We’ll revolutionise passport application system — Minister (Vanguard)
Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said the launch of the long-anticipated automation process today would revolutionise the passport application system in Nigeria.
He stated that the automation initiative previously announced in December, was now 99% complete.
According to him, this revolutionary system is designed to facilitate a seamless online application process, eliminating the need for physical contact during the passport application journey. Read more
Lagos governor felicitates wife at 57 (Nation)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has congratulated his wife, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on her 57th birthday.
He described her as a dependable partner, a committed prayer warrior, caring and loving wife and mother.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu, the chairman of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) and a medical doctor, turns 57 today. Read more
Ondo group accuses Aiyedatiwa of certificate forgery (Leadership)
A social-political group, the Ondo State Redemption Initiative (OSRI), on Monday, accused the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, of certificate forgery, branding him unworthy to lead the state.
In a statement by its President, Pastor Adebayo Ogunsanmi, Secretary Jide Oriola, and Publicity Secretary Sunday Ayeni, the group alleged that Aiyedatiwa’s educational claims have been exposed as fraudulent.
According to the group, Aiyedatiwa’s resume indicates that he obtained an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Ibadan in 2001. However, their investigation revealed that such a diploma was not available at the University of Ibadan in 2001. Read more
Mixed reactions trail BBC report on TB Joshua (Vanguard)
Mixed reactions have trailed a report detailing how the late founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as TB Joshua, raped, tortured, and confined some church members to solitary.
The investigative report by the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) Africa Eye, spanning over two years, detailed the accounts of victims who claimed they were raped and also underwent forced abortions in a secretive Lagos compound for almost 20 years.
The BBC reports that a Briton, Rae, “was 21 years old when she abandoned her degree at Brighton University in 2002 and was recruited into the church. She spent the next 12 years as one of Joshua’s so-called “disciples” inside his maze-like concrete compound in Lagos.” Read more
Trade minister tours manufacturing firms to strengthen ties btw public, private business (Sun)
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Investments, Doris Uzoka-Anite, who has begun a four day tour of manufacturing industries in the country has said the purpose is to improve ties between public sector and private businesses.
Uzoka-Anite, who began the four-day tour today will visit some industries in Lagos, Ogun and Kano states.
The Minister will also visit governors of identified states to strengthen the relationship between the federal and state government. Read more
Driver dies as trucks collide on Lagos bridge (Punch)
A truck driver died on Ojuelegba Bridge in Lagos on Monday when he got trapped in a multiple collision involving two other trucks.
His assistant escaped unscathed, however.
Permanent Secretary at the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, made the announcement. Read more
Doyin Okupe resigns from Labour Party, cites ideological differences (Guardian)
Doyin Okupe on Monday announced his resignation from the Labour Party (LP), citing ideological differences.
Okupe announcing his resignation said those ideological differences emerged after the 2023 elections.
The former head of LP’s presidential campaign, in a letter explained that his lifelong alignment with right-wing and liberal democratic principles clashed with the party’s left-of-center ideology which made continued membership untenable. Read more
FG to reserve 5% employment slots for persons living with disabilities (Channels)
The Federal Government is set to implement a policy that will compel all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to reserve five per cent employment slots to persons with disabilities across the country.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on persons with disabilities, Mohammed Abba-Isa, disclosed this in Damaturu, Yobe State capital, at a meeting he held with disabled persons and other stakeholders after his appointment.
He mentioned that his office is working closely with the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ensure persons with disabilities are empowered, in order to reduce the number of those roaming the street to beg for alms. Read more
SZA promises to legally wage war against whoever leaked her music: ‘I am tired’ (HipHopDx)
SZA has had enough of people leaking her music and has threatened legal action against the internet pirates who most recently went after her tracks from her upcoming deluxe album.
On Saturday (January 6), the “I Hate U” singer took to X (formerly Twitter) to air out would-be leakers, promising to hold them accountable.
“LEAKING MY MUSIC IS STEALING,” she wrote. “THIS IS MY JOB. THIS IS MY LIFE AND MY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. YOU ARE A FUCKING THIEF AND I PROMISE TO PUT MAXIMUM ENERGY INTO HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. I AM TIRED.” Read more
Golden Globes 2024: Oppenheimer sweeps ceremony in night of historic wins (Independent)
The Golden Globes returned with a blowout, star-studded ceremony on Sunday (7 January) night.
The annual, Beverly Hills-based awards show has been obscured in recent years after a 2021 Los Angeles Times investigation revealed that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the awards’ voting body) did not have a single Black member.
However, this year, the Globes were back in their usual Sunday slot on CBS and hoping to regain viewers. Broadcast live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel, A-listers including Taylor Swift, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Kylie Jenner brought some much-needed stardust to the beleaguered show. Read more
Far-right mass killer Breivik sues Norway for human rights abuse (Aljazeera)
A lawsuit launched by far-right fanatic and mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik accusing the state of abusing his human rights has opened in Norway.
Breivik, who killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage in 2011, appeared in a court set up in the high-security jail in which he is serving his sentence on Monday. By accusing Norway’s Ministry of Justice of breaching his human rights, he hopes to force the authorities to end his years in isolation.
The 44-year-old killer’s lawyer laid out an argument that the conditions of his detention violated his human rights. Read more
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is turning 40. maybe (NBC)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is believed to have turned the big four-oh on Monday, but state media continued its decades of silence on his birthday.
Kim’s birthday is believed to be Jan. 8, though his secretive regime has never confirmed the date. The U.S. government lists Kim’s birth year as 1984, making him 40 years old this year.
The birth dates of Kim’s father and grandfather, who preceded him as rulers, are national holidays in the authoritarian state. Read more
South Africa: Govt to reopen inquiry into deaths of apartheid (AfricaNews)
South Africa will reopen an inquiry into the murder of four anti-apartheid activists which became one of the era’s most notorious crimes but remains unsolved nearly four decades on.
Justice minister Ronald Lamola said in a statement dated Jan. 5 that it was “in the interests of justice to finally bring closure to the families of the deceased who have been waiting decades for the truth about who killed their loved ones”. Lamola added the move was needed for “confidence in the justice system to be restored”.
Two inquests were held – in 1987 and 1993 – but “produced more questions than answers”. Read more
Jonathan Majors says he was ‘shocked and afraid’ by guilty verdict in first interview since trial (People)
Jonathan Majors is speaking out for the first time since he was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, last month.
On Monday, the 34-year-old Marvel actor had his first interview with ABC News anchor Linsey Davis on Good Morning America, in which he said “was absolutely shocked and afraid” upon hearing the verdict.
“How is that possible? Based off the evidence, based off the prosecution’s evidence, let alone our evidence,” Majors said. Read more
Bilkis Bano: India Supreme Court cancels release of 2002 riots rapists (BBC)
Eleven men freed early after being found guilty of gang raping a pregnant Muslim woman must be returned to prison, India’s Supreme Court has said.
Part of a Hindu mob, the men were serving life terms for the attack on Bilkis Bano, as well as the murder of 14 of her family members, during anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat state in 2002.
However, they were released in August 2022 by order of Gujarat’s government. Read more
AFCON 2023: Sanwo-olu to host Super Eagles to send forth dinner Tuesday (CompleteSports)
Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu will be the chief host of a special dinner organised by the Lagos State Government for the Super Eagles on Tuesday night, hours before the three-time champions are set to depart for Cote d’Ivoire to participate in the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals starting this weekend.
Sports Development Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh will be co-host of the glamour event, to which Governors Douye Diri (Bayelsa State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa State) and Godwin Obaseki (Edo State) have been invited.
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau is the host, with top officials of the Lagos State Government, a couple of parliamentarians, NFF Executive Committee members, representatives of NFF’s corporate partners and sponsors, few members of NFF Management, Chairman and Board of the Lagos State Football Association, respected football investor Hon. Kunle Soname, former Nigeria captain Dr. Olusegun Odegbami, leading artistes, top celebrities and influencers also to attend. Read more
Stan Collymore thinks Manchester United 23-year-old could be Saudi Arabia-bound (HitC)
Stan Collymore says Jadon Sancho has ‘almost no chance’ of returning to fight for his place at Manchester United in the near future.
HITC Football have been told that Jadon Sancho is closing in on a loan move to Borussia Dortmund after a falling out with manager Erik ten Hag.
Whilst a move to Germany is back on the cards for the 23-year-old, Stan Collymore added that it ‘wouldn’t be a surprise’ if he decides to go to Saudi Arabia instead, as he told Caught Offside. Read more
Ivan Toney breaks silence on Brentford return amid Arsenal and Chelsea transfer rumours (Mirror)
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been out of action for the last eight months as he served an FA ban for betting offences but he is free to play again this month while Arsenal and Chelsea remain linked with his signature
Ivan Toney admits he has “unfinished business” ahead of his return for Brentford this month after serving an eight-month suspension for betting offences.
The England international has been forced to watch from the sidelines as his Brentford team-mates battle without his goalscoring prowess with Thomas Frank’s side slipping to 16th in the Premier League table without their talisman. Toney has been heavily linked with a move elsewhere in the January transfer window after hinting he’d be open to a switch to a bigger club. Read more
Slovakian Skier Vlhova wins World Cup Slalom. Shiffrin straddles gate as teammate hurt finishes 3rd (EpochTimes)
KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia—For a change, the American skier on a slalom podium is not called Mikaela Shiffrin.
American teammate AJ Hurt used a blistering second run to finish third in a women’s World Cup race Sunday, after Shiffrin failed to finish the opening leg.
Racing in falling snow, Slovakian skier Petra Vlhova held on to her first-run lead to win the event. Read more
Paris 2024: PCN boss predicts better outings for para-athletes (Tribune)
President, Paralympics Committee Nigeria (PCN), Sunday Odebode has predicted a better and brighter future for para-athletes this year.
Nigeria will participate in the forthcoming Paralympics Games scheduled to hold in Paris, France.
Odebode in his New Year message to Nigeria para athletes said that the Committee is doing all within its capabilities to ensure that the athletes make it to the podium at the Games and other international meets this year. Read more
F1 governing body confirms exits of sporting and technical directors (StraitsTimes)
Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, confirmed on Monday the departures of sporting director Steve Nielsen and technical director Tim Goss less than a year after they were appointed to the roles.
The FIA said in a statement Tim Malyon would take over as sporting director in the single-seater department, overseeing race direction and the Geneva-based Remote Operations Centre (ROC).
Niels Wittich will continue as F1 Race Director for the season starting on March 2 in Bahrain. Read more