Gov Lawal approves 13th month salary for Zamfara workers (ThisDay)
Zamfara State government has approved the payment of a 13th month salary to all its civil servants.
The approval was communicated in a circular issued on the 28th of December 2024 by the Zamfara State Head of Service.
The 13th month salary is the second of its kind in Zamfara state’s history, with the first being paid by Lawal’s administration last December. Read more
New Year: LASTMA expands night-time operations for free-flow traffic (Punch)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has announced an expansion of its night-time traffic management and monitoring operations in the state ahead of the New Year.
This initiative targets high-traffic commercial zones, including Lekki-Ajah, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, and other critical areas within the city, aiming to enhance road safety and ensure seamless vehicular movement during the holiday season.
According to a statement released by the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Adebayo Taofiq, on Monday, the deployment is expected to address the increased vehicular activities associated with the festivities. Read more
Nigerian-American Rapper, OG Maco dies at age 32 (Vanguard)
Rapper OG Maco, born Benedict Ihesiba Jr., has passed away at 32, weeks after being hospitalised.
His family confirmed his death on Instagram on Dec. 27, calling his life “a testament to resilience, creativity, and boundless love.”
They added, “While we grieve this immense loss, we also celebrate the extraordinary life he lived.” Read more
FG committed to reducing cost of living –Edun (DailyTrust)
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has disclosed that the Federal Government is committed to reducing the cost of living through reduction in the price of food in 2025.
Addressing reporters after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday in Lagos, the minister also promised that more jobs would be created in the new year following an investment trip to Saudi Arabia.
Edun just came back from Saudi Arabia where he led a federal government delegation to ramp up investment drives initiated by President Bola Tinubu during his last visit to the country. Read more
Yuletide: Customs seize over 2,000 bags of rice in Ogun waterside (Tribune)
The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday said its officers intercepted over two thousand bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice from smugglers at Ogun waterside area and its environs.
Addressing newsmen on Monday, Comptroller Kola Oladeji, Area Controller of the unit who addressed the media in Lagos, said the seizures were made through intelligence and surveillance along the border areas.
He said Customs operatives allowed the smugglers to offload before the rice were swooped on with the assistance of the Nigerian Army to avoid casualty. Read more
Jimmy Carter showed grace, profound respect for humanity — Tinubu (Channels)
Former United States President Jimmy Carter was a beacon of service to humanity, President Bola Tinubu has said.
In a statement on Monday, Tinubu mourned the passing of the former US President who died at the age of 100 on Sunday.
Tinubu said Carter demonstrated to leaders worldwide the profound impact of dedication beyond the highest office. Read more
Police arrest 4 minors in Abuja over theft in construction site (Nation)
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has apprehended four minors for allegedly stealing iron rods from an uncompleted building in the Guzape area of Abuja.
The suspects, identified as Matthew Vincent (15), Timothy Shedrack (15), Moses Vincent (11), and Lucky Enock, were arrested after a complaint was filed at the Guzape Police Station.
Residents had reported unusual activity at the construction site, where the minors were seen entering the building at night. Read more
1 killed, 3 injured in bloody Delta community chieftaincy title procession (Vanguard)
A violent clash arising from chieftaincy title conferment on an indigene of Aboh, headquarters of Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, has left one person dead and three others sustaining varying degrees of injuries in the community.
The bloody clash that was between members of opposing factions in the community, occurred during the chieftaincy title procession, causing pandemonium in the area.
Though the circumstances surrounding the clash could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report, sources said it may not be unconnected with some disagreements that preceded the event. Read more
Tributes pour in after US President Jimmy Carter dies at 100 (AlJazeera)
Jimmy Carter, the oldest living president of the United States, has died at the age of 100.
Carter, who was president between 1977 and 1981, died on Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, according to the Carter Center.
“Our founder, former US President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the organisation, which Carter founded a year after leaving the White House, said in a post on X. Read more
Keir Starmer pays tribute to former US President Jimmy Carter after his death aged 100 (HuffPost)
Keir Starmer paid tribute to Jimmy Carter’s “lifelong dedication to peace” last night after the former US president died aged 100 yesterday.
The UK prime minister said Carter, who was in the White House between 1977 and 1981, “redefined the post-presidency” with his commitment to social justice and human rights.
The 39th president – who won the Nobel Peace prize and lived longer than any other president in history – died at home in Georgia on Sunday afternoon. Read more
MasterChef star Matt Preston reveals his surprising number one food destination in the world (DailyMail)
Matt Preston has revealed his favourite food destination in the world.
The 63-year-old former MasterChef Australia judge has been all over the planet eating the best of the best meals available.
But the food guru has a special place in his heart for Portugal – specifically, the regions of Fuseta and Algarve. Read more
5 charged in connection with Liam Payne’s death (Sky)
Five people have been charged in connection with the death of One Direction star Liam Payne in Argentina.
Three people have been charged with negligent homicide and two have been charged with supplying drugs, the Argentinian Public Prosecutor’s Office said.
The 31-year-old pop star died after he fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on 16 October.
Negligent homicide carries a sentence of one to five years, while supplying drugs carries a sentence of up to 15 years. Read more
Blur’s Alex James reveals he once got kicked out of a church party for using “naked baby Jesus” figurine as ashtray (NME)
Blur‘s Alex James has revealed that he once got kicked out of a church party for using a “naked baby Jesus” figurine as an ashtray.
In his recent autobiography Over The Rainbow: Tales from an Unexpected Year, released on December 5, James shared the anecdote, via the Metro, which had apparently happened at a Christmas church party in 2023.
“I had been smoking in the room with the art and the objects, as usual,” James wrote. “Someone I didn’t know had said, ‘I’m not sure if you’re allowed to smoke in here’. I’d dutifully picked up a little ashtray on the sideboard where I was leaning and extinguished my cigarette.” Read more
Charles Shyer, Father of the Bride director and Private Benjamin co-writer, dies at 83 (Variety)
Charles Shyer, who was Oscar-nominated for co-writing Private Benjamin with Nancy Meyers and went on to direct a string of hit comedies including Father of the Bride and Baby Boom, died Friday. He was 83.
His family said in a statement to Deadline, “It’s with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer’s passing. His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him.” Read more
Trump urges US Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban (BBC)
US President-elect Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to delay an upcoming TikTok ban while he works on a “political resolution”.
His lawyer filed a legal brief on Friday with the court that says Trump “opposes banning TikTok” and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office”.
On 10 January, the court is due to hear arguments on a US law that requires TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the social media company to an American firm or face a ban come 19 January – a day before Trump takes office. Read more
Eguma replaces sacked Yema at Enyimba (Punch)
Nine-time Nigerian champions Enyimba FC have announced they have parted ways with head coach Yemi Olanrewaju with the club appointing former Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma as his replacement, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Enyimba announced the departure of the underfire Olanrewaju on Saturday, and it is not unconnected to the string of poor results they have recorded in the last two months, but pictures of Eguma’s unveiling at the club began to surface afterwards – even though the club is yet to make an official announcement.
“Enyimba FC can confirm that it has parted ways with head coach Yemi Olarenwaju,” the club said in an official announcement. Read more
Max Verstappen insists F1 rules were broken as 12-word message sent to Christian Horner (Express)
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has accused Red Bull’s rivals of breaking the rules despite the Dutchman retaining his crown this season. The Red Bull star kept his vice grip on the F1 throne but found himself under mounting pressure as rival teams overtook Red Bull’s car in the second half of the campaign.
Not one to mince his words, Verstappen has called on his own team to up their efforts or risk falling further behind in 2025. McLaren in particular profited from a quicker design this year, and the reigning king of the grid is clearly concerned about Red Bull slipping off the pace. Read more
Fonseca sacked by Milan after 6 months in charge (BBC)
AC Milan have sacked manager Paulo Fonseca after just six months in charge following their 1-1 draw at home to Roma.
The result left the seven-time European champions in eighth place in the Serie A table, 14 points adrift of joint-leaders Atalanta and Napoli.
Milan sit 12th in the 36-team Champions League table having lost two and won four of their six matches. Read more
Nick Kyrgios makes return from injury in doubles win with Novak Djokovic in Brisbane International (IrishIndependent)
Nick Kyrgios marked his return from injury with an entertaining doubles victory alongside Novak Djokovic in the Brisbane International.
Kyrgios and Djokovic, who faced each other in the Wimbledon singles final in 2022, teamed up to defeat Austria’s Alexander Erler and Germany’s Andreas Mies 6-4 6-7 (4) 10-8, with Kyrgios sealing the win with an ace.
The 29-year-old, who had played just one match in more than two years due to injury, said in a courtside interview: “This injury has been brutal for me,so I wasn’t taking any of this for granted. Read more
Hamilton’s former team-mate slams his fashion choices in F1 paddock (DailyMail)
Lewis Hamilton’s former team-mate Nico Rosberg has criticised his fashion choices in the F1 paddock, describing them as ‘very strange and inappropriate’.
After being part of the Mercedes team since 2013, Hamilton bid farewell at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he is set to race with Ferrari from next season.
Hamilton seemed determined to make a statement with his outfits in Abu Dhabi earlier this month. Read more
Baseball superstar Ohtani, wife expecting first baby (JapanToday)
Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka are expecting their first child, the World Series winner announced Sunday.
“Can’t wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!”, Ohtani posted on Instagram, alongside a picture of baby shoes, a baby sleepsuit and his adored pet dog, named Decoy.
Ohtani was named the National League Most Valuable Player after a historic first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024 that saw him become the first player to score 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single Major League Baseball campaign. Read more
