Motorists, commuters recount ‘hell’ on Ikorodu-Ogijo-Mosinmi-Sagamu road (Guardian)
Motorists plying Ikorodu-Ogijo-Mosinmi-Shagamu expressway, a 25- kilometre road linking Lagos and Ogun States, have been in pains since the contractor handling the project abandoned work.
Although the N22 billion project, financed under the Sukuk bond, is about 75 to 85 per cent completed, the remaining 15 to 25 per cent, spanning from Sotubo to Lafarge Cement, Coca Cola to Sagamu, the terminal point, has left commuters in pains since March when the project was abandoned immediately after the conduct of the general elections.
Following the hardship experienced by road users plying the route, particularly at Sotubo, where there is always gridlock frustration, due to high volume of articulated vehicles and other heavy-duty trucks plying the axis, aggrieved commuters have called on President Bola Tinubu, Senators Tokunbo Abiru, and Gbenga Daniel, representing Lagos and Ogun East, respectively, to come to their rescue. Read more
Anger, agony as petrol price rises to N617 (Sun)
Agony, anger and condemnation has greeted the increase in pump price of petrol which saw it jumping to over N600 a litre.
In their separate reactions, Labour Party (LP), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and others condemned it in unequivocal term.
In May, a day after President Bola Tinubu was sworn into office, NNPCL increased the fuel price from N195 per litre to N488 per litre in reaction to the president’s announcement on removal of subsidy. Read more
Tinubu orders immediate review of N8k cash transfer palliative (Guardian)
President Bola Tinubu has ordered an immediate review of the proposed N8,000 cash transfer palliative to Nigerians to cushion the pains of the removal of payment of subsidy on petrol.
Tinubu on Tuesday called for the review in a statement signed by the special adviser on special duties, communications and strategy, Dele Alake.
Tinubu’s special adviser on media Dele Alake said on Tuesday that the president also directed that the whole plans of the palliative package of the federal government be unveiled to Nigerians. Read more
NLC knocks FG on new pump price, palliatives plan (Nation)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the new pump price of petroleum products and plans by the Federal Government to distribute N8,000 to 12 million Nigerians.
While the Federal Government few days ago announced plans to lift 12 million Nigerians with N8,000 monthly to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, had on Tuesday announced N617 as the new price for the petroleum product in all its outlets.
Reacting on Channels Television Politics Today, NLC president, Mr. Joe Ajaero said the new pump price was anti-people. Read more
Police arraign 6 men for threat to life (Punch)
Six men, on Tuesday, appeared before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court sitting in Tinubu, over an alleged threat to life.
The men are Sunday Olabayo, Lawal Adefemi, Gbenga Demurin, Idowu Mujaheed, Samsudeen Oluwo and Dare Majekodunmi.
The defendants are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, threat to life and possession of dangerous weapons, and wilful damage. Read more
Court fixes Nov 14 for adoption of addresses in suit against ex-Lagos Speaker, Ikuforiji (ThisDay)
Justice Muhammad Lima of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday fixed November 14, for the adoption of written addresses in the trial of former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, over alleged N338.8 million money laundering.
Justice Lima adjourned for adoption of written addresses after the defence lawyer tendered the Certified True Copy of court proceedings before Justice Ibrahim Buba in 2014.
At the resumed hearing of the proceedings yesterday, the Defence Counsel, Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN), called as a witness, the former Chief Accountant of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adewale Olatunji, to tender the Certified True Copy of the 2014 proceedings. Read more
Insecurity: Era of lawyers travelling freely across Nigeria gone, says NBA President (DailyTrust)
President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikasuwa (SAN), has called on lawyers to equip themselves with the relevant skills to be globally competitive as the legal space is being affected by insecurity.
While noting that the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCTA) has provided opportunities for lawyers in the country, he said the era of law practice of freely travelling around Nigeria, was gone due to insecurity.
He spoke at a two-day annual conference of the NBA Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP) with the theme, ‘‘Legal Practice Without Borders’’, in Abuja. Read more
Jumoke Oduwole, former presidential adviser, appointed Harvard University Senior Fellow (Tribune)
The former Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, has recently been appointed as a Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in the United States of America.
In a letter conveying the appointment, Richard Zeckhauser, Frank Plumpton Ramsey Professor of Political Economy said Dr Oduwole will be affiliated with the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government from 1 July 2023 through 30 June 2024.
Prof Zechauser noted that Dr Oduwole was subjected to “a rigorous screening process” from a large and strong pool of globally acclaimed high achievers. Read more
Gigi Hadid arrested for marijuana possession in the Cayman Islands (People)
Gigi Hadid was arrested and fined $1,000 after Customs & Border Control agents found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her luggage upon her arrival in the Cayman Islands last week, according to court documents obtained by People.
The supermodel, who has since been released, had flown on a private jet to the tropical destination for a girls’ trip from the United States on July 10.
She arrived at Owen Roberts International Airport where CBC, local outlet Cayman Marl Road reported, discovered “ganja and utensils used for the consumption of ganja” after putting her bags through a scanner and searching them by hand. Read more
Las Vegas police issue search warrant in Tupac Shakur 1996 homicide case (BelfastTelegraph)
A property search warrant has been served by police in Las Vegas in connection with the 1996 shooting of US rapper Tupac Shakur.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVPD) said the warrant had been served on Monday July 17 as part of the “ongoing” homicide investigation.
Widely considered as one of the most influential rap artists of all time, Shakur died at the age of 25 after being shot in Las Vegas, Nevada.
South Africans lament state of the nation on Mandela Day (VOA)
Every year on Nelson Mandela’s birthday (July 18), the South African government calls on citizens to honor the global icon’s legacy by doing good deeds. But almost 10 years after the anti-apartheid legend’s death, with South Africa suffering record levels of unemployment, widespread blackouts and corruption scandals, many say the current government is itself failing to honour Mandela.
Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison in his fight against racist white minority rule, is a hero to many in South Africa and across the world. After he became the country’s first democratically elected president in 1994 there was a great sense of hope for South Africa under his leadership of the African National Congress party, or ANC.
But his successors — all from the ANC — have had mixed reviews, with one — former President Jacob Zuma — facing trial on multiple counts of corruption. Read more
Paul McCartney announces new podcast “McCartney: A Life In Lyrics” (FarOut)
The Beatles’ Paul McCartney has announced the details of his new podcast McCartney: A Life In Lyrics, which he will present alongside poet Paul Muldoon.
The first series of the podcast, co-produced by Pushkin Industries and iHeartPodcasts, will begin to be released on September 20th. Each episode will be devoted to a different song with the first season covering ‘Eleanor Rigby,’ ‘Back in the USSR,’ ‘Let It Be,’ ‘When Winter Comes,’ ‘Penny Lane,’ ‘Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey,’ ‘Here Today,’ ‘Live and Let Die,’ ‘Magical Mystery Tour,’ ‘Jenny Wren,’ ‘Too Many People,’ and ‘Helter Skelter.’
McCartney and Muldoon previously collaborated on the 2021 book, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, which is in a similar vein to the upcoming podcast. Read more
Jason Aldean defends controversial song after CMT pulls music video (EW)
Jason Aldean is speaking out after the controversial music video for his latest single, “Try That in a Small Town,” was pulled from airing on CMT.
“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide [Black Lives Matter] protests,” the country singer tweeted Tuesday.
Calling such claims “meritless” and “dangerous,” Aldean said that his song doesn’t contain “a single lyric” referencing race and that all clips used in the video came from “real news footage.” He added, “while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.” Read more
Robert Downey Jr. And Jimmy Fallon recall unsuccessful audition for Nancy Meyers’ film The Holiday (Deadline)
Robert Downey Jr. and Jimmy Fallon are going down memory lane and remembering the time they auditioned for Nancy Meyers’ The Holiday.
Things didn’t go well for Downey Jr. and Fallon as they recalled on The Howard Stern Show how bad they fumbled their audition for the romantic comedy.
“We both got called in just as seat-fillers and we saw each other,” Downey Jr. said. “Jack Black is getting his part and Jude Law is definitely getting my part, but [Meyers] needed someone to read with the gals, and we’re sitting there going, ‘It’s about to happen for us.’” Read more
UN chief warns of AI risks to global peace and security (France24)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned that artificial intelligence could pose a risk to global peace and security, calling on all member states to urgently set up guardrails to keep the technology in check.
“It is clear that AI will have an impact on every area of our lives,” Guterres said at the first UN Security Council meeting on the topic.
“Generative AI has enormous potential for good and evil at scale,” he added, noting that while it could help end poverty or cure cancer, the technology could also have “very serious consequences for global peace and security.” Read more
Tobi Amusan consolidates, wins Gyulai István Memorial in Hungary (ThisDay)
World champion and record holder in women’s 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, scorched to her second consecutive win of the season yesterday at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial 2023, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold in Szekesfehervar, Hungary.
The petit-Nigerian ‘express train’ cruised to the finish line in 12.35secs to leave the American duo of Nia Ali (12.41) and Alaysha Johnson (12.50) for the second and third positions.
The win for the Nigerian track queen comes barely days after claiming victory in a meeting record of 12.34 ahead of Kendra Harrison and Nia Ali at the Wanda Diamond League in Chorzow in Poland. Read more
Finidi still Enyimba coach, insists Kanu (Punch)
Enyimba’s new chairman, Nwankwo Kanu, has dismissed reports that head coach Finidi George has been sacked, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Several media outlets (not PUNCH Sports Extra) reported that Finidi had been relieved of his duties after guiding the People’s Elephant to a record ninth Nigeria Premier League title last season.
This comes after the club’s new Sporting Director, Ifeanyi Ekwueme, acting on behalf of Kanu, handed a 48-hour ultimatum to the team’s technical crew. Read more
Joshua Vs. Whyte showdown: AJ ready to break ribs, faces, souls (Guardian)
Anthony Joshua seems to be getting his mojo back. The former world champion has been showing signs of the Joshua of old, talking tough and brandishing impressive training regime capable of scaring the faint hearted.
But it is difficult to believe that AJ will get back to what he was and the awe he inspired 10 years ago.
After back to back defeats by Oleksandr Usyk, who took his world titles, and a less inspiring victory on points over Jermaine Franklin, followers of the sport have every reason to think that the 2012 Olympic champion has seen his best days. Read more
Marcus Rashford: Manchester United forward signs new contract until 2028 (BBC)
England forward Marcus Rashford has signed a new deal to stay at Manchester United until 2028 worth £325,000-a-week
The 25-year-old had been in talks with United for a considerable period, with his previous contract due to expire in 2024.
The striker enjoyed a resurgence under new manager Erik ten Hag last season, scoring 30 goals in 56 games.
Since his debut in 2016 against Midtjylland, Rashford has hit 123 goals in 359 games for his boyhood club. Read more
EFL approves sale of Leeds United to 49ers owners (Telegraph)
Leeds have announced the EFL has approved the club’s takeover by American investment group 49ers Enterprises.
Chairman and majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani agreed to sell his controlling stake last month and the deal, which valued the club at around £170 million, has now been confirmed.
49ers Enterprises, which owns NFL franchise the San Francisco 49ers, has steadily increased its stake in Leeds since becoming a minority shareholder in 2018, while the deal includes full ownership of Elland Road. Read more
Ricciardo out to replace Perez for 2025, says Red Bull boss Horner (StraitsTimes)
Daniel Ricciardo hopes to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull once the Mexican’s contract ends, team boss Christian Horner said on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old Australian will be starting his Formula One comeback with Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri in Hungary this weekend after leaving McLaren last season and serving as Red Bull reserve.
Ricciardo raced for Red Bull Racing from 2014-18, taking seven of his eight wins with the British-based team. Perez, who joined in 2021, has a contract to the end of 2024. Read more