News & Announcements

Ahead of the Anambra State gubernatorial election on Saturday, the United States (US) has threatened sanctions, including visa restrictions on anyone who interferes with the democratic process or instigates violence against civilian populations before, during, or after the elections.

This warning was contained in a statement on Wednesday by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria.
According to the brief communique, certain violations may also lead to restrictions on relatives of the electoral offenders and the families of those who may instigate violence at the polls.

“We will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere with the democratic process or instigate violence against civilian populations before, during, or after the elections.
“We will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process.

“Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations also may lead to restrictions on family members,” the statement partly read.
The US government, however, noted that it is anticipating a free and fair election that will be peaceful with results that accurately reflect the will of the Anambra residents.
Citizens, electoral officials, party members, and security force personnel were all urged by the American government to play their part in ensuring a credible and secure electoral process.

The Taliban has banned the use of foreign currencies in Afghanistan, a move that could further disrupt an economy on the brink of collapse.
“The economic situation and national interests in the country require that all Afghans use Afghan currency in their every trade,” the Taliban said.
The economy is struggling due to the withdrawal of international financial support after the Taliban took control, reports the BBC.

The US dollar has been used widely in Afghanistan’s markets.
Dollars are also often used for trade-in areas bordering Afghanistan’s neighbors such as Pakistan.
“The Islamic Emirate instructs all citizens, shopkeepers, traders, businessmen, and the general public to… conduct all transactions in Afghanis and strictly refrain from using foreign currency,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement posted online.

“Anyone violating this order will face legal action,” the statement said.
Assets frozen, funds stopped After the Taliban seized control of the country in August, billions of dollars of Afghanistan’s overseas assets were frozen by the US Federal Reserve and central banks in Europe.

“We believe that it’s essential that we maintain our sanctions against the Taliban but at the same time find ways for legitimate humanitarian assistance to get to the Afghan people. That’s exactly what we’re doing,” Deputy United States Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told the US Senate Banking Committee last month.
The Taliban has called for the release of Afghanistan’s assets that are being held overseas as the nation faces a severe cash crunch.

Afghanistan has also been hit by the exodus of foreign aid. Grants from overseas previously financed three-quarters of its public spending.
Earlier this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Afghanistan will no longer be able to access its resources, while the World Bank also halted funding for projects in the country.
Last month, the IMF warned that the country’s economy could shrink by 30% this year, pushing millions into poverty and causing a humanitarian crisis.

The fund also said that Afghanistan’s economic woes could fuel a refugee crisis impacting neighboring countries, Turkey and Europe.
The country is also suffering from a severe drought, which has ruined much of its wheat crop and sent prices soaring.

The United Nations World Food Programme has warned that millions of Afghans could face starvation due to a combination of the drought, conflict, and Covid-19.

However, although Western powers have said that they want to avoid a humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, they have refused to officially recognize the Taliban government.

 
President Muhammadu Buhari has said about 1.5 trillion dollars would be needed by Nigeria over a ten-year period, to achieve an appreciable level of the National Infrastructure Stock.
Buhari gave the figure on Tuesday in Glasgow at a COP 26 high-level side event on improving global infrastructure hosted by President Joe Biden of the United States, EU Commission President, Von Der Leyen, and the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

‘‘Nigeria is ready for your investments in infrastructural development in the country.
‘‘My administration has established a clear legal and regulatory framework for private financing of infrastructure to establish a standard process, especially on the monitoring and evaluation process.

‘‘We look forward to working with you in this regard,’’ he told world leaders at the high-level meeting on the margins of the climate change conference.
President Buhari also declared that his administration had taken infrastructure expansion in Nigeria seriously, conscious of the fact that new investments in critical sectors of the economy would aid in lifting 100 million Nigerians from poverty by 2030.

‘‘There is a nexus between infrastructural development and the overall economic development of a nation.
‘‘My administration identified this early enough as a major enabler of sustainable economic development and the realization of other continental and global development aspirations particularly the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

‘‘On my assumption of office in 2015, Nigeria faced a huge infrastructure deficit and the total National Infrastructure Stock was estimated at 35% of our Gross Domestic Product.
‘‘In solving these problems, we embarked on a massive infrastructure expansion program in the areas of Health care, Education, Transportation, Manufacturing, Energy, Housing, Agriculture, and Water Resources.
‘‘We provided more financial resources for these policies, charted new international partnerships, and pursued liberalization policies to allow private sector participation.

‘‘We introduced the revised National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan – a policy document that ensures our infrastructure expansion projects is cross-sectorally integrated and environmentally friendly, ’’ he said.
The President welcomed the G7 countries for its ground-breaking plan to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars of infrastructure investment for low – and middle-income countries.
He noted that the “Build Back Better World” plan, an initiative of the G7 countries, is expected to be a values-driven, high-standard, and transparent infrastructure partnership.

‘‘It is our fervent hope and expectations that this plan will be pursued to its logical conclusion in order to bridge the infrastructural gap between the North and South,’’ he said.
The President also used the occasion to outline the principles, values, and standards Nigeria would like to see from infrastructure initiatives and the challenges the country has faced in partnering with donors on infrastructure development.

‘‘The aim of pursuing quality infrastructure investment is to maximize the positive economic, environmental, social, and development impact of infrastructure and create a virtuous circle of economic activities while ensuring sound public finances.
‘‘This virtuous circle can take various forms in stimulating the economy,” he said.
The Nigerian leader noted that infrastructure investment should, therefore, take into account economic, environmental and social, and governance aspects, guided by a sense of shared, long-term responsibility for the planet, consistent with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The President added that the positive and negative impacts of infrastructure projects on ecosystems, biodiversity, climate, weather, and the use of resources should be internalized by incorporating these environmental considerations over the entire process of infrastructure investment.
‘‘Domestic resource mobilization is critical to addressing the infrastructure financing gap. Assistance for capacity building, including for project preparation, should be provided to developing countries with the participation of international organizations.

‘‘Quality infrastructure investment also needs to be tailored to individual country conditions and consistent with local laws and regulations.
‘‘Furthermore, Infrastructure projects should align with national strategies and nationally determined contributions for those countries determined to implement them, and with transitioning to long-term low emissions strategies, while being mindful of country circumstances,’’ he said.

The President also called for the environmental impact of infrastructure investment to be made transparent to all stakeholders, noting that this will enhance the appreciation of sustainable infrastructure projects and increase awareness of related risks.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor, has ordered the indefinite suspension of the general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki, over the collapse of the 21-storey building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi.

The governor said he has also set up an independent panel to probe the incident.
In a statement on Tuesday, Gbenga Omotoso, the honourable commissioner for Information and Strategy said the panel will be drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) and other professional bodies.

“Members of the panel will be drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) and other professional bodies.
“It will independently investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident and make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrence. The investigation is not part of the internal probe already being conducted by the government.

“More equipment and personnel have been deployed in the site to save more lives.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu further disclosed Nine persons – all men – have been pulled out of the rubble alive. They have been taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, 14 others were brought out dead – as at 2 pm.

“Mr. Sanwo-Olu thanks all first responders and those who have joined the rescue efforts, including construction giants Julius Berger, Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
“A help desk is to be set up at the site for people seeking information about their relations who may have been involved in the incident. The media are hereby notified that the government will be releasing information whenever the need arises to avoid any sensational reporting of the unfortunate incident.

“The Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, was today at the site to encourage rescuers and comfort relations of those trapped in the rubble. Dr. Hamzat left the site for the Lagos Island General Hospital to see the survivors.

“The government will embark on further foundation and borehole acidic level tests to ascertain the impact on the collapsed building. These tests, particularly the borehole acidic level, is important for the entire Gerrard Road and adjoining areas,” the statement added.

Ten corpses, were as at Tuesday afternoon, retrieved from the rubble of the 21-storey building which collapsed on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday. Also, nine persons have been recovered alive since rescue operations started around 4pm on Monday.
This update was announced by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, who paid a visit to the scene of the incident Tuesday.

Hamzat said the building had been sealed for four months, between July and November 2020. According to him: “This is now a search and rescue operation and our mission is to get people out of here. This morning we took out two people and they are doing well in the hospital. Totally, we’ve taken nine people out and they are in the hospital and some have been discharged and we’ve sadly taken out 10 dead bodies.

“The operation as you can see is going on and we will not leave until we are able to account for everybody. We are responsible for the people of the state, our focus is on saving lives.

“As a matter of fact, this place was sealed for about four months sometime last year, from July to November, because our agency came in to do structural test and saw some anomalies and shut it down and said those things should be corrected.

“The other two buildings will also be audited in terms of integrity test and of course if we see anything, appropriate actions will be taken. They were making corrective actions when this happened. At the time this happened, they were not really constructing but investigations later will show what really happened.

“This particular building that collapsed was approved for 21 floors, three years ago, not 15 floors. It’s the construction that failed apparently.”

Popular socialite and businessman, Obinna Iyiegbu, aka Obi Cubana, was interrogated by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over Tax evasion and alleged money laundering on Monday.

The Anambra-born club owner,  who arrived at the headquarters of the EFCC at Jabi, Abuja, at about noon on Monday, was undergoing interrogation by the operatives of the commission as of the time of filing this report.

Though allegations against the socialite were sketchy as of press time, a source disclosed that his case bordered on alleged money laundering and tax fraud.
The source said, “Obi Cubana was arrested and brought to the EFCC headquarters on Monday afternoon over allegations of money laundering and tax fraud. He is being grilled by detectives as we speak.”

The  EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said he had yet to be briefed on the development.
Obi Cubana made headlines in July when he hosted an ostentatious burial for his late mother in Oba, Anambra State, in which over 200 cows were reportedly killed.
The lavish display of wealth set tongues wagging with many Nigerians wondering about his source of wealth.

Several celebrities, business people and politicians turned out in large numbers for the funeral. People in some quarters are viewing the EFFC’s recent outburst on the Multi Billionaire as a personal witchhunt, only time would tell.

Deputy Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Amarachi Iwuanyanwu has been Impeached.
The impeachment was reported Tuesday afternoon in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The House is also reported to have recalled its seven members that were earlier suspended, among them is Hon Uche Ogbuagu.

Gunmen claiming to be Taliban enforcers kill three guests at Afghan ceremony after demanding music is turned off. The three guests were shot dead at a wedding reception in eastern Afghanistan on Friday night because the music was being played at the venue, according to the Taliban.
Three attackers opened fire at the wedding reception in the Surkh Road district in Nangarhar Province after they demanded the guests stopped playing music.

At least three people were killed and several others injured in the attack on Friday. A local journalist told CNN that 10 people had been wounded.
Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban government spokesman said two of the three attackers had been arrested but the other escaped, and denied they were acting on behalf of the Islamist movement.

He said: ‘[On Friday], at the wedding of Haji Malang Jan in Shamspur Mar Ghundi village of Nangarhar, three people who introduced themselves as Taliban, entered the proceedings and that the music stop playing,’ he said.
‘As a result of firing, at least three people have been killed and several others have been injured.

‘Two suspects have been taken into custody by the Taliban in connection with the incident and one who escaped is still being pursued.
‘The perpetrators of the incident caught, who have used the name of the Islamic Emirate to carry out their personal feud, have been handed over to face Sharia law.’

We learned that though the Spokesman for the Taliban governor in Nangarhar province, Qazi Adel, confirmed the incident, he did not provide details.

The last time the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, music was banned. However, the new government has not yet issued such a decree, though the leadership frowns on its use in entertainment and sees it as a breach of Islamic law.

At least three corpses were recovered from the rubbles of a 21-storey building that collapsed in Lagos on Monday.
The building, which was under construction, collapsed along Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, a highbrow area in Lagos.

Officials confirmed that three bodies have been recovered and have been handed over to a medical team of the Lagos State General Hospital.
The Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, said the bodies have been moved to a morgue owned by the state government.
“The deceased bodies were pulled out from under the rubble,” he said.

The incident happened at about 3pm 1st November 2022, and scores of people are being trapped under the rubbles.

A 20-story building under construction has just collapsed on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi in Lagos State.
According to reports, scores are believed to be trapped under the rubble.
The building is said to be located just after the Onikoyi Road (old Turnbull Road junction.
According to a voice on a trending video, the owner of the structure may be one of those trapped under the rubble.