One of the contenders for the Alaafin of Oyo throne, Prince Ayobami Ladigbolu, has recounted his experiences during the contest for the crown.

In a statement published on Facebook on Tuesday, the prince congratulated the new Alaafin, Oba Abimbola Owoade, describing his emergence as divinely ordained.

Reflecting on the competition, the prince expressed disappointment that some of his initial supporters abandoned him in favour of other candidates due to financial constraints.

“I learned the value of money in one’s life from the race for the crown of Alaafinate.

“Due to financial constraints, some of the people who first backed me later switched to another candidate. When I needed their help on the Alaafinate issue, those I had previously supported did the exact reverse for me.

“When it comes to the time to help me, those I have helped with their businesses ran away. I am not upset with them. I just took away some lessons for the future,” he said.

Ladigbolu thanked the Agbonhin Sanda Oridota family and the larger Ladigbolu section of the Agunloye royal family for nominating and supporting him as a candidate for the throne.

Congratulating the new Alaafin, he said, “I congratulate Oba Aláàfin Abimbola Akeem Owoade , the new Àlàáfin of Ọ̀yọ́ town.

“He was chosen by God almighty. Ọba Akeem Abimbola Owoade has been destined to take the throne. I am happy for him. The entire Ladigbolu family felicitate with the new king. Congratulations. Kaabiesi.”

He thanked those who supported him throughout the journey, including his siblings, wife, children and other unnamed benefactors.

The prince also highlighted the camaraderie he shared with other contestants, particularly Prince Kolade Tunde Sanni Oladigbolu and Prince Muideen Adekunle Oladigbolu, whom he described as “blood brothers.”

Ladigbolu urged the people of Oyo to rally behind the new Alaafin.

“I urge the natives of Oyo town to support the new king. Contests for kingship are not without few controversies. We should manage the controversy and support the new king to build a viable Ọ̀yo and Yorùbá land of our dream,” he stated.

The Nigerian Senate has written an emotional tribute in remembrance of soldiers killed in the line of duty, and those in active service as the world marks the Armed Forces Remembrance Day on the 15th of January.

A statement signed by the Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua on Wednesday, described their sacrifices for the defence of the country as selfless.

He wrote “On behalf of the Senate Committee on Nigerian Army, I wish to pay tribute to our fallen heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our great nation.

“I wish to also commend our serving officers and soldiers who are currently maintaining the peace and ensuring that our nation is secured and safe from internal and external aggression. January 15th is a day set aside to remember and celebrate the bravery, patriotism, and selflessness of our military personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

“As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, I am deeply humbled by the sacrifices of our Armed Forces. Their bravery and unwavering commitment to our nation’s unity and security have not gone unnoticed. They have consistently put their lives on the line while upholding the territorial integrity of our nation, and ensuring that our citizens can live in peace and safety.

“The sacrifices of the dead officers and soldiers in the last year will not be forgotten.

“We remember their families, who have been left behind to bear the pain of their loss. We hope that the nation will continue to care for them, providing support and comfort in their time of need.

“As we celebrate our fallen heroes today, we are reminded of the importance of unity, patriotism, and selflessness. We must continue to work together to build a nation where our military personnel can operate in an environment that is conducive to their safety and well-being.

“Once again, I salute our fallen heroes and their families. May their sacrifices not be in vain. May we continue to work towards a nation where peace, unity, and prosperity reign supreme.”

Amid Nigeria’s escalating cost-of-living crisis, the State House has come under scrutiny for spending a staggering ₦5.9 billion on vehicles in 2024.

Naija News reports that the revelation comes at a time when millions of citizens struggle to afford basic necessities due to soaring inflation and government policies.

The Senate Committee on Special Duties raised concerns on Tuesday over the expenditure during a session where the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Temitope Fashedemi, appeared to defend the 2025 budget allocations.

According to Fashedemi, the State House spent ₦3.9 billion of its ₦4 billion allocation on operational vehicles and utilized the entire ₦2 billion budget for replacing Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs).

This prompted lawmakers to demand clarity on the necessity and specifics of the purchases.

Lawmakers Demand Answers

A senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi questioned the rationale behind the vehicle purchases and replacements, seeking details on the type, model, and number of vehicles acquired.

He asked, “What kind of vehicles are we talking about, and how many of them are purchased? What is the model?

“And then you also talk about the replacement of SUV vehicles, in which ₦2 billion was appropriated and ₦2 billion was released. What is a replacement, and how many of them have you replaced?”

Similarly, Adamawa Central senator Aminu Adamu criticized the expenditure report, describing it as “deceitful.”

“I want to tell you that whoever prepared this table prepared it to deceive us. It is completely a deceit. You can’t release less than five per cent and tell us 100 per cent utilization performance,” Adamu said.

Permanent Secretary Defends Spending

In his response, Fashedemi, who assumed office only last month, said the expenditures were in line with the approved 2024 budget.

He added that the State House was obligated to implement the budget as passed.

“These items were listed in the approved budget of 2024, and it is mandatory for the State House to carry out the procurements,” Fashedemi explained.

While some lawmakers remained skeptical, others appeared to accept the argument, noting that the spendings had been approved within the budgetary framework.

The Chairman of the committee, Kaka Shehu, urged the State House to maintain a transparent and cordial relationship with the legislature to avoid future misunderstandings.

Joseph Aloba, the father of the late singer, Ilerioluwa, aka Mohbad, has revealed that his life got better after the death of his son.

Aloba revealed this in an interview with a media personality, Akin Abolade, popularly known as Mrlilgaga, on Wednesday.

“Let me just say yes, my life got better after Mohbad’s death because he is my friend. He had it in plan to do many things for me but they didn’t allow him to do them. After his death, it was the spirit of Mohbad, and that of God combined together that began to send people to assist me.

“Even the car and everything I have now, it was people that gave them to me and it is beyond ordinary. So it is the spirit of Mohbad and God that led those people to give me all I have now.

“Those were the things he was meant to be doing for me, but they didn’t allow him to do them,” he added.

Clarifying insinuations towards those accused, Mohbad’s father noted that he was laying emphasis on his son’s wife (Wunmi) and her family, adding, “They did a lot concerning that boy (Mohbad). All his landed property is in their possession. Even the land he bought for me to build a church, I forced him to buy and mold the blocks on it, which was later used to bury him.

“Two weeks before his death, he took me to the house he wanted to buy and told me he was going to buy it after the completion of his tour, for which I know he had completely paid.”

He also said the birth of Mohbad led him to become a singer after the money from the naming ceremony was stolen, stressing that his late son became a backup singer for him at the age of one.

Aloba mentioned that he is a carpenter, singer, and pastor, although he does not have a church. He added that his son had promised to build one for him before his death.

The father toured his new block industry with the media personality, showing his new truck and Toyota Highlander vehicle gifted to him by Nigerians who were compassionate about his son’s death.

He also revealed that he has released about nine tracks since the death of his son.

On 11 September 2023, MohBad died in Lagos at the age of 26.

A nurse who was reported by his spouse to have administered a Tetanus vaccine to him was arrested and found to be an unlicensed nurse on 19 September 2023 by the Lagos State Police Command.

Gloria Hallelujah Woods, popularly known as GloRilla, has revealed why she is single.

The 25-year-old said she’s still single because men nowadays hide their true intentions in relationships.

Lamenting about the decline of masculinity in the modern world in a video message shared via her social media page, GloRilla claimed she’s single because she’s a realist.

“I ain’t got no man because I am such a real n*gga myself. And a lot of men these days are b*tches. I ain’t got no n*gga because they are like b*tches.

“I want some real n*ggas; n*ggas that would make me cry the f*ck out,” she said.

Nigerian singer,  Timaya and American reality star, Brooke Bailey, have continued to leave netizens wondering if they are officially dating or merely displaying PDA to get fans talking.

A video making the rounds online captured the duo professing love for each other while stepping out.

While kissing the American star, Timaya threatens that thunder will strike Bailey if she fakes her love for him.

Meanwhile, Timaya recently opened up on the reason for remaining single despite the success of his career.

The singer explained that he has never fancied getting married, and it is not something he is drawn to.

He disclosed this in a recent interview with Naija FM.

He, however, said he has not ruled out the possibility of tying the knot in the future.

“I’ve never been a married guy right from time but it can change because marriage ‘dey craze’? I just look at it like if I marry today, would I be able to get out? In all my previous relationships, I was the one who got out because I don’t like stress”, he said.

Timaya explained that his hesitation towards marriage stems from his desire for freedom and his dislike for stress.

He stressed the importance of open communication in relationships, stating that he values honesty and transparency.

See the video below:

Reacts To Concerns About Her Safety

Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage, has responded to concerns over her safety following a viral video of her swimming with sharks.

‘Somebody Son’ hitmaker got fans talking after she was seen swimming underwater with sharks that maintained a close distance from her.

The singer wore an oxygen mask and looked comfortable under the water.

According to Tiwa Savage, swimming underwater with sharks was on her bucket list, and she has ticked it off.

She wrote: “Swimming with sharks #bucketList.”

Reacting to the video, some fans expressed concern for Tiwa Savage over fear of being attacked by sharks

Responding to concerns via her Instagram story on Wednesday, Tiwa said people should not be worried about her decision to swim with sharks.

She noted that the ‘sharks’ in the music industry are more dangerous than those in water.

She wrote, “Everyone worried about me swimming with sharks, but the ones in this music industry are more fucking dangerous”.

Meanwhile, Tiwa Savage recently hinted at quitting the music industry after the release of her next album.

Recalls that the 44-year-old singer gave a hint via her Instagram story.

Tiwa said she now feels tired, noting she has done her best.

However, the ‘Koroba’ crooner did not reveal the title and release date of the next album.

The Nigerian Communications Commission has authorised telecommunications companies to disconnect the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data codes assigned to nine financial institutions due to unpaid debts.

This directive was made in a Tuesday public notice signed by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka.

The telecom regulator said affected banks must settle their outstanding obligations by January 27, 2025, or risk losing access to their USSD codes.

These codes, essential for enabling mobile banking services, could be reassigned to other applicants if the debts remain unresolved.

The commission revealed that, as of Tuesday’s close of business, nine out of 18 financial institutions had not complied with regulatory directives.

While other banks have cleared their debts, the total amount initially owed by the financial institutions was reported to exceed N200 billion.

However, the regulator did not disclose the precise debt currently owed by the affected banks.

According to the NCC, some of the unpaid invoices have remained unpaid since 2020, indicating a prolonged financial dispute between the banks and telecom operators.

Part of the notice read, “By the information made available to the commission as at close of business on Tuesday, 14th January 2025, of a total of 18 financial institutions, the nine institutions listed below have failed to comply significantly with the directives in the Second Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the commission dated December 20, 2024, for the settlement of outstanding invoices due to MNOS, some since 2020.”

The regulator noted that banks’ failure to comply with the CBN-NCC joint circular also means that they are unable to meet the good standing requirements for the renewal of the USSD codes assigned to them by the commission.

It added, “In fulfilment of its consumer protection mandate, the commission wishes to inform consumers that they may be unable to access the USSD platform of the affected financial institutions from January 27, 2025.”

The affected financial institutions include Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank, Jaiz Bank Plc, Polaris Bank Limited, Sterling Bank Limited, United Bank for Africa Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc.

The affected USSD codes include 770, 919, and 822, among others.

The NCC emphasised that the financial institutions had been duly notified of the need for immediate compliance and warned that consumers may face service disruptions if the issues remain unresolved.

This development highlights ongoing tensions between telecommunications companies and financial institutions over unpaid USSD-related debts, a challenge that has persisted for years.

Meanwhile, data from the CBN revealed that 252.06 million transactions worth N2.19 trillion were conducted via USSD between January and June 2024.

This represents a significant growth compared to 2023 when 630.6 million transactions valued at N4.84tn were completed using USSD codes.

Originally designed by telecom operators for services like airtime purchases and subscriptions, USSD has become a key tool in the banking sector, offering financial services to users without requiring an Internet connection.

The Lagos State Government has launched the EKO Learners’ Support Programme, an innovative initiative aimed at aiding students preparing for the West African Examinations Council and National Examinations Council examinations.

This was made known by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during an unveiling ceremony at the Education Resource Centre, Ojodu, Lagos, on Tuesday.

In his address, Alli-Balogun emphasised the importance of education as the foundation for development and highlighted the state’s commitment to providing students with the resources needed for academic success.

“This initiative has been designed to broadcast a head-start of 320 lessons in 10 different subjects; English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Government, History, Literature-in-English and Yoruba on Lagos Television and other social platforms, with proficient teachers, who were recruited painstakingly through thorough and rigorous screening.

“The programme is scheduled for 26 weeks in the period leading up to the start of these public examinations with a duration of 30 minutes per episode and each episode archived for easy access by learners and teachers,” the commissioner stated.

The approach, according to the ministry, ensures that students have continuous access to the materials, enabling them to review content at their own pace and engage with teachers and peers online.

“The lessons after broadcast on television are archived permanently on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X – (formerly Twitter),” the commissioner added.

Alli-Balogun encouraged students to fully utilise the resource, emphasising that their hard work and dedication are crucial to their success. He also expressed gratitude to educators, partners, and stakeholders for their collaboration in making the programme possible.

Some Nigeria Police school staffers, who are on extended service following the Federal Government’s decision to increase the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65, are expressing frustration over the authorities’ refusal to pay their salaries for 33 months.

During separate telephone interviews on Sunday, the aggrieved teachers expressed their frustrations to PUNCH Metro, revealing that their families were struggling with financial hardship and debt.

They explained that they had to borrow money to sustain their livelihood after the police stopped paying their salaries due to issues surrounding the extension of their service.

PUNCH Metro reports that the five-year service extension for teachers in Nigeria was introduced by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, effective January 1, 2021.

The beneficiaries of the service extension, including teachers in police schools, the army, navy, air force, and Federal Government colleges in Nigeria, have called for the immediate implementation of the new service scheme.

However, while other institutions, such as the Ministries of Education and Defence, promptly implemented the policy, the aggrieved teachers accused the former Nigeria Police Force Education Officer, DCP Rabi Umar (retd.), of refusing to enforce it. They claimed this decision had plunged the families of the police school teachers into financial hardship.

The situation took a new turn in November 2023 when the aggrieved teachers, despite having their salaries restored by the current Force Education Officer, ACP Ibidapo Oludare, did not receive their outstanding arrears.

Despite numerous appeals by the teachers for the payment of their over 33-month outstanding salaries, the aggrieved teachers lamented that the police authorities had failed to act.

Speaking to PUNCH Metro on Saturday, one of the affected teachers, identified simply as Peter, revealed that in addition to the police refusing to pay their arrears, there had been unexplained deductions from their monthly salaries.

He said, “When our salaries were restored in November 2023, we noticed that the arrears were not paid. On top of that, deductions started appearing in the salaries we received. We have no idea what is going on.

“Some reported deductions of about N40,000, others N36,000, and some N20,000. It’s only in our education system that we experience these kinds of deductions. The deductions were made last December, and we have no idea what will happen in January.”

Expressing concern that her five-year service extension granted by the Federal Government would end in November 2025, Odi feared that her 33-month unpaid salary might be lost once her extension expires later in the year.

“I borrowed money from several people during the period when our salaries weren’t paid. It was only by the grace of God and the support of loved ones that I managed to get through that time. When the salary was eventually restored, I started paying back little by little. I had hoped that once the arrears were settled, I would clear my debts.

“Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. We are desperately appealing for assistance, as it has been an extremely challenging time. By November 2026, the five-year extension would have come to an end, yet our salaries remain unpaid. This means the extension has had no meaningful impact. We are humbly requesting help, as we are struggling to make ends meet.

Similarly, another teacher, identified only as Mrs Awo, shared that the unpaid salaries had had a severe impact on them, urging those in authority to intervene and offer their support.

She said, “My unpaid salary amounts to 33 months, from February 2021 to November 2023. I didn’t receive a single payment during that entire period. During that time, I had to borrow money and buy items on credit, relying on the support of my husband and children to get by.

“They promised that they would pay it, and that was their commitment. However, up until this very moment, nothing has been paid, even after our monthly payments were restored.”

Regarding the salary deductions, she explained that the issue had been ongoing for some time, saying, “You just collect whatever you see.” She emphasised that no one knows the exact amount of their salaries.

A related report was published on Monday, where some retired staff members of Lagos State University of Education, Ijanikin Campus, appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for intervention in the non-payment of their 31-month pension arrears, stating that the delay was causing them significant hardship.

When our correspondent called ACP Olubiyi on Tuesday to inquire about the delay in paying the salary backlog, his mobile phone rang unanswered.