Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Director-General of the City Boy Movement (CBM) Hon. Francis Oluwatosin Shoga has described the massive turnout of young Nigerians at Saturday’s flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna as an affirmation of the Movement’s sustained grassroots enlightenment and mobilisation efforts in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Shoga said the impressive youth turnout at the colourful political gathering showed growing interest among young Nigerians in the President’s development agenda and their determination to actively shape the country’s political andtical and econom.

In a reflection titled ‘Beyond the Road: Unlocking Opportunities Empowering Young Nigerians and Building a Prosperous Future’ the CBM Director-General attributed the enthusiasm witnessed at the Kaduna rally partly to sustained grassroots engagements including the Movement’s mobilisation activities and street walk in Kano.

‘The City Boy Movement was proudly on the ground engaging with young Nigerians and grassroots supporters who came out to demonstrate their commitment to the future of our country.

‘The enthusiasm witnessed in Kaduna alongside our grassroots engagement and street walk in Kano reinforces our conviction that young Nigerians want to be part of a national conversation about development opportunity and a more prosperous Nigeria’ he stated.

Shoga explained that the Movement’s activities extended beyond mobilising electoral support for Tinubu stressing that its central mission was to educate and empower young people to understand government policies and take advantage of emerging economic opportunities.

He particularly hailed the commissioning of an 81-kilometre section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway during the campaign flag-off describing the development as a demonstration of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure and stimulating economic activities in the North-West.

According to him the strategic road corridor linking Abuja Kaduna Zaria and Kano offers opportunities for agricultural transformation industrial expansion regional trade private investment and employment generation.

He noted that improved connectivity could benefit farmers traders transport operators and young entrepreneurs by improving market access reducing transportation challenges and encouraging investment in logistics manufacturing food processing and related businesses.

‘The objective is not simply to build infrastructure. It is to create the conditions in which people can build businesses earn sustainable incomes create jobs and improve their standard of living’ Shoga said.

He however emphasised that infrastructure development must be complemented by sustained security operations effective intelligence gathering reliable electricity and investment-friendly policies to unlock the region’s full economic potential.

‘A good road connects destinations. A secure road connects people to opportunity. Together infrastructure and security can help unlock the economic potential of an entire region’ he declared.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general election Shoga said the City Boy Movement would intensify its grassroots engagements across the federation educating young Nigerians about the administration’s reforms while encouraging peaceful democratic participation.

He commended the thousands of supporters who participated in the Kaduna rally and Kano mobilisation activities describing their enthusiasm as an encouragement to the Movement’s nationwide efforts.

‘Every conversation every community engagement and every effort to educate and mobilise people can contribute to a stronger national movement and a more informed citizenry’ he said.

Shoga urged young Nigerians to assess the administration’s achievements and challenges acquire relevant skills embrace entrepreneurship and make informed political decisions.

‘Our message is simple: Do not sit on the sidelines while decisions that will shape your future are being made. Get informed get involved and make your voice count’ he declared.

He reaffirmed the Movement’s commitment to building a generation of informed enterprising and responsible young Nigerians stressing that the ultimate success of infrastructure development must be measured by the jobs businesses and prosperity it creates for ordinary citizens.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said troops conducting internal security operations across the country rescued more than 70 kidnap victims in one week and arrested a wanted terrorist kingpin in Niger State.

The military also reported the surrender of 19 terrorist fighters and their family members in Borno State as well as the recovery of arms and ammunition during operations against terrorists and kidnappers across the country.

The Director of Defence Media Operations Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja disclosed these developments in a statement detailing the military’s operational successes between October 16 and 22.

Among the rescued victims were 27 villagers abducted in Gamji community Katsina State and 29 residents rescued after terrorists attempted to abduct farmers in Mariga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.

In the North East Onoja said 19 terrorist fighters and their family members surrendered to troops in Bama Konduga Mafa and Gwoza LGAs of Borno State during the period under review.

He said troops also arrested a female suspected collaborator at Ngurusoye in Bama LGA on October 22 while she was allegedly escorting a woman to a terrorist enclave.

According to him troops on October 18 intercepted a resident of Monguno LGA who had escaped after being abducted alongside 11 others around Minati in Kukawa LGA on October 17.

‘Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining victims’ he said.

Onoja added that troops on October 22 intercepted another abductee who had escaped from Chikide village on the Mandara Mountains along the Guduf-Bubayagwa axis in Gwoza LGA.

The victim was subsequently handed over to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp office in Gwoza.

The military spokesman also disclosed that troops recovered eight AK-47 rifles two pump-action guns 300 rounds of PKT ammunition two rocket-propelled grenade bombs and chargers a handheld radio and a motorcycle following a terrorist attack on a military location in Mairari Guzamala LGA of Borno State.

In the North West Onoja said troops rescued 27 villagers comprising 15 men and 12 women on October 16 after responding to a distress call from Gamji community in Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State.

Terrorists reportedly abducted the villagers before troops intervened.

In another operation troops between October 16 and 17 tracked kidnappers who had demanded a ransom for a resident abducted at Fanyabo village in Tudun Wada LGA of Kano State.

The kidnappers were traced to Yan Taburmi in Falgore Forest where troops neutralised two of them and rescued the victim.

‘Troops searched the area and recovered Ten Million Naira (?10000000.00) suspected to be the ransom paid by the family’ Onoja said.

He added that the family received the money and the rescued victim in the presence of the district head the head of the local security group and the divisional police officer.

Troops also arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator at Anguwan Kwanni in Sokoto town on October 18 he said.

In the North Central Onoja said troops of Operation Savannah Shield rescued 29 residents who fled into nearby bushes after terrorists on seven motorcycles attempted to abduct farmers in Magaji Mai Kadarko village Bangi District Mariga LGA of Niger State on October 15.

He however said the attackers killed one resident before the troops arrived.

The military spokesman further disclosed that troops arrested a wanted terrorist kingpin and his accomplice at the kingpin’s residence in Mokwa town Niger State on October 18.

During the operation troops recovered four mobile phones and an undisclosed sum of money while efforts continued to apprehend other identified accomplices.

Onoja said troops on October 16 also ambushed kidnappers transporting victims from Kwara State into Kogi State along the route between Okoloke and Isanlu-Esa communities in Yagba West LGA.

The kidnappers were forced to abandon five victims who were subsequently rescued and handed over to community leaders.

In Nasarawa State troops working with local security groups rescued a herder abducted at Kabusu in Karu LGA on October 17.

The victim was found tied up and abandoned under a tree along the Gurku-Kawu grazing route.

Onoja said troops on October 19 pursued attackers who had assaulted a commercial bus along the Ayere-Kabba Road in Ijumu LGA of Kogi State.

The attackers were forced to withdraw allowing troops to rescue 11 passengers. The driver and two other passengers who sustained injuries were evacuated for medical attention.

In Taraba State troops on October 19 raided the hideout of the suspected second-in-command to a gang leader allegedly terrorising the area in Kufai Ahmadu community Takum LGA.

‘During the operation troops neutralised the suspect and recovered a pistol 16 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and charms’ he said.

The Ondo State Government said it has intensified measures to prevent an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the state by deploying four ambulances to transport suspected cases and placing health personnel on alert.

The Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Health, Prof. Simidele Odimayo, revealed this on Saturday in an interview in Akure, the state capital.

Odimayo also said the state had begun training health workers, strengthened disease surveillance, and intensified public awareness campaigns to ensure prompt detection and reporting of suspected cases.

He explained that the measures were part of the state’s proactive response in line with national guidelines, stressing that no Ebola case had been recorded in Ondo.

Odimayo said the government had set up a committee to coordinate preparedness efforts and sent team members to Abuja for specialised training to strengthen the state’s response capacity.

‘The state is doing a lot. We have already set up a committee that is working. We have sent some of our team to Abuja for some training programmes.

‘We have just procured so many ambulances in recent times, about 15 of them. So all we need to do at this time is to dedicate some, about four, in line with the national guidelines for movement of cases, in case we have cases,’ he said.

According to him, the health facilities and health posts across the state had been alerted to remain vigilant, recognise Ebola symptoms, and report suspected cases promptly through established channels.

He said the government was also arranging isolation, personal protective equipment, and other emergency logistics to protect health workers and limit transmission risk.

Odimayo said community mobilisers had been directed to sensitise residents, while radio jingles, educational materials, and media engagements were used to raise awareness and discourage panic.

‘We have our agents, our community mobilisers. We have informed them to inform the people at the grassroots level. We have also produced jingles and written materials that people will be able to utilise,’ he said.

He advised residents to remain calm, maintain good personal hygiene, wash their hands regularly, and avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.

Odimayo advised residents to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands and to promptly report suspected cases to health authorities.

He also assured residents that the government was strengthening surveillance and emergency response systems to prevent the disease from gaining a foothold in the state.

The governor’s aide further said that health facilities and health posts across the state had been alerted to strengthen vigilance, familiarise personnel with Ebola symptoms, and adhere strictly to established reporting procedures.

He said the government was working to ensure that suspected cases were identified and referred through appropriate channels without unnecessary delays.

According to him, the state was aligning its surveillance and reporting mechanisms with national protocols to support a coordinated response involving health facilities and relevant emergency agencies.

He added that the government had arranged isolation for suspected cases to support appropriate medical assessment and reduce the risk of transmission.

The health adviser further said that personal protective equipment (PPE) had been provided through the state’s designated emergency management agency, while logistical arrangements were being reviewed to ensure that necessary materials could reach health facilities and health posts when required.

He, however, emphasised that protecting healthcare workers was an essential component of the preparedness strategy, noting that personnel must have the appropriate equipment and knowledge to handle suspected cases safely.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has confirmed that the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit will be held on October 26 and 27 in Abuja, despite an imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Organisers have introduced additional health precautions to protect participants.

The two-day summit, scheduled to take place at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, will adopt a modified hybrid format following consultations with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The decision follows health authorities’ confirmation on October 20 of an imported case of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the FCT.

According to the NESG, health authorities have isolated the patient and are monitoring contacts. The group said it decided to proceed after assessing the situation against the NCDC’s public health guidelines for mass gatherings.

The NESG said that confirming an imported case alone did not require cancelling the summit, adding that it would implement precautionary measures to protect delegates, workers and other participants.

The NESG Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tayo Aduloju, said the organisation made participants’ safety its main consideration in deciding to proceed with the event.

‘The safety of every delegate, partner and member of staff comes first,’ Aduloju said.

He explained that the decision was reached in consultation with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NCDC, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), FCT health authorities and Transcorp Hilton.

Aduloju said the arrangements would allow the summit to proceed while participants follow health authorities’ guidance.

He also urged delegates and other participants to comply with the preventive measures put in place for the event.

Under the revised arrangements, physical attendance will be restricted to delegates who have already registered. The NESG said registration for in-person participation had closed and the venue would not allow walk-in admission or registration.

All plenary sessions will stream live on the summit’s virtual platform, allowing registered delegates to participate online if they choose not to attend in person.

The organisers have also made daily health declarations and temperature checks compulsory for everyone entering the venue, including delegates, staff, vendors and media personnel.

Participants with fever or other symptoms, as well as those who have been in contact with a known or suspected Ebola case within the preceding 21 days, have been advised not to attend in person. They are expected to participate online instead.

The NESG said delegates would receive a health and safety information pack by email to guide them on the summit arrangements and precautions.

It also provided the NCDC’s toll-free number, 6232, for people seeking information or assistance with health concerns.

The organisation explained that Ebola does not spread through the air or from asymptomatic people. According to the statement, transmission occurs through direct contact with the body fluids of a person who is ill with the disease.

The NESG said it would continue to review the situation daily with health authorities and promptly communicate any changes through its official channels.

Despite the revised attendance arrangements, the summit is expected to attract senior government officials, state governors, business leaders and speakers from Nigeria and abroad.

Confirmed attendees include the Presidency, members of the Federal Executive Council, state governors and captains of industry.

The organisers have listed the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr Amina Mohammed; Prof Stefan Derco of Oxford University; and the Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Samad Rabiu, among the speakers.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare is also expected to attend the opening ceremony.

The Director-General of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, said about two million farmers have pledged to vote for the President in the 2027 general elections, dismissing opposition claims that his administration is insensitive to farmers’ plight.

He added that the opposition cannot win the 2027 general elections with Artificial Intelligence (AI) lies against President Tinubu.

Speaking on Saturday at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna, Yari accused opposition parties of using artificial intelligence (AI) to spread misinformation against the President, insisting that elections cannot be won through falsehoods and propaganda.

The former Zamfara State Governor said the farmers’ commitment followed engagements with the APC leadership and campaign team to explain the administration’s agricultural interventions and plans to further support farmers across the country.

‘They claim that your administration does not support farmers and that you hate farmers. That is not true. We have clear evidence of what your administration has done, what it intends to do and what it continues to do for farmers. The farmers themselves understand the truth. By God’s grace, about two million farmers have made a commitment to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, in sha Allah,’ he declared.

Taking a swipe at the opposition, Yari accused its members of using AI-generated content to mislead Nigerians about the administration’s performance, saying the APC would counter such narratives by showcasing the President’s achievements and engaging directly with voters.

‘Yesterday, I was with the National Chairman and our youth team. We discussed the opposition’s activities, who have resorted to spreading falsehoods through artificial intelligence (AI). They continue to rely on AI-generated content and misinformation, but elections in Nigeria are not won through lies. They will not win the election by deceiving Nigerians,’ he said.

On the economy, the Campaign DG claimed the Tinubu administration recorded significant improvements in key economic indicators despite inheriting difficult conditions, citing the exchange rate, which he said strengthened from nearly N1,800 to about N1,300 per dollar.

He also claimed that Nigeria’s foreign reserves had increased from about $3.9 billion to approximately $54.7 billion, describing the developments as evidence of the administration’s efforts to reposition the economy, while acknowledging that Nigerians continued to face economic challenges.

Yari explained that Kaduna was deliberately chosen to host the presidential campaign flag-off for its strategic status as the political centre of Northern Nigeria, commending APC governors nationwide, particularly Governor Uba Sani, for their collective efforts in organising the event.

‘Mr President, we are in Kaduna not by mistake or error, but by deliberate choice. We have chosen Kaduna as the venue for this important gathering and the flag-off of the campaign for the 2027 presidential election,’ he said, adding that the colourful gathering was the product of coordinated efforts by APC governors, with the host governor spending the preceding 10 days preparing for the event.

The Campaign DG further disclosed that the party had intensified consultations with traditional rulers, community elders, imams, and other influential stakeholders across Northern Nigeria to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election and promote peaceful political participation ahead of the polls.

‘Mr President, Northern Nigeria is fully committed to your re-election. We are confident that the people of the region will support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, in sha Allah,’ Yari declared, assuring the President that APC governors and party structures would sustain grassroots mobilisation to strengthen the party’s chances in the election.

The Ogun State Government has ruled out plans to relocate residents of communities affected by recurring gaseous emissions in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo.

The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, dismissed reports that residents would be relocated as false, insisting the government had no such plan.

The clarification follows a gaseous odour incident on Wednesday that affected several secondary school students across the three towns, prompting their evacuation to hospitals for treatment.

In Ijebu-Ode, dozens of students at Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende, involving its public and private sections, were affected and admitted to the General Hospital.

Several students of Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School were also rushed to the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo, while schools in Ago-Iwoye reportedly closed abruptly and sent pupils home following the incident.

The development triggered panic at the general hospitals in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo as parents, teachers, guardians and other residents brought affected students for medical attention.

Oresanya said investigations conducted so far by technical teams invited by the state government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had not indicated the need to evacuate residents of the affected communities.

He maintained that the government would not relocate residents based on the findings available to it so far.

He said, ‘No plan for such a thing now; the result of our investigation so far is not pointing in that direction. Please disregard the misinformation.’

He urged the public to disregard the news, stressing that the current government has no plan for such relocation.

Meanwhile, a community leader in Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun North local government area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said the rumoured relocation could be a politically motivated plan to acquire land from unsuspecting landlords, which politicians may later share for personal use.

‘Here in Ijebu-Igbo, the affected school, Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School (IGGS), alone is a larger community and when such an idea is being mooted, where on earth will they keep land ownership of the neighbouring buildings? Why would the government not consider a more practical solution instead of chasing us away from our properties?

‘Some of us have been in this community for over 25 years without hearing about this foul gaseous odour until recently, in April this year. If you now choose to relocate us, would you also relocate those residents at Ago-Iwoye? How about those affected at Our Lady of Apostles Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode? Can they relocate everyone in the Ijebu-Ode township? To where?

AS the 2027 general elections draw nearer, the Eburu of Iba, Osun State, Oba Adekunle Adeogun Okunoye has stated that traditional rulers cannot afford to fold their arms and watch voters’ apathy during the exercise.

In his capacity as Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Centre for Rural Affairs and Community Development, Oba Okunoye said gone are the days when royal fathers were confined to their palaces when they should encourage their subjects to troop out and cast their votes.

‘Our current reality as traditional rulers, who must be interested in development of our domains, is that we have to rise and complement government efforts in mobilising our people before and during every election to record massive participation of eligible voters. This is not about partisanship but our responsibility to our people to do what is right as citizens of this country,’ he said.

The professor acknowledged the nation’s constitution which gives authority to public office holders over traditional institution and said working for government success should guarantee fair distribution of development and political appointment to domains.

He emphasised that the presence of indigenes in administration boosts chances of towns and communities to enjoy benefits of the administration, hence his call on his fellow monarchs to play their part in influencing more participation from voter registration to elections.

The Pro-chancellor of the Atiba University also acknowledged the fact that bigger cities are more fortunate than rural kings in the area of enjoying government patronage ‘Thus, bigger towns monarchs tend to enjoy more freedom in associating with politicians than monarchs from rural communities.’

Oba Okunoye reminded politicians that voters now support candidates according to development brought to their communities, adding that political parties can no longer rely on vote buying at the expense of developmental projects, which, he stresses, would make candidates popular and their campaign easy ‘because people can feel the government presence.

‘Indigenes know exactly how the given development was attracted, and politicians involved will surely become popular and even more influential on votes in that particular domain.

‘Also, a traditional ruler who can nominate and get a few indigenes to get political appointments could also have influence and bargaining chips to convince his people. There is a high tendency that the appointees will be supporting the monarch financially, which will be utilised to support community people and thus earn their respect,’ he reasoned.

Oba Okunoye added, ‘Unfortunately, such opportunities I elaborated above are not evenly available across domains. Thus, we can’t expect traditional rulers to have equal influence. Yet, the sphere of influence of traditional rulers is still significant, and if provided with similar necessary resources like politicians, they could definitely convince their subjects. I am not ignorant of the effect of financial inducement on voting and its effect on the extent to which a traditional ruler can educate his subjects on issue-driven voting decisions.’

He further said, ‘Let’s divide our society into card-carrying members of political parties and non-card-carrying members. The political class controls the card-carrying members while the rest are shared among religious and traditional communities. Careful examination of voting statistics will reveal the reason for constantly less than 50% voting rate.

‘Typical voters are primarily card-carrying members, and they can mobilise only a few people. Most non-card-carrying members of the communities don’t vote for various reasons. First and foremost reason is a lack of knowledge of the importance of voting. Most of the non-card-carrying members are not reached and mobilized to vote. The political class couldn’t cover the entire populace despite the resources at their disposal to do that. The efforts of INEC and NGOs with interest in civic education hasn’t yielded much result, to increase voting rate. Also, logistics and fear of violence contribute to the apathy by non-card carrying members.’

The Eburu emphasised that good governance starts with choice of right and best candidates by majority of the populace, saying that situation where significant percentage refused to vote, the election might produce what he called mere winners, concluding that royal fathers can best be used as agent of advocacy and social change in raising awareness of their subjects on importance of voting and for right and best candidates.

‘Our expected non-partisan status perfectly qualifies us as a watchdog to evaluate and monitor voting, report vote buying and expose corruption in the electioneering value chain,’ he said.

The campaign organisation of Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, has dismissed Bimbo Adekanmbi’s allegations against the senator, calling them attempts to undermine his political standing ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, Bisi Oladele, accused Adekanmbi of making claims intended to damage Alli’s reputation and distort historical facts for political gain.

The organisation said the allegations, made during a radio interview, reflected what it described as the opposition’s efforts to discredit the APC candidate rather than present credible plans for the state’s development.

It recalled that Alli, while serving as chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, maintained prompt salary payments and prioritised workers’ welfare, earning recognition from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State.

The campaign organisation also said the financial difficulties local governments faced after the Federal Military Government’s January 1993 policy on staff promotions and salary increases were a nationwide problem caused by inadequate allocations to implement the policy.

According to the statement, the challenges persisted beyond Alli’s tenure and were eventually addressed through institutional measures, including the establishment of the National Primary Education Commission in 1997 and the introduction of first-line charges for teachers’ salaries by 1999.

The SSACO challenged Adekanmbi to produce the report supporting his corruption allegations against Alli or face a defamation suit. The campaign organisation accused Adekanmbi and his political associates of exploiting historical challenges to mislead the electorate, insisting that no amount of alleged blackmail would diminish Alli’s political standing.

It further accused Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration of weakening local government administration in the state, thereby denying grassroots residents the benefits of effective governance.

The statement said Alli, if elected governor, would revitalise the 33 local government areas, strengthen their administrative and financial capacity, and ensure they effectively address their communities’ needs.

It added that his proposed priorities include reconstructing feeder and access roads to improve movement of people and goods and stimulate economic activities across the state.

The organisation expressed confidence that the electorate would reject Adekanmbi and Makinde in the 2027 elections, insisting that the campaign would remain focused on restoring effective grassroots governance.

It challenged Adekanmbi to engage in issue-based political discourse rather than what it described as attempts to rewrite history for partisan advantage.

Three construction workers have been rescued while one person was recovered dead after a two-storey building under construction collapsed at Fadeyi, Lagos.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday at Akinola Street, by Fadeyi Bus Stop, off Ikorodu Road.

In a statement by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency said it received a distress call at 12:10am and deployed its Cobra Response Team from Onipanu Base.

The team arrived at the scene two minutes later and discovered that construction workers might be trapped beneath the rubble.

LASEMA said search and rescue operations began immediately, with safety measures put in place to protect the victims and emergency responders.

It added that groaning sounds were heard beneath the collapsed structure during the operation, prompting the deployment of an excavator to aid the rescue effort.

‘As at 3:33am, three adult males have been rescued alive while one adult male was recovered deceased,’ the statement said.

The agency said its paramedics and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) provided immediate pre-hospital care to the rescued victims before they were taken to hospital.

It added that search and rescue operations were ongoing to determine whether more people were trapped beneath the debris.

The operation was coordinated by the Director of Operations, Engr. Akinsanya, and the Head of Cappa Base, Engr. Salami.

Other agencies involved included the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASEMA Response Team, LRU paramedics, LASAMBUS and the police from Alagbon Division.

The cause of the collapse had yet to be established, as relevant regulatory agencies were expected to investigate the incident.

The Lagos State Government commiserated with the family of the deceased and wished the rescued victims a quick recovery.

It reiterated its commitment to tackling substandard construction and strengthening monitoring and enforcement in collaboration with the Lagos State Building Control Agency to prevent future incidents.

In a related development, LASEMA said its Tiger Response Team responded to a truck breakdown on the Third Mainland Bridge, inward Adeniji, yesterday.

The truck, with registration number RBC-556XC, was conveying sofas when a mechanical fault immobilised it, obstructing traffic.

The agency said it deployed its Super Metro heavy-duty equipment to recover the vehicle but encountered technical challenges.

The truck was eventually repaired on the spot and driven away, allowing the road to be cleared and reopened to traffic.

LASEMA urged residents to report emergencies through its toll-free lines, 767 and 112.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration has delivered the Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, a modern medical facility designed to reposition Borno as a state that provides quality healthcare and medical training in Nigeria.

The vice president, Senator Kashim Shettima, commissioned the teaching hospital and other key projects in Maiduguri on Friday.

The 400-bed Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital is a comprehensive healthcare and training institution comprising 13 specialist departments, including diagnostic, medical, surgical, emergency, pediatric, internal medicine, physiotherapy, among others.

It also has a medical college complex, a students’ hostel, a 200-unit staff estate and an oxygen plant complex.

The facility has modern diagnostic equipment, including a sophisticated 1.5-tesla MRI scanner, a 160-slice CT scanner, three conventional and two mobile X-ray machines, three 4D ultrasound machines, a fluoroscopy system for real-time imaging and a digital mammography machine.

The investment will reduce medical tourism by bringing advanced diagnostic and specialist care closer to home for Borno residents, people from neighbouring communities and foreign residents across Lake Chad, while also strengthening training for medical students and health professionals.

Beyond providing medical care, the teaching hospital will address the healthcare manpower shortage by training medical professionals, including doctors, nurses and allied health workers for Borno State and the North East.

In addition to the hospital, the vice president commissioned the Yerwa Practice Mega Primary School, constructed by the Zulum administration, and another mega primary school delivered under the Kashim Shettima Free Education Programme, the vice president’s pet project that provides free education to orphans and vulnerable children.

The vice president commended Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, describing the projects as those that could stand the test of time.

He said, ‘We shall be judged by what survives our time in office, the offices we held, the aides who surrounded us, and the length of our convoys will have surrendered their importance. What will endure are the institutions we built, the roads we built and the lives we improved through service. That is the meaning of our gathering here in Maiduguri. That is why this occasion brings me such joy.’

He added, ‘According to Carl Sagan’s law of insignificance, 100 years from now, everyone you know or who knows you will be out of this world. This is why I do not doubt the vision of His Excellency Professor Babagana Umara Zulum; his passion for healthcare and education is expressed in the institution before us.’

‘The ultra-modern Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital and the school that dotted our landscape in Maiduguri and across the state give substance to his belief that Borno recovery must reach the patient awaiting treatment and the child sitting in a place in the classroom.’