Lagos Fire Service rescues 8-year-old boy from drowning (Guardian)
Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFR), yesterday, rescued a eight-year-old boy, Onyeka Umeh, from a pool at the end of Pastor Ojediran Street behind Oba’s Palace, Ejigbo, Lagos.
The agency said it was alerted, and immediately deployed the Ejigbo Fire Station and the Agency’s Rescue Crew to save the sinking boy from the canal.
The boy was eventually handed over to the police from Ejigbo Division to reunite with the family. Read more
Lagos PDP suspends chairman, deputy pending outcome of court case (NewTelegraph)
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has ratified the suspension of the state Chairman, Philip Aivoji and his Deputy, Benedict Felix Tai pending the outcome of a court case instituted against them.
The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, said the Vice Chairman of West Senatorial District, Sunday Olaifa would assume the office of the chairman pending the outcome of the court case in an acting capacity.
The party also constituted a disciplinary committee of a seven-man panel in accordance with section 57, sub-section 1 and 2 of the party constitution. Read more
Lagos to showcase water achievements in Liberia (Punch)
The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission will participate at the 2023 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene joint sector review, which will be held in Monrovia, Liberia from April 25 to April 27, 2023.
Representing LASWARCO at the event expected to assess progress made between 2018 and 2022 in the WASH sector, is the Executive Secretary, Mrs Funke Adepoju.
A statement on Tuesday by the Lagos State Government said Adepoju was expected to present a keynote address at the high-level technical session and share the modest achievements of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration in regulating standards in water production and packaging. Read more
YWCA Lagos rewards spelling bee winners (ThisDay)
Recognising the importance of mental reasoning among school children, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Lagos branch, has concluded its spelling bee competition for children ages five to 10, rewarding the winners with education materials.
Speaking at the event in Lagos recently, the Chairman, Lagos Branch, YWCA, Mrs Oluyomi Oludipe, described the event as timely and needed, calling for more corporate interventions in the educational sector.
She said the association saw the need to grow and bridge the education gap. Read more
Lawan,Gbajabiamila, Sanwo-Olu, others for awards (Nation)
Prominent media Platform, Triangle News Magazine, is to honour prominent Nigerians at this year’s awards.
Triangle News Media Publisher, Femi Salako, said on the list are lawmakers selected based on performances in their constituencies and senatorial districts.
Those shortlisted are Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Senate President Ahmed Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof Isah Pantami’ and Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa. Read more
WHO estimates 6.2m Nigerian children unvaccinated due to COVID-19 (Vanguard)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 6.2 million Nigerian children are zero doses (unvaccinated), a consequence of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2021.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a news conference to celebrate the African Vaccination Week (AVW) and World Immunization Week with the theme “The Big Catch-Up’’.
“The Big Catch Up is actually a year-long campaign aiming to reverse the serious setbacks in routine immunization. Read more
PDP Reps, others defect to APC in Imo (Leadership)
Top guns in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and other political Parties in Imo State defected en masse with their supporters to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a move that left their former Parties not only stranded but badly wounded.
It was a day of glory for the APC leadership at the State and National levels as the defectors filed out in what looked like an Alter Call, ascending the podium at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, Owerri to be formally received into the Party and handed over the broom, the symbol of the APC.
Top on the list of the defectors were Rt. Hon Bede Eke (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency), Rt. Hon Henry Nwawuba (Mbaitoli/ Ikeduru Federal Constituency) and Rt. Hon Ikenna Elezianya (Owerri Federal Constituency), all PDP chieftains and federal lawmakers from the Owerri zone. Read more
Kano fire service records 258 fire incidents in 3 months (Guardian)
The Kano State Fire Service said it recorded 258 fire incidents in three months in different parts of the state.
The Director of the service, Hassan Muhammed, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano.
Mohammed said the incidents were recorded in companies, dwelling houses, shops, filling stations, markets, poultry farms, motor vehicles among others. Read more
Denzel Washington returns for the final chapter in ‘‘The Equalizer 3’’ trailer (EW)
Dakota Fanning and Denzel Washington are ready to walk through fire together, again.
Not since 2004’s Man on Fire have the two stars appeared together on the big screen, but Sony’s The Equalizer 3 is set to change that. The duo, joined by Equalizer director Antoine Fuqua, appeared together Monday at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, where Washington was presented a lifetime achievement award before they plugged their new film.
“I am just so excited to be here and to be a part of this film,” Fanning said. “Getting to work with Denzel once is a dream come true and twice is… I don’t even know. [I’m] so blessed to be a part of this, and excited for you to see a sneak peek!” Read more
Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher to posthumously receive Hollywood Walk of Fame Star on May 4 (Fox)
Actress Carrie Fisher will be posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a ceremony on May 4, also known as Star Wars Day.
Fisher, who passed away in December 2016 after suffering a heart attack, portrayed Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise spanning nearly 40 years.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will unveil Fisher’s star — the 2,754th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures — near the historic El Capitan Theatre, according to the Walk of Fame. Read more
Timbaland takes credit for discovering Ludacris (HipHopDX)
Timbaland has opened up about discovering Ludacris while discussing his favorite Hip Hop artists of all time.
During a recent appearance on the I AM ATHLETE podcast, the legendary producer listed Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, LL COOL J, Run-DMC and Gang Starr as artists who changed his life.
He also named Wu-Tang Clan, Fat Joe, Big Pun, OutKast, DMX, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, 8-Ball & MJG, N.W.A and A Tribe Called Quest, as well as Ludacris. Read more
Mystikal remains behind bars as rape trial delayed (HipHopDX)
Mystikal continues to sit behind bars without bail or a trial date in his ongoing rape case as his trial set for June has been pushed back.
According to a report from The Advocate on Tuesday (April 25), the request to push proceedings back has actually come from the “Danger” rapper’s team.
Newly-filed documents show that his new defense attorney, Tiffany Myles Crosby, asked a state district judge last week to continue her client’s jury trial because she needed time “to become abreast of all pertinent issues in this matter in order to provide efficient representation.” Read more
Death toll rises to 89 in Kenyan starvation cult investigation, minister prays survivors will speak out (ABC)
The death toll among followers of a Kenyan cult who believed they would go to heaven if they starved themselves has risen to 89.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki called for the group’s leader to spend the rest of his life in prison.
The toll has steadily risen in recent days as authorities carried out exhumations of mass graves found in an 800-acre area of the Shakahola forest in eastern Kenya where the self-proclaimed Good News International Church was based. Read more
Taliban kill IS leader behind Kabul airport bombing (BBC)
The Islamic State group mastermind thought to have planned the devastating 2021 bombing at Kabul airport has been killed by Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, US officials say.
The bombing that August killed 170 civilians and 13 US soldiers as people were trying to flee the country as the Taliban took control.
The IS figure was killed weeks ago but it took time to confirm his death, US officials told BBC news partner CBS. Read more
UN chief, national representatives berate Russia’s top diplomat over Ukraine (PBS)
The United Nations chief and representatives from Western nations berated Russia’s top diplomat as he chaired a U.N. meeting Monday, accusing Moscow of violating the U.N. Charter by attacking Ukraine and occupying part of its territory.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded by defending his country’s military action and accusing the U.S. and its allies of undercutting global diplomacy, the foundation of the United Nations, which was created to prevent a third world war.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called cooperation among the U.N. ‘s 193 member nations the organization’s “beating heart” and “guiding vision,” and he warned the Security Council that global collaboration is under the greatest strain since the creation of the United Nations in 1945 on the ashes of World War II. Read more
FG yet to host Flamingos 175 days after pledge (Punch)
The Federal Government is yet to host the U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, 175 days after it pledged to receive the bronze-winning team at the 2022 U-17 Women’s World Cup in India, The PUNCH reports.
The Flamingos claimed their first-ever bronze medal at the U-17 Women’s World Cup in India after defeating favourites Germany 3-2 on penalties.
Having consistently failed to get past the last eight of the competition, Bankole Olowookere’s side overcame the free-scoring USA on penalties to book a place with Colombia in the semi-finals. Read more
Osimhen leads celebrations as Napoli near first Serie A title in 25 years (Guardian)
Finally, long suffering Napoli fans have some reasons to cheer. It is their first Scudetto since a certain Diego Amando Maradona led a team coached by legendary Ottavio Bianchi and comprising Cannavaro, the mercurial Falcao and Careca to lift their second ever title in the 1989/90 season. Their first win was also orchestrated by Maradona in the 1986/87 season.
This season, Super Eagles’ star, Victor Osimhen, has been unplayable as his all action displays have seen runaway leaders, Napoli, 17 points away from closet rival, Lazio.
On Sunday, Napoli took another step towards Serie A title glory, with Osimhen leading celebrations on a party bus following victory over Juventus. Sunday’s 1-0 win against Juventus ensured that Luciano Spalletti’s side remain 17 points clear at the top of the table, with just seven games left to take in. They are now just a game away from confirming their first coronation as kings of Italian football since the days of Maradona. Read more
Tottenham players to reimburse fans for Newcastle humiliation (France24)
Tottenham’s players have offered to reimburse fans the cost of their match tickets from Sunday’s 6-1 hammering at Newcastle as they offered a public apology on Tuesday.
Spurs were 5-0 down inside 21 minutes at St James’ Park in a performance that cost interim manager Cristian Stellini his job after less than a month in charge.
“As a squad, we understand your frustration, your anger. It wasn’t good enough,” the Tottenham squad said in a club statement. Read more
Mauricio Pochettino makes feelings on Graham Potter’s coaching staff clear after Chelsea talks (Mirror)
Chelsea are expected to dispense with the services of Graham Potter’s remaining backroom staff if Mauricio Pochettino agrees to become their new head coach.
Just six months after arriving from Brighton for a significant sum, Potter was relieved of his duties earlier this month with the Blues languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League following a rotten run of form.
Despite Potter’s brutal dismissal, several of the staff members who followed him from the south coast to Stamford Bridge, including Bruno Saltor, are still at the club working with caretaker manager Frank Lampard. However, that is likely to change if Pochettino is confirmed as the Englishman’s permanent successor in the coming days. Read more
Wimbledon to donate to Ukraine relief as Russians, Belarusian players sign declarations to compete (ABC)
After its “difficult decision” to lift a ban on Russians and Belarusians competing, Wimbledon has announced it will donate up to 500,000 pounds ($AU933,560) to relief efforts in Ukraine.
The All England Club will donate 1 pound ($1.87) for each ticket sold to the war-torn country, as well as pay for two rooms for Ukrainian tennis players and their teams during the grass-court season.
Several Russian and Belarusian players have already signed personal declarations that will clear them to compete as neutrals at this year’s Wimbledon championships, after Wimbledon last month lifted its ban on them playing. Read more
Simone Biles shares sweet photos of her and Jonathan Owens’ wedding day (Today)
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens are married!
Biles, 26, and Owens, 27, confirmed their nuptials through a series of posts on Instagram April 22, more than one week after obtaining their marriage license.
The four-time Olympic gold medalist shared that the couple had tied the knot in an Instagram post, containing a carousel of photos from their special day.
In the first photo, Biles looked up smiling at her husband as he pumped his fist in the air. More photos captured moments from their intimate ceremony, and the couple’s gorgeous wedding ensembles. Read more