NiMet workers call off strike after FG’s intervention (Channels)
Workers of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) have called off their strike after the Federal Government’s intervention.
The workers had protested over poor working conditions, grounding flights across the country on Thursday.
But after a meeting with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja, the strike was called off. Read more
Striking FCT workers besiege Wike’s office (DailyTrust)
Public primary school teachers, area councils’ workers as well as medical staff at the primary health centers across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday staged a peaceful protest over non implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage and other entitlements by the council chairmen in the territory.
The workers organised themselves under the joint unions of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) as well as National Association of Nigeria Nurses And Midwifery (NANNAM) to stage the massive protest, blocking the main entrance to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s office at the FCTA Secretariat in Area 11.
Abuja Metro reports that the protesters, in their thousands, first converged at the Labour House, Abuja at about 11:12 am, carrying placards with an inscription, ‘FCT primary school teachers are dying of hunger,’ ‘Pay us our 25 and 35 percent salary increase now,’ ‘Implement N70,000 minimum wage now,” among others and matched to down to the FCTA gate at Area 11. Read more
Nigeria must spend wisely amidst pressing needs — IMF (Tribune)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged the Federal Government to spend judiciously during this period of heightened spending.
The Division Chief in the Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF, Davide Furceri, said this would foster stronger prioritisation and greater efficiency in resource allocation.
Furceri made this statement at the 2025 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C. Read more
Brain Drain: Lagos decries shortfall of 26,000 doctors (Leadership)
The Lagos State government has revealed that its healthcare system requires 33,000 doctors to function efficiently, saying efforts were being made to address the 26,000-man shortfall in the number of doctors available in the state.
The state commissioner for Health Services, Prof Akin Abayomi, disclosed during a press briefing to commemorate the second year of the governor’s second term in office, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at Alausa, Ikeja, that the state currently has 7,000 doctors working in its hospitals.
The Commissioner noted that according to the World Health Organisation, the WHO standard, the doctor-to-patient ratio is expected to be one doctor to 200 people. Read more
Again, Rivers women beg Tinubu to lift emergency, reinstate Fubara (Guardian)
Apparently not giving up, Rivers women from various ethnic groups have again appealed to President Bola Tinubu to lift the State of Emergency imposed in the State.
The women comprising Yorubas, Hausas, Igbos, Ijaws, Ishekiri, among many others, lamented that the Emergency regime is taking a great toll on them, the youths, and the children, emphasizing that the economy is sliding down and gradually becoming comatose.
The women, however, expressed joy over the meeting between the President and Governor Siminalayi Fubara in London, saying it indicates that better days are ahead. They thanked Tinubu for giving the governor a listening ear. Read more
NASENI begs Nigerians to buy Made-in-Nigeria products (Nation)
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has called on Nigerians to support homegrown innovation by purchasing Made-in-Nigeria products, including its 10-inch tablets, locally manufactured laptops, and soon-to-be-launched electric tricycles (Keke Napep).
The agency also highlighted its advancements in producing solar-powered irrigation systems, compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion centres, and high-capacity block-making machines capable of producing up to 1,000 blocks per hour.
During a stakeholders’ engagement in Akure, Ondo State, NASENI’s Deputy Director of Engineering, Joseph Alasoluyi, acknowledged the challenges of perceived low quality, pricing, and public perception as major barriers to the acceptance of locally manufactured goods. Read more
Don warns new students against drugs, alcohol (Punch)
The Vice-Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, Timothy Adejumo, has warned matriculating students of the institution to shun drug abuse, alcohol misuse and other vices or face the music.
Adejumo gave this warning during the 7th matriculation of PCU, held at the university auditorium, Olaogun, Old-Ife Road, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday.
He urged them to uphold the core values of the university such as scholarship, integrity, diligence, service, honour, alongside discipline, humility, hard work, and an unwavering faith in God. Read more
PDP: Defection of Delta gov, others unfortunate –Damagum (Sun)
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, has described the defection of the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and top members of the opposition party in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as unfortunate.
Damagum, who stated this at the presentation of Certificate of Return to the PDP candidate for the November 8 Anambra State governorship poll, Jude Ezenwafor, said the party least expected that leaders of the Delta PDP would defect to the ruling party.
Senator James Manager, had after a meeting in Government House, Asaba, reportedly announced the defection of Oborevwori and leaders of the Delta PDP to the APC. Top shots, who defected alongside the governor, include his predecessor and PDP 2023 vice presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa. Read more
Girl, 10, suffocated after being swept away in mudslide on school trip (Metro)
A girl was trapped in a flash mudslide during a school trip while crossing a stream, an inquest into her death has heard.
The circumstances that led to the death of Leah Harrison, 10, from Darlington, County Durham, have been revealed after an inquest opened into the ‘tragic accident’ on May 22 last year.
Leah was swept off her feet by a torrent of mud when she was out on a walk with fellow Year 6 pupils and an instructor. Read more
Ari Lennox out at Dreamville after blasting label in rant (HipHopDx)
Ari Lennox has officially parted ways with Dreamville Records months after blasting the label on social media.
According to TMZ, Lennox’s departure has been handled quietly and she will now be releasing music solely through Interscope Records.
Interscope are the sole label credited on Lennox’s latest single “Soft Girl Era”. Read more
Slim Thug willing to “be patient” with Megan Thee Stallion after she rejects advances (VIBE)
Megan Thee Stallion recently clarified that she does not reciprocate Slim Thug‘s feelings for her, and the 44-year-old rapper took the rejection somewhat well. However, he isn’t giving up; he recently stated that he will adjust his strategy and play the long game.
“I can’t do Megan Thee Stallion,” he said in a video. “Gotta do Megan Thee Auntie, 10 years later.” The Houston rapper also expressed his gratitude for the Houston Hottie giving him a shoutout at Coachella and dancing to two of his tracks. Read more
Lulu Roman, ‘Hee Haw’ star and gospel singer, dies at 78 (People)
Lulu Roman, one of the last surviving cast members of Hee Haw, has died. She was 78.
A close friend of the actress, who was known as a staple on the long-running comedy sketch series, confirmed her death to PEOPLE on Thursday, April 24.
Roman’s son, Damon Roman, told The Hollywood Reporter that his mother died on Wednesday, April 23, in Bellingham, Wash. She moved to Washington to live with Damon last year. Read more
Oasis fans have lost more than £2m in fake ticket scams, bank claims (FarOut)
The reunion tour of Britpop brothers Oasis has cost fans over £2 million collectively in scams, according to Lloyds Banking Group.
Lloyds reported that fans on average lost £436 per scam. This is £200 more than the average concert ticket scam loss usually seen by the bank.
Basing the calculation on the volume of fraud reports made by its own customers, Lloyds said Oasis fans made up more than half (56 per cent) of all reported concert ticket scams so far this year. They noted that one customer lost over £1,700 in an attempt to get a ticket. Read more
Student kills 1 and injures 3 in stabbing at French high school (France24)
A student at a French high school stabbed four other students at his school Thursday, killing at least one and injuring three others before being arrested, police said.
The circumstances of the attack were not immediately clear.
A national police official said the attack occurred at the private Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides High School in Doulon, near Nantes on France’s Atlantic coast. Read more
Lifters target medals at Africa Senior Weightlifting Championship (Nation)
Team Nigeria’s athletes begin their quest for medals at the 2025 Africa Senior Weightlifting Championship (ASWC) in Moka, Mauritius.
Nigeria will be competing in six categories with six lifters. Today, four lifters will take to the podium to win medals for the nation.
They are Didih Onome in 55kg and Lawal Rafiatu Folashade 59k. Omolola Matthew, who competed at the 2024 World Weightlifting Championship in Bahrain will begin the curtain raiser for Nigeria in the 55kg women’s category while 2024 Olympian and Africa champion, Lawal Rafiatu Folashade will compete in the 59kg. Both categories will commence by 11am Nigeria time. Read more
Nicolas Batum was 2 when he saw his dad die on the court. now he’s dedicating his NBA career to him (People)
LA Clippers fan-favourite Frenchman Nicolas Batum was just two years old when he saw his father Richard collapse to the floor during a French professional basketball game in 1991.
Richard, who emigrated from Cameroon to France to play basketball professionally, was 31 when he died from a ruptured aneurysm in front of his wife and young son, as he stood at the free throw line.
“That’s the only memory I have of him,” Batum, now 36, tells PEOPLE during a practice at the Clippers’ new facilities inside Steve Ballmer’s $2 billion Intuit Dome. Read more
Coco Gauff joins Iga Swiatek in rallying to win Madrid opener (Tennis)
This time, Iga Swiatek had the answers against teenage sensation Alexandra Eala.
After a quarterfinal loss to the rising star from the Philippines last month in Miami, Swiatek rallied to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory in the second round of the Madrid Open on Thursday.
The second-ranked Swiatek, who is the defending Madrid champion, is trying to reach her first final of the season. Read more
Arsenal & Chelsea still have ‘opportunity’ to reach final, says Anita Asante (Independent)
Chelsea and Arsenal can still reach the Women’s Champions League final, as long as they learn the lessons from their semi-final first-leg defeats, according to former England international Anita Asante.
Both teams lost the first leg of their semi-finals, with Chelsea stunned in a 4-1 defeat by current holders Barcelona and Arsenal losing in a closer 2-1 game against Lyon at the Emirates.
Asante, who played for both Arsenal and Chelsea, does not rule out a comeback in either tie, but explained that the Blues will need to play with more control and show “bravery” at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Read more
Max Verstappen “clever message” sent after Saudi Arabian anger (RN365)
Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes Max Verstappen “very cleverly” sent a “message” after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The four-time world champion kept his post-race interviews short after being furious at his five-second time penalty, which cost the Dutchman victory. He opted against discussing his opening lap incident with Oscar Piastri, stating to media including RacingNews365 that: “The problem is that I cannot share my opinion about it because I might get penalised also, so it’s better not to speak about it.” Read more