Ilaje Community Rejects The Renaming Of Street After Sunny Ade

The Ilaje community in the Bariga area of Lagos State has vowed to resist the renaming of Ilaje Street after the music legend, King Sunny Ade, accusing the local council authority of attempting to erase its historical identity.

Last Friday, the immediate past Chairman of the Bariga Local Council Development Area, David Kolade Alabi, announced the renaming of several streets, including Ilaje Street, as part of efforts to honour notable figures.

However, the move has sparked intense backlash both on the streets and online, where critics allege it reflects ethnic bias and a disregard for local history.

Protesters from the Ilaje community took to the streets on Wednesday, demanding a reversal of the name change, arguing that the council’s decision undermined the cultural and historical heritage of their people.

The President General of Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, Raphael Irowainu, condemned the renaming as a “calculated attempt to decimate” the Ilaje people in Lagos State.

“It was a calculated attempt by the political elites and some Yoruba ethnic groups to erase the historical and cultural involvement of the Ilaje people in the creation of Lagos State.

“The Bariga community was founded in 1948 by our great-grandfathers. The entire place was like a forest. They were the ones who made the road before the state government took over later,” Irowainu said.

He further alleged a pattern of targeted and deliberate marginalisation of his people in the state.

He said, “On March 7, the Lagos State Government, in connivance with some persons, went to another Ilaje community and demolished the area.

“A monarch in Oworo sent people to demolish parts of Ilaje in Oworonshoki. Go to Majidun, and you will hear a similar story. These are calculated events to erase and decimate the Ilaje people.”

Highlighting the group’s historical significance, Irowainu added, “The Ilaje are among the three early settlers of Lagos State —alongside the Awori and Ijebu.

“We are not strangers. We are Yorubas just like any other Yoruba. Ilaje is a recognised sub-ethnic group in Yorubaland.”

He also questioned the rationale behind honouring King Sunny Ade in an Ilaje territory when other areas could be named after the revered music icon.

He said, “They now want to rename Ilaje Street to King Sunny Ade Street, when we have Ondo Street in Ebute Meta. Why not rename that one if they truly want to honour him? This is a war against the Ilaje people.”

Disclosing that the community had already filed a petition against the decision, Irowainu threatened legal action, arguing that the LCDA lacks constitutional authority to rename streets.

“If it requires going through legal means, we will do it. Even the so-called LCDA is illegal.

“The constitution recognises only 20 local governments—not LCDAs. It’s only the local governments that have the power to rename streets, and even at that, there must be consultation with the affected communities,” he maintained.

The former council chairman, who initiated the renaming, had defended the decision, saying it was meant to celebrate individuals who had brought global recognition to Bariga.

“As an administration, we took our time to reflect on a number of our people who have put the name of our local council out on the global map through their respective God-given talents and crafts,” David had stated.

 

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Lagos PDP Faults The Renaming Of Streets In The State

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the recent renaming of streets in some local government areas of the state.

The recent renaming of streets and public landmarks in the state has sparked angry reactions  and  protests,

Reacting in a statement on Thursday in Lagos, the PDP Vice-Chairman (Lagos Central), Mr. Hakeem Olalemi, who advised the ruling party to tread carefully, alleged that the remaining targets are a section of society.

“The Lagos PDP is hereby rejecting in totality the renaming of streets by some council chairmen. We should not erase history because of politics.

“It is against the spirit of unity in diversity, and it will certainly affect the image of the state as a cosmopolitan state.

“We should be seen to be promoting unity and not to give the wrong impression to non-indigenes in the state.

“We have various ethnic nationalists in our state, who have contributed immensely to the development of our state, hence the reason why some streets were named after them initially.

“This current action by some council executives should be reconsidered. Most of the streets affected were bearing Igbo names before and this leaves  so many questions in the heart of non Indigenes,.”

Describing the street renaming as totally unconstitutional, Olalemi said that the decision and consequent reactions showed that some leaders failed to consult widely.

“The APC should, as a matter of fact, revert to the status quo.

“If the steps were not reversed, the party could seek legal redress in court in order to preserve the identity of Lagos State as a cosmopolitan state.

“We cannot erase history in the name of politics. The ruling party should know that this renaming of streets arbitrarily can lead to riot, unrest and serious chaos if care is not taken,” he said.

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has also recently condemned the change of street names as unconstitutional.

 

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Federal Government Approves N145 Billion Electrification Project For Unilag, Others

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday approved ₦145 billion for electrification projects in eight federal universities and one teaching hospital.

The Council also approved the sum of ₦68.7 billion for solar power for some rural communities and agricultural clusters that remain off-grid.

The two strategic electrification projects are targeted at expanding access to clean, renewable energy across Nigeria’s educational and rural agricultural sectors, in line with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, speaking shortly after the FEC meeting, said the approved projects are part of a deliberate shift toward sustainable energy delivery, aimed at reducing dependence on the national grid while promoting development, innovation, and inclusivity.

Giving the breakdown of the projects, the Minister said the first major approval is for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of solar hybrid power systems under the Energizing Education Programme (EEP), to be executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

This initiative targets eight federal universities and one teaching hospital and is funded through the Special Intervention Window of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.

According to Adelabu, the total cost of this component is ₦145 billion, which is inclusive of 7.5% Value Added Tax (VAT). Implementation is scheduled for completion within 7 to 9 months.

“This is a major milestone in the transformation of our tertiary education infrastructure,” the Minister said.

“It will significantly lower energy costs, reduce reliance on diesel generators, and provide a clean, stable source of power to support learning, research, and healthcare delivery.”

The Minister disclosed that the beneficiary institutions under this new phase are:

University of Lagos (UNILAG), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), University of Ibadan (UI), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and Federal University, Wukari (Taraba State).

The Minister said the others are to be confirmed upon project kickoff.

This project builds on earlier World Bank-supported phases that delivered solar mini-grid systems to institutions such as the University of Abuja (3MW), UNN (12MW), University of Calabar (8MW), and the Nigerian Defence Academy (2.6MW).

The second approval covers the rollout of solar-powered infrastructure in Agricultural Centres of Excellence, also under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund and implemented by the REA.

According to the Minister, this phase targets rural communities and agricultural clusters that remain off-grid.

With a total contract value of ₦68.7 billion, inclusive of VAT, this component is expected to be delivered within three months. It is designed to power homes, agro-processing units, cold storage systems, and small rural enterprises, boosting productivity and rural economies.

“The goal here is not just lighting homes, but energizing agriculture, creating jobs, and enabling value addition right in the communities,” Adelabu said.

Both interventions, the Minister stressed, reflect the Tinubu administration’s resolve to make access to reliable electricity a key driver of inclusive development.

He added that the projects will serve as models for scaling renewable energy adoption across other sectors, particularly education, health, and agriculture.

“These approvals reaffirm our commitment to bridging the energy access gap, ensuring no Nigerian is left behind as we transition toward a cleaner, more sustainable, and economically viable power sector,” Adelabu added.

 

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Your Borrowing 10 Times Worse Than Buhari - ADC Tells Tinubu

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Tinubu administration over what it called fiscal vandalism, saying the president is borrowing far more than his predecessor, Late Muhammadu Buhari, and placing Nigeria on the edge of a financial disaster.

This was contained in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

According to him, the ADC said President Tinubu’s government has borrowed more in two years than Buhari did in eight, warning that the country’s total debt could hit ₦200 trillion before the end of 2025.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is deeply concerned by the Tinubu administration’s dangerous obsession with borrowing. What Nigerians are witnessing, following the approval of a fresh $21 billion in foreign loans, is nothing short of a calculated decision to mortgage the country’s future just to cover up the failures of today.

“Under President Buhari, Nigeria borrowed an average of N4.7 trillion per year, and even that caused widespread concern. But under President Tinubu, borrowing has jumped to N49.8 trillion per year. In just two years, this administration has borrowed more than ten times what Buhari borrowed in the same timeframe,” the statement read in part.

The statement revealed that at this pace, Nigeria’s total debt could go beyond ₦200 trillion before the year ends.

“We are heading straight into a financial crisis, and those leading the country don’t seem to know how to stop. They keep borrowing money instead of finding smarter and more careful ways to fix the economy.”

According to the statement, some say Tinubu borrows less in dollars than Buhari, but that’s misleading.

“This is because the naira has crashed, the loans now cost Nigeria much more. Tinubu’s foreign borrowing is about ₦25.5 trillion a year far higher than Buhari’s ₦2.2 trillion. This shows we’re sinking deeper into debt due to poor economic decisions,” it added.

The ADC accused the National Assembly of failing in its duty to protect Nigerians by rubber-stamping every loan request without asking tough questions.

“This constant borrowing without a clear plan or real results means future generations will pay for debts they didn’t benefit from. Despite all the loans, roads are bad, schools lack funding, hospitals are poorly equipped, and electricity is still unreliable. Nigerians want to know: what are these loans really for? Yet, the National Assembly keeps approving them without asking tough questions or defending the people,” the statement added.

“While other countries are working to reduce their debts, the APC keeps borrowing more. Even after the naira was devalued, which should have slowed borrowing, the government used it as a reason to take more loans.”

The ADC is calling for full details of all loans taken in the last 10 years, including how much was borrowed, interest rates, repayment plans, and where the money went.

The party also urged President Tinubu to stop the reckless borrowing and focus on real reforms by using funds wisely and spending responsibly.

According to the ADC, borrowing to cover poor policies must stop.

 

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US Warns Canada Over Palestinian State Recognition

Donald Trump has threatened Canada after it moved to recognise a Palestinian state, reacting to Mark Carney’s announcement by saying that signing a US trade deal would now be “very hard”.

The Canadian prime minister said on Wednesday that if the Palestinian Authority promised to meet certain conditions, including demilitarising and holding elections without Hamas, Canada would join France, the UK and other allies in formally recognising a state of Palestine at the UN general assembly in New York in September.

Portugal said on Thursday it was also considering recognition, and Germany said such a move should come at the end of talks on a two-state solution.

Trump, who had appeared to give tacit approval to the UK prime minster, Keir Starmer, for Britain’s own declaration earlier in the week, has since reacted to the growing movement toward recognising Palestine by doubling down on his support of Israel’s position, saying that doing so “rewards Hamas”.

“The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable,” Carney said in his announcement. He said the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, had assured him it could meet the goals he had laid out, but acknowledged that “much has to happen before a democratic viable state is established”.

“The deepening suffering of civilians leaves no room for delaying coordinated international action to support peace, security and the dignity of human life,” Carney said on Wednesday.

Israel has been accused of refusing to allow international organisations to bring aid into Gaza, where dozens of people have starved to death in recent days, with images of emaciated children horrifying the world.

Trump, however, reacted to Carney’s decision by posting on social media: “Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them.”

With many of his supporters increasingly opposing Israel’s war in Gaza, Trump previously criticised the UK’s plan to grant recognition as “rewarding Hamas”, telling journalists on Air Force One that the US was “not in that camp”. Trump also said: “You’re rewarding Hamas if you do that. I don’t think they should be rewarded.”

Trump’s latest broadside at Canada comes amid other attempts to use tariffs as leverage over the domestic and foreign policies of other nations.

He has promised to raise tariffs on Brazil to 50%, linking it to the prosecution of his ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro, and recently threatened 15% additional tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, having fallen out with Putin over the war in Ukraine.

Thursday’s announcement of a US trade deal with Thailand and Cambodia also followed Trump’s demand that the two sides end the military skirmishes that broke out last week.

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WAFCON: Morocco Petitions CAF Over Super Falcons’ Victory

Morocco’s Football Federation has officially submitted a petition to the Confederation of African Football, alleging “refereeing injustices” during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria’s Super Falcons.

As reported by Morocco World News, the FRMF claimed that the Centre Referee failed to award a “clear” penalty in the 82nd minute, with the score level at 2-2 during the finals.

Video evidence suggested a potential handball by Super Falcons defender Tosin Demehin, but following a video assistant referee review, the referee overturned her initial decision.

Following the incident, Morocco’s coaching staff and players expressed their frustration as the federation contended that the referee’s decision significantly impacted the match’s outcome, which ultimately saw the Super Falcons’ 3-2 triumph.

Moroccan head coach, Jorge Vilda, who previously led Spain to victory at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, remarked after the match: “It was a small detail that cost us the game.”

Vilda, typically reticent on refereeing issues, also acknowledged that fatigue contributed to his team’s second-half collapse.

In contrast, Nigeria’s coach, Justine Madugu, praised Morocco for their strong first-half performance and noted that tactical adjustments at half-time changed the game’s trajectory in favour of his side.

“The substitutions made a significant difference,” he stated. “Morocco have a bright future ahead.”

The final, held at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium, saw Morocco establish a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half.

However, the Super Falcons emerged revitalised in the second half, with goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and substitute Jennifer Echegini turning the tide.

With this defeat, the Atlas Lionesses marked an unfortunate milestone as the first hosts to lose consecutive WAFCON finals.

The victory secured a record-extending 10th WAFCON title for the Super Falcons.

In the third-place play-off, the Black Queens of Ghana emerged victorious, defeating former champions Banyana Banyana of South Africa on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time.

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Airtel Nigeria Revenue Soars 30% On Data Surge

Airtel Nigeria generated $333m in revenue for the quarter ended 30 June 2025, representing a 30 per cent year-on-year increase in reported currency and

a 48.9 per cent rise in constant currency.

The figures were disclosed in the second-quarter financial report of Airtel Africa Plc.

The growth was primarily driven by strong performance in data and voice services. Data revenue rose to $164m, reflecting a 40.2 per cent increase in reported

currency and 60.3 per cent in constant currency. Voice revenue also climbed to $134m, up 19.1 per cent in reported terms and 36.7 per cent in constant

currency.

Earlier this year, the Nigerian Communications Commission approved a 50 per cent tariff increase for telecommunications operators, resulting in higher

prices for data bundles and voice calls, an intervention that significantly contributed to the revenue boost.

The company’s average revenue per user increased from $1.70 to $2.10, marking a 22.9 per cent rise in reported currency and 40.8 per cent in constant currency.

Meanwhile, Airtel Africa, parent company of Airtel Nigeria, posted total revenue of $1.42bn for the second quarter of 2025, reflecting a 24.9 per cent growth in constant currency and 22.4 per cent in reported currency. The group said it benefited from improved macroeconomic conditions, data usage growth, and tariff adjustments in Nigeria.

Airtel Africa operates in 14 countries across the continent, with Nigeria remaining its largest and most strategic market. The company noted that while Nigerian operations played a central role in the overall growth, strong performance in Francophone Africa also contributed to the acceleration in revenue, driven by a continued focus on customer experience.

Its Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar said, “We are very pleased with the strong growth in our operating and financial performance in the first quarter. The strength of this performance and the scale of the growth we achieved, reflects the sustained demand for our services and the strength of our business model to meet these demands.

“Operationally, the acceleration in customer base growth to 9 per cent, and 17.4 per cent growth in our data customers to 75.6 million reflects the strong on-ground execution with a relentless focus on digitisation and the simplification of the customer experience.”

 

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