VIS removes 50 rickety ‘Danfo’ from Lagos roads (Channels)
The Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) has removed 50 rickety commercial buses better known as “danfo’ from roads in the state.
Jubril Gawat, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State shared photos of the buses in a post on his X handle on Thursday.
“The Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) conducted a comprehensive enforcement operation on Wednesday targeting unroadworthy vehicles across the state,” he said. Read more
FRSC takes campaign against drunk-driving, overloading to motor parks (Leadership)
Ahead of the Easter celebration, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned road users against drunk-driving, overloading, overspeeding, and dangerous overtaking, among other vices that could cause road crashes.
Addressing stakeholders at the official flag-off of 2024 Easter Motor Park Mega Rally at Nyanya motor park in Abuja, the corps marshal of the FRSC, Dauda Biu, said the rally has become particularly imperative in view of the envisioned increase in vehicular and human movements across the country as the festive period gathers momentum.
Speaking further on the activities for the season, the corps marshal, who was represented by the deputy corps marshal (Operations), DCM Shehu Zaki, said: “The Federal Road Safety Corps is working assiduously to ensure a significant shift in the attitude of motorists this year 2024, as such, Nigerians must be aware that frequent cases of road crashes on our roads is not linked to any spirit killing people, rather, an increase in humanity and vehicular movement, bad driving behaviour, and impatience are the major causes. Read more
Budget Padding: Ningi threatens legal action against Senate unless reinstated (Tribune)
Suspended Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, representing Bauchi Central of Bauchi State in the Senate, has written the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Senate leadership, demanding that the suspension placed on him be lifted.
Abdul Ahmad Ningi wrote Sen. Godswiil Akpabio through his lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), noting that if his suspension was not lifted in the next seven days, he would drag the Senate before the Federal High Court.
Recall that the Senate, on March 12, sent Abdul Ahmed Ningi on a three-month suspension over his claim that the 2024 budget was padded to the tune of N3.7 trillion. Read more
FAAN shuts KFC for discriminating against physically-challenged ex-gov’s son (Punch)
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has shut down a branch of a popular food outlet, KFC, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos State.
FAAN stated this on Thursday in a statement signed by its Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah.
The statement, titled, ‘FAAN shuts down KFC outlet at MMIA,’ noted that the food outlet violated the Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, Part C, Section 55 of General Provisions on Discrimination. Read more
Atiku’s loyalists declare support for Tinubu, Fubara (Vanguard)
Members of the former Rivers State People’s Democratic Party, PDP, presidential campaign council in the 2023 general elections have declared their support for the presidency of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group also said it was solidly behind the the Rivers State Governor, Siminilayi Fubara as the leader of the PDP in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday, the former director general of PDP campaign council, Dr. Abiye Sekibo said rising from a meeting of the leadership of the former Rivers State PDP Presidential Campaign Council and members of the PDP in Rivers State, they decided to declare support for President Tinubu and Governor Fubara. Read more
Zack Orji survived 2 brain surgeries, says AGN’s president, Emeka Rollas (Nation)
The national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas has revealed that veteran actor, Zack Orji underwent two successful brain surgeries, saying he is in good health.
Emeka disclosed this to Afia TV, adding that Zack needs to be flown abroad for a post-surgery evaluation.
Rollas also expressed his disappointment at those who spread false information about Zack’s death. Read more
Renewed Hope Initiative donates N1b to end TB by 2030 (Nation)
Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has donated N1 billion towards Nigeria’s target of ending Tuberculosis by 2023.
The donation was made through the First Lady Oluremi Tinubu in Abuja on Thursday, March 28, following her investiture as the Global and National Stop TB Champion.
Wives of the 36 state governors were also honoured as State Stop TB champions at the event. Read more
Detained Binance executive sues NSA, EFCC (Channels)
Detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, has accused the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of violating his fundamental human rights.
In an originating motion, Gambaryan sought a declaration that his detention and seizure of his travel document, contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of 1999 Constitution (As Amended).
He urged the court to order the NSA and EFCC to release him from their custody and return his passport with immediate effect. Read more
Ariana DeBose joins fellow Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan in Universal Pictures’ action project “With Love” (DailyMail)
Ariana DeBose is teaming up with another recent Oscar winner – Ke Huy Quan – for the new action film “With Love”.
Quan, 52, who was asked to join The Academy after his big Oscar win, will team up with the 33-year-old DeBose in the project.
The project was first announced back in early January – the first leading role Quan will take after winning an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All At Once. Read more
Florence Pugh reveals first look at MCU’s “Thunderbolts” movie (DigitalSpy)
Florence Pugh has given fans a first sneak peek at Marvel’s upcoming “Thunderbolts” movie as filming gets underway in Atlanta.
Taking to Instagram, Pugh shared a video of herself in costume as Yelena Belova before “sneakily” taking fans on a tour around the set and revealing the new “Thunderbolts” logo on the back of production chairs.
“Hey guys, how you doin’,” the actress began. “I know that I’ve dropped off for a little beat, but partly that’s because I was whisked off to Atlanta to go and shoot a movie that I’m not really allowed to talk much about. But I can show you things… Sneakily.” Read more
What is the ‘sacred triduum’? An explainer (CNA)
At the end of the season of Lent — and right before Easter — the Catholic Church observes the “sacred triduum.” Many Catholics have questions about what happens during the Triduum and how they should observe this time.
What is the triduum?
The triduum is a period that begins on Holy Thursday and ends at the conclusion of Easter Sunday.
It encompasses the evening of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Read more
Iconic Titanic film prop sells at auction for more than £550k (BelfastTelegraph)
An iconic prop from the film Titanic, which helped save the life of Kate Winslet’s character Rose in the 1997 blockbuster, has sold at an American auction for $718,750 (£567,561).
The prop, which is made of balsa wood, was modelled on the door frame above the entrance to the ship’s first class lounge.
Near the climax of the film, Rose and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack cling to it before they realise there is only space for one of them and Jack sacrifices his life for his love. Read more
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Released Internationally, Includes Tracks with Miley Cyrus and Post Malone (Consequence)
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter has officially been released in international markets, including New Zealand and Australia, revealing more details about the album and its special guests.
Cowboy Carter is presented in the style of a country radio program (KNTRY Radio Texas, to be exact), with country music icons Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Linda Martell all taking turns as DJs.
The album includes a pair of covers: Parton’s “Jolene” and The Beatles’ “Blackbird.” It also includes collaborations with Miley Cyrus (“II Most Wanted”), Post Malone (“Levii’s Jeans”), and Shaboozey (“Spaghettii”). Read more
Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years over FTX fraud (DW)
A Manhattan federal court on Thursday sentenced former cryptocurrency billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried to 25 years in prison.
The hearing is the culmination of Bankman-Fried’s fall from grace as a wealthy entrepreneur to a convicted felon behind one of the biggest financial frauds in US history.
What the court has said so far
Judges in the sentencing on Thursday said they rejected Bankman-Fried’s contention that customers of the now-bankrupt FTX would not actually lose money. Read more
HRW accuses Wagner of killing civilians with Malian army (AfricaNews)
The Russian mercenary group known as Wagner is helping government forces in central and northern Mali carry out raids and drone strikes that have killed scores of civilians, including many children, rights groups said in reports published this week that span the period from December to March.
Mali, along with its neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger, has for over a decade battled an insurgency fought by jihadi groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following military coups in all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance instead.
Violence has escalated in Mali since Russian mercenaries arrived there following a coup in 2021. Its ruling junta has ramped up operations, carrying out deadly drone strikes that have hit gatherings of civilians, and raids accompanied by Russian mercenaries that have killed civilians. Read more
Super Eagles focused on 2026 World Cup qualifiers – Omeruo (Vanguard)
Super Eagles focused on 2026 World Cup qualifiers – Omeruo
Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has assured that the players are determined to give their all for maximum points when the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resume in June.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Super Eagles’ contingent for the friendly matches against Ghana and Mali in Marrakech departed Morocco on Wednesday, with most of the players flying back to their bases in Europe.
After grieving over the unexpected loss to Mali, on-field captain Omeruo assured that the players were determined to give their all for maximum points when the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resumed in June. Read more
Eguavoen off to Germany for FIFA diploma program (Leadership)
The second edition of the FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma, which seeks to become the “globally recognised qualification” for technical leaders working in the game, will get underway on 1 April 2024 in Germany.
Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, will be one of the twenty-five global participants from member associations, the confederations and FIFA who will come together at the German Football Association’s national training centre for the first phase of the unique level 6 qualification.
“The launch of the second edition of the FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma offers further evidence of our commitment to the sustained investment in education of technical leaders,” said Steven Martens, FIFA Director of Global Football Devt. Read more
Larry Lloyd, former Nottingham Forest and Liverpool defender, dies aged 75 (Telegraph)
Nottingham Forest have paid tribute to two-time European Cup winner Larry Lloyd, who has died at the age of 75.
Lloyd, who also won the First Division title and Uefa Cup with Liverpool, was a key player in the Forest side which won the European Cup in 1979 and 1980 under manager Brian Clough.
The Bristol-born defender won four caps for England and went on to manage Wigan and Notts County following the end of his hugely-successful playing career. Read more
Steph Houghton: Man City and England legend to retire at end of season (MEN)
Manchester City Women captain Steph Houghton is set to retire from football at the end of the season.
Houghton joined the Blues from Arsenal in 2014 and signed a new one-year deal last summer. The 35-year-old is one of the most decorated English players of all time, having won three Women’s Super League (WSL) titles, five FA Cups and seven League Cups across her club career.
Houghton also captained England and has 121 caps for her country, leading the Lionesses to third place at the 2015 World Cup. Announcing her retirement on social media on Wednesday, the defender said: “There is no easy way to say it, but I am retiring from football at the end of the current WSL season. Read more
Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit set to sign €800k contract with Super Bowl champions after making NFL switch (IrishIndependent)
Louis Rees-Zammit is set to begin life in the National Football League (NFL) with the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Rees-Zammit made a stunning switch from rugby union in January just weeks before the Six Nations began to pursue his “dream” of playing American football.
The 23-year-old, who scored 14 tries for Wales during his international career, impressed a number of NFL teams at a workout last week. Read more
Max Verstappen’s manager holds crunch meeting with Thai Red Bull bosses in Dubai (Express)
Max Verstappen’s manager reportedly held a meeting with Red Bull’s Thai bosses in Dubai after the Australian Grand Prix. Speculation over the future of the three-time world champion, who retired early in Melbourne for the first time in two years and was denied the chance to equal his record of 10 consecutive race wins, is running rife amid the saga surrounding Christian Horner.
Auto Motor und Sport reported that Raymond Vermeulen, who represents Verstappen, sat down with Red Bull bosses in the Middle East following the latest race. The contents of the meeting are unknown, but it is claimed that the manager did not try to persuade team majority owner Chalerm Yoovidhya that Horner had to step down. Read more