Category: Nigerian Tribune

Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has discharged and acquitted a 82-year-old man, Chief Olowofela Oyebanji, of criminal offences related to kidnapping and murder.

The trial judge, Umar Zikki Jubril, upheld a no case submission preferred before it by the defence counsels.

Oyebanji and 12 others were facing charges of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, kidnapping and giving false information contrary to Sections 97, 221 and 178 of the penal code law and Section 1 (Special Prohibition) Kidnapping Law of Kwara state 2010.

Oyebanji, who is a High Chief in Igbara-Odo, Ekiti state, has since denied involvement in the criminal allegations, particularly the killing of a traditional ruler, Olukoro of Koro, Oba Aremu Cole, in the Ekiti local government area of Kwara state.

In her ruling on Tuesday, the trial judge discharged and acquitted Oyebanji, having proved his innocence beyond a reasonable doubt.

Justice Zikki held that the prosecution was not able to prove a prima facie case against the defendant and others alleged to be involved in the criminal act.

Speaking after the ruling, counsel to the defendant, Dr Solomon Afolabi, expressed joy and satisfaction with the ruling.

He commended the judge for being courageous and ensuring justice was done, amid heightened sentiments and the sensitive nature of the case.

‘It’s a big gift at the beginning of the new legal year that my client, the ninth defendant, who has been standing trial since February 2024, for an offence he knew nothing about, eventually got justice.

‘It was just unfortunate that he had to go through this because, as you heard in the judgement, it was a case of random arrests for many of the defendants in this case’, he said.

Another defence counsel said the ruling came after the prosecution closed its case against the defendants.

‘The prosecution presented evidence and called five witnesses during the case. But after thorough perusal of the evidence before the court, the court found it in its ruling that the prosecution failed to provide a substantial and compelling evidence against all the defendants and, in view of this, discharged and acquitted them’.

It is a privilege to give the Jan Vansina lecture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on October 1st, 2025. With the defunding of Title VI programs, it is such a depressing moment for African Studies. Perhaps the field is set for new definitions, or it will be reimagined, or it will be ghettoized, as Philip Curtin once predicted, or it will shift its centers to the margins as the future of empires is reconfigured. The future is always in hiding; the new clothes of today are rags of tomorrow. Nothing is eternal. Africa should not be confused with African Studies. The Sagole baobab should not be confused with the African baobab. In the lecture, I will split my time between the past that Vansina speaks to and the future that partly draws from his career.

Colonial narratives caused African history to be routinely marginalized and misrepresented in the first half of the 20th century. These stories ignored the many indigenous oral traditions of the continent in favor of written materials. This exclusive method essentially undermined civilizations whose historical records grew only through oral storytelling, therefore limiting our knowledge of the historical richness of Africa. Born in 1929, Belgian historian Jan Vansina challenged this constrained historiographical paradigm. He transformed the field of African historical study by promoting the integrity and rigor of oral traditions.

Early in his career, in what was then arrogantly called the Belgian Congo, Vansina was personally exposed to the dominant intellectual theories that rejected African oral traditions. Vansina first learned his craft under the guidelines of conventional colonial ethnography. His academic perspective was much changed by his deep and transforming interactions with the Kuba people. Through close interaction with their rich and complex oral histories, Vansina was able to identify the people’s inherent historical authenticity and depth. He began to realize that oral stories constitute a strong archive of historical knowledge, rather than merely folkloric. This realization changed his intellectual focus and made him a leader in supporting oral traditions as historical sources.

It was a common colonial belief that the validation for Africa’s historical accounts should primarily come from European archival materials. Vansina argued powerfully against this presumption. Historiographical circles initially fiercely opposed his method, mistrusting oral materials due to concerns about their reliability. Vansina continued to fight for the historical validity of oral traditions, thereby ever more transforming the world of scholars with relentless dedication. In his work, oral traditions are finally given the status of living and trustworthy sources, of inestimable value for interpreting Africa’s past in an exhaustive manner.

He also had an interdisciplinary mind, combining anthropology, linguistics, archaeology, and ethnography to fill in the gaps in his endeavor to make oral tradition credible. Thanks to his groundbreaking work, Oral Tradition as History, historians were presented with a challenging model of analysis to aid them in undertaking a critical examination of oral sources. Vansina was able to distinguish historical facts from politically or culturally inspired reinterpretations by comparing different modes of oral tradition, including genealogies, praise songs, epics, and personal testimonies. His research approaches revealed the need to examine oral materials inside the cultural and historical contexts most relevant to them.

Vansina convincingly demonstrated that advanced political and social systems existed in Central African kingdoms long before the arrival of Europeans. This was achieved through a thorough field study of the Kongo and Kuba, among other kingdoms. His research revealed in-depth records of the succession of leadership, political alliances, economic systems, and social standards that were preserved over his lifetime through oral histories. These results clearly refute presumptions that African nations are historically fixed or simple. Instead, they emphasized the dynamic government structures, sophisticated cultural traditions, and substantial economic ties.

Apart from their intellectual value, the strategies devised by Vansina had a profound influence on cultural reclamation movements that spread across Africa. Historically marginalized communities began to regain their stories and validate their historical autonomy, free from the distortions imposed by colonization. Vansina’s support of oral traditions helped indigenous historians and people to preserve, record, and understand their histories independently. This served to foster community pride and identity. This approach greatly helped African groups to restore more significant cultural rituals and strengthen historical self-assurance.

Vansina’s methodology has been criticized for being based on the inherent limitations of oral tradition, such as generation depth bias, selective memory, and political susceptibility. Critics argue that oral traditions can change or become distorted over time, thereby distorting historical fact. Vansina was eager to use strict methodological discipline and cross-verifying multidisciplinary methods to resolve verifiable problems. To make the data more credible and eliminate some of its weaknesses, he prescribed a triangulation of oral testimony, using archaeological data, linguistic forms, and anthropological evidence. The ideas of Vansina have pragmatic consequences that extend far beyond the academic field and significantly impact modern actions related to legal protection and cultural preservation.

Vansina-inspired techniques are now somewhat standard in indigenous rights groups. In the fields of land restitution, cultural conservation, and human rights campaigning, these groups have been gathering extraordinary evidence from oral testimony. In legal settings in countries such as Canada, Australia, and Latin America, where oral histories are accepted as legitimate historical evidence in court procedures, his scholarly method has been particularly significant. In such locations, his technique has been particularly effective.

Moreover, Vansina’s methods have had a significant influence on the field of digital humanities, enabling technological innovations to record, document, and methodically assess oral histories. Digital projects using his transdisciplinary validation techniques help to preserve oral histories. This protects and preserves cultural memories against urbanization, globalization, and social transformation. These digital archives ensure preservation, therefore extending Vansina’s legacy. A great advantage is also their making oral traditions generally available and academically trustworthy for the next generations.

Vansina’s devised strategies have been adopted by educational and cultural institutions, making a significant contribution to the historiographical decolonization process. His inclusive historical methods inspire historians to conduct research from diverse and sensitive perspectives, while also providing comprehensive and culturally conscious teaching. Universities are under greater scrutiny to appreciate multiple epistemologies and methodological rigor when handling oral histories. This helps to produce a more inclusive and balanced historical conversation.

The intellectual work of Vansina makes a considerable difference in indigenous studies worldwide, therefore influencing academic scholarship and constructing cross-cultural dialogue. Indigenous peoples in the Americas, Oceania, and Asia, among other nations, actively engage with Vansina’s scientific work of reconstructing histories that reflect their actual realities. Indigenous intellectuals construct epistemologies within the dominant academic scholarship through their work, deconstructing colonial historical constructions.

Through his essential work, Vansina revolutionized the field of world historical studies. Consistent with his advocacy for diversity, analytical rigor, and cultural sensitivity, his support for giving underprivileged voices-typically excluded from scholarly debate-the chance to share and communicate their stories using authority. Thus, his work serves to democratize historical research. Emphasizing pluralism and respect for a range of historical sources and knowledge systems, Vansina’s legacy inspires fresh historical research.

Lastly, the ongoing intellectual breakthroughs Vansina brought greatly expanded the horizons of history. These advances underlined the complementarity of written and oral traditions and justified the accuracy of much historical evidence. His appeal to rigorous, multidisciplinary approaches has dramatically influenced the methods of historical research, thereby making history an amazingly accessible, dynamic, and culturally responsive subject. The work of Vansina emphasizes the necessity of continually reconsidering historical methodology to honor alternative human perspectives. This helps to define his ongoing legacy as a forerunner of inclusive historical research.

WHEN many took off, he stayed put. When the ones we thought were the brave ducked, he dug and rigged. He sweated and defended the homestead or what was left of it. Even to me, his courage did not make sense. Why swim against the tide when you can just go with the flow? Why stay in a house with half its roof blown off? What is the sense in not just holding on tight to a tattered umbrella but also taking shelter under it? The umbrella itself looked like it needed help.

Leave and let the house crumble. You can build another one. But he stood there in the rain, in the scorching sun. He even bellowed in a fearful voice at passers-by who thought something was really wrong with him. He flexed his muscles at those who had armour. He looked them in the eye and dared them to cross his threshold.

Who the dickens did he think he was? But he paid us all no mind. It was his umbrella to keep, torn, shredded or bent. He mobilized money and started the rebuilding. When he was let down by those he trusted, he soldiered on. When those whose expeditions he sponsored aimed arrows at his bare chest, he nursed his wound, lips pursed in pain and determination. If he shed a tear, it was in private. If he bled, he hid the blood. To his tattered tent he held.

Then one day, he rose out of the ashes, with his umbrella in his hands, this time like a sword. He had rebuilt the house with everything he could muster. Soon, those who watched him rebuild and those who went away all came back, together. He welcomed them. And they all sat under the umbrella. Then one day, he said he wanted to become the leader. Some of the ‘returnees’ also showed interest. They all agreed to a fair contest. Then the demon of conspiracy came into the house and possessed almost everybody. Stabs in the back, followed by another stab in the heart led to a bloodied floor. Things became blurry and slippery. Of course, things fell apart. There was no centre for anybody to even hold.

Now, the builder is angry, raving and raging. What was taken from him he has sworn nobody else would get. He has even gone after those who left the house a second time, bellowing harder than before. He is like one character in Yoruba movie I watched a long time ago. His name was Cause Trouble. The name still makes me smile every time. But the most apt description for me, at least today, is the debt distrainor as described by Reverend Samuel Johnson. Distraining for debt among the Yorubas used to be a big deal in those days. A ‘distrainor’ is a licensed by fire-by-force debt collector who sits on the debtor in every way until he pays. He is said to ‘d’ogo ti’ until he collects.

Pay attention to how Rev. Johnson describes him.

‘The distrainor is a man of imperturbable temper, but of foul tongue, a veritable Thersites. He adopts any measure he likes, inflicting his presence and attention on the debtor everywhere and anywhere he may go, denying him privacy of any kind, and in the meantime using his tongue most foully upon him, his own person being inviolable, for touching him implies doing violence to the person of the authorities who appointed him the task. Loud in his abuses, intolerable in his manners to all in the house whilst going in and out with the debtor till the inmates of the house get tired and quickly finds a way of getting rid of the distrainor by paying off the debt.’

Our builder, Cause Trouble or Distrainor is ‘drawing gbese’. He’s giving everybody in the house high blood pressure.

‘He must not take anything away from the house but he may enjoy the use of anything he finds in the house.’

Does he remind you of someone?

This is a peaceful piece.

As Nigeria marks its Independence Day, the nation is celebrating homegrown leaders who are advancing the economy. Among them is Temitope George Ijibadejo, a Lagos-born forex trader and consultant who has become ‘an award-winning Forex fund manager’ with over 15 years of experience.

A recent Tribune profile praises his contributions as part of those who have positioned Nigeria as a force in Forex’s global market. As founder and CEO of Sure-Fire Investments Ltd and Africa Regional Director of the international broker SquaredFinancial, Ijibadejo exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit transforming Nigeria’s financial landscape.

Before Ijibadejo entered the scene, forex trading in Nigeria was widely misunderstood and often carried a negative reputation. Many early practitioners plunged into the market without adequate preparation, losing money and in some cases mismanaging funds entrusted to them. The core of the problem was not merely the volatility of the market but the absence of strong business development skills and sound investment management strategies.

Recognizing this gap, Ijibadejo, a self-taught trader, began charting a new path. By combining technical expertise in forex with the discipline of business development and fund management, he consistently delivered superior results. More importantly, he committed himself to training others, using workshops and structured mentorship programs to equip a new generation of Nigerians with the tools to trade responsibly, manage investments prudently, and build sustainable careers in the financial sector.

Pioneering a Hybrid Financial Model

Ijibadejo has built a unique model that fuses forex fund management with business development consulting. Ijibadejo did not only begin a disruptive model by empowering people with knowledge in the business, but also by introducing a new combo that has largely been adopted by many of his peers. He argues that combining these fields creates ‘a powerful synergy’ in wealth creation.

In his vision, business leaders should use forex not as an isolated gamble but as an integral tool for corporate growth. ‘Just imagine that in Nigeria’s business ecosystem, Forex isn’t an isolated platform; instead, it’s a central tool for business planning,’ he says. By treating forex trading as part of broader business strategy, he says, Nigeria can reshape its economy. As he told a Tribune interviewer, this hybrid approach ‘is not just a pitch; it’s a feasible approach at transforming Nigeria’s financial and economic standing’. Under his leadership, Sure-Fire Investments was among the first indigenous firms to put this theory into practice, designing forex training programs alongside corporate advisory services.

Educating and Empowering Nigerians

A key to Ijibadejo’s strategy has been education. He insists that ‘without education, you can’t grow in Forex,’ and has built training into his business model. Indeed, Tribune reports that Sure-Fire has trained ‘over 5,000 individuals in Forex,’ reflecting his mission to raise financial literacy across Nigeria. Through workshops, webinars, and mentorship, Ijibadejo has reached a diverse audience of traders, entrepreneurs, and even government-sponsored youth.

For example, in 2014 he partnered with XM International to run a five-week free forex course for over 500 NYSC corps members in Lagos. In that program, fresh university graduates joined hands-on training with expert instructors, gaining both trading skills and entrepreneurship guidance. These initiatives – many of which tie into national programs like the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition scheme – have spawned a new generation of Nigerian traders and consultants. Alumni of his courses often credit them with launching their careers, helping the country add skilled financial professionals and small business founders.

Global Partnerships, Local Impact

Like every industry, the full potential of the global forex trading sector in Nigeria could not be realized without foreign investment and collaboration. Although many international players recognized the Nigerian market as promising, concerns over local competence and expertise often held them back. Ijibadejo addressed this gap through his unique approach and practice, forging strong international partnerships that brought both expertise and capital into the country. As he often emphasizes, ‘global partnerships open doors for new markets and technologies that lead to development.’ Guided by this principle, he collaborated with leading global brokers and fintech firms. Early in his career, he served as a Master Partner with XM International, helping the Cyprus-based broker host seminars and expand operations in Nigeria.

In 2017, he partnered with Hantec Markets, a Hong Kong-headquartered broker, to introduce its services locally-an initiative that reportedly generated millions of naira in trading volume. More recently, Ijibadejo became Nigeria Country Director, and later Africa Regional Director, for SquaredFinancial, a Cyprus-based online broker. In this role, he established SquaredFinancial’s Lagos office and expanded its client network across Africa, proving that Nigerian entrepreneurs can successfully lead major international firms. These collaborations have not only attracted foreign capital to Nigeria’s economy but also transferred global best practices, strengthened local expertise, and boosted confidence in the country’s financial sector.

Driving Economic Empowerment

The effects of Ijibadejo’s work go beyond trading floors; they touch the wider economy. He believes that a thriving forex and financial market can help solve Nigeria’s chronic unemployment problem. Tribune quotes him urging traders and investors to collaborate, arguing that they can ‘solve the country’s unemployment challenge and champion emerging self-employed individuals’. In practice, his initiatives have helped thousands of young Nigerians earn livelihoods. Graduates who might once have struggled to find jobs are now working as analysts, traders, and consultants – or starting their own fintech ventures – thanks to the skills they gained. By attracting reputable international brokers and hosting high-profile training events, he has also drawn foreign investments into Nigeria’s economy. Industry observers note that every major seminar or joint venture introduces more capital and creates ancillary jobs (for example, local training coordinators, analysts, and media teams). In all, Ijibadejo’s focus on education and partnership is credited with expanding Nigeria’s financial services capacity, raising standards for practitioners, and encouraging the next wave of economic growth.

A Legacy for Nigeria’s Future

On this Independence Day, Mr. Ijibadejo’s journey reflects the promise of Nigeria’s economic independence. He often reminds peers that the goal is more than personal success. ‘It should be more than an individual success; it should be an effort to build a legacy that strikes as tenacious for the next generation to leverage,’ he has said. In other words, his vision is for lasting impact: a Nigeria where each trained trader or consultant multiplies into many, and where global financial platforms integrate seamlessly with local businesses. By promoting innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, Ijibadejo is helping to build a generation of empowered professionals who can drive the economy forward.

As Nigeria celebrates its independence, it is fitting to honor leaders like Temitope Ijibadejo – innovators who bring global finance to bear on local development. Through his hybrid model of forex fund management and business consulting, his mentorship of thousands of young Nigerians, and his partnerships with major international brokers, he is strengthening the country’s financial sector and creating jobs. Such homegrown achievement, recognized by both national media and global industry partners, sends a powerful message: Nigeria’s future is in the hands of entrepreneurs and professionals whose success uplifts the whole nation.

Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has assured citizens that his administration is delivering tangible results across key sectors of governance, with more progress to come in the months ahead.

Speaking at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, Akure, during the 65th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria, the governor said the state was witnessing a remarkable transformation under his ‘OUR EASE’ policy framework.

According to him, the government is executing projects simultaneously in health, education, agriculture, infrastructure and security, which include the dualisation of Akure-Idanre, Akungba-Ikare and Okitipupa-Igbokoda roads, the construction of jetties and walkways in the riverine areas, and the rehabilitation of five kilometres of roads in each of the 18 local government areas.

‘Roads are not just pathways, they are lifelines that will boost commerce, agriculture, reduce travel stress and encourage economic activities and the daily life of our people,’ he said.

On healthcare, Aiyedatiwa disclosed that his government had expanded the contributory health scheme, completed a pharma-grade warehouse to guarantee a steady supply of medicines, renovated hospitals and prioritised recruitment into the health sector.

‘Our people in rural areas will no longer need to travel far to access basic healthcare. Beyond this, we have resolved that all health facilities in the state would be upgraded to meet global medical standards,’ he added.

The governor also highlighted strides in education, including classroom rehabilitation, provision of instructional materials, bursaries and scholarships, digital learning opportunities, as well as the continued operation of free shuttle buses and boats for students.

In agriculture, he announced that the state had secured 26,000 hectares of land and earmarked ?7.5 billion for development to strengthen food security and create jobs.

On security, Aiyedatiwa said: ‘We have provided not less than 75 high-grade Hilux vehicles equipped with modern security gadgets to our security agencies to help them respond quickly and effectively to threats.

‘Our goal is that every citizen of Ondo State should feel safe in their homes, farms, markets, schools and places of work.’

Commending citizens for their trust and resilience, he pledged: ‘In the coming months, you will see more progress. Ondo State is moving forward, Nigeria is moving forward; and nothing is beyond our reach.’

Earlier in his welcome address, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, said the anniversary celebration was not only a reminder of Nigeria’s historical struggles for freedom, but also an occasion to highlight the achievements of the current administration.

‘In recent times, the state has witnessed unprecedented socio-economic revival and restoration. Mr. Governor has deliberately provided an ambience that opened up the industrial and economic frontiers of development in the state, thus strategically placing Ondo State on the world map,’ Fasoranti said.

He lauded Aiyedatiwa’s fiscal transparency and accountability, describing them as enablers of reforms and transformational programmes.

The colourful event featured a parade mounted by the Nigeria Police, schools, political and non-political groups, and was attended by top government officials, royal fathers, religious leaders, and other dignitaries, including Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, Chief Judge, Justice A.O. Odusola, and the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye.

In its ongoing efforts at addressing insecurity in parts of Kwara state, especially, in border towns of Kwara and Kogi states, the Kwara state government on Wednesday urged residents of the state, especially people around Ekiti, Ifelodun, Isin, Oke Ero, and Irepodun local government areas, to be vigilant and restrict outdoor activities as much as possible in the mean time.

Recall that on Monday night, combined forces of the Army, DSS and Police launched an offensive around Baba Sango community in the Ifelodun local government area, along the Kwara-Kogi border, neutralising about 15 armed bandits.

The same operation continued on Tuesday night, according to Governor Abduleahman Abdulrazaq.

In a statement by the state Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, she said that the advisory followed heightened operations by combined security forces in border towns in Kogi and Kwara states, where kidnappers are believed to have hibernated.

‘We urge people to be very vigilant and limit their movements to only very necessary routines. That is to avoid being caught unawares as the kidnappers are fleeing their hideouts. We do not want law-abiding citizens to be affected,’ the statement said.

She said the government regrets the temporary inconveniences the limited movement may cause in the nearby areas.

‘We commend the security forces for the renewed efforts to rout out the criminals, and charge them to continue until they are totally neutralised and flushed out of our forests’, she said.

It is recalled that some communities in the Kwara South district of Kwara state like Oke Ode, Babanla, among others had been attacked by bandits, where many people were abducted and members of police and local security operatives were killed by the kidnappers.

Speaking on efforts made to address the situation, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara state reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, declaring that nowhere in Kwara will be safe for criminal elements, including kidnappers.

The governor, in a statement by his chief press secretary (CPS), Rafiu Ajakaye on Wednesday, said that,

‘The Army Headquarters has since relocated the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Division to Ilorin as part of the renewed efforts to strengthen security operations in the state’

‘Following the recent attack at Oke Ode, the governor travelled to Abuja to brief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during which he reiterated his request for additional federal deployment to raid the hideouts.

‘I presided over the State Security Council meeting at Ahmadu Bello House, Ilorin, on Tuesday night to integrate state and federal assets into a single strategy for both Kwara North and South’.

Governor Abdulrazaq assured Kwara residents that his administration would not relent in supporting security agencies to keep every community safe.

‘I have assurances of the security forces to smoke out and eliminate the criminals from their hideouts. We will fight insecurity with every resource at our disposal. Kwara will not be a hiding place for criminals.

‘To any criminal who seeks to destabilise the peace in Kwara, you may run, but you cannot escape justice. Kwara belongs to its people, and their peace will be defended,’ the governor added.

Accommodation seekers and tenants are lamenting shocking rent hikes in Nigerian cities.

Some of the complaints are coming from accommodation seekers in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other cities, where rental values have gone up by 100 per cent in less than one year.

As home seekers are struggling to raised the required rents, most landlords are blaming the situation on harsh economy couple with high building materials’ costs.

It was gathered that many tenants that couldn’t meet up their rental’s obligation have been relocating to the outskirts, while defaults in rental payments have assumed a new dimension.

As people are complaining about shortage of affordable accommodation in Nigerian urban centres, governments in some states are demolishing lot of houses on the basis that owners failed to obtain the necessary approvals or failed to observe the appropriate building setbacks.

Nigerian Tribune’s survey showed that rent for studio apartments in Lekki has jumped to an average N2.5 million per annum, depending on the location and features, from N1.2 million and N1.5 million in 2024.

In Surulere, an average rental value for one bedroom mini-flat costs between N2.5million and 3.5million per annum, from between N1.5 million and N2million last year.

In location such as Yaba, Maryland, Ikeja, Ilupeju, Palm Grove in Lagos, average rental prices for one – bedroom mini-flat range between N1.5 million to N4 million per annum, depending on location and house’s features.

In suburbs’ locations like Ogba, Egbeda, Abule Egba, Ipaja and Ojodu- Berger, rental prices for one bedroom mini-flat cost between N1million and N1.8 million.

As it is in Lagos, so it is in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin, Ibadan and Jos, among others as most residents have not stopped lamenting the rental burden

One of the accommodation seekers in Lagos, Mr. Abraham Aina, who relocated to Ipaja from Ketu, Lagos, said that rent in Ipaja was also outrageous.

Aina, who was paying N800,000 for a mini two-bedroom flat in Ketu as a sitting tenant, said that the rent for a new accommodation in Ipaja cost him the same amount, instead of the initial N400,000 budget for the new accommodation in January.

He alleged that the landlord in Ketu increased his rent to N1.5milliom from N800,000, hence his decision for new accommodation in Ipaja.

He said he noticed that there are more accommodation seekers scampering for the limited houses, hence the astronomical rent’s increase by the landlords.

Another accommodation seekers, Mrs Ella Mathew, said that rental values in suburbs locations like Abule Egba, Ayobo, Agbado, Ikotun, Ikorodu in Lagos State and areas such as Opic, Warewa, Arepo, Magboro and Sango-Ota have also doubled.

She claimed she paid N1.2 million for a two bedroom apartment in Arepo, Ogun State.

Narrating his brother experience in Port Harcourt, Mrs Mathew said the rent for one-bedroom apartment in Okporo area of the city has been jacked up to N600,000 per annum from N250,000.

According to her, the two-bedroom accommodation the brother secured recently in another location cost N800,000, stressing that he had to pay two years advanced rent to allow the landlord carry out the required renovation.

‘It wasn’t easy for my brother, who’s working with one of the shopping malls in Port Harcourt. He had to raised loans from friends and micro finance bank to be able to secure the accommodation,’ she said.

Responding, a landlord in Ketu, Lagos, who identified himself simply as Saidi Sonaike, defended his colleagues, attributing high rental values to harsh government’s policies, which have affected the costs of building materials sector negatively.

One of the affordable housing advocates, who identified herself simply as ‘Mimi’, wanted to know what is behind the ‘shocking rent hikes’ in many cities in Nigeria, particularly Lagos and Abuja.

Mimi noted that as food and fuel prices soared, landlords in Lagos and Abuja have been increasingly passing the heat onto tenants, demanding rent increase as high as 150 per cent.

She said that a two-bedroom apartment in Lekki that once cost N1.5 million now cost N2.2 million.

Lamenting the situation, she said:’The housing vulnerability in Nigeria has reached alarming proportions, and situation is not only a challenge for the economy but also a source of immense stress for ordinary Nigerians, many of whom struggle to keep up with rising rent prices and the declining quality of available housing.

‘What was once considered a modest expense back then is now a significant portion of one’s salary, and the dream of owning a home seems increasingly out of reach for the majority in recent time.’

Another advocate, Adu Olubunmi said the housing situation in Lagos is better than Abuja, pointing out that: ‘Lekki is for the high and mighty in the society compared to ordinary Jabi and Durimi in Abuja where two bedroom now goes as high as N4 million to N5million.’

She blamed the situation on overpopulation and huge demand for accommodation which has outweighed supply, resulting in skyrocketed rents.

According to her, many young professionals are finding themselves in a difficult position.

‘The reality for a graduate in a mid-level job in Lekki or Ikeja means finding a one-bedroom apartment for anywhere between N950,000 to N1.5 million annually.

‘The situation in Abuja, the nation’s capital, is equally dire. While the city is still relatively newer in terms of development, rapid urbanization has led to significant price hikes in the rental market. The upper-middle class and young families are particularly affected.

‘Those who were once able to afford relatively comfortable housing in areas like Wuse, Garki, and Maitama are now struggling to find suitable living spaces within their budgets.

‘The absence of affordable housing options forces many to seek accommodations in the more remote and developing districts, which lack necessary infrastructure, further exacerbating the gap between affordable and livable housing.

‘Even smaller cities across Nigeria are not exempt from the housing vulnerability. For instance, in cities like Benin, Enugu, and Ibadan, the rent situation is equally worrying. In these places, working-class families find themselves squeezed between the high cost of living and the insufficient housing infrastructure that doesn’t cater to the masses.

‘Those who cannot afford the skyrocketing rents often resort to living in overcrowded conditions, with extended families or in single-room apartments that barely meet basic living standards,’ she said.

Why the Lagos State government, through the House of Assembly, is expediting action on the passage of a new Tenancy Bill, a bill to regulate rent in the state, real estate developers have blamed high accommodation costs on high cost of building materials and general inflation.

Worried at the increasing cost of house rent, especially in Jos metropolis, the Plateau State House of Assembly has also declared war in real estate sector, by banning illegal house agents.

The lawmakers also moved to regulate unauthorized house agents while repealing the state’s outdated rent edict.

Former President of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, said that high rental payments have become a burden to renters and tenants

He pointed out that the N70,000 minimum wage being received by the government’s workers is not enough to cater for rents.

Another affordable housing advocates , Arc. Adewunmi Okupe, said that the solution to the high rent’s menace should go beyond the cosmetic actions like banning estate agents.

According to him, the cost of building affordable homes must be addressed.

‘From my observation the cost of renting homes by workers is already more than the salary. Except this is addressed the nation will be in turmoil very soon,’ he said.

Olubunmi said: ‘As urban populations continue to swell, he urged the government and society to work together to create a housing system that ensures everyone, regardless of income, has access to decent living conditions.

‘The housing crisis in Nigeria is not an insurmountable problem. With the right policies, community involvement, and investment in sustainable development, Nigeria can create a future where affordable, decent housing is within reach for all its citizens.’

‘While the journey will be long and challenging, the collective effort of the government, the private sector, and citizens can pave the way for a more inclusive and affordable housing market in Nigeria’s cities,’ she said.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Communication Technology and Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salis, on Monday, disclosed that the federal government is set to lay 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic nationwide to enhance digital technology penetration and increase Gross Domestic Product

The lawmaker, representing Ogun Central in the National Assembly, said this while delivering a lecture on the theme, ‘The Future of Journalism : Navigating AI and Objective Reporting’, at the opening of the 2025 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, in Abeokuta.

Senator Salis said the laying of the fibre optic broadband nationwide would not be limited to the state and local governments alone, but would be spread to each ward of the federation.

He hinted that a number of studies have confirmed that any 10 per cent increase in fibre penetration in the country would lead to a minimum of two per cent increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

‘The country is at the cusp of a revolution. In 1998/1999, when we liberalised the telecommunications sector, a number of organisations didn’t believe in the potential of Nigeria; they were asking questions: how many people would make phone calls in Nigeria? Particularly, we were transiting from an environment where we only had a government behemoth, NITEL. But what had happened? MTN, Airtel and a number of other organisations that took advantage of Nigeria, today, MTN, about a few weeks ago, we went to commission the biggest MTN Data Centre in Africa.

‘Twenty-five years down the line, we are about to have yet another revolution in our digital communication space.

‘This government under President Bola Tinubu is going to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic broadband across the country, not just in some states, not just in some local governments; there is no ward that will not have fibre optic presence.

‘A number of studies have confirmed that any 10 per cent increase in your fibre penetration in the country would lead to a minimum of two per cent increase in your GDP growth. So, just imagine if you deploy more technology. And it is very easy to fathom. Just imagine we have fibre optic in all our wards.’

The lawmaker revealed that one of the challenges of professional journalists in today’s world is that AI has the potential to increase the incidence of quackery.

While advocating that technology must be embedded in the curriculum for mass communication and journalism training.

‘The challenge for professional journalists is that AI also has the potential of increasing the incidence of quackery in the profession. So, what do we need to do? Our curriculum for the mass communication and journalism training institute must embed technology into the curriculum. It cannot be an afterthought or annexure; just like any discipline whatsoever, now, it must have technology embedded in it.

‘Secondly, for those already practising who have not had the opportunity of going back to school to learn, they must also have continuous capacity building and I’m going to partner with NUJ Ogun State Council on the deployment of technology and AI.

‘The third thing is that journalists must also self-regulate. I’m the Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, and we are in the process of repealing and enacting a new Cyber Crime Law in the country. There is always this tension between the freedom of expression and national security. But journalists, particularly professional journalists, whose training requires them to pass their news stories through many gatekeepers, now those gatekeepers may not be there physically again. But we must also ensure that we create the standards and code of conduct.

‘When people go online, they must know that this publication is being run by professional journalists rather than publications that are being run by those who are pretending to be journalists. Standardisation and self-regulation. There must also be professional differentiation. What do I mean by professional differentiation?

‘ If you use AI to generate a news item, and another user uses AI to generate the news item, we are likely to end up with the same content. But whereas if you are a true journalist, AI is an enabler, not a replacer. Therefore, you must also have professional differentiation.

‘People in the past, when they pick a news item, you can see that this is Olatunji Dare with a satire, you can see that this is Parallax Snaps by Dele Giwa. You can say this opinion poll was written by Stanley Macebuh. That professional differentiation is no longer there.

‘People can no longer say this is the writing style of somebody because we have deployed technology to the extent that it has replaced our professional differentiation,’ he added.

The Ogun State Head of Service, Mr Kehinde Onasanya, in his keynote address, emphasised the ethical dimension, while submitting that Nigeria lacks comprehensive regulatory norms that clarify how AI-generated content, such as images, audios and videos must be disclosed.

He, therefore, urged the leadership of the Union to publish a widely adopted code of practice to address AI.

In his speech, the Chairman of the council, Wale Olanrewaju, noted that the council had recorded milestones, progress and development in less than three years.

Olanrewaju stated that AI had changed the way news is gathered, processed and disseminated.

‘As a union, our responsibility is to prepare our members not just to adapt, but to lead in this new reality. We must ensure that technology enhances our credibility rather than diminishes it,’ he said.

The event’s panel discussion, moderated by Prof Dele Odunlami, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, featured Mr Kunle Durosimi, President, Ogun Tech Community and Registrar, West Midlands Open University and Mr Lekan Adeeko, AI Enthusiast and Co-founder Tedprime Hub.

The panel deliberated on the merits and demerits of using AI as journalists.

They urged journalists to be professional in the usage of AI in their write-ups, saying that AI should be used to promote national unity and cohesion and youths to innovate and harness technology to revolutionise Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Igbos have been called upon to commit to supporting ongoing efforts to end the insecurity ravaging parts of Igboland and forge a united front to be able to remain relevant in Nigeria’s polity.

The call was made during the 2025 Igbo Day Celebration, organised by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in Awka, Anambra State Capital.

The celebration witnessed attendance by delegates from the seven Igbo-speaking states, including Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, and Rivers state.

It had commenced with a Juma’at prayer at the Central Mosque in Awka last Friday, and a thanksgiving mass on Sunday, before proceeding to an Igbo Day lecture later same day.

The Igbo day celebration was also used to recognise and celebrate the sacrifices of past Igbo heroes, as well as those who were massacred on the 29th of September, 1966, in Kano, and those who died during the Nigerian civil war of 1967 to 1970.

Speaking at the celebration held at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka on Monday, Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, acknowledged that such a celebration was worth celebrating to serve as a reminder to Igbos, who are living in a society that recognises and honours sacrifices.

Soludo, who said the day should be a reminder to Ndigbo of the need to shun anything that will bring another war to the region, regretted that those craving for war never saw war and do not know the implications.

He also called for deep introspection by Igbos on who they are- an itinerant people, whose prosperity lies in their ability to move around and explore opportunities.

‘Igbos, as an itinerant tribe, cannot be an intolerant people. Our future lies in having a prosperous homeland, but also in being able to move around the world to explore opportunities.

‘Igbos are too large and cannot be confined to one geographical region. Igbos need Nigeria and Nigeria needs Igbos. We are major stakeholders in the Nigerian project,’ he noted.

Soludo regretted that in trying to agitate, Igbos have turned the guns on themselves, insisting that majority of those responsible for the insecurity in the Southeast as of today are mainly Igbos.

‘Igbos need to discuss their future importantly. Our bushes and forests were taken over by criminals pretending to be agitators for Ndigbo. The sit-at-home is not in our own best interest.

‘This event should usher in a new debate on what the future holds for Igboland. Ohaneze must stand and condemn the criminals in the bushes. They are not serving Igbos but are killing Igbos. More Igbos are dying in the hands of criminals in the bushes than those killed during the war.

‘We need social and moral rebirth. We must go back to the values of Ndigbo. I am eager that we can build a new Igboland, where life is valued and prosperity is guaranteed,’ he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, represented by the Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze, Okey Nwadinobi, said the theme of the event, ‘Ndigbo Onye Aghana Nwanne ya’ (Be your brother’s keeper), is central to the organization’s efforts to secure a united Igbo nation.

According to him, it compels the people to do what is right by themselves, in building an Igboland that will not be a desolate land but a destination choice.

Azutta-Mbatta, while noting that Igbos have done a lot for Nigeria, said the people deserve the best treatment in the country.

He also urged Ndigbo to support a united Nigeria that cares for everyone.

The Chairman, on the occasion, and Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Nwoko, represented by his Senior Special Assistant, Ogbueshi Godfrey Odogwu, observed that Igbos have attained enviable heights in various spheres of human endeavors, attracting applause and recognition to the race.

He, however, noted that despite the plethora of achievements, the Igbos have not even scratched the surface of their potential, adding that the theme was well thought out to affirm the people’s resolve to continue to be one another’s keeper, in recognition of the strong bond of Igbo identity.

Nwoko urged Ndigbo to fight to protect their land, culture, and tradition, adding that Igbos must promote law and order to be able to achieve their manifest destiny.

He urged the Ohanaeze and the rest of the Igbo nation to support ongoing efforts to achieve the creation of Anioma State, as the 6th state of the southeast region and the 37th state of the federation, to end decades of marginalization and injustice against the Anioma people.

‘The actualization of the quest of Anioma State will amend the long overdue imbalance in the Nigerian regional structure.

‘Through our dogged efforts, the Bill for the creation of Anioma State has the support of over 90 out of the 109 Senators in the National Assembly, and we are now looking forward to the passage of the bill and a referendum to follow.

‘We plead with Ohanaeze to support this just cause,’ Nwoko pleaded.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the event and Anambra State President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, expressed appreciation to all who supported the event, noting that the unity of Ndigbo is non-negotiable.

Okpalaezeukwu commended the leadership of the Ohanaeze for the new direction it is taking in unifying all Igbos, describing it as the way to go if Ndigbo must gain relevance in the socio-political sphere of Nigeria.

The National Security and Development Group (NSDG), has backed the advocacy movements to end open grazing nationwide.

The Secretary of the group, Mr Chuks Oyema, made the declaration while briefing newsmen on the national security challenges, in Abuja.

Recall that Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff recently called for the ban of open grazing in the country.

Oyema said the defence chief had shown sincerity and courage by highlighting the dangers open grazing poses to lives, property, and national stability.

According to him, history will remember Gen. Musa for his sincerity on this issue.

‘He has spoken truth to power and offered a clear solution to one of Nigeria’s deadliest conflicts.

‘Open grazing has fuelled violent clashes between herders and farmers, leaving thousands dead and worsening food insecurity,’ he said.

Citing data from Nextier’s Violent Conflict Database, Oyema said that 2,349 people were killed in 359 incidents linked to open grazing between 2020 and 2024.

He added that the statistics showed that 61 incidents left 467 people dead in 2024 alone with no fewer than 2,800 lives lost in the last five years to related violence.

Oyema also pointed to the International Crisis Group’s findings, which described herder-farmer clashes as escalating into ‘premeditated scorched-earth campaigns’ against rural communities.

He added that the CDS’ call aligned with earlier positions by Sen. Mohammed Sani, Northern Governors, civil society groups like ASCAB, and security analysts who have all urged Nigeria to adopt ranching.

The group’s scribe noted that both the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, and Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger, have called for legislation and sensitisation to drive ranching as a viable alternative.

He urged the National Assembly to urgently enact laws banning open grazing nationwide and to strengthen enforcement of existing state-level legislation.

‘Food security is being undermined when herders destroy farmlands. Farmers are abandoning their livelihood in Nigeria.

‘The result is hunger, job losses, and insecurity.

‘We must do the right thing now. Ranching is the way forward – for peace, for security, and for food sustainability,’ he said.