Over 80% of Nigerians struggle for food, others — Comercio Partners report (Vanguard)
A Comercio Partners survey has shown that over 83per cent of Nigerians experience greater difficulty in affording food, housing, and healthcare compared to the previous year.
Presenting the report yesterday at the Comercio Partners H2 Macroeconomic Outlook in Lagos, Head Investment Research, Comercio Partners, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah noted that the survey showed that Nigeria’s economic outlook is a tale of two realities. Official metrics herald progress: inflation cools, unemployment shrinks, and GDP surges. Yet, the people’s experience; rising costs, stagnant incomes, and elusive opportunities, reveals a stark disparity.
The survey showed that: “A substantial majority of respondents (94.3%) reported an increase in prices of regularly purchased goods and services, with 72.5% experiencing significant hikes. Read more
611 boats operating on Lagos waterways sub-standard — LASWA (Tribune)
Checks by the Nigerian Tribune has revealed that 729 boats currently ply the inland waterways in Lagos, out of which 611 of those boats fall below the required standards for passenger boat operations.
According to a Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) document titled: INTERFERRY PRESENTATION, which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune exclusively, only 118 boats out of the 729 ferries operating on the Lagos inland waterways meet the standard requirement expected of passenger boats ferries.
According to the document, out of the 118 standard boats operating on Lagos waterways, 36 belong to the Lagos State owned ferry service company, LAGFERRY while 82 are owned and operated by private boat operators. Read more
Obudu council boss condemns killing of Tiv indigene, seeks calm (Guardian)
The Executive Chairman of Obudu Local Council in Cross River State, Peter Akonfe Undiandeye, has lamented the killing of a Tiv indigene in Obudu.
The killing occurred following a recent unrest linked to a violent clash between the Mbazerem community of Vandiekya and the Abonkib village of Obudu.
This also comes on the heels of the disturbing news of two sons of Obudu Nicolas and Ake, both from Aboinkib and Atiekpe clans respectively, who have been declared missing in the aftermath of the recent communal clash. Read more
Drug marketers decry ‘hijack’ of centre (Nation)
Pharmaceutical marketers in Lagos have alerted to the alleged hijack of the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) project by a few individuals and entities.
The Lagos Island-based marketers, under aegis of Nigeria Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED), said the drug distribution hub, meant to sanitise and regulate the chaotic open drug markets, is now a private monopoly leaving over 3,000 legitimate medicine dealers sidelined.
At the heart of the controversy is Ijora-Badia CWC, originally conceived as a public health reform to ensure safe, quality, and regulated drug distribution. Read more
Tariff battle escalates: Discos reject review talks with states (Punch)
Commissioners of energy across the 36 states on Wednesday disclosed their readiness to meet with power distributors to negotiate electricity tariffs that are reflective and not burdensome on residents of the states.
This follows the recent cut in electricity tariff for Band A customers from N209/kWh to N160/kWh by the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the resistance that greeted the development by both power generation and distribution companies.
However, the power distribution companies have kicked against any form of negotiations with states on power tariffs, stressing that the move by the state governments might kill the power sector if care is not taken. Read more
Drama, as Tinubu moves APC NEC meeting to Aso Rock Villa (Sun)
A mild drama played out yesterday, the eve of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, following the decision of President Bola Tinubu to relocate the meeting earlier scheduled for Buhari House, the national headquarters of the party, to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
The sudden decision to move the meeting billed came as a surprise to many stakeholders that saw the dismantling of the big tent that they had started erecting on Tuesday evening.
The party, in a statement announcing the last minute change in venue by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, hinged the decision on logistical reasons. Read more
Coalition leaders will support whoever emerges as ADC presidential candidate — Amaechi (Channels)
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that coalition leaders will throw their weight behind whoever emerges as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi, a two-term governor of Rivers State, stated this in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Wednesday.
Briefing journalists, he explained that the opposition leaders were optimistic that the process leading to the emergence of the party’s flagbearer would be transparent, free, and fair. Read more
Expert identifies visionary leadership, CSR for business success (Leadership)
Visionary leadership and corporate social responsibility are crucial elements that must be embraced by entrepreneurs who aspire to succeed in the business world.
Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Group Holdings (Africa), Oluwaseun Olatunji stated this while speaking recently with newsmen where he noted that he had successfully navigated various economic challenges by demonstrating resilience and innovation.
According to him, the entrepreneurial spirit in him was shaped by observing influential leaders like the Sultan of Brunei and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
“My interest in business was greatly influenced by visionary leaders. Observing how these leaders navigated obstacles fueled my desire to create meaningful change through business”, he said. Read more
1000-Lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton reveals exact weight loss as she shares shocking new transformation photos (Unilad)
1000-Lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton has detailed the amount of weight she has lost since the show’s beginning.
Since 2020, Tammy and her sister Amy have documented their weight loss journey in the TLC reality TV show, with the two initially starting off with a combined weight of over 1000 lbs.
Tammy weighed 725 pounds at her heaviest, and she needed extra help, like using a walker and wheelchair to walk around, as well as needing an oxygen tube to breathe. Read more
James Gunn blames “anti-American sentiment” for ‘Superman’s lower international haul (Deadline)
Although Superman continues to dominate the domestic box office after two weeks, the Man of Steel hasn’t translated quite the same way to international audiences.
Director and DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn recently commented on the movie’s international haul of $173 million, trailing behind the movie’s $253M gross since opening July 8 in theaters.
“We’re definitely performing better domestically than we are internationally, but internationally is also rising and having really good weekday numbers in the same way we are,” he explained to Rolling Stone. “So obviously the word of mouth is very positive both here and everywhere else. Which is the thing that we needed to do the most. At the same time, there are certain countries in which it’s really performing well. Brazil and the U.K.” Read more
Nabeel’s dreamy alt-rock is finding a way back home (NME)
Noise. Distortion. The blow of guitar amps. The grainy fuzz of home videos. Memories you can feel but not quite see. For Yasir Razak, musician and leader of the Iraqi-American band Nabeel, there’s comfort to be found in these hazy spaces, somehow more than high-definition memories. It’s in this place – where recollection blurs with imagination, and “home” is less a fixed place than an imagined idea – that Nabeel makes dreamy, dissonant rock music reaching for wholeness across homelands and family lines.
Razak’s journey to forming Nabeel began as a child in the ’90s, when his family moved from their native Iraq to the U.S. state of Virginia. His early memories, and introduction to American culture, were intertwined with music – his formative years were spent watching MTV with his older brother, listening to The Smashing Pumpkins and exploring Virginia’s DIY music scene. During his college years in the Shenandoah Valley, he frequented live venues like The Crayola House along Route 81, his mind expanding with the freewheeling creative expression of The Sediment Club and other alt bands. Read more
Man who raped foster daughter ordered to pay her €328,000 (RTE)
The High Court has ruled that a man who repeatedly raped his foster daughter over seven years must pay her €328,000 in damages.
Stephen Murray of Humphreystown, Valleymount in Co Wicklow was jailed for 11 years in May 2022 for raping Kelly Kemmy three or four times a week when she was aged between 11 and 18 years old.
Ms Kemmy waived her right to anonymity after his sentencing and described how he had raped her around 1,000 times and had turned her life into a living nightmare. Read more
Columbia University suspends and expels dozens of students over anti-Israel unrest (TimesofIsrael)
Columbia University said Tuesday that it sanctioned students for a library takeover in May as well as a protest encampment in the spring of 2024.
A statement from the Ivy League school in New York City said the sanctions include expulsions, probation, degree revocations and suspensions ranging from one to three years. Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of anti-Israel student groups, said nearly 80 students were suspended or expelled.
The university said it does not comment on individual cases and does not announce the number of students who are being punished. Read more
Gisele Bündchen shares rare photos of her baby to mark her 45th birthday (People)
On Wednesday, July 23, the mother of three checked in with fans on social media with a new set of photos that included rare snaps of her youngest, whom she shares with boyfriend Joaquim Valente. It was her first post since May 27.
“Haven’t been around here much, but I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all the warm birthday wishes,” the model wrote as her Instagram caption after celebrating her 45th birthday on July 20.
She started her carousel off with a photo of her standing beside a loved one as they both smiled, holding cakes indoors. Read more
Khadijat leads 46th CBN Senior Tennis Championship quarterfinals train (Guardian)
The women’s top seed at the ongoing 46th CBN National Open Tennis Championship, Khadijat Mohammed, yesterday, defeated Mary Godwin 2-0 (6-1, 6-2) to advance to the quarterfinal of the competition, where she will face Aina Goodnews.
Goodnews defeated Emmanuella Kevin-Bebe two straight sets of 6-0, 6-2 in their third-round game.
Also through to the quarterfinals in the women’s singles is Rebecca Ekpenyong, who beat Patience Onebamhoin 2-0 (6-3, 6-4). Read more
Arokodare linked with Atalanta switch (Punch)
Italian Serie A side Atalanta have turned their sights towards Nigeria international Tolu Arokodare as a potential reinforcement in attack following the departure of star striker Mateo Retegui, with multiple Italian outlets reporting growing interest in the Genk forward.
According to Tutto Atalanta, the Bergamo club have begun their search for a capable successor to Retegui, who was recently sold to a club in Saudi Arabia in what the outlet described as a “record exit” that brought in nearly three times the €22m Atalanta originally spent on the Italo-Argentine striker.
While Napoli’s Giacomo Raspadori and Lecce’s Nikola Krstovic remain on the club’s radar, the Italian outlet reported that Arokodare is a “concrete option” under active consideration. Read more
Galatasaray receives 50,000 jerseys for Osimhen’s unveiling (ThisDay)
Galatasaray, the reigning Turkish Super Lig champion, is preparing to host a grand event for the unveiling of Super Eagles star, Victor Osimhen.
According to information obtained by SportingSun from Fanatik, the club’s marketing and media teams are making various arrangements to turn the signing ceremony into a significant revenue-generating event.
His flight, medical checks have been arranged, and a warm welcome for Osimhen is expected on Friday. Read more
Chelsea’s Adarabioyo launches grassroots youth cup in Lagos (Vanguard)
Tosin Adarabioyo, Nigerian-born defender for Chelsea FC of England, has expressed joy over his visit to Nigeria, aiming to support football development at the grassroots level.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, Adarabioyo said it was his first time in Nigeria, and he felt truly honoured to be in the country.
His visit coincides with the organisation of the inaugural Tosin Adarabioyo Youth Cup, a tournament created to identify and nurture young football talents across the country. Read more
Super Falcons visit injured South African forward Salgado in hospital (Channels)
Some members of Nigeria’s Super Falcons have visited South African forward Gabriela Salgado in hospital following the serious leg injury she sustained during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semi-final clash between both teams in Morocco.
Salgado was stretchered off in the 88th minute of the intense encounter on Tuesday after suffering what was later diagnosed as a mid-shaft fracture of her left leg.
According to the South African Football Association, she has since undergone successful surgery at the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Casablanca. Read more