commoditiesnig: Wow. Just hearing about this development. @Naptu, could you shed more light on this. Tnx
It's a long running and never ending story. Brigadier Raji Rasaki was military governor of Lagos from 1988 - 1992.
Lastly, the third mainland bridge.
Yes, a lot of people do not know that you were instrumental to the construction of the famous Third Mainland Bridge, tell us the full story
By the way, I am very much in support of what Governor Ambode did, by speaking up about his frustration concerning the Airport/Oshodi Expressway. Sometimes, you need to blackmail the Federal Government to get some of these things done. I did the same thing with the Third Mainland Bridge.
I remember General Babangida had come back from a trip and I had gone to receive him, despite the fact that we were using siren, it was tough passing through traffic because we passed through Yaba to Dodan Barracks.
So when we got there, I saluted and turned back. I could see that he was looking very unhappy. Akhigbe had tried with the issue but the next day, I went to Babangida and said, sir this traffic situation is bad, can you please let us sit down and discuss how to finish this bridge.
General (Mamman) Kotangora, who was the Minister of Works, said the end, that is the Oworonshoki side is a built up area and it will be impossible to navigate it. I said sir, can you please give me the map, they said it is with Julius Berger.
When I left there, I went to Julius Berger, I got the map, and in the process of checking that map, I saw the Coastal Road up till Calabar, that was how I began the Coastal Road. That map is there, we can still look at it. So I went to him and said, Sir I know this is a Federal Project but it is my people that are suffering, can we do this 50-50. If we can’t pay, you can take it from source.
That was how we then introduced the Development Levy, it was for the Third Mainland Project mainly. That was when Gani Fawehinmi took me to court. I was not bothered because I knew we were doing something that will benefit majority of Lagosians.
We then started work, we had got half of the way, I think that was around 1989, I believe I had just lost my wife. Babangida now said, there was no money. I said that is not possible. I told him, I have been to Abuja, I saw what is happening there, so I told him: the method you are using in Abuja, let us use it in Lagos, even if we are going to use oil to exchange for the funds because Lagos was too critical to the nation’s economy.
Bode Emmanuel used to be the Chairman of one of the construction companies, that is how we became close. I told him you are a Lagosian, please let your company continue the job, we are working on payments, I also called Julius Berger and gave them assurances. There was one Dafinone that also came to our rescue, we then also told Government to collect some of the money from source too.
That was why I was on that site every day to ensure that work was going on as scheduled.But we had a problem at Oworonshoki, one Baale and one Imam, came, they were complaining about the houses that were in the right of way, I told them, please this road is greater than all of us, nothing must stand in its way.
They were still complaining. I just kept quiet, I went to the Army Engineers, I think Ihejerika was in charge of the Army Engineers, I told them I want that place cleared for the road in 24 hours. I told them that they should clear everything on the path of the bridge on the weekend, so that they cannot go to court and stop us. Fadayomi was my Commissioner of Justice and Baba (Teslim) Elias was with us, I also went to Rotimi Williams, they said start the operation by Friday and before they can go to court on Monday, you have completed your operation. I loved that idea.
I was happy with the kind of advice I got . Just as we were talking, one man came in from Julius Berger, a very nice man that I worked closely with during the project.
He said, I should not use Army Engineers that there was another way we can do it, that if we use the Army, we will be blackmailed.I said I don’t care. We cleared the bridge area, there were no houses for many metres, but today, the plan was to allow space in case there is future expansion.
But today I have seen houses on both sides, when I noticed that Ambode was doing some work there, I thought he will bring down those houses, that is the difference between the civilian and military government. We do not care about re-election, we just get the job done. When we cleared the place, off course, the people went to court, but the deed had been done and that was how Justice Esho used the word Executive Rascality, and you the media starting singing about it, but we did not let that disturb us. Today, we are all enjoying the Third Mainland Bridge.
Ifie Ozaka is the general manager of Rivers Hoopers
Ifie Ozaka @IOzaka
Our success story is not a fluke. We have put in the work behind the scenes and it has pleased the Almighty God to crown our efforts with success and trophies.
Before 2009, we were a privately owned club that hosted the best camps in Nigeria, bringing in an NBA Hall of Fame the giants like Kano Pillars and built a structure that has eventually stood the test of time.
We have had our rough patches, very rough patches indeed. We were relegated in 2014 to Division 1. A lot of people don’t know that part of our history. But we fought and bounced back just immediately. We hosted and won the 2015 Division 1 competition in Port Harcourt. We have never been relegated again and will never be by God’s grace. Players have come and gone, the club remains
When we won our first and second league titles in 2011 & 2012 consecutively, outside ph and not with the influence of any man.
We have paid our dues. Six (6) Premier League titles down the line, we are still pushing. Like us or hate us, we aren’t stopping. We have built a structure and a machine that keeps grinding, and God will continually grant us success, because we aren’t beefing nobody, just putting in the work.
A day after receiving the hosting rights for the 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) Playoffs and Final Four, Rivers Hoopers Head Coach, Ogoh Odaudu, has warned that his players must be prepared to work hard to retain their title despite playing on home court.
The League Management Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) had on Monday,October 20, 2025, announced Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as host for the third (playoffs) and final phases (final four) of the 2025 NBPL season.
This means the Garden City will serve as host for the final phase of the league for the third year running, having also hosted the 2023 and 2024 finals, much to the delight of the award-winning coach of the Port Harcourt based basketball club,Rivers Hoppers.
"Everybody wants to play in front of their home crowd. You can see the atmosphere in the gym anytime we play here; it's electric. Even though we wanted to go out to have a taste of what it is outside, there was no other bid from elsewhere. "
"Well, [we'll do] anything to bring basketball to the doorstep of our fans right here. So we went for it and were granted [the hosting right], and we are happy about that." Coach Odaudu said.
With the latest development, expectations remain high among basketball enthusiasts for the defending champions to clinch the NBPL title at the end of the 2025 season, just as they did in 2023 and 2024 on home soil.
But the seasoned tactician, Odaudu, has warned that with the increased level of competition within the league, only hard work will deliver a third straight crown to the KingsMen.
The Playoffs (Final Eight) is scheduled for October 26, 2025, to November 3, 2025, during which period all eight teams will play once against the other seven teams in a round robin format, with the top
four teams qualifying for the Final Four, which will run from 20th to 24th November. All matches will be played at the Indoor Basketball Stadium, #59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township.
Port Harcourt to host 2025 basketball league finals — NBBF
20th October 2025
The Nigeria Basketball Federation has confirmed that Port Harcourt will host the finals of the 2025 Nigeria Men’s Premier Basketball League.
Babs Ogunade, the NBBF Vice President, disclosed this in a Monday statement issued by the federation’s Secretary, Amina Amanchi.
He said the NBBF had approved and awarded the hosting rights of the Final 8 and Final 4 to Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club of Port Harcourt.
According to him, the club has pledged to provide a standard venue, modern facilities, security, medical services, and live online streaming of matches.
Ogunade added that the club would also provide buses for teams, as well as financial support and accommodation subsidies for participating sides.
He announced that the Final 8 would hold from October 26 to November 3, with teams expected to arrive on October 26.
The Final 4, featuring the top four teams from the competition, is scheduled for November 20 to 23 at the same venue.
The NBBF is the governing body responsible for overseeing basketball operations, development, and competitions in Nigeria.
It regulates both domestic leagues — including the Men’s Premier League and Women’s League — as well as the national teams, the D’Tigers (men) and D’Tigress (women). (NAN)
Reigning champions, Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club, will begin their 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) Playoffs (Final Eight) campaign against Hoops & Read.
Following a technical meeting between participating teams and league organisers, which held on Sunday, October 26 , 2025, it was resolvedb that the defending champions will continue their chase for a third straight league title by rekindling hostilities with last year's beaten finalists.
Hoops & Read have emerged as contenders for the NBPL title in recent years but have fallen short against the KingsMen in competitive basketball, losing their last three meetings, with the most recent being a 67-58 loss at the start of this year's Inter-Group Phase.
The latest installment in what is now a growing rivalry is expected to tip off by 4pm on Monday, October 27, 2025.
The KingsMen, who are yet unbeaten through the 2025 NBPL season so far, will then navigate games against Kano Pillars, Nigeria Customs, Gboko City Chiefs, Lagos Legends, and Nile University Spartans before wrapping up proceedings against Kwara Falcons, respectively.
Below is the full schedule for all 2025 NBPL Playoffs (Final Eight) games.
Day 1 - Monday, 27th October
10:00am: Lagos Legends vs Nigeria Customs
12:00pm: Nile University vs Kwara Falcons
2:00pm: Kano Pillars vs Gboko City Chiefs
4:00pm: Rivers Hoopers vs Hoops & Read
Day 2 - Tuesday, 28th October
10:00am: Kwara Falcons vs Lagos Legends
12:00pm: Nigeria Customs vs Gboko City Chiefs
2:00pm: Nile University vs Hoops & Read
4:00pm: Kano Pillars vs Rivers Hoopers
Day 3 - Wednesday, 29th October
10:00am: Kwara Falcons vs Hoops & Read
12:00pm: Lagos Legends vs Gboko City Chiefs
2:00pm: Nile University vs Kano Pillars
4:00pm: Rivers Hoopers vs Nigeria Customs
Day 4-Thursday, 30th October
10:00am: Kano Pillars vs Kwara Falcons
12:00pm: Nigeria Customs vs Nile University
2:00pm: Hoops & Read vs Lagos Legends
4:00pm: Gboko City Chiefs vs Rivers Hoopers
Day 5 - Friday, 31st October
10:00am: Kano Pillars vs Hoops & Read
12:00pm: Nile University vs Gboko City Chiefs
2:00pm: Kwara Falcons vs Nigeria Customs
4:00pm: Lagos Legends vs Rivers Hoopers
Day 6- Saturday, 1st November
10:00am: Nigeria Customs vs Hoops & Read
12:00pm: Gboko City Chiefs vs Kwara Falcons
2:00pm: Rivers Hoopers vs Nile University
4:00pm: Lagos Legends vs Kano Pillars
All games will be played at the Basketball Stadium, #59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township.
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, will host the Playoffs and Final Four of the 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League( NPBL) season.
This much was contained in an official communique from the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), addressed to all clubs due to participate in the Playoffs, as well as other relevant stakeholders.
In the communiqué jointly signed by men's premier league chairman, Babatunde Ogunade, and NBBF Secretary General, Amina O. Amanchi, the League Management Committee revealed that it received – and subsequently approved – only one bid from Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club of Port Harcourt to host the Final Eight Playoffs and Final Four of the 2025 season.
The latest development means Rivers State will serve as host for the final phase of the league for the third year running, having also hosted the 2023 and 2024 finals.
The Final Eight Playoffs will commence with the arrival of participating teams on October 26,2025, while match action will take place from October 27 to November 2, 2025, with teams expected to depart on November 3, 2025.
Games will be played in a round robin format, which will see all eight teams playing once against the other seven teams, with the top four teams qualifying for the Final Four.
The Final Four will run from November 20-24, 2025.
All matches will be played at the Indoor Basketball Court, #59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township.
Recall that Rivers Hoopers are reigning NBPL champions and are gunning for a third straight title after claiming the championship on home soil in 2023 and 2024.
This notice has been circulating on WhatsApp, Twitter and other platforms in the past 24 hours.
NOTICE! NOTICE!! NOTICE!!!
Please for those that have planned to work tomorrow morning (Monday 27th October, 2025) be informed that you should plan your route inward island and inward mainland because Oworonshoki youths are planning to lockdown the THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE in respect to the protest against the Demolition going on In Oworonshoki community. Please be guided.
POLICE ASSURE RESIDENTS OF SECURITY OVER ALLEGED PLANNED DISRUPTION ON THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE
The Lagos State Police Command is aware of information circulating regarding a planned disruption on the Third Mainland Bridge by some youths in the Oworonshoki area. The Command wishes to assure the public that adequate security measures have been put in place to maintain law and order across the state.
Our officers are fully deployed to ensure the safety of all road users and to prevent any form of obstruction or breach of the peace. Members of the public are therefore advised to go about their lawful activities without fear and to cooperate with security personnel carrying out their duties.
The Command remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting lives and property, and to ensuring the free flow of traffic across Lagos State.
SP ABIMBOLA ADEBISI, anipr, mipra, POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FOR: THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, LAGOS STATE COMMAND, IKEJA.
judatech: He didn't pass through the Youth System in Nigeria
Wrong.
Journalists had raised the issue of a young Nigerian that had been performing wonders in Germany. I read all those articles back then. The aim of the articles was to put pressure on Westerhof to invite him to the Super Eagles.
Westerhof said that he had to prove himself in the junior teams first, before he would consider him.
Okocha was sent to the U-20s.
I remember Mauritius '93 (African Youth Championship). I remember thinking that we had a great team.
James Peters had coached many teams, but that was the first time that I could properly analyse him. He did poorly. We had a great team but a poor coach.
We lost to Ghana and Cameroon. I think Okocha scored a freekick goal against Mauritius (our only victory).
Politics › Re: Police Assure Of Security Over Planned Disruption On 3rd Mainland Bridge by naptu2(op): 8:33am On Oct 27, 2025*. Modified: 8:49am On Oct 27, 2025
