Rivers women stage solidarity march backing state of emergency (Vanguard)
Women in Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Monday staged a peaceful protest in support of emergency rule in the state.
The women all dressed in white earlier gathered at the Garrison Bus Stop in the city centre from 8 am to begin the rally.
They were seen singing solidarity songs in support of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rted), along Aba Road and marching towards the government house, Port Harcourt. Read more
Labour laments high cost of living, braces for wage renegotiation (Guardian)
Despite the implementation of the national minimum wage across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stakeholders and labour unions have raised concerns about the cost of living in the country, insisting that many workers will be unable to feed their families.
This comes as states set the average floor wage at N73,471.43, according to data analysed by The Guardian. The mean of states’ minimum wage is N3,471.43 or five per cent higher than the legislated wage peg.
Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Lagos, Niger, Oyo and Rivers pay much higher than both the Federal Government’s peg (N70,000) and the national average. Read more
Portable remanded in prison after failing to meet bail conditions (Sun)
Nigerian singer Okikiola Badmus, better known as Portable, has been remanded in the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, after failing to meet his bail conditions.
Daily Sun reported that the controversial artiste was granted N1 million bail, conditional upon the provision of two sureties in like sum.
Portable appeared in court on Monday after he was charged with defamation by veteran Fuji musician Akorede Saheed, aka Saheed Osupa. Read more
Ahead Of 2027: Atiku, Tambuwal, El-Rufai-led Coalition Infiltrates Niger Delta (Leadership)
The realignment of political forces ahead of the next presidential election under the auspices of Coalition 2027 appears to have made some inroads in the Niger Delta as its promoters have enlisted the support of strategic stakeholders in the region, it was exclusively gathered over the weekend.
Although they had yet to leave the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and immediate past governor of Sokoto State (now a serving senator) Aminu Waziri Tambuwal are leading prominent northern politicians in an effort to forge a political coalition against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
Also playing a prominent role in this regard is the immediate past governor of Kaduna State Nasir el-Rufai who had since dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) for the Social Democratic Party(SDP). Read more
NANS hails Akinronbi’s installation as Aare Onakakanfo (Nation)
The Assistant Secretary General, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Com. Adejuwon Olatunji Emmanuel, has hailed installation of Akin Akinronbi as the Aare Onakakanfo Idomapa of Oke-Ona, Egbaland, an honour at the Palace of the Osile of Oke-Ona, Abeokuta.
The recognition is not only a celebration of Akinronbi’s personal achievements and commitment to societal progress but also a divine call to a higher level of leadership, responsibility, and purposeful service.
A statement by Adejuwon noted that the title of Aare Onakakanfo is historically one of great influence symbolizing strength, strategy, and stewardship entrusted only to those who have shown the courage to lead, the capacity to build, and the wisdom to unify. Read more
GenCos threaten shutdown over N4t electricity debt (Punch)
The 23 power generation companies in Nigeria have warned that they can no longer guarantee a steady electricity supply due to the worsening liquidity crisis in the electricity market, with outstanding debts now exceeding N4tn.
The firms, under the aegis of the Association of Power Generation Companies, raised the alarm in a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Col. Sani Bello (retd.).
They said the debt burden and operational constraints currently facing the companies could force an imminent shutdown of power plants if urgent interventions were not implemented. Read more
Falana urges Benue, Plateau govs to ban open grazing (NewTelegraph)
A human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on Benue and Plateau State Governments to take decisive action by banning open grazing as part of efforts to end the persistent wave of killings in the region.
Falana, who is also the Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), made this call on Sunday while commiserating with families affected by the spate of violence in both states.
He stressed the urgent need for the attorneys general of Plateau and Benue to ensure that those behind the killings are arrested and prosecuted under the relevant provisions of their state penal laws. Read more
Jamaican reggae legend Max Romeo has died aged 80 (Hotpress)
He was best known for classics such as ‘Chase The Devil’ and War Ina Babylon.
Max Romeo, the iconic Jamaican reggae musician who rose to prominence in the 60’s and best known for classic such as ‘Chase The Devil’ and War Ina Babylon, has passed away at the age of 80.
The artist, born Maxie Smith, died after heart complications in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica, on Friday. Read more
Katy Perry among six-woman crew blasted into space as part of Blue Origin flight (Standard)
Singer Katy Perry could be heard yelling “oh my god” as she was blasted into space as part of the six-woman crew on Jeff Bezos’s New Shepard NS-31 embarking on the Blue Origin programme.
The Firework singer could be seen in the rocket as it pulled away from the gantry at the launch facilities in West Texas, before a countdown from mission control, then flames shot out of the bottom of the craft and it successfully launched into the air.
Mission control could be heard saying it “looks good” as the rocket reached “supersonic” as it soared into the skies, while Perry could be heard cheering onboard. Read more
Rishi Sunak’s former aide among 15 people charged with gambling on General Election date (LBC)
A former Conservative MP has been charged with gambling on the timing of the General Election.
The Gambling Commission said on Monday it had charged Craig Williams and 14 others with gambling offences following an investigation into bets placed on last July’s vote.
Allegations against Williams, the former MP for Montgomeryshire in Wales, were made in the run-up to last year’s vote.
He lost his seat in the election, with the Tories withdrawing their support for his candidacy. Read more
Algeria orders 12 French embassy staff to leave the country within 40 hours (Euronews)
Algeria has ordered 12 French embassy officials to leave the country within 48 hours, France’s foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed on Monday.
The decision to expel the officials comes just days after prosecutors in France indicted three Algerians, including a consular official, on suspicion of kidnapping the Algerian influencer Amir Boukhors last year.
Boukhors, who has a large TikTok following, is a critic of the Algerian government, which wants him to return to face trial for alleged fraud and terror offences. Read more
Nicky Katt, ‘Dazed and Confused’ and ‘Boston Public’ actor, dies at 54 (PageSix)
Nicky Katt, who was best known for his roles in Richard Linklater’s 1993 movie “Dazed and Confused,” 2000’s “Boiler Room” and the TV series “Boston Public,” has died. He was 54.
Katt’s death was confirmed to Page Six by John Sloss, founder and partner at Sloss Law, the firm that provided the actor’s legal representation.
His cause of death was not immediately available. Read more
Zelensky calls Russia ‘scum’ for Palm Sunday missile strike (Newsweek)
At least 32 people have been killed in a Russian ballistic missile attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, according to local authorities, in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a “horrific” assault.
The missile barrage directed at Sumy is the second large-scale ballistic missile attack on a major Ukrainian city this month, after Moscow targeted the central city of Kryvyi Rih on April 4.
U.S. efforts to secure a ceasefire agreement with Moscow have stalled despite fresh talks between senior American and Russian officials. Read more
Lookman quits Atalanta end of season (Sun)
Ademola Lookman is ready to leave Atalanta.
TMW says the Nigeria striker has informed Atalanta management that he plans to leave this summer.
Lookman and La Dea management have a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ about leaving a decision to the player at season’s end over his future. Read more
U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles face North African test in Egypt (Punch)
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will begin their quest for an eighth continental title against Tunisia, Kenya, and Morocco in Group B of the 2025 U-20 AFCON in Egypt.
The group-stage draw, conducted on Sunday at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo, officially signalled the start of the 18th edition of the tournament that has long served as a launchpad for some of Africa’s finest football talents.
Running from April 27 to May 18, this year’s championship will feature 13 teams divided across three groups, Group A with five teams, while Groups B and C will each include four. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals. Read more
Rivers Hoopers wrap up Kalahari Conference with emphatic win over Stade Malien (Nation)
Rivers Hoopers concluded their Kalahari Conference campaign in an emphatic fashion with a 79-59 blowout win over Stade Malien, stamping their dominance as they head into the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs in Pretoria, South Africa.
Having already secured qualification to the playoffs of the 2025 BAL, the KingsMen stepped onto the court with nothing to prove but a lot to affirm, and it was done neatly.
From the tip-off, the Hoopers set the tone, controlling the tempo and keeping Stade Malien in check with a stifling defense that held the Malian side to just 28.6% shooting from the field. Read more
Rory McIlroy’s emotional message to daughter Poppy after Masters win (IrishNews)
Rory McIlroy had an emotional message for his daughter Poppy after completing the career grand slam on Sunday by winning the Masters.
The Holywood golfer picked up his first green jacket after beating Justin Rose in a play-off to end a drama-filled final day at Augusta National.
After making birdie to win the title, Rory was seen having an emotional embrace with his wife, Erica, and their four-year-old daughter. Read more
Red Bull have ‘great concern’ over Max Verstappen exit after early F1 season struggles (Independent)
There is “great concern” at Red Bull over Max Verstappen’s future at the team amid their recent struggles for pace, according to team advisor Helmut Marko.
Seven days since a superb win for Verstappen in Suzuka, he found himself struggling for pace and ultimately finished in sixth position at the Bahrain Grand Prix on SundayReigning champion Verstappen is now third overall this season, eight points adrift of McLaren’s leader Lando Norris. Read more