Nigerians are heartbroken, hopeless, Mbaka tells Tinubu (Vanguard)
Fiery Catholic Priest and founder of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu (AMEN), Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, has called on President Bola Tinubu to sit up and fulfil his election campaign promises of tackling insecurity and hardship in Nigeria.
The cleric, who made the call during a sermon at the Adoration Ground in Emene, Enugu on Sunday, said the President Tinubu-led administration has not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians following the escalating level of insecurity and hardship in Nigeria.
Mbaka said since coming into office in May last year, the President has yet to exhibit political will towards solving the country’s problems. Read more
NAFDAC begins enforcement of ban on alcoholic drinks in sachets (Punch)
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has commenced the enforcement of the ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200ml and below.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this on Monday at a press conference in Abuja.
“As of January 31, 2024, there is no alcoholic beverage in these categories that are registered by NAFDAC. I also want to inform you that the agency has started enforcement actions to enforce the implementation of this policy. The window period given to manufacturers by NAFDAC to sell off all alcoholic drinks in this category elapsed on January 31, 2024. Read more
Veteran actor, Jimi Solanke, dies at 81 (Guardian)
Veteran actor, dramatist and singer Jimi Solanke passed away on Monday at the age of 81, just two months from his 82nd birthday.
Solanke’s passing was disclosed to reporters by a close source in the family, who stated that Solanke died while being rushed to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Ogun State.
The deceased, who was born on July 4, 1942, in Ipara, Remo, is survived by his wife, Toyin Solanke. Read more
Lagos: 4-year -old girl, 6 others injured in gas explosion (Sun)
It was a black Sunday in Lagos as gas exploded, injuring seven family members at 1, Odubanwo Streer, Off Olaniyi Street, Gbinrinmi in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The same day, a fire outbreak at a multiple purpose sawmill market located at Awori but stop behind GTB Bank, Abule Egba, destroyed property worth several millions.
In the gas explosion, a four years old girl, Faridat Shittu, is presently in a critical condition at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) after a cooking gas explosion ravaged the residence of her parents. Read more
MMIA Total Blackout: Sit up or get sack, Keyamo warns (ThisDay)
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, yesterday read the riot act to the management of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos airport to sit up or get booted out due to the recurring total blackout being experienced at the airport.
Disturbed by the recurring experience, Keyamo therefore directed that henceforth, all the airports, particularly the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, to constantly ensure seamless instant power transition in any power outage situation.
The Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister, who is said to be utterly worried with the trending reports in the traditional and social media of three total blackouts lasting for about three minutes in the airport within the last three days, said a noticeable power outage leading to complete blackout lasting for even a few seconds is not acceptable in any international airport in this age no matter the state of electricity supply. Read more
Hard times over soon – First Lady assures Nigerians (Nation)
The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has assured that hard times being faced by Nigerians will soon come to an end with the right policies of the Federal Government.
The President’s wife gave the assurance on Monday in the State House during a meeting with the Governors Wives on her pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
She assured that the year 2024 is loaded with “peace, progress, prosperity and greater achievements’’ to the advantage of all Nigerians. Read more
Gridlock as fuel queues resurface in Lagos (Punch)
There was heavy traffic gridlock in some parts of Lagos on Monday as motorists formed long queues outside the forecourts of filling stations on what appeared may herald a fresh scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit.
One of our correspondents observed along the Ikorodu Road axis how motorists endured an unusually heavy gridlock due to a long queue of motorists waiting to buy petrol at filling stations. Also, the Total Filling station at the Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way had queues which led to heavy tariff around the Ikeja axis.
Our correspondent also noticed that many of the filling stations along the Ikeja axis, through Obafemi Awolowo Road in Ikeja were shut. Read more
Lawyers weigh in on gun ownership self-defense (DailyTrust)
Calls for the law to support the liberalization of gun ownership by civilians have continued to attract opinions from Nigerians and lawyers have also weighed in.
The call for a bill that permits firearms ownership was first mooted by a lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, Ned Nwoko, following incessant killings and insecurity in the country.
000000There are concerns that gun ownership liberalisation could backfire with total state collapse, the collapse of social and family values, a drug-infested youth populace, huge swaths of ungoverned spaces, porous borders, a burgeoning illicit drugs market which has intensified the violent conflicts and banditry ravaging the land. Read more
Court dismisses Fubara loyalists’ bail requests (Channels)
Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court Abuja has denied bail to five Port Harcourt-based men allegedly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
They were charged with terrorism offences by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. The suspect were accused of burning the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, amongst other offences, last year.
Their bail applications, filed and argued by Lukman Fagbemi, was rejected and dismissed for lacking in merit. Read more
Fans are re-sharing Tracy Chapman’s original Grammys performance of ‘‘Fast Car’’ from 1989 (NME)
Fans online have been re-sharing Tracy Chapman’s original Grammys performance of ‘‘Fast Car’’ from 1989 following her appearance at the awards last night (February 4).
Chapman joined Luke Combs on stage at the 2024 Grammys last night to perform a version of her 1988 single ‘‘Fast Car’’ together.
Combs helped give the track a resurgence last year when he released a cover of the song. His version has been certified double platinum in the US and won the Single Of The Year and Song Of The Year awards at the 2023 Country Music Association Awards (CMA). Read more
Quavo & Lana Del Rey spark dating rumours after attending Grammys party together (HipHopDx)
Quavo and Lana Del Rey have ignited dating speculation following a joint appearance at a pre-Grammys party.
On Saturday (February 3), the “Candy Necklace” singer and “Bad and Boujee” rapper were seen cozying up together in the back of car while arriving to a get-together at The Fleur Room in West Hollywood, California.
Lana opted for an elegant black floor-length gown paired with black pumps, accessorised with a black neckpiece. Quavo rocked a plain white t-shirt which he paired with patchwork denim jeans, a Jesus piece, and black shades. Read more
King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer, will halt public duties as he undergoes treatment (ABC)
Britain’s King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment, Buckingham Palace said Monday. Less than 18 months into his reign, the 75-year-old monarch will suspend public engagements but will continue with state business, and won’t be handing over his constitutional roles as head of state.
The palace didn’t disclose what form of cancer the king has, but said it’s not related to his recent treatment for a benign prostate condition.
The palace said “a separate issue of concern was noted” during Charles’ treatment for an enlarged prostate last month, when he spent three nights in a London hospital. Read more
Headteacher jailed after pocketing £240k with illegal streaming business (Metro)
A private school headteacher has been jailed for running an illegal streaming business and making £240,000 in the process.
Paul Merrell was ‘tempted by the extra money’ as he sold software for £10 a month to provide illegal access to subscription-only services like Sky and BT.
Over four years Merrell, 43, built up a customer base of around 2,000 people and had built up around £450,000 in a PayPal account – £200,000 of which was sent to criminal enterprises which hosted the illegal streams. Read more
Jay-Z takes shots at Grammys while accepting Dr. Dre Global Impact award (HipHopDx)
JAY-Z called out the Recording Academy while accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
Hov appeared on stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday (February 4) and used his speech to take aim at the organisation for continually snubbing his wife Beyoncé in the Album of the Year category.
“We want y’all to get it right,” he said, standing alongside his 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy. “We love y’all, we love y’all, we just want y’all to get it right. At least get it close to right.
“We want y’all to get it right,” he said, standing alongside his 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy. “We love y’all, we love y’all, we just want y’all to get it right. At least get it close to right. Read more
James Cameron reveals he already has plans for Avatar ‘6 and 7’ (People)
Avatar 3 may have not hit theatres yet, but James Cameron has already got plans for the sixth and seventh films in the franchise.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at the 51st annual Saturn Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, the director, 69, opened up about the sequels and his involvement.
“We’re fully written through movie five, and I’ve got ideas for six and seven, although I’ll probably be handing the baton on at that point,” Cameron told PEOPLE. “I mean, mortality catches up. But I mean, we’re enjoying what we’re doing. We’re loving it. We get to work with great people.” Read more
UN chief appoints independent panel to assess UNRWA (AlJazeera)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced the creation of an independent panel to assess the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The aid agency has been under fire over accusations by Israel that 12 of its staff members were involved in the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7.
More than a dozen countries – including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden – have suspended funding to the agency. Read more
AFCON 2024: Osimhen misses Super Eagles trip to Bouake (Guardian)
Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, missed the Super Eagles’ trip to Bouake on Monday night ahead of their 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final game against South Africa.
According to a statement on the Super Eagles’ X handle, members of the team traveled from Abidjan to Bouaké via a 10pm Air Cote D’Ivoire flight.
“Victor Osimhen did not, however, make the trip as a result of an abdominal discomfort,” the statement read. Read more
‘Refund please!’ Fury in Hong Kong after fans miss out on seeing Lionel Messi play (NBC)
Lionel Messi fans were left infuriated after the Argentinean soccer superstar failed to participate in an exhibition game in Hong Kong where they had paid hundreds of dollars to see him play.
A sellout crowd of 40,000 fans attended the exhibition match on Sunday between a team of top Hong Kong players and Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer club that Messi joined last year. Many in the crowd wore the blue and white of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup champion national team or the pink of Inter Miami, both of which Messi captains.
Videos from Hong Kong Stadium shared with NBC News showed fans chanting “Refund!” and booing while David Beckham, Inter Miami’s co-owner, addressed the crowd after the match, which Inter Miami won 4-1. Read more
Arsenal: Martin Odegaard defends celebrations after Liverpool game (BBC)
Martin Odegaard has defended Arsenal’s celebrations after the 3-1 win against Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Gunners captain Odegaard was told to “get down the tunnel” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher after borrowing a camera from a club photographer to take pictures at full-time.
The win on Sunday put Arsenal two points behind Jurgen Klopp’s side. Read more
Ian Wright hails Arsenal star’s performance v Liverpool, urges Mikel Arteta to start him more (HitC)
Arsenal sent out a statement of intent by beating their Premier League title rivals Liverpool 3-1 on Sunday at the Emirates.
Before the start of the match, Mikel Arteta made some big calls, including playing Kai Havertz as a false nine instead of the injured Gabriel Jesus and bringing in Jorginho in the middle of the park.
It has been over 12 months since Arsenal signed the Euro 2020 winner, and during that period, he has had a mixed time of it. Read more
Kylian Mbappe’s Real Madrid transfer stalls as Liverpool and Arsenal make stance clear (Mirror)
Kylian Mbappe looks to be closing in on a summer move to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain but there is a significant problem to overcome before his switch to Spain can be made official
Kylian Mbappe ’s wage demands are putting the buffers on a sensational move to Real Madrid but Liverpool and Arsenal will NOT be attempting a stunning hijack.
The French forward is out of contract at the end of the season and is anticipated to make a Bosman switch to the Santiago Bernabeu. The Spanish side have long been chasing Mbappe’s services and were previously left furious after he performed a U-turn on a move to sign a new deal with PSG in May 2022. Read more
AFCON: Bouchra Karboubi, the first North African woman to referee a men’s match (AfricaNews)
Bouchra Karboubi became last month, the first North African woman to referee a men’s match at AFCON on January 22nd.
She made history by joining Rwandan Salima Mukansanga and officiating at Africa’s biggest football event.
“ In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful, the feeling is that we will be the first Arab referee in the African Cup, which is the largest football event,” Karboubi says. Read more