Ranked: Countries With the Largest Declines in Freedom (2014-2024)
Over the past decade, freedom has sharply declined in many countries.
Authoritarian leaders have expanded their power by rewriting constitutions, silencing the media, and suppressing opposition. As democratic institutions erode, waves of protest have erupted—often met with brutal crackdowns across several global regions.
This graphic shows the nations with the sharpest drop in democratic freedoms since 2014, based on analysis from Freedom House.
Democratic Freedoms in Retreat
Here are the top 20 countries in the world where freedom has fallen the most based on 25 indicators across civil liberties and political rights:
Notably, Nicaragua has seen democratic freedoms backslide as autocratic leader Daniel Ortega has overhauled the constitution. In particular, Ortega enabled his wife, Rosaria Murillo, to become co-president under law.
Meanwhile, Ortega can now prosecute media that oppose his views. Even more strikingly, any resident who is considered a traitor can have their citizenship revoked.
Following Nicaragua are Tunisia and El Salvador, each which have seen considerable declines in civil liberties. With 1,700 prisoners per 100,000 population, El Salvador has the highest incarceration rate in the world.
Serbia and Türkiye stand as the top two in Europe, with Serbia seeing protests, rigged elections, and the arrest of activists in a deteriorating political climate.
Did you know aging doesn’t happen gradually — it comes in waves?
A major study published in Nature Medicine found that our bodies go through three major aging shifts at around age 34, 60, and 78. Scientists analyzed the blood of over 4,000 people and discovered that hundreds of proteins — linked to metabolism, immunity, and organ function — suddenly change at those ages.
This means your body may enter new “biological stages” at those key points in life — not just slowly get older. Aging, it turns out, has milestones.
FBI nabs Nigerian over teen sextortion, gets five years
A Nigerian national, Samuel Abiodun, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in the United States after pleading guilty to his role in an online sextortion scheme that led to the death of a teenage boy.
Abiodun, 25, was arrested in Nigeria alongside an accomplice, Afeez Aina, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and extradited to the US in July 2024. He was sentenced on Tuesday by Judge Joel Slomsky of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
According to US Attorney David Metcalf, Abiodun served as a financial middleman in a network that targeted and extorted vulnerable young people online, with devastating consequences.
Speaking on the role Abiodun played in the conspiracy, Metcalf said, “As the financial middleman, Abiodun played a key role in this sextortion scheme, which thoroughly traumatised the victim and then devastated his family.”
“These scammers’ sole aim is to get money from scared and vulnerable young people, with absolutely no regard for their feelings or the potential fallout. In prosecuting this case, we are bringing to justice the men whose actions resulted in truly indelible harm”.
Abiodun pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud. Prosecutors said his role was pivotal in channelling the extorted funds from victims to the perpetrators in Nigeria.
His co-accused, Aina, pleaded guilty last month to cyberstalking, interstate threats, and receiving proceeds of extortion, among other charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced on 11 August and faces up to life in prison.
A third suspect, Afeez Adewale, has also been charged but remains in Nigeria, pending extradition.
The US Department of Justice praised the collaboration of Nigerian authorities, including the Attorney General’s office, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for their role in apprehending the suspects.
“This case shows the reach of US law enforcement,” Metcalf said. “If you target Americans online from abroad, we will find you — and you will be brought to justice.”
The victim, whose identity was withheld, died by suicide after being targeted in the online sextortion plot..
Drone, not stone, fell on Emir Sanusi’s head — Operator
A dramatic incident unfolded at the Government House in Kano when a drone unexpectedly fell on Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II’s head while he was delivering a speech during a Sallah homage he paid to the state government on Sunday.
The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, sparked speculation and allegations that the emir was stoned.
But contrary to initial claims suggesting the emir was hit with stones or another object, the truth behind the incident has now been revealed.
According to eyewitnesses and the drone operator, Salim Ameenu, the incident occurred when the drone lost control due to a low battery and crashed near the emir.
The drone operator, in a statement he released on social media on Monday, regretted the incident and apologised to the emir for the unpleasant event, noting that it was unintentional.
“Yesterday, I unintentionally flew my drone over His Royal Highness during his speech at Hawan Nasarawa. Due to a low battery, I lost control of the drone, and unfortunately, it fell near His Royal Highness.
“What happened has only strengthened my iration for HRH’s composure and bravery. His Royal Highness simply glanced at the drone and continued his speech without hesitation — a true display of courage and grace under pressure,” he said.
The Guardian recalls that the insinuation that the emir was stoned is not unconnected with the fact that there are, at present, two parallel emirs in Kano — Sanusi and Aminu Ado Bayero.
Sanusi was dethroned by former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who replaced him with Bayero, but he was reinstated by the current governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf — a development that threw the state into turmoil and triggered a legal tussle between the duo.
The two emirs, The Guardian reports, occupy two palaces, with Sanusi in the main palace while Aminu resides in the other palace in the Nassarawa area of the metropolis.
sreamsense:
Continue to deceive yourself since you like it. Yoruba population are more than Igbo population and they also have more quality schools from secondary to universities. You yourself should look at corporate world and even most corporate companies in the east and banks are full of Yorubas, that shows you they are every where because they are more educated and have more quality schools.
Many Igbos that go to school stopped at secondary schools to focus on business or learning trades especially men. Women are more educated in Igbo land than men because many men end up in businesses and illegal "something". If it is by numbers, Yorubas has more population that are educated in Nigeria and will take more time for any other tribe to beat their records because Yorubas are more populous than igbos and occupy more states than igbos.
If it is by percentage, then it is determined within individual tribe population which does not translate to most educated by population which Yorubas dominate. You yourself should count the numbers of schools in yoruba land and compare to the ones in Igbo land, except you like to deceive yourself; Yorubas are more educated by population in Nigeria while percentage by population within individual tribe (not compare to other), yes you can say Igbo percentage rate is high when compare the percentage within Igbo population by counting those that went to secondary schools before venturing into trading and businesses
How Nigeria’s Attorney General Fagbemi Bungled Oba Otudeko’s N12.3Billion Alleged Fraud Case
At the previous court session held on March 17, 2025, Otudeko’s legal counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), disclosed that the AGF Fagbemi had called for a meeting with all parties to explore an out-of-court settlement.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), overruled the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), preventing the agency from compelling Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, to appear for arraignment in an alleged N12.3 billion fraud case, SaharaReporters has learned from sources familiar with the matter.
Sources informed SaharaReporters that a meeting was convened involving the EFCC due to a crisis in the handling of the case. During the meeting, the EFCC cited a case involving former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, arguing that Oba Otudeko must enter a plea before any settlement discussions could commence.
However, the AGF intervened, informing the court that his office had assumed control of the case and that negotiations were underway to potentially resolve the matter.
This prompted the judge presiding over the case to adjourn the proceedings.
“The AGF overruled the EFCC, preventing the agency from forcing Oba Otudeko to appear for arraignment,” one of the sources said.
“They called a meeting because there was a crisis. Yahaya Bello’s case was cited as a reason why Oba Otudeko must take a plea before a settlement could be reached. But the AGF overruled them and told the court his office had taken over the case and that a negotiation had commenced.”
“That was how the AGF forced the judge handling the case to adjourn the matter,” the source added.
Indeed, on Thursday, March 8, the case was adjourned to June 11, 2025, to allow the parties time to either reach a settlement or proceed with the arraignment.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted the adjournment following submissions from both defence and prosecution counsel.
The case, initiated by the Lagos Directorate 1 of the EFCC, accuses Otudeko and co-defendants of a 13-count charge bordering on fraud and obtaining money by false pretence.
Otudeko is being tried alongside former First Bank Managing Director, Olabisi Onasanya, former Honeywell board member Soji Akintayo, and the firm Anchorage Leisure Limited.
At the previous court session held on March 17, 2025, Otudeko’s legal counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), disclosed that the AGF Fagbemi had called for a meeting with all parties to explore an out-of-court settlement.
The meeting was reportedly held on March 12, and the nominal complainant attended it.
It was noted that a follow-up meeting took place on April 9, 2025; however, no final agreement was reached.
During the court sitting on May 8, defence counsel, Bode Olanipekun (SAN), updated the court that negotiations were ongoing. Prosecuting counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, confirmed this and requested an adjournment to allow time for further developments.
Justice Aneke subsequently adjourned the matter to June 11, 2025, for a “report on settlement and/or arraignment”.
Also, on Monday, March 17, Justice Aneke ordered Oba Otudeko to appear in court for his arraignment over the alleged multi-billion-naira fraud.
Meanwhile, the defendants had filed preliminary objections challenging the court’s jurisdiction to try the case in an attempt to avoid arraignment, Dele Oyewale, EFCC Head of Media & Publicity, had said in a statement.
Justice Aneke had previously adjourned the case on February 13, 2025, for a ruling on Otudeko’s application contesting the court’s jurisdiction over the charges.
Olanipekun told the court that significant progress was made during the meeting concerning the case.
“The next date for the meeting in the office of the AGF is slated for April 9, 2025. Pursuant to this development, we'll be asking for a date after April 9, depending on the outcome of the meeting,” he said.
In response, EFCC counsel Bilkisu Buhari confirmed the development but urged the court to adjourn the case for either an arraignment or a report on the settlement.
Ruling on Otudeko’s application, Justice Aneke held that the arraignment of the defendants must take place before hearing any pending preliminary objections.
Efforts by our reporter to reach Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistant to the President on Communication and Publicity in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, for comments were unsuccessful.
Maryam Abacha: My husband didn’t steal — the monies he kept for Nigeria vanished
Maryam Abacha, widow of Sani Abacha, a former military head of state, said her husband saved money for Nigeria that was looted after he ed on.
Speaking during an interview with TVC, Maryam demanded proof that her husband stashed looted funds abroad.
Abacha was Nigeria’s military ruler and commander-in-chief of the armed forces from 1993 to 1998. He died on June 8, 1998.
The federal government has announced recovery of tranches of monies reportedly stashed by Abacha in foreign banks.
As of 2020, over $3.624 billion of the Abacha loot had been recovered. The recoveries were made by four istrations.
In May 2022, the United Kingdom said it recovered $23 million taken out of Nigeria illegally by Abacha’s associates and family.
About three months later, the United States returned another $20 million to Nigeria as part of the loot traced to Abacha.
In 2023, returned $150 million Abacha loot to Nigeria.
‘NIGERIANS ARE FOOLS… THEY LISTEN TO EVERYTHING’
“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed?” Maryam asked.
“Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad? And the monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that.”
She said the constant finger-pointing at her husband reflects a deeper societal issue.
“Why are you blaming somebody? Is that tribalism or a religious problem or what is the problem with Nigerians?” she said.
“I pray for Nigerians. I pray for all of us. I pray that we should have goodness in our hearts. We should stop telling lies and blaming people.
“Why are we so bad towards each other? Because somebody is a northerner or a southerner, somebody is a Muslim or a Christian, or somebody is nice or… It’s not fair.”
She urged the media to focus on its core mandate.
“I think the press should try, the press, you, the press, should try to educate the people,” she said.
“You are here to educate the people, to inform the people and to entertain. You are here to help the country. You are not here to bastardise people. People are not that bad. 27 years ago and you are still talking about Abacha. He must be very powerful and loved by Nigerians. We thank God for that.”
Responding to a remark that Nigeria’s economy was relatively stable under Abacha — with increased foreign exchange reserves and reduced external debt — she challenged those who claim the late ruler stole from the nation’s coffers.
“So, where did he steal the money from? So where would he have stolen the money from?” she asked.
Maryam berated Nigerians for believing that subsequent istrations recovered monies stashed by Abacha abroad.
“And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything,” she said.
“Babangida doesn’t make Nigeria alone. Abacha does not make Nigeria alone. Abiola and everybody, nobody is big enough for Nigeria. We are all very important.
“Even the single man on the street is very important. We are all human beings, for goodness sake. All these wahala should stop. Babangida cannot make things or unmake things.”
JUNE 12 ANNULMENT
Maryam also rejected claims that Abacha-led forces annulled the June 12 election under Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB).
In his memoir, ‘A Journey in Service’, IBB said he was in Katsina when the annulment of the election, won by MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was announced by the press secretary of his second-in-command — without his knowledge or permission.
“All I know is that the annulment was not done by my husband,” Maryam said.
“If it was him, that means he was very powerful… even more powerful than the president. If the president was there and somebody else is calling the shots, that means Abacha was the greatest.”
If tall people are SUVs, short people are hybrid cars - lean, efficient, and built for the long haul.
Why short people live longer than tall people
After reading this article, all the short jokes need to stop because short people officially have the upper hand, even if they’re closer to the ground.
When it comes to height, tall folks may have the advantage in basketball, reaching high shelves, and impressing people at first glance. But tables have turned, and the short ones among us might just get the last laugh because science says short people tend to live longer.
That impressive height of yours, which is often your greatest selling point and source of iration, might actually be the very thing that shortens your time on earth, according to scientific research. Enough talk, let's dive into it.
5 Reasons Why Short People Live Longer Than Tall People
1. Smaller Body, Less Wear and Tear
Think of your body as a car. The bigger the engine, the more fuel it burns and the more strain it puts on itself over time. Similarly, tall people have more cells, which means more potential for things to go wrong. Every cell in your body divides, works, and eventually breaks down. Having more cells can mean:
A higher chance of mutations (which can lead to diseases like cancer).
A greater workload on the heart, kidneys, and ts.
Increased production of free radicals that damage cells and speed up ageing.
Short people, with their compact frames, naturally have fewer cells and less, well, wear and tear.
2. Lower Risk of Certain Cancers
Several studies have found a correlation between height and increased cancer risk. Taller people are more susceptible to cancers such as breast, colon, and melanoma. This is because more cells = more chances for DNA to misbehave. It’s not a guarantee, but statistically, shorter people face fewer cells, and in this case, that’s a good thing.
3. Longevity Genes
Scientists have identified a gene called FOXO3 that's linked to a longer lifespan, and guess what? It’s more active in smaller bodies. A study on Japanese-American men showed that shorter individuals carrying the FOXO3 gene lived significantly longer than their taller peers. The gene is believed to influence insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and protect against age-related diseases.
4. Energy Efficiency
Shorter bodies use energy more efficiently, meaning it takes less fuel to power a smaller engine, and this translates to:
Less oxidative stress
Slower metabolism (which can be good for ageing)
Less strain on vital organs
If tall people are SUVs, short people are hybrid cars - lean, efficient, and built for the long haul.
5. Evolutionary Evidence
In many long-living communities, like Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), and certain Mediterranean regions, the average height is on the shorter side. They are known for exceptional longevity, suggesting that height might be more than just a genetic trait; it could be a longevity clue.
While you can’t choose your height, science suggests that being shorter might come with the quiet benefit of living longer. So the next time someone makes a short joke, just keep in mind that at least you have long life, not quite sure about the prosperity part.
How Aba is regaining its charm as commercial hub of Abia State
For years, Aba, the popular Enyimba city and commercial hub of Abia State, lost its glory. Businesses fled as flood took over everywhere.
Transport system collapsed, as there were no motorable roads. Wholesale buyers of Aba-made goods from neighbouring countries stayed away. Everything in Aba went south. Today, life is creeping back to Aba as the state government has intentionally rebuilt the city.
[b]Businesses in Aba are now counting the gains of conducive business environment, as infrastructure has improved in the city and its environs.
Before now, many businesses reeled under poor infrastructure. The markets in Aba were in bad shape; the roads were bad, water-logged, there was perpetual darkness and everything was pointing negative.
Apart from the rehabilitation of roads, the Abia State Government has also flagged off remodeling of all the major markets in the commercial city, starting with Ariaria International, Ahia Ohuru and Eke Oha Shopping Centre, a textile market in the Aba city centre.
This decision, which is in line with the urban renewal programme of the current istration in the state, will also pave the way for the remodeling of the markets to bring them up to modern standards.
Aba, as a commercial hub, hosts some of the biggest markets in the South-East/South-South Zones of Nigeria, which include Ariaria International Market, Ekeoha (Shopping Centre) Market- popular for textile, Ahia Ohuru, which stocks clothing and food items and Eziukwu Market that stocks mostly beverages, cosmetics and stockfish.
These markets host patrons from all parts of Nigeria, the West Coast and Central African countries. However, some structures in these markets were not properly constructed and are now death traps.
Just recently, the Aba business community and residents rolled out the drums to celebrate the achievements of Governor Alex Otti, and particularly the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road within two years in office.
Port Harcourt Road, though a federal road, is strategic to the economy of Abia State, as it hosts many business clusters, like machine fabricators, automobile part dealers and Orie Ohabiam Electronics Market.
However, this major business corridor in Aba was left to rot for years by previous istrations in the state.
The event tagged ‘Promises Kept Carnival’, was organised by the Aba business community to specifically celebrate the reconstruction of the dilapidated Port Harcourt Road that was abandoned for about 30 years.
Prior to Otti’s intervention, the sorry state of the road, which houses many industries, markets, banks and many creative and fabrication centres, as well as critical state infrastructures, like schools, was deserted.
John Udeagbala, former national president of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and chairman of the occasion, said that the entrepreneurs and the Landlords association organised the carnival to show appreciation for the good works of Governor Otti and his team.
“We’re saying thank you, Your Excellency. Your projects in Aba are many, but Port Harcourt Road is dear to us. All those who left Aba are returning. We’re saying that silent gratitude is of no use, so we need to be open to our gratitude.
“We are here in our elements to show open gratitude, because your good works are clear. We thank you so much. True leadership is about value and the ability to put people above personal desire.
“In only two years, we’re seeing results everywhere. We’re here to say a big thank you once more and come to the next election, Abia State will be the first State to record over one million votes. People will show appreciation”.
Alphonsus Udeigbo, president general, Aba Landlords Protection and Development Association (ALPADA) said that ALPADA cannot adequately express their joy.
“Truly, when the righteous reign, the people rejoice. Thank you, our dearly beloved Governor for recovering and rebuilding our lost Port Harcourt Road.
“Abia is the only state in Nigeria where the governed are dancing in celebration of their Governor. For over 30 years, successive governments could not achieve this fit, which you have done within two years of your assumption of office,” he said.
Udeigbo congratulated Aba residents for their and patience with the site engineers, and thanked God for keeping most of them, who suffered on the road, alive to see the promise kept, urging them to henceforth own the project and avoid any form of sabotage.
Onyeka Udeaja, chairman of the Local Organising Committee, paid glowing tribute to Otti, for breathing back life into the economic activities of Aba, especially the Port Harcourt Road axis, through the reconstruction of the road.
“This carnival of Praise and Thanksgiving is totally devoted to God, who answered the long and secret prayers of His people in Aba, by ensuring first, that you were successful at the 2023 governorship election despite the mountain opposition and thereafter providing you with the requisite skill and godly wisdom for appropriate leadership and statecraft.
“Sir, what we are all witnessing in Abia state in just two years is the evidence of the hand of God upon your life, as it has now continued to be evident to all, even to those who did not believe initially,” Udeaja said.
“There is improvement in infrastructure, especially in road and electricity”, says Innocent Onwukwe, managing director, Ojaic Concept, a male tailoring outfit.
According to him, “Aba Road network has improved. People now drive on good roads unlike before when the roads were deplorable.”
On power, he said that electricity has improved in the city centre and urged Aba Power Limited Electric (APLE), to improve supply in other parts of the city.
Chima Amadi, president, EKUMI Patent Medicine Dealers Association, said that the governor has started dualising Umuode Road, which leads to the market in fulfillment of his promise, noting that the road when completed, would properly link EKUMI Plaza and Ariaria International Market.
For Ken Anyanwu, a shoemaker and national secretary, Association of Leather and Allied Industrialists of Nigeria (ALAIN), there is improvement in roads, while electricity is improving gradually in Aba metropolis.
Ibe Nzenwa, member, Eziukwu Market, Interim management Committee, praised the governor for improving road network around the market.
He also said that patrons from Port Harcourt, Calabar, Uyo, Owerri and other parts of the country now have easy access to the market, because all the routes into the market have been rehabilitated.
“For instance, you can board a tricycle from this market to Omuma, Osusu to Ariaria easily. For those who come from Cross River and Akwa Ibom, it is now easy for them to access this market from Ogbor Hill, through Emelogu-Ngwa Road,” he said.
Uche Ukeje, general manager, Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), an intervention agency of Abia State Government, set up to remodel Aba and make the commercial city more habitable, affirmed that the plan of the present istration in the state was to restructure Aba to accommodate current and future demands.
He said that GADA was created to ensure that there is a structured development of Aba.
“If you call a market, an international market, it should actually meet international standards,” he said.
According to him, the next plan would be to expand Aba in a structured way to accommodate current and future demands for the next 30 years.
“Already, the governor has started by repairing the fabrics of the city. The medium term is what we are working on currently. We are now trying to expand some to rejuvenate some aspects of the city as we know it today, like the Ngwa Road Market, Ekeoha Market, Ariaria market, the Aba Town Hall, making portable water available for Aba, electricity; we are trying to repair that urban fabric and that is currently ongoing, ensuring that there will be no flooding in Aba.
“We have two plans, the mitigation plan that mitigates the effect of that and the other is a permanent solution that ensures that things like Ifeobara pond, Utatta pond and others disappear and never have an opportunity of recurring in Aba,” he said.
Negroid001:
A lot of the people that led the war went on to live amazing lives afterwards. Even Ojukwu got a sponsored temporary stay abroad till tension died down.
It's the sheeps that were killed in the war I feel for.
In war......The rich will live while they Bury the poor.
Give her the divorce......let her go and fulfil her craves.......unless she is the one survive you. When respect and love is gone there is nothing you can do about it....time will tell.
Pastor Ibiyeomie Invokes Holy Spirt Into His Church Speaker
Pastor Ibiyeomie envokes Holy Spirt Into His Church Speaker and said if anybody touches his speaker, they’ll fall down. Someone actually touched it and he fell😭🙆🏼♂️
Don’t Listen To People, Give Us More Money For Projects, Umahi Tells Tinubu
[i]The works minister's minister's comments come following criticism over the cost and transparency of the "ambitious" 700km Lagos-Calabar highway project.
The Minister [/i]of Works, David Umahi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to ignore critics and provide more funding for ongoing infrastructural projects across the country amid the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction.
Umahi made the plea on Thursday during the official commissioning of the Deep Sea Port Access Road in Lagos.
He noted that international financiers had endorsed the project, even describing it as undervalued.
“I want to assure you, sir, that the international financiers have given you kudos because they say the project is even undervalued. I commend you very highly, and I am grateful for the .
“Sir, don’t listen to people. Give us more money; we will deliver all these projects, sir. We will deliver,” Umahi stated.
His comments come following criticism over the cost and transparency of the “ambitious” 700km Lagos-Calabar highway project.
President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Works David Umahi, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, and Aliko Dangote, on Thursday, June 5, 2025, during the official commissioning of the Deep Sea Port Access Road in Lagos.
Addressing the president directly, Umahi defended the project’s valuation and highlighted the technical complexities involved in its construction.
“This highway… tell me the cost of a kilometre. What can you quantify as the cost of a kilometre when you have a section of 10km that has a bit of 10 to 20 metres and you compare it to another section with good soil?” he said.
“When people gather counsel without knowledge… Your Excellency, I am a Fellow of the Society of Engineers, and I understand the figures; I understand this work.”
The minister also expressed confidence in the timely delivery of the highway’s initial phase.
“I want to thank you for commissioning the first 30km, and I reassure you that this first section will be completed by December. We shall toll it, and Section 2 will also be close to completion. I commend the contractor very highly.”
‘Don’t Listen To Critics’
President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, June 5, 2025, during the official commissioning of the Deep Sea Port Access Road in Lagos.
Responding to the minister’s remarks, President Tinubu, in his speech during the deep-sea port access road commissioning, dismissed the critics of the highway project and reaffirmed his istration’s commitment to infrastructure development.
“I appeal to you, David (Umahi): don’t listen to those critics; they don’t know what they’re talking about. If they don’t like the road or it’s too expensive, toll it for them,” President Tinubu stated.
“If they don’t like the road, they can use Idumota. We will not stop building the needed infrastructure for economic development.”
In his speech, Umahi also highlighted the completion of the 27km by two-lane reinforced concrete Deep Sea Port Access Road.
“Today, I present to you the completed 27km by two-lane reinforced concrete access road – the Deep Sea Port Access Road. This road is very important. It will serve the deep-sea port so that all the challenges we faced with Apapa Port will be a thing of the past, using this place,” he said.
The commissioning ceremony also featured presentations by the minister on other completed and ongoing road projects across the country.
The commissioning of the deep-sea port also saw key guests in attendance, including Aliko Dangote, Lagos deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and others.
In a symbolic gesture at the commissioning, Africa’s richest man, Dangote, named the main road leading to the Dangote Refinery in Lagos after President Tinubu, “in recognition of his contributions to infrastructural development.”
Dangote announced during the ceremony that the Deep Sea Port Access Road is “one of eight major projects totalling 500km, including two in Borno State that will link Nigeria to both Chad and Cameroon”.
The newly named road stretches through Epe–Ijebu-Ode and connects to the Sagamu–Benin Expressway, forming a crucial link for logistics and trade in the region.
The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has said that he wants to be called Alaafin of Iwo.
He said he would inform the Osun State Government about his adoption of the new title.
He spoke in Iwo on Tuesday when he hosted the new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade I, who paid him a courtesy visit.
He said he was not aware of any other traditional title in Yorubaland that is superior to that of the Alaafin of Oyo Kingdom.
“I don’t know any other title in Yorubaland that is superior to the Alaafin. Alaafin will continue to be Alaafin because that is the title that Oramiyan adopted and I will also adopt the saying.
“Henceforth, I will also want to be called Alaafin of Iwo and we will inform the government about it,” Oluwo said.
He expressed optimism that with the humility and exposure of Owoade, Oyo would witness peace and unprecedented development.
He assured that the good relationship between the Iwo and Oyo would continue to flourish.
Earlier, Alaafin Owoade, accompanied by his wife, Olori Abiwumi and other Oyo chiefs, said his visit was to thank Oluwo for attending his coronation ceremony in April.
“I came to see Oluwo because he was at my coronation ceremony in April. Even when my name was mentioned as Alaafin-elect, Oluwo called to congratulate me. It is also good to come around to pay him a courtesy visit.
“Iwo and Oyo have been enjoying a good relationship for years, even with my predecessor and I want that relationship to continue,” he said.
Bishop Oyedepo is trending because he’s being called out for wickedness.
Apparently, he has CCTV in his kitchen, garden to make sure no one eats anything, even the food in the bin. He pays people as low as ₦500 per day.
A former security guard at his house, Greatness, opened up and alleged how they used to throw fresh food away every day. Yet workers who were underpaid would be dying of hunger, but they dare not touch the food, either the waste or fresh food.
Their feeding was totally their responsibility, despite their low salary and they work round the clock weekly.
A few persons confirmed the story. Adding that, it’s his wife who champions the CCTV ensuring no one touches anything. Otherwise, they’d be met with heavy sanctions, or even get arrested.
When people tried to tell Greatness that perhaps Oyedepo is not aware of the poor treatment, poor salary and poor welfare of his staffs..
The former security guard, insisted that Oyedepo knew about everything, he thought so, but after working for him for three years he got to see things a lot better.
As expected, Christians and of Oyedepo’s church, started cursing the former security guard for lying about Daddy.
Greatness accepted the curses, but countered with, if he’s saying the truth, the curses should go back to the patriotic Christians. — They rejected his prayers.
Nonetheless, he continues to remain confident of his claims and even double down on it.
He has received threats to his business, person and family, for exposing the alleged atrocities committed by Oyedepo and his wife across their empire..
Nigerians are wondering what would happen next. Whether he will be arrested or the story debunked.
Greatness added that, someone served/worked for Oyedepo for 15yrs and got ₦40k severance pay..
Ex-EFCC boss unveils book on Nigeria’s fuel subsidy fraud
A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has released a groundbreaking new book titled, “The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud.”
The exposé provides the most authoritative of Nigeria’s multi-trillion-naira fuel subsidy scandal, unravelling the inner workings of one of the country’s most pervasive financial crimes.
According to a statement signed by Vic Akinrogunde, drawing from his firsthand experience as a key investigator on the EFCC’s special team that probed the 2012 subsidy fraud, Bawa revealed the staggering scale, complexity, and audacity of the schemes used to siphon public funds under the guise of fuel subsidy payments.
His insider narrative chronicles how billions of naira were recovered and several culprits brought to justice, while also shedding light on how entrenched corruption allowed the fraud to flourish for years.
In the book, published by CableBooks, an imprint of Cable Media & Publishing Ltd, Bawa detailed multiple fraudulent strategies including Ghost importing and over-invoicing; companies submitting claims for fuel that was never imported or inflated shipment volumes to receive excessive subsidy payouts; manipulation of bills of lading; by altering shipping documents, fraudsters exploited international price fluctuations to claim higher subsidies; round-tripping and double claims; single shipments were often used to obtain multiple subsidy payments; diversion and smuggling; and subsidised fuel was frequently diverted to black markets or smuggled out of Nigeria for profit.
These practices, Bawa explained, were enabled by forged documents, weak regulatory oversight, and systemic collusion between corrupt government officials and private sector actors.
“The Shadow of Loot & Losses is not just a chronicle of fraud. It is a call to action — a demand for transparency, ability, and reform in Nigeria’s public finance management, especially in the oil sector,” Bawa said.
Having served as EFCC chairman from 2021 to 2023, Bawa brings rare credibility and insight into the institutional challenges and political dynamics that have shaped the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria.
His book is both a revelation and a reckoning — offering evidence-based analysis and personal reflections on one of the most controversial chapters in Nigeria’s recent history.
The book is essential reading for policymakers, civil society advocates, journalists, and citizens interested in understanding how systemic fraud undermines development and how it can be challenged.
Ex NBA Star, Lamar Odom is now homeless, Lamar Odom told to vacate LA home after 'failing to pay rent' despite earning over $114MILLION in NBA career
Khloe’s Kardashian ex husband and Former NBA star and reality TV personality Lamar Odom has been evicted from his renting home for unpaid rent. He owes more than $45,000 in rent, according to documents The landlord, Executive Recovery Group. The landlord has filed a lawsuit since March, alleging Odom has not made any payments on his $15,000-month lease since g a month-long agreement in December 2024. Lamar who had success and money before couldn’t handle, stay stable and sober. He looks ruined now.
Ranked: Top 25 Countries With the Highest Life Expectancy
Life expectancy is one of the clearest indicators of any country’s quality of life and overall well-being.
The world’s average life expectancy, estimated to be around 73 years in 2024, has been increasing steadily, up from 66 years in the year 2000. However, some countries stand out for their exceptional longevity.
This infographic highlights the top 25 countries by average life expectancy at birth, while also breaking it down by gender to show the gaps between female and male populations. The data comes from the UN’s World Population Prospects portal.
Where Do People Live the Longest?
The majority of the top 25 countries by life expectancy, a total of 16 countries, are in Europe. The small, rich country of Monaco tops the list with residents living an average of 86.5 years, and women living more than 88 years.
Many of the countries where people live the longest also have high per-capita healthcare spending as they improve access and quality of their healthcare systems.
Close behind Monaco are San Marino (85.8 years) and Hong Kong (85.6 years), both of which offer high standards of living and healthcare systems. Other high-ranked Asian countries include Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, marking a total of four countries from the continent in the top 10.
Additionally, small European countries are prevalent on the list. High-income nations such as Andorra, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Malta, and the Vatican are renowned for their low crime rates and high quality of life.
Meanwhile, Australia is the only country outside of Europe and Asia to crack the top 10, with a life expectancy of 84.1 years.
Do Women Live Longer than Men?
Women outlive men in every country on the top 25 list.
Across all 25 countries, women live an average of 4 years longer than men. The gender life expectancy gap is especially large in places like (5.6 years), South Korea (6.0 years), and Japan (6.1 years).
This gender gap is largely due to a mix of biological and behavioral factors—newborn boys and youths have higher mortality rates than girls, and women are also less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors as compared to men.
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