Distressed building: Agency cordons-off 3-storey, issues 7-day evacuation ultimatum (Guardian)
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has cordoned off a distressed three-storey building in Oshodi with a seven-day evacuation ultimatum on traders and residents to save lives.
The ultimatum is contained in a statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs of the agency, Mr Gbadeyan Abdulraheem on Sunday in Lagos.
In the statement, the General Manager Mr Gbolahan Oki, was quoted as saying that the owner and occupants of the dilapidated building at No. 2 Brown Street, off Bolade Bus-Stop, Oshodi, had ignored several quit and removal notices served in the past.
Oki said the seven days ultimatum became necessary after the scientific and Structural Integrity/Stability Test (SIT) revealed that the high-rise building “is extremely dilapidated and a disaster waiting to happen’’. Read more
Osborne Foreshore residents debunk rumours of planned violence (Tribune)
Residents of Osborne Foreshore Two Estate in Lagos State, have debunked rumours that they are planning to perpetrate violence in their community, emphasising that as law-abiding citizens, information that they have made plans to attack some personalities is ultimate falsehood with no standing evidence.
The residents in a release signed by the chairperson Osborne Foreshore Two Estate Residents Association on Sunday stated that all information accusing them of planning to attack some people in their community including the managing director of Richard Nyong/Lekki Gardens Estate/Foreshore Waters Limited are lies aimed at bringing them into disrepute and are mere imaginations of the people spreading such information.
According to them, those spreading the information are doing so because they are uncomfortable that the community has refused to retaliate to diverse constant harassment and intimidations meted to them by some individuals after the residents of Osborne Foreshore Two Estate, woke up Wednesday, April 7, to find that heavy-duty construction truck working for Lekki Gardens Estate/Foreshore Waters Limited, blocking their entrance and exit gates, thereby holding hostage, the residents of and visitors to the estate. Read more
Amaechi urges contractors to hasten Lagos-Ibadan rail project (Guardian)
Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has urged the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to speed up work on the Lagos- Ibadan rail line project.
Amaechi, who said this on Saturday while inspecting the project in Lagos, added that the company had given a commitment towards finishing it by end of April.
He said: “Most of the things remaining are minor and it cannot delay the movement of goods. They have promised to finish by the end of the month. I believe them but I want them to reiterate that.”
He said that though the company had shown
commitment to the project, much still needed to be done to achieve the target date of completion. Read more
Fraud: Convicted Genesis prophet released from prison (Punch)
The Senior Shepherd-in-Charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global, Prophet Israel Ogundipe, has been released from prison.
This is as he joined members of his church for Sunday service.
When he entered the premises of the Church, the worshippers were joyous.
In a video posted on Instagram by the church, the convicted pastor was seen leading praise and worship.
The PUNCH had reported that the Court of Appeal in Lagos has granted Ogundipe a post-conviction bail.
A three-man panel on April 1 granted Ogundipe bail on the ground of health conditions. Read more
FG meets striking judicial workers Monday (Tribune)
The Federal Government will meet the striking judicial workers over the lingering crisis in the sector; even as the leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has declared that the seven-day-old strike will continue until their demands are met.
However, the union also declared that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad, who met with them earlier to call off the strike cannot give what he does not have, therefore, he cannot meet their demands.
The Monday meeting between the government and JUSUN was called at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and scheduled to commence by 2 pm. Read more
NAFDAC: Kano poisoned drink contained chemical used for terrorism (ThisDay)
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said that investigations showed that the chemical added to the killer flavoured drink that led to the death of three persons in Kano contained “Hyroxylamine” used for terrorism.
It said all the merchants of the deadly chemicals and additives have been apprehended, while further investigation continues.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement on Sunday, signed by NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, warned Nigerians against adding chemicals and additives to food and drinks to enhance taste, stressing that such practices could result in severe illness and even death.
On the recent Kano incident where three people reportedly died as a result of their consumption of dangerous chemicals used as additives, Adeyeye explained that a preliminary result of the Agency’s investigation indicated that the additive chemical was Hyroxylamine. Read more
South-East sets up joint security outfit codenamed EBUBEAGU (Punch)
The South-East region has launched its own joint security outfit codenamed EBUBEAGU.
This was after governors and stakeholders of the region held a security meeting in Imo State on Sunday.
The governors of Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Imo and Enugu states were present at the meeting which also had in attendance Navy and Air Force Commanders, the Inspector-General of Police, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other stakeholders.
The meeting held days after gunmen attacked the Owerri Custodial Centre, freeing 1,884 inmates. The Imo State Police Command was also attacked by gunmen who set several vehicles ablaze. Read more
Aviation official asked me for bribe, Adeboye reveals (Tribune)
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called for drastic action against corrupt practices in all facets of Nigeria.
The renowned cleric made the call on Saturday during a special meeting with all ordained ministers of the mission at RCCG, Region 21, Oyo State.
Adeboye, who arrived RCCG 21 Headquarters, Oluyole, Ibadan, at about 1:25 pm, said he arrived late for the meeting because someone had requested a bribe from him to fly his chopper.
He said to avoid being late to the meeting, he had decided to embark on the trip via his chopper to avoid a possible gridlock at the busy Lagos/Ibadan expressway. Read more
New Christ statue in Brazil’s Encantado to be taller than Rio’s (BBC)
A new statue of Christ being built in Brazil will be taller than the famous Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.
Christ the Protector in the southern city of Encantado will be 43m (140 ft) high with its pedestal, making it the world’s third tallest Jesus statue.
A head and outstretched arms were added to the structure last week, which was begun in 2019.
The idea came from local politician Adroaldo Conzatti, who died in March with Covid-19. Read more
Woman has rare condition that means she only grew one breast (Metro)
Hitting puberty, Becca Butcher noticed that only one of her breasts was getting bigger. She was teased at school and doctors told her that it was because she was just a ‘late developer’. Her right breast grew to a D cup, while her right one stayed as an A cup. But Becca, now 23, discovered Poland syndrome online and went back to her GP asking for a diagnosis. Read more
Lamar Odom remembers DMX, recalls both of their addiction battles (PageSix)
Lamar Odom, who has publicly battled drug addiction, wrote an emotional letter to DMX in the wake of the rapper’s death following an overdose.
The former NBA player addressed the stars’ shared struggles in a note posted to Instagram.
Damon Dash remembers DMX as ‘a lion … cut from a certain cloth’
“Your death will bring life to so many of us celebrities who are ridiculed publicly but suffer silently with the struggle of addiction,” Odom, 41, wrote. “Mental Health Awareness is a must in our communities and maybe now after losing another G.O.A. T we can create real platforms with real solutions to address this, we can’t lose another DMX 💪🏾.
“Fly high my guy 🙏🏾.”
DMX, whose real name was Earl Simmons, died on April 2 after a drug overdose left him in a “vegetative state.” He was 50 years old. Read more
Chad presidential election: Idriss Déby seeks sixth term amid boycott (BBC)
People in Chad are voting in a presidential election that is expected to give one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders a sixth term.
President Idriss Déby, who seized power in a military coup in 1990, has been accused of stifling dissent in the lead-up to the vote.
Most prominent opposition leaders have withdrawn from the race, alleging attacks by the security forces.
They are urging supporters to boycott the election and to protest. Read more
Justin Timberlake set up ‘wardrobe malfunction’ to one-up Britney: stylist (PageSix)
The stylist who prepped Janet Jackson’s look for her infamous 2004 Super Bowl appearance with Justin Timberlake tells Page Six that Timberlake pushed for the “wardrobe malfunction” in an attempt to outdo Britney Spears, Madonna and Christina Aguilera, who had wowed the world months earlier by scandalously kissing at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Superstylist Wayne Scot Lukas told us that Timberlake “insisted on doing something bigger than their performance. He wanted a reveal.”
Scot Lukas told us that the original concept was for Jackson to be in a pearl G-string inspired by one that Kim Cattrall had worn in an episode of “Sex and the City.” Read more
US army officer sues police over violent traffic stop (BBC)
A black US army lieutenant has filed a lawsuit against two policemen who pointed their guns and pepper-sprayed him during a traffic stop.
Army Second Lieutenant Caron Nazario is wearing his uniform during the bodycam footage, taken in December in Virginia.
“I’m honestly afraid to get out,” he tells the two police officers. “Yeah you should be,” an officer says.
Police say he was stopped for failing to display licence plates but temporary plates are visible in the video. Read more
Sports minister confident Nigeria will win track and field medal at Tokyo Olympics (Guardian)
Nigeria’s Youth and Sports Development Minister Sunday Dare is confident the country’s 13-year wait for a track and field medal at the Olympics will end this year at the Tokyo Games.
Track and field events have accounted for 13 of the 25 medals Team Nigeria have won at the Olympic Games.
The sport has also delivered two of the three gold medals won by Team Nigeria with a first-ever individual gold by Chioma Ajunwa coming in the women’s long jump in 1996, the same year Team Nigeria won a historic Olympic football gold.
Nigeria last won a track and field medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 when Blessing Okagbare, in the women’s long jump, and the quartet of Gloria Kemasuode, Halimat Ismaila, Franca Idoko and Damola Osayomi in the women’s 4x100m event, won medals. Read more
Lingard scores twice as West Ham survive late Leicester comeback (BBC)
Jesse Lingard continued his stunning form with West Ham by scoring twice in the first half to set the Hammers on course for a crucial victory over fellow Champions League hopefuls Leicester City.
The two sides came into the weekend occupying the last two Champions League spots, before wins for Chelsea and Liverpool on Saturday nudged West Ham down to sixth place.
But David Moyes’ men showed they are up for the challenge of qualifying for Europe’s top club competition for the first time, going 3-0 up and holding on during a late Leicester rally to climb back into fourth.
The Hammers took the lead as Arthur Masuaku’s cross went through to right-back Vladimir Coufal, who cut back for Lingard to sweep the ball inside Kasper Schmeichel’s near post from the edge of the box. Read more
Alex Rodriguez finalizing deal to buy Timberwolves, Lynx (NYPost)
Alex Rodriguez is closing in on finally owning a pro sports team.
The former Yankees star and his partner, Jennifer Lopez, lost out on purchasing the Mets to Steve Cohen. Now, however, A-Rod and his close friend Marc Lore are finalizing a deal to become the new owners of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx from current owner Glen Taylor, who announced details of the deal Saturday.
Rodriguez and Lore, an e-commerce mogul, have a 30-day window to get the deal done after signing a letter of intent with Taylor on Saturday, according to reports. Rodriguez and Lore would be 50-50 partners, but would be limited partners until 2023 so Taylor, who has owned the Timberwolves for 27 years, can bow out. Read more
Inter edge out Cagliari to go 11 clear (BBC)
Matteo Darmian was the unlikely hero as Inter Milan beat Cagliari to extend their Serie A lead to 11 points.
The former Manchester United full-back tapped home Achraf Hakimi’s cross with 14 minutes remaining to seal an 11th successive victory.
Strugglers Cagliari had frustrated Inter who saw defender Stefan de Vrij head against the bar after 68 minutes.
Antonio Conte’s side now require 16 points from eight games to win their first league title since 2009-10. Read more
Bianca Belair’s star-making WrestleMania 37 moment was nearly perfect (NYPost)
The wait for WrestleMania normalcy, plus a weather delay, was well worth it as WWE delivered great wrestling, fun moments and memorable main event — and there is another night to go.
Bianca Belair sent a sell-out crowd of 25,675 fans at Raymond James Stadium home happy by defeating Sasha Banks for the SmackDown women’s championship to close Night 1 of WrestleMania 37 on Saturday. There were some bumps along the way, but there was much more to like. Here are six takeaways from the show:
The B-EST
It was Belair’s moment, and she and Sasha Banks absolutely crushed it together in a historic main event that saw two black women wrestle a singles match at WrestleMania for the first time. The two shared an emotional moment before the bell rung. It was a star-making performance for Belair, who looked like a complete powerhouse throughout. Read more
Saint-Maximin inspires Newcastle comeback win at Burnley (BBC)
Allan Saint-Maximin inspired a brilliant turnaround as he came off the bench to earn Newcastle a vital win at Burnley with a goal and assist in the space of seven minutes.
Steve Bruce’s side were second best to a well-drilled Burnley, who took a first-half lead through Matej Vydra following excellent work by Chris Wood.
But after the visitors had a penalty appeal for James Tarkowski’s high foot on Sean Longstaff rejected via the video assistant referee, the game turned their way with Saint-Maximin’s second-half introduction.Burnley were threatening to add to their lead when the French winger and forward Callum Wilson came off the bench after 57 minutes. Read more