Lagos asks residents in flashpoint areas to relocate ahead rains – Newstrends
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Lagos asks residents in flashpoint areas to relocate ahead rains

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3 years ago

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…says plastic waste has become a problem

By Dada Jackson

The Lagos State Government has urged residents in flashpoint areas within the state to relocate to a safer place ahead of September when the rains may be heavy and frequent, which may wreck havoc.

The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, stated this, just as he noted that plastic waste had become a problem for the state.

He also hinted that the state government was partnering plastic producers with a view to finding a lasting solution to this menace.

He spoke at a press briefing to give an update on the state’s preparedness for the resumption of heavy rainfall in the month of September.

He said, “The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) at the beginning of every year with 2021 inclusive usually forecasts the expected rainfall temperature patterns spanning the entire country.”

He said the peculiarity of the state as a coastal state and its strategic position as the economic hub of the nation made it expedient for the state to disseminate crucial information on the 2021 rainfall prediction earlier in the year to allay the fears of residents and prepare them ahead of the likely consequences of the rains.

He said that as predicted by NIMET, the state would experience normal rainfall of between 238 and 261 days this year, while the maximum annual rainfall for 2021 is predicted to be 1,747mm.

His words: “Due to the pro-active nature of measures we put in place, when Lagos witnessed a heavy downpour of over eight hours on Friday, July 16, by the next morning which was some 10 hours after the rain subsided, all the flash flood which had submerged many homes and vehicles especially in Marina had disappeared thus vindicating our stand.

“The same level of preparedness is what we have in store for the advisory by the management of Ogun Osun River Basin Authority on release of water from the Oyan Dam in September.”

Bello further noted, “We are stepping up the dredging and cleaning of all our channels and would also use the opportunity to once again put the residents of low-lying areas areas especially those in the river banks like Agiliti, Ajegunle, Isheri North, Owode, Iwaya, Makoko, Badia, Ijora, Isaalu, Pota and Shibiri etc on notice to be at alert that they may have to relocate to higher grounds to save their lives and properties when the water is released by Oyan Dam authorities.

The commissioner pointed out the state government would also be collaborating with sister state of Ogun in order to optimally respond to whatever challenges that the release of water could bring to the two states and the areas contiguous to the Oyan Dam.

He said, “Let me also state that due to the costal nature of Lagos State, one major contributory factor to possible flooding is Sea level rise. This has always posed risks to us as a coastal state, as anytime there is high tidal movement, it may ‘lock up’ the discharge points of our drainage channels and until it recedes, there will be no discharge. Such occurrences also cause backflows, resorting to flooding. But as soon as the lagoon recedes, all the generated storm water run-off will immediately discharge and our roads will be free of flash flood.

“As the strong winds expected to be experienced during the onset and cessation of every rainfall calls for caution, the envisaged hazy weather may also cause reduction in visibility that can bring about flight disruption and loss of revenue due to delays and outright cancellation. Guided by core principles of providing a flood-free and hygienic environment in the state, this ministry is providing all-year-round drainage maintenance for effective and efficient flood control with diligent dredging of all primary channels and cleaning/de-silting of all secondary collectors, to enable them to discharge efficiently and act as retention and/or detention basins. This is in addition to a revitalised solid waste management system,” he stated.

According to him, the state’s House of Assembly recently passed the plastic waste policy to address this issue once and for all.

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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6 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

The federal government has unveiled a proposed budget of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.

Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

Bagudu revealed that the council had approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027.

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According to the minister, the government has pegged the crude oil benchmark at $75 per barrel, with an oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day (bpd).

The budget also sets the exchange rate at N1,400 per dollar and aims for a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.4%.

 

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

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6 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

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EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told FIJ that they have arrested Timber Wabote, the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMB), on the grounds of a failed $35 million Bayelsa refinery project fraud.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, confirmed this to FIJ on Thursday.

“It is true,” Oyewale responded to FIJ’s inquiries.

Wabote is accused of misappropriating public funds for a refinery project that should have improved local energy production.

Vanguard reported that the NCDMB under Wabote paid $35 million to support the development of energy infrastructure in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, yet there was nothing to show for it.

The EFCC picked Wabote up following the arrest of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35 million in public funds.

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“NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel per day (BPD), refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass free trade zone (FTZ), Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State,” a source with the EFCC had explained.

Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum he received.

Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including the 2,000 BPD refinery in Brass LGA.

There has been a series of public fund misappropriation cases in the energy sector in recent times.

FIJ earlier reported that members of the House of Representatives summoned three ministers to defend how over $2 billion was spent on renewable energy with not much to show for it.

A recent FIJ report also recently detailed how residents of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, have not had power in their homes since July due to the vandalisation of the Ahoada-Yenagoa transmission towers caused by unidentified persons.

The Bayelsa state government told FIJ it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide electricity for residents. The state has no renewable energy options reliable enough to power its capital despite the multi-million-dollar NCMB energy project.

Transparency in the energy sector has become necessary at a time when Nigerians have suffered power instability due to frequent grid collapses.

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

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Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

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6 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

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Yahaya Bello

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.

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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

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