Welcome To Egungwu Chukwuka Benjamin's Journalism Archive

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN  ✓ Afriland &  Central Plaza  Infernos: A Call to Action for Enhanced Fire Safety F ire outbreaks remain a persistent crisis in Nigeria, claiming lives and destroying properties. The two recent incidents in Lagos show how severe it can be. On  September 16, 2025 , around 1:20 pm, a fire broke out at  Afriland Towers  on  Broad Street, Lagos Island . The inferno was triggered by an  electrical fault in the basement of inverter batteries  in the building, which resulted in the tragic loss of ten lives due to smoke spreading via air-conditioning ducts. The deaths were caused by  smoke inhalation  and  carbon monoxide poisoning . According to national dailies, at least 25 people were injured. The high-rise building harbored different firms, including United Bank for Africa (UBA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and  United Capital Plc . Just hours later, between 7:00 and 8:00 pm, anothe...

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN ✓ DANGOTE TRUCKS UNDER FIRE: CALLS FOR STRICTER REGULATIONS D ays after the controversy involving two Nigerian airlines and their passengers occurred, triggering public discourse, a heartbreaking news story erupted on the internet that is worth discussing. Considering the steady occurrence, level of damages, and lives that similar incidents have taken due to recklessness by some truck drivers, especially those linked to the Dangote Group , this issue demands federal government attention. Though the focus seems to be on Dangote Group truck drivers because of the high level of their indulgence in accidents, this doesn't take away the fact that other truck drivers from other companies or privately owned trucks also poses high level of threat to people's lives due to their recklessness and inability to ensure that the cargo containers are properly belted or tightened to the truck.  This became a public discourse, following report that the winner of Bi...

  BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN The two recent incidents involving Nigerian passengers on commercial flights have generated a lot of debate online and offline. The first incident occurred on Tuesday, August 5th, involving Popular Nigerian Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Adewale (K1 De Ultimate) and some Value Jet staff members, including Captain Oluranti Ogoyi , at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja . The second incident took place on Sunday, August 10th, between a passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson , and Ibom Air flight staffs on a flight from Uyo to Lagos . Judging some incident based on videos that emerged online might not be the best approach. Most times, the media is used to project a specific narrative, showcasing only what an individual or group wants the public to see. So, it is very important that we don't base our judgement on videos that emerged online. I commend the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for demanding firsthand reports from passengers on th...

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN Nigeria Mourns The Loss Of Football Legend, Former President, and Awujale. T he month of July is a blend of tragic events, Verbal Jabs and some positive events. On Thursday, 3rd July, 2025, at about 6:00 AM, we lost former Nigeria football legend, Peter Rufai , at the age of 61, after a prolonged illness.  Subsequently, days after that, another tragedy struck the nation as it was announced on Sunday, 13th July, 2025, that former President, Muhammadu Buhari , passed away in a London clinic at the age of 82, and was laid to rest in his hometown, Dura in Katsina State , on Tuesday, 15th July, 2025.  On the same day (13th July), just minutes after the announcement of the death of the late former President, we got another devastating news about the passing away of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of IJebu Kingdom , at the age of 91, and he was inhumed at his private residence in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria, on Monday, 14th July, following the ...

  T his interview features a talented Nollywood actress,  UZOAMAKA ONUOHA , who shared about her journey in the entertainment industry, what her nominations and wins meant for her, and the importance/role of Nollywood in promoting African culture globally.  The actress, through her impressive performance, took home the award for Best Female Performance in a Feature at the 2024 Africa International Film Festival ( AFRIFF ) for her captivating role in the movie " Agemo ". Her talent and role in the same movie also earned her a nomination at the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards ( AMVCA ), showcasing her versatility and talent.  EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA  brings excerpts.  Congratulations on your nomination for Best Lead Actress in the 11th edition of AMVCA 2025! How did you feel to be recognized, even though you didn't take home the award? It feels great. I feel good; I feel seen. I feel the pat on my shoulders for my contribution to the art through my work. I...

  BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN Imagine living your life with purpose, making plans for the future, only to have it all taken away in an instant? One moment you are alive and healthy, and the next, you are gone, due to a brutal attack that was carried out by some group who share similar human conditions and experiences. On Friday, June 13th, into the early hours of Saturday, June 14th, 2025, a tragic incident struck Yelewata town in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, which was perpetrated by a group of armed persons, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen . This attack resulted in a minimum of 150 fatalities (deaths), with some reports estimating the death toll to be around 200. This is not the first time we have experienced or heard of similar attacks recurring across various states in our nation. Following the attack, Nigerian activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as " Verydarkman ," visited the crime scene and provided the public with videos highlighting how sev...

  M akeup and special effects have, over the years, evolved in the Nollywood industry. Through makeup artistry, stories are brought to life as artists create amazing visuals. In this exclusive  interview , Nigerian talented makeup artist, Hakeem Onilogbo popularly known as ' HAKEEM EFFECTS ' shared his journey, highlighting his passion for art, perfectionism, and efforts to bridge gaps in the industry.  He recently emerged as the best makeup artist at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2025, after bagging three nominations with different movies in the same category.  EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN brings excerpts. Congratulations on winning the Best Makeup Artist category at the 2025 AMVCA with your work in the movie 'Lisabi'. you got three nominations in the same category, can you share with us how you feel about that? What I have to say about the three nominations in one category is that whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. So, it was a lot o...

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN   ✓ JAMB's CBT Model: Should NECO And WAEC Follow Suit T he mass failure in the recently held Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination triggered a national debate, with doubt about the quality and credibility of Nigeria's educational systems. It was reported by different news outlets that 39,834 candidate results were withheld due to suspected examination malpractices and other related offenses. Out of 1,955,059 candidates who sat for the examination, only 420,416 scored above 200, meaning that 75% of the candidates scored below average. This sparked up widespread criticism on social media, with the affected persons expressing their pain and frustration, considering the hard work, resources, and efforts invested while preparing for the examination, which started on Thursday, April 24th, 2025. On May 14th, 2025, news broke out about how a 19-year-old girl, Timilehin Faith Opesusi, who resides in Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos , committed su...