news
LEKKI BEACH CENTRAL HOTELS HOSTS VETERAN NITE IN HONOUR OF NOLLYWOOD VETERANS.
The Veteran Nite organized by Actors Guild of Nigerian (AGN) Lagos State Chapter was brimful of scintillating contents. The event was hosted on Tuesday 20th of October by Lekki Beach Central Hotels located along Beachgate Road, 5th Roundabout, Lekki Expressway. The three Star hotels with frontal sprawling space for relaxation and hosting of events was formally denominated as Beachgate Hotel before the appellation was changed under a new ownership and management which has rebranded the hotel to give it cutting edge in the hospitality business.
The event recorded impressive attendance as the auditorium was crammed with sea of thespians with conflation of stars, up comers and some of the current and past leaders of the guild both at national and state level. Nollywood legends, Keppy Ekpenyong, Tony Akposhere, Tari West, Emeka Duru and host of others attended the event. The current President of the AGN, Emeka Rollas Ejezie was unavoidable absent because of his trip to Kigali on a courtesy call to the Somalia President, however, three of his Special Advisers (SAs) Chucky Egbu, Ijeoma Imoh and Edmund Onyiriogwu graced the occasion.
Before the climax of the event, which was the award, the audience was thrilled by the compere, MC Linchung aka Oliver Duke a polyglot with rib cracking jokes. Other comedians were on hand to make the night fantastic and enthralling. The miming of the evergreen music of Oriental Brothers and another music of the fifties, Celestine Okwu titled onwuwa by two septuagenarians Commander COC Nze and Mrs. Agnes Molukwu respectively and the couple dance were other items of the event that electrified and livened the night.
In the couple dance the female veterans were paired with the male counterparts and the floor was open to respond to the rhythm of the music of the old school. It was indeed a captivating sight the swaggers of the veterans in reminiscence of the good old days when Nigerian had not descended to fathomless cesspit of bankruptcies in all sectors of national lives. Some of the veterans proved that the world has not left them behind as they sauntered to contemporary dance as well to the admiration of the young generation among the audience.
The highlight of the Veteran Nite was the awards presented to the veterans in appreciations of their contributions in the growth of AGN. There were three different categories of the awards given to eleven recipients. The most coveted award was the Life Time Achievements Award bestowed to Prince Ifeanyi, former National President and the Chairman Board of Trustee of the Guild. The Outstanding Achievement Award was handed out to Emmanuel Oguguah the Vice Chairman of Board of Trustee and the National President of the Guild between 1997 and 2002; under his watch the guild was officially registered with the transmogrification of its name to Actors Guild of Nigeria. His Presidency also commenced the formation of state chapters including Lagos State Chapters.
In addition to the two distinctive awards, nine others received Merit Award in recognition of their commitments, dedications and services to the guild. The awardees include Commander COC Nze, Amaka Eze Amaka, Tony Akposhere the Zaky of New Masquerade fame, Mrs. Stella Samuguna, Evangelist Tayler, Doris Unachukwu, Christy Okonkwo, Edmund Onyiriogwu, the former National Secretary of Guild, erstwhile Chief Press Secretary the National President Segun Arinze and the Special Adviser on Research and Documentation to the current National President Emeka Rollas Ejezie to mention just a few.
Furthermore, the scintillating night witnessed the Chapter patron ship induction of two prominent personalities. The first inductee is an astute business mogul Mr. Udochi Nwaodu the Chairman/CEO of Lekki Beach Central Hotels, former Chief Internal Auditor, UBA Group World Wide. The second one is a charismatic lady Dr. Mrs. Oby Olebara Uzoukwu who has taken the motion picture business by storm with outstanding creative engineering encapsulated by her business concerns, Obylicious Empire , Obylicious Merchandise and Afrigold Television which has revolutionized the industry through online TV, movie productions and film/movie academy.
The choice of the two inductees was greeted with resounding ovation from the audience which underscored implicit trust on and confidence. The trust was reinforced as the duo was gracious in acquiescing to the Chairman passionate appeal to fund a year rent of a room apartment for Mrs. Agnes Molukwuconfronted with accommodation crisis. She is one of the oldest and most devoted female veteran admired by her punctuality in the meetings and any of the guild outing. Don Pedro promised that the guild would take up further payment of the one rent after the expiration of a year rent paid by these philanthropists.
The Veteran Nite ended in a high note as award recipients expressed profound elation on their nomination and subsequent decoration. They extolled Don Pedro Aganbi, the Lagos State Chapter Chairman and his team for their momentous strides to take the guild to the next level and for the institution of the awards in their honour. Indeed, the Veteran Night at Lekki Central Hotels was a splendid event in its conceptualization and execution which both the awardees and other participants will not forget in long while.
Edmund Onyiriogwu (former National Secretary Actors Guild of Nigerian and Special Adviser on Research and Documentation to the current President Actors Guild of Nigeria Emeka Rollas Ejezie
At least 23 people were killed in a series of suspected suicide bombings, police in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri said on Tuesday.
https://www.stanbicibtcbank.com/nigeriabank/personal/products-and-services/all-loans/stanbic-ibtc-mreif-home-loans
More than 100 other people were injured in the blasts that took place on Monday evening in the capital of Nigeria’s restive Borno state.
No group has claimed responsibility for the suspected attacks.
The deadly blasts come after a military post was attacked overnight Sunday to Monday, which authorities blamed on suspected Islamist militants.
This sad incident is coming barely two weeks after Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church specifically warned against attacks in some states. He mentioned these states while calling on security operatives to pay close attention to them.
These were his words:
“Another attack is coming up in these following states where the military must watch carefully and intelligently; Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, Kwara and Kogi state. They want to do a deadly attack, it’s preventable but it depends on how they will handle it. I have told you about the danger coming up.”
@primateayodele
Unfortunately, some of our military agencies don’t believe spiritual intelligence can save the country from so much danger hence, their neglect of this prophetic warning but now, it has been fulfilled with the miliary losing credibility by the day while Primate Ayodele continues to gain momentum.
Likewise, At least 26 passengers and crew sustained varying degrees of injuries on Monday following an accident involving the Kaduna–Abuja train, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Opeifa explained that the train departed Rigasa in Kaduna at 7:15 a.m. and was approaching Asham station around 9:16 a.m. when a loud bang was heard after the power car and trailing locomotive collided with one of the passenger coaches.
In July 2025, Primate Ayodele asked nigerians to pray not to see train mishap on the Kaduna-Abuja route.
@primateayodele #nigeriantiktok🇳🇬 #fulfillment #train #abuja #primateayodele
“Let’s pray not to see train mishap in Abuja-Kaduna, Kaduna-Abuja route.”
This has also been fulfilled.
The project ends decades search for investors, boosts Nigeria’s blue economy
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
Nigeria’s maritime sector is set for a major transformation following a landmark agreement involving the world’s largest container shipping company, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which has secured a 45-year concession to build, manage and operate a modern container terminal at Snake Island Port in Lagos.
The project, to be developed in partnership with Nigerdock, marks one of the most significant private sector investments in Nigeria’s port infrastructure in recent decades and is expected to strengthen the country’s role as a major maritime gateway in West and Central Africa.
For Nigeria, the agreement brings to close decades of efforts to attract large-scale investors to develop Snake Island Port, a strategically located maritime asset in Lagos.
Long-standing concession history
Snake Island’s maritime facilities date back several decades. In 1992, the Federal Government granted a 99-year concession for the island’s port and industrial facilities to Nigerdock, a major maritime engineering and logistics company.
Nigerdock was later privatised and is currently operated by the Jagal Group owned by Nigerian industrialist Maher Jarmakani.
Over the years, the Island Container Terminal fell into disrepair, requiring major rehabilitation and modernization to meet modern global shipping standards.
The new partnership with MSC is expected to transform the port into a state-of-the-art container handling facility capable of attracting larger vessels and increasing Nigeria’s cargo throughput capacity.
Buhari administration approved the project.
The investment framework for the Snake Island development was approved in May 2023 by the Federal Executive Council under then President Muhammadu Buhari.
The approval authorised total private investment of approximately $974.1 million for the project under a Public-Private Partnership structure, including the 45-year concession period.
At the same time, the Federal Government also approved two other major maritime infrastructure projects:
• Development of the Ondo Multipurpose Port in Ilaje, Ondo State, with $1.48 billion in private investment and a 50-year concession.
• Expansion and development of the Burutu Sea Port in Delta State, involving $1.2 billion in private investment and a 40-year concession.
These projects form part of Nigeria’s broader effort to develop its blue economy and expand maritime trade capacity.
Construction partners
Engineering and construction of the Snake Island container terminal will be handled by:
• ITB Nigeria Limited
• DEME Group
ITB Nigeria Limited is part of the Chagoury Group and owned by the Chagoury family, while DEME Group is a globally recognised Belgian marine engineering and dredging company with extensive experience in port construction.
MSC profile
Founded in 1970 by Italian shipping entrepreneur Gianluigi Aponte and his wife Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, MSC has grown from a single cargo vessel into the largest container shipping company in the world.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the company operates in more than 155 countries and serves over 500 ports worldwide, with a fleet of roughly 900 container ships and over 200,000 employees globally.
The MSC Group also operates major logistics and maritime businesses including inland logistics through Medlog, cruise tourism through MSC Cruises, and port terminal operations across several continents.
According to Forbes, the estimated net worth of MSC founder Gianluigi Aponte is about $43.9 billion as of February 2026, placing him among the world’s richest shipping magnates. The company remains privately owned by the Aponte family, with both founders holding equal ownership stakes.
Management comments
Speaking on the development, MSC Group President Diego Aponte said the company is committed to strengthening its operations in Nigeria and across Africa.
“We are proud to expand our presence in Nigeria through this important infrastructure project. The Snake Island terminal will enhance service delivery and improve port efficiency for our customers and partners in the region,”
Chief Executive Officer of Nigerdock, Maher Jarmakani, described the agreement as a major milestone for the Nigerian maritime sector.
“We are delighted to partner with MSC in developing a world-class container terminal that will enhance Nigeria’s logistics capabilities and support economic growth,” he said.
Economic impact
Industry analysts say the project could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s maritime economy by expanding cargo handling capacity, reducing congestion at Lagos ports and attracting additional international shipping traffic.
The development is also expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across maritime operations, logistics, transport services and port-related commercial activities.
Infrastructure expansion
Beyond the port development, plans are also underway for Nigeria’s first underwater tunnel, linking Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island through Snake Island and connecting the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway corridor through Badagry.
The tunnel project is expected to significantly improve freight movement and road connectivity between Lagos ports and national transport networks.
Strategic milestone
With the entry of MSC into the Snake Island development, industry observers say Nigeria is taking a significant step toward modernizing its maritime infrastructure and positioning itself as a regional hub for global shipping and trade.
For a project that has waited for decades for major international investors, the Snake Island concession represents a turning point in Nigeria’s port development strategy and a strong signal of global confidence in the country’s maritime future.
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
news
From Construction Sites to Community Service: Temitope Akinyemi Emerges as a Model of Leadership and Impact
-
society6 months agoReligion: Africa’s Oldest Weapon of Enslavement and the Forgotten Truth
-
news3 months agoWHO REALLY OWNS MONIEPOINT? The $290 Million Deal That Sold Nigeria’s Top Fintech to Foreign Interests
-
society6 months ago“You Are Never Without Help” – Pastor Gebhardt Berndt Inspires Hope Through Empower Church (Video)
-
society7 months agoWho is Chief Kestin Pondi? Niger Delta’s “People’s Chief” Winning Hearts With Hundreds of Millions in Generosity
You must be logged in to post a comment Login
You must log in to post a comment.