society

70 More Bodies Recovered From NIger Boat Mishap

Published

2 years ago

October 4, 2024

70 More Bodies Recovered From NIger Boat Mishap

Niger boat mishap: 70 bodies recovered —NIWA

Sadly, more bodies are being recovered from the Gbajibo River, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, after a wooden boat carrying 300 passengers capsized, on Tuesday night.

At press time, the water marshalls of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, with the collaboration of the Nigeria state’s National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and local divers have recovered 70 bodies, rescued 150 persons while the search for the remaining missing passengers was still ongoing.

This came as President Bola Tinubu sent condolences to the Government and people of Niger State over the boat accident.

Meanwhile, Governor, Mohammed Bago has expressed sadness over the incident and vowed to redouble efforts to enforce laws in line with water transportation to avoid frequent waste of lives and property.

Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Mrs. Sarat Braimah, who spoke on the incident, accused the operators of the ill-fated boat of illegal operations as they sailed at 8:30p.m., which was against the water transportation code which has outlawed night sailing.

Braimah, who absolved NIWA of complicity in the tragic incident following a public outrage over what was described as the negligence of the authority, disclosed that the four water marshalls deployed to the Gbajibo River where the incident occurred had already closed from duty for the day and left.

She said that the Marshalls went to the other side of the jetty while the ill-fated boat was loading without their knowledge.

Meanwhile, NIWA has attributed the unfortunate incident to flagrant disregard for transportation code by the boat operators such as overloading (the wooden boat carried 300 passengers), use of sub-standard boat which is a wooden carved boat without necessary navigational aids, lack of wearing of safety vests and night sailing which has been banned.

Braimah said: “NIWA just constituted river marshalls, who were posted to every state and Niger State in particular has 24 water marshalls while in Mokwa LGA, where the incident happened, they have four Marshalls.”

She lamented the prevalence of night sailing in the North despite its ban which she said was a major challenge for NIWA.

“NIWA will now make it 24-hour surveillance on waterways in that area in order to prevent reoccurrence.”
According to her, the recently gazetted transportation code launched by NIWA and cascaded to every state contains penalties for infractions of safety standards.

“Last month, NIWA was everywhere on sensitization of the citizens on this code. But, unfortunately, this tragic incident happened.

From now on, night sailing is our target. We are going to recruit more river marshalls who will be working on 24- 24-hour basis. This will hopefully deter people and boat operators from night sailing” Mrs Braimah said.

Tinubu mourns victims

President Tinubu in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commiserated with the families of the victims and prayed for the repose of the souls of the dead.

The President also directed NIWA to investigate the spate of boat accidents in Niger State and across the country and devise modalities to check the trend.

He ordered NIWA to expand the scope of its surveillance of inland waters to ensure our people’s safety and prosecute boat operators violating the ban on night sailing.

President Tinubu thanked emergency workers and local divers who were working to find the remaining people.
Gov Bago talks tough on frequent mishaps, loss of life, property
Meanwhile, Governor Bago in a condolence statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim described the incident as unfortunate and disheartening.

society

International Runway Star Joy Ubeku Redefines Luxury with Launch of Jevi Couture

Published

23 minutes ago

May 1, 2026

Sahara Weekly

International Runway Star Joy Ubeku Redefines Luxury with Launch of Jevi Couture

…From Catwalk to Couture: Joy Ubeku Honoured as Emerging Designer of the Year

After more than a decade commanding global runways, international model and actress Joy Ubeku is stepping into a new era—this time, not as the muse, but as the creator.

Ubeku has officially launched Jevi Couture, a haute couture fashion house built on an uncompromising philosophy that challenges the dominance of mass production in today’s fashion industry.

The announcement marks a bold pivot for the award-winning model, who has graced fashion capitals including Milan, Dubai, and Seychelles. Now serving as Founder and CEO, she is bringing her industry experience to bear with a disruptive vision she calls “One Piece at a Time.”

“Jevi Couture is not merely a fashion label,” Ubeku said. “It is a sanctuary for cultural legacy, personal storytelling, and artisanal independence.”

Rising Designer, Recognised Excellence

Her transition into design is already earning industry recognition. Ubeku was recently honoured with the Special Recognition Award as Emerging Fashion Designer of the Year at the Nigerian Women Achievers Awards 2026, held at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

This latest honour adds to her growing list of accolades, including:

Best Star Model of the Year West Africa (2023)

Best Zikomo Fashion Model of the Year (2023)

The Jevi Philosophy: Rarity Over Replication

At the heart of Jevi Couture is a firm rejection of fast fashion. Instead, the brand is anchored on three defining principles:

One-of-One Creations: Each piece is uniquely crafted and never reproduced, ensuring total exclusivity.

Bespoke Craftsmanship: From concept to completion, every garment is meticulously handmade using premium materials.

Cultural Storytelling: Designs fuse ancestral heritage with contemporary aesthetics, transforming fashion into a narrative medium.

By personally overseeing every creation, Ubeku positions Jevi Couture as a destination for clients who value identity, rarity, and artistic depth over trend-driven consumption.

Redefining the Luxury Conversation

In an industry driven by speed and scale, Jevi Couture introduces a slower, more intentional approach—one that reframes fashion as an intimate dialogue between the wearer and their story.

With a growing digital presence across Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook under @Jevicouture, the brand is already attracting attention from a new generation of luxury consumers seeking authenticity over uniformity.

Jevi Couture: One Piece. One Story. Yours Alone.

society

Workers are the true drivers of Lagos’ economic success,” Obasa

Published

14 hours ago

April 30, 2026

Sahara Weekly

“Workers are the true drivers of Lagos’ economic success,” Obasa

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, has congratulated workers in Lagos State and across Nigeria on the occasion of May 1st, the International Workers’ Day, describing them as the true drivers of the state’s economic success.

In a message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Dave Agboola, Rt. Hon. Obasa commended the resilience, dedication, and sacrifices of workers who continue to sustain the economy and uphold the values of hard work and productivity. He noted that the progress Lagos has recorded over the years would not have been possible without the steadfast commitment of its workforce.

The Speaker also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his recent efforts to give Nigerian workers a new lease of life through salary increases and other welfare-driven policies. He described these measures as timely interventions that reflect the President’s commitment to improving the living standards of the nation’s workforce.

“As we mark Workers’ Day, I salute the men and women whose labour remains the backbone of our society. Your contributions are invaluable, and your sacrifices inspire us to continue building a Lagos that thrives on fairness, innovation, and opportunity for all,” the Speaker said.

Dr. Obasa further assured workers that the Lagos State House of Assembly remains committed to enacting laws and policies that protect their rights, enhance their welfare, and create an environment that fosters sustainable growth. He urged them to remain steadfast and hopeful, emphasizing that their efforts would continue to shape a brighter future for Lagos State and Nigeria at large.

On behalf of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Speaker wished all workers a Happy Workers’ Day.

society

Grace Nation PHDS: “Groaning in the Spirit Breaks Perpetual Bondage” — Dr Chris Okafor

Published

15 hours ago

April 30, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Grace Nation PHDS: “Groaning in the Spirit Breaks Perpetual Bondage”

— Dr Chris Okafor

…No demonic force can withstand spiritual groaning

…The spiritual realm overrides the physical

Praying in the Spirit—particularly through groaning and speaking in tongues—has the capacity to break longstanding bondage and provoke immediate divine intervention.

This was the central message delivered by the Generational Prophet and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Global, Dr Chris Okafor, during the Midweek Prophetic Healing, Deliverance and Solutions (PHDS) service at the church’s international headquarters in Ojodu Berger, Lagos.

Speaking during prophetic declarations, Dr Okafor emphasized that when believers engage in deep, Spirit-led prayer, especially in unknown tongues, they activate a higher dimension of divine response.

According to him, such prayers attract immediate attention from God and can alter difficult situations.

He noted that strategic and intense prayer against forces of bondage can shift negative circumstances. “When you engage the Spirit at that level, God steps in and rewrites the narrative in your favour,” he stated.

Addressing the sub-theme of spiritual slavery and bondage, the cleric explained that groaning in the Spirit disrupts negative spiritual influences. He added that speaking in tongues creates confusion within what he described as opposing spiritual forces, leading to a breakdown of their operations.

Prophetic Moments and Outreach

The service reportedly took on a heightened prophetic dimension, with sessions focused on deliverance and restoration.

According to the church, individuals experienced breakthroughs as prayers were offered over various personal challenges.

In a notable outreach gesture, the ministry distributed over 70 wedding gowns to single women, while also making prophetic declarations concerning families seeking children, with 27 “miracle baby” blessings pronounced during the service.

Prayer for the Nation

The PHDS gathering concluded with prayers for Nigeria, as Dr Okafor called for divine guidance for national leaders ahead of the country’s upcoming political activities.

The service combined teaching, prophetic engagement, and humanitarian gestures, reflecting the ministry’s emphasis on spiritual intervention and social support.