Jay Z and Kanye West to Tour Europe

Jay-Z and Kanye West are bringing their Watch The Throne tour over the pond to Europe. The 12-stop-tour starts in London on May 20th. Check below to see if they The Throne is coming to a city near you.

May 20th O2 Arena London
May 24th Zurich Hellenstadion, Switzerland
May 26th Herning Arena, Denmark
May 28th Oslo Telenor Arena, Norway
May 29th Stockholm The Globe, Sweden
June 1st Paris Bercy, France
June 2nd Paris Bercy, France
June 3rd Antwerp Sportpaleis, Belgium
June 5th Frankfurt Festhalle, Germany
June 8th Dublin O2 Arena, Ireland
June 11th Manchester Men Arena, UK
June 13th Birmingham LG Arena, UK

Happy 24th Birthday, Rihanna!

To think that we've witnessed this Barbados beauty win multiple music awards, dye her hair almost every color in our crayon box and land her own fashion TV show...they just grow up so fast.

Wait, is "grow up" the right term? Anyhoo...

Yesterday marks Rihanna's 24th birthday!

How will the edgy singer celebrate?

We really don't know what there is left to do, seeing as Ri-Ri has been celebrating her big day for a while now, but she can surely think of something. We also don't know if Chris Brown will be part of the festivities, but even if he is, they're "just friends" so we really shouldn't care either way.

What we do know (or at least assume) is that there will be cake. And who doesn't love cake?! (Speaking of birthday cake, did you hear about her possible collabo with Brown on her song?)

Whatever shenanigans this li'l lady gets into, we hope it's a birthday to remember.

Lagos may shut markets for three months

Lagos State Government on Sunday said the Oke-Odo and Alamutu markets in Agbado Oke Odo and Mushin local government areas shut down on Friday might remained closed for three months.

The closure came barely three weeks after another market, Mile 12 Market, was shut over environmental offences.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, who communicated the decision of the government to the market leaders, lamented that some markets in the state had refused to buy into the vision of the state in the area of environmental sanitation.

He said, “It is sad that most of our market men and women are still guided by the old traditional belief that rain is a blessing that must cart away refuse any time it rains.

“Lagos, as a coastal state, is susceptible to flooding, which is the more reason why we all must clear our drainages now, before the rainy season.”

He said the state government had embarked on pre-rainy season cleaning, clearing and dredging.

He expressed displeasure that in spite of government’s efforts, some people still disposed their waste indiscriminately.

He said, “For instance, traders in Alamutu Market have turned the drain constructed beside the market into a refuse bin.

“I have personally visited the area twice, to appeal to them to desist from this unsanitary habit. Meetings have been held with them, all to no avail.”

He also explained that traders in Oke-Odo Market; rather than trade within the confine of the market area, took over the entire stretch of a newly constructed road.

Bello alleged that the traders also dumped refuse indiscriminately in all the side drains as well as cause traffic snarl on that road.

“The State Government is left with no option but to close the market in order to prevent epidemic outbreak, and flooding when it rains.

“We are determined to sanitise our markets and environment. The rains are here and we shall ensure that the incidence of flood are reduced to the barest minimum in the state,” the commissioner said.

He warned that other market leaders in the state, who did not advise their members to buy into the government’s environmental policy also risked their markets being shut for three months.

NDLEA seizes 13.176 tons of Cannabis

The Ondo State Command of the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency on Friday seized 13.176 tons of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp.

The drug, which was packed in bags of various sizes, according the NDLEA boss in the state, Mr. Walter Nicholas, was seized in a single operation.

Nicholas said it took his men three days to locate the point where the drug was packed in a forest.

He said while his men were evacuating the bags containing the drug, they were resisted by the owners, adding that the seizure was made barely one year after the command sized 13.6 tons of the illicit weeds from the owners.

“Should this quantity of drugs found its way into the society; the damage would have been beyond description.” Nicholas said.

He lamented that the more people were getting involved in the cultivation of cannabis because the barons and their cohorts had not been exposed.

“We will not fold our hands and watch anybody, no matter how highly placed, to destroy the future of our children in the pursuit of wealth,” he said.

Also, the state Commissioner for Natural Resources, Mr. Lasisi Oluboyo, raised the alarm that virtually all the forest reserves in the state had been taken over by hemp farmers.

He noted with concern that about 200 various hemp farms were recently discovered and destroyed at the Oluwa forest reserve while scores of others had also been discovered and destroyed at the Owo-Ofosu forest reserves.

He said the Special Task Force on Hemp Cultivation set up by the state government to discourage the illicit weeds’ growers, had been working closely with the necessary security agencies in the state to check the menace.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Sani Magaji, pledged to assist the NDLEA to ensure that the cultivation of the weed was reduced to the barest minimum.

He urged members of the society to rise up and condemn the arbitrary use of drugs by the youth and the get-rich-quick syndrome by some people.

Odemwingie at peace with Hodgson

Osaze Odemwingie’s hat-trick against Wolves ruined Mick McCarthy but built bridges with his own manager Roy Hodgson.

West Brom striker Odemwingie had a disagreement with Hodgson, 64, earlier in the season, with the boss unhappy at the number of injuries the player was suffering.

But Odemwingie insists all that is forgotten and the relationship is now solid.

He said, “We are fine. And, if we weren’t, I would have been talking about leaving. He is an elderly person and in my country we always respect our elders.

“Sometimes I felt it was a bit harsh and I said that to him, but he said I shouldn’t take it in a bad way. He said he was frustrated that I wasn’t available and that was it.

“I’m very happy I could put aside all of those bad feelings and now I can relax more and have confidence in myself and the team.”

Hodgson has been linked to the England job and will have talks over a new contract in the summer, but Odemwingie hopes he stays.

“He has had success here and he has already built relationships with people in the club so he would be welcome,” said Odemwingie.

“When someone new comes in you have to start from the beginning, so if we can all get what we’re looking for this year then why change when things are going fine?

“I hope he stays, of course.”

West Brom’s win moved them eight points clear of the bottom three and Odemwingie, who now has seven league goals, feels the gap has all but guaranteed the team’s safety.

He said, “All of that pressure was taken off our shoulders and we are more sure of our place next season.

“I wouldn’t say the gap is what makes me confident. What makes me confident is every time we lose games at home we go away and get three points against good teams.”

Mikel snubs Villas-Boas

Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi is believed to be among the senior Blues players that are not happy with manager Andre Villas-Boas’ handling of the team.

The Super Eagles player, who has been left out of the national squad by coach Stephen Keshi, deliberately ignored Villas-Boas’ handshake after he was substituted for Salomon Kalou in their 1-1 draw with Birmingham in the FA Cup on Saturday.

It is becoming apparent that the Portuguese has little control over some of the players even though he continually denies any friction with them.

According to ESPN, there was the evidence of player power when the network saw Didier Drogba host an impromptu team talk in the tunnel shortly before the start of the second half.

Drogba and Frank Lampard started the game on the bench, a situation that did not go down well with the players.

The players bypassed Villas-Boas and took decision into their hands when skipper John Terry visited referee Martin Atkinson’s room during the interval to complain about what Chelsea thought was Birmingham goalkeeper Colin Doyle’s first-half time wasting.

It is believed Drogba, Terry and Lampard have considerable influence over the other players, and Mikel, who joined the club from Lyn Oslo in 2006, has since been in loyal ties with the trio.

Villas-Boas, however, will not accept there was mutiny in the team as he maintained he was in control. He was amazed last week when details of the secret meeting he had with the senior players leaked to the press.

It was also revealed that some of the players have been reaching out to their former manager, Jose Mourinho, discussing issues of tactics at Chelsea with the Real Madrid manager.

When asked if his backing as manager was based on the team’s results, Villas-Boas responded bluntly: “No, it’s unconditional.”

Keshi ‘ll restore Eagles’ confidence- Etuhu

Eagles’ midfielder, Dickson Paul Etuhu, has backed Nigeria’s Coach, Stephen Keshi, to restore the country's enviable place in world football soon.

The Fulham star, who is one of only 11 Europe-based stars called up for a 2013 Nations Cup qualifier in Rwanda, has also said he would fight for his first-team place at his London club.
Commenting on how he felt the first time he was handed a call by the Eagles, coach, Etuhu said: 

It was a memorable day, it was a dream came true and I felt honoured when it came, it has been my dream to play for Nigeria all along, even when I was at Norwich City, we talked about it and I always tell my teammates then that I am sure I will play for my country one day and the day I was called, I was on top of the world and happy that I was about actualising one of my dreams as a player. “I was not treated well by the coach, you are in charge of a team for a year and you did not get in touch with one of the players you feel is still relevant. I respect everybody and deserve respect too.

I was not interested in playing under him because I was not treated well, the fact remains that I love Nigeria and wanted to represent it when called upon, but I rejected the call to play against Ghana because I was seen as a second fiddle. I was called because some players were not available. I am not going to rubbish myself like that. That was it.

“The first day I met him, I knew why he was the captain of the team for 14 years. He is a man who knows what he is doing and will look you straight in your eyes to tell you what he wants from you and otherwise. If you do it well, he applauds you and if you did not, he shouts at you till you adjust. He is just like the big coaches I have worked with in England. I see him succeeding. It was marvellous. We are together like a family, as a matter of fact, since I have been coming to camp, that is the first time I have seen a very high spirit in camp. 

The training is like matches where everybody puts in his best. We always encourage ourselves and that will go a long way in the team. Yes. He can make us great again. His programmes at training have shown that we should all cooperate with him and give him a chance to build a solid team. No big team in the world springs up in a day, it is a continuous process, the likes of Spain, Brazil, Barcelona, Manchester United etc. We need to have continuity in the team as it helps a team to be strong and have a direction.

At a time, I was playing regularly and that is the joy of every player, but when I was not, I became sad. I wanted to keep playing, so I was frustrated when the coach felt otherwise, but I am back in the team now and hope I will keep playing regularly for the team because that will help me.

I am concentrating on my career. I want to retain my spot in the starting team. So, I am not thinking of a transfer now, but in football, you can't say. Our business is moving. That was playing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It was the highest level any player could play at, so being there was a great thing to me. It was a dream come true. That is my greatest moment as a footballer.

Woman slumps, dies during argument on N50 debt

Adifase community in Apata-Ganga area of Ibadan, the Oyo capital was thrown into confusion last weekend after a middle aged woman who sold cassava flour, identified simply as Mama Fatimah slumped and died during an argument, which ensued between her and one of her customers said to be owing her N50.

The deceased, said to have recently got married to a masquerader called Aregbesola in the area had arrived her shop around 7.00p.m last Saturday and was preparing the cassava flour when suddenly she saw one of her debtors, a lady, who was said to have bought N50 worth of cassava flour on credit for over two weeks.

Mama Fatimah was said to have ran after the debtor with the intention to collect her money from her. A hot argument, Daily Sun gathered, ensued between the two after the lady insisted on not paying the money that night, since according to her, she had no money on her at the time.

It was during the argument, according to an eye witness that Mama Fatimah slumped and died, while the debtor to her heels. Efforts to revive the cassava seller, however, failed as she died on the way to the hospital.

The deceased’s husband, Aregbesola was said to have immediately reported the incident at Apata Police Divisional, claiming that his wife was murdered by the debtor.But in what appeared to be a division within the family, the children of the deceased were said to have kicked against the idea of their mother’s husband reporting the case at the police station.

To them, Aregbesola did not have any say on the corpse of their mother, since there was no child between them.
The deceased’s family later went to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Apata Police Divisional, Ganiyu pleading for the release of the woman’s corpse for burial. Their request was said to have been turned down by the DPO on the ground that signal had been sent to the state police headquarters.

Aba to shut down as Ojukwu’s body arrives Feb 28

Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) says markets and schools in Aba,  Abia State, will be closed on February 28 to enable residents of the commercial city to pay their last respect to the body of Eze Igbo Gburugburu, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, which will be brought to the city on that date as the late Igbo leader’s remains makes its last journey to its final resting place.  

Disclosing this in a chat with Daily Sun, MASSOB Director of Information for Aba region, Sunny Okereafor said the closure of markets and schools in Aba on February 28 to enable residents of the city come out and pay their last respect to the fallen hero was not only a way of fulfilling one of Ojukwu’s wishes but showing the love and high esteem in which the people held him.

He said Ojukwu equally showed tremendous love and respect for residents in that there was no major action he took during his life time, that he never came to Aba to either intimate and or confide in them, stressing that nothing would be too much sacrifice by residents in honour of the departed hero.

According to him, “Aba was so dear to the heart of the late Ikemba that there was no major public decision he took in life he did not come to Aba either to confide in, or seek the opinion of the residents. First of all, we should not forget that it was in Aba Ojukwu started work as district officer (DO) when he came back from England before joining the Nigerian Army.

“Again in 1967, Ojukwu came to Aba to intimate and perhaps seek the opinion of residents of the city before declaring the war and to cap it all, when he returned from exile; he also came to Aba to inform them. The same thing also happened when he decided to go into partisan politics,” he recollected.

Okereafor therefore urged all residents of the commercial city to come out en masse on February 28 at the Enyimba Stadium where Ikemba’s body would lie in state. Meanwhile, the Abia State government has put to rest the rumour which made the rounds recently that the corpse would no longer be brought to Aba as originally planned.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor T. A. Orji, Ugochukwu Emezue, hinted that Enyimba Stadium where Ojukwu would lie in state on February 28 was wearing a new look just as he assured that security had also been put in place for the Aba event.

Chelsea opens academy in Lagos

Premiership giant, Chelsea, is planning to open a multi-million Naira football academy in Lagos. The club's Nigerian representative, Noah Olivier and President Soccer Africa Sports Management, Dominic Egbukwu, disclosed to Daily Sunsports that the camp would be sited on Victoria Island, Lagos, and would serve as Chelsea's breeding ground for promising young Nigerian players.

Said he: “Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa have been picked in Africa by Chelsea FC for its academy camp. My French partner, Olivier, and I have been mandated by Chelsea to take charge of the camp in Nigeria. Initially, they were scared of including Nigeria because of the Boko Haram issue, but we succeeded in convincing them that there was no cause for alarm in Lagos.

“We are expecting a 10-man Chelsea delegation from England any moment from now. They want to come and make inspection before giving us the go-ahead to throw the camp open. “It's going to be a big camp and it will admit about 500 youths between 15 and 18 years old. After screening which will hold at the National Stadium, Lagos, arrangements will be made for the feeder teams of the teams such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and PSG to come for invitational tournaments. The outstanding players among the the trainees will be given an opportunity to join the Chelsea youth team in England, just like they picked Kenneth Omeruo.”

Meanwhile, Egbukwu has made a passionate appeal to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to flush out the bad eggs involved in transfer of Nigerian players abroad. “Most of the so-called FIFA-licenced agents are responsible for frustrating our players. I'm not a FIFA agent and I don't want to be because I discovered that most of them use their licences to deceive players, promise them heaven and earth and at the end of the day, they would tie them down with contract papers and stay on top of the deal for their own selfish interest.

That was how they frustrated Kayode Olanrewaju and Gbenga Orukoyo's move to Dynamo Kiev and SuperSport respectively. This is not good for Nigerian football,” the former Enyimba player lamented.