GRBusiness
Council officials allegedly raid Igbos’ shops in Lagos over election fallout
BY: Justice Godfry
There have been widespread reports about raids carried out on shops owned by non-indigenes in some parts of Lagos State, especially those of Igbo extraction.
The most recent of such raids, News Express gathered, were the ones carried out during the week, purportedly by officials of the Task Force Unit of Ojodu Local Council Area (LCDA) under Ikeja Local Government Council, Lagos State.
It is alleged that the attacks on Igbos are as a result of the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections which saw the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) narrowly defeating the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state.
Victims of the incessant raids are pointing accusing fingers at a former chairman of Ojodu LCDA and APC’s candidate for Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives as the sponsor of the raids.
“We are told that he instructed the (Ojodu) Council Task Force to descend on us after the Presidential/NASS elections held last Sunday.
“They say he is claiming that he gave money to Igbos to vote for APC in the elections but the Igbos turned around to vote for PDP,” Mr Jude Ezeh who runs a beer parlour in Ojodu area said when our Correspondent visited his shop, a sit-out popular for cow tail pepper soup, “nkwobi” and goat head delicacies in the area.
Jude, as he is popularly known, an indigene of Anambra State, said he was just coming back from the Council office where he parted with N20,000 before his 30 plastic chairs and tables, forcefully carted away by the Council officials on Monday, were released to him.
“I have been running this business for almost 30 years now, nothing like this has ever happened. They said we Igbos voted for PDP instead of APC, what is my business there? I didn’t collect money from any politician. I have my PVC and I voted according to my conscience. Let them go to whoever collected their money and leave my business alone,” said Jude.
Another sit-out in the area, Charly’s Place, owned by Mr Charles Udeh, also from Anambra State, had about 20 of their plastic chairs taken away by the rampaging Council officials on Tuesday.
Joy, an employee with the outfit also known for cow tail pepper soup and other native delicacies peculiar to the Igbos, told News Express: “They (Task Force) came here on Tuesday at about 6pm. They forcefully took our chairs and tables away and loaded them in their van. They accused us of arranging the chairs on the street for our customers. And that is not true because we only arranged the chairs within the shop space, not outside.
“My boss (Charly) has gone to their office to see how he can get the impounded items released.”
The light-skinned lady corroborated Jude’s narrative when she said: “We heard they are raiding us because they claim Igbos in Lagos voted for PDP instead of APC. But APC won in Lagos State, so I don’t know why they are attacking us. This shop has been here for more than 15 years now, though I came two years ago. All tribes – Yorubas, Igbos, Hausas – and even foreigners come here to enjoy themselves, I don’t know why they are bringing in tribalism just because of elections.”
At Chaka’s Place on the adjoining street, it was the same story. According to Mama Faith who runs her late husband’s business, the same Task Force stormed her shop on Wednesday evening and took away 10 of her plastic chairs. She said they accused her of blocking the street.
Said she: “They came here in their trucks and Task Force uniform. The way they jumped down from their trucks and kicked everything in sight made our customers to scamper for safety. All my pleas as a struggling widow fell on deaf ears. They loaded the chairs and tables in their waiting trucks and sped off.”
Continuing, the Edo State-born mother of three said: “My late husband established this place as a family business. The shop is as old as Ojodu, so I don’t know why all this is happening now.”
Mama Faith disclosed that, as at the time she was narrating her ordeal, her two sons had gone to the Council’s office to negotiate for the release of the seized items.
Shop owners are not the only ones suffering from the raids.
According to a report by News Express, sources revealed that the attacks are also meted out on commercial motorcycle operators in the area, popularly known as okada men.
One of the okada operators, told News Express that though his bike was not impounded, many of his colleagues have had their bikes forcefully taken away by the Council officials.
According to him, to get one’s motorcycle back, one must be ready to cough out the sum of N2,600.
“They (Task Force) would just arrive abruptly. They would ask us to identify our state of origin. If you say you are Igbo, Calabar or Akwa Ibom, they would pounce on your bike and demand that you pay N2,600 instantly,” he lamented.
When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ojodu, Mr Odion Okosuns, a Superintendent of Police, said he was not aware of the raids and so could not be true.
When informed that this reporter had met individually with the various victims whose shops are located at different places and they all complained about the same thing, the newly posted police boss insisted: “I have said that I am not aware. It is not true.”
At Ojodu LCDA office located at Okeira, Ogba, the Council Chairman, Hon. Julius Oloro, was not on seat as at 11:30 a.m. on Friday when News Express visited.
A member of staff in the office of the Council’s Head of Administration/Human Resources by name Mr Mike Agoso, directed our Correspondent to the Public Relations Officer who, incidentally, was also not available to comment on the issue.
But an official in the Revenue Section of the Council who pleaded anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the press said: “I’m just hearing of this (raid on Igbos in the area). Although we do send out a lot of tenement and other rates, we don’t collect cash here, people go to the bank to pay and bring their tellers here. This is a regular occurrence. So I wouldn’t know what payment is for what offence.”
When reminded that most of the payments might not have gone into the Council’s treasury, the official said: “Well, if anybody feels he or she has been made to part with money or property arbitrarily, I’d advise such a person to write to the Council and complain.”
Source: NewsExpress
The International Monetary Fund has urged Nigeria to revise its ₦54.99 trillion 2025 budget downward in response to weakening oil revenues.
It also recommends continued tight monetary policy and high interest rates until inflation further slows.
These suggestions may appear sound within orthodox economic models, but for most Nigerians, they are a recipe for deeper suffering.
Yes, inflation has decelerated—from an average of 31% in 2024 to 22.97% by May 2025. But that improvement hasn’t reached the dinner table.
Food prices remain brutal. Over 33% of Nigerians are officially unemployed, and more than 130 million people live in multidimensional poverty.
Behind every number is a family skipping meals, a child pulled out of school, or a shopkeeper forced to shutter their store.
One of the most damaging constraints in today’s economy isn’t the lack of money—it’s the inability to access it. Most banks avoid lending to those who need credit most.
When they do, they slap on interest rates of 27% to 30% and demand collateral far exceeding the value of the loan. It’s a system that locks out the very people who could drive recovery.
Credit is the oxygen of an economy. Without it, farmers don’t plant, factories sit idle, and markets shrink.
Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke—an expert on financial crises—once observed that the core problem isn’t always overspending, but when capable people can’t borrow. Nigeria is falling squarely into that trap.
There is a way out. By reallocating just 3% of the national budget—₦1.65 trillion—the government could establish a national loan guarantee fund.
This fund would cover the first ₦10 million in loan risk per borrower, giving commercial banks the confidence to extend credit to those who actually produce.
With an average loan size of ₦1 million, such a move could unlock financing for 1.65 million small-scale farmers, cooperatives, and traders. Even if just two-thirds of those efforts succeed, that’s over a million new jobs.
The revenue return is clear. Increased employment expands the tax base. New businesses generate more goods, services, and local demand. Social safety nets face less pressure. That ₦1.65 trillion doesn’t vanish—it circulates, stimulates, and ultimately strengthens the economy.
Meanwhile, the IMF’s warning about Nigeria’s fiscal deficit possibly rising from 4.1% to 4.7% of GDP amounts to a difference of roughly ₦660 billion. That figure is modest compared to the trillions lost annually to inefficiencies and leakages.
It’s also less than what a single thriving sector—such as agriculture, construction, or telecoms—can contribute if properly enabled.
If austerity deepens poverty and chokes productivity, then even those advocating restraint today will soon label the country “unstable” tomorrow. But the burden won’t fall on spreadsheets. It will fall on people.
Nigeria doesn’t need to blindly follow rigid templates drawn up in distant boardrooms. It needs a tailored approach that empowers its own citizens.
The economy cannot grow if credit is frozen. The people cannot thrive without opportunity. And the nation cannot progress on fiscal neatness alone.
We don’t need applause from global observers. We need access—for those ready to build, employ, feed, and innovate. Let’s open the gates, not seal them.
Abidemi Adebamiwa is the Managing Editor @ Newspot Nigeria
Transport
Enugu Air, CNG Buses, Transport Terminals Take off in May
… Govt set to develop tourist sites, reports SANDRA ANI
… Work starts on Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Awgu Games Village in earnest
The Enugu Air, CNG Mass Transit Programme, and the ultramodern transport terminals all built from scratch by the Governor Peter Administration are to be launched for operation before the second anniversary of the government.
The government has also approved the development of the state’s tourism industry, while total transformation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village will start in June to get them ready for the National Sports Festival to be hosted by the state in 2026.
These were made known by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozor; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke; Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gerald Otiji; and Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu after the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Enugu, at the weekend.
Briefing Government House Correspondents, Ozor said, “We are starting off with the initial three aircraft and two of the aircraft are already on ground. The third one will be on ground by the end of this month. We are hoping to start the commercial operations before the second year anniversary of this administration.
“You have also seen buses for the mass transit programme across the state. 50 of them are already parked at Okpara Square, and an additional 50 will be joining that fleet in the next few weeks. The 100 of them will be going into commercial operations before the end of this month, which is the second year anniversary.
“Also, the bus terminals, two at Holy Ghost, one each at Gariki, Abakpa and Nsukka, will also be commissioned and go into commercial operations before the 29th of May, this year.”
He added that the government planned to bring in the electric and CNG automotive manufacturing plant into Enugu as well as launch in the next 150 days the Enugu Smart Transport Programme, which would see to the injection of over 2,000 electric vehicles.
Also briefing newsmen, Dame Madueke said funds would be invested in the tourism industry in phases.
“We are going to have it in phases. For the first phase, we are having Awhum Waterfall, Nsude Pyramid where we are going to have the first canopy walkway in the South East. It measures about 600 metres, which will actually be the longest in Nigeria.
“We also have Ngwo Pine Forest where we are having the first zipline in Nigeria. The zipline will measure about 300 metres. In the same Ngwo, we will have a big rotunda and a smaller rotunda. We have the Cross of Hope to be located at Okpatu. The Cross of Hope will be sitting 580 metres above sea level and the cross itself will measure about 50 metres, making it a total of about 630 metres above sea level. The cross will have about 15 floors with a lift.
“At Awhum Waterfalls, we are going to have another canopy walkway and a boardwalk to preserve the ecosystem.
“We equally have the Akwuke/Atakkwu Waterpark and Ovu Lake Golf and Resort at Akpawfu,” she stated.
She explained that all the tourist sites would have experience centres, food courts and renewable energy, adding that tour buses would soon arrive to ensure ease of movement of tourists.
Ahead of the 23rd edition of the National Sports Festival, Enugu 2026, Barr. Ekweremadu said the State Executive Council had equally directed the commencement of work both at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village not later than June.
“We also briefed the council on the progress made in establishing a Lab for Animation for young people in Enugu State, which His Excellency will be commissioning soon. The lab is ready.
“We are similarly working towards empowering over 2,100 young people across the state, who were trained around December last year. This empowerment will be coming up on the 12th of August, being the International Youth Day’” Ekweremadu concluded.
Energy
NNPC, Dangote Strengthen Strategic Partnership
Bot partners reaffirmed commitment to Healthy Competition Towards National Prosperity, reports SANDRA ANI
As part of ongoing efforts to promote mutually beneficial partnerships and foster healthy competition, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP) have pledged to deepen collaboration aimed at ensuring Nigeria’s energy security and advancing shared prosperity for Nigerians.
This commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote, and his delegation to the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, and members of the company’s Senior Management Team at the NNPC Towers, on Thursday.
During the visit, Dangote pledged to collaborate with the new NNPC Management to ensure energy security for Nigeria.
“There is no competition between us, we are not here to compete with NNPC Ltd. NNPC is part and parcel of our business and we are also part of NNPC. This is an era of co-operation between the two organizations.” Dangote added.
While congratulating the GCEO and the Senior Management Team on their “well-deserved appointments,” Dangote acknowledged the enormity of the responsibility ahead, noting that the GCEO is shouldering a monumental task, which he expressed confidence that, with the capable hands at his disposal in NNPC, the task is surmountable.
In his remarks, the GCEO, Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari assured Dangote of a mutually beneficial partnership anchored on healthy competition and productive collaboration.
Ojulari highlighted the exceptional caliber of talent he met in NNPC Ltd., describing the workforce as a dedicated, highly skilled and hardworking professionals who are consistently keen on delivering value for Nigeria.
Expressing the company’s readiness to build a legacy of national prosperity through innovation and shared purpose, Ojulari said NNPC will sustain its collaboration with the Dangote Group especially where there is commercial advantage for Nigeria.
Both executives also committed to being the relationship managers for their respective organisations through sustained productive collaboration and healthy competition, thereby envisioning limitless opportunities for both organizations.
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