Jonathan handed over $550b economy to Buhari, says ex-minister (Tribune)
Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has lambasted Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over his claim that former president, Goodluck Jonathan, did not leave money in the treasury enough to sustain the country for three weeks.
Amaechi made the allegation in a live television programme where he stated: “As former chairman of the governors’ forum, I was told by the security in a meeting chaired by the former President, including the former minister of finance, that at every point in time, the government must leave money behind in case Nigeria goes to war that would last for six months. By the time we came, they didn’t leave money behind that could last us for three weeks. And I was speaking at that time as the chairman of the governors’ forum.”
But in his reaction, Chidoka who was also Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), maintained in a statement Tuesday that the Jonathan administration left a foreign reserve of $28.6 billion.
He also pointed out that the administration handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari $5.6 billion Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited dividends and a 2015 budget of over N4 trillion along with a total of $2.2 billion in the Excess Crude Account.
He reminded Amaechi that he did not become a minister until six months after Jonathan left office, which he said made it necessary to provide the former Rivers governor with the facts. Read more
Lagos farmers to begin canned fish production in 2022 (Nation)
A World Bank-assisted Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Support (APPEALS) Project, says fish farmers in Lagos Stat will begin production of locally canned catfish and Tilapia fish in 2022.
The Project Coordinator, Lagos APPEALS, Mrs Oluranti Sagoe-Oviebo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the canned fish would be produced using locally-fabricated equipment.
She said the focus was on the use of locally-fabricated equipment to create jobs for Nigerians.
“We trained some fabricators who looked at the foreign-made machines, studied and fabricate them locally. Read more
Loan sharks devise underhand tactics, inflict pains on cash-strapped Nigerian borrowers (Punch)
Online lenders have become part and parcel of the nation’s banking system especially in recent years when tough economic conditions have made many to resort to borrowing from soft loan firms.
Tough loan conditions imposed by commercial banks had made the activities of online banks more popular over time.
Interestingly, the use of technology and their ability to advance loans to prospective customers without collecting any form of collateral have made online banks the delight of many Nigerians.
Some of the online lenders give soft loans within a relatively short period of time and this has made them attractive to thousands of borrowers.
However, scores of unprofessional online lenders have in recent years deployed very crooked and illegal means to recover loans from those they describe as recalcitrant debtors. Sometimes, they employ crude and illegal means to embarrass clients who fail to repay their loans after few days. Read more
Family, FG reject autopsy result of Itunu Babalola, lady who died in Ivorian prison (Tribune)
The family of the late Itunu Babalola, who died in a Cote d Ivoire prison and the Federal Government of Nigeria have rejected the autopsy result on the cause of the death of the deceased lady.
Some lawyers have also reportedly volunteered to take the matter up with the Cote d’ Ivoire government at the ECOWAS Court.
The father, while speaking with newsmen during a meeting with the Chairperson of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The father, Emmanuel Babalola told newsmen that he was convinced that his daughter was killed and he passionately called on Nigerians to ensure that justice is ensured. Read more
Customers stranded at ATM points in Ibadan (Punch)
Many bank customers in Ibadan were, on Tuesday, stranded at various Automated Teller Machines points in Ibadan because the Automated Teller Machines belonging to banks were not dispensing money, during the yuletide.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited some banks at Challenge, Ring Road, Dugbe, Bodija, and Iwo Road areas, observed that virtually all banks did not dispense cash.
At Ring Road area of the state, the bank ATMs that did not dispense money belonged to First Bank and Polaris Bank.
Long queues were also noticed at Access Bank in the challenge area of the city, as most customers were seen moving to other banks to see if their ATMs would dispense. Read more
Mobile app to tackle insecurity in Yoruba land unveiled (ThisDay)
In his efforts to fight crimes, the leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof. Banji Akintoye, has unveiled a mobile application designed to track kidnapped victims and expose danger anywhere in Yorubaland.
It was learnt that the mobile application and alert system known as PAJAWIRI can also expose criminal elements wherever they are with their victims once the victim has the application installed in his or her phone either on or off.
It was similarly gathered that the security device has another system called AFINIHAN that can be used by those without android phones to link up with those with the full application.
Akintoye, while virtually speaking at the unveiling ceremony held in Ibadan, said the emergence of PAJAWIRI is an evidence that the Yoruba people are too intellectually sophisticated to be subdued. Read more
Christmas Celebration: Mrs Idahosa enlivens Benin streets with gift items for less privileged (Independent)
Hundreds of beggars and other less privileged were beneficiaries of the benevolence of Mrs Osaretin Idahosa, wife of the lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency.
Mrs Idahosa who shared rice and other items including cash said it was her desire to see those who could not afford it enjoy a memorable Christmas and New Year celebration.
The wife of the Chairman of the House of Representatives Legislative Compliance Committee announced that she would make this an annual affair.
She based her decision as part of her contribution to ensuring a safe and better society. Read more
At Kaltungo Carnival, monarchs urge special prayers for security (Guardian)
Traditional leaders from the North East have called for sustained prayers against insecurity in the region and Nigeria at large.
The monarchs made the appeal at the 2021 Kaltungo Carnival held in Kaltungo community of Gombe State, yesterday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Royal Father of the Day, who is also the Emir of Fika and Chairman of Yobe State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Muhammad Idrissa, said intensified prayers were needed to complement efforts towards addressing the challenge of insecurity in the North East.
Idrissa stated that peace remained the key to development and a better society, noting that insecurity and crimes are enemies of any society. Read more
2023: Senate Minority Leader Abaribe declares interest for Abia governorship seat (Channels)
Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe has indicated his interest to contest the Abia governorship seat at the 2023 general elections.
The lawmaker disclosed this on Monday after the conferment of the chieftaincy title of “Maduforo nde Ngwa “on him by the traditional rulers of Ahiaba Local Government Area in Obingwa and Aba North local government areas of the state.
He said the honour would spur him to do more for not just his constituency but the state and Nigeria at large.
“In respecting authority. I believe that my future political ambition should be made know to the number one citizen of the state before anyone else. I have paid him that respect. Read more
Britney Spears and fiancé Sam Asghari reportedly planning to start a family next year (MarieClaire)
Britney Spears and fiancé Sam Asghari are reportedly planning to have a baby next year.
The 40-year-old singer, who has sons Jayden, 15, and Sean, 16 – who she had with ex Kevin Federline – is rumoured to be putting plans in place to expand her family with her fitness model beau.
The couple first met in 2016 on set of the Slumber Party music video, and hit it off. Fast forward five years and the couple are now engaged, after Sam, 27, popped the question in September 2021.
The pair are reportedly putting plans in place and overhauling their lifestyle in preparation for the next stage in their relationship. Read more
Debra Messing mourns loss of ex-partner Will Chase’s ex-wife: ‘Ours was a unique bond.’ (USAToday)
Debra Messing is mourning the loss of her “chosen” family member.
The actress, 53, took to Instagram Monday to share a series of photos with Lori Davis – the ex-wife of her former partner Will Chase – along with a lengthy heartfelt message.
“I can’t believe you’re gone. No doubt, heaven has a new bright light. It’s not fair. You’re so good,” the caption read. “Ours was a unique bond. Lori was my ex-partner’s ex-wife. Yes, that’s right. And the mother to 2 spectacular girls who I had the opportunity to fall in love with, and who became the sisters my boy never had.”
“We loved each other’s children and in turn developed a beautiful friendship… It was special because it was entirely chosen,” the caption continued. “She wrote a personal recommendation for my boy’s application to her college alma mater. I wrote letters for both of the girls’ as well. We rooted for each other. We sent singing happy birthday videos to each other, and she helped me celebrate my 50th birthday. We were chosen family. Read more
Plane bursts into flames after crashing into residential neighbourhood (Metro)
A small plane exploded into flames after crashing into a San Diego neighbourhood.
Shocking pictures show the blaze as fire crews raced to the scene on Pepper Drive in Bostonia on Monday evening.
It remains unknown how many people were onboard.
No houses were damaged but the plane took out multiple power poles as it came down, NBC 7 San Diego reports.
Around 2,500 homes were left without power, according to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.
Areas in Lakeside, Bostonia and Granite Hills have all been experiencing outages. Read more
Russian court orders oldest civil rights group Memorial to shut (BBC)
Russia’s Supreme Court has ordered the closure of International Memorial, Russia’s oldest human rights group.
Memorial worked to recover the memory of the millions of innocent people executed, imprisoned or persecuted in the Soviet era.
Formally it has been “liquidated” for failing to mark a number of social media posts with its official status as a “foreign agent”.
That designation was given in 2016 for receiving funding from abroad.
But in court, the prosecutor labelled Memorial a “public threat”, accusing the group of being in the pay of the West to focus attention on Soviet crimes instead of highlighting a “glorious past”. Read more
Egypt digitally ‘unwraps’ mummy of Pharaoh Amenhotep I (AlJazeera)
Egypt has digitally “unwrapped” the mummy of famed Pharaoh Amenhotep I, revealing its secrets for the first time since it was discovered in 1881 without disturbing his funerary mask.
Thanks to the advanced digital 3D imagery, researchers unearthed new mummification techniques used for the pharaoh, who ruled from 1525 to 1504 BC.
The research was led by Sahar Saleem, a professor of radiology at Cairo University, and renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, a former antiquities minister, the tourism and antiquities ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Saleem and Hawass used advanced X-ray technology, CT [computed tomography] scanning, as well as advanced computer software programs to digitally unwrap the mummy of Amenhotep I in a safe non-invasive method without the need to touch the mummy,” it added. Read more
Halle Berry’s sweet response after being mistaken for Little Mermaid’s Halle Bailey (Metro)
Halle Berry had a very gracious response after being mistaken for The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey – and it definitely wasn’t the first time.
All eyes will be on Bailey, 21, in the next couple of years when she makes her debut as beloved Disney princess Ariel in a live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, which is set for 2023.
However, some cinema-goers may get a surprise when they find it’s not actually Oscar-winner Berry in the role, but her younger counterpart. Read more
France shuts mosque in Beauvais for sermons ‘defending jihad’ (BBC)
A mosque in the northern French region of Oise has been closed because of an imam’s radical sermons, said to have “defended jihad”.
The mosque in the town of Beauvais will remain shut for six months, local authorities say.
Oise’s prefect said sermons there called jihadist fighters “heroes” and incited hatred and violence.
France has been carrying out checks on Islamic places of worship suspected of having links to extremism. Read more
Barcelona confirm signing Manchester City forward Ferran Torres (BBC)
Ferran Torres has not played for Manchester City since he injured his foot while playing for Spain in October
Spain forward Ferran Torres has joined Barcelona from Manchester City, signing a contract until June 2027 with a 1bn euro (£842m) buyout clause.
The 21-year-old forward returns to Spain in a £46.3m deal just 18 months after leaving Valencia to join City.
In October, Ansu Fati and Pedri signed contract extensions with Barca that contained 1bn euro release clauses.
Barcelona will pay £8.4m in add-ons and must sell some players to comply with La Liga financial regulations.
The club is able to fund the deal despite its current financial troubles thanks to a recent bank loan.
City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed the move was imminent on Thursday and said he is happy for Torres. Read more
Diego Maradona’s younger brother Hugo dies of heart attack at 52 (Guardian)
Hugo Maradona, the younger brother of Argentine football legend Diego, has died of a heart attack at the age of 52.
Hugo suffered the fatal attack at his home in Naples, the city where Diego played at the peak of his career and where Hugo played as a junior, around 11.50 am Tuesday.
It comes just 13 months after a cardiac arrest killed Diego – Argentina’s world cup hero and one of the greatest ever to play the game – who died in Argentina in November 2020 at the age of 60.
Hugo was seen at the Maradona stadium in Naples to take part in a ceremony in memory of his late brother and footballing legend only one month ago.
He leaves behind a wife, Paola Morra whom he married in 2016, and three children. Read more
Newcastle ‘eye Georginio Wijnaldum loan’ with star ‘not happy’ at PSG (DailyStar)
Newcastle United are reportedly set to make a sensational swoop for PSG midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum – just six months after the ex-Liverpool ace left the Premier League.
The Dutch midfielder snubbed the chance to stay at Anfield to link up with the French giants on a free transfer in the summer.
But Wijnaldum’s dream switch to Paris has quickly descended into a nightmare, and he admitted earlier this season that he is not “completely happy” in the French capital.
The 31-year-old is said to be open to a quick exit from the Parc des Princes after starting just nine Ligue 1 games this term for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. Read more
Rosberg calls for FIA to ‘tighten up’ F1 rules in 2022 (RacingNews365)
Nico Rosberg thinks that F1’s rules need to be “tightened up” next season after several controversies in 2021.
The topic of regulations was much discussed following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with particular focus on Safety Car procedures following the impact this had on the outcome of the title battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
This was not the only contentious moment of the year either. In particular, there was plenty of debate over what constituted fair racing after Verstappen was not penalised for an incident with Hamilton at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Amidst all of this, 2016 World Champion Rosberg believes that the clarity of the rules is something that the FIA could work on. Read more
Alex de Minaur speaks on the Novak Djokovic situation (TennisWorld)
Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur thinks everyone would love to see Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Djokovic, a record nine-time Australian Open champion, is reportedly set to skip the ATP Cup. Djokovic is refusing to reveal his vaccination status and there is a real chance he decides to skip the Australian Open.
“Who knows? I’m pretty sure everyone would love to see him play. You know, it’s his decision, we will see,” de Minaur told 9News Melbourne, when asked about the Djokovic situation.
After Serbia’s loss at the Davis Cup Finals, Djokovic refused to give anything to reporters.
“I understand you want some answers on where I start the season, how I start it. I’m really, really tired from this season and this whole year, so I just prefer sticking to the family quality time, rehab mode, then let’s see what the future brings,” Djokovic said.. Read more
Jessie Diggins gets first win of cross-country skiing season, essentially books Olympic spot (NBC)
Jessie Diggins essentially wrapped up a spot on her third U.S. Olympic team by earning her first cross-country skiing World Cup victory of the season on Tuesday.
Diggins won a freestyle sprint in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, to open the annual Tour de Ski, a Tour de France-like stage race that takes place over the next week across Central Europe.
Last year, Diggins became the first North American to win the Tour de Ski, though some of the world’s best sat out. Some stars are again passing on this year’s Tour, including World Cup overall leader Maja Dahlqvist of Sweden and Norwegian standout Therese Johaug.
Diggins, a 2018 Olympic team sprint champion with the now-retired Kikkan Randall, is nonetheless a legit contender to win the U.S.’ second individual Olympic cross-country skiing medal come February. It would be the nation’s first in an individual women’s race. Read more
Memphis Grizzlies beat Phoenix Suns by one point (BBC)
Ja Morant scored with half a second remaining as the Memphis Grizzlies held off the Phoenix Suns to win 114-113.
Morant had 33 points in total, with his final score the most crucial as Phoenix fought back in the final quarter.
Desmond Bane scored a career-high 32 points for the visitors, whose lead reached 18 in the third quarter.
Devin Booker put the Suns 113-112 up with 5.1 seconds left and Mikal Bridges had the chance to seal victory at the buzzer but missed his shot.
In Los Angeles, James Harden equalled his season’s best of 39 points and added a season-high 15 assists in the Brooklyn Nets’ 124-108 win against the Clippers. Read more