Nigeria in darkness as national grid collapses again (Guardian)
Nigeria’s electricity grid has once again thrown the country into darkness as the government operated system went down Monday afternoon.
The system collapsed at about 1pm cutting down electricity from 4,032.80 megawatts at about 12 pm to 43 megawatts 1 pm and a meagre 303 megawatts at about 5 pm.
Most DisCos confirmed that their feeders are out even as the over 22 electricity plants on the grid were all reading zero megawatts as of 5 pm going by the data available on the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s System Network. Read more
FG denies plan to increase tax (Vanguard)
Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, says the federal government has no plan to increase the current tax rates.
Edun stated this on Monday when he defended the 2024 budget proposal before the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations.
While responding to questions from the lawmakers on the prospect of increased tax rate, Edun said the government is not considering tax increments, but rather seeking to increase the tax bracket and capture more people and entities. Read more
Emefiele’s Naira Redesign Policy made farmers bankrupt — FG (Leadership)
The Federal Government, on Monday, said that the abandoned Naira re-design policy carried out by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the immediate-past Governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele, rendered Nigerian farmers bankrupt.
This is as federal lawmakers lamented that hunger and famine in the land were causing deaths of the poor in rural parts of the country.
The revelations came to the fore during the 2024 budget defence session hosted by the National Assembly Joint Committees on Agriculture and attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. Read more
Rivers Crisis: CSOs accuse Wike of causing anarchy, set for protest
(Channels)
The Coalition of Rivers Civil Society (CSO) Groups are accusing the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike of causing anarchy in Rivers State.
Speaking on their behalf at a press conference on Monday, the Convener of Ogoni Development Drive Solomon Lenu, says the Martins Amaewhule-led group of the Rivers State Assembly has continued to violate a court order restraining the two groups in the dispute from sitting.
At the event in Port Harcourt, he appealed for the swift intervention of President Bola Tinubu to call Wike to order, threatening that they would soon occupy the minister’s office in Abuja in protest if nothing is done to resolve the Rivers crisis. Read more
Embassy of Spain, Nigeria Health Watch host seminar on healthcare delivery (Sun)
The Embassy of Spain in Nigeria in collaboration with Nigeria Health Watch held a seminar on women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The one- day seminar was part of the Embassy’s scientific diplomacy program, to bring together outstanding women from Nigeria and Spain to share with a knowledgeable audience their findings in research programs, their expectations on future projects, and what transformational actions can be implemented to better the health of Nigerians.
Nigeria Health Watch in a statement disclosed that women in science, technology, engineering and maths play a pivotal role in advancing healthcare. “Their contributions drive innovation, research, and breakthroughs, leading to improved diagnostics, treatments, and technologies resulting in more inclusive and effective healthcare solutions. Read more
NOWA touches lives of orphanages in Lagos, awards scholarships
(ThisDay)
The Naval Officers Wives Association Lagos Island has awarded scholarships to four children in Raco Orphanage who are currently in senior secondary school (SSS1) to complete their secondary education.
The group led by NOWA Lagos Island Zonal Director, Oluwabukola Bankole also donated lots of food items and toiletries to the orphanage during their visit to the home in Ibeju Lekki at the weekend.
Speaking at the event, Oluwabukola Bankole NOWA Lagos Island Zonal Director said: “For years, it has been our focus to ensure that we touch lives positively. Our anchor drive is to touch lives positively within our environs, that is within and outside the Navy family. We all know that when we train a child through secondary education, we impact the nation.” Read more
Onikoyi Family selects Tinubu loyalist as Oba-elect in Lagos (Leadership)
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and long-term supporter of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Prince Abdul Waliu Oladimeji Sulaiman, has been selected by the Onikoyi Family as the Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba Land Oba-elect in Lagos State.
His selection on Sunday at a well-attended open meeting of the Muti Onikoyi Royal Family, held at Iga Onikoyi, Lagos Island, followed the demise of Oba Patrick Ibikunle Fafunwa and was in line with the provisions of the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration of 2006.
In 2006, when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was Governor of Lagos State, the state government, as part of efforts to resolve a protracted crisis over the number of ruling houses in the Onikoyi Royal Family, formally made the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration. Read more
Let your decisions, reforms reflect on lives of Nigerians, Shettima tells Council on Privatisation (Nation)
Vice President Kashim Shettima has charged members of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) to ensure their economic decisions and reforms are reflected in the lives of Nigerians from all parts of the country.
Specifically, he urged them to defy the way things were being done in the past in order to pave the way for economic growth that is in harmony with the aspirations of the citizens.
According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima gave the charge on Monday during the induction programme for members of the NCP and other critical stakeholders at the conference centre of the NIA headquarters, Abuja. Read more
Kwara PDP expels youth leader for anti-party activities (Punch)
The Peoples Democratic Party has suspended one of its leaders, Haliru Dantsoho, from Ward 1, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Before his expulsion on Monday, Dantsoho was suspended as the State Youth Leader of the PDP over anti-party activities.
In a letter dated December 11, 2023, and signed by the ward chairman, Mohammed Nurudeen, and 16 out of 17 executive ward members which was made available to the our correspondent on Monday, the party said Dantsoho was expelled for gross misconduct arising from raising unsubstantiated allegations against the leadership of the party through videos he circulated on the social media. Read more
Cardi B confirms split from Offset (People)
Cardi B has confirmed her single status in the wake of rumours about her relationship with Offset.
The rapper, 31, got candid on Instagram Live over the weekend as she admitted, “I’ve been single for a minute now,” according to a recording of the livestream shared on X (formerly known as Twitter).
She continued, “But I have been afraid… Not afraid, I just don’t know how to tell the world. But I feel like today has been, like, a sign.” Read more
Shirley Anne Field: The Entertainer and Alfie actress dies aged 87 (Sky)
Actress Shirley Anne Field, best known for playing Tina Lapford in The Entertainer, has died aged 87.
The star of stage and screen shot to fame after her role in the 1960s drama alongside Laurence Olivier.
She went on to feature in films including 1966 comedy, Alfie, alongside Sir Michael Caine and kitchen sink drama Saturday Night And Sunday Morning with Albert Finney in 1960. Read more
Zac Efron pays tribute to “mentor” Matthew Perry at Hollywood Walk of Fame acceptance (Mirror)
While being honoured with a story on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Zac Efron took a moment to reflect on the late Matthew Perry.
As part of the ceremony, the High School Musical actor was given the opportunity to give an acceptance speech. He talked about working with Matthew while filming 17 Again, saying he was “so kind and generous with me”. In fact, Zac believes that working with Matthew and Burr Steers had a major impact on his life, ‘propelling and motivating him.’
He said: “It really pushed me into the next chapter of my career, and for that, thank you so much, Matthew. Thinking about you a lot today.” This isn’t the first time that Zac made a nod to his late friend. Read more
Dermot Mulroney reacts to Julia Roberts wanting a My Best Friend’s Wedding sequel (ET)
Dermot Mulroney says he would do a sequel to My Best Friend’s Wedding with Julia Roberts in a heartbeat.
Talking with ET from the premiere of his new film, Anyone But You, the 60-year-old actor expressed his excitement at the prospect of getting to star alongside Roberts, 56, all over again.
“Yeah, no, I’m in,” he said when asked if he would be down for another film. “I’m thrilled to hear Julia’s finally, you know, coming to her senses.” Read more
3 guilty of ‘sadistic’ murder of vulnerable woman who was locked in a cupboard and fed ketchup sachets (Independent)
Two women and a man have been found guilty of murdering a vulnerable woman who was tortured, starved and battered to death.
Shakira Spencer died after falling under the influence of her former neighbour Ashana Studholme, 38, her lover Shaun Pendlebury, 26, and their friend Lisa Richardson, 44.
The defendants, from west London, “treated her like a slave”, scalded her feet and fed her only ketchup from sachets, the Old Bailey was told. Read more
South Africa miners resurface after underground dispute (AfricaNews)
More than 400 miners who had been underground for four days in South Africa, some of them held back by colleagues against a backdrop of tensions following a recent murder in obscure circumstances, emerged from a gold mine east of Johannesburg on Monday.
“We’re very happy that it’s coming to an end,” Ziyaad Hassam, of the Gold One company operating the mine in the town of Springs, about 50km from Johannesburg, told AFP.
“We have a lot of work to do with the unions to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he continued. Read more
Man imprisoned as teen for flower shop killing is released after judge throws out his conviction (NBC)
A 35-year-old man who was sent to prison for the 2004 killing of a man in a Minneapolis flower shop was released Monday after a judge ruled the eyewitness evidence on which his conviction rested was unreliable.
Marvin Haynes, who was 16 at the time of the killing, was released from prison shortly afterward the judge’s ruling.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said it agreed with defence attorneys that Haynes had proven in court that admitting the shaky evidence violated his constitutional rights during his 2005 trial for the killing of Randy Sherer, 55, who was shot during a robbery. Read more
Nnadozie crowned 2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year (Channels)
Chiamaka Nnadozie was crowned the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for 2023 on Monday night.
Nnadozie beat fellow goalkeepers in the form of Moroccan shot-stopper Khadija El-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Olaminii.
She showed her heroics in the Women’s World Cup match against Olympic champions Canada, making three saves, including stopping a 50th-minute penalty from Christine Sinclair. Read more
Osimhen breaks 24-year Nigeria jinx, claims CAF POTY award (Punch)
Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as well as Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala won big at the 2023 CAF Awards, sweeping the men and women’s player of the year awards for Nigeria at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday, The PUNCH reports.
It’s the first time one country will produce winners of both awards.
Osimhen was named the winner of the CAF Player of The Year Award, becoming the first Nigerian to win the award since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999, just as Oshoala claimed a record-extending sixth Women’s Player of The Year as the most successful women’s player in Africa. Read more
Chelsea must start winning games –Mikel tells Pochettino (CompleteSports)
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi has charged Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino to put an end to rebuilding the team and start winning games in the Premier League.
Mikel made this known via his Obi One Podcast, where lamented the Blues lack of leadership.
“Are we just going to sit on the fence and say we are still in a rebuilding process?” Mike Obi said this on his Obi One Podcast. Read more
Everton scoreboard responded to poverty chanting in Chelsea game with foodbank advert (BBC)
Everton will continue to advertise charity foodbanks on the Goodison Park scoreboard as a direct response to opposition fans’ ‘poverty chanting’, after it was praised on social media this weekend.
Following similar chanting during the previous matches against Manchester United and Newcastle at Goodison Park, Everton had engaged with the fans’ advisory board and fans’ forum to discuss what could be done.
In a planned move, it was decided the message of ‘fans supporting foodbanks’ would be displayed on the big screen inside the stadium whenever the chants – such as “Feed the Scousers” and “sign on” – were heard in Sunday’s Premier League match against Chelsea. Read more
Thomas Tuchel fires warning to Man Utd and confirms Harry Kane plan (Mirror)
Manchester United must beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford in their final Champions League group stage tie on Tuesday to stand any chance of progressing to the knockout phase
Thomas Tuchel says there will be no let-up from Bayern Munich against Manchester United – even though they are already through as group winners.
Tuchel confirmed England skipper Harry Kane will start and promised the German champions will give their all to win and preserve their six-year unbeaten group stage run. Read more
Osimhen battles Messi, Ronaldo for IFFHS Men’s World Best Player Award 2023 (Leadership)
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen will aim for the 2023 International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) Men’s World Best Player after being named on a 24-players shortlisted for the award.
The IFFHS unveiled the nominees on its official website on Monday.
Lionel Messi, who won the award in 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Antoine Griezman and Bukayo Saka are among the nominees. Read more