Lagos commuters stranded as commercial drivers protest extortion by ‘‘agberos’’ (Vanguard)
Commuters on Wednesday were left to trek long distances to their various destinations after commercial bus drivers refused operating to protest against daily exorbitant fees collected by officials of the Lagos State Park and Gardens Management Committee led by Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo).
The protest, which started at the Toll Gate end of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, was fast spreading to other parts of Lagos State.
The bus drivers and their assistants were seen carrying various placards protesting against the alleged extortion. Read more
Nobody can chase you from Osun, Adeleke assures Aregbesola (Punch)
The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Tuesday, told the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, that he is welcome into the state and can visit him at the Government House anytime.
He said despite party differences, he would ensure Osun remains home for every progressive, particularly Argebesola, who was a former governor of the state.
Speaking at the inauguration of Ilesa Passport Front Office and Production Centre, Adeleke assured the minister of his commitment on build on his legacies and complete some projects initiated by the ex-governor.
The governor said, “Mr. Minister, I am assuring you that this is your state, nobody can chase you away. Read more
Lagos shuts Chiffy Supermarket over sale of expired toothpaste, others (Tribune)
The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) on Tuesday shut down Chiffy supermarket, located at No 3, Oduduwa Crescent GRA, Ikeja, for selling expired toothpaste and other household products.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the State agency said that its General Manager, Afolabi Solebo had earlier on Sunday responded and acted swiftly by visiting the supermarket following a tip-off from a Consumers Facebook post alerting the Agency and the public on the sales of the expired products at Chiffy Supermarket in GRA Ikeja.
Upon arrival at the supermarket, Solebo disclosed that the toothpaste and other products found in the store had no price tags and were all expired. Read more
Negxy concepts celebrates 10 years in study-abroad industry (ThisDay)
One of Nigeria’s leading study-abroad agencies, Negxy Concepts, has pledged to continue to provide top-notch educational services through its partner universities as it celebrates its 10th anniversary.
The anniversary, according to the firm, is a true reflection of its remarkable achievements in the study-abroad industry in Nigeria.
It recounted how it started in a cubicle in Ikeja and has grown to become a household name in the education sector, with branches in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Canada. Read more
6 celebrities who lost 2023 polls (Nation)
The drive for increased youth participation in governance catalysed change in Nigeria’s political culture in the 2023 elections, with several celebrities contesting for various elective positions in the hopes of changing the country’s direction.
However, not many of them fared well at the polls based on results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Arguably the biggest Nollywood name that contested for a political position at the last election was Funke Akindele. She was the deputy governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the Lagos state gubernatorial elections. However, she lost to the incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Read more
You will be arrested by Friday, Police tell Portable (DailyTrust)
The Police Command in Ogun State has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the popular Hip-hop musician, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, to report himself to the nearest police station or be arrested by Friday.
Two videos on Tuesday went viral showing the artiste raining curses on some men of the Nigeria Police.
In the clip, Portable claimed that an internet fraudster had brought the police to his bar to arrest his staff members “for no reason.” Read more
Adamawa North election: Supreme Court dismisses suit against Sen. Abbo (Guardian)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a suit brought before it against Sen. Elisha Abbo challenging his candidacy as the All Progressives Congress (APC) representative for Adamawa North Senatorial District in the last National Assembly election.
Justice Inyang Okoro in a unanimous judgment of a five-member panel of Justices dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.
One Abdullahi Suleiman had dragged the senator to court challenging his emergence at the primary election conducted by the APC for Adamawa North Senatorial District. Read more
Police arrest 2 suspected kidnappers, rescue victims in Ogun (Channels)
The Ogun State police command says its operatives have arrested two suspected kidnappers while two kidnapped victims were rescued from them.
This was contained in a press release by the police public relations officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi in
Abeokuta,the state capital.
“The suspects Mohammed Bello and Mohammed Bashiru were arrested following a distress call received from Bisodun village at about 8 pm that kidnappers have invaded the community and that a couple Mr and Mrs Ojo had been abducted by the hoodlums,” he said. Read more
Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler discuss friendship at ‘‘Murder Mystery 2’’ premiere (UPI)
Celebrity pals and ‘‘Murder Mystery 2’’ co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler walked the red carpet Tuesday.
The 54-year-old actress and 56-year-old actor attended the film’s Los Angeles premiere at Regency Village Theatre.
Aniston wore an embellished silver minidress, while Sandler sported a New York Knicks hoodie with a Hawaiian shirt and khaki pants. Aniston teased Sandler for his wardrobe choice upon spotting him at the event. Read more
Kate Winslet and Kit Connor win acting prizes at Royal Television Society Programme Awards (FilmNews)
Kate Winslet and Kit Connor won the top acting prizes at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards on Tuesday night.
The Titanic actress won the Leading Actor (Female) prize for her performance as the titular character in the one-off TV episode I Am Ruth, while Connor took home the Leading Actor (Male) award for playing Nick Nelson in Netflix’s Heartstopper.
Accepting the award in London, Winslet gave a shout-out to her daughter and I Am Ruth co-star Mia Threapleton, saying, “I share this very proudly with my co-star who also happens to be my brave brilliant daughter Mia Threapleton.” Read more
Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne expected to headline New Power Trip Festival (Variety)
While an official announcement is not expected until later in the week, multiple sources tell Variety that Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Tool and Iron Maiden headline a new festival called Power Trip from Coachella founders Goldenvoice.
The sources say the festival will take place at Coachella’s home base, Empire Polo Field in Indio, Calif., in October. The news was previously reported by Hits, Desert Sun and the music blog the Scenestar, and a remarkably unsubtle teaser campaign apparently from the organizers.
Despite the Coachella connection, the festival is more like a hard rock version of Goldenvoice’s 2016 Desert Trip festival, which featured a classic-rock dream team of Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, the Who and Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters.Read more
Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton song ‘‘Rainbowland’’ banned from Wisconsin school class concert (EW)
A school in Wisconsin doesn’t want its students living in “Rainbowland,” apparently.
Administrators at a Wisconsin elementary school have banned a first-grade class from performing the song, which hails from Dolly Parton and goddaughter Miley Cyrus, at a forthcoming concert because its lyrics “could be deemed controversial” according to a school board policy.
The matter first received national attention last week, when Melissa Tempel, a dual language teacher at Heyer Elementary, called out the School District of Waukesha County on Twitter, tagging Parton and Cyrus in the process. (Neither of the singers’ reps immediately returned EW’s request for comment.) Read more
Lollapalooza Brazil offers refunds after Drake was replaced with Skrillex as headliner (Variety)
Lollapalooza Brazil has offered refunds to festival-goers after Drake’s set on March 26 was replaced by a performance from Skrillex.
The rapper was scheduled to perform as a headliner, closing out the three-day event with a set on Sunday night. The announcement of Drake’s postponement came just a few hours before he was set to hit the stage, and pointed to “unforeseen circumstances” that left Drake “without members of his sound and production team, essential to the realization of the Lollapalooza show in Sao Paulo,” read a translated statement on the festival’s social media.
The note tried its best to address the disappointment, closing its statement by saying, “Drake was excited to perform for his fans in Brazil. Unfortunately, this is beyond his control. Sorry.” And in the caption, Lollapalooza outlined its refund policy which offered attendees a variety of ticketing alternatives and the option of requesting a refund until April 5. Read more
Pakistan to skip US Summit for Democracy (VOA)
Pakistan on Tuesday declined to attend the second Summit for Democracy, hosted this week by the United States, saying it would instead engage bilaterally with Washington on democracy.
The Biden administration has invited 120 countries, civil society groups and technology companies to attend the summit on Wednesday, with Costa Rica, South Korea, Zambia, and the Netherlands co-hosting.
A Foreign Ministry statement in Islamabad thanked Washington for the invitation but did not specify any reasons for skipping the event. However, critics attributed the exclusion of longtime ally China from the event as a likely reason for Pakistan to opt out, as it did when Biden hosted the first summit in December 2021. Read more
Deadly tragedies involving migrants crossing Mexico (France24)
A fire that killed at least 39 people at an immigration detention center in northern Mexico is the latest in a series of tragedies involving US-bound migrants.
Every year many thousands of people fleeing violence and poverty risk deadly accidents, drowning and crime during a long and treacherous journey overland from South or Central America.
According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 7,600 migrants have died or disappeared in transit in the Americas since 2014. Read more
Anthony Joshua warns Jermaine Franklin is digging ‘‘bigger grave’’ for himself with pre-fight talk (Standard)
Anthony Joshua believes Jermaine Franklin is facing him at the worst time possible ahead of Saturday’s clash at the O2 Arena.
Joshua goes into the fight off the back of two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, with Franklin suggesting it was the perfect moment to hand the Londoner a hat-trick of losses.
But Joshua countered: “It’s the worst time. The more he talks, the bigger grave he digs for himself. Read more
Iwobi rattled by Everton exit rumours (Punch)
Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi, has admitted he was rattled by rumours linking him with an exit from Everton amid rumours that he could be joining Turkish club Fenerbahce during the January transfer window.
The Nigeria international made this known during an interview with The Beautiful Game podcast.
The Toffees midfielder has been among the club’s best performers over the last 12 months and is currently out of contract at Goodison Park in 2024 which saw links for a late exit after the January transfer window. Read more
Super Falcons’ Onome eyes top 4 finish at 2023 World Cup (DailyTrust)
Super Falcons long-standing defender, Onome Ebi, has stated that the African women’s football giants will be aiming for a top-four finish at the forthcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The ninth edition of the tournament will be held from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
Speaking exclusively to our reporter, the 39-year-old who refused to say whether she would retire after the mundial said she is honoured to be setting a record as the oldest female player to feature at the world cup.
“We are going there to do our best and at least we are aiming to reach the last four. There is no guarantee but we are going there to play our game. Read more
Fabio Paratici’s football ban extended worldwide by Fifa in blow to Spurs (Guardian)
Fabio Paratici will have to step away from his job as Tottenham’s managing director of football after Fifa said it had extended worldwide a ban imposed on him in Italy after his former club Juventus were found guilty of false accounting.
Juventus were docked 15 league points in January at the resolution of a long-running investigation. Paratici, who joined Spurs in 2021, was among a number of former and current Juventus executives to receive lengthy bans, after a hearing at the federal court of appeal.
His 30-month ban initially applied only to Italian football but Fifa said in a statement on Wednesday in response to a question from the Guardian relating to Paratici: “Fifa can confirm that following a request by the Italian FA (FIGC), the chairperson of Fifa disciplinary committee has decided to extend the sanctions imposed by FIGC on several football officials to have worldwide effect.” Read more
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are the 1st managers inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame (DailyMail)
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have become the first managers to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
The legendary duo won 16 Premier League titles between them while developing a fierce rivalry over the years when managing their respective clubs, Manchester United and Arsenal.
They are also the first to be inducted as part of the ‘‘Class of 2023’’. Read more
Lewis Hamilton warned Mercedes are 12 months behind Red Bull amid continued F1 woes (Mirror)
Lewis Hamilton has been warned that Mercedes are 12 months behind rivals Red Bull by principal Toto Wolff – as the British star faces another season trailing Max Verstappen.
The seven-time world champion had hoped to leave the car troubles which plagued last season behind him in Mercedes’ new W14 model. However, the British driver has been left frustrated again with a “miserable” car and has given a bleak outlook for the remainder of the season.
Verstappen battled his way back from 15th on the grid at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix earlier this month and Hamilton said he “didn’t even bother” battling with the two-time world champion as he flew past on his way to finishing second. Read more