metro
North-Central, South-East states will experience more flooding – NiMet
The devastation witnessed in the some states due to flooding may not have ended as the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has said states in the North-Central and South-East zones should expect more floods.
Director-General of NiMet, Prof. Mansur Matazu, stated this on Tuesday on the sidelines of the ongoing Hydro-Meteorological Status and Outlook System (HydroSOS) in Abuja.
He spoke on the current flooding across the country in which people lost their lives, many houses were submarged, farmlands and businesses ruined, noting that the situation was a result of the opening of dams and other water-holding facilities, which would still affect states in North-Central and South-East.
He said, “You remember we issued the forecast in February and we followed up with the monthly updates that we’re going to have above normal rainfall in most parts of the country. So in terms of the rainfall-induced floods, we have seen the peak but remember we told you that this rainwater gets collected into the reservoirs and dams, and whenever they are filled, it gets filled.
“So presently 13th of September, the lagoon dam was released. Other dams were also released. So, what we are witnessing now is riverine flooding. And from the information we are getting, we are going to see more floods. And now the rains are concentrating on the North-Central and the southern states. So, that will be a combination of short duration, high intensity rain, with riverine flooding. We are going to see more of these floods in the North-Central states as we have seen in Kogi and also south eastern and south western states as we are beginning to see in Anambra and some of parts of South-West.”
The NiMET DG also commented on the HydroSOS workshop hosted by the agency in collaboration with the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) with the total support of the United Kingdom Centre 7 for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
He said, “it is no longer news to anyone here that water-related hazards and threats have become a global challenge in the face of a changing climate coupled with population growth and increasing socio-economic activities.
“Every year, water-related hazard affects millions of people globally and cause damages to properties worth billions of Dollars. It is expected that water-associated risks are going to intensify in the coming years as the full weight of climate change begin to bear on our earth.
“In Africa, water-related hazards such as flood and drought have become a major cause of food insecurity, strains on livelihoods, health risks and conflicts in many parts of the continent.
“Water-related challenges facing governments at all levels include securing water supplies, designing appropriate water governance schematic, sustaining the management of transboundary basins, managing flood and/or drought as well as ensuring the protection and conservation of our ecosystem. It has been observed that one of the major factors to effectively manage water resources and address some of the above challenges is the availability of hydrometeorological information and products targeted to serve the needs of the different sectors.”
metro
Woman dies after being set on fire on NYC subway
Woman dies after being set on fire on NYC subway
A man has been arrested in New York in connection with the death of a woman who was set on fire on a subway train in Brooklyn.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident on Sunday as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being”.
She said the woman was on a stationary F train to Brooklyn when she was approached by a man who used a lighter to ignite her clothing.
The victim died at the scene, she said, adding that the suspect had been arrested following a tip-off from a group of high school students as he rode the subway later on Sunday.
Police said the woman, who has not been named, was in a subway carriage at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn at about 07:30 local time (12:30 GMT) when a man approached her.
Officers said she was “motionless” when she was set on fire, but detectives were still establishing whether the victim was asleep.
There was no interaction before the attack, police said, adding that they did not believe the two 1people knew each other.
The man got off the train as police officers on patrol in the station rushed to the fire.
READ ALSO:
- Private plane crash in Brazil kills pilot, his family
- EPL: Liverpool outscores Tottenham in nine-goal thriller
- FG declares three days as public holidays
“Officers were on patrol on an upper level of that station, smelled and saw smoke and went to investigate,” Ms Tisch said.
“What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames.”
Police are still working to identify the victim and the motive for the attack.
“Unbeknownst to the officers who responded, the suspect had stayed on the scene and was seated on a bench on the platform just outside the train car,” Ms Tisch added.
She explained police were then able to get a “very clear, detailed” look at the man from the responding officers’ body worn cameras.
The images were disseminated by the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Later, three high school-aged New Yorkers called 911 to report they recognised the suspect on another train, Ms Tisch told reporters.
The man was then located after officers boarded the train and walked through the subway carriages.
He was arrested at Herald Square station – which is located in near to the Empire State Building in Manhattan.
He was found with a lighter in his pocket, Ms Tisch said.
“I want to thank the young people who called 911 to help,” the police commissioner added.
“They saw something, they said something and they did something.”
Woman dies after being set on fire on NYC subway
metro
FG declares three days as public holidays
FG declares three days as public holidays
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday 25th, Thursday 26th December 2024, and Wednesday 1st January, 2025 as Public Holidays to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year respectively.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.
The Minister in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani extended warm greetings to all Nigerians.
He called on Nigerians to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.
READ ALSO:
- Trump promises to end transgender madness
- Obi’s comment on stampede deaths as systemic failures, uncharitable, says Omokri
- North is an asset not liability to Nigeria – Ndume
Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and strengthen bonds across families and communities.
The Minister also called on Nigerians to remain committed to the peace, unity and progress of the nation for national development.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo said.
He assured citizens of the government continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.
While wishing Nigerians a merry Christmas and a prosperous 2025, the Minister expressed his confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration ushering in the new year, a better and prosperous economy that will be the envy of the world.
FG declares three days as public holidays
metro
Obi’s comment on stampede deaths as systemic failures, uncharitable, says Omokri
Obi’s comment on stampede deaths as systemic failures, uncharitable, says Omokri
A former presidential aide, Mr Reno Omokri, has urged the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, not to politicise the recent fatal stampedes in some parts of the country, saying doing so amounted to politicising the people’s tragedy.
About 39 persons were feared dead in Okija, Anambra State and Maitama in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on Saturday following stampedes at food-sharing events to usher in the Xmas festivities. Both incidents came on the heels of an earlier disaster in Ibadan, during which 35 children died.
Obi, in a tweet on his X handle last week, condemned the scores of children’s deaths in Ibadan during the pre-Xmas fair as a reflection of the nation’s “systemic failure”.
“The devastating news of innocent children reportedly trampled to death during a Christmas celebration in Ibadan is both heart-wrenching and a stark reflection of the systemic failures that plague our nation today,” he said.
He said the tragedy called for deep reflection and decisive actions by leaders to prioritise policies that address poverty, inequality, and equitable resource access while ensuring the highest safety standards for public events, especially those involving children.
However, Omokri reacted on his X handle by accusing Obi of being insensitive to the victims’ plight. He said rather than seeking to reap political benefits from the tragedy, the Labour Party candidate should have empathised with the people who lost their loved ones.
“One would have expected Mr Peter Obi to have condoled with the families and moved on,” he said.
The former presidential aide said the Labour Party’s erstwhile flagbearer’s attempt to blame the federal government for the stampede was hypocritical because the occurrence was a global phenomenon, pointing out that it occurred recently in the US, South Korea, Israel and multiple European countries.
READ ALSO:
- North is an asset not liability to Nigeria – Ndume
- NDLEA: Businessman arrested at Kano airport with large cocaine
- We will sell fuel at N935/litre from today – IPMAN
Besides, he recalled that under Obi’s watch as governor of Anambra State, a similar event happened on November 3, 2013, during which 28 persons died. “Funny enough, Peter Obi himself was at the scene of the incident and was accused by survivors of triggering the stampede,” Omokri stated.
He said, “It is hypocritical for a man under whom these events occurred to now use the Ibadan tragedy to stigmatise the Tinubu administration. Genuine opposition politics involves providing alternative solutions to issues. It is an abuse of the idea of opposition to lazily sit and wait for tragedies to occur and then seek to profit from them. That is wickedness, not politics.”
Omokri queried the moral basis of Obi’s persistent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, pointing out that the former Labour Party’s presidential candidate underperformed during his time as Anambra State governor.
He said, “This is sad coming from a man under who, as Governor of Anambra State, poverty almost doubled, as revealed by his immediate successor, Mr Willie Obiano, and Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
“Before Peter Obi took over as Governor of Anambra, poverty in that state was 41.4%. However, under Mr. Obi, it grew to 53.7%, partly because Peter Obi refused to use the state’s allocations to build infrastructure.
“In his eight years as Governor, Mr. Obi did not initiate, start, complete, or commission even one nursery, primary, secondary school, or university.”
Shortly after Omokri’s severe criticism, Obi deleted his tweet, and yesterday he made another tweet, adjusting his position on the stampedes.
Incidentally, on Saturday there was stampede in Okija, a prominent town in Obi’s home state, during which some people also died. Another occurred in Maitama, Abuja, the nation’s capital.
READ ALSO:
- Syria new leader says all weapons to come under state control
- Cyclone kills 94, over 700 injured in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe
- Why we displayed ‘Jesus Christ is not God’ banner at Lekki mosque -Imam
Reacting to these tragedies, the former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan commiserated with the victims. He called on state governments to learn lessons from the frequent events and implement better crowd control mechanisms.
Obi: my position on stampedes
In his new tweet, Obi said: ”I am deeply saddened and distressed by the tragic loss of lives in desperate searches for food. A few days ago, about 35 people, mostly children, lost their lives in a stampede at a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“This morning, reports emerged of at least 10 people losing their lives in Abuja while scrambling for palliatives, with many others injured.
“Now, I just heard that about 19 more lives were lost in another stampede in Okija, Anambra State, as people struggled to receive food items.
“While I will not cast blame, but instead appreciate the organizers of these respective events for their kind gestures in providing palliatives and support to society, especially the poor, these tragedies reflect the systemic failures that plague our society.
“The desperate quest for survival in these harsh economic times has driven our people to extremes in their search for food, often at the cost of their lives.
“How do we explain that in a nation blessed with abundant resources, our people are dying of hunger in such numbers? How is it possible that we cannot feed our citizens despite the vast, fertile lands our nation is endowed with? My heart bleeds.”
“One can only imagine the pain their families are enduring at this moment. My heart goes out to them. I sincerely commiserate with all the affected families and the good people of Oyo, Anambra, and the FCT over these tragic incidents. May God grant them, and all of us, the strength to bear these painful losses.
“May God Almighty grant the departed souls eternal rest, and may the injured recover swiftly.”
Obi’s comment on stampede deaths as systemic failures, uncharitable, says Omokri
-
Railway2 days ago
Lagos Rail Mass Transit part of FG free train ride – NRC
-
metro22 hours ago
Why we displayed ‘Jesus Christ is not God’ banner at Lekki mosque -Imam
-
metro3 days ago
Court stops customs from seizing imported rice in open market
-
metro2 days ago
Ibadan stampede: Ooni reacts after arrest of ex-wife
-
metro3 days ago
Afe Babalola: Court grants Dele Farotimi bail, barred from media interviews
-
metro2 days ago
NIMC warns against extortion, reaffirms free NIN enrollment
-
metro3 days ago
NAFDAC seizes N5bn fake rice, seals factory in Nasarawa
-
metro2 days ago
Like Ibadan, stampede claims 10 lives for Abuja Catholic church, 17 in Anambra