I'm Not The Problem Of Liverpool - Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah has accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after being left out of the starting lineup for the third game running as the champions drew at Leeds, saying he has been made a scapegoat for the poor start to the season and casting severe doubt on his future at the club.

“I can’t believe … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egypt international said. “The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I’m very, very disappointed. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why.

“It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.” He refused to specify who that person was.

Salah has been leading scorer in the Premier League four times and was both the Professional Footballers’ Association’s and the Football Writers’ Association’s player of the year last season as he helped Liverpool to his and their second Premier League triumph. But he suggested next week’s home league game against Brighton could be his last for the club. He will join up with the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after that and he gave a strong hint that he could leave Liverpool in the January transfer window.

“I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship,” Salah said after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw at Elland Road on Saturday. “I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.

“This club, I always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much I will always do. I called my mum yesterday – you guys [journalists] didn’t know if I would start or not, but I knew. Yesterday I said [to my mum]: ‘Come to the Brighton game. I don’t know if I am going to play or not but I am going to enjoy it.’ In my head, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what is going to happen now. I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go the Africa Cup. I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”

Asked directly if he thought that the Brighton fixture at Anfield next Saturday would be his last for Liverpool, he replied: “In football you never know. I don’t accept this situation. I have done so much for this club.”

Salah has scored only four Premier League goals this season, one of those a penalty, and has been widely criticised for his lack of defensive work as Liverpool have endured a stuttering start to their title defence. But he is clearly hurt that he is taking the blame for their poor form and feels the club have let him down after he agreed a two-year contract extension in the spring.

“I got a lot of promises and so far I am on the bench for three games so I can’t say they have kept the promise,” he said. “It is not acceptable for me. I don’t know why this is happening to me. I don’t get it. I think if this was somewhere else, every club would protect its player. How I see it now is like: ‘You throw Mo under the bus because he is the problem in the team now.’ But I don’t think I am the problem. I have done so much for this club.

“The respect, I want to get. I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. I am not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. It’s football. It is what it is. I am top goalscorer, best player, winning the league in such a style, but I am the one who has to defend himself in front of the media and fans.

“After what I have done for the club it really hurts. You can imagine, really. After going from home to the club and you don’t know if you are starting. I know the club too well, I have been here many years. Tomorrow [the Sky pundit Jamie] Carragher is going to go for me again and again and that’s fine.”

Salah did not feature in the win at West Ham last Sunday but came off the bench at half-time in the draw against Sunderland on Wednesday. However, he did not make an appearance at Elland Road, a situation he clearly finds extremely frustrating. “I have been at this club, scoring more than anyone in this generation, since I came to the Premier League. If I was somewhere else, everybody would go to the media and defend the players. I am the only one in this situation. Can I give an example?

“It’s silly but I am sorry. I remember a while ago, Harry Kane was not scoring for 10 games, and everyone in the media was like: ‘Oh, Harry will score for sure.’ When it comes to Mo everyone is like: ‘He needs to be on the bench.’”

There has been consistent interest from the Saudi Pro League for several months, but Salah would not be drawn on whether that was his likely destination. “I don’t want to answer this question,” he said, “because the club is going to take me to a different direction.”

Did he regret signing the new contract? “Imagine how bad I feel that I have to answer it, honestly,” he said. “That hurts, even the question hurts. This club, signing for this club, I will never regret it. I thought I’m going to renew here and end my career here, but this is not according to the plan, so I’m not regretting signing for the club for sure.

“Somehow it will end but the thing in my head is like: ‘Why it should end this way?’ Because I am too fit, just five months ago I was just winning every individual award so why should it go this direction?”

 

Read More

Why I Am Married But Not Living With My Husband - Popular Gospel Artist, Shola Allyson

Popular Nigerian gospel artiste Shola Allyson has revealed that she is not currently living with her husband.

The 54-year-old singer made the disclosure during an interview on Oyinmomo TV while speaking about her love life.

Allyson, who rose to fame with her hit love-themed album Eji Owuro, said that although she is married, she and her husband do not live together.

“I’m married, but I’m not in my husband’s house. We live separately,” she said.

When asked by the interviewer, “You sang ‘Eji Owuro’, did you experience genuine love from your husband?”

Shola Allyson responded, saying her marital journey did not reflect the romantic expectations she once believed in.

“We lied before. Those older than us didn’t inform us that it’s tough. They made us believe that so long as you both love each other, you will live happily ever after, but it’s a lie. That’s not the experience I have. I didn’t have the experience of living happily ever after. I did all I could to make it work,” she said.

 

Read More

Stop Pressurizing Me To Get Married, Nollywood Star Actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday Cries Out

Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday has expressed her frustration over online strangers who pressure her to get married. The actress shared her experience during an interview on The Honest Bunch Podcast, where she opened up about her past, family background, and why she refuses to succumb to marriage pressure from the public.

Speaking about her upbringing, she said, “I have never dated anyone who has been violent toward me. I can say for a fact that my father used to hit my mum, but that didn’t make me feel like any man should hit me.”

She went on to recount a difficult relationship from younger years. “Even though one of my exes when I was growing up used to beat me—his name is Valentine. My mum would lock him up at the police station. And when she did, I would go there and tell the police, ‘It’s because my mother wants me to leave him for another man, that’s why she locked him up,’ even though it wasn’t true.”

According to her, her mother always took a firm stance. “The police would call my mum, and she would tell them, ‘Lock am join there.’ Before you know it, play-play, they would lock me too.”

She added that her mother was a strong-willed woman who believed no one should force marriage on her. “Do you know who my mother was? I would stay in the cell for two days, and on the third day, she would come herself and ask them to release us. She would say, ‘Leave man.’ Before she died, she never pressured me to get married.”

Nkechi stressed that marriage pressure has never come from her family but from outsiders who have no connection to her. “I didn’t come from that kind of family. It’s only these online people that are not related to me that will be telling me to go and marry. Like you’re my father or mother.”

 

Read More

Ambulance Conveying Pregnant Woman On Oxygen Support Crashes At Maryland

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has arrested a yet-to-be-identified ambulance driver who left a delivery motorcyclist with a limb fracture, during a traffic incident on the Odo Iya-Alaro Bridge inward Maryland along Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

This was disclosed today, in a Monday statement by Lagos State Traffic Management Agency spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq.

According to Taofiq, the accident was caused by lingering traffic disruptions from an earlier truck fire at the same location.

“Preliminary security investigations at the scene revealed that the unfortunate occurrence was catalyzed by the residual disruptions following a truck inferno earlier in the morning at the same location.

“The aftermath of the fire incident had engendered a severe slow traffic impasse along the entire Ikorodu Road axis,” the statement partly read.

The agency reported that the private ambulance involved was transporting a pregnant woman dependent on oxygen support when the accident occurred.

“Amid the protracted slow vehicular movements, a private ambulance (BED 508 EA) conveying a pregnant woman dependent on oxygen support recklessly elected to traverse against traffic (one-way) at an imprudent and perilous speed.

“This dangerous manoeuvre culminated in a forceful collision with a delivery motorcyclist legitimately navigating his designated lane, instantly inflicting a grave and excruciating fracture to his right knee,” the statement added.

Taofiq stated that emergency response teams acted swiftly to assist the victims.

“The pregnant woman, along with her life-support apparatus, was safely transloaded into one LASAMBUS ambulance, while the second conveyed the severely injured motorcyclist to the nearest medical facility for immediate treatment,” LASTMA confirmed.

It was stated that the driver of the private ambulance was apprehended at the scene and handed over to law enforcement for further investigation.

“The driver of the private ambulance was apprehended on-site by LASTMA Officials and subsequently handed over to operatives of the Ogudu Police Division for comprehensive interrogation and potential prosecution in accordance with extant laws,” the statement said.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, also reaffirmed the agency’s stance on traffic safety.

“LASTMA has an uncompromising zero-tolerance posture towards the dangerous and unlawful act of driving against traffic,” he said.

 

Read More

Dawn Accidents At Otedola And Third Mainland Bridges Claim Two Lives

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has warned motorists against reckless driving after two separate accidents claimed two lives and left two others critically injured in the early hours of today, Monday, December 8, 2025.

According to a statement issued by the agency today, the first incident occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on Otedola Bridge inward Berger along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway when an unregistered vehicle carrying two occupants collided with a heavily laden trailer while travelling at high speed. Both occupants died instantly, while the trailer driver fled the scene with the vehicle.

LASTMA’s night-duty team responded to the incident, evacuating the bodies from the carriageway and removing the wrecked vehicle to prevent secondary accidents. Officers from the Isheri Police Division provided security support, while personnel from the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit moved the remains in line with official procedures.

A second accident occurred at about 5:00 a.m. on the Third Mainland Bridge, near the UNILAG waterfront inward Lagos Island.

The crash involved an empty tanker and a pure-water distribution van with registration number SMK 67 XH. Two persons sustained serious injuries. Emergency responders from the Lagos State Ambulance Service administered first aid before conveying the victims to a health facility for further treatment.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, extended condolences to the families of the deceased.

He stated that the accidents underscored the consequences of excessive speeding and disregard for traffic regulations. “The tragic loss of life was preventable,” he said, stressing the need for strict adherence to speed limits prescribed by the government.

Bakare-Oki also commended the LASTMA night teams for what he described as diligence and prompt response. He noted that the Agency would maintain its 24-hour monitoring and traffic management operations across Lagos into the new year, in line with the state government’s commitment to public safety and orderly movement.

operations would continue across the state. He said the Lagos State Government remained committed to public safety and orderly mobility.

The accidents have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations in Lagos, where authorities continue to battle the consequences of speeding and dangerous driving on major highways.

 

Read More

Lagos Getting Set For "Detty December"

The hotels are booked, and final preparations for the festivals and concerts are underway, as Lagos prepares for “Detty December”, Nigeria’s end-of-year frenzy.

Nigerians and tourists alike, especially members of the country’s massive diaspora, descend on the megacity annually to visit family and friends and observe the holidays — and party.

Never mind the recent state of emergency declared by the government last month over mass kidnappings in the north and centre of the country, or the brutal inflation that has squeezed the country for two years: in Lagos, the anchor of southern Nigeria and the nation’s economic capital, the music will be bumping and the drinks flowing.

A cultural staple, it’s also a crucial cash cow, raking in millions of dollars for the tourism, restaurant, and hotel sectors.

“I’ll call it a cultural pilgrimage,” Deola Art Alade, an events organiser who, with her husband, trademarked the phrase “Detty December” in 2019 and put together an annual festival mixing concerts, food, and clubbing events.

“Detty”, in Nigerian Pidgin English, is derived from “dirty” — calling to mind the, at times, wild and non-stop festivities that arise as the city swells past its normal 20-million or so residents.

– Millions in revenue –

Amid the street parties and high-profile concerts, the government is trying to take advantage of the annual homecoming by partnering with the Art Alades’ festival.

“Together we are moving Detty December from a social trend to a structured national asset,” declared Culture Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa.

Last year, the Lagos state authorities estimated that the month’s various festivities brought in some $71.5 million in government revenue, including $44 million just from the hotel sector.

That sum was welcome amid the country’s biting economic crisis, which saw inflation topping 30 percent throughout 2024.

Buoyed by the end-of-year tradition’s growth, the government this year promoted a “101 Days in Lagos” culture and tourism initiative, which has seen the last three months filled with exhibitions, conventions and festivals leading up to a “Detty December” finale.

– ‘Africa’s real summer’ –

It’s “Africa’s real summer”, Deola Art Alade’s husband Darey told AFP, and there’s evidence its popularity is expanding internationally beyond the traditional diaspora.

“People are coming to see their families, they’re bringing their friends,” Darey said, describing a “Dirty December fever”.

“This year, we have a lot of Americans living in America, you know, Black Americans now looking at coming out here and paying for packages, just to have a different kind of experience,” Iyadunni Gbadebo, sales director for Eko Hotels & Suites, told AFP.

For the hotel — Lagos’s biggest, with some 825 rooms and nine restaurants and bars — December represents some 15 to 20 percent of annual revenues.

People start booking rooms as early as July, and the hotel fills up by November.

As expected in Lagos, awash in both oil wealth and informal slums, the prices can be eye-watering: weekly packages for a family of four can range between eight and 13 million naira — $5,500 to $9,000, depending on the room.

But the ultimate holiday gift each year is the concert line-up, with globe-trotting Afrobeats stars as keen as their countrymen to take part in the homecoming.

This year, Asake and Davido are set to perform on Christmas Eve and Christmas, respectively.

Tickets are about four times the monthly minimum wage of 70,000 naira ($50).

 

Read More

RCCG Youth Province Spends N40 Million On Free Transportation For Lagosians

The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Youth Province 1, in partnership with other youth provinces across Lagos, has reportedly spent N40m on its free-bus-to-work initiative, which provided morning and evening transportation for commuters across the state.

Youth Province 1 disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that this year’s edition ran from November 24 to December 5.

According to the statement, the morning routes covered RCCG Jesus Palace (Festac) to CMS; Oworonshoki to CMS; Redemption City to 7UP; Redemption City to Sagamu; Redemption City to Trinity Towers (VI); Redemption City to Agege; and Ikorodu to Maryland. Free return trips were provided in the evenings.

The church explained that the programme, now in its second year, was introduced to cushion the effects of rising living costs and the strain of daily transportation on Nigerians.

The statement added, “Rising living costs without a commensurate increase in income have become the daily reality for many Nigerians.

“One such significant burden is transportation — a challenge that Youth Province 1 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in partnership with other youth provinces across Lagos, is addressing by providing free transportation to and from work.”

This year, about 10 long yellow buses were deployed, conveying hundreds of commuters daily.

Speaking on the initiative, the Pastor-in-Charge of Youth Province 1, Pastor Oluwagbemileke Adeboye, said the church embarked on the project to ease pressure on residents.

Adeboye said, “This initiative is our way of lending a hand to people. We did it last year and witnessed the massive relief it provided, so we decided to do it again this year in collaboration with Youth Provinces 2, 7, 14, 18 and 20 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

“We also find the journeys a meaningful way to start or wrap up the day, sharing God’s Word and praying as we set out or return from work. It is open to all, regardless of tribe or religion.

“Beyond the morning trips, the church also provided free return journeys in the evenings, expending about N40m on the initiative.”

He added that Youth Province 1, assisted by Pastor Martins Olusakin, Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of Province (CSR), and Pastor Abiodun Famojuro, Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of Province (Administration), is also preparing for the RCCG Holy Ghost Congress scheduled for the second week of December.

Olusakin said beneficiaries had continued to commend the gesture, with many taking to social media to express gratitude to the church.

“The gratitude of commuters is evident in their smiles and relieved sighs as the church continues to extend this support to many,” he added.

 

Read More

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.

 

Read More

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.

 

Read More

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.

 

Read More

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.”

 

Read More

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.

 

Read More

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.

 

Read More

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.

 

Read More

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 

 

Read More