NDLEA intercepts Tramadol worth N9b at Lekki seaport (ThisDay)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that it intercepted 749 cartons of tramadol worth N9 billion and weighing about 31 tons at the new Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos State.
This was disclosed by the Area Commander, NDLEA Lekki Deep Sea Port Special Area Command and former spokesman of the agency, Jonah Achema, who said the agency officials upon a tip-off on October 11, 2024 and November 5, 2024, discovered containers loaded with 389 and 360 cartons of tramadol respectively, weighing a total of 31 tons.
Achema told THISDAY that on October 11, 2024, a 40 feet container from Karachi, Pakistan was brought down at the port for thorough examination and the container was stockpiled with hundreds of cartons of assorted illicit drugs. Read more
Gospel movie actor, Korede Are ‘‘Baba Gbenro,’’ is dead (Tribune)
Gospel movie producer and actor, Moses Korede Are, popularly known as Baba Gbenro of Abattoir is reportedly dead.
Baba Gbenro’s demise was announced by a co-gospel actor and producer, Oluwaseun Adejumobi on his verified Instagram page on Thursday.
He wrote, “Heavens’s Gain Again”
“A General Has Gone to rest”.
Baba Gbenro, as fondly called by his fans, is one of the main actors in the popular Mount Zion series titled Abbatoir. Read more
Wike suspends FCDA boss, Hadi Ahmad indefinitely (Vanguard)
Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has announced the indefinite suspension of the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad.
Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister, Lere Olayinka disclosed this in a statement on Thursday evening.
While no reason was given for the decision, Engr. Ahmad was directed to hand over to the Director, Engineering Services in the FCDA. Read more
Lagos deploys 22k solar street lights (Punch)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says the government is adopting renewable energy to power its street lights.
The governor said in one year, the majority of the streetlights in Lagos would be powered by solar.
Represented by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, at the NAPE 2024 Conference, Sanwo-Olu disclosed that 22,000 of such streetlights had been committed already. Read more
Bwala, Atiku’s ex-aide, finally joins Tinubu’s cabinet (DailyTrust)
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Daniel Bwala as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications (State House).
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced this in a statement, on Thursday.
A former aide of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Bwala worked actively for his former principal who lost to Tinubu. Read more
‘‘I met dead bat on my bed’’, Okpebholo narrates how he won Edo guber poll (Channels)
The recently sworn-in governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has narrated the spiritual battle he faced to win the governorship election in September.
In a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Fred Itua, on Thursday, Okpebholo said that the grace of God, constant prayers, and the support of the people was responsible for his electoral victory.
The governor spoke at his post swearing-in Thanksgiving Service held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State capital, where he urged Nigerians to trust in God alone irrespective of their challenges in life. Read more
Netizens blast Betty Akeredolu for referring to Nigeria as zoo (Nation)
Former Ondo First Lady Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has come under attack for referring to Nigeria as “a zoo country that is beyond redemption”.
Akeredolu on Wednesday made comparisons between Nigeria’s presidential election and that of the United States via her X account.
She wrote: “Just thinking. 2023 Nigerian Presidential Election Total Votes Cast: 25 million Counting Duration: 5 days.
“2024 U.S Presidential Election Total Votes Cast: 155 million Counting Duration: Approximately 10 hours. Read more
Oyo links 4 deaths in Saki to suspected Lassa fever outbreak (Tribune)
The Oyo State Rapid Response Team (RRT) has confirmed four deaths linked to a suspected Lassa fever outbreak in the Saki West Local Government Area of the state. The deceased include three men and a 32-year-old woman who was reportedly preparing for her wedding.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, had directed the Oyo State RRT to Saki after receiving numerous reports from the Saki West Local Government regarding an outbreak that had resulted in multiple deaths.
The team, which included the Director of Public Health, the State Epidemiologist, the State Disease Notification Officer (DSNO), State Laboratory Focal Persons, and representatives from WHO, the Red Cross, the Saki West PHC Coordinator, and the LGA DSNO, conducted a comprehensive investigation at the site of the outbreak. Read more
Lady Gaga will join the second season of Wednesday alongside Jenna Ortega (FarOut)
Lady Gaga will join Jenna Ortega in an undisclosed role in the second series of Wednesday, the hit Netflix show that was released in 2022. The singer’s 2011 song Bloody Mary went viral after fans had spliced it together with the infamous clip of Wednesday Adams dancing in the hit Netflix show, and now, Lady Gaga will be joining the cast herself. The show is currently in production, and details of Gaga’s role are unknown.
The show was launched in 2022 and is based on the Addams Family series, focusing on the character of Wednesday during her student years as she develops her psychic abilities. The show also stars Gwendoline Christie, Luis Guzman, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Christina Ricci, who starred in the 1991 version of the Addams Family film. Read more
Cameron Diaz is “Back In Action” after decade-long acting hiatus (Standard)
Cameron Diaz has returned to the big screen, starring in the trailer for Netflix’s spy action comedy “Back In Action”, alongside co-star Jamie Foxx.
The comedic thriller follows Diaz and Foxx as former CIA agent couple Emily and Matt, who are dragged back into the world of espionage when their identities are blown years after retiring to start a family.
The film, slated for release on January 17 2025, will see Diaz come out of retirement for the first time since 2014. Read more
Channing Tatum enjoys a romantic stroll with co-star Kirsten Dunst on set of their upcoming film Roofman (DailyMail)
Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst were spotted enjoying a stroll on set of their upcoming movie, Roofman, in Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday.
The co-stars appeared to be in bright spirits as they walked and talked in a park by the water amid production of their new project.
For their day of filming, Tatum, 44, wore a casual outfit as he got into character as the serial robber Jeff Manchester in the true crime story.
Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy in “shock and disbelief” as she leans on loved ones (Mirror)
Liam Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy is still ‘in shock and disbelief’ at his death.
The 25-year-old social media influencer had been in a relationship with the One Direction star since 2022 when the pair met at a bar in Charleston, South Carolina. At the time Kate was working as a waitress at the high-end establishment and was Liam’s server for the night.
Love blossomed and the pair later became an item – with Liam even saying he wanted to get engaged or marry her within the next year during one night the couple spent manifesting their dreams. She says she still carries around the note he gave her stating his intentions for their future as preparations for the 31-year-old’s funeral get underway in the UK. Read more
Glastonbury 2025 first tickets to go on sale (BBC)
The first chance to buy tickets for Glastonbury Festival 2025 will take place later, with coach packages going on sale at 18:00 GMT.
The festival will take place from 25 to 29 June 2025 at Worthy Farm, Somerset, before a fallow year in 2026.
Coach tickets will be available to buy at 18:00 GMT on Thursday, before general admission tickets go on sale on Sunday 17 November at 09:00 GMT. Read more
Italy’s president sharply rebukes Elon Musk over comments on X about migration court rulings (ABC)
Italian President Sergio Mattarella sharply rebuked Elon Musk on Wednesday for weighing in on Italian court rulings that have stymied the government’s plans to process some asylum-seekers in Albania.
Musk, who is expected to have a top advisory role in Donald Trump’s new administration, wrote Tuesday on X that “these judges need to go.” He was referring to the latest Italian court ruling against right-wing Premier Giorgia Meloni’s much-touted Albania immigration deal.
“This is unacceptable. Do the people of Italy live in a democracy or does an unelected autocracy make the decisions?” he wrote in a subsequent post Wednesday. Read more
Trump picks RFK Jr., anti-vaccine activist, for health and human services secretary (NBC)
President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist who dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Trump, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS),” he wrote. “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health.”
Donald Trump Jr. also shared the news on X. Read more
Why I chose Nigeria over the Netherlands – Troost-Ekong (Punch)
The Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has revealed that a phone call from late coach Stephen Keshi and the prospect of international football at age 21 influenced his decision to represent Nigeria instead of his country of birth, the Netherlands, PUNCH Sports reports.
The Al-Kholood defender, speaking on the Sports Afterparty Podcast, explained that the opportunity to play for Nigeria came at a crucial point in his career.
“Just at the start of the season, I had played for the Dutch U19 and U20 squads, but there was no real perspective yet for the first team,” Troost-Ekong said. Read more
Nigeria through to 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (DailyTrust)
Nigeria have qualified for the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco with two games to spare.
The Super Eagles needed to avoid defeat against the Benin Republic in Abidjan on Thursday to secure a place at the continental championships next year.
However, the three-time AFCON winners sealed their spot at the 35th edition of the biennial African football tournament before taking to the pitch against the Cheetahs, thanks to Rwanda’s surprise defeat at home to Libya also on Thursday. Read more
Anthony Gordon keen to finally work with Thomas Tuchel after failed Chelsea move (Independent)
Anthony Gordon cannot wait to finally work with Thomas Tuchel having been desperate to join England’s new boss when he was managing Chelsea.
The 23-year-old has established himself in the national team set-up since making his debut in March, building on his impressive performances for Newcastle.
Gordon made a big-money switch to St James’ Park from Everton in January 2023 having gone close to joining Chelsea the previous summer. Read more
VAR misread West Ham penalty against Man Utd – Webb (BBC)
Referees’ chief Howard Webb says West Ham should not have been awarded a penalty during Erik ten Hag’s final game in charge of Manchester United on 27 October.
The Hammers were given the decision on the recommendation of video assistant referee Michael Oliver following Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Danny Ings.
David Coote, the on-field referee, had waved play on following the incident but awarded a penalty after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor. Read more
No double standard in Jannik Sinner doping case, ATP chair says (ESPN)
There “could have been better communication” in explaining the rules involved in Jannik Sinner’s doping case, ATP Tour chairman Andrea Gaudenzi acknowledged Thursday.
However, Gaudenzi said at the ATP Finals that anyone hinting that a “double standard” was applied because of top-ranked Sinner’s status is “unfair because the rules have been the same.”
Sinner is playing at home this week for the first time since it was announced before his US Open title run that he tested positive for an anabolic steroid in two separate drug tests in March. Read more
Conor McGregor testifies in rape case, claims encounter was consensual: “Everything is a lie’’ (FirstPost)
Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor testified on Wednesday that he had consensual sex with a woman suing him for sexual assault and said she fabricated her story.
“Everything is a lie,” McGregor said in the High Court in Dublin. “It is a full blown lie among many lies.”
The alleged victim said McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in a penthouse at a Dublin hotel on December 9, 2018. Read more