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SANWO-OLU DELIVERS 16TH HOUSING PROJECT IN THREE YEARS, RAISES LAGOS HOUSING STOCK

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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and others during the commissioning ceremony
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•LSDPC, Private Real Estate firm complete 38-flat scheme in V.I

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, opened a mini-housing scheme in a residential neighbourhood of Victoria Island, further raising the housing stock of the State.

Channel Point Apartments are a composite housing project jointly developed by the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) and Brook Assets and Resources Limited, a private real estate developer.

The housing scheme, located in Sinari Daranijo Street, consists of twin blocks of 38-unit two-and three-bedroom flats on a land size of 2,832 square metres.

The project makes it the 16th housing project completed and commissioned in the last three years by the Sanwo-Olu administration.

The Governor said the new milestone showed the result of collaboration between Government and the private sector, noting that his administration’s drive to provide affordable and decent housing for the residents through public-private collaboration had yielded positive outcomes.

Sanwo-Olu said the urban renewal agenda of the State Government remained on course, adding that the overall goal of provision of modern housing and infrastructure was to ensure that the State sustained its growth and the megacity status.

He said: “I congratulate LSDPC and Asset Brooks and Resources Limited on the successful completion of this edifice. Progress is, indeed, achievable when public and private sector enterprises come together, bringing their core strengths to the table, for the good of the entire society. This positive outcome is yet another testimony to the effective collaboration between Government and the private sector in the implementation of our agenda to provide affordable and decent housing for our people.

“I am impressed by the quality of work done by the contractor, which reflects the quality of monitoring and supervision by the LSDPC, which has sustained the high standards set long before now. We shall continue to pursue and implement this tried-and-tested model of public-private collaboration, as it has proven to be a potent strategy for keeping up with the rate of demand for housing by our rapidly increasing population.”

Sanwo-Olu said his administration had pursued its urban renewal policy vigorously, which resulted in rehabilitation and reconstruction of various infrastructure across the State.

He promised to continue to provide a supportive environment for business and investment to flourish, while improving life expectancy in the State.

The Governor said the ongoing automation and digitisation reforms in property records and land administration in Lagos were already yielding positive outcomes, stressing that the Enterprise Geographic Information System (e-GIS) being introduced by the State Government for transparent land allocation would be ready before the end of the year.

“We are giving commitment that before the end of the year, our e-GIS platform, which will unlock openness and raise efficiency in processing of property titles within weeks at applicant’s comfort zone, will be delivered. Disagreements over land titles will be a thing of the past,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Governor assured residents that provision of decent, affordable housing remained a key priority for his administration, disclosing more housing schemes were due for completion across the State.

LSDPC Managing Director, Mr. Ayodeji Joseph, described the project as “another progress” recorded by the Sanwo-Olu administration in closing the housing deficit in Lagos.

Development of the Channel Point Apartments, the agency boss said, was conceptualised during Sanwo-Olu’s tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of LSDPC. He said the site of the project had two bungalow houses before the agency converted it into a mini estate.

Managing Director of Brook Assets and Resources Limited, Ms. Lanre Sola, said the scheme offered luxury accommodation for the comfort of the allottees.

“Despite the challenges we encountered in the course of the development, including the paucity of funding occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19, we were resilient and showed great commitment to deliver the project,” she said.

The mini estate has modern facilities, such as a water treatment plant, LPG Reticulation Service, fitness gym, swimming pool, roof-top cinema, sit-out space and two elevators per block.

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Senate Moves to Reshape Legal Profession, Proposes Two-Year Mandatory Pupillage for New Lawyers

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The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday considered sweeping reforms to the legal profession, passing into second reading a bill seeking to amend the Legal Practitioners Act 2004. Central to the proposal is a mandatory two-year pupillage programme for newly called lawyers, designed to align training and regulation with global best practices.

Debating the bill at plenary, lawmakers agreed that the legal system must evolve in response to technological advancement, complex commercial transactions, and growing demands for professional accountability. The bill was sponsored and led by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

According to Bamidele, the current law — nearly six decades old in design — no longer reflects contemporary realities of legal practice. He explained that the reform seeks to modernise oversight structures, strengthen discipline mechanisms, and enhance the quality of service within the profession.

A major highlight of the bill is the restructuring of the Body of Benchers, which, for the first time, will be established as a corporate legal entity with financial autonomy, strengthened secretariat, and defined rule-making authority. The reforms also introduce a clearer institutional framework for committees, oversight, and policy enforcement.

The Senate Leader stressed that the initiative would deliver “a coordinated and well-modernised regulatory framework that addresses admission to the bar, discipline, and professional standards.”

The bill also seeks to fast-track disciplinary processes by reorganising the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC). Under the proposed structure, multiple panels would sit across the country while wielding broader sanctioning powers, including suspension, disbarment, restitution, compensation, cost awards, and formal apologies. For transparency, disciplinary outcomes will be published, while affected practitioners will retain the right of appeal to the Supreme Court.

Additionally, the proposal creates a new Ethics, Adherence and Enforcement Committee empowered to inspect law offices, demand records, investigate public complaints, and prosecute cases before the LPDC.

To further boost competence, two years of compulsory pupillage and ongoing professional development will now be requirements for lawyers before full practice certification and licence renewal.

The bill also criminalises unauthorised legal practice, clearly defining the practice of law to protect the public from impersonators and unqualified service providers. Other provisions address the regulation of foreign lawyers, reform of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria rank, and improved safeguards for clients and public trust.

Speaking in support, Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno, recalled his experience entering practice over 35 years ago, noting that the realities of the digital age justify reform.

“This bill is very apt and germane,” Monguno said. “We are in the digital age, and our legal profession must reflect these realities.”

The Senate subsequently referred the bill to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for public hearing and a report within two weeks.

 

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Tinubu Approves Nigerian Team for US–Nigeria Joint Security Working Group

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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President Bola Tinubu has approved the Nigerian contingent of the US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, a new collaborative platform aimed at strengthening security cooperation between both countries.

The decision follows agreements reached during a recent high-level visit to Washington, D.C., led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu will head the Nigerian side of the Working Group, supported by senior officials drawn from key security and government institutions.

The Nigerian members include Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Bernard M. Doro.

Also on the team are the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed; and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Ms. Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser and Mr. Paul Alabi of the Nigerian Embassy in the United States will serve as the secretariat.

President Tinubu urged the members to work closely with their US counterparts to ensure the effective implementation of all agreements reached across various sectors.

The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

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Obasanjo Returns $20,000 Allegedly Given for Fayose’s Birthday Logistics

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EX President Olusegun Obasanjo and Former Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose
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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has returned the $20,000 allegedly provided to him by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, ahead of Fayose’s 65th birthday celebration, following a fresh disagreement between the two political figures.

Fayose confirmed the development during an interview with AF24 News, where he narrated the sequence of events surrounding the controversy. According to him, preparations for his birthday prompted him to reach out to individuals he had previously fallen out with politically. He noted that this move was aimed at “mending fences,” but stressed that his call to Obasanjo should not be misconstrued as an apology.

The former governor recounted that Obasanjo visited his Lagos residence days before the celebration and expressed willingness to attend the event, despite having a conflicting engagement in Rwanda. Fayose said that during the visit, Obasanjo requested financial support for his travel logistics, prompting him to provide $20,000.

“I changed $20,000 and gave it to him. How can you accept somebody’s money and come and be spiting that person?” Fayose said, expressing disappointment over Obasanjo’s subsequent public remarks.

The matter escalated after Obasanjo stated that he had not opened the money and would return it, comments that Fayose considered disrespectful. In response, Fayose said he sent the former president a strongly worded text message demanding clarity and expressing his displeasure.

Following the exchange, Obasanjo reportedly returned the money.

“I have written to him, and he has returned my $20,000,” Fayose confirmed during the interview. When asked how he felt about the return of the funds, he replied: “I am very happy. I will not allow such a man to carry my money away.”

The clash adds another layer to the long-standing political tension between both men, who have had a history of public disagreements spanning several years.

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