Gani Adams picks second wife, Joy Onojaife (Vanguard)
The Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, on Saturday, December 9, 2023, tied the knot with his delectable wife, Joy.
The private ceremony at the bride’s home, in Lagos, was a beauty to behold as culture, royalty and tradition mixed in honour of a gentle warrior.
Families, friends and associates of the Yoruba generalissimo gathered at a very private engagement and traditional wedding ceremony in Lagos, to rejoice and share in the good moments with the bride and the groom. Read more
CBN: Why there’s naira scarcity (DailyTrust)
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has explained the reasons behind scarcity of naira notes in the country.
This comes following a series of complaints by some bank customers on the scarcity of naira notes at the counters, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Points of Sale (PoS), and Bureaux de Change (BDCs).
In a statement issued by the Corporate Communications Department of the CBN, the apex bank said the seeming currency scarcity was occasioned by large volume withdrawals of cash from various CBN branches by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs).
It stated that panic withdrawals by bank customers were also partly responsible for the seeming scarcity. Read more
Lagos sacks corrupt LASTMA officers (Guardian)
Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), at the weekend, gave letters of termination of appointment and reprimand to seven indicted officials of the agency at Oshodi, Lagos, following the recommendations of the Personnel Management Board by the Lagos State Civil Service Commission.
A statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, said that every recommendation made by the Board on the seven indicted officials during its meeting on Tuesday, August 19, 2023, was ratified by the Commission.
Adebayo said: “While five LASTMA officials indicted for corruption received a letter of termination of appointment, the remaining two received letters of ‘reprimand’ for absence from duty posts without leave.” Read more
Nigeria needs urgent retreat to diagnose our challenges, says don (Nation)
A Professor of Criminology and Sociology of Law, Etannibi Alemika, has called for an urgent national retreat to diagnosed the mirage of challenges facing Nigeria as a country.
Alemika,a professor of criminology, who was the guest speaker of the Annual graduation of Senior Executive Course, 45 Lecture of NIPSS titled “Security Challenges and Security Governance in Nigeria,” advocated a national retreat to dissect the security, economic, and other myriad of difficulties affecting the growth of Nigeria.
According to him, the many problems the country is presently going through started in 1986, when the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was introduced, during General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime, at that time many visible industries folded up, while some were forced to leave the country unceremoniously. Read more
Betta Edu: Tinubu made great choice for the poor, says Agbese (Leadership)
The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Chief Philip Agbese, has described the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, as the shining light of President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Agbese, who spoke to journalists on Sunday in Abuja, said Edu was the pacesetter in the current government with dynamism, commitment and dedication to the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Describing the minister as a friend of the poor and downtrodden, he added that she was implementing her well-designed blueprint to better the lives of the common man. Read more
Kano governor elevates Rogo to DG Protocol, appoints Nana Asma’u DG Research & Documentation (Guardian)
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved the elevation of Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo from the position of Chief of Protocol to Director General, Protocol.
In a statement issued by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the spokesperson to the Governor and Director-General, Media and Publicity, Rogo’s reappointment is with immediate effect.
Rogo, a former chairman of Rogo Local Government and former member, Kano State House of Assembly was first appointed Chief of Protocol during the transition period of the Governor and subsequently retained in the same position after inauguration on May 29th, 2023. Read more
TCN laments rising transformer vandalism in 6 states (Sun)
The Transmission Company of Nigeria, Port Harcourt Region has decried the spate of transformer vandalism and right of way obstruction in six mandate states.
The TCN raised the alarm concerning the situation in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo and Rivers States, saying the vandalism poses challenges to equipment transportation.
General Manager, TCN, Port Harcourt Region, Inugonum Thomas, stated this shortly after a facility tour in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at the weekend. Read more
16 dead, 27 injured in Kaduna-Abuja expressway auto-crash – FRSC (Vanguard)
The Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), Kaduna Sector Command says no fewer than 16 persons died and 27 sustained injuries in a road crash on Kaduna-Abuja expressway.
The Sector Commander, Mr Kabir Nadabo, said that the fatal road traffic crash occurred at Audu Jhangon village along the expressway on Sunday.
He explained that the crash occurred at 05:20 hrs, when a vehicle (DAF TRAILER) with registration number KUJ 430XC, with overloaded goods, lost control and fell into a ditch. Read more
Julia Roberts still hopes for sequel to My Best Friend’s Wedding (Deadline)
Julia Roberts was asked on a Watch What Happens Live if there was one film from her career that she’d like to see given a potential sequel.
“I think, maybe, My Best Friend’s Wedding,” Roberts said of the 1997 rom-com. “Because there’s so many people in it, and to see what they’re doing and how Kimmy and Michael’s marriage is going and…”
“Follow up,” host Andy Cohen said, interrupting. “Who do you think Michael should’ve married in My Best Friend’s Wedding?” Read more
Jada Pinkett Smith says Oscar slap helped her realise she will ‘never leave’ Will Smith (People)
Jada Pinkett Smith is getting candid about Will Smith’s infamous Oscar slap, which she’s now crediting for helping her realise she “will never leave” her husband.
In a new interview with the Daily Mail’s YOU Magazine, the 52-year-old actress explained that Will’s decision to slap Chris Rock during the 2022 Academy Awards has earned a new title for her: The “holy slap.”
“I nearly didn’t even attend the Oscars that year, but I’m glad I did,” Jada told the outlet. Read more
Rishi Sunak facing crunch week on flagship Rwanda legislation (Sky)
Rishi Sunak is waiting to see the size of revolt over his immigration plans from both wings of his party as he enters a crunch week for his premiership.
Two major meetings on Monday – one with One Nation MPs and one with the Tory right – will determine the size of the rebellion on Tuesday over his emergency legislation, which he claims will get flights to Rwanda off the ground.
It takes 29 MPs to vote against, or 57 MP to abstain, to defeat Sunak’s flagship legislation – with no clarity whether he could survive such a defeat in practice. Read more
Israel-Hamas War: Ceasefire in Gaza chances shrinking, Qatar says (BBC)
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza is “narrowing the window” for a new truce, the Qatari prime minister has said.
Speaking at the Doha Forum, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Qatar would continue its efforts to pressure both sides into a ceasefire.
The gulf state played a key role negotiating the week-long pause in violence at the end of November, which allowed the release of hostages.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday “the war is in full swing”. Read more
In a reversal, Donald Trump says he will not testify in his own defence in New York fraud trial (NBC)
In an eleventh-hour reversal, former President Donald Trump announced Sunday he will not go back on the witness stand in the $250 million civil fraud trial against him and his company.
“I have already testified to everything & have nothing more to say other than this is a complete & total election interference (Biden campaign!) witch hunt” so “I will not be testifying on Monday,” Trump said in an all-caps, two-part post on his social media platform Truth Social.
Trump had been scheduled to testify Monday as one of the final defence witnesses in a trial that has lasted two months and is entering its final week of testimony. Read more
Olivia Rodrigo “open” to returning to acting following success with music career (MusicNews)
Olivia Rodrigo is “open” to returning to acting amid her successful music career.
The 20-year-old first found fame as an actress thanks to Disney TV shows Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
After her debut single, Drivers License, catapulted her to stardom in early 2021, Olivia reduced her role on the latter TV show to focus on her music career before leaving altogether at the end of season three. Read more
Sustainable fashion on show at Dakar Fashion Week (AfricaNews)
Sustainable fashion took centre stage at this year’s Dakar Fashion Week. It is the 21st edition of the annual showcase of African fashion.
The launch took place in the presence of a dozen designers from Senegal and the sub-region.
Adama Amanda Ndiaye, better known as Adama Paris, Senegalese fashion designer and founder of Dakar Fashion Week, said that sustainability was their agenda in this year’s event. Read more
NPFL: Enyimba beat Abia Warriors in Oriental Derby, Plateau United win away (CompleteSports)
Enyimba claimed derby spoils against Abia Warriors courtesy of a 2-1 in Aba on Sunday.
The holders went in front through Happy Eze six minutes before the break.
Chidiebere Nnachi doubled the advantage two minutes before the hour mark. Augustine Njoku halved the deficit for Abia Warriors in stoppage time. Read more
Nigeria has no football team now – Christian Chukwu (Punch)
Ex-Super Eagles captain and legend, Christian Chukwu, on Sunday, decried the state of Nigeria’s national football team, Super Eagles, saying that the nation doesn’t “have a national team now,” while the home-based players lack the opportunities to grow.
He opined that the team coach, Jose Peseiro, should be based in the country, and that would enable him to discover local talents and train them to become better players, rather than coming from abroad to train the players for a match and then travelling back.
Chukwu expressed his concerns as a guest on the Channels Television programme, ‘Channels Sports Sunday.’ Read more
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani moving to LA Dodgers in record 10-year, US$700m deal (StraitsTimes)
Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani confirmed on Dec 9 that he is joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in a record-shattering 10-year, US$700 million (S$939 million) deal – the richest contract in the history of North American sport.
After weeks of frenzied speculation over where the 29-year-old Los Angeles Angels two-way ace would land in free agency, he announced on Instagram that he had opted for his former club’s cross-town rivals.
The Toronto Blue Jays were one of the teams who aggressively pursued Ohtani. The San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs were also reportedly interested. Read more
Struggling Chelsea crash at Everton (DailyTrust)
It is a second home victory in four days for Sean Dyche’s side, and a third straight clean sheet, moving Everton four points clear of the bottom three.
Both sides enjoyed chances in the opening 45 minutes, with Jordan Pickford making a flying save to keep out a swerving 25-yard effort from Cole Palmer.
At the other end, Jack Harrison flashed a brilliant volley on the turn just wide of a post. Read more
Richarlison stars as Tottenham inflict heavy defeat on Newcastle (Channels)
Since topping the Premier League after beating Crystal Palace on October 27, Tottenham had lost four of their next five games to squander the momentum from their blistering start to the season.
Ange Postecoglou’s attacking tactics were branded as naive during that losing run, but the Australian stuck to his guns and was rewarded with a goal-spree at Newcastle’s expense.
Destiny Udogie put Tottenham ahead in the first half in north London and Brazil striker Richarlison doubled the lead before the break. Read more
Spurs return to winning ways with dominant rout of Newcastle (IrishIndependent)
Richarlison fired Tottenham to a first win since October 27 with a brace to inspire a 4-1 victory over Newcastle.
Spurs were Premier League leaders at the beginning of November, but had endured a barren run since after a succession of injuries and failed to win any of their last five matches despite taking the lead in each fixture.
It was a different story this time with Ange Postecoglou’s team selection paying dividends with the recalled Richarlison scoring twice after Destiny Udogie had broken the deadlock in the 26th minute. Read more