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We’ve Been Shut Out!” — Lagos APC Aspirants Protest LG Poll Marginalisation
Beneath the hum of traffic from the overpass cutting across his farmland, Bala Haruna walks through rows of corn, cassava, and okra on his family’s plot. A water pump draws from a nearby stream, channeling irrigation through hand-dug trenches that crisscross land wedged between four-lane roads — farmland that existed long before Abuja’s skyline of hotels, mosques, and high-rises began to take shape.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
There were no buildings here,” said 42-year-old Haruna, reflecting on his childhood as birds chirped and frogs croaked in the background.
The scattered urban farms that still exist across Nigeria’s capital highlight the cracks in the city’s rigid, top-down urban planning. These pockets of greenery, often tucked into low-lying creek beds or undeveloped corridors, persist as anomalies in a downtown core that has sprawled far beyond its original plan.
Yet, this fragile coexistence is increasingly under siege. Developers are filling in farmland — often in defiance of regulations that designate these plots as protected green spaces in a city more known for its concrete than its crops.
Across the overpass, the contrast is stark. Vegetation abruptly halts where bulldozers have razed the earth, leaving behind hot, barren land. Farmers said that when their land was taken three years ago, the supposed new owners provided no legal documentation — only a token payout of ₦300,000 (now worth roughly $190) to be shared among eight displaced farmers, a sum eroded further by inflation.
Officially, much of the downtown farmland is reserved for green space — neither for construction nor agriculture. But Abuja’s decades-old master plan is widely ignored or manipulated, said urban governance expert Ismail Nuhu, who earned a PhD studying the city’s development.
“Politicians still use the plan as an excuse to seize land — saying, ‘This isn’t supposed to be here,’ whether or not that’s what the plan actually says,” Nuhu told AFP. He added that, by the master plan’s standards, even the presidential villa is wrongly placed.
Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has vowed to revive the 1970s-era master plan — building roads, clearing settlements, and offering compensation for demolitions. Requests for comment from FCT officials, including Wike’s spokesperson, went unanswered.
For many, these urban farms are more than green patches — they are economic lifelines in a country where job opportunities remain scarce. When the federal government recently advertised 10,000 jobs, nearly half a million applicants responded.
“Having a green space in an overcrowded city like Abuja means a lot,” said Malik Kuje Guni, a retiree who began farming three years ago to supplement his pension. Once a civil servant, Guni often visited the farms for the peace and fresh air. Now, at 63, he tills a potato plot of his own.
“I come here, I work, I sweat,” he said. “And I believe something good will come out of it.”
Just blocks away, rows of sugarcane, corn, and banana trees grow near makeshift wooden homes. Towering over the scene are half-finished high-rises and the glass-clad Bank of Industry building. But even here, development creeps in — portions of farmland recently cleared, including plots where banana trees belonging to Godwin Iwok once stood before developers pushed in and destroyed them.
Ahmad made the assertion in a post on his X handle, maintaining that Kwankwaso’s decision to accept the position of running mate should be seen as an act of political modesty rather than an indication that he is less qualified than Obi.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the former presidential aide, the relationship between the two politicians should be viewed as one of equals rather than that of a superior and a subordinate.
“To be entirely candid, the political dynamic between Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi ought to be characterised as one of collegiality between peers, rather than a hierarchy of principal and subordinate,” he wrote.
He added, “The choice to assume a deputy role beneath Obi ought to be interpreted as a testament to political modesty.”
Making a case for Kwankwaso’s political experience, Ahmad recalled that the former Kano State governor served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives before Obi became a prominent figure in national politics.
He also noted that Kwankwaso governed Kano State, which he described as Nigeria’s most populous and politically influential state, for two terms and served as a federal minister.
“If we are assessing political experience, Sen. Kwankwaso probably has a longer and more impressive political background than Peter Obi,” Ahmad stated.
In contrast, the former presidential aide argued that Obi’s major public office experience was limited to his tenure as governor of Anambra State.
“Unlike other candidates, Peter Obi was just a former governor of Anambra State,” he wrote.
Nigerian music star Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has declared that he no longer impregnates women.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The singer made the statement on Saturday during a live performance at Rehab Lounge in Calgary, Canada.
While performing his hit song True Love, 2Baba paused to interact with the audience and playfully asked the women present to identify where his true love was.
He jokingly wondered whether she was standing at the back of the venue or somewhere in front of him before making a remark about his experiences with women.
The award-winning musician told the audience that he had stopped getting women pregnant, adding that he had been making the same confession wherever he performed recently.
He said, “For the purpose of this show, I will pretend like I’ve never seen anything before. Where’s my true love? Is she back there? Is she right here? Is she somewhere here? Where’s my true love? You people shouldn’t put out me for trouble.
“As I said, some ladies they fear to shout. See, everywhere I go these days, I make this confession. As I say, some ladies they fear to shout. I say, I don’t fear to shout. Because I don’t stop to dey give woman belle. Ask anyone, they’ll tell you, I don’t do such thing things again.”
The singer’s comment comes amid public interest in his personal life and relationships.
2Baba was previously married to Nollywood actress Annie Macaulay-Idibia. The couple announced their separation in January 2025 after having two children together.
Abia Warriors were fined ₦3.2 million for failing to provide adequate security as agreed during the pre-match technical meeting ahead of their encounter with Niger Tornadoes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Abia Warriors were fined ₦3.2 million for failing to provide adequate security as agreed during the pre-match technical meeting ahead of their encounter with Niger Tornadoes.
The Umuahia-based club was also found guilty of an attempt by one of its officials to disrupt the live broadcast of the match by harassing a crew member of the league’s broadcast partner.
As part of the disciplinary measures, Abia Warriors’ multimedia officer, Chidera Favour Igwe, has been suspended from all NPFL match activities for five matches.
Katsina United, meanwhile, were fined ₦2 million for failing to provide adequate and effective security during their home fixture against Plateau United.
The club was also sanctioned for allowing supporters to encroach onto the field of play during the encounter.
Warri Wolves Receive Heaviest Punishment
Warri Wolves have been handed the most severe sanctions following the unruly behaviour of their supporters during Sunday’s Matchday 10 clash against Kano Pillars in Ozoro.
The Seasiders were fined ₦4.2 million and docked three points and three goals from their accumulated tally. The club was also ordered to play its next three home matches behind closed doors.
According to the NPFL, Warri Wolves failed to provide adequate security at the stadium, resulting in an assault on match officials after the final whistle.
The league further disclosed that the second assistant referee sustained a nose injury and was left bleeding during the incident.
The NPFL stated that all three clubs have 48 hours from the date of notification to appeal their respective sanctions in accordance with the league’s disciplinary procedures.
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