Operatives deployed to Lagos Island, normalcy restored –Police (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has said that a combined team of police and other security agents has been deployed to Idumota and its environs on Lagos Island to quell the gang fight that erupted in the neighbourhood on Thursday.
It was learnt that two factional hoodlums popularly known as area boys clashed in the area around 12pm on Thursday, forcing several traders at the bustling commercial centre to abruptly shut down their shops.
Videos of the clash went viral on Friday, with one of the clips showing a bloodied youth being carried away in a wheelbarrow.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, told our correspondent that normalcy had returned to the community.
He said, “The police have quelled the crisis. Sufficient facilities were deployed in the area immediately we received a distress call and normalcy was restored. Read more
LAWMA embarks on 2-day enforcement operation at Lekki (Channels)
Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has embarked on a two-day enforcement operation at the Lekki axis, to clear the roadsides of various illegal activities defacing the environment.
The exercise involved the clearance of waste nuisance and dislodging of street trading from First Roundabout to Jakande axis, as well as Freedom Way entrance, on Lekki Epe expressway.
According to the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, the operation would ensure that the area was rid of structures and elements constituting environmental nuisance, such as littering and improper waste disposal, currently undermining efforts of the Authority at maintaining sustainable cleanliness.
“Our enforcement team is carrying out a two-day campaign, which began on Thursday, January 20, 2022, to stem the tide of littering and defacing of the environment, ensuring that effective sanitation is sustained within the VI axis of the state,” he said. Read more
N800 levy on transporters ill-advised, say Lagos indigenes (DailyTrust)
The newly imposed levy of N800 daily on all transporters by the Lagos State Government is cruel, ill-advised and patently outrageous, a group of Lagos indigenes under the aegis of Omo Eko Pataki, has observed.
A trustee of the group, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd), described it as a fresh burden on the already suffering people.
Daily Trust reports that the state government on Tuesday signed an agreement for the collection of Informal Transport Sector Levy in order to harmonise dues collected by the government from commercial motorists at parks and garages across the State.
The new system would see each commercial bus driver pay a sum of N800 daily. The government said the new tax system would eliminate multiple taxations as an average commercial bus driver pays as much as N3000 daily as a levy for different agencies. Read more
‘Why men patronise beer parlour after work’ (Nation)
Pubs, popularly called beer parlour, is a thriving business in Nigeria which attracts patronage from a huge number of clients on a daily basis.
A trip to some beer parlours in Lagos by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday revealed that men are the major customers when compared with women.
Research has also shown that most men who do white collar jobs dominate 50 per cent of the beer parlours.
However, some of their opinions are far away from the thinking of what most men go there to do. Read more
Electoral Bill: Govs laud Senate for removing contentious clauses (Independent)
Governors of the 36 states of the federation, under the aegis of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), on Thursday commended the Senate for accelerating the removal of the contentious clauses in the draft electoral bill.
The commendation was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting of the Governors held on 19th January 2022.
In the document signed by Governor Kayode Fayemi, Chairman the forum, the governors expressed hope that the House of Representatives would also follow suit so that the revised electoral bill could be returned to President Muhammadu Buhari for accent to enable the various institutions, particularly INEC proceed with their responsibilities towards the various elections in 2022 and 2023.
“On the electoral act, Governors commended the Senate of the Federal Republic for accelerating the removal of the contentious clauses in the draft electoral bill and hope that the second chamber, the House of Representatives, would also follow suit so that the revised electoral bill can return to Mr. President for accent so that this can then enable the various institutions particularly INEC to proceed at pace with its responsibilities towards the various elections in 2022 and 2023. Read more
Ondo Poly lifts 2 years suspension on unionism (ThisDay)
The management of the Ondo State-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) yesterday lifted the suspension placed on the activities of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo Chapter) over two years ago.
The management said it took the decision to avert any likely crises that might arise following the protest embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), RUGIPO chapter in 2019.
In a circular signed by the Administrative Assistant to the Rector, Mr. Nugbami, J. O with Reference Number, RUGIPO/REC/CIR/62/VOL.IV/166 dated 20th January, 2022, and obtained by Thisday, it noted that the management is convinced that the Union is now ready to take its right of place in the running of its affairs towards the advancement of the ideals of the Union and those of the Institution at large.
The circular reads: “It would be recalled that on the 9th day of October 2019, the management of this institution had good cause to suspend the activities of the ASUP (Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo Chapter) based on the belligerent, uncompromising and confrontational attitude displayed by the then leadership of the Union which almost led to a total breakdown of law and order in the Institution. Read more
Borno student slit 11-year-old’s throat for refusal to run errands (Punch)
A senior student of Elkanemi College of Islamic Theology Maiduguri has slit the throat of an 11-year-old junior student of the Islamic theology college, Jubril Mato.
The junior student, Jubril, who is currently on admission at the intensive care unit of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital was, according to the report, being punished by the senior student for refusing to run errands for him.
“The senior colleague, from SS2 class, had sent Jubril on an errand, but he didn’t go. That fateful night, he came to pick him up and took him to a quiet place where he used a razor blade to severely cut his neck, injuring most of his arteries, nerves and trachea,” A source from the school stated.
The Senior student, according to the source, whose name has been concealed by the school management, left the victim for dead with his body soaked in blood. After some minutes, Jubril
struggled and took himself to the Principal’s Office, before he finally broke down and became unconscious. Read more
AMCON takes over IBEDC (Nation)
The Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has taken over the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Ltd over insolvency.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) Engineer John Ayodele disclosed this in a memo to members of staff intimating them of the development, The Nation gathered.
Ayodele, in the January 20 memo, said the company fell under receivership by a September 8, 2021 Federal High Court judgment.
The judgment, he said, granted preservative orders in favour of AMCON. Read more
Covid-19, a blessing for music industry, says British-born Nigerian artiste (ThisDay)
Songwriter and music producer, KaniBeatz, has said COVID-19 pandemic brought more blessing to the Nigerian music industry.
The British-born Nigerian said he succeeded in creating an EP at the beginning of last year with the amazing Bella Alubo in spite of the challenges that characterised the year.
He noted the lockdown enabled him to complete his new recording studio in London and establish a new record label “LMG”.
KaniBeatz, a household name in the Nigerian music industry and the global music scene, has released thrilling sounds that fall between the popular afrobeat sound of his native Nigeria, and the catchy and ever-evolving afro-swing scene that has dominated British charts in recent years. Read more
Inspired by Makeba, South African singer Somi hopes latest offering lives up to Mama Africa (EWN)
The daughter of immigrants from Rwanda and Uganda and born in Illinois, acclaimed vocalist, composer and writer Somi Kakoma will be releasing her album, Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba.
The album honours groundbreaking South African singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba and features special guests Thandiswa Mazwai, Msaki, Nduduzo Makhathini, Angelique Kidjo, Gregory Porter, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Seun Kuti and more.
The album is a celebration of the late Makeba’s invaluable musical contributions and messages of social justice. The album will be released on 4 March, which would have been Mama Africa’s 90th birthday.
Somi, as she’s known in the industry, has built a career of transatlantic sonicism and storytelling. Read more
Cher, Boy George and more stars react to Meat Loaf’s death (PageSix)
The music world is paying tribute to Meat Loaf after the rocker died at the age of 74 on Thursday.
“Had So Much Fun With Meatloaf When We Did ‘Dead Ringer,’” Cher tweeted on Friday, referring to their 1981 collaboration, “Dead Ringer for Love.”
“Am Very Sorry For His Family,Friends,& Fans,” the “Believe” singer, 75, continued. “Am I imagining It, or Are Amazing Ppl In The Arts Dying every other Day!?”
Boy George, meanwhile, reminisced about a funny moment the two once shared.
“R.I.P Meatloaf. Love and prayers to all his family and close friends,” the Culture Club frontman, 60, tweeted. “He once turned me upside down in a Chinese Restaurant in St Johns Wood.” Read more
Netflix commits $1m towards scholarships fund for students in Sub-Saharan Africa (ScreenDaily)
Netflix has committed $1m towards a scholarship fund for film and TV students in Sub-Saharan Africa, titled the Netflix Creative Equity Scholarship Fund.
It forms part of Netflix’s global Netflix Creative Equity Fund, launched in 2021 to be allocated to various global initiatives.
The fund will cover the costs for tuition, accommodation, study materials and living expenses at institutions where students have gained admission to pursue a course of study in the TV and film disciplines in the 2022 academic year.
It launches with an open call for applications from the Southern African Development Community region, in partnership with South African social investment fund management and advisory firm Tshikululu Social Investments. Read more
‘Lucifer’ tops ‘Squid Game’ on Nielsen 2021 original series chart In the U.S., ‘Luca’ is no. 1 movie (Deadline)
The 93 total episodes of the series netted more than 18.3 billion minutes of streaming during the year, according to the measurement firm’s year-end report. That put it well in front of Squid Game‘s 16.4 billion, but the Korean phenomenon had only nine episodes on Netflix in 2021.
Roughly 15% of viewership was tallied by U.S. viewers of the Korean-language, subtitled version, Nielsen estimated, with the rest in an English dubbed one.
Lucifer‘s sixth and final season arrived on Netflix last September. The show was produced by Warner Bros Television in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television.
In saving the show after it was canceled by Fox, Netflix established a precedent that it has occasionally followed with other acquired properties that become popular on its platform. (A recent example was the former NBC series Manifest, which racked up almost 20 billion viewing minutes last year with just 42 episodes.) Decisions around continuing a show under Netflix’s auspices are complicated by traditional production entities’ usual approach of selling global territories piecemeal. In the UK, for example, Fox had sold rights to Lucifer in the UK to Amazon’s Prime Video; the show just ended its run on Prime there last year.
Netflix, of course, has started publishing its own top 10 charts of programming across all of its global territories. Lucifer, as it turns out, did not play a major role in those charts because only its newest season was counted in the rankings. Read more
Oil giants Total, Chevron exit Myanmar due to human rights abuses (AlJazeera)
Energy giants TotalEnergies and Chevron Corp have said they are exiting Myanmar due to the “worsening” human rights situation and deteriorating rule of law after the country’s military seized power in a coup last year.
The announcement on Friday followed a call by France’s Total a day earlier to slap targeted international sanctions on Myanmar’s oil and gas sector to place all revenues in escrow – a move aimed at cutting off the army’s biggest source of foreign currency funding after it overthrew Myanmar’s elected government in February 2021.
Total, Chevron and other firms were part of a joint venture running the offshore Yadana gasfield and the MGTC transportation system that carries gas from the field to Myanmar’s border with Thailand.
“While our Company considers that its presence in a country allows it to promote its values, including outside its direct sphere of operations, the situation, in terms of human rights and more generally the rule of law, which have kept worsening in Myanmar since the coup of February 2021, has led us to reassess the situation and no longer allows TotalEnergies to make a sufficiently positive contribution in the country,” Total said in a statement. Read more
Aristocats is reportedly getting a live action remake (IGN)
A live-action Aristocats remake is reportedly now in development at Disney.
According to Deadline, the animated original is the latest Disney classic to get the remake treatment. This upcoming adaptation is apparently early in development with Disney’s live-action team, but little else is known about the film at this time.
No details about cast or plot have been revealed, but it’s said that despite its mostly-animal cast, The Aristocats will apparently have “a similar look” to The Lady and the Tramp, which debuted on Disney+ in 2019.
The 1970 animated classic tells the story of a family of, well, aristocratic cats who learn they will inherit their owner’s fortune. But when a jealous butler realizes he’s been left out of the will, he kidnaps the cats and tries to ensure they’re out of the picture by dumping them in the countryside. Eventually, they team up with the street-smart alley cat, Thomas O’Malley, and are forced to find their own way home before it’s too late. Read more
Afghan NGO women ‘threatened with shooting’ for not wearing burqa (RFI)
The Taliban’s religious police have threatened to shoot women NGO workers in a northwestern province of Afghanistan if they do not wear the all-covering burqa, two staff members told AFP.
The rights of Afghans — particularly women and girls — have been increasingly curtailed since the Taliban returned to power in August after ousting the US-backed government.
Women are being squeezed from public life and largely barred from government jobs, while most secondary schools for girls are shut.
Two international NGO workers in rural Badghis province told AFP that the local branch of the feared Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice met with aid groups on Sunday. Read more
False banana offers hope for warming world (BBC)
Scientists say the plant enset, an Ethiopian staple, could be a new superfood and a lifesaver in the face of climate change.
The banana-like crop has the potential to feed more than 100 million people in a warming world, according to a new study.
The plant is almost unknown outside of Ethiopia, where it is used to make porridge and bread.
Research suggests the crop can be grown over a much larger range in Africa.
“This is a crop that can play a really important role in addressing food security and sustainable development,” said Dr Wendawek Abebe of Hawassa University in Awasa, Ethiopia.
Enset or “false banana” is a close relative of the banana, but is consumed only in one part of Ethiopia. Read more
Pope Francis vows justice for abuse victims after audit faults his predecessor (CBS)
Pope Francis pledged Friday to provide justice to victims of clergy sexual abuse, a day after an independent audit faulted his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, for having botched four cases of abusive clergy when he was archbishop of Munich, Germany.
Francis met with the members of the Vatican office that handles sex abuse cases in a previously scheduled annual audience. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was headed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — Benedict before he became pope — for a quarter-century.
In his speech, Francis didn’t refer to the findings of a long-awaited report into how the Munich archdiocese handled abuse cases from 1945 and 2019. Ratzinger was archbishop there from 1977 to 1982.
But Francis said the church was continuing to discern the way forward in the abuse scandal, which has discredited the Catholic hierarchy at the Vatican and around the world. Read more
LMC condoles with family of late 3SC GM, Balogun (Independent)
Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko has extended condolences to the immediate family of late Rasheed Balogun, the General Manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan and has directed that on MatchDay 8, all club players are to wear black armband.
To further honour the late Balogun, whose association with professional club football dates back to the 1980’s, the LMC has directed a symbolic stoppage of all MatchDay 8 games on the 70th minute for observation of a minute silence to mark the age at which he died.
Dikko was represented at the interment of Balogun in Lagos on Friday by Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Club Owners Association.
Dikko while also commiserating with the Management and Players of 3SC as well as the Government and People of Oyo State, described the late Balogun as “not only a committed club football administrator but also, someone who actively contributed to building a strong league football in the country”. Read more
AFCON 2021: Nigeria business mogul Femi Otedola promises Super Eagles ₦102m if they win the title (Soccernet)
Nigeria billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has promised to reward the Super Eagles with two-hundred and fifty dollars ($250,000) if they win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
The Super Eagles are currently in the round or 16 stage, where they will take on the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia on Sunday, and they are considered big favourites going into the tie.
They have posted dominant displays so far in the tournament, despite the poor preparation. The first game against Egypt, which they won 1-0, was a masterclass, and the wins against Guinea-Bissau and Sudan were outstanding, and because of this, the team has received a lot of plaudits.
In a tweet by Otedola, he posted the video of the Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria conveying his goodwill message and promise to the team. Read more.
Jaden Philogene-Bidace: Aston Villa loan midfielder to Stoke City (BBC)
Stoke City have made their fourth January transfer window signing by bringing in midfielder Jaden Philogene-Bidace on loan from Aston Villa.
The England Under-20 international made his Villa debut as an 89th-minute substitute at Tottenham in May.
Philogene-Bidace, 19, has made four more appearances this season, including his first start in the 6-0 EFL Cup win at Barrow in August.
Stoke’s other three signings all made their debut in Sunday’s win at Hull. Read more
Man Utd supporting Victor Lindelof and family after break-in at house during Brentford game (Sky)
Manchester United are supporting Victor Lindelof and his family after their house was broken into during Wednesday’s Premier League match against Brentford.
The Sweden international played the entirety of the 3-1 win, with wife Maja Nilsson Lindelof saying she hid in a room with her children before the intruders entered the house.
A United statement read: “We can confirm that a break-in occurred at Victor Lindelof’s house during the away game against Brentford.
“His family, who were at home at the time, were unhurt but clearly shaken. This was a distressing experience for them, and for Victor when he learned of it after the game, and the club is providing them with our full support. Read more
ATP Australian Open: Rafael Nadal beats Karen Khachanov and remains on title course (TennisWorld)
The 20-time Major winner Rafael Nadal is through to the last 16 at the Australian Open following a 6-3, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 victory over Karen Khachanov in two hours and 50 minutes. Nadal beat Khachanov for the eighth time in as many encounters, playing well in sets he won and moving into the last 16 in Melbourne for the 15th time.
Rafa lost 19 points behind the initial shot and got broken once from five chances offered to Karen. The Spaniard grabbed 40% of the return points and converted them in five breaks from 15 opportunities. World no. 6 hit 39 winners and 30 unforced errors, losing ground a bit in set number three and bouncing back stronger in the fourth to emerge at the top.
Khachanov stayed in touch with Nadal in the most extended exchanges, and Rafa forged his victory in the shortest and mid-range rallies, where he had a clear upper hand. Nadal held at love in the opening service game with a service winner and fired a backhand crosscourt winner in game two for an early break at 15.
The Spaniard held at love again in game three to confirm the lead and open a 3-0 advantage before holding at love for the third straight time in game five with a volley winner for 4-1 in 14 minutes. Read more
Bob Goalby, who won Masters on infamous scorecard mistake, dead at 92 (NYPost)
Bob Goalby, who won the 1968 Masters without having to go to a playoff when Roberto De Vicenzo infamously signed for the wrong score, has died. He was 92.
Goalby’s death Wednesday in his hometown of Belleville, Illinois, was confirmed by the PGA Tour and by Bill Haas, his great nephew.
The Masters was among his 11 victories on the PGA Tour, and Goalby won twice on what is now the PGA Tour Champions. He is best remembered for how he was declared the Masters champion. Equally notable was the role he played in launching two tours.
Goalby was among the players who boldly led the Tournament Players Division to break away from the PGA of America and become what now is the PGA Tour. Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus delivered support that made it happen. Goalby was among those who initiated the move. Later, he joined Gardner Dickinson and Dan Sikes in 1980 to organize a tour for players 50 and older. Read more
Sixers’ Morey says Simmons trade before deadline is ‘less likely than likely’ (NBC)
Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey joined 97.5 The Fanatic’s Mike Missanelli Show on Thursday and acknowledged several times that he understands fans’ frustration with where the Ben Simmons situation stands.
He was firm, however, in explaining why he does not believe the Sixers absolutely must deal away Simmons before the Feb. 10 trade deadline. In fact, Morey called a pre-deadline Simmons trade “less likely than likely.”
Morey described Joel Embiid’s 50-point night Wednesday as “mind-bending.”
What does the four-time All-Star’s continued improvement after an MVP runner-up season mean in terms of Morey’s approach with Simmons, who sat out the Sixers’ first 44 games following an offseason trade request? Morey indicated he feels obligated to make an odds-shifting deal, and that such a move might not be available over the next few weeks. Read more
Red Bull announce major new sponsor for 2022 (RN365)
Red Bull have announced Pokerstars as a new sponsor ahead of the 2022 season, as the online casino company increases their presence in Formula 1.
Red Bull have confirmed the deal will be a “multi-year” partnership, with branding appearing on the RB18 and the driver’s race suits.
“Following last year’s blockbuster Formula 1 season, I am delighted to kick off 2022 by announcing PokerStars as a new partner,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
“In our sport we see constant evolution, not only applied to the cars but also to new technologies that are focused on reaching the sport’s global fanbase to provide new and interactive experiences for them to enjoy. Read more