Metro

Weeds, Faeces Take Over Abandoned 400- seater Lagos Theatre

Published

2 years ago

August 24, 2023

Weeds and faeces have taken over the 400-seater Lagos State Theatre located in the Oregun area of the state, which was destroyed by protesters during the EndSARS agitation.

It was gathered that all installations in the theatre that were meant to promote tourism, hospitality, entertainment, and the arts together with sports had been looted, with the facilities being overrun by faeces.

The theatre which was unveiled on April 24, 2019, by former President Muhammadu Buhari has remained fallow for three years since the destruction.

The PUNCH correspondent who visited the theatre, which was built by the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, observed that the entire premises, including the security building before the entrance into the theatre, had become a dumpsite.

It was also observed that the foyer between the three-apartment restroom and the staircase that led to the theatre itself was littered with faeces with stench oozing from the area.

When The PUNCH correspondent strolled into the main theatre, it was observed that a part of the roofing along the passage was dangling and nearing collapse, while the entire place was bushy.

A resident of the area identified simply as Azeez, who frequents the premises, claimed that the lootings were perpetrated by some miscreants during the protest after the place had been abandoned by the government.

“These two big slabs were where the generators used to be located. They removed all the engines and left the shed. The government only came here to take away empty soundproofing. There is nothing anyone can do to stop them. A lot of things happened.

“The soldiers and the policemen even came here at a point. Most of the installations were stolen during the protest. Some people from the ministry would come and take pictures and go. But nothing has happened since the building was burnt,” Azeez told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday.

Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Wunmi Seriki, dismissed the claim that the theatre had been abandoned, stating that the contract for the renovation of the building had been awarded.

“The theatre has not been abandoned. We are about to take action on the place. It is about to be renovated. It has been contracted out already. Work will soon start there.

“Although I cannot confirm the exact date, I can assure you that work will soon commence. I will let you know at a later date. We are aware that some of the installations and facilities have been vandalised since the time of the EndSARS,” she said.

However, the spokesperson for the State Ministry of Works, Mr. Odunuga, was not available to confirm this as of the time this report was filed.

Meanwhile, corroborating Seriki on the renovation of the theatre, the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr Gboyega Akosile, said the reconstruction of the theatre would begin in earnest.

“It is still on the table. I cannot give you a timeline, but something will be done about the theatre soon. Don’t forget that it was not the only place that was vandalised at the time. They burnt a lot of the BRT buses,” Akosile said.
PUNCH

Metro

Why I Charged My Husband Money For Sex —Woman

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

Editor

Matero Local Court, Zambia, has heard how a woman from Chisamba, sexually starved her husband for four years, after he failed to pay her K3,000 she charged him for having a child out of wedlock.

According to Zambia Observer, Sophia Kwale, 32, a teacher by profession, said in line with her tradition, as admission of guilt for having a child, her husband, Samuel Chongo, 38, was supposed to pay her the money commonly known as ‘ndapusa’ (admission of guilt).

“In my tradition, when a man has a child outside wedlock, he is supposed to apologise by paying ndapusa.

“This can be in money or material form.

“I asked him to pay me K3,000 only or he wasn’t going to have sex with me,” she said.

Sophia said her husband later refused to pay ndapusa but wanted to have sex with her, so she charged him K500 which he paid instantly before she allowed him to engage in the act.

“I charged him K500 to make love with me and he paid it instantly.

“This was only last month. Before that, we last had sex in 2021.

“I didn’t even enjoy the sex because it was forced,” she said.

Metro

Organ Harvesting: Ekiti Sacks Surgeon After Panel’s Findings, Suspends Support Staff

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

Editor

Ekiti State government has dismissed the Surgeon who had primary responsibility for the surgery of a patient whose kidneys were removed from the service of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) with immediate effect.

This followed the submission of the report of the 7-man investigation panel chaired by Professor Francis Faduyile to the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani.

Recall the panel was constituted 11 days ago to investigate the claim made by a patient, Mr. Joshua Afolayan regarding a surgical procedure he underwent at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).

According to a statement by Filani, “Upon careful review of the report and its recommendations, the Ekiti State government has approved the following actions:

“That the surgeon who had primary responsibility for the surgery is to be dismissed from the service of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) with immediate effect.

“All members of the surgical team present in the theatre on the day of the operation are to be suspended from duty for a period of one month, pending further administrative review.

“The Ekiti State government will bear the full cost of a new kidney transplant for Afolayan, will take responsibility for his post-transplant care as well as transplant related medical maintenance for a period of two years.

“In line with the recommendations of the panel, a comprehensive reorganisation of relevant departments within EKSUTH will be undertaken to strengthen clinical governance, accountability, and patient safety.”

Filani said that while the Ekiti State government continues to stand firmly behind the many dedicated and hardworking health professionals at EKSUTH and acknowledges their sacrifices and commitment to service, it would not hesitate to take decisive action where professional standards are breached.

“The government remains resolute in its commitment to protecting patients, upholding ethical and professional standards in healthcare delivery, and restoring and sustaining public confidence in the Ekiti State health system.

“Necessary reforms will be pursued to ensure that incidents of this nature do not re-occur and that EKSUTH continues to serve as a centre of excellence in patient care.

“We thank the people of Ekiti State for their patience, and trust, and we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to continued improvement in quality health care, compassion, and responsible governance.”

Metro

My Ex-husband Has Refused To Give Me, Our Unborn Child, Money For Upkeep, Woman Tells Court

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

Editor

Please, grant me time to settle the issue —Husband

A pregnant woman, Harira Aliyu, has asked a Shari’a court sitting in Rigasa, Kaduna State, to compel her former husband, Nasiru Al-Hassan to provide financial support for her upkeep.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the complainant also prayed the court to confirm one pronouncement of divorce made by Nasiru in March.

“I am eight months pregnant. Since our divorce in March, he has only been able to send me money for two months for my upkeep and our unborn child.

“It is important that he continues to provide for me as I await delivery in a month’s time,” she told the court.

In his defense, the defendant who spoke through his counsel, Abubakar Sani, said he was just briefed recently.

He asked the court to give him more time to respond to the petition.

The judge, Malam Mukhtar Aliyu adjourned the case.