Navy raids criminals, arrests 27 suspected drug peddlers (Guardian)
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft has conducted a coordinated raid and dislodged an identified criminal haven in Gidan Drama, located at Malu Road, Apapa.
The Commander NNS Beecroft, Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, who was represented by the Executive Officer, Captain Idongesit Udoessien, disclosed yesterday that the raid was carried out on Saturday, April 5, 2025, by personnel of NNS Beecroft.
This, he said, followed credible intelligence received by the Base on the presence of suspected drug peddlers in Gidan Drama, which necessitated the deployment of Operation MESA. Read more
Fuel prices may fall as FEC renews naira-for-crude deal (Punch)
Oil marketers have stated that Nigerians will soon heave a sigh of relief as the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, will drastically reduce due to the continuation of crude and refined product sales in the naira initiative by the Federal Government.
They also stated that a major player in the sector, Dangote Refinery, is anticipated to lower its petrol loading costs by the end of this week, further contributing to the reduction in fuel prices.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, reassured the public of the forthcoming price drop while commenting on the Federal Executive Council’s directive regarding the naira-for-crude agreement, announced on Wednesday. Read more
Nigeria is collapsing, speak up, Peter Obi charges opposition (Channels)
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, says Nigeria is collapsing, charging the opposition to speak up against bad governance in the country.
Obi, who was speaking at the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in Abuja on Wednesday, decried the level of poverty and hardship Nigerians are facing.
He said that things have gotten bad, and it is time to stand together for the right things, starting from the Labour Party. Read more
Lassa Fever: Ondo, Bauchi, Edo top as confirmed cases hits 660 in 3 months (Sun)
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has identified Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo states as the epicentres of the Lassa fever outbreak in the country.
Briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, Dr Jide Idris, Director-General of NCDC, said that the states account for over 70 percent of all confirmed cases reported so far in 2025.
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with the urine or faeces of infected rats. It can also spread from person to person through bodily fluids, contaminated objects, or infected medical equipment. Read more
Nigeria, others face uncertain economic outlook — Yemi Kale (Vanguard)
Against the backdrop of global trade wars and policy failures, economists and industry leaders have expressed deep concern over the future of Nigeria’s economy, saying 2025 outlook would be turbulent, with uncertainty pervading the landscape.
They spoke at the 2025 Vanguard Economic Discourse held in Lagos yesterday, with the theme, “ Nigeria’s Economic Outlook 2025: Hardship and Pathways to Sustainable Recovery.”
The event was chaired by Mr. Dele Oye, who is the President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA. Read more
FG Partners BoI to End $4bn Annual Garment Import, Revive CTG Sector (ThisDay)
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Industry, John Enoh, yesterday said the federal government is partnering with the Bank of Industry (BoI) and other stakeholders to put an end to annual garment imports valued at about $4 billion.
The minister said the government will also work with critical financial institutions to facilitate access to finance and machinery for garment and textile businesses.
Speaking during an engagement with stakeholders in the Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) sector in Abuja, Enoh said the government is committed to not only reviving the comatose textile industry but also promoting Made-in-Nigeria goods. Read more
NRC suspends Warri-Itakpe train operations (Nation)
Train services on the Warri-Itakpe route have been suspended by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) due to a mechanical fault on its locomotive.
The mechanical fault which occurred around 1:30 pm yesterday left over 200 passengers stranded. The incident according to an official of the corporation happened about 14 kilometres to Itakpe.
The official told The Nation that the passengers were evacuated to Itakpe. Read more
Jennifer Lopez to host 2025 American Music Awards — 10 years after hosting in 2015 (People)
Jennifer Lopez is returning to the American Music Awards stage.
On Wednesday, April 9, it was announced that the “Let’s Get Loud” singer would be hosting the 2025 AMAs, 10 years after she hosted the awards show in 2015.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer Lopez back to host the American Music Awards,” Jay Penske, CEO, Dick Clark Productions, said, per a press release. “Jennifer’s incredible talent and incomparable stage presence make her the ideal host of the show. We know she will bring her one-of-a-kind energy to the official kick off celebration of summer.” Read more
Chinese restaurant shut down after horrifying discovery of what their ‘roast duck’ really was (Unilad)
A raid of a Chinese restaurant uncovered that customers who had been ordering its ‘roast duck’ dish may have been eating something entirely different.
Jin Gu is located in the Usera district of Madrid, the capital of Spain, and towards the end of March, police raided the establishment after receiving various complaints.
Following the police raid, the restaurant was subsequently shut down after being found to have violated numerous health codes. Read more
Weezer bassist Scott Shriner’s wife shot during L.A. police chase, authorities say (THR)
Weezer bassist Scott Shriner’s wife, Jillian Lauren, was shot by police while officers were pursuing suspects in a hit-and-run in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
LAPD officers said they responded to the scene to assist the California Highway Patrol in finding three suspects following a hit-and-run in the Eagle Rock neighborhood. Authorities said they were working to set up a perimeter in the area after the suspects ran into a residential neighborhood near the 134 Freeway and Figueroa Street. Read more
Macron says France could recognise Palestinian state (AlJazeera)
President Emmanuel Macron says France could recognise a Palestinian state “in the coming months”.
Macron told France 5 television on Wednesday that he aimed to finalise the move at a United Nations conference on the Israel-Palestine conflict, which his country will co-chair with Saudi Arabia in June.
“We must move towards recognition, and we will do so in the coming months,” Macron said. Read more
Trump steps back from cliff edge of all-out global trade war (BBC)
For days, Donald Trump and his White House team had insisted they were fully committed to their decision to impose sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs on dozens of countries. They even derided a report on Tuesday that said the president was considering a 90-day pause – news that triggered a brief stock market surge.
But now that pause on higher tariff rates, with a few notable exceptions, is a reality. The reordering of the global economic order is on hold, and Trump’s promise of a golden age of American manufacturing will have to wait.
The White House has said that going big on tariffs and then hitting the pause button, before entering negotiations with individual countries, was the plan all along. Read more
China vows to ‘Fight to the End’ as trade war with U.S. escalates (AfricaNews)
China again vowed to “fight to the end” Wednesday in an escalating trade war with the U.S. as it announced it would raise tariffs on American goods to 84% from Thursday.
Beijing also added an array of countermeasures after U.S. President Donald Trump raised the total tariff on imports from China to 104%. “If the U.S. insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end,” the Ministry of Commerce wrote in a statement introducing its white paper on trade with the US.
The government declined to say whether it would negotiate with the White House, as many other countries have started doing. Read more
Villa hope to tempt Lookman with UCL ticket (Punch)
Aston Villa are hoping to use Champions League qualification to tempt Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman to join the club ahead of other Premier League giants this summer.
According to Caught Offside, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United are all interested in signing the Nigeria international.
Villa hold a strong interest in Lookman and remains hopeful he will join if they achieve Champions League qualification for a second successive season. Read more
“Worst keeper’: Lyon’s Matic attacks United’s Onana ahead of Europa tie (AfricaNews)
Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic fanned the flames Wednesday ahead of the Europa League match against Manchester United by describing Andre Onana as “one of the worst goalkeepers” in the English club’s history.
Onana, who joined from Inter Milan in 2023, has said in the build-up to Thursday’s first leg of the quarterfinals that United is “way better” than Lyon.
When that was put to Matic in a news conference, the 36-year-old former Serbia international said: “I respect everyone but to say that you need to give an answer. Read more
Identical twins Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard will make masters history — but they want to take each other down (People)
Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard will make history as the first set of twins to compete in the Masters when the iconic golf tournament begins on April 10.
The 24-year-old identical twins from Billund, Denmark are set to compete at the Augusta National Golf Course after growing up with dreams of pursuing professional golf. Rasmus will be making his Masters debut while Nicolai returns for his second bout.
“We would tell each other ‘this is the putt to win the Masters,’ ” Rasmus shared in a recent interview with Fox Sports, adding that the brothers would often “try to compete with each other.” Read more
Red Bull announce shock driver change for Bahrain Grand Prix race weekend (SportsBible)
Red Bull have announced another driver change ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix just weeks after brutally dropping Liam Lawson.
After a somewhat lacklustre Japanese Grand Prix, Formula One fans are eagerly anticipating the sport’s return to the popular Bahrain International Circuit this weekend.
Going into the fourth race of the 2025 season, all eyes will be on Red Bull as fans continue to monitor new driver Yuki Tsunoda after he replaced Liam Lawson ahead the Japanese GP. Read more
LeBron James becomes first male athlete with a Ken doll (BBC)
LeBron James, one of the most iconic figures in modern sports, has made history once again – this time in the toy aisle.
Mattel has announced the release of a new Barbie in Mr James’ likeness, making him the first professional male athlete to be honoured as a Ken doll.”We are excited to bring fans a new presentation of Ken,” said Krista Berger, Mattel’s senior vice president of Barbie. She said the doll celebrates “LeBron as a role model,” his ability as an icon to transcend culture and set a “positive example for the next generation.” Read more