Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories:
1. Al Hilal, led by Coach Jorge Jesus, secured a record-breaking 14 consecutive victories in the Saudi Pro League with a 2-0 win over Al Ettifaq. The team is now seven points clear at the top of the standings with 59 points from 21 matches, surpassing Al Nassr’s previous record of 13 consecutive wins. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Al Dawsari scored for Al Hilal, with top scorer Alexander Mitrovic receiving a yellow card and missing the next match due to accumulated cards.
2. Jarrod Bowen scored his first senior hat-trick for West Ham in their 4-2 victory against Brentford, ending West Ham’s winless streak and alleviating pressure on manager David Moyes. Bowen’s performance, which included his first goals since December, may boost his chances of being considered for the upcoming England internationals. Moyes praised Bowen’s contribution, highlighting his versatility and goal-scoring ability, which could capture the attention of England manager Gareth Southgate. Bowen expressed his delight at achieving a hat-trick and revealed an unusual celebration inspired by MC DJ Spider Radgie. West Ham’s win marked their first victory against Brentford in the Premier League, with Bowen’s early goals setting a record for the fastest two goals scored by West Ham in a Premier League match. Moyes emphasized Bowen’s overall performance and expressed hope that the win would signal a turnaround in West Ham’s form. Brentford manager Thomas Frank expressed frustration at his team’s inconsistency and emphasized the need for improvement.
3. Protests erupted in several states on Monday, including Edo, Lagos, and Osun, as citizens voiced their discontent with economic hardship and called on President Bola Tinubu to address the issue of hunger in Nigeria. Organized by the Joint Action Front (JAF), a coalition of pro-workers civil society groups, these protests precede the nationwide anti-hardship protest scheduled by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) which begins today in Abuja and Lagos. Despite warnings from authorities, protesters demanded action to alleviate the economic challenges faced by Nigerians, particularly the soaring food prices. Civil society organizations mobilized residents, urging them to join the protests and express their grievances against government policies exacerbating hardships. The police have assured the protection of protesters but remained vigilant against any attempt to disrupt the protests.
4. The Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Bola Tinubu, has approved the full implementation of the Stephen Oronsaye Panel report, aiming to merge, scrap, or relocate certain parastatals, agencies, and commissions. This decision, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, aligns with the intention to reduce the cost of governance and enhance efficiency within the governance structure. An eight-man committee has been established by FEC to oversee the implementation within a 12-week timeframe. Key recommendations include merging various agencies, subsuming certain commissions under others, and relocating certain entities to different ministries for better alignment and coordination. The move follows previous reports highlighting overlapping agencies and wastage in expenditure, to streamline operations and improve effectiveness across different sectors.
5. Senate President Godswill Akpabio apologized to state governors for his earlier contentious statements alleging that the federal government provided N30 billion to each state government for subnational interventions aimed at improving the food situation. Akpabio’s remarks during a plenary session had caused uproar among the governors, who denied receiving such funds. Akpabio clarified that his comments were based on “unconfirmed” information and urged cooperation between state and federal governments to address economic challenges. He emphasized the importance of utilizing funds effectively to alleviate food shortages and other issues, stressing the need for tangible actions to benefit Nigerians.
6. A coalition of civil society organizations in Rivers State has taken legal action against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the House of Assembly for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress. They are seeking clarification from the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt regarding whether the lawmakers should retain their seats after switching parties. The coalition argues that according to Section 109 of the Constitution, defection to another political party should result in the loss of a lawmaker’s seat. They cite examples from other states and express confidence in the court’s decision. The coalition warns the governor against presenting the budget to the lawmakers, as it would be considered contempt of court. They emphasize the importance of allowing the court to interpret the laws without interference from any party involved. The coalition urges expedited proceedings due to the significance of the matter.
7. Universal Music Group (UMG) has acquired a majority stake in Mavin Global, Nigeria’s leading record label, pending regulatory approval with an expected closure by Q3 2024. The deal, following Mavin Records’ exploration of investment options, is estimated to be valued between $125 million and $200 million. Mavin Global will benefit from UMG’s global network while retaining autonomy over its operations. Mavin’s founders, Don Jazzy and COO Tega Oghenejobo, will continue to lead the company. TPG Records exits entirely, while Kupanda Capital retains a minority stake. Don Jazzy expressed pride, and UMG CEO Lucian Grainge hailed Mavin’s role in Afrobeats’ global success.
