News
Flooding: No going back on reclaiming drainage setbacks – Lagos govt vows
The Lagos State Government said there was no going back on its decision to enforce the state law and reclaim drainage setbacks following the expiration of notices issued.
This came as it stated that the ongoing removal of all contravening structures under the system 1 drainage channel midstream (Odo Iya Alaro) Ojota and Ogudu, will address major flooding issues on the mainland and its environs.
State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made these assertions on Sunday, when he alongside the Special Adviser on Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, led the management on an inspection tour to the enforcement sites to ascertain the level of compliance by property owners and extent of work.
Wahab explained that System 1 was established in 1974 and it is the biggest and widest Primary Channel that defloods the major parts of the mainland which cutting across Ogudu, Ojota, Ifako, Gbagada, Maryland, adding that the flyover bridge coming from Odo Iyaloro will cut across those areas.
He stressed that the government had been having discussions with property owners/residents since the year 2021 and the conversation ended in November 2023 stating that contravention notices had been served to owners of buildings lying within the 140 metres of System 1 since year 2021.
“We found out that people have gone back to encroach on the right of way and alignments. Since 2021, we have been engaging the homeowners and residents where government has been notifying them of impending enforcement without which we cannot abate flooding,” he said.
The commissioner explained that property owners whose buildings fall within the approved 140 meters Right of Way of the channel had been given the option of voluntary compliance for almost three years now.
He added that the government also discovered that while contravention notices had been served and dialogue on way forward was being explored, some of the property owners continued with the construction of new buildings that surfaced in the areas now.
Wahab, explained that the property owners/ residents affected were advised for about three years to voluntarily remove the contravening structures before the state government officials commenced the enforcement but were foot dragging.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has revealed one of the reasons he can’t make peace with Governor Similayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Wike accused Fubara of removing a chief in his family and went ahead to make another person a chief.
The FCT Minister stated this on Wednesday while fielding questions from journalists at a media parley in Abuja.
According to reports, the statement comes amid the ongoing political crisis in the State, with Wike and Governor Similayi Fubara at the center of the feud.
“Sometimes when you people talk about this peace, you don’t take everything. You don’t just sit outside to talk.
“Look at me, a former governor, Minister of of the FCT, Governor (Fubara) had the temerity, the audacity, because he has money from federation account, because he has more Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), will enter my own family to remove a chief and make another person a chief,” Wike said.
Akwa Ibom state Police Command has said that some locally made firearms have been recovered during stop and search operations along Ikot road in the state .
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state DSP Timfon John and made available to Journalists in Uyo on Thursday stated that the recovered firearms was in a determined effort to rid the state of illegal firearms and criminal elements .
The statement reads in parts:” Operatives of the Command intercepted a Mercedes Benz C300 with customized plate number FORBES JR, leading to the recovery of a locally fabricated firearm and two live cartridges.
“The operation, which took place at the Control Post in Ikot Ekpene, was part of the Command’s intensified stop-and-search strategy aimed at curbing crime and enhancing public safety.”
He said the vehicle had three male occupants who were identified themselves as: Nsisong Paul Okon, 27, native of Itak Village in Ikono local government area ,Francis Forbes, 62 from Ikot Akpa Edok Ndiya Village and Prince Forbes, 27, of Ikot Akpa Edok Ndiya Village from Ikono local government area respectively.
However, John disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Baba M. Azare has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter.
“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command reaffirms its zero tolerance for unlawful possession of firearms and remains resolute in ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state”.
President Bola Tinubu has instructed lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly to allow the impeached and reinstated Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, to continue leading the house.
The President made this position known when he met with the lawmakers at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.
As reported earlier, this is the first time President Tinubu is meeting the lawmakers since the crisis began in the house January 13, 2025.
One of the lawmakers told newsmen that ” Obasa is staying. We will obey the president. What we had was a family meeting. The President condenmed Obasa’s actions but blamed us for not carring him (Tinubu) along during the impeachement execrise”.
However, the lawmaker said President Tinubu warned Obasa to carry everyone along.
” He also warned him (Obasa) that if there were any future complaints from any quarters, he would be gone. “The President said he should let peace reign; and so based on that, we have accepted.”
On the pending matter in court, the source said: “The President has instructed him to withdraw it.”
Mercy Chinwo: Court orders arrest of VeryDarkMan for defamation
Rivers crisis: Why I won’t make peace with Fubara – Wike
Police intercept vehicle, recover firearms in Akwa Ibom
Know The Airlines, Departure And Arrival Terminals In Lagos Airports By Ayodeji Awokunmi
Know the Airlines, departure, and arrival terminals in Lagos Domestic Airports
Dissecting Caritas CEO’S ‘Public Relations Thoughts And Deeds’ By Stanley Olisa
-
News7 days agoSenator Natasha: Don’t be in position men will talk to you anyhow – Tinubu’s wife tells women
-
News1 week agoWhy I stepped down as Lagos Speaker – Full text of Meranda’s resignation speech
-
News7 days agoBREAKING: Doyin Okupe is dead
-
News1 week agoUTME 2025: JAMB enrolls 1.6 million candidates in 26 days
-
News1 week agoWhy I lied at Ebuka Obi’s church – Woman speaks after fake N500m mansion testimony
-
Politics1 week ago
Rivers crisis: Leaving office worst thing that can happen to me – Fubara
-
Entertainment1 week agoWhy I can’t forgive nurse who injected my husband – Mohbad’s wife
-
Politics1 week agoFormer Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel in EFCC custody for alleged N700bn fraud