EKO CHRONICLES NEWS

 As Received: A major drug kingpin operating the notorious Patey Lagos Island drug haven, in Lagos state, Mrs. Sherifat Kehinde Lawal has been arrested along with six other suspects by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who also recovered 5,862 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs including Loud and Codeine in a raid on Saturday 26th February 2022. Following credible intelligence and follow up surveillance on illicit drug dealing in Osho, Gambari, and Beecroft Streets, Patey Area of Lagos Island, anti-narcotic officers stormed the Gambari street base of the drug kingpin where they arrested her and six of her accomplices at 9:30am Saturday 26th Feb. Other members of the cartel operating in the axis however mobilised hoodlums who attacked the operatives with stones, bottles and guns in a bid to prevent the officers from arresting other kingpins marked for arrest as well as taking the suspects already nabbed and drug exhibits away. The operatives were able t...

  Liverpool football club defeats Chelsea football club to lift the 2022 Carabao Cup at the Wembley Stadium in England. After 120 minutes of play, the game was decided by penalty kicks which trapped all and sundry at 11 - 10 until Kepa Arizabalaga played his kick to the winds.  It was an interesting match with glamour, skills with scintillating and enterprising moves.

As Received: ONAJI President, Olusola Orelaja. Our Nation for Justice initiative (ONAJI) President Olusola Orelaja  as today appeal for immediate end to violence & return to diplomacy because the consequences of a war would be disastrous for Ukraine and the global economy,  The Nigerian NGO through its National President appeal for an immediate end to violence in Ukraine, as well as collective efforts from all sides to return to diplomatic negotiations.  He made the statement even as the Russian forces are moving into Ukraine, leading to ardent fighting in the cities of Kharkiv and Sumy,as its reported that helicopter-borne troops were reported to have seized the Antonov International Airport, just kilometres away from Kyiv, the country’s capital. It was also reported that combat was also reported in the Ukraine’s border with Belarus, while Russian troops were said to have pushed through the Chernobyl nuclear reactor’s exclusion zone. With at least 57 Ukrainians death...

  Larry Izamuje Veteran journalist that had clocked 80 in January, 2022, Pa Segun Adenuga showers encomiums of great esteem achievement on Larry Izamuje whom he liked to Muhammed Ali.  The man who achieved unarguable feats of success in life at 40. Larry Izamuje is Mr. Fantastic, says Segun Adenuga. Pa Segun Adenuga prayed fervently for more grace, wisdom and long life.  The sports family all over the globe say a big and loudest "Happy Birthday" to the CEO, Sports Radio, Brila 88.9 FM, Larry Izamuje... Eko Chronicles (Sports Beat) says , Happy Birthday Larry.

 EFCC... In the commission twitter handle, it stated as below. "Command, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, secured the conviction of a former Minister of Water Resources in the administration former President Goodluck Jonathan, Sarah Ochekpe and two others, Evan Leo Sunday Jitong and Raymond Dabo, deputy director for Goodluck/Sambo 2015 election campaign and former Acting Chairman of PDP, Plateau State respectively". Visit http:// efcc.gov.ng for more details.

The maiden edition of the GS Magna Future Stars scouting program is living up to its Billing as talented young players displayed their God given skills and talents. The under-19 and under-16 youths tournament kicked off on Monday at the Legacy Pitch,  National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos  with 8 clubs in the under-19 category and 6 teams in the under-16 category.  With two matches already played in the under-19 category group games, Box2box football club leads group A, while 36 Lion Football Club and Dominion Hotspur FC   with 4 points each are both at the top of  group B. Box2box FC in Monday's first match of the day defeated FC Bethel by 2  unreplied  goals, while Broad City football club thrashed  Smart City football club by 4 goals to 1 in group A. Playing in group B 36 Lion FC played out a 2 all draw with Dominion Hotspur FC and Team 360 also drew with Utility Sports club 1 all. The second round of group matches on Tuesday saw FC Bethel bou...

Residents are protesting in Ikota Housing Estate relentlessly to the action of Lagos State government on houses within the estate on Friday 18th February, 2022. Houses are being marked for demolition, this has generated tension among the masses.   These houses and residents had been served notices by Lagos state government as gathered from the source within the area.  It waa gathered that after the demolition of Maroko, some people were relocated to Ikota with the notion of owning the apartments allocated to each and everyone of them. It is unfortunate that after so many years they still have to lose out, says one of the allottee in the estate. We implore the state government to tread with caution, diplomacy and arrest the situation to avert casualties...

 Eko Chronicles (Sports Beat) in one of our personality interview visited Abarowei Football Academy to chat with Nzam Azuka. Excerpts of the interview are hereby given below. Nzam Azuka, CEO Abarowei Football Academy. SB: Can we meet you Sir AZUKA: my name is Mr.Nzam Azuka ex Footballer , Football Administrator and business man,I hail from Ukwani Local government area of Delta State. Azuka Nzam and Ex-international, Steve Abarowei. SB: Can you tell us briefly your football career as a player and as a business man?  AZUKA: I started playing football at a very tender age,I played for my primary school, secondary school and my university, and also played for, some grassroots football club in Delta State, and Dinamo Football club of Lagos and Abarowei Football Academy of Lagos and later became the vice president of the Academy. Nzam Azuka My father was a very strict educationist and a disciplinarian who wants all his children to go to school to the highest level that's why I decid...

" Ex footballers in Nigeria have been short change", says Azuka. Nzam Azuka The 36 years old Delta State born  Nzam Azuka was the former vice president of Abarowei Football Academy, Lagos. Azuka have played football and played his dues, was with Bendel Insurance feeder team as a starter, later played for Samco fc in Edo state before moving to Lagos. Azuka played for Dynamo fc of Lagos, and later joined Abarowei Football Academy where he rose to the post of the Academy Vice President till date. The Delta State born sports administrator has joined Tops Global Football Academy Lagos as the vice president .. "Try some us at the grassroots level, latch on our experiences to develop Nigeria football and other sports", says Nzam Azuka...

 As Received:  *Jakande: One year after, Jandor knocks Lagos State government for failing to immortalize the first State Executive  Governor, who served the state meritoriously* ***Considers Sanwoolu’s naming of a health centre after Oluremi Tinubu an executive  Recklessness and Insensitivity Today marks a year anniversary of the demise of the first Executive Governor of  Lagos state, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande. It would be recalled that the late politician who served as the Governor of the state between 1979 and 1983, died on February, 11, 2021 at the age of 91. Jakande's indelible mark spans education, housing, road infrastructure, health e.t.c. In the area of housing. Jakande's legacy in low cost housing estates in Abesan, Isolo and other parts of Lagos state , have become a benchmark for affordable housing by any Government, decades after the launch of the scheme. From the foregoing, there is no gainsaying the fact that Jakande represents an institution, w...

  NFF delightfully receives the approval of FIFA which authorises Lookman Ademola, the Leicester forward to switch his allegiance from England to Nigeria. The attacking midfielder have been performing tremendously this season and be a plus to the Nigerian national team.

As Received:  •LASUED, LASUST will be reference points in years ahead, says Governor •NUC boss commends Lagos Gov. for investing wisely in higher education It was an exciting Tuesday afternoon for Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the National Universities Commission (NUC), gave Lagos State Government clearance certificates of operations for the two newly approved State-owned universities; Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Ijanikin and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUST), Ikorodu, 39years after the first State-owned University, Lagos State University was established.     The certificates were handed over to Governor Sanwo-Olu by the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, at the official recognition and collection of certificates for the two new Lagos universities held at the Commission headquarters in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.   With the Clearance Certificates of Operation by NUC, Lagos State...

 As Received: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sworn in Mr. Ope George and Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola as Special Advisers on Public-Private Partnerships and Agriculture (Rice Mill Initiative) respectively. Governor Sanwo-Olu, who swore in the two advisers during the weekly State Executive Council meeting at the Executive Chamber in Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday also signed three bills into law. The three bills were – law regulating the real estate transactions in Lagos State; law to provide for the registration of Cooperative Societies in Lagos State; and law to regulate ownership, licensing and sales of pets and to prohibit and restrict people from having in custody dangerous animals in public places.   Speaking about his new advisers, Governor Sanwo-Olu said George and Fashola are coming into the State Executive Council with a lot of experience in Public and Private Partnership and Agriculture to add value to the system and wish them the very best in their...

 As Received: The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday announced the reconstitution of the technical crew of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, with Augustine Eguavoen staying as Interim Technical Adviser while former Nigeria World Cup star and former U20 Boys’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke drafted in as immediate assistant to Eguavoen. One of the most garlanded footballers to have come out of Nigeria, Amuneke scored both goals that won Nigeria the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations final match against Zambia in Tunis, scored the goal that won Nigeria and Africa’s first Olympic football gold medal in 1996 and played in the 1994 and 1996 FIFA World Cup finals, scoring two goals in USA ’94. As coach, the electrifying winger qualified Tanzania for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and led the Taifa Stars in the finals. He is a Member of both the FIFA and CAF Technical Study Groups. “The NFF Board has approved a recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee retaining...

  Akahi Simon Ihuma Okolo Uchenna Chukwudalu Nigerians are all over the world with diverse talents where sports is prominent especially football. Two amongst these numerous talents are Akahi Simon Ihuma, an 18 years prolific and enterprising professional who is poised to give his club and Nigeria his best. his is attributable to Okolo Uchenna Chukwudalu, a 24 years old central defender who is also in touch with the trend of present football class. We are happy to have them all over the world, and in this wise, coaches in Nigeria and beyond must come for what is attainable in Nigeria, after all it is employment driven style of our government.

 As Received: Independent candidates can now contest without primaries To reserve certain number of elective positions for women Parade of suspects by police, DSS, EFCC. NDLEA, NSCDC and other agencies outlawed   The Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has approved the separation of the office of the Minister of Justice from that of the Attorney-General of the Federation as part of the recommended amendments to the 1999 Constitution. The matter and about 54 other proposed amendments are expected to be tabled before the legislative arm by the end of this month. If it is passed by the two chambers and endorsed by at least two-thirds of 36 State Houses of Assembly, Nigeria will join the league of countries with a similar practice. The Nation learnt on good authority in Abuja yesterday that the joint committee similarly proposed that independent candidates be allowed to contest elective posts. Such candidates will not need to go through the r...

    Segun Odegbami... The African Cup of Nations has finally arrived the global stage of recognition.   The continent earned it in three weeks....in displays of the full range of African football – power, physicality, speed of Sub-Saharan players, technical skills and organized play of North Africans, raw and unadulterated free spirit of the new teams from the deep-South, and energy, fighting spirit and endless running of Central and East Africans.    For the final match tomorrow there could not have been a better epilogue - Africa’s two best players, Egypt’s Salah, and Senegal’s Mane, confronting each other.  It is ironic that the team that the Super Eagles defeated almost without breaking sweat at the start of the championship.... is looking more and more like the potential champions. I am wagering on Egypt to lift the trophy.  One Federation, Two Presidents, new crisis?  I truly do not want to spoil my fun this weekend by talk of the Niger...

 The LASG is worried about the incessant in crease in out of school children in the state. On this, a programme has been designed to bring back the drop outs to school and most especially those affected by the current economic situation in the country.  We are implored to enlist children in our communities who have stopped schooling and were formally in Primaries 1-5. Identified pupils will be given school uniforms school sandals, books,bags etc while some of their parents as well will be empowered financially. *This exercise has commenced and will end in April*.   Please assist your community children to be out of the street. They shall be re enrolled in the nearest school to their residence.  Get the details in this format; Name of Child:  Class: Address : Phone no of Parent: Proposed School: Submit to your nearest LGEA OR LCDA to enlist them. Or Mr Fariogun Tayo - 0802 312 1737 Thank you.

 As Received: The Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund is set to commence its assignment with reconstruction of the Lagos High Court Complex, Igbosere, one of the several buildings destroyed during the unrests in October 2020. A statement issued by the Board of Directors, which was constituted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said an extensive structural integrity assessment has been conducted on the buildings within the High Court Complex to determine the scope of work on the facility.    Noting that the complex includes the Colonial Building, which is the oldest and most recognisable court building in Nigeria, the statement said, “an extensive structural integrity assessment was conducted. The investigation revealed that most of the structural members, especially in the iconic colonial building of the court, were severely affected”. It explained that the building was found to be structurally defective and unsafe after the vandalisation and, therefore, the existing structures will be...