News
Mixed reactions trail Lagos food market
Following the announcement of the newly introduced Ounje-Eko Initiative by Lagos state state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos residents have received the much-announced initiative with mixed reactions.
While some locations concluded the exercise at 4pm, some, such as Satellite Town, extended till 5.30pm due to the late arrival of food items.
A resident of Igando-Ikotun LCDA, Mrs. Bianca Okafor, hailed the government for ‘coming to the aid of the masses in such a trying time’.
“I am really happy. Before this discount offer came to us, I have been thinking about how to feed my family of six. I am a single mother and taking care of kids in this hard time is suicidal. Sometimes I cry myself to sleep. But, I am grateful to Governor Sanwo-Olu for coming to our aid,” she said.
Elizabeth Hundeyin at Satellite Town also lauded Governor Sanwo-Olu for the initiative. She said the gesture would reduce poverty and enable families to have food on their tables.
“I got some food items at discounted prices, and I think it’s a really good one. Kudos to Lagos State for this poverty alleviation scheme; it is a good one and a commendable effort.”
Other beneficiaries also praised government but said other items such as noodles, groundnut oil and spaghetti should be added to the items.
But Basit Ahmed said the initiative was just a peanut to blindfold the masses.
“How could you give this kind of discount to your citizens? It’s not fair. They are to pay 75 per cent, while government pays 25 per cent. It’s as good as nothing. This is supposed to be a palliative. We are not supposed to pay a dime. The government is supposed to give free foodstuff to the citizens in this hard time,” he said.
At Igando Community Grammar School, Igando, about 1,000 residents turned out for the exercise. Abdulhakeem Akindele praised officials for ensuring order. He also lauded the system of having a limit to purchases, saying ‘it will give everyone the opportunity to benefit’.
Others however said more stalls and vendors are needed to ensure efficiency. They said this will make the queues move faster and especially reduce waiting time, especially for the elderly.
“We appreciate the government. However, they need to recruit more staff, traders and officials so that the programme would be organised such that old people would not stand for too long especially in the sun,” Elizabeth said.
The vendors welcomed the initiative and requested an expansion of the programme scope.
A Sales Representative of Country Fresh Bread, Active Foods Bakery, Ajidaun Oluwasegun, opiend that the initiative be made long term.
“I am impressed about it. Kudos to Governor Sanwo-Olu. I would love it to go on because it helps people buy at subsidised rates.”
Salisu Muhammad and Emilia Flay called for wider publicity and a broader variety of food items, including staples like yam, potatoes, semovita, among others.
In Badagry Local Government Area, activities did not start until 1pm because some officials came late.
Residents also registered their displeasure with the prices of commodities.
Mrs. Fatimo Yusuf said there was no difference between what they brought to them and what they buy at Agbalata market.
“I am not happy with this discount market; there is no difference between what we buy in the normal markets and what they brought here today. This is not a discount market, most of the people selling here are from our everyday markets.
“Even the onions and pepper is expensive, compared to what we buy at the normal markets. This is not favourable at all; government should return to the table and do the needful,” she said.
Another resident, Mrs. Olabimpe Bamidele, expressed shock at the prices of produce at the market.
She said: “When I heard about the discount market, I was very happy and left Church early to buy tomatoes and onions. But, unfortunately, what I saw here is nothing to write home about because two kilos of tomatoes selling for N1,800 is too expensive, the same thing with onions.
“This is not what they promised us, people are just leaving the market without buying anything.”
Mrs. Bamidele also said the government officials in charge of the market were not coordinated. But Idowu Jimoh hailed the government for bringing the price of bread and eggs down.
“I came here to buy bread and eggs and I’m so happy because a crate of eggs we buy for N3,800 sells for N2,700. Also, bread is sold for N750 instead of N1,000 per a loaf, and one is permitted to buy two for N1500.
“The government has tried in this area and they should continue because I will come next week to buy again,” he said.
… As PTD Passes Vote of No Confidence on NUPENG Leaders
The Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) has levelled serious allegations against the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), accusing it of extortion and excessive levy collections within the downstream petroleum sector.
In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, ADITOP’s National President, Alhaji Lawal Dan-zaki, strongly dissociated the association from the purported strike action by NUPENG, declaring that ADITOP was originally established to counter what he described as the “excesses” of NUPENG, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), and other groups allegedly collecting illegal levies under NUPENG’s cover.
Dan-zaki alleged that for the past five years, ADITOP had submitted several petitions to top government agencies—including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation—accusing NUPENG of extortion and illegal financial practices.
According to him, NUPENG and its affiliates impose unauthorized levies on petroleum product distributors, including a charge of ₦1 per litre on every product loaded at depots, and an additional ₦1 per litre by marketers, alongside loading fees ranging between ₦80,000 and ₦100,000 per truck.
“This is outright extortion and economic sabotage by NUPENG, PTD, and their affiliated unions and associations,” Dan-zaki stated.
The allegations surfaced just days after the Lagos Zone of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG passed a vote of no confidence on the union’s national leadership. The vote targeted NUPENG National President, Comrade (Prince) Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, accusing them of “greed, impunity, manipulation, and gross incompetence.”
The internal dissent follows rising tensions over reported resistance by Dangote Refinery and MRS Holdings Limited to unionize their drivers and the rollout of 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for nationwide fuel distribution.
Dan-zaki concluded that while NUPENG continues to feed off these alleged illegal levies, it remits no tax revenue to the federal government, further exacerbating challenges in the downstream sector.
The Nigeria Customs Service has appointed Comptroller Wale Adenuga as the new Area Controller for the Seme Command, following the redeployment of Dr. Benedict Oramalugo, who was recently promoted to Assistant Comptroller General.
The development was announced in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Isah Sulaiman, on Tuesday in Lagos.
Speaking during the official handover, Comptroller Adenuga commended his predecessor for laying a solid foundation and pledged to focus his leadership on trade facilitation, enhanced security collaboration, and improved stakeholder engagement.
“Trade facilitation is my keyword,” he said. “With accurate declarations from stakeholders, cargo clearance can happen quickly. When trade flows smoothly, we boost revenue and reduce smuggling activities.”
Adenuga also assured that the Command would intensify collaboration with key government agencies including the DSS, Police, Immigration, NDLEA, NAFDAC, and the military to strengthen border security and foster a more conducive environment for legitimate trade.
He emphasized the importance of stakeholder relationships, pledging open lines of communication with traditional leaders, youth groups in Badagry, and the media. He also reaffirmed his commitment to discipline and professionalism within the service.
“My doors are open. I will lead by example to ensure that officers stay focused, disciplined, and committed. Together, we will uphold the values of the Nigeria Customs Service and make the Comptroller General, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, proud,” he stated.
Adenuga praised CGC Adewale Adeniyi, who also serves as the President of the World Customs Organisation Council, describing him as an exemplary leader whose standards will guide the Seme Command’s operations.
In his farewell address, Dr. Oramalugo expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve at the Seme border, calling the handover a moment of “mixed emotions”—relief at a successful tenure and sadness at leaving a team he had grown fond of.
He listed some of his key achievements, including:
- Effective suppression of smuggling with major seizures
- Improved revenue collection
- Smoother trade processes for legitimate businesses
- Stronger ties with security and regulatory agencies
Oramalugo also thanked the Customs management and stakeholders for their support and encouraged continued cooperation with the new controller.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has begun an investigation following the discovery of a lifeless body inside a vehicle at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Preliminary reports suggest the deceased may be a 55-year-old construction worker identified as Gaddafi Iwar, although police have not officially confirmed his identity. Sources indicate the vehicle had been parked in the same location for several days before the body was found.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the police confirmed that the body was discovered around 9:00 a.m. on Sunday inside a red Peugeot 406 parked at a construction site within the complex.
“On September 7, 2025, at about 09:00 hours, the FCT Police Command received a distress call reporting the discovery of an unidentified male, suspected to be a labourer, found lifeless at a construction site within the National Assembly Complex,” the statement read.
Officers from the National Assembly Police Division responded to the scene and found the body inside the vehicle, which bore the registration number BWR-577 BF. The body was evacuated to Asokoro General Hospital, where medical personnel confirmed it was already in an advanced state of decomposition.
The Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, has directed a discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and has instructed that efforts be intensified to identify the deceased.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
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