Why I left Nigeria, relocated abroad, by Bobrisky (Nation)
Crossdresser Bobrisky has announced his relocation to a new country, seeking a more welcoming and accepting environment.
According to Bobrisky, he has found a place where he is officially recognised as female and receives the respect he deserves.
Bobrisky expressed his frustration with Nigerian officials, stating that some of them allegedly bullied him. Read more
Herdsmen destroying farmlands in Bayelsa, Timaya cries out (Guardian)
Afrobeats singer Inetimi Alfred Odon, popularly known as Timaya, has raised the alarm over the reported destruction of farmlands by herdsmen in his home state of Bayelsa.
He called on the government to take urgent action, describing the situation as heartbreaking.
The Dem Mama crooner also spoke against open grazing, urging herders to adopt ranching instead. Read more
Obi opens TikTok page, seeks followership (NewTelegraph)
On Tuesday, the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, announced he has opened a TikTok page.
Obi, an economic expert made this announcement via his verified X handle as he sought followership on the social media page.
Speaking on the development, Obi uploaded a video on the new TikTok page with moves to build a new Nigeria that is possible. Read more
NSCDC averts tanker explosion in Sokoto (Punch)
A major disaster was averted in Sokoto on Tuesday when a petrol tanker carrying 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit fell at Dan Marna Filling Station in Gagi, Sokoto South Local Government Area, spilling fuel onto the road.
Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Sokoto State Command, swiftly intervened preventing possible fire outbreak.
The officers cordoned off the area, restricted movement, and stopped unauthorised individuals from scooping the highly flammable liquid. Read more
Wike revokes PDP’s new national secretariat land (Tribune)
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land title for the new national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has been under construction in Abuja.
In a letter dated March 13 and titled “Notice of Right of Occupancy” (file no: MISC 81346), the Director of Land Administration (FCT), Chijioke Nwankwoeze, stated that the opposition party has failed to pay the annual ground rents for the property for the past twenty years.
The revocation notice indicated that the PDP has not paid the annual ground rents due from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, despite numerous announcements in various national newspapers and on electronic media urging them to settle all outstanding bills and ground rents related to their property. Read more
Police confirm Trans Niger Pipeline explosion in Rivers, arrest suspects (ThisDay)
Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State has witnessed an explosion at the Trans Niger Pipeline in the area.
The Rivers State Police have confirmed the incident while assuring the people of their safety.
THISDAY gathered that the pipeline, located at the Julius Berger junction Bodo in Gokana, is 28-inch TNP line, a federal transport line to Bonny. Read more
ALGON absolves Gov Sani of diverting LG funds, slams el-Rufa’i (Vanguard)
The Kaduna State Chapter of Association Of Local Governments of Nigeria(ALGON) has said that the allegation levelled by ex Governor Nasir El -Rufai regarding the siphoning of funds were false, patently absurd and ill-intentioned.
ALGON further said that “the allegations were meant to mislead the public, create disaffection, and ridicule the all -inclusive, pro-poor and people-oriented administration in Kaduna State.”
Recall that the former Governor had accused Governor Uba Sani of diverting local government funds to purchase property in Seychelles, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Read more
Northern CAN hails Tinubu, congratulates Kukah, Qurix on appointments (Leadership)
The Northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has commended President Bola Tinubu for constituting the Governing Council of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, describing it as a bold step towards advancing education in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Rev. Dr. Joseph Hayab, Northern CAN welcomed the appointments, particularly the selection of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council and Prof. Qurix Williams Barnabas as the Vice-Chancellor of the newly established university in Kaduna State.
“The appointment of these distinguished individuals is a testament to President Tinubu’s commitment to education and national development. It signals his resolve to provide the best leadership for the future of Nigeria,” the statement read. Read more
Canadian actor detained at US border in ‘inhumane conditions’ for nearly two weeks (Guardian)
A Canadian entrepreneur and actor in the American Pie movie franchise said she was detained for almost two weeks in “inhumane” conditions by US border authorities over an incomplete visa.
Jasmine Mooney, an actor who is also co-founder of the beverage brand Holy! Water, was detained on 3 March in San Diego, California.
The 35-year-old Canadian citizen’s work visa to the US was reportedly revoked back in November while traveling from Vancouver to Los Angeles, and she was attempting to file a new application. Read more
Ye rips Kendrick Lamar, Tyler The Creator, and more in latest unhinged rant (VIBE)
Kanye West is wildin’ out. And no, this isn’t A.I.
In the wee hours of Tuesday morning (March 18), Ye took to X/Twitter, where he unloaded on a plethora of previous collaborators and “friends.”
The once-beloved producer began his rant by responding to Playboi Carti’s request for a North West feature from her mother, Kim Kardashian, rather than Ye himself. West then took aim at Carti for “intentionally” leaving him off of his recently issued LP, I Am Music. Read more
NC guitar maker Freeman Vines dies at 82 (BPR)
A prominent guitar maker and blues musician from Pitt County has died. Freeman Vines had a workshop in the small town of Fountain, and he was known for building guitars using reclaimed wood.
Some of the wood came from trees used in eastern North Carolina lynchings. His work was featured in a book called “Hanging Tree Guitars” that received national attention, including from The New York Times and Rolling Stone.
Vines spoke with WUNC about his guitars last year for the Main Street NC podcast.
“Reclaimed wood always has a character,” he said. “It communicates with you, see, like this right here, that’s reclaimed wood, and it told me that it did not want to be the conventional type guitar.” Read more
Last of the classified JFK assassination files to be released Tuesday (NPR)
About 80,000 documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy are expected to be made public on Tuesday.
Days after taking office, President Trump ordered the release of the files, along with those the National Archives still holds concerning the assassinations of Kennedy’s brother, Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., both killed in 1968.
But the exact timing of the JFK dump only became clear on Monday in remarks the president made to reporters as he toured the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Read more
Vatican: Francis stable, out of ‘imminent danger’ of death (VOA)
The Vatican issued an update Saturday on the health of Pope Francis, who remains in Rome’s Gemelli hospital under the care of doctors, saying that while his prognosis remains “complex,” the pope is no longer in “imminent danger” of death.
On Friday, the Vatican’s Holy See Press Office announced that since Francis’ condition is now considered stable, barring any major developments, updates on his health will be less frequent. The 88-year-old pontiff has spent four weeks in the hospital and is receiving treatment for double pneumonia.
Medical bulletins from the pope’s doctors, which had been almost a daily occurrence since his admission to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, will be issued only when there is new information, the press office said Friday. Read more
Australian man wins $186,338 lottery prize in North Carolina (UPI)
An Australian man visiting North Carolina ended up winning a $186,338 prize from a Cash 5 lottery ticket.
The North Carolina Education Lottery said Gregory Coombes, of Grafton, New South Wales, was visiting North Carolina when he bought his $1 Quick Pick ticket for the Feb. 14 Cash 5 drawing at Quick Pantry on West Mills Street in Columbus.
Coombes matched all five of the numbers drawn, earning a $186,338 jackpot. Read more
Amusan, Brume, Ofili absent from World Athletic indoor final list (Punch)
World Athletics has released the final entry list for the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships, but top Nigerian athletes Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, and Ese Brume are notably absent from Team Nigeria, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The prestigious event is set to take place in Nanjing, China, from March 21 to 23.
In the absence of these star athletes, shot put specialist Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and 400m runner Chidi Okezie will lead Nigeria’s nine-member squad. Read more
Alan Shearer opens up on emotional moment remembering his late father during Newcastle win (Metro)
Alan Shearer fought back tears thinking of his late father as Newcastle United clinched the Carabao Cup at Wembley.
Newcastle ended their 55-year wait for major silverware after beating Liverpool 2-1 at the home of English football thanks to goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak.
Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer, spent 10 years at his boyhood club, twice going to Wembley only to taste defeat on both occasions in FA Cup final defeats to Arsenal and Manchester United. Read more
Shohei Ohtani merchandise is prompting long lines — even in the rain — in Tokyo (JapanToday)
The Los Angeles Dodgers gave Shohei Ohtani an unprecedented $700 million contract hoping to drive interest — and the dollars that come with it — from fans across the Pacific.
It seems to be working. He’s the main attraction as the Dodgers and Chicago Cubs open the MLB regular season on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Tokyo Dome.
He’s also producing off the field, the marquee name at a sprawling souvenir store that fills an exhibition hall in the Tokyo Dome complex. Read more
LeBron James says he’s ‘happy to have helped’ Mirra Andreeva in Indian Wells win (CNN)
LeBron James said he’s “happy to have helped” Mirra Andreeva win the Indian Wells title on Sunday after the teenage tennis sensation says she drew inspiration from one of his old interviews.
The 17-year-old Andreeva beat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Sunday’s final to become the youngest woman since Martina Hingis in 1997 to win back-to-back WTA 1000 (previously Tier I) titles after also picking up the trophy at the Dubai Championships two weeks ago.
Andreeva had to come from behind after being crushed 6-2 by Sabalenka in an opening set in which she won fewer than half of her service points. Read more
Djokovic player union begins legal action against tours (BBC)
The players’ union co-founded by Novak Djokovic has begun legal action against tennis’ governing bodies, citing “anti-competitive practices and a blatant disregard for player welfare”.
The Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) has filed papers at the United States District Court in New York, where it is seeking a jury trial.The 163-page lawsuit, which has been seen by BBC Sport, says “professional tennis players are stuck in a rigged game” which gives them “limited control over their own careers and brands”. Read more