Filling stations shut, loading halted as Lagos impounds tankers (Punch)
Marketers of petroleum products have expressed concerns that the alleged harassment of tanker drivers by officials of the Lagos State Government could lead to fuel scarcity in a few days, as some filling stations were shut in various parts of the state on Monday.
They also vowed to shut down operations in the South-West if the 30 tankers arrested by the Lagos State Government are not released.
This came as the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers has warned that the imposition of illegal levies on petroleum product trucks by agencies of the Lagos State Government could trigger a nationwide scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly known as cooking gas. Read more
Naira hits 7months high, appreciates to N1,500/$ in parallel market (Vanguard)
The Naira yesterday sustained its upward trend rising to its highest level in seven months in the parallel market, where it appreciated to N1,500 per dollar from N1,530 per dollar last weekend.
The last time the Naira traded below N1,500 per dollar in the parallel market was Friday June 21st last year when it traded at N1495 per dollar.
But the Naira depreciated to N1,504 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM). Read more
Tinubu to Senate: Tax reform bills not skewed against any section of the country (Tribune)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again reassured Nigerians that the proposed tax reform bills before both chambers of the National Assembly are not skewed against any section of the country.
The Senator representing Niger East and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa, restated President Tinubu’s assurance on Monday while speaking at the public hearings on the contentious bills.
The bills, which have since scaled the second reading in both chambers, include:
(i) The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024,
(ii) The Nigerian Tax Administration Bill 2024,
(iii) The Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill 2024, and
(iv) The Joint Revenue Board Bill 2024. Read more
FG, Belgium resolve to deepen existing economic relations (NewTelegraph)
The Nigerian and Belgian governments have revolved around deepening existing economic relations, with both parties pledging to continue collaboration for mutual benefit.
The areas of collaboration include exploring economic opportunities for the enhancement of agriculture and food security in the country.
This formed the major point of meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun and Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Pieter Leenknegt. Read more
Tax Reform Bills: ACF recommends retention of 7.5% VAT (Channels)
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has recommended the retention of the 7.5% rate of Value added Tax (VAT) in the Tax Reforms Bills.
ACF’s submission was contained in a comprehensive set of observations and recommendations to the National Assembly on the Executive Tax Reforms Bills, meant to achieve a sweeping overhaul of Nigeria’s tax laws.
The group’s actions were the outcome of a special purpose committee of experts set up by its board of trustees which studied the bills for appropriate recommendations. Read more
NASS didn’t reject me, Tinubu did – El-Rufai (DailyTrust)
Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, says he was not rejected by the National Assembly as a ministerial nominee.
In August 2023, the Senate withheld the confirmation of El-Rufai as a ministerial nominee, citing security reports from the State Security Service for the action.
But speaking on Monday during an interview on Arise TV, El-Rufai said President Bola Tinubu simply “changed his mind on the nomination” Read more
Funding crisis, improper planning hinder census (Nation)
Despite President Bola Tinubu’s interest in the conduct of an accurate census of persons and houses, all is not well with the planning.
A census, needed to facilitate data for economic planning, has not been held since 2006, whereas the United Nations (UN) recommends that it should be done every 10 years.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, who attended a meeting between the President and a National Population Commission (NPC) delegation yesterday, identified funding crisis as a problem. Read more
Rihanna set the record straight on her delayed album & why she’s taking her time (Allhiphop)
Rihanna says she won’t release an album until she’s certain it reflects her personal and artistic evolution, insisting the long wait will be justified.
Rihanna has no interest in delivering anything less than perfection when it comes to her long-awaited ninth studio album.
After nearly a decade without a full-length release, the 37-year-old superstar made it clear she won’t be pressured into dropping new music until it feels completely right. Read more
Macron tells Trump Europe wants to secure ‘solid peace’ in Ukraine (AlJazeera)
Emmanuel Macron has said Europe wants to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine, as the French president met with United States President Donald Trump at the White House on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
Speaking alongside Trump in the Oval Office on Monday, Macron said the “common objective” was to build “a solid and longstanding peace” in the war-torn country.
“We do share the objective of peace but we are very aware of the necessity to have guarantees and a solid peace in order to stabilise the situation,” the French president told reporters. Read more
Artists release silent album in protest at AI copyright proposals (BBC)
More than 1,000 musicians – including Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn and Kate Bush – are to release a silent album in protest at the UK government’s planned changes to copyright law, which they say would make it easier for AI companies to train models using copyrighted work without a licence.
Under the new proposals, AI developers will be able to use creators’ content on the internet to help develop their models, unless the rights holders elect to “opt out”.
The artists hope This What We Want?, which is released on Tuesday, will draw attention to the potential impact on livelihoods and the UK music industry. Read more
‘Killing Me Softly’ singer Roberta Flack honoured by Oprah Winfrey after death at 88 (Metro)
Grammy-winning singer Roberta Flack has died at the age of 88 (Picture: Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Singer Roberta Flack, known for the hit Killing Me Softly, has died at the age of 88, it has been confirmed, with the likes of Oprah Winfrey paying tribute.
The Grammy-winner and R&B legend was first catapulted to stardom in the early 1970s with tunes such as The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
In her early 30s at the time, Flack achieved stardom practically overnight when Clint Eastwood used the ballad as the soundtrack for an explicit scene starring Donna Mills in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. Read more
Trump administration guts USAID’s humanitarian office, despite pledge to preserve its work (ABC)
Dozens of officials in the U.S. Agency for International Development’s humanitarian aid bureau received termination notices over the weekend, despite prior assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the agency’s “core lifesaving medicine, medical services, food, shelter and substance assistance” would be preserved.
Beginning late Friday night, several now-former employees at the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance received termination letters from personnel officers at USAID, according to copies of those letters obtained by ABC News.
BHA is the government’s lead federal agency for international emergency disaster relief, working closely with the military to provide humanitarian aid in the wake of earthquakes, typhoons, hurricanes and other global natural disasters. Read more
Scientists find clues on why COVID vaccine causes chronic health problems in some (NYPost)
For a majority of people, the COVID vaccine doesn’t cause adverse health effects — but a small percentage experience chronic symptoms that can last for months or even years.
Yale researchers recently made some discoveries about why certain people experience this condition, which they have dubbed “post-vaccination syndrome” (PVS).
In early findings, the team recognized “potential immunological patterns” that are unique to people with PVS. The hope is that this discovery will help to enable future treatments and therapies for those who are affected. Read more
Nigerian footballer died after falling from building, not road crash – Uganda Police (CompleteSports)
Police have clarified that Nigerian forward Abubakar Lawal died after falling from a building and not in a traffic accident as earlier reported.
This is according to a statement by the Uganda Police (via independent.co.ug).
Reports on Monday had stated that Lawal played for Vipers in the Ugandan topflightfrom Rwanda Premier League side AS Kigali in 2022, died in a traffic accident. Read more
Galatasaray accuse Mourinho of making ‘racist statements’ (BBC)
Galatasaray said they would “initiate criminal proceedings” against Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho after claiming he made “racist statements” following the teams’ 0-0 draw on Monday.
It was not clear which statements Galatasaray were referring to.
Speaking in the news conference after the Istanbul derby, Mourinho said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys” and also repeated his criticism of Turkish referees, saying it would have been a “disaster” to use an official from the country. Read more
Racing driver Jamie Chadwick says sport ‘secretly’ looking for next female superstar (ABC)
British racing driver Jamie Chadwick may not yet be a household name. That could all change this June when the 26-year-old British racing driver heads to France to make her debut in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Her impressive resume — three consecutive titles in the W Series and stints in Indy NXT, British Formula 3 and Extreme E — has some calling her the most “decorated” female driver in the U.K.
Early on, the 26-year-old Chadwick said she tried desperately to fit in with the male drivers, purposely not drawing attention to herself or her talents. Read more
Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey: Breaking barriers in Ghanaian boxing (AfricaNews)
A Ghanaian fighter is making history and putting her country on the global map for women’s boxing. Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey has become Ghana’s first female world boxing champion, a feat that cements her legacy in the country’s rich boxing tradition.
Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey’s journey into boxing started in the streets of Jamestown, one of Accra’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods. At just 28 years old, she has now joined the ranks of legendary Ghanaian boxers such as Azumah “The Professor” Nelson, Bukom Banku, and Ike Quartey. But unlike them, she has had to battle more than just opponents in the ring—she has also had to fight against societal expectations and gender norms. Read more
Barcelona, Atletico Madrid prepared for ‘tough game’ in Copa del Rey semi (AlJazeera)
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick believes his team need to learn from their LaLiga defeat by Atletico Madrid this season and be more clinical in front of goal when they meet again in their Copa del Rey semifinal first leg.
Atletico claimed their first away win at Barca in 18 years with a 2-1 victory in December despite the hosts dominating the opening exchanges and scoring the first goal.“This is a new game. We have to prove it,” Flick told reporters on Monday, a day ahead of the home clash. Read more