Flood takes over long bridge on Lagos-Ibadan expressway (Tribune)
Flooding has overtaken the long bridge on the Warewa axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, causing severe traffic congestion.
The flood resulted from a heavy downpour that began on Thursday afternoon, rendering the road nearly impassable.
Although some vehicles are still struggling to navigate through the floodwaters, the situation has caused significant discomfort for commuters. Read more
NRC blames Abuja-Kaduna train derailment on track vandalism (Nation)
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has explained why its train on the Abuja-Kaduna route derailed on Wednesday.
The corporation said the latest incident was due to a technical hitch the train experienced at Asham Railway Station in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It blamed the technical hitch on vandals who were said to have removed the track-fastening clips. Read more
N105k minimum wage proposal is fake news — Presidency (Leadership)
The Presidency has denied viral reports (not in LEADERSHIP) that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, had submitted a proposal of N105,000 as monthly national minimum wage to President Bola Tinubu for approval.
LEADERSHIP reports that the 48-hour deadline given to Edun by Tinubu to come up with a realistic national minimum wage expires this Thursday.
The Minister was handed the directive on Tuesday when he, alongside members of the Federal Government team that reached a tentative agreement with the Organised Labour following a nationwide indefinite strike action which lasted 24 hours at the beginning of the week, visited President Tinubu to present the four-point resolution of the meeting with members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). Read more
TETFUND contract fraud: ICPC didn’t arrest me — Contractor (Sun)
A Contractor and Founder of Fides et Ratio, Paul Chukwuma, has debunked report of his arrest by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC), over contract awarded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
Chukwuma, in a statement by his Media Aide, Obi Chukwuemeka, yesterday, said he is currently in his office working contrary to reports.
“Our attention has been drawn to a false report circulating on Anambra social media platforms and other news outlets, alleging that Sir Paul Chukwuma is being detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). We wish to state categorically that this report is entirely false. Read more
N1.8b fraud: Court orders arrest of three electricity agency officials (Punch)
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja issued an arrest warrant on Thursday for three officials of Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency.
The trial judge ordered the arrest of Emmanuel Titus, Umar Karaye, and Henrietta Okojie for refusing to appear in court on Thursday for their scheduled arraignment.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, in separate charges filed against the trio, charged the defendants with four counts of criminal charge bordering on theft of public funds meant to provide electricity to rural communities across the country. Read more
2 die inside well at Osun construction site (Vanguard)
Two construction workers were on Thursday reported dead after attempting to pick a fetcher that fell into a well at a site in Ile-Ife.
It was gathered the incident occurred along Ife-Ilesa road opposite Ilesa motor park in the afternoon.
An eye witness, Usman Olawale disclosed that the two were at the well to fetch water but the fetcher fell into the well and one of them entered the well to retrieve it but he was stucked therein. Read more
Nigerian passport one of the fastest to get – Minister (DailyTrust)
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said that Nigerian passport is one of the fastest to get in the world.
The minister, stated this during an interview on Channel TV’s Politics Today on Thursday while discussing some of the innovations the ministry had introduced.
He said that an E-gate to be installed at airport to screen Nigerian travellers was ready, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is so much concerned about border security. Read more
Ozekhome applauds Tinubu’s govt for reintroduction of old national anthem (Channels)
A human rights lawyer Mike Ozekhome has praised President Bola Tinubu’s government for the reintroduction of the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we Hail Thee”.
“I am not a fantastic fan of the government but if there is one thing I think they have done right; they have gotten right, and I applaud them for it, it is the reintroduction of this national anthem,” he said as a guest on Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
The reintroduction of the old national anthem followed the passage of the National Anthem Bill 2024 which was later signed by Tinubu. Read more
Jennifer Aniston becomes emotional reflecting on 30-year anniversary of Friends (Standard)
Jennifer Aniston shed a tear while reflecting on the legacy of Friends, three decades after it first premiered.
The US actress, who found global stardom playing Rachel Green in the TV sitcom, became emotional during the latest episode of Variety’s Actors On Actors YouTube series with Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson
“Oh, god, don’t make me cry,” she said, after an off-camera person told 34-year-old Brunson to ask Aniston about the sitcom. Read more
‘Quiet Place’ haunted house coming to Universal Studios Halloween (UPI)
Universal Studios announced Thursday that this year’s Halloween Horror Nights will feature a Quiet Place haunted house in Orlando and Hollywood theme parks. Halloween Horror Nights begins Aug. 30 in Orlando and Sept. 5 in Hollywood.
The attraction is based on Paramount’s A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II. A third film, the prequel A Quiet Place: Day One is in theaters June 28.
The Quiet Place Haunted House will include American Sign Language. The two films star deaf actor Millicent Simmonds, who communicates with her family via ASL. Read more
Moment ‘evil’ paedophile lies to police after throwing boy off 100ft Brighton cliff as he is found guilty (Independent)
This is the moment a paedophile lies to police saying his victim, a young boy, ran and fell after he threw him down a 100ft cliff onto concrete when he tried to stop him from sexually abusing his sister.
Anthony Stocks, 54, was captured on police bodycam footage telling officers he shouted at the boy to stop running close to the edge when in fact he had hurled him over a cliff at Ovingdean, near Brighton.
The boy fell around 100 feet to the concrete floor beneath. Read more
Die Hard 2 and The Waltons star Tom Bower dies aged 86 as brother confirms tragic news (Mirror)
Tom Bower, who is best known for his roles in Die Hard 2 and The Waltons, has died at the age of 86, his brother has confirmed. The actor died in his Los Angeles home last week
Tom Bower, the actor best known for his roles in Die Hard 2 and The Whartons, has sadly passed away at the age of 86.
The star was found dead in his Los Angeles home last week, with the cause of death yet to be confirmed. Tom had a prolific acting career, often taking on supporting roles in films such as The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Undoing, and TV series The West Wing. Read more
DR Congo seeks to curb dollar dominance by fronting use of local currency (AfricaNews)
The Central Bank of Congo (BCC) has mandated that all Electronic Payment Terminals (EPTs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) only accept Congolese francs. This move aims to boost the use of the national currency and reduce reliance on the US dollar, which weakens the franc.
According to the BCC, this measure aims to strengthen the use of the national currency and encourage the population to prefer it for everyday transactions of goods and services. This initiative is part of a series of major reforms launched by Nicolas Kazadi, the former Minister of Finance, aimed at combating the dollarization of the economy and promoting financial inclusion.
Currently, only 13% of EPTs accept Congolese francs, favoring foreign currencies in the dollarized economy. The BCC’s new policy supports previous measures requiring prices and state payments to be in the national currency. Read more
US sanctions Palestinian group under decree used to target Israeli settlers (AlJazeera)
The United States has imposed sanctions on a Palestinian group in the occupied West Bank based on a White House executive order previously used to penalise violent Israeli settlers.
The US on Thursday targeted the Lions’ Den, an armed group that emerged out of Nablus in 2022 and has claimed several attacks against Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.
“The United States condemns any and all acts of violence committed in the West Bank, whoever the perpetrators, and we will use the tools at our disposal to expose and hold accountable those who threaten peace and stability there,” the US Department of State said in a statement. Read more
Will Smith explains why he initially didn’t want to do ‘The Pursuit Of Happyness’ (HipHopDx)
Will Smith has been the face of countless blockbusters throughout his career in film and music, though he didn’t always have the gift of clear judgement.
During an appearance on the Full Send Podcast that went live on Wednesday (June 5), the Philadelphia native reflected on nearly passing up one of his biggest movie roles.
“I did not want to make Pursuit Of Happyness,” he began at the 31:09 mark. “I was like, ‘Who wants to go to the movies to see a dude get a job in the 80s?’ The movie is about a guy who gets a job. Read more
French Open: Iga Swiatek beats Coco Gauff and faces Jasmine Paolini in Saturday’s final (SkySports)
Seventeen-year-old Mirra Andreeva comfortably beaten 6-3 6-1 by 12th seed Jasmine Paolini; she’ll face two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s final; watch Andy Murray in action at the Stuttgart Open, exclusively live on Sky Sports Tennis from June 10-16
Iga Swiatek will face Jasmine Paolini in the French Open final after a teary Coco Gauff and teenager Mirra Andreeva were swept aside in the semi-finals.
Gauff wiped away tears early in the second set of her 6-2 6-4 defeat to Swiatek after an argument with umpire Aurelie Tourte over a contentious line call decision. Read more
USA’s cricket team beats Pakistan in stunning upset at T20 World Cup (CBS)
The United States beat cricket heavyweight Pakistan, scoring a major upset in the T20 World Cup on Thursday — a historic win for a country where most people hardly understand the rules of the game.
The U.S. had romped to a seven-wicket win over Canada in its opening game. Aaron Jones, who smashed a 40-ball unbeaten 94 against Canada, once again starred for the tournament co-host when he stretched the game into super over with another vital knock of 36 not out off 26.
Jones hit a six off Haris Rauf and then a single before Nitish Kumar’s boundary off the final ball tied the score at 159 at the end of regulation as Pakistan’s experienced fast bowler gave away 14 runs off the final six balls. Read more
Ex-NBA player Delonte West arrested on 2 misdemeanour charges (ABC)
Former NBA guard Delonte West was arrested and jailed in Virginia early Thursday morning on misdemeanor charges of violating the conditions of his release and resisting arrest, according to local authorities.
West, 40, is being held at the Fairfax County Detention Center on a $2,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned in court at 8:30 a.m. EST Friday morning.
Fairfax County police spotted West around 1 a.m. in Groveton, Virginia, and sought to serve a warrant, police say. A pursuit ensued, and officers found him unresponsive after losing sight of him during the chase. Read more
2026 WCQ: Enoh urges Super Eagles to beat Bafana, secure World Cup chances (CompleteSports)
With the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in full swing, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has called on the Super Eagles to shift their focus from their recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and concentrate on the crucial task of securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles are set to face Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, and Senator Enoh stated that Nigeria must approach the tie as a make-or-break one, as victory will put the team back on track for qualification.
“The FIFA World Cup is the biggest showpiece in football,” Senator Enoh emphasised. “We cannot afford to miss out on the World Cup again. The disappointment of missing the last tournament, especially after the disappointing home match against the Black Stars, must drive us to ensure we qualify this time.” Read more
‘State of UFC heavyweight division isn’t great’ – Aspinall (BBC)
Tom Aspinall says Curtis Blaydes is the “ideal fight” for him if he cannot face UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
The Englishman meets American Blaydes in a rematch of their July 2022 encounter which saw Aspinall suffer a serious knee injury after just 15 seconds.
Aspinall, 31, returned from that setback to become interim champion last November in the absence of the injured reigning champion, Jones. Read more
Uyo to host 10th Nigeria Pitch Awards 2024 (Leadership)
Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom State, is set to host the 10th award ceremony of Nigeria Pitch Awards on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at the Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort, Waniba Road, Uyo.
The Nigeria Pitch Awards are awards presented to Nigerian former and present sports people, administrators and journalists in recognition of their positive contributions to sports in Nigeria. Initiated by Lenders Consult International Limited and approved by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the first Nigeria Pitch Awards ceremony was held on November 16, 2013, in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Nigeria Pitch Awards 2023 nominees have been revealed, with familiar names leading the charge for the prestigious King and Queen of the Pitch awards. Read more