Nigeria will be food sufficient in my tenure, Tinubu brags (Punch)
President Bola Tinubu has boasted that Nigeria would become self-sufficient in food production during his tenure in office.
The president affirmed that having received the traditional title of Jagaban Borgu in Niger about 20 years ago, he would support every effort of the state at speedy development.
Tinubu made this known on Thursday while performing the groundbreaking ceremony of the 84km, N169.7 billon Bida to Minna road construction in Kakakpagi, Katch Local Government Area of the state. Read more
Chrisland Schools move to curb bullying (Vanguard)
As part of activities marking the ‘Safeguarding Week’, the management of Chrisland Schools, recently held a programme, to sensitise students on the need to stand against bullying and other vices.
A statement by a member of Chrisland Schools’ Advisory Board, Mr. Akin Fadeyi, explained that the event underscored the commitment of Chrisland to school safety.
Speaking on the occasion, Chrisland Schools Head, Risk, Compliance, Safeguarding and Child Protection, Mrs Kemi Fajemirokun, said: “This week-long event is designed to empower learners and provide them with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate each term safely and confidently.” Read more
Former aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, daughter, son-in-law arraigned, get N100m bail each (ThisDay)
A former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, was on Thursday admitted to bail in the sum of N100 million by Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama.
The judge admitted Sirika, his daughter, Fatima and son-in-law, Jalal Hamma, to bail shortly after the pleaded not guilty to a six count charge read against them by the court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the trio as a firm, Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, over alleged abuse of office and fraud to the tune of N2.7 billion. Read more
Amidst public anger, Senate defends Cybersecurity levy (Tribune)
Amidst anger from Nigerians, particularly the Organised Private Sector, regarding the 0.5% cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions, the Senate has defended the proposed implementation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
By virtue of provisions of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act 2024, and under the provision of Section 44 (2)(a) of the Act, a levy of 0.5 per cent (0.005) equivalent to half a per cent of all electronic transaction values by the businesses specified in the Second Schedule of the Act is to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund, which the Office of the National Security Adviser shall administer.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Shehu Umar Buba, stated in a statement that “the levy is not punitive as it has numerous exemptions to protect and relieve ordinary citizens, particularly the poor.” Read more
NESG faults timing of Cybersecurity Levy, says Nigerians battling high food prices (Channels)
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has faulted the timing of the introduction of the 0.5% cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In a statement on Thursday, NESG asked the Federal Government to reconsider the levy as Nigerians are currently groaning under multiple taxation and inflationary pressures.
In a circular dated May 6, 2024 to all deposit money banks and mobile money operators and payment service providers, the apex bank directed the deduction of the levy to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund (NCF), administered by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Read more
Nigerian Army arrests soldier for illegal ammunition, grenades hidden in bag of rice (Vanguard)
The Nigerian Army on Thursday said it has apprehended personnel for illegal possession of ammunition and explosives during a routine search operation by the Military Police K9 Team, at the Borno Express Terminal in Maiduguri, Borno State.
A statement by Major Gen Onyema Nwacbukwu, Director of Army Public Relations said, “The soldier, Lance Corporal Mubarak Yakubu was found in possession of 756 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and four 36 hand grenades, ingeniously concealed within a small bag of rice”.
“This arrest underscores the Nigerian Army’s zero-tolerance policy towards any form of illegal activity or contravention of military regulations by its personnel. Read more
Nigeria to start producing mobile phones, laptops others – NASENI (DailyTrust)
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has disclosed plans to produce laptops, android smartphones, lithium batteries and solar street lamps.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NASENI, Khalil Halilu, made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja during a media briefing.
He said the production of the materials were part of efforts to develop national brands to compete with other products on the market. Read more
Cybercrime: Court summons two for sharing Lagos socialite’s nude picture (Punch)
A Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has summoned two social media users for criminal defamation of a socialite, Dorcas Adeyinka, by allegedly sharing her nude photo online.
In the court summons dated Thursday, May 9, 2024, which was exclusively obtained by our correspondent, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna ordered the two defendants – Tolulope Adeoye, aka Abike Jagaban, and Tolulope Odegbami, aka Olowosibi – to appear in persons before the court on June 4, 2024, to answer the charges leveled against them by the complainant.
The summons followed a criminal complaint filed by the complainant’s lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of an Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor. Read more
Justin Bieber expecting first child with wife Hailey (Metro)
Hailey Bieber is pregnant with her first child, with husband Justin Bieber.
The happy couple, who got married in 2018, confirmed their baby joy on Instagram earlier today – months after the model’s dad, Stephen Baldwin, sparked fears over their relationship.
In a joint post, the Baby singer, 30, could be seen cuddling up to the Rhode businesswoman, 27, as they kissed in a secluded field, during a surprise vow renewal. Read more
‘Mean Girls’ star Avantika talks colorism, says she feels ‘uglier in India’ than in the US (NBC)
“Mean Girls” star Avantika is speaking out about colorism in India and the negative perceptions of darker-skinned women from South India.
In an interview with Cosmopolitan, the 19-year-old actor, who just goes by her first name, said she feels Indian beauty standards malign women with her complexion, and those darker.
“I have definitely always felt uglier in India than I have here,” she said. “The colorism situation is primarily one of the biggest reasons why.” Read more
Offset disappoints fans after pulling out of Hot 97 summer jam (HipHopDx)
Offset has left his fans and followers disappointed as he will no longer be performing at this year’s Hot 97 Summer Jam in New York.
The music festival, which is set to take place on June 2 at Elmont’s UBS Arena, added a number of new acts to the bill on Monday (May 6).
Per the updated roster, French Montana, Fivio Foreign, Ty Dolla $ign and many more will take the stage at the event next month. Additionally, the recently departed Mister Cee‘s contributions to the culture will be celebrated by Big Daddy Kane. Read more
Israeli officials defiant after Biden weapons warning on Rafah assault (AlJazeera)
Israeli officials have struck a defiant tone after US President Joe Biden warned that the United States would not provide weapons for a full-scale ground assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are hemmed in with no safe way to leave.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in televised remarks on Thursday that Israel, which is heavily reliant on US weapons shipments, would “fight with our fingernails” if necessary.
“Hamas [hearts] Biden,” Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right security minister, wrote in a social media post. Read more
‘Real Martha’ admits Baby Reindeer nickname is a fact in Piers Morgan interview (Independent)
The woman who allegedly inspired Richard Gadd’s hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer has admitted she had a real toy which inspired the name of the series in her her first TV interview.
Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey, 58, who has been labelled the “real Martha”, has appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored to “set the record straight after being unmasked by fans” – news of which was met with controversy.
In the series, comedian Richard Gadd plays a fictionalised version of himself who gets stalked by a lonely and mentally ill woman called Martha, whom he meets while working at a pub. Read more
Neuralink reports data problem in first human brain implant (UPI)
Elon Musk’s Neuralink startup on Wednesday said its first human implant experienced a data loss malfunction that has now been resolved.
The problem was the result of a number of implanted threads retracting from the brain, causing a loss of data due to a decrease in effective electrodes, the company said in blog post.
Neuralink said it then modified the recording algorithm to be more sensitive to neural population signals, improved the techniques that translate the signals into cursor movements and enhanced the user interface. Read more
Israel qualifies for Eurovision final amid protest about its participation over Gaza (France24)
Israel qualified for this weekend’s Eurovision song contest grand finale as thousands of demonstrators marched through Sweden’s Malmo on Thursday to protest its participation over the Gaza war.
Singer Eden Golan performed her song “Hurricane” in Thursday’s second semi-final without incident in front of 9,000 spectators at the Malmo Arena and booked her place in Saturday’s final after a televote.
Earlier in the day, more than 10,000 people including climate activist Greta Thunberg gathered in Malmo’s main square before marching through the southern city’s central pedestrian shopping street, according to police estimates. Read more
NPFL: Quadri upbeat Shooting Stars will pick continental ticket (CompleteSports)
Shooting Stars midfielder Raheem Quadri is optimistic the club will end the season with a continental ticket.
Quadri expressed this optimism while featuring on Broadcasting Cooperation of Oyo State (BCOS) TV live programme on Thursday.
“I want to assure our teeming supporters and fans that the much sought after continental ticket will be secured at the end of the season. Read more
Olympic gold medallist Babangida, wife hospitalised after road crash, brother dies (Punch)
Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games gold medallist and President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, Tijani Babangida, was on Thursday involved in a car accident that claimed the life of his younger brother Ibrahim Babangida, The PUNCH has learnt.
Former teammate, Emmanuel Babayaro, the General Secretary, PFAN, announced the incident in a statement.
Though the details of the accident remained sketchy as of the time of filing this report, our correspondent learnt that the accident happened along the Kaduna-Zaria Road. Read more
Bayer Leverkusen break European record for longest unbeaten run (DailyMail)
Bayer Leverkusen have made history. The Bundesliga Champions have set a new European record of 49 games unbeaten after Josip Stanisic netted yet another last-gasp equaliser to seal a 2-2 draw with Roma.
Stanisic, 24, scored with the last kick of the game in the 97th minute to secure a 4-2 aggregate win over the Italians, in turn booking their place in the Europa League final.
Xabi Alonso’s side just don’t know when they are beaten, they were 2-0 down heading into the final 10 minutes, but after an own goal from Gianluca Mancini and then Stanisic’s strike, they have now surpassed Benfica’s 59-year record. Read more
Leclerc assigned new Ferrari race engineer from Imola (F1i)
Ferrari has announced a shift in Charles Leclerc’s technical team from next week’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with long-standing race engineer Xavi Marcis leaving the Monegasque’s crew.
Marcos started working alongside Leclerc after the latter’s arrival at the Scuderia in 2019, and the Italian has since played a key role in the five-time Grand Prix winners’ development.
However, Marcos will be transitioning to a different position within the team and replaced from Imola by Leclerc’s current performance engineer, Bryan Bozzi, a ten-year veteran with Ferrari. Read more
Arsenal fans despair as Premier League title parade plans confirmed – “We never learn” (Mirror)
Arsenal’s plans for an open-top bus parade through Islington if they beat Manchester City to the Premier League title in the coming weeks have caused a stir on social media
Arsenal have split opinion amongst their fans after unveiling plans for a three-hour bus parade if they beat Manchester City to the Premier League crown.
The Gunners last won the league title back in the 2003/04 campaign but have a real chance to end their 20-year drought in the coming weeks as they battle City for domestic glory. Read more
‘Mbappe not to blame for latest PSG Champions League exit’ (BBC)
On Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund played a magnificent game to defeat the favourites to reach the final, Paris St-Germain.
The finger of blame was aimed mostly at 25-year-old superstar Kylian Mbappe with the reason being, if he wants to be counted among the greats, that he must find a way to be the difference in such matches – like all the greats.
Except Mbappe couldn’t. More was expected from the most expensive player in football than hitting the crossbar in the 86th minute. Read more