Nigeria is sick and empty- Prof. Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has described Nigeria as a sick and empty country, deserving of the term “shithole” as described by United States President, Donald Trump.  

Soyinka said this while speaking at the Ripples Nigerian Dialogue titled “Rebuilding trust in a Divided Nigeria,” held at The Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos.

“We have become laughing stocks in the eyes of the public. We have earned the term of shithole. Nigeria is sick and empty. Some retrogressive forces won’t just stop. Everything Nigeria touches rusts” he said.

He condemned the humiliation of Nigerians by  military personnel, stating that the humiliation of Nigerians led him to relocating abroad. “The treatment of Nigerians by the military led me to relocating to a saner clime. I remember invading Obasanjo’s residence in Lagos and challenging him concerning the way Nigerians were being treated. It is a disgrace to us, as a nation. We have been left behind in nearly every field. There are lessons to be learnt from the diaspora. We need to peep across the Atlantic to see how other countries have been faring,” Soyinka said.  Drawing illustrations from his lecture titled “From Miyetti to Haiti: Notes from a Solidarity Visit,” Soyinka emphasized the need to end slavery in our  society.    

Soyinka emphasized the need of looking in the mirror to solve Nigerian problems and encouraged  youths to resist the passage of the Hate Speech bill.

Snoop Dogg’s company raise $45 Million for weed Industry Investments

American rapper, Snoop Dogg and his company Casa Verde Capital are looking to invest in the ancillary cannabis industry. While Snoop will not be investing in dispensaries or any business focused on the actual process of growing weed, he has already invested in eight companies that support the picks and shovels specially produced for marijuana growing.

The $45 million fund marks one of the largest in the cannabis industry, with Casa Verde Capital raising much of the cash last year. Snoop is reportedly unwilling to invest any less than $1 million per company as he maintains a view that the industry will be among the most compelling of this generation.  

The cannabis industry has grown steadily over the last decade and with more states legalizing the plant, the business will only continue to widen. Snoop's firm has previously invested in companies like Eaze, a delivery service and two marijuana-centric tech companies, Leaflink and Greenbits.

Karan Wadhera, the managing director of Casa Verde Capital, has implied that they are looking to the future with their investments, saying, “We’re more interested in companies that are building functions for the long term because those short-term solutions won’t be relevant once we’re in a federally legal environment.”  

Snoop Dogg has always been one of the biggest endorsers of marijuana, known as likely the biggest stoner in the rap game. The extent of his investments is grandiose but to be expected from a man so passionate about the plant.

Lagos State government reduces the controversial Land Use Charge

Governor  Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state has reduced the rates of the land use charge following widespread criticism.  

The government had reviewed the rates upward, charging property solely occupied by the owner for residential purpose at the rate of 0.076 percent per annum; property occupied by the owner and tenant(s) or third parties at 0.256 percent per annum; while investment property fully occupied by tenants or third party(ies) for revenue generation at 0.76 percent per annum.

It also threatened to penalise those who do not make payment after receiving notice. Failure to pay between 45 and 75 days attracted 50 percent increase; after 105 days, a 100 percent increase. The law prescribed that a property shall be liable to enforcement if payment is not made after 135 days of notice.

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However, at a press conference in Alausa, Ikeja today, Akinyemi Ashade, commissioner of finance, said commercial property owners would get 50 percent discount. Owner-occupier 25 percent, while there would be waiver for late payment and tax credit for those who are prompt in payment.

Payment in instalment was also introduced in the new arrangement. The government took the action after the pressure from individuals, pressure groups and civil society organisations (CSOs).

10' people crushed to death as pedestrian bridge collapses in Maimi

Ten people have been killed after a newly installed pedestrian bridge collapsed at Florida International University in Tamiami Trail, Maimi on Thursday.

Mail Online reports that the 174-foot 'instant bridge' which was built to provide pedestrian access from FIU’s main campus to an area that houses a number of student residences, was installed Saturday morning but was not due to open to the public until 2019. 

Two workers were replacing something on the side of the $14million bridge when it collapsed, according to CBS Miami. 

Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, confirmed the incident, saying that between six to 10 people died. 

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also told local TV station CBS Miami that least six other injured people were taken away from the scene and eight vehicles were trapped in the bridge wreckage.

He added that one person was suffering from cardiac arrest.

FIU released a statement on Thursday, saying: 'We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge'

See more photos and watch video from the scene.

Mosques banned from using loudspeakers in Rwanda

Mosques in parts of the Rwandan capital have been banned from using loudspeakers for the call to prayer just weeks after the government closed hundreds of churches in Kigali.  

The ban affects Nyarugenge sector, which is home to some of the city's largest mosques. Nyarugenge sector head Havuguziga Charles told the BBC Kinyarwanda service that the new regulations were aimed at curbing noise pollution, and had been met with little resistance by local imams.

"They have told us that it doesn’t matter (stop using loudspeakers). I have found that they have begun to respect it and it has not stopped their followers from going to pray according to their praying time” he said.  

However, Sheikh Salim Hitimana, head of the Supreme Muslim Council of Rwanda, told local news outlet KT Press the decsion had taken them by surprise. “We are going to meet the authority that issued the directive and discuss this decision. We will then share our stand,” he said.  

Another official from a Muslim association criticised the ban, saying it would be better to agree to keep down the volume and use the loudspeakers for a shorter time.  The bans comes after official actions which saw more than 700 churches and one mosque closed, mainly for breaching building regulations and noise pollution.  

Some have since reopened, the government said. The checks come ahead of a new law being introduced to govern how religious organisations are run - a move which critics see as further censorship.

‘Black Panther’ hits $1 Billion mark in worldwide Box Office numbers

“Black Panther” has surpassed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, challenging industry norms about films with black casts. 

A report by ForBes says the Marvel blockbuster passed the major benchmark on Friday March 9th.

The film is now the United States’ ninth domestically highest-grossing film of all time and had the second-largest four-day domestic opening weekend. 

“Black Panther” brought in $242million in the U.S. over Presidents Day weekend, behind the $288 million “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” made when it opened in 2015. 

Jamie Carragher angrily spits at 14-year-old girl in shocking video following Liverpool's defeat to Manchester United

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was caught on camera spitting at the passenger window of a car carrying a 14-year-old Manchester United fan and her dad after Saturday’s Red Devils victory over Liverpool.

The girl claimed the saliva hit her on the forehead and made her cry. The girl's dad, who was also in the car, said "a bit of banter" with the former defender turned ugly after he mentioned the 2-1 scoreline. He insisted the Sky Sports pundit must have seen his daughter in the passenger seat of the car before he spat at them. The girl's mother has branded Carragher's action as "disgusting".

The former England star has now apologised to the teenage girl for his action. Carragher, who had been covering the match as a Sky Sports pundit, phoned the girl and her father on Sunday night to apologise.

He said: "I just want to apologise and I hope you are OK."

The girl told him: "OK, thanks for apologising."

He had earlier admitted he was in the wrong but claimed he got angry after the ribbing went on too long.

The 40-year-old said: "It was a bit more than, 'Hiya Jamie, it was 2-1'. It went on for two or three times. I drove away at first and it just continued. I lost my head. I shouldn’t have done it but I was thinking what is a grown man doing, carrying on like that two or three times with his daughter in the car?"

A Sky Sports spokesperson said: "It’s unacceptable behaviour and we will be addressing it with Jamie."

Carragher has been removed from Sky Sports' Monday Night Football broadcast this week as a result of the incident. He had already been removed from his duties as a pundit for Danish channel TV3 Sport on Tuesday night, where he was supposed to review Manchester United's clash with Sevilla.

Watch the video below.