Chinese Spring Festival: A Felicitation Message From Consul-General In Lagos

Article By Yan Yuqing 

February 17, 2026, marks the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Horse, also known as the Spring Festival. With a history of more than 4,000 years, the Spring Festival is the most solemn and grand traditional festival of the Chinese people. It is acrystallization of the Chinese culture and serves as an important window for understanding China.

The Spring Festival is a time of reunion and a vivid embodiment of the Chinese culture of “Harmony”. The Chinese people value family harmony, believing that harmony brings

good fortune. On Lunar New Year’s Eve, those who are away from home will return to reunite with their families, working together to prepare a grand reunion dinner. On this night, every family is immersed in peace and harmony, with family members freely sharing their stories of the past year.

The Chinese people also cherish the philosophy of “Harmony and Coexistence” of the world. Last year, we solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, firmly standing on the side of peace and justice. China has translated the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative into concrete actions.

We are sharing development opportunities with countries around the world, including Nigeria, and working together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Last year, Nigeria joined the International Organization for Mediation, demonstrating its firm support for multilateralism and determination in working with China to promote world peace, development and win-win cooperation. It is a vivid example of the philosophy of “Harmony and Coexistence”.

The Spring Festival is also a time to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, embodying the Chinese people’s heartfelt aspirations for a better future. On Lunar New Year’s Eve, Chinese families observe the tradition of staying up together in anticipation of the arrival of the New Year. On the first day of the New Year, people go out to visit their relatives and friends, extending their most sincere wishes.

In the new year, China-Nigeria relations will also usher in a fresh chapter. Looking back at 2025, bilateral relations between the two countries have advanced by leaps and bounds. The foreign ministers of the two countries met three times to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, leading the China-Nigeria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership towards a new height.

Over the past year, the Consulate General, together with friends from all sectors in China and Nigeria, celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day of our two countries. Our bilateral cooperation projects and people-to-people exchanges keep emerging. In the year ahead, the Chinese Consulate General will continue to carry out a wide range of cultural exchanges and charitable donations to promote exchanges and mutual learning between our two civilisations, further consolidating the foundation of the China-Nigeria community with a shared future.

In 2024, “Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration the traditional New Year” was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. So far, nearly 20 countries have designated the Spring Festival as a statutory public holiday, including the United Nations in 2023.

The Spring Festival now belongs not only to China, but also to the whole world. We sincerely hope that Nigerian friends will join us in celebrating the Spring Festival amid this festive atmosphere and enjoy the grand cultural feast together. This year is the Year of the Horse according to the Chinese tradition. In the Chinese culture, the horse symbolises strength, courage, and success. I sincerely wish that the China–Nigeria relations, just like a galloping horse, will surmount obstacles and develop with an unstoppable momentum.

Finally, on the occasion of the Spring Festival, on behalf of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, I would like to extend my sincere New Year greetings to all Chinese nationals in the consular district, as well as to all friends who support China-Nigeria friendship. May you enjoy a happy Spring Festival, be full of vitality and achieve swift and resounding success in the Year of the Horse!

Yan Yuqing, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos

 

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Oshodi Residents Protest Over Rising Gangsterism And Violent Clashes In The Area

Residents of Oshodi have staged a protest over violent gangsterism going on in that part of the state. On Sunday, a group of suspected thugs, reportedly codenamed “Seven Street”, attacked members of a rival Orile group, throwing the communities into panic as residents fled for safety. Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed during the violence.

According to eye-witness accounts, despite the presence of police stations within the vicinity, the situation has remained largely unchanged, allowing the gangs to continue their activities without fear. During the clash, several cars and buses had their windscreens shattered, while a mosque on Mosaku Street was also damaged by stones.

The protesting residents, mainly drawn from Orile, Mafoluku, Orona, Alimi-Oke, Mosaku, Owoseni and Adekunle streets, said the areas are gradually becoming hotspots for gang violence and breeding grounds for thugs.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration that the neighbourhood had become a breeding ground for thugs, blaming parents for failing to provide proper supervision for their children. She said many of those involved were under 18 and warned that urgent steps must be taken to prevent them from becoming a threat to the community.

A 70-year-old resident, who also requested anonymity, recalled that similar incidents had occurred repeatedly over the years with little response from the local government authorities.

He said residents now live in fear, uncertain of when violence might erupt, adding that he once had to flee during an early morning prayer when clashes suddenly broke out in the area.

Another resident, lamenting the extent of damage caused by Sunday’s attack, appealed to the police and the local government chairman to intervene urgently, warning that rival groups might still be planning retaliatory attacks.

 

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Ladipo Market Shut Over Environmental Violations

Ladipo market, a spare parts market, where automobile parts are sold, has once again been shut by the Lagos state government over environmental violations. Ladipo Market is located along the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road (Apapa–Oshodi Expressway). It is a market highly dominated by traders from the eastern part of the country. The state government said it was closing the market due to repeated environmental violations.

The closure was announced by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, in a post shared on X.

 According to him, the action followed persistent violations, including indiscriminate disposal of refuse on road medians and highways, as well as illegal street trading.

“Lagos State government, this morning, sealed Ladipo Spare Parts Market along Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road (Apapa–Oshodi Expressway) over repeated environmental infractions; indiscriminate refuse disposal on the median/highway and illegal street trading,” he said.

Officials said the move underscores the government’s zero-tolerance stance on environmental degradation, improper waste management and activities that obstruct traffic and endanger public safety.

The state government has repeatedly warned traders and residents against street trading and unlawful waste disposal, stressing that enforcement actions would continue against defaulters across the metropolis.

Meanwhile, traders at the market have appealed to the Lagos State Government to reconsider the closure, lamenting that the closure has grounded business activities in the multibillion-naira market.

A trader, Leo Ugochukwu Ogbonna, said the notice of the planned action was short and poorly communicated. “We got information last Thursday that the government could seal part of the market, but this was the first time. The notice was too short and the message was not well passed,” he said.

Ogbonna, who is also the assistant manager of J&F Warehouse, added that traders had waste bins within the market but complained of irregular evacuation by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

“We are not dumping refuse on the road, so our warehouse should not have been locked,” he said.

Another trader, Vincent Nduka, said the government acted rightly but stressed the need for traders to take responsibility. “The service lane is mostly congested by some traders, and the government wants to put things in order. The market will reopen soon, but we need to play our part,” he said.

He blamed the market management for allowing traders to spill onto the road and appealed for more waste bins to be provided to help keep the market clean.

Responding, LAWMA spokesperson Mukaila Sanusi said the agency had provided designated locations for waste disposal and regularly evacuated refuse from the market. He added that traders often violated the arrangement by dumping waste on the expressway median despite repeated warnings.

Sanusi said the continued disregard for environmental regulations prompted the enforcement action taken by the state government.

 

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It's Unfortunate That Nollywood Movies Are Not Reflecting Daughter And Mother Relationships - Omotola Jalade

Nollywood veteran Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is one actress that has remained focused on the movie industry in Nigeria. Recently, the actress has been on a media tour of her about-to-be released movie, Mother’s Love. Omotola has been using the opportunity to advocate for mother and daughter relationship, which she says is not being adequately reflected in Nollywood. 

In an interview with Yanga FM, Omotola gave insights into the film, which explores the complex bonds between mothers and daughters.

Reflecting on the scarcity of stories like hers, Omotola said, “We don’t have too many films that explore or showcase the relationship between mothers and daughters.” She described the subject as one “very dear to my heart,” emphasizing the importance of bringing these stories to the big screen.

The actress also addressed the challenges of promoting films in Nigeria, particularly the expectation for actors to dance on social media.

“Do whatever you can do—it’s exhausting, it’s not natural. For me, the film industry is not supposed to be like that. We are encouraging nonsense if we are doing that. It doesn’t mean that whoever is doing it is wrong. Anybody should be able to do what they can do. It’s your film, you invested money in it, and you know where it’s painful for you,” she explained.

On a personal note, Omotola reflected on motherhood, admitting, “With my first daughter, I’m not going to lie—I didn’t do a good job, because that was the way I understood things. I only understood discipline; I was a disciplinarian, period.”

In another development, Omotola disclosed how her children faced death threats during the EndSARS.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds on Sunday, the 48-year-old actress said the threats marked a turning point in her long time of advocacy journey, forcing her to rethink how she engages in activism.

“I am used to death threats; I have received them many times,” Omotola said.

“But I have never seen anything like what happened during EndSARS. It was intense, my kids started getting death threats. That was when it became real, and when I realised this was no longer just about me.

“When people started coming to my home and workplace looking for me, I knew it was time to think beyond myself. I had to protect others, especially my children,” she said.

Omotola revealed that the experience ultimately pushed her to shift away from street protests toward more strategic, focused advocacy, citing the increasing difficulty of guaranteeing her children’s safety as they grow older.

“I can’t control where they go. I can’t protect them as much. I don’t care for my life, but I do care for them,” she said.

 

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Why I Fought My Wife In London - Tu Face

    Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has revealed that the fight between him and his wife, Natasha Osawaru, in October 2025 in London was because he was unable to control his temper. The award-winning artiste further stressed that emotional strain can cloud judgment, saying he now understands the importance of responding more carefully in tense situations.

“There are so many things I wish I could rewind and do better. As a human being, there are times when you are overwhelmed or don’t make the best decisions. My thick-skin is weaker now,” he said.

The singer opened up about personal and professional decisions he now regrets, revealing that difficult experiences have shaped his outlook on life and career.

The music icon made the disclosure during an appearance on the Mic On podcast, where he spoke candidly about lessons learned from emotionally charged moments and stressful situations.

The father of six admitted that there were several circumstances he wished he had handled differently, noting that pressure and intense emotions had influenced some of his past choices.

During the podcast, 2Baba also revisited a controversial incident in London involving a disagreement with his wife, Natasha Osawaru, in October 2025. He took responsibility for the episode, acknowledging that his actions were driven by anger.

“I was angry that day. It was an unfortunate incident,” the singer said. “I let my emotions get the best of me. I want young boys and girls to learn from this. When you reacts in anger, you end up regretting what you do.”

He explained that balancing personal struggles with life in the public eye has often been challenging, adding that some experiences have forced him to rethink how he manages conflict and stress.

 

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If You Date Me Again, We Will Never Break Up - Peller Begs Jarvis

Popular Nigerian content creator and TikTok personality, Hebeeb Hamzat, better known as Peller, has generated widespread social media attention after making an emotional appeal to his ex-girlfriend, Jarvis, during a recent livestream in which he invited her as a guest.

In the viral clip, Peller openly begged Jarvis to give their relationship another chance, assuring her that things would be different this time.

He said, “If you date me back, we’ll never break up again, we’ll be together forever, and we won’t do an online relationship again.

“We’ll travel, and nobody will know. I’m more mature now. I now eat and give leftovers to the kids to eat.

“When my dad eats, he would give us the leftovers to eat, that’s what they call maturity,” he added.

However, Jarvis appeared unmoved by his emotional appeal, responding sharply to his statements. She said, “Show workings, no be chochocho,” a phrase indicating that she wants to see real actions rather than empty promises.

The livestream has since gone viral, sparking reactions across TikTok and other social media platforms.

 

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Shock And Disbelief As Music Artiste, Three Crew Members Found Dead In Ajah Studio

There is confusion in the Ajah area of Lagos state as a popular music artiste, Matthew Ogundele, and three of his crew members have been found dead inside a studio.

The crew members were identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and blogger Matthew Awosanya, alias JoesTv.

The deceased were said to have been discovered on February 4, around 11 am, in the studio located at HFP Shopping Complex, Abraham Adesanya in Ajah.

It was gathered that the artists had gone to Ajah to perform in a three-day birthday party allegedly organized by the owner of the studio, Olanireti Akinbola.

The deceased, it was learnt, performed on February 3 and decided to sleep in the studio when they finished around midnight.

According to sources, they were given food by the owner’s husband that night, who is said to be the one who noticed something was amiss around 11 am the next day.

Sources alleged that a possible suffocation from a generator placed directly opposite the studio door could be responsible for their death.

They were allegedly found unresponsive with blood coming out of their nostrils, ears, and mouth, but no violent mark seen.

 “The convener invited some gospel artistes to minister during her three-day birthday praise, which started on Monday.

“Segun Praise was scheduled to minister on the second day, and he came with his crew. The session started in the evening and ran late, so they decided to stay overnight in the studio.

“It was the following morning that we heard that their bodies were found in the studio.

“Her husband was the one who raised the alarm after knocking the studio door several times with no response coming from inside.

“A generator was on and placed directly opposite their sleeping locations. So, it is suspected that this probably caused their death, but nothing has been concluded yet,” said a police source.

Contacted, the Lagos Police Spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident, saying it was reported on Wednesday, February 4, at Ajah Division, adding that it was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba.

“One suspect identified as the organizer of the event is currently in custody. Investigation is ongoing while we await the autopsy report,” said Adebisi.

 

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