NEC committee recommends N302 per litre petrol price by February (TheCable)
The federal government may increase the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), better known as petrol, to N302 per litre in February 2022 if the recommendation of the ad hoc committee of National Economic Council (NEC) is implemented.
TheCable understands that this could form part of the government’s plan to fully deregulate the PMS prices, eliminating monthly subsidy payments with provisions to ensure fair competition in the market.
Petrol price is currently between N162 and N165 per litre in Nigeria.
The recommendations were put forward by the NEC ad-hoc committee interfacing with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the appropriate pricing of PMS in Nigeria. The report was presented by Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state and head of the committee, in November 2021. Read more
Sanwo-Olu reinstates suspended LASU registrar (Vanguard)
Reprieve has come the way of the suspended Registrar of the Lagos State University, LASU, Mr Olayinka Amuni, as the visitor to the university, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered that he be reinstated into office.
A statement on Thursday night by the spokesman of LASU, Mr Ademola Adekoya, said Amuni would resume office on February 1, this year.
“The Governor of Lagos State and Visitor to the Lagos State University, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has approved the reinstatement of Mr Olayinka Mohammed Amuni, as Registrar of the University, with effect from Tuesday, 1st February 2022.
“Recall that Mr Amuni had been directed by the state government to step aside from his position on Friday, 21st May 2021, in the wake of the dissolution of the former Governing Council of the University, until the completion of the process of the appointment of the 9th Substantive Vice Chancellor of the University. Read more
Man, 45, arraigned over armed robbery (Punch)
A45-year-old man, Onyema Ezirim, has been arraigned before an Ebute Metta Magistrate’s Court on charges of armed robbery.
The defendant reportedly committed the offence in the Ago Okota area of Lagos State, where he allegedly robbed a woman, Ifeyinwa Ezirim, of her phone, laptop, wedding band, eight wristwatches, and the sum of N50,000.
Ezirim and his gang members reportedly posed as officials of a power distribution company who had come to fix a faulty meter at the victim’s house.
The charges read in part, “That you, Onyema Ezirim, and others at large, on November 23, 2021 at 09.30am, at the Ago Okota area of Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did rob one Ifeanyi
Ezirim, of a cash sum of N50,000; black sneakers, valued at N50,000; one HP laptop, valued at N300, 000; eight wristwatches, valued at N250,000; one iPhone 11, valued at N400,000; a wedding band, valued at N250,000, and N1, 485,000 which was transferred to a Polaris Bank account.” Read more
2023 Presidency: Group commends Umahi, Anyim, Moghalu, Ohuabunwa, others (Guardian)
Umunna Lekki Association (ULA), a socio-cultural and professional group comprising of eminent and successful young entrepreneurs from Igboland residing in the Lekki, Ikoyi, Banana Island, Victoria Garden City (VGC), and Victoria Island axis of Lagos State, has commended Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kingsley Moghalu, Sam Ohuabunwa and others for their noble intention to vie for the highest political office, the presidency, from the two national mainstream political parties in Nigeria.
Umunna Lekki Association said that such a move is in line with the agreed position of most Nigerians that it was the turn of the SouthEast, Ndigbo in particular, to produce the next president.
The group further called for more Igbo politicians and leaders to come forward and express their interest early enough so as to enrich the debate and offer Nigerians the opportunity of choosing their president from amongst eminently qualified Igbos from across the mainstream political parties in the country, where Igbo aspirants are expected to clinch the tickets.
It further highlighted that it will work with other interest groups across Nigeria, but advised the SouthWest and the South-South zones to reciprocate the support the SouthEast rendered to them in 1999 and 2011, stressing that what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.
ICRC says Kano, Katsina inland dry ports to take off in 2022 (VON)
The congestion at Nigeria’s ports especially in Lagos might be easing soon as the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has said that the Katsina Inland Dry Port and the Dala Inland Dry Port, Kano are expected to be ready and commence operations before July 2022.
The ICRC said the revelation was made by the concessionaires of the 2 ports during a meeting with the management of the ICRC, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the concessionaires of the 6 Inland Container Depots (ICDs).
The Acting Head, Media and Publicity of ICRC, Manji Yarling, in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, said that the meeting was at the instance of the commission to get the ICDs located in each of the geo-political zones of Nigeria become operational.
The Managing Director of Equatorial Marine Oil and Gas Limited, Mr Usman Abbas, concessionaires of the Katsina Dry Port, informed the ICRC team that the Funtua port was already at over 85% completion stage. Read more
We don’t bury mutilated monarch’s body in Owu Kingdom – Council Of Chiefs (DailyTrust)
The Council of Chiefs in Owu kingdom Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday, said the kingdom doesn’t bury the body of its late monarch, mutilated, contrary to the general belief that such practice exists in some parts of Yorubaland.
The last Olowu of Owu, a first class stool, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu had joined his ancestors on December 12, 2021 at the age of 85 years.
The council on Wednesday announced commencement of Oba Dosunmu’s burial rites, coming less than two weeks after Governor Dapo Abiodun assented to a controversial bill, regulating installation and burial rites of the deceased monarchs in the state.
Contrary to the age long belief that traditionalists take charge of the burial rites of monarchs, the new law empowers families to determine mode of the burial. Read more
Runsewe, Nihotour, Envoy Silk Road Hotel, for NANTA Eminent Persons Awards (Tribune)
The Nigerian Cultural Tourism Community, Chief Segun Runsewe, has said that identifying and appreciating contributions of individuals and corporate entities in the industry has a deep spiritual meaning and helps to keep award recipients on their toes.
Runsewe quoted Jesus Christ, who desired to know from his disciples if he is on track on his Spiritual mission on earth, as a classical example of how to truly assess persons called to serve, nothing that nanta about four years ago, began a true historical reward regime never seen before in the industry.
Speaking shortly after receiving his certificate of nomination for strategically being at the behest of Nigerian cultural, tourism, arts and crafts promotion in the past two decades, Chief Runsewe who just returned to the country after an cultural evangelism tour of Ethiopia, where he inaugurated the Nigerian and Ethiopian friendship club, stated that NANTA Eminent Persons Award is the Oscar of Nigeria tourism sector.
“Madam Susan Akporiaye, President of NANTA, I want to thank you and your association for this honour. NANTA did the same to me four years ago for turning around NTDC and again today, for the little we have done at NCAC. We shall be there to tell the world that NANTA is our pride’” he added. Read more
LASEPA partners World Bank, others on vehicular emissions (Punch)
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency has partnered with the World Bank, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and Lagos Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service to tackle vehicular emissions in the state.
The Director, Noise and Emission Control, Mrs Bisi Shonibare, disclosed this in a statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday.
She said, “Vehicular emissions contribute significantly to air pollution which is attributable to the quality of fuel available for use in Nigeria, considering the level of sulphur content. LASEPA has taken the bold step of addressing vehicular emissions by partnering with other organs of government and private sector on cleaner solutions.
“This partnership with the World Bank has ensured data capturing of the state’s air quality in Lagos, with the provision of six Air Quality Monitoring stations within the Ikorodu metropolis, LASEPA office, Abesan, Jankara, University of Lagos and Nigeria Conservation Foundation metropolis.
Humility doesn’t work in Nigeria – MI (Nation)
Rapper MI has said that being humble is overrated.
The rapper made this assertion on Twitter.
MI said he made the conclusion that being humble doesn’t work here after a decade of the experiment.
He said: “having experimented with humility for over a decade within these shores, I’m here to report my findings. Clears throat, e no dey work for here, carry your shoulder hop”.
Adele postpones Las Vegas residency set to kick off Friday due to Covid: ‘I’m gutted’ (USAToday)
Adele has postponed her Las Vegas residency due to COVID-related production delays, the singer announced a day before her first show was set to kick off. “I’m so sorry, but my show ain’t ready,” Adele said in a tearful video posted to Twitter Thursday. “We’ve tried absolutely everything that we can to put it together in time and for it to be good enough for you, but we’ve been absolutely destroyed by delivery delays and COVID – half my crew are down with COVID, they still are – and it’s been impossible to finish the show.”
The “Easy on Me” singer added she was “gutted” by the last-minute cancellation. Her Las Vegas residency, titled “Weekends with Adele,” was set to kick off Friday at the Colosseum in Caesars Palace and run through April.
“We’ve been awake for over 30 hours now trying to figure it out, and we’ve run out of time,” Adele said. “I’m so upset, and I’m really embarrassed and I’m so sorry to everyone that’s traveled.” Read more
Let’s work harder – Doreen Andoh advises Ghanaian music industry players (MyJoy)
Seasoned broadcaster, Doreen Andoh has waded into the conversation regarding more Nigerian music being played on Ghanaian airwaves than the local ones.
Speaking to Andy Dosty on Daybreak Hitz on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, ‘Maa Dor’ said Ghanaian musicians need to work harder in creating more music in order to own the airwaves in Ghana as it’s supposed to be.
Ms. Andoh was sharing her thoughts on peculiar actions that contribute to particular music gaining desired airplay. The veteran broadcaster, who has entertained radio listeners with great music over two decades, disclosed that the secret behind the much talked about take-over by Nigerians is that, “if the song is good and the DJ is playing it, you can’t pull him out, because he knows that’s what his listeners also enjoy.”
Doreen Andoh added that “if we did music that will go head to head with Nigerian music, it would get the same airplay.” Read more
‘Perry Mason’ season 2 adds Paul Raci, Sean Astin, Tommy Dewey, Jen Tullock to cast (Variety)
HBO’s “Perry Mason” is adding some new suspects to the case.
The period drama, based on the popular 1930s detective fiction character created by Eric Stanley Garner, has added four new recurring cast members to its upcoming second season. Joining the cast are Sean Astin (“The Lord of the Rings,” “Stranger Things”), Tommy Dewey (“Casual”), Paul Raci (“Sound of Metal”) and Jen Tullock (“Before You Know It”). In addition, Shea Wingham (“Boardwalk Empire”), formerly a main cast member in the show’s first season, will return in a recurring capacity. Full character descriptions for the new cast members can be found below.
The new cast members follow previously announced season two cast members Katherine Waterston (“Inherent Vice,” “Alien: Covenant”), who will be joining as a series regular, as well as Jon Chaffin (“The Haves and the Have Nots”), Hope Davis (“Love Life”), Fabrizio Guido (“Welcome to the Family”), Peter Mendoza (“NCIS”), Onohoua Rodriguez (“Veronica Mars”) and Jee Young Han (“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,”), who are all joining in recurring roles.
Season two of “Perry Mason” follows Perry (Matthew Rhys) and the team at his firm months after the events of the first season, during the height of the Great Depression. When a seemingly open-and-shut case overtakes the city of Los Angeles, Perry’s pursuit of justice and truth reveals not everything is as it seems. Read more
‘A Christmas Story’ sequel in the works at Legendary and Warner Bros. Wwth Peter Billingsley set to reprise Ralphie role (Deadline)
While Christmas has come and gone, Legendary and Warner Bros. are looking to give a belated gift to us all as sources tell Deadline the two companies have closed a deal for Peter Billingsley to star in A Christmas Story Christmas, a sequel to the holiday classic A Christmas Story, which will premiere on HBO Max. While not confirmed, sources add Airplane star Julie Hagerty will play Billingsley’s mother. The script was written by Nick Schenk, who will also executive produce, and Clay Kaytis will direct. Billingsley will also produce along with his partner Vince Vaughn through their Wild West Picture Show productions. Cale Boyter and Jay Ashenfelter will oversee for Legendary. Production is set to start at the end of February in Bulgaria.
The film follows an adult Ralphie (Billingsley) in the 1970s, who returns to the house on Cleveland street to deliver his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had growing up. With the same attention to real-life tone of the first, Ralphie reconnects with childhood friends,
reconciles the passing of his Old Man and sews the seeds for the origins of the beloved Holiday classic.
Since his breakout role as Ralphie in A Christmas Story, Billingsley has gone on to have success as a director with hits that include the comedy Couples Retreat starring Vaughn. He also produced the Broadway musical A Christmas Story The Musical which received three Tony nominations including Best Musical. He is represented by Mitch Smelkinson. As producers, Billingsley and Vaughn have produced multiple films through Wild West Picture Show including The Break-Up, Four Christmases, Couples Retreat and F Is For Family.
Schenk has become Clint Eastwood’s go to screenwriter penning recent Eastwood pics like Cry Macho, The Mule and Torino for which he won a National Board of Review award for Best Original Screenplay. He is represented by Management 360 and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler, Feldman & Clark. Read more
Steven on ‘Joe Millionaire’ reveals he was spoon-fed until he Was 11(TMZ)
One of the ‘Joe Millionaire’ guys is taking mama’s boy to a whole new level — openly admitting he was literally spoon-fed for years after he could do it himself.
You gotta see Steven McBee in this exclusive preview we got from tonight’s episode of “Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer” — it’s Steven hanging out with Annie, who grilled him about spoon-feeding rumors.
Brace yourself … Steven confirms it’s absolutely true!!!
He says that his mom spoiled him before school, because he was too tired to do it himself. Annie didn’t completely let him off the hook, either. She drilled down even more about the odd fact — but they both ended up laughing about how weird it was. Read more
Dog saved from drowning after a drone is used to dangle sausage for the pet as a ‘Last Resort’ (People)
The Denmead Drone Search and Rescue team saved a Jack Russell Terrier named Millie from drowning by attaching a sausage to a drone as a “last resort” when other efforts to rescue the stuck dog failed.
Millie evaded police officers, firefighters, coastguards, and others who tried to save her from the rising tides coming into the mudflats of Hampshire, England, before the savory rescue. The pet ended up in the dangerous position after she slipped off her leash four days prior, according to The Guardian.
Chris Taylor, the chair of the Denmead Drone Search and Rescue team, told the outlet that “it was a crazy idea” to dangle the meat from a drone.
“One of the local residents on the beach where we were flying from supplied us with the sausages,” Taylor said. “The woman cooked them up for us, and we attached them with string.”
Huge explosion hits Ghana mining region after truck crash (France24)
Dozens of people are feared dead after a mining truck exploded in a town in Ghana on Thursday.
Abdul Ganiyu Mohammed, regional coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization, said initial reports indicated at least 50 people died and another 50 had been
injured in the blast in the small town of Apiate, near the mining town of Bogoso, in southwestern Ghana.
The exact death toll was not immediately known.
The Ghana Police Service said in a statement that a “mining explosive vehicle” was moving between gold mines in Tarkwa and Chirano when it collided with a motorcycle resulting in the explosion. Read more
Iwobi, Okocha send message to Eguavoen on Everton star’s preferred position ahead of Tunisia clash (ANS)
Alex Iwobi was delighted to make his first start of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations as the Super Eagles defeated Guinea-Bissau 2-0 on Wednesday night to maintain their one hundred percent record in the group phase of the ongoing competition.
The Hale End Academy product was particularly pleased with the way in which the Super Eagles performed in the group phase with wins against Egypt and Sudan before the dead rubber clash with the African Wild Dog.
The teams participating in the round of sixteen have been decided and looking ahead to the next round one of the standout fixtures sees the Super Eagles face off with north African powerhouse Tunisia on Sunday, January 23.
“Of course it is an honour to represent my country and to get maximum points so I’m happy with the performances but we still got a long way to go,” Iwobi said at the end of the Super Eagles recovery workout on Thursday. Read more
Gabriel Martinelli outshines Alexandre Lacazette as Arsenal midfield gamble fails (Mirror)
Arsenal eventually came up short in their pursuit of a place in the League Cup final, as they went down 2-0 against Liverpool on Thursday.
The Gunners lacked the defensive solidity they showcased in the 0-0 draw in the first leg of the semi-final and in attack they struggled to find any spark despite manager Mikel Arteta naming a top-heavy XI.
It’s a result that effectively ends the team’s hopes of silverware this season after the FA Cup exit against Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal’s attack has been purring as a unit in recent weeks, but on Thursday it only fizzed in fractured moments. Read more
Barca crash out of cup after extra-time defeat by Athletic Bilbao (France24)
Barcelona were dumped out of the Copa del Rey on Thursday as Ferran Torres’ first goal for the club failed to prevent a dramatic 3-2 defeat after extra-time by Athletic Bilbao.
Disappointment for Barca was compounded by the sight of a visibly upset Ansu Fati going off injured in the second half of normal time at San Mames.
Fati only returned earlier this month after two months out with a hamstring problem, having also come back in September following 10 months out with a knee injury.
Another spell on the sidelines for Fati would be a huge blow to Barca’s hopes of making La Liga’s top four. Pedri also asked to go off in extra-time. Read more
Andrey Rublev makes astounding COVID-19 revelation ahead of third-round Australian Open match (Nine)
Russian world No.6 Andrey Rublev has made the extraordinary revelation that he was granted entry into Australia for the first major of the year while infected by COVID-19.
Rublev’s Australian Open participation was thrown into doubt when he tested positive on December 27, but almost a month later he’s progressed to a third-round match against 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.
“I am not being tested personally now because I just got over the coronavirus,” Rublev told European sports channel Sport Klub.
“When I flew to Australia I was still positive, but the level of COVID ‘SS’, as it is called – I will not lie, it was very low and not dangerous. Read more
Patrick Cantlay, Lee Hodges share lead at PGA Tour’s The American Express after opening with 62s (ESPN)
Patrick Cantlay shot a 10-under 62 in perfect weather and turf conditions Thursday at La Quinta Country Club for a share of the first-round lead with rookie Lee Hodges in The American Express.
Cantlay played the first seven holes in 7 under, making an eagle on the par-5 sixth and five birdies. The FedEx Cup champion added birdies on Nos. 11-13, two of them par 5s, and closed with five straight pars.
“I got off to a roll at the start and kind of made a bunch of putts and then I kind of lagged on the way coming in,” Cantlay said. “But I was happy with everything. I thought I did everything well and it’s a golf course I really like. It’s in perfect shape and so, if you get the ball rolling on line, it should go in.”
Cantlay won the BMW Championship and Tour Championship in his final two starts last year and opened this year with a fourth-place finish two weeks ago in Hawaii at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Last year in the desert, the 29-year-old former UCLA player closed with a Stadium Course-record 61 to finish a shot behind winner Si Woo Kim.
Gary Russell: I wish Leo Santa Cruz was like Magsayo; show a sense of honour, integrity (BoxingScene)
Gary Russell Jr. still hasn’t given up on the meaningful featherweight fight that has eluded him for several years.
When Showtime’s Brian Custer asked Russell on Thursday in a broader sense about not getting the fights he wants, Russell took the opportunity to call out Leo Santa Cruz. Russell again questioned Santa Cruz’s willingness to take the toughest fights on a consistent basis during a press conference to promote Russell’s featherweight title fight against undefeated Filipino challenger Mark Magsayo on Saturday night.
“Stop acting like a sucker and get in the ring – point blank, period,” Russell said during an event held at Music Box, a theater inside Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. “We’re gladiators. We’re fighters. Conduct yourself as such and be a fighter. Don’t pick and choose who you’re gonna fight against. Let’s fight. Just like Mark said, you know, he said he’s gonna show me what the Filipinos bring and what they mean. That’s honorable. That’s very honorable, you know, for you to want to support not just yourself, but your people as a whole. That’s what you are supposed to do.
“You know, I wish Leo Santa Cruz would be willing to do something like that. You know, I’m pretty sure the Hispanic community would want Leo Santa Cruz to get into the ring and compete and fight. I mean, they probably don’t even care if he lose. They just wanna see him fight, show a sense of honor, show a sense of integrity. That’s what we’re looking at in the sport of boxing.” Read more