‘Nigeria First’ Policy To Contribute ₦3trn To Economy – Minister

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh on Monday said the economic value of implementing the “Nigeria First” policy is about ₦3 trillion Naira annually.

He stated this while briefing State House Correspondents shortly after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House Abuja.

On May 5, 2025, President Bola Tinubu announced a plan to issue an Executive Order which would ensure that Nigerians patronise goods and services that are produced in Nigeria.

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Enoh said the policy would also contribute about 20% to the growth of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria in the next 3 years.

He further explained that over five hundred thousand jobs would be created through the policy in the short term and lead to a reduction of about 30% percent of imports.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said President Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council have directed the Bureau for Public Procurement to communicate the new threshold for procurement of goods and services.

Boko Haram Attacks Military Base, Kills Two Teachers In Borno

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly attacked the base of the Nigerian Army in the Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.

Unconfirmed local and security sources said some soldiers were feared killed in the attack, which they said happened at Forward Operation Base of the 153 Task Force Battalion, at about 3 am on Monday.

One of the sources, who did not want their name mentioned, said, “The terrorists also burnt down armoured tanks and made away with arms and ammunition from the base,” said the source.

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IED Kills Teachers

Meanwhile, two local government education authority workers have been killed by a landmine planted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in the Damboa Local Government Area of the state.

The incident occurred less than a few hours after the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 15, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, convened an emergency security stakeholders’ meeting in Maiduguri to address rising security threats, including isolated attacks, banditry, kidnapping, and unregulated movement of people and goods in Borno State.

The incident took place on Monday along the troubled Maiduguri- Damboa -Biu 185km road.

A source said, “The tragic loss of two dedicated staff members of the Damboa Educational Local Authority is very worrisome. They lost their lives in an improvised explosive device explosion along the Damboa to Maiduguri highway on May 12, 2025, after a Toyota vehicle, which conveyed them with fresh mango fruit heading to Maiduguri, ran over the planted landmines.

“This heartbreaking incident occurred as they were traveling to Maiduguri to sit for the TRCN examination scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2025. What was meant to be a journey of professional advancement turned into a devastating tragedy that has shaken the entire community.”

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The source said the victims were class teachers in their respective schools.

“Blessing Luka served at Junior Day New School in Damboa, while Bitaleaf Gedion served at Junior Day Secondary School (UBE) Islamiya, Damboa.

“Their untimely deaths are not only a great loss to the educational sector in Damboa but also a stark reminder of the ongoing insecurity that continues to affect our region,” the source lamented.

The District Head of Damboa, Alhaji Zanna Lawan Maina, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the phone, where he also appealed for all and sundry to continue offering prayers for peace to reign in Borno and the country as a whole.

Reacting to the development, the lawmaker representing the district, Senator Ali Ndume, described the renewed attacks as shocking, stressing the need for the Federal Government and the security agencies to wake up from their slumber.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs forced girlfriend into depraved sex acts with escorts, court hears

Disgraced rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has faced claims he forced his former girlfriend Cassie to perform sex acts with escorts as his highly anticipated trial begins

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs forced Cassie Ventura into sex with male escorts, the court heard(Image: FilmMagic)

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ highly anticipated trial has started in New York City as the disgraced rapper is accused of a number of serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex ­trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.

He has denied all allegations against him since he was charged. Opening statements were read out in court on Monday as the trial begins.

The trial’s witnesses appeared as professional stripper Daniel Phillip told the court Combs’ former partner Cassie, real name Casandra Ventura, asked him to meet them at a Manhattan hotel.

He said he was paid several thousand dollars to have sex with Cassie while Combs watched and gave instructions. Daniel claimed he had several other trysts with the couple that lasted between one hour to 10 hours.

Cassie and Sean Diddy Combs
Cassie is expected to testify (Image: Getty Images)

Lawyers for Combs said prosecutors are wrongly trying to make a crime out of a party-loving lifestyle that may have been indulgent, but not illegal.

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Prosecutors told the court that Combs coerced women into drugged-up group sexual encounters he called “freak-offs,” “wild king nights” or “hotel nights”. They say he kept them in line by choking, hitting, kicking and dragging them, often by the hair.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson said Cassie was far from the only woman Combs beat and sexually exploited. The prosecutor said last year, Combs brutally beat another woman identified as Jane.

She had confronted him about the Freak Offs, which prosecutors say are central to Combs’ sexual abuse. Johnson said Combs’ company paid for the parties and his employees staged the rooms with his preferred lighting, extra linens and lubricant.

Prosecutors said he compelled women, including Cassie, to take drugs and engage in sexual activity with male escorts. Combs would beat Cassie for example when she left a freak-off without his permission or took too long in the bathroom, Johnson said.

The court heard how he threatened to ruin Cassie’s singing career by publicly releasing videos of her sexually involved with male escorts. “Her livelihood depended on keeping him happy,” Johnson said.

Cassie sued Combs in 2023 with the lawsuit settled within hours. However, it sparked a law enforcement investigation that resulted in the charges against him.

Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos claimed his accusers were motivated by money. In court, Geragos said Cassie demanded $30 million and another witness demanded $22 million in a breach of contract lawsuit.

She said Combs is extremely jealous and “has a bad temper”. Geragos told the jury that he lashed out when he drank alcohol or “did the wrong drugs.” She said: “Domestic violence is not sex trafficking.”

If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999

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Rapper Tory Lanez Hospitalised After Suffering Multiple Stab Wounds

Rapper Tory Lanez, who was convicted over the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, was hospitalised after getting attacked in a California prison, authorities said Monday.

Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was rushed to the hospital following the early morning assault by another prisoner at the institution in Tehachapi, 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Los Angeles.

There was no official comment on the severity of his injuries, but entertainment outlet TMZ, citing sources, reported he was expected to survive what it said was a stabbing.

“At approximately 7:20am today, Daystar Peterson was attacked by another inmate at a housing unit in the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi,” said a statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

“Staff immediately responded, activated 911 and began medical aid. Peterson was subsequently transported to an outside medical facility for further treatment.”

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Tory Lanez, Megan Thee Stallion (Getty Images)

Prison authorities have begun an investigation into the attack, working alongside the district attorney’s office in Kern County, they said.

In 2023 Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a closely followed trial in Los Angeles in which he denied shooting at Megan Thee Stallion.

A jury had heard how the Canadian rapper had ordered the “Savage” star to dance as he shot repeatedly at her feet.

Megan Thee Stallion — whose real name is Megan Pete — had been in a car with Lanez, his bodyguard and her friend Kelsey Harris after a party at Kylie Jenner’s luxury home in July 2020.

She and Lanez had developed an intimate relationship in the months before the incident.

Harris, who only learned of the sexual relationship that night, had a crush on Lanez, she had told the court, and an argument then erupted in the car, with Megan Thee Stallion demanding to be let out of the vehicle.

The “Hot Girl Summer” singer said she suffered injuries to her feet that affected her ability to walk after the attack.

Lookman On Target As Atalanta Beat Roma To Secure Champions League Spot

Atalanta qualified for the Champions League on Monday by beating Roma 2-1 and mathematically securing a place in Serie A’s top four.

Ibrahim Sulemana’s strike in the 76th minute moved Atalanta, in third, seven points ahead of fifth-placed Lazio with two matches remaining in the season.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s team had taken an early lead through Ademola Lookman only for Atalanta old boy Bryan Cristante to head Roma level in the 32nd minute.

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But Sulemana ended Roma’s long unbeaten run at 19 matches and left Claudio Ranieri’s side one point behind Lazio and Juventus, who sit fourth.

Roma can still snatch a spot in Europe’s top club competition but host in-form AC Milan next weekend while Juve welcome Udinese.

Reaching the Champions League would be a huge triumph for Ranieri as Roma looked like relegation candidates when he came out of retirement in November to take charge of his boyhood club for the third time.

Gasperini has been tipped to take over Ranieri after nine hugely successful years in the Atalanta dugout, winning the Europa League last season.

McCoy remains in critical care unit after NW200 incident

Pacemaker Press

Northern Irish rider Gary McCoy remains in the critical care unit in hospital after an incident during the Supersport qualifying session on the first day of practice for the North West 200 on Wednesday.

McCoy was transported to hospital by ambulance while Englishman Craig Neve was taken from the circuit by air ambulance after both were involved in an incident at Mill Road roundabout six minutes into the Supersport qualifying session.

In an update provided by his wife Leana, she confirmed he is still in the critical care unit in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where “he is being cared for brilliantly by the team”.

McCoy has suffered an extensive list of injuries including: 11 broken ribs, two fractures in his pelvis, a punctured right lung, a broken collar bone, a fractured right wrist, a broken left thumb and a small bleed in the brain.

Leana added: “I wanted to say on behalf of Gary and myself that we are so grateful for all of the kind messages, well wishes and support shown by everyone.

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