Author: user user

Building collapse with attendant consequences, are wholly man-made adversities that are completely preventable. The responsibility for the prevention is firstly on the developer before the regulatory authority and other stakeholders in the built industry.

What are always responsible are the violations of development guidelines and regulations, quackery, and compromise by the public officials charged with the responsibility for regulating the activities. For the developers they are prompted by the naked desire to maximise returns on investment.

We must accept that multi-storey buildings are very expensive ventures. Those who don’t have enough resources must not try to use lean resources to cut corners. Otherwise, the expected gains would turn out to be heavily outweighed by the loss of the entire investments, at times with the lives of innocent citizens including the investor, as witnessed in one of the most devastating building collapse in Lagos.

From the previous experience at a neighbouhood center in Garki II District, a four-floor structure, being used as a hotel, wholly collapsed in a single swoop, from the top to the bottom, and in the night. Fortunately prior to the collapse the hotel had stopped operation, and all the staff maintaining the structure had been evacuated, including the security, such that when the disaster occurred no single life was lost and no injury was incurred by anybody.

That was because as soon as the distress sign on the building was noticed, a proactive measure was taken by the developer and the Development Control Department, to ensure the safety of lives, although the property was not saved. Multiple experiences from previous incidences continue to improve the efficiency of the regulating authority in saving lives and ensuring orderly development of the Nation’s Capital City.

Physical development commenced in Abuja in 1982 with the developments of Garki I and Wuse I Districts. Hence, the Cadastral Zone Numbers of A01 and A02 for Garki I and Wuse I Districts respectively. This made the buildings in these two districts to be the oldest in the city. Buildings were first commenced by the FCDA before the private sector made its debut. Thus the age of the earliest buildings in Abuja would not be more than 44 years.

Plot Number 1392 Cadastral Zone A02 Wuse I District is located in Wuse Zone 3 District, not Zone 4 as wrongly reported earlier. It is a three floor structure with estimated age of 33 years. Even being among the earliest buildings in the city, if the development requirements were strictly complied with, it is not old enough to show any sign of distress due to its age.

However, during a regular monitoring of sites and surveillance, officers of the Control Department noticed a strange construction activity. There was no any report or request from the developer to undertake any construction work on the building. Usually whenever a developer wants to undertake a remedial work it must be reported to the appropriate authority, for the purpose of monitoring and professional advice.

The building has already exhibited signs of defects, with a column collapse. Glaringly, there was a lukewarm concern to safety of lives, if any remedial construction activity that was a subject of column failure should be ongoing in a building with occupants. More so there was no formal complaint on the status of the structure. The immediate action would first be measures to save the lives of those within and were not aware of the looming danger.

The developer was immediately ordered by the district officer to stop the work and the building marked for demolition. All the occupants were immediately ordered to evacuate the building with all their belongings under supervision. Not sooner than the completion of the evacuation, the building gave way that same evening. No life was lost. This was similar to the Garki II District incident of 2019.

We can imagine what would have occurred and the lives that would have been trapped in the collapsed building, if the staff of the authority were not vigilant enough, or late by one day in the discovery of the unauthorised remedial construction, stopped the work and evacuated the building. However, to ensure that no life was buried underneath, the Emergency Management Agency did not take things for granted, the rubbles were properly combed.

The spirit of collaboration between the relevant departments and the construction companies in the city is highly commendable. The public agency lacks adequate operation equipment. Anytime there is an emergency situation the multinational companies, that have earth moving machines to assist in rescue operations, are very prompt in responding. This was not exception.

Beyond the contemporary monitoring, the process of the building distress did not happen overnight. The actual reasons will be uncovered when proper investigation is conducted. Some of the contributing factors could be deficiency in the quality of reinforcements, poor foundation, poor soil analysis and concreate mixing when the building was being constructed more 30 years ago. The consequences could take this long before it materialises.

Some of the proactive measures which need to be continuously emphasised are regular conduct of integrity test on buildings. These types of buildings can be identified by adequately trained enforcement officers. It is mandatory for any building that fails the test to be brought down before it gives way and claim lives.

Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, has disclosed that his administration has paid more than N33 billion in gratuities over the past seven years, with about 70 per cent of the liabilities inherited from the previous administration.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of 19 newly permanent secretaries on Thursday in Gombe, the governor announced that another tranche of gratuity payments would be made before the end of September 2026.

He pledged that his administration would clear the outstanding gratuity backlog by the first quarter of 2027, adding that he is determined to leave behind a civil service that is more professional, digitally accountable, adequately staffed and capable of responding effectively to the needs of citizens.

He also disclosed that his administration is preparing for a massive recruitment exercise into the state civil service, following the establishment of an accurate manpower database through the biometric verification system.

Governor Yahaya said he had directed the Head of Civil Service to work with the State Civil Service Commission to conduct a comprehensive manpower needs assessment across ministries, departments and agencies to determine existing gaps and the number of personnel required.

He said the exercise would pave the way for fresh recruitment before the expiration of his tenure on May 29, 2027.

According to him, the biometric attendance and verification system, which attracted criticism when introduced, has since demonstrated its value by providing the government with reliable data on the actual workforce, while helping to tackle ghost workers and absenteeism and saving the state billions of naira.

Governor Yahaya said the latest appointments brought to 55 the number of permanent secretaries appointed by his administration over the past seven years, ‘with more than 100 directors elevated into the senior administrative cadre of the state civil service.’

He said the appointments were part of a broader effort to strengthen the institutional capacity of government, address manpower gaps and build a professional civil service capable of sustaining development beyond his tenure.

He, therefore, urged the new permanent secretaries to see their appointments as a solemn responsibility rather than a personal achievement.

‘You are the ambassadors of the civil service and of your respective communities. Your appointment is not a personal achievement alone; it is a trust reposed in you by the people of Gombe State.

‘You should discharge your duties and responsibilities with integrity, accountability, discipline and diligence, as this administration would not tolerate corruption, indiscipline, dishonesty or abuse of office,’ Yahaya warned.

The governor added that with his administration entering its final phase, the focus would be on consolidating ongoing reforms, strengthening institutions and ensuring that the gains recorded over the years endure beyond the life of the present administration.

The death toll from the suspected consumption of a locally made alcoholic drink in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State has risen to 30, while about 50 others are receiving treatment in hospitals across the area.

Daily Trust had earlier reported that 24 persons died under mysterious circumstances linked to the consumption of a locally produced herbal-alcoholic mixture popularly known as ‘Monkey Tail.’

The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Mr Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed the latest casualty figures and said families of the deceased had been directed not to bury the victims until necessary medical examinations were completed.

According to him, the council has approached the court to seek a coroner’s inquest into the deaths, while laboratory analyses, toxicological examinations and autopsies are being conducted to establish the actual cause.

The chairman disclosed that the council had released N2 million to support the emergency medical response and had sought additional financial assistance to tackle the crisis.

‘As of now, the death toll is over 30. We have not confirmed the source of death,’ he said.

He explained that samples of the suspected substance had been collected for laboratory analysis, while blood and urine samples were being obtained from surviving patients.

According to the commissioner, post-mortem examinations will also be conducted on some of the victims as part of efforts to determine the medical cause of death.

He warned residents against consuming unregulated alcoholic mixtures, herbal preparations and unidentified concoctions, noting that some could have fatal consequences.

One of the survivors, 32-year-old Shola Adebayo, speaking with Daily Trust, recounted how he narrowly escaped death after consuming the suspected drink.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Adebayo said he took two shots of the substance on Friday after a friend invited him to drink.

‘A friend brought it and asked that we drink together. I took two shots and went home,’ he said.

According to him, he woke up the following day with severe vision problems.

‘On Saturday, I discovered that I could not see very well. I called my sister, and she rushed me to the hospital. I am getting better now, but I am praying that I regain my sight completely.’

The traditional ruler of Odigbo Kingdom, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, described the number of deaths recorded in the community as alarming.

The monarch said concerns over the unusual fatalities prompted consultations with health authorities and local government officials.

Oba Akinrinmade called for intensified public enlightenment campaigns, particularly among young people, on the dangers of consuming unregulated alcoholic drinks.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the command was collaborating with the state government and health authorities to determine the cause of the deaths.

According to him, officers from the Police Medical Services are working alongside officials of the Ministry of Health and Odigbo Local Government to gather evidence and relevant information.

Jimoh said medical and toxicological examinations were ongoing to determine whether any substance was responsible for the fatalities.

He urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with investigators while advising members of the public to avoid consuming unregulated alcoholic and herbal mixtures pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Felix Ohagwu, assured residents that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice once investigations are concluded.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Dr Rufus Egbagba, has condemned the growing practice of residents and social media influencers filming police officers during their private moments, particularly while eating at restaurants.

Egbagba, who spoke at the PCRC office in Abuja on Thursday, was reacting to a trending video of some police officers allegedly recorded while eating at a restaurant in Kubwa area of Abuja by a resident.

He expressed concern over what he described as the growing trend of recording police officers during stop-and-search operations and, in some cases, while they were simply going about their personal lives.

According to him, the practice raises important questions about accountability, privacy and the proper conduct of police-public interactions.

He said the recent position of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Rilwan Olatunji, should not be misinterpreted as an attempt to shield erring officers from accountability or as a directive against recording police misconduct.

‘The IGP has never said that officers who act wrongly should not be recorded or reported. What is being called for is responsible engagement. Officers performing their lawful duties should be able to do so without unnecessary provocation, obstruction, or having every encounter turned into content for views and engagement,’ he said.

According to him, where an officer is believed to have acted improperly, the appropriate response remains to preserve the evidence and report the matter through the proper channel.

He said the Nigeria Police Force has a Police Complaint Response Unit (PCRU), where complaints against officers could be lodged and videos and other evidence submitted for investigation and appropriate action.

‘At least, social media exposure should complement, not substitute for, formal investigation. A short video clip may not always capture the full context of an incident: what led up to it, what was said off-camera, or what followed. Yet once published, it can quickly shape public judgment against an individual officer or the force as a whole, before the facts are established,’ he said.

Egbagba noted that like any large institution, the police force has its share of bad actors, stressing that their conduct should never be excused.

He, however, said the repeated recording and circulation of the misconduct of a few officers could create a distorted impression that such behaviour defines the entire Nigeria Police Force.

‘And this does little to serve genuine accountability, and it can also affect how Nigeria is perceived internationally.

‘There is also a human dimension to this that deserves attention,’ he added.

The PCRC chairman observed that some officers are posted to remote, isolated and genuinely dangerous locations, often far from their families and under difficult conditions.

He said such officers rely on morale and public goodwill to sustain them in service, adding that filming officers without their consent for entertainment or content purposes during ordinary, off-duty moments, such as while eating at a restaurant, could undermine their morale.

He said the ultimate objective should be accountability rather than sensationalism, adding that where an officer acts wrongly, evidence should be preserved and reported through the appropriate channel so that the relevant authority can investigate and take necessary action.

Four mobile policemen and eight villagers were reportedly killed Friday morning when armed invaders attacked Ayilamo community in Tombo Ward of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Locals said the attackers, allegedly numbering over 200, invaded the farming community through Alufu road in the neighbouring Taraba State and advanced towards Ayilamo, where they shot at residents and set houses ablaze.

According to the locals, Ayilamo, located along the Abinsi-Tyulen-Anyiin-Wukari road, had come under repeated attacks by bandits, forcing residents to call for increased security presence in the area.

A resident, Tyolumun Ugande, told journalists in Makurdi that a detachment of mobile policemen deployed to the community engaged the attackers, who were reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons. Ugande said the gun battle lasted several hours from Thursday night before the bandits eventually retreated, adding that the bodies of four policemen were discovered in the bush Friday morning.

He said eight other villagers were also found dead after the attack, while several houses were reportedly burnt by the attackers.

Another resident, James Udough, also told newsmen that the latest incident was the second time within one month that mobile policemen deployed to Ayilamo were killed by the attackers.

‘The bandits have been trying to set the whole of Ayilamo ablaze for more than two years now. We call on security personnel, the Benue State Government and the Federal Government to help secure our land and lives,’ he said.

Some residents also alleged that the persistent attacks could be connected to rumours of the existence of large mineral deposits in and around Ayilamo.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Peter Aondongu, said he would issue a statement on the incident, but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The 1996 Olympic gold medalists are set to reunite for a novelty match tagged ‘Legend Football Match,’ which is one of the lined-up activities celebrating their historic triumph in Atlanta, where they became the first African nation to win Olympic gold in men’s football.

Guided by Dutchman Jo Bonfrère, the squad stunned the world by defeating football giants Brazil in the semi-final and Argentina in the final, rewriting history and elevating Nigeria’s global football reputation.

The match is scheduled for November 8, 2026, at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, during the CANEX WKND 2026. It is organised by Afreximbank in partnership with TopTier Sports Management.

Temwa Gondwe, Director of Creatives and Diaspora at Afreximbank, described the 1996 squad as ‘an epitome of resilience,’ noting that their story continues to inspire new generations.

‘The 1996 Super Eagles did more than win Olympic gold; they re-wrote the global narrative, proving to the world that African talent is an unstoppable force. Today, the intersection of sports, entertainment, and culture is the heartbeat of Africa’s creative economy,’ he said.

Gondwe added that the Legends Game is not only a celebration of past glory but also a strategic platform to discuss the future commercialisation and empowerment of African athletes and creatives worldwide.

Chichi Nwoko, founder and CEO of TopTier Sports Management and What Media Group, praised the dedication of the squad, explaining that the novelty match was organised to honour their efforts.