The Battle For The Soul Of King’s College Lagos Gears Up As Parents, Teachers, Other Stakeholders Mobilize Against Secret Concession Of School

A couple of years ago, 12-year-old Tunde spent his evenings reading by the flickering light of a rechargeable lamp in a single room in Ajegunle. His father, a commercial bus driver, and his mother, a petty trader, could barely afford three meals a day. Yet, when the National Common Entrance Examination results were released, Tunde had achieved one of the highest scores in the state. His reward was a golden ticket: admission to King’s College, Lagos. For Tunde, the school was not just a campus of red brick and colonial history; it was a rescue boat. Because it was a federal institution, his tuition was free, allowing a boy from the slums to receive the same elite education as the sons of senators.

Today, that rescue boat is navigating turbulent waters as a recent federal concessioning agreement has handed over the management of Nigeria’s premier secondary school to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) that transfers all forms of funding from the federal government to KCOBA. While the decision aims to rescue the institution from decades of systemic decay and neglect from the government, it has ignited a fierce national debate over whether the country’s brightest, poorest children are about to be priced out of their future.

The concession of KCL is contained in a letter signed on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education  by the Director Overseeing Office of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Folake Olatunji-David. 

In  the letter dated September 4, made available to Lagos Today Extra!,  and addressed to the Principal of KCL, the ministry said all necessary processes leading to the signing of the concession agreement had been concluded and that the college had consequently been conceded to KCOBA. The ministry also stated that arrangements had been concluded to hand over the college to the association with immediate effect for the implementation of the agreement.

As part of the transition process, a transition committee is to be constituted to ensure a seamless transfer of the college’s management to KCOBA.

The  committee was given a six-month window within which to facilitate the transition, after which funding of the college from the Federation Account will cease. The principal was also directed to make available to the transition committee a list of staff members  willing to remain in the employment of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

Secret Concessioning Without Stakeholders Involvement

One of the big issues arising from the concessioning of the school is that the process was shrouded in secrecy as stakeholders were not carried along in the build up to the concessioning. Observers of the unfolding event say this is a huge drawback against a feasible and practicable implementation. The major question on their lips is: if the inputs of parents, teachers and other critical stakeholders are not considered before the concessioning, how can all interests be represented within the new management?

As expected, the announcement of the concession triggered an emergency meeting between the school’s management and staff union, after which the institution was shut down.

“Following the meetings with the school management and workers to notify everyone of the development, the staff union immediately announced a plan to shut down the college”, said the union in a statement on decisions reached at the meeting. The statement warned that neighbouring schools would start shutting down in solidarity with the union.

“This shutdown might spread nationwide if positive feedback is not received on time from the FME,” the union said.

With the college now shut indefinitely, the dispute could disrupt the academic calendar of the school; it has also renewed concerns about the future of Nigeria’s Federal Government Unity Colleges under concession arrangements.

Parent-Teacher Association Reacts

The secret concession of the College has been vehemently condemned by  the  National Parent- Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) and staff members of the 116-year-old institution. They questioned the rationale for relinquishing control of a premium unity school and demanded clarity on the real motive behind the concession.

 

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The staff members, under the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), had also protested shortly after the Federal Ministry of Education(FME) announced the transfer of the school to the old boys association.  

In rejecting the concession, NAPTAN, through its Board of Trustees  Chairman,   Adeolu Ogunbanjo, described it as worrisome. According to Ogunbanjo, the development could undermine access to the college, particularly if the new management substantially increases school fees.

“Affordability will become a major concern for parents, potentially denying many families access to King’s College if fees increase substantially,” he  said.

He questioned whether the Federal Government had decided it could no longer manage unity schools and demanded clarity on the reasons behind the decision.

The PTA of the college  is  demanding that, if the concession must proceed, existing students should be allowed to complete their education under the present arrangement, proposing a minimum six-year transition period before the new operators begin admitting students.

“If concession is going to take place, at least you should give it a period of a minimum of six years to consummate,”  said the association’s chairman, Peter Oluwaleye.

Oluwaleye also said the new operators could begin admitting their own students after the existing students  graduated. 

He  argued  that children already admitted into the school cannot be transferred from a government institution into a privately operated one midway through their education.

According to him, members of the association are  particularly worried that the concession would eventually trigger a sharp increase in school fees, potentially defeating the purpose of the Federal Government’s Unity School system.

“If we had wanted to put our children in private school, most of us are not capable of doing that,” Oluwaleye said.

Oluwaleye argued that many parents chose   King’s College because it provides quality education at a subsidised cost, adding that handing the institution to a private entity could make it inaccessible to families who cannot afford high private school fees.

School Fees To Rise Up to N5 Million Per Student

Unit Chairman of ASCSN,   Samuel Enang, also  argued  that fees could  rise to between N4 million and N5 million per student if the old boys association eventually took  over the school’s ownership.

“How many parents in this present economy of the country can afford such education for their children?” Enang asked.

 He  alleged that  the old boys association intends to commercialise portions of the college’s property, into hotels, shopping malls and car parks.

Even though this allegation has not been independently verified, observers who spoke with Lagos Today Extra! say those are measures usually put in place to ensure continued inflow of revenue to run the operations and also fulfil personal interests that might not be in favour of the students themselves.

Staff Of The College In A Dilemma

Apart from the fear that the new arrangement could trigger school fees out of the reach of students from poor homes, the teachers of King’s College have found themselves in a tight dilemma. The letter from the Federal Ministry of Education asked the teachers to indicate whether they want to remain with the federal civil service or move over to the new management, the KCOBA. One of the teachers who spoke with Lagos Today Extra! on the condition of anonymity said the choice is like choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea.

“if you decide to go with the KCOBA, you might lose the emoluments of unpaid salary and other promotional arrears which the federal government has been owing us for many years. What about gratuity, what about pension? And if you decide to stay with the federal civil service, you might be deployed to other locations where you will need to start hunting for a new accommodation at this time that rents have spiraled out of control for the ordinary people, including teachers. Don’t forget that the accommodations in the school you are redeployed to have been filled up with staff in that institution,” he said, adding that all these issues would have been adequately presented  and addressed if the concessioning was not secretly done, without inputs from critical stakeholders.

Another member of the college staff who spoke with our correspondent said the secret manner in which the process was carried out suggests there might be some hidden personal interests at the heart of the concession.

“I don’t know why they had to do everything in secrecy. What are they trying to hide? Is there some vested personal interests of the new owners they wanted to protect at all costs. Who are the big boys in KCOBA and what influence do they have in the present administration? Why the rush to concession the school before the 2027 general election? Questions upon questions without answers. All these issues would have been addressed if critical stakeholders were carried along in the process of the concession,” he told our correspondent.

We Still Own King’s College -  FG

Confronted with all the backlash, the Federal Government came out with a statement that King’s College, Lagos, has not been sold or privatised, saying it retains legal ownership of the institution.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Friday, to clarify the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession agreement with the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA).

In the statement, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the minister explained that the concession only transferred responsibility for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the school to KCOBA.

He stressed that the Federal Government retained its statutory, regulatory, monitoring, inspection and enforcement powers over the institution.

“Let me assure Nigerians, particularly the King’s College community, that this concession is not a sale of King’s College. The government has retained legal title to the institution and will continue to exercise its oversight responsibilities.

Alausa also claimed that the agreement did not prescribe an automatic increase in school fees even though he did not say whether the agreement established a temporary or permanent fee freeze for students.

The Issues At Stake

While the Federal Ministry of Education maintains that the school remains public property, private administrative management requires financial sustainability. To maintain world-class facilities and recruit premium teaching talent, the baseline cost of attendance is expected to adjust. For families living on the economic margins, even a modest increase in utility, boarding, or developmental fees can transform an admission letter from a triumph into a heartbreak.

Education advocates warn that this shift could fundamentally distort the school's historic admission structure. If the financial threshold for enrollment rises, the entry system ceases to be purely about academic brilliance. Instead, the pool of candidates naturally narrows to those who can afford the premium, turning an institution founded to groom nation-builders into an exclusive enclave for the wealthy.

To preserve the soul of King’s College, stakeholders argue that the new management framework must treat accessibility not as an afterthought, but as a core metric of success. The KCOBA’s ambitious funding models will need to build robust, ironclad endowment funds specifically earmarked for full-ride scholarships, ensuring that no brilliant mind is turned away due to an empty pocket.

Analysts say the future of staff of the college who choose to go with the KCOBA should also be protected in terms of ensuring that salary and promotional arrears owed them are duly paid, while those who choose to remain with the federal civil service and are redeployed to other schools, should be adequately supported to a get a good accommodation wherever they are deployed to.

The walls of King’s College may desperately need a coat of paint and structural repair, but its true legacy lies in the diversity of its classrooms. As the concession takes effect, Nigeria watches closely to see if the institution can modernize its infrastructure without sacrificing the very egalitarian principles that gave boys like Tunde (earlier mentioned) a seat at the table.

  

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I Would Not Have Married Simi If Her Genotype Was Not AA - Adekunle Gold

Nigerian singer, Adekunle Gold, has revealed that genotype played a major role in his decision to marry his wife, fellow singer Simi.

Adekunle, who has disclosed that he is genotype SS, said he made it a priority to know his partner’s genotype before committing to the relationship.

Speaking in a recent episode of the One54 Podcast, the singer said he would not have proceeded with the relationship if Simi had been AS or SS.

“I wouldn’t have married my wife if she were SS or AS. Forget love. I don’t think it makes sense to bring a child into this world and they would be sickly,” he said.

According to him, knowing Simi’s genotype gave him the confidence to proceed with the relationship.

 

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“When me and my wife first met, the first thing I did was to know her genotype. She is AA. That was why I proceeded with the relationship,” he said.

Adekunle Gold has continued to advocate for sickle cell awareness, particularly since publicly revealing his SS genotype.

He married Simi in January 2019, and the couple have two children.

A few years ago, fellow entertainer, Actress Eucharia Anunobi, was engulfed in the battle to save the life of her only child, Raymond Ekwu, who was down with sickle cell disease. The intense emotional and financial toll of managing his illness eventually strained her marriage to her ex-husband, Charles Ekwu, whom she stated contributed nothing financially. They divorced in 2006, leaving her as the sole provider and caregiver.Eucharia dedicated her life to managing his condition, spending millions on organic foods, specialized care, and avoiding environmental triggers like dust and heat. Her intense care allowed him to stay healthy and avoid hospitalization for many years.

However, the actress eventually lost Raymond, in 2017 after a 16-year battle with the disease, compounded by a tragic medical error. 

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2027: SWAGA Regroups In Lagos, Begins Massive Mobilisation For Tinubu, Hamzat

A group of former lawmakers from the South-West under the aegis of the South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) are set to converge in Lagos to officially launch what they term “Lagos SWAGA 2.0”, a platform under which they hope to campaign for the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group has also expressed its resolve to campaign for the election of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, to succeed incumbent Babajide Sanwo-Olu come 2027.

Prior to the election of President Tinubu in 2023, SWAGA was the first pressure political support group that endorsed him.

With the 2027 presidential election less than six months away, SWAGA said it is ready to engage in an effective and massive re-election campaign for the President.

A statement issued by the chairman of the Steering Committee of SWAGA, Afis Olaseinde Kasumu, stated that the formal inauguration of the group’s Zonal, Local Government (LG), and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) structures will take place at the Eko FM Multi-Purpose Hall, LTV Compound, Coca-Cola Bus Stop, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja.

According to the statement, the initiative is tagged “LAGOS SWAGA 2.0: Consolidating Grassroots Mobilisation and Deepening Political Engagements for The RENEWED HOPE AGENDA.” This pivotal event marks a strategic expansion of the movement’s footprint across Lagos State.

 

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The statement also added that the initiative aims to solidify political structures at the foundational level, ensuring that the progressive ideals and achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda are effectively communicated and felt by every citizen at the grassroots.

“Since its inception, SWAGA has been at the forefront of championing visionary leadership and political inclusion. Building upon the monumental successes of its initial phases, SWAGA 2.0 shifts its focus towards deepening community engagement, fostering inclusive governance, and creating a unified front ahead of future political milestones,” the statement reads.

Expected to chair the event is the Lagos State chairman, Hon Mosuru Owolabi, as well as other notables such as Hon Funmilayo Tejuoso as well as Hon Remi Adebowale, a former special adviser, civic engagement to the Lagos State governor.

The major highlight of the event will feature the official swearing-in of newly appointed zonal coordinators and local administrators comprising past legislators both in Lagos State and at the federal level.

The statement further added that important stakeholders such as serving and past federal and state functionaries

“These leaders will be charged with driving the movement’s advocacy, mobilising communities and serving as the direct link between the leadership and the electorate across all 57 LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos State.

“Political leaders, party stalwarts, community influencers, and grassroots mobilisers from across the South-West region are expected to grace the occasion. Members of the press are cordially invited to cover this event.”

  

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Nigerians Brace Up For More Hardship As Petrol Price Soars To N1,500 Per Litre

Nigerians are now bracing up for fresh hardship as the increase in petrol and diesel prices threatens to trigger another wave of higher costs across the economy.

Specifically,   Abuja and other northern cities are set to face prices as rising crude oil prices and transportation costs increase the cost of supplying petroleum products to inland markets.

This followed the decision of Dangote Petroleum Refinery to raise its Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, gantry price by 6.7 per cent to N1,350 per litre from N1,265.

In a memo to customers, the refinery said: “Dear valued customer, please find below the revised DPRP PMS gantry and coastal price, which is effective   September 12th, 2026.”

It also directed customers with existing loading arrangements to return their Automated Truck Certificates, ATCs, for repricing.

It said: “You are advised to return all ATCs for repricing and a new volume contract will be issued for immediate loading resumption.”

The increase is expected to raise acquisition costs for marketers sourcing petrol from the refinery and could trigger further pump-price adjustments.

The latest Energy Bulletin by the Industry Competency Centre, Lagos, showed that the seven-day average Brent crude price stood at $98.74 per barrel, while Bonny Light averaged $104.65. The seven-day average exchange rate was N1,323.12/$.

 

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The bulletin put the seven-day average domestic petrol price at N1,308.33 per litre and diesel at N1,855.97 per litre.

With coastal ex-depot petrol prices currently ranging from N1,265.50 to N1,285 per litre, inland markets are expected to record higher prices because of additional trucking and distribution costs.

Industry estimates indicate that petrol could sell for N1,400-N1,500 per litre in Abuja, with prices potentially exceeding N1,500 at some filling stations, depending on supply costs and marketers’ margins.

The impact could be greater in northern cities farther from coastal supply centres. Petrol prices in Kano, Kaduna, Jos and other inland markets could rise to between N1,450 and N1,600 per litre, depending on availability, transportation costs and supply routes.

Diesel prices are also expected to remain elevated. The bulletin showed Lagos diesel ex-depot prices ranging between N1,790 and N2,100 per litre, suggesting that inland prices could reach N2,100-N2,400 per litre or higher after transportation and other distribution costs.

The widening gap between coastal and inland prices highlights the impact of logistics on Nigeria’s deregulated downstream petroleum market.

While Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri have relatively close access to refineries, terminals and other supply centres, Abuja and northern markets depend heavily on products transported over longer distances.

The pressure could intensify if crude oil remains above $100 per barrel, the naira weakens or transportation costs rise. Conversely, lower crude prices, a stronger naira and reduced logistics costs could ease pressure on consumers.

Oil price, freight rate spikes challenge refineries — Expert

Reacting in an interview with Sunday Vanguard, Olatide Jeremiah, Chief Executive Officer, Petroleumprice.ng, said the increase reflected developments in the international oil market.

He said: “Oil price and freight rate spikes are universal challenges for refineries, except where the Federal Government intervenes. Gantry and pump prices will ultimately be determined by the impact of the Middle East crisis.

“The upward review of petrol prices to N1,350 per litre by the Dangote Refinery is expected as oil prices approach $110 per barrel.

“Pump prices could hit N1,500 per litre in major cities across Nigeria if the crisis persists.”

High fuel prices mean hardship for Nigerians — OGSPAN

Also speaking, Lawal Kamaldeen, Vice President, Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, OGSPAN, said the latest increase would further pressure households and businesses.

He said: “The ¦ 85 increase represents approximately 6.7 per cent, while the refinery’s cumulative increase since August 21 has reached ¦ 185 per litre, representing about 15.9 per cent. The latest adjustment comes at a particularly difficult time for Nigerian households and businesses, which are already facing significant increases in the cost of living and doing business.

“We recognise that Dangote Refinery is operating in a market increasingly affected by international crude oil prices, product replacement costs and geopolitical disruptions arising from the conflict involving Iran and the United States. Recent developments in the international oil market have created genuine cost pressures for refiners and petroleum marketers.

“However, from the perspective of the domestic economy, we are concerned about the likely consequences of another increase in the cost of petrol.”

Kamaldeen said higher petrol prices would affect transportation, distribution, agriculture, small businesses and other economic activities.

“Petrol remains a major input for transportation, distribution, agriculture, small businesses and general economic activity in Nigeria. An increase in the wholesale price will inevitably create pressure across the downstream petroleum value chain,” he said.

According to him, the impact could include higher transportation and logistics costs, food and agricultural distribution costs, prices of essential goods and services, operating costs for small and medium-sized businesses, school transportation expenses and broader inflationary pressure.

He said OGSPAN was proposing a targeted, production-based support mechanism for locally refined petroleum products rather than a return to broad, import-based fuel subsidy.

“Such an intervention could include increasing the allocation of crude oil to qualified domestic refineries at competitive terms, particularly during periods of exceptional international price volatility,” he said.

He also called for a review of applicable taxes, levies and government charges on locally refined petroleum products, where necessary, as well as a transparent and time-bound domestic refining support framework linked to actual production and supply.

Kamaldeen added that any government intervention should be independently monitored and subject to clear performance benchmarks.

Also,   Executive Director, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, Spaces for Change, warned that sustained increases in fuel prices could deepen pressure on households and businesses.

She said: “For households, the most immediate concern is likely to be higher transportation and food costs. Higher fuel and logistics costs can raise the cost of moving people and goods, while households and businesses that rely on petrol- or diesel-powered generators may face additional energy expenses.

“These pressures could further reduce purchasing power, particularly for low- and middle-income households. Nigeria’s headline inflation rate currently stands at 15.43%, while food inflation is 20.31%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

“Businesses across manufacturing, agriculture, construction, retail and logistics are similarly exposed to higher energy, transportation and input costs.  

If the shock persists, firms may pass additional costs on to consumers, absorb lower profit margins, postpone investment or reduce employment. Consequently, a prolonged oil-price shock could constrain the recovery of the non-oil economy even as the oil sector benefits from higher crude prices.

“In the coming weeks, volatility is likely to remain the central concern. Continued conflict and disruption to major shipping routes could keep crude and refined petroleum prices elevated. Recent disruptions have already reduced oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz and contributed to higher shipping and fuel costs.”

She added: “Nigeria should therefore avoid treating the current price increase simply as a revenue windfall. First, government should preserve part of any additional oil revenue as fiscal and external buffers rather than immediately expanding recurrent expenditure.

“Second, support should be targeted at households and sectors most exposed to the shock. This could include temporary expansion of well-targeted cash transfers, transport support and measures that reduce the cost of moving food from farms to markets. Support for agricultural production, storage, irrigation and affordable financing should also be prioritised to reduce the risk that higher energy and transport costs translate into further food-price increases.

“Third, government should accelerate measures that reduce Nigeria’s exposure to petroleum-price volatility. Greater domestic gas utilisation, more reliable electricity, renewable energy, efficient transport systems and improved logistics can reduce the cost of energy across the wider economy.”

Earlier, an economist and communications expert, Clifford Egbomeade, said the immediate effect of higher crude prices would be a cost shock across the economy.

“The immediate effect on Nigeria is a cost shock. Higher crude prices will raise the cost of diesel, transport, freight and other energy-intensive inputs, putting pressure on business margins and household incomes,” he said.

  

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American Wheelchair Football Super League To Debut In Nigeria As Exhibition Holds In Lagos

American Football Elite Development has disclosed plans to establish a Wheelchair American Football Super League in Nigeria, following the successful hosting of the country’s landmark Wheelchair American Football Exhibition in Lagos.

The exhibition, held at the outdoor basketball area of the National Institute for Sports, National Stadium, Lagos, brought together wheelchair athletes, sports administrators, diplomatic representatives, government and sports officials, academic institutions, corporate organisations and members of the public in a demonstration of the sport’s potential in Nigeria.

Liberty Pioneer emerged as the standout side of the exhibition, recording two victories from three games. The team opened with a 13-0 win over Iron Invicta before defeating Atlantic Chargers 10-3 in the final game, having earlier watched Atlantic Chargers overcome Lagos Dynamos 7-0 to book their place in the decisive encounter.

A significant feature of the event was the collaboration between AFEDEV and the United States Consulate General, Lagos, which provided team jerseys, footballs and meals for participants, while also supporting the event’s visibility through its media team. Representatives of the United States diplomatic mission, alongside officials of the German Embassy, the University of Lagos, Lagos State University and the National Institute for Sports, attended the exhibition.

 

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Sports officials from other Nigerian states were also present, with some travelling to Lagos specifically to study the sport and explore how it could be introduced in their respective states.

AFEDEV Executive Director, Ojaideh Ufoma Lawrence, described the exhibition as the beginning of a broader development programme rather than an isolated event.

“This exhibition has demonstrated what is possible when athletes, diplomatic missions, government institutions, universities, businesses, the media and the wider sporting community come together around a shared vision.

“We are particularly grateful to the U.S. Consulate General Lagos for collaborating with AFEDEV and providing practical support that helped make this event possible,” Lawrence said.

He said AFEDEV would now intensify efforts to expand Wheelchair American Football across Nigeria, develop athletes, coaches and officials, and build stronger institutional and corporate partnerships, with the proposed Super League intended to provide regular competitive opportunities for teams, create a pathway for athletes to compete for national titles and potentially prepare Nigerian players for bigger international platforms.

The initiative has also attracted support from corporate organisations, including Nestle Milo, Pocari Sweat, Sports Assist, Showtime Nemsia Studio, UOU and Azogi.

  

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Lagos Crackdown: Vulnerable Children Arrested, Hauled Into ‘Black Maria’

Lagos’ street crackdown has seen teenagers arrested by law-enforcement and environmental agencies and packed into overcrowded “Black Maria” vans, raising concerns about their safety, dignity, due process and child-protection safeguards, VICTOR AYENI writes

“Abeg, comot!” two men wearing the green jackets of Kick Against Indiscipline operatives in Lagos State could be heard saying as they rounded up beggars on a

Lagos street.

In a viral video of the operation conducted, the beggars, including minors, could be seen being lifted slightly off the ground and forced into the rear of a large, enclosed van with green-painted windows.

The video showed the beggars being taken off the streets as part of an enforcement operation in Lagos.

The vehicle, popularly known as a “Black Maria”, is a bulky, enclosed enforcement van painted in distinctive green colours.

Such vehicles have become a familiar sight during street raids, where people apprehended for offences including street trading, hawking and other alleged environmental violations are transported away from the streets.

 

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In this particular video, which was posted in June by the state Commissioner for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on his X handle, he disclosed that a total of 45 beggars were apprehended.

Separate enforcement operations were conducted by the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps in the Oshodi, Agege and CMS areas of the state.

Wahab said 22 beggars were arrested in Oshodi and Agege, comprising adults and a few teenagers, and added that 14 adults and nine children were also apprehended at CMS during the exercise.

He also said clearance operations were ongoing in other parts of the state, including Admiralty Way in Lekki and Addo Road in Ajah.

The enforcement against street beggars took a new turn on May 25 when the state government intensified its environmental enforcement, making 10,634 arrests across the state over a single year.

According to Wahab, 5,715 persons were arrested for illegal highway crossing, while 3,886 others were apprehended for offences including street trading, environmental pollution and cart pushing.

He added that 102 persons were arrested for open defecation, while another 931 individuals were apprehended for waste management-related offences across the state.

Offenders in ‘Black Maria’

On Thursday, Sunday PUNCH observed a Black Maria packed with young people, including minors and teenagers.

The vehicle was filled to capacity with both boys and girls who were being carried through the streets.

It was not immediately ascertained whether the minors were being detained at a correctional centre.

But observers in the area wondered if it was appropriate for the authorities to transport minors to detention facilities in Black Maria vans.

The concern was due to the sordid history that Black Maria vans had accumulated over the years in the country.

Formerly, Black Maria vans were used by the police and prison services to transport prisoners and suspects to courts or jails and also to move awaiting-trial inmates.

They were often criticised for being overcrowded, hot and poorly ventilated. The Federal Government officially renamed the vehicles from “Black Maria” to “Green Maria” in 2018 to signal a shift towards rehabilitation.

In March 1980, 50 men reportedly suffocated to death inside a packed police van in Lagos, creating a national outcry known as the Black Maria Tragedy.

During military regimes, the vans became known as symbols of political persecution, famously featuring in protests, art and the anti-military music of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti.

However, these black vans are seen during enforcement operations conducted by LAGESC or the Lagos State Taskforce, which are used to convey arrested offenders from the streets.

A source in LAGESC told Sunday PUNCH that when offenders such as street beggars are picked up on the streets by these agencies, they undergo a formal process of profiling, rehabilitation, prosecution or repatriation.

“The individuals that have been arrested are taken in for documentation to determine their backgrounds, health needs and states of origin. The authorities work with social welfare agencies to provide rehabilitation programmes for vulnerable persons.

“Some of these offenders are charged in mobile or magistrate courts (such as in Oshodi). Those convicted, especially repeat offenders or those linked to organised groups, can face fines or jail terms ranging from three months’ imprisonment.

“But many of the arrested individuals are handed over to appropriate state authorities or social services to be safely returned to their respective home states outside Lagos. They are only conveyed in vans temporarily, and officers are also with them to ensure their safety,” the source disclosed.

Notwithstanding, there were claims by some street sellers and other business individuals who ply their trade in public places that merely seeing such vans instils fear in them.

They allege that some of the minors arrested are packed together in these vans and that this might be unconducive to their health and well-being.

 We don’t keep minors, says NCoS Lagos

Reacting to the allegation, the Public Relations Officer for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos State Command, Osho Onimisi, told Sunday PUNCH that the prison service does not operate Black Maria vans and does not keep minors in its facilities.

“We don’t keep minors. We have a borstal institution where they are taken. One can’t even determine who is underage from merely looking; it’s from the police station that it is determined who is underage or not. And if the case gets to the courts, the Magistrate most times knows if they are underage.

“We only work with warrants issued to us by the courts to remand. And if we sense that the person looks young, we reject them. The Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 gives us the right to reject them.

“The Act, under its provisions for juvenile offenders, mandates that Controllers of Corrections and Superintendents-in-charge of Custodial Centres must not admit minors (juveniles) into facilities meant for adults. Furthermore, I wish to emphasise that we don’t even use a Black Maria; it’s Green Maria,” he said.

Lagos Taskforce reacts

Also speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, refuted the claim, adding that such a claim was based on assumptions.

“You saw a Black Maria filled with teenagers; where, when, how? I am sorry, it is not the Lagos State Taskforce Black Maria. Taskforce is not the only enforcement agency that conveys suspects with Black Maria, and we have the agency’s name and logo inscribed on them.

“Other enforcement/security agencies also carry their suspects in Black Maria. Taskforce does not have the monopoly of carrying suspects in Black Maria from the point of arrest to the station for the safety of both suspects and the enforcers of laws,” Abdulraheem said.

Culled from The Punch 

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Lagos Tightens Security At Badagry Border Over Child Theft

The Lagos State Government has stepped up measures to tackle child theft and illegal abduction in the Badagry axis, identifying the area’s border location as a factor facilitating the activities of suspected child traffickers.

The Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, disclosed this during the state’s bi-monthly meeting with heads of security agencies and parliamentary affairs in Ikeja.

Salu-Hundeyin said the government had intensified its security meetings to ensure that emerging threats were identified and addressed at the grassroots.

She said the meetings, previously held quarterly, were now conducted every two months because of emerging security concerns across the state.

“It’s another bi-monthly meeting with the Head of Parliamentary Affairs and Heads of Security Agencies of the state. First, let me tell you, it’s no more quarterly. It’s bi-monthly now. So, we meet more often because we’ve realised that there are security issues,” she said.

According to the SSG, child theft was among the major issues discussed at the meeting, with reports indicating that the Badagry axis had become a hotspot for criminal activity.

“I want to tell you one of the touching ones about child theft. I call it child theft. You know, people that steal other people’s children and go and sell them.

“And this is so sad because, in this particular case, the woman has been charged to court. So, I can talk about it. And they even have a kind of clinic. She does it in conjunction with her own husband. You know, it’s really sad,” she said.

 

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She explained that Badagry’s location along an international border made it easier for suspects involved in child trafficking to evade arrest.

“According to the report, most of this particular criminal activity happens mostly around the Badagry axis. Why we are talking about data and knowing locations is so that we know why it is happening there and what can be done. It’s simply because Badagry is a border town. So, they can easily escape,” Salu-Hundeyin said.

She added that the state government would increase security infrastructure in the area, including the installation of additional security lights.

“So, we now know that we have to put more lights, I mean, security lights, on that area,” she said.

Salu-Hundeyin further disclosed that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons would provide the state government with updated statistics on child trafficking cases, including convictions and pending cases.

“And the NAPTIP officer had promised to give us accurate statistics. I can’t tell you those statistics now because she didn’t come with the accurate ones. But she was able to tell us how many convictions are pending, those that have been convicted and all that, and the areas that they happen,” she said.

The SSG said the government was coordinating efforts through relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministries of Youth and Women Affairs, to combat child theft and trafficking.

“Because when we’re talking about children, we’re talking about the future of the country, the future of the state. It’s very saddening that people will do that to innocent children. And so, we’re not taking it easy,” she said.

Salu-Hundeyin also linked some criminal activities to mental health concerns, saying the state government was expanding mental health infrastructure as part of its broader response to social challenges.

She disclosed that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was building what she described as the biggest mental health hospital in Africa, which she said would soon be commissioned.

The SSG said the state was also strengthening community-level security through the Lagos State Neighbourhood Watch and regular engagements with local government secretaries, Community Development Committees and Community Development Associations.

“We also hold meetings with the secretaries of the local governments. We also discuss security issues there so that they can go back to communities, CDCs and CDAs. We can see what’s going on,” she said.

Salu-Hundeyin also disclosed that the meeting examined concerns over the safety of some bridges in the state following reports from a representative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

She said the concerns would be forwarded to the relevant ministries, departments and agencies for necessary action.

Meanwhile, during a separate meeting with members of the Lagos Police Community Relations Committee, Salu-Hundeyin commended the organisation for its proactive approach to security and community engagement.

She said the committee’s activities had complemented the efforts of the state government and security agencies in promoting peace and safety across Lagos.

“If I say that we’re not always grateful to you, it’s an understatement. We’re really grateful because the office is being seen the way it is seen because of what you’re doing. So I would say that we are because you are,” she said.

The SSG particularly praised the committee’s efforts to educate residents on electoral processes, noting that voter education could help reduce election-related violence.

She said, “If you teach people how to conduct themselves before and during an election, it’s also a security issue. Because people will then know you’re educating them on their rights as voters.”

Salu-Hundeyin urged the committee to sustain its public enlightenment campaigns ahead of future elections, stressing that elections should be seen as a civic responsibility rather than a conflict.

“We’ve spoken to DPOs, we’ve spoken to all that, to say that, look, how do people tend to appreciate that election is not war? It is a civic duty that we must perform to make sure that we exercise our democratic rights and to have whoever we desire to lead us,” she said.

She added that voter education would help residents understand that elections gave them the power to freely choose their leaders.

“Election, the way I see what you’re doing, is like a mirror of governance, kind of, that if you exercise your rights well, you will get the right government you want. And people need to know that, especially at this time,” Salu-Hundeyin said.

  

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