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Demolitions: Makoko Protesters Claim Gunfire as Police Insist Only Teargas Was Used

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Controversy surrounding the demolition of structures in Makoko and other communities by the Lagos State Government continued on Wednesday as residents staged a protest against the exercise.

The protesters said the demonstration was against alleged land grabbing, forced evictions and displacement across Lagos. However, the protest turned rowdy when police deployed teargas to disperse the crowd.

Several protesters reportedly sustained varying degrees of injury while running helter-skelter following the deployment of teargas.

A community leader who participated in the protest, Jude Ojo, alleged that police fired not only teargas but also live ammunition.

He claimed that an unidentified protester sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was rushed to hospital — an allegation the Lagos State Police Command has denied.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, Ojo said the protesters posed no threat to security.

“We were not carrying guns or sticks; we are harmless, and your policemen were around. Why are you afraid?” he asked.

Ojo said the protesters had opted for a peaceful sit-down protest after being denied access.

“We said that if you were not going to attend to us or allow us to come in, we would sit down until you were ready to give us attention. The next thing we experienced was gunshots and teargas. A man was shot in the leg and rushed to the hospital. I don’t know his name, but it should be shown on camera,” he said.

He expressed disappointment with the Lagos State Government, describing the incident as a deviation from democratic ideals.

“I was teargassed and everyone started running helter-skelter, trying to find an escape route. These are the people we voted for. Is this the democracy we yearned for? It was a very big disappointment,” Ojo added.

However, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, denied that officers fired gunshots at the protesters.

Jimoh said only the minimum force of teargas was used to disperse the crowd.

“No gun was fired. I was there. I was appealing to them to remain peaceful, but they continued to hurl abuses at me. As a police officer, I am trained to work under this kind of pressure, so I did not react,” he said.

The police commissioner said he contacted the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly to intervene.

“We spoke with the leadership of the House of Assembly, who promptly — despite being in recess — sent five honourable members to appeal to them. Unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears because their aim was to enter the Assembly complex and cause mayhem, which we will not allow,” Jimoh said.

Addressing claims that a protester sustained a gunshot wound, Jimoh said the injury could have occurred while people were fleeing teargas.

“When teargas is fired, people run to leave the scene. It is during that process that some may sustain injuries. To our records, nobody reported a gunshot injury to us during the operation after they had been warned that force would be used if they refused to disperse,” he said.

He added that one of the protest organisers later reported an alleged bullet wound to the area commander, who inspected the injury and determined that it was not caused by a firearm.

While acknowledging citizens’ rights to protest and freedom of expression, Jimoh described the demonstrators as an “unknown group” chanting war songs.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has defended its decision to demolish structures in Makoko and other waterfront communities, insisting that the action was taken to protect lives and property.

According to government officials who featured on Ask Lagos, a weekly X-Space discussion aimed at fostering engagement between the government and residents, the demolitions were carried out for security reasons.

They said the exercise was necessary to ensure a safer and more sustainable megacity.

Responding to criticisms that the demolitions were “anti-poor” and “unnecessary,” the government said such claims were unfounded, stressing that the actions were driven by public safety, environmental protection and security concerns — particularly the dangers posed by illegal structures built beneath high-tension power lines and along critical waterways.

“No responsible government anywhere in the world can allow people to live directly under high-tension cables or obstruct vital waterways,” Omotoso said. “These actions are not punitive; they are preventive — to protect lives, avert disasters and secure the future of Lagos.”

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Lagos Residents Protest Unreliable Power Supply, Demand Immediate Action

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Residents of Lagos on Friday took to the streets to express their frustration over persistent electricity outages, condemning the state’s power supply as “epileptic” and unsustainable for daily life and business activities.

A video circulating on social media showed dozens of mainly young protesters marching through the Fadeyi area, holding placards and chanting for a consistent electricity supply.

The demonstrators criticised what they described as the collapse of the nation’s power sector, stressing that erratic electricity is undermining livelihoods and making life increasingly difficult across Lagos.

Placards displayed messages such as “No More Estimated Billing,” “No More Epileptic Power Supply,” “No Light, No Life, No Nation,” and “You’re Destroying Businesses; Give Us Regular Light.”

One protester declared, “We are not asking for too much. Give us light!”

Local business owners also highlighted the severe impact of inconsistent power supply on their operations, noting that reliance on fuel-powered generators has significantly increased operating costs.

A shop owner at the protest lamented: “We cannot continue like this. Every day we spend money on fuel because there is no electricity. Many small businesses are closing because they cannot cope.”

The demonstration underscores growing public dissatisfaction with electricity supply in Lagos, as residents call on authorities and power operators to ensure a stable and reliable power supply.

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Tinubu Mourns Former Super Eagles Coach Festus Onigbinde

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Super Eagles head coach, Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President extended his condolences to the late coach’s family, associates, and the entire Nigerian football community.

Tinubu also sympathised with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the National Sports Commission, professional colleagues, and football fans across the country over the loss of the respected football administrator.

The President described Onigbinde as a trailblazer whose contributions significantly advanced the growth and development of football in Nigeria.

He noted that the late coach made history as the first indigenous coach of the Super Eagles in 1982, praising his leadership and dedication to the sport.

“Chief Onigbinde distinguished himself as the first indigenous coach of the Super Eagles in 1982,” the statement said.

Tinubu further highlighted Onigbinde’s role in guiding Nigeria to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, describing the achievement as a landmark moment in the country’s football history.

The President also commended the late Modakeke High Chief for his commitment to grassroots football and his efforts to strengthen football administration in Nigeria.

He said Onigbinde would be remembered for his discipline, integrity, foresight, and passion for the game.

Tinubu prayed for the repose of the late football icon and asked God to grant comfort to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.

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Again, Dangote Refinery Hikes Petrol To ₦1,175/Litre, Diesel To ₦1,620/Litre — Report

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery has revised its ex-depot prices, increasing the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to ₦1,175 per litre, while Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, has been raised to ₦1,620 per litre.

The latest revision marks the fourth consecutive price review in less than two weeks amid global market volatility, according to a report by Petroleumprice.ng.

Quoting industry sources, the report noted that the new pricing template has been communicated to marketers, following earlier adjustments this month.

Under the revised structure, the ₦1,175 per litre petrol price reflects a significant jump from the previous ₦995 per litre, while diesel has surged sharply from its prior ₦1,430 per litre level, underlining the continued upward trend in domestic fuel pricing.

The increases coincide with a sharp rise in international crude oil benchmarks as of 1:00 pm WAT: Brent crude at $102.8 (+10.91%) and WTI crude at $101.0 (+11.08%), driven by the Middle East energy crisis.

The development is likely to have a ripple effect across Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market, as depot operators and fuel marketers adjust supply costs in response to the revised prices announced by the country’s largest refining facility.

The refinery had yet to issue an official statement on the development as of the time of filing this report.

Oil prices surged by 30 per cent on Monday on fears over supply disruptions in the Middle East, as the US-Israeli war against Iran continued into a second week with no sign of easing.

Concerns that the conflict could drag on intensified after US President Donald Trump said only the “unconditional surrender” of Iran would end the war.

He added over the weekend that the spike in prices was a “small price to pay” to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat, reiterating the White House’s insistence that the rise is temporary.

Since the beginning of the war, WTI has risen by more than 75 per cent, while Brent has increased by over 60 per cent.

Attacks on oilfields were reported in southern Iraq and in the northern autonomous Kurdistan region, forcing a US-run oilfield to cease production. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have begun reducing output.

This comes as maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — through which about one-fifth of global crude oil and gas supplies pass — has been halted since the war began on February 28.

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