metro
11 states panic as water release from Lagdo Dam begins
11 states panic as water release from Lagdo Dam begins
Following torrential rains and the recent devastation of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, due to the collapse of Alau Dam, Nigerians in littoral states of the country are currently on edge over a possible re-enactment of similar tragedies in the wake of the reported release of excess water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun.
Recall that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, had on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, issued a warning of possible severe flooding that will affect approximately 11 states across the country, releasing water from Lagdo Dam.
States likely to be impacted and which border the Benue River, include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross-River, and Rivers.
NIHSA also advised people in these states as well as officials of government at all levels to “heighten their vigilance and implement appropriate preparedness measures to mitigate potential flooding impact that may arise due to increase in flow levels of our major rivers during this period.”
Although the flood disaster in Maiduguri and some other parts of Borno State was not caused by the release of water from Lagdo Dam, the fear is that the release of water from Lagdo Dam will have more devastating effects than it happened in 2022.
READ ALSO:
- NEMA confirms 1 dead, two missing in Ibadan flood
- Bobrisky: Falz threatens legal action, gives Verydarkman 24 hours to apologise
- Bobrisky: FG probes alleged corruption in correctional centres
Vanguard gathered that the water level of Rivers Niger and Benue are already rising, despite what the Cameroonian authorities described as the gradual release of water from Lagdo Dam.
For instance, residents in some communities, including Irri in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State are already relocating from flood plains to higher grounds, following the rise in water levels in affected areas.
Emphasising the need for people to relocate from flood plains, NIHSA’s Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Umar Muhammed, warned in a statement: “The water discharge is anticipated to progressively escalate to 1000m³/s over the next seven days, based on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River, which serves as the primary source into the reservoir and a significant tributary to the Benue River.”
His warning has since thrown those in the affected states into a panic mode, as governments of the affected states are currently hurrying to relocate people and also provide internally displaced peoples, IDPs, and camps.
Confirming the development, the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ezekiel Manzo, affirmed that the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam was ongoing and swelling the water level of River Benue.
He said the release implies that it safeguards the possible risk of damage that may occur to the dam when its capacity is overwhelmed.
“A breakage of the dam would cause much damage in Nigeria as we have witnessed recently in Maiduguri with Alau dam, a much smaller dam compared to the one in Cameroun,’’ he said.
11 states panic as water release from Lagdo Dam begins
metro
Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27
Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.
The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.
“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.
READ ALSO:
- We are understaffed, ICPC boss laments
- Edo Gov Okpebholo freezes govt accounts, reverses ministry’s name
- Wike claims Adeyanju became activist after he rejected request to be PDP Publicity Secretary
He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.
Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.
The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.
After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.
“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.
Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.
The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.
Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27
metro
We are understaffed, ICPC boss laments
We are understaffed, ICPC boss laments
Musa Adamu Aliyu, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has stated that the Commission is understaffed and under-resourced. Aliyu says this is limiting the commission’s efficiency.
According to a statement on the ICPC website published on Wednesday, Aliyu made this known on Monday while presenting the Commission’s performance scorecard to the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes.
“Currently, we have 21 state offices, but they are severely understaffed and under-resourced, which affects our efficiency nationwide,” he said.
Aliyu mentioned that the ICPC suffered from inadequate funding, which hampers the pursuit of investigations, legal proceedings and public education efforts.
Cases involving politicians, where external influences can challenge the impartiality and integrity of investigations, are also some of the challenges bedevilling the ICPC.
READ ALSO:
- Edo Gov Okpebholo freezes govt accounts, reverses ministry’s name
- Wike claims Adeyanju became activist after he rejected request to be PDP Publicity Secretary
- VeryDarkMan to Falana: I won’t apologise to anybody
Aliyu cited slow court processes as one of the factors preventing the swift resolution of corruption cases and undermining public trust in anti-corruption efforts.
“Our work requires diverse expertise, from forensic analysis to psychology, yet rising living costs make it increasingly difficult to maintain high morale among staff. Reviewing salaries and welfare benefits is essential for sustainable productivity,” Aliyu said.
“Additionally, ICPC personnel face security risks, especially during high-stakes investigations, making it critical to provide them with adequate security measures similar to those granted to other agencies.
“We urge you to consider the Commission’s requests for adequate funding to strengthen operational resources. Such support will enable us to pursue a more effective, inclusive, and resilient fight against corruption in Nigeria.”
We are understaffed, ICPC boss laments
metro
Wike claims Adeyanju became activist after he rejected request to be PDP Publicity Secretary
Wike claims Adeyanju became activist after he rejected request to be PDP Publicity Secretary
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, has disclosed how rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, had approached him, seeking his blessings to become the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, a plea he turned down.
Wike said Adeyanju who became jobless on account of the rejection has now become an emergency activist, using every opportunity to attack the FCT Administration under him.
The minister spoke on Wednesday evening during a live media chat in Abuja.
Adeyanju who had recently attacked Wike for allegedly concentrating development on the city centre, an allegation that has been severally denied by the Administration, with video and pictorial proofs.
Adeyanju also last week led a protest against Wike over the demolition of Ruga, a settlement along Metro line corridor in Wuye District.
Reacting, Wike said; “I saw one young man, they call him Adeyanju. He is from Kogi State. This young boy came to me that he wants to be the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP and I said ‘No’..
“I said he won’t be, and he was not. I have no regrets about it. He has suddenly become a civil society activist. He has no job and that is why he decided to turn to a civil society activist”.
READ ALSO:
- VeryDarkMan to Falana: I won’t apologise to anybody
- Court adjourns Falana’s suit against VeryDarkMan to January 2025
- Soldiers in gun battle with Bello Turji-led bandits in Sokoto
Shortly after the live media chat, Adeyanju had posted on his Facebook page that he was too busy with clients that he would not be making any response until Friday. He however did not explicitly mention the Minister’s name but rather used expletives.
Wike had on Sunday vowed to go ahead with demolitions of shanties and illegal structures in the territory, saying government will not succumb to blackmail by few individuals who would rather that the status quo be maintained.
Wike who had held an emergency security council meeting on Sunday evening had in company of the security chiefs and journalists visited the Ruga community in Wuye District where town planning officials and security personnel had earlier gone on clearance operations.
There were reports that a handful of the squatters had protested alongside a lawyer, but spokesman of the community, Abba Garu conceded that they were illegal squatters and that previous administrations had carried out at least 22 demolitions of the area but the people always returned.
While he noted that the community was a mini-Nigeria as it had people from different tribes, Garu begged the administration for compassion.
In response, Wike asked him to nominate four other members of the community to meet with officials of the administration in order to come up with a humane solution.
Wike claims Adeyanju became activist after he rejected request to be PDP Publicity Secretary
-
International2 days agoBelgium University offers scholarship up to €12,000 for Master’s students
-
Railway2 days agoNigerian railway adds extra train to Friday, Saturday trips on Lagos-Ibadan route
-
International2 days agoUK announces 45,000 seasonal worker visas for 2025
-
Business3 days agoFinally, marketers, Dangote refinery agree on direct fuel supply
-
International2 days agoSaudi crown prince says Israel committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza
-
Education24 hours ago12-year-old Nigerian girl Eniola Shokunbi invents air filter to reduce spread of diseases in US schools
-
metro3 days agoNJC dispels death rumours of two judges that affirmed Tinubu’s election
-
Business2 days agoTop 5 crypto apps that work with Nigerian Bank accounts