NAFDAC alerts Nigerians to sale of counterfeit Paludex tablets (Vanguard)
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public to the sales and distribution of counterfeit Paludex tablets and suspensions across Nigeria.
In a statement on its X handle (formerly twitter), NAFDAC said that the Paludex Artemether/Lumefantrine tablets (80mg/480mg), were manufactured by Impact Pharmaceutical Ltd, No. 33A/33B Standard Industrial Layout Emene- Enugu State.
It said that the counterfeit drugs were being marketed by MD Life Sciences Ltd, Emene Industrial Layout also in Enugu State. Read more
‘You are All re-elected,’ Tinubu calls 10th NASS ’11th assembly’ (Channels)
In what could pass as comic relief during the serious business of budget presentation on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu jocularly referred to a joint session of the 10th National Assembly as the 11th National Assembly.
Christened the ‘Budget of Restoration’, the President presented his second budget estimate of N47.9tn before members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Tinubu started his 30-minute presentation at 12:40pm amid cheers from lawmakers, many of whom are members of his All Progressives Congress (APC). Tinubu’s presentation followed a speech by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Read more
25m phones stolen in Nigeria in 12 months (Leadership)
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported over 25 million phone thefts between March 2023 and April 2024, according to its Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024.
The NBS report, titled Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024, indicated that an estimated 17,965,741 people had their phones stolen during the reference period.
Phone theft, which is a common individual crime in the country, shows that seven out of every 10 stolen phones happened at home or public places, with a mere 11.7% of people who reported to the police expressing satisfaction with their response. Read more
Lagos, Access bank partner on 704 housing units (Sun)
To alleviate the housing shortage jolting Lagosians, the state government and Access Bank have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop 704 housing units in Odo-Nla, Ikorodu.
The agreement, which was finalised on Tuesday at the Lagos House in Ikeja, represents a major step toward addressing the growing housing deficit in the state and enhancing the quality of life for its residents.
The project, named the Lagos State Access Bank Housing Scheme, will be situated on a 9.98-hectare parcel of land. It will consist of 44 blocks, each containing two-bedroom apartments, providing much-needed housing in a city grappling with an ever-increasing population and housing demand. Read more
Nasarawa PoS operators unveil task force to tackle fraud (Punch)
The Nasarawa State chapter of the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria has inaugurated its Joint Task Force to tackle the issues of fraud being perpetuated by some criminally-minded Point of Sales agents in the state.
Speaking at the event which was held at the AMMBAN State Secretariat in the Karu Local Government Area on Wednesday, the state Chairman, Noah Enesata, said the setting up of the team was part of the association’s efforts towards ensuring a secured and efficient financial service delivery by PoS agents in the state.
While noting that the AMMBAN Joint Task Force would be working closely with the security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to achieve its aims and objectives in the shortest possible time, Enesata assured of the association’s commitment to completely tackle financial crimes usually carried out via POS across the 13 LGAs of Nasarawa State. Read more
RTEAN tackles SON, says locally produced tyres not reliable (DailyTrust)
The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ogun State has expressed concern over quality of the locally produced tyres, saying the fairly used ones imported from abroad, popularly called tokunbo, are better off.
The body particularly tackled the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) for not “doing enough” to address “production of low quality tyres in Nigeria.”
The State Chairman, Titilayo Akibu (Efele), said this during sensitization of its members by operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Abeokuta. Read more
Tinubu hails economic growth as reforms begin to take effect (Nation)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, highlighting the resilience of the Nigerian economy amid ongoing reforms.
Themed the “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,” the proposed budget reflects a strategic push to consolidate gains achieved under the 2024 fiscal framework and chart a path for sustained growth.
Speaking to lawmakers, Tinubu noted that the economy is responding positively to targeted stimulus packages and deliberate fiscal reforms. Read more
Arewa Group calls on military to release Bello Badejo (Independent)
The Arewa for Justice Assembly has condemned in the strongest terms the unjust, unconstitutional, and illegal detention of Bello Badejo by the Nigerian military, calling for his release now.
A statement on Wednesday issued by Comrade Musa Garba Yola, Leader, Arewa for Justice Assembly (AFOJA), said the continued detention of Badejo is a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.
According to Yola, “This blatant abuse of power not only violates his fundamental human rights but has also inflicted untold trauma on his family and tarnished the image of the Nigerian military. Read more
Beyoncé is now the most RIAA-certified female artiste in history (NME)
Beyoncé has broken yet another record, now becoming the most RIAA-certified female musician in history.
Yesterday (December 17), The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced new certifications for several of Beyoncé’s releases, bringing her total certified titles to a whopping 103, more than any other female artist ever.
Per the RIAA, the record comes as several of her albums and singles received new certifications. Read more
Pirates demand $10m ransom for Chinese vessel, 18 hostages (AfricaNews)
The pirates who hijacked a Chinese-owned fishing vessel with 18 crew off the northeastern coast of Somalia last month are demanding $10 million in ransom, according to a Somali official.
The hijackers also shared photos on social media of their captives surrounded by armed men on the ship’s deck.
The vessel was hijacked in late November and taken to Xaafuun district in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland, where it is being held along with the captives. The ship’s security guards later joined forces with the armed men from the coastal region. Read more
Rapist actor who said he was Brad Pitt’s body-double jailed in ‘stealthing’ case (Metro)
An actor who claimed he was a stand-in for Brad Pitt has been jailed for raping five women and attacking two others in a decade-long campaign of abuse.
Luke Ford, 35, was also found guilty of secretly removing a condom during sex in what is believed to be Scotland’s first ‘stealthing’ case.
The jobbing actor bragged of standing in for Hollywood star Pitt on the 2013 zombie apocalypse blockbuster World War Z, part of which was filmed in Glasgow. Read more
France’s highest court upholds sentencing of former president Nicolas Sarkozy in corruption case (ABC)
France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, has upheld an appeal court decision which had found former president Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of corruption.
“The convictions and sentences are therefore final,” a court statement on Wednesday said.
Sarkozy, who faces one year in prison, is entitled to ask to be detained at home with an electronic bracelet — as is the case for any sentence of two years or less. Read more
Woman returned to Philippines after 14 years on death row in Indonesia on drug charges (UPI)
A woman flew home to the Philippines on Wednesday after spending 14 years in an Indonesian prison, during which she came within hours of going before a firing squad after being convicted of smuggling 5.7 pounds of heroin.
However, while 39-year-old mother of two Mary Jane Veloso was allowed to briefly reunite with her family and loved ones in Manila she later reported to the country’s main women’s prison in the capital to continue serving her sentence in line with the terms of deal negotiated by the two governments.
“This is a new life for me and I will have a new beginning in the Philippines,” she told a news conference. Read more
Spies foiled assassination plots during historic Iraq visit, Pope Francis says (NBC)
Two assassination attempts made against Pope Francis when he made a historic visit to northern Iraq were foiled by British spies and police inside the country, the pontiff has revealed in his new autobiography.
After touching down in the country’s capital Baghdad in March 2021, Francis said that police told him two known suicide bombers were planning to target one of his events in the devastated city of Mosul.
“I was warned as soon as we landed,” he wrote in ‘Spera’ — meaning ‘Hope,’ extracts of which are being published in the Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera. Read more
Parents of 10-year-old boy who killed himself after being bullied file wrongful death lawsuit against school district (People)
The parents of a 10-year-old Indiana fourth-grader who died by suicide have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his school district.
Sammy Teusch died on Sunday, May 5, after his brother Xander, 13, found him unresponsive in his bedroom that morning, PEOPLE previously reported.
An investigation has since confirmed “there was some bullying taking place” in Sammy’s life, both in and out of school, before the child’s “traumatic” death, according to a news release issued by Greenfield Police Chief Brian Hartman on May 31. Read more
Troost-Ekong omission from CAF XI sparks upset (Punch)
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong’s exclusion from the CAF FIFPro Best XI has sparked outrage among football fans, with many questioning the credibility of the selection process, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The defender, who was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations and earned a place in the AFCON Best XI, was surprisingly overlooked in favour of Kalidou Koulibaly and Chancel Mbemba in the continental team unveiled in Morocco on Monday.
Despite an impressive season that saw him keep 14 clean sheets in 28 matches for Greek side PAOK as they claimed the Greek Super League. Read more
Former Atalanta star reveals turning point for ‘Incredible’ Lookman (CompleteSports)
Former Atalanta midfielder Massimo Donati has described Ademola Lookman an “incredible player” and claimed the winger has finally “gained awareness”.
Lookman has been one of the top performers for Atalanta since joining La Dea from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig two years ago.
The 27-year-old scored 17 goals and contributed 10 assists in 45 games across all competitions for Atalanta in the 2023-24 season. Read more
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler beat Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka (SkySports)
Rory McIlroy and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler took victory for the PGA Tour team against LIV Golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in the first edition of ‘The Showdown’.
The first-of-its-kind competition marks the first time that PGA Tour players have competed against LIV Golf players outside of the majors and the Olympics, with DeChambeau and Koepka both unable to feature on the PGA Tour since joining the Saudi-backed circuit in 2022.
Scheffler and McIlroy never trailed and needed only 14 holes to take victory at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas. Read more
Simona Halep and Lleyton Hewitt’s son both handed wildcards for Australian Open qualifying (Independent)
Former world No.1 Simona Halep, whose career stalled due to a doping ban that was reduced on appeal this year, will step up her comeback at the Australian Open after receiving a wildcard for the qualifying tournament on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old was provisionally suspended in October 2022 and later banned for four years, a period which was cut to nine months in March following an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Halep, who has denied knowingly taking the banned drug roxadustat, returned to action in Miami in March and last competed on the WTA Tour in Hong Kong, where she lost in the first round in October. Read more
Premier League clubs considering Super League U-turn after new proposal launched (Mirror)
The promoters of the failed European Super League returned with a fresh proposal on Tuesday, which has caught the eye of a substantial number of Premier League clubs
A number of Premier League clubs have signalled they are ready to make a U-turn on their attitude to a European Super League.
The first attempt at a breakaway league was launched in April 2021, with Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham supporting it. But the proposal collapsed within 48 hours after a huge backlash from fans, pundits, players and managers. Read more
Man Utd are better with Rashford – Amorim (BBC)
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim says the club are “better” with Marcus Rashford after the forward suggested he could leave Old Trafford.
The England international, 27, said on Tuesday that he was “ready for a new challenge and the next steps” in his career.
It came two days after Rashford was dropped for United’s derby win against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. Read more