Lagos seeks councils’ synergy on flooding, allays fears along Ogun-Osun river bank (Guardian)
Lagos State government has called for synergy between local councils to tackle flood issues in the state.
The State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said such synergy is required to sensitise residents on drainage blockages, dumping of waste into canals and other unauthorised places.
He allayed the fears of residents along the Ogun-Osun river bank, following reports of flooding experienced in these affected areas, with the assurance of the state’s preparedness to contain any eventuality that may arise with the intensity of the flow of the run-off water from upland into Lagos. Read more
Tinubu’s certificate: Prove alleged forgery beyond reasonable doubt, S’Court tells Atiku (Punch)
The Chairman of the Supreme Court panel hearing the appeals against the election of President Bola Tinubu, Justice John Okoro, said on Monday that the Peoples Democratic Party standard bearer in the February presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, must prove the allegation of certificate forgery levelled against the ex-Lagos State governor beyond reasonable doubt.
Okoro handed down the admonition during the hearing of the election petition appeals filed by Atiku and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
He stated this following the submission of Atiku’s lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, urging the court to admit the fresh evidence brought by the petitioners. Read more
Wike enforces tax clearance certificates in Abuja (Sun)
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has directed the demand and verification of Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) as a pre-condition for any business transactions in Abuja.
Mandate Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public Private Partnership Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Chinedum Elechi, made this known at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday.
He said: “I am here today to announce that the FCT minister has approved the implementation of Section 85 of Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) and Section 31 of the FCT Internal Revenue Service Act, 2015. Read more
Legislative workers vow to shut down national, state assemblies Wednesday (DailyTrust)
Workers across the 36 state and the national assemblies say they have concluded all arrangements to lock up their respective workplaces pending when their demands for financial autonomy of the legislative arm of the government would be granted.
Daily Trust reports that the workers, under the auspices of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) are demanding that state governors should commence immediate implementation of financial autonomy for state assemblies in line with the 1999 Constitution.
Recall that parliamentary workers had on several occasions embarked on a series of street protests to press home their demands. Read more
Court remands man for defiling neighbour’s 13-year-old granddaughter (Punch)
A police inspector, Oyebisi Bolaji, on Monday, told an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos how a 40-year-old man, Monday Daniel, allegedly defiled his neighbour’s 13-year-old granddaughter.
Bolaji, a prosecution witness who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Olufunke Adegoke, told the court that the minor who lives with her grandmother was defiled by the defendant at the Elere Agege area of the state.
The witness also told Justice Abiola Soladoye that another neighbour, Uche Ube, caught the defendant in the act and raised the alarm. Read more
7 die in Edo boat mishap (Vanguard)
No fewer than seven persons have been feared dead in a boat mishap on Gelegele River, in the Ovia North East Local Government of Edo State, said to be among 28 passengers on their way from Ofunama.
The boat was said to have been pushed by waves, after it ran out of fuel, to hit oil barges that belong to a multi-national oil exploration company.
Being on Ekehuan market day, it was gathered that the boat was dropping passages along the riverine communities when it ran out of fuel. Read more
Police nab 6 suspected kidnappers in Adamawa (Leadership)
Six suspected kidnappers have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a nine-year-old boy in Mubi-South local government area of Adamawa State.
The suspects demanded N5 million ransom, after kidnapping Mustapha Ibrahim who was lured to buy yoghurt juice for the suspects.
The suspects; Abubakar Mohammed, Auwal Usman, Mohammed Abubakar, Umar Mohammed, Abdulhameed Musa and Muhammad Nasir are said to be residents of Maiha Road and Kaba Ward in Mubi-South and North LGAs. Read more
2 hotel workers arraigned for stealing foodstuffs (DailyTrust)
The police in Lagos State have charged two staff of a hotel before an Ejigbo magistrates’ court over the theft of food items valued at about N1.5 million.
The police said the accused, Austine Francis and Regina Gabriel, stole the food items from the hotel’s store.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, told the court that the accused were arrested based on a report filed at the Shashsa Division. Read more
Lagos leads as 36 States, FCT generate N1.9tr IGR (Nation)
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said in 2022, Lagos State recorded the highest revenue as the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) raised N1,925,612,626,650.76 Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
This was contained in the Bureau’s document titled: “Internally Generated Revenue at State Level in 2022.”
The document noted: “The National Bureau of Statistics published the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Report for the 36 States and the FCT for 2022. Read more
Malawi makes first large-scale wheat harvest (VOA)
Malawi has made its first successful large-scale harvest of wheat after years of attempts to find a variety of grain suitable for its soil. Wheat farming is seen as a solution to mitigate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on grain imports to the African continent.
Ronald Ngwira, chief executive officer of Malawi-registered U.S. company Pyxus Agriculture Limited, which operates a farm in central Malawi for the diversification of wheat seeds, said about four varieties of wheat have been found suitable for Malawian soil out of about 80 varieties which had been tried since 2019.
Speaking during the start of the first large-scale harvest over the weekend, Ngwira said the wheat farming will help Malawi save millions of dollars spent on wheat imports. Read more
South Africa’s 3rd biggest political party holds protest outside Israeli embassy (AfricaNews)
South African opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters’ held Monday (October 23) a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Pretoria.
Crowds gathered in front of the Israeli Embassy as Julius Malema, renewed calls for the closure of the embassy and urged retailers to stop selling Israeli goods.
Monday marked the 17th day of the latest Israel-Hamas war that has left thousands of dead. Read more
Skiddle to give 50p from every ticket sold to save grassroots music venues (NME)
Independent ticketing company Skiddle has announced that it will donate 50p from every ticket sold towards saving grassroots music venues.
In partnership with the Music Venue Trust (MVT), the new scheme is aimed at protecting the future of grassroots music venues in the UK. Through a new 50p ticket levy, 100 percent of the proceeds will be channelled to the Music Venue Trust’s Pipeline Investment Fund.
Skiddle has also pledged to match all funds raised through the new levy, effectively doubling each contribution. Read more
Parasite star Lee Sun-kyun removed from project amid police probe over suspected drug use (THR)
Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning Korean film Parasite, will be removed from the new drama “No Way Out”, a black comedy surrounding the contract killing of a man who was just released from prison after serving 13 years. Lee was expected to play the role of a detective in the film, which started shooting last week.
On Monday, however, producer Studio X+U released a statement, saying it was reviewing various options to replace Lee after news broke that he was being investigated by the police over suspected drug use. Read more
Taylor Swift is #1 at box office, but Killers of the Flower Moon sells more tickets (IndieWire)
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (AMC) and Killers of the Flower Moon (Paramount) grossed a combined $54 million for the weekend. Of this weekend’s $83 million domestic box office total, 65 percent came from two films created outside the studio system with unconventional distribution.
With $31 million, Eras repeated at #1 although it dropped 67 percent from its impressive debut; it’s grossed just under $130 million so far. Martin Scorsese’s $200 million-budgeted, Apple-backed Osage Western opened in second place to $23 million, overcoming the challenge of its 206-minute running time.
With its lower average ticket price (likely above the national average, given premium theaters and major-city response), Flower Moon sold nearly 2 million tickets in the U.S./Canada. Eras, with a $19.89 base price ($13.13 for children and a handful of other patrons, sold fewer.) Read more
Jason Blum says ‘‘Spawn’’ reboot will be the Blumhouse version of a superhero movie (Variety)
Jason Blum is bringing the “Blumhouse edge” to the upcoming “Spawn” film adaptation.
During a press line for Blumhouse at New York Comic Con 2023 (per Screen Rant), Blum teased the “Spawn” movie currently in development at his eponymous production company.
“It’s going to be edgy and original as compared to other superhero movies,” he said. “It’s gonna definitely feel like the Blumhouse version of a superhero movie.” Read more
Philippines, China trade blame over collisions in contested South China Sea (AlJazeera)
China and the Philippines have traded blame over two collisions in the South China Sea involving their vessels, the latest in a series of maritime confrontations in the disputed waterway.
The incidents occurred near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, where Beijing regularly deploys its vessels to assert its claims over almost the entire sea.
China’s coastguard said there had been a “slight collision” between one of its ships and a Philippine vessel carrying supplies to a World War II-era transport ship that was being used as an outpost on the shoal. Read more
Paris 2024: 4 Super Falcons stars doubtful for qualifiers against Ethiopia (Guardian)
The quartet of Gift Monday, Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Uchiebe and Regina Otu are doubtful for the second round Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Ethiopia.
The four players are likely not to be available for the two-legged fixtures against Ethiopia due to visa hitches and injuries.
All home-based players and officials are expected to depart Nigeria on Sunday for Addis Ababa venue for the first leg of the qualifiers scheduled for Wednesday 25 October. Read more
Taekwondo: Nigerian Army emerge winners of 11th Korea Ambassador Cup (DailyTrust)
Team Nigeria Army have emerged as overall champions of the just concluded 11th Korea Ambassador Cup in Abuja on Sunday.
Nigeria Army won a total of 10 medals consisting of four gold, four silver and two bronze at the indoor sports hall of Moshood Abiola Stadium.
An elated Director of Physical Training in the Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Abdulrahman Bello said the improvement of the athletes can be traced to the investment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja in sports. Read more
AC Milan 0-1 Juventus: 10-man Milan miss chance to go top of Serie A with home defeat (BBC)
Juventus edged 10-man AC Milan 1-0 at the San Siro on Sunday to stop the hosts from going top of Serie A.
Manuel Locatelli’s 62nd-minute strike was decisive, as the visitors moved up to third, just one point below Milan and two points behind leaders Inter.
The hosts were forced to play with 10 men for over 50 minutes, after Malick Thiaw was sent off for denying Moise Kean a clear goalscoring opportunity. Read more
Andy Murray named in unchanged Great Britain side for Davis Cup final (Sky)
Great Britain’s captain Leon Smith has announced an unchanged team to feature at the Davis Cup quarter-final against Serbia next month in Malaga.
British No 1 Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Andy Murray, Jack Draper and Neal Skupski will come up against Novak Djokovic’s Serbia in the final eight from Tuesday November 21 to Sunday November 26.
Great Britain got off to a great start in Group B at the Manchester AO Arena where they defeated 2022 runners-up and second seeds Australia 2-1, with brilliant action from Jack Draper, who was making his debut, and Dan Evans. Read more
Red Bull axe 4 drivers as Helmut Marko oversees brutal clear-out (Express)
Red Bull will trim four junior drivers from their ranks in Formula 2 next season with Dennis Hauger, Zane Maloney, Enzo Fittipaldi and Jak Crawford all set to lose their backing from the reigning F1 constructor champions.
According to Viaplay Sport, Helmut Marko has confirmed that only Isack Hadjar and Pepe Marti will be driving in the Red Bull livery in F2 in 2024 with the latter continuing his partnership with Campos upon his graduation from Formula 3.
This means that Hauger, Maloney, Fittipaldi and Crawford will all lose their backing for 2024, although it remains to be seen if any of those four will remain on the F2 grid with either another F1 driver academy or their own funding. Read more
Aston Villa hammer West Ham to maintain 100% home record in Premier League (National)
Aston Villa’s incredible home form could provide a platform for a run at the Champions League spots in the Premier League this season.
A 4-1 hammering of West Ham on Sunday made it four straight wins – and 17 goals in the process – for Unai Emery’s team in its four matches at Villa Park so far.
Villa moved a point off the top four after nine games and have a couple of players in great scoring form. Read more