Poverty: Beggars now keep late nights to meet ‘targets’ (Vanguard)
Nigerians are well known with the tradition of giving alms to the needy.
Many people believe that the needy, particularly beggars, are angels sent to test their act of giving.
Others believe that when the barren give to those with children, she will give birth to children of her own, while most people believe that giving to the needy will release God’s blessings upon them. Read more
Protest in Jos over killing of truck drivers in S/East (DailyTrust)
Drivers and owners of trucks conveying goods from the North to the South East have protested against incessant killing of their members by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
They staged the protest yesterday in Jos, Plateau State capital, decrying that many of their members had been killed and their vehicles burnt in the attacks.
The drivers, under the umbrella of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (heavy trucks), marched with placards with different inscriptions such as ‘Stop killing northern drivers’, ‘Tinubu should protect our members’, and ‘Enough of burning and destruction of our trucks in the South East.’ Read more
Ramadan: School closure violates students’ rights, says CAN (Leadership)
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed concerns over the extended closure of schools in Bauchi, Katsina, Kano and Kebbi States during the Ramadan period, labelling the decision a breach of students’ constitutional rights and detrimental to educational development.
Set to last five weeks from late February to early April 2025, the closure affects all public and private educational institutions at every level, nursery, primary, secondary, and tertiary.
In a statement, CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh criticised the lack of inclusivity in the decision-making process, emphasising how the closures disproportionately affect non-Muslim students. Read more
Lagos Assembly orders remote work for staff amid leadership dispute (Guardian)
The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed all staff and legislative aides to work remotely from home indefinitely to prevent potential violence arising from the ongoing leadership crisis.
The directive, issued by Acting Clerk Mr. Babatunde Ottun Abubakar in a memo addressed to all staff, was aimed at ensuring their safety and preventing a breakdown of law and order.
The memo, titled “Amendment to Remote Work Schedule Arrangement,” emphasised that the measure was necessary pending the resolution of the leadership dispute. Read more
Fubara orders fresh LG poll after S’Court verdict (Channels)
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured the people of the oil-rich state that his administration will implement the Supreme Court’s verdict after carefully reviewing its Certified True Copy (CTC).
This followed the Friday judgment of the apex court, which declared the LG election conducted in the state on October 5, 2024, as invalid.
In a state broadcast on Sunday, Fubara revealed that he has met with his legal team, who expect to obtain the CTC by Friday, March 7, 2025. Read more
NLC directs its organ to rebrand LP (Nation)
The Labour Party (LP) may still be writhing in its protracted internal crisis.
To assuage its trauma, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its organ – the National Administrative Council (NAC) – to take immediate steps to rebrand the party.
The NLC tasked the NAC to take steps to merge or form a coalition with like-minded parties to defend LP’s interests and those of Nigerian workers in the party with a view to reclaiming the party. Read more
LG funding: Govt agencies brainstorm as direct payment suffers setback (Punch)
The Account-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, have commenced talks on the implementation of the July 11, 2024 Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy as direct allocation disbursement to the 7774 LGAs continues to suffer delay.
In a move to enforce the verdict, the two senior officials have been holding consultations on the modalities for submitting LGAs’ bank accounts for direct payment of council allocation but are reportedly facing challenges identifying LGAs with democratically elected officials.
This was contained in the Federation Account Allocation Committee Technical Sub-Committee meeting minutes obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday. Read more
Zoe Saldaña makes history with Oscars win for best supporting actress (ABC)
Zoe Saldaña made history at the Oscars when she won best supporting actress for her role as Mexican lawyer Rita Castro in “Emilia Pérez.”
Saldaña is the third Latina in Oscar history to win best supporting actress — and the first to win the award for a role other than Anita in “West Side Story.”
Saldaña is the first American of Dominican origin to win best supporting actress. Read more
Young child becomes second person to die of Ebola in Uganda (AfricaNews)
A four-year-old child became the second person to die of Ebola in Uganda since the outbreak was announced in late January, the World Health Organization said on Saturday.
On Tuesday, Ugandan health officials confirmed that the country had recorded 10 infections with the Sudan strain of the virus.
The death of the child is seen as a setback for health officials who had hoped the highly infectious disease had been “contained” after eight people had recovered following treatment. Read more
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy ‘ready’ for minerals deal after bust-up with Trump (AlJazeera)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said a minerals deal with the United States is “ready” to be signed despite his public bust-up with US President Donald Trump.
Speaking to journalists after a pivotal summit with European leaders in London on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to go forward with the agreement, which fell through following a public clash with Trump on Friday.
“It is our policy to continue despite what happened in the past. We are constructive. If we agreed upon signing it, we were ready to sign it. And honestly, I believe that the United States is ready as well,” Zelenskyy told a group of reporters at London Stansted airport via a translator. Read more
Arab states and UN condemn Gaza aid blockade by Israel (BBC)
Several Arab states and the UN have condemned Israel for blocking the entry of all humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
Egypt and Qatar said the Israeli move on Sunday violated a ceasefire deal, while UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described it as “alarming”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country acted because Hamas was stealing the supplies and using them “to finance its terror machine”. Read more
Oscars 2025: Sean Baker makes history with four wins in one night (Farout)
Anora director Sean Baker has made history by becoming the first person to win four Oscars for the same film on the same night.
The Florida Project and Red Rocket director has been on a steady rise in Hollywood for the last decade, and Anora has been his biggest hit so far in critical and commercial terms.
The racy comedy-drama about the marriage of a sex worker and the son of a Russian oligarch has captured the imaginations of audiences, critics, and Academy voters alike. Read more
Syria forms committee to draft transitional constitutional charter (France 24)
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced on Sunday the formation of a committee to draft a constitutional declaration for the country’s transition after the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
The new authorities are focused on rebuilding Syria and its institutions after Assad’s removal on December 8, ending more than half a century of his family’s iron-fisted rule and 13 years of devastating war.
The presidency announced “the formation of a committee of experts”, including one woman, tasked with drafting “the constitutional declaration that regulates the transitional phase” in Syria. Read more
Dele Alli makes Como Squad debut for Roma clash (Channels)
Former England international Dele Alli could make his debut for Como on Sunday after being selected in the Serie A team’s matchday squad for the first time, for their clash at in-form Roma.
The ex-Tottenham midfielder was named as part of a 26-man squad for the trip to Rome as ambitious and wealthy Como try to pull further away from the relegation zone following a busy winter transfer window.
The 28-year-old Dele was one of a host of players who bolstered Cesc Fabregas’ Como who look set to secure their top flight status as they sit seven points above the relegation zone. Read more
Tornadoes suffer 3rd home defeat; Remo Stars open 12-point gap (DailyTrust)
Niger Tornadoes suffered another home defeat after former African champions, Enyimba of Aba, edged them 1-0 in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) week 27 match played yesterday at the Lafia City Stadium.
The loss by the ‘Ikon Allah’ boys who have adopted Lafia as their home ground following the ban on the Bako Kontagora Stadium Minna is the third home defeat for them in the ongoing season.
Before yesterday’s match, Tornadoes had lost at home to Rivers United in week 8 and Enugu Rangers in week 19. Read more
Osimhen hits brace in Galatasaray’s 3-3 draw against Kasimpasa (Leadership)
Nigerian International Victor Osimhen bagged a brace as Galatasaray and Kasimpasa battled to a thrilling 3-3 draw in the Istanbul derby on Sunday.
Osimhen scored Galatasaray’s first and third goals in the keenly contested encounter.
The 26-year-old opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute and netted his second 19 minutes thereafter. Read more
Barca thrash 10-man Real Sociedad to reclaim top spot (Guardian)
Barcelona secured a comfortable 4-0 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday to move back top of La Liga.
Aritz Elustondo’s early red card gave Hansi Flick’s side a comfortable afternoon with Gerard Martin, Marc Casado, Ronald Araujo and Robert Lewandowski on the scoresheet.
Atletico Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to temporarily knock the Catalans from their perch, while Real Madrid, third, lost at Real Betis. Read more
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India beat New Zealand to face Australia in semi (AlJazeera)
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy returned figures of 5-42 as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs to set up a semifinal clash with Australia in cricket’s Champions Trophy.
India won all three of their group matches to top Group A and will play the first semifinal of the 50-over tournament in Dubai on Tuesday. The match is a rerun of the 2023 Cricket World Cup final, which the Australians won in Ahmedabad.
New Zealand will take on Group B winners South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday. Read more