The Lagos State Government has issued a warning to residents about the potential risk of flash flooding following significant rainfall described as the “heaviest in many months.” The alert was communicated by State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, over the weekend.

RISING Water Levels and Dam Releases

Wahab explained that the recent heavy rains, particularly between Wednesday and Thursday, have caused water levels in major rivers to rise. This situation has hampered the drainage channels’ ability to discharge water effectively, particularly due to the simultaneous release of water from the Oyan Dam.

“The intensity of the rainfalls has led to the levels of the major rivers rising, making it difficult for the drainage channels to discharge until levels gradually subside,” he said.

Recent Data and Flooding Concerns

The commissioner emphasized the necessity of the flash flood advisory based on data collected from weather monitoring stations, which indicated that Thursday’s rainfall was among the highest recorded this year. He highlighted the following observations:

• Rising Water Levels:
  • At Kara, the water level reached 2.2 meters, nearing the flood threshold.
  • At Isheri-North GRA, the water level was reported at 20.015 meters, above the flood threshold, indicating river flooding in nearby catchment areas.
  • The peak water level at Majidun was recorded at 1.466 meters on October 14, with minimum levels at 0.538 meters.
  • Falomo also reported increasing water levels due to continuous rainfall and releases from the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA).

Safety Precautions for Residents

Wahab urged residents, particularly those living in low-lying areas and along the banks of the Ogun River, to prioritize their safety. He recommended moving to upland areas to prevent potential loss of life and property, especially since more rainfall is expected in the coming weeks.

“The data available for October shows significantly higher water levels compared to previous months. Continuous monitoring indicates that residents should prepare for possible flooding conditions,” he reiterated.

Residents are advised to stay informed and take necessary precautions as the state navigates the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and rising water levels.

Ruth Gibbins, the sister of One Direction member Liam Payne, shared a heartfelt message on Saturday, expressing her grief and disbelief over her brother’s death earlier this week. Liam passed away on Wednesday in Argentina.

In her emotional tribute posted on Instagram, Gibbins addressed her late brother directly, stating, “I don’t feel this world was good enough or kind enough to you.” She conveyed her struggle to process the loss, saying, “My brain is struggling to catch up with what’s happening and I don’t understand where you’ve gone.”

Gibbins reflected on the challenges Liam faced in recent years, noting, “Quite often over the last few years, you’ve had to really try hard to overcome all that was being aimed at you. You just wanted to be loved and to make people happy with your music.”

FATHER’S VISIT TO ARGENTINA

On Friday, Payne’s father, Geoff Payne, visited the Buenos Aires hotel where his son tragically fell from a third-floor balcony. He expressed gratitude to the fans gathered nearby, sharing a moment of collective grief. After arriving in the Argentine capital, Geoff also visited the morgue where Liam’s body was being held pending toxicological tests.

REACTIONS TO THE TRAGEDY

Reactions to Liam’s death have poured in from fans and fellow celebrities alike. Cheryl Tweedy, a former partner of Payne and the mother of their seven-year-old son, Bear, described the loss as an “earth shattering event.” In a social media message, she criticized the “abhorrent reports and media exploitation” following his death, which she claimed were causing “further harm to everyone left behind picking up the pieces.” She urged others to consider the impact of their words and actions, asking, “Before you leave comments or make videos, ask yourself if you would like your own child or family to read them.”

Liam Payne’s untimely passing has sparked an outpouring of grief and reflection on the challenges faced by those in the public eye.

The Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has approved the new minimum wage of N70,000 as announced by the Federal Government of Nigeria. This decision was communicated in a state government statement released on Saturday evening.

IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION

Signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, the statement confirmed that the approved wage will be implemented across the Kwara State public service, effective October 2024. This includes consequential adjustments to the relevant salary structures.

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

The decision followed a successful tripartite meeting involving government representatives, the leadership of the Organised Labour in Kwara State—including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC)—as well as representatives from the organized private sector.

Dr. Nuru, who co-chairs the minimum wage committee, expressed gratitude to Governor AbdulRazaq for allowing the committee full autonomy to reach a consensus that benefits all parties involved.

GOVERNOR’S COMMITMENT

The immediate implementation of the new wage reflects Governor AbdulRazaq’s proactive and worker-friendly approach. Dr. Nuru emphasized the Governor’s commitment to the welfare of public servants and all citizens of Kwara State, aligning with a broader vision for sustainable development and economic stability.

The new wage template will also apply to workers in the 16 local government areas of the state, further demonstrating the administration’s dedication to fostering growth and prosperity for all in Kwara State.

The late Ayodele Dorcas Fadairo, a retired assistant commissioner of police, was laid to rest at Ikoyi Cemetery in Lagos on Friday. Known affectionately as “Aunty Ayo l’alagbon,” her burial site holds special significance as it is located near the Alagbon command, symbolizing her enduring connection to the police force even in death.

FUNERAL SERVICE

The funeral service was attended by family members, both serving and retired police officers, friends, and community members from Igbara-Oke. The gathering reflected the impact Aunty Ayo had on the lives of those around her.

LEGACY AND HONORS

Aunty Ayo’s legacy was immortalized through music, particularly by the renowned highlife musician Orlando Owoh, who celebrated her contributions in one of his iconic songs. His tribute highlighted her dedication to the police force and her compassionate nature, showcasing how she was respected not just for her professional expertise but also for her kindness and support for her colleagues and community.

On Saturday, Israel reported that a drone targeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea amidst escalating tensions with Hezbollah, which launched a barrage of projectiles into Israel from Lebanon. Netanyahu and his wife were not present during the drone attack, and there were no reported injuries.

ATTACK DETAILS

The Israeli military stated that a drone from Lebanon struck a structure in Caesarea. Throughout the morning, sirens sounded across Israel as Hezbollah fired a large salvo of advanced rockets aimed at military positions, particularly targeting a base in the Haifa region.

Tragically, a man in the northern port city of Acre was killed by shrapnel, while five others were injured in Kiryat Ata, a city near Haifa.

CONTEXT OF THE ESCALATION

This recent escalation follows a series of intensified air strikes on Lebanon by Israel, alongside a ground force deployment after nearly a year of cross-border exchanges. The fighting in Gaza has been particularly fierce, especially after the Israeli military killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Wednesday. Sinwar was considered crucial in orchestrating the recent attacks on Israel and in negotiating the release of hostages.

STANCE FROM HAMAS AND IRAN

Hamas has stated through its officials that there will be no release of hostages unless Israel ceases its military actions in Gaza. Additionally, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasized that the resistance will continue despite the death of Sinwar, indicating ongoing support for Hamas from Iran.

The Lagos State Police Command has initiated a manhunt for commercial motorcyclists, commonly known as ‘Okada riders,’ following the alleged attack and killing of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) during a traffic enforcement operation in the Agege area of Lagos.

INCIDENT DETAILS

The incident occurred early Saturday morning at the WEMCO Junction near Mobil Road. Eyewitnesses reported that the police officer was leading a team to respond to a distress call about a fatal accident involving an Okada rider and a trailer when they were confronted by a group of riders.

In the ensuing chaos, the police officer and his team were reportedly attacked by the Okada riders, who expressed their dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of the situation. The ASP was targeted during the melee, and despite attempts by others to flee, he was overpowered by the attackers.

POLICE RESPONSE

In the wake of the incident, approximately five suspects were arrested, and efforts to locate additional individuals involved in the attack have been intensified.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the situation, describing the attack as “needless and uncalled for.” He stated that the police had received a distress call at around 1:40 a.m. regarding the accident involving the Okada rider and the trailer, which led to the police’s presence in the area.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

The violent altercation has raised concerns about the safety of law enforcement officers and the ongoing tensions between police and commercial motorcyclists in the city. The police are urging the public to assist in identifying and apprehending those responsible for the attack.

A meeting of the Labour Party in Aba was disrupted by a group of masked men, suspected to be policemen, who ordered the party members to remain quiet.

INCIDENT DETAILS

The incident involved over 20 masked individuals who stormed the meeting venue, leading to a confrontation when five of them approached Prince G.O. Ndubueze, the secretary of the Labour Party’s local government election committee, claiming he was under arrest.

When Ndubueze was told he was being taken away, the party members resisted, stating that the masked men had not presented any warrant for his arrest. In a show of solidarity, more than 500 Labour Party members marched with Ndubueze to the Aba Area Police Command to protest the police action.

NDUBUEZE’S STAND

In a brief interview with Vanguard, Ndubueze asserted that he would not be intimidated by Governor Alex Otti, whom he accused of trying to impose his chosen candidates for the upcoming November 2 local government election.

“I didn’t get any warrant of arrest from anywhere. I don’t even know whether they are policemen, but as a law-abiding citizen, I’m going with the police. However, I will never bow to intimidation from Gov. Alex Otti. We won’t allow him to impose candidates in this local government election,” Ndubueze stated.

He emphasized that although Governor Otti came to power through a legitimate election, his attempts to impose candidates would not be tolerated by the Labour Party in Abia State.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported that the national grid experienced a temporary disturbance at approximately 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, resulting in widespread power outages across the country.

CAUSE OF THE DISTURBANCE

According to TCN, the issue arose when a bus section of a current transformer exploded at the 330kV Jebba Transmission Substation. In response, the protection system was activated to prevent a fire and further damage to nearby equipment by opening the busbars.

“Our engineers at Jebba have successfully carried out switchings, isolating the faulty current transformer,” TCN stated. “They have also reconfigured the busbar arrangement, restoring power supply to the station and other parts of the grid.”

As of noon on Saturday, power supply had recovered to 496.20 MW, although the grid had dropped significantly from a supply of 3,041.72 MW at 8 a.m. to only 47 MW by 9 a.m., with only the Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant remaining connected to the grid.

RECENT GRID COLLAPSES

This latest disturbance marks the third collapse of the national grid in the past week and the eighth collapse this year. Earlier reports indicated that the grid had peaked at 4,807.2 MW on Friday, with a low of 4,011.27 MW.

A recent analysis by Vanguard revealed that as of 10:16 a.m., seven of the country’s eleven electricity distribution companies had zero load allocation. Only four DisCos—Benin (70 MW), Ibadan (60 MW), Ikeja (30 MW), and Eko (20 MW)—were receiving minimal supply.

VANDALISM IMPACTING SUPPLY

TCN had previously announced the vandalization of two towers along the 330kV Shiroro–Kaduna transmission lines, which had also contributed to the grid’s instability. Reports from the Shiroro Regional Office indicated that the first transmission line tripped, followed closely by the second. In response to this situation, local vigilantes have been mobilized to patrol the lines to enhance security.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

The recent string of grid collapses has drawn significant concern from both the government and citizens, prompting calls for a comprehensive review of the current electricity supply infrastructure and measures to ensure stability and reliability in power distribution across Nigeria.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has stated that the Lagos State government has yet to submit an official declaration of intent regarding the construction of an airport in Ibeju-Lekki. This declaration is crucial for providing technical guidance and regulatory oversight to the state in compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).

Captain Chris Najomo, the Acting Director General of the NCAA, made this announcement during a meeting with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He clarified that while the project has received approval from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the necessary declaration must be submitted at least 180 days before any construction begins.

Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that the concept of an additional airport was first considered back in 2008. He revealed that a feasibility study conducted between 2008 and 2010 indicated the project’s viability, but progress had been hampered by unforeseen setbacks.

The governor also mentioned that discussions with the former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development had taken place, resulting in approval for the establishment of an aerodrome in Ibeju-Lekki. Furthermore, he emphasized that 4,000 hectares of land had been earmarked for the proposed airport project.

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has ordered the immediate suspension of Auwalu Danladi Sankara, the Commissioner for Special Duties. This decision follows allegations of sexual misconduct linked to the commissioner by the Hisbah in Kano State.

To ensure a thorough investigation, the state government has established a five-member panel, headed by Secretary to the State Government, Bala Ibrahim. The panel includes Commissioners for Information and Basic Education, Sagir Musa Ahmed, and Lawan Yunusa Danzomo, the Special Adviser on Security Matters, Usman Muhammad Jahun, along with Muhammad Garun Gabas, the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, serving as Secretary.

In a statement released on Saturday, Bala Ibrahim explained that the suspension aims to facilitate a comprehensive probe into the allegations against Sankara, which have raised concerns about the state government’s integrity. He emphasized the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical governance.

“The suspension is a precautionary measure intended to facilitate a fair investigation,” Ibrahim stated. “We take all allegations seriously and are dedicated to upholding the trust of Jigawa citizens in the government.”

The Secretary to the State Government also expressed serious concern over reports circulating in various media about the suspended commissioner’s involvement in an incident recently reported to the Kano State Hisbah. He noted that these allegations have caused significant embarrassment and degradation to the reputation of the state government.

The Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) have issued an apology to Nigerians as the national power grid experienced another collapse, leading to widespread operational disruptions in homes and businesses across the country.

The latest collapse occurred on Saturday morning, marking the third failure of the national grid in just seven days and the eighth this year. A report from the National System Operator, part of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), indicated that grid supply plummeted from 3,041.72 MW at 8 a.m. to a mere 47 MW by 9 a.m., with only the Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant (IPP) remaining operational.

In a notice to customers, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo) stated, “Kindly be informed that we experienced a system outage today, 19/10/24, at 08:15Hrs, affecting power supply across our network. The relevant stakeholders are currently working to effect restoration of supply to all locations affected by this development. Kindly bear with us.”

Other DisCos across the nation also issued apologies to their customers, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the power outage.

Dr. Muda Yusuf, Director/CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), expressed concern over the frequent grid collapses, stating, “The frequency of national grid collapse is worrisome and alarming. Energy is critical for business operations and the welfare of the people. Anytime there is a grid collapse, it dislocates the activities of citizens and businesses because the cost of alternatives, mostly Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, and diesel, are very prohibitive.”

President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that his “Renewed Hope” agenda will soon bring significant benefits to all Nigerians, despite facing challenges. He made this statement during the funeral service for the late Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleosho, former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, held on Saturday at the Ajegunle Baptist Church in Saki, Oyo State.

Represented by Zaccheus Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue, Tinubu emphasized the critical role of infrastructure development in fostering national unity and progress. He highlighted the Lagos to Calabar coastal highway as a flagship project aimed at enhancing transportation and stimulating economic growth across various regions.

“This project is just the beginning; we are committed to laying down a framework that connects every part of Nigeria,” he stated. Tinubu’s vision is to ensure that no region is left behind as the country works toward a more integrated and prosperous future.

“My aim is to connect the country through infrastructure, which will ultimately yield profits for the benefit of all Nigerians. This vision may take time and effort, but I assure you that the fruits of our labor will soon be evident in every part of Nigeria,” he added.

Reflecting on Chief Koleosho’s legacy, Tinubu praised his humility and dedication to hard work, acknowledging the significant impact Koleosho had on his approach to infrastructure development. “Chief Koleosho was a man of humility and an advocate of hard work, who will be greatly missed. His insights and dedication to public service have greatly influenced my approach to governance,” the President remarked.

Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), revealed that Nigeria is losing approximately $29 billion annually due to unreliable power supply, equating to a 5.8% loss in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

During a lecture titled “Building a Global Nigeria,” held in Abuja to celebrate the 90th birthday anniversary of retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Adesina identified the high cost and inconsistency of electricity as the major challenges facing Nigeria’s manufacturing sector. He emphasized that load shedding and irregular power availability have led to elevated and uncompetitive manufacturing costs.

Many Nigerian manufacturing companies resort to generating their own electricity, heavily relying on generators, diesel, and heavy fuel oil. Adesina cited an International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimate stating that Nigerians spend about $14 billion annually on generators and fuel. He pointed out that the lack of electricity is severely hindering the growth of Nigerian industries, referencing a report from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) that industries spent ₦93.1 billion on alternative energy in 2018.

Electricity consumers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are calling for the dismissal of personnel responsible for managing the National Grid after its collapse on Saturday morning. This incident marks the second grid failure within a week and the seventh occurrence in 2024, following a prior collapse on Monday that saw power restored only on Tuesday.

Residents from areas including Kuje, Area 10, and Gwagwalada expressed their frustration to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), stating they are tired of the recurring issues with the grid. Mr. Bisi Afolabi, a Kuje resident, criticized the current management, asserting that their inability to prevent frequent collapses warrants their removal.

Similarly, barber Samuel Maduka voiced his disappointment, emphasizing that the grid’s collapse just days after a previous incident shows a failure in management. He urged the government to take serious action, including possibly sacking those in charge, to resolve the ongoing electricity crisis effectively.