Lagos uncovers 86 rooms under bridge where tenants pay N250k yearly (Vanguard)
Lagos State‘s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed on Wednesday that 86 partitioned rooms were discovered beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi, Lagos Island.
According to reports, each room, measuring 10×10 and 12×10, was rented out to tenants at an annual rate of N250,000.
Wahab disclosed this development via a post on his X handle accompanied by a video evidence. Read more
Police nab 3 fake EFCC operatives (DailyTrust)
The Police Command in Nasarawa State says it has apprehended three fake Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) personnel.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ramhan Nansel, made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Lafia.
Nansel said that on April 17, at about 3:45pm, the command received a distressed call that four persons in a green-coloured Toyota Corolla, with registration number: Abuja: YAB 509 TT, abducted a student of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa. Read more
PDP begins reconciliation moves (Sun)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commenced reconciliatory efforts with the Lagos State chapter saying Nigeria would crumble if the party collapses.
At a leaders and elders’ stakeholders’ reconciliatory meeting in Lagos yesterday, former deputy national president of the PDP, Olabode George, said the party offers a clear path towards a secure, democratic and prosperous future and that internal reconciliation and learning from past mistakes are essential for the party’s success. Read more
FG calls for ban on syringe importation to boost local production (ThisDay)
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa has called for a total ban on the importation of medical syringes into the country to encourage local production and help to grow the nation’s economy.
Similarly, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye reiterated the need for a holistic approach by all the relevant agencies of government to solve the problem of substandard falsified medical devices coming into the country through the ports.
The statements were made recently during the official visit to the multi-billion Naira ultra-modern Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited Syringe factory located within Karameh Industrial City, Arepo, Ogun State, by the Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa. Read more
Edo deserve better life — ADC Guber Candidate, Izedonmwen (Sun)
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the coming Edo gubernatorial election, Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen, has expressed his commitment to turn things around in the state with the use and implementation of agriculture, industrialization and infrastructure.
Izedonmwen spoke during the formal presentation of the ADC certificate of return and flag to him.
He noted that the people of Edo State had every cause to partake of the good life, saying that the State was blessed already for its inhabitants to be comfortable.
According to him, “I want to tell the people of Edo something and that’s the core of our manifesto, it stands on three pillars and you can take this to the bank because that’s what we are going to do when we come into office. Read more
Eno declares work-free days, approves another N2b for gratuities (Nation)
Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has declared every first and third Friday of the month as work- free days to enable workers effectively engage in farming activities.
Eno made the declaration at the 2024 May Day celebration at the Uyo Township Stadium, Uyo with the theme: “People first.”
He noted since the assumption of office, the government has made efforts to prioritise the welfare of workers, adding that his administration will continue to take care of workers’ welfare. Read more
Cleric urges govt, religious institutions, stakeholders to provide support for devt of teenagers (Tribune)
Concerned by the level of neglect of young minds in the country, Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, South-West Zone, Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, has called for the provision of more support for the development of teenagers in Nigeria.
The clergyman also disclosed that the teenagers are assets in the national rebirth agenda of the country, adding that “if we don’t make a deliberate effort to teach them those cherished values, they won’t have anything to offer.”
He stated this during a Trust Teens Conference organised by Trust Teens Foundation. The event was held at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. Read more
Sanwo-Olu spent N1b to hire helicopters in 1 month – Rhodes-Vivour (Punch)
The 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has accused the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of spending over Nibn on helicopter service in one month.
Rhodes-Vivour said Sanwo-Olu spent N1,039,875,000 on helicopter charter service in April 2022.
He stated this in a post shared on his X handle on Tuesday. Read more
Meryl Streep says she was “traumatised” watching Nicole Kidman in Big Little Lies at AFI Life Achievement Gala (THR)
Nicole Kidman was honoured with the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award on Saturday night, as an A-list group of her friends and collaborators looked back on her long Hollywood career.
Reese Witherspoon, Morgan Freeman, Naomi Watts, Zoe Saldaña, Aaron Sorkin, Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Joey King, Mike Myers and husband Keith Urban all took the Dolby Theatre stage throughout the event to pay tribute to Kidman. To close out the evening, Meryl Streep presented her with the award.
Streep — joking after a clip was shown, “did anyone notice that [costume designer] Ann Roth gave her my nose in The Hours? You’re welcome” — took the time to reflect on working opposite Kidman in season two of Big Little Lies. Read more
Rebel Wilson breaks down in tears as she candidly opens up about body dysmorphia live on-air (Mirror)
Bridesmaids actress Rebel Wilson was praised during a Virgin Radio UK interview as she promoted her new memoir titled Rebel Rising
Rebel Wilson broke down in tears as she spoke about body dysmorphia.
The Bridesmaids actress was praised during a live interview on Virgin Radio UK earlier this afternoon, promoting her new memoir Rebel Rising. She was told of someone’s struggles with body confidence issues and how her book had helped them. Read more
Active shooter at middle school ‘neutralised’ by cops (Metro)
An active shooter at a middle school in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, was ‘neutralised’ by police who stopped the individual from breaking inside the campus.
Cops responded to reports of a suspect armed with a rifle at Mt Horeb Middle School on Wednesday morning.
The Mount Horeb Area School District wrote on Facebook: ‘The individual did not breach entryway. Police department is helping to scope out our building to ensure the safety of our students and staff.’ Read more
Colombia to cut diplomatic ties with Israel over Gaza war, Petro says (AlJazeera)
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced plans to cut diplomatic ties with Israel over its war in the Gaza Strip, which human rights advocates and other experts have warned could amount to genocide.
Speaking to a crowd marking International Workers’ Day in Bogota on Wednesday, Petro said countries cannot be passive in the face of the crisis unfolding in Gaza.
“Here in front of you, the government of change, of the president of the republic, announces that tomorrow we will break diplomatic relations with the state of Israel … for having a government, for having a president who is genocidal,” Petro said. Read more
United Methodist Church ends ban on gay clergy (UPI)
May 1 (UPI) — The United Methodist Church Wednesday removed a 40-year ban on gay clergy, overwhelmingly passing the measure during a national delegate meeting in Charlotte, N.C.
The UMC General Conference delegates Wednesday approved an amended policy ended banning “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being ordained.
Delegates also approved a policy change that prevents local UMC congregations from punishing clergy or churches for blessing same-sex unions. Read more
Tories’ top mayor disowns Rishi Sunak on eve of poll (Independent)
High-profile Tory mayor Ben Houchen has lashed out at the state of the Conservative Party under Rishi Sunak as he battles to hold on to his job running Tees Valley.
In an exclusive interview with The Independent, Lord Houchen warned that his potential defeat in this week’s local elections should be “a wake-up call” for Tory MPs.
And in an extraordinary broadside at his own party, he said voters were pledging to support him, but not the Tories at the next general election. Read more
Zayn Malik announces 1st ever solo gig (MusicNews)
Zayn Malik has announced his first ever solo gig.
The former One Direction star – who left the group in 2015 and will release his fourth solo album ‘Room Under The Stairs’ on May 17 – has unveiled plans for a special “global exclusive live event” to celebrate his upcoming LP.
On the same night as the album drops, Zayn will take to the stage at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London.
The event will mark his first ever solo performance, as he takes to the stage to perform a selection of songs from the new record after the world premiere of the ‘Road Back To The Mic’ documentary. Read more
Osimhen, Lookman make Serie A Team of The Month for April (CompleteSports)
Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have been included in the Serie A Team of the Month for April.
The Team of the Month was compiled by football facts and statistics website, whoscored.com.
Osimhen was in great scoring form for Napoli in April as he netted three goals in four league games. Read more
Brittney Griner details Russian prison conditions, from ‘huge blood stain’ on mattress to spider nests (People)
Brittney Griner is looking back on the conditions that she lived in while being incarcerated for 10 months in two Russian prisons.
In a preview of the 20/20 interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts which airs Wednesday, May 1, the WNBA star recalls the “dehumanizing” environment in which she was forced to cut her trademark dreads and sleep with her feet poking through the cell bars — seemingly minor sacrifices compared to the more horrific moments she faced while behind bars.
“The mattress had a huge blood stain on it and they give you these thin two sheets so you’re basically laying on bars,” Griner, 33, told Roberts. Read more
Tiger Woods says his daughter Sam feels like ‘golf took Daddy away from her’ (NBC)
Tiger Woods understands why golf isn’t his daughter Sam’s cup of tee.
“She has … a negative connotation to the game, because when she was growing up, golf took Daddy away from her,” Woods told TODAY’s Carson Daly on May 1. “I had to leave, and I’d be gone for weeks.”
“So we developed our own relationship, our own rapport, outside of golf,” he continued. “Meanwhile, my son (Charlie) and I do everything golf related.” Read more
Alcaraz’s Madrid Open title defence ended by Rublev (BBC)
Carlos Alcaraz’s bid for a third straight title at the Madrid Open was ended by Andrey Rublev.
Russian seventh seed Rublev rallied from a set down in the quarter-final to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 and break Alcaraz’s 14-match winning streak in the Spanish capital.
The 20-year-old second seed was aiming to become the first player to win three consecutive Madrid Open singles titles. Read more
Paris 2024 Olympics: South Sudanese refugee suspended for doping (AfricaNews)
A third runner on the Refugee Olympic team has been suspended for a positive doping test, with the announcement coming two days before the IOC confirms its selection of athletes for the Paris Games.
Anjelina Nadai Lohalith was informed of her alleged use of banned heart medication, trimetazidine, and was provisionally suspended, the athletics integrity unit said. She did not give a timetable for disciplinary proceedings.
Lohalith, who fled war in South Sudan as a child and took refuge in a refugee camp in Kenya, was on a scholarship from the International Olympic Committee to prepare for her third consecutive Summer Games. Read more
O’Sullivan and Trump suffer shock quarter-final defeats (BBC)
Seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump both suffered shock defeats in the quarter-finals of the World Championship.
O’Sullivan fell to a 13-10 loss against Stuart Bingham, while world number two Trump was beaten 13-9 by Jak Jones.
On the other side of the draw David Gilbert advanced into the semi-finals with a 13-8 win over Stephen Maguire. Read more