Tag: Economy

Tension mounts over Epe/Ijebu-Ode toll as May 31 protest looms

May 30, 2025 (updated May 30, 2025) Published by

Frustration is growing across border communities in Lagos and Ogun States following the sudden introduction of toll charges on the Ijebu-Ode–Mojoda–Epe Road by the Ogun State Government.

Stakeholders from Lagos Epe Division have expressed strong opposition to the policy, citing economic hardship, lack of transparency, and continued silence from Ogun authorities despite earlier consultations.

The discontent reached a boiling point on April 30, 2025, when a stakeholders’ meeting held at Rolak Hotel in Ijebu-Ode brought together civil society groups under the Coalition of Epe Division Groups and other concerned delegations.

While the Lagos portion of the road, from Epe to Mojoda, was rehabilitated during the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the Ogun section, stretching 14.7 kilometers from Mojoda to Ijebu-Ode, was completed under Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Without prior notice or public engagement, the Ogun State Government began tolling its section of the road, triggering widespread criticism.

The rates: N1,000 for cars and standard buses, N1,500 for mini buses, and N2,500 for trucks and trailers, have been described by commuters and residents as excessive and burdensome.

The discontent reached a boiling point on April 30, 2025, when a stakeholders’ meeting held at Rolak Hotel in Ijebu-Ode brought together civil society groups under the Coalition of Epe Division Groups and other concerned delegations.

A formal communique was submitted to Ogun officials at the meeting, articulating strong opposition to the toll charges and calling for reconsideration.

Representatives of the Ogun State Government requested one week to deliberate and issue a response.

Nearly a month later, no feedback has been provided.

The Ogun State Government pleaded for time, but several weeks have passed and nothing has been heard. The continued silence is both disappointing and disrespectful,” a spokesperson for the coalition said, expressing growing frustration over the lack of engagement from state authorities.

In response to the deadlock, civil society organisations and community leaders have announced plans for a peaceful protest scheduled for Saturday, May 31, 2025

Protesters are expected to gather at Mojoda Garage, a symbolic location at the boundary between Ogun and Lagos, to demand fairness, transparency, and community inclusion in infrastructure-related decisions.

Multiple efforts to obtain a response from the Ogun State Government have so far yielded no results, with officials remaining unreachable at the time of reporting.

Atiku Demands Resit for Students Affected by Late night WAEC

May 29, 2025 (updated May 29, 2025) Published by

Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the conditions under which students in various parts of Nigeria were forced to sit for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, calling the situation a “national disgrace” and demanding a resit of the affected examination paper.

In a statement issued on Thursday following widespread reports of students writing their exams in dark and unfit environments across the country, Atiku expressed deep concern over what he called a “damning indictment of our systemic failure to uphold the most basic standards in public education.”

He wrote, “The recent report of students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination in appallingly dark and unfit conditions across the country is nothing short of a national disgrace. That this outrage occurred just a day after the world marked International Children’s Day only deepens the shame.

This is not merely an unfortunate incident — it is a damning indictment of our systemic failure to uphold the most basic standards in public education.

It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and utterly indefensible that in 2025, our children are forced to write critical national exams in pitch darkness like second-class citizens.”

Atiku also demanded the retake of the affected examination paper in all affected centres, warning that anything less would be a “grave injustice to the students whose futures hang in the balance.”.

This incident must awaken our national conscience,” he wrote. “It must compel immediate and sustained investment in critical social infrastructure, with education as the foremost priority — not in rhetoric but in tangible action.”

He further stated that while students share responsibility in preparing for examinations, the authorities failed in ensuring conducive conditions, and it would be “utterly unjust to allow students to suffer the consequences of such gross institutional negligence.”

Atiku concluded his statement by urging relevant authorities to establish and enforce minimum environmental and infrastructural standards for all high-stakes national examinations to prevent a recurrence.

We must never allow such a shameful scenario to repeat itself — not under our watch,” he wrote

A similar situation was also reported at Government Secondary School, Namnai, in Taraba State, where candidates narrowly escaped injury after their classrooms collapsed during a storm on Wednesday evening.

ObasEmpire reports that viral videos on Wednesday revealed candidates sitting for the 2025 WASSCE English Language examination late at night without electricity, using lanterns and mobile phone flashlights.

The West African Examinations Council, attributed the delay in the conduct of the 2025 English Language paper on heightened efforts to curb examination malpractice, particularly the leakage of question papers.

However, the National Association of Nigerian Students condemned WAEC for the delay calling the shift of the exam from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. “insensitive” and a “gross disregard for the safety and well-being” of candidates, especially in rural areas.

NANS also criticized WAEC’s internal security lapses, arguing that students should not be made to suffer for the body’s failure to prevent examination malpractice.

Panicking Putin Begs Europe’s Closet ally for Potatoes as Food Crisis Unravels

May 29, 2025 (updated May 29, 2025) Published by

Vladimir Putin is demanding urgent potato imports from Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, while he delays supplying the ally with promised notorious Oreshnik horror missiles. Putin has made the shameful admission that he has run out of spuds – one of his country’s leading food staples – amid economic meltdown during his war with Ukraine.

It now appears Belarus will not get the lethal missiles until after Lukashenko supplies Putin with new exports of potatoes which have spiralled in prices in Russia. The Minsk tyrant has even cancelled sanctions against imports from the EU to stock up to supply Russia

It was in January that Lukashenko, 70, boasted to journalists that he would have the lethal Oreshnik missiles from “my elder brother” Putin, 72, “any day now”. Oreshnik is nuclear-capable, but Putin insists it is almost as destructive with a non-nuclear warhead and “unstoppable” by the West.

Targets would be incinerated, he said, by missiles unleashing a temperature of 4,000C, almost as hot as the surface of the sun.

Putin is believed to have only used the “game-changing weapon” once – last year against Ukraine in Dnipro city, without a live warhead.

Lukashenko’s security chief Lt-Gen Alexander Volfovich revealed this week that the Oreshnik deployment has not happened and is only now expected to “by the year’s end”. This contrasts with Lukashenko insisting in January: “Any day now, we’ll have the Oreshnik systems.”

Volfovich denied speculation that the chronic delay indicates a problem with a missile that has not undergone usual tests by its makers.

“Preparations are proceeding as planned,” he claimed. “Let others think – perhaps abroad – that [Oreshnik] won’t be in Belarus. But we know exactly where it is, and how it functions.”

A deployment means the Oreshnik could hit Britain in less than nine minutes, Russia has boasted.

Having failed to meet the missile deliveries, Putin insisted he needed Lukashenko to send him potatoes.

The Belarus ruler – a Soviet-era potato farmer – told his officials: “There has been a lot of talk, especially after a meeting chaired by the Russian president [Vladimir Putin], who joked about potatoes. The issue is very serious to us. How?

We know how to grow potatoes above all things. We should grow enough for ourselves and for Russia…. We need to help our brothers, the Russians. Besides, this is not charity. This is good money, good prices.”

This came as Putin previously told a Kremlin audience: “Speaking of potatoes, my father got me into this. It’s not easy work, planting these potatoes, then weeding them. Robotics, at first glance, is more interesting….

“Yesterday, I repeat, I also met with representatives of…the agricultural sector. As it turns out we don’t have enough potatoes. I talked to Alexander Lukashenko and he said: ‘We have already sold everything to Russia.’”

Lukashenko removed his own ban on importing potatoes from the EU to boost supplies amid the new order from Putin.

Popular Enugu native doctor flees as community busts his underground site filled with dead victims

May 29, 2025 (updated May 29, 2025) Published by

Umuma Ndiagu community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State has been thrown into shock following a chilling discovery of a native doctor who kills and buries people alive in his compound.

The community to their utmost bewilderment discovered that the native doctor, identified as Ezeani, also popularly known as “Ichie Million,” has a soak away pits filled with dead bodies of people.

Ezeani allegedly kidnapped his victims , including pregnant women and children and buried them alive for ritual.

The community came to the knowledge of the dastardly acts after he was alleged to have been caught kidnapping a 13-year-old minor in his community.

Further suspicions of his numerous activities led to the unveiling of can of worms in his exquisite building, parked with exotic cars.

The community alleged that he was found to have buried several victims alive in a soak away in his compound in Ezeagu, in Enugu state.

My father and I went to fetch firewood which we will use to fry our Garri. His men came and asked my dad for his cutlass, which he gave them. Suddenly they grabbed me and kept me in a pit they had dug. I then started crying before the neighborhood watch heard my cry and came to rescue me,” the little girl rescued from the hands of Ezeani said in a viral video.

In another viral video obtained by ObasEmpire, one of the shocked community members recounted the horror.

We have caught the killers. They kill people. People’s dead bodies are full inside here. They have killed a lot of people. We just rescued a 13-year-old child who they wanted to use for rituals,” one of the community members said in the video,” the man said, pointing to the grim scenes unfolding.

He was subsequently tied hands and feet, and stripped naked.

The alleged mastermind, Ezeani, is said to be currently on the run but it was gathered that his wives were also caught by the community members while his house and cars were said to have been burnt down by.

While denying involvement in the killings, he admitted frequenting the native doctor’s residence for ritual purposes.

The suspect who identified the native doctor as Ezeani said, “I am a business person and I came here. After I finished performing some sacrifices, it remained for a water sacrifice to be performed for me.”

He added, “I was waiting for everything to be done for me. There are things to be done but I don’t know what are used to do the things, but what they do here is that as a new comer, they normally send the person on an errand.

The owner of this place, Daddy Ezeani, asked me to protect this place and scare anyone coming here away.”

Although claiming ignorance of the murders, the suspect confessed to knowing two other individuals believed to be accomplices who he identified as Okey and Chibuzor.

One is Okey from Oji (Oji River) and Chibuzor who I don’t know where he is from but if I see their faces I will recognise them,” he stated.

The alleged mastermind, Ezeani, is said to be currently on the run but it was gathered that his wives were also caught by the community members while his house and cars were said to have been burnt down by the irate youths.

A further check by ObasEmpire about Ezeani on Facebook showed that he was seen spraying bundles of cash a few months ago at a wedding.

Efforts by DAILY POST to contact the Enugu State Police Command concerning the matter didn’t yield result.

It Will Be Impossible For Tinubu To Get Reelected’ – El-Rufai

May 28, 2025 (updated May 28, 2025) Published by

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has insisted that it will be impossible for President Bola Tinubu to get reelected in the 2027 election

This News reports that this comes barely a week after the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership and that of the National Assembly passed a vote of confidence in Tinubu.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, also expressed confidence that Tinubu would be reelected because he is the sole candidate of the party.

Similarly, the APC Governors endorsed Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate during its summit in Abuja.

However, in an interview on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) national updates, El-Rufai said anybody who thinks Tinubu can get re-elected is living in another country, not Nigeria.

In the short snippet making the rounds online, the former Governor said nobody would vote for Tinubu in 2027, considering the current economic and political situation in Nigeria.

El-Rufai added that he does not see a pathway for Tinubu, irrespective of the crisis in the opposition parties.

He said, “Anybody that thinks it is possible for President Bola Tinubu to get re-elected is living in another country, not Nigeria. It is impossible for Bola Tinubu to get re-elected. I don’t see a pathway for him, no matter how disorganised the opposition is. Who will vote for him? But that’s my own opinion.”

Trumps Warns Putin is ‘Playing with fire’ Amid Rising Tensions

May 27, 2025 (updated May 27, 2025) Published by

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning about Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that Putin is “playing with fire” in a comment that has reignited discussions about U.S.-Russia relations. According to a report from The Hill, The provocative remark, made during a recent public appearance, reflects Trump’s ongoing focus on his past interactions with Putin and signals concern about Russia’s current geopolitical maneuvers. As global tensions simmer, Trump’s statement underscores the delicate balance of diplomacy and power on the world stage.

Trump, who has often spoken of his ability to maintain a working relationship with Putin, suggested that the Russian leader’s recent actions are pushing boundaries that could lead to serious consequences. While Trump did not specify which actions prompted his warning, analysts point to Russia’s ongoing military activities, energy policies, and assertive foreign policy as possible triggers. The comment comes at a time when U.S.-Russia relations remain strained, with issues like Ukraine, cybersecurity, and NATO’s expansion fueling discord.

During his presidency, Trump emphasized personal diplomacy, often citing his rapport with Putin as a means to stabilize bilateral ties. High-profile meetings, such as the 2018 Helsinki summit, showcased Trump’s preference for direct engagement over confrontation. However, his latest statement marks a shift in tone, suggesting that Putin’s current trajectory may be testing the limits of diplomatic goodwill. “He’s playing a dangerous game,” Trump added, hinting at the potential for escalation if tensions are not managed carefully.

The broader context of Trump’s remark includes ongoing global challenges. Russia’s role in Ukraine, its influence in energy markets, and its strategic partnerships with other nations have raised alarms in Western capitals. Some observers interpret Trump’s warning as a critique of the Biden administration’s approach, which has leaned heavily on sanctions and multilateral pressure. Trump’s comment may also foreshadow his foreign policy priorities, should he seek office again, emphasizing a blend of strength and negotiation.

As the international community watches closely, Trump’s words highlight the high stakes of U.S.-Russia relations. Whether Putin will heed the warning or continue on his current path remains uncertain, but the statement has sparked renewed debate about how best to navigate one of the world’s most critical geopolitical relationships.

Lawyer To Face trial For alleged Attempt of Mislead AGF

May 27, 2025 (updated May 27, 2025) Published by

The police have dragged an Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, over an alleged attempt to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation into dropping a criminal case.

Giwa and a co-defendant, identified as Bukola, are facing three counts bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation.

The charge, marked CR/150/25, was filed by the Inspector General of Police and accused the defendants of fabricating a letter purportedly from the chambers of prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Awa Kalu, to mislead the AGF into halting a pending criminal case.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on June 28, 2024, when the defendants allegedly forged and dispatched a letter titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023.

The letter, addressed to the AGF and written on the official letterhead of Awa U. Kalu (SAN), requested the suspension of Giwa’s arraignment scheduled for July 2, 2024, before Justice Bature of the High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

The prosecution alleged that the forged letter falsely claimed to be from Kalu’s chambers and argued for the withdrawal of charges against Giwa in the interest of “natural justice, equity, and fair play.”

Giwa, along with property developer, Cecil Osakwe, and others, is facing separate nine counts involving alleged illegal eviction, criminal intimidation, threats to life, and property damage amounting to N300m.

In the current case, Giwa and Bukola were charged with conspiracy to commit forgery and impersonation (punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, 2004).

They were also accused of dishonest execution of a fraudulent document and false personation of a legal practitioner.

The prosecution is being led by Rabiu Usman from the Legal/Prosecution Section under the authority of the Inspector General of Police.

At the scheduled arraignment before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie on Monday, proceedings were stalled due to the absence of both defendants.

Defence counsel U.J. Udo explained that Giwa was bereaved and had travelled for his sister’s burial, requesting an adjournment.

Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request, adjourning the matter to September 15, 2025, for arraignment.

He, however, issued a stern warning that no further delays would be tolerated.

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Trump Slams ‘Crazy’ Putin as Russia Pummels Ukraine With Massive drone attack

May 26, 2025 (updated May 26, 2025) Published by

‎US President Donald Trump called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin “crazy” on Sunday after Moscow launched a deadly barrage of drones against Ukraine, even as the warring countries completed a large-scale prisoner exchange.

‎At least 13 people were killed when Russia launched a record number of drones against Ukraine overnight to Sunday.

I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!” he added.

‎Earlier Sunday, Trump told reporters he was “not happy” about the latest attack on Ukraine and that he was “absolutely” considering increasing sanctions on Moscow.

I’ve known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” he said.

‘Terror’ –

Ukraine’s emergency services described Sunday an atmosphere of “terror” in the country after a second straight night of massive Russian air strikes, including on the capital Kyiv.

‎Those killed in the latest Russian strikes included victims aged eight, 12, and 17 in the northwestern region of Zhytomyr, officials said.

Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.

The silence of America, the silence of others around the world only encourages Putin,” he said, adding: “Sanctions will certainly help.”

‎In his social media post, Trump also criticized Zelensky, a frequent target of his ire, accusing him of “doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does.”

‎Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop,” he said.

‎The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, also called for “the strongest international pressure on Russia to stop this war.”

Last night’s attacks again show Russia bent on more suffering and the annihilation of Ukraine,” she said on social media.

Call for sanctions –‎

‎‎German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also denounced the attacks.

Putin does not want peace, he wants to carry on the war and we shouldn’t allow him to do this,” he said. “For this reason we will approve further sanctions at a European level.”‎

Ukraine’s military said on Sunday it had shot down a total of 45 Russian missiles and 266 attack drones overnight.‎

Air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said 298 drones were launched, adding that this was “the highest number ever.”

‎Four people were reported killed in Ukraine’s western Khmelnytskyi region, and four in the Kyiv region.

‎Two people were killed in the southern Mykolaiv region.

We saw the whole street was on fire,” a 65-year-old retired woman, Tetiana Iankovska, told AFP in Markhalivka village just southwest of Kyiv.

‎Russia said its strikes were aimed at Ukraine’s “military-industrial complex” and that it had brought down 110 Ukrainian drones.

‎The previous night, Russia had launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones, wounding 15 people, according to Ukrainian officials.

‎Flights at Moscow airports suffered temporary closures due to Ukrainian drone activity on Sunday but no injuries were reported, officials said.

‎‎Ukrainian officials also reported Russian strikes overnight to Monday, but not on the same scale.

‎Two people were injured and a house was destroyed in the Zaporizhzhia region when “the enemy struck the village of Yurkivka”, Ivan Fedorov, the governor of the region, said in a Telegram post.

Major prisoner exchange –‎

‎‎The massive strikes on Ukraine came as Russia said it had exchanged another 303 Ukrainian prisoners of war for the same number of Russian soldiers held by Kyiv — the last phase of a swap agreed during talks in Istanbul on May 16.

‎That marked their biggest prisoner swap since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with 1,000 captured soldiers and civilian prisoners in total sent back by each side.

‎Zelensky confirmed the swap was complete.

‎‎An AFP reporter saw some of the formerly captive Ukrainian soldiers arrive at a hospital in the northern Chernigiv region, emaciated but smiling and waving to crowds.

‎‎One former captive, 58-year-old Viktor Syvak, told AFP he was overcome by the emotional homecoming.

‎Captured in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, he had been held for 37 months and 12 days.

It’s impossible to describe. I can’t put it into words,” he said of the release.

AFP

African leaders must strengthen Collaboration Against Escalating security threats

May 24, 2025 (updated May 25, 2025) Published by

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has urged African leaders to intensify collaboration and technological advancement across African air forces to address the continent’s escalating security threats

Abubakar, who spoke at the opening of the 4th African Air Forces Forum in Lagos, which gathered Chiefs of Air Staff and aerospace leaders from over 30 nations, emphasized the need for unity, innovation, and strategic partnerships in the face of evolving regional and global security dynamics.

This was disclosed in a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media, Mati Ali.

The minister said: “We are confronted by multidimensional threats that transcend borders and defy traditional responses. Terrorism, transnational crime, and maritime insecurity demand robust, collective action anchored in advanced airpower and strategic partnerships.”

Under the theme “Strengthening Collaboration in Advanced Aerospace Technologies for Enhanced National and Regional Security,” the forum marks a pivotal moment for African defense cooperation.

The minister also highlighted that Nigeria, in pursuance of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is investing heavily in the modernisation of the Nigerian Air Force, with emphasis on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), to air mobility, and precision strike capabilities.

“A technologically advanced Nigerian Air Force is not only vital to Nigeria’s security but a strategic asset to Africa’s collective defence,” the minister said.

He also underscored the central role of cutting-edge aerospace technologies, ranging from unmanned aerial systems to integrated cyber defence, in shaping modern defence architecture. However, he cautioned that technology alone is not enough.

According to him, “this forum is not only about technological advancement. It is about the human dimension of trust, mutual respect, and a shared ambition for a secure, united, and prosperous Africa.”

The minister paid tribute to Tinubu for his unwavering support to the Nigerian Armed Forces and his visionary leadership in advancing peace and security both at home and across Africa

Foreign vessel crew members throw four Nigerian stowaways into Atlantic

May 23, 2025 (updated May 23, 2025) Published by

Four Nigerian stowaways were rescued on the Atlantic Ocean after being thrown overboard by the crew of a foreign vessel.

The rescued individuals, James John, Favour Efe, Kingsley Williams, and Kingsley Mathew, have since been handed over to the Nigerian Navy at the Navy Base Atlas Cove, Takwa Bay, for further care and debriefing.

The young men, seeking to escape Nigeria’s economic challenges, had boarded the ship in secret with hopes of reaching foreign shores.

The crew of the vessel, upon discovering the stowaways, allegedly responded with violence, casting the men into the Atlantic Ocean

They were clinging to debris, weak and barely able to call for help. We acted quickly. Another few minutes, and they might not have made it.”

As investigations into the incident continue, the spotlight remains firmly on both the plight of Nigeria’s youth and the urgent need for comprehensive migration and economic reform.”

They were clinging to debris, weak and barely able to call for help. We acted quickly. Another few minutes, and they might not have made it.”

The public relations officer of the firm, Olawale Ezekiel, made this known in a statement to journalists on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

The situation could have ended in tragedy were it not for the swift intervention of a maritime logistics company owned by a France-based Ekiti-born business mogul, Mr Harrison Niyi Alonge.

This incident underscores a growing migration crisis in Nigeria, where economic instability, unemployment, and insecurity have driven many young people to attempt perilous journeys in search of a better life. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), hundreds of Nigerians undertake risky maritime routes annually, often resorting to illegal and life-threatening methods.

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