Panic, fears over flooding (Sun)
Amid apprehension and tension, several states have issued evacuation warnings to citizens residing in floodplains following a fresh alert issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), an agency of the Federal Government.
The warning by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre under the Federal Ministry of Environment urged residents and relevant authorities to take urgent precautionary measures.
At least, 19 states are expected to experience heavy rainfall from August 5 to 9. According to the flood alert, rainfall is expected to trigger flash and riverine flooding across the country including Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Cross River, Nasarawa, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kano, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Gombe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara, Plateau, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory. Read more
Facebook user bailed for defaming actress Lizzy Anjorin online (Punch)
A 37-year-old woman, Kofoworola Akanji, was on Wednesday granted bail following her arraignment before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court sitting in Lagos Island, for allegedly publishing false and defamatory content against Nollywood actress and entrepreneur, Lizzy Anjorin, using her Facebook account.
Akanji was charged before Magistrate Wahab Balogun by operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.
She is facing three counts bordering on conspiracy, publication of fake news, and defamation, preferred against her by the police. Read more
Abuja overtakes Lagos as Nigeria records $5.64b capital importation in Q1 (Leadership)
Nigeria recorded a substantial capital importation of $5.642 billion in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting renewed investor confidence and marking a significant shift in investment destination preferences within the country.
According to the latest figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, outperformed Lagos State in terms of emerging as the top recipient of foreign capital during the quarter.
The Q1 2025 capital inflow represents a 67.12 per cent increase compared to the $3.376 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2024. Read more
2027: Options before the North (Vanguard)
THE North as a political bloc has a tough decision to make regarding who it will back in the 2027 presidential election, as no fewer than five politicians are on its radar for endorsement.
The five leading politicians hoping to get the nod of mainstream North, including incumbent President Bola Tinubu; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former President Goodluck Jonathan; former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; and former Rivers State Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.
Although some northerners are considered to be eyeing the Aso Rock top seat, key stakeholders contend that a northerner succeeding President Tinubu will hurt the North-South power-rotation principle and create instability in the polity. Read more
Thieves shouldn’t be rewarded with ministerial appointments – Sanusi (Channels)
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has decried the erosion of values among different strata of the Nigerian society.
According to him, the Nigerian society must stop rewarding people who stole the nation’s commonwealth as public office holders with more public opportunities.
“The entire value system of the country has been eroded,” the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor stated on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday. Read more
Amnesty demands Sowore’s unconditional release from detention (Guardian)
Amnesty International has criticised Nigerian authorities for the continued arbitrary detention and harassment of activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore, calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the global rights group described the actions of the Nigeria Police as a gross abuse of power aimed at silencing dissent.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Sowore and drop all bogus and politically motivated charges against him,” Amnesty said, warning that continued persecution undermines fundamental freedoms in the country. Read more
Davido celebrates sold-out shows on 5ive Alive tour (Nation)
Afrobeats superstar Davido has celebrated a major achievement in his ongoing 5ive Alive concert tour, selling out 12 venues across North America.
After a successful show at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland, USA, Davido expressed his gratitude, attributing his success to his faith.
“We did it. We sold out every night and made millions of dollars. If you dream it, it’s possible. With God, everything is possible. With all the odds against me, we made it happen,” Davido said before cutting the celebratory cake. Read more
Mystery as Irish fashion designer, 33, found dead on yacht in New York (Metro)
Mystery surrounds the death of a jet-setting Irish woman found unresponsive on a yacht.
Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, 33, fell unconscious on a boat named Ripple, docked at the well-heeled Montauk Yacht Club, Long Island in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
A 911 call was placed by her partner after he discovered her unconscious on board. Read more
Soulja Boy released after gun charges dropped (BBC)
US rapper Soulja Boy has been released from custody after prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence to bring weapons charges.
Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was arrested early on Sunday when the vehicle he was in was pulled over for an alleged traffic violation. During the stop, officers found a firearm in the car.
The Crank That star spent two nights in custody but the case “was declined due to insufficient evidence”, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told Billboard and Rolling Stone. Read more
Aubrey Plaza to Portray Hollywood Madam in ‘The Heidi Fleiss Story’ (Variety)
Aubrey Plaza is adding a new project to her slate: The actress/producer is set to star as infamous ’90s Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss in biopic “The Heidi Fleiss Story,” IndieWire has confirmed.
Fleiss allegedly ran the “world’s largest high-end prostitution ring” that counted actors, politicians, and other leading men among its clients. Rachel Sennott co-wrote the script with Rachel and Travis Jackson; “The Heidi Fleiss Story” will be “Chambers” creator Leah Rachel’s directorial debut.
The critically acclaimed production company Pinky Promise is behind the project. Production will take place in Los Angeles this year. Read more
Kendrick Lamar & Drake set to go head to head at MTV VMA’s (HipHopDx)
Kendrick Lamar and Drake are set to go head to head in a key category at the MTV VMA’s.
The nominations for the awards were announced with Kendrick up for 10 different gongs while Drake has just the one nomination.
With $ome $exy $ong 4 U almost entirely shut out at the awards, Drake and Kendrick will only do battle in the category of Best Hip Hop. Read more
US-India relations at their ‘worst’ as Trump slaps 50% tariff (AlJazeera)
Even as the United States slaps India with a 50 percent tariff, the highest among all countries so far and one that will push their relationship to its lowest moment in years, one thing is clear: US President Donald Trump is more interested in onshoring than friend-shoring, experts say.
On Wednesday, the US announced an additional 25 percent tariff on India over its import of Russian oil, taking the total to 50 percent.
The move caught most experts by surprise as New Delhi was one of the first to start trade negotiations with Washington, DC, and Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have repeatedly admired each other in public statements and called each other friends. Brazil is the only other country facing tariffs as high as India’s. Read more
Missing American climate journalist found alive in Norway (ABC)
An award-winning American journalist who had been missing since setting off on a hiking trip in Norway last Thursday has been found alive.
Alec Luhn suffered injuries to his legs and was taken to hospital by helicopter, officials told the Norwegian news website VG.
“We are very, very happy! Many thanks to everyone in Norway who has helped find him,” Luhn’s wife Veronika Silchenko said. “It’s hard to explain how I feel right now.” Read more
Kuti overtakes Omotayo in ITTF World Ranking (Punch)
Matthew Kuti has emerged as Nigeria’s second-highest ranked male table tennis player in the world, overtaking 2019 African Games champion Olajide Omotayo in the latest International Table Tennis Federation World Ranking released for Week 32 of the 2025 season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Kuti climbed six places to 194th globally after his title-winning performance at the 2025 West Africa Regional Championships in Lagos, which earned him 75 ranking points.
He also added 10 points from the ITTF World Championships Finals in Doha and four from the WTT Contender Lagos, bringing his total to 89 points. Read more
Leicester agrees £8.5m fee for Ndidi (Sun)
Leicester City have agreed a fee with Besiktas for Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, worth around £8.5m.
Ndidi has attracted interest from a number of clubs in the Premier League and Europe, including Everton, Fenerbahce and two clubs in the Bundesliga, after his buy-out clause reduced following Leicester’s relegation.
But Besiktas manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has convinced the midfielder his future lies in Turkey. Read more
LAFC ‘changed my heart’ – Son leaves Spurs for MLS (BBC)
Son Heung-min admits a move to Los Angeles FC was not his “first choice” but a chat with the club’s president “changed his heart” to join for a record Major League Soccer (MLS) fee.
BBC Sport understands LAFC have paid a fee in excess of £20m for the former Tottenham Hotspur captain, whose two-year contract has the option of an additional two years.
Son revealed in a news conference on Saturday he would leave Tottenham after 10 years at the club. Read more
Jen Pawol to make baseball history as MLB’s 1st female umpire (People)
Jen Pawol will make history as the first female umpire in MLB when the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves face off this weekend on Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10.
The New Jersey native, 48, will be at the bases during the doubleheader on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Truist Park in Atlanta. On Sunday, Aug. 10, she’ll call balls and strikes behind the plate, MLB told the Associated Press.
In 2024, Powell became the first woman to umpire spring training games since Ria Cortesio in 2007. Read more
Chris Eubank Jnr-Conor Benn II reportedly set for Nov. 15 at Tottenham Hotspur (BoxingScene)
The on-again, off-again rematch between Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn is apparently back in play.
A report from Ring Magazine revealed that the sequel is set for November 15. The pairing between England’s two most notable second-generation boxers will return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London, where Eubank claimed a unanimous decision in their April 26 thriller. BoxingScene was unable to verify full details as this goes to publication. However, the Ring report was endorsed by Turki Alalshikh, the publication’s owner and whose team will financially back the rematch as was the case in April. The working title for the event is ‘The Ring: Unfinished Business.’ Read more