Why Nigerians should prepare for more hardship – NGO (Punch)
The report by the National Bureau of Statistics that about 133 million Nigerians live in poverty would be a recipe for a new dimension of hunger never witnessed in Nigeria, a civil society organisation under the aegis of the International Human Rights Commission warned on Friday.
While describing the report as a warning of a looming economic crisis in the country, the not-for-profit body, stressed the need for government to empower people in the rural communities to reduce the rising poverty in Nigeria.
The Ambassador at Large and Head of Diplomatic Missions of IHRC in Nigeria, Dr Duru Hezekiah, stated this during the presentation of food items and cash to over 150 low-income earners and Persons With Disabilities.
The gifts which came ahead of the Christmas celebration were to cushion the effects of the growing inflation. Read more
Gunmen set ablaze Imo High Court, destroy files (DailyTrust)
Gunmen on Saturday set ablaze the building of Imo State high court in Orlu, reportedly burning part of the structure housing sensitive documents.
The development is coming few days after some gunmen attacked the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri, which the police said was carried out by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
It was gathered that the complex is housing both the high court and a magistrates’ court.
A staff member of the judiciary, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said all the files in the building were burnt. Read more
Over 5000 protesters occupy National Assembly over missing N89t stamp duty money (Guardian)
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) numbering over 5000 Friday in Abuja occupied the premises of the National Assembly to protest the alleged missing N89 trillion stamp duty allegation against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
According to the protesters, the demonstration currently ongoing at the assembly complex was to pass a vote of confidence on the CBN Governor.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Dr Bassey Etuk Wiliams said: “Our attention has been drawn to the funny allegation flying around about stamp duty mismanaged money allegedly to a tune of N89 trillion according to a dissolved presidential committee that has Hon. Kazaure as Secretary.
“We are amazed that despite the dissolution of the said committee, he is still pressing for submission of the report of what has been directed to be dissolved and going about slandering the name of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele. Read more
Sanwo-Olu launches data centre to enhance safety on water (ThisDay)
Commuters using Lagos State’s water transport services are in for a fresh safety experience, with the activation of modern monitoring gadgets and infrastructure to enhance security across the State’s waterways transportation network.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday commissioned the newly installed Waterways Monitoring and Data Management Centre (WMDMC) at the Five Cowrie Terminal – the headquarters of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in Falomo, Ikoyi.
The Data Management Centre, which is first of its kind in the country, is a centralised monitoring base for all activities on the Lagos waterway. By the technology, LASWA is now empowered to generate real-time information, enhance safety and gather data for continuous improvement of the inland waterways. Read more
FUOYE declares lecture-free day as truck kills student (Punch)
The management of the Federal University of Oye, Ekiti State, has declared a lecture-free day over the death of a first-year student of the Department of Quantity Survey.
The student identified as Taiwo Gbolahan was reportedly crushed to death by a heavy truck along the Ikole-Oye highway in the state on Friday morning.
The university’s Dean of Student Affairs, Prof Dosu Malomo, while confirming the incident noted that Gbolahan died in the theatre where he was being attended to by the doctors on the ground.
The dean, however, declared a lecture free-day as a last respect for the lost soul. Read more
Police arrest 6 armed robbery/kidnap suspects in Ekpan (Independent)
The police in Delta state have arrested six armed robbery/kidnap suspects who operated under the guise of being vigilante/hunters in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe who made this name in a press release on Saturday, said, the hoodlums were caught on 15/12/2022 at about 2000hrs, when Police operatives attached to Ekpan Police station deployed on patrol along Jakpa Road, intercepted a Toyota Sienna space bus, ash in colour without registration number conveying six male occupants.
“The Policemen on suspicion subjected them to a search during which three (03) pump action guns, four (04) locally made guns, one (01) long axe, seven (07) expended cartridges, nine (09) live cartridges, native charms, three (03) cutlasses, two (02) number plates were recovered.
“The suspects, Aaron Okorigwe ‘m’ aged 27yrs and five others could not give a reasonable account of themselves, were taken into custody. Investigation later revealed that they were hoodlums who operates under the guise of being members of hunters group from Ovwian Aladja, but sneaks into Ekpan Community in a Sienna vehicle, rob and kidnap unsuspecting persons after robbing them, they run to hibernate in Ovwian Aladja. Read more
Ministry of Health confirms outbreak of Cholera in C’River (Vanguard)
At least 30 persons have reportedly died in Ekureku Community in Abi Local government area of Cross River state following the outbreak of Cholera.
Ekureku Community is made up of 10 villages including Agbara , Ngarabe,
Ekureku-be ,Akpoha , Akare-for , Anong, Emenekpon ,Etegevel, Egboronyi, Emegeh shares boundary with some parts of Ebonyi State.
The Permanent Secretary, Cross River state Ministry of Health, Dr. Iwara Iwara who confirmed the outbreak to Sunday Vanguard said he can’t give any figure as it concerns how many persons have died
but hinted that a Rapid Response team has already been activated.
His words:” I can’t confirm the number of persons who are dead, until I’m on the ground, but there is an outbreak of cholera in the Ekureku Community. Read more
20 feared dead over cholera outbreak in Ekureku community in Cross River (Sun)
Over 20 persons are feared dead following an outbreak of cholera disease in Ekureku community in Abi local government area of Cross River state.
Ekureku, made up of 12 villages, shares boundary with some parts of Ebonyi state and is an agrarian community.
Investigations by Saturday Sun revealed that the Ekureku community has been faced with the challenges of portable drinking water and poor health facilities.
Sources close to the community confided in Saturday Sun that the outbreak of the cholera disease was noticed two days ago when some villagers started feeling severe diarrhoea and dehydration. Read more
Angelina Jolie steps down as UN refugee envoy (BBC)
Oscar-winning US actress Angelina Jolie says she is stepping down from her role as an ambassador for the UN refugee agency UNHCR after more than 20 years.
“I believe in many things the UN does, particularly the lives it saves through emergency relief,” Jolie, 47, said.
And she added: “I will be working now with organisations led by people most directly affected by conflict, that give the greatest voice to them.”
The UNHCR said she was one of the most influential refugee rights advocates. Read more
Bono flashes the peace sign as he films for special at a Dublin pub (DailyMail)
Bono kept it casual as he was spotted filming for a new Disney+ special in Dublin on Friday night.
The U2 star, 62, cut a laidback figure in black trousers and a T-shirt, which he wore underneath a smart jacket as he walked into McDaid’s pub.
He was joined by David Letterman and his U2 co-star The Edge as they are reportedly filming for a TV special, which will be released on St Patrick’s Day next year.
Bono sported his signature round orange shades and swept his brown locks in a slicked-back style as he arrived at the pub. Read more
Gary Glitter set to be released from prison in early 2023 (DailyRecord)
Paedophile pop star Gary Glitter will be released from prison early next year, according to a report. The 78-year-old, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was jailed for 16 years for attempted rape, unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, and four counts of indecent assault in 2015.
The Sun newspaper said on Friday it was told by Ministry of Justice sources that Glitter would be released as early as February 2023.
The source said: “The nature of his determinate sentence means the case won’t go to the Parole Board. It simply means that as soon as his sentence is over, he is free to walk out of the prison gates.”
An offender who is convicted of a sexual offence is released on a strict licence. The terms of the licence can include staying in an approved premise, obeying a curfew and having GPS tagging, not having unsupervised contact with children and restrictions on internet usage. Read more
Shanghai schools to go online as Covid spreads in China (BBC)
China’s largest city, Shanghai, has ordered most of its schools to take classes online as Covid cases soar.
Nurseries and childcare centres will also shut from Monday, according to Shanghai’s education bureau.
Restrictions were eased by Chinese authorities earlier this month following a wave of protests targeting China’s zero-Covid strategy.
But the easing of strict lockdown measures has led to growing concerns over the spread of Covid in China. Read more
Donald Glover to play Spider-Man villain Hypno-Hustler (NME)
Donald Glover is set to play D-List Spider-Man villain Hypno-Hustler in an upcoming Sony movie.
The musician, actor and Atlanta creator has long held a dream to play Spider-Man himself, once putting himself forward for the Amazing Spider-Man films, a role that eventually went to Andrew Garfield.
Glover has voiced Miles Morales in the 2015 Disney XD animated series Ultimate Spider-Man and made a cameo role as Morales’ uncle in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Glover will star in and produce an upcoming Sony movie about Hypno-Hustler, with a script coming from Myles Murphy, the son of Eddie Murphy. Read more
Ireland’s Varadkar becomes premier for 2nd time (RFI)
Ireland’s Leo Varadkar on Saturday took over as premier for the second time in a handover of power in line with a coalition deal struck in 2020.
Varadkar replaced Micheal Martin as Taoiseach (premier) in a rotation between his Fine Gael and Martin’s Fianna Fail parties that is unprecedented in Irish history.
The centre-right parties, the two main political partners in a three-party governing coalition, were forged from opposing sides in the Irish Civil War in the early 20th century.
They agreed to the rotating premiership as part of a coalition with Ireland’s Greens following 2020 elections. Read more
Twitter reinstates banned journalists’ accounts (BBC)
Billionaire businessman Elon Musk says several journalists he suspended from his social media company, Twitter, will have their accounts reinstated.
Reporters for the New York Times, CNN and the Washington Post were among those locked out of their accounts, after Mr Musk accused them of sharing location data about him.
But amid mounting criticism, he asked Twitter users what to do next.
And 59% of the 3.6 million who took part voted to lift the ban immediately.
“The people have spoken. Accounts who doxxed my location will have their suspension lifted now,” he tweeted. Read more
Why Uganda football team pulled out of CHAN (Punch)
Uganda’s national football team, the Cranes, has explained the reasons behind pulling out of the African Nations Championship tournament citing lack of funds as the major one on Wednesday.
The tournament is due to be held in Algeria next month but the Ugandan team will not be participating because of the government’s failure to provide the promised funding, said Moses Magogo, president of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations.
“A hard decision was taken to pull the Cranes out of CHAN finals because without funds there is no other available option,” Magogo said.
“It’s a very disappointing situation especially for the players, the coaches that have made this journey to the finals and to the fans but this is a decision we took… painfully,” he added. Read more
U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles to know group foes December 23 (Leadership)
Nigeria’s U-20 side, the Flying Eagles will discover their group stage foes for the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations next week Friday.
According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the draw ceremony will take place in Cairo, Egypt on December 23.
Egypt will host the biennial competition from February 18 to March 12.
Aside from the Flying Eagles and the host nation, 10 other countries will also compete for honours at Egypt 2023. Read more
Argentina squad looking at ”Goat” Lionel Messi to inspire World Cup glory vs France (Express)
Argentina are banking on Lionel Messi’s individual brilliance trumping France’s collective strength in Sunday’s World Cup final. The bookmakers find the two sides almost impossible to separate in what promises to be a coin-toss showpiece.
But Argentina believe their inspirational captain, who will break Lothar Matthaus’s tournament finals appearance record at the Lusail Stadium, will be the man to make the difference. “People say France are the favourites but we have the advantage of having the greatest player of all time,” said Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
“I saw a great Messi at the Copa America but in this World Cup he took a step forward. He’s playing better. It’s quite difficult to beat that version of Messi but he did it. He’s excited, he’s full of joy and this helps us so much.” Read more
Belgium physio reveals World Cup agreement with Lukaku (FootballItalia)
Belgium physiotherapist Lieven Maesschalck confirms Romelu Lukaku was not fit to play 90 minutes at the World Cup: ‘He couldn’t handle the whole game.’
The Inter star has been struggling with injuries this term, playing just five games with the Nerazzurri.
He suffered an injury relapse weeks before Qatar 2022 and missed the first World Cup game against Canada.
“Roberto Martinez is someone who listens to the medical staff and everything is discussed,” Belgium’s physiotherapist Maesschalck told sporza. Read more
Brown could see Norris tackling Indy 500 with McLaren (F1i)
Lando Norris has hinted in the past at a desire to tackle the Indy 500, and McLaren racing boss Zak Brown “could see that happening”.
Norris is contracted to McLaren until the end of 2025, and the young gun is unlikely to indulge in a one-off at Indianapolis in the next three years as his focus will be exclusively on F1.
However, should Norris remain with the Woking-based outfit beyond 2025, he could be tempted to take a shot at Americas’ blue riband event, with his team’s American affiliate, Arrow McLaren SP, having expressed in the past an interest in racing at the Brickyard.
And his biggest fan for such an endeavor might be his own boss, a man who was instrumental in the past in taking Fernando Alonso to Indy. Read more
Frank Martin feels ‘‘overlooked’’ ahead of a career-defining fight vs. Michel Rivera (NYPost)
Frank Martin just wants his rightful recognition.
The rising lightweight contender knows this is the fight that can deliver it and bring him to the opponents amongst whom he believes he belongs.
Coming into the sport later than most of his counterparts, the 27-year-old Indianapolis native is 16-0 with 12 KOs, finally moving into the fringes of the division’s top 10 with his latest win in July. However, in one of boxing’s most loaded weight classes, he’ll need to pass bigger tests before getting a crack at the top dogs he desires.
Martin pounced on his opportunity to do so, and he will square off against fellow undefeated contender Michel Rivera on Saturday night at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (10 p.m., Showtime) in a 12-round WBA lightweight title eliminator. Martin is ranked 10th in the WBA’s rankings, while Rivera ranks No. 2. Read more