FEC approves N1.3bn contracts to reposition NAN, NTA, FRCN (Nation)
The Federal Government on Wednesday approved N1.3 billion contracts to strengthen and reposition its media outfits for effective information dissemination. The media organisations to benefit from the projects include the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigeria Television Authority and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this when he briefed State House Correspondents on the outcome of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Read more
Gunmen attack journalist, abduct wife, three others in Nasarawa (Nation)
Gunmen on Wednesday attacked Suleiman Abubakar, Chairman of Correspondents’ chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Nasarawa state and abducted his wife, Yahanasu Abubakar. Suleiman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident happened at about 7 p.m. along Gudi-Garaku road in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state. According to Suleiman, the gunmen shot at the union bus they were travelling in from Keffi, where his wife went to register at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp. Read more
Minister allays fears over 2019 budget oil price benchmark (Guardian)
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, on Wednesday in Abuja allayed fears over the oil price benchmark for the 2019 budget. There have been concerns by stakeholders that the 60-dollars-per-barrel projection was too ambitious considering the volatility of the international crude market. But Udoma told a National Assembly joint committee hearing on the 2019 Appropriation Bill that there was no cause of alarm. Read more
2019 Budget Defence: FAAN proposes N101.6bn (Nation)
Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) has proposed a total budget of N101.6 billion for 2019. The Managing Director, Mr Saleh Dunoma, made the disclosure while defending the 2019 budget proposals of the Authority before the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on Wednesday in Abuja. According to him, the Authority is proposing for 2019 a Budget of N101.67 billion as against N88,805,462,776 for 2018 which gives a 14.5 per cent increase. “This is in anticipation of increase in passenger traffic as well as boost in the non-aeronautical revenue base of the Authority as already highlighted in the 2018 budget performance. Read more
NNPC closes recruitment portal, begins shortlisting of applicants (Nation)
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Wednesday closed its portal for ongoing recruitment exercise and began shortlisting of applicants. Mr Ndu Ugahmadu, the Corporation’s spokesman disclosed this in a statement in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the portal was opened on March 13. The NNPC is an equal opportunity employers in the Oil and Gas Industry value chain, including exploration, refining, transportation and marketing of petroleum products. Read more
Osun govt denies civil service recruitment (Guardian)
The Osun State Government Wednesday denied the rumour making the round that it has begun recruitment into the state civil service. “As at today, there is no recruitment in the state of Osun; and members of the public are advised not to pay any amount to anybody on the guise of paying Osun civil service recruitment form,” Adelani Baderinwa of the Osun State Ministry of Information and Strategy said in a statement. “It is unwise and unexpected of a government that is struggling to pay full salary to its existing workers to engage in an unproductive recruitment exercise,” he added. Read more
Migrants ‘hijack’ merchant ship in Mediterranean (Guardian)
A group of migrants has “hijacked” a merchant ship that appears to be heading towards Malta, the Armed Forces of Malta said on Wednesday. The El Hiblu 1 tanker was taken over by 108 migrants when it was six miles off the Libyan coast. A Maltese army spokeswoman told dpa that Maltese authorities had received reports of the “pirated ship” and they have since been “monitoring” the situation. The last contact with the ship was an alert sent out by the captain. Read more
Nissan boss was too powerful report finds (BBC)
Too much authority was given to former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, an external panel of experts has found. Its report was commissioned to find ways to improve management and corporate governance at Nissan. It found a “concentration of all authority” in the former chairman. Mr Ghosn was arrested and charged last year with underreporting his pay package for five years from 2010 to 2015. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He has said his arrest was the result of a “plot and treason” against him – a bid by some Nissan executives wanting to stop his plan to integrate Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi. Read more
Jussie Smollett: Mayor says case makes Chicago look foolish (BBC)
Chicago’s mayor Rahm Emanuel says the sudden move to drop charges against actor Jussie Smollett over a hoax attack has made a fool of the city. The state’s attorney’s office maintains Mr Smollett has not been exonerated, while Mr Smollett’s lawyers say his record has been wiped clean. “They better get their stories straight because this is actually making a fool of all of us,” the mayor told ABC News. Police maintain Mr Smollett staged a racist and homophobic attack. Read more
Facebook bars white nationalism, stepping up hate speech curbs (Punch)
Facebook announced Wednesday it would ban praise or support for white nationalism and white separatism as part of a stepped-up crackdown on hate speech. The ban will be enforced starting next week at the leading online social network and its image-centric messaging service Instagram. “It’s clear that these concepts are deeply linked to organized hate groups and have no place on our services,” the social network said in a statement. Facebook policies already banned posts endorsing white supremacy as part of its prohibition against spewing hate at people based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity or religion. Read more
Youth minister tells child rapper to hang up his mic (BBC)
A Ugandan child rapper has been told to put down his microphone because he is too young to perform. Youth minister Florence Nakiwala told the BBC that the country’s labour laws state that no-one under 18 should work. In a television interview on Uganda’s NBS channel, she also warned that if the seven-year-old rapper Fresh Kid disobeyed the law he could face juvenile prison. Child labour has been hard for authorities to stamp out, reports the BBC’s Catherine Byaruhanga from the capital. Children are regularly seen working on farms, in small businesses and street vending, she says. Read more
Montenegro star Stefan Savic slams Jordan Henderson for ‘ugly’ comment during England win (Metro)
Stefan Savic has branded Jordan Henderson ‘disrespectful’ after the midfielder made an ‘ugly’ comment in England’s 5-1 win over Montenegro. Several England players were subjected to racist chanting from the stands during the Group A clash and, after the final whistle, Gareth Southgate confirmed that an official complaint would be made to UEFA regarding the vile abuse. Tempers also boiled over onto the pitch on Monday evening, especially in the second half with a number of badly-timed tackles flew in from both sides. Read more
Miami Open: Roger Federer reaches quarter-finals with win over Daniil Medvedev (BBC)
Three-time champion Roger Federer eased into the quarter-finals of the Miami Open with a straight-set victory over Russia’s Daniil Medvedev. Switzerland’s Federer, who last won the title in 2017, beat the 13th seed 6-4 6-2 in one hour and one minute. The 37-year-old fourth seed, who hit 22 winners and won nine of the final 11 games, will play South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in the last eight. “I thought it was an interesting match,” Federer said. Read more
Bayern Munich complete record breaking Hernandez deal (Nation)
Bayern Munich have smashed their transfer record to sign Lucas Hernandez on a £68million deal from Atletico Madrid. The Bundesliga giants announced on Wednesday the Frenchman has penned a five-year contract and will join them from July 1 after completing his medical during the international break. The signing represents the highest-ever fee paid by Bayern – their previous transfer record stood at £37.35m when they splashed out to sign Corentin Tolisso from Lyon in 2017. Read more