Port Harcourt refinery begins operations – FG (Vanguard)
The Federal Government has confirmed that the Port Harcourt Refining and Petrochemical Company in Rivers State has commenced operations.
The federal government announced that the facility commenced operations on Wednesday December 20, 2023, as the first phase of work at the plant had been completed.
It added that refined petroleum products would start flowing from the refinery after the Christmas break. Read more
FG reopens Third Mainland Bridge after repairs (Channels)
The Federal Government has reopened the Third Mainland Bridge, one month after its closure for maintenance work.
“We are pleased to announce that parts of the Third Mainland Bridge which were closed last month will reopen today 21st December, 2023 by 6 pm,” the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi said in a Thursday statement.
“Following essential maintenance, the entire bridge is now fully accessible to the public, ensuring smoother connectivity and safe commuting,” the commissioner added. Read more
Police arrest lady for kidnap of 5-year-old boy (Sun)
Operatives of the Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) in Aba, Abia State have arrested a lady whose identity was yet to be disclosed over the kidnap of a five year old boy whose name is also not yet known.
This is even the management of Abia State Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba has called on relations of the rescued boy, to come, identify and collect him.
It was gathered that on November 16, some residents of Park Road in Aba saw a lady in a tricycle heading towards the Ogbor Hill axis of the city. Read more
Tinubu’s wife launches N950m support scheme for elderly people (Guardian)
Wife of Nigeria president Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday, launched its inaugural edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) expected to be implemented across all the states of the federation, with N950m disbursed in the process.
The initiative, which targets at least 250 beneficiaries from each state is themed: ‘Better Days Ahead’.
According to the president’s wife, the initiative is an economic empowerment programme borne out of a steadfast commitment to the well-being of elderly citizens and marking a significant stride in the collective pursuit of a more inclusive and compassionate society. Read more
Lagos begins sales of form to Christian pilgrims (Punch)
The Lagos State government has commenced the sales of forms for the 2023/2024 pilgrimage exercise to intending pilgrims to the “Holy Land of Rome and Greece”.
This was disclosed in a statement posted on the official X handle of the Lagos State government on Thursday.
According to the statement, this follows the suspension of the holy pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan by both the Lagos State government and Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission in October, due to the security situation in Israel that had claimed several lives. Read more
Nile Varsity innovation, research to tackle ‘japa syndrome’ – Dogo (Leadership)
The Vice-chancellor of Nile University of Nigeria, Prof. Dilli Dogo, has said that the university’s continued investment in academic research and innovations will enhance its medical offerings to tackle the Japa Syndrome phenomenon.
Dogo said in pursuit to ensure sound educational competence for its students, the university has invested heavily in infrastructure including the construction of a medical simulation center that will bridge the gap and promote the best medical and clinical practices.
LEADERSHIP reports that Japa Syndrome remains one of the most pressing issues facing the nation at the moment, where Nigerians massively migrate out of the country, especially to the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, seeking better opportunities. Read more
Lagos begins clearance of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway gridlock (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Government (LASG), on Thursday commenced the clearance of the Apapa-Oshodi expressway to make way for free flow of traffic.
The enforcement followed series of warning to tanker and articulated truck drivers who have converted the newly rehabilitated road into parking lots.
Some mechanic have also harnessed part of the road setbacks into workshops. Read more
1Senate confirms 11 Supreme Court Justices (Vanguard)
The Senate has confirmed the appointment of 11 Justices recommended for the Supreme Court bench.
The confirmation followed the consideration of a report of the screening and approval of the nominees presented by the Chairman Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), during plenary on Thursday.
The 11 confirmed Justices of the Supreme Court are Justice Jummai Sankey (North-Central), Justice Moore Adumein (South-South), Justice Haruna Tsammani (North-East), Justice Chidiebere Uwa (South-East), and Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme (South-East). Read more
Taraji P. Henson in tears while saying “the math ain’t mathing” due to pay disparity in Hollywood (THR)
Taraji P. Henson broke down in tears during an appearance on Gayle King‘s Sirius XM radio show when asked whether she has plans to quit acting.
“Are you thinking about it?” King asked the Oscar-nominated actress while she was seated next to Blitz Bazawule and Danielle Brooks to promote their film The Color Purple. The question caused Henson to pause, cover her eyes with one of her hands and tear up. “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious about what I do, getting paid a fraction of the cost. I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired.” Read more
Jennifer Lopez says she and Ben Affleck ‘both have PTSD’ from media attention during first romance (People)
Jennifer Lopez says she and Ben Affleck still have “PTSD” from the time of their first romance.
Ahead of the release of her new album and companion film, This Is Me … Now, Lopez, 54, revealed to Variety that she has some worries about putting her love life in the spotlight again.
“As artists, we have to follow our heart and this is me following my heart and doing something that maybe everybody didn’t think was the best idea, but I had to do it,” she told the outlet. Read more
Young Guru refutes Dame Dash’s claim Jay-Z stole music from other artistes (HipHopDx)
Young Guru isn’t buying Dame Dash’s claim that JAY-Z repeatedly stole music from other artists including Ja Rule and Omillio Sparks.
In an interview on The Guads Show, the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder made a number of allegations about his former friend and business partner.
“Jay had a pattern of jacking n-ggas records,” Dame said while discussing Cam’ron’s decision to delete Hov’s verse from “Oh Boy.” “Jay has a [track] record of getting on a record after it gets hot and now he can perform that record and now it sounds like he made that record — that was his model … That’s fucked up to the person that [made the song]. Read more
Israeli attack kills Palestinian border crossing chief: Gaza officials (AlJazeera)
An Israeli air raid has killed a Palestinian border crossing director in southern Gaza, according to Palestinian officials and Hamas.
Bassem Ghaben, the director of the Israeli-controlled Karem Abu Salem crossing – called Kerem Shalom in Israel – was killed along with three other people by Israeli fire, Gaza health and border authorities said on Thursday.
He had been working to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave through the crossing, which opened on Friday, said Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from the southern city of Rafah some 3km (1.86 miles) from the checkpoint. Read more
3m children at risk in Sudan as civil war engulfs former safe haven, UN says (NBC)
Sudan’s raging civil war threatens the lives of almost 3 million children, the United Nations Children’s Fund said Thursday, as fighting imperils what had become a safe haven for hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
Fighting in the huge northeastern African nation has now reached Jazeera state, the country’s breadbasket with a population of 5.9 million people — half of whom are children, UNICEF said.
“This new wave of violence could leave children and families trapped between fighting lines or caught in the crossfire, with fatal consequences,” the organization’s executive director, Catherine Russell, said in a statement on Thursday. Read more
Murder investigation after 4-year-old boy stabbed to death in London (Independent)
A murder investigation has been launched after a four-year-old boy was stabbed to death in London.
Police were called to an address in Montague Road, Hackney on Wednesday night.Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and inside the address they found a four-year-old boy suffering knife injuries.
He was taken to hospital for treatment but despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he subsequently died from his injuries.His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers. Read more
Young Kenyan ballet dancers stage early Christmas performance for their community (AfricaNews)
As the sun sets on the narrow streets of Africa’s largest informal settlement, children hurry to change from daily clothes into pointe shoes and other ballet gear.
Fifteen-year-old Brenda Branice is among the dancers and can’t hide her joy. It’s time for the Christmas performance in Kibera, one of the busiest neighbourhoods of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
Instead of a stage, there is dust-covered plastic sheeting in an open field. The holidays have come early for residents as more than 100 local ballet students perform. They have been practising every day after school. Read more
2023 AFCON: Ighalo canvasses for inclusion of more local players in Super Eagles (CompleteSports)
Former Super Eagles forward, Odion Ighalo has canvassed for the inclusion of more home-based players in the Super Eagles.
Only three local players; Ojo Olorunleke, Amas Obasogie and Christian Nwoke were included in Super Eagles’ provisional squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ighalo expressed disappointment with the decision of head coach, Jose Peseiro to include only three home-based players in the squad. Read more
Zimbabwe suspend 2 players for drug use (BBC)
Zimbabwe cricketers Wesley Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta have been suspended after failing in-house doping tests.
Zimbabwe Cricket said the pair tested positive for a banned recreational drug and will face a disciplinary hearing.
Madhevere, 23, has played two Tests, 36 one-day internationals and 60 T20s; Mavuta, 26, in four Tests, 12 ODIs and 10 T20 internationals. Read more
Joel Embiid scores 51 points and extends historic streak as Philadelphia 76ers beat Minnesota Timberwolves (CNN)
Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid posted 51 points and 12 rebounds in a dominant performance as the Philadelphia 76ers took down the Minnesota Timberwolves, 127-113.
With this monster stat line, Embiid extended his streak of having at least 30 points and 10 rebounds to 12 games, the most since Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it in 16 straight games in the 1971/72 season, per the NBA.
“We’re winning and that’s all that matters,” Embiid said. “Stats are great and it’s great to put up stats. But if it comes with a loss, then that’s a different story. If it comes with a win, it means a lot.” Read more
Shane Lowry confident ‘‘Rahmbo’’ will feature at Bethpage (RTE)
Shane Lowry expressed confidence that Jon Rahm would be part of Europe’s Ryder Cup team when they seek to retain the trophy at Bethpage Black in 2025, despite the Spaniard’s recent defection to the LIV Tour.
Rahm’s departure for the Saudi funded tour has caused convulsions within the sport, with a bullish Greg Norman, LIV’s commissioner, promising that “more apples would fall from the tree” in the months ahead.
It represented an about-turn for the reigning Masters champion, who signalled his loyalty to the PGA Tour ahead of the 2022 US Open, saying he was primarily interested in “history and legacy” and that a major financial offer from LIV would not change his life. Read more
Top EU court rules UEFA, FIFA ban on Super League illegal (ESPN)
In a significant boost to the Super League project, Europe’s top court ruled on Thursday that UEFA has been “abusing a dominant position” in its control of European football.
The Super League and its backers, A22 Sports, argued that UEFA’s prohibition of the would-be competition — a concept launched in April 2021 — and its threatened punishments for participating clubs was an illegal monopoly under European competition law.
Thursday’s ruling by the European Court of Justice [ECJ] found that FIFA’s and UEFA’s rules requiring new football competitions to be subject to their prior approval, and banning players from taking part in those competitions, were “unlawful.” Read more
Luton captain Lockyer out of hospital after cardiac arrest (ESPN)
Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer has been discharged from hospital after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch during the Premier League game against Bournemouth last weekend, the club said on Thursday.
The 29-year-old defender left hospital on Wednesday after he had an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) device fitted to prevent a repeat of the incident.
The match was abandoned after the incident and will be replayed again in full. Read more