Nigeria amasses $3b debt to traders for oil swaps (Reuters)
Nigeria has accumulated up to $3 billion in debts to trading houses such as Vitol and oil majors such as BP (BP.L) for fuel supplies and is trailing four to six months behind schedule in repaying them with cargoes of crude, four traders and executives told Reuters.
Nigeria will likely take months to clear the debt, which will complicate reforms by new President Bola Tinubu aimed at weaning Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation off costly fuel subsidies that have contributed to growing debt and foreign exchange shortages.
In his first two weeks in office, Tinubu removed petrol price caps and restrictions on the naira currency – liberalisation changes that investors have been awaiting for more than a decade. Read more
Medical students lament boat accident involving colleagues (Guardian)
Nigeria Medical Students Association (NiMSA) has accused the management of Marina Resort of negligence, poor management as factors responsible for the boat accident conveying members of the association.
Some medical students had, on Saturday, embarked on a boat cruise organised by Marina Resort, as part of social activities to mark their annual health week in Calabar, but the boat had an accident. Eleven persons were rescued, while three persons are still missing.
The association, yesterday, at a press briefing at the Marina Resort, said the accident could have been avoided and that the anguish in the medical students community nationwide would have been prevented. Read more
Tension in Lagos as gunmen kill Naval rating (Leadership)
An unnamed Naval rating has been killed by unknown gunmen around Ajegunle in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State, a development that has caused tension in the area on Sunday.
Some gunmen had opened fire on the Naval rating, who was said to be alone during the attack.
The attack came barely one year after a female Naval officer was also allegedly murdered in the area.
Residents got worried when colleagues of the deceased officer allegedly threatened to avenge his death. Read more
Lagos student wins cancer essay competition (Punch)
A student of Oriwu College, Ikorodu Lagos, Abdulsalam Bada has emerged overall winner of the Atinuke Cancer Foundation Inter-school/Inter-state Essay Competition.
The competition, aimed at improving knowledge about cancer and access to health care, also had Success Oloyede of Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State, as first runner-up and Destiny Orako of Eva Adelaja Girls School, Bariga, Lagos State, as second runner-up.
Eight schools competed in the essay writing competition on the topic, ‘Knowledge conquers cancer, let’s close the care gap,’ and the three students emerged winners after writing the essay on the morning of June 23, 2023. Read more
Hajj: 6 Nigerian pilgrims die, 30 undergo psychiatric treatment (DailyTrust)
Six of the 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims for this year’s hajj exercise have died in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The head of the Nigerian medical team for the pilgrimage, Dr Usman Galadima, disclosed this in Makkah Saturday night.
Speaking during a pre-Arafat meeting with stakeholders, he said two of the deceased pilgrims were from Osun State; and one each from Kaduna and Plateau. Read more
ISWAP, Boko Haram in supremacy battle (Sun)
A deadly clash between members of the Islamic States of West Africa (ISWAP) and Boko Haram fighters has left scores of terrorists killed in the North East of Borno State.
Sources said the recent rivalry clash occurred along the road between Gajiganna and Gajiram last Friday.
A Counter-Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama, who confirmed the killings, said some of the Boko Haram fighters on motorcycles staged an ambush to attack two vehicles of ISWAP, which led to a heavy fighting. Read more
Shake-up as Army Chief reshuffles top brass, appoints PSOs, GOCs, others (ThisDay)
In his first official move to reposition the Nigerian Army (NA), the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Abiodun Lagbaja, yesterday approved the reshuffling and redeployment of top army brass, as well as the appointment of Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and General Officers Commanding (GOCs).
A statement issued by the Army Spokesman, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the shake-up was designed “to reposition the Nigerian Army (NA) for operational efficiency and functional administration.”
The statement said the new army chief approved the posting and appointment of some senior officers of the Nigerian Army to command, instructional and staff appointments across the Nigerian Army formations and units. Read more
Adele asks Las Vegas crowd about boarding Titanic Submersible and flying to space (Billboard)
Adele is asking her Las Vegas audience to weigh in on the tragic Titanic submersible story.
The British songstress paused her residency show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Friday (June 23) to ask concert-goers whether they’d visit the Titanic at the bottom of the ocean if given the opportunity.
In a fan-captured TikTok video, the “Easy on Me” singer began the question by noting that the deadly implosion of OceanGate’s Titan vessel was “so sad and so tragic.” Read more
Cardi B will just get with another “Rich N-gga” if she divorces Offset: “I’m a bad b-tch” (HipHopDX)
Cardi B has recently claimed that she won’t be standing for Offset‘s mess, and will happily take him to divorce court — and find a rich replacement — if he gets out of line.
During a Twitter Spaces session on Saturday (June 24), the “Bodak Yellow” rapper made it clear that she won’t tolerate nonsense from any man — even her husband — no matter how much she loves him.
“I don’t be outside like that, so when I do be outside, these ballplayers, these rappers, and these dudes — they see me,” she began. “And their voices start trembling. They be nervous! Because I’m a bad bitch! You don’t got that — I got that.” Read more
Elton John wipes away tears as he pays emotional tribute to George Michael at Glastonbury (Sun)
Elton John left his fans in tears as he paid an emotional tribute to the late George Michael during his headlining show at Glastonbury.
The performer gave a moving speech to legendary singer George on what would have been his 60th birthday.
Ahead of their classic duet, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Elton spoke to the crowd about the performer. Read more
The Little Mermaid crosses $500m at the global box office (DailyMail)
Despite getting off to a somewhat slow start with a box office debut just under initial projections, The Little Mermaid has neared the $500 million worldwide box office milestone.
The beloved live-action Disney remake starring Halle Bailey took in another $8.6 million in its fifth weekend at the box office, with an additional $9.4 million in foreign markets, via Deadline.
Those figures bring its domestic total to $270.2 million and its foreign tally to $229.1 million, for a worldwide total of $499.3 million. Read more
Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford says he has no plans to retire (DigitalSpy)
Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford has no plans to retire, the actor has confirmed after starring as Indy in the franchise’s fifth outing aged 80.
Ford has led an iconic career, starring as both Han Solo in Star Wars and Indiana Jones in Steven Spielberg’s adventure film series. Indiana Jones 5, directed by James Mangold, releases next week in the UK, but Ford has no plans to slow down work.
In a new interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace, Ford said he will not be retiring: “I don’t do well when I don’t have work. I love to work… I love to feel useful. It’s my Jones, I want to be helpful.” Read more
Jihadists kill 5 civilians in east Kenya: witness, police source (France24)
Al-Shabaab jihadists have killed five civilians, some by beheading, in eastern Kenya, a witness and a police source told AFP on Sunday.
The attack occurred on Saturday around 7:30 pm (1630 GMT) in the villages of Juhudi and Salama in Lamu county, close to the Somali border, the source said.
“Five people were killed. The victims had their throats slit and there were others who were beheaded.” Read more
1 killed and several injured in Stockholm as roller coaster derails (Guardian)
One person has been killed and nine injured, including children, in a roller coaster accident at an amusement park in Stockholm.
Witnesses said the Jetline ride at the Gröna Lund theme park had partly derailed during a ride on Sunday, sending people crashing to the ground.
“This is tragic and shocking, and regrettably we’ve learned that one person has died,” Gröna Lund spokesperson Annika Troselius told public broadcaster SVT. Read more
Okocha shines in Ronaldinho’s organised charity game (Punch)
Nigerian legend, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha rolled back the years with his signature skills during his former PSG teammate, Ronaldinho’s celebrity-studded charity football match, The Beautiful Game, in Florida, United States.
The former Super Eagles star featuring for Team R10 scored the game’s first goal after tricking the defence with some of his signature movement and slipping the ball past Rene Higuita of Colombia.
The goal showed that Okocha, a legend of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, still possesses incredible football skills, years after retiring. Read more
Rivers United, Katsina complete Naija Super Eight play-off cast (Guardian)
Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Katsina United and their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) counterparts, Rivers United, yesterday, clinched the last two slots in the Naija Super Eight finals with victories in their zonal play-off matches.
While Katsina United defeated Kano Pillars 1-0 in the battle for the North-West ticket, Rivers United beat Bendel Insurance 3-2 to pick the South-South geo-political zone ticket at the Eket Township Stadium.
United and Pillars fought a long-drawn battle until Samson Souley beat a poorly set offside trap and kept his composure to find the net. In the goalless first half, Pillars fashioned the first chance in the ninth minute, but United’s Kolimba Alladoom stood up to Pillars’ Kokoette Udoh. Read more
Kalidou Koulibaly: Chelsea’s Senegal defender joins Saudi Pro League’s Al-Hilal (BBC)
Kalidou Koulibaly has become the latest Chelsea player to move to Saudi Arabia after the defender completed a transfer to Al-Hilal for an undisclosed fee.
The centre-back, 32, joins Ruben Neves at the Saudi Pro League side following the Wolves midfielder’s £47m switch.
Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has also agreed to sign for Saudi champions Al-Ittihad, while team-mate Edouard Mendy is close to joining Al-Ahli. Read more
Manchester United’s $127m Moises Caicedo transfer approach would not replicate Mason Mount saga (MEN)
Manchester United’s pursuit of Mason Mount in the summer transfer window is at risk of following the same pattern as the Frenkie de Jong saga.
While United hit difficulties last year persuading De Jong to move to Old Trafford, this time the concern surrounds the player’s parent club Chelsea. The Blues appear reluctant to agree a fee with the Reds and MEN Sport understands the club’s hierarchy are becoming frustrated with Chelsea’s unwillingness to negotiate.
With United becoming frustrated, it appears it will only be a matter of time before Erik ten Hag switches his priorities to another midfield target because we already know there is an eagerness to buy a midfielder sooner rather than later. One name touted as a Plan B option is Brighton and Hove Albion’s impressive midfielder Moises Caicedo. Read more
Keegan Bradley wins Travellers Championship, sets tourney scoring record (ESPN)
Growing up in New England, Keegan Bradley says he wasn’t invited to the big junior events that youngsters from Florida got to play.
That made it all the more special for the Vermont native to win in front of a New England crowd.
Despite a shaky finish, which he said came from the nerves of wanting so badly to win, the 37-year-old broke the tournament record at the Travelers Championship on Sunday for his sixth PGA tour victory.
Bradley closed with a 2-under 68 to finish 3 shots ahead of Zac Blair, who shot 62, and Brian Harman, who closed with a 64. Read more
Bagnaia wins attritional Dutch MotoGP, heartache for Binder (France24)
Francesco Bagnaia took another step towards defending his world MotoGP title, winning the Dutch MotoGP at Assen on Sunday to extend his lead in the championship.
Pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi took second with Brad Binder in third only for KTM’s South African rider to pick up a penalty for exceeding track limits that knocked him off the podium.
Demoted to fourth Aleix Espargaro was the beneficiary of Binder’s misfortune with the hapless South African suffering exactly the same fate in Saturday’s sprint. Read more