Lagos shuts damaged Alapere footbridge, begins emergency repairs (Nation)
The Lagos State Government says it has temporarily closed Alapere Pedestrian Bridge which was damaged by an articulated vehicle, and began immediate remedial works on sections that need urgent attention.
A statement by Mr Shina Odunuga, Spokesman, Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, said the swift intervention was prompted by a viral video revealing cracks on various sections of the bridge.
Odunuga said the bridge had been good, safe and useful for well over 15 years until the current unfortunate event. Read more
4 escape death in Lagos lone auto crash (Punch)
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority have rescued four accident victims at Adeniji Adele in the Oyebanji area of Lagos Island.
The spokesperson for the agency, Taofiq Adebayo, in a statement on Saturday, said one of its officers, Oladunni Ademola ‘Zebra’ (Zone 1 Sura) who led the rescue team disclosed that the lone accident involved a Toyota Sienna with number plate MUS 706 EQ.
He said Ademola disclosed further that a preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was at top speed and could no longer control the vehicle after noticing a brake failure. He confirmed that LASTMA officials rescued the four victims (two males and two females). Read more
Immigration Officer, 2 others arraigned for alleged hard drug trafficking (Independent)
Sanni Razak Adeola, an immigration officer, was one of three people charged in a Lagos Federal High Court with conspiracy, unlawful possession, and export of 1.00 kilograms of Methamphetamine, a narcotic substance.
Sanni, who works at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, was arraigned alongside Eyah Nnamdi Celestine a.k.a. Murphy and Hien Narcisse a.k.a. Ugwuoke Peter Oluchukwu before a court presided over by Justice Nicholas Oweibo.
Officers from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned the trio in court. Read more
Tinubu flags off first phase of NNPCL’s 1,350MWs Abuja power project (Tribune)
President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, flagged-off construction of the first phase of the 1,350MWs Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant (GIPP) in Abuja.
The first phase is expected to deliver 350MWs of the entire project.
Speaking at the official groundbreaking event, the President said part of his campaign promises was to use all available energy sources to increase power generation beyond the current installed capacity of 12,000mw.
He explained that the Joint Venture (JV) will have General Electric (GE), China Machinery and Engineering Corporation (CMEC), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) on board. Read more
Atiku, PDP Govs, party leaders in Abuja for stakeholders’ meeting (Channels)
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Governors’ Forum; the party’s National Working Committee (NWC); and its flag bearer for the 2023 poll, Atiku Abubakar; on Saturday, met at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja for a stakeholders’ meeting.
PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara; as well as other party stakeholders were present at the meeting.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; and his Bauchi counterpart, Bala Mohammed; were at the meeting. Read more
Maryam Shetty Vs Mariya Mahmoud: How classmates replaced each other in Tinubu’s Cabinet (DailyTrust)
Maryam Shettima aka Maryam Shetty was nominated a minister by President Bola Tinubu, but Mariya Mahmoud, her classmate is on her way to being sworn in as a cabinet member.
Tinubu had included Shetty’s name in the second batch of ministers sent to the Senate on Wednesday.
However, knocks, condemnation and criticism trailed the nomination, which was revoked on Friday. Read more
Niger Coup: Tinubu writes Senate, seeks support for military intervention (Punch)
President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking its support for military intervention against the military junta in the Niger Republic.
He also sought the backing of the legislature on the cutting off of electricity to the country.
The PUNCH had reported that Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, was toppled by his guards.
Tinubu, Nigeria’s president and the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, had on Sunday met with some fellow ECOWAS leaders to discuss appropriate ways to restore democracy in Niger. Read more
Elevator accident: LASCOPA, FCCPC, others to investigate Dr Vwaere’s death (Guardian)
The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) are set to investigate the elevator accident that led to the death of female doctor, Diaso Vwaere at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos.
General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo and the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera said in a joint statement.
LASCOPA and FCCPC said they alongside other relevant agencies and authorities of the Lagos State Government (LASG) have initiated a move that will help uncover the actual cause of the elevator that malfunctioned and eventually led to the death of Vwaere. Read more
Megan Thee Stallion to star in upcoming A24 musical (AmericanSongwriter)
Megan Thee Stallion can add another accolade to her continuously growing resumé in the entertainment world. On Thursday (August 3), rising film studio A24 announced the upcoming release of their new musical D*CKS, starring the aforementioned Houston rapper, along with releasing its trailer.
Dubbed by A24 as a “comedy extravaganza (and our first musical),” D*CKS will arrive on September 29 and also stars Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp, who also wrote the film, as they play long-lost twin brothers who look to reunite their father (played by Nathan Lane) and mother (played by Megan Mullaly). Full of raps from Meg and tongue-in-cheek phallic jokes, the movie sees Bowen Yang appear as God as well.
On top of a star-studded cast, D*CKS is directed by iconic talent Larry Charles, most notable for his contributions to comedy series like Seinfeld and films like Borat. Additionally, the project is produced by Peter Chernin, best known for The Greatest Showman, and Jeremy Reitz, best known for Hulu series PEN15. Read more
Niger Coup: How ordinary people are paying the price (DW)
Just over a week after Niger’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in a coup, people in the vast Sahel nation are already feeling the economic squeeze as a direct consequence. Markets are still full of goods, but shoppers say food prices are already going up.
In Niger’s bustling southern city of Maradi, located just 40 kilometers from the border to Nigeria, one resident named Moutari told DW that he was shocked to discover how the price of rice had risen since the government overthrow; he said it had shot up almost 20% from 11,000 West African CFA francs a bag (€16.75 or $18.30) to 13,000 francs in just a few days.
“I have enough to buy this rice, but I feel sorry for the poorest people who can’t afford to buy a bag,” said Moutari, who didn’t want to give his last name. “The days ahead are going to be very difficult. We just have to pray that things will work out.” Read more
Greta Thunberg cancels Edinburgh Book Festival appearance over “greenwashing” (Sky)
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has cancelled an appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival after accusing one of the event’s sponsors of “greenwashing”.
The 20-year-old was due to speak at an event on 13 August but pulled out in protest over sponsors Baillie Gifford, an investment management firm she claims invests “heavily” in fossil fuels.
The firm has rejected the accusation, saying only 2% of its clients’ money was put in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. Read more
Cillian Murphy reveals impact of Ukraine invasion on Oppenheimer cast (NME)
Cillian Murphy has revealed how the cast of Oppenheimer were impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The actor stars in Christopher Nolan‘s critically acclaimed film as Robert J. Oppenheimer, the real-life American physicist who played a pivotal role in the creation of the atomic bomb.
Speaking exclusively to NME, Murphy explained how the cast were hyper aware of the events in Ukraine, especially after it emerged that Russian president Vladimir Putin had responded to international sanctions by lining his borders with tactical nuclear missiles. Read more
Ryan Gosling makes it to Billboard Hot 100 with “I’m Just Ken” from the Barbie movie (StraitsTimes)
After lamenting about being “always number two” in the song “I’m Just Ken”, the emotional tune by Canadian actor Ryan Gosling has cracked the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at No. 87.
Penned by British music producer Mark Ronson, the 1980s-inspired ballad is taken from the hit blockbuster Barbie, with Australian actress Margot Robbie as the famous doll. A line in the song about Barbie’s boyfriend goes: “Is it my destiny to live and die a life of blonde fragility?”
Ronson, 47, told Vanity Fair magazine he connected with Ken immediately after reading the Barbie script. “You really fall in love with this hapless, but immediately sympathetic, figure. I instantly had this idea for this lyric: ‘I’m just Ken/Anywhere else I’d be a 10.’” Read more
Doja Cat gets bloody in “Paint The Town Red” music video (Vibe)
Doja Cat has gotten diabolical in her newest music video for her single, “Paint The Town Red.” The release follows her June drop, “Attention,” with both tracks anticipated to be on her fourth studio album.
The unhallowed visual sees Doja getting cozy with the grim reaper and plucking out her own eyeball before it falls into the depths of hell. The Planet Her entertainer then befriends the devil, tosses chunks of bloody flesh into the air, and rides a huge horned-creature through the sky.
Doja raps the chorus, “Bi**h I said what I said/ I’d rather be famous instead/ I let all that get to my head/ I don’t care, I paint the town red,” before adding the bridge, “Mm, she the devil/ She a bad lil’ bi**h, she a rebel/ She put her foot to the pedal/ It’ll take a whole lot for me to settle.” Read more
Russian court sentences Alexei Navalny to further 19 years in prison (Guardian)
A court in Russia has extended Alexei Navalny’s prison sentence by 19 years, the opposition leader’s supporters said, citing the judge at a court hearing.
Navalny, 47, once led street protests against the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, built a nationwide political opposition, and revealed salacious details of Kremlin officials’ corrupt lifestyles.
As revenge, Russia has sentenced him to a cumulative three decades in prison, a term that will keep the Kremlin critic behind bars and out of politics for as long as Putin remains alive. Read more
My dream was to be a lawyer, not footballer – Oshoala (Leadership)
Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala has disclosed that her biggest dream was to be a professional lawyer and not a footballer.
Oshoala, who netted a goal in Super Falcons’ 3-2 win over Australia in the ongoing 2023 Women’s World Cup, made this known in a chat with Karen Carney’s Leaders Of The Pack podcast.
The five-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year said that it has always been her dream to become a lawyer. Read more
Harry Kane: Bayern Munich submit final bid for Tottenham and England striker (Sky)
Bayern Munich have submitted their final offer for Harry Kane and now want a quick decision from Tottenham.
The German champions are ready to move on and look at other targets if Spurs drag their heels in response.
Bayern’s offer for the 30-year-old is worth more than €100m euros (£86.24m) with add-ons included, according to Sky in Germany. Read more
NFF constitutes normalisation committee for Plateau FA (Sun)
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has constituted a normalisation committee to steer the affairs of the Plateau State Football Association (PFA).
The constitution of the committee was communicated to PFA by the NFF Communication Department.
Hon. Yakubu Audu Buba will be the chairman of the committee, with Mr. Daniel Kumi as vice chairman and Mr. Daniel Langs will be the secretary. Read more
FIFA opens investigation into alleged misconduct with Zambia (ABC)
FIFA confirmed Friday it is investigating an allegation of misconduct in relation to the Zambia women’s national team during the World Cup.
The Guardian reported Thursday that Zambia coach Bruce Mwape has been accused of rubbing his hands over the chest of one of his players two days before their final group game against Costa Rica.
Zambia, who were participating in the World Cup for the first time, beat Costa Rica to record the country’s first ever victory at the finals, although they exited the tournament at the group stage after defeats to Japan and Spain. Read more
Josko Gvardiol set for Manchester City after £77.5m deal agreed (ITV)
RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol is set for a medical at Manchester City in the next few days after the two clubs agreed a £77.5 million deal.
The Bundesliga side were said to be holding out for a fee of £86 million for the Croatia international, but City have been able to push the transfer through at a price that suits them.
The 21-year-old is due in Manchester before the end of the week for a medical, it is understood. Read more
Gael Monfils hit with interesting code violation at Citi Open after walking toward bench mid serve (Fox)
French tennis pro Gael Monfils advanced past the second round of the Mubadala Citi DC Open on Wednesday with ease, but his victory over Alexander Bublik didn’t come without incident.
Monfils, who previously won the tournament in 2016, was comfortably leading 5-3 in the second set after already claiming the first 6-3.
But with Bublik serving at 40-0, Monfils seemingly decided he would relinquish the game so he could close out the match serving. And so as Bublik served the ball, Monfils walked toward his bench. Read more