SOUTH-WEST NGR NEWS

By Mogaji Wole Arisekola. Have you noticed this in family circles? If you don’t, lend me your ears. In the beginning of family life, I mean the husband, wife, and their children, men are the first to be in control because of the nature of their responsibilities. He caters for the wife and children. He is the major provider in the family. The children are young, and their immediate needs are in the hands of their father. Both the mother and the children are at the mercy of their breadwinner, who is the head of the family. Men will come back home and charge at the kids if he discovers that they are not doing well academically or they failed to do their chores at home. That is the most interesting period in the lifetime of the father. He is in control. But unfortunately for him, the normal threatening words, “Wait for your father, I will report you to him,” create fear and build resentment in the minds of children. It creates a gap between the children and their father, which ...

The disagreement did not begin as something extraordinary. It started with words sharp, careless words spoken without regard for how deeply they could wound. One of them landed with enough force to change the air between us. Voices rose. Respect fell away. The house felt smaller, tighter, as though it could no longer contain what was unfolding inside it. Something broke that day not loudly, but deeply enough to leave unseen scars. The children had already gone to school. She left without waiting. She did not wait for the school bus to bring them home. She did not wait at the junction where a mother should stand, scanning the road for familiar faces. I was away on business, believing mistakenly that home was still intact. When I returned that evening, the house was not merely quiet. It was wrong. There were no school bags by the door. No hurried footsteps. No small voices calling, “Daddy.” My heart sank before my mind could make sense of it. Then my children appeared gentle ...

In Nigeria, death doesn’t always knock before entering. Sometimes it drifts quietly through the hospital gate, collects a card, is told to “wait small,” and sits down like it belongs. Sometimes, it wears a white coat. From the cracked walls of rural clinics to the marble-floored corridors of private hospitals, Nigerians are dying—not always from the illnesses that brought them in, but from the hands that were supposed to save them. The real tragedy isn’t death itself—it’s how many of these deaths are completely preventable. How careless. How routine. How easily swept away along with a patient’s file. Not long ago, the death of a prominent writer’s son shook the nation. This was no poverty-stricken household, no case of ignorance. This was a child born into education, access, and influence—yet he died in a Lagos hospital under circumstances that raised grim, unavoidable questions. Was the diagnosis rushed? Was monitoring lax? Were warning signs ignored because someone was ti...

An Ibadan-based motorist has accused officers of the Nigeria Police Force of extortion and abuse of power following an incident at the Testing Ground in Ibadan on Tuesday. According to the victim, Mr Afolabi Akinfenwa the officers stopped his vehicle and cited an alleged error in his vehicle documents, specifically, a discrepancy in the chassis number where the letter “U” was mistakenly written as the number “4.” The motorist stated that he was unaware of the clerical error and insisted that it posed no material issue warranting sanctions. Despite this, the officers reportedly declared his documents invalid and initially demanded N200,000 to allow him proceed. After several hours of delay, intimidation, and pressure, while he was on his way to an important appointment in Kwara State, the demand was allegedly reduced to N20,000, which he says he paid under duress. Sponsored Ads The motorist further revealed that he contacted a senior officer at the Iyaganku Polic...

The Chief Executive Officer of Agidigbo FM and renowned radio presenter, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, has officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 Oyo State governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party. Hamzat made the declaration public on Saturday in Ibadan, where a large crowd of supporters, party members, and political associates gathered to witness the formal announcement of his entry into the governorship race. Speaking at the event, the popular broadcaster said his decision to run was driven by a strong desire to serve the people of Oyo State and contribute meaningfully to the development of the state. He described his ambition as a response to persistent calls from residents who believe his grassroots influence, media experience, and philanthropic activities can translate into effective governance. Oriyomi Hamzat, widely known for his outspoken radio programmes and humanitarian interventions through Agidigbo FM, stated that he has cho...

The European Union (EU) has removed Nigeria, along with five other African countries, from its list of “high-risk third country jurisdictions” for money laundering and terrorism financing. The other countries delisted include South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The decision reportedly follows the countries’ successful removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list after reforms to strengthen their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) frameworks. Sponsored Ads  In October 2025, the FATF announced Nigeria’s delisting from its grey list of countries with deficiencies in their AML/CFT regimes. According to Business Insider Africa, the European Commission confirmed on Wednesday that the affected countries had addressed “strategic deficiencies” in their financial systems and now meet international standards set by the FATF. The commission said the reforms implemented by the countries wer...

By Mogaji Wole Arisekola The Yoruba are the dominant people of South West Nigeria. They are widely known for their sharp intellect, rich culture, sense of humour and long tradition of education and political organisation. In the First and Second Republics, the Yoruba practised a largely regional form of politics. Their focus was the development and protection of their region.  The dominant political party was the Action Group, led by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. By the Second Republic, the Unity Party of Nigeria had emerged, and it swept all gubernatorial elections across the Yoruba states. What made the Yoruba political system strong then was structure. Leadership was not accidental. Succession was deliberate.  The five South West governors met regularly, spoke with one voice and operated with a clear regional blueprint. When Chief Awolowo passed on, leadership naturally shifted to Chief Lateef Jakande and the late Chief Bola Ige. After the assassination of Chi...

The federal government has paused issuing guidelines for the implementation of Nigeria’s new tax laws amid uncertainty over the final approved version, Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Tax Reform Committee, disclosed. Speaking in Lagos during the 2026 Economic Outlook event hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Oyedele revealed he instructed the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) to hold off on implementing the laws until clarity is achieved. Concerns arose because the documents circulating may not reflect the definitive version of the laws.  Oyedele’s team attempted to purchase official printed copies from the government printer but was told by staff that all copies had been taken by the National Assembly, which restricted public access until their review is complete. While legislative review is a normal part of the process, Oyedele explained that withholding the official text contradicts the Ac...

Nigerian singer, Davido, has lost a $50,000 (₦72 million) bet after the Super Eagles failed to defeat Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Before the match, the singer had posted a betting slip on his X page showing he wagered $50,000 on Nigeria to beat the host nation and for both sides to score.  In his post, the singer wrote: “Nigeria to make the finals and I’ll double my stake on my slip.” The match played on Wednesday night, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, ended in a goalless draw in regular time, before Morocco sealed a 4 -2 victory in a penalty shootout.  Had the prediction been correct, Davido would have won over $348,274, equivalent to more than ₦500 million at current rates.

The Delta State Police Command has foiled a planned kidnap operation and recovered firearms and ammunition from the fleeing hoodlums, who also abandoned their soaked garri and groundnut. In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, the command said operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team, acting on credible intelligence, stormed a suspected criminal hideout along a bush path in the Upper Agbarho area of the state. According to the statement, intelligence reports indicated that about six suspected kidnappers were sighted in the area, prompting a coordinated operation at about 9:35 p.m. on January 11, 2026. The operation was led by Julius Robinson in collaboration with community vigilantes. “Upon sighting the police operatives, the suspects opened fire,” the command said, adding that officers responded “with superior firepower,” forcing the suspects to flee with varying degrees of injury. The police disclos...

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to step in and “call to order” the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Ibrahim Gothan, over what he described as unlawful arrests and prolonged detentions in the state. The governor also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of one of his aides, Abiodun Adegoke Apesin, who has been in police custody for several days over a defamation petition linked to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Bola Oyebamiji. In a statement issued in Osogbo on Monday, Governor Adeleke faulted the continued detention of Mr Adegoke, arguing that it amounts to a violation of his fundamental human rights. He stressed that the allegation in question is a non-capital offence and is bailable under Nigerian law. According to the governor, the aide has been denied bail on two separate occasions despite meeting all the conditions set...

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and governorship hopeful for the 2027 election in Oyo State, Aare Olayinka Segelu, has mourned the victims of the recent deadly attack on the Old Oyo National Park, calling for a coordinated and robust security framework to safeguard the South-West against rising insecurity. In a statement issued on Sunday, Aare Segelu described the attack as “deeply distressing and unacceptable,” noting that the killing of security personnel at a federal conservation facility highlights the urgent need for proactive, intelligence-driven, and collaborative security responses across the region. Recall that suspected bandits last week attacked a National Park Service outpost at Oloka village in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, killing several park rangers and triggering fear among residents of neighbouring communities. Promoted Contents  The PDP chieftain said the incident was not only a tragedy for the vic...