Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, signed the ₦4.4 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law.

The Lagos State House of Assembly had earlier passed the budget, tagged the “Budget of Shared Prosperity,” in January, approving the appropriation of ₦4,444,509,776,438 for the 2026 fiscal year.

Sanwo-Olu said that the budget was designed to drive inclusive growth and improve the welfare of residents.

“Our mission remains clear: to build a Lagos that works for all, adding that his administration’s vision is to deliver a Greater Lagos where shared prosperity is a tangible reality.

Sanwo-Olu emphasised that the budget is anchored on four key pillars—human-centred development, modern infrastructure, a thriving economy, and effective governance—in line with the state’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda.

Photo: People scooping the diesel

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA )and it’s sister agency – Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service , have averted the explosion of a 45,000 diesel tanker which upturned at Liverpool bridge outward Apapa, Tin Can Island, Lagos.

The tanker has been saved from secondary incident while security agents are doing their best to curtail the scooping crowd.

Watch the video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTsFWSXDoKB/?igsh=MTBsMzNhdmtuMzZrdw

Members of the public are urged to exercise EXTREME CAUTION to avoid any secondary incident from scooping product or lighting any flame near the area.

Motorists are advised to take alternative routes.

• Activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore

The Federal Government through the Department of State Services (DSS), has removed social media platforms X and Facebook from the list of defendants in its Cyberbullying case with the ‎‎activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant

In the case adjourned until 22 January for the commencement of trial, ‎‎Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the amended charges of cyberbullying Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, by referring to him as a “criminal” on X and Facebook.‎‎

At the resumed hearing of the case at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, counsel for the government, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, informed Justice Mohammed Umar of the two-count amended charge.‎‎

While government counsel expressed readiness to commence trial, with a witness present in court, defense counsel Abubakar Marshal opposed the move.

Marshal argued that the witness information and sworn statement were not attached to the charge.

He cited Section 36(6) of the Nigerian Constitution, which requires that witness depositions and names be frontloaded with the charges.‎‎

Countering this position, Kehinde SAN maintained that it would not serve the interest of fair hearing to adjourn the matter, noting that previous adjournments had been at the instance of the defendant.

He further argued that since the case is criminal rather than civil, only the list of witnesses and exhibits is required to be filed.‎‎

Justice Mohammed Umar, in his ruling, directed the prosecution to provide all relevant documents to the defense team.

In the charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that Sowore knowingly and intentionally disseminated false messages through his official X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.

In one post, he wrote:‎‎“This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”‎‎

The prosecution contends that by referring to the Nigerian President as a “criminal,” Sowore published a false statement intended to cause a breakdown of law and order, thereby posing a threat to life.‎‎

The charges carry a penalty of a minimum fine of Fifteen Million Naira (₦15,000,000.00) or imprisonment for a term of five years.