Drop in beans price excites Lagos traders, consumers (Punch)
Some Lagos State foodstuff traders and consumers are elated over the recent drop in the price of beans.
The residents expressed their joy over the drop in the price of the produce in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Lagos.
NAN reports that there has been a slight drop in the price of beans that has consistently risen in the past few months. Read more
Police arrest varsity don over alleged kidnap of colleague’s wife (Leadership)
The Benue State Police Command has arrested a lecturer with Joseph Sawuaan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM), Dr. Ichor Tersagh Smart, over his alleged involvement in the abduction of Susan Anyagh, wife of the institution’s chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Catherine Anene, made this known in a statement to newsmen on Friday in Makurdi.
Anene explained that at about 9am on December 7, 2024, police received information at the Command’s headquarters, Makurdi, “that one Susan Anyagh, wife of the ASUU chairman JOSTUM chapter was kidnapped along Otukpo Road in Makurdi and was taken hostage in her car that was being driven to an unknown destination.” Read more
Afe Babalola asks LPDC to remove Farotimi from lawyers’ list (DailyTrust)
Afe Babalola’s law firm has petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) seeking the removal of Dele Farotimi, a lawyer and human rights activist, from the roll of Nigerian legal practitioners.
The firm in a 90-page petition dated December 6, 2024, and signed by Ola Faro, a partner in the firm, alleged that Farotimi violated certain provisions of the rules of professional conduct for lawyers.
The petition was titled “Petition against Tomilola Titus Farotimi (also known as Dele Farotimi esq), a Nigerian lawyer called to the Nigerian bar with his name on the roll of legal practitioners kept by the Supreme Court for violation of the extant Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners Rules 1, 15(1), 15(2b), 15(3a), 15(3g), 15(3i), 15(3j), 26(1), 27(1), 30, 31(1), (2) and (4) of the Rules of Professional Conduct 2023 by bringing the entire judiciary in Nigeria into disrepute with his unfounded allegations of corruption against eminent justices of the supreme court of Nigeria, judges of high court of Lagos state, Aare Afe Babalola san, Olu Deramola, SAN, Ola Faro esq, and the entire chambers of Afe Babalola & co in his book titled ‘Nigeria and its criminal justice system.” Read more
Health insurance: NHIA vows to enroll 20m Nigerians by 2025 (Vanguard)
The National Health Insurance Authority,NHIA, has said it would enroll over 20 million Nigerians in the National Health Insurance Scheme by 2025.
If the agency’s target is met,the nation’s health insurance enrollment will move from 16.7 million to about 19.2 million, representing a 14 percent improvement within 13 months.
The Director General of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, who revealed this at a media in Abuja, said already,2.4 million vulnerable Nigerians have been covered by health insurance under the Basic Health Care Provisions Fund ,BHCPF. Read more
Sanwo-Olu identifies social media as tool for growth, societal well-being (ThisDay)
At the fifth edition of the Bodex Social Media Hangout (BSMH), the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stressed on the importance of social media.
Speaking at the event held in Lagos, with the theme ‘Social Media: The Influence, Power, and Impact’, the governor, represented by Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Dr. OreOluwa Finnih, highlighted state’s commitment to leveraging social media as a tool for growth and societal well-being.
Finnih reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s vision of creating a digital ecosystem that promotes economic growth, cultural exchange, and societal well-being. The event spotlighted the transformative power of social media in shaping narratives, fostering collaboration, and addressing societal challenges. The event also emphasised on the urgent need for Nigeria to address challenges such as fake news, cyberbullying and online harassment. Read more
Lagos to get new building code in 2025 (Channels)
The Lagos State Government has expressed its readiness to get a brand-new Building Code next year, to achieve the high-performance standards needed to make Lagos a sustainable and Smart City.
The government’s readiness was disclosed at the Lagos State Executive Council Retreat on the Domestication of the Lagos Building Code, organised by the Office of the Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development, held at Ikeja GRA on Wednesday.
Speaking during the retreat, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu emphasised the need for more collaboration among all the ministries and agencies in the built sector, to ensure the state development in line with global best practices. Read more
Correctional Service CG bows out, as Nwakuche named Ag. CG (Vanguard)
Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS, Haliru Nababa on Friday formally bowed out of service having reached the retirement age.
This was as President Bola Tinubu, approved the appointment of Nwakuche Sylvester Ndidi, as Acting Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service following the expiration of Nababa’s tenure.
Nwakuche’s appointment takes effect from 15th December, 2024. Read more
FG issues 6 Sukuk Bonds worth N1.1t for 124 road projects (Leadership)
As the world seeks ethical and inclusive financial solutions, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says the federal government has issued six Sovereign Sukuk worth N1.1 trillion ($657.6 million), to finance 124 federal road projects covering over 5,820 kilometres across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The director-general of SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, who stated this during the ongoing 2nd International Islamic Capital Market Conference in Karachi, Pakistan, Thursday, said the success rate makes the Islamic Capital Market, ICM stand out as a resilient and innovative tool for mobilizing resources.
Agama described the issuance of sovereign Sukuk since 2017 as a key pillar responsible for growth of the ICM in Nigeria adding that these issuances have consistently been oversubscribed, with subscription rates reaching as high as 441 per cent. Read more
Dozens of children injured during viral ‘Superman challenge trend’ online (Metro)
Videos of children and adults taking part in the dangerous challenge have taken over social media platforms (Picture: TikTok)
Dozens of children have been injured during a ‘Superman challenge,’ the newest trend on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.
Footage circulating on social media shows pupils – some as young as 10 years old – taking part during breaks at school and filming it for content.
A video shared on an Instagram page with 2.6 million followers, showing youngsters from Southampton F.C. Under-21s doing it, has for example amassed nearly 50,000 likes. Read more
Woman attempting to smuggle 22 pounds of meth wrapped as Christmas presents arrested at airport (People)
A Canadian woman allegedly attempted to smuggle 22 pounds of methamphetamine wrapped as Christmas presents through a New Zealand airport on Sunday, Dec. 8.
According to a news release from the New Zealand Customs Service, the 29-year-old woman was caught with the illicit drugs after arriving at the Auckland Airport from a flight out of Vancouver, Canada, on Dec. 8.
The discovery was made after the customs agency questioned the woman and conducted a baggage search of her red carry-on duffle bag. Read more
WB announces new ‘‘Tom and Jerry’’ movie writers (Deadline)
Rashida Jones, Will McCormack and Michael Govier have been set to write “Tom and Jerry”, a feature that will be made under Bill Damaschke’s Warner Bros Pictures Animation.
They will be starting fresh on the new iteration of the misadventures of the cat Tom and mouse Jerry, hatched in 1940 by William Hanna & Joseph Barbera at MGM. Until MGM shuttered its animation division, they made 114 shorts that won 7 Oscars. Later versions came from Gene Deitch and Chuck Jones, and then others. The characters most recently toplined the 2021 hybrid film Tom & Jerry. While through the years it has been criticized for the sometimes violent ways the cat tries to trap the mouse and pays dearly for it, the venerable franchise has been an influence on many cartoon series including The Simpsons. Read more
Denzel Washington on Gladiator 2 and calling Ryan Coogler to apologize for spilling ‘‘Black Panther 3’’ news (Variety)
When Denzel Washington enters the room, you sit up straight. You pay attention. After all, you are in the presence of greatness. But even legends can be re-imagined.
Washington is entering a new career chapter, but he’s far from slowing down. As the two-time Oscar winner gears up for his 70th birthday on Dec. 28, he’s stepping into uncharted territory, taking on roles that push his boundaries, nurturing new talent and reflecting on a career that has redefined Hollywood. Not only is Washington’s riveting performance in Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator II at the heart of this chapter, but so is a new personal decision to live a healthy lifestyle.
“It’s been a journey,” Washington says to Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast. “I’ve been on a two-year program to get healthier. At the Academy Awards, I looked at myself and thought, ‘I’ve got to change.’ I worked with Doug Romero, a trainer. It’s been my birthday gift to myself — getting to a place where I feel okay looking in the mirror.” Read more
Daniel Craig says Queer role would have made him “self-conscious” playing Bond (RTE)
Daniel Craig has said he could not have made Queer during his stint as James Bond, as he would have felt “self-conscious” that people thought he was “trying too hard to be a good actor”.
The 56-year-old plays an American living in 1950s Mexico who falls in love with a young student, played by Drew Starkey, in the Luca Guadagnino-directed film, which is based on the William S Burroughs novella of the same name.
Speaking on Friday’s episode of The Graham Norton Show, Craig said Queer “blurs the lines around homosexuality”. Read more
U2’s Larry Mullen Jr teases “different” new music and 2026 tour (NME)
Larry Mullen Jr has teased U2 are working on new music while opening up about working with dyscalculia.
In a conversation with Times Radio, the musician revealed he struggled counting bars due to dyscalculia, comparing it to “climbing Everest”.
Per the NHS website, the learning difficulty affects a person’s ability to use and acquire mathematical skills. The drummer, who only recently realised he had dyscalculia, shared that he cannot count or add because of it. Read more
Macron names key ally Francois Bayrou as France’s new prime minister (LBC)
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named ally Francois Bayrou as prime minister, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government last week.
Mr Bayrou, 73, a crucial partner in Mr Macron’s centrist alliance, has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades.
His political experience is seen as crucial in efforts to restore stability as no single party holds a majority at the National Assembly. Read more
Super Falcons maintain 36th position in latest FIFA ranking (Leadership)
Nigeria’s Super Falcons maintained the 36th position in the latest women’s ranking released by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) on Friday.
The nine-time African champions played three friendly matches within the period under review.
The Super Falcons defeated Algeria twice (2-0) and (4-1), respectively. Read more
Thomas Tuchel reacts to England’s 2026 World Cup qualifying draw as “top priority” shared (Express)
England, under the new leadership of Thomas Tuchel, will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in their quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The German coach, who officially takes over on January 1, can take heart from the fact that England have never been defeated by any of these teams.
Scotland, on the other hand, are in a four-team group and will compete against either Portugal or Denmark, depending on the outcome of the Nations League quarter-final tie, as well as Greece and Belarus. Steve Clarke’s squad also face a Nations League promotion-relegation play-off against Greece in March.
Wales find themselves in a group with Belgium, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein, aiming to qualify for their second consecutive World Cup. They previously faced Belgium in the last World Cup qualifiers and more recently in the 2022 Nations League. Read more
Lemina stripped of Wolves captaincy after West Ham clashes (SkySports)
Mario Lemina has been stripped of the Wolves captaincy.
Lemina clashed with West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen after Wolves’ 2-1 defeat on Monday and then proceeded to push his own team-mates as they tried to calm in down and then square up to Wolves assistant coach Shaun Derry.
Nelson Semedo replaces him as Wolves skipper, with Wolves boss Gary O’Neil confirming the incident against West Ham led to a conversation around the captaincy. Read more
Sainz reveals feel-good reason behind Ferrari exit (RN365)
Carlos Sainz has voiced pride after enjoying a strong final campaign at Ferrari despite knowing pre-season he would be leaving the team.
Ferrari announced in the build-up to the 2024 championship that Sainz would leave the squad at the end of the year after it penned a deal with seven-time title winner Lewis Hamilton.
Sainz enjoyed his most successful season to date, scoring two race wins and nine podiums as well as bagging 290 points – the highest of his career. Read more
Gaur and Filer awarded England central contracts (BBC)
Fast bowlers Mahika Gaur and Lauren Filer have been awarded their first England central contracts.
Gaur, 18, and Filer 23, were on development contracts last year but now join 17 other players on central contracts for 2024-25.
Captain Heather Knight, all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt and the world’s number one-ranked bowled Sophie Ecclestone are among seven players to be awarded two-year deals, with the rest receiving one-year contracts. Read more
“Get tested”: Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan gives warning after revealing cancer diagnosis (ITV)
Former Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan has revealed he was diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of cancer earlier this year.
Jordan said he suffers from bladder and prostate cancer, which has now spread to his spine and pelvis.The 76-year-old, who ran his own team in F1 between 1991 and 2005 before continuing to be involved in the sport as a broadcaster for the BBC and Channel 4, is also the manager of design guru Adrian Newey. Read more
