Angelus Blog

Do parents truly know what’s best for your love life? From teething to teenage awkwardness, they’ve watched you grow and believe they hold the ultimate “data set” on who you are. Naturally, they assume they’re qualified to vet your future partner.   But while their intentions may stem from love—or a not-so-subtle desire for grandchildren—parental matchmaking often causes more harm than good.   The Illusion of the Perfect Candidate Someone can look flawless on paper—a “10/10” in your parents’ eyes—yet feel lifeless in conversation. Parents tend to emphasize background, education, and cultural or religious compatibility. These matter, but they don’t create chemistry. Stability may be their priority, but connection is yours. And no spark can be forced just because two résumés align.   The Burden of Obligation When matchmaking involves family friends or community ties, a casual date can feel like a diplomatic summit. If things go badly, relationships with famil...

Why should a man wait to be told to work with his wife before he takes responsibility for the home? Bathing the children, putting them to bed, or cooking a meal are not “women’s duties”—they are family duties. A wise man understands that stepping into the kitchen or helping with chores does not strip him of his masculinity. On the contrary, it shows maturity, love, and leadership. Even a titled man is not diminished by service to his family; he is elevated by it. Yet, some men cling to outdated beliefs. One man famously declared he would never enter the kitchen because “that is not a married man’s place.” He believed that as long as he provided money, the kitchen belonged solely to his wife. He even burdened her with impossible standards, warning that food must be prepared with “utmost precision” or else disaster would follow. His wife lived in constant fear, punished whenever she failed to meet his rigid expectations. This is not strength—it is oppression disguised as tradition. The s...

Toll Gate is a well-known landmark in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The area got its name from the toll gate that once existed there during the democratic presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007. It is strategically located at the boundary between Lagos State and Ogun State along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway. In addition to generating revenue for road maintenance and infrastructure development, the toll gate also helped regulate and monitor traffic moving between the two states. In 2012, during the administration of Ibikunle Amosun, the construction of the Ilo Awela Road was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria. The project was aimed at linking Ota with inner parts of the city, including Oju Ore, Osi, Command, Ogba Ayo, AIT, and Iyana Iyesi. The road was rehabilitated and expanded into a dual carriageway to ease movement and improve connectivity within the city. However, the topography of the area presents a serious safety challenge. The road was constructed in such a way that it sl...

At their father’s burial, James—the youngest of five siblings—shouldered most of the financial responsibility, contributing ₦8 million out of the ₦10 million budget. His elder brother, Cletus, 50 years old and financially strained, managed only ₦300,000. Samson, the 47-year-old teacher, gave ₦1 million, while Veronica, their divorced sister, offered ₦300,000. Jacob, a taxi driver, added ₦400,000.   Despite the uneven contributions, the burial was unexpectedly harmonious. But the fragile peace dissolved when the time came to divide their father’s estate. Custom dictated that the firstborn son, Cletus, should inherit the family house, along with a share of the remaining assets—five plots of land, six houses, clothes, and furniture.   Veronica, however, challenged this tradition. She argued that Cletus’s meager contribution to the burial should disqualify him from receiving the largest share. Aligning with Samson, she petitioned the village head. James stood firmly by t...

Photo Credit: Plateau Watch   Dialogue is often hailed as the most effective path to conflict resolution. Yet, the idea of negotiating peace with bandits in a sovereign nation remains deeply controversial.   Since the Boko Haram sect—formally known as Jama'at Ahl al-Sunna Li al-Da'wa wa al-Jihad—emerged in northeastern Nigeria in 2003, the country has suffered the loss of thousands of lives to their violent campaigns, particularly in the northern regions. Despite repeated efforts by federal, state, and local governments to suppress the group, military offensives have yielded little success. In fact, the harder the military pushes, the more destruction these insurgents unleash. They raid military bases, seize vehicles and weapons, and turn those same resources against the nation.   Beyond direct assaults, the bandits frequently bomb government facilities, kidnap citizens and foreigners, and extort massive ransoms—sometimes killing their victims even after payment...

Dangote Refinery, Lagos Nigeria   With the Dangote Refinery poised to start selling fuel directly to consumers—especially Nigerians—the pressing question is whether the government should simply relax and depend solely on this refinery to satisfy the country’s fuel demands. If the answer is no, what strategic steps should follow? Before exploring the path forward, it is essential to acknowledge the widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians regarding both petrol pricing and the distribution framework currently in place. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has effectively established a monopoly over the purchase and distribution of Dangote Refinery’s products. Under this system, independent marketers and private oil sector operators are barred from buying directly from the refinery. Instead, they must procure fuel through NNPCL at a fixed price and then resell it to consumers with their own margins. This arrangement has eliminated the price uniformity Nigerians ...

Dangote Refinery   It is no longer news that the highly anticipated Dangote Refinery has been completed and is now ready to supply products to the market. Given the current fuel scarcity and rising petrol prices in Nigeria, many expected the refinery to start operations immediately after completion. However, this has not happened due to bureaucratic hurdles. Reports indicate that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), currently the sole importer of refined petroleum products in Nigeria, is restricting Dangote from selling petrol to independent marketers or other petrol merchants, allowing only NNPCL and its affiliates to distribute the products. While some sources deny that NNPCL plans to monopolize Dangote’s products, conflicting reports continue to emerge, creating uncertainty and instability that is detrimental to the country. If there is no conflict between NNPCL and Dangote Refinery, why has petrol sales not commenced days after the refinery’s completion? Alik...

Nigeria Labour Congress protesting fuel price increase   On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) announced a significant increase in the price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (petrol). The new price now ranges between N897 and N930 per litre nationwide, marking approximately a 50% rise from the previous price of N617 per litre. This development has sparked widespread concern and criticism among Nigerians, who fear the negative repercussions on their daily lives. One of the most immediate impacts of the fuel price hike will be on transportation costs. Commercial vehicle operators are expected to raise their fares to offset the increased fuel expenses, placing additional financial burdens on the average Nigerian worker. Fuel is a critical input for many sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, banking, and the informal sector—such as vulcanizers, barbers, and small business centers—largely because electricity supply remains unreliable, m...

  A typical Lagos Motor Park  In Lagos, motor park touts, commonly known as Agberos or Alayees, are predominantly men—and occasionally women—who have taken it upon themselves to act as informal managers of motor parks. Some operate under the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), while others are affiliated with the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN). The Agberos linked to the NURTW generally represent the lower tier of touts, whereas those associated with RTEAN occupy senior positions. Beyond these two groups, there exists a third category of touts who are unaffiliated with any union. These operate mainly at night, do not issue receipts for the levies they collect, and are notorious for their aggressive enforcement tactics. Motorists who resist their demands often face severe consequences. For years, the activities of these touts have been a source of distress for commercial drivers, motorists, and private vehicle owners in Lagos. Instead of co...

Picture: protesters in Lagos, Nigeria . Between August 1 and 10, 2024, during the #ENDBADGOVERNANCE and Hunger Protests in Nigeria, an online campaign emerged in Lagos State calling for Igbos to vacate the city. The campaign, tagged #IgbosMustGo, was driven by unidentified individuals who announced that their efforts would be “intensified” between August 20 and 30, 2024. The use of the word intensified suggests that the campaign had been quietly ongoing but was now being openly promoted. Its message was clear: Igbos from the Eastern region residing in Lagos should leave the state. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu strongly condemned the campaign, describing it as reckless and senseless. He urged law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute those behind it. At the time of writing, however, there has been no official statement confirming whether the perpetrators have been apprehended. Yet, the focus here is not on arrests or prosecutions, but on how diverse groups within a geopolitical ...

Organizations and individuals establish businesses in environments they believe will foster growth, sustainability, and progress. While operating in these locations, these entities have the opportunity to contribute positively to the social and economic well-being of the surrounding communities. This practice is known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), also referred to as Corporate Impact. In several African countries, particularly Nigeria, the contributions of many organizations to the economic and social development of their host communities often fall short of local expectations. This article highlights some critical areas that have been largely neglected, including road maintenance, rural and urban electrification, environmental sanitation, and scholarships for indigent students. Road Maintenance : Feeder roads, which organizations frequently use to transport raw materials and finished goods, often suffer from poor maintenance. Although it is not the direct responsibility...

Video: Sharing of Palliatives at Madara Ward of FCE Kontagora Nige State    During his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, Nigeria’s newly elected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy. He explained that the subsidy had already been quietly removed by former President Muhammadu Buhari early in his second term, and as such, the 2023 budget made no provision for it. Nigerians appeared largely indifferent to this covert removal, focusing instead on price stability and product availability. The previous administration had repeatedly explained that the high cost of subsidizing petrol was a major cause of frequent fuel shortages in the country. They accused a few wealthy importers—who held licenses to bring in petrol—of benefiting disproportionately from the subsidy, while the poor, the intended beneficiaries, saw little advantage. The government alleged that these so-called “subsidy thieves” inflated importation costs and diverted petrol to neighbori...

Never before in Nigeria’s history have the youths—particularly those from the Southern and Eastern regions—demonstrated such remarkable enthusiasm and active participation in the election process as witnessed during the 2023 general elections. This election cycle served as a powerful wake-up call, almost like a magic wand, stirring them from political apathy into vibrant engagement. It was as if they suddenly realized the crucial role they play in choosing their leaders, a shift that is commendable by any measure. A pressing question among many Nigerians has been: Why were the youths from these regions so disengaged from politics until now? One plausible explanation is that many young people felt their votes had little impact in previous elections, leading them to view voting as a futile exercise—a waste of time and resources. Along similar lines, some youths believed that political outcomes were predetermined by manipulative politicians before any votes were cast, making participation...

For the first time in many years, Nigerians are facing severe fuel scarcity nationwide in January 2023. While fuel shortages have been a recurring issue, it has never persisted for such an extended period—from November through January—until now. Historically, fuel scarcity in Nigeria has often been preceded by strikes from tanker drivers, particularly those affiliated with the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). These strikes were usually coordinated with the Nigerian Labour Congress, which would present demands to the government. Failure to meet these demands within a set timeframe typically led to indefinite strike actions, triggering fuel shortages. However, this time, no such warnings or strikes occurred, catching everyone off guard. Adding to the surprise is the fact that Nigeria is currently in an election period, with the presidential election scheduled for January 25, 2023. During such times, economic activities are generally expected to be stable or...

According to a recent survey conducted in Nigeria, over four thousand couples filed for divorce in 2022. This represents a dramatic rise compared to previous years. Interestingly, not all marriages even reached the stage of legal arbitration. Some collapsed immediately after the Native Law and Custom (traditional) marriage, while others ended after the religious stage—Church or Islamic weddings—without progressing to court marriage. Even those that attained legal recognition often broke down within a few years. Surprisingly, many of these failed unions involved celebrities, particularly in the entertainment industry. A significant number also included highly educated couples—those with university degrees and beyond. This trend raises troubling questions: why do marriages today crumble so quickly, when in earlier decades couples often sustained their unions for 50 years or more? What are we failing to do that our parents did right? This article examines key factors that contribute...

Relationships between spouses, friends, and associates have often been torn apart by unverified reports spread by individuals who deliberately peddle dangerous rumors. These malicious agents rarely consider the devastating consequences their words may have on the lives of those involved. Rumor-mongers thrive on destruction. They care nothing for the feelings of their victims; their sole aim is to drag others down in pursuit of their sadistic intentions. Sadly, many victims fall into their traps because of a weakness for sensational stories that appeal to their emotions rather than their reason. One striking example illustrates this danger. A devout Christian, married for fifteen years and father of three, suddenly found his marriage in turmoil. His wife’s attitude changed drastically after hearing an allegation that he was having an affair with a woman she had never met. The rumor was delivered by a supposed confidante, and she accepted it without question. Determined to catch...

Picture Credit: Oriental Times  When traveling across Nigeria’s major highways, one cannot help but notice government officials stopping vehicles to check their roadworthiness. Yet, a pressing question arises: which should be prioritized—safe roads or safe vehicles? Sadly, both remain in deplorable condition. Vehicle Safety Ideally, vehicles should be in proper working condition before being allowed on the road, whether for private or commercial use. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Many passengers have been stranded because vehicles lacked spare tyres, or carried ones that were unusable. Road Safety Officers and Vehicle Inspection Officers, tasked with enforcing these standards, often neglect their duty—choosing instead to collect bribes and allow unsafe vehicles to continue operating.   Equally troubling is the issue of missing or fake vehicle documents. Officials routinely stop cars to check particulars, yet passengers frequently witness them accep...

Virtually all the states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria are currently witnessing protests tagged #ENDSARS. In Ota, Ogun State, South West, the protest started on October 19, 2020. We went out this morning to feel the pulse of the people and their reactions to the protest. The clips here explain our findings