The World Bank has promised to assist the Ogun State Government in the areas of good governance and socio-economic development. This was made known in Abuja during a meeting between Prince Dapo Abiodun and the country representatives of the global Bank.
Going by the number of floods that have ravaged some parts of Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode and other towns across Ogun West, the state government also received some succour from the World Bank. This development was made known through a press statement issued by Kunle Somorin, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun.
According to Somorin, the World Bank Country Director, Rachid Benmessaoud said the global financial institution thought it wise to assist a number of people affected by the recent flooding in the state, as enunciated by the Governor, having requested for the bank’s assistance.
While granting the Governor’s request, the World Bank announced that Ogun State has been considered among other states in Nigeria that will benefit from a $900m intervention fund on ecological challenges.
The World Bank’s assistance will serve as a timely succour to the affected families and towns across the Gateway State.
Also, the bank is currently partnering with Ogun State on a number of initiatives like the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) which is aimed at providing an institutional and logistic framework for a private-public partnership engagement and in the areas of rural road construction and agricultural development.
Some of the programmes which the World Bank had keyed into include: Community and Social Development Programme; Saving One Million Lives Programme: Basic Healthcare Provision Fund; State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Programme. Others include the Rural Access and Mobility Programme, Nigeria for Women and the PPP.
According to Governor Abiodun, these are critical projects that would enhance the welfare of our people and also contribute immensely to his “focussed and qualitative governance” agenda in Ogun State.
The governor emphasised that he had outlined a number of bills to be sent to the State Assembly for approval as this would give necessary legal teeth to the proposed programmes, thereby bringing the dividends of democracy to the good people of the state. Some of these proposed laws are on the Ogun State Investment Promotion Agency, the PPP to attract and secure private investments into Ogun State.
“Since infrastructural development will strengthen the investment drive of our administration, we are equally setting up a Public Works Agency to boost local capacity and also make Ogun State Security Trust Fund more vibrant since investment cannot thrive without peace and security,” Governor Abiodun said.
The Governor promised to restructure the accounting processes in the state and ensure that the unwieldy over 800 accounts he inherited are “streamlined into a reasonable one where principal officers can access a dashboard of incomes and expenditures.”
The state, he added, is reviewing its public procurement laws to ensure that transparency and accountability are maintained while ensuring fairness, equity and inclusiveness in the way government businesses are run.
The World Bank team, led by Benmessaoud, commended the foresight of the Dapo Abiodun administration, warning that it should look into the indices that made the state’s healthcare fall by 10.5% between 2015 and 2018.
“Surveys conducted in 2015 and 2018 saw Ogun State regressed by 10.5%, whereas Yobe State got $30m for its exemplary public health initiatives from the World Bank. Osun also did very well and was rewarded with $20m,” Benmessaoud revealed.
The World Bank advised that Ogun State should work towards ensuring “strong leadership and accountability” so as to reverse its dwindling fortunes in the health sector. It also noted the fact that the Ministry of Health and the Primary Healthcare Development Agency should be reinvigorated and “it is expedient to have a State Social Health Insurance Agency.”
AMVCA 2025: Glitz, Glory & Grit! Stars, Shocks & Showstoppers Light Up Lagos in Africa’s Biggest Night in Entertainment History!
Lagos was on fire as the 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) turned the Eko Hotel and Suites into a cauldron of dazzling lights, A-list glam, thunderous ovations, and unforgettable cinematic triumphs!
From the very first note of Johnny Drille and Kunmié’s soul-stirring performance, it was clear: this wasn’t just another award show. It was Africa’s Oscars on steroids—a masterclass in drama, spectacle, and unapologetic star power.
Femi Adebayo and Chioma Chukwuka owned the night, snatching Best Lead Actor and Actress respectively for their commanding roles in Seven Doors, which—alongside the revolutionary Lisabi: The Uprising—stood tall as cinematic titans with multiple wins.
But the crown jewel of the evening? The explosive Best Movie win by Freedom Way, beating out juggernauts like Christmas in Lagos and Suspicion. Gasps filled the room. Eyes widened. Cameras flashed.
Then came the curveballs.
Gabriel Afolayan, suave and striking, bagged Best Supporting Actor, while Mercy Aigbe stunned in gold before claiming Best Supporting Actress in Farmer’s Bride—a category packed with heavyweights.
The night wasn’t just about big names; it was also about bold narratives and unflinching creativity. The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos slayed with Best Cinematography, while Suspicion‘s haunting sound design won over the jury.
In a year where African stories roared with identity, pain, love, and resistance, Lisabi made a clean sweep in Art Direction, Makeup, and Indigenous Language (West Africa), proving that culture remains a cinematic weapon.
Meanwhile, Seven Doors added to its legend with wins in Best Series Scripted, Best Music/Score, and Best Indigenous Language—making it the night’s silent assassin.
Veteran icons Nkem Owoh and Sani Mu’azu received thunderous standing ovations as Lifetime Achievement honorees, while the young and fiery Kayode Kasum walked away as the AMVCA Trailblazer, his star rising at warp speed.
And the audience? On their feet. In awe. Loud. Proud. Unforgettable.
With 28 categories blending fierce public votes and expert jury verdicts, the AMVCA 2025 was more than a show—it was a statement. Africa’s storytellers are not waiting for permission anymore. They’re rewriting the narrative. Loudly.
Supreme Court Slams Door on Fred Ajudua’s Bail, Orders Immediate Return to Prison in $1.43M Fraud Trial
In a seismic ruling that sends shockwaves through Nigeria’s legal and social elite, the Supreme Court on Friday revoked the bail earlier granted to flamboyant Lagos socialite and alleged fraudster Fred Ajudua, ordering his immediate remand in prison custody.
Delivering a unanimous judgment, a five-man panel of the apex court dismantled the bail granted by the Court of Appeal in 2018, declaring it a judicial overreach steeped in procedural irregularity.
Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, who read the lead judgment, minced no words as she condemned the appellate court’s decision, declaring it “an exercise in futility” after it had already ruled Ajudua’s appeal incompetent.
“The lower court, at that point, had no jurisdiction to proceed further. It had become functus officio,” she ruled, restoring the earlier decision of trial Judge Mojisola Dada who denied Ajudua bail in July 2018.
The decision marks a major victory for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had petitioned the apex court to overturn what it described as a flawed and unjustified release of Ajudua—an accused at the center of a staggering $1.43 million international fraud.
The case, which has dragged for decades, centers around allegations that Ajudua, in concert with an accomplice still at large, duped a Palestinian businessman, Ziad Abu Zalaf, of millions under the guise of executing shady contracts backed by forged documents from the Central Bank of Nigeria and NNPC.
The scandal has long been a symbol of Nigeria’s struggle with high-profile financial crimes and delayed justice. With this ruling, the Supreme Court not only nullified the appeal court’s decision but also ordered a swift resumption of Ajudua’s long-stalled trial before Justice Dada of the Lagos High Court.
The EFCC had charged Ajudua in a 12-count indictment that included conspiracy to obtain money under false pretenses and forgery. Despite citing health concerns, Ajudua’s attempt to evade prosecution through bail has now been effectively shut down.
Legal observers say the ruling reasserts the authority of trial courts and reinforces the Supreme Court’s intolerance for procedural abuse in high-profile criminal cases.
“This appeal succeeds and it is hereby allowed,” Justice Nwosu-Iheme declared. “The respondent is to be remanded in prison custody.”
The court further directed that the matter be reassigned immediately for continuation of trial “within the shortest possible time.”
With the bail revoked and trial back on track, all eyes now return to the courtroom—where a case that began over three decades ago may finally see resolution.
#FreeVDM Trends as EFCC Secures Court Order to Remand VeryDarkMan Over Alleged Cybercrime
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a court order to remand controversial social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), pending the conclusion of an investigation into alleged cybercrime offences.
VDM was dramatically arrested last Friday outside a bank in the Wuse area of Abuja by a combined team of EFCC operatives, Department of State Services (DSS) officers, and the Nigeria Police Force. Eyewitnesses say the activist was apprehended moments after leaving the bank, sparking immediate online outrage.
The arrest has ignited a social media firestorm, with the hashtag #FreeVDM dominating trends across platforms throughout the weekend. Many critics argue that the arrest is yet another attempt by authorities to intimidate dissenting voices online.
“The remand order was granted to allow us to complete our investigation and finalize the charges,” a senior EFCC official told reporters, noting that charges would be filed under the Cybercrimes Act once investigations are complete.
Sources familiar with the case say the EFCC is building a case focused on alleged violations involving online financial misconduct, which fall under the commission’s purview.
As of Monday morning, VDM remains in EFCC custody, with his legal team led by rights activist Deji Adeyanju confirming efforts to gain access to him and prepare a legal response.
“We are seeking to visit our client and are reviewing the legal implications of his arrest,” Adeyanju said in a statement.
Despite the mounting public interest and widespread speculation, the EFCC has yet to release an official statement detailing the arrest or outlining the specific charges VDM may face.
The arrest of VeryDarkMan adds to growing concerns over press freedom and digital expression in Nigeria, where several social media commentators have recently faced legal action for controversial posts.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login