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RE: ANOTHER ATTEMPT BY GOV DAPO ABIODUN TO CLAIM CHEAP GLORY ON ACHIEVEMENTS RECORDED IN TONGEJI ISLAND, IPOKIA LG

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Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the gubernatorial candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in the 2019 Ogun State gubernatorial election, Hon. Akinlade that the Ogun State Governor, His Excellency Prince (Dr). Dapo Abiodun, MFR was only trying to score cheap popularity by saying that his administration would not allow the oil-rich Tongeji Island to be taken away by Béninese usurpers.

It is important to note that the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Ambassador Emmanuel Kayode Oguntuase who, along with the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, visited the Ogun State Governor on Friday 13th July, 2019 to pay His Excellency a courtesy visit and they used the medium to intimate him with the challenges being faced by the people of Tongeji Island as a result of the neglect they have suffered from the past administrations. During their visit, the Ambassador and FOC WEST described the situation as that which needed urgent attention as the Beninese have been courting the Nigerians by sending them welfare materials. More worrisome, he said, was the fact that the island is accessible by road from Benin Republic and not from Nigeria. It is against this back ground that the governor is committed to ensuring that they are given the attention they deserve and why he says government will not allow Benin Republic to annex them.

The media aide to the governorship candidate of the APM got it wrong when he, ridiculously wrote: “when he (Governor) received some Naval officers.” The correct information is that the Governor received in audience a serving military General, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Nigeria, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji; the Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Secondary School; and the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Ambassador Emmanuel Kayode Oguntuase. These are accomplished envoys of President Muhammadu Buhari. They shouldn’t be despised.

We should also caution that dragging these public officers into juvenile political games or disparaging them is most uncharitable. His Excellency’s esteemed guests are not mere “Naval officers.”

The picture posted alongside the statement released by the aide, one Alao Azeez Adelani, showed the governorship candidate of the APM with a number of men of the Nigerian Navy and we wonder where the Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic is in their picture. The team in that picture cannot be compared with the team that came to Oke Mosan to hold talks with Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun, MFR.

In the statement, Alao Adelani claimed the “Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun West (had) “received the required attention.” What about the 60 meter bridge that would make it possible to reach the Island from Nigeria by road?

Does he know that the only route to that Island from Nigeria is by water? To go by road, one would have to go through the Republic of Benin. Where then is the “required attention” he claimed dated back to 2016, when they could not even construct the access road?

The Ambassador, His Excellency Oguntuase categorically stated in his speech during the visit that the good works of Chief Olusegun Osoba and Military Administrator Olofinmoyin were there to see. One would again wonder if Hon. Akinlade’s aide, Adelani would in the hasty manner in which he made his initial spurious claims, say the Ambassador forgot to mention the “lot” that Hon. Akinlade and his leader did? Why would the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin and the Flag Officer Commanding Western Nigeria, visit the Ogun State Governor, Prince (Dr) Abiodun just a little over 40 days in office if all was well on the Island?

Hon. Akinlade said that what the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led government ought to do was to complete the Ogun State Polytechnic in Ipokia. Has he forgotten so quickly that the immediate past government in the state left the education sector prostate? Has he forgotten that this Government had to declare an emergency to reverse the adverse fortunes foisted by the hubristic movement of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic from Ojere to Ipokia?

This administration has taken the bull by the horn by declaring emergency in the education sector and work has started.

Someone should remind the APM that campaign ended on March 7 and quality governance is being engendered by Prince Abiodun.

SF Ojo Emmanuel.
SSA to the Governor on New Media

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You Against Crime Founder Tayo Folorunsho Praises Winners of Abuja Schools Festival.

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You Against Crime Founder Tayo Folorunsho Praises Winners of Abuja Schools Festival.

 

Abuja, Nigeria – The maiden edition of the You Against Crime – Schools Festival 2026 Grand Finale has concluded, marking a significant milestone in youth engagement and crime prevention efforts across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The event, held at the University of Abuja, brought together 78 secondary schools from the six Area Councils of Abuja, with the top six schools competing in the Grand Finale.

*Winners Emerge*

Tudunwada School, Bwari took the top spot, followed closely by The Golden Crest Royal in second place, and Government Secondary School, Kuje in third.

*CULTURE, THE CURE FOR CRIME*

The festival’s theme, “Culture, The Cure for Crime,” highlighted the importance of values, identity, mentorship, and positive engagement in preventing crime and shaping responsible citizenship among young people.

*DISTINGUISHED GUEST SPEAKERS*

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chairman, Amnesty International, praised the initiative, saying, “This festival is a beacon of hope for our young people, promoting values and principles that can shape a brighter future for Nigeria.”

Aisha Mohammed, Head of Enlightenment & Re-orientation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, emphasized the importance of mentorship, stating, “Empowering young people with the right guidance and opportunities is key to preventing crime and building a stronger nation.”

*PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT*

The 2026 Grand Finale Edition was proudly sponsored by Civicx Technology Ltd Int’l, reinforcing a shared commitment to youth empowerment and crime prevention through cultural reorientation and innovation.

Tayo Folorunsho, Host & Founder, You Against Crime International, addressing the media and appealed to government agencies to support initiatives like this, targeting young minds early.

You Against Crime International is a movement advocating cultural change as a long-term solution to crime. The organization remains committed to advancing youth development, civic responsibility, and nation-building across Nigeria.

You Against Crime Founder Tayo Folorunsho Praises Winners of Abuja Schools Festival.

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TICP Customs Launches Paperless Regime, Warns Against False Declarations

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TICP Customs Launches Paperless Regime, Warns Against False Declarations

 

The Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has launched a roadmap for the full implementation of a paperless regime at the command.

 

Onyeka disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos, stating that the command was fully prepared for seamless digital operations ahead of the nationwide rollout scheduled for the second quarter of the year.

 

He described the engagement as the first in a series of consultations aimed at sensitising stakeholders on the strategies, operational framework and expectations under the new regime.

 

The controller commended the media for its constructive reportage since his assumption of office and sought continued collaboration to ensure the success of the initiative.

 

Presenting the command’s performance report, Onyeka said the Tin Can Island Command generated ₦609 billion in revenue in 2025, describing it as the highest in the history of the command.

 

He added that revenue collection rose from ₦116 billion recorded in January of the previous year to ₦145 billion in the corresponding period last month, representing an increase of over ₦29.9 billion.

 

Onyeka stated that his vision was to make the command known for trade efficiency, explaining that under the paperless regime, containers would be released without physical contact between Customs officers and clearing agents, provided declarations were accurate.

 

He credited the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for providing the leadership and strategic direction driving modernisation efforts across Customs formations nationwide.

 

The controller urged stakeholders to avoid false declarations and engage directly with the command to resolve concerns, emphasising that transparency and dialogue were essential to achieving efficient port operations.

 

He assured that consignments with clear scanning results and proper documentation would be released promptly, while those flagged by the risk management system would undergo physical examination, adding that the command would continue to collaborate with other agencies to reduce cargo dwell time and enhance port efficiency.

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Love on Display: Katie Price and Lee Put On a Public Show of Affection 

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Love on Display: Katie Price and Lee Put On a Public Show of Affection 

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG 

British media personality Katie Price is once again at the center of tabloid and public attention after being photographed poolside with her new husband, Lee, in a display of affection that quickly circulated across entertainment platforms. The images, reportedly taken during a recent leisure outing at a private resort location in the United Kingdom, show the couple embracing and kissing beside a swimming pool, with Lee prominently displaying a tattoo tribute dedicated to Price.

 

The photographs, which surfaced in mid-February 2026 through British tabloid outlets, depict the couple appearing relaxed and affectionate. Lee, whose full name has been reported in sections of the UK press but who largely maintains a lower public profile compared to his wife, lifted his arm to reveal a visible tattoo said to be in honor of Price and a gesture widely interpreted as a public affirmation of their relationship.

 

What happened was straightforward but symbolically charged: a public display of affection between newlyweds, amplified by Price’s longstanding celebrity status. Where it happened (poolside at what sources describe as a private holiday setting) underscores the blending of personal life and public spectacle that has long defined Price’s media journey. During a recent February getaway placed it squarely within ongoing tabloid interest surrounding her latest marriage. Price, 47 and her new husband Lee, whose visible tribute tattoo became the focal point of the moment.

 

Celebrity culture scholars argue that public figures such as Price operate within a media ecosystem where visibility sustains relevance. “Modern celebrity is performative intimacy,” explains Professor Graeme Turner, a media and cultural studies scholar known for his work on celebrity culture. “Public displays of affection are not merely private acts; they are communicative gestures that reinforce brand identity and narrative continuity.” In Price’s case, her romantic relationships have long been interwoven with her public persona.

 

Price first rose to prominence in the late 1990s under the glamour model moniker “Jordan,” before transitioning into reality television, publishing and business ventures. Her personal life (including previous marriages and high-profile relationships) has frequently generated headlines in the British press. This latest marriage continues that pattern of intense scrutiny.

 

The tattoo tribute displayed by Lee is particularly significant in celebrity symbolism. Body art dedicated to a partner is often perceived as a declaration of permanence. Dr. Chris Rojek, emeritus professor of sociology and an authority on fame and public identity, has observed that “celebrity relationships are sustained as much through symbolic reinforcement as through private commitment. Visible tokens (rings, tattoos, coordinated appearances) function as public assurances.” In this case, the tattoo serves not merely as personal expression but as a visual narrative device in an already highly mediated relationship.

 

How the moment unfolded (casually but conspicuously) reflects the dynamics of contemporary celebrity coverage. Photographs were reportedly captured either by paparazzi stationed nearby or shared through controlled media access, a common practice in the British entertainment industry. Within hours, the images were republished by multiple outlets, accompanied by commentary on Price’s relationship history and ongoing legal and financial challenges, issues that have previously placed her under intense public scrutiny.

 

Despite recurring controversy throughout her career, Price remains a resilient media figure. Communications analyst Mark Borkowski has previously remarked in interviews that “Katie Price understands publicity better than most. Whether by design or instinct, she maintains a feedback loop with the press that keeps her culturally visible.” The poolside photographs appear to fit squarely within that established pattern of managed exposure and reactive media amplification.

 

Critically, there is no indication of misconduct, public disturbance or controversy tied directly to the poolside display itself. It was, by all verified accounts, a consensual and celebratory expression of affection between married adults. The wider attention it has generated speaks less to the act and more to the individuals involved; particularly Price’s enduring position within British popular culture.

 

For global audiences, the episode illustrates a broader truth about contemporary fame: private milestones often become public commodities. The marriage of Katie Price and Lee (and the symbolic tattoo that now marks it) has become another chapter in a life lived persistently under the camera’s gaze.

 

As celebrity culture continues to blur boundaries between intimacy and publicity, moments like this poolside embrace are no longer trivial snapshots. They are narrative events, reinforcing identity, commitment and brand continuity in equal measure.

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