The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Basirat Damilola Marshall, daughter of Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, a.k.a KWAM1, as his Senior Special Assistant on Tourism.

This was according to a viral video of her father thanking the governor, and congratulatory messages sighted by PUNCH Online on her Instagram page, @damimarshall_ on Thursday.

In the viral video, her father, KWAM1, while performing on stage at the coronation and birthday reception of Oba Sikirullah Apena on Thursday, thanked Sanwo-Olu for appointing his daughter into his cabinet.

The fuji singer noted that it was his daughter, Damilola, who asked him to publicly thank the governor for her appointment.

Congratulating her on the appointment, a Nigerian, Olanrewaju-Smart Wasiu wrote, “Congratulations Barr. @damimarshall_ on your appointment as the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism. This is a deserving recognition for your hard work and contributions to our party”, to which she responded by saying “Thank you, sir.”

Another person, Balogun Basia wrote, “Please, join me in congratulating my friend K1 and the entire family on the appointment of my daughter Barrister Basirat Damilola Marshall as the SSA to the governor of Lagos State on Tourism. Damilola, this shall be the beginning of many good things that will come your way and that of your siblings Insha Allah, Alaumoh Amin.”

Until her appointment, Damilola was a principal partner at a law firm, Damilola Ayinde Marshal and Co.

As of the time of this report, efforts to reach the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Lagos State Governor, Gboyega Akosile, for confirmation proved abortive, as messages sent to his WhatsApp line were not responded to.

Elder statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Edwin Clark said former President Muhammadu Buhari imposed Abdullahi Adamu, a former Governor of Nasarawa State, as national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC despite his alleged corruption charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Clark stated this while speaking during an interview on Arise Television.

The elder statesman decried the freedom enjoyed by alleged corrupt politicians in the country.

He noted that nothing has so far been heard about 15 former governors and ministers who were dragged to court during the period when Nuhu Ribadu was the chairman of the EFCC.

Clark said, “In 2007, more than 15 former governors and ministers were charged to court during Ribadu’s time as the EFCC chairman.

“Some of them were charged to courts in Lagos, Abuja and so on. But after some time, some of these cases were not heard again.

“All we heard was that these same governors had been cleared to contest senatorial seats. Let me take a case of Abdullahi Adamu, who was the governor of Nasarawa State in 1999.

“He was charged to court for embezzling money from his state to the tune of N15 billion with other commissioners who were to be charged to court in Nasarawa State.

“Then after being charged to court he contested election to the Senate and he won and he has been there and nobody cared about him. Thereafter, former President Muhammadu Buhari imposed him as the National Chairman of the APC.

“We have many such people in the APC. Nobody heard about his trial again. He became an honest man and talked about corruption more than any other person,” he said.

Any possible merger of political parties aimed at ousting the ruling All Progressives Congress at the centre during the 2027 general elections will not see the light of the day unless the masterminds drop their personal interests.

The former Chairman of APC in Enugu State, Dr Ben Nwoye, stated this in Enugu on Thursday during a programme. He however said it would be in the interest of democracy if there was a strong opposition, but played down anything concrete coming from the merger of Alh Atiku Abubakar, Mr Peter Obi and Engr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Atiku was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Obi was that of the Labour Party while Kwankwaso was the standard-bearer of the New Nigerian Peoples Party during the 2023 elections. It was won by APC’s Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

There have been reports of a possible merger of the trio. Nwoye said because it was unlikely for any of them to cede their presidential ambitions, the talk was dead on arrival.

According to him, “The so-called merger ahead of 2027 polls will be a welcome development. For democracy to thrive, there should be competition. But if the merger is self-serving, it will fail. It will be a case of strange bed fellows.

“Remember that Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso are originally of PDP. In fact, people forget that Obi was Atiku’s running mate during the 2019 presidential election. So, their coming together again can’t be called a merger.”

Nwoye, however, admitted that if Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso had jettisoned their selfish interests, the outcome of the 2023 elections would have been different.

He said, “If they had stayed together and ceded their ambitions to one of them, PDP should have defeated APC going by the ratio of votes cast. But the problem with our politics is that Nigerian politicians are simply after their personal interests. So, it has been a case of self-serving.”

On alleged crisis in APC, Nwoye said, “There is no implosion in APC. APC has been solid. The truth is that after party primaries, there must be crises. This is because Nigerians hardly accept defeat. Every contestant will claim they won. That creates tension and litigations. It is not perculiar to APC.”

Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) and the Oyo State Government have entered into an agreement aimed at developing a robust gas supply and distribution infrastructure to cater to the needs of industrial and commercial users in the state.

As disclosed in a statement released by Shell Nigeria’s Media Relations Manager, Abimbola Essien-Nelson, the agreement outlines plans for SNG to construct and operate a gas distribution network across Oyo State for a period of 20 years. This network will facilitate the delivery of gas to various customers throughout the state.

The project will commence with the construction of gas distribution infrastructure spanning a 15-kilometre pipeline route, with provisions for expansion to accommodate the delivery of up to 60 million standard cubic feet of gas per day across Oyo State.

At the signing ceremony, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde hailed the project as a pivotal catalyst for development, aligning with the state’s strategic goals of fostering innovation and industrialization.

Governor Makinde expressed his readiness to collaborate with additional companies and organisations to facilitate the execution of vital projects that will enhance socio-economic progress in Oyo State.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of SNG, Ralph Gbobo, emphasised the agreement’s significance in bolstering economic activities within Nigeria by supplying industries and manufacturers with natural gas, a more reliable, cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly source of energy.”

He explained: “The gas distribution project will be a game-changer in the industrialization drive of the Oyo State Government, help boost internally generated revenue, and result in more job opportunities. For SNG, the project is a milestone in our effort to continue growing the energy supply to businesses in Nigeria in line with Nigeria’s ambition to drive progress on the back of natural gas availability across Nigeria under the Decade of Gas initiative.”

The project will start with the construction of gas distribution infrastructure along a 15-kilometre pipeline route and will grow to deliver up to 60 million standard cubic feet of gas per day across the state. The first gas is expected in Q4, 2025.

Managing Director of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. and Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, said: “This event points to the value of partnership as Shell continues to power progress in Nigeria through more and cleaner energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers. Building on our presence in the country since the 1960s and the wide marketing and trading reach of Shell Energy, we are excited about developing gas distribution solutions and delivering competitive and reliable energy for power generation and industrial use across Nigeria.”

SNG was incorporated in 1998 as a fully Shell-owned company. Over the years, the company has grown as a dependable supplier of gas and now serves over 150 clients in Abia, Bayelsa, Ogun, and Rivers states.

The Nigeria president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has revealed his administration scorecard for the month of April. 

This was posted on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre ‘X’ account on Thursday, 2st May, 2024.

Highlighting Tinubu’s progress towards the fulfillment of his Renewed Hope Agenda; here are list of April progress: 

Approval for the takeoff of the first phase of the Consumer Credit Scheme. 

Launching of the National Single Window to boost productivity and enhance trade 

Approval for N25 billion funding for 8,800 health facilities nationwide in a bid to combat maternal mortality and improve newborn survival rates. 

Secured an investment commitment of $600 million from Danish shipping and logistics company to rehabilitate and upgrade ports across Nigeria. 

Secured a $250 million grant from GAVI support to overhaul Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure. 

Approved the design of Sokoto-Badagry Highway project as part of efforts to improve economic diversification in the country.

Approved substantial increase in consolidated salary of the civil service, police, paramilitary and few other MDAS.

Directed NYSC to consider inclusion of National Open University Graduates in the NYSC scheme..

Announced the launch of the first batch of Compressed Natural Gas vehicles to be inaugurated before May 29. 

Approved the establishment of the National Health Fellows Programme.

Approved the DOTS policies for comprehensive overhaul of the education sector.

Launched the Citizen Tracker App to enable citizens participation in governance.

THE streets of the world exploded on Wednesday as workers and students, marchers and protesters, sent May Day calls and, in several cities, clashes erupted over local needs and international concerns.

The streets of France, Greece, United States, Chile, Cuba and several cities around the globe, quaked over the Gaza War.

In Nigeria where abysmally low wages, fuel scarcity, a drowning currency and a run-away inflation ruled the waves, the primary international concern for the world-wide protests, was expressly stated. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, made a joint declaration about the on-going genocide in the Palestine: “The UN mechanisms have unfortunately become undertakers and not life savers or peace-making.”

Echoing the universal calls on Workers day, the twin labour centres stated unequivocally: “ War does not benefit workers and the masses. It is mainly workers and the people that die in wars! These wars are therefore not for the protection of the people of the world and neither in our interests. It is purely driven by those who profit from wars- the bourgeoisies either in the West or in the East. We call for global peace and cessation of hostilities so that the killing of men and women and the massive suffering will end.”

This message of Nigerian trade unions was re-echoed in German cities with a youth in Berlin carrying the message: “The rich want war — the youth want a future.” Christening the 2024 May Day as “Revolutionary”, German workers displayed solidarity symbols with Palestinians and protested against Israeli violation of Palestinians right to life.

In Greece, thousands of workers marched through Athens bearing twin demands: pay rises that would bring wages to average European standards, and against the war in Palestine. They massed on the Greek parliament waving Palestinian flags, singing solidarity songs and letting balloons fly.

In the United Kingdom, workers marched on the Trade Department in London and blockaded arms factories in Lancashire, Wales and Scotland, demanding that arms export licences to Israel should be revoked. There were pickets at Barclays and BNY Mellon banks in Manchester for investing in Ebit System. The company produces 85 per cent of the land and air munitions used by the Israeli military. Members of the Palestine Action group which initiated the picketing said: “We will not tolerate genocide profiteers on our streets.”

In Cuba, the people practically emptied into the streets of Havana, at the foot of the giant statue of Jose Marti, the prophet of the South American independence movement. The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, ICAP, stated at the rally: “We demand an end to genocide in Gaza, and Cuba’s removal from the false list of countries that sponsor terrorism.”

These twin demands resonated in some countries. In Nigeria, for instance, where Cuban Ambassador Miriam Morales Palmero on behalf of the international community addressed the May Day rally in Abuja, the Nigerian unions declared: “The economic embargo placed on the nation by the US is an unacceptable punishment for the citizens of Cuba as it seeks to restrict their ability to access the basic necessities of life. The US as the bastion of democratic expressions ought to show leadership in this direction so that the people of Cuba can breathe.”

Clashes broke out in some French cities. In Paris, the clashes led to a number of injuries. The victims included a dozen policemen. The workers led by the labour confederation, CGT, protested for better cost of living, reform of unemployment benefits and, against the genocide in Palestine.

Early morning May Day, pro-Israeli protesters launched attacks on the pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA, campus in an effort to overrun it.

On the eve of May Day, protesters set up barricades in Santiago, Chile and three persons were wounded by gunfire. On this, progressive President Gabriel Boric regretted: “We are normalising violence, we cannot allow criminal gangs to take over the streets of our country.” His words appeared to have sunk in as there were no untoward incidents during the May Day activities organised by the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, CUT.

In Istanbul, where thousands took on security forces with 210 persons detained, the protests were over inflation, demands for higher wages, labour rights and for a free Palestine.

The pro-worker Bolivian President, Luis Arce, who joined the workers march, announced a 5.8 per cent wage increase in the country.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a former leader of the labour centre, CUT, announced tax cuts for the poor. He told Brazilians: “In our country, there will be no tax breaks to favour the richest, but to those who work and live off their wages.”

In Lebanon, the workers marched against the economic crises which had also involved banks insolvency, and against the genocide in the Palestine. The crowds poured into the streets of Sri Lanka, a country that declared bankruptcy two years ago. The protests mainly focused on rising prices, especially of electricity and higher taxes.

Some of the largest pro-Palestinians rallies on May Day took place in South Africa. Supporters of the ruling African National Congress, ANC, organised solidarity marches in the streets before heading to the Athlone Stadium where they joined the May Day rally hosted by party ally and, the largest labour centre, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU. President Cyril Ramaphosa , the country’s President and former scribe of the Mine Workers union, told the rally: “You as workers, need to join this fight to fight for those who are oppressed around the world. And today as South Africa, we have stood up for the rights of those in other parts of the world (who) are currently being subjected to torture, to violence and genocide.” He added: “And that is why as a country and yes, as an alliance, we have stood firm in our support for the people of Palestine. And that is why we say ‘we want Palestine to be free’.”

COSATU President, Zingiswa Losi, declared: “We are here standing in support of our government, of our movement, in support of the Palestinian cause. Our freedom, comrades, is not complete until the people of Palestine are free and they are liberated.”

Alongside Palestine, was the support for the people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic better known as Western Sahara. Large portions of the country are occupied by Morocco in an attempt to recolonise the former Spanish colony. The Nigeria trade unions declared: “Humanity remains in bondage as long as the United Nations continues to allow the aberration by Morocco to continue.”

The strident 2024 May Day calls will continue, so long as portions of the human race face extinction.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is doing everything possible to destabilise the opposition.

Momodu stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.

The PDP chieftain accused the ruling party of plotting to crush the opposition.

He said, “APC will do everything possible to destroy opposition; buy those who are buyable, to terrorise those who are not buyable and make sure that the party is in disarray, that is all.”

Momodu said President Bola Tinubu is stifling the opposition even after thriving as an opposition leader before his party overtook power from the PDP government.

“You see part of my admiration for then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos was the role he played as an opposition leader.

“But unfortunately, now we have a former opposition leader in government, and they don’t want opposition, it’s an irony,” he said.

Momodu, however, said he is optimistic that the PDP will resolve its issues and bounce back as a strong opposition party.

The PDP chieftain said the party’s presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, is already making moves to bring every member of the party together to forge ahead as a strong family.

Recall that the main opposition party has been hit with crisis following the its presidential election primary in 2023 and its consequent loss at the 2023 general elections.

The long-running crisis in the PDP saw some of its members exiting the party, with the former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha resigning from the party recently.

Ihedioha said he resigned due to inability of the party to play the role of opposition as expected.

He said everything going wrong in the PDP is engineered by APC, adding that the ruling party has bought over some PDP members to disrupt the party.

The Lagos State Government has arrested the occupants of the 86-roomed apartments located under the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi.

Naija News reports that the tenants residing in these apartments were allegedly paying an annual rent of about N250,000, while self-acclaimed landlords were collecting rent from them.

The state government has confirmed that the arrested individuals will soon face prosecution by the authorities.

This information was disclosed by the spokesperson for the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina, during an interview with PUNCH Metro on Thursday, subsequent to the visit to the area.

Adeshina clarified that even though the tenants may have been processed through a mobile court, the self-proclaimed landlords will be prosecuted for their use of public street lights to provide electricity to the area.

He mentioned that the state government would ensure that the location is protected from miscreants, in addition to enforcement and arrests.

Adeshina said, “They (the occupants) will be prosecuted if they have not already been taken to court. We have mobile magistrates’ courts that handle such infractions.

“Although the persons collecting money from them are not government officers, it may be difficult to prosecute them. But what we intend to do is, for the fact that we learnt that they were tapping power supply from the street lights, this will be a basis for prosecuting the persons who were purported to be housing them and collecting money.

“We will not allow miscreants to take over the place again. The place was discovered based on complaints from some residents. I can assure you that place will be taken over and protected by the government.”

The news of the occupants being arrested for paying a whopping N250,000 as annual rent to live under the bridge left many in shock. Some Nigerians criticized the desperation of the occupants.

The Minister of state for environment Izhaq Adekunle Saleko on Thursday said that 48 million Nigerians which represents 23 percent of total population still practice open defecation despite 2025 deadline to end open defecation while 159 million Nigerians are without washing hand facilities.

He stated this to address the menace which has barely a year to go. The Federal government needs to construct 1 Million public toilets in public facilities across the country, adding that so far only five thousand toilets have been provided.

Saleko stated this while he appeared before the House of Representatives committee on Environment during an interactive session in Abuja.

According to him, Nigeria is lagging behind in putting an end to open defecation, while stating that the Federal government in terms of funding cannot provide toilet for every Nigerian.

The Minister further explained that the Ministry has taken various steps to address the issue of open defecation in the country.

He said that the ministry has developed the National Environmental Sanitation Policy and its guidelines on sewage and Excreta management to guide the professional conduct on proper excreta disposal and control of open defecation in the country.

He further explained that the ministry has established sanitation desks in the 36 States’ Ministries of Environment and FCT to monitor and ensure proper environmental sanitation at the community and household levels by conducting routine sanitary inspections of premises, and sensitizing the public on dangers of open defecation and the importance of having access to toilet in residential and public places.

Also he called for the commemoration of National Environmental Sanitation Day on 28th June every year to create a massive awareness on the importance of environmental sanitation and good hygiene practices, thereby institutionalizing sound sanitation and hygiene practices among the citizenry.

” The commemoration activities include community cleaning exercises, facilities inspection, organization of quiz competitions among secondary school students to broaden their knowledge on environmental sanitation and hygiene practices and sensitization/awareness creation in selected communities to prevent and control open defecation as well as environmental sanitation-associated preventable diseases such as malaria, cholera, Lassa fever, e.t.c

“Commemoration of world toilet Day on 19th November every year for awareness creation and sensitization of the general public on dangers of open defecation and need to have access and use toilet. The 36 States of the Federation also join in commemorating the day in their respective states.

“Commemoration of Global Handwashing Day on 15th October every year for sensitization and awareness creation on the importance of Sanitation and proper Hand Hygiene.

“Conduct regular sensitization/advocacy and sanitary inspection of toilets in Federal Government owned institutions and Unity Schools Nationwide. The Ministry also liaises with the state Ministries of Environment and Environmental Health department at LGAs to ensure effective routine sanitary inspection of premises in which the presence and status of the sanitary facilities is a major component of the exercise

“The Ministry initiated a programs titled ‘Clean and Green’ in which One of its aims among others is to eliminate open defecation in Nigeria by 2025 and ensure sustainable total sanitation and implementation of green technology initiatives in Nigeria.

“The Ministry is implementing Community Based Intervention on the control of open defecation program nationwide, which has the components of Sensitization/Awareness Campaign and construction/provision of public toilets with Solar Powered Boreholes. This program has been implemented in FCT, Nasarawa, Niger, and Abia states. The Ministry intends to scale up the project to other states of the Federation.

” Flagged off National Environment Sanitation Intervention/Response to Cholera Outbreak prevention and control in Abuja, FCT with series of planned activities targeting control of open defecation nationwide which has been implemented in Kogi, Nasarawa and Kano State.