Lagos House Of Reps Member Oke-Joe Accused Of Sidelining Yorubas In Empowerment Programmes, In Favour Of Igbos

The Federal House of Representatives Member representing Oshodi-Isolo II, Lagos State, Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, has come under intense criticism after publishing the list of people in his constituency who have benefitted from his empowerment scheme.

Onuakalusi, a non-native and non-Yoruba, who got elected on the platform of Labour Party in 2023, is accused of empowering people of his Igbo ethnicity, while sidelining the Yoruba indigenes.

According to the allegation, his programmes sponsored 20 participants to China to study cyber Security , food processing, and artificial intelligence, among others. Another programme sent nine participants to South Africa to study nursing and diabetic care. It is alleged that, of the 29 participants, 24 are Igbos while the Yoruba participants are five.

Social media users have also questioned the authenticity of the Yoruba names, highlighting that some appeared to be poorly constructed or fabricated with AI. They specifically pointed to the inclusion of "Samuel Ajayi Crowther"—the name of the 19th-century missionary—as evidence that the list was not legitimate, alleging it was generated by AI.

The lopsidedness in the empowerment scheme has generated outrage from social media users, who lamented that Yoruba youths are being sidelined in their own state by a non-native in political power.

Reacting, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State, Wale Ajetunmobi, rubbished the empowerment scheme, with a post on X, saying, “This is utterly abominable. Marginalisation is not an accurate word to describe this; it’s outright ostracism. Haaa… a ti gba àbọ̀dè fun’ra wa.”

Sanwo-Olu’s aide also slammed a comment justifying the scheme, which claimed that the non-Yoruba majority favoured in the scheme deserved it because they are also Nigerians.

Ajetunmobi said, “So, the lopsided empowerment is fair game to you? You sick people are usually loud in criticising Tinubu for appointing Yoruba people to Federal positions but conveniently forget that the president has been appointing Nigerians. Now, a non-native Reps used resources meant for a Yoruba constituency to substantially empower his own kinsmen. Then, the beneficiaries suddenly became ‘Nigerians’. You silly idiots shift narrative conveniently just to look good before those marginalising your kinsmen in your land. O tin shiere.”

Say no to tribalism – Rep Onuakalusi

Also reacting, popular blogger, Japhet Omojuwa, described lawmaker Onuakalusi’s action as discrimination and a slap on his constituents.

@Omojuwa said, “This is a self-indicting post and a big slap on your constituency. That you didn’t even have enough self-awareness, to post this makes me wonder what other forms of latent and blatant discrimination are going on against the people you were voted to represent.”

  

Read More

Lagos Moves To Ensure Safer Waterways Transportation

Stakeholders have emphasised the need for boat operators to adhere strictly to safety rules in order to eradicate the menace of boat accidents on the nation’s waterways.

The stakeholders made this call on Wednesday in Lagos at the Ferry Safety Development/Mentoring Programme for ferry operators, organised by the Lagos State Waterways Authority in collaboration with Interferry.

Speaking at the programme, the Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, said the initiative marks a historic milestone as Africa’s first ferry safety development and mentoring programme.

According to him, ensuring the safety of everyone who journeys on our waterways is not just a duty; it has been a calling for over 10 years that I have been at the head of Lagos Waterways.

“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to this cause with renewed vigour and ambition. Over the next 18 months, 50 exceptional ferry professionals will embark on a transformative journey of training and mentorship, guided by world-class experts from Interferry and Nigeria’s leading maritime institutions. Among you are captains, deckhands, marine engineers, safety officers, and of course, fleet managers, each vital to our mission,” Emmanuel said.

While acknowledging a decline in boat accidents in the state, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel stressed the need for operators to strictly adhere to established rules and regulations.

“Because if you don’t cooperate with the rules and regulations, there’s no way we are going to have a safe waterway. I think we have still kept records. As of last year, we just had one major incident, which was almost towards the end of the year, which was very sad for us, because Lagos has gone the whole year without any major incidents,” he stated.

He added that the structured high-level training programme blends self-paced learning, dynamic online mentorship, and hands-on practical sessions.

Emmanuel stressed that together, these pioneers will usher in a new era of safety culture on Lagos waterways.

He said, “Permit me at this point to say that over 10 years ago, when I started working in LASWA, I remember accidents were a frequent occurrence on these waterways. I would go home thinking, I hope they’re not going to call me and tell me there’s an accident that is coming.

“We just want to continue to emphasise that we cannot overemphasise safety. Safety is so important. Before we talk about prosperity, before we talk about better health, we need to imbibe the safety culture.”

He stated that the collaboration with Interferry is a testament to Lagos’ unwavering commitment to safeguarding every passenger on every vessel and every single day, reaffirming the government’s dedication to creating a safe, efficient, and world-class inland waterway system for all.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Interferry, Mike Corrigan, said the programme is the company’s commitment to improving safety in the developing world.

“Because we know that safe waterways are critical to stimulating economies and growth. We understand and know that it’s an 18-month programme with 18 different modules. And we are going to be along with you for the entire ride. While we can’t be there in person for the entire journey, we plan to get there whenever we can,” he said.

A representative of the Lagos Area Office of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Kelvin Abah, congratulated LASWA and Interferry on the historic launch.

“As the apex regulatory body of NIWA, NIWA is proud to be associated with this laudable initiative. Safety is a shared mission, and we appreciate the 18-month programme. Reliable water transportation is the bedrock of the blue economy. LASWA is setting a stellar benchmark for water safety,” Abah said.

A representative from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Mr Stanley Wali, said that the initiative shows a commitment to enhancing safety in the maritime ecosystem.

“Safety is a top priority; the programme is timely. Safety on the waterways is a shared responsibility, and NIMASA remains committed to delivering international conventions for the country. This is aimed at reducing loss of lives and property on the waterways,” he said.

The 18-month programme aims to train 50 boat operators to elevate ferry safety standards, enhance operational efficiency, and improve professional competencies across the Lagos water transport sector.

  

Read More

Family Seeks Justice Over Three Years Detention Of Their Teenage Son

The family of Michael Adeniyi has demanded justice over his continued detention, alleging that the teenager has spent about three years in custody after being arrested as a minor.

It was gathered that Adeniyi was arrested in 2023 by officers attached to Area F Command, Ikeja, when he was 14 years old.

His sister, Tosin, said others arrested alongside him were released the same day after allegedly paying for their freedom, while Adeniyi remained in custody due to his family’s inability to raise the required funds.

Despite being a minor at the time, he was reportedly detained and later remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

“We did not see him at home when the incident happened. It was later, around December 2022, that the man he was apprenticed to called to inform us that Michael was in Kirikiri. When we got there, he said he was arrested during a police raid and that while others were granted bail, he was not because he had no phone to contact the family,” she said.

Tosin added that his case has suffered repeated adjournments.

“We also learnt that the police were invited to testify in his case, but they failed to appear. It was only after the judge threatened action that an officer showed up, and he told the court that my brother did not commit any offence,” she said.

She lamented the toll of the situation on the family, noting that both parents died while efforts were ongoing to secure his release.

Meanwhile, the Take It Back Movement has condemned the incident, describing it as a reflection of systemic abuse within the law enforcement system.

In a statement signed by its Lagos State Coordinator, Taofeek Adekunle, the group said the case underscored issues of abuse of power and disregard for due process.

“This case is a clear example of how greed, abuse of power, and disregard for the law continue to destroy innocent lives. The continued detention of a minor under such circumstances is unacceptable,” the statement read.

The group called for the immediate release of Adeniyi, a thorough investigation into the officers involved, and compensation for the years spent in detention.

It also disclosed that it had engaged legal counsel and was prepared to pursue the matter to its conclusion.

Efforts to get a response from the Lagos State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and a text message to its spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

  

Read More

Over One Month Of Darkness: Residents Of Ilasamaja Face Threats Of Burglary And Hardship

Residents of Ogunbowale, Taiwo, and Adegbola streets in the Ilasamaja area of Lagos have raised concerns over a prolonged blackout that has lasted for over a month, warning that the situation is exposing the area to burglary and economic hardship.

The residents said the transformer serving the community had developed a fault around late March which prompted the Ikeja Electric to pick it up for repairs.

According to them, repeated visits to Ikeja Electric’s Okota office to know what the update on the repair was and when it will be fixed have yielded no tangible results, as officials reportedly continue to assure them that efforts are ongoing without providing a timeline.

A resident, Tayo Adedayo, lamented the situation, saying, “We have been in darkness for over a month and every effort we have made has yielded no results.”

Adebayo added that responses from the distribution company have remained the same.

“Any time we visit the Okota office of Ikeja Electric, the ready-made answer is ‘we are working on it’,” he said.

A trader who identified simply as Elizabeth said the blackout has affected daily living and business activities.

She noted that the intense heat has made it difficult to sleep, while businesses dependent on electricity have suffered losses.

“The blackout has really affected me. Many businesses are grounded because people need cold drinks and water, and those of us selling them have no sales. Hairdressers, barbers, welders — they are all running at a loss, and the fuel price hike has made it worse,” she said.

She also warned that the prolonged outage could heighten insecurity in the area.

Elizabeth further disclosed that the community had written letters, sent emails, and even protested during visits by government officials, but nothing has changed.

She said, “As for security, blackout exposes most people’s shops and homes to theft or being burgled, especially during the nighttime.

“I am aware that the community has written letters and mails to the distribution company, and we even protested when the deputy governor and local government chairman came around some time ago.

“My appeal to the electricity authorities is to do something fast about it because it is no longer funny and we cannot continue folding our arms and keeping quiet. I guess it is because we have not been given prepaid meters that is why we are being treated this way.”

Another resident, Babatunde Gabriel, said the situation has forced residents to take extra security measures to prevent theft of electrical infrastructure.

“We now have to watch over the IE upriser cable from being stolen. We have reached out to Ikeja Electric management, but they just keep promising without a specific time to restore power,” he said.

He urged the company to treat residents with urgency and empathy, adding, “We want them to treat us like human beings and show a human face.”

When contacted for a reaction, the Head of Corporate Communications at Ikeja Electric, Kingsley Okotie, appealed to residents of the affected communities to exercise patience.

He noted that since the agency had taken the faulty transformer for repair, it would be returned as soon as possible.

“We are not happy that potential customers who would help the company to drive revenue are left in that situation. Within the shortest possible time, it will be returned.

“We are appealing to them to exercise a little bit of patience with us and we will fix it very soon,” Okotie said.

  

Read More

How Jilted Lover Bathed Spa Worker With Acid In Lekki

    

A female spa worker in the Lekki Phase 1 area of Lagos State, Olorunseunfunmi Awosogbon, is receiving medical treatment after she was reportedly attacked with a corrosive substance suspected to be acid in an incident linked to a dispute involving her employer.

It was gathered that Awosogbon, popularly known as Ajoke, had been assigned to a client who booked a home massage session on October 25, 2025.

The appointment was scheduled for Lakowe Golf Gate, near Utmost Care Hospital, Lakowe, where the incident occurred.

She was said to have arrived at the location in a ride-hailing vehicle when a man, identified in court filings as 37-year-old Ziaulihak Zakari, allegedly approached and poured the substance on her.

According to court documents and the spa owner, Olorunmaye Ifeoluwa, the suspect was allegedly engaged by a 25-year-old man, Owolabi Daniel, following the breakdown of a personal relationship between Ifeoluwa and Daniel.

Recounting events leading up to the incident, Ifeoluwa said she met Daniel earlier in 2025 when he booked a massage session at her spa.

“He requested that I attend to him personally. After that, he kept in touch and expressed interest in a relationship,” she said.

She explained that the relationship lasted a few months and was marked by disagreements.

“I later told him I needed space and that the relationship would not work. He continued to reach out, but I made it clear I did not want to continue,” she added.

According to her, she subsequently began receiving threatening messages from unknown numbers.

“The messages contained threats to my life. I reported the matter, but the numbers could not be traced at the time,” she said.

She also noted that suspicious home-service bookings had been made shortly before the attack.

“On one occasion, a client stopped responding after my staff arrived at the location. A similar booking came in later for the same area,” she said.

Describing the day of the incident, Ifeoluwa said, “Awosogbon called me in distress, saying a substance had been poured on her and that it was suspected to be acid. I immediately arranged for her to be taken to the hospital.”

Awosogbon was initially treated at a medical facility in Lekki before being transferred to another hospital in Ikeja for specialist care.

Ifeoluwa alleged that threatening messages continued after the attack.

“The sender indicated that the attack was not the end and that I was still being targeted. ‘I’m going to kill you soon. You deserve to be in a grave,’ among others,” she said.

She added that a private investigation later linked the messages to a known individual, after which the matter was reported to the police and an arrest made.

Undated charge sheets filed at a Magistrate Court in Ebute-Metta indicate that Zakari and Daniel are facing counts including conspiracy, alleged threats to life, and causing bodily harm.

One of the counts states that the defendants “conspired to commit a felony” under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Another alleges that Daniel sent threatening electronic messages, while a third states that the victim sustained injuries after a chemical substance was poured on her.

Efforts to speak directly with Awosogbon were unsuccessful as she was said to be undergoing medical procedures.

However, Ifeoluwa expressed concern over her safety, noting that Daniel had been granted bail.

“I am worried about my safety and that of my staff,” she said.

The victim’s lawyer, John Olobayo, criticised the handling of the case, arguing that the charges did not reflect the severity of the allegations.

“Based on the available information, we believe more serious charges should be considered,” he said, adding that petitions had been submitted to relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Justice.

When contacted, the father of one of the suspects, Mr Owolabi, declined to comment in detail and referred enquiries to his lawyer.

“Everything we did was through the lawyer,” he said, adding that he had contributed financially to the victim’s treatment.

Responding to questions about an alleged N60m payment for the victim’s surgery, he said in Yoruba, “Everything we have done was through the lawyer. I sold my house to pay the money. I don’t know what more is expected of us.”

When informed that journalistic ethics do not permit disclosure of sources, he declined further comment.

 

Read More

2027 Elections: 30-Year Old Dwarf Picks APC House Of Representatives Form

As Lagosians living with disabilities continue to push for an inclusive electoral system where everyone, irrespective of their disability status, can fully participate, comes this cheering news of a popular dwarf politician from Zaria picking the nomination form for the House of Reps in the 2027 general elections. a popular 20-year old, Zaria-based politician with dwarfism, Sadis Buba, formally obtained his nomination and Expression of Interest forms to contest for the House of Representatives in the 2027 elections under the All Progressives Congress (APC). He announced his intention to contest for the House of Representatives seat of Sabon Gari federal constituency of Kaduna State in 2027.

Buba made the declaration in a post shared on his verified Facebook page on Monday, where he revealed that he had obtained his nomination and Expression of Interest forms ahead of the forthcoming elections.

“Today, I humbly announce that I have obtained my nomination form to contest for the House of Representatives, Sabon Gari Federal Constituency,” he wrote.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Buba highlighted his rise from modest beginnings as a driver, noting that his experience has reinforced his belief in equal opportunity.

“From my beginnings as a driver to this moment, my journey has been built on hard work, resilience, and the belief that every individual, no matter their background, can rise to serve,” he stated.

The aspirant pledged to prioritise transparent and people-oriented representation if elected, emphasising his commitment to addressing the needs of constituents.

“I am stepping forward with a clear vision: to represent the people of Sabon Gari with honesty, dedication, and true leadership. Your voice will be heard, your concerns will matter, and together we will work towards real development and opportunities for all,” Buba said.

He further framed his ambition as a collective movement rather than a personal pursuit.

“This campaign is not just about me, it is about us, our future, and the progress of our constituency,” he added.

Buba also called on residents of the constituency to support his candidacy as the political process unfolds.

“I ask for your support, your prayers, and your trust as we begin this journey together. Sabon Gari, let’s rise as one,” he concluded.

  

Read More

Attendant Hospitalized As Gas Explosion Hits Community In Sari Iganmu

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that a shop attendant was hospitalised following a gas explosion that occurred on Adeleye Street in the Sari Iganmu area of Lagos.

A statement on Tuesday by the LSFRS Deputy Controller General, Ogabi Olajide, revealed that the incident occurred at about 1 pm on Tuesday while the attendant was refilling a gas cylinder.

According to Olajide, the agency, upon receiving the distress report, mobilised to the scene and confirmed that the attendant sustained injuries.

Olajide stated, “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service received a distress call to Adeleye Street, by Doyin, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos at 12:23 hours, and arrived at the scene at 12:34 hours. Fire crews from Sari Iganmu and Ajegunle Fire Stations were promptly deployed to manage the situation.

“The incident was caused by a gas explosion, which occurred while an attendant was refilling a gas cylinder in one of the two shops in the frontage of a demolished building on a half plot of land.

“The attendant sustained injuries and was reportedly taken to an undisclosed hospital, while the resulting fire also affected the other shop.”

Olajide noted that while no death was recorded in the incident, the agency has commenced an investigation into the cause of the explosion.

“No fatalities were reported as of the time of this report. Investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing,” Olajide concluded.

 

Why my tenant attacked her daughter with Knife - Lagos Landlord

0:00 / 0:00

“The incident was caused by a gas explosion, which occurred while an attendant was refilling a gas cylinder in one of the two shops in the frontage of a demolished building on a half plot of land.

Related News

•  2027: Security firm warns of violence, disruptions
•  Lagos seals buildings over lift safety violations
•  Court fixes June 22 for judgment in Lekki sound engineer murder case

“The attendant sustained injuries and was reportedly taken to an undisclosed hospital, while the resulting fire also affected the other shop.”

Olajide noted that while no death was recorded in the incident, the agency has commenced an investigation into the cause of the explosion.

“No fatalities were reported as of the time of this report. Investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing,” Olajide concluded.

PUNCH Metro reported on April 5 that the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency attributed two separate fire incidents in the state to electrical surges.

The Head, Public Affairs of LASEMA, Afolabi Olawale, had confirmed that one of the incident occurred at FESTAC Town Phase 2, where a single-storey building was engulfed in flames after a conduit wire sparked on the ground floor. 

Read More