metro
Climate summit participants recommend establishment of foundation, finance scheme

By Dada Jackson
Participants at the just concluded Lagos 8th International Climate Change summit have recommended the establishment of a Climate Change Foundation that will include public and private sector stakeholders to address climate change issues in the state.
In a communique released at the weekend, the participants also urged the Lagos State Government to put in place appropriate framework for accessing climate finance utilizing the direct and indirect strategies for raising climate capital.
It was also suggested that the state should establish a standing inter-ministerial technical committee on climate change with relevant NGOs and private sector to develop strategies for implementing the Climate Action Plan (CAP) of the state, sector by sector and give regular advice to the government on it.
The communique also stated that Lagos State should incorporate resilience to long-term impact of climate change in the design and construction of buildings and critical public infrastructure with an addition that the state should make infrastructure more climate-resilient through retrofitting and implementation of regular maintenance regimes.
It suggested the development of a framework for the introduction of green sources of energy into its infrastructure development as well as a pursuit of an aggressive implementation of a climate-resilient Smart City initiative.
They also urged the state to vigorously pursue the implementation of the State’s Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP) to address transportation challenges and reduce green house gas emissions emanating from the sector.
It stated, “The Lagos State Government should put in place plans of action to support farmers in adopting climate-resilient agricultural practices and also put in place mechanisms for improved collaboration with other states to attain and sustain food security for the citizens of the State.”
It emphasised that the government should promote climate smart and eco-friendly agricultural practice and promote zero waste as well as explore the potential for bioenergy generation.
It advised that Lagos State Government should as part of its affirmative action implement gender-based initiatives targeted at empowering women to adapt to the impact of climate change.
It noted that the government through the Ministry of Information and Strategy and its agencies should commence advocacy on safety issues around the LPG across its value chain.
The participants urged the Lags State Government to improve surveillance through human, animal and environmental monitoring with a view to promoting good health and preventing disease.
“Lagos State Government should take advantage of the human capacity available within the tertiary institutions in the state to support research and innovation to generate new evidence and/or tools for health and to validate existing knowledge,” it also stated.
It also formed part of the resolutions that the state’s investment in continuous strengthening of human infrastructure and organisational capacity to address the challenges of Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) should be increased and sustained.
It added that the Lagos State Government should raise a forum to discuss the effects of rural-urban drift on the state environment and infrastructure.
The communique also urged the Lagos State Government to review and expand the scope of her Women Empowerment Initiatives to reach more women particularly those in rural communities.
The international climate change summit is an annual event by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources to address climate change issues that had just been resuscitated after a five-year lull.
metro
Ibadan Pastor ends 30-year-marriage over sex dispute with wife

Ibadan Pastor ends 30-year-marriage over sex dispute with wife
A Mapo Grade A Customary Court sitting in Ibadan on Friday acceded to prayers of one Pastor Olamide Agbejaife to end the 30-year cohabitation between him and his estranged wife, Mary, for frequently denying him sex denial and food poisoning.
Agbejaife, a resident of Olodo in Ibadan, told the court that his wife’s behaviour took a negative turn after he received a revelation in 2017 that he would marry another wife.
He claimed that since then, Mary had stopped engaging in sexual intimacy with him and had even attempted to poison him.
“On Dec. 6, 2021, I had a serious stomach upset after eating food given to me by Mary,” Agbejaife said.
“She also cursed me on several occasions without reason.
“After our first child was born in 1995, she started leaving our home without permission, often without providing any explanation.
“In fact, when I underwent surgery in 2022, Mary abandoned me for 14 months and only resurfaced later.”
READ ALSO:
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- Ekiti govt engages Muslim leaders after Mosque demolition tension
- Kemi Olunloyo angry, disowns family after father’s death
Agbejaife also revealed that Mary had told someone he had died after a poisoning incident.
In her response, Mary, a trader, pleaded with the court not to terminate their 30-year relationship, expressing her desire to enjoy the fruits of her labour and the children they had together.
“Agbejaife was the one who stopped having sexual intimacy with me and even moved out of the house,” Mary told the court in her defence.
“We have never had any physical fights, although we did quarrel occasionally,” she admitted.
Delivering judgment, the court’s President, Mrs O.E. Owoseni, ruled that Agbejaife and Mary were free to go their separate ways, as Mary was no longer interested in the relationship.
Owoseni pointed out that the union was not a valid customary marriage in the first place because the petitioner, Agbejaife, had not paid the bride price to the respondent.
Citing various sections of the law, the court held that none of the evidence provided by either party indicated that a dowry had been paid.
” This is a fundamental requirement for a valid customary marriage in Nigeria,”she said.
The court also struck out the prayer seeking to restrain Mary from harassing, threatening, or interfering with Agbejaife’s private life, as Agbejaife did not provide sufficient evidence to support his claim.
Ibadan Pastor ends 30-year-marriage over sex dispute with wife
(NAN)
metro
BREAKING: Protest in Rivers over emergency rule [VIDEO]

BREAKING: Protest in Rivers over emergency rule [VIDEO]
A large group of women have protested the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the ongoing emergency rule in the state.
The demonstrators gathered outside the State Government House in Port Harcourt and led a procession through the streets of the city.
Chanting songs in solidarity with the suspended governor and holding placards, the women demanded the restoration of democratic leadership.
Governor Fubara was suspended in a controversial manner in March after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state. The federal government appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator to oversee affairs for an initial period of six months.
However, the protesting women accused the federal government of using the emergency rule to push a political agenda, not to address any real security threat.
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- Ekiti govt engages Muslim leaders after Mosque demolition tension
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“This imposition is not driven by any genuine threat to national security but is clearly a politically motivated manoeuvre aimed at subjugating our people and undermining our constitutional democracy,” the women said in a statement titled “Liberation Walk and Call for the Restoration of Democratic Leadership.”
They criticised the Sole Administrator, accusing him of acting beyond his powers and trying to take control of the state unjustly.
The protesters questioned why a state like Rivers, which has remained relatively peaceful, is under emergency rule, while more troubled states like Borno, Zamfara, and Kaduna have not received the same treatment.
“What we are witnessing is not governance—it is occupation. Not democracy, but autocracy,” the women declared.
The group made several demands, including: immediate reinstatement of Governor Fubara and other democratic institutions in Rivers State; an end to the military-style emergency rule, which they described as unconstitutional and unjustified; intervention from respected Nigerian leaders and diplomats to help reverse the decision; support from civil society and the international community to defend democracy in Rivers State.
They warned that women and youths in the state would no longer remain silent in the face of what they called repression and political takeover.
“Rivers State is the heart of the Niger Delta. Peace has prevailed in our communities. We will not allow anyone to steal our voices or subvert our will. Democracy must be restored,” the statement by the protesters added.
BREAKING: Protest in Rivers over emergency rule [VIDEO] pic.twitter.com/j4pA8FZm2q
— Newstrends.Ng (@Newstrends_ng) April 11, 2025
BREAKING: Protest in Rivers over emergency rule [VIDEO]
metro
Ekiti govt engages Muslim leaders after Mosque demolition tension

Ekiti govt engages Muslim leaders after Mosque demolition tension
The Ekiti government has engaged in peace talks with Muslim leaders under the aegis of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) in a bid to ease tensions following the demolition of a mosque in Aramoko LGA in the state.
Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, who met with the religious leaders, assured them that the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji remains committed to religious harmony and peaceful coexistence.
The mosque in question was allegedly demolished to pave the way for an ultra-modern market, a constituency project of Senate Leader and Ekiti Central Senator, Opeyemi Bamidele.
Speaking during the meeting, Afuye stated that the Alara-in-Council, led by the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, Oba Olu Adeyemi, had already allocated another plot of land for the rebuilding of the mosque.
She urged the Muslim community to remain calm and assured them of the government’s commitment to justice.
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- Kemi Olunloyo angry, disowns family after father’s death
- Amnesty Int’l slams NBC over ban of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song
- Defamation: Falana urges Akpabio to sue without involving police
“I am even happy that the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti is a Muslim leader. He can’t be in a place where you will be cheated,” Afuye said.
“We will convene a stakeholders’ meeting soon to ensure a peaceful resolution.”
The Deputy Governor added that the Senate Leader’s project was intended to develop the town in a way that benefits all residents, including Muslims, and that the provision of a new plot for the mosque shows the community’s respect for Islamic worshippers.
In response, SCIA President, Dr. Hameed Bakare, commended the government’s swift intervention and expressed hope for a timely and amicable resolution.
“We want this matter resolved quickly. We believe Governor Oyebanji will not allow it to fester,” he said.
Chief Imam of Aramoko Ekiti, Alhaji Abdul-Raheem Bamigbola, raised concern that two mosques had been demolished in the community within six months for development projects, with little effort made to rebuild them.
He stated that while the Muslim community supports development, their place of worship must be restored at a suitable location.
“We appreciate Senator Bamidele’s developmental strides, but he must fulfill his promise to build another mosque for us,” the Imam said.
Ekiti govt engages Muslim leaders after Mosque demolition tension
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