Rano: Ice block seller who became billionaire, owns 120 filling stations, 600 trucks, 60m litre tank farm (Punch)
Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, popularly known as A.A Rano, transformed from a humble boy from Kano Village into a billionaire magnate, overseeing a conglomerate that includes 120 filling stations across Nigeria.
Born into an average family in Lausu, Kano State, Rano started small, with an ice block and groundnut oil business, including other local items.
Rano has gone into building a multi-billion naira enterprise spanning various sectors of Nigeria’s economy. Read more
Minimum Wage: We are working on what we can pay sustainably – Govs (Channels)
While the conversations for a new minimum wage for workers in Nigeria rages on, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum says it is yet to conclude work on what the states can sustainably pay.
A statement issued by the Chairman of the Forum, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, noted that as members of the 37-member tripartite committee for the national minimum wage which is yet to conclude its work, “the governors are reviewing their fiscal space to see the consequential impact of the various recommendations.”
“While we acknowledge various initiatives adopted of recent by way of wage awards and partial wage adjustments, it is imperative to state that the 37-member tripartite committee inaugurated on the national minimum wage, is still in consultation and yet to conclude its work. Read more
N11b Abuja property demolished, Ohanaeze fumes (Vanguard)
The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has condemned the demolition of properties valued at over N11 billion belonging to Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, a Nigerian who has significantly invested in Abuja’s development.
He spoke while receiving leaders of the Igbo Community Assembly Abuja in his office.
Chief Iwuanyanwu stated, “I understand that properties valued at over N11 billion were demolished. Nicholas Ukachukwu is an exceptionally patriotic Nigerian who has invested significant time and resources into developing Abuja. Read more
Court stops NERC, KEDCO from implementing electricity tariff hike (DailyTrust)
A federal high court in Kano has granted an interim order restraining the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) from implementing a hike in electricity tariff for Band A customers in the state.
The court directed Kano Electricity Distribution Plc to discontinue the implementation of tariff increased from N76.54/Kwh to N225/Kwh.
Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, who granted the order also directed NERC and KEDCO to stop taking any step, pending hearing and determination of a motion on notice filed by the applicants. Read more
Ogoni Clean-up: Group accuses contractors of abandoning N80b contract (ThisDay)
Some Ogoni indigenes under the aegis of Ogoni Peoples Assembly (OPA),have blacklisted 29 contractors working for the HydroCarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) over alleged project abandonment.
The contractors are among 39 who were handed over 39 oil polluted sites for remediation on April 27, 2023 for the duration of two years.
OPA Leader, Probel Williams, who raised the alarm in a statement in Port Harcourt, yesterday said only two per cent of the contractors have made significant progress while the rest are foot dragging and are yet to even mobilised to site. Read more
Father of 7 arrested for allegedly abusing 8 girls, 1 boy (Nation)
A53-year-old father of seven children, Abdullahi Imman has been arrested for allegedly s3xually abusing eight girls and one boy between 6 to 11 years at Tayi village area in Minna, Niger state.
Imman, who is popularly called Abba in the community, said that he lured the children into his provisions shop with biscuits and sweets.
According to him, he normally puts his fingers into their private parts until he is satisfied and promised them more sweets and biscuits if they return again. Read more
Kaduna Accidental Bombing: Military set to court martial 2 personnel (NewTelegraph)
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has announced the conclusion of an investigation into the December 2023 accidental bombing of Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government of Kaduna State, which left scores of civilians dead, and dozens wounded.
It noted that an investigative report submitted to the Military High Command indicted 2 personnel for alleged acts of omission, or commission.
As a consequence, the unnamed suspects are to face a Court Martial. Read more
NGE says press freedom crucial to democracy, good governance (Independent)
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has reaffirmed that media freedom, freedom of expression and access to public information are crucial to democracy and must be at the heart of Nigerian government’s values and actions.
The professional body of editors and media executives in Nigeria also said that it recognises the crucial role played by journalists, media workers and free/ independent media in protecting the country democracy and advised them not to give up, in spite of the prevailing economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Thursday to mark this year World Press Freedom Day and signed by its President, Mr. Eze Anaba, and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the Guild also requested the National Assembly to initiate and adopt a law to protect journalists, who speak out on matters of public interest, especially against abusive and strategic lawsuits, which are regularly initiated to silence them. Read more
Tiffany Haddish started tracking down her online trolls and calling them on the phone (NBC)
Tiffany Haddish revealed to the Los Angeles Times that she sometimes investigates the trolls spamming her social media accounts with hateful comments and finds a way to reach out to them directly.
The “Girls Trip” favorite said that online bullying got so negative over the last year (with commenters calling her “pedo” and “not funny,” for instance) that she hired a digital forensics analyst when death threats starting coming her way. The analyst’s research showed that 75% of these threats were “created by robots in Malaysia and Iran.”
Despite her acclaimed comedy career, Haddish has become a polarizing figure due to her run-ins with the law. She was arrested in 2022 on suspicion of driving under the influence, then she got charged with her second DUI last November. The charge was later dismissed. Read more
Kate Beckinsale hails King Charles for being ‘‘open’’ about his diagnosis amid her own family’s cancer journey (People)
Kate Beckinsale is sending her well-wishes to King Charles amid his cancer diagnosis.
While speaking at the King’s Trust Gala in New York City on Thursday, May 2, Beckinsale, 50, revealed how “impressed” she is with “how open” the King, 75, has “been about having cancer.” The British monarch is currently receiving treatment after announcing his diagnosis on Feb. 5. His daughter-in-law Kate Middleton also revealed her own cancer on March 22. Read more
Britney Spears and Sam Asghari’s divorce finalized as judge signs off on settlement agreement (People)
Britney Spears and Sam Asghari’s divorce has been finalized.
A judge with the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County signed off on the divorce on Thursday, May 2, per court documents obtained by PEOPLE.
The “Gimme More” singer, 42, and Asghari, 30, will be declared legally single on Dec. 2, 2024, as California law requires at least a six-month waiting period. Read more
Clarkson’s Farm star diagnosed with cancer as Jeremy Clarkson admits “he’s terrified’’ (GBNews)
Clarkson’s Farm star Gerald Cooper has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, Jeremy Clarkson confirmed in the season three opener.
Cooper, 76, has become a household name thanks to his hilarious back-and-forths with Clarkson over the first two seasons but didn’t appear in the first four episodes of season three where the announcement was made.
It was left to Clarkson to break the news to fans as episode one of season three drew to a close after he took a phone call while in his tractor. Read more
Kristen Stewart returning to Twilight roots to sink her teeth into vampire thriller with Oscar Isaac (EW)
More than a decade after Kristen Stewart last played Bella Swan in the Twilight movies, the actress is returning to the world of bloodsuckers.
Stewart is set to star opposite Oscar Isaac in “Flesh of the Gods”, a vampire thriller from director Panos Cosmatos, producers announced Thursday. The two will play a married couple who “descend each evening from their luxury skyscraper condo and head into an electric nighttime realm of 80’s Los Angeles,” according to a news release. “When they cross paths with the mysterious and enigmatic Nameless and her hard-partying cabal, Raoul and Alex are seduced into a glamorous, surrealistic world of hedonism, thrills, and violence.” Read more
French police peacefully remove anti-Israel students from university sites (Fox)
French police on Friday peacefully removed dozens of students from a building at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, known as Sciences Po, who had gathered in support of Palestinians, echoing similar encampments and solidarity demonstrations across the United States.
Students waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans in support of residents of Gaza, as Israel continues its offensive following the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack that triggered the Israeli-Hamas war.
The Sciences Po building had been occupied since Thursday evening. The university administration had closed the main buildings and moved classes online. Read more
First wild animal seen using medicinal plant to treat wound (Sky)
An orangutan has been observed using a plant with healing properties to treat a wound on its face, in what scientists say is a first for wild animals.
Biologists witnessed the male Sumatran orangutan – named Rakus – chewing the leaves of a climbing plant known as Akar Kuning.
He applied the juicy mixture that was produced on to a wound on his right cheek for more than 30 minutes, until the injury was completely covered. Read more
Young Nigerian basketballer bags US scholarships after street encounter with Calabar lawyer (Punch)
A young Nigerian basketballer, David Etim, has bagged three United States scholarship offers after encountering a Calabar-born lawyer, Faithfulness Okom.
Narrating how he met Etim to our correspondent on Thursday, Okom said he met Etim in 2021 while driving in Calabar that fateful Saturday and was fascinated with his height and decided to lure him into playing basketball.
According to him, Etim was not the only one he dragged to a basketball academy to start a career. He said he had some other people he was convinced to start playing basketball upon seeing their height, which he believed was one of the requirements for playing.
The Calabar lawyer, now based in Spain, said, “I was driving randomly on a Saturday if I can recall. I started watching the NBA in 2020 and grew an obsession with basketball. It annoyed me when I saw random tall guys who didn’t hoop. I dragged many people to play ball, three young guys before David. Read more
Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham: Spurs dealt CL blow by rivals as Pochettino does the double over former club (Football365)
Tottenham’s Champions League hopes were dealt a huge blow as they slipped to a 2-0 Premier League loss against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Ange Postecoglou’s team were left trailing fourth-placed Aston Villa by seven points and now only have a single game in hand, as goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson saw Mauricio Pochettino emerge as the victor against his former club to enhance his team’s chances of qualifying for Europe ahead of next season.
This was far from Spurs at their best as they rarely put serious pressure on a Chelsea backline that had already posted the club’s worst league defensive record in over 30 years. Read more
Bayer Leverkusen’s record unbeaten march continues as they win 1st leg against Roma
(IrishExaminer)
An imposing stadium in a major foreign capital did nothing to stop Bayer Leverkusen’s record unbeaten march across Europe.
The freshly crowned first-time Bundesliga champion silenced the Stadio Olimpico with a 2-0 win at Roma in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals on Thursday to extend its unbeaten streak to 47 matches across all competitions.
No club from Europe’s five biggest leagues — in Germany, England, Italy, Spain and France — has had a longer unbeaten streak. Read more
Champion Sabalenka sets up Swiatek rematch in Madrid Open final (France24)
Defending Madrid Open champion Aryna Sabalenka produced a brilliant comeback from a set and a break down to beat Elena Rybakina and reach the final on Thursday.
The Belarusian second seed triumphed 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) and will face world number one Iga Swiatek on Saturday in a rematch of last year’s final.
The clinical Swiatek earlier eased past American Madison Keys with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3 victory. Read more
Police: No charges for Cowboys’ Prescott for alleged 2017 incident (ABC)
Dallas police will not pursue sexual assault charges against Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, with a police spokesperson saying detectives determined there was insufficient evidence an offense was committed.
The case stemmed from an accusation from an alleged incident that occurred in 2017 in which a woman said Prescott assaulted her in the back of an SUV in a strip club parking lot. Read more
Lewis Hamilton urges Ferrari to sign Adrian Newey next year after Red Bull departure (Metro)
Lewis Hamilton has urged Ferrari to secure the services of Adrian Newey after the British car engineer announced his departure from Red Bull.
Newey, largely considered the greatest car designer in the sport’s history, will be able to sign for a new team at the start of next year after ending his 18-year association with Red Bull.
It comes amid the ongoing power struggle within the team that has escalated as a result of the Christian Horner scandal. Read more