Nigeria has highest number of collapsed buildings in Africa, says SON DG (Guardian)
NlBIFM tasks leaders on preventive maintenance, infrastructure decay
Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Farouk Salim, yesterday, said that Nigeria had witnessed a disturbing increase in cases of building collapse over the years.
He noted that statistics have shown that there are over 221 cases in Nigeria, making it the topmost country in Africa with the highest number of building collapse, adding that Lagos State alone constitutes 60 per cent of the cases. Read more
Presidential polls: You sold your neutrality to APC, Obi tells INEC (Sun)
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) compromised its role of neutrality as an election umpire by manipulating results of the February 25 presidential polls in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Obi, who was responding to INEC preliminary objections and reply to his petition, said it was wishful thinking by the Commission to submit that his petition and reliefs sought therein before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) were vague, imprecise and ungrantable.
On the contrary, Obi urged the tribunal to assume jurisdiction and proceed to determine his petition as it was properly brought before it with necessary parties as required by law. Read more
Adamawa poll: Binani withdraws suit against INEC, Fintiri, others (Tribune)
The Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, Sen. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, has withdrawn a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
She had asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop INEC from announcing any other results of the governorship poll in the state
Apart from INEC, the order respondents in the suit are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri. Read more
Banana Island: Lagos begins removal of illegal structures (Leadership)
To check further building collapse, the Lagos State government has begun the removal of illegal structures in Banana Island.
The state government’s action followed the recent collapse of a seven-storey building in the highbrow area.
The demolition of the illegal structures is being carried out by officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force). Read more
Oando, LAMATA take delivery of electric mass transit buses (Punch)
Oando Clean Energy Limited and Lagos State have announced that they have taken delivery of electric mass transit buses to kick off a sustainable road transport system in the state.
According to Oando, this is in furtherance of a 2022 Memorandum of Understanding it signed with Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority to enable the successful deployment of an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Ecosystem (electric buses, charging stations, and other supporting infrastructure) in the state.
It stated that the MoU was signed to bridge the gap in the state’s current mass transit bus system and cater to the increasing number of commuters in the state. Read more
PSC approves dismissal of 3 officers, reduces rank of 5 others (Vanguard)
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the dismissal of three police officers and reduction in rank of five others.
Mr Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that 20 other officers were severely reprimanded.
He said the dismissed officers were three Assistant Superintendents of Police, while those affected by reduction in rank include an Assistant Commissioner, a Chief Superintendent, two Superintendents and one Assistant Superintendent. Read more
FCT Prisons Controller assures staff, inmates of welfare (DailyTrust)
The FCT Controller of Correctional Service, Ibrahim N. Idris Esq. has assured staff of the CG’s commitment to their welfare and that of inmates and called on them to ensure strict compliance with operational guidelines in line with international best correctional practices.
A statement by Adamu Samson Duza, the FCT Command’s PRO, said the controller made the call during his just concluded familiarisation tour to all correctional facilities under his command.
He also charged all security agencies to strengthen the already existing synergy on intelligence gathering to assist the correctional service in achieving the purpose of incarceration, which is primarily for reformation, in accordance with the NCoS Act, 2019. Read more
Our hostels not affected in fire incident, says Oduduwa varsity (Nation)
Contrary to what is being bandied about in certain quarters, the management of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu (OUI), Osun State, has said that the fire incident that happened on the campus yesterday was caused by a gas explosion from one of the shops in the mini-market.
According to the management of the institution, the Tuesday incident was discovered by a security personnel on patrol, who noticed the fire coming from one of the shops situated in the area, and immediately alerted the security department.
“A swift move was taken as men from the Oduduwa University fire service arrived on the spot to put out the fire. It took the efforts of the firefighters in conjunction with the Obafemi Awolowo University fire services to control the spread of the inferno.’’ Read more
Ex-New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern to join Harvard this fall (UPI)
Jacinda Ardern, the former prime minister of New Zealand who led the country during the worst of the pandemic and mourned with its citizens following the Christchurch massacre, announced that she will be joining Harvard University this fall.
The 42-year-old has been appointed to dual fellowships at Harvard Kennedy School, the ivy league university’s school for public policy and government.
“I am incredibly humbled to be joining Harvard University as a fellow — not only will it give me the opportunity to share my experience with others, it will give me a chance to learn,” she said in a statement. “As leaders, there’s often very little time for reflection, but reflection is critical if we are to properly support the next generation of leaders.” Read more
Kim Kardashian doppelganger dies in hospital, family struggles to raise money for memorial (AllHipHop)
An OnlyFans model, who spent thousands of dollars to look like billionaire influencer Kim Kardashian, has died.
Suspicions believe her death was directly related to the extensive plastic surgery she received over the years.
The family is calling her death a “homicide.”
According to her GoFundMe, Gourkani died on April 20 around 4:31 a.m. Read more
‘‘The Exorcist: Believer’’ conjures 1st trailer at CinemaCon (THR)
The Exorcist is back. Universal showed off the first footage from its high-profile sequel to the classic film, with filmmaker David Gordon Green and producer Jason Blum also revealing its new title.
The Exorcist: Believer kicks off after the Devil takes over the bodies of two children.
In the trailer, which was not released online, a father drops off his daughter at school, however she and a friend go missing after school. When they are found in the woods, they seem changed and unaware that they were gone three days, believing it’d been just a few hours. At another point in the trailer, one of the girls — covered in communion wine — walks into a church mass, screaming at the priest: “The body and the blood!” Read more
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo defy gravity in dazzling 1st-ever look at ‘‘Wicked’’ (Variety)
Universal brought the first-ever footage of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda in the movie version of “Wicked” to CinemaCon, the annual movie theater owners convention in Las Vegas. Erivo and Grande weren’t on hand to perform, but viewers were able to hear the captivating sounds of classic tunes like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular” in the background of the dazzling, magical footage.
In the never-before-seen clip, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible works with Elphaba to help her control her powers. “Once you learn to harness your emotions, the sky’s the limit,” Morrible tells her student. Read more
Fugees rapper found guilty in US over 1MDB case (AlJazeera)
Fugees rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel has been convicted in the United States of conspiring with the financier at the centre of Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal to illegally lobby the US government.Michel was accused of funnelling money from the fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho to the 2012 reelection campaign of former US President Barack Obama and lobbying the Justice Department during former President Donald Trump’s tenure to drop investigations into Low’s alleged corruption.
Michel, who achieved fame in the 1990s with hits including “Ready or Not” and “Killing Me Softly”, was also alleged to have lobbied Washington on behalf of China to send dissident Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui back to China. Read more
Ed Sheeran testifies in Marvin Gaye copyright trial (Vibe)
Ed Sheeran testified on Tuesday (April 25) in New York City in the copyright trial against him involving his Grammy-winning record, “Thinking Out Loud” and Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.”
According to BBC, heirs of Ed Townsend argue that Sheeran, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Publishing owe them money for allegedly stealing the R&B ballad. The New York Times adds that Townsend, who died in 2003, is listed as the primary songwriter of “Let’s Get It On,” earning two-thirds of the royalties from it.
Attorney Ben Crump claims the British phenom’s usage of Gaye’s lyrics during a concert is a “smoking gun,” and called footage of the performance a “confession.” Read more
Fighting flares in Sudan, but Army leader approves extending cease-fire (VOA)
Sudan’s army and a paramilitary force battled on Khartoum’s outskirts on Wednesday, undermining a truce in their 11-day conflict, but the army expressed willingness to extend the cease-fire.
The army late on Wednesday said its leader, General Abdel Fattah Burhan, gave initial approval to a plan to extend the truce for another 72 hours and send an army envoy to the South Sudan capital, Juba, for talks.
The Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces previously agreed to a three-day cease-fire that is to expire late Thursday. There was no immediate response from the RSF to the proposal from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a regional bloc. Read more
Ex-Flying Eagles star Aliyu joins MLS side (Punch)
Former Flying Eagles striker Ibrahim Aliyu has signed for Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo from Croatian side NK Lokomotiva Zagreb.
Both clubs announced the 21-year-old signed a three-year contract through 2025 with club options of another two years.
He joined the Dynamo as a part of Major League Soccer’s U-22 Initiative and will occupy an international roster spot pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa. Read more
Arsenal put in their place by Man City masterclass (France24)
Billed as a Premier League title decider, it was barely even a contest as Manchester City thrashed Arsenal 4-1 on Wednesday to close in on becoming English champions for the fifth time in six years.
City have not even hit top spot yet as Arsenal remain two points in front.
But the momentum of the title race looks to have decisively swung the way of Pep Guardiola’s men as they have the chance to pull away into the distance with two games in hand. Read more
European round-up: Inter Milan advance to Coppa Italia final (RTE)
Inter Milan booked their place in the Coppa Italia final as Federico Dimarco’s goal was enough to down Juventus.
With the semi-final level at 1-1 from the first leg, it was Inter who progressed after Dimarco’s first-time finish with just 15 minutes on the clock saw the hosts advance 2-1 on aggregate.
In Spain, Barcelona failed to further extend their lead at the top of La Liga after slipping to a surprise defeat at Rayo Vallecano. Read more
Sean Dyche running out of time to save chaotic Everton from increasingly likely relegation (National)
It all started so well for Sean Dyche. Less than one week after being recruited by Everton to salvage a chaotic season which had descended into a fight for Premier League survival, Dyche masterminded a shock, but deserved, win against a rampant Arsenal.
Then 19th and on a run of six losses and a draw, no one gave Everton a prayer at Goodison Park against a title-chasing Arsenal side who had won 16 out of 19 league matches.
Yet, the Toffees delivered a performance that featured all the trademarks of their new manager: organised, compact, aggressive, quick to every loose ball, and attacking and defending in numbers. Read more
Women’s tennis more consistent than men’s: Swiatek (France24)
World number one Iga Swiatek called for prize money equality between WTA and ATP events, saying Wednesday that women’s tennis is now more consistent than men’s.
The reigning French Open and US Open champion is preparing to compete at the Madrid Open after retaining her Stuttgart title last weekend, defeating world number two Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Swiatek won a little more than 100,000 euros (111,000 dollars), which some contrasted to Carlos Alcaraz 475,000 (526,000 dollars) haul for triumphing at the Barcelona Open. Read more
Portland Trail Blazers announce G League team (Fox)
The Portland Trail Blazers are getting a G League team, the team announced on Wednesday.
The Blazers’ G League team will play at the Chiles Center on the University of Portland campus. The team is expected to debut in the 2023-24 season, and the name and brand identity of the team will be announced at a later date.
“I’m excited to welcome Jody Allen and the Trail Blazers ownership group to the NBA G League family,” said NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim. “The NBA G League continues to grow to meet the developmental demands of NBA teams, and today’s announcement is further proof of the value the league provides to the NBA every day. I can’t wait to watch the team tip off at the Chiles Center next season.” Read more