This year’s edition of the annual traditional ‘Oro’ festival, usually held in Ikorodu, Lagos State, has been scheduled for May 16, 2024, daytime and nighttime.

This was disclosed in a letter issued by the Ayangburen Palace and signed by the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi; a copy of which was sighted by PUNCH Online on Sunday.

The letter, dated April 16, 2024, was addressed to the Medical Director of the Ikorodu General Hospital.

The letter, titled ‘Notification of Magbo (Oro) Festival 2024,’ read, “This is to notify you of the above festival, which is slated for Thursday, May 16, 2024.

“According to tradition, all females are advised to remain in their respective homes and avoid moving around the town during the Oro festival.

“Please note that your organisation is affected by falling within the Oro traditional jurisdictions. You are hereby advised to adhere to the traditions of the town.”

The Oro festival, among others, is a prominent festival in the Yoruba tradition.

It’s celebrated by male descendants and usually characterised by a daytime procession and high-pitched sounds in some areas or across the community as the case may be.

It’s believed that females mustn’t be present during the ritual rites of the festival.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho; and the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, did not take their calls when our correspondent called to get their reaction on Sunday.

They have also not responded to the text messages sent to them.

Efforts made to get more clarification on the matter from the Ikorodu Palace also did not yield positive results as the calls made were unanswered.

Lagos-Calabar Road: Gov’t Plans Realignment, Flyovers To Connect Lekki Port, Dangote Refinery

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has assured that the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project will be constructed to join a parallel alignment with the road connecting to the Lekki Deep Sea Port and Dangote Refinery in a move to bolster economic strength and achieve the gazetted route of the project’s corridors.

The minister hinted that more beachfronts, obstructions and structures along the federal government’s gazetted right-of-way will be demolished.

Umahi, while speaking on the sideline of the project tour around Lagos Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Lagos, mentioned that Hi-Tech construction company would construct a flyover along the 47km to connect to the Lekki Deep Seaport to Epe and Dangote Refinery.

The Minister noted that properties and obstructions along the gazetted right-of-way of the Lagos-Calabar highway project must be realigned to achieve the goal of the coastal highway project stretching towards Lagos and eight other states in the country.

He said the demolition had commenced after he inspected kilometres 13, 16 and 20 of the coastal road project to ensure that the economic viable route to access the coastal road is without any damage.
Umahi further noted that the federal government reclaimed the right of way of the Lagos-Calabar coastal shorelines to pave way for the realisation of the project.

He said the demolition was necessary as part of the project plan since the structures were located on the Federal Government’s right-of-way. He said a lot of structures would be affected by the demolition, adding that compensation would be provided where necessary.

He affirmed that the demolition of obstructions along the federal government’s right-of-way began with the Mami Chula lifestyle beachfront and Landmark Beach Resort after holding several meetings with stakeholders, property owners and traditional institutions in the state.

The minister said the demolition will go on despite claims of Landmark CEO, citing job loss and business deactivation while he stressed that the owner was making a lot of noise despite knowing that his structure was not affected.

The minister insisted that the coastal project will go on despite the politics being played by Landmark to sway the media that his structure has been destroyed.
The minister stressed that several structures would be affected by the demolition, adding that compensation would be provided.

Umahi said, “with the utmost fear of God, and the commitment to the Renewed Hope prudency agenda of President Bola Tinubu. It’s in a right-of-way within the coastal corridor, which is the legitimate right-of-way of the federal government.

“Before the flag-off of the Landmark’s demolition, I graciously increased the period by another seven days and yet another four days, and here we are because the project stopped because of a lack of demolition.”
The minister acknowledged that some people opposed the project but he insisted that it was necessary for economic development.

He assured those affected by the demolition that they would be adequately compensated and added that documentation would start between May 2 and 3.
Umahi also assured that he would be available throughout the week to address the confirmation or payment issues related to the demolition exercise.

https://leadership.ng/lagos-calabar-road-govt-plans-realignment-flyovers-to-connect-lekki-port-dangote-refinery/

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, disclosed on Tuesday that the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, once saved him from media blackmail while he was in the Senate.

The governor, during a reception organized for the First Lady, alongside other State Governors’ wives at Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, ahead of the Sod Turning of The Alternative High School for Girls, said the first lady, then a Senator in the 8th Senate, was his saving grace after he was caught sleeping by the media during plenary.

According to Adeleke, “I want to welcome you to Osun State. You are a detribalise First Lady. I remember that she was my senior colleague at the 8th assembly; there was a time when the media caught me sleeping in the Senate, so they wanted to blackmail me. I told them how tedious our job is in making bills and having several sleepless nights over Nigeria.

“We don’t sleep till 4 a.m. most times. They (the media) were not listening to me, I almost fell for their blackmail.

So I ran to Mama (First Lady) when she was going to Lagos, I told her that I wanted to ask her something. I said I was sleeping, and the media came to me that they saw me sleeping, and it seemed they wanted to collect something from me.

“She told me, ‘Ma da won lohun’ (don’t answer them), let them go and write whatever thing they want to write, tell them that you are a human being because they have done that to her before. I made use of what she told me. That helped me out of paying a lot of money. So anytime we have issues, we always go to her because of her wealth of experience.”

President Bola Tinubu on Friday evening, arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, to participate in the 2024 Special World Economic Forum, WEF, on Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development.

The President’s arrival marks the beginning of the second leg of his two-nation official visits, following his earlier engagements this week in the Hague, Netherlands.

The presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, stated that over 1,000 leaders from business, government, and academia from more than 90 countries are expected to attend the high-profile forum in Riyadh.

He explained that the aim is to build on the success of last year’s inaugural Growth Summit held in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Riyadh meeting is expected to address pressing global challenges across three core themes: revitalizing global collaboration, fostering inclusive growth, and catalyzing action on energy for development.

The event serves as a platform to bridge the growing North-South divide exacerbated by emerging economic policies, the energy transition, and geopolitical shocks.

Tinubu and his entourage are expected to utilize the opportunity of the WEF gathering to engage in discussions furthering his “Renewed Hope Agenda” for Nigeria, according to Ajuri Ngelale, the main spokesman for the Nigerian president.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/tinubu-arrives-saudi-arabia-after-netherlands-visit/amp/

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State said on Thursday that civil servants in the state have been receiving N70,000 minimum wage since January.

Sanwo-Olu said his administration has been paying workers an additional N35,000 wage allowance since January.

Speaking at a function on Thursday, the governor assured workers that his administration would soon dole out a new minimum wage scheme.

He said: “The civil servants and all public officers in Lagos know that since January, we have continued to pay the wage allowance of a minimum of N35,000 over and above what they were earning before.

“What this means is that people that are earning a minimum of N35,000 or more before are now earning over N70,000. That is what they have been enjoying since January.

“So it is important for people to know that we make these things very clear and that this government has doubled up to ensure that at this difficult time, it has not left the citizens on their own.”

Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that his administration will distribute food items to 500,000 households in the state through unions and local governments.

Speaking on the ‘Ounje Eko’ Initiative, where food items are sold at discounted prices, Sanwo-Olu said: “We created 59 makeshift markets outside of the regular markets out of our 57 local government and local council development areas and made it Sunday-Sunday market.”

https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/25/lagos-workers-earning-n70000-minimum-wage-since-january-sanwo-olu/

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said that when it comes to aviation matters, everyone, including puff-puff sellers at the airport, has a say.

Keyamo disclosed this when he appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today to speak on Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities’ action over the health status of Dana Airline on Thursday.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the NCAA suspended the Air Operator Certificate of Dana Airlines with immediate effect amidst safety concerns.

The airline suspension came less than 48 hours after an aircraft (MD82 with registration marks 5SN-BKI) with 83 passengers and crew members on board belonging to Dana Air experienced a runway incursion on Tuesday upon landing at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos from Abuja.

However, speaking on the criticisms that followed the suspension, Keyamo said he never wrote to the airline but instructed the NCAA to do so.

He added that if the aircraft in the country’s aviation sector are not properly checked, then there will be what he described as “flying coffins” in the air.

He said, “The last thing I want to do is deceive Nigerians about the state of health of commercial aircraft.

“There was an audit two years ago that confirmed the unhealthy status of Dana aircraft, and then at some points, something happened, and I said, go back and review it and see how thorough was that before I allowed them to fly again.

“The problem with this sector is that we have people who claim to be experts everywhere. Everybody is an aviation expert. People who have sold puff puff at the airport will tell you that they have been at the airport for a long time, so they are aviation experts.

“And I have challenged them over and over again since I came to office to come on TV if they have ideas and better ways to run the aviation sector and debate with me because what we have done since we came was to set clear priority areas for ourselves,.” Meanwhile, this is not the first time the minister has challenged some experts to a public debate on aviation matters.

On March 14, Keyamo visited France, where he toured the factory of the foremost aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, in Toulouse.

A video of Keyamo touring the factory had trended with some stakeholders saying Keyamo had turned himself to Airbus sales agent. But Keyamo fired back in a statement saying the Federal Government would go all out to facilitate seamless aircraft leasing for local operators.

He also bemoaned the criticism of the ‘experts’ whom he stated have not contributed anything to industry development.

Fielding questions on how he intends to curb the irregularities in the sector, Keyamo said there was deep complicity within the system and that the cleansing process will start and continue until they are resolved. “The cleansing process is within the system because you see regulators at times buying big houses and driving big cars. Regulators who are supposed to be public servants.

“They endanger the lives of Nigerians by cutting corners. Certain people, among them, falsify reports, checks, and training, among others.

“The commentaries by so-called aviation experts since yesterday is a system of corruption that we are fighting and we are going to bring it down within the sector. This sector is one of the most corrupt that I have seen because people bypass regulations,” he maintained.

Yesterday, in responding to me, Peter Obi told another lamba when he claimed that schools were not on strike under his administration. Please fact-check me: Under Peter Obi, Anambra schools were on strike for seven months because Peter Obi refused to pay Anambra teachers minimum wage.

This is the same then Governor, who had $30 million to invest in a $50 million beer brewery. But he could not find $3 million to pay teachers minimum wage. And when they protested, he threatened to sack them.

This is the man now criticising Tinubu for not increasing workers' pay and instead increasing their suffering.

Not only did he not build schools throughout his eight year tenure, he also threatened to fire teachers employed by his predecessors.

#TableShaker

U.S. prosecutors want Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former chief executive of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, to serve three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to violating laws against money laundering. Prosecutors made the request in a Tuesday night filing in Seattle federal court.

They said sentencing Zhao to twice the maximum 18 months recommended under federal guidelines would reflect the magnitude of his willful violations, and send a message that "the right choice, every time, is to comply with the law."

Lawyers for Zhao requested probation. U.S. District Judge Richard Jones is expected to sentence Zhao on April 30.

Once the most powerful figure in the crypto industry, Zhao, 47, stepped down as Binance's chief last November, when he and the exchange admitted to evading anti-money laundering requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act.

Binance agreed to a $4.32 billion criminal penalty.
Prosecutors said Binance, employing a "Wild West" model that welcomed criminals, did not report more than 100,000 suspicious transactions with designated terrorist groups including Hamas, al Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.

They also said Zhao's platform also supported the sale of child sexual abuse materials and was a recipient of a large portion of ransomware proceeds. "He made a business decision that violating U.S. law was the best way to attract users, build his company, and line his pockets," prosecutors said. In seeking leniency, Zhao's lawyers cited the first-time offender's "unflinching" acceptance of responsibility, his $50 million criminal fine, and that no defendant in a remotely similar case has been imprisoned.

They also said Zhao made Binance an industry leader on compliance, "despite the initial failures that led to this prosecution." Zhao founded Binance in 2017.
He has been free on a $175 million bond, and agreed not to appeal any sentence within federal guidelines.
Binance's penalty included a $1.81 billion criminal fine and $2.51 billion of restitution. Zhao also paid $50 million to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, his lawyers said.

The case is U.S. v. Zhao, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, No. 23-cr-00179.

Telecommunications giant, MTN, has recorded the highest number of subscribers porting out of its network since inception to December 2022.

This is according to the Nigerian Communications Commission in its newly published 2022 Subscriber/Network Data Annual Report.

The report represents the analysis of the Subscriber and Service Data – Porting Trend in Nigeria, from May 2013 to December 2022.

The analysis revealed that of the four major GSM operators in the country, 444,226 subscribers ported out of MTN to other network providers, as against Airtel, Glo and EMTS that respectively recorded 351,422; 277,527; and 190,724 customers porting out.

The analysis also revealed that EMTS recorded 676,944 port-ins, representing the highest number of subscribers porting into its network, followed by AIRTEL with 331,837; MTN with 181,301; and Glo with 105,746 port-ins.

A segment of the report titled, ‘C. subscriber & service data – porting trend in Nigeria as at December 2022’, highlighted the number of GSM porting activities across the four major network providers in the country.

It read, “Table 14 below shows the trend of Nigeria’s porting activities from inception (May, 2013 to December, 2022) for the four (4) major GSM Operators. The analysis illustrates that EMTS had the highest count of Port-in subscribers [676,944] while Airtel, MTN and Glo respectively recorded the following counts of port-in as follows [331,837]; [181,301] & [105,746].”

“Similarly, our analysis from May, 2013 to December, 2022, reveals that MTN had the highest number of subscribers that ported-out [444,226] to other networks while Airtel, Glo & EMTS are as follows [351,422]; [277,527] & [190,742] respectively.”

The authorities of Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State have demolished illegal structures and shanties along the bank of the River Niger, by Niger Street, Fegge, Onitsha.

The exercise, which started on Sunday and continued on Monday, saw the demolition of machine houses, stores and sand beaches of sand miners and traders doing business along the area.

The demolition affected several equipment houses, shops and business premises, and it is coming barely a month after over 2,300 shops in the same area were demolished by the council area.

Our correspondent gathered that the exercise had displaced no fewer than 4,000 sand miners and traders doing business and trading in the area.

The demolition was supervised by the Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Emeka Orji, in the company, along with over 15 operatives of the Anambra State Vigilante Service.

Speaking during the exercise, Orji re-emphasised the state government’s determination towards reclaiming the land from the present occupiers.

Orji said, “The state government is determined to reclaim the land from its present occupiers and clear the area of illegal structures defacing the environment. The affected victims have been warned to vacate the place, but they did not take the warning seriously.”

As the demolition was ongoing, some of the affected sand miners were seen hurriedly removing their equipment, including sand drilling machines, while the traders among them, were seen removing their commodities, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, food and snacks, from the scene.

This is just as they lamented that the exercise had rendered them jobless and homeless.

During the exercise, one of the properties, a fuel station marked for, almost caused a crisis, as the demolition-affected owners started agitating and kicking against the demolition.

The intervention of the vigilante operatives, who started shooting sporadically, scared the people agitating from coming near the demolition point.

One of the victims, Lucky Okoye, said that over 20 houses housing River Craft Machines numbering about 40 were affected, and each River Craft Machine is employing between 18 to 25 workers who are now displaced.

A trader, Mrs Agnes Ezeh, who lost some of her commodities in her destroyed shop, said that over 60 shops belonging to petty traders were also destroyed in Monday’s demolition. Sand beaches were not left out as they were levelled in the demolition exercise, making the number of displaced people about 760, apart from 250 people displaced in Sunday demolition.

The affected victims were Uche Okafor Sand Beach, Beneath Ozoemena Sand Beach, Chidi Iheme, Alhaji Danladi and Sumo, Alhaji Salusi Nnaemeka Sand Beach, Obidi Ibeanu and Daniel Eze Beaches.

Other companies affected by Monday’s demolition are Amaonye and Omekigbo Braches, with not less than 80 workers, while over 30 shop owners in the area were displaced by the demolition.

At the scene of the demolition, many affected victims were seen hurriedly removing their multi-million naira sand drilling machines, also known as River Craft Machines, while the traders among them were seen removing their commodities, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, food and snacks, while sand workers were seen lamenting that they would be jobless.

felifen25:
I want to find sources that tell me about the relations and history between those two ethnic groups. I need reputable sources because I am doing it for a project so the more reputable source the better. Thank you for reading this post.

richiemcgold:
According to NEF, Tinubu is not performing

According to PNYF - Tinubu is performing

According to average northerners - Tinubu is ..........

If you're a northerner, abeg help me complete the last statement.

This is another easily debunkable desperate lie from Peter Obi and his Obidients. This is a building in a school. This is not a school. The building itself was constructed in 2019, five years after Peter Obi's eight-year tenure as Governor of Anambra ended on March 17, 2014.

This particular building was built when Peter Obi was packaging himself to run as running mate to Waziri Atiku Abubakar in 2019.

Interested members of the public and journalists can even zoom in on the commemorative plaque in the building to verify this information.

My challenge still stands. Please just name one school initiated, started, completed and commissioned by Peter Obi during the eight years he was Governor of Anambra and win ₦11,400,000, the present equivalent of $10,000.

#TableShaker

This is a sad act of desperation by Peter Obi and his Obidient movement. Peter Obi did not initiate, start, complete and commission this project. This is the College of Nursing Sciences of St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha. The hospital itself was built in 1964.

The annexe, referred to as the College of Nursing Sciences, was initiated by Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, in 2012. It is the property of the Catholic Church, not the Anambra State Government.

This particular annexe was completed by the Catholic Church on Saturday, May 9, 2015, and was commissioned by Mr. Willie Obiano, the then Governor of Anambra State. Nigerians wishing to verify this information can do so by visiting stcharlesborromeocon.com/about/

My challenge still stands. Please just name one school initiated, started, completed and commissioned by Peter Obi during the eight years he was Governor of Anambra and win ₦11,400,000, the present equivalent of $10,000.

#TableShaker

jmoore:
Go and collect your share and stop wailing!

With the end of borehole digging initiatives, Peter Obi is now on a donation campaign in the North.

Mr. Peter Obi's presence at the Madarasatul Hidayyatul Auladi Muslimima school in Kawo, Kaduna, was not merely symbolic; it was a testament to his unwavering commitment to education. His generous donation of 10 million naira to kickstart an education fund challenge speaks volumes about his dedication to empowering young minds.

During his visit, Mr. @PeterObi emphasized a crucial point: the profound potential inherent in students who possess fluency in Arabic reading and writing. He firmly believes that these students have the capacity to excel in various fields, including medicine, aeronautical engineering, teaching, and innovation.

Mr. Obi's vision extends beyond traditional educational boundaries, recognizing the value of diverse skills and knowledge. By investing in the education of these students, he not only provides them with opportunities for personal growth but also contributes to the broader development of society. His belief in the transformative power of education serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring others to recognize and nurture the talents of all students, regardless of their background or linguistic proficiency.

-DrMo
@Drmopaul

In a widely circulated video being shared on social media space and various Arewa platforms on twitter. A man is recording bragging about how the ESN command in Anambra has killed several Fulani cows.

https:///Waspapping_/status/1782307667001692161

https:///VoiceofHausa/status/1782309852129202365

kettykin:
I now see why some villages are chronically poor and helpless, someone donated a cow to your village, he has to come and feed it and milk it too, tufiakwa. Height of indolence

Storm warning: It is illegal to post 'irresponsible' pictures of storms online, Dubai authorities say.

It is illegal to post pictures of storms online, authorities in the United Arab Emirates have warned.

Posting negative images or rumours about the recent flooding could be punished under the country's cybercrime laws, the interior ministry said.

Damaging the country's reputation online is punishable imprisonment and a fine of up to 1m Emirati Dirhams (£189,500), the International Business Times reported.

Officials said people were "spreading rumours" and behaving "irresponsibly" on social media.

Heavy rain storms hit the gulf state earlier this week, flooding roads and causing flights to be cancelled.

Abuja Landlord His Excellency @GovWike at his Abuja residence this evening celebrating the successful NEC meeting of the PDP with G5 members.

G5 is intact, Nyesom Wike is in-charge.

Coastal Road today.

Hi-tech is already done with about 1km of the road pavement with street lights installed on both sides and at the median.

The rail line will begin at Jakande

The Lagos State Government is currently in discussions with the Ogun government to extend the Blue Rail Line further down to Agbara.

Mr Olasukanmi Okusaga, the Director of Rail Transport, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (LAMATA), stated this on Tuesday in Lagos.

Okusaga was on an inspection tour of the ongoing construction of the Blue Line Phase 2 project being handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

He expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved so far and revealed ongoing discussions with the Ogun government to extend the Blue Line further down to Agbara.

“The project, which was awarded in 2023, is expected to be completed in three years.

“It will include six stations in Festac, Alakija, Trade Fair, Volkswagen, LASU and Okokomaiko along with three bridges in Maza Maza, Satellite town and LASU. This phase covers. 14 Kilometres.

“There are also plans to construct a depot in Okokomaiko,” Okusaga said.

But why this intense hatred for Nigeria from certain peoples? That is how Arise TV projected that the Naira will fall to ₦2000 to $1. And another Obidient Pastor prophesied it will get to ₦2500 to $1. These were the same people supporting Binance when they were enabling the shorting of the Naira via price gouging. 

How can your handle be 'Jesus Christ', yet you are living in hate? What has Nigeria ever done to you? Even the fellow you are responding to got to where he is by representing Nigeria as an athlete in international sports. Please fact-check me. He won medals for Nigeria. Without Nigeria, he would not be where he is. 

It is even understandable, though not excusable, if you hate Buhari and Tinubu. But what have ordinary, everyday Nigerians done to you to deserve such hatred? What have the average Northerners supplying more than 40% of the food consumed in the Southeast done to deserve this hatred? What have the Yorubas of the Southwest, who have over fifty Igbos elected or appointed into high government positions in their geopolitical zone done to deserve this venom?

Even if you consider us your enemies, at least Jesus, Whom you obviously love so much, said, 'Love your enemies'-Matthew 5:44.

#GrowNairaBuyNaija is working. Our currency is currently the best performing currency on Earth, bar none. The Naira will not crash. It will rise. And Nigeria will survive and thrive. May God bless Nigeria!

#TableShaker

Justnation:
He betrayed his people to Curry favour, but now left by his slave masters to rot away.

A very useful lesson

Goodday90:
He has been in jail for more than a month now,Those none Igbo who always hailed this guy whenever he insults his own people,where are they now?

Ijele speaks

Naira notes: Nine practices that could land you in trouble

Below are the ways you can abuse the naira:

Spraying: It is illegal to spray banknotes at events.

Writing: Writing on banknotes is prohibited by law.

Stapling: Stapling banknotes is prohibited by law due to the potential for corrosion caused by the pins.

Tearing: Tearing banknotes is also illegal.

Dancing or stamping on naira: Dancing or stamping on naira banknotes is prohibited by law. Getting oil or ink on the banknotes can be considered a form of defacing.

Selling: Selling currency banknotes is illegal.

Mutilation: Anyone caught tampering with the naira note will face legal consequences, as stated in the CBN Act Section 21.

Rejecting the naira: Rejecting the naira is strictly prohibited by law (Section 20, Subsection 5).

Money bouquets: In February 2023, the CBN also identified money bouquets as a type of naira abuse.