Lagos overwhelmed as beggars take over strategic parks, roundabouts (Guardian)
There is mounting concern over the resurgence of beggars at major roundabouts and strategic locations in Lagos State despite the government’s pledge to evacuate them.
The beggars made up of different age groups are seen in these various strategic locations, begging for alms unmolested, despite the state government’s promise last year to evacuate them off the roads across the metropolis.
Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Olusegun Dawodu, had during a press conference, which had the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, and the then Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, in attendance, in Alausa, expressed the government’s determination to eradicate street begging and all forms of nuisances off the state.
Dawodu, who said the state had set up a special task squad to curtail the menace, stressed that beggars on Lagos streets and roads constituted a considerable nuisance to law-abiding citizens, who are entitled to go about their businesses without any fear or hindrance. Read more
Police shoot Youtuber, Lagos mob chases cops, nabs one (Punch)
Youtuber, Rodney Okoba, has accused the police of shooting him during a confrontation at Mile 2 Bus-stop in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened on Wednesday around 10am.
Okoba said he had just alighted from a taxi alongside his dad when a policeman asked where they were going.
He explained that the cop accused him of being rude and ordered him to enter the police patrol van.
Okoba said he refused to enter and was shot in the leg by one of the police officers. Read more
Slum kids create painting to stand in solidarity with Ukraine (Nation)
A non-governmental organisation, The Oluwaseun Dania International Foundation has partnered with kids from the Ijora Badia area of Lagos to make a 4ft by 40ft painting as a form of solidarity with Ukraine currently in conflict with Russia.
According to the Convener, Oluwaseun Dania, the project titled Blue and Green is an avenue for the children to air their voices to end modern day slavery, while the funds generated in the sales of the NFTs will be used to support various humanitarian activities ongoing in Ukraine.
“We feel this is the height of modern day slavery and made a painting dance protest as we stand with Ukraine from Nigeria,” Dania explained.
He noted the organisation is motivated by the desire to help eradicate poverty by providing food, portable water, health care and quality education to the needy and to also improve lives and encourage the preservation of man’s harmony. Read more
LCC begs protesters to shelve planned protest over toll gate reopening (Leadership)
The Lekki Concession Company (LCC) has appealed to those planning to protest against the reopening of Lekki Toll gates to jettison such plans in the interest of the state’s economy.
The company’s plea was sequel to planned reopening of the Toll gates on April 1st,2022 by the Lagos State government 18 months after it was shut over #EndSARs protest in the state.
The company in a statement said it understood the sentiments that greeted the protest and had sacrificed a lot on account of the losses it had continually suffered during the period in view.
The company said it owes both local and foreign lenders billions of Naira in addition to the hundreds of its staff who had remained jobless since the gates’ closure with unsettling effects on the state’s economy. Read more
NPA, Navy partner on local capacity building in hydrographic survey (Independent)
As the size and number of merchant ships continue to rise, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), says it is ready to collaborate with the Nigerian Navy (NN), to localise training and capacity building on hydrographic survey.
NPA Managing Director Mohammed Bello-Koko disclosed this on Saturday in Lagos when he received the new Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai, who paid him a courtesy call.
A statement by Ibrahim Nasiru, NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, quoted the NPA helmsman as saying that the collaboration would enhance activities in the maritime sector and boost Nigeria’s economy.
While acknowledging the cordial relationship between the two organisations spanning over a century, Bello-Koko assured the new FOC of NPA’s unflinching co-operation in the task of protecting the nations’ waterways against inland and coastal threats to safe navigation. Read more
Bandits planted explosives in some Niger community – Sani Bello (Independent)
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has disclosed that the fleeing terror groups operating in the state; Ali Kawaje, Yello Jambros, Kachalla Halilu and Bello Turji have planted explosives including the recent ones detected by security operatives in Galadima-Kogo, Shiroro Local Government Area.
Governor Bello who disclosed this when he visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Central Primary School Gwada, Shiroro LG assured that the police bomb-detecting experts are working hard to detonate the recently discovered explosives.
Describing as very unfortunate the activities of informants who largely contributed to exploits by the terror groups, the Governor said with the arrest of many of them by security operatives in the past few weeks, the IDPs would soon go back to their homes to start life afresh.
Governor Bello who spoke shortly after visiting the facilities said about 4, 000 IDPs in Gwada camp comprising those displaced by bandits and water backwashed due to the ongoing construction of Zungeru Hydro Dam are taking shelter therein. Read more
SERAP challenges Buhari to probe ‘missing’ N11t electricity fund (Punch)
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has asked the President, Major General, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to investigate how over N11 trillion meant to provide regular electricity supply has been allegedly squandered by governments since 1999.
SERAP made the request in a letter signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday.
The letter followed the collapse of the national grid, which has plunged the country into total darkness.
The letter read in part, “The situation will not improve unless you fulfil your campaign promises to probe corruption in the electricity sector, prosecute perpetrators, and recover any missing public funds. Read more
Ali-Modu Sheriff withdraws from APC chairmanship race, explains reasons (Guardian)
Sen. Ali-Modu Sheriff, a former two-term governor of Borno, and a frontline national chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has withdrawn from the race.
Sheriff, who spoke at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja, said he withdrew from the race to respect the party and President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to zone the position to the North Central.
He added that he decided to withdraw from the race as a party man who respected the rule of law and the party’s leaders.
“I am sure that most of you have been following the trends of activities of our party, the APC, within the last 10 days or so. Read more
IPOB: We’re ready to work with Soludo, other govs (Nation)
Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) has assured its full support to Southeast governors ready to work for the interest and liberty of the people of the region.
It warned those who make themselves willing to criminalise its agitation for freedom to have a rethink or be ready to pay dearly for it.
The group, in a statement by its Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, particularly expressed its preparedness to work with Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to secure the State and make it the envy of black race.
Soludo had during his inauguration, sued for peace with the agitators, warning politicians playing politics with insecurity in the zone to desist forthwith. Read more
Sikiru Ayinde Barrister: K1 consolidates Fuji creator’s legacy after 12 years (Nation)
ON Wednesday, March 16, 2022, history was made on the shores of Lagos, Nigeria, when Fuji singer extraordinaire, Wasiu Ayinde Anifowose aka K1, staged an intellectual fora to discuss the future of Fuji music and celebrate the life of late creator and Fuji music legend, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister.
The intellectual fora entitled Sikiru Ayinde Barrister Colloquium was the first in the series of K1’s plans to uphold the essence of the music genre while keeping the glow. K1, who was installed in the Maiyegun of Yoruba land by the Alaafin of Oyo, stressed that the colloquium made history as the first to be ever held for and in honour of a Nigerian and African music pioneer.
“Let me use this opportunity to inform you all that this colloquium in honour of my late boss, mentor, and Fuji creator, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, is the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria and Africa as a whole – and I dare say the entire world. What we have all gathered for her today is a legacy that will not only gladden Barrister’s heart but also set the pace for what the future holds for Fuji music,” K1 began.
In an exclusive chat with The Nation, K1 disclosed the passion which necessitated the legacy that was consolidated 12 years after the death of Barrister. “If we all agree Barrister is the symbol and face that attracted a lot of people to that genre of music, then we should be able to put our foot down that he must be well-celebrated. We should be able to create an institution out of that establishment he made so that many years to come, there would be a reason for people to learn.” Read more
MTN rewards 23 sales partners for outstanding performance (Leadership)
MTN Nigeria has rewarded its sales associates and partners across the country for exceptional performance in the last financial year.
The activities started with the Annual Sales Conference themed “Excellerate – the Future of Sales & Distribution” to equip the team for challenges of the new year.
An award ceremony to recognize staff and trade partners with exceptional performance in the past year held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event was attended by customer acquisition partners and sales associates from across the country.
Twenty-three awardees were recognised across various categories including customer acquisition partner of the year, data trade partner of the year, best sales and trade delivery manager of the year among others. Read more
“Peaky Blinders” creator says new characters help set up forthcoming movie (NME)
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has said that characters introduced in season six help set up the forthcoming film based on the series.
While characters Tommy (Cillian Murphy) and Arthur Shelby (Paul Anderson) have been confirmed for the upcoming film, the rest of the cast has yet to be confirmed.
Now, in an interview with Esquire, Knight said the new characters in season six, which is currently airing on BBC One and is set to hit Netflix in June, will shape the direction of the film.
He said: “In series six we’re bringing in the new generation, and they are going to be part of what happens in [the] film. I think it’s finding those actors that you just watch and you think, there you go. There’s the future. Read more
Aunjanue Ellis says she got an ‘education on how to be a great superstar’ from Will Smith (People)
Aunjanue Ellis got a masterclass in star-power from Will Smith.
In King Richard, the pair star as the parents of Venus and Serena Williams years before the sister athletes both became tennis pros.
Ellis, 53, scored her first Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category, and as part of PEOPLE’s 2022 Oscars portfolio in this week’s issue, she shares what she took away from working with Smith, 53.
“It’s very holistic with him, you know, who he is on camera with Richard Williams and how much he doted on those girls was how he doted on those girls when we weren’t shooting,” she recalls. “They fell in love with him, ’cause it’s easy to do. It was great.” Read more
“An amazing ride”: “CODA” earns top prize at PGA Awards. (USAToday)
CODA won the top prize at Saturday night’s Producers Guild Awards, giving momentum to the possibility that the small film could have a big night at next week’s Oscars.
The story of three adult family members who are deaf and a fourth who is not and seeks a singing career beat out bigger contenders including “The Power of the Dog,” “Dune” and “West Side Story” to take an award that – more often than not – goes on to win the Academy Award for best picture.
“This movie has been an amazing ride, it was such a special one to make, there was so much love and so much heart put into it,” said Fabrice Gianfermi as he accepted the award with his “CODA” co-producers Philippe Rousselet and Patrick Wachsberger at the 33rd PGA Awards, held at the Fairmont Century Plaza.
An American Sign Language translator, who had been off to one side of the stage throughout the night’s speeches, stood front and center during the “CODA” acceptance, and another stood in front of the stage to translate for the three actors from the film who are deaf: Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin and Daniel Durant. Read more
Oscars: How “Encanto” composer Germaine Franco is smashing the glass ceiling (BBC)
“The love of music brings me here… a Latina from El Paso, Texas, a drummer girl, composer, songwriter, lover of tunes and anything that makes noise.”
That’s how Hollywood composer Germaine Franco responded to the news that she had been nominated for an Oscar for best original score for Disney’s latest hit animation, Encanto.
While the ubiquitous Lin-Manuel Miranda is responsible for every parent’s favourite earworm We Don’t Talk About Bruno and the film’s numerous other catchy songs, it’s Franco who is behind the magical score, which seamlessly blends with Miranda’s work.
She is the first woman to score a Disney animated film, the first Latina to join the music branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the first to receive an Oscar nomination for best original score. Read more
Farewell to 505: Curtains close on one of Australia’s most important jazz clubs
(Guardian)
Since it opened in 2007, the small Sydney jazz club 505 has become an institution. The kind of place elite international musicians such as Chris Dave and Charlie Watts might “drop in” just to see what’s happening, and where a whole generation of musicians – including Ngaiire and Sirens Big Band – cut their teeth, playing to an audience that’s more likely to cheer loudly or yell curses than give the expected polite finger snaps.
The venue has moved across three premises in its lifetime, but to enter any feels like walking into an unusually spacious and well-decorated share house living room – paying homage, perhaps, to how it began, as a weekly “board games and jazz” night in a Surry Hills rental. The furniture is a jumble – new, antique, well-loved – with humble staging and PA, and a piano that bears the signatures of musicians that have breathed life into it. Perch on one of 505’s rickety stools and you’ll be so close to the performers you can see spit and wood chips flying across the stage.
And on Friday night, the 5 Eliza Street venue became the latest casualty of Sydney’s music scene, leaving the way it entered: with no ceremony, good company and world class music.
As the skies above Newtown opened up, the Steve Barry Quartet performed the swan song of the globally recognised space – the only Australian venue to make Downbeat mag’s Top 100 jazz venues list. Read more
Edmonton super fan gears up to see Rolling Stones for 31st, 32nd and maybe 33rd time (CBC)
With the Rolling Stones celebrating their 60th year together with a European tour, Edmonton actor and improviser Donovan Workun is packing his bags to see the band live for the 31st, 32nd and possibly 33rd time.
“The songs they write together are just like the soundtrack to my life,” he told CBC’s Radio Active.
“And Mick Jagger is just super cool.”
Workun’s love of the Rolling Stones comes from a deep place. When he was 13, his older brother died and passed on his record collection. Read more
Shania Twain turns heads in leather look in latest nostalgic video (Hello)
Shania Twain has been feeling nostalgic over the weekend as she’s been sharing several throwback posts on social media – and the most recent one reminded her fans of her iconic style over the years.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, the country star posted footage of herself performing That Don’t Impress Me Much at Party in the Park in London, back in 1999.
In the clip, the singer looks fantastic dressed in skin-tight leather pants teamed with a strappy white top and white sneakers.
The star’s long hair was styled in a high ponytail, and she rocked curtain bangs – a look that’s very much come back to fashion in the present day. Read more
Carlo Ancelotti takes responsibility for Real Madrid’s humiliation by Barcelona (Metro)
Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid’s 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona was all his fault, apologising to fans for the humiliating El Clasico loss.
January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice, with Ronald Araujo and former Manchester City star Ferran Torres getting the others.
It is not disastrous for Real, who remain nine points clear at the top of La Liga, and 12 points ahead of Barca in third, but it is a damaging result for Ancelotti’s reputation and future at the club.
The Italian was not making excuses after the match, but tried to attract the blame to himself and away from his players.
‘The approach wasn’t good,’ he said, via Marca. ‘Barca played better and deserved to win, but the defeat does not sink us. We have to look forward and have balance, think that we have a nine-point advantage. Read more
Bayelsa Queens star hails new pitch at Samson Siasia Stadium (Leadership)
Bayelsa Queens defender Edet Glory says the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa pitch is the best she and her team has played this season in the ongoing Nigeria Women Football League (NWPL).
Leadership gathered that the football pitch was constructed by Lagos based Cabo Construction Company (CCC) and has received several accolades from visiting teams both in the Nigeria National League and the Nigeria Women Football League.
Speaking shortly after her team 2-0 victory over NWFL title contenders FC Robo,Glory said the Samson Siasia is the best pitch she has played in this season in the league.
She noted that since the team returned to their fortress, the quality of the game has improved compared to the first round where the Nembe City Stadium was adopted as their home ground. Read more
PSG suffers heaviest defeat to Monaco (BBC)
Runaway Ligue 1 leaders Paris St-Germain slipped to their biggest loss of the season with a dismal display at Monaco.
Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice for the hosts, flicking in a near-post cross and converting a late penalty.
In between, he created Monaco’s second, with Kevin Volland placing his shot past PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have now lost four of their last six matches in all competitions. Read more
Crystal Palace put four past beleaguered Everton at Selhurst Park to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup (Eurosport)
Crystal Palace overcame early uncertainty to book their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup by beating Everton 4-0 at Selhurst Park.
The Toffees roared out of the traps in South London, missing a glorious opportunity and seeing a strong penalty appeal turned down in just the first seven minutes as they hassled and harried a young Eagles outfit.
But the unfortunate withdrawal due to injury of Andros Townsend in the 14th minute brought a lengthy pause in proceedings which allowed the hosts to take the sting out of their opponents, take on board words of wisdom from boss Patrick Vieira, and ultimately take control of the match.
And shortly after the restart, Palace skipper Marc Guehi headed home from a Michael Olise corner to not only put his side ahead, but also cap a fine week in which he had been called up to the England squad for the first time. Read more
LeBron James passes Karl Malone for second on all-time NBA scoring list (NYPost)
LeBron James passed Karl Malone on the career scoring list, leaving only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still to catch.
Then the Los Angeles Lakers wasted another stellar performance by their star.
James came into the night needing 19 points to tie Malone. He ended up scoring double that, but the Washington Wizards rallied from a 16-point deficit to win 127-119 on Saturday night.
James said he couldn’t appreciate the milestone as much in a loss. Read more
FIA ‘negotiating’ to hand new role to ex-F1 race director Masi (F1i)
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed that the governing body is currently in “negotiations” with ex-F1 race director Michael Masi about keeping the latter within its organization.
Masi was replaced as F1’s chief steward in the wake of last year’s controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where the F1 race director’s questionable decisions decided the outcome of the 2021 championship.
In its detailed Abu Dhabi report that was published on Saturday, the FIA acknowledged that Masi had not managed the race’s safety car process according to the rules, but it insisted the massive pressure exerted on the race director as well as certain “distractions” contributed to Masi’s erroneous call, adding that the latter ultimately acted “in good faith”.
Addressing in Bahrain the FIA report’s conclusions, Ben Sulayem revealed that Masi was relieved of his responsibilities to “take the pressure and stress from him”, adding that he is currently being considered for another official role with motorsport’s institution. Read more
Rafael Nadal on epic win over Carlos Alcaraz: ‘It was my best match’ (TennisWorld)
The 21-time Major winner Rafael Nadal is a win away from the fourth straight title since the start of the season! The legendary Spaniard is yet to lose a match in 2022, conquering three titles and reaching the fifth Indian Wells final following a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Carlos Alcaraz.
An 18-year-old pushed his compatriot to the limits in his first Masters 1000 semi-final, staying on the court for three hours and 12 minutes before laying down his weapons. Nadal was thrilled following his 20th victory of the season, saying it was his best match of the tournament and feeling excited to reach another final in the desert.
The conditions were tough, and two great rivals gave their best to overcome the wind and deliver their A-game. Rafa took only two points more than Carlos and converted six out of 21 break chances. A teenager secured five breaks and missed his opportunities at 2-2 in the final set, failing to convert three break points and losing ground after that.
There was nothing to separate them in the shortest and more extended rallies, and the crowd enjoyed one of the finest encounters on Stadium 1 in the past ten years. Nadal lost serve twice in the opener and created 17 break chances, seizing three to prevail. Read more