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American female rappers Cardi B and Nicki Minaj, have reignited their 7-year-long beef by throwing insults to each other online.

The drama which started on X on Tuesday, started with Nicki Minaj throwing shades at Cardi B’s pregnancy and music.

She claimed that the rapper inflated her album sales, while calling her out for having a forth child with Stefon Diggs, despite being legally married to Offset.

‘A b c d e f Gree. Sur ger ree to look like meee. A b c d e f g Rap like Barney still UGLEEE. Barney B. Raw doggin pregnant with da 4th babeeeee. Barney B.BV HPV allegedlyyyyy,’ she wrote.

Cardi B then responded to the insults by calling her out for not being on the same league with the set of artists she started music with.

‘Why do you keep bringing up my album? It’s not the gag that you think it is. You’ve been in the game like 16 years, you need to compare yourself to YOUR peers that started around your time. Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Drake, those are the numbers you should be competing with, and you can’t because you’re doing lower than all of them. I was in high school when you came out. wtf are you comparing yourself to me?,’ she wrote.

The rapper also claimed that Nicki Minaj was trying to shame her with her pregnancy but has been visiting fertility clinics to get pregnant.

‘Alright now, this is the third tweet talking about my pregnancy, like you weren’t going to different fertility doctors cuz you couldn’t reproduce from all the percs scrambling your eggs. NOT ALLEGEDLY, lord protect my babies,’ she added.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) pulled off a dramatic 2-1 away victory over Barcelona on Tuesday night, with Gonçalo Ramos scoring in the 90th minute to silence the Camp Nou.

The game, overseen by English referee Michael Oliver, was a gripping contest that swung from Barcelona’s early dominance to PSG’s late heroics.

Barcelona struck first in the 19th minute when Marcus Rashford slipped a neat pass to Ferran Torres, who finished low into the corner to give Hansi Flick’s side the lead.

The Catalans looked in control for much of the first half, with Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo creating chances, though wasteful finishing denied them a second goal.

PSG clawed back into the game in the 38th minute. Nuno Mendes carved open Barcelona’s defence with a clever through ball, releasing Senny Mayulu, who calmly slotted into the right side of the net to level the tie.

The second half saw end-to-end action. Barcelona pushed forward through Yamal, who narrowly missed the target in the 80th minute, while PSG’s Kang-In Lee rattled the post in the 83rd, as both sides hunted for a winner.

The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. Achraf Hakimi surged forward and found Ramos inside the box, the Portuguese forward coolly driving a low shot past Wojciech Szczesny to complete PSG’s comeback.

Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has cancelled his planned Independence Day parade.

This is contained in a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Mr Declan Emelumba in Owerri, on Wednesday.

Emelumba said that all public activities, including parades, earlier scheduled to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria, had been cancelled.

He added that the governor would, however, deliver his Independence Day broadcast to the people of Imo as planned.

‘All residents are, therefore, advised to commemorate the anniversary quietly in their homes and to offer prayers for the peace, progress, and unity of Nigeria and her leaders.

‘The government of Imo state wishes all citizens a peaceful and reflective 65th Independence Anniversary,’ he said.

No reason was, however, given for the cancellation.

The Federal Government has announced that the Dangote Group will reassign workers who were earlier removed from their jobs at the refinery.

This follows an agreement reached between the company and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

According to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, the affected workers will be posted to other Dangote companies and will not lose their salaries.

He said:

‘After reviewing the disengagement process, it was agreed that the management of Dangote Group should begin reassigning the workers immediately.

No worker will be punished for their role in the dispute between Dangote and PENGASSAN.’

The minister added that PENGASSAN had agreed to call off its strike after both sides reached a compromise.

He also reminded the parties that union membership is the right of every worker under Nigerian law.

The dispute began when PENGASSAN accused the refinery management of unfairly transferring and dismissing union members, and replacing some Nigerians with foreign workers.

The union said these actions violated labour laws and reduced job opportunities for locals.

The refinery, however, denied these claims, saying the changes in its workforce were only due to operational needs and had nothing to do with union activities.

The disagreement escalated when PENGASSAN stopped the supply of gas and crude oil to the refinery, raising concerns about the effect on Nigeria’s energy supply.

The Federal Government stepped in, warning that the standoff could harm the economy and energy security, and later helped both sides reach an agreement.

The Nigerian Association of Social and Resourceful Editors (NASRE) has condemned in strong terms the brutal killing of Somtochukwu ‘Sommie’ Maduagwu, a news anchor with Arise News Television, who was reportedly murdered by suspected robbers at her residence in Katampe, Abuja.

In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Femi Oyewale, NASRE described the incident as ‘barbaric and senseless,’ noting that the slain journalist was a promising professional whose life was cruelly cut short.

‘Her death is not just a personal tragedy to her family, colleagues, and friends, but also a huge loss to the Nigerian media and to the nation at large,’ the association said.

The editors’ body urged security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime and ensure they face the full weight of the law. It warned that failure to bring the killers to justice would embolden criminals and further endanger the lives of citizens.

NASRE also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to step up efforts in protecting life and property across the country.

‘Citizens cannot continue to live in fear within their homes and communities. The government must match words with action by strengthening intelligence, policing, and prosecutorial mechanisms that deter such violent crimes,’ the association stressed.

While commiserating with Maduagwu’s family, her colleagues at Arise News, and the broader media fraternity, NASRE prayed for her soul to rest in peace and demanded that justice should not be delayed.

The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to scale up immunisation across all communities, rallying council chairmen, religious leaders, and other key stakeholders to ensure wider vaccine coverage and stronger primary healthcare delivery.

Speaking at the inauguration of the State Task Force on Immunisation and Primary Health Care Services held on Tuesday in Alausa, Ikeja, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who chairs the committee, said the task force was designed to ensure that no child in Lagos is left unvaccinated.

Hamzat commended the immunisation teams for their work over the years but stressed that the campaign must extend to underserved communities.

‘We want our religious leaders to use their sermons to inform people about the potency of the vaccine. We equally want our schools to be aware of their role in ensuring that students are duly vaccinated,’ he said.

He added that effective collaboration with stakeholders across the health sector is essential, assuring that the state government would increase budgetary allocation to strengthen primary healthcare services for optimal delivery.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, underscored the urgency of scaling up coverage, warning that weak primary healthcare inevitably results in sickly communities.

‘The world has advanced to produce very effective vaccines that eliminate infections such as hepatitis, cervical cancer through HPV, and malaria, among others. For Lagos State to improve uptake, our services must improve-covering infrastructure, equipment, and human resources for health,’ he explained.

Permanent Secretary of the Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustapha, reaffirmed government’s commitment to accountability and inclusiveness.

He said the task force would drive improvements in routine immunisation, strengthen system resilience, and enhance collaboration between government and private actors.

On behalf of council chairmen, the Chairman of Conference 57 and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Hon. Sesan Olowa, pledged the unwavering support of all council bosses for the campaign.

Mustapha concluded that the ultimate goal was to ensure ‘no one is left behind in accessing life-saving vaccines and essential health services.’

A fire outbreak at Bariga Market early on Wednesday, destroyed 26 keeklamps shops, causing property losses worth millions of naira.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:05 a.m., according to a preliminary report from Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

The fire, which started in one shop, rapidly spread to adjacent outlets due to wooden frameworks supporting and partitioning the keeklamps shops.

Despite the scale of the blaze, no lives were lost, and no injuries were reported, says Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary, LASEMA.

He said emergency responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos Rapid Response Unit (LRU) paramedics, and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), collaborated to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the market.

‘Authorities also ensured the scene was managed to prevent secondary incidents and coordinated with market stakeholders for smooth operations,’ Oke-Osanyintolu said.

The preliminary report confirmed that the fire has been fully extinguished, and dampening down operations were completed. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

Officials have urged traders to implement fire safety measures and remain vigilant to prevent future incidents, noting that the rapid response helped avert a potentially larger disaster.

Programme Director of the Bureau of African Labour, Human and Democratic Rights (BALHADER), Comrade Uchenna Uzoije says the moribund Southern Star Shipping and its successors- Flour Mills Nigeria Limited, Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited and their subsidiaries are still owing over 305 Nigerian Seamen deducted salaries, over half a century after.

Uchenna made this shocking revelation during a press briefing on Monday 29 September 2025 at the Akporo Community Hall, Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos.

While delivering his speech, entitled: ‘Over Half A Century Unlawful Deduction of Salaries of 305 Seafarers By NAT Scheme of Greece’, the human rights activist said all efforts to obtain justice for the hapless long-suffering ex-workers were yet to be fruitful.

Comrade Uchenna stated that the Bureau had written to the General Secretary of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), Mr. Steven Cotton, urging his intervention to recover the unlawfully withheld pension contributions deducted from salaries of the 305 Nigerian seamen by Southern Star Shipping Company between 1977 and 1982 under the Greece’s NAT scheme.

The Comrade said, though Southern Star Shipping was moribund, her successor, the Flour Mills of Nigeria, who acquired the assets and liabilities of the company should naturally take responsibilities over the entitlements of the acquired company employees.

Uchenna said: ‘Apapa Bulk Terminal operating berths 1-5 was financed by Flour Mills Limited making them equally culpable. Therefore, the numerous

denial by the Company Secretary of Apapa Bulk Terminal that their company has no business with the 305 Seafarers is totally a false statement aimed at misleading the general public.

‘Southern Star Shipping was incorporated in 1947 by Mr. George S. Cumantaros, with current address as 1370 Avenue, New York. The current President is Mr. John Coumantaros (since 2009) who succeeded his late father. In January 2025, Mr. John Coumantaros’ acquired all minority shareholders of Flours Mills making him the controller of the company.

‘The Apapa Bulk Terminal which operates Berths 1-5 of Lagos Port Complex is 100% owned by Flour Mills Nigeria Limited.

‘Also, the post-August 1978 Presidential Decree in Greece 913/1978 explicitly abolished coverage for thirdcountry nationals, making continued deductions legally unauthorized.

‘The question begging for an answer is why have the owners of Southern Star Shipping, Flour Mills, Apapa Bulk Terminal failed to remit the deducted wages in US dollars to these 305 Seafarers till date?’

Comrade Uchenna added that so far, a total number of 39 Seafarers have died and that 5 of them are critically ill as at the time of the press briefing.

He wondered how Mr. John Cumantaros and his management team were able ‘to sleep at night knowing fully well that their actions have in no small measure brought untold hardship and untimely deaths to these seafarers. The ill treatment of 305 Seafarers is ongoing despite being members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).’

He said that the concerned employers seemed to be getting away with the impunity because they were the ones who imposed the union leaders upon MWUN which he regarded as a violation of convention 87.

Testifying at the press briefing was Comrade Monday Young Jack, a Patron of BALHADER, stated that he worked with Southern Star Shipping for many years and that despite all appeals to the successor company to refund his wages deducted under the guise of NAT scheme of Greece, nothing has been done.

He used this medium to plead to well-meaning Nigerians to intervene by appealing to the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Thompson Oludare to have compassion on him about his salaries account and fixed deposit account with Heritage Bank that are already taken over by the NDIC.

‘I visited the NDIC Lagos office a total of 32 times in 2024. They always told me to come today, come tomorrow. BALHADER also wrote the former MD, Mr. Bello Hassan whose office promised to intervene. Up till now, nothing has been heard from them.

‘I served our fatherland for 54 years! Why am I being treated like nobody?’ The old man lamented.

Another member of the group, Comrade James Anoyomoh, clarified the situation concerning whether they were full time employees of Southern Star Shipping or not, as it was a contentious issue in the reply of the Company Secretary of Apapa Bulk terminal.

Comrade James stated that they were all full-time staff most of who, after seamen, worked in other subsidiaries owned by Cumantaros.

Comrade Francis Agbogbo, a member of the Professional Seafarers Association of Nigeria (PSAN), commended the ITF for the steps taken so far at seeing that justice prevails for them. He explained that the ITF recovered over $57 million in unpaid maritime wages in 2023 through its global network of 125 plus inspectors across over 100 ports in over 50 countries, demonstrating concrete enforcement capabilities applicable to pension recovery claims.

He admonished his colleagues not to lose hope that their plight shall end in praise.

The press briefing came to an end as the Labour coalition called for a speedy action from the ITF and other international bodies so as to compel Flour Mills Limited, Apapa Bulk Terminal and their subsidiaries to refund the deducted salaries of all the 305 seafarers.

In attendance at the conference were members of BALHADER executives, representatives of Over5000 Maritime Workers, representatives of PSAN and concerned Nigerians.

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has described corruption as Nigeria’s biggest stumbling block to development, even as the nation marked its 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Debo Adeniran, CACOL congratulated Nigerians for their resilience in sustaining democracy and nationhood despite decades of misrule.

However, the group lamented that the country’s story since independence had largely been one of ‘squandered opportunities, stunted growth, and unfulfilled potential.’

‘Since 1960, Nigeria has been blessed with abundant human and material resources, yet cursed by successive governments that have failed to manage them prudently. Corruption has remained the major albatross to our national development,’ Adeniran said.

The organisation pointed to how nations like Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea, which gained independence around the same period, have become economic powers, while Nigeria remains trapped in underdevelopment due to entrenched corruption.

CACOL listed the fallout of corruption as insecurity, poverty, infrastructural decay, unemployment, and an economy in perpetual crisis.

It cited a string of scandals ranging from fuel subsidy fraud to pension scams, arms procurement diversions, and the looting of COVID-19 palliatives as evidence of systemic rot.

The group called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight, demanding stronger independence for the EFCC, ICPC, and the judiciary, as well as the prosecution of corrupt officials without political bias.

It also urged that recovered loot be channelled into education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation.

‘True independence is not just about lowering the colonial flag. It is about liberating citizens from oppression, deprivation, and corruption,’ Adeniran stressed.

CACOL added that Nigerians themselves must take responsibility by demanding accountability from leaders and refusing to glorify looters.

‘Nigeria at 65 must not continue to crawl when others are running. If we confront corruption with seriousness, our nation can still rise to greatness,’ the statement read.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on state governments and local councils to play an active role in consolidating the country’s reforms, stressing that nation-building must be a shared responsibility across all tiers of government.

The President, in his Independence broadcast to the nation, acknowledged the temporary pains citizens had endured due to economic reforms but insisted that they were necessary to prevent national collapse.

‘Fellow Nigerians, I have always candidly acknowledged that these reforms have come with some temporary pains. The biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living remain a significant concern to our government.

‘However, the alternative of allowing our country to descend into economic chaos or bankruptcy was not an option. Our macro-economic progress has proven that our sacrifices have not been in vain. Together, we are laying a new foundation cast in concrete, not on quicksand,’ he said.

Tinubu explained that the true measure of success would not be found in abstract figures, but in tangible improvements in daily life.

‘The accurate measure of our success will not be limited to economic statistics alone, but rather in the food on our families’ tables, the quality of education our children receive, the electricity in our homes, and the security in our communities.

‘Let me assure you of our administration’s determination to ensure that the resources we have saved and the stability we have built are channelled into these critical areas. Today, the governors at the state level, and the local government autonomy are yielding more developments,’ he noted.

Turning his message into a rallying call, the President urged sub-nationals to actively complement federal efforts in driving productivity and innovation.

‘On this 65th Anniversary of Our Independence, my message is hope and a call to action. The federal government will continue to do its part to fix the plumbing in our economy. Now, we must all turn on the taps of productivity, innovation, and enterprise.

‘In this regard, I urge the sub-national entities to join us in nation-building. Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our land and build factories to process our produce. Let us patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods. I say Nigeria first. Let us pay our taxes,’ he declared.

Reiterating his faith in the resilience of Nigerians and the country’s vast potential, Tinubu appealed for unity of purpose.

‘Finally, let all hands be on deck. Let us believe, once more, in the boundless potential of our great nation. With Almighty God on our side, I can assure you that the dawn of a new, prosperous, self-reliant Nigeria is here,’ he said..