Nigeria deserves Guinness Book Record for FX rate, says ex-Minister (Channels)
A former Minister of Finance Kalu Idika says Nigeria’s foreign exchange crisis deserves mention in the Guinness World Records.
The Nigerian naira exchanges for over N1,000 to the dollar at the parallel market, leading to a hike in the prices of commodities. President Bola Tinubu had recently said he deserves to be in the Guinness World Records for his exploits in becoming president.
But speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, the former minister wondered how the country’s currency slipped so fast. Read more
MohBad’s toxicology test ongoing in US — Coroner (Tribune)
The Lagos Coroner Court sitting at Ita-Elewa in Ikorodu has said a toxicology test carried out on the body of the late music star, Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, is being conducted in the United States of America.
Toxicology is the aspect of an autopsy seeking to determine the cause of the singer’s death.
The state counsel, O. Akinde, made this known during the ongoing inquest on Wednesday. Read more
Lagos motorists demand removal of damaged metal net barricade (Punch)
Motorists and commuters have decried the condition of the metal net barricade mounted along the corridor of the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos State.
Our correspondent who visited the location on Wednesday observed that some parts of the metal net had been pulled down.
Pedestrians plying the section of the road could also be seen trampling on the damaged metal net which lies on the walkway close to the Berger Motor Park. Read more
Shettima presides over NEC meeting at the Villa (Nation)
Vice President Kashim Shettima is currently presiding over the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja.
The ongoing NEC meeting, which is the fourth since the Bola Tinubu administration took off, has virtually all members in attendance.
The council, which comprised the governors of the 36 states of the federation, also has ministers in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Finance, as well as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and some others as members. Read more
Nasarawa: PDP loses as Appeal Court reverses sack of Gov Sule of APC (Vanguard)
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, reversed the nullification of the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, voided the verdict of the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which sacked governor Sule of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
It held that the tribunal erred in law when it concluded that governor Sule did not win the majority of lawful votes that were cast in the election. Read more
NRC sacks staff involved in ticket racketeering (Guardian)
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, has said that staff of the agency involved in ticket racketeering have been sacked and others demoted.
Okhiria revealed this on Wednesday before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance while appearing at the 2024–2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) interactive session in Abuja.
The NRC boss, who confirmed the ticket racketeering by members of staff in the corporation, said that those involved in the act have been sacked. Read more
Ogun: Customs intercept 4,684 bags of rice, 901 parcels of marijuana (Vanguard)
The Ogun 1 Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday, disclosed that a total number of 4,684 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg, 901 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as marijuana were intercepted by its operatives in October, this year.
The command’s Acting Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the activities of his command, said the foreign parboiled rice which is the equivalent of eight trailer trucks and 121 other items have a Duty Payable Value (DPV) worth of over N398.47 million intercepted in the month under review.
Shuaibu, who reiterated the unwavering commitment of his command towards suppressing smuggling in the Command, stated that his command generated a total sum of over N30.4 million as revenue through baggage assessment and auction sales of seized petroleum products to the covers of the federal government within the same period under review. Read more
NNPP files appeal at Supreme Court, challenges Gov Yusuf’s sack (Channels)
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has filed its notice of appeal before the Supreme Court to challenge the November 17 judgement of the Court of Appeal which upheld the decision of the Election Petition Tribunal, sacking Governor Abba Yusuf and declared Dr Nasiru Gawuna, of the All Progressives Congress, APC as the duly elected governor of Kano State.
In the notice of appeal dated Nov. 22nd and filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Gboyega Awomolo leading seven other senior advocates and 10 other lawyers, the NNPP listed 10 grounds for challenging the appeal.
The party challenged “the entire judgment of the Court of Appeal save and except the conclusion and orders at page 67 of the duly Certified True Copy, CTC including the order as to cost favourable to the appellant.” Read more
Margot Robbie’s Barbie movie necklace is on sale for Black Friday (DigitalSpy)
Margot Robbie’s necklace from this year’s smash hit Barbie movie is on sale for Black Friday.
The “Ridge Heart Charm Pendant Necklace” from Missoma, as seen in Greta Gerwig’s record-breaking film, is now priced at £127.20 instead of £159, marking a 20% discount.
A product description on the luxury jewellery site reads: “Share the love with yourself or someone else. Paired with a delicate bobble chain, the gold puffed heart pendant features signature ridge detailing and a twisted rope jump ring. Layer with shorter necklaces or a delicate choker.” Read more
Kenya ready to privatise 35 state companies, president announces (AfricaNews)
The Kenyan authorities are to privatise 35 state-owned companies and are considering opening up the capital of 100 others, President William Ruto said on Thursday, as the East African country faces liquidity problems and economic difficulties.
The Kenyan economy, the locomotive of East Africa, has been seriously shaken by Covid, followed by the shockwaves of the war in Ukraine and a historic drought in the Horn of Africa.
Public debt in the country of some 53 million people stood at more than 10,100 billion shillings (64.4 billion euros) at the end of June, according to Treasury figures, representing around two-thirds of gross domestic product. Read more
End of an era: How corruption in Liberia cost George Weah the presidency (AlJazeera)
On January 22, 2018, a cheering crowd welcomed George Weah to the Samuel K Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, outside Liberia’s capital, Monrovia. But the man once crowned the world’s best footballer was not there to add to his 75 matches for the Lone Stars, Liberia’s senior national football team.
It was his inauguration as the West African nation’s 25th president. Those present, like many Liberians glued to television sets at home and in the diaspora were brimming with hope at the expected transformation that his presidency would bring, just as his football career had given them joy and pride.
Party of Dutch anti-Islam populist Wilders to win most seats: Exit poll
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“It is my belief that the most effective way to directly impact the poor and to narrow the gap between rich and poor is to ensure that public resources do not end up in the pockets of government officials,” Weah said in his inaugural address. Read more
Mary Steenburgen recalls late Elf costar James Caan being “unexpectedly sweet and charming’’ (People)
Mary Steenburgen is fondly looking back on her time making Elf with the late James Caan.
In an exclusive chat with PEOPLE surrounding the Jon Favreau-directed holiday classic’s 20th anniversary, the actress says she wasn’t sure what to expect from Caan, who often appeared in tough-guy roles.
Steenburgen, 70, says she was pleasantly surprised on set by the warm personality of Caan, who died on July 6, 2022, at age 82. Read more
Tim Allen says he and Tom Hanks have been approached for ‘‘Toy Story 5’’ (NME)
Disney Pixar’s awaited “Toy Story 5” could very well see the return of Tim Allen and Tom Hanks.
Speaking to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, Allen – who voices Buzz Lightyear in the beloved Toy Story franchise – revealed to the talk show host that Disney has reached out to both him and Tom Hanks for a fifth Toy Story film. Tom Hanks famously voices the role of Woody.
When asked by Fallon if a fifth Toy Story film was in the works, Allen replied: “Bob Iger, head of Disney, said it was on and actually said it was going to happen. They have reached out to Tom and I to reprise the roles. They’re not saying anything about it… You wonder if four was too many. Is five going to be too much?” Read more
The MOBO Awards set to return as awards ceremony moves to brand new venue (Mirror)
The MOBO Awards is set to return for its 26th year but, this time, it will be hosted in a brand new venue.
The event is set to move to Sheffield for the first time in its 26 years. It set to kick off the 2024 awards season, coming live from the Utilita Arena Sheffield on 7 February 2024.
For the last 14 years, The MOBO Awards has been hosted in cities outside of the capital, apart from the 25th anniversary, including Leeds, Coventry and Glasgow. MOBO Founder, Kanya King CBE, said: “MOBO are excited to be kicking off the 2024 Awards season and heading to the city of Sheffield for the very first time for the 26th MOBO Awards. For the past 14 years, the MOBO Awards have travelled to cities outside of London – including Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Coventry, and now Sheffield. Read more
Dutch Election: Anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders wins dramatic victory (BBC)
Veteran anti-Islam populist leader Geert Wilders has won a dramatic victory in the Dutch general election, with almost all votes counted.
After 25 years in parliament, his Freedom party (PVV) is set to win 37 seats, well ahead of his nearest rival, a left-wing alliance.
“The PVV can no longer be ignored,” he said. “We will govern.”
His win has shaken Dutch politics and it will send a shock across Europe too. Read more
Awoniyi out of AFCON after surgery (Punch)
Super Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, is expected to be ruled out of the 2023 African Cup of Nations after undergoing surgery to correct a groin injury he picked up during the international break.
Nottingham Forest boss, Steve Cooper, while confirming the news said the striker will be out for “months” effectively ruling him out of the African showpiece that starts in January 2024 in Ivory Coast.
“We’ll definitely see him again this season, but it’s groin surgery so it will take a little while” Read more
Ndidi attracts interest from Sevilla (Guardian)
Nigerian and Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is attracting interest from La Liga outfit Sevilla.
Ndidi has been in superb form for Leicester this season, scoring one goal and making three assists in 12 Championship games.
In 15 appearances in all competitions for the Foxes this campaign, he has netted three goals and provided four assists. Read more
Wales to host Finland in Euro 2024 semi-final play-off before potential final against Poland or Estonia (IrishIndependent)
Wales have been drawn to host Finland in the semi-finals of the qualification play-offs for Euro 2024.
The match will take place on Thursday, March 21 at Cardiff City Stadium.
Should Rob Page’s men win that single-leg tie, they would then host either Poland or Estonia five days later at the same venue to play for a spot at next summer’s tournament in Germany. Read more
Lionel Messi’s furious argument with Rodrygo leaked after he stormed team off pitch (Mirror)
Footage of Lionel Messi’s heated exchange with Brazil star Rodrygo has emerged after the World Cup qualifier for Argentina.
Messi captained his country against Brazil at Maracena Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday night. Argentina won the game 1-0 thanks to a Nicolas Otamendi goal in the 83rd minute.
However, the game was halted before a ball had even been kicked due to issues in the stands of the stadium. Brazilian police clashed with Argentina fans which led to Messi leading his team off the field in protest. Messi is quoted as having said to the officials: “We’re leaving. We can’t play in these circumstances.” Read more
F1 stewards summon Vasseur and Wolff over Vegas outbursts (StraitsTimes)
Formula One stewards summoned Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur and Mercedes principal Toto Wolff to a hearing on Thursday into their conduct during a Las Vegas Grand Prix press conference last week.
Stewards said in a statement at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that the governing FIA’s media delegate had reported the pair for “the use of certain language” in the Nov. 16 conference.
The Las Vegas stewards had been unable to conduct a hearing after the race and delegated their authority to the Abu Dhabi stewards. Read more
Martina Navratilova weighs in again on transgender athletes after college record broken (Express)
Former tennis player Martina Navratilova has again made anti-transgender comments, with the 67-year-old lashing out at a transgender woman who broke a swimming record at a small liberal arts college this past weekend.
Meghan Cortez-Fields, the swimmer, finished the 100-yard butterfly in 57.22 seconds – a record for Ramapo College, which enrolls about 6,000 students. She also finished in second place in the 200-yard butterfly.
Navratilova, who spends significant time nowadays commenting online about transgender women in sports, wrote, “Women’s sports is not the place for mediocre male athletes who compete as women. Period.” Read more