FRESH FM TOP NEWS THIS WEEK

The hottest and most trending news articles for this week in all categories are captured in one shot. Find articles ranging from News to Sports, to Politics, to Entertainment, to Economy, to Metro plus, and many other categories. See below the top news for the week:

NEWS

• Kaduna Train Attack Questions Our Collective Ability To Govern – Nigerian Governors

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has condemned the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, stating that such violent attacks are becoming too many and it questions their collective capacity to govern. The governors said this in a statement on Wednesday and described the attack as a horror dream. “The Kaduna -Abuja train attack on Monday night is a horror dream orchestrated by the wicked merchants of death that we must all wake up from to address. This is one attack too many. It must stop.

First, as leaders, we owe the victims and their relations an apology as these unwarranted acts of violence are becoming too regular and they basically question our collective capacity to govern,”. The governors added that “if the intention of the murderers is to disrupt the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians, they will not succeed and when eventually total peace returns to the country, they will surely either be lifeless or excluded. I can assure you that this is an ugly phase in our national experience. It will certainly pass.”

They prayed that God would grant those that lost their lives eternal peace and wish those that were injured speedy recovery to resume their lives and put their heartless aggressors to shame. They also expressed condolences to Nigerians, the Kaduna State government, and the people of Kaduna State.

• Train attack: 362 passengers boarded, eight bodies recovered, 16 injured – Kaduna govt

The Kaduna State Government has disclosed that no fewer than 362 passengers were on the Abuja-Kaduna train attacked by terrorists on Monday night. The government noted that from the passenger manifest it received from the Nigerian Railway Corporation, 398 passengers bought tickets for the trip, but 362 boarded the train.

The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, also revealed that eight bodies had been recovered, while 26 others were confirmed injured and currently receiving medical attention. In a statement on Tuesday, Aruwan said several others were still unaccounted for as search operations continue.

• Abuja-Kaduna train attack: Northern govs order security operatives to go after culprits

The Northern Governors Forum, has expressed fury over “the barbaric attack on a train along Kaduna-Abuja route by terrorists,” describing the act as “horrifying and totaling reprehensible.”
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, while responding to the sad development, said “the entire Governors and people of the region, as well as other Nigerians, are distressed over the unfortunate attack on innocent commuters by terrorists who have demonstrated total disregard for human lives and compassion.”

The Northern Governors, urged the security forces to “intensify their search and rescue efforts in ensuring that those kidnapped are released without further delay and the fleeing terrorists are arrested and brought to justice.”

• Abuja-Kaduna train attack was premeditated, says Femi Adesina

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has said the Monday attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train and subsequent killing of passengers on board was premeditated. Terrorists on Monday night bombed the Abuja-Kaduna rail tracks and attacked a train filled with passengers.

The train attack was coming after terrorists, numbering over 200, on Saturday invaded the Kaduna International Airport located in Igabi Local Government Area in Kaduna State, disrupting operation and killing one security personnel of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency. The attack caused panic at the airport and reportedly grounded a Lagos-bound AZMAN aircraft scheduled to take off at 12:30 pm.

But Adesina described the attackers as “people who hate God, who loathe humanity, and who despise themselves”. Adesina revealed these in an article titled, ‘They hate God, they loathe humanity’, and shared on his official Facebook page on Thursday.

The article read in part, “Haters of God and humanity struck on Monday, bombing the Abuja-Kaduna train. They then proceeded to open fire on passengers of the immobilized coaches. It was premeditated murder from the very bottom of hell. See the toll of the carnage. Promising lives, cut short. Destinies terminated. Hopes and plans, ruptured. People who committed no sin, no crime, except that they lived in the same space with people who hate God, who loathe humanity, and who despise themselves. Hell awaits them, indeed, the hottest part of that nether region, “where their worms do not die, and the fire is never quenched.”

• Police salary increment: Reps summon minister, accountant general, others

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Police Affairs has invited the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, over the non-implementation of the 20 per cent salary increment for officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force by the Federal Government. The Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Mr Ekpo Nta; and the Director-General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, are also to appear before the committee.

The Chairman of the committee, Bello Kumo, directed the committee’s clerk to write those invited on the issue during a public hearing on three bills in Abuja on Tuesday. Kumo stated that there was the need to meet with the government officials and find out why the directive to upwardly review police remuneration had yet to be implemented.
The lawmaker also stated that the police should be excluded from the envelope budget system.

While stressing that the issues frustrating the pension system of the police must be addressed, he said it was necessary to have a police force that is motivated to carry out its constitutional duties, especially with the growing security crises facing the country and the forthcoming general elections.

• Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack: ‘I Warned That Lives Will Be Lost’ – Amaechi

The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has reacted to the terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train saying he had warned that lives would be lost. Amaechi who was speaking to reporters after visiting the scene of the attack, said the unfortunate event could have been avoided if a N3 billion digital security equipment had been acquired. He lamented that now it will take more than N3 billion to replace what has been lost to the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna rail route.

“We knew what the problem would be. We knew we needed to have digital security equipment. We applied for it. Because if we had those equipment, you will see nobody on that track. And I warned that lives will be lost. Now, lives are lost. Eight persons dead, 25 persons in the hospital. We don’t know how many persons have been kidnapped. And the cost of that equipment is just N3 billion. The cost of what we’ve lost is more than N3 billion. We’ve lost tracks, we’ve lost locomotives and coaches. We’ve lost human beings. And the equipment is just N3 billion.

“To fix all the things on that track now, will cost us more than N3 billion. And now even the things we said give us approval to buy – at the time we asked for it, dollar was N400, now it is N500. When you come with sincerity to government and your colleagues and people are stopping you, it is annoying.”

• Leaked memos reveal why FEC rejected Amaechi’s N3.7bn security proposal

A leaked memo obtained by newsmmen on Thursday revealed why a proposal for security equipment along the Abuja-Kaduna rail track, which was presented to the Federal Executive Council by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, was rejected. Recall that Amaechi had while fielding questions from journalists after the train bombing that left at least eight persons dead, said he had predicted the attack and presented a memo to FEC for the procurement of security equipment, but it was rejected.

According to the minutes of the FEC meeting of September 24, 2021, marked EC (2021)236, which was presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, while the President, Muhammadu Buhari was attending the United Nations General Assembly, Amaechi recommended that a firm, Mogjan Nigeria Limited, be given the contract worth N3.7bn. The firm, which was incorporated on August 6, 2019, by Prince Godwin Momoh, Chioma Momoh and George Momoh, had a turnover of N84.9m.

“We had doubts about the capability of a company, which was formed less than two years prior and had no track record of handling a contract of N3.7bn or a contract on surveillance systems. The company was also to be paid upfront. Our investigation pointed to a conflict of interest,” said a top Presidency official.

According to the memo sighted by newsmen, Amaechi in his presentation stated that the Bureau of Public Procurement had reviewed the process of procurement and had given a certificate of no objection for the contract, adding that the project would be funded from the N71.4bn budget of the ministry.

• FG Urges Nigerians To Complete NIN-SIM Linkage ‘Without Delay’

The Federal Government on Thursday urged Nigerians to link their National Identification Number (NIN) to their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) without delay.

In a statement jointly signed by spokespersons of the Nigerian Communications Commission and National Identity Management Commission, the government had approved an extension of the NIN-SIM linkage deadline to March 31. Phone subscribers who do not make the linkage may lose access to telecommunication services.

“In preparation for the enforcement, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) urges citizens and legal residents to use the next few days to ensure that they complete the linkage,” the statement said.

“To this end, the Honourable Minister has further directed that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) should offer enrolment services round-the-clock for the next few days. Prof Pantami also thanks all those who have completed their NIN-SIM linkage.

• Insecurity: Reps consider National Assembly shutdown over Buhari’s ‘inaction’

Some members of the House of Representatives have proposed that the National Assembly be shut down to force the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to wake up to his responsibility of ensuring protection of life and property in Nigeria. This is just as a lawmaker called for the resignation or sacking of the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, saying he should have been sacked along with the last set of service chiefs.

The House cut short its plenary on Thursday, following an extended debate on the growing insecurity in the country, during which emotions ran high in the chamber. Items on the Order Paper for the day, which contains the agenda for each plenary, were stepped down after the lawmakers, mostly members of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, spent over one hour criticising the Buhari-led regime and security agencies.

The Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, noted “When things like this continue, and continue on a daily basis, those of us who are representatives of the government will become speechless. I have to repeat: we become speechless in the discharge of our duties here to defend actions by the government.

• US begins construction of $537m Consulate in Lagos

The United States has announced the commencement of the construction of its Consulate General in Lagos as part of the US bilateral relationship with Nigeria. The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, announced this according to a statement on Thursday during the event attended by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the US Consul General, Claire Pierangelo, in Lagos.

She said, “The $537 million new Consulate construction project will directly benefit the Nigerian people. Throughout the project, an estimated $95 million will be invested in the local economy, and the project will employ approximately 2,500 Nigerian citizens, including engineers, architects, artisans, construction workers, and administrative staff.

“Our vision for this remarkable Consulate campus is to create a facility that both honours the vibrant relationship between the United States and Nigeria and communicates the spirit of American democracy, transparency and openness.”

• Ramadan Fast Starts On Saturday In Nigeria, Says Sultan

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has announced Saturday as equivalent to the first day of the holy month of Ramadan 1443 AH, which signifies the beginning of the Ramadan fast.

The Sultan announced that the moon was sighted in many cities including Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano among others.
The Sultan called on all Nigerian Muslims to work towards peaceful coexistence with all in the country.

POLITICS

• Put Nigeria Above Other Interests, IBB Tells Presidential Aspirants

Former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida has told those aspiring for the presidency to put Nigeria above other interests in everything they do. Babangida gave the counsel when he received the former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Bauchi, and Sokoto State governors, Bala Mohammed and Aminu Tambwal respectively when they paid him a courtesy visit at his Hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State on Thursday.

“Your belief in having a better Nigeria featured very prominently. You made my day. What you talked about is Nigeria, Nigeria, Nigeria. I want you to keep it up, for the benefit of this country and generations yet unborn,” Babangida said in reaction to the comments from Mr Saraki who led the three-man delegation. He promised to support the group “so long as you stay on the course of promoting Nigeria all the time, making it a secure country”.

Earlier, the former two-time governor of Kwara State had said they were in Minna “as part of our consultations; going round the country talking to our elders and stakeholders”. Saraki, who spoke to newsmen after the visit to General Babangida, said the team felt the former military president should be briefed about the efforts they are making to get a consensus presidential candidate that will face that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s election.

• Kaduna train attack failure of APC administration – PDP

The Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party said the Monday night terrorists attack on an Abuja-Kaduna train is a manifestation of the failure of the All Progressives Congress’ administration in the state.

The Chairman of the PDP in the state, Felix Hyat, in a statement on Tuesday, said the attack, which the state government claimed eight passengers were killed and 26 injured, and other attacks, were simply a result of failure of governance. According to Hyat, who is also a former Minister of Aviation, the current security situation in the state is certainly not what the people of the state bargained for.

He said the continued insecurity across the state was unacceptable, calling on the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led administration in the state to wake up to its responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the citizens.

ECONOMY

• Poor Nigerians to hit 95.1m in 2022, says World Bank

The World Bank has said that poverty reduction stagnated since 2015, with more Nigerians falling below the poverty line over the years.
According to the Washington-based bank, the number of poor Nigerians is projected to hit 95.1 million in 2022. It said this in its report titled, ‘A Better Future for All Nigerians: 2022 Nigeria Poverty Assessment’.

The report further revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic pushed over five million more Nigerians into poverty by 2022. According to the report, about 90 million Nigerians are expected to be poor by 2022. However, due to the pandemic, the projection increased to 95.1 million Nigerians.

• Nigeria Has 90 Million Unemployed Youths – NBTE Boss

Nigeria has about 90 million unemployed youths and graduates, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Executive Secretary, Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje, has said. According to him, there are 10 million out-of-school children, the majority of whom are Almajiris in the country.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Science and Technology Forum (STF) held in Kaduna, Bugaje said the high rate of unemployment was largely responsible for the security challenges bedeviling the country.

Speaking on a group of unemployed youths springing up in Kano, he said, “They are called the anarchists. They say they have been abandoned by the government and therefore they would be destroying all government installations they come across. It is a small group for now, but we need to take action now before the group grows and becomes another serious security threat to the country.”

• Why We Can’t Deliver Ajaokuta During Buhari’s Tenure – Minister

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite on Thursday admitted that the Federal Government will not be able to deliver on its promise to revive the Ajaokuta steel rolling mill before the end of the current administration in 2023.

He made the admission while fielding question from State House correspondents during the 34th session of the State House briefing held at the State House in Abuja. According to Adegbite, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war were major unplanned events that scuttled the project’s revitalisation.

The development of the steel mill was started in the 1970s but has evaded completion several decades after. The current revitalisation plan for the steel mill was kick-started in October 2019, when a Nigerian delegation, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, attended the Russia-Africa summit in Sochi, Russia. In Sochi, President Buhari invited the Russians to help complete the steel mill on a Build-Operate-Transfer model, Adegbite said.

• We can’t continue to approve N4trn for fuel subsidy —Reps

The House of Representatives said yesterday it cannot continue to approve N4 trillion annually for fuel subsidy when the economy is in dire straits. Chairman of the ad-hoc committee investigating the state of the nation’s refineries, Ganiyu Johnson, stated the position of the House at a session of the panel.

He expressed disappointment over the non-appearance of officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Limited and other operators of the refineries. The committee, therefore, mandated them to appear on the next adjourned date, warnibng that failure to appear would be met with sanctions.

• Nigeria Ready To Lead In Digital Technology – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria is ready to lead in digital technology and is poised to welcome more initiatives and investments in the sector. The President said this on Friday at the statehouse in Abuja when he received the President of the Microsoft Corporation, Mr Brad Smith, in the company of the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Mr Isa Pantami.

Buhari also appreciated Microsoft for the $200 million African Development Centre set up in Lagos. Giving his remarks, the Microsoft President said the company plans to train five million Nigerians in the future, noting that 60,000 people have already enrolled for the courses while another 300,000 have completed some courses.

President Buhari told the visiting Microsoft team that as the largest economy and most populous country in Africa, Nigeria was positioned to play a strategic role in the global technology ecosystem and seek the right partnerships to harness the potentials.
He said one of such key partnerships was in the area of capacity building.

BUSINESS

• Senate Asks Pay-TV Service Providers To Revert To Pay-Per-View Subscription Model

The Senate has asked the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to direct all pay-TV providers to introduce a pay-per-view model of subscription as against the monthly prepaid model currently in place. The upper chamber is also asking all pay-tv service providers in Nigeria to immediately review their bouquet prices downwards in tandem with the prevailing economic realities in the country.

It further resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to launch a full-scale investigation into the incessant increase in the subscription fees of pay-tv providers with a view to understanding the reasons for the hike in prices and finding lasting solutions. These decisions taken by the Senate are sequel to a motion by Senator Abba Morro titled “Nigerians dumbfounded and outraged over pay-tv tariff hikes, demand for the pay-per-view subscription model”.

Senator Moro informed the Senate of the recent subscription price hike announced by leading pay-tv service provider, Multichoice Nigeria, of an increase in subscriber fees. He noted that Multichoice Nigeria willfully and perpetually increases its bundles because there is no regulation in the area of fixing rates.

According to him, Nigerians are demanding that rather than paying fixed rates for packages monthly, pay-tv service providers should introduce a subscription model which allows subscribers pay-per-view to enable them to match their tv consumption to subscription as is the case with electricity metering and mobile telephony.

HEALTH

• Mandatory facemask use not completely abolished in Nigeria –NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says Nigeria’s rules on compulsory use of facemask have not been completely abolished.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja.

This is coming days after the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 said the use of face masks in public places was now optional and that decision on the final relaxation of measures will be taken after Easter.

Adetifa said that the use of facemask indoors or in other high-risk settings such as in public transport was still recommended, while its use in outdoor places was now discretionary in the country.

• NMA Mourns Female Doctor Killed In Kaduna Train Attack

TheNigerian Medical Association, NMA, has expressed deep sadness over the death of Dr. Chinelo Nwando, who was killed in the terror attack on the Abuja- Kaduna train, Monday night. The late doctor, in her last tweet on her handle @nelo_x, posted around 9.43pm, had stated: “I’m in the train. I have been shot! Please pray for me.”

Confirming the incident in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Aniekeme Uwah, the association expressed regret, even as it decried the worsening insecurity in the country that has made all Nigerians vulnerable to violent attacks.

The statement read: “The President of the NMA, Prof Innocent Ujah, and indeed all medical and dental practitioners under the auspices of NMA are deeply saddened by the tragic, horrific, and preventable death of one of our members, Dr. Chinelo Nwando, who is reported to have lost her life from injuries sustained from gunshots, when the train she was travelling in from Abuja to Kaduna was attacked by suspected bandits.

• COVID-19 vaccines intact in cold store,not affected by power grid collapse — FG

The federal government has said COVID-19 vaccines in its strategic cold store were intact and not affected by recent collapse of national grid, which plunged the country into darkneas for some hours. The government equally said a total of 28 million vaccines were in stock just as it said it was still expecting donation of vaccines from foreign donors.

The Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency,NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, spoke through his representative and the agency’s Director of Community Health Services,Dr Nneka Onwu,at a bi-weekly media conference in Abuja, hosted by the Minister of Health,Dr Osagie Ehanire.

The conference organised by the Federal Ministry of Health,was meant to bring relevant agencies of the ministry to update the nation on their activities, especially regarding some diseases being tackled by the federal government.

EDUCATION

• ASUP Threatens To Shut Down All Polytechnics

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on Thursday threatened to shut down all Polytechnics across the country if the Federal Government fails to meet up with its demands within the next one month.

The ASUP President Comrade Anderson Ezeibe made the threat while addressing Journalists at the end of the Union’s 102 National Executive Council meeting in Yola the Adamawa State capital where members of the Union displayed placards with various inscriptions to drive home their demands.

According to him, ASUP had suspended its 61-day long industrial action on June 10, 2021, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the government. But due to the failure of the government to meet their demands, the union said it is set to resume the suspended industrial strike action but will reconvene in a month’s time to make that decision.

Items under the union’s demands include; the non-release of the revitalisation funds for the sector, non-release of arrears of the new minimum wage, and non-release of the reviewed nomination instruments for institutions and Managements as well as programmes accreditation among others.

• UTME/DE to hold May 6 in 645 CBT centres

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said it raked in N8.6 billion from the sale of the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) forms.

It made the revenue from the sale of the forms at N4,700 per applicant to the 1,837,011 candidates it successfully captured at the close of the registration which held nationwide between February 19 and March 26. These were contained in the latest weekly bulletin by JAMB, which was released on Sunday night.

Out of the lump sum, 776 computer-based test (CBT) centres that took part in the exercise will share an estimated amount of N1.3 billion at the rate of N700 per candidate registered by each of the centres.
The UTME/DE examinations have been scheduled to hold from May 6 to May 16.

• UTAS comment: ASUU threatens to withdraw NITDA boss degree certificate

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Branch, has threatened to initiate the process of withdrawing the degree certificate of the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, as an alumnus of the university.

This withdrawal, the union said, was been considered after Inuwa’s submission that “the University Transparency and Accountability Solution, had failed integrity test, vulnerability test (security integrity), User Acceptance Test and stress load test, as as well as the hardware requirements.”

The union described his submission, which it claimed, was made on March 9th, 2022, after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the prompting of his boss the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, as an “unguarded statement”. In a press release, on Thursday, titled: UTAS AND NITDA’S LIES, which was read to journalists by the ASUU ATBU Branch Chairperson, Ibrahim Inuwa, the union advised the NITDA boss to retrace his steps to the path of truth and academic excellence.

• Abduction: CSO advocates education budget increment, tight security for schools

A non-governmental organization under the aegis of Community Development Initiative on Thursday called on the Federal Government to “declare a state of emergency in basic education across Nigeria starting with the vulnerable geopolitical zones of North West and North East.”

The CSO also told the government to “accelerate the steps towards securing schools across the most vulnerable parts of Nigeria and bringing to book criminals who have abducted school kids for ransom and speedily prosecute those whose actions led to the death of students in Kaduna, Zamfara and Borno states.”

The Executive Director of TiFA CDI, Taiwo Akerele, made the suggestions during the inauguration of its Board of Trustees which was held in Abuja. He recommended that the government at all levels budget not less than 10 per cent of their annual spending on investment in education and capacity building and graduates on annual basis for the next 10 years.

WORLD

• Oil Prices Sink As US Considers Tapping Reserves, Stocks Struggle

Oil prices tumbled Thursday on reports that the United States is considering tapping its reserves to combat a supply crisis sparked by the Ukraine war. However, equities struggled to build on the week’s rally after Russia poured cold water on hopes that ceasefire talks were progressing, leaving the prospect of a protracted war in eastern Europe. Concerns about demand in China owing to a lockdown in Shanghai were adding to downward pressure.

The conflict has already sent shockwaves through the world economy, with growth forecasts this year being lowered across the board. On Thursday, the European development bank EBRD said gross domestic product in Russia and Ukraine would contract 10 percent and 20 percent respectively this year.

WTI tumbled more than five percent at one point while Brent dropped more than four percent as reports said President Joe Biden was looking at releasing a million barrels a day for several months — totalling up to 180 million — as he tries to temper a surge in the market to more than $100.

• Pope Francis Condemns ‘Barbarous’ War In Ukraine

Pope Francis on Sunday condemned the “cruel and senseless” war in Ukraine, where “barbarous” acts were “destroying the future”.
More than a month has gone by since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, of the beginning of this cruel and senseless war,” the pope said at the end of the Angelus prayer.

“War does not devastate the present only, but the future of a society as well,” he said, pointing to the fact that one in two Ukrainian children have been displaced. This means destroying the future, causing dramatic trauma in the smallest and most innocent among us.

“This is the bestiality of war — a barbarous and sacrilegious act!” the pontiff said from his residence to pilgrims gathered at St Peter’s Square. Pope Francis has called for an end to the conflict on more than one occasion and has condemned the “massacre” in Ukraine.

• UK Apologises For Hospital Scandal Over 200 Baby Deaths

More than 200 babies could have survived had they been given better care at birth, a damning report into Britain’s biggest maternity scandal said on Wednesday, prompting a government apology. The report listed a catalogue of repeated failings at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust over a 20-year period from 2000 to 2019.

Babies were stillborn, died shortly after birth or were left severely brain-damaged, according to the review, which was ordered in 2017 after concern at the high rates of neonatal deaths at the hospital group. It also disclosed that nine of 12 mothers who died during the period could have had “significantly” better treatment, and others were made to have natural births when they should have been offered Caesarean sections.

But the state-funded group, which operates several hospitals in Shropshire, central England, either failed to investigate sufficiently or learn from the cases. Javid and the hospital trust promised to implement the report’s dozens of recommendations, acknowledging that the care and even compassion given was not up to standard. He vowed that those responsible for “serious and repeated failures” would be held to account. A police investigation is looking at some 600 cases, he added.

• China Sanctions US Officials Who ‘Concocted Lies’ On Human Rights

Beijing on Thursday said it had slapped sanctions on an unspecified number of US officials who “concocted lies” about human rights in China. The tit-for-tat move comes after Washington announced visa restrictions on Chinese officials accused of repressing religious and ethnic minorities in the far-western region of Xinjiang.

US-China relations have reached their lowest point in decades, most recently aggravated by Beijing’s perceived support for Russia as it carries out a bloody invasion of Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week urged China to “end its ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity” in Xinjiang, as Washington announced sanctions on unnamed Chinese officials. On Thursday Beijing said it would “impose reciprocal visa restrictions on US officials”.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the sanctions would apply to those “who concocted lies on human rights issues involving China, promoted and implemented sanctions on China, and harmed China’s rights and interests”. Wang did not disclose the names of the officials to be sanctioned or the extent of the visa restrictions, but said the move was in line with China’s anti-foreign sanctions law implemented last year.

ENTERTAINMENT

• Will Smith Resigns From Academy Over Oscars Slap

Will Smith has tendered his resignation from the body that awards the Oscars after his attack on Chris Rock during the weekend ceremony, a statement said Friday. “I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate,” the actor wrote in a statement carried by multiple outlets.

“My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home.”

Attendees at the Dolby Theatre watched open-mouthed as Smith mounted the stage and slapped Rock across the face after the comic made a joke about his wife’s closely cropped head. Jada Pinkett Smith has alopecia, a condition that causes hair to fall out.

• Davido, other artistes headline Qatar 2022 World Cup theme song

Nigerian award-winning singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has been featured in the Qatar 2022 World Cup official theme song. Davido announced the development on his social media handle on Friday, saying the official soundtrack is titled ‘Hayya Hayya’ (Better Together).

He tweeted, “I’m honored to be featured on the Official #FIFAWorldCup 2022 Soundtrack! See y’all later 2NITE! This one is for Africa! TULE!!!! 🤞🏾❤️ WE RISE!” Aside from Davido, the single featured US star Trinidad Cardona, and Qatari sensation Aisha ahead of Friday’s final draw for the tournament.

Justifying the choice of Davido and others, FIFA on its official page, said their choice is to “connect with audiences worldwide through the shared passions of football and music.” The entertainment strategy was conceived to create innovative and meaningful connections between football fans, music enthusiasts, players, artists, and the game and songs they all love. The combination of breakthrough US star Trinidad Cardona, Afrobeats icon Davido and Qatari sensation Aisha captures the spirit of the FIFA World Cup™ and the FIFA Sound strategy by bringing together inspiration from across the globe.”

• Portable loses Canadian show after sacking manager, promoter, others

Musician, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, has lost his chance to perform at a forthcoming show organized by a comedian, MC Morris, in Canada. The comedian made the statement on Instagram shortly after the news of Portable sacking his manager, deejay, and promoter became public knowledge.

The post read in part, “For those that are asking why I removed idamu adugboyin from my May 22 show. Talent is not enough, a beautiful song without a beautiful attitude is a beautiful nonsense.
“Two managers in less than a year, even sack innocent DJ that his job na to play song and scratch shaka shaka. I cannot koshi mero am sorry. All transactions canceled and ijoba danku am sorry.”

Portable was heard in a live broadcast on Instagram claiming that his manager, deejay, and promoter were solely dependent on him for money. The fast-rising artiste, however, stated that they should leave him if they were not gaining from him. He said, “Am I your father or brother? Manager, DJ, promoter, I will feed una, buy cloth for una, put money into your accounts, I go con do like say I broke, ask the manager for money but he will tell me he has no money as if he is building a house.

• Oscars 2022: Will Smith strikes comedian Chris Rock over jokes about his wife

Will Smith stormed the Oscars stage and struck comedian Chris Rock across the face for joking about his wife, in a moment at Sunday’s gala that immediately went viral and left stunned viewers questioning if it had been scripted or genuine. Rock, presenting the best documentary prize with a short comedy routine, had cracked a joke comparing Jada Pinkett Smith’s tightly cropped hair to Demi Moore’s appearance in the film “G.I. Jane” and suggesting she appear in a sequel.

In a moment that triggered awkward silence and confusion in the Dolby Theatre, Smith strode up to Rock and slapped him, before returning to his seat alongside Jada and shouting profanities. “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth,” yelled Smith, forcing the producers to bleep out several seconds of audio from the televised broadcast in the United States.

According to The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg, in attendance, a tearful Smith needed to be “pulled aside and comforted” by Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry during a commercial break. “Will and Chris, we’re going to solve that like family. Right now we’re moving on with love,” said Sean “Diddy” Combs, presenting the next section.

• Yoruba actor, Dejo Tunfulu, dies

A popular Yoruba comic actor, Kunle Adetokunbo, popularly called Dejo Tunfulu has died. Fellow thespian, Kunle Afod, shared the news on his Instagram page on Friday.

The president of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Bolaji Amusan, known as Mr Latin, also confirmed his death. “Yes, it is confirmed. He died in a hospital this morning. But I am yet to get full details of the incident,” he told our correspondent on Friday.

The deceased shot into limelight for his role in the movie titled: “Omo Oran”, featuring the veteran actor Fatai Adetayo (Lalude).

SPORTS

• Crowd Trouble: Rumors Of Ban On MKO Abiola Stadium Not True, Says NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation on Friday said the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja has not been banned from hosting matches by FIFA.
Reports emerged on Wednesday that the stadium had been sanctioned after crowd trouble following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.

The NFF also said reports that the Video Assistant Referee equipment for the match had been damaged were false. “We are alarmed at the influx of incorrect reports, otherwise known as fake news, mostly in the social media,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said on Friday. There is no truth to the reports that the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja has been banned for any length of time by FIFA. It is a concoction by some persons with fertile imagination. The NFF has not received any such communication from either FIFA or CAF.

“There has also been an outlandish report that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) equipment that was installed for the match had been stolen. We initially thought this was an April Fool prank but it is alarming that some media outlets are taking it serious. Nothing of such happened. The VAR equipment remains intact and has been returned to the FIFA office in Zurich, Switzerland by Sebastian Runge, FIFA’s Head of Technology.”

• NFF Apologises To Nigerians Over Failure To Qualify For 2022 World Cup

The Nigeria Football Federation has offered an unreserved apology to the Federal Government and Nigerians for the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals holding in Qatar.

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi expressed regrets that the team failed to qualify despite the enormous support of the government and the fans who came out to support the team at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja for the clash with Ghana’s Black Stars on Tuesday.

“There was nothing the team needed that was lacking. The Government provided necessary support; the NFF put all logistics in place with the active support of the Sports Ministry and Nigerians turned out en masse to support the team. The truth is that we left nothing to chance. It is sad that things turned out the way they did.

• World Cup Miss: Eguavoen Resigns As Eagles’ Technical Adviser

Former international, Austine Eguavoen, has resigned as the Super Eagles’ technical adviser following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed this in a statement issued on Thursday, less than two days after the three-time African champions drew 1-1 with Ghana in a playoff for the competition. The result sent the Black Stars to the tournament on the away goal rule after the first leg ended barren.

“The NFF has in the meantime withdrawn the two-and-half years’ contract offered the coaches and terminated the appointment of the entire technical crew of the team with immediate effect,” the communique read. A new crew will be announced after a proper review to lead the new charge of reinvigorating the Super Eagles to face future challenges appropriately.” The football body, therefore, thanked the crew for their services and wished them well in future endeavours.

• CAF Medical Officer Dr Kabungo Died of Cardiac Arrest, Not Stampede – NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed shock and sorrow over the death of FIFA/CAF Medical Officer, Dr Joseph Kabungo, who died on Tuesday after the FIFA World Cup playoff match between Nigeria and Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. Dr Kabungo was the Doping Control Officer for the match.

Despite various media reports stating that the Zambian medical died following the fans’ violence after the match, NFF’s Secretary-General, Mohammed Sanusi explained the situation surrounding the death of Dr Kabungo.

Dr Kabungo was found gasping for breath near the dressing room of the Ghanaian team. “We tried to resuscitate him there and then, but when this did not appear to be working, we put him in an ambulance and rushed him to Cedar Crest Hospital in Apo, where he gave up the ghost. It is a very sad incident and one is shocked that some persons have been putting a terrible slant to the whole thing by saying he was beaten up by fans. That is a lie. He died as a result of sudden cardiac arrest.”

Officials of the NFF, the medical team, and the High Commission of Zambia held a meeting on Wednesday morning to decide on the next line of action following the demise of Dr Kabungo.

• Angry fans destroy Abuja pitch, technical area

Irate fans invaded the main bowl of the Moshood Abiola Stadium destroying everything in sight immediately after Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Ghana on Tuesday, which ended the Super Eagles dream of reaching a seventh World Cup appearance in Qatar in November.

Ghana qualified for the World Cup thanks to the away goal rule after the first leg at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi ended goalless.
Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen made four changes to the team that earned a goalless draw at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi Friday,

Fans, however, vented their anger on the celebrating Black Stars players, pelting them with water bottles until they found a way out of the newly renovated pitch. After chasing the Ghanaians off, they then started pulling the grass as well as destroying the technical area and breaking the glass. Efforts by security operatives to dispatch the mob by firing teargas canisters was in vain, as the fans wreaked more havoc, pelting the VIP stand from pitch side with different objects.

• Nigeria vs Ghana: Confusion as CAF doctor collapses, dies after fans invaded MKO Abiola Stadium

Confusion has surrounded the death of Confederation of Africa Football’s doping doctor, Dr. Joseph Kabungo. Kabungo, a Zambian medical practitioner, was said to have died shortly after Ghana stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the 2022 World Cup on Tuesday.

There are reports that Kabungo died as a result of the stampede that occurred at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja before the commencement of the match. However, another account blamed fans’ invasion of the pitch after the match for the doctor’s death.

British-Nigerian journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana, tweeted that the doctor’s death was confirmed after he was rushed to the hospital.
Neither officials of the Nigeria Football Federation nor CAF have confirmed the doctor’s death. It was learnt that Kabungo’s family, the Zambia FA and the Government of Zambia had been informed.

• Fans to NFF: Apologise to sacked Rohr

A section of Nigerians took to social media calling on the Nigeria Football Federation to tender an apology to former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, after the country failed to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Nigeria played a 1-1 draw with Ghana at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Tuesday but couldn’t qualify for football’s biggest showpiece as they crashed out on the away goal rule following a goalless draw against their archrivals in Kumasi last Friday. The Eagles put in a poor display in the second leg of the final play-off and had their hopes of playing at the Mundial dashed by their West African rivals.

Rohr, who was sacked by the NFF in December 2021 following an underwhelming performance by the Eagles, guided Nigeria to qualify from the group stage as they topped Group C with 13 points ahead of Cape Verde, who finished second with 11 points. Immediately after Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, some fans swarmed the social media calling for an apology to the Franco-German.

• Go For Top Foreign Coach, Fans Tell NFF

Following the Super Eagles’ inability to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, majority of fans of the three-time African champions have advised the Nigeria Football Federation to employ a ‘tactically and well respected’ foreign coach to lead the team. The Eagles were eliminated on the away goal rule following a 1-1 draw with Ghana in Abuja in the second leg of their play-off on Tuesday in Abuja.

Interim coach Austin Eguavoen stepped down from his position on Thursday after the Eagles failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Eguavoen’s coaching staff Emmanuel Amuneke, Joseph Yobo, Alloy Agu and Salisu Yusuf were also dismissed by the NFF and the offer of two-and-a-half-year contracts also withdrawn. A statement from the NFF said a new management team would be announced “after a proper review” and would be charged with “reinvigorating the Eagles to face future challenges appropriately”.

A Twitter user with the name Eyenidara Essien said, “Get us a competent foreign coach to lead the Eagles. Our local coaches should first prove themselves in our local league before getting a chance with the national team.” Segun Sorunke added, “There is too much talent within the Eagles for them not to qualify. Get a foreign coach that will be respected by the boys.”

METRO PLUS

• Insecurity: UK Warns Against Travel To Seven Northern States

The United Kingdom (UK) has warned against travels to seven states in the north following the rising spate of insecurity in Nigeria.
According to a travel advisory on the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) website, the affected states are Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara.

“The FCDO advise against all travel to Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State, Kaduna State, Katsina State, and Zamfara State. Violent attacks are frequent and there is a high threat of kidnap,” the post read.

“On 26 March 2022, gunmen launched an attack against Kaduna airport, killing at least one airport official in the latest in a series of attacks by gunmen in the north of Nigeria. On the evening of 29 March 2022, an apparent Improvised Explosive Device attack took place against a train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna. Reports suggest that a number of people were killed and that others were abducted by gunmen. Train services are now suspended between Abuja and Kaduna.” It further warned that there is a threat from extremists linked to Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.

• Bandits Invade Housing Estate In Kaduna, Kidnap Customs Officer, Five Others

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have attacked a low-cost housing estate at Kofar Gayan in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State and kidnapped six people including a Customs officer and his son.
The police authorities are yet to confirm the incident but a resident of the area told Channels Television that the bandits invaded the estate at about 8 pm on Wednesday and started shooting sporadically. They moved straight to the Customs officer’s residence and thereafter took him away along with his son.

According to the source, the bandits trailed him from his family house in Zaria city down to the estate. Four others within the estate were later abducted by the gunmen. The incident comes two days after bandits attacked an Abuja-Kaduna-bound train, killed eight people, injured 26, and kidnapped an unspecified number of persons.

Kaduna State and several others in the northwest and north-central regions have suffered from banditry in recent years. The gunmen have largely targeted schools and other public facilities. Several persons have also been killed and many others injured in the incessant attacks.

• Kaduna reign of terror: Terrorists kill seven soldiers, NAF rains bombs on forests

A combined team of soldiers, operatives of the Department of State Services and the police have been deployed in Kaduna to locate and possibly rescue passengers abducted by terrorists, who attacked the Kaduna-Abuja train on Monday. It was learnt that the Federal Government had given the Nigerian Air Force express approval to deploy the Super Tucano aircraft in the North-West albeit with conditions that collateral damage be minimised.

It was gathered that the special team was given express orders to locate the abductors’ camp and do “everything operationally possible” to rescue the hostages with minimal losses. A security source said the military had decided to use the Tucano fighter jets against the terrorists hibernating in Kaduna forests.

It was also learnt that the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, had deployed some riot policemen to protect engineers repairing the destroyed rail tracks. Meanwhile, newsmen confirmed that seven soldiers were ambushed and killed by terrorists on the dreaded Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. It was learnt that the attack happened close to the Zuma barracks along the road in the Suleja area of Niger State in the early hours of Wednesday.

• Yahoo Boy’s mother jailed five years for receiving N91m internet fraud largesse

Mrs Debest Osarumwense has been sentenced to five years imprisonment in Benin, the Edo State capital. She is the mother of Endurance Osarumwense, an alleged internet fraudster a.k.a. ‘Yahoo boy’.

Justice M. S. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Benin delivered judgment on Tuesday. The Economic and Financial Crimes prosecuted her on a one-count charge for aiding her son.

• Buhari orders security agencies to end Ogun cult killings

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja called on parents and religious leaders to caution their youths against the recent spate of murder, kidnappings and sexual assault by rival cult groups in Ogun State. This was after he said that the police and other law enforcement agencies must confront head-on, groups seeking to destroy peace and bring disorder before they gain strength.

According to a statement signed late Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari was reacting to reports reaching him on the renewed cult violence between the Eiye and Aiye cult groups which has persisted for over a week, following the killing of key leaders of both groups.

It read in part, “What should frighten us is that the deadly cult groups are increasingly attracting lonely, anxious, troubled youth who they trap in unorthodox social practices. Parents and religious leaders must come to grasp what is going on and halt the radicalization of our youth.”

• Insecurity: IDP population in Benue now two million –Govt

The Benue State Government, on Thursday, said there were eight official and 20 unofficial internally displaced persons’ camps in the state. The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency and Maintenance Agency, Dr Emmanuel Shior, said the increase in the number of IDP camps in the state was a result of the continuous attacks on some communities in recent times.

Shior said this during the distribution of relief materials to IDPs, saying the number of IDPs has increased to nearly two million. He stated, “There have been constant attacks on several communities in the state. We have received reports of attacks in eight communities in the Kwande Local Government Area; we have gone there and we will go back to take a needs assessment so as to be able to provide interim measures.

“We have about seven official camps and over 20 unofficial camps, and some of the IDPs are also in the host communities. The total number of IDPs in the state is now close to two million, because attacks are continuing; they have not stopped.” The SEMA boss debunked insinuations in certain quarters claiming that relief materials were not getting to the IDPs.

• Bandits on rampage in Abuja, Benue, Kaduna, Rivers, Ogun

Bandits went on the rampage in several parts of the country, Wednesday, abducting about 15 persons including a traditional ruler, a pastor and a customs officer. In Abuja, four persons, including the traditional ruler of Bukpe community in Kwali Area Council of the FCT, Alhaji Hassan Shamidozhi, were kidnapped, Wednesday.

According to sources, the kidnappers invaded the community in large number and abducted Shamidozhi after shooting sporadically to scare away members of the community. The Chief Imam of the Bukpe Community Central Mosque, Malam Jibrin, who is said to be a sibling to the abducted traditional ruler, was also attacked and wounded during the invasion.

Meanwhile, one Mrs Hanna Orhena, yesterday, in Makurdi, said her husband, Pastor Steven Orhena, and his son were abducted alongside five other Lagos-bound passengers on board a Benue Links commercial bus at Ayere village, a border community between Kogi and Ondo states.

Also, a Customs officer, his son and other residents of a housing estate in Zaria, Kaduna State were kidnapped by suspected bandits on Wednesday. It was gathered that the bandits invaded the estate in large numbers, shooting sporadically and kidnapping the residents at about 10 pm.