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Lagos 2027 Budget: Stakeholders Seek Stronger Grassroots Interventions

Residents and other stakeholders have called for stronger grassroots interventions in the 2027 Lagos State budget, with particular emphasis on support for children living with disabilities, youth vocational development and programmes that address the needs of vulnerable groups.

The calls came as the Lagos State Government concluded its five-day Y2027 Budget Consultative Forum with engagements in Ikorodu and Epe, completing consultations across the five divisions of the State.

At the Epe session held at the Jubilee Chalet, traditional rulers formally presented their proposals to representatives of the State Government, outlining development priorities they want considered in the preparation of the 2027 budget.

For residents who participated in the consultations, however, the engagement provided an opportunity to move beyond broad development demands and draw government’s attention to specific challenges affecting families, young people and children.

A mother of a child with a spinal cord condition, Mrs Bolanle Mustapha, appealed for greater government support for children living with disabilities, particularly in education and vocational training.

Mustafa said some children with disabilities were facing difficulties accessing schools and obtaining the learning materials they needed.

‘Some of our children are going to school and they need school learning materials in school but they couldn’t get any and some of them are not being accepted in school and they want to learn,’ she said.

She also explained that her own child, having completed secondary education and taken up vocational training, needed tools to continue learning the trade, but that the cost was beyond what she could afford.

‘My child is done with secondary school and also learning a vocational job but needs tools for learning at work which I’m not financially capable to buy. We want the Government to our aid,’ she said.

Mustapha, who identified herself as a member of the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria, said caring for children with spinal cord-related conditions and other disabilities could be financially demanding for families.

‘We want the Government to help these children so they can become something in future,’ she added.

Representing the Youth, Public Relations Officer, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Victor Kolade Adobajale, urged the government to broaden youth-focused interventions to cover both employed and unemployed young people, as well as graduates and those who are outside formal education.

According to him, inclusion should extend beyond graduate-focused programmes to provide practical opportunities for young people without formal tertiary education.

‘We also recognize the fact that we have others that are not in school and they are not graduates. So, we are yearning for vocational trainings for those who do not have the opportunity to be formally educated,’ Adobajale said.

He further advocated the integration of vocational training into the secondary-school curriculum, arguing that young people should leave school with practical skills that could help them earn a living.

‘We also yearn for vocational training to be part of the curriculum of our secondary school, so that young people don’t just leave school and go into higher institutions without having something they can do,’ he said.

The concerns raised by residents were reinforced by the Social Policy Manager, UNICEF Nigeria, Lagos Office, Mr Mohammed Okorie, who described citizen participation as an important component of effective budget planning.

Okorie said government could better understand residents’ priorities when they are directly involved in determining what should be reflected in public spending.

‘I think this is the right way to go because the best thing is really to involve the people in planning for them because they know their priorities, and know what they need,’ he said.

According to him, the consultation also provided an opportunity for government to return to residents and explain how their requests from previous budget cycles had been addressed.

‘So when you get this information from them on their priorities, you know how to include it into the budget,’ Okorie said, adding that government’s feedback on previous requests demonstrated both ‘inclusiveness’ and ‘accountability.’

He also drew attention to the importance of ensuring that children’s needs were adequately represented in the budget process, particularly those who could not speak for themselves.

‘For us as UNICEF, we’re very interested in how much the interest of children is covered in all of this,’ he said.

Okorie identified areas including child health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, immunisation and malnutrition as issues requiring attention as the State plans its next budget.

He noted that children were critical to the present and future of Lagos, stressing the need for participants in the consultation to speak for children who were not present to articulate their own needs.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Olayinka Ojo, had similarly described the consultations as an opportunity for government to return to the people with evidence of progress on projects and programmes arising from previous engagements.

She said the process was about ‘feedback, accountability and evidence-based engagement,’ explaining that requests made by stakeholders would be documented, reviewed and subjected to prioritisation before being considered as interventions.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Ope George, had earlier explained that the divisional consultations form part of the process of preparing the 2027 budget, with the ministry returning to communities to give an account of previous requests while also receiving fresh priorities for the next budget cycle.

The engagements in Ikorodu and Epe also provided an update on infrastructure projects being implemented in the two divisions.

In Epe, projects highlighted included road interventions and infrastructure aligned with the Lagos State Development Plan 2052, as well as developments around the approved new Lekki Airport. Other projects listed were Mogaji Street in Erepoto, Hon. Sanni Road in Iraye, Epe, Kayode Adesanya Street and the ongoing Omu Creek Link Road and Bridge, Phase 1, in Ibeju-Lekki.

In Ikorodu, work was reported to be progressing on the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Road, including grading and compaction of the crushed stone base and sand bed, while drainage desilting and bailing of water from the carriageway were also ongoing. Renovation of a failed section of Oba Sekunmade Road was also listed among the interventions.

The five-day consultations were organised to update stakeholders on the half-year performance of the 2026 budget, explain government’s plans for the remainder of the year and its focus areas for 2027, while receiving inputs, contributions and suggestions towards the preparation of the 2027 budget.

Wike’s Rainbow Coalition Crucial To Tinubu’s Victory – Ex-Ijaw Youth Leader

Former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike’s Rainbow Coalition as a major political asset capable of delivering ‘bulk votes’ for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Eradiri said the coalition, which cuts across political interests and platforms, should be embraced as an added advantage to the President’s re-election bid rather than viewed as a threat by APC governors and other party leaders.

He said Wike’s initiative had demonstrated political ingenuity by creating a broad alliance focused on mobilising support for Tinubu beyond the structures of the ruling party.

He said, ‘Wike and his Rainbow Coalition should be seen as an added advantage to Tinubu’s re-election because the Rainbow Coalition was formed solely to work for Mr President and not to advance the interest of any governor.’

Eradiri urged political leaders supporting Tinubu’s second-term bid to support the coalition and encourage its expansion, arguing that the President’s re-election would require a broad-based mobilisation strategy capable of attracting voters across political divides.

‘Out of sheer ingenuity, Wike developed the Rainbow concept, which has gained traction as a powerful force of alliance,’ he said.

The former IYC leader challenged other governors and political leaders to emulate the initiative by developing innovative alliances that could complement existing party structures and strengthen Tinubu’s electoral base.

‘I encourage other governors to think out of the box and develop similar concepts that will aid mobilisation and deliver bulk votes to President Tinubu in 2027,’ he said.

Eradiri said the coalition’s value should be measured by its capacity to mobilise voters for Tinubu rather than by political calculations about its possible impact on individual governors.

He therefore cautioned APC governors against allowing internal political differences with Wike to undermine an alliance that could contribute significantly to the President’s re-election.

‘The Minister has said that his interest is the re-election of the President. Therefore, the governors, who genuinely love the President, are expected to work with him to actualise that sole interest,’ Eradiri said.

Jennylyn Mercado’s music comeback pairs singing with cinematic experience

MUSIC and cinema go hand in hand. And that’s what actress-singer Jennylyn Mercado served up with the deluxe version of her album Jen, under Star Music.

Being in the industry for decades, Jennylyn has routinely shown her acting chops as well as her musicality. This time, however, she decides to combine these two, making her album a cinematic experience with a streamlined story.

Premiering on August 22 on YouTube with the short film, also titled Jen, the story revolves around different ideas of love-self, parents, partner, children and others. It features six songs: ‘Hihintayin Kita,’ ‘Hindi Man Masabi,’ ‘Sa Gitna,’ ‘Ayaw Pang Umuwi,’ ‘Hindi Pa Rin Sapat’ and ‘Paulit-ulit Kang Pipiliin.’

The full album features eight tracks, adding ‘Tutuloy Pa Ba?’ and ‘Kung Nandito Ka Pa.’ The film tells a narrative about Jennylyn’s beginnings, sharing her dream of performing with her mother. Upon achieving this, it moves on to the story of love, revealing her husband and GMA star Dennis Trillo as part of the story.

At first, the romance was blooming, with Jennylyn even becoming open with her husband about her self-doubts in her music. However, not every love story sails smooth seas, as it transitions to troubled waters in their story, filling the story with nothing but silence.

Yet true love finds its way, as this rough patch comes to an end. The story resolves with Jennylyn meeting with all of the versions of herself, finding comfort in each other’s company.

Jennylyn shares that this project is close to her heart, as it is a personal narrative about her life. ‘Buhay ko ito, kung paano ako nagsimula, at ang mga pinagdaanan kong struggles at emosyon,’ shared Jennylyn.

You can enjoy Jennylyn Mercado’s album on streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, while the short film and her music are available on YouTube.

Flamingos thrash Niger 5-0 in WAFU B U17 title defence

Nigeria’s U17 women’s team, the Flamingos, opened their 2026 WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup title defence with a 5-0 win over Niger Republic in Yamoussoukro on Wednesday.

Captain Harmony Chidi set Nigeria on their way in the 16th minute, finishing to give the Flamingos a deserved lead after they dominated possession and controlled the tempo from the opening whistle.

Nigeria continued to press for a second goal, with Awawu Bashiru eventually doubling the advantage with a clinical finish. Adegbuyi also found the net, but her effort was ruled out for offside.

Niger struggled to create any meaningful threat, with Nigeria goalkeeper Onyiyechi Opara largely untested throughout the first half as the Flamingos maintained control.

Flamingos turn dominance into goals

Nigeria resumed the second half with the same attacking intent, using their pace and creativity to keep Niger on the back foot.

The Flamingos remained patient in possession as they searched for more goals, with their persistence eventually rewarded late in the match.

Ohunene Sunday made it 3-0 in the 83rd minute with a well-taken finish before Mary Dunstan added a fourth to put the result beyond doubt.

Nigeria completed the rout in stoppage time when Ayomide Rotimi struck in the 94th minute to seal a 5-0 victory.

The Flamingos will now look to build on the victory as they continue their bid to retain the WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup title.

Two unseen Monet paintings to be auctioned in Paris

PARIS – Two paintings by the Impressionist master Claude Monet that have never been shown in public are to be sold in Paris next month by the billionaire Schlumberger family of France, auction house Sotheby’s said Thursday.

‘Iris’, a large painting Monet completed toward the end of his life, has been valued at 22 million to 30 million euros ($25-34 million), which represents ‘the highest estimate ever given for a painting offered at auction in France’, Sotheby’s said as it unveiled the sale at its Paris headquarters.

It has never left the Schlumberger family’s home in Paris after being acquired by Jeanne Schlumberger (1889-1983), who was described as ‘a brilliant art collector’ by Sotheby’s art department co-head Thomas Bompard.

Alongside ‘Iris’, three other canvases by Monet are included in the sale on October 22, among them ‘Saule Pleureur’ (Weeping Willow), valued at 9-12 million euros.

The sale comes in the year marking the centenary of Monet’s death on Dec 5, 1926, which is being commemorated by two Paris exhibitions opening in late September: ‘Monet, Painting Time’ and ‘Stories of Landscapes, from Monet to Hockney.’

The Schlumberger collection, which will be shown in Hong Kong and New York before the sale, also includes three works by Paul Cezanne, among them ‘La Ferme’ (The Farm), ‘the largest work by the artist ever to be offered at auction,’ estimated at 600,000 to 800,000 euros.

Fintech app opens stock market offering to masses

GCash is seeking to bring stock-market investing closer to mainstream Filipinos by giving its millions of users a digital route into Arthaland Corp.’s latest preferred-share offering, highlighting how financial technology is lowering some of the traditional barriers to participation in the capital markets.

The Series G and H preferred shares of the property developer will be available for subscription from September 14 to 25 through GStocks PH, the investment platform within the GCash app operated by AB Capital Securities Inc.

The shares are priced at P500 each. Series G, or ALCPG, carries an annual dividend rate of 7.3260 percent, while Series H, or ALCPH, offers 7.8105 per cent, subject to the terms and conditions of the issue.

The transaction illustrates how digital finance platforms are changing the way retail investors access securities offerings that have traditionally required a separate relationship with a stockbroker and, in many cases, a bank account.

Rather than treating stock-market participation as a specialist activity, GCash is attempting to embed investing within a financial platform already used by Filipinos for everyday transactions.

‘Financial inclusion is not only about more financial services. It is about creating a simpler, more rewarding experience that keeps Filipinos’ needs in mind,’ said Winsley Bangit, group head of new businesses at Mynt, GCash’s parent company.

‘By digitizing financial services and making investing more convenient, we make it easier for Filipinos to participate and take greater control of their financial journeys,’ he said.

The GStocks PH offering facility allows retail investors to subscribe digitally to initial public offerings and follow-on offerings.

A subscription meter provides visibility on shares available from the broker’s allocation, while investors can see their allocation at the point of subscription when shares remain available within that tranche, according to GCash.

If the broker’s initial allocation is fully taken up, investors can continue to place orders, with final allocations determined after the offer period if the issue is oversubscribed.

For investors, the significance extends beyond the Arthaland transaction. Preferred shares typically provide fixed dividends and rank ahead of common shares for dividend payments, although investors remain exposed to the terms and risks attached to the particular security.

The broader opportunity for GCash and other digital investment platforms is to convert financial inclusion from access to basic financial services into access to a wider range of investment products.

Fully verified GCash users can open GStocks PH through the app’s Invest section. New users can onboard digitally and transfer funds to and from their GCash wallet without maintaining a separate bank account, according to the company.

That lowers several practical hurdles that have historically discouraged smaller investors from entering the stock market. The shift could be particularly significant in a country where participation in listed equities and other capital-market products remains relatively limited compared with the reach of digital financial services.

The challenge, however, is not simply to make investing easier. Greater access also places more responsibility on platforms and investors to understand the risks, pricing and terms attached to securities offerings.

For Arthaland, the digital channel offers another avenue to reach retail capital. For GCash, the offering is part of a larger effort to turn financial inclusion into broader participation in investing – bringing the stock market into a platform already familiar to millions of Filipinos.

Police withdraw criminal charge against businessman Albert

The office of the Inspector-General of Police has filed a notice of withdrawal in the criminal charge filed against a Nigerian businessman, Austin Albert and one other before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The withdrawal affects an amended charge marked FHC/LAG/CR/388/2026, filed before Justice Ahmed Kala, in which Albert and Jinadu Musbau Olalekan were listed as first and second defendants.

The police, in the notice of withdrawal and discontinuance dated July 24, 2026, stated that it was withdrawing the charge against all the defendants.

The notice of withdrawal, according to the police, is pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court, and stated that the decision followed the emergence of ‘certain facts’ while the case was pending.

The notice therefore stated that the complainant was withdrawing and discontinuing the case against the defendants generally, while it did not disclose the specific issues that prompted the decision.

The development effectively brings the present charge to an end for the time being, although the wording of the notice indicates that further findings are contemplated.

The notice of withdrawal reads: ‘Notice of withdrawal and discontinuance brought pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and under the inherent jurisdiction of this court

‘Notice is hereby given of the prosecutor’s withdrawal of this charge generally against the defendants in view of the fact that while the charge was pending, certain facts emerged that require the withdrawal and discontinuance of the matter for further findings.

‘Hence, the Complainant hereby withdraws and discontinues this case against the Defendants generally pending the outcome of the findings, please.’

Ekiti APC dismisses report on Oyebanji’s health

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ekiti State chapter, has dismissed as false and malicious a publication concerning the health and status of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, demanding an immediate retraction of the report.

The party, in a statement issued on Thursday by its Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, described the publication as ‘conjecture, blatant lie and unnecessary speculation’ allegedly intended to mislead the public and cause panic among residents.

The APC said the report was unsubstantiated and contrary to the ethics of responsible journalism, accusing those behind it of attempting to create anxiety over the governor’s well-being.

The party, however, did not identify the publication or its author in the statement.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is hale, hearty, and fully focused on delivering good governance to the people of Ekiti State,’ the party said, insisting that there was ‘no iota of truth’ in the report.

The APC urged residents of the state and Ekiti indigenes in the diaspora to remain calm and disregard what it described as fake news.

The party further reaffirmed its support for Oyebanji, saying he remained focused on implementing his administration’s programmes.

It also stated that the governor would be sworn in for a second term on October 16, 2026, following his victory in the June 20 governorship election.

The party called on the people to continue to support the administration and ignore what it described as attempts to cause unnecessary apprehension in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oyebanji the winner of the election after he polled 319,224 votes across the state’s 16 local government areas.

Tanzania’s young swimmers signal bigger medal ambitions

Tanzania’s swimming future received an encouraging boost at the National Open Championships, where a group of young swimmers combined for an impressive haul of medals and national records, offering evidence that the country’s next generation is developing beyond individual promise.

The standout figures were 15 year old Crissa Dillip, 14 year old Nicolene Viljoen, 12 year old Naithan Sabibi, 12 year old Leyna Borega and 14 year old Max Missokia, whose performances revealed both depth and versatility across freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley events.

Sabibi emerged as the most decorated swimmer among the group, collecting 12 individual medals, including 10 gold and two silver. The Mwanza Swim Club swimmer won the 100m freestyle (1:01.59), 200m individual medley (2:34.10), 100m backstroke (1:12.73), 50m butterfly (31.98), 200m breaststroke (2:54.58) and 50m breaststroke (35.89). Also won 100m individual medley (1:10.84), 50m backstroke (32.29), 100m breaststroke (1:19.17) and 50m freestyle (28.17). He added silver in the 400m freestyle (4:40.69) and 200m freestyle (2:15.47).

Borega was almost equally productive, winning 11 medals: seven gold, three silver and one bronze. Her gold medals came in the 100m freestyle (1:02.98), 50m butterfly (32.47), 100m butterfly (1:13.45), 400m freestyle (5:13.40), 100m individual medley (1:14.66), 200m freestyle (2:22.24) and 50m freestyle (29.04).

The North Coast Swimming Club swimmer added silver in the 200m individual medley (2:44.28), 100m backstroke (1:20.66) and 200m butterfly (2:54.57), plus bronze in the 50m backstroke (36.04).

Viljoen also won 11 medals, with nine gold and two silver. The Riptide Swim Club swimmer won the 800m freestyle (9:36.26), 200m individual medley (2:28.83), 200m breaststroke (2:46.90), 400m individual medley (5:13.31), 100m butterfly (1:10.07), 400m freestyle (4:40.90), 200m freestyle (2:14.50), 200m butterfly (2:34.55) and 100m breaststroke (1:20.53).

Her two silver medals came in the 200m backstroke (2:29.05) and 50m freestyle (29.03). Her 200m breaststroke victory also produced a national record of 2:46.90.

Dillip was the championship’s biggest record breaker. The Taliss IST swimmer won eight gold medals, taking the 100m freestyle (59.65), 100m backstroke (1:04.75), 50m butterfly (30.02), 50m breaststroke (35.91), 100m individual medley (1:08.23), 50m backstroke (30.16), 200m backstroke (2:24.19) and 50m freestyle (27.50). She established national records in the 100m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 200m backstroke.

Missokia completed the leading group with eight medals, six gold and two silver. The Dar Swim Club swimmer won the 100m freestyle (58.33), 100m backstroke (1:04.88), 100m butterfly (1:04.73), 50m backstroke (30.41), 200m butterfly (2:26.28) and 50m freestyle (26.22), while taking silver in the 50m butterfly (28.58) and 50m breaststroke (35.61).

The numbers matter because they show Tanzania is producing swimmers capable of competing across several disciplines rather than specialising in a single event. However, the next challenge is converting domestic dominance into international competitiveness. The championships were contested in a short course pool at Monti Internal School, so these performances should not be treated as direct Olympic qualifying indicators.

What they do provide is a development platform. With Sabibi and Borega only 12, Viljoen and Missokia 14, and Dillip 15, Tanzania has a group that can still improve substantially with sustained coaching, international exposure and access to stronger competition.

The National Open therefore offered more than medals and records. It showed that Tanzania has a promising young group. The real test now is whether the swimming system can turn that promise into international results.

Eagles win opener for Baterbonia, Adili

Buoyed by grief, honor and memory, Ateneo turned its first game since the tragedy that took Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia into a statement – a 101-74 demolition of UE to open the Louie Alas era yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

With ‘DA’ and ‘RB’ patches over their hearts, the Blue Eagles wasted no time and blitzed the Red Warriors with a 20-point lead in the first half and never looked back, cruising to a 27-point debut win that extended UE’s woes to 21 straight losses in three seasons and counting.

But for the boys from Loyola who linked arms in a moment of silence before tip-off, it was more than just a win.

It was the first, courageous step in a long healing process – made even more poignant with the families of Adili and Baterbonia in attendance for Ateneo’s first game more than three months since the incident.

‘We just want to thank God for allowing us to play. Despite the tragedy that happened to us, we’re still allowed to play the game that we all love,’ said new assistant coach RJ Jazul, who spoke on behalf of Alas after the head coach lost his voice during the emotional debut.

Kieffer Alas, son of the head coach and a former UAAP juniors MVP from La Salle and FIBA Asia Mythical 5 for Batang Gilas, announced a roaring arrival in the collegiate ranks with 24 points, four rebounds and an assist in just 20 minutes.