Organised labour threatens nationwide strike over Rivers political crisis (Guardian)
Organised labour in Rivers State has warned the Federal Government over its involvement in the state’s political crisis, threatening to embark on strategic industrial actions that may disrupt national economic activities if its demands are not met within a reasonable time.
Also, the Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged to void President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers.
Labour’s threat came on the heels of the declaration of emergency in the state, which the union vehemently condemned. Read more
Akpabio vs Natasha: Senate hearing turns chaotic as Nwaebonyi, Ezekwesili clash (Vanguard)
A heated exchange erupted on Tuesday between Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, representing Ebonyi North, and former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili during a Senate committee hearing on ethics, privileges, and public petitions.
The altercation occurred as the committee deliberated on a fresh petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili attended the session alongside Abiola Akiode, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, and petitioner Zubairu Yakubu. Read more
Tinubu hails Jonathan on Sunhak Peace Prize win (Channels)
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated former President Goodluck Jonathan on winning the 2025 Sunhak Peace Founders’ Award.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
He said Tinubu commended Jonathan for his consistent advocacy for peace and democracy, describing it as a patriotic effort that has earned him global recognition. Read more
2027: I Don’t Know If I Will Run – Atiku (DailyTrust)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that he does not know if he will contest the presidency in 2027.
Atiku made the remark in a yet-to-be-aired interview for a television show, Untold Stories, with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, scheduled for broadcast today but exclusively obtained by Daily Trust.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently announced the formation of a coalition of opposition leaders to wrest power from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. Read more
5 charged in false allegation against Lagos monarch (Punch)
The police on Monday arraigned five men before the Lagos State High Court in Tafa Balewa Square for allegedly making a false statement of criminal allegation to the police against the Elegushi of Ikate land, Oba Saheed Elegushi.
The defendants who were arraigned before Justice Ibironke Harrison are Adeigbagbo Harrison, Prince Toluwoleke Megba, Harrison Soji, Megbalewon Adeniji James and Segun Ekomale (Ikuomola).
The defendants whose residential addresses were not given are facing eight counts bordering on conspiracy, making false statements, and impersonation preferred against them by the police. Read more
Firm partners French Embassy to empower teachers in Lagos (Nation)
Kucheza Gaming, in collaboration with Ukie Digital Schoolhouse, together with Nintendo UK has hosted its latest Teachers’ Ingenuity Day, an innovative training programme designed to introduce Lagos State public school educators to game-based learning.
The event empowered 36 teachers from 24 schools in District IV with creative, pedagogical approaches to teaching computing concepts.
As a result of limited access to computing education and devices in schools, Kucheza Gaming’s Ingenuity Day focused on the Playful Computing Curriculum which is an award-winning, unplugged programme that teaches computational thinking without requiring immediate access to a computer. Read more
Oyebanji’s Silverbird award, well-deserved- Onikoyi (Tribune)
The Oníkoyi of Ikoyi-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Moses Akinwande Ogundana, has described the award given to the state governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji by Silverbird Television as a well-deserved recognition.
While rejoicing with the governor on the conferment of the award, Oba Ogundana, in a release signed by his principal secretary, Prince Oluwole Fagbewesa, said he is proud of Governor Oyebanji for being a shining light in the South-West.
The traditional ruler further said that the award shows Oyebanji’s forward-thinking leadership and people-oriented policies that have revitalised the state’s economy since he assumed office two years ago. Read more
Nigeria launches Youth Academy for skills development (VON)
President Bola Tinubu has affirmed his administration’s resolve to equip Nigerian youths with the required skills to enable them compete effectively as key players on the global stage.
The President stated this when he officially launched the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.
He noted that as a peculiar nation with a median age of 17 years, Nigeria is one of the youngest populations in the world.
President Tinubu listed areas the government intends to train the young population to include world-class training in digital literacy, technical skills, entrepreneurship, and the creative industries. Read more
Sexyy Red believes she’s the ‘most hated’ female rapper (HipHopDx)
Sexyy Red believes she receives more hate online than any of her female counterparts in the rap game.
Appearing on Big Boy’s Neighborhood on L.A.’s Real 92.3 this week, the St. Louis rapper said she thinks there’s something going on behind the scenes to cause the amount of negative comments she receives.
“I think [the hate comments] are getting bigger. I ain’t gon’ fake it. I said this – I feel like I’m the most hated female rapper,” she shared. “They hate on me the most. I get a lot of love, but they be hating on me. It be little inside shit. They tryna put me down. I be feeling like – is y’all sending people to comment under here? I feel like it’s some hidden agendas.” Read more
Malaria confirmed as cause of deadly outbreak in DRC (AfricaNews)
Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed that a mysterious illness that killed more than 50 people earlier this year was malaria.
The National Public Health Institute announced late Monday that tests confirmed the disease caused the deaths of 52 people and affected nearly 1,000 others in Equateur province.
Symptoms included fever, fatigue, vomiting, and weight loss. Initially suspected to be either malaria or food poisoning, the illness was identified after lab testing on patient samples. Officials are still awaiting the results of tests on food, water, and drink samples. Read more
Denzel Washington’s wife Pauletta and kids Olivia, John David and Katia show support at Othello Broadway premiere (People)
Denzel Washington’s family wouldn’t miss the actor’s Broadway premiere.
His wife Pauletta, along with children Olivia, John David and Katia attended the opening night of the William Shakespeare play Othello on Sunday, March 23. Katia’s wife Colleen Wilson also showed up to support.
The family dressed sleekly in all black while being amongst a star-studded audience for the premiere that sees Washington, 70, play the titular general alongside Jake Gyllenhaal playing the villainous Iago. Read more
Oscar-winning Palestinian director attacked by Israeli settlers, detained by army (NPR)
Israeli settlers beat up one of the Palestinian co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary film No Other Land on Monday in the occupied West Bank before he was detained by the Israeli military, according to two of his fellow directors and other witnesses.
The filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was one of three Palestinians detained in the village of Susiya, according to attorney Lea Tsemel. Police told her they’re being held at a military base for medical treatment, and she said she hasn’t been able to speak with them.
Basel Adra, another co-director, witnessed the detention and said around two dozen settlers — some masked, some carrying guns, some in Israeli uniform — attacked the village. Soldiers who arrived pointed their guns at the Palestinians, while settlers continued throwing stones. Read more
Elizabeth Olsen says she won’t appear in “Avengers: Doomsday” or “Secret Wars” (EW)
It seems that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has not conjured up a way to get the Scarlet Witch back on screen in the next two Avengers films.
This is according to star Elizabeth Olsen herself, who was asked by The Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview if directors Joe and Anthony Russo “are going to be extending [her] stay” in London, where the forthcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” are due to shoot back-to-back soon.
“No, I’m back [in the States],” she told the outlet. “I just finished [Panic Carefully]. I’m moving on to filming a pilot for FX [called Seven Sisters].” Read more
Chris Stark flooded with support after sharing testicular cancer diagnosis (Hello!)
Radio DJ Chris Stark received an inundation of supportive messages on Monday after he shared his testicular cancer diagnosis.
In a searingly honest post shared to Instagram, the Watford-born broadcaster, who is best known for hosting Capital’s Breakfast show, revealed he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer following a routine doctor’s appointment around a couple of months ago.
He explained how he had surgery “pretty quickly” and was “effectively cured” after it was “caught early”. The 38-year-old also revealed that he had taken the past couple of weeks off work to have chemotherapy “to prevent anything from coming back”. Read more
How Charlamagne Tha God built his empire and is using his platform to lift up Black Artists (Variety)
It’s a snowy February in midtown Manhattan, and Charlamagne Tha God has a song on his lips. “Oh-oh-oh – it’s the Tom Joyner Morning Show” he sings, while sitting in a small conference room at iHeart Media headquarters, where he co-hosts the nationally syndicated daily radio show “The Breakfast Club.”
Charlamagne, 46, easily summons the jaunty theme he grew up listening to as he discusses the influences who helped steer him into the career he enjoys today.
The South Carolina native, born Lenard Larry McKelvey, is a popular radio and podcast host, author, commentator, comedian and actor. He’s a good example of how versatile talent can soar across disciplines in this media-saturated age. As his public profile has grown, so has Charlamagne’s determination to parlay his considerable following into the foundation for a portfolio of media imprints — from books to podcasts to feature films — designed to create artistic opportunities and jobs for Black people. Read more
World Cup qualifier: Nigeria held to 1-1 draw by Zimbabwe after late equalizer (Guardian)
A last-minute goal from Tawanda Chirewa denied Nigeria victory as Zimbabwe secured a 1-1 draw in their Group C World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
Victor Osimhen had put Nigeria ahead in the 73rd minute with a well-placed header from Ola Aina’s cross. The Super Eagles appeared to be heading for three points until Chirewa struck in the 90th minute, slipping past defenders and toe-poking the ball under goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
The match, played at the The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capittal, saw Nigeria dominate possession and create several chances. Tolu Arokodare, who replaced Samuel Chukwueze in the 59th minute, was involved in the opener. He held up play before passing to Aina, whose precise delivery found Osimhen at the far post. Read more
Rivers lucky against Ikorodu City – Finidi (Punch)
Rivers United coach Finidi George has admitted that this team was lucky to have got a 1-0 win over Ikorodu City during their Nigeria Premier Football League match-day 30 game in Port Harcourt on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 2022 NPFL champions left it late against the newly promoted side with Bolu Sholumade’s late strike securing the hard-earned win which closed the gap between them and Remo Stars to five points.
As the game seemed to be headed for an uncompromising draw, Sholumade, who joined Rivers United in January raised the roof of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium after latching on to a ball that was headed into his path by Stephen Manyo off a free-kick from Temple Emekayi. Read more
Tamim says he was ‘lucky’ after cardiac arrest (BBC)
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has thanked doctors for their “amazing” care after he posted on social media for the first time since he suffered a cardiac arrest.
The 36-year-old required medical attention during a domestic T20 game in Dhaka and is currently recovering in hospital.
Tamim, Bangladesh’s record run-scorer in one-day internationals, complained of chest pains after taking to the field for Mohammedan Sporting Club in their Dhaka Premier League fixture against Shinepukur on Monday. Read more
New Zealand deny New Caledonia to reach 2026 World Cup (Guardian)
New Zealand will return to the World Cup for the first time in 16 years after overcoming early nerves to beat New Caledonia 3-0 and book a place in Canada-Mexico-USA.
The Kiwis were made to work in their Oceania playoff, held goalless in the first half and losing captain Chris Wood to a hip injury early in the second.
New Caledonia provided stern resistance for an hour before Michael Boxall broke through, the 36-year-old scoring his first international goal when New Zealand needed it most. Read more
England beats Latvia 3-0 in World Cup qualifier to extend Tuchel’s winning start (JapanToday)
England extended Thomas Tuchel’s 100 percent start to his reign as Reece James’ first international goal inspired a 3-0 win against Latvia in Monday’s World Cup qualifier.
Tuchel’s side once again laboured to break down defensive opposition for long periods at Wembley.
But three days after struggling to beat Albania 2-0 in Tuchel’s first game in charge, England eventually mustered enough composure and quality to kill off 140th-ranked Latvia. Read more
Conor Wallace to be spotlighted on undercard of Jai Opetaia-Claudio Squeo (BoxingScene)
Light heavyweight prospect Conor Wallace will be in action in the co-feature slot of the May 13 card headlined by cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia against Claudio Squeo, according to Tasman Fighters.
The show will stream on DAZN.Wallace, 15-1 (11 KOs), is a 28-year-old from Northern Ireland now living in Fortitude Valley, a suburb of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. He’s fought his entire professional career in Australia, and that will continue for this upcoming show at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach. Read more