Ibadan funfair tragedy: Makinde cancels birthday celebrations to honour victims (Punch)
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has announced that he will cancel his birthday celebrations in honour of the children who died during Wednesday’s stampede in Ibadan.
Makinde stated this in Ibadan on Friday while receiving the South-East delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara.
The delegation visited to condole with the governor over the early-morning stampede at the children’s carnival at Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan. Read more
Lagos diverts traffic for repair of Lagos-Badagry Expressway (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to repair the stretch of Iganmu Bridge (Lagos bound), Eric Moore Road, Babs Animashaun Road, and Baale Junction (Badagry bound) on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, made this known in a statement on Friday.
“The repair work will be done in phases, with phase one—stretching from Alagba Junction to Baale Junction on the service lane (Badagry bound)—commencing from Dec. 22, 2024, to end on Jan. 22, 2025. Read more
2025 Budget ambitious but achievable — Sanwo-Olu (Nation)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has described the proposed 2025 federal budget as ambitious yet achievable.
Speaking to journalists at the Alausa-Ikeja Central Mosque where he joined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Jumat service on Friday, Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence in the administration’s ability to deliver on the bold fiscal plan.
He noted that the 2025 budget represents a significant leap in scale and ambition, marking the largest in Nigeria’s history. Read more
Court forfeits fresh assets linked to Emefiele in Ogun (DailyTrust)
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of a warehouse traced to a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
The warehouse built on a landed property measuring 1.925 hectares of land and situated at Km 8, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Magboro, contained 54 general purpose steel containers.
It was learnt that when the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) unveiled the containers during investigation, they were filled with sewing machines of various shapes. Read more
Oyo Fire Service averts gas explosion in Ibadan (Tribune)
Men of the Oyo State Fire Service have averted a potential disaster after a gas truck caught fire along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, near the Agidigbo area in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
According to a statement by the General Manager of the agency, Mr Yemi Akinyinka, the fire was reported to the agency at exactly 12:10 pm on Friday.
The firefighting team, led by Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent (ACFS) Adediji, was immediately dispatched to the scene. Read more
Customs board promotes 4,291 senior officers (Nation)
The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB), during its 61st regular meeting held on December 18, 2024, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced the promotion of 4,291 senior officers.
The Board confirmed the appointment of one Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) and eight Assistant Comptroller Generals (ACGs).
The newly confirmed members of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Management Team include DCG S. Chiroma (North-East), and ACGs Z.M. Gaji (North-East), O.A. Adebakin (South-West), G.M. Omale (North-Central), M.S. Yusuf (North-Central), D.A. Nnadi (South-East), H.K. Ejibunu (North-Central), and D. Hassan (North-East). Read more
“North ruled for 40 years without result to show,” says Ex-Speaker Dogara (Leadership)
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu or the Southern part of Nigeria was responsible for the North’s challenges.
Speaking at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in Northern Nigeria, Dogara highlighted that despite the North ruling Nigeria for over 40 years, the region remained underdeveloped and impoverished due to poor leadership.
The event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising,” provided a platform for Dogara to address governance and development issues. He criticised northern political leaders for squandering opportunities to uplift the region. Read more
Yahaya Bello regains freedom after meeting bail conditions (Vanguard)
The immediate-past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has been released from the Kuje Minimum Custodial Centre in Abuja after fulfilling the bail conditions set by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the FCT Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), confirmed the development.
“He [Yahaya Bello] has been released after meeting the bail conditions. He was released this [Friday] evening,” Duza stated. Read more
Emily Armstrong shares updated tattoo incorporating classic Linkin Park song title (NME)
New Linkin Park vocalist Emily Armstrong has shared a new tweak to an existing tattoo – now incorporating a classic song title by the band.
In an Instagram Story earlier this week (December 18), Armstrong showed off the newly-updated tattoo on her upper left arm.
Per Loudwire, it previously read as “THE END” but is now accompanied by “IN”, forming the title to the band’s 2000 smash-hit single ‘In The End’. Fans have since circulated the snap on social media. Read more
Kelly Clarkson shares insight into strained relationship with ex Brandon Blackstock in telling video (Hello!)
Kelly Clarkson will be celebrating a very merry Christmas with her two children River and Remy, but the singer made it clear that she remains happily single, four years on from her divorce from Brandon Blackstock.
The songstress shared the official album visualizer for her upcoming album, When Christmas Comes Around… Again, with a family oriented vision of four stockings hanging over a roaring fireplace with a Christmas tree next to it.
The four stockings were personalized with names embroidered on the fur trim: Kelly, River, Remy, and ‘Nope’. The fourth stocking certainly seemed to highlight that this Christmas, the “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” singer wouldn’t be reuniting with her ex-husband, or spending the holiday with anyone other than her kids. Read more
Mpox and Marburg virus outbreaks strain central and east Africa’s health systems (AfricaNews)
Mpox and Marburg Virus Outbreaks Strain Central and East Africa’s Health Systems
The Mpox virus continues to severely impact Central and East Africa, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the epicenter. Over 13,000 cases and 450 deaths have been reported in the country, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Neighboring nations such as Cameroon, Burundi, and Uganda are also recording new cases. Despite ongoing containment efforts, limited testing capacities and overwhelmed healthcare systems have made controlling the outbreak challenging. Read more
Macron met with anger, frustration over cyclone response during visit to Mayotte (ABC)
French President Emmanuel Macron faced widespread frustration and anger from residents of Mayotte during his visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago, which is still reeling from the damage of the strongest cyclone to hit the region in nearly a century.
On Friday morning, Macron visited a neighborhood in Tsingoni on Mayotte’s main island, where people remain without access to drinking water or phone service, nearly a week after the cyclone.
As he walked through the area, some shouted: “We want water, we want water.” Read more
2 killed and scores injured in Germany as car ploughs into crowd at Christmas market (Guardian)
Scores of people were injured and at least two people, including a small child, were killed on Friday after a car ploughed into a crowd of people at a Christmas market in the eastern German town of Magdeburg, in what local officials are describing as a terror attack.
At least 68 other people were injured, including 15 who were left in a critical state, according to the city government.
In the attack, a black BMW drove straight into the crowd at the Christmas market, travelling at speed for 400 metres in the direction of the town hall, according to eyewitnesses cited by the broadcaster. Read more
‘‘Ghostbusters’’ animated movie in the works from Sony Animation and Netflix (Deadline)
With an animated series already in development, Sony Animation and Netflix are looking to expand on building on their Ghostbusters universe as sources tell Deadline the two are teaming on an animated Ghostbusters film. Insiders add that the project is in early development but said Kris Pearn is attached to direct.
Plot details are being kept under wraps.
The film is part of the expanding Ghostbusters universe, with the latest live-action feature, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, released in March. Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix, in partnership with Ghost Corps, also are in development on a separate, all-new animated series based on the beloved IP. Read more
Netflix spy thriller Black Doves to return for second series (RTE)
Netflix spy thriller Black Doves starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw is to return for a second series.
The first instalment saw Oscar-nominated actress Knightley portray Helen Webb, a dedicated wife, mother and professional spy who has been passing on her politician husband’s secrets for 10 years to the organisation she works for – the Black Doves.
After her lover Jason is assassinated, she sets out on a mission to investigate who killed him with Sam Young, a Champagne-drinking assassin played by Bafta-winning Whishaw. Read more
Ndidi hits Lagos to mark Christmas with Ajegunle kids (Nation)
Super Eagles and Leicester star Wilfred Ndidi will team up with children of Ajegunle in celebration of this year’s Christmas.
The event put together by Nathaniel Idowu Foundation (NIF) will see Ndidi returning to the New Maracana Complex to commemorate the yuletide among up and coming players.
Ndidi was a guest at the complex early in May when he commissioned a hostel he facilitated and spent quality time with the children. Read more
Eberechi Eze injury update ahead of Crystal Palace vs Arsenal (Metro)
Oliver Glasner has revealed that Eberechi Eze will miss Crystal Palace’s Premier League clash against Arsenal on Saturday.
The 26-year-old lasted just 59 minutes in Palace’s 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
Eze had been suffering from a foot injury ahead of that game, and Glasner insists the midfielder will not be risked for Arsenal’s visit to Selhurst Park this weekend. Read more
Ruben Dias ruled out for four weeks as Manchester City suffer fresh injury blow (IndiaToday)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed that the Premier League club will be without defender Ruben Dias for three to four weeks due to a muscle injury. This marks another blow for the struggling champions, whose chances of retaining the Premier League title appear to be slipping away.
City will travel to Aston Villa on Saturday, hoping to steady the ship amidst the worst run of results in Guardiola’s managerial career. Currently sitting fifth in the league table, City have managed just one win in their last 11 games across all competitions.
Dias sustained the injury during City’s disastrous 2-1 derby loss to Manchester United on Sunday.
“It was a muscular injury,” Guardiola explained. “After 75 minutes against Manchester United, he felt something. He is so strong that he stayed on the pitch, but now he’s injured.” Read more
Netflix purchases US broadcasting rights for next two FIFA Women’s World Cups (CNN)
The next two editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup will air in the United States exclusively on Netflix in 2027 and 2031, according to a joint statement Friday from FIFA and Netflix.
“This is a landmark moment for sports media rights,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Brazil will host the next tournament in 2027, while the 2031 host has yet to be awarded by FIFA. Read more
LeBron breaks all-time minutes record as Lakers get on track (ABC)
After LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leader in regular-season minutes played Thursday, Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick congratulated the 39-year-old star in the locker room in front of the team.
The reception from his teammates following L.A.’s 113-100 win over the Sacramento Kings was a little looser.
“They told me I’m old as hell and all that,” James said after logging 34 minutes to bring his career total to 57,471, moving Abdul-Jabbar to No. 2 with 57,446. Read more
Fully clothed Fury four stone heavier than Usyk (BBC)
A fully clothed Tyson Fury weighed in at a career-heavy 20st 1lb for Saturday’s heavyweight world title fight against champion Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine’s Usyk will defend his WBA (Super), WBC and WBO titles against two-time champion Fury at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena.
Dressed in a leather jacket, white trousers and a baseball cap – which he kept on when he stepped on the scales – Fury weighed in four stone heavier than his opponent.He cut a more relaxed figure than he has throughout the week, even shaking hands with Usyk’s team. Read more