuchel (DailyMail)
New England manager Thomas Tuchel has been warned that some elements of his coaching style may need to change if he is to have success with the Three Lions.
Tuchel’s new era got underway with a workmanlike 2-0 win over Albania at Wembley in the opening match of their World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday night.
And it continues as his team host Latvia in the second game of their campaign on Monday evening. Read more
Boehly says Chelsea owners could split if they cannot agree over stadium (SkySports)
Todd Boehly says Chelsea’s owners could go their separate ways if they cannot agree on the future of Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea bosses are considering whether to leave Stamford Bridge or to expand, with Earl’s Court seen as a possible new location.
All options are being evaluated with the project said to be complicated by the limited space in London to build. Read more
Australia overhauls plan to host 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games (JapanToday)
Australia said Monday it is overhauling its multi-billion-dollar plans for hosting the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane after years of “chaos and crisis”.
The new plan, reportedly including a new 60,000-seat stadium, rewrites much of a Aus$7 billion (U.S.$4.4 billion) infrastructure scheme announced two years ago.
“I do believe we’ve got a plan that can get the show back on the road,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli told reporters on the eve of the official unveiling of the new scheme. Read more
Saints’ McManus hits out at RFL over running of sport (BBC)
St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus has criticised a “shameful” and “clearly co-ordinated campaign to undermine” the new interim head of the Rugby Football League (RFL).
Earlier this month, ex-RFL chief executive Nigel Wood returned to the governing body to lead a “club-led strategic review” after the resignation of chairman Simon Johnson.
Two more RFL directors then resigned, citing concerns over governance, and “historic behaviour and culture”, as the turmoil at the top of the sport intensified. Read more