society
Hundreds left homeless after monkey village demolition By Ifeoma Ikem
No fewer than hundreds of people have been left homeless at Monkey village of Lagos state after the recent demolition of the buildings which are over 31 years old around Opebi area of Lagos State.
About two weeks ago, homes of about 100,000 people, residents and mechanic workshops at the monkey village were demolished by the officials of Lagos State Government without any eviction notice or order.
The forceful eviction of this community affected mainly the less privileged, who said they have nowhere to turn to.
A 76 year old landlord, Mr Robert Egbe, Pharmacy Technician said that he resided in Agbokwu
village known as monkey village since 1974, a slum area where monkey will come out in broard day light to play with the residents which gave the place the name `monkey village’.
He said that on December 31, 2020, the Lagos state land grabbing agency demolished all the building without any notice.
“My building was affected; I acquired a plot of land from Egba refugees since 1974 which I have Certificate of Occupancy issued by the state including Approved Building Plan and since then I pay my land charges till date.
“I am pleading with the state government to kindly intervene in this ugly situation because I have no place to go with my family.
Another resident, Madam Agnes Peters, who is a caretaker said she has been in one of the buildings for over 13years with her family.
According to her, she resided at Oniagbabo area of Abule Eko before she relocated to monkey village.
“I am a petty trader and nobody ever notified us of any notice of eviction; if there was any I would have alerted my co-tenant.
“I went to the market to buy the petty items I sell, before I returned, everywhere has been demolished I did not remove anything from my apartment.
Another anonymous resident said he has lived at monkey village for 25years and was surprised when the ministry came and demolished the area. They took us unaware because many residents were not at home,’’ he said.
Barr. Monday Ubani, whose client’s six plots of land were affected, addressed the press saying that the agencies of Lagos State Government cannot disposess a private citizen of the land he acquired legitimately and had been in possession for over 20 years with a certificate of occupancy of about 31 years without proper procedure.
While disputing the claims by the legal adviser to Engr. Ariori that the concerned property belongs to the Meadows family who delegated his client to develop the land at Folorunsho Kuku Street in Opebi, Ubani claimed that in actual fact, the land belonged to the Egba Refugees who, he said were the original owners and are the land sellers in the entire Opebi including the particular portion in contention.
“My client has been on that land for over 20 years, paying his Land Use Charge up to date. He has a C/O issued as far back as 1989. He bought from somebody who has a C/O”.
“Egba Refugees are the land sellers in the whole of Opebi, and they are the ones that sold this particular land.
They were never part of the Supreme Court judgment they were mentioning. In fact, there is a Supreme Court judgement that gave over 55 per cent of the land in Opebi to the Egba Refugees in Opebi, and based upon that they sold them”.
According to him, “Even if we establish the fact that they are now saying that the property fell into the Meadow’s family, we have to also establish the root of title. Who owns the land from beginning?
“If the Egba Refugees are the original owners of the land who were not parties to the Supreme Court judgement, that Supreme Court judgement cannot bind them. It was not the defendants in Meadow’s case that sold to the owner of the Certificate of Occupancy.
“That’s why I said that the matter can only be determined by the court and not even this administrative panel set up by the State Government whose motive is to exonerate themselves from blame in aiding the land grabbers”.
Most importantly, according to Mr Ubani, is the unorthodox manner the Meadows’s representatives used in the so called enforcement of the judgement of the supreme Court. It is the Sheriffs of the court that executes judgement of the court and not government officials or the various ministries in the State.
Barr Francis Monye, a legal practitioner to Prosperous Ariyori Golden Ventures, while responding after the meeting set up by the governor of Lagos State of an Inter- ministerial Committee to look into the case of Land Grabbing involving 1 Folorunsho Kuku Street, Ikeja, Opebi said the land developer was given the concession by G.W.O Meadows Family to develop and manage the land, we are acting based on several ruling of the courts which declared Meadows Family as the rightful owner of the property.
He said, possession of the land was based on the ruling of the Lagos High Court in Suit No: LD/513/80 and Court of Appeal in Suit No: CA/1/16A/92, as well as the ruling of the apex court, the Supreme Court in SC146/1995, which were all in the favour of the G.W.O Meadows family.
Gen CG Musa Support Group Celebrates Grand Patron as 2025 Man of the Year
The Gen CG Musa Support Group has extended its warmest congratulations to its Grand Patron, His Excellency Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR (Rtd), the Honourable Minister of Defence, following his prestigious designation as the 2025 Man of the Year by OurNigeria News Magazine.
In a statement released to the press and signed by the Director General of the Support Group, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani, the Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi/Betara Biu, the group hailed the recognition as a fitting tribute to a leader of exceptional character and accomplishment.
The statement illuminated the distinction of the award, emphasizing that it transcends the formal titles of “General” and “Minister.” It celebrated the core of the man himself—a leader renowned for his profound humility, incredible kindness, and genuine respect for all individuals. “People see the legacy and the title,” the statement noted, “but some of us are lucky to know the man behind it.”
The Support Group underscored that this accolade is a direct acknowledgment of the Minister’s exemplary personal conduct. It is an award not merely for the office he holds, but for the consistent humility he carries into every room and every interaction, a quality that has defined his leadership both in and out of uniform.
The honour also serves as a powerful validation of General Musa’s distinguished and unblemished track record of service to the nation. His decades of dedicated service within the military, which culminated in his ascension to the pinnacle as the Chief of Defence Staff prior to his retirement, are cited as the foundational pillars of his esteemed reputation.
The Gen CG Musa Support Group expressed profound gratitude to OurNigeria News Magazine for its discerning choice, noting that the award serves as a significant source of encouragement for the Honourable Minister. It reaffirms the nation’s appreciation for leadership that blends strength with compassion, strategic vision with unwavering integrity, and lofty achievement with grounded humanity.
This recognition solidifies General Christopher Gwabin Musa’s status not only as a defender of the nation but as a paragon of virtuous leadership, whose influence and example continue to inspire confidence and respect across Nigeria.
About the Gen CG Musa Support Group:
The Gen CG Musa Support Group is a collective dedicated to promoting the ideals and supporting the leadership of His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and His Excellency Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, celebrating their service and contributions to national peace, security, and unity.
Baba Kuboye, Fela Kuti’s Nephew, Gains Global Spotlight as Grammys 2026 Beckon
Baba Kuboye, a Grammy Award nominated Afrobeat artist and nephew of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti is fast cementing his place as one of the most dynamic voices in contemporary African music, with growing global attention ahead of the 2026 Grammy Awards.
The Lagos-born musician earned a Grammy nomination through his contribution to the Contemporary Blues Album by Antonio Vergara, a milestone that underscores his rising influence beyond Afrobeat into global music spaces. Son of respected Afro-Jazz musicians Fran and Tunde Kuboye, Baba’s artistic journey is deeply rooted in a rich family legacy that blends music, activism and cultural consciousness.
Raised in a vibrant musical household in Lagos, Baba Kuboye grew up surrounded by live performances at his parents’ famed jazz hub, Jazz 38, where he began performing at an early age. His close relationship with his uncle, Fela Kuti, profoundly shaped his sound and philosophy, inspiring a commitment to socially conscious music that speaks truth to power.
In 2023, Baba Kuboye reached a major career milestone when he showcased his EP, From Ikoyi With Horns, at the globally acclaimed SXSW Festival in the United States, performing alongside his 13-piece band. One of the standout tracks from the project, Ikoyi Boy, won Best Afrobeat Song at the Hollywood Independent Music Awards, further solidifying his international appeal.
Known for his innovative fusion of traditional Afrobeat rhythms with contemporary sounds, Baba Kuboye’s music addresses pressing social issues including racism, mental health, and inequality, echoing the protest-driven roots of Afrobeat while speaking to modern realities.
Beyond the stage, Baba Kuboye continues to shape the industry as the founder of Down 4 Whateva Entertainment, recognized as the first minority-owned independent Afrobeat label in the United States. Through this platform, he is championing cultural authenticity and creating opportunities for emerging African talents.
His work has received international exposure on platforms such as BET and MTV, alongside honours including the Stardust Award from North Texas Performing Arts.
As anticipation builds toward the Grammy 2026 season, Baba Kuboye stands as a powerful symbol of Afrobeat’s global evolution, rooted in heritage, driven by purpose and resonating across continents.
Fans can stream Afroverse: The Album by Baba Kuboye on all major digital music platforms and follow him on social media:
Instagram: @Babakuboye
X (Twitter): @Babakuboye
TikTok: @Babakuboye
Nigeria will be at peace when youths are gainfully employed
By Ifeoma Ikem
A philanthropist, Mr Calistus Chukwuedozie says Nigeria will be at peace when its youths are gainfully employed and in turn solve the problem of insecurity across the nation.
Chukwuedozie, a past President of the Rotary Club, Victoria, Lagos made the assertion at the memorial thanksgiving in honour of his late father, Pa Anthony Onuchukwu Chukwuedozie at Catholic Church of Transfiguration, VGC, Lagos,.
He said he observed first-hand how employment can help curb insecurity when he travelled to his home town Ihiala, Anambra state for his father’s burial.
He credited Onyema’s employment initiatives in Mbosi, Ihiala, where at least one person per household reportedly benefits from job opportunities within Air Peace as a major factor fostering calm, unity and economic stability in the area.
“I was at home for almost one month during my father’s burial ceremony and noticed that there was no report of kidnapping, robbery and criminal activities in my community.
“When I made enquiry, I was told that the Chairman of Air piece, Allen Onyema, gave over 250 youths of the community employments and promised them more jobs.
“With what he did for the community, he was able to solve the problem of insecurity and the youths listened to him when he advised them to shun crime.
“ I for one have more than 100 people under my employment.
“Families forced their bad children to give up crime and renounce it and many of them have turned new leaves.’’
He reiterated that if well to do people in each community in the South East or Nigeria at large should replicate what Allen Onyema did, every youth will be gainfully employed and nobody will be a willing tool in the hands of criminals.
`The government on their own should liaise with Banks to give soft loans to many people who want to start small scale businesses.
`Many of our youths have learnt one trade or the other, but have no money to set up their businesses.
If they can get access to soft loans for their businesses, the nation will be a greater and peaceful place do businesses.’’
Chukwuedozie, the CEO of MICCALLY AUTOS, who also spoke about the enduring values his father stood for said the man’s life journey was defined by principle, discipline and service to humanity.
He described his father as a man deeply rooted in integrity, adding that his father’s remarkable life as a soldier, teacher and farmer reflected both strength and nurture.
Beyond his career paths, Pa Chukwuedozie’s greatest legacy, according to his son, was his unwavering commitment to raising all seven of his children into accomplished academic and business professionals.
“In my ancestral home, Ihiala, my father was widely revered as a community leader whose counsel and character commanded respect.’’
He commended the Inspector General of Police for his efforts in ensuring stability and safety of all citizens.
“The peace I experienced during my stay at home was a direct result of sustained communal engagement and youth empowerment.
“I also advocate for broader government inclusion in education and skills acquisition programs for the youths as productive engagement remains one of the most effective tools against insecurity and social vices.’’
The memorial event drew tributes from notable guests, including Chief Edwin Eze Ogidigha of Oraifite, Chairman of Yamaha Sub-Saharan Africa who described Pa Chukwuedozie as a man whose influence extended far beyond his immediate family.
He praised the late patriarch for positively shaping generations through his character, discipline and wisdom.
He said that the remarkable achievements and values seen in his children stand as living proof of a life well lived.
A guest Onwa of idemili, Nnamdi Ifebi who spoke in the same vein on security said that the steps that the governor of Anambra State has taken to address the issue of security have also yielded positive results.
“What miscreants were doing before now, thinking that they were untouchable is now a thing of past. I commend the governor and security agencies for their good job.”
As prayers were offered and stories shared, the memorial thanksgiving became more than a remembrance.
It evolved into a celebration of legacy, community impact and the quiet power of a man who lived with honour.
In every tribute echoed a singular truth that Pa Chukwuedozie may have departed this world, but the principles he lived by will continue to walk boldly through the lives he touched.
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