Sanwo-Olu to perform ‘‘groundbreaking ceremony’’ for 4th Mainland Bridge in March (Guardian)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed that by March or April 2024, the groundbreaking ceremony for the 4th Mainland Bridge will be done and the bridge will be constructed in phases.
Sanwo-Olu, who stated this on Thursday at the Lagos West Senatorial District town hall meeting, said that he and the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Kadri Hamzat want to be remembered for all the interventions implemented when they leave.
The governor said that the state government has done extensive work on the 4th Mainland Bridge, disclosing that the government reached the final dot of the construction of the bridge. Read more
Ohanaeze chieftain defends FG’s decision to relocate CBN to Lagos (Nation)
An elder statesman and prominent member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, has justified the federal government’s choice to move certain departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Lagos, saying that this decision is intended to minimize time and expenses.
Speaking to the Nation on Thursday, January 25, Chief Uwazuruike, a lawyer, said the action would streamline processes, improve efficiency and have a significant impact on the banking sector in the country.
He said the administrative action of relocating the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) department to a more convenient location is a step in the right direction. Read more
Kogi gov’s wife tasks parents on girl-child education (Tribune)
The wife of Kogi State Governor Hajia Amina Bello has tasked parents to prioritise the education and training of their female children to make them valuable contributors to society.
Hajia Bello made this call on Wednesday in Kuroko, Adavi local government area of Kogi State, during the commissioning of the modern Ohuogogo market and streetlight projects executed under the Kogi State Special Intervention Project Development Plan, supported by the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency (KGCSDA).
According to her, the time has come for housewives to respect and support their husbands in the upbringing of their children, especially the female child, to empower them to face future challenges. Read more
Rivers Assembly Crisis: Court remand Fubara loyalists in prison on terror charges (Sun)
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court on Thursday ordered the remand of five Port Harcourt-based men arraigned by the Federal Government on terrorism charges at Kuje Prison, Abuja.
They were arraigned on a seven-count terrorism charge for invading, vandalizing, and burning down Rivers State House of Assembly in the wake of the political crisis in the state.
Justice Bolaji Olajuwon who made the order said they are to remain in prison custody till February 2 when their respective bail applications would be determined by the court. Read more
Abandoned corpse not that of NYSC member – Ogun coordinator (DailyTrust)
The Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ogun State, Mrs Nasamu Olayinka Diana, has denied the reports that a member of the corps serving in the state was killed and his corpse dumped in a bush.
There were reports that the body of a member was discovered in the bush around Kadesh area of Ogijo, Sagamu, Ogun state.
According to the reports, the residents of the area discovered the corpse of the deceased dumped in the bush and reported it to the police. Read more
NDLEA, customs synergy a strong warning to drug cartels, Marwa, Adeniyi declare (Channels)
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi have commended the synergy between the two law enforcement agencies, saying the collaboration is a strong warning to drug cartels that they’ll continue to lose their investments in the criminal trade.
The duo spoke at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos on Thursday 25th January 2024 when the Customs CG led his team to hand over illicit drugs seized during joint examination by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies of containers the anti-narcotic agency had been tracking based on credible intelligence from international partners.
In his remarks, Marwa who was represented at the ceremony by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the “handing over of seized illicit drugs in custody of the Nigeria Customs Service is a development that speaks volumes about the hard work and diligence of security agencies tasked with securing the territory of our country. The seizure is a testament that, just like the airports, the sea ports are also secured.” Read more
Why Tinubu cannot change Nigeria’s capital to Lagos — Shehu Sani (Leadership)
Former lawmaker and social critic, Senator Shehu Sani, has explained why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot relocate Nigeria’s federal capital territory to Lagos.
LEADERSHIP reports that the Presidency had on Wednesday denied plan to relocate Nigeria’s federal capital to Lagos when it accused people it called “mischief-makers” of deliberately twisting the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to relocate its Department of Banking Supervision to Lagos and the directive of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should relocate its head office back to Lagos.
On Wednesday, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, denied rumours that the President was planning to relocate the Federal Capital Territory back to Lagos. Read more
Tinubu should set up tripartite committee now – Laolu Akande (Vanguard)
Laolu Akande, a former spokesman for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to set up a tripartite committee comprising members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the National Assembly and the Presidency.
Akande stated this in an interview with Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday.
According to Akande, the tripartite committee would help resolve communication issues between the three independent but interconnectedness structures for seamless governance. Read more
Margot Robbie Oscars ‘‘robbery’’ being ‘‘investigated’’ by police after brutal Barbie snub (Mirror)
Margot Robbie’s brutal Barbie snub in this year’s Oscars nominations is being “investigated” by her hometown police force.
The Mattel doll actress, alongside the Hollywood blockbuster’s director Greta Gerwig, were not amongst A-list stars nominated at this year’s Academy Awards. Her co-star, and Ken, Ryan Gosling did receive a nomination in the Best Supporting Actor nomination.
As a result, Robbie’s robbery news made it back home to Queensland, Australia where she was born and raised. The Victoria Police force has since made a public statement, jokingly revealing their officers were investigating Margot’s mind-blowing “robbery”. Read more
UK to loan back Ghana’s looted ‘Crown Jewels’ 150 years after theft from Asante King (AfricaNews)
The UK is set to return some of Ghana’s significant cultural artefacts, including a gold peace pipe, that were looted from the Asante king’s court 150 years ago.
The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) is contributing 17 pieces, while the British Museum is lending 15 items, including a sword of state and gold badges.
The artefacts, taken during 19th-Century conflicts, hold great spiritual and cultural importance to Ghana, akin to the Benin Bronzes. The three-year loan agreements, extendable to six years, are with the Asantehene, the current Asante king and the items will be displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi. Read more
2 men admit helping Eunuch Maker perform castrations for cash online (Metro)
Two men have admitted being part of an extreme body modifications plot involving videos posted on a lucrative ‘eunuch maker’ website.
David Carruthers, 61, and Janus Atkin, 37, from Newport in Gwent, pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm between 2016 and 2022.
The charge against them alleged the conspiracy involved the removal and cutting of penises, testicles, castration by clamping, and the insertion of needles into genitals. Read more
Drake blasts Young Thug judge over ‘disgraceful’ jail video leak: ‘Whole case is a wash’ (HipHopDx)
Drake has called out the judge presiding over Young Thug‘s YSL RICO case after a video of the rapper in jail leaked.
Footage of a phone call between Thugga, who has been behind bars since May 2022, and his girlfriend Mariah The Scientist surfaced online on Wednesday (January 24).
After coming across the video, Drake posted an angry comment online slamming Judge Ural Glanville for failing to prevent Thug’s privacy from being invaded. Read more
Russia jails nationalist critic Igor Girkin for 4 years over ‘extremism’ (AlJazeera)
A court in Russia has convicted prominent nationalist and former rebel commander Igor Girkin of “inciting extremism” and sentenced him to four years in a penal colony.
Girkin has repeatedly criticised the Kremlin for its war strategy in Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The Moscow City Court on Thursday said Girkin was guilty of “public calls to carry out extremist activities”. Read more
A South Korean lawmaker is injured in an attack, weeks after another was stabbed (NBC)
A South Korean governing party lawmaker was being treated at a Seoul hospital after being attacked Thursday by an unidentified man who struck her head with a rock-like object, South Korean police and fire officials said.
A police official in Seoul’s Apgujeong district said a suspect was arrested at the scene of the attack on lawmaker Bae Hyunjin in southern Seoul.
The attack, which comes weeks after a man stabbed opposition lawmaker Lee Jae-myung in the neck in the southern city of Busan, raises further concerns about the country’s intensely polarised politics. Read more
Sofía Vergara, 51, reveals she won’t date men more than 2 years younger than herself (People)
Sofía Vergara has a new dating rule.
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Wednesday, the 51-year-old revealed that she won’t date someone who is more than two years younger than her.
The actress’ admission came during a discussion about Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny name-checking her in his track “Monaco.” As Vergara admitted she “threw my phone” when she found out about the shout-out from the rapper, 29, fellow guest Alexia Nepola noted, “And by the way, he’s single!” Read more
AFCON: ‘Tinubu not impressed with your performance’, minister tells S’Eagles players (Punch)
President Bola Tinubu has urged the Super Eagles to improve their performance and do better in the final stages of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
Tinubu’s message was through the Minister of Sports, John Enoh, who spoke to the players from Abuja via Zoom on Wednesday night in Abidjan.
According to Enoh, the President was not too impressed with the showing of the team during the group stage. Read more
Judge proposes Spain’s Luis Rubiales face trial over Hermoso World Cup kiss (BBC)
A Spanish judge has proposed that former football federation president Luis Rubiales should stand trial over the women’s World Cup kiss involving captain Jenni Hermoso.
Mr Rubiales grabbed Ms Hermoso’s head and kissed her during the presentation after Spain’s victory in Australia.
She said the kiss was “not consensual”, a statement denied by Mr Rubiales. Read more
Ferrari make Charles Leclerc contract decision as F1 silly season bursts into life (Mirror)
Charles Leclerc has raced for Ferrari since 2019 and, although his contract was due to expire at the end of this season, an extension was expected to be little more than a formality
Charles Leclerc has signed a new contract extension with Ferrari.
The Monegasque’s previous deal was due to expire at the end of this season. But an extension was expected with Leclerc central to the Scuderia’s plans for the future. Read more
Sources: West Ham now eyeing £18m deal for Kalvin Phillips’ England team-mate (HitC)
West Ham are interested in striking a January deal for Newcastle’s £18 million-rated striker Callum Wilson as the England international is offered to Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United.
After Magpies boss Eddie Howe went public with Newcastle’s Financial Fair Play concerns earlier in the month, The Magpies appear to have ramped up their attempts to free up some much-needed transfer funds.
HITC Football understands that Miguel Almiron could join Allan Saint-Maximin in Saudi Arabia. Newcastle also held discussions with Bayern Munich over Kieran Trippier, before the Bundesliga champions walked away due to the right-back’s £20 million asking price. Read more
I want to return to Milan as AFCON champion —Chukwueze (CompleteSports)
Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze has said his target is to head back to AC Milan with the AFCON trophy.
The Eagles will be back in action in Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday when they take on rivals Cameroon in the round of 16.
Both the Eagles and Cameroon finished as runners-up in Group B and C respectively. Read more
Plateau: ‘We must come together’ – Ahmed Musa sues for peace (Vanguard)
Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has called for peace following a security breach in the Kwahaslalek community and other parts of Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.
Vanguard reported that over 30 persons were killed and several houses destroyed yesterday in Kwahaslalek and the surrounding communities as gunmen defied the 24-hour curfew imposed on Mangu Local Government Area by the Plateau State government on Tuesday.
In a post on X on Thursday, Musa urged everyone to put aside religious differences and work to ensure Platueau returns to the peaceful state it used to be known as. Read more