The Editorials

  By Chukwudi Iwuchukwu   To those who do not understand why I called the wife of the new king of England, King Charles, “Side Chick”, let me share their beautiful love story.   The course of true love never runs smooth, and that was certainly the case for the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. It took years for the British public to accept Camilla as Charles’ new girlfriend and then wife in 2005, following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. But over the decades, fans have warmed to the Duchess and credit her with supporting the future king and becoming his rock.     As Charles and Camilla celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary last weekend, let’s take a look at their enduring love story, which started in the seventies…   A chance meeting at a polo match in 1970 marked the beginning of Camilla Shand’s relationship with Prince Charles. The two – both aged 23 – began dating, but their romance cooled when the future King was called away on nav...

     The Lagos State Chairman and Governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Professor Ifagbemi Awamaridi, has commenced the registration and integration of new members and support groups into the party’s database, which according to him is an attempt to solidify the party structure in the state, after a failed attempt by Kayode Salako-led faction of the party, to hijack the party structure from him.     The Lagos State Labour Party Chairman,  in a statement on Saturday at a town hall meeting with the state working committee of the party held at Avid Empire, Alagbado, Lagos, urged all party members and the support groups of Peter Obi, the party’s Presidential candidate, to validate their membership in their units, wards and local government across Lagos state.   He also charged prospective members and lovers of the party to take advantage of the membership registration window to join the party in rescuing the state and country from misrule o...

  Oredola Adeola The Nigerian Government and Lagos State Government have both agreed to finalise preparations to successfully host the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Conference on Tourism, Culture and the Creative Industries, scheduled to hold at the National Theatre, Lagos, between November 14 and 16, 2022. This was made known on Thursday, when the Conference’s Planning Committee and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The Committee used the occasion to congratulate the Lagos state government for being the host of the global conference. This according to the UNWTO team was because of the state’s premier role in tourism, culture and the creative. Surprise Africa gathered that the Thursday meeting was aimed at soliciting the support of the Lagos State Government towards the successful hosting of the conference, According to Alhaji Mohammed , while Nigeria is the hos...

 Saudi Arabia on Friday announced a decision to open its air space to all air carriers. The country’s General Authority of Civil Aviation tweeted that the decision meets Saudi Arabia’s dedication to fulfilling its obligations under the Chicago Convention of 1944. The Convention stipulates non-discrimination between civil aircrafts used in international air navigation. The decision consolidates the Kingdom’s position as a global hub connecting three continents and enhancing international air connectivity. Earlier, Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid applauded the Saudi Arabian decision on its decision to open the airspace. “This is the first step. We will continue to work with due caution, for the Israeli economy, its security and for the citizens of Israel,” Lapid said in a statement released by his office. Israeli airlines previously could not travel over Saudi airspace due to a ban, making flights to regions like Asia costlier and longer. The announcement comes on the sam...

 The Lagos State Government has concluded plan to host the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) scheduled in November, 2022.  This was confirmed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu  on Thursday when he received a delegation from the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) led by the Director-General, Chief Segun Runsewe, main organisers of the festival. The NAFEST is an annual cultural festival which brings together contingents from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to a host state to showcase the nation’s diverse cultural heritage in arts, crafts and all. Sanwo-Olu said that a delegation from the state had visited NCAC for a  Pre-NAFEST maiden meeting to interact and obtain details of hosting the festival. He said based on the report, the state government had to improve on their facilities to meet all criteria set by the NCAC. He noted that this was done to enable the state not only to host the biggest and most colourful festival, but also emerge...

  LCC SHIFTS RESUMPTION DATE OF TOLL COLLECTION AT THE LEKKI-IKOYI LINK BRIDGE TOLL PLAZA ...as LCC shift date, to announce new date after consultation Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC) has shifted the resumption date of toll collection at the Lekki- Ikoyi Link Bridge Toll Plaza indefinitely, thereby changed toll collection date from April 16th, 2022 till after consultation with residents. This was contained in a statement signed by Yomi Omomuwasan, Managing Director of LCC on Friday. According to the company, delay in the resumption of toll collection was due to the need for further consultations with key stakeholders in the Eti-Osa, Lekki area. The MD said the new development was in a bid to address their concerns and arrive at a mutually favourable resolution of all issues. Besides, the shift will give customers more time to register for the electronic devices. He said, “As a responsible organisation, we must take full cognisance of everyone within the axis. Therefore, we...

Femi Falana (SAN), Lawyer and activist  has alleged that officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) allow criminals to escape court verdicts by getting young men who will serve jail terms for criminals. Speaking on Thursday at a media session titled, “Forget the past, forfeit the future: A nation seceding from humanity”, Falana said the country is at war and the level of criminality is on the rise. He noted that solving the country’s security challenges goes beyond hiring mercenaries. Falana revealed that criminals that have been convicted of a crime are allowed to walk freely on the streets after warders connive with convicts to pay youths willing to serve jail terms on behalf of criminals. According to him, some of them who have been condemned to prison terms in Kirikiri hardly get there as the exchange is made at Mile 2, a few kilometres to the prison.   He also said that there were some convicts who don't seek a replacement or representation in prison but simply ...