Lagos community protests alleged plan to demolish over 300 homes for rail project

Hundreds of landlords and residents in a community within the Ojo area of Lagos State, on Thursday, staged a protest against an alleged plan by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, and other agencies to demolish more than 300 homes for a rail project.

The demonstrators, who marched through parts of the neighbourhood, carried placards appealing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene.

Some of the inscriptions warned that the proposed demolition could displace tens of thousands of residents and affect homes, places of worship, healthcare facilities and businesses.

The protesters described the planned exercise as unjust and contrary to due process, alleging intimidation and harassment by officials, as well as disregard for an existing court order said to have halted the demolition.

Speaking on behalf of the community, the group’s coordinator, Iniobong Offiong, said the affected area comprises four estates, with about 315 houses and an estimated population of 20,000 people developed over several decades.

He alleged that government officials, accompanied by security personnel, entered the community in May 2025 under the guise of conducting a census, only to later inform residents that the area had been earmarked for acquisition and demolition.

According to him, the authorities justified the move on grounds of overriding public interest, stating that the land was needed for a proposed train depot linked to the Lagos rail project.

However, Offiong questioned the rationale, noting that a large expanse of land reportedly acquired for the same purpose by a previous administration remains undeveloped.

“We were informed that our homes would be pulled down within four months, yet there is already a vast parcel of land designated for the depot that has not been utilised. There is no clear justification for extending the project into a fully built and occupied community,” he said.

He added that despite petitions to relevant authorities, including the state government, the police and the Lagos State House of Assembly, the community had yet to receive a concrete response, prompting legal action.

Offiong disclosed that residents secured an interim injunction from a Federal High Court restraining the demolition, but alleged that the order has not been respected.

“Despite the court directive, officials continue to enter the area with security operatives, conducting surveys and collecting data on private properties. This reflects a disregard for the rule of law,” he said.

He further alleged attempts to weaken opposition within the community, claiming that some tenants had been offered inducements to vacate, while there were efforts to disrupt electricity supply to the area.

A resident, a retiree who said he is nearly 75 years old, described the situation as distressing, stressing that many occupants have no alternative accommodation.

“This is my only home. Any compensation must be sufficient to secure a similar property in Lagos; anything less would be unfair,” he said.

Residents also expressed concern over the humanitarian implications of the proposed demolition, noting that the community includes vulnerable groups such as elderly persons, widows and children who could be rendered homeless.

They claimed that at least one resident had died after being unable to cope with the anxiety triggered by the development.

The community further alleged that physical planning officials who visited the area confirmed that it is largely occupied, contradicting claims that the land is mostly vacant.

According to them, a proposed mediation meeting between stakeholders and the transport authority did not take place, as representatives of the agency allegedly failed to attend.

The protesters urged the state government to suspend the demolition plan and revert to the original rail project design, which they said would not require displacement of residents.

They also called on civil society groups and the media to draw attention to their situation and help prevent what they described as an unlawful takeover of their properties.

Kano APC gives NNPP 72 hours to retract allegations of influencing judiciary

The All Progressive Congress, APC, in Kano State, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the NNPP Spokesperson, Ibrahim Karaye and the NNPP to retract the allegations that the Kano government of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf is Influencing court proceedings, and tender a public apology.

The APC, warned that failure to comply with the ultimatum would result in legal action for defamation against the NNPP and its spokesperson.

APC described the allegation as “false, malicious and legally indefensible,” stressing that the Kano state government has never interfered with judicial processes.

Recall that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), had accused Kano state government of influencing court proceedings.

A statement issued by APC spokesperson in Kano, Auwalu Soja Gwale, said the allegation, reportedly made by the factional Spokesperson of NNPP, Ibrahim Karaye, lacked evidence and was aimed at discrediting the judiciary.

The APC specifically denied the claims that the state government paid huge sums to influence proceedings at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, demanding immediate retraction.

According to the statement, the claim was part of a pattern of what it called “reckless rhetoric” by elements within the NNPP whenever political outcomes do not favour them.

The APC urged the Kwankwasiyya faction of NNPP to focus on resolving its internal leadership disputes, citing ongoing litigations involving factions linked to Boniface Aniebonam and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso rather than interfering on frivolous matter.

They said it was inappropriate for a party embroiled in internal crises to accuse the judiciary of corruption without proof.

The APC reaffirmed commitment to the rule of law and urged the public to disregard the allegation, describing it as baseless.

2027: Nigerian govt doesn’t want me to contest presidential election – Peter Obi (VIDEO)

Former presidential candidate and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Peter Obi, has alleged that the Federal Government is working to prevent him from participating in the 2027 presidential election.

Obi made the allegation while calling for a transparent and credible electoral process.

Addressing a group of Nigerians in a video, Obi spoke about his political journey, reflecting on past challenges.

He noted that he has endured political isolation and legal battles.

“I have been in this very difficult business where people abandoned you completely for one election. I spent three years in court and no one followed me there.

“I have been impeached, returned to my village where no one wanted to see me, and removed from office twice,” he said.

He added that such experiences have prepared him for future challenges.

“So there is nothing I will not see again. All these things being said about me are not new,” he stated.

Obi further claimed that there are efforts by the Federal Government to stop his presidential ambition in 2027.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria does not want me to contest in the 2027 presidential election. We are not asking for much. They already have the governors and ministers; we are only asking for a free and fair election,” he said.

He also suggested that those in power have greater access to influential networks.

“They have all the contacts. They know the queen and the king, while we do not. They have everything,” he added.

Network outages disrupt businesses as Abuja Area Council residents decry poor services

Residents and business owners in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory have continued to lament persistent disruption of mobile networks in the area, particularly those of MTN Nigerian and Globacom. The residents say most of the network providers in the area have abandoned customers who depend largely on their networks to transact businesses.

The residents were hard hit on Wednesday when they woke up to yet another disruption in mobile network services affecting users of MTN Nigeria, a development many say is crippling communication and business activities in the area.

Reports early Wednesday morning indicated that MTN subscribers across Bwari and neighbouring communities were unable to access network services, leaving many residents stranded without communication or internet connectivity.

A check by DAILY POST confirmed the situation, with several residents complaining that the network failure had severely disrupted commercial activities, particularly transactions that depend on internet connectivity and mobile banking services.

Some residents who spoke with DAILY POST noted that the problem was not new, stressing that the community has been battling intermittent network failures from both MTN and Glo mobile for a long time without a lasting solution from the companies

Residents, Businesses Decry Impact of Poor Network

Mr. Koboko Master, a popular Nigerian comedian who resides in the area, described the situation as a recurring challenge that frequently leaves residents cut off from communication.

“MTN Internet in our area is bad, very bad, Sometimes the network disappears totally and you become completely incommunicado, except for those who have routers that can still use WhatsApp. But if you don’t use WhatsApp, it means you will miss everything entirely.” He said.

“This has been very consistent. It turns on and off regularly. It’s not something that happens once in a year or once in a month. It happens consistently, and it is a very big problem,” he added.

Madam Ogochukwu Jenifer, a building materials dealer at SCC Bwari and an MTN subscriber, also lamented that the poor network service was negatively affecting her business.

“Network is very bad in this Bwari area,” she said.

“Honestly, it is affecting our business. You cannot use your internet and so many things are not working. You want to do transactions, but there is no transaction because of network.

“So it’s not funny. No communication means no business. Things are just standing still.”

A banker in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that the persistent network problem was affecting not only individuals and businesses but also banking operations.

“Most of the time people come with complaints about failed transactions, but at the end of the day, you discover that the problem is not from us. It’s because they don’t have good internet service to complete their transactions, or they don’t have network at all,” he explained.

“That situation is also affecting us here because people who normally do simple transactions at home are forced to come to the bank. That can lead to an increase in customer queues,” he lament.

Efforts to get a response from MTN Nigeria on the cause of the network disruption and the steps being taken to address the problem were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

Social Media Reactions Highlight Widespread Frustration

The frustration of residents was also evident on social media. In a post shared in the popular Facebook group “Bwari Abuja Connect,” a user Johnson Oyakhire, raised concerns about the persistent network issues, asking other residents whether they were experiencing the same challenge.

“A beg, this MTN network wahala – na my phone get problem or na general issue?” the post read.

The question quickly drew reactions from other residents who confirmed experiencing similar problems.

One commenter, Bishop David Akin Asoore, said the situation appeared to be limited to certain areas of Bwari.

“As soon as I got to Dutse Express, network came fully,” he wrote, suggesting that the network disruption may be location-specific.

Another user, Samuel Harrison replied “Na general wahala ooo, Me since yesterday, I never use my network.To make matter worse, my 2gb don go” closed by crying emoji.

In a related post on X (formerly Twitter), a user, Adeboye Sylvia Omotayo, called on MTN Nigeria to urgently address the issue.

She wrote that the network had been unavailable for several hours, noting that she uses three MTN SIM cards but had been unable to access services.

“There is a downtime in Bwari, Abuja. Kindly look into this urgently please. I use three SIMs, all MTN, and it is sad because your service has been down for hours now,” she wrote.

Responding to the complaint, MTN Nigeria apologized for the inconvenience and asked the customer to send additional details through a direct message to enable the support team investigate the problem.

“Yello! Thank you for contacting MTN. We sincerely apologize for the network experience. Kindly DM the affected phone number, specific location, duration of the network challenge and confirm if it is voice or data related for support,” the company said.

It’s Not Just MTN – Users

Meanwhile, a GLO customer in Ushafa Abuja, Andrew Otene also lamented persistent network disruption of the network. According to him, virtually all networks in Bwari Area Council of the FCT are weak, especially Glo.

“Can you imagine that I subscribe huge data on my Glo almost every month but I don’t use it. So if we are blaming MTN for network disruption, we shouldn’t keep quiet over Glo,” he said.

Findings by DAILY POST shows that more people complain about both Glo and MTN than any other network in the area council.

According to one Okoro John, a Pharmacist, Glo network could just disappeared for days without any action from the service provider.

According to him, “ They just restore network anytime they want. They may decide to disrupt our network for even one week and it will look normal. This is sad,” he said.

There has been no official statement or notification from the companies to its subscribers regarding the situation in the area.

NSCDC deploys 620 personnel to protect Abia residents, national assets

Abia State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, says it has deployed 620 personnel across the State to ensure a peaceful and secure environment before, during and after the 2026 Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

The State Commandant, CC Chukwuemeka N. Odimba disclosed that comprehensive operational orders have been issued to Area Commanders and Divisional Officers across all LGAs.

According to the NSCDC, strategic emphasis of their assignments would be on the protection of critical
national assets and infrastructure.

He stated that specialized units, including the Rapid Response Squad, Tactical Team, and Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), have been mobilized to conduct intensive patrols at recreational centres, vulnerable locations, and other flashpoints, to nip in the bud any criminal intentions.

The Commandant reassured residents of his Command’s commitment to professionalism and civility while discharging their duties.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant, law-abiding, and supportive of security agencies by reporting any suspicious movements or activities within their communities.

Odimba further called on Muslim faithful to pray for peace and unity in Abia and Nigeria.

IG disburses N2.4bn cheques to deceased officers’ families

Olatunji Disu

The Nigeria Police Force has disbursed over N2.4bn in insurance benefits to 1,075 beneficiaries and next-of-kin of deceased officers under its Group Life Assurance and IGP Family Welfare Schemes.

The cheques were presented on Wednesday by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, during a ceremony held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

In a statement by the Force spokesman, DCP Anthony Placid, the total sum of N2,435,421,584.11 covers multiple policy years, including 2018/2019, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, 2024/2025, and 2025/2026, as well as outstanding claims recovered from previous years.

Speaking at the event, the Force Insurance Officer, ACP Lydia Ameh, said the disbursement reflected the IGP’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of officers and their families.

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She noted that the payments also represented the recovery of long-standing insurance obligations, adding that measures had been put in place to ensure compliance by insurance providers to prevent future delays.

Ameh further assured that the Force Insurance Unit remained committed to delivering efficient, transparent, and accountable services.

In his remarks, Disu described the occasion as a solemn recognition of the sacrifices made by officers who died in the line of duty, stressing that personnel welfare remained a key focus of his administration.

He said the gesture went beyond financial support, serving as a demonstration of the Force’s enduring responsibility to honour fallen officers while supporting their families.

The IGP also pledged to strengthen welfare frameworks, improve administrative processes, and eliminate delays in claims processing.

“Efforts would be intensified to strengthen welfare frameworks, improve administrative efficiency, and eliminate delays in the processing and disbursement of benefits.

“The Force will also leverage modern technology to enhance transparency, streamline claims processing, and ensure accountability in welfare administration,” he added.

The disbursement comes amid ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Police Force aimed at improving personnel welfare and addressing long-standing delays in insurance claims

Eid-el-Fitr: Yobe govt suspends recreational activities

Yobe State Government has suspended the operations of recreational centres during Sallah festivities aimed at safeguarding lives and property.

Special Adviser on Security Matters to the State Governor, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdussalam, (Rtd), revealed this in a statement which indicated that the current security situation does not favour large crowd of young persons celebrating the 2026 Eid-el Fitr.

“As you are aware that during festivities, recreational centres across Yobe State always attract large number of people celebrating various religious festivals. Hence, this year’s Eid-el Fitr celebration will not be an exception.

“However, the current security situation does not favour the congregation of the usually large crowd of young persons who would celebrate the Eid-el Fitr 2026”, the Security Adviser said.

He ordered all recreational facility owners in the state to temporarily suspend operations from Thursday, 19th to Monday, 23rd March 2026, while urging all commanding officers of units, officers commanding forward Operation Bases, Divisional Police Officers, and the 17 Local Government Councils to ensure full compliance with this directive within their respective areas of responsibility.

Ex-FCT Senator Philip Aduda officially joins APC

Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, who served as Senate Minority Leader during the 9th Senate of the National Assembly representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Tuesday joined the All Progressives Congress, APC.

This was disclosed by the party official’s X handle.

According to the statement, “He vowed to deliver victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the FCT in 2027.”

Aduda was formally received into the APC by the National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, accompanied by members of the National Working Committee.

DAILY POST recalls that this development comes shortly after Aduda formally resigned from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), citing ongoing crises within the party as the reason for his departure.

He’s our leader – Adeleke reaffirms support for Tinubu

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has reaffirmed his support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Adeleke made this known on Tuesday in Osogbo while addressing cabinet members, special advisers, and other top government officials, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

The governor stated that the ongoing crisis affecting local governments in Osun State has not altered his stance, noting that his backing for Tinubu dates back to his time in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We have no problem with President Tinubu. He is our leader,” Adeleke said.

“He represents the South-West, and I reaffirm our endorsement of Mr President for re-election in the best interest of the region.”

He also expressed appreciation to residents for their continued support for the Accord Party (AP), describing its popularity as expanding beyond Osun State.

Adeleke further assured that his administration would continue to deliver democratic dividends, with a renewed focus on youths, women, and workers, while prioritising investments in infrastructure, agro-industrialisation, education, and healthcare.

The governor also directed party officials to strengthen the party’s grassroots structure through membership registration and voter mobilisation across all 332 wards in the state.

Benue records 383 suspected Lassa fever cases, 47 confirmed

Benue State Government says no deaths from Lassa fever have been recorded in the last 11 days, despite a rise in suspected infections.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, disclosed this while briefing journalists, noting that suspected cases have increased to 383, with 47 confirmed infections so far.

He added that the total number of deaths since the outbreak remains 14.

Providing further details, the commissioner said only six new cases were confirmed within the last 11 days, indicating a slowdown in infections.

He also noted that 20 patients are currently in isolation 14 at Benue State University Teaching Hospital and six at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi.

According to him, “We have not recorded any mortality in the last 11 days. So far, the cumulative figure of suspected cases has moved from 251 to 382, while 47 cases have been confirmed cumulatively.”

Dr. Ogwuche attributed the improvement to intensified awareness campaigns, early detection, and support from health partners, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

He said surveillance has been strengthened across all 23 local government areas, with health workers trained on infection prevention and control measures.

“The rates have dropped drastically because we are out combing for suspected cases. Those that are positive are few compared to before. We have engaged in regular meetings with WHO, NCDC, and the Emergency Operations Centre.

“Surveillance is ongoing in all 23 LGAs. We provide regular updates and carry out training of health workers on basic prevention and infection control in isolation centres, which accounts for why they are not infected. There are 14 cases in BSUTH and six at FMC, Makurdi, in isolation.

“The pillars we put in place — sensitisation and health education — have accounted for this development. People now know what to do and what they should not do.

“The message has reached all 23 LGAs. We are also tracking our cases very early now because the surveillance officers are in the field. Any reported positive case is monitored along all contact lines; once there are symptoms, we test and take them to the isolation centre.

“The earlier you present, the better the outcome. The low mortality shows that people are being tracked in their communities and brought in for early treatment.

“There is also a lot of intervention from our partners. Many of them are on the ground, the NCDC, MSF and WHO are all working together to see how we can curtail it.

“The pillars of the response, including infection prevention and control, are in place, and all our laboratories are functional, capable of detecting early infection and initiating treatment. A lot has been done by the Ministry and its partners.

“The state government has supported the response with substantial funds, which have enabled us to work effectively.

“Everybody is on their toes doing the needful. We have not recorded any outbreak in the IDP camps.

“We are on the verge of distributing IAC materials (flyers) to the 15 IDP camps in the state,” he said.