2027 Lagos Governorship Race: Femi Gbajabiamila, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Wale Edun Throw Their Weight Behind Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Senator representing Lagos East, Tokunbo Abiru; and former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, have endorsed the governorship aspiration of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, ahead of the 2027 election.

Hamzat, who is intensifying consultations across key political blocs, visited the trio at their residences, where they unanimously backed his ambition, describing him as well-positioned to sustain the state’s development trajectory beyond the tenure of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Abiru said the consultations reflected the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s values of unity and discipline, expressing confidence in Hamzat’s capacity to govern the state. “You have our full support,” he stated.

Edun described the engagements as a demonstration of grassroots democracy, noting that such consultations remain vital in a democratic system. He endorsed Hamzat’s bid, citing his experience and competence, and urged him to prioritise poverty reduction and economic growth. Edun also commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.

Gbajabiamila, in his remarks, affirmed his support for Hamzat, attesting to his competence and leadership qualities. He said: “There is no doubt that Lagos is in safe hands. Dr Hamzat, you are a man of honour. You can take my support for granted. My constituency, Surulere, is for you, and Lagos is for you.”

Meanwhile, in Badagry Division, Hamzat received widespread endorsement from political and community leaders during a consultative visit, where he also unveiled the “City Boy Movement,” a group aimed at strengthening APC’s political base in Lagos and beyond.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Chairman of the group, Joseph Bamgbose, called for greater inclusion of Badagry indigenes in the state’s civil service, particularly at senior levels, as well as increased representation in appointive positions.

A traditional ruler, Oba Sejiro Olamilekan James, pledged support for Hamzat’s candidacy and appealed for government intervention in completing a community chalet and improving infrastructure in the area.

In his vote of thanks, Senator Ganiyu Solomon assured stakeholders that a Hamzat-led administration would give due consideration to the requests raised.

  

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Dangote Refinery's Expansion To Generate Employment For 95,000 Skilled Workers

The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has announced that the expansion of the Dangote Refinery to a production capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day will generate employment for no fewer than 95,000 skilled workers at the peak of construction.

Dangote disclosed this at the weekend in Lagos during his induction as an honorary fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, describing the project as a major milestone in Nigeria’s industrial transformation.

According to him, the expansion underscores the group’s continued commitment to engineering excellence, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.

“This award is particularly meaningful because it recognises what we are doing in the industry, especially our commitment to employing engineers and skilled professionals. At the peak of construction for this expansion, we expect to have about 95,000 skilled workers on site, and we will continue to grow,” Dangote said.

Upon completion, Dangote said the expanded refinery will surpass the Jamnagar refinery in India to become the largest refinery in the world, significantly strengthening Nigeria’s refining capacity.

Dangote noted that the project would rely heavily on Nigerian expertise, creating substantial opportunities for engineers, technicians, artisans, and other skilled professionals.

He added that the expansion reflects the group’s long-term vision for industrialisation in Nigeria and across Africa.

Beyond employment generation, the refinery said the expansion is expected to stimulate local manufacturing, enhance technology transfer, and deepen Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.

It will also improve fuel security, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products, and deliver significant foreign exchange savings for the Nigerian economy.

“The scale of this expansion reflects our confidence in Nigerian capacity and our belief that Africa has the ability to build world-class infrastructure that meets global standards,” Dangote stated.

In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Prof. Rahamon Bello, described the honour as well-deserved, noting that Dangote’s impact transcends physical infrastructure.

“What makes this recognition fitting is not only what has been built but also what has been inspired. Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s journey continues to motivate a new generation of engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators to think boldly, act decisively, and believe in the immense possibilities within our continent,” Bello said.

From the current 650,000 bpd, Dangote plans to scale up the refinery over three years.

  

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Drug Trafficking: Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of Okota Mansion

Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of a property located at 14, Okechukwu Madueke Street, Star-Times Estate, Okota, over its alleged link to proceeds of drug trafficking.

The order was made on Thursday in Suit No. FHC/L/MISC/1342/2025, following an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Moving the application, NDLEA counsel Ibrahim Abu, a commander of narcotics, told the court that the motion was brought pursuant to relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.

He said the application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by Okonkwo Ebuka Anthony, a litigation officer in the NDLEA’s Prosecution and Legal Services Unit at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Strategic Command.

“The property sought to be forfeited is reasonably believed to have been derived from unlawful activities, to wit: drug trafficking,” Abu submitted.

He further informed the court that an interim preservation order had earlier been granted on December 10, 2025, and published in a national newspaper in compliance with the law.

“The said order was advertised in PUNCH Newspapers of December 18, 2025,” he said. “Since that publication, no individual or entity has come forward to lay claim to or show interest in the property.”

According to him, the absence of any objection or claim reinforced the agency’s position that the property was liable to final forfeiture.

In a supporting affidavit, the deponent traced the investigation to the arrest of a freight agent on February 10, 2024, with 49.70 kilograms of heroin concealed in cutting machines.

“That in the course of investigation, one Chidibest Ibewuike was identified as a member of the drug trafficking syndicate,” the affidavit stated. “He has since remained at large, and all efforts to apprehend him have proved abortive.”

The affidavit further linked the property to the suspect, noting that “the property is reasonably suspected to belong to the said Chidibest Ibewuike and to have been acquired from proceeds of drug trafficking.”

It added that investigations at the Lagos State Lands Bureau failed to establish registered ownership of the property.

“Investigations at the office of the Registrar of Titles did not reveal the ownership of the property,” the deponent averred. “No objection or interest has been shown by any person since the publication of the interim forfeiture order.”

Granting the application, Justice Kakaki held that the NDLEA had complied with all statutory requirements and established its case on a balance of probabilities.

“The applicant has satisfied the requirements of the law. There being no contest to the interim order and sufficient evidence linking the property to unlawful activities, the application for final forfeiture succeeds,” the judge ruled.

The court consequently ordered that the property be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria as proceeds of drug trafficking.

  

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Lagos Partners Generating Companies To Boost Electricity Supply In The State

The Lagos State Government has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with three electricity generating companies as part of efforts to improve power supply across the state.

The agreement was signed at the Lagos House, Marina, in the presence of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Abiodun Ogunleye, signing on behalf of the state.

The firms involved include Mainland Power Limited, Akute Independent Power Plant and Fenchurch Power Limited, with the latter joining as a new partner.

Speaking after the signing, Sanwo-Olu urged all parties to uphold the terms of the agreement, stressing the need for commitment and professionalism to ensure the success of the projects.

“This agreement is about the people and how easily we can solve problems. Let’s keep promises from both sides. When people benefit, it makes life easier. This is the beginning of reforms we are seeing in the energy sector,” the governor said.

Ogunleye described the deal as a strategic move to boost power generation and revitalise dormant assets, adding that it would provide reliable electricity to residents.

According to him, the three companies currently have a combined generation capacity of about 60 megawatts (MW), which is projected to scale up to between 200MW and 400MW within the next two to three years.

He noted that the expansion would be achieved through competitive market operations without placing additional financial burden on the state.

The commissioner explained that Mainland Power Limited, which operates the Ikeja GRA plant, has an installed capacity of 8.8MW and a contracted capacity of 5.8MW, supplying electricity to areas from Ikeja to Oshodi, including critical infrastructure such as the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA).

He added that the Akute Independent Power Plant, now to be managed by Fenchurch Power Limited, has a contracted capacity of 26MW and is being repositioned as a major energy hub.

The plant, which had been dormant for about five years, is undergoing rehabilitation and upgrade and is expected to supply power to surrounding communities, including the Adiyan Water Works.

For the Island axis, Ogunleye said the Island Power Limited/Peninsula Integrated Power Project, operated by Viathan Engineering, has a combined installed capacity of 21MW, comprising 6MW in Lekki and 15MW in Marina.

He said the facility would provide electricity to key public infrastructure, including the Lagos State Government House, the Deputy Governor’s residence, Lagos Island General Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital.

The partner companies commended the Sanwo-Olu administration for its infrastructure drive, noting that the initiative sends positive signals to investors about Lagos as a viable destination for energy sector investment.

  

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Mixed Compliance Meets Return Of Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise

Mixed reactions greeted the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Lagos State on Saturday, as many residents complied with movement restrictions but recorded limited participation in cleanup activities.

The Lagos State Government recently reinstated the exercise, scheduled for the last Saturday of every month between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., as part of efforts to promote a cleaner and healthier environment.

Commercial activities were largely suspended across parts of the state as residents observed the restriction order. However, active participation in sanitation efforts remained low in several communities.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the exercise in Iyana-Ipaja and Alaguntan/Alimosho areas, observed that shops and businesses remained closed in compliance with government directives.

While some residents cleaned their surroundings, many stayed indoors throughout the exercise.

In spite of the restriction, a few food vendors operated within the Iyana-Ipaja market and nearby motor parks, selling to travellers and passengers waiting for movement restrictions to be lifted.

At several parks in Iyana-Ipaja, commuters were seen waiting patiently to continue their journeys, while some had already boarded buses ahead of the reopening of roads.

The usually busy Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at Iyana-Ipaja appeared unusually quiet, with only minimal activity recorded. Some youths, however, took advantage of the reduced traffic to play football on the road.

Most residents remained indoors, with only a handful observed clearing gutters and cleaning their immediate surroundings.

Officials of the BRT monitoring and enforcement team were deployed to ensure compliance and maintain order.

  

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POETRY: If A Pensioner Drops Dead By Dumbiri Frank Eboh

If A Pensioner Drops Dead

 

If a pensioner drops dead

Under the weight of waiting in Africa

His blood is somewhere in Europe

Buying Big and flashy mansions.

 

If a car somersaults

By a yawning pot-hole

Innocent blood flows free

To feed the minister’s great great grand children.

 

We have come to the thick of the jungle

Where heavenly rays rarely penetrate

Irokos and obeches rivalling for dominance

While poor shrubs struggle to reach sunrays

As the gods wave their evil wands

Teeth of inhumanity biting deeper and deeper

Into the fragile skin of feeble conscience.

 

From Ethiopia to Namibia

From Angola to Nigeria

Children of Cush have tasted alama

And now can no longer sleep.

 

So if your brother finally gives up the ghost

Because doctors are again on strike

Is his blood not somewhere

Fueling someone’s private jet?

 

If Millions and Millions starve to death

Across the length and breadth of Africa

Is their blood not stored in Western vaults

Erecting factories across Europe?

 

Copyright: Dumbiri Frank Eboh

 

  

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Bishop Oyedepo Dares Kidnappers: "If You Are Kidnapped, Just Call Me" He Tells Congregation

    Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has stirred fresh controversy after asking members to hand his phone number to abductors if they are kidnapped.

He said he has the spiritual authority to secure their release.

Speaking during a service at Canaanland, the cleric told worshippers not to panic in the face of abduction but to direct kidnappers to contact him.

“If anybody picks you, give them my number,” he told the congregation in a sermon that later circulated widely on social media.

The comment, delivered in a message tagged SupersonicSunday, quickly gained traction online, drawing attention amid persistent concerns over kidnapping across the country.

Oyedepo anchored the unusual instruction on what he described as previous interventions involving abducted church members.

Recounting one incident, he said a pastor linked to the church was kidnapped and the abductors allowed communication with him.

According to him, he warned the kidnappers to release the victim or face death within 24 hours, after which the captive was freed.

In another account, he spoke of a female church member who, while in captivity, declared by faith she would regain freedom by 7am.

He claimed the woman was later released after what he described as unusual developments among her captors.

The cleric said such experiences were evidence that his members possessed spiritual authority over fear and violence.

“You have been raised far above the devil,” he said, while urging members to confront threats with faith rather than terror.

Oyedepo further maintained that members of the church carry the same spiritual force and should learn to exercise it.

His remarks come at a time when kidnapping for ransom remains a major security challenge in parts of Nigeria, with religious leaders, traditional rulers and communities increasingly speaking on the crisis.

While the sermon was delivered as a message of faith and confidence to worshippers, its viral circulation has placed it at the center of public discussion over insecurity and the role of religious conviction in confronting violent crime.

  

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Woman Who Failed To Return N2k Mistakenly Paid Into Her Account Gets Bail Of Half A Million Naira

As Lagosians are confronted with the increasing incidents of people refusing to return money mistakenly paid into their bank account, the attention of the banking public has been drawn to a developing story from nearby Oyo state in which a woman is facing criminal charges for the same reason, and has been granted bail in the sum of half a million naira. A 40 – year-old woman, identified as Isoken Idunueko was on Friday arraigned on a one-count charge of theft for failing to return N2, 040 mistakenly sent to her bank account from a third party.

Idunueko was arraigned before Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ court in Ibadan

The prosecutor, ASP Foluke Adedosu, told the court that the defendant in February at Oke – Itunu, Mokola area, Ibadan, stole N2, 040, which was mistakenly sent to her Zenith Bank account No: 2111699080.

Adedosu alleged that she refused to return the money back to the owner when the complainant, Sandra Okwueze l, contacted her.

She said the offence contravened section 383 and punishable under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.

The defendant, who lives in Elebu area, Ibadan, is charged with theft.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs A. T. Oyediji admitted her to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Oyediji said one of the sureties must be landed property owner who lived in the house.

She, thereafter, adjourned the matter until June 2, for hearing.

The case has sparked nationwide interest, especially in Lagos state, where cases of people refusing to return money mistakenly paid into their accounts, are a regular occurrence.

  

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Blood Is Not Thicker Than My Peace - Peter Okoye

Singer Peter Okoye dismissed claims that women caused the renewed dispute within the Okoye family, linking the rift to long-standing disagreements over loyalty, trust, and the management of their music business.

In a series of posts on X, the former P-Square member said the issues began more than 20 years ago and predate the family’s marriages.

“Before you drag any woman into this! No woman directed or advised anyone to steal from what I worked for over the years. Stop pushing that narrative to suit your agenda. None of us were even married 20-something years ago when this whole betrayal and stealing started! I said what I said.”

He rejected public narratives tying women to the breakdown. Okoye said he set boundaries to protect his well-being and mental health.

“Even if my parents were alive and supported this kind of betrayal, I’d still choose to step back, cut them off, and protect my peace. Boundaries are necessary! Blood isn’t thicker than my peace of mind.”

He confirmed the dispute remains unresolved and is before the court.

“Now that I’ve uncovered the betrayal that has been going on for over 20 years plus, suddenly we’re blood? No… it doesn’t work like that. We are still in court,” he said.

P-Square, comprising Peter and Paul Okoye, first split in 2017 after disagreements over management control, finances, and creative direction.

The duo reunited in 2021, but tensions resurfaced over financial transparency and control of their music catalogue.

The dispute involves the brothers and their elder brother, Jude Okoye. Jude faces prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged money laundering and diversion of royalties, which he denies.

The case is before the Lagos State High Court and has been adjourned to May 15, 2026.

Recent court proceedings include Peter Okoye’s disclosure that he is a co-signatory to the Northside Entertainment Limited account.

Okoye said the situation has been painful, but boundaries became necessary.

“Yes, it’s painful. And yes, it’s my loss. But no one should keep reminding me that I was betrayed and used by my own blood for over 20 years plus,” he added.  

  

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Lagos Seals Off Toilets For Discharging Untreated matter And Raw Sewage Into Canals And Public Drains

The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office has sealed off two public toilets in Surulere and Lagos Island for discharging untreated faecal matter and raw sewage into canals and public drains.

A statement issued by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on X said, ”The first toilet, located at No. 68, Jinadu Street, Surulere, was sealed for discharging untreated faecal matter into the canal, thereby polluting the environment.”

He noted that the second toilet, situated at Marina under Bridge, Lagos Island, was sealed for the deliberate discharge of raw sewage and untreated wastewater into public drains using a pumping machine.

The act was described as constituting a public nuisance, environmental pollution and endangering human health.

“The Lagos State Government enjoins residents to adopt proper wastewater management and hygiene practices to support public health and promote environmental sustainability, as any act of environmental nuisance will attract appropriate sanctions and possible prosecution,” the statement added.

The development has drawn reactions on X, where many Lagos residents welcomed the enforcement.

Commenting on Wahab’s post, Umeh, who tweets as #UmehWrites, described it as a “good move” and called for sustained inspections and publication of approved toilet locations to make hygienic facilities easily accessible.

Another individual, #AlliOlabisi5, urged the government to “seal everything up and prosecute the offenders to the fullest extent of the law,” while others commended the commissioner for assuring a cleaner Lagos through consistent action.

The LSWMO has intensified enforcement against illegal wastewater discharge across the state in recent months, sealing several properties and facilities in areas such as Surulere, Amuwo Odofin, Victoria Island and Lekki for similar violations.

 

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