By John Azu

The Nigerian and Chinese governments have stressed on the importance of promoting cultural ties between both countries.

The two countries made the pledge during the cultural event, titled “Maritime Silk Road Impressions: Immersive Salon of Intangible Cultural Heritage from Ancient Zayton Port,” held at the China Cultural Centre and jointly organised by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria and the China Centre of International Cultural Exchange and Tourism Promotion.

The salon brought together diplomats, cultural stakeholders, government officials and art enthusiasts to explore traditional Chinese cultural expressions through tea ceremonies, Guqin performances, ceramics exhibitions and incense rituals.

Speaking during the event, the Minister at the Chinese Embassy, Zhou Hongyou, recalled the cultural ties that developed between China, Europe and Africa through the ancient Silk Road and continues to promote relations today.

Zhou highlighted the role of the Silk Road in strengthening bilateral cultural relations through deeper people-to-people engagement and creative collaboration, especially the tea culture, which he said spanned over 5,000 years and evolved into a medium for cultural dialogue and mutual understanding.

“The Silk Road carried not only silk, porcelain and spices, but also the values of peaceful cooperation, openness, inclusiveness and mutual learning,” he stated.

“Tea unites the world,” Zhou said, adding that it had been included in the UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in 2022, adding that the same ideals continue to underpin contemporary China-Nigeria relations, particularly under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim, praised the organisers for strengthening cultural diplomacy between both nations.

Ibrahim, who was represented by the Director of International Cultural Relations, Mr Envadu Yohanna Ayaka, said the tea culture reflects values that resonate strongly with Nigerian traditions of unity, hospitality and communal interaction.

“Tea is far more than a beverage; it is a vessel of history, a symbol of harmony and a medium of cultural exchange,” he said.

The permanent secretary said government efforts are focused on supporting tea-related festivals, cultural hubs, agro-artistry and bilateral collaborations capable of expanding Nigeria’s participation in the global creative and cultural economy.

Residents of Abuja have asked an FCT High Court to stop the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike from re-allocating the Jabi Lake Park to private estate developers.

The suit was brought by Godey Iwebuke Daniel and Ahmad El Rufai Rilwan, on behalf of thousands of Kado Estates Residents Association and Citec and Life Camp residents and residents of Abuja metropolis who use the park for recreational activities.

The suit, which was filed by their lawyer, Isaac E.Ekpa Esq, has the FCT Minister, the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, Abuja, FCT, the Surburban Broadband Limited, the Akida Hills Limited and the Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice.

The residents are demanding, among others, a declaration that the Jabi Lake Park is a public park for recreational activities for Abuja residents having been inaugurated by President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 7, 2007.

Further, the residents want a declaration that the award of the Jabi Lake Park to private
developers for residential and commercial purpose is an infringement on the rights of the plaintiffs and members of public in Abuja.

Furthermore, they want a declaration that the proposed development and allocation are
unlawful, illegal null and void.

Consequently, they want the court to make an orded setting aside the purported approval or allocations to the private developers Messrs Suburban Broadband Limited and Akida Hills Limited, a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from entering the land and do any development thereto and the award of N50 million in their favour as general damages for encroachment, meddlesome and tampering with the smooth operations of their affairs.

In their affidavit in support of the suit, the residents aver that the FCT Minister’s re-allocation of the park was not for public interest.

Among other points, they aver that “the Jabi lake park and its surroundings offer a range o leisure activities such as volleyball, football. badminton, horse racing, aerobics, skating, walking fishing, boat riding, gymnnastics, pay grounds for children and relaxation for adults.

“That Jabi Lake is one of the few public spaces in the city, and there is need to preserve and uphold regulations regarding parks and recreation without violating the Abuja master plan.”

Former Military Governor and retired General, John Atom Kpera, has reflected on his years as Military Governor of East Central State in the early 1970s, recalling his personal connection with Ekulu Primary School, Enugu, as he commended alumni efforts to restore the institution ahead of its 70th anniversary celebrations.

In a goodwill message, Kpera said the school holds a special place in his memory, noting that his children attended the institution while he served in the then East Central State, with Enugu as its capital. He said that experience gave him firsthand insight into the school’s educational standards and the strength of its community values.

“Ekulu Primary School holds a very special place in my heart,” he said. “During my time as Military Governor of East Central State in the early 1970s, my children attended this school. I witnessed firsthand the dedication of its teachers, the discipline of its pupils, and the unwavering commitment of the community to quality education. These virtues have sustained the school over the decades and continue to serve as the foundation of its enduring legacy.”

Established in 1956 as a mission school by the Church of England, Ekulu Primary School was founded to serve children of civil servants in Enugu, including families of British colonial administrators resident in the area at the time.

The school was spearheaded by Anglican missionary Timothy Bruce Fyffe, who played a pioneering role in establishing the Anglican Church’s presence in Eastern Nigeria. Fyffe served as the school’s manager and helped shape its early educational direction.
According to a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the alumni association, Enuma Chigbo, the school will celebrate its platinum jubilee from May 27 to 31 with activities expected to attract former students from across the world.

“This landmark event will be a homecoming of sorts, pooling different alumni dotted all over the world to grace this special occasion,” Chigbo stated.

Planned activities include a march-past involving alumni and current pupils, networking sessions, school visits, a gala dinner, and a thanksgiving service at All Saints Church.
Reflecting on the school’s history, Kpera said its influence extends beyond academics and into broader societal development.

“Seventy years is no small milestone. It represents generations of young minds shaped within these walls — children who grew into men and women contributing to our society in diverse and meaningful ways. The school’s history is woven into the fabric of our state, and its impact extends far beyond the classroom,” he said.

Despite the celebrations, the alumni association expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the institution.

“The current state of the school is debilitating and a stark contrast to what it used to be,” Chigbo said. “Seventy years is certainly worth celebrating, but with a mindset to give back to the school that gave us so much.”

Under the theme “GiveBack 26,” the anniversary programme aims to mobilise alumni and stakeholders to support the restoration of the school through the Ekulu Primary School Alumni Association (EPSAA).

Founded in 2023, EPSAA is currently led by its President, Chioma Nwosu.
Kpera used the occasion to stress the need for sustained investment in education and future generations.

“As we celebrate today, let us also look forward with hope. The world is changing rapidly, and the responsibility of equipping the next generation with knowledge, character and resilience has never been greater,” he said.

“I commend the teachers and administrators who give their best every day, often under challenging circumstances. Your work is noble, and your influence is lasting.”

Human rights activist and community leader, Chief (Comrade) Austine Ikubese, has strongly criticized the 150 per cent increase in parking fees at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), describing the hike as “ill-timed and irritating.”

Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Monday, amidst mounting public outrage, Ikubese appealed to authorities to rescind the decision and revert to the former rates. He stressed that the prevailing socio-economic hardship facing Nigerians makes the new tariff structure unjustifiable.

In April 2026, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, operators of MMA2, raised parking charges to unprecedented levels, sparking widespread condemnation. Under the new regime, saloon cars pay ₦3,500 for the first hour and ₦2,500 for each subsequent hour; SUVs pay ₦4,000 for the first hour and ₦2,500 thereafter; 18-seater buses and above are charged a flat rate of ₦20,000; overnight parking costs ₦50,000; and lost tickets attract a penalty of ₦25,000.

Despite growing complaints, Bi-Courtney has insisted there are no plans to reduce the tariffs, claiming the rates are intended to discourage long-term parking abuse.

Ikubese rejected this justification, saying: “Travelers and motorists in Lagos recently protested this massive hike. The excuse that the charges are meant to prevent long-term parking abuse is not tenable at all.”

He expressed confidence in the Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Barrister Festus Keyamo, describing him as “an iconic figure who promotes people-friendly policies.” Ikubese revealed he has privately communicated with the Minister on the matter and believes Keyamo can prevail on Bi-Courtney to reverse the hike in the interest of the public.

“As a rights activist himself, the Minister is passionate about the concerns of vulnerable Nigerians. I trust he will act to restore hope and compel MMA2 management to be socially responsible by discontinuing these outrageous fees,” Ikubese stated.

He further commended Keyamo’s responsiveness to issues of public interest, noting: “I sincerely appreciate Mr. Minister’s prompt responses each time I raise matters of concern. His humility and commitment to the masses, despite his high office, are qualities I deeply value.”

Operatives of the Kebbi State Hisbah Board have arrested a man allegedly discovered hiding inside a “Ghana Must-Go” bag at the residence of a married woman in the Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi, in a case that has triggered widespread public reaction and renewed debate around morality enforcement and private conduct.

The arrest was confirmed in a statement by the Director of Sharia at the Hisbah Board, Sirajo Kamba, who said the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, May 18, 2026, after residents reportedly observed a man entering the woman’s home around 12:15 a.m.

According to the statement, neighbours grew suspicious of what they described as a possible breach of Islamic moral norms, particularly given concerns around illicit relationships involving a married woman. The matter was subsequently reported to the Hisbah authorities.

Officers were immediately deployed to the residence to investigate the complaint.

“The residents suspected an illicit affair contrary to Islamic teachings, hence their decision to notify the authority,” Kamba said.

Upon arrival, Hisbah operatives requested permission to search the premises. The married woman initially insisted that she was alone and that no other individual was inside the house.

However, after further questioning, she reportedly allowed officers to conduct a full search of the property.

During the search, operatives allegedly discovered a man concealed inside a large “Ghana Must-Go” bag in what appeared to be an attempt to avoid detection.

The discovery prompted immediate arrest of the suspect.

Kamba said preliminary investigations indicated that both individuals were allegedly involved in a romantic relationship, adding that they later confessed during interrogation.

He further stated that the suspects would be charged before a Sharia court in accordance with applicable Islamic legal provisions.

The incident has once again drawn attention to the role of the Kebbi State Hisbah Board, which has intensified enforcement operations in recent months across communities in the state.

Just days before the arrest, the agency detained a married woman and five others during a separate raid on a hotel in Birnin Kebbi over alleged immoral conduct.

Hisbah officials say the increased operations are part of ongoing efforts to uphold public morality and enforce compliance with Islamic teachings and community standards.

The latest case has sparked discussion in the state over the boundaries between private conduct, religious morality enforcement, and community surveillance, particularly in cases involving married individuals.

Authorities say further details will be disclosed as the case proceeds in court.

A mother in Port Harcourt is calling for justice after a devastating crash allegedly involving a learner driver tore through her home and killed her three young children in a tragedy that has shaken the city.

The tragic incident, which has sparked outrage across Nigeria, occurred on May 15 in the Ogbunabali area of Rivers State.

According to eyewitness accounts, a man was allegedly teaching his girlfriend how to drive when she suddenly lost control of the vehicle. The car reportedly veered off the road and crashed into a residential building, killing three siblings aged 10, four and three instantly.

Their mother, Mrs Amarachi Promise Esomonu, has since become the emotional face of the tragedy after a viral video showed her recounting the horrifying moment she recovered the bodies of her children from the wreckage.

Her grief-stricken testimony has triggered widespread sympathy online, while intensifying public anger over what many Nigerians have described as a preventable tragedy.

Residents who witnessed the incident described scenes of panic and chaos as the vehicle slammed into the house where the children were reportedly preparing for school.

One eyewitness said the car accelerated suddenly after the learner-driver lost control.

“The children were inside the house with their mother when it happened,” the witness said. “Everything happened within seconds.”

The incident has also generated controversy over allegations that the man supervising the driving lesson briefly attempted to switch seats with the driver after the crash in what neighbours interpreted as an effort to evade responsibility.

According to residents, he was prevented from leaving the scene by the children’s mother and other bystanders before authorities arrived.

In the now-viral footage circulating online, Mrs Esomonu described the devastating emptiness left behind by the deaths of her children.

She said she still wakes up each morning out of habit, only to remember there are no children left to prepare for school.

Beyond her grief, the mother also expressed fears that the case could be quietly buried without accountability, alleging attempts were already being made to suppress the matter.

Her claims have further amplified calls for a transparent investigation and possible criminal prosecution.

The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident and said a full-scale investigation had been launched.

Police spokesperson Blessing Agabe said the command was deeply saddened by the tragedy and committed to uncovering the full circumstances surrounding the crash.

Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju also extended condolences to the bereaved family and assured the public that justice would be pursued.

Authorities urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified claims while investigations continue.

Legal experts say the case could potentially result in serious criminal charges, including manslaughter or dangerous driving causing death, depending on the findings of investigators.

Questions surrounding licensing, insurance compliance and the legality of conducting informal driving lessons in residential neighbourhoods are also expected to form part of the investigation.

The tragedy has reignited broader concerns over unsafe driving practices in densely populated residential areas across Nigeria, where informal driving lessons remain common despite repeated warnings from safety advocates.

As public pressure mounts, many Nigerians are now demanding swift accountability, while the haunting testimony of a mother mourning three children continues to dominate conversation online.

Neither of the individuals allegedly involved in the incident has issued a public statement, and police have not publicly clarified whether formal arrests have been made beyond the initial intervention by residents at the scene.

Authorities say updates will be provided as investigations progress.

A Kenyan court has ruled that consensual workplace relationships between employees do not amount to sexual harassment and cannot, on their own, justify dismissal, in a landmark decision likely to spark debate over employer authority and workers’ privacy rights.

The ruling arose from a case involving an employee of G4S Kenya Limited, where a senior manager was dismissed after engaging in a romantic relationship with a junior employee.

The company argued that the relationship constituted sexual harassment and an abuse of office, citing internal workplace policies prohibiting such conduct.

But the Employment and Labour Relations Court rejected that argument, finding that the relationship was mutual and consensual, with no evidence of coercion, intimidation, pressure or unwelcome advances.

In a strongly worded judgment, Justice James Rika stressed that not every workplace romance amounts to misconduct or sexual harassment.

“Romantic relationships are a natural occurrence wherever people work together,” the judge observed, warning employers against conflating consensual relationships with abuse.

The court further declared that blanket workplace policies banning romantic relationships between employees were unconstitutional because they violate fundamental rights to privacy, dignity and personal autonomy.

According to the ruling, employers under Kenyan law cannot punish workers merely for being involved in consensual relationships unless there is clear evidence of misconduct beyond the relationship itself.

The court held that while employers retain the authority to regulate professional conduct and prevent abuse of power in the workplace, consensual romantic relationships between adults are not unlawful and cannot automatically be treated as grounds for termination.

The judgment is expected to have far-reaching implications for workplace policies across Kenya, particularly in cases involving office relationships, sexual harassment claims and employer oversight of employees’ private lives.

The husband of Mary Akanbi, a woman seen in a viral video begging Nigerians to help rescue victims abducted by terrorists in Oyo State, has said he would surrender himself to the kidnappers if they agree to release his wife and child.

The emotional revelation was made in an interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo after he visited Ogbomoso, Oyo State, days after gunmen kidnapped students, teachers and residents in the area.

According to Jideonwo, the distraught husband identified his abducted wife as Mary, who was carrying their one-and-a-half-year-old baby when she was seized by the attackers.

“My wife was kidnapped, her name is Akanbi Mary, she backed one-and-half-year-old baby,” the man said.

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“We the victims are the only people remaining in the community, with no security personnel, no protection whatsoever. Most of the security personnel who tried rescue mission were all wasted.”

The man lamented the absence of security presence in the community, saying residents have been abandoned to their fate after the attack.

“I will gladly give myself to them for the sake of my wife and my child. Let them free my wife and my child and just take me instead,” he said.

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“I am in the exact community where my family was taken. Let them come for me instead. They have taken everything; they have ruined my life.”

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that gunmen who abducted teachers and pupils from schools in Oyo State released disturbing videos from captivity, in which one of the victims, identified as Mary, appeared with her baby strapped to her back, pleading for urgent government intervention and negotiations after the kidnappers reportedly became trapped inside a reserve forest surrounded by security operatives.

In the circulating video, the visibly distressed Mary identified herself as a staff member of First Baptist Church in Ogbomoso and appealed to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, the church, and members of the public to help secure their release.

She said the attackers invaded the school and abducted both teachers and children, adding that the victims were being held under harsh conditions deep inside the forest.

“I’m from Ibadan. I’m working at First Baptist Church in Ogbomoso, Yawota area. Yesterday, the people came to our school and kidnapped both the teachers and the children,” she said in tears.

“We are here, we need help from the government and the state government, both the church, First Baptist Church in Yawota and the community. We need your help so that these people will release us.”

The victim repeatedly appealed for urgent intervention, stating that the children were in distress, crying, and feared for their lives.

“Please help us. We need help from our president. We need help from our state government. Please help us. The children are here, they are crying so that we will not waste our lives,” she added.

The footage emerged shortly after the Principal of Community High School, Esiele in Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, also appeared in a video from captivity appealing to the Federal Government, Oyo State Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Nigerians to intervene and secure the release of abducted teachers and students.

Last Friday, armed men attacked LA Primary School and Community Grammar School in Ahoro-Esiele Community, Oriire Local Government Area, abducting pupils, students and members of staff.

The attack reportedly led to the killing of a teacher, while the school principal, two vice principals and three teachers were abducted.

In the earlier video obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, Mrs. Alamu, who appeared visibly shaken, said the attackers invaded the school around 9:30 a.m. and took several staff members and students into the forest.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has issued one of his starkest warnings yet about the state of Nigeria’s democracy, cautioning that the country risks sliding into a full-blown legitimacy crisis if judges — rather than voters — continue to determine the outcome of elections.

Speaking at the opening of the Nigerian Bar Association Abuja Law Week 2026 in Abuja on Wednesday, Jonathan delivered a sweeping critique of Nigeria’s electoral culture ahead of the high-stakes 2027 general elections, arguing that public faith in democracy is collapsing under the weight of judicial interference, political violence, vote-buying and institutional decay.

The former president said post-election litigation has become so entrenched in Nigeria that politicians now approach elections with the expectation that courts, not ballots, will ultimately decide power.

“In Nigeria today, not going to court after an election is what appears strange,” Jonathan said, drawing murmurs from the packed audience of senior lawyers, judges and political figures gathered at the NBA House.

Recounting a conversation with a former South African deputy president, Jonathan said the official expressed disbelief that Nigerian politicians routinely challenge election results in court.

“She asked me: ‘Why would somebody go to court after losing an election?’” he recalled. “In South Africa, that is strange. But in Nigeria, not going to court is strange.”

Jonathan warned that the trend was eroding democratic legitimacy and creating dangerous public perceptions that electoral outcomes could be overturned through judicial influence rather than popular mandate.

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In perhaps the most pointed moment of his address, the former president argued that courts should never declare winners in disputed elections, insisting that fresh polls — not judicial pronouncements — should be the constitutional remedy where substantial irregularities are established.

“The judiciary should do its work, yes,” he said. “But courts should not be declaring candidates winners. If the process is flawed, then let Nigerians go back to the field and vote again. Let the ballot decide.”

The remarks strike at the centre of one of Nigeria’s most contentious democratic debates: whether the judiciary has become an unelected extension of electoral politics.

Jonathan also questioned the logic of Nigeria’s electoral appeals structure, describing it as inconsistent and constitutionally awkward.

“Governorship elections go through three layers — tribunal, Appeal Court and Supreme Court,” he said. “Presidential elections go through two. Are we saying electing a governor is more important than electing a president?”

The former president painted a bleak portrait of a political system increasingly detached from ordinary citizens, lamenting that Africa’s most populous country now records some of the continent’s weakest voter participation rates.

Nigeria’s electoral commission, he argued, must look beyond the simplistic explanation of “voter apathy” and confront the deeper causes of public disengagement, including distrust in the integrity of elections.

Jonathan linked that growing distrust to the normalization of political violence and the rise of what he described as a lucrative ecosystem of political thuggery.

“Nigeria is probably the only country where thuggery has become a profession,” he declared.

“Some political thugs fly first class when travelling abroad while university professors struggle to buy economy tickets. When that happens, the country is upside down.”

The imagery captured a broader frustration with a political culture critics say increasingly rewards coercion over competence and patronage over public service.

Jonathan called on the Nigerian Bar Association to work with the National Assembly on urgent reforms to both electoral and judicial laws, including the possible creation of a specialised Constitutional Court dedicated exclusively to election disputes.

The proposal comes amid growing concern over the judiciary’s expanding role in political contests and mounting accusations — often fiercely disputed — that courts are being weaponised in post-election power struggles.

Former Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke echoed many of those concerns in a keynote address that painted an equally troubling picture of Nigeria’s democratic trajectory.

Adoke warned that after more than two decades of uninterrupted civilian rule, Nigeria’s democracy still suffers from a profound crisis of credibility.

“The question is no longer whether elections are being conducted,” he said. “The real question is whether Nigerians still trust the outcomes.”

Citing the 2023 general elections, Adoke noted that voter turnout plunged to just 27 percent — the lowest since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 — while election-related violence claimed at least 89 lives.

According to him, vote-buying, weak internal party democracy, poor enforcement of electoral laws and entrenched political violence have hollowed out the democratic process.

“Vote-buying has transformed elections into economic transactions rather than democratic choices,” he warned.

Adoke also criticised political parties for allegedly imposing candidates in defiance of democratic primary procedures outlined in the Electoral Act 2022, arguing that excessive dependence on courts to settle political disputes was steadily disenfranchising ordinary voters.

“The phrase ‘go to court’ has now become a silent reminder that the electorate’s role in choosing leaders is gradually being diminished,” he said.

Despite the grim assessment, Adoke reserved special praise for Jonathan’s conduct during the tense 2015 presidential transition, describing the former president as “a democratic legend” for conceding defeat peacefully in a period many feared could trigger national unrest.

NBA President Afam Osigwe said it was deeply troubling that nearly three decades after Nigeria’s return to civilian rule, the country was still grappling with fundamental questions about how to protect democracy itself.

Osigwe warned that electoral manipulation and violence now pose threats comparable to military intervention.

“Without tanks on the streets or soldiers announcing coups,” he said, “people still come to power through violence, thuggery and manipulation.”

He urged political actors to embrace the democratic spirit Jonathan displayed in 2015, when the former president famously declared that his personal ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

“That,” Osigwe said, “should be the guiding principle of every democratic process as we approach 2027.”

The event was attended by senior members of the legal community and political establishment, including representatives of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the African Bar Association and senior advocates of Nigeria.