Echotitbits – Nigeria News

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  • Justin Bieber Confirmed for 2026 Grammy Performance

    Justin Bieber Confirmed for 2026 Grammy Performance

    Entertainment Tonight reports that Justin Bieber is set to perform at the 2026 Grammy Awards, marking a major return to the spotlight.

    Fans are speculating the performance could be paired with new music, as the Grammys often serve as a launchpad for headline comeback cycles.

    While production details remain under wraps, the announcement has already driven heavy chatter across TikTok and Instagram.

    Echotitbits take: A Grammy stage is the loudest ‘I’m back’ statement in pop. If Bieber is healthy and ready, this is less a one-off performance and more a brand reset—positioning him for a fresh chart run.

    Source: Rolling Stone – https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/justin-bieber-performing-2026-grammy-awards-1235506212/ 2026-01-29
    Photo Credit: Rolling Stone

  • Odessa A’zion Quits Film Following Whitewashing Backlash

    Odessa A’zion Quits Film Following Whitewashing Backlash

    Actress Odessa A’zion has withdrawn from the upcoming A24 film Deep Cuts following backlash alleging the casting amounted to whitewashing.

    She addressed the controversy via Instagram Stories, saying she agrees with critics and would rather the role go to someone more appropriate.

    The move is being interpreted as a rare public accountability step that may shape how studios handle culturally sensitive casting decisions.

    Echotitbits take: This is textbook Gen Z accountability: direct, personal, and fast. By stepping aside early, she protects her brand equity and forces the studio to own the casting decision—an approach that’s becoming the new playbook for young stars.

    Source: UsaToday – https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2026/01/29/odessa-azion-deep-cuts-whitewashing-controversy/88411596007/ 2026-01-29
    Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times

  • Mikal Bridges Leads Knicks to Fourth Straight Win

    Mikal Bridges Leads Knicks to Fourth Straight Win

    Mikal Bridges scored a team-high 30 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 119-92 win over the Toronto Raptors.

    The victory extended New York’s win streak to four and kept them in the thick of the Atlantic Division race as the season approaches its midpoint.

    With Bridges, Jalen Brunson, and Karl-Anthony Towns building chemistry, Knicks fans are increasingly talking about a real Eastern Conference run.

    Echotitbits take: The ‘Nova Knicks’ concept is translating on the floor. Bridges gives New York the two-way edge that stabilizes everything around Brunson. If health holds, they’re not just a playoff team—they can threaten the East’s top tier.

    Source: Sport.inquire – https://sports.inquirer.net/660597/nba-knicks-rally-past-raptors-for-4th-straight-win 2026-01-29
    Photo Credit: Sport.inquire

  • Portable Accuses Afrobeats ‘Big Four’ of Blocking Rising Stars

    Portable Accuses Afrobeats ‘Big Four’ of Blocking Rising Stars

    Portable has attacked four Afrobeats superstars—Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, and Olamide—claiming they have dominated the industry for a decade and block new artists.

    He also alleged they exaggerate luxury spending and influence, putting pressure on younger musicians chasing status and visibility.

    Reactions online are split between those who see a real gatekeeping issue and those who dismiss the claims as attention-seeking.

    Echotitbits take: Portable is the unfiltered street microphone: chaotic delivery, but sometimes a real sentiment underneath. Calling out the giants who helped build the global pipeline is risky, though—especially when your own visibility depends on the same ecosystem.

    Source: Daily Post – https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/24/wizkid-davido-burna-boy-blocking-other-artists-from-rising-portable-alleges/ Nigeria 2026-01-24
    Photo Credit: Daily Post

  • Max Healthcare Liquidates Nigerian Subsidiary

    Max Healthcare Liquidates Nigerian Subsidiary

    Max Healthcare Institute Limited has initiated voluntary liquidation of its wholly-owned Nigerian subsidiary, MHC Global Healthcare (Nigeria) Limited.

    Reports indicate the unit had zero revenue and a negative net worth as of March 2025, representing an immaterial portion of the group’s consolidated financials.

    Analysts describe the move as a cleanup of non-performing assets, while also highlighting persistent challenges for foreign healthcare operators in Nigeria.

    Echotitbits take: This reads like routine corporate housekeeping, but it’s also a signal: Nigeria’s market size doesn’t automatically translate to viable foreign operations. Regulatory friction, FX risk, and operating costs can neutralize demand—watch if more international firms quietly de-risk.

    Source: Investy Wise – https://www.investywise.com/max-healthcare-voluntary-liquidation-of-subsidiary/ 2026-01-29
    Photo Credit: Investy Wise

  • João Palhinha Dismisses Champions League Title Hype

    João Palhinha Dismisses Champions League Title Hype

    Tottenham midfielder João Palhinha urged supporters to temper Champions League title talk after a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

    He emphasized that Spurs must focus on incremental progress and quickly translate European momentum into improved Premier League results.

    Manager Thomas Frank has used tactical flexibility during an injury crisis, including deploying Palhinha in an improvised defensive role.

    Echotitbits take: Tottenham’s season feels like a split-screen: shaky domestically, sharp in Europe. Palhinha’s realism matters—cups can’t mask league trouble forever. If Spurs don’t climb soon, the European glow won’t protect anyone when end-of-season decisions hit.

    Source: Goal – https://www.goal.com/en-ng/lists/video-joao-palhinha-tottenham-overhead-kick-goal-bournemouth/bltd8cae055b0d4142b 2026-01-29
    Photo Credit: Goal

  • Rihanna Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary of ‘Anti’ Album

    Rihanna Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary of ‘Anti’ Album

    Rihanna is marking a decade since the release of Anti, with the 2016 album reportedly hitting fresh RIAA milestones this week.

    Fans have revived Anti-era favorites on TikTok and Instagram, while renewed anniversary attention has reignited speculation about her long-awaited next album.

    The moment also highlights Rihanna’s evolution from pop star to cultural mogul, with Anti serving as the last full studio project before her major Fenty era expansion.

    Echotitbits take: Anti aging this well is the definition of a classic. Rihanna has mastered scarcity as strategy: the music keeps streaming, the brand keeps growing, and fans keep begging—an ecosystem that still centers her even without new albums.

    Source: People – https://people.com/rihanna-celebrates-10-year-anniversary-of-anti-11895086 2026-01-29
    Photo Credit: People

  • Buchi Criticizes Lagos Celebrities for ‘Embarrassing’ iShowSpeed Interactions

    Buchi Criticizes Lagos Celebrities for ‘Embarrassing’ iShowSpeed Interactions

    Comedian and social media critic Buchi has criticized several Lagos-based creators for their behavior during iShowSpeed’s recent Nigeria visit, calling it embarrassing.

    He singled out viral moments involving Egungun and streamer Peller, arguing the public pursuit of attention reflects a lack of substance.

    The backlash has triggered wider debate about clout-chasing, dignity, and the incentives of Nigeria’s fast-growing creator economy.

    Echotitbits take: Buchi is playing the ‘grumpy uncle,’ but the critique lands for anyone tired of cringe optics. Still, in the attention economy, the viral creators got the outcome they wanted: global visibility. The argument is really about values, not views.

    Source: Leadership News – https://leadership.ng/buchi-blasts-lagos-celebrities-for-seeking-us-streamer-ishowspeeds-attention-2/ 2026-01-23
    Photo Credit: Leadership News

  • Nigerian Senate Demands Briefing on U.S. Airstrikes in Sokoto Territory

    Nigerian Senate Demands Briefing on U.S. Airstrikes in Sokoto Territory

    Reporting by The Nation indicates that the Nigerian Senate has resolved to conduct a high-level, closed-door security briefing regarding the United States military airstrikes carried out in Sokoto State. Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, raised a point of order questioning the federal executive’s failure to consult the National Assembly before allowing foreign military intervention on sovereign soil. Senate leadership, headed by Godswill Akpabio, confirmed that an executive session has been scheduled to address these concerns and examine the legal framework surrounding foreign combat operations within Nigeria’s borders.

    The debate in the red chamber centers on the perceived violation of Nigeria’s territorial integrity and the exclusion of the legislative arm from sensitive security decisions. While the executive branch maintains that the strikes targeted specific terrorist hideouts to bolster regional stability, lawmakers are demanding transparency regarding the rules of engagement and decision-making protocols.

    The development was corroborated by Vanguard, which reported that the Senate summoned the nation’s security chiefs to explain the circumstances surrounding the U.S. air operations. Premium Times also followed the legislative tension, quoting Senator Ningi’s position that the National Assembly must not be sidelined in sovereignty-related decisions.

    Echotitbits take: This is a rare display of legislative pushback against executive security arrangements. While U.S. support can be tactically beneficial against insurgents, the Senate’s demand for a briefing signals a shift toward stricter oversight that could complicate future joint operations unless formal protocols are clarified.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/senate-moves-us-air-strikes-debate-behind-closed-doors/ 2026-01-29

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Lagos Police Move to Prosecute Organizers of Peaceful Demolition Protest

    Lagos Police Move to Prosecute Organizers of Peaceful Demolition Protest

    In an update published by Premium Times, the Lagos State Police Command announced its intention to charge two leaders of a Wednesday protest in court, despite widespread reports that the demonstration was conducted peacefully. The protesters gathered to voice grievances over recent government demolitions in the Ikeja area, which they claim displaced hundreds of residents without fair compensation.

    Although civil society observers described the assembly as orderly, police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, later alleging that the organizers violated public order laws. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and journalists who were reportedly caught in the crossfire.

    The Punch reported heavy deployment and the use of tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Ikeja, while Channels TV showed video footage and quoted displaced residents saying they were only asking for their rights.

    Echotitbits take: Urban renewal is central to Lagos governance, but opaque compensation and relocation processes are creating a social flashpoint. Expect legal challenges to the arrests, as civil rights lawyers test the state’s interpretation and application of the Public Order Act.

    Source: Premium Times – https://punchng.com/outrage-over-police-crackdown-on-lagos-anti-demolition-protesters/ 2026-01-29

    Photo Credit: Premium Times