By Olamide Akintunde

The Federal Government has approved the temporary use of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Lagos following a truck accident that occurred on Monday at the Chisco area of Lekki, which caused significant traffic congestion.
This announcement was conveyed in a statement issued by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, which noted that the Federal Ministry of Works granted approval for the highway to be opened to motorists, pending when normal traffic flow is restored along the affected route.
The statement, signed by Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, advised motorists to exercise patience while plying the area, assuring that efforts were underway to clear up the obstruction caused by the accident.
“The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation wishes to inform motorists that due to a truck accident at Chisco area, Lekki, the Federal Ministry of Works has approved the opening of the Coastal Road for use pending when normalcy is restored. Motorists are implored to be patient while plying the area,” the statement read in part.
The temporal opening of the completed Lagos-Calabar Highway section within Lagos for motorists is expected to ease congestion and improve traffic flow until the main route is cleared.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is to run from Lagos to Calabar in Cross River State, has two sections within Lagos. Section 1 is a six-lane dual carriageway covering 47.7km from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village in the Lekki Peninsula. It was inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu on May 31, 2025, although some parts of the section were not fully completed at the time.
Section 1 was procured at N1.068 trillion, with 30% of the contract sum disbursed as of August 2025.
Section 2, still under construction, runs from the Lekki Deep Seaport to the Dangote Refinery. This section, awarded at N1.6 trillion, includes several flyovers and crosses swampy terrain.
The temporal opening of the completed Lagos-Calabar Highway section within Lagos for motorists is expected to ease congestion and improve traffic flow until the main route is cleared.
While the temporal opening will not come with tolling, the highway is normally planned to be tolled for 5 to 10 years to recover construction costs. With this temporary access, motorists can now clearly identify the usable portion and use it as an alternative route.

The Federal Government has been asked to compel international oil companies (IOCs) to pay $100billion to oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta for the many years of damage done on the region’s ecosystem.

Niger Delta Farmers, Fishermen/Seafood Dealers Association (NDFFSDA) made the demand at the weekend in a statement by its national President, Imoh Okoko and secretary,  Sunny Eleas.

The NDFFSDA said that the operations of the oil companies have caused frequent oil spills, black soot, acid rain, gas flaring among others which adversely impact on the communities leading to loss of livelihoods and even deaths.

The statement added that fisherman, seafood dealers and farmers have also suffered terrible loses and deaths in the course of the fishing in the waters of the region.

The statement reads in parts: “It has become pertinent to bring to your attention the fact that the ongoing oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta region are repeatedly causing severe damage to our fishing nets, hooks, boots, and other essential fishing equipment.

“The continuous destruction of our equipment by the movement of their (IOC’s) heavy sea moving machines/equipment, eg oil vessels, surveillance boots, etc,  is causing immense economic loss to members of our Association, as we depend solely on these tools for our daily sustenance and income.

“The massive loss of lives and livelihood and avoidable accidents at sea are preventable and we strongly advocate that measures be put in place to ensure same so as to promote a sustainable environment for positive development in the sectors.

“These accidents variously occurred in the years 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023, and the most recent incident occurred in 2024. These tragic incidents have not only taken away valuable lives but have left families in distress, with no compensation or recognition from either the Companies or the relevant supervisory authorities.

“In light of the above, we respectfully call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to work out the payment is $100 billion to oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region as compensation for years of oil exploration and exploitation.

“This has led to irreversible damages to the livelihood and ecosystem in the region; this compensation would douse raging tensions and hopelessness that people in the region going through and feeling.

“This fund is needed urgently and saliently to specifically address the rapid provision of health facilities, replenishment of floundering rare animals, plants and fish species; which have been devastated for the past 65 years.

“We also support the call that the above demanded compensation be paid into a special account, to be administered by oil-producing states in collaboration with local and international environmental groups with focus on provision of health facilities, women empowerment, education and reviving fishing and agriculture in the region”.

By Abimbola Ola

Perfume is more than just a fragrance; it is an invisible accessory that speaks volumes about who we are. It lingers in the air long after we have left the room, leaving traces of memory, emotion, and identity. A well-chosen perfume does not just make a person smell good — it tells a story, evokes emotions, and sometimes defines how we are remembered.

There is something deeply personal about the way perfume blends with the skin. It transforms differently on everyone, becoming a scent that is uniquely theirs. Some perfumes carry sweet, fruity notes that remind one of summer days, ripe fruits, and soft laughter. Others reveal floral tones, blooming like gardens in spring, or woody and musky scents that whisper of confidence, depth, and mystery. Each fragrance family carries its own character, and together, they form a language of scent understood without words.

Perfume, in many ways, represents personality. For men, it often symbolizes strength, power, and confidence — a silent yet potent declaration of presence. For women, perfume mirrors grace, beauty, and sensuality — a fragrance that can captivate and inspire. There are scents that command attention, those that calm the soul, and those that awaken nostalgia. Some perfumes travel farther than the person wearing them, leaving behind trails that open doors of admiration and even success.

There are moments in life when a fragrance becomes inseparable from memory. Some people never forget another simply because of the perfume they wore — that lingering scent etched into the corners of memory like an old song. Perfume, when chosen carefully, has the power to become part of one’s identity. It can make someone unforgettable, even when words fail or time fades.

Yet, as powerful as perfume can be, not every space welcomes it. Certain workplaces and institutions — especially daycares, hospitals, or organizations where people may have allergies or respiratory sensitivities — often discourage the use of strong fragrances. This is not a rejection of beauty, but a reminder of care and consideration for others. In such environments, subtlety becomes the key — a light, airy scent that soothes rather than overwhelms.

Still, in social settings and personal moments, perfume remains one of the most intimate and expressive accessories one can wear. It completes an outfit, boosts confidence, and sometimes even sets the tone for the day. It can make a person feel powerful, alluring, or simply clean and refreshed. Beyond fashion, it connects to emotion — that invisible link between self-expression and memory.

Perfume is not just about smelling good; it is about being remembered. It travels farther than sight, reaching into hearts and minds in ways words cannot. It has the power to change moods, influence perception, and tell stories of who we are and who we aspire to be.

In a world full of fleeting trends and changing styles, perfume remains timeless — a silent companion that walks with us through the seasons of life. Whether fruity, floral, woody, or spicy, the right scent becomes a signature — invisible, yet unforgettable.