Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described as unusual the absence of President Bola Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima, from the country at the same time, especially now that the nation is faced with daunting challenges.
Atiku said he has been inundated by reports of the absence of the President and Vice President from the country.
In a post on his X handle on Monday, Atiku said one might be right to assume that the country is on autopilot.
He said: “I have been inundated by reports of the absence of the president and vice president from the country. It is unprecedented that the two leaders will be absent from the country at the same time, especially now that the nation is faced with daunting challenges. The question that readily comes to mind is who is in charge of government at this point, or is it right to assume that we are on autopilot?”.
DAILY POST reports that the visit by Shettima to the United States of America, for the US-Africa Business Summit, has created a sort of leadership vacuum at the nation’s seat of power as Tinubu is yet to arrive Nigeria, six days after attending the Special World Economic Forum WEF meeting.
The Federal Government has disclosed plans to delist the Naira from all peer-to-peer, P2P, platforms.
The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Emomotimi Agama, disclosed this during a virtual meeting with blockchain stakeholders on Monday.
This decision aims to tackle the manipulation of the local currency’s value in the foreign exchange market.
The country’s regulatory authorities have been investigating and scrutinising cryptocurrency exchanges in recent months.
On March 8, the biggest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, stopped its Naira services.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, a Nigerian father mourns the loss of his 9-year-old daughter allegedly due to the malfunctioning of the Access Bank mobile app.
The tragic incident, reported by an individual identified as PIDOMNIGERIA, underscored the devastating consequences of technological failures in critical moments.
According to the distraught father, whose identity remained undisclosed, the inability to transfer funds using the Access Bank mobile app directly contributed to his daughter’s demise. The child, who was in urgent need of medical attention, was admitted to an emergency unit at a local hospital. Tragically, she was left unattended as her parent grappled with the financial constraints imposed by the malfunctioning app.
The father, described as a single dad working offshore, recounted his harrowing experience, stating, “Failure of Access Bank @myaccessbank app to function since yesterday has caused him to lose his 9-year-old daughter in a medical emergency.” His anguish and frustration were palpable, echoing the sentiments of many who have faced similar challenges with the bank’s app reliability.
Expressing his grief, the father lamented the recurrent issues plaguing the Access Bank mobile app, condemning the institution’s lack of accountability and explanation for the frequent disruptions. “Access Bank is a complete shit bank. They always have issues with their bank app without any explanation every now and then,” he asserted.
As the family mourns the loss of their beloved daughter, questions linger about the accountability of financial institutions in ensuring the seamless functioning of essential services, especially during emergencies.
Access Bank was yet to respond to the allegations or provide clarification regarding the reported app malfunction at press time, meanwhile, the grieving father and his family grapple with the devastating aftermath of this preventable tragedy.
One of the displaced squatters of the 86 apartments under the Dolphin Estate Bridge, Ikoyi, Lagos, Usman Hassan, has spoken about his time in the squalid environment.
Daily Trust reports that the Lagos State Government had on Wednesday blown a cover of the under-bridge apartments where tenants reportedly paid N250,000 annual rent.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a video post via his social media account.
Wahab revealed that the 86 partitioned rooms, sized “10×10 and 12×10”. He added that the enforcement team of Lagos State’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources had successfully removed all structures, including a container utilised for various illegal activities, from beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge.
Sharing videos, the commissioner wrote, “18 individuals squatting illegally under the bridge leading from Dolphin Estate were arrested yesterday 30th of April, 2024 by the officials from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps. A total number of 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10, and a container used for different illegal activities were discovered under the Dolphin Estate Bridge.
One of the displaced squatters, Hassan, a 75-year-old Ghanaian, said he was a teacher at Remo Divisional High School, Ogun State, before relocating to Lagos.
Also known as Baba Baraka, the Ghanaian said he was not around during the ‘attack’ by the Lagos officials and as such, he lost some of his belongings to the onslaught.
Telling a story behind the apartment, he told Daily Trust that “The man who owned the place doesn’t force people, the engineers working in this company (referring to a company around) begged him for their workers to stay nearby and when they need them for work, they’ll enter the place.
“I don’t know exactly how much he collects from them, but personally, he didn’t collect anything from me.
“For people paying, whether it’s N250,000 or not, I don’t know.”
He explained that people found a solace in the under-bridge apartments because “town is hard and they could not afford a rent within Lagos.”
Hassan said “You see, conditions are hard for people in the country and not everyone can afford houses in the town.
“I have been in this country since 1981 in Ogun State. I was a teacher at Remo Divisional High School for about 11 years before I came to Lagos.
“No work in town to survive on. This man pitied my condition and gave me space here (under the bridge). So, when this thing happened, I took my belongings and I am going again.”
Asked what is the hope for the future, he responded “well, everything is in the hand of God. Sleeping under the bridge is dangerous, but the condition of the country made people resort to this.
“As you are seeing me, I don’t have a dime in my pocket.”
Usena, a 12-year-old girl, from Kogi State, said her elder sister brought her from the village.
“She is paying but I don’t know the amount.
“I don’t really enjoy the place. I want a new house where I can stay with my parents in peace and enjoy ourselves. We had to stay under this bridge with my sister so we could raise money for a new house,” she told our correspondent.
Saheed Yusuf, a farmer, admitted that he paid an initial N40,000 and subsequently N20,000 quarterly to stay in the apartment.
My husband and I have been married for 16years and are blessed with 5children. I lost my job about 3years ago. Since then, I have been helping out my husband with his phone case and charger business, I now work at his stores so that we can make ends meet. But since all this economic crisis started when fuel price went up, business has not been so good. We hardly feed talk-less of being able to afford luxuries.
There is a man whose house is not so far from one of the four branches of my husband’s store. The man has been disturbing me for about 5years now. One day, we could not sell a single thing in our store, so on my way home, I thought to call this man to see if he could help with something. He sent me 50,000naira. I was so happy and felt indebted to this man. So a week after, I decided to go thank him at home. His family stay abroad. Omajuwa, I honestly was not planning anything than to thank him o but one thing led to another and we had sex. Since then, this man sends me money randomly. 500k today, 200k tomorrow, 300k next and has since been asking for when next we can see.
I have tried to tell him to stop because what happened was just a mistake. When I told my brother, he said I should just ignore the man and find a way to invest the money and better our lives. I am scared and confused. I have not touched the ones he sent after the 50k, should I ask for his account and send back his money? Should I keep it? Where will I tell my husband I got the money from? Should I tell my husband everything? Hope this man would not run to my husband and ruin my marriage in retaliation? What do I do? Please advise me.
A man, Babatunde Olaoluwa, who specialises in stealing of phones from worship centers has been apprehended by the men of the Ekiti State Police Command.
Olaoluwa was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly stole seven different phones belonging to members of Christ Apostolic Church, Ayegbaju-Ekiti in Oye local government area of the state.
The suspect, it was gathered, had gone to the church pretending to be one of their members and made away with the seven phones while the worshippers were in praises euphoria.
Ekiti Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sunday Abutu, in a statement said that the suspect has during interrogation, confessed to have been operating around Oye and Ayegbaju-Ekiti with churches as his targets.
Abutu said that the suspect further confessed to have stolen a lot of phones from the Redeemed Christian Church of God and New Reality Christian Center, all in Oye-Ekiti.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect, after meeting his victims, normally send the stolen phones through motor park to Lagos where his friend will assist him to sell them and send the proceeds back to him through online transfer,” the police spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the seven stolen phones during his last operation have been recovered from him and some of victims of his atrocities have showed up to identify the suspect and their phones.
He said that the suspect will be arraigned immediately after the conclusion of investigation.
A pure water seller, Ugwu Augustus, has reportedly secured a full scholarship into the university after scoring 309 in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
According to Alex Onyia, the founder of Educare, an organisation that prepares candidates for UTME, Augustus left school two years ago.
However, he was challenged to join the preparatory class and score above 300 to get a full scholarship.
“This youngster from my village, Ugwu Chibuzo Augustus, scored 309 in JAMB.
“He left school two years ago and has been selling pure water in the streets. We convinced him to join the JAMB prep programme with a promise that he would get a scholarship if he scored above 300,” Onyia shared on social media on Sunday.
Determined, Augustus picked up the challenge and began attending classes while still hawking his pure water after classes.
His handwork was rewarded when UTME results were released and he had an aggregate score of 309.
“During the monthly assessments, he has been consistent with good scores, and right now, he made it. He has now been enrolled in our full scholarship programme.
“He will be rewriting his WAEC from next week because he feels he is prepared enough to do it because of the intense training he gained since September.
“Interestingly, some of the students who did well in science said that Chibuzo usually stays back to explain further to them what was taught in class before he leaves for the day to sell pure water.”
Onyia added that Augustus has created a study group with his classmates where he coaches them on weekends, and all of them scored high.
“The group comprised of those who were desperately determined to score above 300 and get the scholarship. They became close friends and studied together always,” Onyia concluded.
Augustus’ story is one of the several success stories of this year’s UTME despite the poor overall numbers recorded.
According to figures released by the Joint Admission Examination Board, 77 percent of the 1,842,464 candidates whose results were released scored less than 200.
Just like Augustus, 15-year-old, Olukayode Olusola, caught the attention of many as he reportedly scored 95 marks in Mathematics.
The student of Government Secondary School, Omu Aran, Kwara State, scored a total of 362 marks, making him one of the top contenders for the highest scores in the examination.
A breakdown of his results showed that Olusola scored 95 marks each in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry and 77 in the English Language.
He hopes to study Electrical Electronics at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.
In Nigeria, societal norms often cast a shadow on unconventional love stories, particularly when the woman is older than the man.
Despite the unspoken disapproval and subtle judgments, some couples boldly defy these expectations, challenging age-old traditions and embracing love in its purest form.
As the world turns its gaze towards the glitz and glamour of celebrity marriages, a poignant question emerges from the shadows: Does age truly dictate the success or failure of a union, or is it merely a trivial number in the grand scheme of love?
Over the weekend, the internet crackled with fervour as the spotlight shone on a captivating saga involving the esteemed Cole family of Victoria Island, Lagos.
At the centre of the whirlwind was Taiwo Cole, scion of the illustrious clan, whose recent nuptials to actress and comedian Wofai Ewa, fondly known as Wofai Fada, ignited a firestorm of chatter.
The picturesque setting of Ugep, Cross River State, served as the backdrop for their traditional union, an event that remained clandestine until then, hidden from the public eye.
The Cole family, in a Sunday statement, denounced the marriage.
Responding, Wofai Fada, had on the same day posted a video with the caption “Let love lead” on her 1.2 million followers’ Instagram page amidst controversies surrounding her marriage to Taiwo Cole.
Again on Monday, the actress declared that the union between her and her groom, Taiwo Cole shall be permanent.
In the Nigerian entertainment landscape, where the glitz of fame intertwines with the pressures of societal norms, PUNCH Online shines a spotlight on five remarkable personalities who defy age disparities in their unions.
Here are five popular Nigerian celebrities who married older women:
1. Peter and Lola Okoye:
Lola Okoye, who celebrated her 50th birthday on Friday, September 2, is the beloved wife of Peter Okoye, renowned as one half of the iconic musical duo, P Square.
Despite the nine-year age gap between them—Peter and his twin brother Paul were born on November 18, 1981, while Lola’s birthday falls on September 2, 1972—their love story blossomed over seven years before they exchanged vows in 2013.
Blessed with a son named Cameron and a daughter named Aliona, the Okoyes cherish their journey as a family.
Lola in 2021 noted her happiness about how the now-defunct music group, P-square, put their differences aside after a long musical fallout. https://punchng.com/im-happy-p-square-put-their-differences-aside-says-mr-ps-wife-lola/
2. Deola And Darey Art Alade:
Renowned R&B sensation Darey Art Alade found his forever partner in Deola, a dynamic serial entrepreneur when they tied the knot in February 2007.
Celebrating over 14 years of marriage, they have embraced their eight-year age difference with grace and contentment.
Darey once remarked, “No pressures at all! Everybody at some time finds what works for him or her.”
With two delightful children, Darey and Deola exemplify how love transcends age, demonstrating that happiness knows no bounds.
3. Mike Edwards and Perri Shakes-Drayton:
The love story of Big Brother Naija Pepper Dem runner-up, Mike Edwards, and British Olympian Perri is a tale of athletic prowess and enduring affection.
Married in 2019, they navigate life’s milestones with synchronicity, despite Perri being two years older than Mike.
Welcoming their son into the world, their bond is a testament to the depth of their connection and shared aspirations.
4. MC Fish and Anita Joseph:
Nigerian comedian MC Fish and Nollywood actress Anita Joseph share a love story that transcends age barriers.
Despite their eight-year age difference, the couple’s bond radiates joy and affection, evident in their expressive displays on social media.
While they haven’t welcomed a child together, Anita Joseph’s daughter from a previous relationship enriches their familial journey, emphasizing the beauty of blended families.
5. Joseph Ameh and Kaffy:
Renowned dancer, choreographer, and fitness coach Kaffy, known for her Guinness World Record achievement, embarked on a journey of love with Joseph Ameh, P Square’s drummer, in 2012.
Despite their eight-year age gap—Kaffy being the elder—life took an unexpected turn when Kaffy filed for divorce in January 2022, marking the end of their marital union.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that extramarital affairs allegations against Ameh played a vital part in the breakup.
Meanwhile, opinions on whether age is merely a number when it comes to marriage are as diverse as the individuals themselves.
In a PUNCH Online vox populi, a myriad of perspectives emerged, showcasing the wide spectrum of beliefs on the matter.
Some ardently advocate for the notion that age holds little significance, asserting that love knows no bounds and that compatibility transcends numerical differences.
Conversely, others contend that age disparity can pose challenges, emphasizing the importance of shared life experiences and developmental stages in a successful partnership.
Amidst these contrasting viewpoints, one thing remains clear: the concept of age in relation to marriage is a deeply personal and nuanced topic, reflecting the unique values and priorities of each individual.
[Punch]
Popular singer, Gabriel Oche Amanyi, aka Terry G, has reiterated his statement that Burna Boy is currently the biggest Nigerian artist.
He, however, said Wizkid is the greatest Nigerian artistE of all-time.
The ‘Akpako Master’ insisted that Wizkid has built a legendary status for himself.
Seemingly picking sides in the ongoing beef between Wizkid and Davido, Terry G wrote via his X handle, “Muthaf**k the Big 3, n*gga it’s just Big Wiz… n*gga bum!!!
Wiz is him.”
In another post, he explained, “[I am] Not posting Wiz to chase clout, just reminiscing all he’s done for the culture!!!
“I’m contented with what I have worked for lol… but he’s him, I repeat!!!”
He added, “Concerning what I said on Honest Bunch Podcast that was posted few weeks ago, my take still stands.
“Yeah currently, Burna is the biggest, but when it comes to all timer, I’ll give it to Wiz… y’all can’t deny the works and the legendary status he built for himself… WIZ is him!”
Chelsea have reportedly developed a strategy to try and snatch Napoli star, Victor Osimhen this summer.
The Blues are mulling an offer in the region of €80m-€90m plus Romelu Lukaku and an unnamed young player for the forward.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side are, however, prepared to pay the striker well over his current €10m net per season wages.
Osimhen has a release clause of €120m in the contract he signed last December.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is known to be a tough negotiator and it remain to be seen if he will be willing to accept the offer.
Ligue 1 giants, Paris Saint-Germain are also reportedly interested in the Nigeria international.
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Charly Boy, a veteran entertainer, recently paid tribute to his father, Justice Oputa, on the 10th anniversary of his passing.
Celebrating his father, He fondly referred to him as the “Socrates of the Nigerian Supreme Court,” a testament to his wisdom and judicial excellence.
In a heartfelt post, Charly Boy reflected on his early days, when he felt like he was in competition with his father’s esteemed reputation.
He wrote:
“It’s 10 years today since the Socrates of the Nigerian Supreme Court passed on.
“He was a very special man, the rallying point for the unity we still enjoy in our great family today.”
Charly Boy praised his father as a bold and special man who raised him to be confident and outstanding.
He described his father’s household as a “love court house,” where wisdom and compassion reigned.
“Here’s to a man who was bold enough to raise a son like Charlyboy.
“As a Father he was a very special man. He ran his household like a love court house. On the bench he was the Socrates, a judges judge. His judgments were so profound.”
In his tribute, Charly Boy expressed gratitude for his father’s unwavering belief in his dreams and honored his memory, stating:
“Today we remember you and all that you stood for. Continue to rest in peace my dearest father. Thanks for believing in my dream.”
On the bench, Justice Oputa was a judicial icon, renowned for his profound judgments and earning the nickname “Socrates” among his peers.
In another story, Charly Boy alerts the public that Tinubu is planning to arrest Peter Obi.
On his X handle, he issued a stern warning, asserting that any move to arrest or prosecute Obi would provoke unprecedented resistance unparalleled in Nigeria’s history.
Charly Boy urged the Federal Government to exercise caution and refrain from igniting nationwide unrest by avoiding any illegal arrest of Peter Obi.
Nigerian media personality, Toke Makinwa, has claimed that bleaching her skin is her only regret in life.
Naija News reports that Toke made this known during a recent interactive session with fans on the X platform.
A fan had asked, “If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?”
In response, the media personality noted that regret is exhausting and bleaching her skin was the ‘dumbest’ thing she ever did.
She, however, said she is grateful for her good genes and money, which suppressed the side effects of the skin bleaching.
Toke said, “Nothing. Regret is so exhausting! Wait, maybe bleaching my skin. It was the dumbest thing ever and I’m just so thankful for good genes and money cos….”
Meanwhile, Toke Makinwa has disclosed that she underwent surgery to remove 13 fibroids from her body.
Makinwa explained that she had always known something was wrong because she had a very big tummy, irregular periods, and a bulge when she lay down.
She narrated that fibroids affected the majority of women in her family and some had to remove their wombs.
Makinwa made the revelation following the release of Stephanie Coker’s documentary titled “Where the Heck is My Period.”
VIDEO: I’m still waiting for Apostle Chibuzor to fulfill his promise of a new house – Actor Aguba laments
AFOLABINigerian actor Kenneth Chiwetalu, widely recognized as Aguba, has publicly called out to Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, the spiritual leader of OPM, regarding promises that were allegedly made to him.
In a viral video circulating online, the prominent movie star disclosed that the esteemed clergyman made a pledge to build a new house for him.
Aguba stressed that Apostle Chibuzor had envisioned establishing not just one, but two houses—both his current place of residence and village.
The elderly gentleman disclosed that he has been experiencing ongoing health issues recently and expressed gratitude towards the OPM pastor for generously covering the cost of the medication he currently requires.
In March 2023, Aguba returned to his hometown in Enugu state after receiving free accommodation and medical treatment from Omega Power Ministry (OPM).
In July 2022, photos of Aguba in a dilapidated building surfaced and went viral on social media.
The actor’s condition raised concerns among Nigerians on social media while the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) said “his case may be spiritual”.
Chibuzor Chinyere, the general overseer of OPM, however, offered to render his assistance to the actor.
The clergyman publicly outlined the terms of marriage for anyone interested in becoming Aguba’s wife, but Aguba himself seemed disinterested in the proposal.
The ministry later disclosed on social media that the actor has returned to his hometown.
“The Return of Aguba. On 22nd March 2023, the veteran Nollywood actor, Kenneth Chinwetalu popular known as Aguba, returns to his hometown in Enugu state,” OPM wrote on Instagram alongside photos of Aguba with smiles etched on his face.
WATCH HIM SPEAK BELOW
Media
The Calabar-Lagos coastal road appears to be perennially swallowed in controversy since the first day of the project’s unveiling.
Over the weekend opposition leader and former vice president Atiku Abubakar added fuel to the fire when he revealed that the president’s son Seyi is on the Board of the firm given the gigantic contract and alleged that President Bola Tinubu appears to more concerned about lining the pocket of friends and family.
Analysts say there is a lot more about the huge deal than the government is able to disclose so far.
The analysts are shocked by the utter lack of transparency and empathy with which the construction is being handled and they have raised six mins boggling questions:
1. Nigeria seeks to build a Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Of the places it could possibly start off from is Lagos, it just has to start off from Eko Atlantic, which is or will be the preserve of the privileged, ultra monied elite. Why?
2. The original coastal road as the people were told during the construction of the Lekki expressway/toll gates, was the Water Corporation road. Nigerians were told it was going to be an alternative route to the tolled road. Today, a large expanse of that road has been abandoned and is virtually an eyesore. But, we have chosen to ignore it and instead start a brand new “Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway”. Why?
3. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is such an ‘urgent’ project that work on it commenced even before it was announced to the public. Quite a feat and highly unusual for any government project in this part of the world. Typically, such projects are slow to take off and are riddled with delays. In this case it’s so very different. What’s the great, big hurry and why?
4. This is the only project of this magnitude Nigerians have ever seen/heard of where an EIA stakeholder meeting is being convened AFTER the project has commenced. It appears the views/concerns of stakeholders and the potential environmental impact of the project are of absolutely no concern to the project owners/sponsors. This is particularly strange given the centrality today of ESG factors to project financing and investment decisions.
5. Globally, there are major concerns over the impact on coastal cities of rising sea levels, erosion and climate change. According to some reports, Lagos is particularly at risk from rising sea levels. Yet our government appears to be embarking on constructing a coastal highway at a cost of N4B per KM with no hard evidence of having conducted a proper EIA. Why?
6. The opacity about the source of funds and the nature of the handshake between government and the private sector in the funding arrangements makes it all even more worrying. First the contractor was going to self-fund and then suddenly, – change of plan – the government is now going to fund. But we don’t know the full cost, nor was any competitive bidding done. Why?
Many questions but no one’s giving any answers and as we speak, the demolitions have started. What exactly is the reason for the apparent obfusacation and difficulty with (or is it reluctance to provide) providing full disclosure of information that should be in the public domain? The people are afterall being told the road and accompanying demolitions are for the greater good and in the public interest.