Barnabas Sonayon

  The Lagos State Government has denied involvement in the alleged demolition of a property reportedly owned by the brother of former presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, while ordering a full-scale investigation into the matter. In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, the government expressed concern over what it described as “unverified and misleading claims” made by Mr. Obi, asserting that no agency of the state was responsible for the demolition. According to the statement, the Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde, who oversees the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), confirmed that the agency was neither involved in nor aware of any demolition at the said property. “We find it disturbing that Mr. Peter Obi would make such allegations without first verifying the facts,” the statement read. “The Lagos State Government did not authorize, sanction, or execute the...

  It was a day of songs, gratitude and reflection as family members, friends, political associates, and well-wishers gathered in Lagos to celebrate the 60th birthday of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The thanksgiving event, themed “Rhythms of Worship with Adura”, held in Lagos, featured powerful performances by leading gospel artistes including Moses Bliss, Mercy Chinwo, Arugbo Ojo, Emma Oh My God, the MFM Guitar Choir, and the Dream Catchers Academy, among others. The lineup of music ministers led attendees in worship that was as celebratory as it was spiritually moving. In his emotional address, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the milestone as more than a personal celebration — calling it a spiritual moment of reflection, gratitude and renewed commitment to service. “Today is all about God. About His goodness. About His faithfulness. And about the rhythm of His love that continues to echo in my life, and in the life of our beloved Lagos State,” he said. The governor explained that the...

  Ikeja to Pilot Lagos Identifier Programme from July 1st The Lagos State Government has launched a groundbreaking digital addressing system designed to enhance ease of doing business, improve service delivery, and boost internal revenue generation. Announcing the initiative at a media briefing in Lagos, the Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Babatunde Olajide, said the digital addressing system—branded the Lagos Identifier Programme—will be deployed across all local governments, beginning with Ikeja from July 1st. According to Dr. Olajide, the programme marks a major step in actualising Lagos State’s smart city vision by integrating location intelligence into various sectors including housing, transportation, e-hailing services, emergency response, urban planning, and security. “This system will have a real-life impact not just on businesses and government services, but on the everyday lives of Lagosians. From faster emergency response to improved ...

  By Victor Okiche  The Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, has teamed up with the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) and Interferry, a global ferry safety association, to strengthen safety measures across Lagos’ inland waterways. The partnership was unveiled during a facility tour of LASWA operations, with stakeholders assessing current safety protocols and exploring ways to improve ferry transportation in the state. The General Manager of LASWA, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, described ferry safety as essential to efficient water transportation, noting that Lagos has already recorded improvements in waterway operations through the use of life jackets, bi-annual boat inspections, crew training, and upgraded communication technology across jetties. He emphasized the importance of the newly established Ferry Control Room, which collects data to guide real-time decision-making and enhance passenger safety. “When MOWCA approached Lagos State to say, look, we’re ...

The African Church Management Committee has announced the suspension of its Primate, His Eminence Julius Olayinka Osayande Abbe, over what it described as multiple breaches of the Church’s constitution. The announcement was made at a press conference held in Lagos on Thursday and addressed by the Acting Lay President, Elder Pius Adebayo Sobambo. Themed "Setting the Records Straight: Upholding Truth, Constitutionality, and Unity in The African Church," the event outlined the Church's reasons for the suspension amid ongoing internal leadership crisis. Elder Sobambo stated that the suspension followed failed attempts at reconciliation and persistent disregard for constitutional provisions by Primate Abbe. “Let the record reflect that all genuine efforts toward reconciliation, dialogue, and peaceful resolution were made in good faith but were consistently rebuffed by Primate Abbe and his loyalists,” Sobambo said. He added that despite court injunctions and the Church’s...

  In the lead-up to this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Office of the Lagos State First Lady has taken its advocacy campaign to the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo. Themed “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” the sensitization campaign featured a symbolic walk across the campus and brought together stakeholders from the Lagos State Ministries of Youth and Social Development, Health, Tertiary Education, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as officials from the NDLEA. Wife of the Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, said the campaign was designed to raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse, particularly among youths. She urged addicts to seek help and called on communities to end the stigma associated with drug addiction. Also speaking, the NDLEA Commander in Lagos State, Mr. Abubakar Wali, warned that drug abuse is not only a threat to mental health but also undermines national security, education, and public s...

Nigerian afrobeat singer Qing Madi has been embroiled in a contract saga after reneging on her contract with Richie Music Empire Record Label. According to the Chief Executive officer of Richie Music Empire, Don Richie, Madi kid was her name when she worked with the Label and not Qing Madi.  He said she worked with the Label for a  year before finally putting pen to paper to sign with Richie Music Empire for 4 years on the 21st of March 2021. Now trouble started when Don Richie left the shores of the country to attend to family issues and upon his arrival into the country in 2022, he heard Qing Madi has signed with J-Ton, Sony Music and Colombia Records with the help of her so called manager whom was assigned to her by Don Richie and the RICHIE Music Empire Records. All effort to get her back to honor her contract proved abortive as she was conspiring with some other actors to breach her contract with Richie Music Empire. Don RICHIE has vowed to pursue the case by taking legal...