*Sanwo-Olu calls for strict measures for large gatherings (Nation)*Lagos records 1,749 fire incidents in 2024 (Tribune)

Sanwo-Olu calls for strict measures for large gatherings (Nation)

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for stricter safety measures to manage large gatherings in the state following recent stampedes during philanthropic events in parts of the country.

The appeal followed multiple tragedies in states like Oyo, Anambra and the FCT where stampedes at charity events have resulted in fatalities, sparking a nationwide discussion on safety protocols for such gatherings.

To prevent similar incidents in Lagos, governor Sanwo-olu urged individuals and groups planning to distribute items to large crowds to obtain clearance from the Lagos State Safety Commission. Read more

Lagos records 1,749 fire incidents in 2024 (Tribune)

The Lagos State Government on Sunday disclosed that a total of 1,749 fire incidents were recorded in the state over the past year, urging members of the public to always provide information to help reduce fire outbreaks.

The Director General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, made this known during a press briefing jointly addressed by the State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, and heads of the State Safety Commissions at the Lagos State Fire Service Headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja.

Adeseye revealed that 75 percent of the fire incidents recorded were caused by carelessness. She expressed concern over the tendency of crowds to gather at fire scenes, which often hinders firefighters from effectively performing their duties. Read more

Lagos seals fresh set of churches, hotels, nightclubs, others over noise pollution (Sun)

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has sealed another set of establishments across the state over alleged persistent noise pollution and other environmental violations that posed significant threats to public health and safety.

The agency disclosed this in an X post on Friday, December 20.

“The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), has stepped up its enforcement efforts, sealing multiple establishments across various locations in the state. This decisive action was taken in response to persistent noise pollution and other environmental violations that posed significant threats to public health and safety. Read more

Kwara man dies in police custody, IGP orders probe (Channels)

Abdulquadri who died in the early hours of Friday was said to have been arrested by police operatives on December 19th 2024.

It was also gathered that the deceased allegedly owed the sum of N220,000 to a Peter which led to his detention.

The family of the deceased accused police operatives in the headquarters of the state police command of brutalising Abdulquadri while he was in their custody. Read more

Stampede at food event exposes urgent systemic issues – CAN (Vanguard)

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the deadly stampedes that occurred at food distribution events in Abuja, Anambra, and Ibadan, calling attention to the urgent systemic issues that have contributed to these recurring tragedies.

The most recent incident took place on Saturday morning at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, resulting in the deaths of at least ten people, including children, who had gathered in hopes of receiving aid.

In a statement issued by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of CAN, the association expressed its deep sorrow over the loss of lives, offering condolences to the affected families and the Catholic Church. Read more

FG: Tinubu’s reforms not responsible for food stampedes (DailyTrust)

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has warned politicians against linking stampedes that occurred during food distributions in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms.

He however  sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic incidents which claimed over 70 lives, including about 40 children.

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, had blamed the stampedes on the systemic failures in Nigeria amid widespread hardship in the country. Read more

NDLEA arrests businessman at Kano airport for body packing large consignment of cocaine (Nation)

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has thwarted an attempt by an import and export businessman, Olisaka Chibuzo Calistus, to smuggle 256 wraps of cocaine hidden on his body into the country through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) Kano.

Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said the seizure of the drugs weighing six kilogrammes is the single largest interception of cocaine at the Kano airport since the creation of MAKIA Command of NDLEA in 2006.

The seizure was made on Sunday 15th December 2024 during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941 from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia according to the statement. Read more 

We need only the best to defend our nation – Air Chief declares (Vanguard)

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has stated that the sacred duty of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty is reserved for individuals who exhibit exceptional traits and abilities.

He made this declaration on Saturday, 21 December 2024, while serving as the Reviewing Officer at the Passing Out Parade for Basic Military Training Course 44/2023, held at the Military Training Center (MTC), Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base in Kaduna.

Commending the recruits for their perseverance and dedication, Air Marshal Abubakar highlighted the transformative nature of their training. He said, “Your training was deliberately challenging, moulding you into warriors, tradesmen, and leaders with courage, discipline, and resilience. You are now a vital part of the Nigerian Air Force’s mission to safeguard our nation’s sovereignty.” Read more 

Angelina Jolie has learned to speak French fluently for her film “Stitches” after taking up opera for Maria (DailyMail)

Angelina Jolie has learned to speak French fluently.

The 49-year-old actress picked up the romance language for her role as Maxine in the new movie “Stitches” about Fashion Week.

The star is filming the movie now in Paris in both English and French. That means with each scene, she has to speak her lines in two languages.

Angelina has already spoken French before in the 2004 movie Taking Lives, but it was a brief scene. Read more

Chloe Bailey plans to spoil sister Halle’s son Halo for his 1st birthday (People)

Chloe Bailey is a cool aunt!

While chatting with PEOPLE exclusively about her partnership with Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, the singer and actress, 26, also opens up about celebrating her sister Halle Bailey’s son Ocean’s milestone first birthday this month.

“I’ve been getting him a lot of gifts, but I haven’t given them to him yet,” Chloe says, noting that she is “trying to split the difference for his birthday and Christmas as well, since they’re so close to each other.”

According to Chloe, her young nephew — who Halle, 24, shares with DDG — “has just evolved into such a special baby.” Read more 

Woman spiked boyfriend’s drink in $30m inheritance scam – but ended up with nothing (Mirror)

Ina Thea Kenoyer, 48, turned to murder to get cash that never existed after her boyfriend of 10 years believed he was in line for a $30 million inheritance from a relative

It was the news that most people could only dream of. Steven Riley had opened an unexpected email from a lawyer and discovered he was in line for a huge $30 million inheritance from a distant relative that he’d never even met. It was impossible not to imagine how life changing the huge sum of money would be. Steven, 51, had five sons and wanted to share his good fortune with them.

Steven’s girlfriend Ina Thea Kenoyer, who lived with him in Minot, North Dakota, was also over the moon when she found out. They had been together for 10 years and Kenoyer was sure she’d benefit from the surprise windfall. Read more

Chic lead singer who featured on disco hits “Good Times” and “Le Freak” dies (Sun)

Alfa Anderson – the Chic lead vocalist who sang Good Times and Le Freak – has died aged 78.

The star’s fellow Chic bandmate Nile Rodgers confirmed the tragic news in a post to Instagram.

Rodgers wrote “thank you for everything,” along with a montage of photos of the pair and the band.

No further details about her death were given. Read more

Questlove’s Sly Stone Documentary Sly Lives! to Premiere on Hulu (Consequence)

Questlove’s original documentary about funk pioneer Sly Stone will premiere on Hulu beginning February 13th, 2025, following its debut at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Titled Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius), the film will feature a star-studded guest list including André 3000, D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Nile Rogers, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, George Clinton, Ruth Copeland, and Clive Davis.

Bandmates from Sly and the Family Stone and family members Sylvette Phunne Robinson, Novena Carmel, and Sylvester Stewart Jr. are also set to appear. Watch a brief teaser trailer below. Read more 

Russia’s Putin pledges ‘destruction’ on Ukraine after Kazan drone attack (AlJazeera)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged retaliation after Ukrainian drones struck residential buildings in the city of Kazan in Russia’s Tatarstan region.

Putin made the comments via videolink on Sunday while addressing the local leader of Tatarstan in a road-opening ceremony.

“Whoever, and however much they try to destroy, they will face many times more destruction themselves and will regret what they are trying to do in our country,” Putin said. Read more

Magdeburg Attack: Saudi Arabia warned Germany about attacker Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, say reports (Outlook)

Officials from Saudi Arabia reportedly warned Germany about Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, the man responsible for Friday’s attack at the Christmas market in Magdeburg.

As per a report by Financial Times, Saudi authorities repeatedly warned German authorities of the suspected attacker. Authorities tracked the attacker’s social media posts and stated that Taleb boasted that “something big will happen in Germany.”

The attacker has been identified as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a Saudi dissident who has described himself as an ex-Muslim. His social media accounts added to this claim and showed that he was a strict critic of Islam and rallied against Muslim immigration into Europe. Read more 

2024 CHANQ: Home-based Eagles hold Ghana to 0-0 draw in first leg (CompleteSports)

Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles held Black Galaxies of Ghana to a 0-0 draw, in the first leg of the 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier in Accra on Sunday.

It was a game that saw the home-based Eagles begin edge the early part of the tie before the Black Galaxies turned the tide.

The home team had a bright start in the second half but could not breach the Eagles defence. Read more

Retired referee, Okeke, opens world-class sports shop in Abuja (Leadership)

In a bold stride into sports merchandising, former Nigerian referee Joseph Okeke has unveiled Lookalike Sports Shop, a state-of-the-art store nestled in the heart of Abuja.

Speaking at the grand unveiling yesterday, Okeke reflected on his lifelong passion for football, saying: “Football has always been my passion. Though I couldn’t play at the highest level, I found fulfillment in refereeing.

“While officiating, I developed an interest in the merchandising side of the game, starting small at Area 3 and later expanding to Garki Modern Market.” Read more

Uzodimma boosts Heartland, Heartland Queens with buses (Nation)

The Heartland Football Club of Owerri and their female counterpart, the Heartland Queens, on Saturday got their rare Christmas gifts from Governor Hope Uzodimma as they drove home two brand new 32- seater Coaster buses  and one brand new 18- seater Executive Bus.

Presenting the buses to the officials of the Clubs at Government House Owerri, the Governor said the Heartland Football Club owns one 32- Seater Coaster bus and the 18- Seater Executive Bus, while the Heartland Queens will take one 32-Seater Coaster bus.

He commended and appreciated the footballers and their handlers for performing well so far with minimal support and urged them to do better as more encouragement will be inevitable. Read more 

Jamie Carragher fires warning to Arsenal and Chelsea after Liverpool thrash Tottenham (Metro)

Jamie Carragher fired a warning to Arsenal and Chelsea after Liverpool thumped Tottenham 6-3 to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Liverpool’s sensational forward play and Tottenham’s defensive vulnerability resulted in a chaotic nine-goal affair in north London on Sunday afternoon.

Spurs fans had hope when James Maddison got one back after Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister had put the visitors 2-0 up but Liverpool scored again on the stroke of half-time through Dominik Szoboszlai. Read more

Manchester United 0-3 Bournemouth: Cherries expose frailties in Ruben Amorim’s setup after more set-piece woe (SkySports)

Boos rang out after brilliant Bournemouth won 3-0 at Old Trafford for the second season running, with Manchester United’s fortunes continuing to yield mixed results under new boss Ruben Amorim.

Erik ten Hag was in charge the last time the Cherries put three goals past Man Utd on home turf a year ago, but a change of manager has not prompted a change of outcome, undone by similar failings and a clear weakness from set-pieces.

The hosts at least worked hard without reward in the first 45 minutes, but shot themselves in the foot after the break and didn’t have the guile to respond in the attacking third either, perhaps casting further doubt on Amorim’s decision to exclude Marcus Rashford for a third game on the bounce. Read more

Oleksandr Usyk’s controversial win was ‘‘Christmas gift’’ from judges (Independent)

Tyson Fury insisted Oleksandr Usyk had been gifted an early Christmas present after disputing the Ukrainian’s unanimous points victory in their rematch in Riyadh.

Fury lost 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards as his bid to avenge his only career loss ended conclusively with the extraordinary Usyk retaining his WBA, WBC and WBO titles.

Promoter Frank Warren said he was “dumbfounded” by both the result and the wide margin of victory – and Fury agreed. Read more 

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