With Cabaret, Lagos Nightlife Defies Economic Downturn

Nigeria might be going through its worst economic crisis in a generation, but in Lagos, the party hasn’t stopped.

Patrons at The Library, where fake banknotes rained down on the stage, were being treated to both dinner and a show as cabaret takes the mega-city by storm.

Clubs like The Library have been fully revamped to cash in on the trend, tapping into the best singers and dancers across the African cultural powerhouse, but also drawing talent from across the world.

Co-owner Wemo Edudu transformed the book-themed nightclub into a fine dining establishment two years ago, hoping to bring in a wider clientele but without sacrificing the late-night rambunctiousness and spectacle that Lagos, a city of around 20 million people, is known for.

“Sometimes I see a 65-year-old man having a nice meal, watching the show. I knew that that could have never happened two years ago,” Edudu told AFP.

– Ritz and glam –

Cabaret in its modern form traces its roots to 19th century France, but it has exploded in recent years across the ritzier parts of Lagos, Nigeria’s cultural and economic capital.

Rococo restaurant, on the upscale Victoria Island, sports a French influence of an earlier era: crystal chandeliers, baroque frescoes, and projections of Napoleon and his wife Marie-Louise, animated so they can rap along to the music.

The opulence extends to the menu: for those not swayed by the high-end Nigerian or Western dishes, there’s gold-flake covered foie gras, crocodile carpaccio or prawns thermidor.

“The show progresses as you move,” said Rococo boss Ghada Ghaith, describing patrons warming up with dinner and conversation until “a song attracts you or a show attracts you”.

Even amid the French throwbacks and modern excess, this is still Nigeria: a deeply religious country, where singers are often recruited from the churches where they originally honed their pipes.

The gold-plated menu meanwhile can cost multiples of the monthly minimum wage in a nation where inequality and poverty live side-by-side with massive oil wealth.

Two kilometres away, nightlife haunt Zaza sells the “Birkintini”, billed as “Africa’s most expensive cocktail”, for $20,000.

It comes with a Hermes Birkin handbag.

There’s enough of a party to go around to recruit international acts, like Blanka Munkacsi, a 21-year-old Hungarian acrobat.

– International talent –

“I’ve never seen this before,” the performer told AFP. “It’s like everything but in one place, and it’s really beautiful.”

“We have a night club, we have a show place, we have a restaurant, but it’s not really common to get those together” in Hungary, she said.

For Bobby Francis, creative director at Zaza, the goal is direct: “We literally try to bring Vegas to Nigeria!”

Zaza has been a Lagos nightlife staple for years, its tropical motif capped by wallpaper with fluorescent parrots and butterflies, and an army of waiters clad in zebra and leopard prints.

Bottle service orders prompt the usual parade of hostesses with glow sticks — and a server dressed as a giraffe.

“The idea of cabaret is really like to keep things alive from the moment you enter the room till you leave,” said Johnny Frangeh, the 24-year-old assistant general manager.

“Just like any other nightclub, people just go and drink and dance. And so here it’s another experience.”

– Growing pains –

But in a city known for its late-night clubbing, the shift to other kinds of entertainment can be difficult.

“They’re more into the party life” than arts, Rodrigo Adame, a circus performer from Mexico, said of some Lagosians.

“As an artist, sometimes you realise they’re not looking. It’s hard to get their attention.”

And one thing the original 19th century French cabaret performers didn’t have to compete with?

“The phones,” said the 45-year-old. “Everybody is living now through the cell phones.”

On a recent night at Zaza, which can hold around 700 patrons, there were probably just as many screens flashing through the darkened room.

But the booming music, while not great for conversation, did provide a nice background for taking repeated selfies.

 

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IHS Nigeria Empowers Male Students In Ipaja

IHS Nigeria has launched a values-driven outreach programme at Ifesowapo Aboru Secondary School in Ipaja as part of activities marking the 2024 International Men’s Day.

The initiative was designed to inspire students through conversations on leadership, respect, mental health, responsibility and gender equity.

Welcoming the team, the Director and Principal of the school, Giwa Muyideen, commended IHS Nigeria for its continued investment in young people.

“We are deeply honoured to have IHS Nigeria here to commemorate International Men’s Day with us. We thank them for what they have done, what they continue to do, and what they will yet do for our school and community,” he said in a statement.

He also urged students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, describing the fields as engines of innovation and national development.

Associate Director, Legal, IHS Nigeria, Gbenga Bello, said the company chose a school setting to engage boys at a formative stage on issues that shape character and personal growth.

“International Men’s Day reminds us of the role men and boys play in building stronger, more compassionate societies. At IHS Nigeria, we believe that empowering young minds, especially through education, mentorship and value-based conversations, is one of the most meaningful ways we can contribute to our community. We are here because the future we want begins with the boys we guide today,” he said.

The programme featured two sessions: an interactive discussion and a mentorship dialogue.

The interactive session, led by Morakinyo Fadipe, Associate Director, Human Resources, encouraged students to reflect on decision-making, responsibility and respect.

He told them that choices made at a young age often define future outcomes and that leadership begins with self-awareness, empathy and everyday actions.

A mentorship dialogue, handled by Adepoju Adebusayo, Senior Specialist, Human Resources, focused on resilience, good judgement and modelling positive behaviour. Drawing on personal experiences, he reminded students that obstacles are part of the growth process and noted that perseverance and consistent effort remain essential to achieving long-term goals.

The event ended with a vote of thanks from Principal Muyideen, who praised IHS Nigeria for its “reliable and consistent support” to the school. He said the institution values its partnership with the company and looks forward to deeper collaboration aimed at empowering students and improving the learning environment.

The outreach is one of several community development initiatives run by IHS Nigeria to support schools, promote gender balance and nurture leadership skills among young Nigerians.

 

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Carter Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge To Get Facelift From Deutsche Bank's Funding

Global lender Deutsche Bank has expressed interest in funding major rehabilitation and replacement works on two of Lagos’s most critical bridges, the Carter Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge, as the Federal Government intensifies its push to attract private capital for large-scale road infrastructure projects.

The bank’s delegation, led by its Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Structured Trade and Export Finance, Moritz Dornemann, and Chief Country Representative in Nigeria, Andreas Voss, met with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Abuja on Tuesday, where they also reaffirmed their appetite for further financing of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

A statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Orji Uchenna, said the visit was part of the government’s ongoing efforts to build sustainable partnerships with global financiers to accelerate funding for strategic national projects.

During the meeting, the Deutsche Bank team said the lender was impressed by the Federal Government’s resolve to upgrade ageing transport infrastructure and applauded President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to delivering large-scale road projects capable of boosting national productivity.

They specifically expressed interest in financing the replacement of the Carter Bridge, which is one of Lagos’s oldest and historically significant bridges, and the comprehensive rehabilitation of the underwater elements of the Third Mainland Bridge, Africa’s second-longest bridge.

The statement read, “As part of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria towards building partnerships to finance and expedite large-scale road infrastructure development, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, held a meeting with the officials of Deutsche Bank in his office, Federal Ministry of Works, Mabushi, Abuja, on 2 December 2025.

“In their mission statement, the team from Deutsche Bank, made up of the Managing Director, Global Co-Head of Structured Trade and Export Finance, Moritz Dornemann, and the bank’s Chief Country Representative for Nigeria, Andreas Voss, said they came to indicate interest in the funding of the replacement of Carter Bridge, Lagos, and the rehabilitation of Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.

“They commended the President for his commitment to the development of large-scale and quality road infrastructure across the nation, which they noted was critical in achieving sustainable economic growth and national prosperity.”

The bank also praised the quality of work being executed by Hitech Construction Ltd on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, noting that the project’s progress increased their confidence in Nigeria’s infrastructure delivery capacity and expanded their appetite to fund future phases.

Responding, Umahi commended the lender for its growing confidence in Nigeria’s infrastructure programme, revealing that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway had been “oversubscribed by over $100m” by investors.

He confirmed that Deutsche Bank had also indicated interest in evaluating the project cost, which he said the financiers considered undervalued, further strengthening their appetite for participation.

The minister disclosed that Carter Bridge had deteriorated so badly that replacement was now the only viable option, although remedial works were ongoing to preserve its structural integrity.

 

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Amaka Nwokeji Unveils New Women's Fashion Collection At Lekki

The founder and creative director of the Lagos-based footwear label Lhambi, Amaka Nwokeji , has introduced a new women’s collection, The Bond Edit, positioning it as an exploration of personal relationships expressed through design.

The collection was unveiled in Lagos, with guests offered a first look at the line. Actors, musicians and fashion figures attended, including Jemima Osunde, who served as the campaign muse, and singer Runtown.

Attendees viewed the shoes and took part in activities intended to reflect the event’s theme, including a foot massage session and a calligraphy station where guests wrote notes to friends and family.

Speaking at the launch, Nwokeji said the collection was designed to connect with women’s daily experiences.

“The Bond Edit is about the relationships that form us,” she said. “I wanted to create pieces that speak to comfort, confidence and identity.”

The collection features fuchsia, soft pink, red, gold, army green, espresso brown and black, produced in satin, suede, patent leather, metallic finishes and specialised leathers.

According to the designer, the range includes sculptural heels, braided straps and minimalist silhouettes. All pieces were produced in a Brazilian atelier.

Nwokeji said the line is intended to offer versatility for different settings. “These are shoes that women can wear in real moments,” she said. “Every detail reflects something personal.”

She added that the designs examine gestures of care within women’s relationships, noting that the concept shaped both the name and the presentation of the new line.

The designer, who trained as a petroleum engineer before establishing the brand, said she founded Lhambi to address what she viewed as a gap in stylish options for women who wear larger sizes. “I wanted to create a label that understands women’s needs without compromising style,” she said.

Since launching Lhambi, she has expanded the brand’s presence both locally and abroad. The Bond Edit, she said, represents a continuation of that approach. “It is important to design with intention,” she said. “The collection reflects that.”

 

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2026 Appropriation Bill Scales Through Second Reading In Lagos State Assembly

The Lagos State House of Assembly has moved the state’s proposed 2026 spending plan a step closer to passage, committing the “Budget of Shared Prosperity” to a committee for detailed scrutiny after a robust second reading debate.

The budget, earlier presented by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on November 25, 2025, is anchored on four strategic pillars: poverty eradication, a human-centred approach, enhanced infrastructure, and effective governance and is targeted at building a safer and more prosperous Lagos.

Chairman of the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, Sa’ad Olumoh, informed the chamber that the 2026 plan was designed to consolidate the developmental strides recorded since Governor Sanwo-Olu assumed office in 2019.

He stressed a commitment to completing existing projects, asserting that the budget will cover all ongoing projects so none will be moved to the next administration.

The Majority Leader, Noheem Adams, lauded the budget, stating it reflected the growing competence and capacity of Lagos State. He championed the prioritisation of capital expenditure, which he noted demonstrates responsibility and long-term planning, predicting the bill’s passage would significantly boost the state’s economy.

However, the deliberation was not without reservations. Ajomale Oladipo voiced concerns regarding the potential impact of new tax reforms on budget performance, particularly in light of the state’s recent growth in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to 70 per cent.

Several members pressed for increased allocation to specific sectors. Desmond Elliot described the ‘Budget of Shared Prosperity as one that would meet the needs of Lagosians, but urged the House to prioritise infrastructural development, specifically inner roads across communities and called for improvements in environmental sanitation.

Appealing to broader security concerns, Osafile Foluke called for increased funding for the security sector to address emerging challenges both within the state and nationally.

Further advocating for key social sectors, the Deputy Majority Leader, Adedamola Richard Kasunmu, stressed the need for thorough scrutiny of appropriation details to ensure alignment with the budget’s goals and advocated for improved funding for the education sector, citing the need to secure a better future for the state’s youth.

In a push for economic diversification, Bonu Solomon highlighted the importance of investing in tourism and infrastructural development as viable means of boosting the state’s internally generated revenue.

Following the extensive deliberation, the Y2026 Appropriation Bill was committed to the Committee on Economic Planning and Budget for further legislative action. The committee has been directed to report its findings within five weeks.

 

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Senate Orders Emergency Response As Lead Poisoning Hits Lagos, Ogun

The Senate has directed urgent medical and environmental intervention in Ogijo, a community straddling Lagos and Ogun states, following reports of widespread lead poisoning linked to battery recycling factories.

Lawmakers summoned the Ministers of Environment, Health, Solid Minerals, Labour and Employment, together with the Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), to provide updates on the crisis. The Senate described the situation as a public health emergency, citing evidence of contamination from toxic emissions affecting children, women and factory workers.

Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, who sponsored the motion alongside Senator Gbenga Daniel, warned that contamination levels in Ogijo had reached “186 times the internationally accepted safety limits.”

He said residents had reported symptoms including headaches, seizures and memory loss, consistent with long-term lead exposure.

“Children are dying slowly. Families have lived for years under poisonous smoke and dust,” Abiru told the chamber.

He noted that independent investigations had confirmed severe poisoning through blood tests and soil sampling, adding that processed lead from Ogijo had entered global supply chains. While acknowledging the closure of seven recycling factories and suspension of lead exports by the Federal Government, Abiru insisted that “exposure in the community continues to be extreme and unacceptable.”

The Senate resolved that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) should deploy medical teams to conduct toxicology screening, blood-lead testing and treatment. It also directed the Federal Ministry of Environment and NESREA to carry out remediation of soil, groundwater and household dust. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was tasked with providing relief and temporary relocation for affected families, as well as establishing a National Lead Poisoning Response and Remediation Office.

Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, recalled a similar incident in Akwa Ibom State in the 1980s, where lead contamination from a battery plant had shortened life expectancy.

“A lot of communities have suffered and died from here. We had a battery industry in my place in the 1980s. And then suddenly, we recorded a lot of deaths from the small river, because these things were just seeping into the river; it was very close to the river, and people were drinking from that same river, taking their baths from there and all sorts of things.

“And eventually, life expectancy in that community was not up to 40 years. So, of course, you know, in a rural community, people did not know that this was from lead poisoning.”

The motion was adopted by voice vote, and the Committee on Legislative Compliance was instructed to ensure full implementation of the resolutions within two months.

 

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NDLEA Intercepts The Shipment Of Illicit Drugs Disguised As Christmas Cookies And Snacks In Lagos

Luck ran out on a social media-based drug distribution network in Lagos that specialized in concealing illicit substances as imported Christmas cookies and snacks, when operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) caught up with them and dismantled their network, arresting two alleged organisers.

In a statement released today by the Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency said the syndicate, run by Deji Adesanya and Olubiyi Majekodunmi, imported consignments of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and packaged it in colourful designer sachets bearing cookie and snack labels to disguise retail quantities. The network reportedly sold and distributed the drugs through a WhatsApp platform.

“Following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 22 November 2025, raided their apartment at Ojulari Street, Ikate area of Lekki, recovering a large quantity of the designer sachets and five kilograms of Loud at the point of arrest,” the statement said.

In a separate operation on Thursday, 27 November, the agency arrested 38-year-old Philip Ucheka in Ladipo, Mushin, Lagos, while he was receiving 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 55.6 kilograms. Three delivery vehicles used for distribution were also impounded.

At a courier company in Lagos, officers intercepted 100 grams of Loud concealed inside a teddy bear imported from Thailand, while 548 capsules of tramadol hidden in Vitamin C and magnesium bottles bound for the United Kingdom were recovered from another logistics firm on 28 November.

In Oyo State, NDLEA officers on 29 November arrested 55-year-old Wasiu Kareem along the Lagos–Ibadan expressway with 8,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 590 bottles of codeine syrup, 1,500 Co-codamol pills, and 9,900 tramadol capsules.

In Ondo State, seven suspects were arrested on 24 November during a raid on the Ipe forest in Akoko South East, where 3,077 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were seized. The arrested individuals were identified as John Ede, Ede Ndubuisi, Ikenna Abe, Eze Chukwuma, Maduabuchi Odo, Nnaji Chudubem, and George Okowor.

In Kogi State, Anthony Sylvester, 49, was arrested while transporting 649 kilograms of skunk along the Okene–Lokoja highway on 26 November. Separately, NDLEA officers raided a warehouse at Ashipa, Seme border area, Badagry, Lagos on 28 November, apprehending 33-year-old Abubakar Shuaibu with 487 blocks of skunk weighing 243.5 kilograms.

Along Zaria–Kano Road in Kano, officers arrested 47-year-old Tsalha Alasan on 24 November with 137 kilograms of skunk. In Bauchi State, three suspects—Godspower Appeal, 50; Ernest Upong, 55; and Godday Chukwudi, 38—were arrested on 26 November at Fanshanu village, Toro LGA, with 322 blocks of skunk weighing 209 kilograms. A black Toyota Highlander, ABJ 533 EA, used for transportation, was also seized.

NDLEA also reported the arrest of 51-year-old John Ekojo with 210.15 kilograms of skunk along the Abuja–Jos highway. Additionally, a couple, Abdullahi Abubakar, 45, and Jamila Abdullahi, 35, were apprehended along the Abuja–Kaduna highway with 725 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed in a sack of maize. On 28 November, 20-year-old Awwal Sabiu was also arrested at the Abuja–Kaduna tollgate with 400 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

The NDLEA statement confirms that the operations reflect ongoing efforts to intercept illicit drugs and prevent their distribution both within Nigeria and internationally.

 

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How Prophet Muhammad Foretold The Infiltration Of Extremists Into Islam - Lagos Based Cleric

The Chief Imam of the DaaruNaim Central Mosque, Lagos, Sheikh Imran AbdulMajeed Eleha, speaks with ISMAEEL UTHMAN on insecurity in the north, misconceptions about Islam, and the motives driving violent groups

There are reports alleging that Islamist jihadists are attacking and killing Christians in the northern part of the country. From an Islamic perspective, what does the religion say about interfaith relationships?

It is not true that Muslims are killing Christians in the north. That said, no genuine Muslim, or any Muslim with proper understanding of the Qur’an and Sunnah, will wage war against or hurt any person, animal, or living thing on earth.

In the Holy Qur’an, Allah says He does not forbid Muslims from doing good, being kind, supportive, and warm to people of other faiths who do not wage war against them or drive them from their homes. He says He loves those who are just (Qur’an 60:8). This implies that whoever does not fight you because of religion or force you out of your home must be treated with goodness, regardless of their religion, tribe, or race.

A Muslim governor in the north must not cheat a single Christian in his state. If he does, that means the governor is not just.

If you are living with a Christian, you must not hurt him or her. You must be just to everyone. Islam even teaches us how to live peacefully with our neighbours. The Holy Prophet (SAW) narrated that Angel Jibril (Gabriel) constantly enjoined him to do good and be just to his neighbours to the extent that the Prophet thought the angel would inherit his neighbours after his death. The angel did not tell the Prophet to be good and just only to Muslims; he did not ask who was Christian or Muslim. He told the Prophet to be just to his neighbours—Muslims, Christians, Jews, and others.

The Prophet lived with Jews and others during his lifetime, and he was good to them. That is why I said no Muslim with proper understanding of Islam will wage any kind of war against people of other faiths or tribes.

Some terrorists are often heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” while killing people. “Allahu Akbar” is associated with Muslims, how do you explain this?

From time immemorial, there have been people known as Khawarij, whom the Prophet talked about. There was a man who falsely accused the Holy Prophet of being unfair in distributing resources. The Prophet asked him: “If I cannot share things justly, who else can?” Umar, one of the Prophet’s disciples, wanted to attack the man, but the Prophet cautioned him.

The Prophet then said, “A time will come when the descendants of this man will pretend to be Muslims and will kill fellow Muslims and others.” He added that they are from Hellfire and are not Muslims.

So, those who shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ while committing crimes are not Muslims but criminals. Sharia does not empower anyone to kill; it does not give any individual the right to take a life. Even when a criminal is sentenced to death, only the government carries out the punishment—not private individuals.

Anyone killing in the name of Islam is part of the Khawarij (people who unjustly wage war against government and innocent people). The Prophet even recommended that they be eliminated if apprehended. Therefore, if the government arrests any of these terrorists, they should face the full weight of the law.

Boko Haram claims that Western education is forbidden, and they have been abducting schoolchildren in the North. What is Islam’s position on Western education?

Allah did not command the Prophet to ask for anything except knowledge (Quran 20:114). All the Messengers of Allah were sent to spread knowledge. Are we limited to Islamic knowledge alone? No.

After the Battle of Badr during the Prophet’s time, he gave captured slaves a condition for freedom: they had to learn how to read and write. The slaves were freed after they fulfilled this condition. The Prophet also sponsored some of his followers to learn the languages of other nations, and when they returned, they helped him read and interpret letters from those countries.

We are enjoined to acquire knowledge of the world and its systems, and Western education is part of that. Whoever says Islam forbids Western education is ignorant. The real meaning of “Boko Haram” is the belief that whoever acquires Western education becomes a disbeliever—this is false.

We also have ISIS, ISWAP, Boko Haram, and others claiming to represent Islam. How do you respond to that?

Don’t mix things up. ISIS has a different cause. They are fighting for territorial control over parts of Syria and Iraq, under the leadership of Abubakar Baghdadi. Their activities are limited to Iraq and Syria. They are fighting for land and governance—not Islam. They do not represent Islam, and people should stop judging Islam based on their actions.

People must stop using the activities of those fighting for or against government, resources, or territorial control to judge all Muslims or the religion of Islam.

Al-Qaeda was created to wage war against Russia in support of Afghanistan at that time. Some Arab countries contributed fighters, and America also supported Afghanistan then. That is why some people accuse America of sponsoring Al-Qaeda. Those who created Al-Qaeda are now the same people calling them terrorists. The late Bin Laden even worked with America before their relationship collapsed. Al-Qaeda does not fight for Islam and does not represent Islam.

What about Boko Haram?

The Boko Haram sect has a very hard ideology that contradicts what Islam represents and teaches. They have been in existence since the 1980s. Originally, they were farmers and fishermen living deep inside the bush, far away from towns. They chose to remain in the bush because they had been misled by some clerics. They believed that no genuine Muslim should live in the town because of their ideology.

The question is: Who brought them back to town? It is the politicians who used them for elections. The politicians should explain why they brought them out and why they failed to honour the agreement between them. The crisis between the politicians and Boko Haram started when there was a breach of agreement, and they began killing one another. How is that an Islamic or Muslim affair? There are many political matters that people are wrongly presenting as Islamic or Muslim issues. Let me say clearly that the insecurity ravaging the country is political, not religious.

That aside, we even have Christians among Boko Haram members who were later arrested by the government. That means different sets of people have hijacked Boko Haram. Is a pastor who buries people inside his church not a Christian? Is a pastor sleeping with church members not a Christian? But do they represent Christianity? No.

The issue of banditry is another thing entirely. For a long time, we have had the typical Fulani and Bororo herders. The Fulani have lived peacefully with us for many years; they don’t graze on people’s farms, and they have settlements. But the Bororo are not like that. Now we have herders being identified as bandits. Banditry is not an Islamic issue. In fact, the majority of those killed by bandits are Muslims. It is wrong to claim the killings are targeted at Christians.

Just a few days ago, the bandits killed a leader of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria. Those who were killed in five villages in Kwara are mostly Muslims. The people killed by herdsmen in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, are also Muslims. It has nothing to do with Islam.

What could be the motive of the bandits?

Only those committing the crimes can clearly state their aims and objectives. They are being sponsored by some godfathers. Is it possible for them to spend the money they raised from kidnapping inside the bush? No. They are working for people who are living large in the towns. What will a bandit in the bush do with N50m? They are obviously collecting the money for their sponsors.

If you examine the areas being terrorised by bandits and terrorists, you will notice that these places have mineral resources. Why are they stationed in locations with resources? Why are they not in riverine areas? That is another angle to it.

How can the situation be brought under control?

The government should get to the root of the matter. The government should go after the sponsors of banditry and terrorism. Only then will peace return to the country.

It has the capacity to end this crisis. The government should also allow both Muslim and Christian clerics to deliver sermons to the people. Sermons soften the heart, and they can discourage people from joining bandits.

Culled from the Punch Newspapers 

 

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How Over 40 Armed Thugs Demolished A N500 Million Bakery In Surulere

A baker, Fuller Cheng, whose bakery is located at 24 Olufemi Road, Surulere, has cried out for justice and restitution after suspected hoodlums allegedly invaded the premises and demolished the property.

Cheng told newsmen that staff members on duty during the invasion were attacked with weapons before the hoodlums pulled down the bungalow and destroyed newly purchased equipment funded through loans and seed capital.

At the scene of the incident, various bakery machines could be seen buried under piles of rubble.

Speaking through tears, Cheng said the destroyed property and equipment were worth over N500m.

He said, “This is my bakery. We have prospects. When things were going well, somebody organised over 40 armed thugs. That day was bleak and terrifying for all of us.

“We had staff members on the morning shift slicing and bagging bread. They stormed the premises with machetes; others came with guns and shoved the security aside.

“They started beating my people and demolishing the building while my workers were still inside. It is the grace of God that we are not talking about homicide today—people could have died inside.”

He added that the attackers even looted the building’s gate after attempting, as he put it, “to beat us and build on top of our dead bodies.”

“I want the full course of the law to run. I need protection. I have lost property worth over N500m—brand-new rotary ovens, brand-new mixers, and more. I want restitution. I want justice.

“How could they vanish after doing all this? I want every one of them apprehended. Since the demolition, we have been unable to produce. We are bleeding money.

Most of the funds were seed capital, and I took loans to build this business. How am I supposed to pay them back? ”

Cheng’s lawyer, Chris Johnson, maintained that his client holds a valid tenancy that runs until 2028.

He explained that earlier in the year, an individual appeared with a lawyer claiming to be the new owner, even though the landlord had not communicated any change, and Cheng’s tenancy agreement remained in force.

According to him, the next development was a seven-day quit notice, followed by court processes to which they responded. However, while the matter was still pending in court, the thugs allegedly moved in to demolish the bakery and destroy the equipment.

He said, “This business employs no less than 15–20 staff. Their daily turnover runs into millions of naira. They invaded without lawful authority. The law protects the weak and the poor, yet they came here knowing fully well that the tenancy remains valid till 2028.

“They first served a quit notice, which we responded to, and the case is pending in court. In the middle of all this, they went behind the court and carried out this barbaric act. Thank God for the swift response of the Nigerian police, who came and arrested the masterminds.

“They were arrested at the scene, in the act. No Lagos State government official was present. The first thing the attackers did was remove the cameras to avoid being seen.”

However, speaking on behalf of the former landlord, a legal practitioner, Olawale Fakunle, told journalists that they were shocked by the demolition.

“The property has been sold to a new owner. Whatever happened regarding the premises, we are not involved, we were not aware, and we had no hand in it. We had already instituted an action in court before the incident.

“The individuals occupying the property were not the actual tenants of the previous landlord. The real tenant had sublet the premises without the landlord’s knowledge. It was when the landlord decided to sell that he discovered the illegal subletting.

“The new owner wanted immediate possession, so we held meetings with the real tenant, and they agreed the illegal occupants would vacate on a certain date. But they kept breaking their promises.

“It was in the midst of this that we heard someone had gone to demolish the place. The police are already investigating. It shocked us. We couldn’t have authorised something like this.”

Disputes over demolitions and land ownership remain a recurring issue in Lagos, often involving tenants, landlords, property buyers, and, at times, state authorities.

 

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Packaged Water In Lagos, Oyo And Osun Polluted With Toxic Chemicals - New Study

A study by Dr Otitoju Beulah, a member of the African Centre of Excellence for Water and Environmental Research and a researcher at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, has raised fresh concerns about the quality of drinking water available to Nigerian households.

The study, with samples taken from major and minor waterbodies in Osun, Oyo and Lagos states, indicated alarmingly high concentrations of industrial pollutants and pharmaceutical residues in both surface and groundwater sources, with levels spiking during the rainy season.

Otitoju made her research findings known in a statement.

The research, she noted, revealed the presence of these pollutants in rivers, streams, wells, boreholes, tap water, as well as in packaged water.

Otitoju’s research pointed out that infants and toddlers are particularly vulnerable, facing higher risks of non-carcinogenic effects when consuming water from these contaminated sources.

Her findings further indicated that while the pollutants pose risks to adults, infants and toddlers face significantly higher vulnerability due to their lower body weight and higher water intake relative to their size.

“My recent study, published in international journals, shed light on pollutants that most people have never heard of but may be consuming daily. One such study examined dihydroxybenzenes, compounds like catechol and hydroquinone, commonly linked to industrial pollutants and pharmaceutical waste,” she said.

“My team’s fieldwork across major and minor waterbodies in Osun, Oyo, and Lagos States indicated alarmingly high concentrations of these chemicals in both surface and groundwater sources, with levels spiking during the rainy season. These sources include but are not limited to rivers, streams, springs, wells, boreholes, tap water and most shockingly, packaged water.

“These compounds don’t just threaten human health. They also negatively affect aquatic life, impacting the natural order of ecosystems that people depend on for food and livelihood.”

Beyond chemical contamination, the study also highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s poor waste management system on bacterial pollution.

Beulah linked the problem to rapid urbanisation, inadequate regulation and limited public awareness about proper waste disposal practices.

She noted that the absence of strong regulatory enforcement allows harmful effluents to seep into water sources that communities rely on for drinking and cooking.

She advocated affordable water treatment solutions for families to protect themselves, including agricultural-waste filters, modified sand filters and solar disinfection units.

These methods, she stated, offer practical, low-cost options suited to local conditions.

 

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