News & Announcements

A fire incident has occurred at the White House section of the Onitsha Market, Anambra State.

The section, popularly called “Gbongboro”, serves as a warehouse, where lace and other clothing materials are sold and is located at the back of the market.

No one could ascertain the actual cause of the fire, but the inferno, which started in the early hours of Tuesday, destroyed millions of naira worth of goods.

The traders were seen running helter-skelter as they tried to salvage the remaining of their goods while calling for the men of the fire service.

An eyewitness said, “The fire started at the White House where they sell lace materials. The place was supposed to be a motor park and an emergency exit but the people blocked it with illegal structures through the approval of some government agencies.

“Even when the fire service comes, there might not be an entry point where they could enter easily to start fighting the fire. Even the traders could not enter to salvage their items and this has made the fire continue to rage.”

The state fire chief, Martin Agbili, could not be reached for reactions around 9:20 am as the fire continued to rage.

The state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said, “The details are still sketchy but the situation is being monitored and firefighters operatives and police are there.”

Yesterday, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave his approval for the implementation of a 20% pay raise for state employees.

The employees include individuals who work for the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Local Government Areas, and Local Council Development Areas.

Beginning on January 1st, 2023, the new pay system will be in place. Also, the arrears for the months of January 2023 and February 2023 will be paid concurrently with the salaries for the following months of March and April, respectively.

The Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, announced the implementation of the salary in a circular, saying: “This is to notify for general information that Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his determination to improve the welfare and wellbeing of public servants in Lagos State has kindly approved an increase in Salaries for Officers in the Mainstream Public Service, Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas as well as the State Universal Basic Education.

“Furthermore, kindly note that the arrears for the month of January, 2023 will be paid along with Salaries for the month of March, 2023, while the arrears for the month of February, 2023 will be paid together with the salaries of April, 2023.

“This action further demonstrates this Administration’s commitment to Staff welfare. Public Servants are thus enjoined to show more commitment and dedication in the delivery of qualitative service to the citizens of the State.

“Accordingly, all Accounting Officers are to note the contents of this Circular and give it the Service- wide publicity it deserves.”

The dawn to dark curfew that was imposed in Kano State has been lifted in an effort to maintain law and order in the wake of the tensions caused by the declaration of the results of the gubernatorial and state Assembly elections.

In a statement sent to Kano’s press media, the state’s commissioner for information and internal affairs, Muhammad Garba, announced the curfew’s removal.

According to him, “the decision to lift the curfew was after careful review of the situation and the relative calm throughout the state”.

However, the commissioner urged commercial banks, government employees, and residents of the state to show up and carry on with their regular enterprises or daily activities.

A musician named Collins Etaredafe, aka Top Boy, has disappeared after being accused of murdering two unnamed Bureau-De-Change personnel at his home in the Lekki neighborhood of Lagos State.

It was learned that Etaredafe allowed the BDC operators inside his flat under the pretense of changing some money when he was there with an unidentified friend.

On Saturday, March 18, 2023, after their entry into the facility, it was discovered that the BDC operators had reportedly been murdered and their bodies placed in a drainage system in front of Etaredafe’s home.

Paul Omotosho, a facility manager in the vicinity, claimed that the agent in charge of the building told him that several neighbors had found the bodies in the drainage and had followed some blood stains to Etaredafe’s flat.

Omotosho said, “I knew Etaredafe through his girlfriend, Evelyn, about three years ago when she contacted me that he needed an apartment. That was how he got my number. He called me, said he stays in Delta State, and that he wants to book a short-let apartment. That was how he became a regular client.

“Sometimes he would claim he does not know Lagos and will send money to my account to help him get some items and send them to him. In February 2022, he said he wanted to secure an apartment where his mum would be living in Lagos; he said he wanted to surprise her with the apartment as she has not been to Lagos before.

“I had to reach out to a fellow agent who assisted me in getting the apartment. After that, the agent sent me a form to fill in the details of the occupant but when I asked for the details of his mum, he said she did not have any means of identification. Out of the trust I had for him as a regular client, I foolishly provided someone’s details to keep the place for him and since then, my thinking is that his mother had moved in.”

Omotosho claimed that Etaredafe had been residing in his mother’s flat when the agent in charge of the building contacted to say that the musician was suspected of killing the BDC employees while Omotosho was at home.

He said, “The agent called me that Etaredafe had killed two people in his apartment. He also said he dumped their corpses outside the gate and ran away.

“The agent said the blood of the deceased victims was traced to his apartment and later discovered that the people the musician killed were Bureau-De-Change operators. I was told he invited them to his apartment because he wanted to change dollars before killing them.”

Omotosho claimed that in an effort to find Etaredafe, he got in touch with his girlfriend, who claimed not to be aware of any addresses for any of his relatives.

He said, “She later called me on Monday and asked if I heard that Etaredafe killed two people in his house and ran away. She said they only met on social media and she does not know where he or his family lives.”

Omotosho was, however, requested to be questioned on Friday as part of an inquiry by the police officers assigned to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

The facility manager and two other agents who assisted him in securing the apartment for Etaredafe were apprehended when he visited the SCID.

SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the state police’s public relations officer, confirmed the incident.

He said, “The main suspects are on the run. No part of the deceased victims’ bodies was cut off. The case is at the SCID and is progressing. The security man is in custody and is assisting with the investigation.”

On Saturday night, Igbo in Lagos were cautioned against “interfering” in state politics by Bayo Onanuga, a spokesperson for Bola Tinubu, the incoming president.

Using his official Twitter account, @aonanuga1956, Onanuga, the director of media and publicity for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, tweeted the warning.

He tweeted, “Let 2023 be the last time of Igbo interference in Lagos politics. Let there be no repeat in 2027. Lagos is like Anambra, Imo, any Nigerian state. It is not No Man’s Land, not Federal Capital Territory. It is Yoruba land. Mind your business.”

Olusegun Osoba, a former governor of Ogun State, had earlier pleaded with residents of “Igbo extract” in Lagos to refrain from turning the election into a tribal matter.

Idris Musa has been reappointed as the Director General of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency, with the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari (ret.).

On Monday, the Ministry of Environment announced this via its Twitter account (@FMEnvng).

Following Musa’s outstanding performance over the previous four years, he was reappointed.

Musa was initially appointed on April 1 of 2019 for a four-year starting term.

The announcement claims that the reappointment is effective as of April 1, 2023.

The statement partly read, “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the renewal of appointment of Mr Idris O Musa as Director General of NOSDRA for a second and final term of four years.”

“Prominent amongst these were the digitalisation of the agency’s records, review of various forms for oil spills management processes, and the review of environmental sensitivity index map.

“The map is used in the oil-producing areas to protect the vulnerable, sensitive and fragile ecosystem of the Niger Delta region.

“He also carried out many awareness campaigns on the dangers of vandalism of oil facilities.

“Musa also revolutionised online and real-time processing of environmental compliance documents and management as well as the National Gas Flare Tracker and Oil Spill Monitor.

“These are part of efforts to showcase transparency in environmental management in the oil and gas industry.”

The announcement also mentioned that NOSDRA has begun monitoring methane, a greenhouse gas that affects climate systems in Nigerian towns that produce oil and elevates the earth’s temperature.

“The Agency has commenced the preparation for the tracking of methane in the oil producing areas in Nigeria,” it said.

The results of the March 18 governorship election in the state as currently reported by the Independent National Electoral Commission have been categorically rejected by the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Abia State.

The APGA stated that it would not recognize an election “marred by anomalies” in a statement released on Monday and signed by Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, the party’s chairman for Abia State.

But, it asked supporters to maintain their composure while they awaited the process’s conclusion.

The statement read in part, “The results so far announced did not in any way reflect the will of the good people of Abia voters as demonstrated at the various polling units.

“We are highly disappointed that the votes cast for our candidate, Professor Greg Ibe, were suppressed and not credited to him.

“Regrettably too, there were brazen irregularities, including snatching of ballot papers, over-voting, unprecedented manipulation and violence against the opposition.

“Most of the results were collated without recourse to BVAS machines, hence, they cannot be relied upon.

“We appeal to our members to remain calm and watch things unfold. We firmly believe that light will triumph over darkness, and Abia emancipated from the chains of undemocratic forces.

“The election was marred with irregularities in all parts of the state, and APGA cannot accept a highly flawed election.”

Ten local government results, including Ukwa East, Umunneochi, Ukwa West, Bende, Isialangwa North, Isialangwa South, Arochukwu, Ugwunnagbo, Isuikwuato, and Ikwuano, have so far been compiled.

The results thus far show that the Labour Party is ahead by a margin of 13,132.

The Kebbi governorship election was deemed “inconclusive” by the Independent National Election Commission on Monday.

The All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party, two enormous political parties, fiercely contested the election.

At the collation center located at INEC headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, Prof. Yusuf Sa’idu of the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, announced his position as the election’s collation and returning officer.

He claimed that cancellations occurred in 20 of the state of Kebbi’s 21 local government areas, affecting several Registration Areas in various voting units.

Sa’idu said: “We aggregated the total number of collected PVCs in those polling units and it came to a total of 91,829.

“And when we checked the results, the two leading political parties in this contest, APC and PDP polled 388,258 and 342,980 votes respectively. When we look at the difference, it stands at 45,278.”

He stated that their only choice was to follow the instructions provided in section 51 sub-sections two and three of the electoral laws on page 31 of the Electoral Act 2022.

According to him, the law read, “Where the number of votes cast in an election in any polling unit exceeds the number of accredited voters in that polling unit, the presiding officer shall cancel the result of the election in that polling unit.

“Sub-section three of section 51 also states that where the result of an election is cancelled in accordance with subsection two, there shall be no return for the election until another poll has taken place in the affected polling unit.

“By virtue of these provisions and the powers vested in me as the collation and returning officer of 2023 gubernatorial election in Kebbi State, I, Prof. Yusuf Sa’idu of the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, hereby declare the governorship election in Kebbi State inconclusive.

The nationwide 2023 Direct Entry registration has resumed, according to a Monday announcement from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

The DE registration will end on April 28, 2023, according to Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB, who announced this at a press conference on Monday in Abuja.

Oloyede bemoaned the high rate of A Level certificates being falsified and used for registration while announcing new rules the board had put in place to prevent such behavior.

He said, “You will recall that the board commenced the 2023 Direct Entry registration on Monday, 20th February, 2023, but had to immediately suspend it following the discovery of the plethora of devices and machinations to circumvent and compromise the standard of A’ Level qualifications required from DE candidates.

“Recall that recent joint operations of the Federal Ministry of Education and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on DE qualifications brought to light some of these unsavoury and nefarious activities.

“Bayero University, Kano  has also consistently brought to the fore the high rate of forgery of A’ Level qualifications for DE.

“For instance, it was discovered that in previous years, some candidates used unacceptable and forged A’ level certificates/qualifications to register for Direct Entry and eventually got admitted. For example, out of 148 candidates verified by BUK, only six were found to be genuine. By implication, 142 of the results were forged.

“The Board, concerned stakeholders and institutions are working assiduously to detect such and the ones already found are being dealt with according to the provisions of the law.”

For the 2023 Direct Entry registration, Oloyede continued, the Board would only accept 13 credentials/certificates, including first degrees, university diplomas, higher national diplomas, ordinary national diplomas/national diplomas, and Nigeria Certificates in Education.

The National Registered Nurse/National Registered Midwife, International Baccalaureate, Interim Joint Matriculation Board A’ Level, Joint Universities Preliminary Examination Board A’ Level, NABTEB Advanced National Business Certificate, NABTEB Advanced National Technical Certificate, NABTEB GCE-A’ Level (2015 – 2021), Higher Islamic Studies Certificate by NBAIS, and National Registered Nurse/National Registered Midwife are among the others.

The 127 applicants who had previously registered for the 2023 DE before the process was postponed, he added, would be asked to visit the registration centers again and update their application.

The JAMB chairman also announced that the data bank put in place to address difficulties linked with the A’ Level credentials had now been renamed as ‘Nigeria Post-secondary Education Data System’.

Oloyede stated that JAMB had implemented new measures in the administration of the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and urged understanding.

“The Board has instituted some measures which are to be deployed during the 2023 UTME exercise. Despite the fact that the innovations have been tested and certified, yet it is not unlikely that some hiccups might spring up when the new technology is deployed live and nationwide. We therefore solicit your support and understanding as we promptly address any unforeseen circumstances.

“One major feature of the new dispensation is that no examination would be allowed to take place after one hour of its scheduled start time because the Board has discovered that some of the problems reported at the centres are contrived to delay the commencement of a session in some centres with a view to securing undue advantage for the delayed candidates.

“Consequently, any session that, for whatever reason(s), could not take off within one hour of its schedule is automatically rescheduled. When such occurs, affected candidates are expected to file out of the examination hall into the waiting hall and await the new scheduled time and place which most likely would be the same or following day,” he said.

Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, who represents Ifo Constituency 1, had his voting unit deemed inconclusive.

Oluomo, a candidate for the All Progressives Congress, received 7,379 votes overall, according to Prof. Olusegun Onabanjo, the election’s returning officer. His closest rival, Ogundele Okikiola of the People’s Democratic Party, received 6411 votes, and Wemimo Owolabi of the African Democratic Congress received 3207 votes.

According to the returning officer, “the election is now deemed inconclusive due to over-voting seen in unit 04 of ward one.”

The affected voting unit is that of Sikirulah Ogundele, the PDP’s state chairman, whose son Okikiola is also running as the party’s candidate in the district.