Veteran Nollywood actor Zack Orji slumps in Abuja (Sun)
Veteran Nigerian actor, Zack Orji is reported to have slumped early today and was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Hospital in Abuja.
The 63-year-old is said to be in critical condition after slumping in his toilet.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe in a Facebook post on Sunday, called for prayers for the actor. Read more
Father, son killed in fresh attack on Plateau community (DailyTrust)
Two persons have been killed in an attack by gunmen on Durbi village of Shere District in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State.
It was gathered that the attack occurred Saturday night, leading to the death of two villagers – a father and his son.
One of the attackers, it was learnt, also lost his life as the villagers came out to repel the attack. Read more
NDLEA arrests Qatar businessman, others for drug smuggling, seizes cannabis, tramadol (Leadership)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, making multiple arrests at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and across the country in the days leading up to the new year.
According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, on Sunday, December 31, 2023, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Qatar-based businessman, Agu Evidence Amobi, and another individual, Uchegbu Onyebuchi Obi, carrying psychoactive substances at the MMIA in Ikeja, Lagos.
Amobi was apprehended on Saturday, December 30th, at terminal 2’s departure point at MMIA while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Doha, Qatar, while Obi was taken into custody the same day after authorities seized a shipment of 72,000 pills of tramadol 225mg he intended to send to Kano via a local flight. Read more
Benue security arrests artisan for illegal possession of gun (Punch)
A Benue Security outfit known as ‘Benue State Community Volunteer Guards’ has arrested a 29-year-old artisan for having an illegal firearm.
The artisan was arrested in the Wadata area of Makurdi, the capital city, on December 26 at about 8 pm while trying to escape arrest by the operatives of BSCVG.
According to the Commander, Benue State Volunteer Guards, retired Capt Ayomi Ajovbi, who paraded the suspect on Saturday, said that he (the suspect) had threatened to shoot the operatives of BSCVG who had gone to arrest a group of persons in the neighbourhood who were taking a substance suspected to be weed, aka Indian hemp. Read more
Spectacle trails Greater Lagos Fiesta (Nation)
The annual end-of-the-year entertainment event by Lagos state government through the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture tagged Greater Lagos Fiesta kicked off simultaneously on Friday through Sunday in Epe, Agege, Ikorodu, and Badagry areas of the state amidst large turn-out of fun seekers at all the locations.
The 3-day event rounded off on Sunday through the early hours of 1st of January, 2024 as attendees will countdown to the New Year at all the locations including Sol Beach, Oniru, Lagos.
Speaking at the Badagry venue of the event on Friday, December 29, the Chairman of Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Culture Hon. Solomon Bonu expressed satisfaction with the huge turnout of fun lovers at this year’s Greater Lagos Fiesta, saying that Badagry venue had always been known for a large turn-out of attendees. Read more
Ex-President Buhari, stakeholders brainstorm over Katsina’s dangerous situation of drug abuse (Guardian)
Dr Muhammad Usman-Bugaje, a prominent political activist, says Katsina State is in a dangerous situation over the rampant cases of drug abuse in the state.
Usman-Bugaje stated this on Sunday during a dialogue with stakeholders on the theme: “Tackling the menace of drug abuse among youths in Katsina State.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dialogue, attended by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, was organised by a group of concerned Katsina elders, Katsina Consultative Forum (KCF). Read more
Reps pass N28.7t 2024 appropriation bill (Channels)
The House of Representatives has passed N28.7 trillion as the 2024 appropriation bill.
The bill was passed during plenary on Saturday, shortly after the Senate approved the same amount as the 2024 appropriation bill.
In the passed bill, the sum of 1,742,786,788,150 is for statutory transfers, 8,270,960,606,831 is for debt servicing, 8,768, 513, 380, 852 is for recurrent expenditure while 9,995,143,143,298,028 is for capital expenditure. Read more
Gov Sani focused on infrastructural development, not fantasy of office — Prof Ayuba (Tribune)
Professor Bello Ayuba, the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to Kaduna Governor, Sen Uba Sani has said that the primary focus of the Governor is the advancement of all sectors within the state in order to take it higher and bigger than how he met.
Bello Ayuba who interacted with Journalists in Bauchi on Saturday at the NUJ Press Center, noted there are visible developmental improvements of strata of society within the last few months of the Governor’s relatively short tenure.
To further buttress the simple nature of his Principal, the PPS said that, “I am telling you categorically that Kaduna Governor, Uba Sani, has not placed an order for official cars in his fleet since his assumption of office on May 29th, 2023.” Read more
They came to Canada for their dreams. Instead they found a mental health nightmare (CBC)
Jacqueline Addo remembers the time two years ago when her husband Joshua confided to her that the stress of adjusting to life in Canada from Ghana was proving too much for him to bear.
He had reached a breaking point, and her own mental health wasn’t great.
“I was just a shadow of myself, basically,” she said.
Joshua was struggling to find a job in his field as a financial adviser, and had instead worked stints at a courier company and at Costco. Read more
Michelle Keegan says it was ‘embarrassing’ and ‘frustrating’ to be voted sexiest female 12 times (Independent)
Michelle Keegan has opened up about how it felt to be voted “sexiest female” 12 times.
The 36-year-old actor, who started out her career playing Rovers Return barmaid Tina in ITV soap Coronation Street, won the accolade a dozen times at the British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards between 2008 and 2014.
This was despite her character Tina having hardcore storylines about abortion, murder, surrogacy and perjury across her time on the show. Read more
Journalist and documentarian John Pilger dies at 84 (Standard)
Investigative journalist John Pilger has died aged 84, his family has announced.
The Australia-born documentary maker was known for his work covering the aftermath of Pol Pot’s regime in Cambodia and also looked into the Thalidomide scandal along with his war correspondent work.
A statement to his X, formerly Twitter, page on Sunday said: “It is with great sadness the family of John Pilger announce he died yesterday 30 December 2023 in London aged 84. Read more
Tom Wilkinson: The Full Monty actor dies at 75 (BBC)
British actor Tom Wilkinson, known for films like The Full Monty, Shakespeare In Love and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, has died aged 75.
Wilkinson won a Bafta for 1997’s The Full Monty, and reprised the role of Gerald when a Disney+ streaming series revisited the characters 26 years on.
He received six Bafta nominations in total as well as two Oscar nominations, for Michael Clayton and In The Bedroom. Read more
George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s reunion movie confirms release date (DigitalSpy)
George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s reunion movie, Wolfs, has confirmed a release date for next year.
The Apple Original Films project will land in US cinemas on September 20, 2024. A UK release date hasn’t officially been confirmed, though the film will likely premiere on the same date as across the pond.
While plot details are yet to be revealed, the film is said to follow two fixers who are assigned to the same job (presumably played by Pitt and Clooney). Read more
Lewis Capaldi breaks silence as he updates fans on “indefinite break” from limelight (OK!)
Lewis Capaldi has briefly stepped back into the spotlight to share a health update after taking a ‘break with no definite end’ from public life.
Despite keeping out of the public eye since his break announcement, Lewis returned recently to address fans about his health.
Earlier this year, the heartbroken star had to stop touring for an unknown length of time, cancelling key appearances like Reading and Leeds Festival. Just days after shedding tears on Glastonbury’s stage, unable to finish his set as supportive fans sang his hit songs to him. Read more
New Zealand’s Auckland is first major city to ring in 2024 as war shadows celebrations elsewhere (VOA)
Auckland has become the first major city to ring in 2024, with thousands cheering a fireworks display sprouting from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, and a downtown light show.
This year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are overshadowed by the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, which have cast a pall over festivities and heightened tensions across parts of the world. Many cities are deploying extra security and some places have canceled New Year’s Eve events altogether.
In Auckland, light rain throughout Sunday had cleared as forecast by midnight over the city of 1.7 million people before the countdown began on an illuminated digital display near the top of the 328-meter (1,076-foot) communications and observation tower. Read more
US military destroys Houthi rebel boats after container ship attack in Red Sea (ITV)
The US military says it has destroyed “small boats” belonging to Houthi rebels in the Red Sea after crews had attempted to board a container ship.
Houthi rebels from Yemen attacked the Danish-owned Maersk Hangzhou in four boats, only hours after two anti-ship ballistic missiles, which were fired at the same vessel, were shot down, the military said.
In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the attackers fired small arms weapons and reached within 20 metres of the ship. Read more
Lookman makes Serie A Team of the Week (CompleteSports)
Ademola Lookman was included in the Serie A Team of the Week following his impressive performance in Atalanta’s 1-0 win against Lecce on Saturday.
Lookman got the only goal for Atalanta in the 58th minute to give the home side the win.
The goal against Lecce means Lookman has taken his tally in the Italian topflight to seven. Read more
Super Eagles will be AFCON champions again – Onyeka (Vanguard)
Frank Onyeka is upbeat that the Super Eagles will lift the 2023 AFCON trophy in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Brentford FC defensive midfielder, who has been named on a 25-man Super Eagles squad for the tournament, told his club’s website his country has a good team to be African champions again.
“We want to win it, we have such a good team, such a good squad, so we are going there to win it. That’s the ambition for the players, the coach and the federation. Let’s go there and win it,” he said. Nigeria have won the continental diadem thrice – 1980, 1994 and 2013. Read more
Tottenham star Pape Sarr leaves pitch in floods of tears after injury vs Bournemouth (Express)
Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr was in floods of tears on the pitch after he picked up an injury that may rule him out of the Africa Cup of Nations next month. He was due to compete for Senegal but in his final game before jetting off, he was forced off after scoring against Bournemouth.
Sarr limped off the pitch and was replaced by Oliver Skipp in the first half to be left sweating over his participation in the January international tournament, but his immediate reaction indicates that he fears the worst.
The 21-year-old was consoled by his club captain Son Heung-min and Spurs’ physio before he exited the pitch, embraced by boss Ange Postecoglou as the entire club will be hoping that his muscular injury is not as serious as first indications. Read more
Luton Town 2-3 Chelsea: Palmer shines again as Poch’s side survive late fight back to seal vital win (Football365)
Cole Palmer was involved in all three of Chelsea’s goals as Mauricio Pochettino’s side survived Luton Town’s late fight back to win at Kenilworth Road.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team appeared to be cruising to a first victory on the road since the start of November thanks to two goals from Cole Palmer – his second a sensational piece of individual skill – and one from Noni Madueke who scored for the second time in two outings as the visitors took a 3-0 lead.
But that breathing room was sucked away by Luton during a frenetic final 10 minutes at Kenilworth Road as Ross Barkley and then Elijah Adebayo struck to offer their supporters hope of a spectacular comeback. Read more
Rafael Nadal beaten in long-awaited tennis return but shows encouraging signs (ESPN)
Rafael Nadal had cautioned his legion of fans to temper their expectations surrounding his “impossible” tennis comeback, and while his first professional match in almost 12 months ended in defeat, there were plenty of signs to suggest the Spanish superstar can feature prominently in what looms as his final tour Down Under.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion returned to the court for the first time in 347 days Sunday at the Brisbane International, teaming up with compatriot Marc Lopez in the men’s doubles — a combination that delivered Spain gold at the 2016 Olympic Games. However, the duo was outmatched by the all-Australian team of Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, who won 6-4, 6-4 in just 73 minutes.
While reaching the finish line of this match unscathed should have been the first major checkbox for Nadal to tick, there were plenty of other reasons to be encouraged by his performance. Nadal, who arrived in Brisbane looking lean and fit, showed no signs of rustiness, holding his first service game inside two minutes to delight the capacity crowd. Read more
George Russell opens up on Fernando Alonso advice (F1News)
George Russell has pinpointed why his form turned for the better in the closing stages of 2023, after changing up his mentality after listening to Fernando Alonso.
After finishing third and finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton in his maiden Mercedes season, Russell entered 2023 full of belief and expectation that he could replicate his 2022 magic.
Unfortunately for the ex-Williams driver, replicating his 2022 season wasn’t on the cards, as costly driver errors were made too often. Read more