Hardship: We were threatened to end our protest, NLC claims (DailyTrust)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said the day-two nationwide protest over hunger and economic hardship was suspended due to alleged threats on the leadership of the Congress.
Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President, said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
The National Executive Council (NEC,) of the NLC had called for a two-day nationwide protest against the crisis of survival and hardship in Nigeria to be held between Feb. 27 and Feb. 28. Read more
Nigeria ‘ll survive present economic challenges – Tinubu (Vanguard)
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said that Nigeria will survive the current economic challenges.
President Tinubu also said that his administration is working to ensure that Nigeria is reformed for greater efficiency with a particular emphasis on systematically inculcating fairness and equity in all aspects of the national life.
Addressing Afenifere leaders at the residence of Pa Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, Ondo State, the President emphasised his commitment to leading Nigeria towards economic and social prosperity. Read more
Army uncovers 40 illegal oil wells in Rivers (Channels)
The Nigerian Army has made a startling discovery of over 40 illegal crude oil wells in Rumuekpe community, in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The illegal oil wells were discovered on Wednesday during an operation led by the General Officer Commanding, Nigerian Army 6 Division, General Jamal Abdusallam.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after the operation, Major General Abdusallam noted that the wells which are approximately 40 feet deep, represent a new tactic employed by criminals to siphon crude oil from underground reserves. Read more
Lagos gets Sci-Fi treatment in new Disney+ series (Punch)
A new animated Disney series set in a futuristic Lagos has won over its first viewers with a Sci-Fi play on life in the Nigerian megacity.
From Lagosian slang to lagoon markets and traffic jams, Disney+ six-parter Iwaju captures everyday urban details and catapults them into a future bristling with high-tech gadgets where some of the city’s present-day problems persist.
It marks Disney’s first collaboration with an outside studio and part of a drive to feature more African animations, which have long been neglected by big foreign entertainment companies. Read more
Marwa commends British govt for marine headquarters project for NDLEA (Nation)
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the British government for offering to undertake the provision of the headquarters and personnel accommodation for the Marine Unit of the anti-narcotics body at the Eko Atlantic city beach.
Marwa, who gave the commendation while performing the groundbreaking ceremony to signify the commencement of the project facilitated by the UK Home Office International Operations (HOIO), assured that the agency will continue to live up to the expectations of Nigerians and its international partners.
This was contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, on Wednesday, February 28. Read more
Tinubu off to Qatar for business, investment forum, others (Leadership)
Honouring an invitation by His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Lagos and embark on a two-day official visit to the State of Qatar on Thursday, February 29, 2024, to further strengthen cooperation between the two nations in several areas, including security, cultural exchange, and economic development.
During the visit, according to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Wednesday night, President Tinubu will witness the signing of several agreements focused on boosting Nigeria’s real sector and creating value-additive investments across the fields of trade, education, culture, solid minerals, digital economy, agriculture, and gas, as well as fostering cooperation on counter-terrorism. Read more
Recruit more police to combat kidnappings, Senate tells FG (DailyTrust)
The Senate has called for more recruitment of police personnel to bolster security forces’ capacity to combat kidnappings and other criminal activities.
This followed the adoption of a motion titled Galadimawa kidnap incident response and the need to urgently enhance security measures in FCT, Nigeria, sponsored by Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP- Delta) at plenary on Wednesday.
Presenting the motion, Nwoko said that on Nov. 23 the Senate resolved that security agencies should fortify security and address the surge of kidnappings in the FCT. Read more
Food Security: Kogi edges support for women farmers (Independent)
In a bid to ensure availability of foods in Kogi State, the Government has promised to support smallholder women farmers through the building of their capacities in agricultural activities.
Commissioner of Agriculture, Timothy Ojoma, gave the assurance while speaking at the presentation of Scorecard on Smallholder Women Farmers Access to Agricultural inputs and training.
The presentation which was organised by Small-scale Women Farmers in Nigeria (SWOFON), Kogi State Chapter, in partnership with Kogi Budget Committee Group and support from ActionAid Nigeria is aimed at evaluating the success story on the efforts made to ensure that Kogi women farmers have access to agricultural inputs and training. Read more
Billie Eilish confirmed for Oscars 2024 appearance (DigitalSpy)
Billie Eilish has been confirmed to perform at the 2024 Oscars ceremony.
The 96th Academy Awards will take place on March 10, and will feature performances of this year’s nominated songs, which means that the ceremony will include two songs from Barbie.
Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell will perform “What Was I Made For?”, while Ryan Gosling will perform “I’m Just Ken”, with assistance from Mark Ronson. Read more
Serial rapist who murdered woman found naked in woodland nearly 19 years ago jailed (Independent)
A violent man who murdered a 27-year-old woman and dumped her body in a remote area of Scottish woodland has been jailed for life, nearly two decades after committing the horrific crime.
Iain Packer was accused of strangling Emma Caldwell and concealing her body in South Lanarkshire in April 2005, as well as raping or sexually assaulting 21 other women.
Packer has now been locked behind bars for a minimum term of 36 years after being convicted of 33 charges which spanned two decades, all of which he denied at the High Court in Glasgow. Read more
Ghana’s parliament passes anti-LGBTQ+ bill that could imprison people for years (NPR)
Ghana ‘s parliament passed a highly controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill on Wednesday that could send some people to prison for more than a decade.
The bill was introduced to parliament three years ago and criminalizes members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as its supporters, including promotion and funding of related activities and public displays of affection.
Speaking to reporters after the bill was passed Wednesday one of its sponsors, lawmaker Sam George, said he felt relieved. “(I) feel like a burden has been taken from me,” he said. Read more
Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Larry David pays emotional tribute to Richard Lewis following actor’s death (Mirror)
Curb Your Enthusiasm actor Larry David has paid tribute to his co-star Richard Lewis following his tragic death.
The comic actor, who starred alongside Richard for many years, has paid his respects to the star. Richard died suddenly at the age of 76 from a heart attack.
In a statement from Larry, shared by HBO which broadcasts Curb Your Enthusiasm, he emotionally shared what the comic meant to him. “Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he’s been like a brother to me,” Larry wrote. Read more
Liam Neeson will take over for Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun reboot (People)
Liam Neeson is taking a turn toward comedy.
On Wednesday, multiple outlets reported that Neeson, 71, is set to star in a reboot of The Naked Gun series for Paramount that will release in theaters July 18, 2025.
Akiva Schaffer, the former Saturday Night Live writer known for his collaborations with The Lonely Island and Andy Samberg, is set to direct and executive produce the reboot of the crime-comedy series that originated with the Leslie Nielsen-starring television series Police Squad! Read more
Mitch McConnell to end 17-year tenure as top US Senate Republican (StraitsTimes)
US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Feb 28 he will step down in 2024 from his leadership role, ending a record-setting tenure and ceding more influence to Donald Trump and the hardliners who have come to define the party.
Mr McConnell, who has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985 and has been his party’s leader since 2007, gleefully embraced the nickname “Grim Reaper” for his willingness to use the levers of power to stonewall Democratic goals, whether as majority leader or, as is currently the case, minority leader.
“I turned 82 last week. The end of my contributions are closer than I prefer,” Mr McConnell said, on the Senate floor, his voice breaking with emotion. Read more
Donna Summer estate sues Kanye West over “shameless” uncleared sample (CMU)
The Donna Summer estate has sued Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign for “shamelessly” including an interpolation of her song ‘I Feel Love’ in ‘Good (Don’t Die)’, a track on their new collaborative album “Vultures 1”. The estate says that it explicitly denied permission to West when approached about licensing the interpolation because it didn’t want Summer to be associated with the controversial rapper.
“Summer’s estate … wanted no association with West’s controversial history and specifically rejected West’s proposed use of Summer’s “I Feel Love”, the lawsuit states. As a result, it “unambiguously denied defendants’ clearance request. This unequivocal denial was communicated not only in writing, but also twice verbally over the phone”.
“Despite this denial”, the lawsuit goes on, West and his collaborators “shamelessly used instantly recognisable portions of Summer’s hit song “I Feel Love” on their recently released collaborative album ‘Vultures 1’ and in recorded live concerts”. Read more
Osimhen bags hat-trick, becomes Napoli’s 13th all-time scorer (Punch)
Nigerian Striker Victor Osimhen, moved to 13th spot in Napoli’s all-time scorers chart after he bagged his first hat-trick of the season within 16 minutes as the Partenopei annihilated Sassuolo 6-1 away in a Serie A game on Wednesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
It was his second hat-trick against Sassuolo since arriving in Italy in 2020. The former Lille striker scored his first against the Neroverdi on October 29, 2022.
The 25-year-old also had an assist for Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, who scored twice in the encounter as new manager Francesco Calzona recorded his first win after three games. Read more
Minister, others laud Akpata’s nomination for SV recognition award (Leadership)
The nomination of the president of Cricket Federation of Nigeria (NCF), Dr Uyi Akpata, as one of the recipients of this year’s Sportsville Special Recognition Awards, has continued to draw acclaim from national and international dignitaries.
From the home front, sports development minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, said the recognition of Uyi Akpata by Sportsville was a clear pointer of the great work the financial guru is doing with cricket in Nigeria.
“As a Ministry, we sincerely appreciate all you have been doing towards the growth of Cricket in Nigeria. Read more
Man United’s Ten Hag slams “pathetic” Fernandes criticism (ESPN)
Manchester United Erik ten Hag has accused Nottingham Forest of “targeting” Bruno Fernandes during their FA Cup tie at the City Ground and branded criticism of the midfielder’s behaviour as “pathetic.”
United won the game 1-0 thanks to Casemiro’s 89th-minute winner but speaking afterwards, Ten Hag said he felt Fernandes had been on the end of a disproportionate number of heavy challenges.
It was Fernandes’ free-kick that gave Casemiro the chance to score and earn United a quarterfinal tie with Liverpool.
“You saw Forest was targeting him,” Ten Hag said. Read more
World Cup champion Spain beats France 2-0 to win inaugural Women’s Nations League final (Fox)
Spain hasn’t lost momentum since winning its first World Cup title, defeating France 2-0 on Wednesday to also win the inaugural edition of the Women’s Nations League.
Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey scored a goal each for Spain in front of 32,657 fans at La Cartuja Stadium in southern Spain. It was a record crowd for Spain’s women’s team in the country.
Spain also holds the men’s Nations League title, having beaten Croatia in the final in June. Read more
Christian Horner stays on in Red Bull role as grievance against him is dismissed (IrishExaminer)
Christian Horner will remain in his post as Red Bull team principal.
Red Bull Racing’s parent company Red Bull GmbH announced on February 5 that Horner was under investigation following an accusation of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague.
Horner emphatically denied the claim and the 50-year-old, who arrived in Bahrain on Wednesday ahead of this weekend’s opening race of the Formula One season, will stay on as team principal of the British team. Read more
Rory McIlroy’s curious response to Chubby Chandler’s $950m LIV Golf theory (NYPost)
Rory McIlroy had a smile on his face when he discussed Andrew “Chubby” Chandler’s comments about the possibility of the Northern Irishman jumping to LIV Golf.
But how much of Mcllroy’s response was a joke?
Mcllroy, who had been one of the rebel golf league’s staunchest critics, gave a bit of a cheeky answer when responding to his ex-agent’s thought that “there’s a 10 percent possibility” that McIlroy would go to LIV. Read more