Police arrest man for allegedly stealing transformer cables (Nation)
The Police in Lagos State have arrested a 27-year-old man, Abubakar Haruna, for allegedly stealing cables from a transformer in the Onikan area of the state.
Police spokesperson in the state, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest in a post he shared on his X handle @benHundeyin on Saturday.
Hundeyin said that police operatives stormed the scene of the crime after receiving a distress call and apprehended the suspect. Read more
New electricity tariff: NERC asks Discos to refund overbilled customers (Punch)
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed power distribution companies to refund all overbilled Band B customers by April 11.
This directive to the electricity distribution companies on implementation of the April 2024 supplementary Multi-Year Tariff Order was released on Saturday.
The directive came amid complaints from customers not on Band A, who are now being made to pay N225/KWh for electricity. Read more
Abuja Light Rail to be inaugurated next month, says Wike (ThisDay)
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, yesterday, said the Abuja Light Rail Scheme would be inaugurated next month after attaining 97 per cent completion.
He gave the assurance during an inspection tour of the renovation and rehabilitation works on the network from Metro Station to Airport Train Station.
He expressed satisfaction with the rehabilitation exercise, describing the metro line as very important to developing the FCT’s economy.
“We are almost 97 per cent. All the works are going on to make sure that May is a reality. I want to say that as of yesterday (Thursday), Mr. President has approved the schedule for the commissioning of projects for his one year in office. Read more
Empty treasury inheritance: C’River commissioner distances self from media report (Vanguard)
Cross River State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Pius Edet, has debunked media reports credited to him alleging that the immediate past governor, Prof. Ben Ayade left an empty treasury and dilapidated infrastructure across the state.
Hon. Edet dismissed the media reports while briefing journalists , Friday, in Calabar, the State capital.
Our reporter gathered that the Works and Infrastructure Commissioner had earlier in the week addressed journalists on the activities of his ministry and the ongoing road rehabilitation and constructions in Calabar, the state capital. Read more
Customs collects N489b at Lagos port, surpasses 2023 revenue by 130.4% (NewTelegraph)
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command has generated N489.6 billion in the first quarter of 2024.
The amount is 130.4 per cent higher than the N212.5 billion collected in the same period of 2023.
Its Public Relations Officer of the command, Abubakar Usman said in a statement issued on Saturday that the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba has commended the officers and port stakeholders for their cooperation towards the attainment of the laudable feat, stressing the need for sustained compliance by government and private sector stakeholders. Read more
Fare increase: Over 50k Nigerians set for 2024 Hajj — NAHCON (Tribune)
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has said that no fewer than 50,000 Nigerian intending pilgrims will perform the 2024 Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Malam Jalal Arabi, disclosed this at a news conference held at Hajj House on Friday in Abuja.
Arabi said the commission was on course to conduct a successful Hajj operation, no matter the challenges. Read more
Kidnapped Kogi chief Imam regains freedom (Channels)
The Chief Imam of Iyara in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Sheikh Quasim Musa, has regained his freedom from his abductors.
Sheikh Musa was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Monday, March 25, 2024, at his house in Ilukpa, Iyara, the headquarters of Ijumu Local Government Area.
The gunmen were said to have come in a commando-style shooting sporadically into the air before taking their victim to an unknown destination. Read more
Senator Ndume rejects hike in electricity tariff (Sun)
Chief Whip of the Senate and senator representing Borno South in the upper legislative chamber, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has rejected the recent hike in electricity tariff. He described the timing as wrong, maintaining that Nigerians were yet to recover from the removal of fuel subsidy.
The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), recently approved a 300 per cent tariff increment for Band A consumers, allowing power distribution companies to raise electricity prices for city dwellers from N68 to N225 per kilowatt-hour with effect from April 1, 2024.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Ndume condemned the move and called on the federal government to reconsider its position in the interest of Nigerians. Read more
Lorraine Kelly to become a grandmother as daughter Rosie announces pregnancy (RTE)
Lorraine Kelly has said she “cannot wait to be a granny” after her daughter Rosie Smith announced she is pregnant.
Smith, 29, is the only daughter of the Scottish TV presenter and husband Steve Smith.
She announced the news on Instagram with a picture showing her cradling a baby bump. Read more
Man cut murdered wife into 200 pieces after ‘brutally killing her pets’ (Metro)
A husband who murdered his wife before chopping her into more than 200 pieces had previously killed her pets in a variety of horrific ways.
Nicholas Metson, 28, stabbed Holly Bramley, 26, at least four times in March 2023 before dismembering her body and storing her body parts in the kitchen larder of a flat they shared in Shuttlesworth, Stamp End, Lincoln.
He later joked with police officers that she ‘might be hiding under the bed’ when they came to investigate her disappearance, Lincoln Crown Court was told. Read more
Busta Rhymes salutes Roc Marciano on new album: ‘Do your research!’ (HipHopDx)
Busta Rhymes has high praise for Roc Marciano upon the release of Roc’s newest album, Marciology.
In an Instagram post on Thursday (April 4), Busta dubbed his colleague the “father” of a sound he said many have copied and reflected on the New York native’s decades-long career, which began in the late 1990s with his role in Busta’s Flipmode Squad.
“THE FATHER OF THIS SOUND THAT GAVE BIRTH TO SO MANY OF YOU IS BACK!!!” he began. “JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER @rocmarci WAS GETTING PLATINUM PLAQUES WITH ME SINCE 1999 WHEN HE COLLABORATED WITH MYSELF, @raekwon @realghostfacekillah PROD. BY @xplargepro CALLED #THEHEIST ON THE #ANARCHY ALBUM 25YRS AGO!!! Read more
Russia evacuates 4,000 people after dam bursts, floods near Kazakh border (AlJazeera)
Russia said it has evacuated more than 4,000 people in the Orenburg region near the Kazakhstan border due to flooding after a dam burst.
The Orenburg governor’s office said on Saturday that “4,208 people, including 1,019 children” had been evacuated and more than 2,500 homes were affected by floods that caused the dam to give way on Friday following torrential rain.
Governor Denis Pasler said the flood had reached its “peak”, adding that the situation was especially difficult in Orsk, a border city of 230,000 people. Read more
Israeli military recovers body of hostage Elad Katzir from Gaza (NBC)
The Israeli military said Saturday that it had recovered the body of an Israeli hostage during an overnight raid in the Gaza Strip.
The body of Elad Katzir was returned to Israel after an operation in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, the Israel Defense Forces said.
According to Israeli military intelligence, Katzir died while being held in captivity by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant group that took part in the Oct. 7 attacks alongside Hamas, and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. Read more
Medieval child found buried with a hard-boiled egg in Germany by team of archeologists (People)
Researchers are trying to unearth the mystery surrounding a medieval child who was found buried with a hard-boiled egg.
Back in 2014, a team of archaeologists in Germany discovered the grave of a medieval boy in Erding in Bavaria, according to a March 27 news release from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation, per the Miami Herald.
The skeletal remains were determined to belong to that of a young boy, who was about 5 years old at the time of his death. Leaving researchers puzzled, the calcified remains of a hard-boiled egg were found on top of the child’s bones. Read more
Zimbabwe unveils new currency as depreciation, inflation stoke turmoil (AfricaNews)
Zimbabwe on Friday launched a new currency to replace its previous one that in recent months has been battered by depreciation, and in some instances rejection by the population. Authorities hope the new measure will halt a currency crisis underlining the country’s yearslong economic troubles.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Gov. John Mushayavanhu said the new currency will be called ZiG, and will be anchored on gold reserves and a basket of foreign currencies. It goes into effect on Monday.
The Zimbabwe dollar has come under sustained pressure in recent weeks, making it one of the world’s worst performing currencies. Read more
Confed Cup: Ikhana backs Rivers to advance (Punch)
CAF Champions League-winning coach, Kadiri Ikhana, has urged Rivers United to overlook the home crowd and play to their strength against USM Alger in Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final second leg at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers.
Augustine Okejepha’s 10th-minute goal in the first leg at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Sunday means the Pride of Rivers are taking a slim lead into the corresponding tie at the 80,200-capacity Stade du 5 Juillet, where the crowd plays the 12th player for the home team. Read more
‘It is just half time’, S/Africa coach reacts to defeat to Nigeria (DailyTrust)
Desiree Ellis, coach of South Africa’s female national football team, Bayana Bayana, has described their 0-1 loss to the Super Falcons of Nigeria as “just half time”.
Ellis said the first leg of the final Round of Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Friday night was only a half time, with plenty to play for in the return leg in South Africa.
A penalty converted by captain Rasheedat Ajibade in the 42nd minute was enough to separate both sides. Read more
Paris 2024 race: Super Falcons off to South Africa Sunday after 1-0 slim victory in Abuja (Leadership)
Nigeria’s Super Falcons will on Sunday jet out of the country to South Africa for the reverse fixture of their 2024 Paris Olympic Women’s Football Tournament against arch rivals, Banyana Banyana.
The Randy Waldrum-led team will fly out of Lagos after a slim 1-0 advantage from the first leg, leaving out much to play for in the second leg on Tuesday in Pretoria.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s well-taken 42nd minute penalty separated nine-time African champions Nigeria and reigning champions South Africa at the MKO Abiola National Stadium Abuja, Friday night. Read more
De Bruyne shines as Man City maintain title challenge (BBC)
Manchester City maintained their title challenge in ruthless fashion as Kevin de Bruyne claimed his 100th goal for the club in a comeback victory at Crystal Palace.
In an entertaining encounter, Palace stunned City with an early opener from Jean-Philippe Mateta, before De Bruyne’s wonderful finish pulled the visitors level in the first half.
Mateta raced on to a pass from Adam Wharton and slotted the ball inside the far corner in only the third minute as noise erupted from the stands at Selhurst Park. Read more
Man Utd star trolls Liverpool with perfect celebration after hat-trick in 9-1 hammering (Mirror)
Ethan Wheatley scored a hat-trick in Manchester United Under-18’s 9-1 hammering of Liverpool at the Reds’ Kirkby Academy on Saturday morning
Manchester United youngster Ethan Wheatley had the last laugh on Liverpool’s under-18s when he scored a hat-trick in a 9-1 hammering on Saturday.
A day before United and Liverpool ‘s senior sides meet in the Premier League at Old Trafford, a game which title-chasing Liverpool will be firm favourites for despite their FA Cup defeat at the same venue three weeks ago, the two clubs’ under-18s went head-to-head at Liverpool’s Kirkby Academy. Read more
Puzzling Daniel Ricciardo radio message emerges after fresh Yuki Tsunoda defeat (PlanetF1)
A post-Q2 radio message to Daniel Ricciardo from his engineer, after RB team-mate Yuki Tsunoda ensured his elimination, left the driver a little irked and those listening rather confused.
The pressure has continued to mount on Ricciardo heading into the Japanese Grand Prix after an underwhelming start to the F1 2024 campaign, but while qualifying marked a clear step forward, he still could not get the better of team-mate and home hero Tsunoda at Suzuka.
Ricciardo was staring at a possible Q3 appearance, which would have been his first since last year’s Mexican Grand Prix, though Tsunoda had other ideas and pushed himself into the top 10 at the very end of Q2, sealing Ricciardo’s elimination with his deficit to Tsunoda a mere 0.055s. Read more