PRP warns against relocation of foreign military bases to Nigeria (Nation)
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has warned the federal governor against the potential dangers of allowing foreign military bases to be relocated to Nigeria from the Sahel region.
In a press statement, the party highlighted seven key risks, including threats to national sovereignty, security concerns, economic implications, diplomatic tensions, shift in focus, influence on foreign policy, and environmental and social impacts.
Some northern stakeholders have recently been apprehensive of alleged plots by the United States, France and other foreign interests, with a military presence in the Sahel region, to secure agreements with the Nigerian government, as well as some other West African countries, for new defence pacts, part of which is said to be the controversial military bases’ relocation plots. Read more
4-month-old baby abducted at gunpoint in Akwa Ibom (Tribune)
A young couple, Udeme Eyo and the wife of Enen-Atai village in Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) to the security agencies to do all within their powers to recover their four-month-old baby that was abducted at gunpoint in their house.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred at about 3:00 am on Saturday morning in their family house near the PCN Primary School in East Itam.
The father of the ill-fated child, who spoke with this reporter, said his family was startled by a loud bang on the door at about 3 am on Saturday when two hefty men stormed their bedroom and demanded for their baby. Read more
Nigerian entrepreneur invests in Greener Future with $1m Electric Mobility Prize (Sun)
Nigerian entrepreneur Mosope Olaosebikan has unveiled the prestigious MO Sustainability Prize, a $1 million initiative over five years aimed at fostering innovation in electric mobility solutions among Nigerian university students.
This ambitious project seeks to propel sustainable transportation advancements in Nigeria, starting with this year’s winners.
Olaosebikan emphasises that the MO Sustainability Prize goes beyond celebrating creativity. It provides crucial financial support and mentorship to help transform groundbreaking ideas into tangible realities. “By focusing on electric mobility in its inaugural year, the prize sets the stage for future editions to explore diverse sustainability themes, offering a platform for students to showcase their dedication to a greener future,” he stated. Read more
Igbo politicians, governors working silently to secure IPOB leader’s release – Kanu’s wife (Vanguard)
The wife of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mrs Uchechi Kanu, has said that even though the Department of State Service, DSS, is still detaining her husband, Igbo politicians, governors, and political office holders are still working assiduously for the release of her husband.
“I thank other Igbo politicians, governors and political office holders who are concerned about the plight of my husband. A lot of these elites are concerned about the unlawful detention of my husband, and are working silently to secure a round table discussion for his release. I’m thankful to them”, she said.
Speaking during a live programme on Radio Biafra, Mrs Kanu who addressed some Igbo people living in diaspora, appreciated the senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah for facilitating her visit to her husband, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in DSS. Read more
‘FG not creating value, only sharing money’ (DailyTrust)
Prince Adewole Adebayo, the Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 elections, has tackled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies, accusing his government of sharing money rather than creating value.
He stated this on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
The ex-presidential candidate posited that the solution to the problem in the country was not a minimum wage increment, adding that the government should be looking at policies that would create value for the naira. Read more
‘You’ve missed your generation’s blessing’, Davido tells barber who called him 003 (Punch)
Afrobeat music giant, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido set social media ablaze on Sunday when he slammed an Abuja-based barber who is also a Wizkid fan, Callistus Okolie, with his Instagram handle as @Kallystouch, for describing him (Davido) as the third biggest musician in the Nigerian music industry.
Commenting on the photos Davido posted of himself in Dubai on Sunday, the barber wrote, “The only 3rd man in the music industry 003.”
Dissatisfied with Okolie’s description of him, the singer quickly responded by saying “@kallystouch I have saved your picture. I would have come to Abuja, and you would have cut my hair that is almost finished, but you like social media.” Read more
Adekunle Gold, Samklef clash over Simi (Leadership)
A social media storm has erupted as Nigerian music producer Samklef took to X (formerly known as Twitter), to express his sentiments about singer Simi, sparking a heated exchange between him and the latter’s husband, Adekunle Gold.
In a series of now-deleted tweets on Sunday, Samklef revealed that he harboured feelings for Simi in the past but chose not to pursue them to maintain a professional relationship. He then went on to label Simi and fellow artist Ric Hassani as “the two most ungrateful artistes” he has ever worked with.
But, Simi’s husband Adekunle Gold swiftly responded, defending his wife and urging Samklef to stop disrespecting her. Read more
Shettima departs Abuja for US-Africa Business Summit (Channels)
Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Dallas, United States of America, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa.
A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha says the Vice President will join other political and business leaders across Africa, the United States of America and beyond for the summit featuring high-level dialogues, networking business sessions and the plenary. Read more
Nita Strauss marries Josh Villalta in “heavy metal dream wedding’’ (People)
Nita Strauss is married!
The rock guitarist, 37, wed her manager Josh Villalta on May 4 at The Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles, surrounded by 120 guests including Alice Cooper, retired WWE star Mick Foley, Demi Lovato and Jutes, and David Draiman of the band Disturbed.
Strauss — who describes the couple’s nuptials as “our dark, romantic, heavy metal dream wedding” — tells PEOPLE they chose the location not only for its aesthetic but for its logistical convenience. Read more
Reese Witherspoon’s daughter Ava hits back at comments about her weight (Hello!)
Ava Phillippe has a message for the online trolls commenting on and speculating over her body and weight.
Reese Witherspoon’s daughter was supported by fans and celebrities alike, after she made various social media posts slamming recent critics of her appearance.
Over the weekend, Ava, 24, took to TikTok and shared a video of her in the bathroom, set to No Doubt’s classic “Just a Girl,” which first read: “NBD [no big deal] but I just achieved a major milestone as a woman online…” Read more
Children hang on for their lives after safety bar comes loose on fairground ride (Metro)
This the moment children hung on for their lives after a safety bar on a fairground ride came loose.
Video footage shows three youngsters, reportedly aged 12 and 13, being thrown around on the pendulum ride in Yeisk, Russia, as they try desperately to hold on.
The ride was stopped shortly after and a boy was treated for a broken rib, while two girls suffered abrasions and bruising. Read more
Emily Blunt’s children cried seeing her in danger in Jungle Cruise (FilmNews)
Emily Blunt’s daughters found her family movie Jungle Cruise to be a distressing experience.
In the 2021 movie, the British actress plays a scientist who hires Dwayne Johnson’s riverboat captain to take her and her brother down the Amazon River to find the Tree of Life.
While the action adventure was based on a Disney attraction and designed for children, Blunt’s daughters Hazel, nine, and Violet, seven, did not enjoy watching their mum’s character Dr. Lily Houghton in danger. Read more
Tunis police raid sees refugees abandoned near the border with Algeria (AlJazeera)
Teams of refuse workers are busy in the deserted alleyway outside the International Organization for Migration (IOM) offices in Tunis. A nearby park stands empty.
In both, large piles of refuse are the only evidence of the hundreds of sub-Saharan African refugees and migrants who sheltered here until recently.
In the early hours of Friday morning, police swept into both camps, plus a protest site outside the offices of the UNHCR a few miles distant, clearing them of the shelters erected there and bundling the men, women and children onto municipal buses to the Algerian border. Read more
Methodists end anti-gay bans, closing 50 years of battles over sexuality for mainline Protestants (NBC)
It took just a few days for United Methodist delegates to remove a half-century’s worth of denominational bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriages.
But when asked at a news conference about the lightning speed of the changes, the Rev. Effie McAvoy took a longer view.
“Oh, it didn’t take days, honey,” she said.
It took decades of activism for a change that was “so very healing,” said McAvoy, pastor of Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church in Hope, Rhode Island. A member of the Queer Delegate Caucus at last week’s UMC General Conference in Charlotte, she was grateful to be part of the historic moment. Read more
Kenya: Death toll from floods passes 200 (AfricaNews)
The death toll in Kenya’s devastating floods has risen to at least 228.
72 people are currently reported missing and 164 have been wounded.
The Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura said Sunday (May. 5) that more than 223,000 people have been affected by the floods.
Authorities continue to enforce the evacuation order that was issued on May 2nd. Read more
Aruna, Edem, others for African Cup, Olympics qualifiers in Kigali (Punch)
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation on Sunday named Quadri Aruna, Offiong Edem, Olajide Omotayo and Fatimo Bello as the country’s flag bearers at the 2024 ITTF African Cup and Olympics Qualification Tournament taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, from May 12 to 18.
According to the prospectus of the tournament, each country is expected to present two men and two women for the African Cup while Egypt as the defending champions in men and women will present three players each. Rwanda will present four men and four women as the host country.
In the list of participants released by the continental table tennis ruling body, African Table Tennis Federation, Omar Assar of Egypt as the men’s singles defending champion will be joined by her compatriot – Hana Goda who will also be defending her title in the women’s singles. Read more
Katsina hosts Dambe Warriors competition to promote tourism (Channels)
To encourage tourism, the Katsina State Government has restated its total commitment to promoting the state’s cultural heritage and traditions.
The Katsina State Commissioner for Information and Culture Bala Zango disclosed this to reporters on Sunday at the sideline of the Season 3 Dambe Warriors Circuit Fight 11 Competition, otherwise known as traditional boxing held at the Katsina Open Air Theatre.
According to him, Katsina is a culture-friendly state, thus assuring the state government’s readiness, to organise inter-local government’s traditional boxing competition. Read more
Premier League referee to wear camera in match (BBC)
A referee will wear a video camera for the first time in a Premier League game during Monday evening’s match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
Jarred Gillett will use a head-mounted device called a ‘RefCam’, although the footage will not be broadcast live.
The video will be used in a one-off programme providing insight into officiating in the Premier League. Read more
Bill Belichick roasts Tom Brady about Birmingham City’s relegation live on Netflix (Mirror)
Birmingham City have been relegated from the Championship and the club were mocked by former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick as he roasted minority owner Tom Brady
Legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick mocked Birmingham City’s relegation to League One during The Roast of Tom Brady.
The live Netflix event saw comedians and NFL stars come together to roast Brady, who became a minority owner of Birmingham last year and chairs the club’s advisory board. And Belichick made a surprise appearance at the roast, having won six Super Bowls with Brady at the New England Patriots. Read more
The Lando Norris gamble that inspired brilliant first F1 win with McLaren (Independent)
Has there ever been a more popular winner in modern-day Formula 1? Perhaps not. After the chequered flag, everybody under the sun wanted to congratulate Lando Norris: his jubilant McLaren team, his fellow drivers, even Donald Trump, present at the Hard Rock Stadium, seemed outshone by the boy from Bristol and his unshakable smile at the end of the Miami Grand Prix.
The phrase on everyone’s lips was that it had been a “long time coming” for the 24-year-old. That’s true. 110 races, 15 podiums and one excruciating mishap in Russia three years ago speak to that. But Norris has finally entered the winners’ circle, on Sunday becoming the 21st Brit to win a Formula 1 race. For the first time in 18 months, God Save the King was belted out at the F1 podium ceremony.
As often is the case in the slender margins of elite sport, fortune played its role in the Florida heat. Norris started fifth on the grid, a day after crashing out on lap one of the sprint race, with optimism perhaps surprisingly high. He’d stated in the team briefing on Sunday morning that it was a day “full of opportunities.” Yet with Max Verstappen on pole position once again, overhauling the Red Bulls and Ferraris out in front seemed a daunting task. Read more
‘I don’t know yet’ — Akpom uncertain over Ajax future (CompleteSports)
Chuba Akpom has said his future will be decided by Ajax at the end of the season.
The Nigerian-born forward, who joined the Eredivisie giants from Middlesbrough last summer has been linked with a return to England.
Nottingham Forest and Fulham are strong contenders for his signature. Read more
