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.”

  

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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.

  

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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.

  

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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.

 

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“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.

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“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. 

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