News
State Governments Can Offset, Waive Minor Fines Owed By Inmates – Aregbesola
The Federal Government has revealed that state governors can offset or grant waivers to inmates with fines less than N1 million.
This is according to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, during the commissioning of a 20-bed space medical facility at Port Harcourt maximum security custodial centre.
Aregbesola said while the Federal Government is finding long time solutions to the challenge of prison decongestion, the State Government can in the meantime provide basic supports, like offsetting the meager fines and debts, building court houses at the correctional services premises or try the defendants virtually from the Correctional Centres for speedy determination of cases.
He held that some of the inmates are held behind bars for minor offences that can be easily waved by the states.
The Minister further stated that he recently asked the comptroller of Correctional centres to compile the list of inmates whose reason for incarceration is a fine or a debt not more than one million naira that are meant to be paid to the state governments.
According to him, about 5,000 inmates where shortlisted under this category and most of them have stayed long enough in the care of the Federal Government to consume foods worth more than they are supposed to pay as fines and debt to the states.
According to him, in Rivers State, there are about 22 of such inmates and the 22 of them are collectively owing a little above 3million naira, an amount he thinks the State Government can offset or wave for the inmates to be freed.
The minister noted that apart from reducing the financial burden on the Federal Government, such decisions by the state will also help in decongesting the correctional centres.
He said for instance, the Maximum facility in Port Harcourt was built 1,800 inmates, but as of May 12, 2023 the centre was holding 3,100 inmates.
While emphasizing that the situation in Port Harcourt is a reflection of the cases in most of the facilities across the country, the minister said Additionally, the Federal Government is building 6 mega facilities with at least 3,000 capacity in the six geopolitical zones to further decongest the existing facilities.
The one for the South-South is located in Bori in Khana Local Government Area of the Ogoni ethnic group in Rivers State.
News
I’m Proudly Nigerian, says Fashola
Former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during his keynote address at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, where he spoke extensively on national identity, migration, patriotism and Nigeria’s global image.
” I remain firmly Nigerian by choice, conviction and identity.”
Former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during his keynote address at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, where he spoke extensively on national identity, migration, patriotism and Nigeria’s global image.
He stressed the need for Nigerians, at home and abroad, to take collective ownership of the country and its problems.
“I don’t think we own Nigeria enough. So, I heard some of our colleagues and our compatriots who, by virtue of the 1999 Constitution, have dual citizenships. But I have only one,” said Fashola.
“And when they talk to me, they say, your country. I say, stop. It’s our country. Your problem is our problem. There must be a common ownership on every platform. If we have common ownership, we will solve it. So, from my childhood experience, I tell people I’m not just a proud Nigerian, I’m an arrogant one. I’m arrogant about my country.“I tell people that I have not received one day’s education outside this country.
All my education was here. So, proudly made in Nigeria. Arrogantly, too. So everything, every inch that we think that we have lost, we can get back if we decide to,” he stated.
News
Opral Benson is alive, safe and not missing – AREF , Family
AREF confirms that Mrs. Benson is currently in Liberia, her presence there is voluntary and known.
The African Refugees Foundation (AREF) and family source said that its president, Opral Benson, popularly known as the Iya Oge of Lagos, is alive, safe and not missing.
Her family earlier said that the 90-year-old was last seen on January 13 and had not returned home since then.
However, a statement , titled, Dear Friends, RE: My Mum, signed by her daughter, Bimbo, confirmed that Benson was in Liberia.
Also, the chief executive officer of AREF, Olujimi Olusola III, Said that Benson is hale and hearty, and there is no cause for concern.“
AREF confirms that Mrs. Benson is currently in Liberia, her presence there is voluntary and known.
News
Lagos urges residents to prepare for 64 days traffic from Lekki Phase 1–Ajah Bridge as reconstruction begins
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, said that the rehabilitation works on Sections 2 and 3 of the expressway will commence on Sunday, 25 January 2026, and last for an estimated 64 days.
• Sangotedo – Bogije section of Lekki -Epe expressway / Ohibaba.com
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday announced a 64-day traffic diversion for the reconstruction of the Ajah Bridge to Admiralty section (inbound Lagos) of the Lekki–Epe Expressway.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, said that the rehabilitation works on Sections 2 and 3 of the expressway will commence on Sunday, 25 January 2026, and last for an estimated 64 days.
Daramola said that the project will follow a traffic management plan, with work carried out intersection by intersection rather than along the entire corridor at once.
Construction will be carried out both day and night to accelerate completion.
He explained that though a stakeholder meeting had been held late last year with plans to begin work, the project was postponed due to the yuletide festivities.
The festivities are over, and the state government has instructed the contractor to move to site to commence work on Sunday,” he said.
Intersections will be worked on at night to maintain better traffic flow.
I’m Proudly Nigerian, says Fashola
Opral Benson is alive, safe and not missing – AREF , Family
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