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Lagos women plan nude protest over ancestral home destruction

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Women from the Ilaje community in Lagos State have threatened to stage nude protests over what they described as the continuous destruction of their ancestral homes.

Hundreds of protesters under the aegis of Egbe Omo Ilaje stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, despite heavy rainfall, demanding urgent intervention from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.

Holding placards, the protesters accused some traditional rulers in the state of turning into “land grabbers” and masterminding the demolition of Ilaje settlements.

An elderly protester, who gave her name as Ifagbemi, vowed that she and other women would stage a nude demonstration to compel monarchs and others to let the Ilaje people live peacefully in their communities.

She said, “We are the founders of Lagos. We hailed from Ilaje before settling in Ebute-Ero, which was then known as Olobun. Should the government fail to meet our demands, we, women, will organise a nude protest and storm the palace of these monarchs. We want the government to come to our aid.”

The President-General of Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, Rafael Irowainu, also alleged that some monarchs in the state were hiding under the name of President Bola Tinubu to justify the unlawful destruction of people’s homes.

“We have come here today to report some royal fathers who have turned themselves into land grabbers. I’ve never seen anywhere else where royal fathers become lawless, except in Nigeria.

“They claim President Tinubu sent them, but I assure you he did not. They are only using his name to carry out fraudulent activities,” he said.

Irowainu further alleged that some monarchs involved are not indigenes of Lagos but hail from Osun and Ekiti states.

“None of these monarchs created Lagos. They suppress us because of their political advantage. How will a king, who is supposed to uphold justice, just wake up one day and demolish people’s homes?

“We are here to vent our grievances and submit our petition to the governor and the Speaker. We are the bona fide indigenes of Lagos. We are Yoruba, not aliens in this state.”

He warned that demolitions without legal backing would only worsen insecurity in the state.

“When you chase people out of their ancestral homes without any court order, you are creating more criminals.

“The governor should tell the Obas to desist from selling our lands. We want everyone whose houses and properties were destroyed to be compensated,” said Irowainu.

Another protester, Wole Adewusi, said, “We are calling on Sanwo-Olu to save our souls. Some Lagos Obas have turned themselves into land grabbers. Houses are being demolished, properties burnt, and landlords rendered homeless. Our wives and children are suffering.”

Similarly, the Lagos State Chairman of Egbe Omo Ilaje, Prince Oluwajimusu, also condemned the alleged injustice.

He noted, “There is no way you will write the history of Lagos without mentioning Ilaje as one of the first settlers. What is happening is unethical and unjust to the entire Ilaje nation. We will decide our fate in 2027. We are not slaves.”

The protest comes weeks after the group raised concerns over the renaming of Ilaje Street in Bariga after music legend King Sunny Ade, which they described as another attempt to erase their heritage.

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Trump administration cuts energy projects, freezes New York funding

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The Trump administration has announced plans to terminate dozens of clean energy projects and freeze billions of dollars for major projects in New York, intensifying a stand-off with Democrats over a US government shutdown.

US media outlets described the moves announced by the energy and transportation departments as part of the administration’s efforts to pressure Democrats in Congress to agree on a deal to end the shutdown.

US President Donald Trump had raced to enact hard-right policies even before the shutdown began after midnight on Tuesday, threatening mass firings and to slash government departments, and blaming Democrats for Congress’ failure to resolve a funding stand-off.

The Department of Energy announced on Thursday “the termination of 321 financial awards supporting 223 projects, resulting in a savings of approximately $7.56 billion for American taxpayers.”

It said in a statement that those projects — overseen by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and other bodies — “did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs… and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.”

However, recipients of federal funding have 30 days to appeal against a termination decision, and some have already begun the process, the statement said.

It did not list the projects in question.

In a post on social media platform X, Russell Vought, who heads the powerful Office of Management and Budget, called the slashed projects “Green New Scam funding” that was used to advance “the Left’s climate agenda”.

He listed the states affected by the decision. They include California, New York and 14 others — all blue states where Trump failed to win in the 2024 presidential elections.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the Trump administration had decided to cancel “up to $1.2 billion” slated for a major hydrogen energy project, threatening tens of thousands of jobs.

“In Trump’s America, energy policy is set by the highest bidder, economics and common sense be damned,” Newsom said in a statement, vowing to keep pursuing a “clean energy strategy… no matter what DC tries to dictate.”

In New York — the home state of top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — the Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday it was freezing nearly $18 billion in federal funding for two major infrastructure projects, the Second Avenue subway and Hudson Tunnel.

The move takes aim at diversity, equity and inclusion policies, according to the department’s statement, saying that subsidizing projects with “race- and sex-based contracting requirements… is unconstitutional, counter to civil rights laws, and a waste of taxpayer resources.”

The funds would be frozen until a “quick administrative review is complete,” it said.

“Thanks to the Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries shutdown, however, USDOT’s review of New York’s unconstitutional practices will take more time,” it added, saying that the department “has been forced to furlough the civil rights staff responsible for conducting this review.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement that halting funding for “critical infrastructure projects” was “political payback and an attack on New York.”

“Donald Trump has been clear: he is intent on using his reckless government shutdown to hurt the American people,” she said.

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Shettima returns to Abuja after attending UNGA, meetings in Germany

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and high-level engagements in Germany.

The vice president’s aircraft touched down at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in the early hours of Thursday, where he was received by senior government officials.

During the week-long engagements, Shettima delivered the President’s national statement at the UNGA, calling for comprehensive reforms of the global body.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is being welcomed some government officials at the airport. Photo: State House

He also advocated Africa’s sovereignty over its estimated $700 billion mineral resources and strengthened Nigeria’s partnerships with the United Kingdom, the Gates Foundation, and other international stakeholders.

In New York, Shettima met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who commended Nigeria’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

The vice president also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunities to global investors and assured members of the Nigerian diaspora of continued engagement in the Tinubu administration’s policies and programmes.

He later proceeded to Germany for further strategic meetings before returning to the country.

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Lagos unveils artisan certification to curb building collapse

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The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory has launched a new certification and training programme for artisans in the construction industry as part of efforts to stem the spate of building collapses in the state.

The initiative, known as the Certified Structural Integrated Programme, was unveiled at a stakeholders’ forum held in Ese-Offin and Badagry, where block moulders, bricklayers, concrete mixers, steel fabricators and welders converged to pledge support for safer construction practices.

In a statement on Thursday by the Lagos Government, General Manager of LSMTL, Olayinka Abdul, said the programme marked a decisive step in tackling recurring tragedies linked to substandard construction materials.

“Without artisans, there is no construction. But with you, we have the power to ensure every construction is safe, sound, and secure. We need to earnestly curb episodes of collapse in high-water-prone communities, and we do not want such in your community. It ends today,” he said.

According to the statement, the CSIP is a five-year assessment programme aimed at certifying construction materials as fit-for-purpose.

It will also produce an official directory of approved block moulders, concrete mixers and steel fabricators, to whom developers will be directed for supplies.

“This is not just about enforcement; it is about partnership and empowerment. Together, we can forge an unbreakable alliance that makes Lagos a model for building safety and integrity,” Abdul added.

Technical experts at the forum highlighted the scientific backing for the initiative. Director of the Soil and Geotechnics Unit, Engr. Abimbola Adebayo, stressed the need for mandatory soil tests before construction.

Similarly, Kayode Akinfeleye of the Technical Services Department advised builders to ensure architectural drawings are obtained and preserved, describing them as “a core requirement in the Lagos building process.”

Artisan guild leaders welcomed the initiative. Chairman of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, Alhaji Fabiyi Oyeleke, described frequent collapses as “disheartening” and commended the forum as a step in the right direction.

On his part, Chairman of the Lagos State Bricklayers Association, Mr. Fashina Aro, noted the peculiarities of Lagos’s swampy terrain and urged all stakeholders to ensure materials and soil tests are completed before bricklayers commence work on any site.

Building collapse has been a persistent challenge in Lagos, with many lives lost and substantial property damage over the years.

In recent incidents, emergency responders have had to rescue workers from collapsed structures.

PUNCH Online reports that rescue teams pulled eight workers from the debris of a collapsed building in September.

Reports by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild show Lagos accounts for about 55% of recorded building collapse incidents in Nigeria over the past several decades.

In response, Lagos has taken steps to strengthen bodies like the Lagos State Building Control Agency, enhancing enforcement, monitoring, and regulation of building standards.

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