Lagos spent N500m on indigent pregnant women (Tribune)
Lagos State government, on Friday, said it has spent N500 million to cater for indigent pregnant women under its Mother, Infant and Child (MICH) programme, pointing out that the initiative was to ensure children have adequate care rights from the womb.
Princess Aderemi Adebowale, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Civic Engagement, disclosed this speaking about the activities of the MICH initiative, saying the state government currently targeted 1,140 indigent pregnant women to reduce maternal mortality and tackle the problem of malnutrition prevalent among indigent pregnant women.
According to her, the MICH programme, a brainchild of the Office of Civic Engagement, is seeking to support the development of socially responsible citizens from the womb through infancy, childhood, and youth into adulthood, adding that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was passionate about the wellbeing of pregnant women and their unborn children. Read more
Lagos Free Zone emerges first, issues N10b non-FGN Bond (DailyTrust)
Lagos Free Zone Company, the first free zone in Nigeria with a fully integrated deep seaport has completed the issuance of an N10.5 billion 20-year Series 1 Senior Guaranteed Fixed-Rate Corporate Infrastructure Bond, due in 2041, it announced on Thursday.
The 20-year bond was issued under LFZC’s N50 billion Debt Issuance Programme, the company said in an emailed statement.
Backed by an irrevocable and unconditional guarantee from InfraCredit, LFZC Series 1 Bond is accorded ‘AAA’ long-term credit rating by Agusto and Co. and GCR, reflecting the highest degree of creditworthiness for the bonds.
The Series 1 bond, which was priced at a 13.5% coupon rate, was oversubscribed by institutional investors, including 11 domestic pension funds, two insurance firms, banks and HNIs, the company said. Read more
We have learnt from students’ protest, says UNIBEN VC (Tribune)
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Lilian Salami, has commended students of the school who recently staged a protest against the recent hike in late registration fee from N10,000 to N20,000.
Sounding apologetic, Prof. Salami who spoke in Benin yesterday was, however, silent as to whether the school will refund the money to students who have already paid the late registration fee before the reversal by the institution’s Senate following the protest by the aggrieved students.
A contrite Prof. Salami noted that over the next few weeks, the school will reflect on the lessons learnt from the last few days.
She assured: “I have no doubt that it will shape its policies and back-end processes, how we gather the voice of the students and how we leverage technology to address these kinds of issues in the future.” Read more
CBN declares Oniwinde, owner of AbokifX, wanted (DailyTrust)
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has declared Oniwinde Adedotun, founder of AbokiFX, wanted.
AbokiFX is a website that publishes the parallel market exchange rate of the naira against other currencies.
While responding to questions at the end of the 280th Monetary policy meeting (MPC) meeting of the apex bank in Abuja on Friday, Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, referred to Adedotun as an illegal FX dealer.
He said he will be prosecuted for endangering the Nigerian economy. Read more
Industrial Court orders resident doctors to call off strike (Punch)
The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors are restrained from continuing with the ongoing strike pending the determination of the substantive suit before it.
The court, therefore, ordered members of the association nationwide to return to work.
The court held that there is no amount of money that will compensate for the loss of lives in the circumstances.
Justice Bashar Alkali made the order on Friday while ruling on an application by the Federal Government in the suit against NARD. Read more
Man drags commercial sex worker, 2 others to court for stealing phone (Guardian)
A 30-year-old businessman Umar Aliyu on Friday dragged Ms Fatima Aliyu, a commercial sex worker, before a Sharia Court in Magajin Gari, Kaduna for allegedly stealing his Samsung cell phone worth N80,000.
The nominal complainant also filed a suit against two men, Muhammad Tukur and Imran Tukur for allegedly conspiring with Aliyu to commit theft.
The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Ibrahim Shuaibu, told the court that the complainant requested the service of Aliyu and they agreed on N10,000.
He said that the complainant transferred to Muhammad’s account and took off with his phone. Read more
BBNaija: I love babies but i’m scared of marriage, says Nini (DailyTrust)
Big Brother Naija Shine Ya Eye housemate, Nini, says she is scared of marriage.
In a conversation with her fellow housemates, Nini said although she likes children, she is scared of getting married.
She said in order to avoid ending up in a wrong home, she can date for up to 10 years before getting married.
Nini said, “Nobody is more scared of marriage than I am. I’m so scared of marriage. I don’t know if it’s my mindset because it’s something I’m so scared of. It’s a bold step. Read more
No reversal of ban on sales of forex to Bureaux De Change – CBN (Guardian)
The Central Bank of Nigeria says it will not reverse its decision to ban the sales of foreign exchange to Bureaux De Change (BDCs).
CBN governor Godwin Emefiele said this while addressing journalists Friday after the central bank announced that it was holding the monetary policy rate at 11.5 per cent.
“The only exchange rate market is the Investors and Exporters window, which is the market that we expect everybody that wants to buy or sell dollars should use,” Emefiele said.
“I am sorry to say: I do not recognise any other market. We’ve asked ourselves at the CBN, why did we have to wait so long? Read more
DSS speaks on court judgment ordering payment of N20b to Igboho (DailyTrust)
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday said it is yet to be informed about the court judgment directing the service to pay N20 billion to the self-acclaimed Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.
Daily Trust reports that Justice Ladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court gave the order in a suit filed by Igboho, through his lawyer, Yomi Aliu, SAN.
Aliu had headed to the court to challenge DSS raid on his residence located at Soka area, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, at about 1:30am on July 1, 2021.
Igboho had asked the court to compel the respondents to jointly pay him the sum ₦500 million as special damages for the damage done to his house and his car and another ₦500 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages for breaching his fundamental rights with the malicious invasion. Read more
Lady Gaga helps Blackpink make Billboard chart history…again (Forbes)
More than a year after she released her latest pop full-length Chromatica, Lady Gaga is back on top of Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart with her new set Dawn of Chromatica, a remixed take on the original project. The set features reworkings of the popular tunes featured on the Grammy-nominated pop album by electronic talents like Arca, Mura Masa and A.G. Cook, and names like Elton John, Ariana Grande, Rina Sawayama, Charli XCX and Blackpink all receive credits as featured vocalists, with the latter act making history thanks to one more placement on one specific ranking.
Blackpink returns to Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart this week for just the second time, and it’s with a slightly different version of their first smash. The girl group joined Gaga on her Chromatica promotional tune “Sour Candy,” which rose all the way to No. 3 last year. Now, the Mura Masa remix, which also credits Shygirl, debuts at No. 24 on the latest edition of the genre-specific list, bringing the four-member K-pop troupe to the tally once again.
With a second hit on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, which ranks the most-consumed dance and electronic tracks in the U.S. every week, combining sales, radio play and streams, Blackpink makes history as just the fourth South Korean musical act of any kind to appear on the tally more than once. Read more
“I’m Your Man” is the official German entry for the 2022 Oscars (FarOut)
As the weather darkens and the leaves begin to shed off the trees, two things become clear, winter is on the way and with it awards season for the film industry. For the International feature film race, this means submitting entries now, with Germany choosing the Maria Schrader-directed I’m Your Man as their submission for the 94th Academy Awards.
Earning the film’s lead star Maren Eggert the best actress Silver Bear at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, I’m Your Man features Eggert as a scientist at the iconic Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Desperate to obtain funding for her research project, Eggert’s Alma is persuaded to take part in a futuristic study where she must live with a humanoid robot (Dan Stevens) tailored to her very physical and emotional needs.
Receiving much critical and commercial acclaim, Bleecker Street has recently acquired North American rights to the German-language film. Due to be screened at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival, I’m Your Man was selected by a nine-member jury of German Film, with the film produced by Letterbox Filmproduktion in collaboration with SWR. Read more
Ed Sheeran reveals he’ll be taking daughter Lyra on mammoth tour next year (Mirror)
Ed Sheeran has announced new UK and Europe tour dates, and he’ll be taking daughter Lyra with him.
Dubbed the Mathematics Tour, Ed will make his return to the live stage with 27 gigs across the UK, Ireland, central Europe and Scandinavia, including three massive concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium next summer.
The tour’s official name is + – = ÷ x, a clever reference to his chart-topping studio albums, and during a chat with Roman Kemp on Capital Breakfast on Friday, Ed announced the exciting news, as well as revealing that he’ll be making the tour a family affair.
Ed said on previous tours he’s been alone as wife Cherry “dipped in and out” of his Divide tour, which ran from 2017 to 2019. Read more
“Dune” director Denis Villeneuve criticises Marvel’s “cut and paste” movies (Uproxx)
It seems as if Dune director Denis Villeneuve always has something to say about the film industry, but this time he’s definitely not alone. By now, Marvel movies are well-acquainted with criticism from other high-profile filmmakers, and Villeneuve is merely the latest to make the list.
In a recent interview with Spanish entertainment outlet El Mundo (via IndieWire), the director behind Dune, Arrival, Sicario, and Blade Runner 2049 shared his feelings on the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, stating “there are too many Marvel movies that are nothing more than a cut and paste of others.” Villeneuve then proceeded to temper and clarify his thoughts, telling El Mundo:
“Perhaps the problem is that we are in front of too many Marvel movies that are nothing more than a ‘cut and paste’ of others. Perhaps these types of movies have turned us into zombies a bit… But big and expensive movies of great value there are many today. I don’t feel capable of being pessimistic at all.”
While these words might sting a bit for Marvel fans to hear — especially so shortly after hearing Villeneuve gush over Eternals film director Chloe Zhao — the big-budget science-fiction filmmaker has actually made a few remarks on the MCU as of late. Read more
Bradley Cooper burns in the lush, hypnotic teaser for Guillermo Del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley” (AVClub)
It’s been four years since Guillermo Del Toro’s last directorial feature, the Oscar-winning The Shape Of Water, which means it’s been four years since we’ve gotten to bask in the director’s love of moody lighting, bombastic recitations, and some of the most striking faces working in the modern film industry. Thank goodness, then, for the arrival of the first teaser for Del Toro’s Nightmare Alley remake, which sees Bradley Cooper bounce back and forth between the high life and the gutter, all accompanied by Willem Dafoe, in full carnival barker mode, demanding you answer: Is he a beast, or a man?
Based on William Lindsay Gresham’s 1946 novel (adapted with Tyrone Power and Joan Blondell by director Edmund Goulding just a year later), Nightmare Alley tells the story of Cooper’s Stanton Carlisle, a con-man with good taste in marks and bad taste in women. (At least, in the sense of running into the hands of of Cate Blanchett as Dr. Lilith Ritter, an even more manipulative presence than the veteran carny.) The teaser for Del Toro’s version of this story goes light on plot but heavy on feeling, whether that’s from the unnerving power of Blanchett’s watchful eyes, Rooney Mara jolting in an electric chair, or the sight of Cooper resigning himself to the realities of a burning building. Meanwhile, we get glimpses of the rest of the Del Toro ensemble new and old, including Richard Jenkins, Toni Collette, David Straitharn, and, of course, Ron Perlman. Read more
England captain Steph Houghton ruled out of World Cup qualifiers (Fourfourtwo)
England captain Steph Houghton has withdrawn from the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against North Macedonia and Luxembourg due to an ankle injury.
The Football Association announced Houghton had sustained the problem during the Lionesses’ final training session prior to Friday’s clash with North Macedonia at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium, and was returning to Manchester City for further assessment.
Arsenal’s Leah Williamson, Houghton’s fellow defender, will now skipper England in Friday’s contest.
England boss Sarina Wiegman said in a statement from the FA: “First and foremost we would like to wish Steph a speedy recovery and hope to see her back fit soon. Read more
“Haven’t forgotten”: Daniel Ricciardo’s brutal message to teammate (Yahoo)
Daniel Ricciardo may have a reputation in Formula One for being fun and easy-going guy but the Aussie has given the world – and his hungry young teammate – a brutal reminder of his ruthless side.
The 32-year-old said he was back in business after breaking a three-year victory drought by winning Sunday’s race in Monza in a 1-2 for McLaren.
The victory was McLaren’s first since 2012 when Jenson Button won the Brazilian Grand Prix, and it was Ricciardo’s first since he was at Red Bull in 2018.
Ricciardo’s euphoria was clear for all to see at Monza and his comments after the race reveal a ruthless competitive side burning inside the driver. Read more
Antoine Griezmann’s soured Atletico Madrid return and why fans want him “injured” (Mirror)
Antoine Griezmann’s return to Atletico Madrid from Barcelona on transfer deadline day was widely heralded as a stunning coup for the Spanish champions.
Atleti had sold the Frenchman just two years previously in a club record £105million sale, which had funded their move for Portuguese teenage sensation Joao Felix.
It was also a move that further accelerated the impending financial crisis at the Catalan giants, forcing them to sell Luis Suarez the following year and the veteran striker promptly fired Atleti to last season’s La Liga title.
The Griezmann deal had helped spark a chain reaction that caused major debilitation at Barca while making Diego Simeone’s squad champions and within two years, Griezmann returned to the Spanish capital at a fraction of the price. Read more
Hamilton, Verstappen, Vettel & Alonso salaries: How much do F1 drivers get paid? (Givemesport)
As the silly season of F1 comes to an end, and team bosses dot the i’s and cross the t’s on their 2022 lineup contracts, some have drawn their attention to the latest driver salaries.
F1 teams or not required to make their drivers’ wages public knowledge, but figures released by reputable media, such as The Independent, are usually very close to the mark.
It’s no surprise to see Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen way out at the top of the list. The speedy pair are in a clear two-horse race for this year’s championship, head and shoulders above the rest of the field. Their clash at last weekend’s Italian GP has only spiced things up further, making for what has been the closest championship battle in recent years. Read more
Tyson Fury has mystery “antidote” to beat Deontay Wilder in trilogy fight (Mirror)
Tyson Fury has a mystery “antidote” that will help him to once again beat Deontay Wilder in their trilogy, according to his dad John.
Fury Sr has been more involved the build-up to this fight after his son returned from his Las Vegas training camp following a coronavirus outbreak that saw the fight pushed back from July.
And now, Fury says, they are more than ready to put an end to Wilder’s career as a top heavyweight, with ‘Big John’ telling BT Sport that he is expecting Wilder to never box again after October 9.
“He doesn’t deserve the fight after that last performance,” Fury’s dad said. “It should be Tyson and [Anthony] Joshua. Read more