Nabeeha: Abuja fights back after murderous kidnappers’ offensive (Vanguard)
Beneath the veneer of development and progress, modern infrastructure, serene environment and bustling streets, which also, ultimately, stand as a symbol of national pride, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, is experiencing a new wave of terror that is shaking the city to its foundation.
Sunday Vanguard reports that, in recent months, Abuja has been plagued by a series of abductions.
The kidnappers target children, youths and families, causing panic and pain among residents.
They appear well-coordinated, operating in broad daylight, often at busy intersections or near public places such as markets and schools. They also carry out their operations at night. Read more
Despite security deployments, kidnappings continue (Leadership)
In spite of the recent promises made by President Bola Tinubu to stamp out kidnappings and other violent crimes and the deployments of security operatives to affected parts of the country, abductions of citizens are still being reported, specifically in the Federal Capital Territory, which has come under siege in the last couple of weeks.
President Tinubu had on Tuesday met with his service chiefs over the abduction of a family of six sisters and the public outcry that followed the killing of one of the sisters.
Barely a week after the abductions were first reported in the news, gunmen have again abducted one Abdullahi Sabo, a resident of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who was driving home with his wife on Friday at Sabon-Lugbe community, Airport Road in the FCT. Read more
Onikoyi Stool: Royal family appeals to Eti-Osa LG, Lagos govt to uphold the law (ThisDay)
Following purported selection of two Obas-elect by the Dosunmu branch, the Onikoyi Royal family has pleaded with both the Eti-Osa local government and the Lagos State government to side with the law, particularly the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration of 2006.
The plea came in a press statement issued in reaction to media reports that two factions of the Dosunmu branch had purportedly selected their own Obas-elect, weeks after the other nine branches had selected Prince Abdul Waliu Oladimeji Sulaimon.
In the statement, the Royal family said it was disheartening and preposterous that the Dosunmu branch, out of desperation and disdain for rule of law had presented two factional candidates for the Obaship stool, and called on the general public and the Lagos State government to discountenance the charades that led to their emergence. Read more
I only get N577k monthly pension from Lagos – Fashola (DailyTrust)
Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has disclosed that the only financial benefit he receives from the government is N577,000 monthly pension as a former governor of Lagos State.
He also said that he is not receiving billions of naira from the federal government as speculated by some Nigerians, after serving eight years as the minister.
Fashola said this on Saturday while appearing as a guest on Arise TV programme, Perspectives. Read more
Why CBN, FAAN’s key departments must not be relocated to Lagos — Arewa group (Tribune)
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has condemned recent attempts by the federal government to relocate key departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos.
According to the organisation, these relocations pose a significant threat to Abuja’s status as the capital city and could have negative implications for the nation as a whole.
AYCF President-General, Yerima Shettima, raised the concerns in a statement issued to Tribune Online on Friday. Read more
Group says relocation of FAAN headquarters to Lagos in national interest (Guardian)
The Good Governance Watch Initiative (GGWI) has argued that the relocation of the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to Lagos is in the best interest of the country.
Commending the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the group said the move is apt and in the best interest of the country.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday in Abuja, Dr. Ikechukwu Cecilia, the group’s convener added that Keyamo has sustained his remarkable turnaround of the aviation sector with brilliant reforms and policies. Read more
YPP collapses into APC in Akwa Ibom in solidarity with Akpabio (Nation)
The Young Progressives Party (YPP), which pulled a huge upset in Akwa Ibom state during the 2023 general elections, took a rare step on Friday, January 19, by merging its structures across the state into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This act of solidarity was in support of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, as confirmed by a statement from Akpabio’s media office in Abuja.
The governorship candidate of the YPP, Senator Bassey Albert, along with the deputy governorship candidate, retired AIG Asuquo Amba, the State Executive Committee led by State Chairman Mr Nyeneime Andy, the Elders’ Council, chapter and ward officers, and the entire executive council of the Akwa Ubok Abasi campaign organization (totalling over 10,000 members) paid a solidarity visit to the Senate President at his residence in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area. Read more
How governors destroyed LG administration – Mamora (Channels)
Former Minister of Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, has said that governors destroyed the Local Government (LG) administration in Nigeria by imposing caretaker chairmen on the people at the grassroots and failing to allow the conduct of free and fair polls at the local government level.
Mamora, who was also a Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, made this known on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, aired on Channels Television on Friday.
He said, “If I would be very frank, the governors destroyed the local governments. That’s the truth. Don’t forget I was very much involved. Local government chairmen were elected under Abdulsalami Abubakar in 1998 with a three-year tenure which should have terminated in 2001 but towards the end of the termination of the tenure, the local government chairmen under the aegis of ALGON started making moves to the National Assembly then headed by Anyim Pius Anyim as Senate President and Ghali Na’aaba (of blessed memory) as the Speaker of the House. Read more
California Soul legend Marlena Shaw dies aged 84 (Metro)
Marlena Shaw’s family have confirmed the American jazz icon has died ‘peacefully’ aged 84.
Best known for her track California Soul, Shaw skyrocketed to fame with the track in 1966 and continued to be a staple of the hip-hop scene throughout her life.
Her daughter, Marla Shaw, confirmed her death on her official Facebook page last night, January 19. Read more
Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi is sworn into office following disputed reelection (AfricaNews)
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in Saturday following a disputed December election, promising to unite the Central African country during his second five-year term and to protect lives in the conflict-hit eastern region.
“I am taking back the baton of command that you entrusted to me. We want a more united, stronger and prosperous Congo,” Tshikedi, 60, said during the inauguration ceremony attended by several heads of state. His first inauguration in 2019 marked Congo’s first democratic transfer of power since the country’s independence from Belgium in 1960. Read more
Millie Gibson “to leave Doctor Who in 2025” (NediaMole)
Millie Gibson will leave Doctor Who several episodes into her second series, according to a report.
The actress made her debut as new companion Ruby Sunday in the recent Christmas special, appearing alongside Ncuti Gatwa, who has taken over from David Tennant as The Doctor.
The pair have filmed a full eight-episode series – to air from May – and began working on the 2025 main series towards the end of last year. Read more
Justin Timberlake debuts new single ‘‘Selfish’’ during homecoming show in Memphis, releases ‘‘Everything I Thought It Was’’ album trailer (Variety)
Justin Timberlake’s season is upon us.
During his hometown performance at Memphis, Tenn.’s Orpheum Theater on January 19, the pop star gave fans what they’ve been waiting for: the debut of his new single “Selfish,” reportedly off his anticipated sixth album, as well as a disco-inflected snippet of another song from the project.
And just after the concert concluded, he posted a trailer for the album itself, entitled “Everything I Thought It Was” and featuring narration from actor Benicio Del Toro. Read more
Malia Obama debuts short film ‘‘The Heart’’ at Sundance Film Festival (CTV)
Malia Obama is following in the footsteps of her parents, but not in the way you might imagine.
The former first daughter debuted her short film “The Heart” at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Thursday, appearing on the festival red carpet to herald the project.
In a “meet the artist” clip from the Sundance Institute on YouTube, Obama – whose last name is not included on the video page – describes the short (which she wrote and directed) as an “odd little story, somewhat of a fable” about a man grieving the loss of his mother after receiving an “unusual” request from her in her will. Read more
Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott credit their ‘‘bromance’’ for intense scenes in new film on Late Late Show (IrishIndependent)
Andrew Scott has said the friendship between he and co-star Paul Mescal is down to the “intense” scenes they had to film for their new movie All of Us Strangers.
The two Irish actors appeared on The Late Late Show last night, to promote the movie. The pair arrived at Montrose after attending the premiere of All of Us Strangers in Dublin yesterday.
Mr Scott said how surprised they were at the crowd that had gathered at the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield for the premiere. Read more
Iran’s IRGC says 4 members killed in Israeli attack on Syria’s Damascus (AlJazeera)
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says four of its “military advisers” have been killed in an Israeli air strike on a residential building in Syria’s capital, Damascus.
Syrian state media SANA said the attack on Saturday took place in the Mazzeh neighbourhood. It said “Israeli aggression” targeted the building.
A well-informed source told Al Jazeera the target was an IRGC intelligence unit, adding that a senior IRGC intelligence official in Syria and his assistants were in the building. Read more
Durosinmi backs Peseiro’s men for title (Punch)
Nigerian striker, Adefolarin Durosinmi, has backed the Super Eagles to go all the way and win the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Ivory Coast after they edged the Elephants by a lone goal in Thursday’s Group A clash in Abidjan.
The Eagles bounced back from a disappointing AFCON opener against Equatorial Guinea which ended 1-1 to beat hosts, Ivory Coast, 1-0. A result that put them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages.
The Ivorian fans were silenced when William Troost-Ekong converted a 54th-minute penalty after Victor Osimhen was fouled in the penalty box. Read more
AFCON 2023: Tanzania suspend manager Adel Amrouche after 8-match CAF ban (BBC)
Tanzania have suspended manager Adel Amrouche after he was given an eight-match ban by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
The sanction was imposed after officials from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) contacted Caf to complain about remarks made by Amrouche.
The two countries met in Group F at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday, with Morocco winning 3-0 after Tanzania had Novatus Miroshi sent off. Read more
Gabriel heads Arsenal back to winning ways in thrashing of Crystal Palace (Guardian)
Arsenal might still be looking to unlock Gabriel Jesus’s goalscoring potential but they were perfectly satisfied by a game-breaking contribution from his namesake. Two first-half headers from Gabriel Magalhães, the second converted via the Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, exposed weak defending at corners and offered a timely reminder that Mikel Arteta’s side are far from a lost cause.
They wrapped things up through Leandro Trossard after the interval and two added-time goals from Gabriel Martinelli and, while a wretched Palace were present in body only, sailed through with a level of comfort that matched many of their early-season performances. Palace gave the under-fire Roy Hodgson little suggestion they could eke out a result here and the sight of Graham Potter looking on from the stands, no doubt with some interest, may have added fuel to those calling for a change of manager. Read more
Cam Thomas scores 33 points, Brooklyn Nets dominate 2nd half to rout Los Angeles Lakers 130-112 (CBS)
Cam Thomas scored 33 points and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 130-112 on Friday night, pulling away in a dominant second half to snap a four-game losing streak and win for the fourth time in 18 games.
The Nets, who lost by one in overtime against Miami on Monday and by two on a last-second shot by Portland’s Anfernee Simons on Wednesday, made sure it didn’t go to the last possession this time.
“I think that last game in Portland kind of struck a chord in a lot of us. We came out today with a little bit more fight, a little bit more grit and just edge,” said Lonnie Walker IV, who was one of seven Nets players in double figures with 15 points. Read more
Canada’s Auger-Aliassime eliminated from Australian Open (CBC)
Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime was ousted from the Australian Open on Saturday, taking a straight-sets loss to Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena.
Medvedev defeated the Montreal native lost 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in 2 1/2 hours before midnight local time.
It was just the latest late finish for the Russian, after his second-round match finished close to 4 a.m. Friday. Read more
Djokovic admits Federer tensions early in career (France24)
Novak Djokovic has opened up on how he riled Roger Federer when he broke onto the scene as a cocky upstart but said it only fired up his quest to become the best player in the world.
The Serbian world number one is gunning for a historic 25th Grand Slam in Melbourne, where he has already won the title 10 times.
Djokovic is already the most-decorated player in the men’s game, with two more majors under his belt than the injured Rafael Nadal and four ahead of the retired Federer, fellow members of the so-called “Big Three”. Read more