News

Ibadan explosion: About N50b properties lost as govt ends rescue operation

Published

3 years ago

January 22, 2024

Ibadan explosion: About N50b properties lost as govt ends rescue operation

About N50 billion worth of properties may have been lost and reduced to rubble after last Tuesday’s explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State, which killed five persons, injured 77 and rendered thousands homeless, some estate valuers have estimated.
Conservative estimates from estate valuers and cost consultants show that residents may have lost properties so much to the explosion. With about 230 houses claimed to have been affected by the explosion, valuers note that at N150 million per building, a conservative estimate of N34.5 billion would have been arrived at, while other critical infrastructure and vehicles would account for the balance.

This is coming after the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, disclosed at the weekend that a structural integrity test has been conducted on no fewer than 230 houses affected by the explosion.

While speaking at the Nigerian Society of Engineers investiture in Abuja, Makinde noted that the test included plans to resettle affected residents and avert a possible collapse of buildings.

“These past few days have been tough for the indigenes of Oyo State. We had an explosion and lost five lives and a lot of properties were destroyed.

“Between Tuesday and today (Saturday), the Society of Engineers led an effort to look at the structural integrity of the houses around ground zero of the explosion site and as of today, they have carried out integrity tests on 13 houses within 50 metres radius of the blast site, another 40 houses at 100 meters radius.

“They also carried out an integrity test at 200 metres on 122 houses and 53 houses within a 250-metre radius. In total, about 230 houses have been checked and this effort was led by the society. I sincerely thank you for helping us during this difficult time.”

The experts opined that it is at best still a rough estimate as going by ethics of the profession, the actual cost cannot be arrived at until estate valuers see all documents of the properties affected.

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The state government at the weekend disclosed that it has concluded rescue operations on the site of the explosion, while adding that the site is now being fumigated.

According to a source at the Governor’s Office, the state government has concluded operations at the scene of the incident, adding that what the various emergency responders are doing at the site now is fumigation exercise.

Barring last minute change, a Federal Government delegation will be visiting the Old Bodija scene of the explosion today. According to a source, the team will include the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu among other top government functionaries.

The visit will be for an on-the-spot assessment of the incident, its impact which will guide the Federal Government to making a decision on what form of support and palliative that would be made available for the victims and residents.

Preliminary investigations fingered dynamite stored up by illegal miners as the immediate cause of the explosion. As at press time, no arrest had been made as search and rescue efforts have been concluded.

A visit to the explosion site at Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija, by The Guardian revealed that properties along Dejo Oyelese Street, Canon Odusanwo Street, Rev Aderinola Street and others were badly damaged while some were irreparably mangled. The explosion also affected some structures at the state government secretariat, University College Hospital (UCH), among many other adjoining areas.

Describing the loss as colossal while assessing the depth of the damage, the Oyo State chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Pastor Oluseyi Adebayo, said the loss would be difficult to quantify. The same sentiment was also shared by a lecturer at the Estate Management Department of Lead City University, Mr. Adewale Adedokun, adding that the properties destroyed were enormous and run into billions of Naira.

Adebayo said: “To do a comprehensive valuation of property, we need authorisation from the government and owners of such property. Some documents need to be made available to the valuers. However, we can do an on-the-spot assessment. We may not be able to do a comprehensive valuation but a rough estimate. The properties lost to the incident in that community alone are in trillions of Naira. It is a highbrow area. The cost of property in the area is huge. Again, many cars, electronic appliances and other household goods were destroyed, besides other personal effects.”

For Adedokun: “To say the fact, assets worth more than a trillion naira have been destroyed, considering the high yielding neighbourhood, assets are not only limited to the land and buildings, but it also includes land, buildings, furniture, fittings, jewelry, automobiles, household appliances, and personal properties.

“These are categorised as economic value. What of social and cultural value, environmental value, emotional and psychological values that are intangible and cannot be quantified in monetary terms. In addition, how can we ascribe value to the lives that were lost in the explosion? In summary, the value of assets lost in the explosion are enormous.”

Adebayo, Adedokun and other estate valuers and investment analysts have urged the government to conduct integrity tests for all buildings within the neighbourhood.

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Others who spoke with The Guardian are the Managing Director, Southwest Housing Exhibition, Dr Olayemi Rotimi-Shodimu; a NIESV Fellow, Fisayo Alo; and the immediate past chairman of NIESV in Oyo State, Solomon Bamidele Faloye.

They also called on the government to engage all relevant professionals to critically analyse the environmental impacts of the blast on humanity and the ecosystem, adding that a review of mining laws concerning keeping of explosives is expedient.

Faloye said it is necessary to conduct an integrity test on all the properties as many foundations have been shaken and may now have cracks leading to collapse afterwards.

Adewale, a lecturer, said: “Government needs to formulate a policy that will mandate every property owner to take life and property insurance policies like that of vehicles. The state government had taken proactive steps in ensuring that lives of injured people were secured and homeless residents accommodated in hotels at the expense of the government.

“Furthermore, the government should engage the services of professionals to analyse the incident to come up with robust reports and recommendations on how to move forward post-explosion effect. The professionals should involve built environment experts to look into the causes, extent of damage to properties around the incident site, assess the worth of the lost assets, determine compensation payable in terms of finance or redevelopment, and fish out the culprit responsible for the explosion.

“Also, experts should carry out impact assessment and integrity tests on the properties within the 500 metres radius from the centre, the environmental pollution, that is air and water. This will ensure safety of lives and properties in the long run. Hence, there is a need for experts to let us know the type and nature of the explosive. We pray it doesn’t have killer components like uranium.”

As victims of last Tuesday’s explosion continue to count their losses, a former director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Dr. Olusegun Edward Ojo, yesterday, tasked security agencies, Federal Government and Oyo State government not to limit investigations into the explosives and dynamites of a resident miner as the cause of the incident.

While commending Governor Makinde for his prompt response to the explosion, he emphasised the need to widen the scope of the investigation to discover the immediate and remote causes of the explosion.

Ojo, who is former director of NEMA in charge of relief and rehabilitation, in a statement hinted that “with the massive extent of the devastation; it is very critical that other much more intricate findings on the remote and immediate causes of this incident are embarked upon to prevent a repeat of this anywhere in Oyo State or Nigeria in general.

“I visited the explosion site on Friday for the second time to see what activities were going on and to possibly lend my experience to the process. My interest was fuelled by the fact that I had spent a very good part of my active service life until recently in local and international humanitarian interventions such as the Ikeja ammunition bomb blast of 2002; the Bellview and the Sosoliso plane crashes in 2005; and part of the 2010 Haiti earthquake humanitarian intervention. I was also the National Focal Person on UNDRR’s proactive paradigm in Disaster Risk Reduction.

“I reckon that epidemiological, sanitation and health management were also ongoing to prevent the spread of diseases. But we cannot and must not just simply conclude and go to sleep that the Dejo Oyelese explosion incident was caused by explosives in the premises of the Malian miners.

“This is because of the unimaginable magnitude of the material devastation and loss of lives. We should think out of the box and search widely for other possibilities and consequences given the perennial act of terrorism in the country; and even for remote terrestrial astronomical possibilities as being speculated in some quarters.

“This incident is indeed a good opportunity to learn new lessons, and to reexamine and rejig our community/state-wide security architecture; the not-too-salutary environmental and town planning practices/approvals of incompatible land uses in the city of Ibadan.

“For example, petrol and cooking gas filling stations are located close to business concerns and dense residential areas in some parts of the city without due consideration for possible explosions, fire incidents, and other hazard risk implications,” he noted.

Ibadan explosion: About N50b properties lost as govt ends rescue operation

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Education

Oyo Muslim Leaders Receive Saudi Delegation, Intensify Drive for Muslim College of Nursing

Published

19 hours ago

August 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Oyo Muslim Leaders Receive Saudi Delegation, Intensify Drive for Muslim College of Nursing

OYO, August 1, 2026 – Muslim leaders in Oyo Kingdom on Saturday received a high-powered delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a visit that underscored growing collaboration in education, healthcare and Islamic development, with renewed commitment towards the establishment of a Muslim College of Nursing in Oyo.

The delegation was accorded a warm reception at a gathering attended by prominent Islamic scholars and community leaders from Oyo Land.

Among the dignitaries present were the Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Fadhilatu Shaykh Imam Bilaal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu; Ash-Shaykh Sulayman Akhyar, who served as the special guest; Ash-Shaykh Mainasaro, the Ameerul Muslimeen; the Aare Musulumi of Oyo Land, Alhaji Adebayo Kamarise; the Chairman of the Muslim Community of Oyo Land; Khalifa Hasbunallah Al-Oyowiyy; and several other religious leaders and stakeholders.

The gathering focused on mobilising support for the proposed Muslim College of Nursing, an initiative aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare education while promoting excellence in professional training within the Muslim community.

In his welcome address, the Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Shaykh Bilaal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, expressed appreciation to the Saudi delegation and other distinguished guests for identifying with the vision of establishing the institution. He described the proposed college as a strategic investment in human capital development that would benefit not only Muslims but the wider society.

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Also present at the event were the Muslim Ummah of Oyo Land and Fadhilatu Shaykh Dr. Rofeeu Adisa Ballo, who joined other leaders in reaffirming their commitment to ensuring the successful establishment and growth of the proposed college.

Speakers at the event stressed the importance of strengthening educational and healthcare institutions capable of producing highly skilled professionals while nurturing moral and ethical values rooted in Islamic teachings.

Special prayers were offered for the success of the proposed institution, with participants praying that Almighty Allah bless the sponsors, donors, scholars and all individuals contributing to the realisation of the project.

The visit also featured discussions on strengthening the longstanding relationship between the Muslim community in Oyo Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Participants emphasised the need for sustained cooperation in religious, educational and humanitarian programmes aimed at advancing the welfare of the Muslim Ummah.

In a symbolic gesture that drew commendation from attendees, the Grand Chief Imam granted approval for the head of the Saudi delegation to lead the Jumu’ah prayer at the Oyo Central Mosque, Akesan.

The honour, according to participants, reflected the spirit of Islamic brotherhood, mutual respect and unity among Muslims across national boundaries.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Imam reiterated that Islam encourages peace, dialogue and cooperation among believers, urging Muslim communities around the world to work together in promoting justice, harmony and understanding.

He said such partnerships remain essential to addressing contemporary challenges through education, religious enlightenment and community development.

Responding on behalf of the delegation, its leader expressed gratitude to the Chief Imam, traditional Muslim leadership and the people of Oyo for the warm reception accorded the visitors.

He described the opportunity to lead the Jumu’ah prayer as a great honour and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening religious cooperation and supporting initiatives that promote peace, unity, education and mutual understanding among Muslims.

The delegation noted that collaborations centred on education and healthcare development would contribute significantly to the growth of Muslim communities and the overall advancement of society.

The event concluded with prayers for enduring peace, stability and prosperity in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and the global Muslim Ummah.

Participants described the visit as a landmark engagement that not only reinforced the bonds of brotherhood between Oyo Muslims and their Saudi counterparts but also provided renewed momentum for the actualisation of the Muslim College of Nursing, which they said would serve generations of students and healthcare professionals.

Oyo Muslim Leaders Receive Saudi Delegation, Intensify Drive for Muslim College of Nursing

News

CJN orders lawyers to stop using ‘Barrister’ before their names

Published

1 day ago

July 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun

CJN orders lawyers to stop using ‘Barrister’ before their names

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has directed lawyers, court officials and other personnel to stop using the title “Barrister” as a prefix to their names in official dealings connected with the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The directive was contained in a memorandum dated July 13, 2026, signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi, and addressed to litigation staff, legal practitioners, court registrars and lawyers.

According to the circular, the use of “Barrister” before a person’s name is considered inappropriate and inconsistent with the professional standards expected within Nigeria’s apex court.

The directive takes immediate effect and applies to official correspondence, court records, documents, identity materials and other formal engagements involving the Supreme Court.

The memorandum stated:

“I am directed by the Honourable the Chief Justice of Nigeria to notify all Litigation Staff, Legal Practitioners, Court Registrars, and Lawyers that the use of the title ‘Barrister’ as a prefix to names is inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards of professionalism expected within the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

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The circular directed all affected persons to immediately stop using the title in official materials and communications.

It added:

“Consequently, all officers concerned are hereby directed to discontinue the use of the title ‘Barrister’ before their names in all official correspondence, records, documents, identity materials, and any other official engagements with immediate effect.”

To ensure compliance, heads of departments and unit heads were instructed to monitor officers under their supervision and ensure that the directive is fully implemented.

The memorandum stated:

“Heads of Departments and Unit Heads are requested to ensure strict compliance with this directive by all officers under their supervision. Please be guided accordingly.”

The directive is specifically focused on official dealings within the Supreme Court. Based on the wording of the memorandum, it does not amount to a nationwide ban on the use of “Barrister” by lawyers in private, social or non-Supreme Court settings.

The move is expected to generate discussion within Nigeria’s legal community, where the title “Barrister” is commonly used before the names of legal practitioners.

Supporters of the directive may view it as an effort to promote professional uniformity and align official communication with established legal and institutional standards.

The development also follows recent efforts by legal authorities to protect the integrity and professional standards of the legal profession.

The Council of Legal Education (CLE) recently warned aspiring lawyers against wearing wigs and gowns or presenting themselves as qualified legal practitioners before they are formally called to the Nigerian Bar.

The council maintained that legal regalia and professional representation are regulated and should be reserved for persons who have completed the required process and have been formally admitted to practise law.

The warning was aimed at preventing the misuse of legal titles and professional symbols and preserving the dignity of the legal profession.

The latest Supreme Court directive is expected to affect how lawyers and court personnel present their names in official documents and communications involving the apex court.

Affected individuals may now be required to use their names without the “Barrister” prefix in Supreme Court correspondence, records, identity materials and other official engagements.

CJN orders lawyers to stop using ‘Barrister’ before their names

News

FG to phase out electricity subsidy from 2027 as power sector debts rise

Published

2 days ago

July 31, 2026

Trends Admin

FG to phase out electricity subsidy from 2027 as power sector debts rise

The Federal Government has announced plans to gradually phase out electricity subsidies from 2027 as part of efforts to address rising debts in the power sector, improve financial sustainability and strengthen electricity supply across the country.

Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe disclosed the plan during a media interactive session on Friday, saying the government would introduce the changes gradually while ensuring that Nigerians continue to have access to electricity.

Tegbe said the Federal Government had received a mandate from President Bola Tinubu to clear outstanding debts in the electricity industry and establish a sustainable system that would prevent the accumulation of new obligations.

“We have the mandate of Mr President to clear the legacy debt and come up with sustainable structures to make sure this doesn’t pile up any more,” the minister said.

He expressed confidence that the government would bring an end to the current electricity subsidy arrangement in 2027 while working to improve the quality and reliability of power supply.

“I promise you, next year, by God’s grace, we will put a stop to this so-called subsidy in the power sector,” Tegbe said.

The minister assured consumers that the planned reforms would not result in a loss of access to electricity services.

According to him, the government’s objective is to reduce the financial burden created by the subsidy system while improving the performance of the electricity sector.

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“Mr President, we will not deprive Nigeria of anything. We’ll make sure Nigerian consumers continue to have power and improve power services,” he added.

Tegbe also stated that there was no immediate plan to increase electricity tariffs, despite concerns that the proposed phase-out of subsidies could lead to higher electricity bills.

However, the minister did not provide details on the timetable for the subsidy withdrawal, the categories of consumers that may be affected or the measures that would be introduced to protect low-income and vulnerable households.

The planned reform comes amid growing concerns over the financial challenges facing Nigeria’s electricity industry.

The Federal Government previously estimated the cost of electricity subsidies at about ₦3 trillion as of February 2024, while power generation companies, known as GenCos, have continued to report significant unpaid obligations.

The Association of Power Generation Companies has said electricity generation companies are owed about ₦6.5 trillion, raising concerns about the financial health of the sector and its ability to sustain electricity generation.

The outstanding debts include unpaid invoices and other obligations linked to electricity supplied to the national grid.

To address the problem, President Tinubu recently approved a ₦4 trillion power sector debt reduction programme aimed at settling verified legacy debts and improving liquidity across the electricity value chain.

The programme is expected to support the payment of outstanding obligations owed to power generation companies and other participants in the sector.

In January 2026, the Federal Government issued an inaugural ₦501 billion bond under the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme.

The bond was designed to help settle verified debts owed to electricity generation companies and support efforts to stabilise the sector.

On July 20, the government announced a second tranche of about ₦729 billion to settle additional verified debts owed to power generation companies.

The debt-settlement programme is expected to reduce financial pressure on electricity producers and improve their capacity to maintain operations, pay gas suppliers and invest in power infrastructure.

The proposed subsidy phase-out also aligns with recommendations by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has encouraged Nigeria to gradually reduce broad electricity subsidies and adopt more targeted support for households that need assistance.

Supporters of the reform argue that reducing subsidies could improve the financial viability of the electricity market, attract private investment and help power companies maintain and expand infrastructure.

However, consumer groups and businesses have raised concerns that higher electricity costs could increase financial pressure on households and raise operating expenses for companies.

The impact of the proposed reform may depend on the government’s ability to improve electricity supply, expand access to prepaid meters, reduce estimated billing and ensure that consumers receive better services.

Earlier this year, President Tinubu also directed ministries, departments and agencies to apply existing electricity laws in determining how subsidy costs should be shared among the federal, state and local governments in the 2026 budget.

The move is expected to support a more coordinated approach to electricity financing following reforms that expanded the role of state governments in electricity generation, transmission and distribution.

As the 2027 target approaches, the Federal Government is expected to provide more details on the implementation framework, consumer protection measures and the steps that will be taken to prevent the reforms from causing undue hardship.

The government will also face growing pressure to ensure that improvements in electricity generation, transmission and distribution accompany the gradual withdrawal of subsidies.

For many consumers, the success of the policy may ultimately be measured by whether it delivers more reliable electricity, fair billing, improved customer service and better value for money.