Many houses affected as downpour, flood hit Lagos (Channels)
Scores of houses were affected as downpour and flood hit Lagos State on Tuesday morning.
Many residents of Nigeria’s economic nerve centre were also stranded in their residential apartments and in their cars as major roads were submerged by flood after months of heatwaves in the state.
In a statement, the South West Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, said, “In view of today’s excessive rainfall and the Sunday’s similar event, Nigerians have been urged to notice the very strong signal of what may unfold the on-set of 2024 rainfall. Read more
Lagos shuts Mandilas Market for sanitation infraction (Tribune)
For environmental infractions, the Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate closure of popular Mandilas Market on Lagos Island for two days.
The order is to allow for the removal of illegal make-shift structures erected on road setbacks within and around the market environment.
The closure notice was issued on Saturday during a joint inspection and enforcement exercise by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA). Read more
Exam malpractice: UNILORIN expels 4 final year students, 5 others (DailyTrust)
No fewer than nine students, including four final year students, from various faculties at the University of Ilọrin, Kwara State, have been expelled for allegedly engaging in examination malpractice.
This was contained in the Unilorin Bulletin issued on Monday, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent.
According to the bulletin, the students’ expulsion was sequel to the recommendations of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee at its 219th meeting which was approved by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Wahab Egbewole. Read more
Davido distributes N300m to orphanages (Nation)
Afrobeats star, David Adeleke popularly called Davido has pledged N300m as a donation to some orphanages across the country.
The singer disclosed this in a statement on his social media accounts on Tuesday, February 20.
Davido stated that he is keeping up with the annual tradition of contributing to the nation that was started a few years ago.
The donation comes at about the same time when Nigerians are grappling with the hike in food and petrol prices. Read more
2,026 corps members including 835 dislodged from FCT begin orientation in Kaduna (Sun)
A total of 2,026 2024 batch ‘A’ (stream I) members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) comprising 1,191 for Kaduna State and 835 dislodged from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are currently camping at the scheme’s temporary orientation camp, Kurmi Marshi, Kaduna for the 21-day orientation course.
The orientation course is the first of four cardinal objectives of the one-year mandatory national service for young Nigerian graduates. Others are places of primary assignment, community development service, and passing out parades.
The Kaduna State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr Hassan Mahmud Taura, during the official swearing-in ceremony of the batch on Tuesday explained that the camping of some of the corps members deployed to the FCT in Kaduna became necessary due to limited accommodation facilities at the Abuja camp. Read more
Bill to establish state police passes second reading at Reps (DailyTrust)
The House of Representatives has passed the bill seeking the creation of state police for second reading.
The Bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Establishment of State Police and for Related Matters (HB.617) was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu and 14 others.
It was passed for second reading at the Plenary on Tuesday after intense debate. Read more
After Vanguard report, Police release 17 arrested A’Ibom friends (Vanguard)
Police in Akwa Ibom state have released 17 members of a social group, the Friends Forum, who were arrested over ongoing mass raids of perceived criminal hideouts in the states.
Vanguard had reported the outcry of relatives of the 17 friends who asserted that their arrest on 2 February at a sit-out on Atiku Abubakar Way, Uyo by the Police was unlawful as they had just returned from the funeral of the father of a member when the police swooped on them.
Their arrest came two days after the gruesome killing of a Police Inspector Usang Egbe in Afaha Ube Itam suburb of the Akwa Ibom state capital. Read more
Bandits kill 6 in fresh Katsina attack (Punch)
Six people have been confirmed dead while 10 others were injured in a fresh attack by bandits on Yar Nasarawa village, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Sources disclosed that the bandits carried out the attacks simultaneously.
It was learnt that the bandits stormed the village when the residents had already settled down for night rest. Read more
James Brown’s daughter says there would be no hip-hop, Michael Jackson or Usher without her dad (People)
James Brown may be known as the “Godfather of Soul,” but those who knew him as “dad” are making sure his impact continues to be recognised.
Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE ahead of A&E’s four-part docuseries, James Brown: Say It Loud, two of his daughters, Deanna Brown and Dr. Yamma Brown, say music would not be where it is today had it not been for their father.
“There would be no hip-hop. There would be no rap, because he’s the most-sampled artist,” Deanna, 55, says. “There would be no Michael [Jackson], there would be no Usher, there’d be no Chris Brown — all these people who took from him.” Read more
Suitcase filled with radioactive material leaks on plane after landing (Metro)
A suitcase filled with a ‘low-intensity’ radioactive material was discovered on a plane after landing while passengers were on board.
The aircraft with 127 passengers landed this morning at Terminal 1 of Barcelona-El Prat Airport, about 15km southwest of the capital, from Zurich.
As the Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) craft was being unloaded, a suitcase possibly leaking low-level radioactive material was discovered. Read more
Usher addresses Alicia Keys Super Bowl hug & Nicki Minaj butt slap (HipHopDx)
Usher has broken his silence on his controversial hug with Alicia Keys at the Super Bowl and also addressed slapping his head off Nicki Minaj’s butt.
Appearing on The Breakfast Club on Monday (February 19), the R&B legend spoke about the viral moment that drew criticism from the likes of Boosie Badazz and Cam’ron due to Keys being married to Swizz Beatz.
Setting the record straight, Usher said: “In no way should anything done there be viewed as bad or perverted or anything like that. It was literally about having fun because of a song that me and Alicia made many years ago. And we celebrated because of the legacy of it. And no disrespect to anybody or anything like that.” Read more
Ruby Franke to be sentenced in child abuse case (NBC)
Former family vlogger Ruby Franke is expected to be sentenced Tuesday in a monthslong child abuse case brought against the Utah mother of six.
Franke’s business partner Jodi Hildebrandt is also expected to be sentenced.
The two pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse in December, several months after being charged with six counts of felony child abuse. Read more
Tunisia: Opposition leader Ghannouchi begins hunger strike in prison (AfricaNews)
Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi went on hunger strike on Monday in solidarity with other anti-government figures waging a protest fast.
The imprisoned Ghannouchi, a fierce critic of President Kais Saied and head of the Ennahda main opposition party was jailed last year on charges of incitement against police and plotting against state security.
The 82 year old was sentenced earlier this month to three years in prison in a separate case on charges of accepting external financing. Read more
‘Let me finally see my son’: Navalny’s mother demands body from Putin (AlJazeera)
The mother of dead Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has demanded that President Vladimir Putin hand over his body so that she could bury him.
“I appeal to you, Vladimir Putin. Resolving this issue depends on you alone. Let me finally see my son,” said Lyudmila Navalnaya in a video message on Tuesday, making her plea as the Kremlin denied any involvement in the death of Navalny on February 16 while serving a sentence at the “Polar Wolf” penal colony above the Arctic Circle.
In a video filmed in front of the prison, Navalny’s mother said she did not even know where her son’s corpse was. Read more
Russian defector who fled with army helicopter found shot to death in Spain (Fox)
Police in Spain say a recently discovered body is believed to be a Russian soldier who previously defected to Ukraine.
Spanish authorities are identifying the victim, who was found on Feb. 15 with multiple gunshot wounds in the town of La Cala, as Russian defector Maksim Kuzminov.
Last year, Kuzminov abandoned his post and flew an army helicopter over the front lines into Ukrainian territory. The Mi-8 AMTSh helicopter had been loaded with parts for Sukhoi fighter jets. Read more
Anthony Joshua calls heavyweight fight with Francis Ngannou a ‘‘gimmick’’ (MEN)
Anthony Joshua has called his upcoming fight with Francis Ngannou a ‘‘gimmick’’.
The former two-time heavyweight champion initially dismissed the idea of fighting Ngannou but will now face the ex-UFC champion on March 8. This comes after Ngannou’s impressive debut against Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder’s surprising loss to Joseph Parker, which disrupted his two-fight deal with Joshua.
Eddie Hearn, who manages Joshua, shared the boxer’s thoughts on the fight a few weeks after he defeated Jermaine Franklin last April. “I spoke to AJ about the fight. He likes it, and he gets it, but he’s very focused on his boxing career at the moment. He doesn’t want to derail that to do something a little bit gimmicky,” he told The Mac Life. Read more
30 Nigerian referees to undergo FIFA fitness test in Abuja (Leadership)
No fewer than 30 Nigerian referees will on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, undergo the FIFA physical fitness training at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Medical tests were conducted on the referees on Monday, February 19, 2024, in readiness for the exercise.
Coordinator of refereeing development in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Adebayo Ameenu, said the 30 Nigerian referees listed for international duty this year will be decorated with their badges at a ceremony inside the NFF/FIFA Goal Project on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Read more
Sources: Chelsea beat Liverpool and Manchester United to ‘big talent’ (HitC)
Chelsea have won the race for Brighton’s in-demand head of recruitment Sam Jewell as HITC understands he shunned interest from a number of their Premier League rivals.
The Blues have secured the appointment of Jewell who joins the football department headed up by co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and his former Brighton’s boss Paul Winstanley.
Jewell had emerged as one of the most highly respected talent spotters and transfer minds in the country, and his expertise had brought him into the thoughts of a number of clubs – not just Chelsea. Read more
2024 Olympic qualifiers: Waldrum, 11 players arrive Super Falcons camp (CompleteSports)
The Super Falcons camp came alive on Tuesday following the arrival of 11 players ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games qualifying fixtures against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.
Head coach of the team, Randy Waldrum and his assistants have also arrived camp.
Waldrum recently agreed a contract extension with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The American was last in charge of the Super Falcons at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Read more
Andreas Brehme: Germany World Cup winner dies aged 63 (BBC)
Former Germany defender Andreas Brehme, who scored the winning goal in the 1990 World Cup final, has died aged 63.
Brehme converted a late penalty in the final of the 1990 tournament to secure victory against Argentina in Rome.
He earned 86 caps, including eight goals, for his country and won league titles while at Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.
Brehme’s partner Susanne Schaefer told German news agency DPA that he “died suddenly” from cardiac arrest. Read more
Questions hang over Red Bull ahead of F1 testing in Bahrain (StraitsTimes)
Red Bull will have plenty of questions hanging over them when Formula One testing starts in Bahrain on Wednesday, with rivals eager to see how their cars stack up against Max Verstappen’s and team boss Christian Horner fighting for his future.
The dominant 2023 champions, with 21 wins in 22 races, launched their new RB20 car last week with some design features reminiscent of those tried and discarded by rivals Mercedes last season.
Some observers sensed all might not be as it seemed but Wednesday should provide an immediate answer to those doubts, even if the lap times may not mean much as teams work through various programmes. Read more