Archive May 15, 2025

Lagos Mulls Introduction Of Monthly, Quarterly Rents

The Lagos Government says it will introduce monthly and quarterly payment of rents as part of measures to ease the housing burdens on residents of the state. 

This came from the Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, who spoke in Ikeja during the 2025 Ministerial Briefing held to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second year in office.

“It is the position of this current government that workers do not get paid every year,” he said. “And our destination is to find a way to take us down to a monthly rent agreement. That’s our destination.”

According to him, while the Lagos Government had in the past called for monthly and other flexible payment options, it was difficult to implement due to the state’s laws.

He said, “when it comes to implementation, there are things that may not have been envisaged that come up. Because we work in tandem with the private sector, we cannot force the landlords to take such measures”.

The commissioner said the Lagos State Tenancy Law is being reviewed to make rent payments more flexible.

READ ALSO: Lagosians Grapple As Rents Hit New Highs

He also referenced Lagos State’s rent-to-own scheme that lets residents pay five per cent upfront and spread the balance over 10 years.

“Additionally, gentlemen of the press, you may recall that the Lagos State Government introduced a rent-to-own scheme that allows tenants to own their homes by paying an initial 5% and then spreading payments over 10 years,” Moruf Akinderu-Fatai said at the event on Tuesday.

“The success of this initiative encouraged the need to promote the implementation of monthly and quarterly rent to provide succour to rent seekers

“This will replace the burden of yearly rent payments, especially for low-income earners.”

The commissioner said the Lagos State Government is working with stakeholders over challenges impeding such an initiative.

“Factors impeding the take-off of these initiatives have been examined with the engagement of all direct and indirect holders in the real estate business,” the commissioner added.

Nigerian Air Force Asks Bandits, Other Criminals To Surrender

The Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday promised to continue working assiduously to restore peace and stability and enhance the safety and security of Nigerians. 

It, however, advised bandits and other criminal elements to surrender their arms and embrace peace or else reach their early graves.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Hassan Abubakar, disclosed this in Katsina State in a visit to assess the operational readiness of the 213 Forward Operating Base and to check human, material, and other resources in the unit.

“From my assessment, bandits and other criminals are in for a very hard time. My advice to them is that they should surrender their arms and embrace peace; otherwise, in no time, they will be gone.”

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Two Air Force Officers, Others In Kaduna

During the visit, Mr Abubakar also commissioned three new projects, executed in line with the spirit of the 61st anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Air Force.

He pledged to continue prioritizing officers’ needs and provide them with the support and resources they require to perform their duties effectively, thanking the Katsina community for their hospitality and cooperation.

The NAF chief charged officers and men to continue to be law-abiding citizens and good ambassadors of the Nigerian Air Force by maintaining good relations with the host community and other security agencies in the state.

“We have made remarkable progress in enhancing the welfare and effectiveness of the personnel,” he said.

“In order to enhance the ongoing operations in the Northwest, operation Hadarin Daji was transformed to operation Fansan Yamma which consequently led to deployment of more platforms.

“The Nigerian Air Force deemed it fit to construct more structures to adequately accommodate our personnel operating from Katsina in line with our Infrastructural Development Initiatives.

“Additionally, the 213 forward operating Base for a very long time lacked a worship Centre for Christian personnel to carry out their religious activities; hence, the buildings being commissioned today are more than just structures, they represent our commitment to the well-being of our personnel

I’m Still Paying Debts From Funds Not Remitted To FIRS — Zamfara Gov

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has said that he is still grappling with debts inherited from his predecessor, including liabilities from unremitted payments to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and backlogs of unpaid staff salaries and student examination fees.

Speaking on Wednesday on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the governor painted a dire picture of the situation he met on assumption of office in May 2023.

Lawal accused the Bello Matawalle administration of alleged financial mismanagement, citing the case of unremitted FIRS deductions.

“I’m still paying debts owed to the Federal Inland Revenue Service that were never remitted,” he claimed. “The money was diverted somewhere. By whom? Let the former administration account for it.”

The governor said the rot he inherited pushed him to declare a state of emergency in the education sector immediately after assuming office.

“We had to settle WAEC and NECO debts to the tune of ₦3.2 billion. We’ve worked on over 450 primary and secondary schools, and some tertiary institutions. We were always at the bottom, but I’m happy to say things are changing,” the governor said.

He added that his administration also inherited huge liabilities in scholarships and pensions, noting that pension arrears dating as far back as 2011—totalling ₦13.6 billion—had not been paid.

“Things were really, really bad when we took over. It is interesting to tell you that for two good years, our students didn’t write WAEC or NECO because of debts owed. The first thing we had to do was make a conscious effort to settle those debts so our students could write their exams. All pending certificates from the past have now been handed over.

“We’ve settled every pension and gratuity without borrowing a single kobo. It’s all from our internally generated revenue (IGR),” he noted.

‘Empty Treasury, IGR’

Responding to the ongoing controversy surrounding the state’s finances, Lawal disputed the claim by former Governor Matawalle that ₦14 billion was left in the treasury.

“What I met in the treasury of Zamfara State was ₦4 million. The facts are there,” Lawal stated. “When I took over, the IGR was just ₦90 million, and 90 percent of that came from PAYE (Pay-As-You-Earn). But the story has changed. I can comfortably tell you that we’re now making over ₦2 billion monthly.”

In contrast, official records during the Matawalle administration showed the IGR averaged ₦6.5 billion in 2022.

Asked if the discrepancy was due to data inconsistency or political posturing, Lawal challenged his predecessor’s camp to present verifiable evidence.

“I was a banker, so I know how finances work. If they had a contrary position to mine, they should have shown me the bank statements. If they had ₦14 billion, why couldn’t they pay four months’ backlog of salaries, or settle WAEC, NECO, and electricity bills? Even the Government House was disconnected when I took over,” he said.

“There was a handover note. Nowhere did it show they had such money. The banks are there. Let them provide a statement to back their claims.”

The governor also revealed that deductions of over ₦1.2 billion are being made monthly from the state’s FAAC allocation due to outstanding debts inherited from the previous government.

“Go and check with the Office of the Accountant-General and the Debt Management Office. We are still paying over ₦1.2 billion monthly through direct deductions. Yet, there are no visible projects to show for all that spending,” the governor said.

He also revealed that every local government area in Zamfara is now witnessing infrastructural development under his leadership.

Lawal said, “There is no single local government among the 14 in Zamfara without a project worth between ₦5 billion and ₦10 billion.”

The comments come amid an intensifying dispute between Governor Lawal and his predecessor over alleged mismanagement and conflicting financial claims.

Matawalle’s camp has insisted it left behind over ₦14 billion in bond proceeds, ₦2.6 billion in World Bank funds, and other grants. However, Lawal insists the state was effectively bankrupt when he took over, with massive debts, unpaid salaries, and halted development projects.

He also previously accused the former governor of embezzling funds meant for the abandoned Zamfara Cargo Airport project—a claim Matawalle has denied, stating the project was funded via “contract financing” tied to performance.

Bologna Beat AC Milan To Win Italian Cup

Bologna won the Italian Cup on Wednesday after beating AC Milan 1-0 in Rome and ending a 51-year wait for a major trophy.

Dan Ndoye scored the goal in the 53rd minute which gave Bologna a historic victory, their first honour since last winning the cup in 1974.

Bologna hadn’t even been in a major tournament final since last winning the Italian Cup — the second of their two domestic cup triumphs.

Bologna’s players hold the trophy and celebrate after winning the Italian Cup Final (Coppa Italia) final football match between AC Milan and Bologna at the Olympic stadium in Rome, on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)

But coach Vincenzo Italiano has a done a brilliant job since arriving to replace Thiago Motta at Bologna, who have won the Italian championship seven times but last did so in 1964.

Wednesday’s victory was also Italiano’s first major honour as a coach as he lost three finals with his previous club Fiorentina, including the 2023 Italian Cup final.

READ ALSO: Tottenham’s Kulusevski To Miss Europa League Final Vs Man Utd After Surgery

Bologna’s Swiss midfielder #08 Remus Freuler holds the trophy after winning the Italian Cup Final (Coppa Italia) final football match between AC Milan and Bologna at the Olympic stadium in Rome, on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)

Italiano hugged his jubilant players as Bologna fans danced and cried in the Stadio Olimpico stands after seeing what many thought they’d never see.

Milan were crowned European champions the same season they last won the cup in 2003, a different time for a club once owned by deceased former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Bologna’s players hold the trophy and celebrate after winning the Italian Cup Final (Coppa Italia) final football match between AC Milan and Bologna at the Olympic stadium in Rome, on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)

Rivals Inter Milan are in the Champions League final and trying to retain their Serie A title while Milan are in battle to qualify for Europe after missing out on the cup.

Sergio Conceicao’s team sit eighth in Serie A, three points behind Roma who sit in the Conference League spot and host Milan on Sunday.

Gov Yusuf Donates Food, Bedding, Essentials To Inmates In Kano

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has donated food and essential items to inmates of three major correctional centres in the state.

The benefiting facilities include Kurmawa and Janguza maximum security prisons, as well as the Goron-Dutse Custodial Centre.

During a symbolic presentation at the Kurmawa Correctional Home, the governor —represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Adamu Aliyu Kibiya —said the gesture was aimed at improving the welfare and living conditions of the inmates.

“This donation is part of our deliberate efforts to support the well-being of inmates and assist their journey towards rehabilitation,” Kibiya said. “His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf believes in giving every citizen, including those in custody, a second chance.”

READ ALSO: [Alleged Bribery] Kano Court Rejects Ganduje’s Bid To Stop Trial

A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, confirmed the donation, which includes five bulls, 300 bags of rice (25kg each), 4000 mattresses, 4000 pillows, 4300 blankets, 1500 bags of sachet water, 750 cartons of soft drinks, and 60 jerry cans of cooking oil (25 litres each).

Other items donated are 25 cartons of Maggi cubes, 90 cartons of biscuits and sweets, three cartons of infant milk, 20 cartons of soap, and 15 cartons of sanitary pads.

The governor also announced plans to support inmates with minor debt-related cases.

“A committee has been set up to compile a list of inmates with debts not exceeding one million naira. These debts will be settled by the government as part of our reintegration initiative,” Kibiya added.

In his remarks, the officer in charge of Kurmawa Correctional Home, Deputy Controller of Corrections Services (DCCS), Ibrahim Rambo, commended the government’s continued support.

Combs’s Ex Cassie To Face Intense Defense Questioning

Casandra Ventura, the former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs, is set to receive intense cross-examination from the music mogul’s defense team Thursday in his sex trafficking trial.

Ventura, the singer widely known as Cassie, told jurors over two days that Combs raped, beat and forced her into drug-fueled sex parties over the course of their more than a decade together, excruciating testimony that now subjects her to a grilling from defense lawyers.

Combs’s lawyers indicated they would seek to emphasize that Ventura took drugs of her own free will, and behaved erratically and even violently herself.

While Ventura’s relationship with Combs was complicated and included domestic abuse, the defense said in opening statements, it did not amount to the sex trafficking he is charged with.

“Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking,” said defense lawyer Teny Geragos earlier this week.

Combs, 55, was once one of the most powerful figures in the music industry, but is now incarcerated on charges of sex trafficking and leading an illegal sex ring that enforced its power with crimes including arson, kidnapping and bribery.

Ventura is the case’s star witness: over two days of testimony, the now 38-year-old described Combs as controlling and willing to wield his wealth and influence to fulfill his desires.

She gave vivid accounts of coercive sex parties — she participated in hundreds, she testified — and violent beatings that will underpin much of the prosecution’s case against the music industry figure, who is alleged to have used violence and blackmail to manipulate women over many years.

READ ALSO: Sean Combs’s Ex Cassie Says He Forced Her Into ‘Disgusting’ Sex Ordeals

 ‘Humiliating’

King Combs (R), son of Sean Combs, holds an umbrella for Janice Combs, mother of Sean Combs, as they arrive at federal court for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial in New York City on May 14, 2025. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

Heavily pregnant with her third child, Ventura told jurors in a measured tone — but sometimes through tears — how she was forced to engaged in “freak-offs” with Combs and male escorts, sometimes engaging in days-long sex performances directed by the music mogul.

She described how in 2018, as she and Combs were breaking up, he raped her in her living room.

And she testified that her time with the artist left her with post traumatic stress disorder, drug addiction and suicidal thoughts.

The drugs were a “buffer” to withstand the “humiliating” and often-filmed sexual encounters, she said.

In a graphic hotel surveillance clip from March 2016 shown to jurors Monday, Tuesday and again Wednesday, Combs is seen brutally beating and dragging Ventura down a hallway.

The prosecution played portions of the footage while Ventura was on the stand.

When asked why she didn’t fight back or get up, Ventura answered simply that curled up on the ground “felt like the safest place to be.”

Following the hotel assault, Ventura was forced to attend the premiere of her movie “The Perfect Match” days later while covered in bruises, the jury heard as they were shown photographs of the actress with Combs at the event.

Ventura said she wore sunglasses to conceal a black eye.

Combs’s defense team insists while some of his behavior was questionable, it did not constitute racketeering and sex trafficking. He denies all counts.

Ventura’s testimony is expected to last at least until the end of the week, and trial proceedings are anticipated to continue well into the summer.