Driver escapes unhurt in Lagos auto crash (Guardian)
It was a miraculous escape, yesterday, for Stephen Ekanem, a driver with Valency Agro Nigeria Limited, after he rammed into a moving 40-feet container truck along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos, with his Toyota Hilux bus.
The accident occurred about 3:00p.m.as Ekanem, driving the vehicle marked: BDG 240 FD, attempted to overtake the truck near the newly renovated Lagos Airport link bridge at Toyota Bus Stop, Lagos.
The truck driver, Abraham Uwem, said he heard people call his attention and when he slowed down he discovered that the front side of the accidented vehicle was already under his truck.
“I am not at fault, I didn’t slow down, and he was over speeding,” he said.
It took the intervention of traders at the Ladipo Auto spare parts Market, Ladipo, to pull out the driver, who sustained injuries on his legs and left eye, and also to control traffic on the busy route. Read more
Anxious patient’s relative attacks LASUTH workers, nurse breaks neck, others injured (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested the relative of a patient at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, for allegedly attacking medical workers at the hospital.
It was gathered that the yet-to-be-identified relative brought the patient with a gunshot injury in a Toyota Sienna to the surgical emergency unit of the hospital around 11 pm on Tuesday, December 14.
PUNCH Metro learnt that a nurse at the hospital attended to the patient and advised his relative to leave him in the vehicle, where a resuscitation procedure would be conducted on him.
However, the relative, who became impatient, allegedly attacked three nurses and a doctor at the hospital. Read more
Fire destroys shops, apartment in Ilasamaja, Lagos (Guardian)
It was a tragic moment for shop owners and residents of 29 and 31 Alhaji Tanimola Street, Ilasamaja, Lagos as fire consumed the two buildings and rendered many homeless.
The Guardian learnt the fire started at about 4:00 p.m .from a bungalow at 31 Alhaji Tanimola and spread to 29 Alhaji Tanimola Street.
But early intervention by the Lagos State Fire Service men prevented the fire from consuming more buildings in the area.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Lagos Fire Service, Amodu Shuaibu, who confirmed the incident to The Guardian, so no casualty or injury was recorded.
He said two main shops and one adjoining shop and about 10 rooms in the bungalow building at 31 Alhaji Tanimola street were affected, while the other bungalow building consist of two-room and parlour and four other rooms were also affected.
On the possible cause of the fire, he said: “A shop where ethanol is being sold and another one, which houses furniture making shops with thinner and polish must have caused the incident. Read more
CSR: Cadbury Splash $1m on Primary Schools in Lagos (ThisDay)
Cadbury Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Mondelēz International, has said its signature corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative tagged Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle project, which officially ended on December 9, 2021, had achieved the desired outcomes.
Cadbury stated this in a press statement IT issued yesterday, which said that the four-year project that cost about $1million, was sponsored by Mondelēz International Foundation, and implemented by Helen Keller International.
It said that the CSR activities were aimed at tackling malnutrition and obesity among children in some selected primary schools within its host communities in Lagos State.
Speaking on the CSR, The Managing Director, Cadbury Nigeria, Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye, said: “We are pleased with the outcome of this pilot project funded by Mondelēz International, our parent company, as part of its commitment to promoting ‘Snacking Made Right.’ We thank our implementing partner, Helen Keller International, for their dedication and professionalism. Read more
NIWA distributes free life jackets to Lagos boat operators (Guardian)
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), yesterday, distributed free life jackets to boat operators in Lagos State.
In a brief ceremony at the popular Lagos Marina Jetty, the hub of water transportation activities to most Inland littoral destinations in Lagos, the Area Manager, NIWA Lagos, Sarat Lara Braimah, said over 2, 500 life jackets, would be distributed directly to all boat operators in Lagos’ five divisions.
She noted that with increased movement of people and goods expected at yuletide, the NIWA management under the Managing Director, Dr. George Moghalu, thought it expedient to reach out to boat operators in Lagos, who have shown commitment to adhering to rules of engagement on water transportation in the state.
Braimah, who personally participated in the distribution of life jackets to accredited boat operators at the marina jetty, urged beneficiaries to put it to use. Read more
Lagos moves to ensure safety compliance in hotels (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has said it will intervene in the hospitality industry to ensure hotels in the state comply with safety practices.
The Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, said this on Thursday during a stakeholders’ forum on hotel safety, on Victorial Island.
He said, “Hotels never close and they are places one visits to have an experience one cannot have at home, hence there is need to sensitise stakeholders on safe
hotels practices, ensure co-operations and proper coordination of work activities within the sector and provide stakeholders with relevant information on any risks to their health and safety.
“As safety professionals our eyes are meant to be trained to identify and manage these hazards. This involves carrying out risk assessments such as monitoring wires that are hanging, fuses coming into the building, chair that is broken or the ambience that is not right.” Read more
Drama as lawyers, judges ‘clash’ at Zaria bar and bench forum (DailyTrust)
Lawyers under the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Zaria, Kaduna State, have lamented increasing high handedness of lower court judges, saying it negatively affects the speedy dispensation of justice.
This is as the bench also raised concerns over what it described as lack of respect from the bar, frivolous applications, personalisation of cases and unnecessary petitions against judges.
Buhari: Why I declined assent to Electoral Amendment Bill
Electoral Bill: Buhari snubs N/Assembly, declines assent
At the Bar and Bench Forum organised by the branch at Faculty of Law, ABU Zaria, the branch Chairman of the NBA in Zaria, Mr Hussaini Abdu, had described as unethical, a situation where judges detain lawyers in the process of defending a client.
Abdu noted that every lawyer has a duty to the court so also the court has a duty to lawyers, adding that both members of the Bar and the Bench have constitutional obligations to discharge.
“The paramount effect of a judicial proceeding is to achieve justice; a situation where a lawyer who is representing a client is detained by a judge is a flaw in the system,” he stated.Read more
Relief for students, parents as ASUU shelves strike (Guardian)
National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Emmanuel Osodeke
Students in the nation’s public institutions and their parents can temporarily heave a sigh of relief, as aggrieved university teachers have shelved their planned strike following the intervention of concerned stakeholders.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), led by its National President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, said it would give room for more dialogue with the Federal Government before deciding on the next line of action.
Osodeke expressed concern over government’s alleged resort to blackmail against the union and its refusal to honour the Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed by both parties before suspending its nine-month strike last December.
He said: “The union is worried by the spirited efforts of government agents to reduce the demands of ASUU to a regime of intermittent payment of watered-down revitalisation fund and release of distorted and grossly devalued Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).” Read more
We don’t have resources to meet ASUU demands at once – FG (Punch)
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, on Monday, said resources were not enough to meet all the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities at once.
This is as the minister faulted claims of the union that the Federal Government was blackmailing it.
The PUNCH had reported that ASUU had given the Federal Government a three-week ultimatum on November 15, 2021 to honour the agreement it signed with the union, which led to the suspension of the strike by university lecturers in December 2020.
Some of the demands are the payment of earned allowances, payment of revitalisation funds to universities, creation of visitation panels and implementation of the University Transparency Accountability Solution instead of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System for the payment of workers in the ivory towers, among others. Read more
I’ll be a joy-giver for rest of my life, Burna Boy vows(Nation)
Grammy award-winning star, Burna Boy, has resolved to be a better human from 2022.
As a new year signifies new beginnings, most people come up with things they want to change as January rolls around.
If these resolutions stick, they could lead to an entirely new way of life.
Yet so many people let these goals falter, and within the first few weeks of the New Year, these resolutions are relegated to the proverbial garbage heap.
But not Odogwu, as he has sworn to stay resolute in his decision not just in the New Year but for the rest of his life.Read more
“No Time To Die” director confirms James Bond’s fate after Daniel Craig’s explosive final scenes (Metro)
No Time To Die director Cary Fukunaga has shed some more light on the fate of Daniel Craig’s James Bond, after the final moments.
The latest instalment of the blockbuster franchise was finally released in cinemas earlier this year, following a string of lengthy delays.
Daniel, who has played 007 for 15 years, previously announced that the movie would be his last as the super spy, with speculation over who could be replacing him. Read more
Brian May says he ‘perhaps made the wrong decision’ to attend birthday gathering after catching Covid-19 (Independent)
Brian May has said he “made the wrong decision” to attend a mask-free social a gathering after catching Covid-19.
The Queen guitarist has tested positive for the virus, sharing the results of his lateral flow test on Instagram.
He said he is feeling “truly horrible” and that it’s like “the worst flu you can imagine” before revealing how he believes he caught it.
May told his Instagram followers that he attended a friend’s birthday meal with his wife, former EastEnders star Anita Dobson, with a small group of friends, thinking they were “in a safe bubble”.
“It’s kind of ironic for me,” he said, explaining that the couple have been “incredibly careful” over “the past 20 months”. Read more
Sky Ferreira says new album is “actually coming out” in 2022 (NME)
Sky Ferreira says her long-awaited second album is “actually coming out” in 2022 after more than half a decade of teasing.
The singer released her acclaimed debut album ‘Night Time, My Time’ in 2013 and was soon promising its follow-up, reportedly called ‘Masochism’.
Ferreira hasn’t released any of her own music since 2019’s ‘Downhill Lullaby’, which at the time of its release was her first solo music in six years. It was said to be the first track from her second album, which was first announced back in 2015.
Since the release of ‘Downhill Lullaby’, though, no new music has materialised, with fans still waiting for the second album.
Stereogum included Ferreira’s second album as part of their 101 Most Anticipated Albums Of 2022 list this week, which the singer screenshotted on her Instagram account, seemingly confirming that it will finally be released next year. Read more
Quidditch set to be renamed in bid to ‘distance’ sport from JK Rowling ‘anti-trans’ scandal (DailyRecord)
Real-life quidditch is set to be renamed in a bid to “distance” the sport from Harry Potter author JK Rowling’s controversial views on the transgender community.
The bodies in charge of the sport, which is inspired by the author’s series of books, say the change will be made following Rowling’s “anti-trans positions in recent years.”
US Quidditch (USQ) and Major League Quidditch (MLQ) announced the move in a joint statement.
A survey will be conducted in the next few months to decide the new name.
The statement read: “The leagues are hoping a name change can help them continue to distance themselves from the works of JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter book series, who has increasingly come under scrutiny for her anti-trans positions in recent years.Read more
‘I’m extremely disappointed’: Paul Rudd’s fifth time hosting ‘SNL’ relies on taped, old sketches(USAToday)
Live from New York, it’s a pandemic “Saturday Night Live.”
NBC’s long-running sketch show still went on, amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Big Apple, sans studio audience. The evening marked Paul Rudd’s fifth time as host.
The series announced the day-of change on Twitter. It also sent home several cast members, crew, planned special guests and musical guest Charli XCX as the latest variant of the coronavirus spread, according to a person with knowledge of the plans who was unauthorized to speak publicly.
But Tom Hanks still appeared. “I came here from California, and if you think I was gonna fly 3,000 miles and not be on TV, well, you’ve got another thing coming,” cracked Hanks, wearing a jacket emblazoned with a 5, signifying the number of times he’s hosted. Hanks also welcomed former “SNL” cast member and writer Tina Fey, a fellow a member of the 5-time club.
“Tina, another 5-timer, thank you for joining me,” Hanks said. “As you know, I started the 5-timers club.” Read more
Andrew Lloyd Webber calls theatre cancellations ‘heartbreaking’ as Omicron variant surges in the UK (GBNews)
Andrew Lloyd Webber has said it is “simply heartbreaking” to see the theatre industry “decimated” by Omicron cancellations, adding “no-one in the Government listens”.
On Thursday night his production of Cinderella was axed due to “Covid-related absences”, alongside London productions of hit musicals Hamilton and The Lion King.
Hamilton, at the Victoria Palace Theatre, confirmed it will not go ahead on Friday night due to “Covid-enforced absences”.
Lord Lloyd-Webber said: “It has been a terrible few days and it is getting worse.
“It is simply heartbreaking for me to see our industry decimated by a situation beyond all of our control.
“We had to cancel yesterday evening’s performance of Cinderella with three hours’ notice. Read more
“Drake Was Featured on Kanye West’s ‘Yikes’ Before Their Beef” (HipHopDX)
Drake was revealed to be a songwriter on Kanye West’s ye album cut “Yikes” in 2018 after originally not being credited, with Drizzy responsible for writing the hook. One of the song’s producers, Pi’erre Bourne, recently caught up with HipHopDX’s Jeremy Hecht and revealed that Drake was actually featured on the original track before their beef.
“I’m so happy that they’re performing together – that’s great for this culture,” Bourne said about Kanye West and Drake’s recent reconciliation at the Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert. “Those are my big brothers, so to see them together, I never would’ve thought. But it’s amazing to see, makes me feel way better about everything. ‘Cause I’ve been in the middle! I’ve been quiet for years! I’m just glad they’re on stage together. Oh my gosh. That’s so amazing, bro.
“And honestly, not too many people know that Drake wrote that. He sung the hook. When I was there, they were on the song together. Everyone was cheering me on because they were like, ‘You’ve got Drake and Kanye on your beat.’ I didn’t even know.”
Pi’erre Bourne explained he was working with Travis Scott when he found out they were both on his production, but Drake didn’t end up appearing on the final version.
“I was just working with Travis or something and then they came up to me like, ‘Yeah, man, you’ve got Drake and Kanye on your beat,’” he explained. “I’m like, ‘Swear to God?’ And they weren’t lying. But when the album came out, he wasn’t on there. So I was just like, maybe this is how the industry is. You can’t say nothing, so I just got back to work.” Read more
Barack Obama names The Last Duel and West Side Story among his favourite films of 2021 (FilmNews)
Former U.S. President Barack Obama has named The Last Duel and West Side Story as two of his favourite films of the year.
Every year, the former leader releases his list of favourite films, TV shows and books on social media, and he kept up the tradition on Thursday, when he shared his top movies of 2021.
Despite being a box office flop, Ridley Scott’s medieval epic The Last Duel made the cut, as well as Steven Spielberg’s new adaptation of West Side Story and Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter.
His list featured a number of films expected to be major Academy Award contenders, including Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog, Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth and Rebecca Hall’s Passing. Judas and the Black Messiah, which features on the list, was released in February and won two Oscars at the 2021 ceremony. Read more
Quentin Blake: ‘I’m not so committed to cheering everybody up, you know’ (Guardian)
Quentin Blake’s ascent to national treasure status has been fuelled by a 70-year career as an illustrator, most prominently of children’s books, and works by one writer in particular. His distinctive and revelatory conjuring of Roald Dahl’s world is one of the glories of late-20th century illustration, but it has sometimes masked other aspects of a remarkable career that’s been about a lot more than just the genius misanthrope of Great Missenden.
A new BBC documentary, Quentin Blake: The Drawing of My Life, allows for a wider appreciation, opening as it does with the 89-year-old illustrator confronted by 30ft of empty canvas and an invitation to fill it with an artwork that tells the story of his creative life. The broad brush of biography is soon filled in: his 1930s upbringing in suburban Sidcup, south-east London, from where Blake first got his work published in Punch while still at school; his decision to read English at Cambridge rather than going to art school; his 60s career as an in-demand illustrator (his Penguin paperback jackets for the likes of Kingsley Amis’s Lucky Jim have an attractively louche appeal); and as an author himself, most notably A Drink of Water, made with the writer and longtime friend and collaborator, John Yeoman.
Blake’s association with children’s literature began to properly cement itself in the 1970s and the BBC has unearthed some evocative period clips of Blake’s first forays
into children’s literature, sporting big-collared shirts and luxuriant sideburns while drawing on children’s shows such as Jackanory. A string of luminaries including David Walliams, Lauren Child and Michael Rosen dissect what we might call Blakean characteristics: his attraction to the eccentric, mischievous and anarchistic; his strong sense of empathy, and his understanding of characters – people, animals, whatever – outside the mainstream.Read more
Barcelona target loan deal for Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Metro)
Barcelona are considering a loan move for Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to reports.
Aubameyang’s future with the Gunners is now in doubt after he was stripped of the captaincy last week following a disciplinary breach.
The 32-year-old has been training away from the first team and was not included in the squad for the 4-1 win over Leeds United last Saturday.
According to MailOnline, Barcelona are now weighing up a loan deal for Aubameyang and are keeping tabs on the striker’s situation at Arsenal. Read more
Liverpool’s Andy Robertson is ‘lucky to be walking’ – Mark Clattenburg (BBC)
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has criticised the officiating in Tottenham’s draw with Liverpool on Sunday, saying Andy Robertson is “lucky to be walking”.
The left-back was on the end of a strong studs-up tackle from Harry Kane.
Referee Paul Tierney only gave a yellow card and Robertson was later shown a straight red for a foul on Emerson Royal that was reviewed by VAR.
“I think Kane’s tackle’s worse than Robertson’s,” said Clattenburg. Read more
Pep Guardiola warns Phil Foden and Jack Grealish after Man City stars pictured at nightclub (Metro)
Pep Guardiola has warned Jack Grealish and Phil Foden about their conduct after they were axed for Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Newcastle United on Sunday.
Both players were left on the bench at St James’ Park, despite impressing in the 7-0 victory over Leeds United earlier in the week.
According to The Telegraph, Grealish and Foden visited a nightclub after the win over Leeds and City staff were ‘unhappy’ with the condition of the two players in their recovery session the following day.
The report claims that Guardiola ‘was left distinctly unimpressed’ by the episode and took the decision to drop Grealish and Foden for the trip to Newcastle. Read more
Rivaldo: The Brazil & Barcelona great who – in childhood poverty – never dared to dream (BBC)
In early 1991, an 18-year-old stood in a bakery in Paulista, a rundown region of Recife in north-eastern Brazil, waiting to be interviewed by local media. He didn’t look much like a footballer.
Troublingly thin, his nondescript brown T-shirt hanging off his shoulders and long legs curved outwards at the knee – a sure sign of vitamin D deficiency and the reason for his bow-legged gait.
His cheeks appeared sunken, the result of having lost most of his teeth to chronic malnutrition in his early teens.
He had recently made headlines having looped in a perfect, neck-straining header on debut for local side Santa Cruz. As a result, a TV reporter had sought him out, keen to discuss his career ambitions.
The modest young man replied between sips on a fresh coconut: “My dream is already being realised; to play for Santa Cruz. I hope to achieve more and become an idol for the club’s fans.” Read more
Thomas Tuchel includes eight Chelsea academy players in first-team training ahead of Carabao Cup tie (Metro)
Thomas Tuchel has included at least eight Chelsea academy players in first-team training before his side’s Carabao Cup tie with Brentford on Wednesday.
Chelsea’s first-team squad has been hit by a Covid outbreak and the Champions League holders were unsuccessful in their attempt to postpone their Premier League fixture against Wolves at the weekend.
Tuchel revealed that seven players in his squad were unavailable due to Covid but the Premier League rejected Chelsea’s request to postpone their match on Sunday.
Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Wolves and are now set to play Brentford in the Carabao Cup this week after the EFL confirmed on Monday that the competition would still go ahead. Read more
Warriors players warned to be cautious if heading to NSW, Victoria for Christmas (Stuff)
The Warriors have told players to use commonsense if they’re heading to New South Wales or Victoria for Christmas, because of the rising number of Covid-19 cases.
The players take a break from preseason training on Tuesday and a number of them are planning to leave the team’s base in Redcliffe, to join their families in other parts of Australia.
But with New South Wales reporting 2213 cases on Friday and there being 1510 in Victoria, Warriors management don’t want to find themselves in the same situation in the new year that the Knights and Raiders are currently in, with those clubs forced to go into lockdown, because of positive cases inside the teams.
While the Warriors won’t force anyone to remain in Queensland for the two-week break, they are asking players to be cautious. Read more
Timea Babos out of AO because she is not willing to comply with rules set (TennisWorld)
Former world No. 25 Timea Babos has announced her withdrawal from the Australian Open as she simply can’t comply with the rules set for the 2022 Australian Open. Babos made nine Australian Open main draw appearances in singles but never made it past the second round.
However, Babos enjoyed doubles success at Melbourne Park as she and Kristina Mladenovic won the 2020 Australian Open doubles title. “The world has unfortunately changed a lot since our 2020 Australian Open doubles victory.
This year in Melbourne, I got a huge, almost unprocessed slap from my partner, then came my own COVID illness and then my stubborn injuries,” Babos said. “With all will, I there myself into training a few months ago and started returning to the world of competitive tennis.
“Because of my weaker singles ranking and my doubles success, I’m obviously facing a series of dilemmas in the future, but one thing’s for sure, I won’t give up because I know and believe there’s more to it than that.” Read more