Egypt has opened borders for Nigerians fleeing Sudan – FG (DailyTrust)
The Egyptian authorities have finally agreed to allow Nigerians fleeing the war in neighbouring Sudan pass through its country.
Due to the closure of Sudanese airspace, the federal government had made arrangement for buses to convey Nigerians to Egypt from where they were to catch flights back home.
However, Nigerians have been stranded at the Egyptian border as a result of refusal of the country to allow free passage despite repeated pleas. Read more
JAMB begins release of UTME results Tuesday (Punch)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Monday said it would commence the release of results of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Board on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
This was contained in the minutes of the meeting held at the end of an emergency management meeting held over the weekend in Abuja.
In the minutes which was made available to our correspondent on Monday morning, the board noted that the delay in the release of results was due to the fact that it wanted to ensure that all necessary screenings were concluded. Read more
May Day: I will pay you living wage not minimum wage, Tinubu tells Nigerian workers (Guardian)
President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to put in place a living wage for Nigerian workers.
In a solidarity message to mark International Workers’ Day, he said his administration would leave no stone unturned to put in place measures aimed at empowering the Nigerian workers.
Tinubu said in his administration workers will find a dependable ally and co-labourer in the fight for social and economic justice for all Nigerians, including all the working people. Read more
Cancer scare: We’ve banned importation of Indomie noodles – NAFDAC (Vanguard)
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has reaffirmed that the agency has banned the importation of Indomie noodles into the country.
The Director General of the Agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, reiterated this in a press statement Monday.
This is coming on the heels of the recalling of indomie noodles by Taiwan and Malaysia authorities following the discovery of ethylene oxide, a cancer causing agent. Read more
Workers lament eight years of unkept promises as minimum wage loses value (Guardian)
“The current N30,000 minimum wage is worth less than N18,000 the least paid Nigerian workers received between 2011 and 2018.” – This was the verdict that reverberated across board in all the 36 states of the federation as Nigerian workers sum up their plight under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in the last eight years.
Though the sprawling federal secretariat in Abuja houses most of the ministries of the Federal Government, but for many of the workers, the edifice is not only viewed as the ‘engine room of bureaucracy’, the twin complex has been a centre of anguish for them.
The public employees say their condition of living was better between 2011 and 2018 when the minimum wage regime was N18,000 than when it was raised by 67 per cent to N30,000. Read more
Man impregnates 14-year-old girl in Lagos (Punch)
A 24-year-old man, Jacob Ekene, was on Thursday remanded to the Ikoyi Correctional Center for allegedly defiling and impregnating a 14-year-old girl at her aunt’s residence in the Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
Ekene, who was arraigned on three counts of conspiracy, rape, and inflicting bodily harm, was remanded by Magistrate P. E. Nwaka at a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State.
Ekene was said to have carried out the act with his friend, Olamilekan Saidi. Read more
Obasanjo to inaugurate 23.4km road in Akwa Ibom Tuesday (Nation)
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo will on Tuesday inaugurate a 23.4km Eket-Etinan dual carriage road constructed by Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The road traverses four local governments, including Etinan, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium and Eket.
Special Assistant to the Governor on Research and Documentation,Mr. Essien Ndueso, announced this when he led journalists on an inspection tour preparatory to the commissioning by Obasanjo. Read more
We’ll sustain improvement in workers’ welfare- Gov Yahaya (Guardian)
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has pledged to continue to improve the wellbeing and welfare of workers in the state if sworn-in for his second term in office.
Yahaya stated this in Gombe on Monday while delivering a speech at the 2023 International Workers’ Day commemoration in the state.
He said workers’ welfare and wellbeing had been prioritised under his administration in view of the fact that they were key stakeholders in the administration of the affairs of state. Read more
Thousands of Sudanese make perilous trek to safety in Chad (Channels)
On donkeys or horses, by cart or by foot, hundreds of Sudanese, most of them women and children, each day cross a small, dry stream to find safety in neighbouring Chad.
As of Monday, at least 20,000 people had found refuge at a makeshift camp in the Chadian border village of Koufroun, according to the United Nations refugee agency UNCHR, which manages their influx along with other UN agencies.
The village lies a few hundred metres (yards) from the border with West Darfur, which with the capital Khartoum is among the worst-hit provinces in the Sudan conflict. Read more
Pink performs acoustic set for No Kid Hungry, talks why her upcoming arena tour will feel ‘‘intimate’’ (Variety)
Pink lit up the stage for No Kid Hungry’s first in-person dinner event since before the pandemic on Thursday evening. As part of the festivities, Pink delivered an intimate performance to the “most empathetic crowd of people,” along with giving an acceptance speech as the organization’s national champion.
The honor was bestowed upon the pop singer and philanthropist by actor Jeff Bridges, a No Kid Hungry spokesperson, for her commitment and contributions to help advance No Kid Hungry’s national campaign to end childhood hunger in America.
“I like helping people. Growing up, I wanted to be a social worker and I feel like I’m a blend — a singer, social worker,” Pink told Variety ahead of her appearance. “I grew up with no money. My mom was an ER nurse, and my dad was an insurance salesman. It was hard at times and I don’t know anybody on this earth that hasn’t needed help at one time or another. And if you can help, you should.” Read more
Trump mistrial request denied in NY rape lawsuit (BBC)
A man who lost his wife and son in a deadly mass shooting in Texas has tearfully recalled the details of the tragedy at a vigil held on Sunday.
Wilson Garcia said the noise of a neighbour’s gunfire made his one-month-old son cry, so he and two others asked the man to move farther away.
The suspect, 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, later fired indiscriminately on Mr Garcia’s home, killing five people inside, say police.
He remains on the loose. Read more
Aerosmith confirms farewell tour ‘‘Peace Out’’ after 50 years of music (People)
Aerosmith fans have a final chance to see the iconic rock legends in concert.
On Monday, the four-time Grammy winners and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers confirmed suspicions of their farewell tour, announcing Peace Out — a 40-city North American concert celebrating their monumental career.
“After 50 years, 10 world tours and playing for over 100 million fans, it’s time for one last go,” a release said.
“It’s not goodbye, it’s Peace Out!” bandmates Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton and Brad Whitford added in a joint statement. “Get ready and walk this way, you’re going to get the best show of our lives.” Read more
Jock Zonfrillo: MasterChef Australia host dies suddenly, aged 46 (BBC)
Award-winning chef and MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo has died suddenly, aged 46.
The Scotsman worked in renowned restaurants around the world before opening his own in Australia.
His death was confirmed by broadcaster Network 10 on the day the 2023 season premiere of MasterChef was set to air.
Zonfrillo is survived by his wife Lauren Fried and four children, who said in a statement their hearts were “shattered”. Read more
The Morning Show renewed for season 4 ahead of season 3’s fall debut (ET)
Ahead of The Morning Show’s eagerly awaited return with season 3 in the fall, Apple TV+ renewed the hit drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon for a fourth season.
The news comes as the two stars recently wrapped filming on the new episodes, which continues to follow the interconnected lives and personalities that make up the titular a.m. talk show’s team at a TV network struggling to modernize with the times.
Season 3, which is directed by Mimi Leder and led by showrunner Charlotte Stoudt, features several new additions to the sprawling ensemble cast, including Jon Hamm and Nicole Beharie as well as Tig Notaro, Stephen Fry and Natalie Morales in recurring roles. Read more
Dozens injured in Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s Dnipro region (UPI)
Dozens of people were injured in Ukraine as Russia launched a predawn missile strike, officials said Monday.
Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipro Regional Military Administration, said in a Telegram post that 34 people had been injured in the attacks on the Pavlohrad district.
Five children were among those injured, with the youngest being an 8-year-old girl. Read more
NPFL scorer’s race: Enyimba’s Obioma extends lead at the top (Nation)
Chukwuemeka Obioma has extended his lead at the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League goalscorers’ chart after his lone strike helped Enyimba to their fourth away win of the season in Maiduguri against El Kanemi Warriors.
Obioma struck in the 44th minute to hand the People’s Elephant a priceless victory at the El Kanemi Warriors Stadium, Maiduguri.
The win keeps Enyimba in second spot in Group A with 28 points ahead of Remo Stars (27 points), Akwa United (26 points) and Plateau United (25 points) with two games to the end of the season. Read more
Dybala and Wijnaldum still training individually for Roma (FootballItalia)
Two days on from Roma’s stalemate with Milan at the Stadio Olimpico, Jose Mourinho is still unable to call upon two key members of his Giallorossi squad.
Despite being named on the substitutes bench against Milan, Paulo Dybala trained individually from the rest of the Roma squad on Monday morning.
La Joya is still struggling with a sore ankle according to La Gazzetta dello Sport and alo has complained of a slight issue with his adductor. Read more
Zubair emerges new NRA president (DailyTrust)
A retired FIFA referee, Sani Zubair, has been elected the new president of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), taking over from Tade Azeez.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zubair was elected in Ilorin on Saturday after he polled 53 votes from the available 54 accredited delegates to beat Daniel Olokor.
NRA’s former Publicity Secretary, Kelechi Mejuobi, was elected the new National Deputy president with 43 votes to beat David Egho who scored 10 votes. Read more
Nigerian athletes break medals record in Zambia (Guardian)
Team Nigeria has made a giant stride in the city of Ndola, Zambia, venue of the ongoing 2023 African U-18 and U-20 Athletics Championships, winning a total of 12 medals in Day 2 of the competition.
The event, which entered its second day on Sunday. saw Nigerian athletes sweeping five Gold, three Silver and four Bronze medals to take their medal haul to seven Gold, five Silver and five Bronze.
It was the highest number of medals recorded by a particular country in a one day in the history of the championship. Read more
Confed Cup: Rivers United crash out after stalemate (Punch)
A goalless draw in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final clash against Young Africans of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam meant Rivers United were eliminated from the competition, The PUNCH reports.
The Nigerians avoided defeat against their hosts, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the two-goal deficit they suffered at home in the first leg as the fixture ended 2-0 on aggregate.
Congolese striker, Fiston Mayele, struck twice in Uyo last week to hand the Tanzanians the advantage, going into the second leg. Read more
U-17 AFCON: South Sudan disqualfied for age cheating (Vanguard)
The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has kicked South Sudan out of the U-17 Nations Cup holding in Algeria over age falsification after five players in the Bright Star Juniors squad failed the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had recently amended regulations regarding MRI.
The part that indicates that the entire team will be disqualified if one player fails the MRI test has been amended and the law now states that the team will be disqualified if four or more players fail the test. Read more
