NEWS
Hardship: FG Spends N5bn On Renovating VP Shettima’s Lagos Residence
The Nigerian government has sparked outrage after spending a staggering N5.03 billion on renovating the official Lagos residence of Vice President, Kashim Shettima, despite the ongoing economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians.
This expenditure was revealed through data from GovSpend, a civic tech platform dedicated to tracking and analyzing government spending.
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The renovation costs were spread over two payments: on May 31, 2024, N2.83 billion was paid to Denderi Investment Limited for initial refurbishment work.
Another payment of N726.7 million was made on September 5, 2024, followed by a second-phase renovation cost of N1.48 billion, all directed to the same engineering firm.
The expenditure, however, has sparked outrage among many Nigerians, with critics questioning the appropriateness of such spending at a time when the country is facing economic challenges.
Particularly controversial is the fact that the Vice President’s official residence in Lagos, being upgraded, comes on top of another planned N15 billion expenditure for the construction of a new residence for the Vice President in the capital, Abuja.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration’s N15 billion allocation for the new residence, disclosed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has raised alarm, especially given the context of Nigeria’s severe economic constraints.
Wike’s statement, made while defending the FCT’s N61.5 billion supplementary budget before the House of Representatives, drew significant backlash.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a leading Nigerian advocacy group, expressed strong opposition, calling the spending a violation of the Nigerian Constitution and international anti-corruption obligations.
“It will be a grave violation of public trust for the Senate to approve this expenditure while the government is spending a third of its 2024 budget on servicing national debt,” stated Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s Deputy Director.
Further criticism came from Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, who noted the administration’s failure to cut down on the cost of governance despite claims to do so.
Rafsanjani emphasized that the budget allocations over the past 16 months contradicted the government’s supposed commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Debo Adeniran, Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, added that until the country formulates a new constitution to regulate government spending, Nigeria would continue to grapple with excessive expenditure and wasteful governance.
As the controversy unfolds, many Nigerians are calling for greater transparency and accountability from the government, urging officials to prioritize national development over luxury spending.
International News
Turkish Model Arrested Over Plan To Sleep With 100 Men In 24 Hours
A 23-year-old Turkish OnlyFans model, Ezra Vandan, also known as Azranur AV, has been detained in Istanbul for publicly announcing her plan to engage in sexual activity with 100 men within 24 hours.
The announcement, made on social media, sparked outrage and led to her arrest by the Istanbul Security Branch Directorate’s Morality Bureau.
Vandan had shared her intentions on January 14, 2025, posting a photo of herself in red lingerie with the caption: “My goal is to break a Turkish record first, then a world record! I’m starting with 100 men in 24 hours.”
She reportedly planned to live-stream the event, which was widely criticised as “obscene” and “damaging to societal morals.”
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According to reports, the post drew the attention of authorities, who initiated an investigation and apprehended her while she awaited a cosmetic surgery operation in Atasehir. Footage captured her being escorted down the stairs of a hospital by female officers, her wrists bound behind her.
In a controversial twist, Vandan allegedly uploaded a revealing image taken during her arrest by a police officer, captioning it, “I had the photo taken by one of the officers, he didn’t object much.”
Her husband, Pedram Behdar Vandan, 25, was also briefly detained but later released.
The Istanbul 6th Criminal Judgeship of Peace has charged Vandan with obscenity, resisting an officer on duty, and slander, stating that her actions and posts were “damaging to moral values” and “provocative to society.”
Defending herself in court, Vandan argued that her posts were personal and did not harm anyone. “I do not deserve to be judged,” she said.
The case has reignited debates in Turkey about personal freedom and societal values.
International News
Train Accident In Maharashtra Claims 11 Lives After Panic Over Fire Alarm
Eleven passengers tragically lost their lives on Wednesday in Maharashtra, India, after jumping off a moving train amid fears of a fire, only to be struck by an oncoming train.
The incident occurred in Jalgaon district, approximately 400 kilometres from Mumbai, and has once again highlighted safety issues in India’s extensive railway network, which serves millions of passengers daily.
Ayush Prasad, a senior district official, confirmed the fatalities and stated that five other passengers are receiving medical treatment. “People were run over by a train,” he said, without clarifying if the fire alarm was genuine or false.
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According to a spokesperson for Indian Railways, the chaos began when someone activated the “alarm chain” on the Mumbai-bound train, prompting several passengers to disembark. Tragically, they were struck by a train traveling in the opposite direction.
India’s interior minister, Amit Shah, expressed his grief over the incident, saying, “Deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident.” Maharashtra’s chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, described the tragedy as “deeply disturbing” and said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite efforts to modernise the railway infrastructure with a $30 billion investment aimed at improving safety and connectivity, accidents remain a significant concern. Official records indicate that an average of 20,000 people died annually in rail-related accidents between 2017 and 2021.
In 2023, one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters claimed nearly 300 lives when a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train, leading to further collisions.
India continues to grapple with balancing its rapid economic growth with ensuring the safety of its ageing railway network.
NEWS
Joy In Enugu As Beatrice Ekweremadu Released From UK Prison
Mrs Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has been released from a United Kingdom prison after serving her sentence.
Sources confirmed that she returned to Nigeria on Tuesday and is currently in Abuja.
The news of her release has sparked widespread celebration in her hometown of Mpu, located in the Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Mrs Ekweremadu was jailed in 2023 alongside her husband and one Obinna Obeta for an organ-trafficking plot. While Beatrice has returned home, her husband remains in custody, prompting prayers from the community for his release.
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Mr Benjamin Chijioke, President of the Mpu Town Union Federated, expressed immense relief and joy over her return. “Our joy as Mpu people knows no bounds. It is a great day for us. Since morning, it has been jubilation and celebration in all the villages. People are shedding tears of joy, especially those who depended on the philanthropic disposition of the family to survive,” Chijioke said. He also prayed for Senator Ekweremadu’s safe return, noting the significant setback their absence had caused the community.
Ogbuka Edwin, the councillor of Mpu Ward, described the day as a “public holiday” in the community. “The absence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife created a big gap in the community. We are not going to relent in our prayers until our hero and leader joins his family, and we are trusting what God can do. It is celebration galore,” Edwin stated.
The entire Mpu community came alive on the Orie market day, with jubilations marking the family’s partial reunion. Meanwhile, supporters continue to hope and pray for the Senator’s eventual release.