Dominion City gives succor to widows; others in Lagos, Abuja

Celebratory cheers have continued to fill the air at some locations across Lagos State and Abuja as the Dominion City Church provides succor to alleviate the burdens of widows, the poor, the unemployed, and the vulnerable persons in society.

To demonstrate its deep commitment to uplifting members of society, especially the less privileged, over the years, the church has continued to donate food stuffs, financial grants, medicals, and skills empowerments, amongst others.

In pursuance of this, Dominion City Lagos headquarters recently organized “Smile at Christmas: a Special Widows and Single Mothers’ Outreach,” where it put smiles on the faces of no fewer than 500 women on Lagos Island, and other church members received bags of rice and food stuffs, with 100 women receiving cash gifts of N100,000 each to bring relief to many widows facing economic hardship in Lagos.

In November, it also empowered about 100 widows with diverse skills through one of its empowerment schemes known as Kingdomnomics, where the 10 best-performing women were provided grants of N100, 000 each to start the business they trained in.

Only recently, in December, the Christmas Outreach Program was embarked upon across the 32 satellite zones from the Lagos headquarter church with provisions of foodstuffs and clothes to over 2500 individuals on the Lekki-Epe axis in Lagos.

Every September in the past six years, the church has continued to leverage support for out-of-school children and some students through its “Back-to-School Program,” where almost 500 children usually get education materials and a select number get scholarships.

These life-changing initiatives testify to Dominion City Church’s unwavering dedication to supporting vulnerable individuals, uplifting communities, and fostering economic empowerment.

In line with the saying that Apple does not fall far from the tree, the church has mirrored the giants benevolent heart of its President, Dr. David Ogbueli, who recently spearheaded the gifting of business grants of N100,000 each to about 400 people and also reached 2,500 indigent people with welfare provisions for Christmas in Abuja.

“There is a need to help people whom N100,000 can help them escape their current predicaments during this period of Christmas. Helping others to feed and survive is what the church is all about. Not living in affluence and a wasteful life while others are suffering,” he stated.

Beyond giving out free cash, he emphasized the need for job creation that enables people to render services for wealth creation. According to him, for lots of things we are praying about, the answers are in the church.

He further encouraged some of the wealthy members to give lift to the youths by selecting about 10 individuals to mentor for one year while supporting others financially to become entrepreneurs.

Also, the resident pastor of the Lagos headquarters church, Pastor Shola Olapade, who is following in the footsteps of Dr. David Ogbueli, the president of the ministry, explained further and disclosed that the church is positioned to create leaders who will transform society.

According to him, Dominion City has continued to help people discover their purpose, develop, and deploy their potentials towards societal transformation.

He said that the church has been creating thousands of jobs and building entrepreneurs through the Kingdonomics initiative, saying we train them in the skill acquisitions across all sectors of the economy and provide them with the necessary financial support to scale their businesses and contribute positively to the economy.

The beneficiaries have expressed profound gratitude to the leadership of Dominion City Church for its kindness and generosity, with many describing the initiative as a divine intervention in their lives.

Struggles of a Newlywed Wife: Overwhelmed by the Constant Pressure of Intimacy

A newlywed wife has opened up about the struggles she faces in her marriage, particularly the relentless demands of intimacy. In a post that has gone viral on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), she shared her frustrations about how her husband’s constant desire for physical closeness leaves her feeling drained and overwhelmed. According to her, her body hasn’t had a moment of rest since she tied the knot, as her husband seems unable to accept a “no” when it comes to intimacy.

In her post, the woman described how her husband reacts when she declines his advances. She wrote, “Since I got married, my body hasn’t had any rest. When you say no, they frown and won’t talk to you all day. But the day you say yes, you’ll suddenly become the sweetest mango on the tree.” She explained how, despite her own feelings and mood, her husband’s desires always seem to come first. “Marriage is sweet, but this constant knacking is one of the hardest parts. Whether you’re well or not, in the mood or not, as long as ‘boss’ is in the mood, you’ll have to please him.”

In addition to her post, the woman shared a video on social media, where she spoke extensively about the pressures she faces in her marriage. The video quickly gained traction, and it wasn’t long before a flood of reactions poured into the comment section, sparking a broader conversation about relationships, intimacy, and personal boundaries.

Reactions from users were mixed, with some offering empathy and others expressing their opinions about the woman’s public sharing. One user, @Slanddi, sarcastically commented, “Na man wey marry her I pity, Toto wey no rest before marriage, abi she take marriage like Toto retirement?” Others, like Ms. Sweet Soul the Writer, criticized the woman’s decision to air her marital issues online, stating, “Omo, what won’t people do for clout on social media. People be acting like they fell from trees. If you lack self-respect, at least respect your husband & family members & keep somethings private. Eh.”

Meanwhile, some users offered a more empathetic perspective. @curator_hub wrote, “Now someone has finally come out to speak for the voiceless,” showing support for the woman’s openness about the emotional and physical toll that constant intimacy demands can have on a person. Others like @ozmoneyyy and @sulucious jokingly reminded her that it could be a phase, with @ozmoneyyy commenting, “Every gender get wetin dem dey go through, men’s pocket too never rest,” and @sulucious predicting, “No worry, your husband will soon tire and you’ll be the begging.”

However, some users were skeptical about the woman’s intentions, with @Sasky_Mali asking, “Who dey marry all this kind one sef? Must you do makeup, set ring light, wear dress, to talk about your marital sex life??” pointing out the oddity of her setup for sharing such intimate details online.

The post has ignited a larger conversation on the balance between intimacy and personal boundaries in marriage, as well as the complexities of marital expectations. While some individuals sympathize with the woman’s situation, others believe such matters should remain private, questioning the line between seeking support and sharing too much on social media. Regardless of the mixed reactions, her post has sparked an important discussion about the realities of marriage and the importance of mutual respect and understanding between partners.

"Since person marry, person toto never rest"

Married woman cries out pic.twitter.com/YuqlYH9P1I

— Dami’ Adenuga (@DAMIADENUGA) December 30, 2024

Tincan Island Port Customs Clears Allegations of Bribery Over Vehicle Clearance

By Ifeoma Ikem

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Tincan Island Port Command has issued a statement refuting claims made by a 70-year-old Nigerian returnee, Mr. Olukayode David-Albert, who alleged being asked to pay ₦76 million to clear his two vehicles and personal belongings.

In a statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Ngozi Okwara, the NCS addressed the allegations and provided clarity on the matter. Mr. David-Albert had raised concerns in a media publication, claiming frustration over the clearance of his items.

The NCS explained that under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 2022–2026, Nigerian citizens returning from abroad after at least nine months can import their personal belongings duty-free. However, vehicles are not included in this exemption and are subject to standard customs duties.

The two vehicles, including a luxurious 2024 Hyundai SUV, attracted an import duty rate of 20%, a levy of 20%, and a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 7.5%. The total duty assessed for both vehicles was ₦34,969,374, significantly lower than the ₦53.5 million that Mr. David-Albert had claimed to have been asked for in bribes.

The NCS further stated that at no point did any officer of the Tincan Island Port Command demand ₦76 million, as alleged. The Command categorically denied any accusations of corruption, urging Mr. David-Albert to provide evidence of any wrongdoing by a specific officer if he had any.

“We wish to make it clear that the Tincan Island Port Command did not request any such amount,” the statement read. “If Mr. David-Albert has any evidence of misconduct, he is encouraged to come forward and identify the officer responsible for further investigation.”

The Customs Service also reminded the public that its primary role is to facilitate the smooth clearance of legitimate goods while ensuring compliance with established legal requirements. The NCS emphasized that the process of clearing goods, including vehicles, follows a transparent procedure that must be adhered to.

In conclusion, the NCS assured the public that it remains committed to upholding professionalism, fairness, and transparency in its operations, reiterating its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and misconduct.