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Hardship: Lagos Assembly Asks Sanwo-Olu To Summon Stakeholders’ Meeting
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday asked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently summon a stakeholders’ meeting to address the current hardship experienced by residents of the state for the government to adopt sustainable solutions beyond palliatives.
The lawmakers noted that though the current economic situation pervades the entire Nigeria and is mostly global in outlook, Lagos State and its local governments must do more to ameliorate the suffering in the land.
The House also advised leaders and statesmen to join forces with the government and play persuasive roles instead of inciting the people against the government.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said the situation called for a stakeholders’ meeting for the input of everyone including members of the National and state Assembly as well as local government chairmen.
“No doubt, there is a challenge before us as representatives of the people and it is the duty of all of us to proffer solutions.
“This is a situation that started long ago in Nigeria and was graduating. Unfortunately, we are facing this now. The dollar issue did not start now. The prices of food and how farmers had been prevented from going to farms as a result of insecurity did not start now.
“The most unfortunate thing about it has to do with the comments coming from some leaders of the country. Instead of using their wisdom to appeal to the people, they use their words to incite people against the government as if they have not been in the country before now.
“We cannot leave the Federal Government alone to proffer solutions to our problems. There is no ‘abracadabra’ about it.
“The immediate concern is to appeal to our people. Protests and violence will not solve anything but take us backwards. Nobody prayed for the current situation but we must work hand-in-hand to take us away from this mess.
It is not the president’s fault, neither is it the governor’s fault,” Dr. Obasa said while commending Governor Sanwo-Olu for recently starting the Trader Money programme through which 15,000 traders have benefitted.
The Speaker directed that the commissioners for agriculture and transportation, Ms. Ruth Abisola Olusanya and Oluwaseun Osiyemi, respectively as well as related parastatals and agencies be invited to brief the House on their plans to make life more comfortable for the people just as he urged serious sanctions against those who hoard dollars in the country.
“All this while, we have been talking about sports to take our youth off the streets as we have seen in other countries. Let us inject money into it and make it attractive so that they would be engaged. Our system of education must also be adjusted to emphasise what students can become on their own without seeking or applying for jobs.
“There is a need for orientation and sensitisation. There are a lot of complaints and negatives out there. The government should also embark on campaigns and orientation to make the people know the real situation and what is being done. The government’s voice must be louder than those who are hell-bent on destroying the country,” Dr. Obasa said while lamenting the current prices of cement and iron even when most of the materials are locally sourced.
Earlier speaking under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, Hon. Segun Adebisi Ege representing Ojo Constituency 1 lamented the hardship rocking the state.
Ege also urged that Governor Sanwo-Olu be called upon to subsidise transportation and prices of food items in the state.
In his contribution, Deputy Majority Leader, Richard Adedamola Kasunmu, said there was a need for the government to bring out actionable plans to solve the economic problem in the country.
On his part, Hon. Adewale Temitope said the entire economic situation must be looked at holistically for a solution while Hon. Femi Saheed noted that other countries are facing the same situation with the price of a bag of rice over N120,000 in Cameroon and Ghana, is approximately N97,000. He emphasised the need to improve agriculture.
Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu stressed the need for the Lagos government to prioritise power while Nureni Akinsanya of Mushin Constituency 1 advocated for food banks in Lagos State to make residents buy at cheaper rates.
The management of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, has denied allegations that it withheld funds disbursed under the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme.
The denial follows reports by an online news platform alleging that some graduates of the institution accused the university of failing to release student loan funds approved in their names.
In a statement made available to journalists and signed by the Principal Assistant Registrar and Head of Information, Protocol and Public Relations, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, the university insisted that there was “no scandal of any kind” in its handling of the student loan programme.
“The management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, wishes to categorically state that there is no scandal of any kind in our dealings with NELFUND and the benefitting students of our university,” the statement said.
The university explained that it first participated in the NELFUND loan programme during the 2024/2025 academic session, noting that the timing of the loan application process created complications for some students who were completing the previous academic year.
According to the management, when the loan application portal opened, the university was still concluding the 2023/2024 academic session.
“As at the time the application portal opened for the 2024/2025 loan scheme, our university was concluding the 2023/2024 academic session. Some final-year students applied for the loan, but by the time of disbursement, they had already graduated,” the statement explained.
The institution said the development created uncertainty regarding the eligibility of the affected applicants, prompting the university to seek clarification from the management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
“Due to this conflict, we sought clarification from NELFUND, and they indicated that the affected individuals were not eligible since they were no longer students at the time of disbursement,” the statement added.
AAU further maintained that it had complied with all the guidelines and procedures provided by the loan fund and assured that discussions with the agency were ongoing to resolve the issue.
“We complied with NELFUND’s guidelines. Engagement on this matter remains ongoing, and affected graduates will be kept informed of updates through established channels,” the university stated.
The clarification comes amid allegations by 13 graduates of the institution who claimed that the university withheld loan funds disbursed in their names under the NELFUND scheme.
According to the affected graduates, they applied for the loan during their final year but were unable to access the funds before their final examinations, forcing them to rely on personal savings, family assistance and private loans to pay their tuition fees.
They alleged that months after graduating, they discovered that the loan had already been disbursed to the university, despite the fact that they had independently settled their school fees.
The graduates also expressed concern that the loan still appears under their names on the NELFUND portal, raising fears that they may be required to repay funds they never personally received.
They have therefore called on the university to provide a formal explanation, refund the loan amounts, and clarify how repayment obligations would be handled if the funds are not returned.
The controversy has sparked renewed debate about the implementation of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme and the need for clear administrative processes to prevent disputes between institutions and beneficiaries.
The Enugu State House of Assembly has passed a landmark law aimed at harmonizing taxes and levies across the state, a move intended to eliminate illegal roadblocks and unauthorized collections that have long burdened residents.
The bill, titled “Enugu State Harmonises Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Law 2026,” underwent thorough readings and deliberations, including review by a committee of the whole house, before being passed into law.
Members of the Assembly emphasized that the legislation would curb multiple taxation, promote transparency, and ensure proper verification of taxes through the Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue.
Hon. Iloabuchi Aniagu, representing Nkanu West State Constituency, highlighted the persistent menace of illegal roadblocks, particularly along federal roads, and urged residents to verify taxes directly with the Board of Internal Revenue to avoid undue payments.
“With this bill, we will put a stop to these roadblocks so that every collection of any state tax will be straight,” Aniagu said, stressing the importance of proper public awareness.
Hon. Malachy Onyechi of Nsukka West praised the law for fostering transparency and good governance, noting that harmonized taxes would strengthen government revenue and fund infrastructural development. He emphasized that educating citizens on tax structures is key to ensuring compliance and understanding of government operations.
Hon. Okey Mbah added that the law would boost investor confidence by providing a predictable and stable tax environment, while advocating for public sensitization to prevent misinformation.
However, some concerns were raised about enforcement and penalties for illegal levies. Hon. Raymond Ugwu suggested that proposed penalties may be too lenient and recommended the creation of a regulatory board to oversee enforcement and determine appropriate punishments.
Overall, the law marks a significant step toward a more transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly taxation system in Enugu State, protecting residents from arbitrary levies while enhancing fiscal discipline and good governance.
MultiChoice is shutting down its streaming platform, Showmax, after eleven years of operation.
The decision taken by the company was communicated to Showmax subscribers on Thursday.
“We’re writing to inform you of an important update regarding Showmax,” the streaming platform said in the mail sent to its subscribers.
“Following a comprehensive review, the Showmax Board has taken the decision to discontinue the Showmax service in the near future.”
MultiChoice said the move is a reflection of its bid to “focus on strengthening our overall digital offering and ensuring long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive streaming environment.
“Importantly, at the moment there will be no interruption to your current service. You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time”.
While it did not provide a timeline for the discontinuation of the Showmax streaming service, MultiChoice said subscribers remain their “priority”.
“We understand that this news may raise questions. Showmax subscribers are a priority for us, and we are working on plans to ensure clear communication and a smooth transition when the time comes.
“We will share further details well in advance, including timelines and any future steps, should they be required,” the subscription video-on-demand, over-the-top streaming service said.
Showmax was launched in 2015 in South Africa but has, over the years, spread rapidly across the continent, operating in scores of countries.
Its operation began to compete with global streaming platforms and to respond to increasing demands for online entertainment on the continent.
Showmax offers sports, movies, documentaries, and series streamed over the internet.
Last year, South African authorities approved the takeover of MultiChoice by pay-TV powerhouse and StudioCanal parent company Canal+.
That move paved the way for the French media giant to acquire Africa’s largest pay-TV group, which includes DStv and GOtv.
Under the terms of the deal, Canal+ has made a mandatory cash offer of ZAR 125 ($7.11) per share to acquire all outstanding ordinary shares of MultiChoice not already owned by the French media group.
The approved conditions include public interest commitments aimed at enhancing the participation of historically disadvantaged persons (HDPs) and small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa’s audiovisual sector. The commitments also guarantee sustained investment in local general entertainment and sports programming.
Canal+ and MultiChoice are now set to implement a structural arrangement, unveiled in February, which addresses local ownership regulations under South Africa’s Electronic Communications Act.
The plan includes the separation of MultiChoice’s South African broadcasting licensee, MultiChoice, into an independent, HDP-majority-owned entity.
AAU denies withholding NELFUND student loans
Enugu Assembly passes law to harmonize taxes, ban illegal levies, roadblocks
MultiChoice To Shut Down Streaming Platform Showmax After 11 Years
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