Lagos State records more than half of Saturday’s 612 COVID-19 infections, continues to top chart (Guardian)
Lagos State led new COVID-19 infections for the second day running as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed 612 new infections for Saturday.
It stated on Sunday that new cases were recorded in seven states and the FCT. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 612 cases recorded on Saturday indicate an increase of 79 new infections when compared with the 533 cases recorded on Friday.
For Saturday, Lagos State recorded more than half of the new infections with 483 cases.
Lagos State, the epicentre of the virus has confirmed 79,775 infections and 754 deaths, about a quarter of the 2,981 COVID-19 deaths in the country.
The NCDC said that the FCT and Rivers reported 49 infections and 38 infections respectively on Saturday, to place second and third on the log. Read more
Stadium Flyover in Surulere, Lagos reopens to traffic on Sunday (Nation)
The Stadium Flyover in Surulere, Lagos reopens to traffic on Sunday, Dec. 12.
Lagos State Government announced this on Saturday after approving the completion of rehabilitation works on the facility.
Mr Lateef Shomide, Director, Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation, Lagos State Ministry of Works told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that replacement of expansion joints on the flyover had been completed.
Shomide said debris generated as a result of the rehabilitation was being cleared to effect the re-opening of the highway to traffic. Read more
RCCG renovates, equips Lagos laboratory, empowers 74 (Tribune)
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Rose of Sharon Parish, Ikeja, Lagos State, has renovated and equipped the science laboratory of State Senior High School, located at Muiz Banire Street, Ikeja, with the sum of N15 million.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, who led dignitaries to the commissioning ceremony of the laboratory, last Thursday, said that the facility would enhance learning and teaching in the school.
Adefisayo, who was represented by an official of the ministry, Mr. Ogunfuyi Hassan, said that the state government placed a premium on teaching and learning of the sciences while lauding the church for partnering with the state government to enhance education in the state.
“The state government has many schools that were begging for attention and I urge other religious organisations to partner with the state government to take education to a higher level in the state,” he added. Read more
Ogun pastor ‘connives with wife’, rapes teenage chorister (DailyTrust)
Operatives of the Ogun Police Command have arrested one Pastor Peter Taiwo of Christ Apostolic Bible Church, Alaja Oke, Saje, Abeokuta, the state capital, and his wife, Mrs Elizabeth Taiwo, over alleged rape of a 16-year-old chorister of the church.
The couple were arrested on Friday following a complaint lodged at Adatan divisional police headquarters by the victim.
The victim whose name has been kept under wraps told the police that while she was in the church for choir practice, the pastor’s wife instructed her to go and meet him in their room “because the pastor wanted to send her on errand.”
According to the complainant, as soon as she got into the room, the pastor’s wife locked the door from outside, the pastor overpowered her, and forcefully had sex with her.
She also reportedly told Police that “the pastor’s wife later came in after her husband had satisfied himself and met her crying and she told her to stop crying as she is now a woman, she then warned her never to tell anybody or else she will die.”
FG restricts airlines from UK, Canada and Saudi Arabia in reciprocity over Omicron COVID-19 (Guardian)
With effect from Tuesday, Dec. 14, the Federal Government will restrict airlines coming from Canada, United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia into Nigeria.
Minister of Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, announced the decision on Sunday in Lagos and explained that it was to reciprocate restricted flights from Nigeria into those countries over the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.
Sirika said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would also place the United Kingdom, Canada and Saudi Arabia on a red list over the outbreak and spread of the Omicron variant.
The minister noted that if those countries placed Nigeria on a red list, they lacked a moral right to have their airlines fly into Nigeria on commercial operations.
“There is also the case of Saudi Arabia that put Nigeria on the ban list. On Sunday, I participated in a meeting with the COVID-19 task force. Read more
Nigerian who returned $2,397 honoured with Gani Fawehinmi Integrity Award (Nation)
A Nigerian activist, Olasupo Abideen, has been honoured with the Outstanding Integrity Award at the 5th Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards.
At the event held in Lagos, Olasupo won the category for refunding the 2,397 USD dollars that was mistakenly paid into his account by a foreign organisation he consulted for.
The award, presented to him by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) was organised by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre.
Olasupo who is the Executive Director of Brainbuilders Youth Development Initiative, (BBYDI), emerged winner of the award category ahead of few other nominees. Read more
Burna Boy announces ‘One Night In Space’ at Madison Square Garden (NME)
Burna Boy will become the first Nigerian artist to headline New York’s prestigious Madison Square Garden next year, with the rapper announcing an historic one-off show dubbed ‘One Night In Space’.
The show is set to take place at the iconic stadium – which has a seating capacity of 20,789 – on Thursday April 28, 2022. Tickets go on sale at 12pm EST next Friday (December 17), with an artist presale kicking off two days earlier on Wednesday December 15. Fans can sign up for access to that presale via Seated.
2021 has been a monumental year for Burna Boy. He kicked it off with a performance of his hit ‘Way Too Big’ on Late Night With Seth Meyers, then linked up with WizKid for a stylish clip to accompany their collaborative track ‘Ginger’. He then joined Sia for a new version of her song ‘Hey Boy’, then featured on Headie One’s single ‘Siberia’.
March saw Burna Boy win his first Grammy Award, taking home the trophy for Best World Music Album with his fifth full-length effort, 2020’s ‘Twice As Tall’. His first solo tune for the year came in May with ‘Kilometre’, which he then followed up in October with the Polo G collab ‘Want It All’. During his performance at this year’s Parklife festival, he was joined by Manchester United footballer Paul Pogba. Read more
Server downtime mars NIN-SIM linkage as Dec 31 deadline inches closer (Leadership)
Fraudulent registration by some of the special agents appointed by National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to fast-track the process and server downtime at the commission are slowing down SIM card-to-NIN linking exercise ahead of the December 31 deadline, LEADERSHIP Sunday investigation can now reveal.
No fewer than 70 million Nigerians are still struggling to obtain their National Identification Number (NIN).
As of October 31, 2021, NIMC had issued 66 million unique NINs, while there are indications that the commission may have further registered additional four million Nigerians between then and now, hence, pushing the figure to about 70 million NINs so far issued.
And with about 140 million active mobile phone users in the country, it means 70 million phone users are still battling to get their national identity numbers, and may not be able to use their mobile phones in the New Year unless NIMC extends the current deadline. Read more
ECOWAS Heads’ Session: Buhari delegates Pantami as President Ouattara arrives in Nigeria (DailyTrust)
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami has welcomed Ivory Coast President, Alassane Ouattara to Nigeria.
Ouattara is attending the 60th extraordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority Heads of State in Abuja.
A statement by Pantami’s spokesman, Uwa Suleiman, said Nigeria stands tall and proud to play host to regional leaders.
“It is with sense of duty that the Minister chaperones His Excellency, on behalf of the Federal Government, as assigned by President Muhammadu Buhari”, it read. Read more
Court affirms Okoya as paramount ruler of Ibereko, Badagry (Punch)
Justice Yetunde Adesanya of Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square has affirmed Oba Israel Adewale Okoya as the bonafide Onibereko of Ibereko in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Delivering a 103-page judgement in a suit filed by 26 claimants from Ibereko community challenging his position as king of Ibereko, Justice Adesanya ruled that Okoya was duly installed as Onibereko as gazetted by Lagos State Government.
The judge declared that the king and his cabinet were the custodians of the communal land in accordance with the tradition of the people.
Adesanya ruled that the traditional cabinet must, however, consist of representatives of the community duly nominated by the people. Read more
Michael B. Jordan speaks about making his directorial debut with Creed III (DailyMail)
Michael B. Jordan spoke about making his directorial debut on Creed III during Thursday’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
During the sit-down, the 34-year-old performer spoke about various elements of the feature’s pre-production stage and noted that he was actively involved in getting the project off the ground.
The actor previously starred as the title character in the last two films in the series and has received positive critical attention for his work.
Jordan began the conversation by expressing that he was looking forward to directing the upcoming feature, having taken note of the techniques used by other directors in the past. Read more
Rita Moreno turns 90 as new “West Side Story” debuts in theatres 60 years after the original (People)
Rita Moreno is busier than ever as she rings in her 90th birthday.
The Oscar winner celebrated among her close family and friends on Saturday, a day after Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story — which she co-produced and stars in — landed in theaters.
Moreno won the Academy Award in 1962, a year after the release of the 1961 original version of the musical film in which she played Anita.
In Spielberg’s reimagining of the hit musical, Moreno plays Valentina, the widow of Doc who offers Ansel Elgort’s Tony a new chance at a job and a life. Read more
Michael Strahan blasts off into space on Blue Origin mission (Metro)
Good Morning America host Michael Strahan had blasted off into space with Blue Origin.
Alongside the daughter of famed astronaut Alan Shepard, Laura Shepard Churchley, and four paying customers, the crew took a ride to the edge of space on one of Jeff Bezos’ suborbital space tourism rockets.
The rocket launched at 10:01 a.m. ET on Saturday from the company’s launch facilities near the rural town of Van Horn, Texas, after a two-day postponement following high winds.
The capsule successfully landed after a 10-minute flight, with Amazon founder Bezos opening the vessel’s door to cheers from the crew. Read more
Denzel Washington, Michael B. Jordan and Chante Adams attend NYC red carpet premiere for “A Journal For Jordan” (Source)
A Journal For Jordan is a new holiday film starring Michael B. Jordan alongside Chante Adams. The movie was directed by Denzel Washington and it’s based on a true story.
“First Sergeant Charles Monroe King (Jordan), a soldier deployed to Iraq who begins to keep a journal of love and advice for his infant son. Back at home, senior New York Times editor Dana Canedy (Chanté Adams) revisits the story of her unlikely, life-altering relationship with King and his enduring devotion to her and their child. A sweeping account of a once-in-a-lifetime love, the film is a powerful reminder of the importance of family,” as per the synopsis.
Unlike the movie Fences, Denzel is taking the back seat for this project. “I didn’t have to be in it so I could, I could concentrate just on making the film. Didn’t have to worry about, uh, acting at all,” he said during the red carpet premiere.
The film’s stars all graced the red carpet premiere of the flick including Michael, Chante, Tamara Tunie, and Robert Wisdom. Read more
Lindemann’s ‘Live in Moscow’ concert to be released in cinemas (TheGauntlet)
Lindemann’s Live in Moscow concert film is coming to cinemas for one night only – check out the trailer below.
The German band – comprised of Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann and guitarist of death metal outfit Hypocrisy, Peter Tägtgren – played the VTB Arena in Russia’s capital city on March 15, 2020.
The German band – comprised of Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann and guitarist of death metal outfit Hypocrisy, Peter Tägtgren – played the VTB Arena in Russia’s capital city on March 15, 2020.
Last November, the duo announced they had parted ways and would be “pursuing their own plans in the future”. They said at the time that a “final joint release” of last year’s Moscow show would be arriving on DVD this spring. Read more
Xbox Series X console exclusive Scorn will now release in late 2022 (Techradar)
Ebb Software, the developer behind the Xbox Series X console exclusive horror title, Scorn, has announced that the game is now scheduled to launch in October 2022, rather than 2021.
The release date was confirmed via a new trailer for the game as well as a post on its Kickstarter page. In the post, Scorn’s community manager explains that the delay is borne of the team’s desire to “ensure that Scorn is the best game it can be.”
The additional time, the post goes on to say, “will allow the team to make sure the vision for Scorn comes to life in all its spine-chilling, nightmarish glory. We know that this means a longer wait, especially for our fantastic Kickstarter community, who have been with us since the very beginning. Still, we’re committed to making Scorn the best experience possible for our players and fans.”
Ebb Software’s CEO, Ljubomir Peklar, added to the post to say that the game has hit “75% content completion” and that looking ahead “at the coming months, we will be focusing on completing the final 25% of the content, followed by bug fixing and getting the game ready for the launch. We’re very excited to get our game in players’ hands and allow them to experience Scorn for themselves.” Read more
Experts doubt Bangladesh student murder convicts will serve harsh sentences (VOA)
A day after a court in Bangladesh sentenced 20 students to death for killing a fellow student, members of the victim’s family said they hope the punishments would be served soon.
Abrar Fahad, 21, a student at Dhaka’s elite Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, was beaten to death in October 2019 by fellow students who were members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League [AL] political party.
Fahad’s battered body was found in his university dormitory hours after he wrote a Facebook post that quickly went viral slamming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, head of the AL party, for signing a water-sharing deal with India.
After the post, a group of pro-Hasina students called Fahad into a room to interrogate him about his “anti-government” post. Police reports say Fahad’s body, severely beaten with cricket bats, tree stumps and sticks, was found six hours later. Read more
Garbine Muguruza speaks on returning to Charleston in 2022 (TennisWorld)
World No. 3 Garbine Muguruza insists she is extremely excited about returning to Charleston next year. Muguruza, a former world No. 1, signed up to play Charleston next year as she is set to make her third appearance at the tournament.
Muguruza, 28, debuted at the Charleston event in 2013 but didn’t impress as she lost in the first round. Muguruza returned to Charleston event this year but didn’t impress either as she suffered a surprise round-of-16 loss.
“I can’t wait to come back to Charleston again. It’s one of the favorite stops on the tour for a reason. I obviously feel at home on clay courts and look forward to seeing everyone at the tournament,” Muguruza said, per the tournament’s Twitter account.
Muguruza capped off the 2021 season with a WTA Finals title. “I feel really happy, and also a little relieved, because at the beginning of the tournament I struggled to find a good game, but then I gradually managed to adapt,” Muguruza said after her WTA Finals victory. Read more
Lagos to host multiple World Sporting Championships in 2022 — LSSC (Sun)
The Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Sola Aiyepeku, on Saturday said that the state is set to host major World sporting Championships in 2022.
Ayepeku made the revelation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the Asa Sports Week, held at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba.
NAN reports that the LSSC hosted a four-day Traditional Sport Fiesta, tagged “Asa Week”, which comprised indigenous games invented in the state and other states of the federation.
Aiyepeku posited that the drive by the state government to positively harness the strength of the youths is already yielding positive results as more youths are now engaged in sporting activities. Read more
Man Utd star Andreas Pereira confirms his exit plan after enjoying Brazil loan (DailyStar)
Manchester United fringe player Andreas Pereira has revealed that he will ‘do everything’ to push for a move away from Old Trafford to Flamengo, the club where he’s currently on loan to.
Pereira joined up with Brazilian side Flamengo on loan in August and has since forged his way to becoming a key player for the Rio-based side, featuring 24 times for them this campaign.
The attacker made the move to United six years ago – but was unable to make a go of life in the northwest. He’s been on loan now four different times across the years, under the likes of Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“As I told them, you can count on me, I’ll do my best so that next year we can come out with those titles there.” Read more
Raul Jimenez: Bruno Lage says Wolves striker will learn from his mistake after red card (BBC)
Wolves manager Bruno Lage says Raul Jimenez will learn from his mistake after being shown two yellow cards in the space of 31 first-half seconds in Saturday’s defeat at Manchester City.
Jimenez was dismissed just before the break for fouling Rodri and then trying to block the resulting free-kick.
Raheem Sterling scored his 100th Premier League goal from the penalty spot to earn City all three points.
“He knows he cannot do that,” said Lage. “Take one yellow card.” Read more
Petterson maintains lead at pre-qualifying (LadiesEuropeanTour)
Sweden’s Lisa Pettersson is still in front at La Manga Club and she holds a three-shot lead with one round left at Pre-Qualifying.
The 26-year-old has had a consistent week in Spain and after rounds of 67 and 70 on the first two days, Pettersson carded a 69 (-2) in the third round to be at the top of the leaderboard on nine-under-par.
It was a slower start for the Swede who made two bogeys and a birdie on her front nine on the North Course, but she soon kicked into gear rolling in four birdies and one bogey on her back nine to sign for a round of two-under.
“I struggled in the beginning a little bit. I felt I was almost off on everything – my driver, my irons and my putting,” said Pettersson. “I really got it together on the last five or six holes, pulled off some good birdie and finished strong. It was a good day. Read more
Christian Horner rates ‘insane’ pole lap as one of Max Verstappen’s best (ESPN)
Max Verstappen’s pole position lap at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was “insane” and one of the best he’s had, said Red Bull boss Christian Horner.
Verstappen put himself in the perfect position to win his first world championship on Sunday, out-qualifying title rival Lewis Hamilton by 0.3s.
The driver who finishes ahead of the other will win in all but one instance. As Verstappen is ahead on a tie breaker, he will win the title with 10th and the fastest lap bonus point if Hamilton is 9th.
During Q3 Verstappen briefly had a ‘tow’ from Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, when he drove ahead briefly on the run to Turn 5. The slipstream can often help shave some time off a lap, but Horner believes the majority of the gap was down to Verstappen’s skill. Read more
Andy Murray’s verdict on Novak Djokovic’s vaccine debate and his coaching experiment (Tennis365)
Andy Murray has suggested Novak Djokovic has been vaccinated against Covid-19 after he was included on the entry list for next month’s Australian Open.
The debate over Djokovic’s participation in the first Grand Slam of 2022 has been the big talking point in tennis over the last few months, with Melbourne officials insisting all players need to be doubled vaccinated to compete.
Speaking at an event to promote the Battle of the Brits event in Scotland later this month, Murray insisted he has no sympathy with any player who opts against taking the vaccine.
“I don’t know what the situation is with Novak,” he told the Press and Journal. ” The latest I saw was that he was on the entry list, and I assume he’s playing and has been vaccinated. Read more