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Motorists stranded as flood overruns Lagos communities

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Vehicular and business activities were paralysed across parts of Lagos State on Wednesday after hours of heavy downpour triggered flash floods in several communities in the state.

It was observed that the downpour wreaked havoc in flood-prone areas across the state, which included Maryland, Lekki, Ogba, and Ikorodu.

This is as residents and business owners lamented how their homes and shops were overrun by the flood.

Similarly, multiple videos seen across social media platforms by our correspondents showed residents wading through their flooded neighbourhoods, while motorists were also seen moving at a slow pace on flooded roads.

On Olatunji Street in Maryland, the overflow of a canal cut off access to the adjoining Mende community.

A resident, Chinasa Nnadi, said the flood had been a recurring sight whenever it rained and as long as the residents in both neighbourhoods could remember.

She said, “This has been happening for years now, and it’s very hard for vehicles to go in or out of there. People even swim to their houses. It is not easy for people living around there to come out of their houses because the flood is too much. Some will even go as far as relocating to another place due to the flood.”

A business owner who identified himself simply as Kalu and had lived there for three years said he was amazed at how quickly the flood spread across the street.

He said, “I watched as people tried to scoop water out of their homes after it entered their houses. I also suffered the same fate as the water flowed into my shop.”

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A member of a church in the area, identified simply as Christiana, also narrated how the worship centre was flooded, destroying some instruments in the process.

She said, “The flood has affected our church’s musical instruments. We will have to spend lots of money either to fix or replace them. When the canal is full, the water gets into the church, and it reaches half the building of the church, it causes extreme damage.”

The downpour, however, compounded the woes of motorists and pedestrians as they were trapped in the gridlock that built up on several flooded roads across the state.

In some areas, vehicles broke down on the waterlogged roads, worsening the situation for commuters who spent long hours waiting to board buses.

In its usual look during a downpour, the Ogba-Wempco junction was flooded, affecting vehicular movement in the area.

Sharing his experience, a commuter, Tunji Abass, lamented how he spent longer time hours in traffic due to the flood.

“The vehicles were moving very slowly due to the flooded portion of the road. It has always been like that during the rainy season. It becomes even worse times that water flows into people’s vehicles. The earlier the government attends to this, the better.”

A resident working in the Ikate area of the state, Victor Obinna, while also lamenting, explained that he resorted to sleeping in the office whenever it rained due to gridlock in the area.

He added that the road linking to his office used to be flooded, and he had to navigate through the water to get there.

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He said, “I stay in the office all through the week, and whenever I don’t stay in the office, I walk through the flood before getting to the office. Sometimes, I even had to dress up in the office because by the time I got to the office, half of my body would have been soaked.”

Some weeks ago, PUNCH Metro reported that property worth millions of naira was destroyed in the Ikorodu area of the state.

A video sighted by a correspondent on Wednesday showed how some roads in the community were flooded.

The economic cost of flooding in Lagos is estimated at billions of naira annually, with residents losing homes, shops, vehicles, and man-hours to gridlock. Public health is also at risk, as stagnant floodwater often leaves behind outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

The Lagos State Government, however, sympathised with residents affected by the flash floods that swept through parts of the state, assuring that efforts were ongoing to tackle recurring incidents.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement on Wednesday, said Lagos, being a coastal city, remained vulnerable to flooding, especially during heavy rainfall and tidal lock.

He, however, noted that the government had continued to invest in drainage infrastructure, desilting, and enforcement of environmental laws to minimise the impact on residents.

Giving clarity on some affected areas, Wahab explained that flooding around the Kusenla area of Lekki was caused by a technical challenge, adding that the downstream was higher than the existing drainage system.

He added that the government had already awarded a project that included the construction of a pumping station to address the problem.

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He further revealed that flooding near the House on the Rock church was linked to illegal construction on floodplains and indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drains, stressing that such activities worsened the situation.

“Clear infractions were observed in some of the videos shared yesterday. The state government will ensure that illegal structures, obstructions, and reclamations carried out without proper approvals are promptly removed,” Wahab said.

“We appeal for understanding and continued cooperation from the public. Keeping our environment clean, refraining from dumping refuse into drains, and avoiding construction on floodplains are vital to achieving a flood-free Lagos. In several of the videos shared yesterday, clear infractions were observed, and @followlasg will ensure that such illegal structures and obstructions are promptly removed. Including those illegal reclamations carried out without the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the Drainage Clearance.

“We also wish to assure residents that the flooding was a flash flood in some parts of the state and has since receded this morning. The ministry remains committed to strengthening our flood management systems, but this effort requires the support and responsible actions of all Lagosians. Together, we can build a safer, cleaner, and more resilient Lagos,” the statement added.

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Why I assaulted my daughter, Ilebaye – Father

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Father of former Big Brother Naija All Stars winner, Ilebaye Odiniya, Emmanuel Odiniya, has broken his silence over the viral altercation involving his daughter, claiming he was provoked before allegedly assaulting her during a family confrontation.

In a voice note purportedly from Odiniya, and shared on Facebook on Sunday by Kogi-based journalist, Jeremiah Promise Enemona Ocheme, now circulating online, the father said the incident was not driven by hatred for his daughter but by frustration over what he described as her changed behaviour after winning the reality TV show.

“I want to put the records straight that what led to that incident was not that I don’t love my daughter. She is one of my best children,” he said.

He claimed he made sacrifices and mobilised support for her emergence as the winner of the BBNaija All Stars edition.

“During her time in the Big Brother Naija house, I contributed a lot. I stood by my daughter and made sure people voted for her massively. I used my influence and connections, including governors and other people, to support her until she won,” he stated.

According to him, their relationship allegedly deteriorated after her victory, accusing the reality star of becoming disrespectful and physically aggressive towards him.

“After she came out and won, she changed. Ilebaye stopped listening to me. I would book her appointments five to six times in a week and she wouldn’t give me audience. She stopped regarding me as her father,” he alleged.

The father further criticised her lifestyle, particularly her alleged cosmetic procedures.

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“I warned her against getting cosmetic surgery — face reconstruction with fillers and BBL. She’s too young for that,” he said.

Emmanuel also alleged that his daughter had physically attacked him on previous occasions.

“She has hit me twice, and I didn’t do anything to her. One day she took an AC hanger and hit me with it till blood started gushing out of my body,” he claimed.

Speaking on the latest confrontation, he alleged that the reality TV star assaulted him first before the situation escalated.

“In this recent incident, she insulted me, hit me first with a sea hanger, causing bleeding, pushed me, and then broke an electric lantern on my head,” he said.

He also accused her of neglecting him financially despite his health challenges.

“I am very sick and needed to go for medical treatment in Dubai. I called Ilebaye to help me with some money and promised to refund her. She said she didn’t have money. But I saw her video spraying bundles of naira at a colleague’s wedding,” he alleged.

The father further alleged that his daughter negatively influenced her younger brother and interfered in his marriage.

“She has also influenced her younger brother with drugs, and he was expelled from school because of it. She once advised me to divorce her mother,” he added.

Despite the accusations, Emmanuel maintained that he still loved his daughter and wanted reconciliation.

“I still love my daughter deeply. I want her to change and do better. I ask for prayers from Nigerians. The police have already intervened and settled the matter,” he said.

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PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Ilebaye, alongside members of her family, including her father and younger brothers, were hospitalised following the confrontation at their Abuja residence.

The incident became public after the reality TV star shared an emotional livestream video crying for help, sparking concern among fans and followers online.

Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, disclosed that all parties involved sustained injuries and were receiving medical treatment.

“The man is in the hospital; he is sick. All of them were badly injured and are all in the hospital,” Adeh had said.

She also stated that the siblings were under police protective custody while investigations continued into the matter.

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Kwara concludes airlift of pilgrims for 2026 Hajj

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The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has concluded the airlift of intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj exercise with the departure of the last batch of 223 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims departed aboard Max Air from the Babatunde Idi-Agbon International Airport, Ilorin, at about 6:05 am on Saturday.

The development was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Press Secretary of the Board, Sodiq Abdulmumin Folarin.

Speaking before the departure, the Chairman of the Board, Prof. Mashood-Mahmud Jimba, thanked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for supporting the successful transportation of the pilgrims.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, advised the pilgrims “to be good ambassadors of the state and country at large while in Saudi Arabia.”

Also speaking, the Amirul-Hajj and Etsu Tsaragi, Aliyu Abdullahi Kpotwa, urged the pilgrims to pray for peace and unity in the country and the state.

The final batch was accompanied by Jimba, Abdulkadir, Kpotwa and other state officials.

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See Celebrity boxing fights fans want to watch

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The buzz from the viral celebrity boxing clash between street-hop star, Okikiola Badmus, aka Portable; and content creator and digital streamer, Oderhohwo Efe, better known as Carter Efe, has barely settled, but fans are already matchmaking the next set of headline-grabbing bouts. Across social media, timelines have turned into virtual fight cards, with fans proposing celebrity rivalries they believe would not only sell out arenas but also settle long-standing tensions, industry competition, and deeply rooted fan wars. TOFARATI IGE takes a look at some of the matchups Nigerians can’t stop talking about

Iyabo Ojo vs Liz Anjorin

It is not an exaggeration to describe the rivalry between actresses— Iyabo Ojo and Liz Anjorin— as one of Nollywood’s most entrenched personal battles.

Their conflict, which has spanned several years, has played out in waves: explosive Instagram videos, accusations of betrayal, legal threats, and deeply personal allegations that drew in colleagues and fans alike. At various points, the feud escalated beyond professional rivalry into something more emotional and deeply rooted, with both actresses accusing each other of orchestrating smear campaigns.

For many observers, a boxing match would represent something symbolic: a final confrontation that replaces endless online back-and-forth with a definitive, if theatrical, conclusion.

Apparently thinking along that line, Ojo took to Instagram shortly after the Portable/Carter Efe fight to tease a bout of her own with Anjorin.

She posted a video, which showed her wearing a boxing glove, and prancing about like someone in the ring. The video also featured a flyer that read, “Iyabo Ojo Vs Liz Anjorin. The voiceover that accompanied it insisted that she was ready to demolish Anjorin in a bout. She also tagged showbiz executive, Soso Soberekon, and E-Money who were part of the organisers of the Portable/Efe fight to put good money on the table in sponsorship of the proposed fight.

Another video she posted showed her engaging in different workout sessions at the gym, while Anjorin was shown in what appeared to be a construction site, moving away from something (offscreen) as the words, “Please, help me. She is taking me to where I don’t know,” were dubbed over it.

Acting true to type, Anjorin responded swiftly. In a series of posts on social media, she insisted that she would destroy Iyabo in the boxing ring.

In one of the videos, she said, “Set the fight date, Paul Okoye. If Iyabo Ojo comes out alive, call me a bastard. Do you know how many years I spent in doing fayawo (sic) (being a smuggler). You did not learn boxing, you want to become a smuggler. Iyabo, you won’t spend two minutes before you die. I will send you running. You, this unfortunate person that has undergone surgery, you are bragging that you want to fight me. Go and look at Mr Lawal (her husband’s) face. He is a certified boxer. Iyabo, even if I don’t undergo any other training, my husband’s training is enough for me.

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“Paul Okoye (referring to showbiz executive and Iyabo Ojo’s boyfriend), my husband is not ready to join issues with you. He just wants to reset you with his fist. He will never disappoint me. Either you’re dead or alive, my fight with Iyabo Ojo will continue. I am coming with two coffins; one each for you and Iyabo.”

Wizkid vs Davido

No rivalry in modern African music has generated as much sustained energy as that between Wizkid and Davido.

Dating back to the early 2010s, when both artistes emerged as leading voices of a new afrobeats wave, their careers have unfolded in parallel; hit for hit, award for award, global milestone for global milestone. While both have shared stages and even publicly embraced each other at different times, the competitive undercurrent has never fully disappeared.

Fuelled by fiercely loyal fanbases — Wizkid FC and 30BG — every chart position, streaming milestone, or international recognition have become a proxy war.

Indeed, a boxing match between the two would “break the Internet” as not a few millions of people will tune in to watch what is sure to be an interesting rumble.

Burna Boy vs DJ Tunez

On the morning of April 8, 2026, many Nigerians (and millions of others all over the world) woke up to see videos of global afrobeats star, Burna Boy, pummeling disc jockey, DJ Tunez, on the floor at an entertainment hangout, Obi’s House, in Lagos.

Eyewitness accounts circulating online claimed the situation intensified after members of Burna Boy’s entourage became involved, before calm was eventually restored.

However, taking to social media, DJ Tunez, who is Wizkid’s official DJ, alleged that Burna’s entourage descended on him, making it an unfair fight. Alluding to this, Wizkid also wrote on X, “P***y n***a Jump a dj with 10 man carry diddy towel Dey dance. I never see fool like this diddy babe for my life.”

Many fans have wondered what a rematch on a level boxing ring would look like. It is a spectacle millions of people would love to witness no doubt.

Funke Akindele vs Toyin Abraham

At the premiere of Iyabo Ojo’s latest movie, ‘Return of Arinzo’, one scene stood out above all else. As several cameras clicked away, popular actress, Funke Akindele looked studiously away as her colleague, Toyin Abraham, desperately tried to catch her attention and greet her. It was a classic snub, many said.

The incident caught many by surprise because even though they had been seen as fierce rivals for several years, it was widely believed that they had reconciled and were on better terms.

When many fans criticised Ojo for not mediating between the two friends, she took to social media to declare that she was done trying to do that.

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In a post shared on her Instagram page, the actress and producer said she would be speaking on the issue for the “first and last time”, as she pushed back against criticism directed at her.

Ojo said she had made several efforts in the past to reconcile both actresses, noting that their relationship had experienced ups and downs over the years. According to her, she once publicly criticised Akindele during a disagreement linked to Abraham’s film, a move she now admits was wrong.

She explained that she later settled her differences with Akindele, and subsequently tried to broker peace between both parties. Ojo said she pleaded with them to put their issues aside, adding that they eventually agreed to move forward and keep any future disagreements off social media.

Her post, however, revealed that tensions resurfaced in December after Abraham raised concerns about her film’s performance in cinemas, alleging possible sabotage. Ojo said the claims led to speculation among fans, some of whom accused Akindele, reigniting friction between the two actresses.

With the legendary fight defying all measures to quench its fire, perhaps a boxing bout will eventually do the magic. Many people will readily keep a vigil outside the venue of such a match.

K1 De Ultimate vs Obesere

Long before social media amplified celebrity conflicts, the fuji music scene thrived on rivalry, and few have embodied that spirit like K1 De Ultimate and Obesere.

Their feud spans decades as the “omo rapala” crooner, Obesere, has often spoken out against K1.

While reacting to K1’s criticism of a former Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode,  Obesere had described the latter as “greedy, selfish and disrespectful”.

A 2018 press statement signed by Obesere’s manager, Arems Adeniyi, and published by Vanguard Newspaper, read in part, “It is no longer news that Wasiu Ayinde has always been a greedy man who likes keeping everything to himself by every possible opportunity around him, but like it’s been said that all things doesn’t fall into places as there will be some drawbacks in life. The era of Ambode has not been favourable to him as it was in the past regime of the two past governors of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola.”

“What do we call someone who is parading himself as the leader of fuji music while we have Chief Ayinla Kollington alive? Alhaji Kollington Ayinla recently recorded an album, but it was later realised that the same Wasiu Ayinde confused the marketers expected to sell the album to ignore it due to his selfish and personal interest and because he thought Kollington must have scolded him in the album.”

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Even though K1 has rarely commented on the seeming feud, many fuji lovers will like to see the two veterans settle it once and for all on a boxing ring.

Peter Okoye vs Paul Okoye

In a “battle” that has lasted several years with many seasons, it did not take many by surprise when the singer, Peter Okoye, announced that he would no longer be sharing the same birth date with his twin brother, Paul. It was just another episode in the brothers’ long drawn saga.

As P-Square, the twin brothers once dominated African pop music, delivering hit after hit and building a legacy that transcended borders. But their journey has been repeatedly disrupted by internal conflicts; disagreements over management, finances, and creative direction that led to multiple breakups.

While they have reconciled at different times, tensions have resurfaced in recent years, often spilling into the public domain.

A boxing match, though unlikely, would represent a dramatic manifestation of sibling rivalry.

Gideon Okeke vs Jim Iyke

The tension between Gideon Okeke and Jim Iyke emerged from a public critique that quickly escalated into a broader conversation about Nollywood’s past, present, and future.

Okeke’s comments were seen by some as a challenge to the old guard, while Iyke’s responses reinforced his reputation as one of Nollywood’s most outspoken figures.

A boxing match between the two would symbolise more than personal disagreement; it would represent a generational face-off within the industry.

VeryDarkMan vs Blord

Controversial social media personality, Martins Otse, popularly known as Very Dark Man, may have sent tech entrepreneur, Linus Ifejirika, aka Blord, to prison, but it remains to be seen if he can knock him out of a boxing ring.

Driven by accusations, exposés, and counterclaims, their clashes have dominated online discourse, drawing in supporters and critics in equal measure.

For many, a boxing match feels like the inevitable next chapter; a physical climax to a feud born and sustained in the digital space.

Carter Efe vs Shanks

After stepping into the ring with Portable, Carter Efe is already being lined up against Shanks.

Both creators are products of Nigeria’s booming digital comedy scene, where content is fast-paced, competitive, and often driven by clout.

However, it is also not a secret that the duo has not been on good terms. When Shanks was recently asked about his relationship with Efe, he had responded that they were “good”. But, Carter was not having that. He quickly went streaming and maintained that they did not like each other, and there was no need to pretend.

Fans will like to see if Carter can treat Shanks the same way he did to Portable on the ring.

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