Category: PM News

Following his conviction and 50-month prison sentence for transporting people for prostitution in the United States, Hip Hop legend Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces one of the darkest chapters of his life. Once celebrated as a global music and business icon, his reputation now hangs in the balance.

Here are 15 things to know about the fallen star:

Early Life: Born Sean John Combs on November 4, 1969, in Harlem, New York, Diddy grew up in Mount Vernon, raised by his mother after his father was killed when he was just two years old.

Education and Hustle: Combs attended Howard University, where he majored in business. Though he left before graduation, his time there shaped his drive and ambition.

Music Industry Breakthrough: Diddy began his career as an intern at Uptown Records, quickly rising through the ranks before launching his own label.

Bad Boy Records Legacy: In 1993, he founded Bad Boy Records, propelling artists like The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, 112, and Mase to global fame.

Hitmaker Extraordinaire: As Puff Daddy, Diddy released several chart-topping singles. His 1997 tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., ‘I’ll Be Missing You,’ dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for 11 weeks.

The Business Mogul: Beyond music, Combs built a vast business empire, investing in brands like Cîroc vodka, DeLeón tequila, and AquaHydrate, with his net worth once estimated at over $800 million.

Fashion Influence: In 1998, he launched the Sean John clothing line, which redefined urban fashion and earned him the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award in 2004.

Television and Media Expansion: In 2013, Combs co-founded Revolt TV, a music and lifestyle network designed to amplify Black culture and creativity.

Multiple Reinventions: Known for frequently changing his stage name – Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, Diddy, and Love – his identity shifts became part of his enduring brand.

Lavish Lifestyle: Diddy was famous for his extravagant ‘White Parties,’ luxury mansions, and celebrity-filled gatherings that defined the hip-hop elite lifestyle of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Legal Troubles: His career has long been marred by controversies – from nightclub shootings in 1999 to multiple civil lawsuits alleging abuse, violence, and misconduct.

Criminal Conviction: In July 2025, Combs was found guilty of transporting individuals for prostitution and was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison in New York on October 3, 2025.

Courtroom Apology: During his sentencing, Diddy publicly apologized to his family, fans, and victims, admitting that ‘power and fame blinded him to the consequences of his actions.’

Public Reaction:

The conviction sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with many fans expressing disappointment while others called it a long-overdue reckoning.

Legacy in Question: Once hailed as a symbol of Black excellence and innovation, Combs’ influence on music, fashion, and business now stands overshadowed by scandal leaving his legacy deeply tarnished.

From chart-topping success to a federal prison sentence, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ story is a powerful reminder of how fame, fortune, and unchecked excess can ultimately lead to a dramatic fall from grace.

The Lagos State Government has indefinitely shut down Itedo Market in Lekki due to repeated environmental violations and illegal roadside trading.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the closure via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, stating that five individuals were arrested during the enforcement exercise for breaching state laws.

He wrote: ‘This morning, we took decisive action at Itedo Market, Lekki, which has now been shut down indefinitely due to repeated environmental violations and illegal roadside trading. Five individuals have been arrested for flouting state laws.’

Wahab added that three Black Maria vehicles had been stationed at the market to deter further illegal activity and ensure public order.

‘Three Black Marias have been stationed at the location to deter further illegal activity and maintain order. Lagos will not tolerate disregard for environmental regulations or unauthorised street trading.

‘Our commitment to restoring sanity, ensuring public safety, and upholding the rule of law remains unwavering.’

The closure forms part of the state’s ongoing clampdown on environmental infractions and unauthorised trading across major markets and roadways.

Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, was sent off after celebrating his team’s dramatic late goal in their 2-1 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca had already received a yellow card earlier in the match for arguing about a VAR decision on a penalty appeal.

When Willian Estevão scored a last-minute winner, Maresca ran across the pitch to celebrate with his players.

Referee Anthony Taylor then showed him a second yellow card, which meant he was sent off.

The red card came in the 96th minute and did not affect Chelsea’s victory.

The win lifts Chelsea to sixth place in the Premier League table with 11 points from seven matches.

Liverpool now drop to second place, behind Arsenal, who had earlier beaten West Ham 2-0.

As the countdown to the January, 2026 effective take off of two landmark Tax Reform laws gathers steam, wrong narratives and misconceptions about aspects of the new tax laws have also been on the increase. While some of the misconceptions are borne out of innocent ignorance, others are mostly from a place of political mischievousness. In this Explainer I will be addressing the misconceptions around the income tax provisions in the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025.

Over the past couple of months, I have noticed the following misconceptions and wrong narratives around the issue of income tax, many of which emanate from individuals or businesses who have clearly been evading income taxes: my

1. Nigerians pay higher income taxes from January 1, 2026

2. Money in individual bank accounts would be automatically taxed by the government

3. Federal government is desperate to raise revenue by taxing the income of Nigerians heavily.

4. Tax laws will stifle productivity

I will briefly touch on each of these misconceptions, providing clarifications in layman terms.

1. HIGHER OR LOWER INCOME TAXES FOR INDIVIDUALS?

The reality is that the income tax paid by MAJORITY of Nigerians will reduce following the new personal income tax provisions in the Nigerian Tax Act, 2025 that exempted individuals earning N800,000 and below per annum from paying income tax. What this means is that Nigerians earning minimum wage or below will pay zero income tax.

I understand some will argue that minimum wage is N70,000 per month, which translates to N840,000 per annum and ordinarily means a minimum wage earner still has N40,000 above the N800,000 exemption threshold that is subjected to an income tax of 15% under the new tax law. That is correct, but here is the catch, there is what is called TAXABLE INCOME and is not necessarily equivalent to the total income of an individual.

Taxable income is simply the part of the total income that can be taxed after allowable deductions have been made. Under the NTA 2025, you can deduct the following from your GROSS income to get your TAXABLE income:

a) NHIS contribution (5% of salary for most employees)

b) Annual rent (corresponding to 20% of the rent up to a maximum of N500,000)

c) National Housing Fund deduction (2.5% of gross pay)

d) Employee Pension contribution (8% of employee salary)

e) Life insurance premium for you and your spouse

In other words, a minimum wage earner claim some or all of these deductions and these will certainly drive down the taxable income within the exemption threshold of N800,000 per annum.

Let us do a practical calculation for an individual earning N70,000 monthly (minimum wage) who pays an annual rent of N200,000 in addition to NHIS, NHF and contributory pension deductions.

His gross annual income = N840,000

Pension contributions = N67,200

NHF deduction = N21,000

NHIS deduction = N42,000

20% of Annual Rent = N40,000

By the time you make these allowable deductions from the N840,000 gross income, the individual’s TAXABLE INCOME becomes N710,800. This falls well within the exemption threshold which means the individual will not pay any income tax.

If an individual earns N80,000 monthly, and we use similar deductions for NHIS, NHF and CPS while raising annual rent to N300,000 with 20% amounting to N60,000, the individual will still be exempt from paying income tax as the taxable income would be N799,200 – within the N800,000 tax exemption threshold. Even when we calculate for an individual earning an annual gross income of N1.2m, the individual may even fall within the tax exempt status depending on the deductions he or she claims or at worst the individual may just be taxed an effective tax rate of 2.5% under the new law as against 4.6% under the old law.

The tax band is progressive in nature and only makes the rich with reasonably much higher annual gross income to pay a little more than before, which is a fair system. Although, depending on the deductions they may claim, they can end up paying lesser income tax than before. This in itself opens a lot of opportunities for the economy especially the life insurance sector as well as the health sector since one can actually sign up for health insurance and/or life insurance in order to pay lesser income tax while at the same time benefiting from quality all-round cheaper healthcare offered by the NHIS for the family.

Below is a demo tax calculation for an individual earning an annual gross income of N50 million. The individual lives in an apartment he purchased with a bank loan of N80 million at an annual interest rate of 27% with a five year tenor, making his annual interest payment to be approximately N4.32 million. This particular individual also makes N5 million contribution towards his pension and another N2.5 million NHIS contribution that covers himself, his spouse and four kids.

After deducting N5 million pension contributions, N2.5 million NHIS contribution and N4.32 million interest payment, his taxable income out of the N50 million gross income becomes just N35.18 million. However, this N35.18 million is not taxed a flat rate of 23% (under the old law, income above N3.2 million is taxed a flat rate of 24%), rather it is progressive – the first 800k is 0%, next N2.2m is taxed at 15%, next N9m is taxed at 18%, next N13m is taxed at 21% while the next N25m is taxed at 23%.

The income tax of this individual under the new tax laws is N7.02 million, which is basically 14.0% of his gross income – just 1.1% higher than his effective tax rate under the old laws. This is still by far very fair when you consider what is obtainable in many other countries of the world where effective tax rate can get to as high as 60% of taxable income.

2. WILL INCOME TAX BE AUTOMATICALLY DEDUCTED FROM BANK ACCOUNTS?

The simple answer is NO. Taxes would not be automatically deducted from the bank account of Nigerians.

This misconception is probably because of the provisions in section 29 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act which mandates banks and other financial institutions to furnish the tax authority on a quarterly basis information (name and addresses) about their customers with cumulative monthly transactions of N25 million and above for individuals or N100 million and above for a body corporate. Even though the information will help a tax authority know those ELIGIBLE taxpayers evading taxes, the provision does not amount to automatic deduction of taxes from the accounts.

Crucially, if your monthly cumulative transactions as an individual does not amount to N25 million and above or from N100 million for corporate bodies, this provision does not concern you in any way. Only about 5% of the population have bank accounts that have more than half a million in them. So, in essence, more than 90% of Nigerians, which includes all the poor and vulnerable people in Nigeria are not affected by this provision.

3. IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DESPERATE TO RAISE REVENUE BY TAXING THE INCOME OF NIGERIANS HEAVILY?

Again, the simple and short answer is NO!

The reforms in the income tax laws are not particularly meant for the federal government to raise more revenue by taxing Nigerians heavily, the reverse is actually the case. The tax laws are meant to relieve poor Nigerians of tax burden. Meanwhile, the greatest beneficiary of personal income tax revenues are the states because Section 3(2) of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act confers jurisdiction on the state tax authority in respect of tax on the income, profit or gains of individuals residing in a state. Therefore, personal income tax is part of the IGR sources of state governments.

The FG only retains income taxes from personnel of the armed forces and personnel of the Nigerian Foreign Service in addition to non-residents (those not living in Nigeria) who derive income or profit from Nigeria. Under the new tax laws, the FG has even exempted members of the armed forces from paying income tax. So, the federal government cannot raise revenue from the income of civilians living in Nigeria as that is the exclusive preserve of the states.

Also, the fact that the tax laws exempted Nigerians earning below N800,000 per annum from income tax shows that the tax laws are not necessarily about raising revenues but reducing tax burden on Nigerians so that they can have more disposable income. The tax laws simply tried to focus on increasing tax compliance by the high income earners with the state governments being the ultimate beneficiary in any case.

4. WILL THE TAX LAWS STIFLE PRODUCTIVITY?

Definitely NOT!

The new tax laws are primarily meant to boost productivity and not stifle it. This is not difficult to prove. First, the wide range of exemptions for both individual taxpayers and small businesses clearly indicates an intention to bring relief to low income individuals and small businesses. Section 56 of the Nigeria Tax Act pegs the income (profit) tax rate for small businesses at 0%.

In section 147 (page 331) of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, a small company is defined as a company with an annual gross turnover of N100m or less and with total fixed assets not exceeding N250m. This is basically 90% of businesses in Nigeria. A tax law that exempts over 90% of businesses in the country from paying profit tax cannot be stifling productivity under any circumstances!

In fact the same section 56 of the Nigeria Tax Act pegs the profit tax rate for larger companies at 30% with a proviso that this rate shall be REDUCED to 25% from a date to be determined in an order issued by the President on the advice of the National Economic Council. This provision was a compromise position reached to allay the fears of the Nigerian Governors Forum who felt the initial proposal to progressively reduce CIT for large companies to 25% by 2030 would likely reduce revenue inflows into the federation account since CIT revenue is shared by the three tiers of government.

The provision allows the eventual rate reduction to happen when the states (who are represented in the National Economic Council) are confident that such a reduction will not adversely impact on the federation revenue inflows. The Council will then advise the President to proclaim the order reducing CIT to 25%. If the new tax laws were to be anti-productivity, the company income tax rate would have been jerked up to above the 30% rate in the old Income Tax law.

CONCLUSION

From the foregoing, it is evidently clear that the income tax provisions in both the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act are people-friendly, business-friendly, pro-poor and formulated to stimulate productivity by reducing the amount of money businesses pay as profit taxes or eliminating the profit tax entirely for small businesses. It is important that states through their tax authorities massively educate residents on the correct provisions of the tax laws especially as it pertains to income taxes.

As I conclude, I must emphasise that tax is an obligation that citizens owe their country. There is no valid excuse for any ELIGIBLE taxpayer, especially those who are not classified poor, to shy away from paying their fair share of taxes. This also applies to eligible corporate taxpayers. The new tax laws makes tax evasion more difficult and will bring many eligible taxpayers, hitherto avoiding taxes, into the tax net. As more high networth individuals and entities are captured in the tax net, they will have more motivation to demand for accountability from elected and appointed leaders across the three tiers of government who manage these tax revenues. This is potentially a very good news for accelerated national development.

A new political movement, the New Direction for Nigeria Movement (NEDMO), has emerged with a bold promise to fight corruption and restore credibility to Nigeria’s political system

The group says it is committed to ending decades of bad leadership, injustice, and rigged elections that have hindered the nation’s progress.

The convener, Comrade Mark Adebayo, made this known during a press conference held in Abuja.

He explained that the movement was formed out of frustration with what he described as a ‘broken political system’ that no longer reflects the will of the people.

‘We are tired of leaders who manipulate elections and ignore the suffering of Nigerians,’ Adebayo declared.

‘The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be reformed. We can no longer tolerate an electoral body that betrays the trust of citizens and suffocates democracy.’

According to Adebayo, NEDMO’s mission is to build a new Nigeria founded on integrity, justice, and transparency. The group plans to mobilize Nigerians from all walks of life youths, professionals, and grassroots communities to reclaim the political space from corrupt politicians.

NEDMO is demanding a total overhaul of INEC, stronger electoral laws, and the selection of leaders who are honest, competent, and patriotic.

Adebayo emphasized that real change will only come when Nigerians unite behind a shared vision of progress and accountability.

The movement has already established a presence in over 600 local government areas and is working to expand to every part of the country before the 2027 general elections.

NEDMO leaders believe that their growing network of volunteers and supporters could make it a major force in shaping Nigeria’s future.

Adebayo called on citizens to join the movement and take responsibility for building a nation that works for everyone.

‘Nigeria belongs to all of us,’ he said. ‘If we don’t act now, the same corrupt system will continue to rob future generations of hope.’

As the country looks ahead to another election cycle, many Nigerians are watching closely to see if NEDMO can deliver on its promise.

For now, the coalition’s emergence has reignited public debate about the need for credible leadership and genuine reform in Africa’s largest democracy.

Mr Olayemi Cardoso, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria has said the reforms being carried out by the bank are aimed at stabilising the economy, restoring confidence and bringing inflation down to single digits in the medium term.

Cardoso said this while taking questions during a fireside chat at his inaugural lecture series at the Lagos Business School (LBS).

The lecture had the theme ‘Next Generation Leadership in Monetary Policy and Nation Building’ and marked the launch of the CBN Governor’s Lecture Series.

The lecture had in attendance students from various tertiary institutions, members of academia, bankers and industry experts.

Cardoso explained the challenges of stabilising the nation’s economy and how hard work and credibility had helped CBN to redirect the nation’s economy on a positive growth path.

He explained ongoing reforms and achievements in the last two years geared toward stabilising the economy and restoring investor confidence.

‘The idea is to ensure that in the medium term we achieve single-digit inflation,’ he said.

He said interest rates and the foreign exchange market were areas of concern for everyone, adding that, at one point in time, the foreign exchange market had multiple challenges.

He explained the crisis of access to foreign exchange when he assumed office two years ago and efforts through necessary and stringent reforms that restored sanity, transparency and credibility.

He said credibility is at the heart of any central bank to win people’s trust and investor confidence, while listing some benefits of the reforms, including the ability of citizens to use Naira debit cards abroad.

Cardoso said when he promised to clear verifiable FX backlog estimated at over seven billion dollars, the feat was a daunting task which credibility, transparency and resilience helped him to achieve.

He said promises must be kept for people to keep trusting the nation’s economy, adding that people invest where there is integrity, credibility and trust, and that transparency and credibility restored sanity and attracted foreign investors.

Cardoso said during his tenure the apex bank began publishing financial statements, a practice that had been suspended for several years.

‘For years, the financial statements of the Central Bank had not been published. We have gone ahead to publish it. It’s on our website,’ he said.

He also explained how CBN used technology to eliminate sharp practices, citing adoption of a new electronic matching system, which made market activities open and transparent.

According to him, beyond macroeconomic stability, vision building involves creating opportunities for young people, in particular areas like financial inclusion and support for small and medium-scale businesses.

Cardoso said he was not seeking to praise himself but urged Nigerians to read positive comments of various local and international rating agencies about the efforts of the bank under his leadership.

Earlier, while delivering his keynote, he insisted that the CBN is building an institution that can be trusted, while urging the youths to embrace credibility.

Cardoso said the inaugural lecture initiative was aimed at deepening public understanding and strengthening the transmission of monetary policy.

The governor said the country’s most important asset is its next generation, which forms the largest demographic comprising more youths who must be groomed to drive the nation’s future development and growth.

He said when he assumed office as governor in 2023, Nigeria’s economy faced formidable headwinds with high inflation rates, depleted external reserves, low investor confidence, and nearly every macroeconomic indicator under pressure.

Cardoso said he tackled inflation with tightening policy aggressively, raising rates by more than 800 basis points and strengthening liquidity management.

He explained other reforms including strengthening reserves, now standing above 42 billion dollars, and new channels for diaspora remittances and investments.

‘On financial inclusion, we expanded mobile and agency banking to underserved communities, raising access from 56 per cent in 2020 to over 64 per cent in 2025, and commenced the recapitalisation of banks to ensure a stronger, more resilient financial system,’ he said.

He said the nation’s inflation, which peaked at almost 35 per cent, moderated to about 20 per cent, adding that real GDP expanded by 4.2 per cent in the second quarter, signaling a re-emergence of growth momentum.

The apex bank boss also explained the future of digital payments, credit, savings, investment and others being redefined by fintech and digital platforms.

Prof. Olayinka David-West, Dean, Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan-Atlantic University, delivering a welcome address, explained the role of the institution since inception in 1991.

She praised the partnership with the CBN governor to foster thought leadership, policy engagement, and in-depth discourse between town and gown.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday urged Nigerians to shun hate and embrace unity across religious lines, declaring that ‘hate is not an option for us.’

Speaking at the funeral service of the mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, in Plateau State, the President used his own family as an example of peaceful coexistence, stressing that love and understanding can bridge any divide.

‘I inherited Islam from my parents and haven’t changed, but my wife is a pastor. She prays for me, and there’s no conflict. I have never tried to convince her to convert,’ Tinubu said.

The President continued by emphasizing the need for mutual respect among people of different faiths, insisting that Nigerians are all accountable to one divine authority.

‘I believe in the freedom of religion. We are praying to the same God. We are answerable to the same Almighty God. We will account to Him,’ he added.

Tinubu said faith should never be a reason for division or hostility, adding that Nigeria’s diversity will only become a strength when tolerance and respect prevail.

‘Our differences are not meant to divide us but to strengthen us. Hate is not an option,’ he stressed.

He concluded by praying for the soul of the departed to rest in peace and for God to comfort the bereaved family.

Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered investigation into alleged killing of three people by operatives of Amotekun Corps in Akinlalu community, Ife North Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson for the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed who announced this in a statement on Saturday also revealed that Adeleke had sent a top level government delegation to the community.

According to the statement, Adeleke expressed deep shock at the deaths of some individuals from the town after receiving a preliminary report from his Special Adviser on Security Matters on the incident.

‘After receiving the preliminary report, further briefings were presented to the Deputy Governor by the security team with a State Security council meeting now scheduled for Monday to further deliberate on the issue and other emerging security threat in the state.

‘Adeleke has vowed to dig into the root of the fatal encounter between the people of the town and the Amotekun security service, directing that a high powered delegation of government and service chiefs will visit the affected town after the scheduled state security council meeting on Monday.

‘Those expected on the delegation includes the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the state governor, the Commissioner for Information, the Commissioner for political affairs, the Commissioner for Transportation, the Attorney General of the State, the Special Adviser on Legal Matters to the governor and service chiefs of the various security agencies.

‘I am a rule of law Governor. This matter is being investigated and any infraction will be dealt with within the context of the law. I have ordered a security council meeting on this incident and others such as fears of spill over from Kwara banditry attacks.

‘I sent my condolences to the victims of this unfortunate incident. I urge the good people of Akinlalu to keep calm as our government acts on the matter. I feel their pains but investigations are ongoing’, the governor was quoted as saying.

The Governor also commiserated with all those who lost loved ones in the tragic incident and prayed to God almighty to comfort them.

Amotekun Corps Shot three dead in Akinpelu – Group

Recall that a group, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, had on Thursday accused operatives of Amotekun Corps of killing three members of the same family and injuring several others in Akinlalu community

The group also alleged that the Osun State Amotekun commander attempted to cover up the murder by presenting the victims as armed bandits, despite evidence that they were innocent civilians were attacked inside their compound.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Convener, Olusola Badero, through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, the group said the victims who were not caught with any weapons or incriminating items were shot at close range, and left to die in their compound.

‘Shockingly, the Amotekun operatives later returned, opened fire on those who came to rescue the injured, and carried away the corpses, while labeling them as bandits. This is not only barbaric but also a complete betrayal of public trust.’

‘We are a people of peace and law-abiding citizens. But we cannot continue to fold our arms and watch our people killed like animals by those empowered to defend them. Governor Adeleke must demonstrate leadership by bringing the killers to justice and suspending the commander who orchestrated a false narrative to shield his men from accountability,’ the union said.

It also accused Adeleke of indifference, saying that since the killings occurred, he had not ordered any investigation or arrest.

The group vowed vow to pursue legal actions both locally and internationally if justice is not served.

It gave the Governor seven-day ultimatum to investigate the incident and bring the culprits to justice.

‘We will not allow this case to be buried. We will mobilise our people in Yorubaland and in the diaspora to ensure that the truth prevails and that the victims do not die in vain. If Governor Adeleke refuses to act, history will remember him as a leader who failed to protect his people,’ the Yoruba Union added.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) FCT Command says it apprehended more than 250 commercial vehicles in just two days for overloading, as it begins full enforcement of safety regulations in the territory.

The FCT Sector Commander, Corps Commander Felix Theman, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Command’s Public Education Officer, Mrs Helen Ntaji, on Saturday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the enforcement, which started on Oct. 2, specifically targeted the practice of carrying two passengers in the front seat of taxis.

Theman said that the two-day figure demonstrated the scale of violations in the FCT, in spite months of sustained engagement and education to transport unions.

He explained that his top priority since assumption of office had been restoring passenger dignity and safety, noting that enforcement was the most civil way to ensure compliance.

According to him, overloading makes the use of seatbelts impossible, weakens vehicle suspension and tyres and limits driver control in emergencies.

Theman added that the command’s operation was being carried out in collaboration with mobile magistrate courts to ensure immediate prosecution of offenders.

He said that full activation of mobile courts across the FCT would begin on Oct. 6 to intensify the enforcement.

The commander also warned drivers operating vehicles below minimum safety standards to upgrade them or risk outright impoundment.

He hinted that transport unions had pledged full support for the initiative and urged passengers to cooperate to protect their rights to safe and dignified transportation.

Imisi’s fans can’t get enough of her. She has continued to serve content, back-to-back, in Biggie’s house. This is the stuff of winners. This is how winners are made, not born. This is how stars are hewn from stone and immortalised.

Welcome to Opeyemi Ayanwale, the 23-year-old, Lagos-born, Ebute-Meta-bred BBNaija Season 10 housemate, better known as Imisi. If her performance, vibes, and content-whether acted or real, staged or spontaneous-are anything to go by, she is undoubtedly the winner of this year’s BBNaija Season 10 reality show.

At the end of the day, when all the chips are down, when the dust has settled, and all eyes are clear, she will cart away the $150,000 star prize.

Still, the question on everyone’s lips is: Who is this Imisi who, as she rightly told a fellow housemate, is a ‘nemesis’? Who is this Yoruba girl from Ebute-Meta who often finds it difficult to express herself in English and prefers speaking her mother tongue, Yoruba-a trait that earned her Biggie’s big stick and a temporary punishment of silence? Who is this girl that many find hard to figure out?

The truth is, Imisi stole the hearts of her fans and arguably won the reality show the very first day she stepped into Biggie’s house. That singular act of removing her wig as she entered the house got everyone’s attention. ‘This is a star to watch,’ they all seemed to be saying.

Throughout the 10 weeks she spent in the house, she never disappointed. She consistently delivered content to her numerous fans across the African continent.

This year’s competition is undeniably stiff, with equally talented housemates like Faith (who has since been disqualified), Koyin, Jason Jae, Sultana, and Dede, to mention a few. But the truth remains: Imisi stands head and shoulders above them all.

No matter how hard her competitors’ fans try to stop her from clinching the prize, it will amount to nothing. Imisi’s weapon of mass destruction-her intercontinental ballistic charisma-knows no borders. Her appeal cuts across the entire African continent.

There’s something uncanny about her-something that makes her fans burst into laughter whenever she speaks, acts, or makes facial expressions. These are the traits that endear her to them. And in return, they simply can’t get enough of her.

At the moment, her fans are anxious. They are waiting with bated breath for the D-Day, now just a few hours away. They are praying that she doesn’t make a mistake or slip up-a fate that has previously befallen fan favourites in earlier seasons.

Other housemates who are strong contenders this season, as mentioned earlier, include Koyin, Jason Jae, Sultana, and Dede. These, alongside Imisi, make up the top five. But at the end of the day, it is ‘victoria e certa’-a certain victory-for the girl with the red dot on her forehead, her signature look.