Lagos rakes in N3.9b from oil derivation payouts (Sun)
Lagos State Government yesterday disclosed that the sum of N3.911 billion was realized since it became an oil producing state. It also stated that the production has been hampered due to challenges faced by the company managing its exploration.
The state joined the league of oil-producing states in the country in 2016, revealing that it received a total of N3.911 billion as its share of the 13 percent derivation fund.
The state’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Biodun Ogunleye explained this during a ministerial press briefing to mark the second term in office of the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Alausa, Ikeja. Read more
Abuja school mourns, explains death of 4-yr-old pupil after home-made meal (Leadership)
The Brickhall School, Abuja, has mourned the death of its four-year-old pupil, Miguel Ovoke, who died from choking on a piece of meat in a home-made meal he ate during school hours.
Lamenting the death of the pupil, the school authorities said it was greatly saddened that the life of the pupil could not be saved despite the timely response of its trained nurse and the eventual decision to rush him to a hospital.
While noting the decision to mourn the late pupil by closing the school for one week, the school respectfully urged everyone connected to the tragedy to respect Miguel’s memory with dignity and peace while allowing medical professionals and law enforcement agencies to conclude with the autopsy. Read more
Nigerian emerges first black woman to bag PhD in Robotics at Michigan varsity (Punch)
A Nigerian woman, Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi, has made history as the first black woman to bag a PhD in Robotics at the University of Michigan in the United States.
Speaking at the university’s College of Engineering convocation, Dosunmu-Ogunbi, a daughter of Nigerian immigrants, spoke on the support she received in realising her aspirations.
She said, “I do not stand here on my own two feet alone. None of us got here by our individual merit alone, whether it be teacher, friends, family, mentors, or role models, we each have one or multiple people to whom we are grateful for making this moment possible.” Read more
US debunks plans of building military base in Nigeria (Vanguard)
The United States has said there were no plans to build its military base in Nigeria, as claimed in some quarters of the West African country.
The US, however, said it would continue in its efforts to partner with Nigeria in providing security for the people of the country.
David Greene, US chargé d’affaires in Nigeria, revealed this while reacting to the purported reports that the US and French governments were lobbying with the federal government to build their bases in the country. Read more
Tongues wagging as presidency fails to release Tinubu’s pictures after overseas’ trip (DailyTrust)
In a rare and unusual circumstance, the presidency did not release any picture of President Bola Tinubu’s return trip to Nigeria after two weeks abroad.
Since Tinubu took charge of the country a year ago, his aides and presidency officials have consistently released pictures and videos of his arrival and departure from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Nigeria’s capital city.
During such moments, top government officials such as Chief of Staff to the president, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministers, Governors, among others bid farewell and welcome the president. Read more
Unidentified gunmen attack Catholic school in Benue (Sun)
The Catholic Diocese of Makurdi has ordered the closure of Father Angus Frazer Memorial High School, in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, after gunmen attacked the school on Tuesday night, May 7, 2024.
Our correspondent gathered that the attack was carried out by gunmen yet to be identified.
The Director of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Very Revd Fr Moses Iorapuu, who confirmed this to newsmen in Makurdi on Wednesday, said the school has been closed to enable the authorities investigate the matter. Read more
Nigerian man takes on challenge to be buried alive for 24 hours (Punch)
A Nigerian man who identifies as Young C has embarked on a challenge to be buried alive in a coffin for 24 hours.
He made this known in a series of posts on his Instagram page on Wednesday, stating that the stunt was genuine and not a hoax.
He announced his intention to broadcast live footage from the coffin at night. Read more
Nigeriens getting vaccinated against Meningitis as epidemic death toll climbs (AfricaNews)
While the current meningitis epidemic in Niger has caused the death of more than 143 people, the vast vaccination campaign launched in Niamey, the country’s capital, by the World Health Organization (WHO) hopes to reverse the contagion curve.
Africanews correspondent Joel Honore Kouam reports that Nigeriens are impatiently awaiting the return of the rainy season which they believe can help to stem the tide as Meningitis — an infection of the thin lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord — is seasonal.
The disease is prevalent in the Sahel (a semi-arid region stretching through Mali, Niger, Chad, and Sudan), mostly in the dry season from November to May which comes with dust, winds, and cold nights. Read more
Lady Gaga announces Chromatica Ball concert film (MusicNews)
Lady Gaga has unveiled the trailer and release date for her upcoming Chromatica Ball concert film.
The hitmaker has announced that she has teamed up with HBO to release a concert film chronicling her 2022 Chromatica Ball Tour.
The concert special, which was created, produced and directed by Gaga, was filmed during one of her final shows of the stadium tour, which took place at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium in September 2022, where she performed in front of 52,000 people. Read more
Putin’s Olympian ex-mistress breaks silence after split with 10-word statement about Vlad (DailyStar)
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ex-lover has praised the war mad despot, referencing him for the first time since she allegedly split from the love-hold of 71-year-old.
Earlier this year, the Daily Star revealed that Putin has ditched the sex-mad Olympic Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva – despite apparently having two secret children with her. It has now been claimed he is in a relationship with 39-year-old Ekaterina Mizulina, dubbed “Barbie” by one critic in Ukrainian media.
The woman is very different to Kabaeva, in that she’s blonde and has a social media profile, compared to the dark-haired and mysterious now-ex lover of Putin who often went months without making a public appearance. Mizulina has been at the forefront of Russia’s crackdown on anti-war online content, as well as being the biggest name to back anti-LGBT legislation in the country. Read more
Ex-president called out for audibly cursing during revealing Stormy Daniels testimony (Independent)
Adult film actor Stormy Daniels is expected to face more cross-examination from Donald Trump’s lawyers – after fiery exchanges at his hush money trial.
Ms Daniels – who is set to take the stand again on Thursday – has already regaled jurors with how she met Trump, their now-infamous sexual encounter in July 2006, and events leading up to the 2016 presidential election.
After lunch on Tuesday, the defence moved for a mistrial given her “prejudicial” evidence, which was denied by Judge Juan Merchan. Read more
Hospitals in south Gaza running out of fuel, WHO warns (AlJazeera)
There is enough fuel to run hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip for only three more days, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warns after Israeli forces seized control of the Rafah border crossing.
Israel on Tuesday sent ground troops and tanks into the city of Rafah and seized the nearby crossing into Egypt that is the main conduit for aid into the besieged Palestinian territory.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said fuel that the United Nations health agency had expected to be allowed in on Wednesday had been blocked. Read more
Travis Scott’s Astroworld lawsuits have all been settled, with one exception (HipHopDx)
Travis Scott‘s 2021 Astroworld festival tragedy resulted in 10 wrongful death lawsuits against the rapper and a myriad of companies, but they’ve almost all been settled.
According to a report published by ABC News on Wednesday (May 8), just one case is currently pending while all others — including one that was set to go to trial this week — have been confidentially settled.
The final lawsuit was filed by the family of 9-year-old Ezra Blount, the youngest person killed at the concert. Read more
Pentagon chief confirms US pause on weapons shipment to Israel (AlJazeera)
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has confirmed reports that the United States paused a weapons shipment to Israel, as President Joe Biden’s administration faces growing pressure to condition aid to the top US ally amid the war in Gaza.
Testifying before a US congressional subcommittee on Wednesday, Austin said the Biden administration had paused “one shipment of high payload munitions” amid concerns about the Israeli military’s push to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
“We’ve been very clear … from the very beginning that Israel shouldn’t launch a major attack into Rafah without accounting for and protecting the civilians that are in that battlespace,” Austin told US lawmakers. Read more
Xi Jinping visits China-friendly Hungary on last stop of European tour (France24)
Following a visit to Serbia, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Budapest on Wednesday in the last leg of his European tour aimed at strengthening already flourishing ties between Beijing and its closest EU ally.
Xi’s three-day visit to Hungary marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, with the Chinese leader expected to attend a state dinner with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban later on Wednesday.
He began his European trip in France, a visit that was cordial but also highlighted tensions between Beijing and the EU over the war in Ukraine and global trade. Read more
Finidi to name Eagles assistant coaches ‘‘very soon’’ (Punch)
Newly appointed Super Eagles coach Finidi George says he will appoint his assistant coaches “very soon” in the wake of rumours making the rounds over the discussions between him and the Nigeria Football Federation over who works with the ex-international, The PUNCH reports.
Finidi was appointed as the substantive Eagles coach April 29, beating other candidates, including fellow 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner Emmanuel Amuneke, US men’s U-19 coach Michael Nsien, Sylvanus Okpala and other candidates to the job.
With barely a month to his first task of leading the team against South Africa and Benin Republic in two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Finidi is yet to name his assistants with stories making the rounds that the NFF wants the ex-international to work with Daniel Amokachi and former captain Vincent Enyeama as goalkeeper trainer while the coach reportedly prefers foreign assistants. Read more
Rory McIlroy not returning to PGA Tour policy board after ‘pretty messy’ conversations to replace Webb Simpson (SkySports)
Rory McIlroy has surprisingly revealed he will not be making an imminent return to the PGA Tour’s policy board after “pretty messy” conversations about going back into the role reopened “old wounds”.
McIlroy joined the Player Advisory Council in 2019 and then served on the PGA Tour’s policy board from 2021 to last November, when he resigned after citing concerns over the time and energy he had to commit to the role.
Webb Simpson reportedly offered his resignation as a player director last month and requested his place was taken by McIlroy, who told Sky Sports at the time he was ‘happy to do his bit’ to try and help ongoing negotiations to unify the men’s game. Read more
Olympic torch reaches France ahead of Paris 2024 (UPI)
A large crowd lined the banks of the Old Port on Wednesday to watch the three-mast Belem ship finish its journey from Athens to Marseille, delivering the Olympic torch to France ahead of the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
The torch was initially lit April 16 at the ancient stadium in Olympia. A relay of torchbearers then carried the flame on a 3,100-mile journey trough Greece before it was handed off in Athens on April 27.
France’s national anthem played as fighter jets flew overhead, illuminating the sky with smoke trails the color of the French flag Wednesday in Marseille. French swimmer Florent Manaudou, a four-time Olympic medalist, then removed the torch from a Louis Vuitton case aboard the Belem. Read more
Fiorentina into second straight Conference League final (BBC)
Fiorentina celebrated reaching back-to-back Europa Conference League finals after a late penalty gave them a 4-3 aggregate win over Club Bruges. Lucas Beltran tucked home an 85th-minute spot-kick after Brandon Mechele was judged to have fouled M’Bala Nzola. Maxim de Cuyper had pulled Club Bruges level in the tie, after Fiorentina won the first leg 3-2 in Florence. Read more
No hate crime charges filed against man who yelled racist slurs at Utah women’s basketball team (NBC)
A northern Idaho prosecutor won’t bring hate crime charges against an 18-year-old accused of shouting a racist slur at members of the Utah women’s basketball team during the NCAA Tournament.
The deputy attorney for the city of Coeur d’Alene made the announcement on Monday, writing in a charging decision document that though the use of the slur was “detestable” and “incredibly offensive,” there wasn’t evidence suggesting that the man was threatening physical harm to the women or to their property. That means the conduct is protected by the First Amendment and can’t be charged under Idaho’s malicious harassment law, Ryan Hunter wrote.
The members of the University of Utah basketball team were staying at a Coeur d’Alene hotel in March as they competed at the NCAA Tournament in nearby Spokane, Washington. Team members were walking from a hotel to a restaurant when they said a truck drove up and the driver yelled a racist slur at the group. After the team left the restaurant, the same driver returned and was “reinforced by others,” revving their engines and yelling again at the players, said Tony Stewart, an official with the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, during a news conference shortly after the event. Read more
FIA CEO Natalie Robyn departs after 18 months (F1i)
The FIA announced on Monday that its first-ever chief executive officer, Natalie Robyn, will be stepping down from her position at the end of this month.
Robyn, appointed in November 2022, was a key figure in President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s efforts to modernize the FIA’s management structure following his election at the head of motorsport’s governing body at the end of 2021.
At the time, Ben Sulayem insisted on the introduction of a qualified and experienced manager to improve the body’s operations, governance as well as the control of its finances. Read more