How Lagos-Ibadan Expressway gridlock led to death of female banker, others —Community Leader (Tribune)
As gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway continues to defy palliative measures being thrown at it by concerned authorities, residents of Lagos State communities bordering Ogun State have claimed that the stress they encounter daily in the traffic is now causing untimely death among them.
The gridlock has persisted for weeks, leading to the Federal Government, under whose jurisdiction the road falls, to direct that the blockades that were introduced due to the ongoing construction work be removed to allow for free flow of traffic, during the yuletide.
The removal of the barriers is scheduled for December 15 and they will not return until January 2023. The exact date of their reintroduction is not set for now.
Speaking to Saturday Tribune on the destructive impacts of the traffic crisis on the health of residents of the axis, the chairman of Isheri River View Estate, Mr Yomi Akinde, said the traffic situation along the corridor is “killing.” Read more
Man declared missing after attending programme at Redemption Camp (Vanguard)
A man identified as Evans Obazee was declared missing after he reportedly attended a programme at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) camp on Thursday, December 8.
The information was made public after his family posted his photo on social media to notify the public of the development.
The notice read, “Evans Isaac Obazee is missing. He was last seen in the morning, Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Redemption Camp Gate in a yellow shirt and black trousers.
“Please any information regarding his whereabouts will be highly appreciated. 07010660019 and 07062938021. Kindly retweet.” Read more
Sosoliso burn survivor Kachi celebrates 17 years after crash (Nation)
Sosoliso burn survivor Kachi has celebrated 60 reasons to keep hope alive 17 years after the Sosoliso crash that killed 108 persons.
She celebrated a number of things including completing an MBA and finishing a book.
Referring to the deceased victims, she reiterated that she talked a lot about them in her new books.
She said: To the 60 angels of Dec 10 2005:
2022 was a hard year. I’m so grateful to God to have made it this far.
Thank you for being the wind beneath my wings these past 17 years, for giving me 60 reasons to keep striving, to keep fighting, to keep excelling. Read more
22-year-old suspect in custody for ‘‘murdering’’ sugar mummy (DailyTrust)
Police have arrested and prosecuted 22-year-old suspect, Chidubem Osuagwu, for allegedly murdering and stealing the car of his older lover (sugar mummy), Amarachi Chukwu (32), in Enugu.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu State, Mr Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.
Ndukwe said police detectives serving in the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Enugu, working with police operatives in Imo Command, on Nov. 8 arrested Osuagwu within Nekede axis of Owerri in Imo.
According to him, he was attempting to sell a Toyota Corolla car he stole from his older female lover, Chukwu, after murdering her on Nov. 1 in her residence at Meniru, Awkunanaw within the Enugu metropolis. Read more
Sit-At-Home: Gunmen attack Enugu market, burn Police van (Independent)
There was heavy shooting on Saturday morning in Enugu metropolis as gunmen enforcing sit at home attacked a new market area.
An eyewitness account who spoke on condition of anonymity told our correspondent that a police van was burnt by the hoodlums while 2 people were shot dead during the attack.
He said the situation forced people to run for safety saying the gunmen who were numbering over 10 had stormed the New Market area as early as 6am probably to shut down the market but they were confronted by some policemen patrolling the market area to reassure traders of their safety.
According to him, they were reported to have engaged the policemen in a gun duel and eventually succeeded in setting ablaze their vehicle. Read more
Lagos achieving state free from sexual, gender based violence – Sanwo-Olu (Guardian)
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says the government is achieving its vision of a state free from all forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
Sanwo-Olu made this known on Friday while unveiling a book titled: ”Living For a Higher Purpose”, written by the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi.
The governor who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said his administration was working not only to curb domestic and sexual violence, but to ultimately eliminate it.
According to him, in the past three years, the state government has made significant gains in the war against domestic and sexual violence.
Dissenting voices as House of Reps continues quest to end incessant ASUU strikes (Vanguard)
Jolted by the lingered recent strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, the House of Representatives penultimate week held a two day education summit to find solutions.
The summit was sort of an emergency, prompted by a daring circumstance. It was a means to an end-the protracted ASUU strike.
Recall that from February 14 to October 14, 2022, the Nigerian public universities were shut down and the academic activities completely paralysed. Then, ensued the negotiations. The bone of contention was chiefly the non implementation of an agreement between ASUU and the federal government which included the provision of requisite infrastructure for learning on campuses. And then, the lecturers’ payment system. While the government insisted on Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS), ASUU pitched tent with University Transparency Accountability System (UTAS).
When it appeared there was no headway in the talks between ASUU and the federal government led by both the ministries of education and the labour in their negotiations, the House of Representatives intervened. Read more
Unilever rewards drivers, seeks partners(ThisDay)
Unilever Nigeria Plc. has reiterated its commitment to the safety and wellness of its logistics partners at the 2022 edition of Transporters’ Safety Week.
The company also called for collaboration through information gathering and sharing to keep drivers safe and healthy in the course of their duty.
The Unilever Transporters Safety Week holds annually, with the firm dedicating a week to recognise its logistics partners amidst training, health checks, fanfare, and awards.
This year’s edition held at the organisation main distribution center in Agbara, with the theme “Buga for Safety, Dey Kampe,”
The event had hundreds of stakeholders within the company’s value chain in attendance. Read more
Former Miss Croatia makes promise to fans if they win the World Cup (Sportbible)
The former winner of Miss Croatia Ivana Knoll, has made a huge promise to the country, as long as their national team go on to win the World Cup.
Croatia made it through to their third ever World Cup semi finals, and second in-a-row, when they defeated Brazil in a penalty shoot out.
They’ve made it to the final four three times, in just seven World Cups, and out of those they didn’t qualify for one, which is an incredible record.
They’re also become masters of extra time and penalties, having required more than 90 minutes in every game leading up to the final four years ago, and again in the current tournament.
Scream star Melissa Barrera confirms sequel will be “100 times gorier” (Metro)
Melissa Barrera has opened up about the upcoming Scream 6 sequel, insisting that it will be ‘100 times gorier’ than what we’ve seen before.
The upcoming slasher flick will be released on March 10, 2023, with Melissa and Jenna Ortega reprising their roles as sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter respectively.
They will also be joined by Courteney Cox’s iconic Gale Weathers, however Neve Campbell confirmed that she would not be returning to the fold as ‘final girl’ Sidney Prescott.
Spilling the beans on what is in store for horror fans, the 32-year-old revealed that directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have ramped up the blood, the scares and the screams. Read more
Dizzee Rascal: Grime artist made diss track after guilty verdict – court (BBC)
Grime artist Dizzee Rascal rapped about the judge on the day he was found guilty of attacking his former fiancee, a court has heard.
The rapper, whose real name is Dylan Kwabena Mills, is appealing his conviction for assaulting Cassandra Jones in Streatham in south London.
Mills was handed a one-year restraining order and a 24-week curfew in April.
Ms Jones told Inner London Crown Court how Mills had “rapped about the judge” in a diss track after his conviction. Read more
Chloe Moriondo cancels UK gigs due to “cost of touring” (NME)
Chloe Moriondo has cancelled her upcoming UK and European tour “due to the cost of touring”.
The singer was set to tour her recent third album ‘Suckerpunch’ in early 2023, with dates including a London show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
Taking to Twitter, Moriondo revealed that the gigs have now been cancelled.
The statement read: “hi. I would like to say here w my words that uk/eu dates are being canceled due to the cost of touring. it makes me unbelievably sad especially for the overdue cities i was supposed to play. Read more
It’s a Wonderful Life still draws fans to movie theaters – decades after its release (CNN)
The one-time lost Christmas classic “It’s A Wonderful Life” staged an unlikely comeback in the 1970s and 1980s by becoming a December TV staple, after underperforming at the box office and failing to win big at the Oscars when it debuted in the ’40s.
Ubiquitous every December on the small screen, it has also become a staple in the last two decades at a select group of independent art theaters across the US aiming to give film buffs the ultimate Christmas experience: watching George Bailey’s “crucial night” unfold in a theater not unlike the one seen in the movie.
And there’s never been a better time to see it on the big screen. That’s because while the film had a limited theatrical release at the end of 1946, the 75th anniversary of its wider release in 1947 is being celebrated with event screenings in more than 1,000 theaters across the US this December, as part of a collaboration from Turner Classic Movies, Paramount Pictures and Fathom Events. Read more
40 years after Tron, storytellers are moving onto the metaverse (Variety)
“To create engagement, you have to have a story. In the metaverse, the creators will create the community, and the stories they tell will create the community, just like at the beginning of time. The king’s storyteller kept people engaged, Shakespeare kept people engaged,” said American film producer Donald Kushner, whose 1982 film “Tron” is considered to be cinema’s first-ever portrayal of the metaverse.
Kushner, who is also the president and founder at Junction Films and manager at Gumbotron, spoke to industry players this week at the Red Sea 360°, the Red Sea Film Festival’s industry talks program, about storytelling in the metaverse, focusing on the importance of creating narratives that are universal whilst also catering to the particular dynamics of the medium.
“[‘Tron’] was the first film to use computer animation. When we were producing the movie, there were four companies in the U.S. that did computer animation, and we booked them for an entire year. Today someone could create that in an afternoon. That’s how far we’ve come.” Read more
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says Russian forces have ‘‘destroyed’’ eastern city of Bakhmut (Global)
Russian forces have “destroyed” the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, while Ukraine’s military on Saturday reported missile, rocket and air strikes in multiple parts of the country that Moscow is trying to conquer after months of resistance.
The latest battles of Russia’s 9 1/2 month war in Ukraine have centered on four provinces that Russian President Vladimir Putin triumphantly– and illegally–claimed to have annexed in late September. The fighting indicates Russia’s struggle to establish control of those regions and Ukraine’s persistence to reclaim them.
Zelenskyy said the situation “remains very difficult” in several frontline cities in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk provinces. Together, the provinces make up the Donbas, an expansive industrial region bordering Russia that Putin identified as a focus from the war’s outset and where Moscow-backed separatists have fought since 2014. Read more
Labaran appointed JAF Academy coordinator (Sun)
A football technocrat and agent, Alhaji Uba Labaran, has been appointed as the Inter-State Coordinator of the fledgling football academy, JAF Academy based in Lafia.
The president of JAF Academy, Favour Joshua, in his signed letter of appointment said Labaran was “considered for the job because of his track records in similar capacity over the years.”
“Labaran shares the vision of the academy and with his experience, I believe his joining us will add value to our activities,” Joshua said.
Reacting, Labaran salutes Favour Joshua for the opportunity to contribute to the growth of JAF Academy. Read more
Tiger Woods confident partnering Rory McIlroy as Tom McKibbin starts well in Dunhill (IrishIndependent)
Tiger Woods might be struggling with a foot injury, but he’s confident he’s got a winning partner in Rory McIlroy when they take on Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in The Match in Florida tomorrow.
The 15-time Major winner was due to tee it up for the first time since The Open in last week’s Hero World Challenge but was forced to pull out due to plantar fasciitis.
Woods will play in a buggy in the 12-hole fourball betterball clash at Pelican Golf Club in aid of Hurricane Ian relief, and he reckons he can win with McIlroy at his side. “I can hit golf balls. It’s just hard getting from point A to point B, so [the cart] will certainly help a lot,” said Woods. “Being in a cart is a totally different deal. When I was trying to gear up and be able to play in the Hero and see if I could actually do it, the walking part was the challenge, it wasn’t actually swinging. I’ve got to get this plantar to heal and that just takes time.”
Thomas and Spieth are the bookies’ favourites, but Woods, who turns 47 on December 30, is unfazed. Read more
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer breaks leg in skiing accident (CNN)
Germany goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer will miss the rest of the season after breaking his leg in a skiing accident, just over a week after his side crashed out of Qatar 2022.
The 36-year-old said he had gone on holiday to clear his head after Germany was knocked out of the group stages of the tournament, but he subsequently suffered a fracture to his right leg.
“Hey guys, what can I say, the end of the year could have definitely gone better,” Neuer, who has made 117 appearances for Germany, wrote on Instagram next to a picture of himself in hospital.
“While I was trying to get my head clear while ski touring, I suffered a lower leg fracture. Yesterday’s surgery went well. Many thanks to the doctors. Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo back on Portugal bench for World Cup quarterfinal against Morocco (NYPost)
Cristiano Ronaldo will once again watch Portugal play a knockout round game in the World Cup from the bench.
After benching Ronaldo and seeing replacement Gonçalo Ramos run rampant against Switzerland in the Round of 16, Portugal manager Fernando Santos has kept Ramos in the starting 11 for the quarterfinal against Morocco in Qatar on Saturday.
Ronaldo, who has become one of the sideshows of the tournament thanks to the revelation that Portugal — like Manchester United — just might be better without him. Ahead of the Morocco game, Santos tried to quiet the noise around the global superstar after the team denied reports Ronaldo had asked to leave the club.
“I spoke to him after lunch the day of the [Switzerland] game and invited him into my office,” Santos said Friday. “For obvious reasons, Cristiano was not happy about it, as he has always been the starting player. He told me, ‘Do you really think it’s a good idea?’ But we had a normal conversation in which I explained my viewpoints and of course he accepted them. We had a frank and normal conversation. Read more
FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem makes ”cost cap” dig in handing Christian Horner award (Express)
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem took a dig at Christian Horner at the 2022 FIA Prize Giving Ceremony related to the Red Bull cost cap saga. Horner and Red Bull racers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were among the special guests in attendance at the ceremony in Bologna on Friday.
The annual event is traditionally where the winners of FIA racing series collect their trophies. The event marked a dominant year for Red Bull who captured both the drivers and constructor’s championships.
But there was an awkward moment between Horner and Ben Sulayem when the former collected the constructors’ championship trophy. After Horner had delivered a speech regarding his team’s wonderful campaign, Ben Sulayem responded by referring to a joke the 48-year-old had made about the Japanese Grand Prix.
This marked the race where the Dutchman made sure of the title after winning at Suzuka, but not without some confusion over how many points would be awarded. “I’ll say something to Christian. Christian, this cup has nothing to do with the cost cap okay so be careful,” Ben Sulayem said. Read more
Rafael Nadal: Iga Swiatek reveals moment her “idol” hugely inspired her (GMS)
Like many others around the world, Iga Świątek views Rafael Nadal as her tennis idol.
Of course, it’s almost impossible not to be inspired by the legendary Spaniard, who is unarguably one of the best athletes on the planet.
As well as his overall impressive career, Świątek has highlighted one specific moment where Nadal particularly inspired her.
The WTA world number one reflected on Nadal’s stunning Australian Open final performance at the start of the year, where he produced a remarkable comeback to win his 21st Grand Slam title. Read more