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Lagos begins removal of shanties on Blue Line railway corridor

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Lagos begins removal of shanties on Blue Line railway corridor

The Lagos State Government has commenced the removal of shanties on the setback and rights of way of the Lagos Blue Line railway corridor.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources in the state, Tokunbo Wahab, on Sunday, supervised the removal of the shanties from Orile to Iyana Iba and asked those staying in the illegal structures to immediately relocate.

The commissioner said there was a need to ensure a complete restoration of the right of way.

He was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji and his counterpart in the Office of Drainage Services, Lekan Shodeinde, General Manager of LASPARK, Toun Popoola and Chairman of the Special Intervention Team for the restoration of the Blue Line Right of Way, ACP Bayo Sulaiman at Orile.

He said in addition to the Blue Line Rail right of way, the Lagos Badagry Expressway is an international highway whose setback must be restored and observed.

Wahab also said the enforcement had become imperative followingthe expiration of the one-month notice given by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to all street traders, squatters and occupiers of shanties and abandoned vehicles presently on the stretch of Lagos-Badagry Expressway from Orile up to Iyana-Iba.

The commissioner decried the illegal settlement at Agboju where squatters have built up shanties and have occupied government setbacks.

He said Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) would move in immediately after the squatters had been removed to commence work on the beautification and landscaping of the whole stretch, stressing that the right of way for the Lagos Badagry Expressway stands between 90 and 120 meters.

Wahab advised some occupiers of sheds and settlements under the bridge before Abule Oshun to relocate immediately as the enforcement.

He urged all commercial vehicle operators on the corridor to maintain their designated parks, saying henceforth any vehicle seen picking up or dropping passengers at undesignated bus stops along the road would be towed away and the owners prosecuted.

He also urged  traders at Afolabi Ege Market, Iyana Iba to relocate within seven days as they are the cause of the man-made traffic bottlenecks along the axis.

Wahab also warned residents against creating illegal dumpsites with particular reference to one noticed at the Eric Moore end of Surulere, saying that the government was determined to find a lasting solution to illegal dumpsites and directed the Lagos State Waste Management Authority to evacuate the black spot within 24 hours.

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Orji Kalu Admits Selling Heavy Weapons to International Buyers

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Orji Kalu Admits Selling Heavy Weapons to International Buyers
Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu
Orji Kalu Admits Selling Heavy Weapons to International Buyers

Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has disclosed that he previously operated an international arms business, selling heavy weapons to buyers in different countries, including anyone willing to pay for them.

The former Abia State governor made the revelation during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, November 9, 2026, while discussing his business history and relationships with former and current African leaders.

Asked directly whether he was an arms dealer, Kalu answered in the affirmative, explaining that dealing in weapons was once one of his major business activities outside Nigeria.

He, however, said he eventually abandoned the business after his parents intervened and insisted that he should stop.

“My major business used to be outside this country to deal in arms. I was an arms dealer,” he said.

According to Kalu, his decision to leave the business followed appeals from his mother and father.

“But my parents, my mother, my father came and said I must stop, and I stopped,” he added.

During the interview, the senator was asked whether he sold weapons to people who intended to use them to kill others.

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Kalu dismissed the suggestion, insisting that his primary motivation was to make money rather than concern himself with how buyers used the weapons.

“I was selling guns to make money, whether they blow up, it’s not my business,” he said.

He also denied that his arms business was exclusively linked to the African National Congress (ANC), which fought against apartheid in South Africa.

Rather, he said he was willing to sell to any buyer who had the financial capacity, regardless of the country involved.

“No, I was selling to anybody who wants to buy. If you have the money, you want to buy in D.R.C, I sell to you, you want to buy in Namibia, you want to buy…” he said.

When asked where he obtained the weapons, Kalu declined to provide details, describing the information as his private business.

The interviewer also questioned him about whether he supplied weapons to Libya during the leadership of its late ruler, Muammar Gaddafi.

Kalu responded that he sold to anybody who had the money to buy, adding that Gaddafi was a good man.

“May his soul rest in peace. He was a good man. If you have money to buy, when I was selling, I would sell to you,” he said.

The senator further sought to distinguish his former business from the proliferation of small arms in Nigeria, maintaining that he dealt in heavy weapons traded from one country to another.

“No, these are heavy arms that were sold country to country,” he explained.

His disclosure comes against the backdrop of persistent security challenges in Nigeria, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and the proliferation of illegal firearms.

The interview also touched on Kalu’s longstanding relationships with South African political leaders, which he traced to his friendship with the country’s late former president, Nelson Mandela.

He said Mandela introduced him to other South African leaders, including former President Thabo Mbeki and incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Kalu also discussed his relationship with former President Jacob Zuma, saying his connections with successive South African administrations developed through those political relationships.

Orji Kalu Admits Selling Heavy Weapons to International Buyers

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“Your Connections Won’t Save You,” Police Warn Traffic Offenders

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“Your Connections Won’t Save You,” Police Warn Traffic Offenders
Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammad Sanusi

“Your Connections Won’t Save You,” Police Warn Traffic Offenders

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has warned motorists that using their connections with senior police officers, government officials and other influential personalities will not save them from arrest and prosecution for traffic violations.

The Command specifically cautioned motorists against driving against traffic, popularly known as one-way, stressing that offenders would face the consequences of their actions regardless of their social status, position or connections.

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Monday, November 9, by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh.

The police expressed concern over the increasing disregard for traffic regulations by motorists who deliberately drive against traffic, ignore road signs and bypass designated diversions in an attempt to avoid congestion.

According to the Command, the practice is particularly dangerous around road construction sites, diversion points and other locations where traffic movement has been temporarily or permanently restricted.

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It also warned motorists against contacting senior police officers, government officials or influential individuals to facilitate their release after being apprehended for traffic violations.

“No individual, regardless of status, position or connections, will be exempted from the consequences of violating traffic regulations,” the statement said.

Following the warning, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammad Sanusi, directed the Command’s Motor Traffic Department (MOTOPOL) and all Divisional Traffic Officers to intensify enforcement operations in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant traffic management agencies.

Sanusi directed the officers to ensure the arrest and immediate prosecution of motorists caught driving against traffic or disobeying lawful traffic instructions.

However, the police commissioner also warned officers involved in the enforcement exercise against exploiting motorists through extortion.

He stressed that any officer found engaging in such misconduct would face disciplinary action in accordance with existing police rules and regulations.

The Command urged motorists to exercise patience, obey traffic signs and comply with instructions from authorised traffic officers.

It warned that the few minutes motorists might save through reckless driving were not worth the risk of losing lives or causing damage to property.

The police also appealed to residents to remain security-conscious and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station.

Residents can also contact the FCT Police Command through its emergency telephone numbers: 08032003913 and 08061581938.

“Your Connections Won’t Save You,” Police Warn Traffic Offenders

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Babcock Student Survives Suspected Suicide Attempt, Receives Treatment

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Babcock Student Survives Suspected Suicide Attempt, Receives Treatment
Babcock University
Babcock Student Survives Suspected Suicide Attempt, Receives Treatment

A 400-level student of Babcock University, Ogun State, has survived a suspected suicide attempt at his hostel and is currently receiving medical attention, following an intervention by his roommates.

The incident, which occurred on November 8, 2026, attracted widespread attention after videos circulated on social media showing the student near a hostel window as his roommates struggled to restrain him and pull him away from the ledge.

The university management confirmed that the student was alive and receiving treatment, dismissing social media reports claiming that he had died.

According to the institution, both the affected student and one of his roommates sustained injuries during the incident. The roommate was treated and subsequently discharged, while the 400-level student remains under medical care at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital.

The university commended the roommates for their prompt intervention, noting that their actions helped prevent what could have been a tragic outcome.

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In a statement signed by its Associate Vice-President for Communication, Media and Branding, Dr Johnson Akintayo, the institution said it had commenced an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Although the incident has been widely described as a suspected suicide attempt, the university has not officially established the student’s motive or the factors that may have contributed to what happened.

Management also disclosed that the student’s parents had been contacted and were on campus to support him during his recovery.

Beyond medical treatment, the university said it would provide the student with appropriate support and guidance to aid his recovery and well-being.

Babcock urged members of the public and media organisations to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information, particularly claims about the student’s condition and the circumstances of the incident.

The institution also appealed for sensitivity in discussing the matter, stressing the need to respect the privacy of the student and his family.

The incident has renewed attention on student mental health, emotional well-being and the importance of providing accessible support systems within higher institutions.

The university reiterated its commitment to the safety and welfare of its students, adding that it would take appropriate steps based on the findings of its investigation.

Babcock Student Survives Suspected Suicide Attempt, Receives Treatment

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