‘Some govt officials’ houses went down’, Sanwo-Olu defends demolitions (Channels)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the state government won’t hesitate to bring down houses that contravene the state’s planning rule.
“There are some officers of this government that their houses went down,” the governor said at a media parley on Thursday.
Last year, demolition of buildings resumed in Lagos with the state government and the Federal Housing Authority pulling down structures in Ikota, Lekki, Alaba, Ajao Estate, Abule Ado, Ladipo Market, and other areas of the state. Read more
3-storey building collapses in Lagos during downpour (Punch)
A three-storey building at Ita Faaji Market in the Lagos Island Local Government Area of Lagos State collapsed during the downpour on Thursday.
PUNCH Online learnt that the incident which happened around 9am caused panic in the community.
The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, Magaret Adeseye, in a statement obtained by our correspondent, said the building was under renovation before it caved in.
She, however, added that the construction workers escaped unhurt. Read more
No going back on nationwide protest, Labour replies DSS (Nation)
The leadership of the Organised Labour has responded to the Department of State Services (DSS) over its warning that the union should shelve its proposed protest billed to hold February 27 and 28.
DSS had admonished the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its counterpart from Trade Union Congress (TUC) to rescind their decision, saying the plea was in the interest of peace across the country.
But reacting to the DSS’ warning, the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, said DSS should not blackmail the Organised Labour and arrest those that want to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence as claimed. Read more
21st Century, US partner on Lekki ‘‘America Corner’’ (Nation)
Information communication technology company 21st Century Technologies is keying into the United States’ vision to propel digital transformation and foster a digital ecosystem in Nigeria.
The vision got a boost recently,seeing the US unveiled a tech and creative space ‘‘America Corner’’ in 21st Century’s corporate headquarters in Lekki, Lagos.
By this stride, 21st Century has become one of the 245 centers where the US has established American Corners since 2000.
The center was commissioned by US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken who was joined by CEO of 21st Century Technologies, Wale Ajisebutu. Read more
Food Crisis: Makinde hits Akpabio, says ‘‘No governor got N30b’’ (DailyTrust)
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that there is no truth in the claim by Senate President Godswill Akpabio that states got additional N30 billion each outside of their statutory revenue allocations, to address the food insecurity.
The governor stated this on Thursday, noting that Oyo did not get any N30 billion from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) or the Federal Government.
Makinde, who added that he has been doing everything to cushion the effect of the economic hardship on the people, warned that leaders should instill confidence and hope in the citizenry in this trying time rather than playing blame game. Read more
Edo Guber: Shaibu ‘‘wins’’ parallel PDP Primary Election (Leadership)
The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, held a parallel congress, which produced the deputy governor of the state, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu, as the party’s governorship candidate for the September 21 poll in the State.
While some delegates were being accredited to proceed to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium venue of another primary election, another set of delegates met at a facility on Commercial Avenue in Benin City where they announced Shaibu as the elected candidate of the PDP.
They claimed that they went to the same accreditation venue but were chased away by security agents. They also alleged that the list of delegates published by the national leadership of the party was not the authentic one used for accreditation, alleging that they saw names of people from Bayelsa State and names of people who are members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) on the list being used. Read more
Senate confirms Cardoso, 11 Others for CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee (Independent)
The upper chamber of the National Assembly on Thursday confirmed the nomination of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, as the Chairman of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
This is coming ahead of Monday’s meeting of the CBN Monetary Policy Committee.
Those confirmed as members of the committee include Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Bala M. Bello, Emem Usoro, and Phillip Ikeazor, who are all CBN Deputy Governors. Read more
FG benefiting from dollar rise against naira, Ndume alleges (Punch)
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, has alleged that the Federal Government is benefiting from the naira depreciation against the dollar.
Ndume was speaking on why the naira continues to depreciate against the dollar.
Ndume said rather than losing out from the naira depreciation against the dollar, the Federal Government is gaining more revenue to fund its 2024 budget. Read more
Jada Pinkett Smith reacts to Taraji P. Henson’s viral comments about pay disparities in Hollywood (HuffPost)
Jada Pinkett Smith is showing support for Taraji P. Henson months after the Color Purple star went viral for getting emotional about facing pay disparities in Hollywood as a Black woman.
While appearing on NPR’s It’s Been a Minute, Pinkett Smith, 52, was asked by host Brittany Luse if she resonated with Henson’s words as a longtime Hollywood actor.
“Absolutely,” the The Matrix Resurrections star said in an interview that was published Tuesday. “My heart broke for Taraji, and I was also happy [to see] how courageous she was to speak about it in the way that she did.” Read more
Kodak Black throws rocks at photographer, threatens to punch reporter after jail release (HipHopDx)
Kodak Black threw rocks at a photographer and threatened to punch a reporter shortly after his release from jail.
The Florida rapper walked out of Broward County Jail on Wednesday (February 21) and almost immediately got into a confrontation with the press.
In a video captured by WPLG Local 10, Yak can be seen hurling rocks at the broadcaster’s photographer while rambling incoherently. Read more
Robert Downey Jr. was having a nightmare about kittens when he found out about his Oscar nom (THR)
Robert Downey Jr. was having quite a nightmare when he first found out about his Oscar nomination for best supporting actor for his role in Oppenheimer.
The actor, who has now been nominated for three Academy Awards, recounted to People magazine what he was going through the morning nominations were announced.
“I was having this nightmare that the kittens [Willow and Winifred] had taken one of my Nicorette wrappers, and I was going to get in trouble,” he told the publication, explaining that his wife, producer Susan Downey woke him to tell him the good news, and they celebrated the nomination together that day. Read more
Tom Cruise is in talks to star in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s film at Warner Bros. and Legendary (Deadline)
Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment are in negotiations for a new film from Alejandro González Iñárritu, with Tom Cruise attached to star. The untitled project would be Iñárritu’s first English-language film since The Revenant.
The film will be produced and directed by Iñárritu, with a script he co-wrote in 2023 with Birdman co-writers Nicolas Giacobone and Alexander Dinelaris, along with Sabina Berman. Plot details are still under wraps.
This will be Cruise’s first film since signing a deal to develop and produce theatrical films with Warner Bros. Discovery in January. His last project with the studio was Edge of Tomorrow a decade ago. Read more
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler’s sexual assault lawsuit dismissed (NME)
A sexual assault lawsuit filed against Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has been dismissed.
The lawsuit was filed against the rock veteran back in November 2023, when a former teenage model accused him of sexually assaulting her in 1975.
In the filing, the plaintiff, Jeanne Bellino, claimed that the singer had sexually assaulted her twice in one day, when she was aged 17 at the time. Read more
Mother of Navalny claims Russia pressuring her to agree to secret burial after seeing son’s body (Fox)
The mother of Alexei Navalny, Russia’s top opposition leader who died last week, says she is resisting pressure from the Kremlin to agree to bury her son in secret.
Lyudmila Navalnaya said in a video statement posted to YouTube on Thursday that Russian investigators allowed her to see her son’s body at the morgue in the Arctic city of Salekhard.
“They blackmail me, they put conditions on me – where, when and how Alexei should be buried. This is illegal,” she said, accusing the Kremlin of giving the orders. Read more
Mark Ruffalo says sequel to The Incredible Hulk might be too expensive (Deadline)
Even though they’d save money on clothes, Mark Ruffalo feels a sequel to The Incredible Hulk might be too expensive.
Speaking with GQ, Ruffalo said he thought Marvel’s “expansion into streaming was really exciting. But the thing about Marvel movies is, you had to wait three years and that created a mystique.”
That’s been somewhat diluted in the wave of streaming shows, and Marvel Studios is now drastically reducing the amount of content coming out each year. But it may be too late, Ruffalo admits. “These corrections could be really positive things. Will it be what it was? I don’t know.” Read more
Boniface named among Bundesliga’s most skilful stars (Punch)
Bayer Leverkusen star Victor Boniface has secured a nomination among the most skilful players in the ongoing 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign so far.
After his move from Union SG last July, the Super Eagles striker wasted no time making an impact under the guidance of manager Xabi Alonso.
Boniface’s initial burst in Germany was nothing short of impressive, netting ten goals in 16 league matches. Read more
Rafael Nadal shows off diverse sporting talents ahead of tennis comeback (Express)
Rafael Nadal has taken home a different kind of victory as he prepares to make his comeback to the tennis court. The tennis legend is very fond of swinging a golf club and has taken part in the Balearic Mid-Amateur Golf Championship three times within the past four years.
This year, Nadal proved he was the best golfer on the course by scoring a total of 147 over two rounds, shooting just three over par. He beat the second-place player, Jaime Nicolau Olmos, by seven shots to win the men’s title. Ana Fernandez Ansorena grabbed the women’s crown. Read more
Milan, Benfica and Marseille reach Europa League last 16 (France24)
AC Milan overcame a spirited Rennes 5-3 on aggregate despite a 3-2 loss in Thursday’s play-off round second leg to reach the Europa League last 16, where they will be joined by fellow former European champions Benfica and Marseille.
Benjamin Bourigeaud scored a hat-trick for Rennes, including a pair of penalties, but goals from Luka Jovic and Rafael Leao ensured Milan were never really in danger of blowing a 3-0 lead from the first leg.
Benfica also saw off French opposition as a 0-0 draw away to Toulouse was enough to send the Portuguese side through following their 2-1 victory in last week’s first leg in Lisbon. Read more
Minnesota hiring Manchester United assistant Eric Ramsay as coach (ESPN)
Manchester United assistant Eric Ramsay signed a contract to coach MLS side Minnesota United on Thursday, a source confirmed to ESPN.
The Loons had been without a permanent manager since Adrian Heath was let go last October with two games left to go in the 2023 regular season and Minnesota ultimately failed to make the postseason.
The Loons have utilized two interim managers since, with first Sean McCauley, and then Cameron Knowles taking the reins. Knowles will be in charge when Minnesota opens this season this Saturday on the road against Austin FC. Read more
Kyle Lowry’s Philadelphia 76ers debut spoiled in loss to Jalen Brunson, Knicks as Spike Lee watches (CBS)
Jalen Brunson had 21 points and 12 assists with Spike Lee cheering from courtside, and the New York Knicks spoiled Kyle Lowry’s Philadelphia debut with a 110-96 win over the 76ers on Thursday night.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points, Josh Hart had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Precious Achiuwa added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks.
All-Star Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 35 points. Maxey made 11 of 24 shots but had little other offensive help, a common theme for the Sixers in MVP Joel Embiid’s absence. Read more
Toni Kroos announces shock Germany return ahead of Euro 2024 (ESPN)
Toni Kroos will return to the Germany national team ahead of this summer’s European Championship, the Real Madrid midfielder confirmed on social media on Thursday.
Kroos, 34 — who retired from international football in 2021 — had revealed earlier this month that he was considering the move before Euro 2024, which will be hosted by Germany.
“Guys, short and painless: I will play for Germany again from March,” Kroos posted on Instagram.
“Why? Because I was asked by the national coach, I’m up for it and I’m sure that a lot more is possible with the team at the European Championships than most people believe!” Read more
