Tinubu cuts transportation cost, offers 50% rebate for luxury bus, train services (Guardian)
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday announced a 50 per cent cut as a discount for luxury bus travellers and train services on all routes in the country beginning tomorrow, Thursday.
This, Tinubu said, is aimed to provide succour to citizens who are heavily weighed down by the prevailing high cost of transportation commuting across the country, especially during the yuletide.
Announcing this at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake said, “From tomorrow, Nigerians wishing to embark on inter-state travel to any part of the country from Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Ibadan, Akure, Maiduguri, Sokoto and other major inter-state transportation hubs will be able to do so at half the cost. Read more
Minister denies calling for tax exemption for women (Leadership)
Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has strongly refuted allegations she advocated for women not to pay taxes, calling the statements a “false report.”
The minister categorically denied ever calling for Nigerian women to be exempt from paying taxes, affirming that tax payment responsibility does not have a gender barrier.
In a statement by her special assistant media, Ohaeri Osondu Joseph, the minister said the statements in question were made during an event organised by the ministry to address issues of peace and security for women in Nigeria. Read more
Lagos begins removal of illegal structures at Parkview Estate, Banana Island (Vanguard)
The Lagos State government has commenced the removal of illegal structures built on setbacks of Mojisola Onikoyi Shoreline Estate – Parkview Estate – Banana Island collector drain in Ikoyi.
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Tuesday, said the move was made following the expiration of the contravention notice served on properties built on the mentioned location.
Wahab stated that it is to allow access to the collector drain for cleaning and maintenance. Read more
Govt orders tankers, trucks parked on Lagos road to vacate (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has issued a directive to all tankers and trailers to stop the indiscriminate parking along the Cele Bus Stop inward Tincan Port axis, instructing them to vacate immediately.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the directive is a decisive move to address the ongoing congestion and alleviate the challenges faced by commuters along the axis. Read more
Nigeria’s debt profile now N87.91t — DMO (Vanguard)
The Debt Management Office has said Nigeria’s public debt profile has increased to N87.91 trillion at the end of the third quarter of 2023.
The DMO disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X handle on Thursday.
According to DMO, the figure represents a marginal increase of 0.61 per cent compared to N87.38 trillion recorded at the end of June 2023. Read more
Japa: I’ll continue to try until I succeed travelling to Europe – arrested stowaway (DailyTrust)
Osas Nusakare, one of the 14 stowaways arrested onboard a foreign vessel at the Lagos Roadstead, has confessed that he wanted to celebrate the New Year in a European country.
45-year-old Nusakare said this was his second attempt, insisting that he would try his luck again until he succeeds.
The 14 stowaways were arrested last Friday onboard a motor tanker, UOG CONSTANTINE, by naval officers from NNS BEECROFT. Read more
PSC to focus on training of staff for leadership positions (Sun)
The Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, has promised to focus on the training of personnel of the commission. He said the training has become necessary to enhance their knowledge on policy formulation and implementation to prepare them for leadership positions.
The PSC chair, who made at the commissions annual award ceremony, also promised to enhance the welfare of personnel said over 130 staff had been trained both locally and internationally since he assumed duty nine months ago.
He said that apart from enhancing the welfare of the workers, it was important to also raise their morale to enhance their productivity. Read more
Cocoa farmers illegally encroach on Nigerian rainforest (AfricaNews)
As the world’s demand for chocolate grows, cocoa farmers in Nigeria are moving into protected areas of a forest reserve that is home to endangered species like African forest elephants.
Over the course of two visits and several days, The Associated Press repeatedly documented farmers harvesting cocoa beans where that work is banned in conservation areas of Omo Forest Reserve, a protected tropical rainforest 135 kilometers (84 miles) northeast of the coastal city of Lagos in southwestern Nigeria.
Cocoa from the conservation zone is purchased by some of the world’s largest cocoa traders, according to company and trade documents and AP interviews with more than 20 farmers, five licensed buying agents and two brokers all operating within the reserve. Read more
Cameron Diaz says rumours about Jamie Foxx on their new film set are ‘‘crazy’’ (CNN)
Cameron Diaz wants you to know she “had a blast” working with Jamie Foxx on “Back in Action,” her first movie in 10 years, despite hearing things that seemed to suggest otherwise.
“I really hate all of the things that were being said about our set,” Diaz said on Tuesday’s episode of the “Lipstick on the Rim” podcast, later adding it made her want to “scream at the top of your lungs, like, ‘What are you talking about?’”
Describing Foxx as “the cheerleader for the entire crew,” Diaz said the set for the Netflix movie was great and that he was a “professional on every level.” Read more
Rwandan doctor given 24-year jail sentence in France over 1994 genocide (AlJazeera)
A Rwandan doctor was sentenced by a Paris court on Wednesday to 24 years in prison for his role in the 1994 genocide in his home country.
After a deliberation lasting nearly 15 hours, Sosthene Munyemana, 68, was found guilty of charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and participation in a conspiracy to prepare those crimes. He has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers said he would appeal the decision.
The six-week-long trial at the Assize Court in Paris came nearly three decades after a complaint was filed against Munyemana in the southwestern French city of Bordeaux in 1995. Read more
Daz Dillinger blasts Dr Dre over ‘The Chronic’ royalties (HipHopDx)
Daz Dillinger has put Dr. Dre on blast over alleged unpaid royalties for his work on The Chronic.
Tha Dogg Pound rapper, who contributed rapping and production to the blockbuster 1992 album, called out his former mentor on Instagram for not coughing up payments for his work.
“HAPPY 31st C DAY TO THE CHRONIC @drdre BUT WHEN CAN WE RECEIVE OUR ROYALITIES,” he wrote.” ARE YOU OR @interscope GONE ROBB US LIKE @deathrowrecords 2024 & THE N-GGAS FROM THE PAST WHO RAN IT. Str8 Bitchez FUCEM.” Read more
Ex-Alabama correctional officer sentenced in assault of restrained inmate and cover-up (NBC)
A former correctional officer in Alabama was sentenced Tuesday to more than seven years in prison for using excessive force on an inmate and lying on a report in an attempt to cover it up, federal prosecutors said.
Mohammad Shahid Jenkins, 52, a former lieutenant and shift commander at the William E. Donaldson correctional facility in Bessemer, Alabama, “willfully deprived inmate V.R. of his right to be free from excessive force by kicking him, hitting him, spraying him with chemical spray, striking him with a can of chemical spray and striking him with a shoe while (he) was restrained inside a holding cell and not posing a threat,” the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.
Jenkins pleaded guilty to the offences on Sept. 12 and was sentenced to 87 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, the department said. Read more
Derek Hough says wife Hayley Erbert will have skull surgery on Wednesday: ‘keep her in your prayers’ (People)
Derek Hough shared that his wife Hayley Erbert is undergoing surgery Wednesday morning to “replace a large portion of her skull” that was removed during her emergency craniectomy.
Hough, 38, posted the update on his Instagram Story in the early hours of Wednesday and added, “I strongly believe all the prayers that have been sent with the intention and love of Hayley’s recovery has helped so much. I can’t thank you all enough.”
The Dancing with the Stars judge continued, “Please keep her in your prayers as I believe the collective energy helped her through these past few weeks. We love you we thank you.” Read more
Mel Schilling: Married at First Sight star reveals cancer diagnosis (BBC)
Married at First Sight dating coach Mel Schilling has revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer.
Posting on Instagram on Tuesday, Schilling said doctors told her she had colon cancer last week.
She added that she would be spending Christmas in hospital as she has an operation to remove a tumour. Read more
Hamas’s Haniyeh in Egypt to discuss potential Gaza truce and hostage release deal (NewArab)
The leader of Hamas travelled to Egypt on Wednesday as hopes grew that Israel and the Palestinian armed group may be inching toward another truce and hostage release deal amid the devastating Israeli war on Gaza, which has so far killed nearly 20,000 people, mostly women and children.
The Qatar-based leader of Hamas’ political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, arrived in Cairo for discussions on the “aggression in the Gaza Strip and other matters”, the group said in a statement.
He was due to meet Egypt’s spy chief for talks on “stopping the aggression and the war to prepare an agreement for the release of prisoners”, a source close to the group told AFP. Read more
AFCON’23: CAF confirms Super Eagles provisional list (Punch)
The Confederation of African Football has released the provisional squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as submitted by the Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro.
CAF confirmed the list as disclosed on its website on Wednesday.
Peseiro is expected to make his final squad submission to the CAF before the January 3 deadline expires. Read more
Bahrain sovereign wealth fund set for McLaren takeover (RN365)
Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat has reportedly agreed a deal to take over full ownership of the McLaren Group – including the F1 team.
According to Sky News, the Gulf state will effectively become McLaren’s sole owner in a deal that could be announced as soon as this week.
The deal would involve 20 per-cent equity in McLaren being converted into new contracts, leaving the Bahrain state as the group’s sole shareholder. Read more
8-year-old chess ‘‘phenomenon’’ wins women’s 1st prize at European Rapid and Blitz Championship (CNN)
An eight-year-old British schoolgirl “phenomenon” won the women’s first prize in the Blitz category at this year’s European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Zagreb, Croatia.
The “super talented” – as the competition described her – Bodhana Sivanandan scored 8.5/13 points in the 13-round Blitz competition, which attracted 555 players, including 48 grandmasters (GM) and 50 international masters (IM), according to Chess.com, to claim the women’s first prize on Saturday in the Croatian capital.
Sivanandan beat one IM and one FIDE Master (FM), Chess.com reported, noting that she finished in 73rd place overall with 8.5 points and scored a rating performance of 2316, ahead of several GMs and masters. Read more
Dani Alves’ sexual assault trial set for Feb 5 in Barcelona (ESPN)
Former Brazil defender Dani Alves will face trial from Feb. 5-7, 2024 for alleged sexual assault of a woman in a nightclub in 2022, a Spanish court confirmed on Wednesday.
In November, the Barcelona-based court said “there was enough evidence to open the trial” considering the statements given to court and the evidence presented in the investigation phase.
The 40-year-old Alves has been in pre-trial jail since January when he was arrested for allegedly assaulting the woman at a nightclub in Barcelona on Dec. 30, 2022. He was indicted by an investigative judge in August. Read more
2023 AFCON: Super Eagles must develop a winning mentality –Rufai (CompleteSports)
Former Nigerian international, Peter Rufai has urged the Super Eagles to develop a winning mentality if they are to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Recall that the three-time AFCON champions have been pitted in Group A alongside, host Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
The team will commence their campaign against Equatorial Guinea on January 14, 2024 at Stade Alassane Ouattara. Read more
Nottingham Forest sack Steve Cooper with Nuno Espirito Santo set to replace him (Mirror)
Nottingham Forest have sacked Steve Cooper after weeks of speculation over his future – and the club have already lined up Nuno Espirito Santo to replace him
Steve Cooper has been sacked from his post as Nottingham Forest boss with Nuno Espirito Santo in talks to replace him.
Cooper has been under pressure from owner Evangelos Marinakis since overseeing a 3-2 defeat by Brighton on November 25, a 5-0 thrashing by Fulham and dropping points at Wolves, and there was an air of inevitability about his departure as Forest slumped to another defeat against Tottenham on Friday night. Read more