metro
Nigeria lost N32bn properties to fire in 2020 – FFS
- FG to build fire stations in 109 senatorial districts
The Federal Government is set to establish fire stations in all the 109 senatorial districts in the country, Controller General (CG), Federal Fire Service (FFS), Mr Ibrahim Liman, has said.
He stated this during a press conference on Tuesday, in Abuja, adding that the country lost properties worth N32.12 billion to fire incidents in 2020.
According to him, a technical group to assess oil tank farm safety and management has also been established, with a view to mitigate disasters arising from oil tank farm explosions, especially in the South -West and South-South.
Liman disclosed that the service saved 1,453 lives and property worth N1.35 trillion in 2020 as it responded to 3, 555 fire calls.
Public and government buildings recorded 543 incidents, while private dwellings recorded 1,382 fire incidents during the period under review, he added.
He said, “Some other affected areas were educational establishments, shops, hotels, event centres and others.
“About 574 fire incidents were caused by faulty electrical equipment, 246 by power surges, 51 by candles, 181 by cigarette stubs and bush fires, 404 by accident and arson, as well as several other causes.”
He further disclosed that the agency planned to purchase additional 89 fire fighting trucks made up of 44 water tenders, 15 ambulances, 15 water tankers and 15 rapid intervention vehicles.
He said, “We discovered that it is necessary to extend our operations from the state headquarters to the Senatorial Districts, so that we can be closer to the people, because the closer we are, the better our response time.
“The moment we start taking delivery of these vehicles, we will now identify some Senatorial Districts that are more prone to disasters and then we will deploy our men and trucks. But we will pick them state by state.
“We must touch every state. The first number of trucks is 44 and we have 36 states. So, we will identify one from each of the states and send the vehicle there. When the next batch of trucks comes, we will continue with the plan until we are able to cover the 109 Senatorial Districts in the country.”
He said the agency in 2020 inaugurated and deployed 36 state-of-the-art fire fighting trucks across the six geo-political zones to complement the operations of State Fire Services and reduce response time to fire and other related emergencies.
He said the service also collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Environment to train 750 personnel on COVID-19 response strategies and participated in decontamination and disinfection of government offices, schools, markets, streets, churches, mosques and recreation centres across the country.
Other achievements, he added, were the “establishment of eight National Fire Data Repository Centres (NPDRC) across the six geo-political zones of the country to enhance speedy response to emergency calls.
He also cited the “deployment of fire fighter’s tunic worth N6.5m to Bauchi and Kebbi state governments; and synergizing with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to improve and integrate the Service communication with 112 (emergency toll number).”
Liman, who lamented the continued attacks on firefighters by mobs at fire scenes, said the service had concluded arrangement with the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC ) to provide armed personnel to secure scenes of fire incidents, for unhindered operation of fire fighters.
He said, “In most cases, our men are attacked when they respond to fire outbreak or other emergencies. We have records of this from the Nyanya (FCT) axis. We have stopped our men from responding to fire calls from that area until the community leaders are able to call their people to order.
“We have also engaged the Police and the NSCDC to provide cover for our men and equipment during emergencies.”
On funding, the CG said, “There is a section of the National Insurance Commission Act that says they should give certain percentage to the fire service, not to the Federal Fire Service, but the fire services at the federal, states and local governments.
“So, we are engaging the management of NAICOM to ensure that the money is released for the maintenance of our fire trucks and for capacity building.”
metro
Man gets four-year jail for sexually assaulting teenager in Lagos
Man gets four-year jail for sexually assaulting teenager in Lagos
One Onyeka Ubaka has been sentenced to four years imprisonment for sexual assault and maltreatment of a 16-year-old girl in Lagos State.
He was convicted and sentenced by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday.
Justice Rahmon Oshodi convicted him after he pleaded guilty to the two amended charges brought against him by the Lagos State Government.
Ubaka was initially arraigned on January 12, 2024, and was initially charged with defilement through one-count information filed on October 26, 2023, to which he pleaded not guilty.
In the court proceedings, the prosecution counsel, B. E. Okeowo, presented a single witness, the prosecutrix, whose testimony proved particularly significant in establishing the case against the defendant. The prosecutrix who provided a testimony, identified the defendant as her boyfriend and disclosed that she was 16 years old in 2023 and that her relationship with the defendant began in her mother’s shop.
The victim testified to the court that the defendant had multiple instances of sexual intercourse with her, which resulted in pregnancy and childbirth.
“The defendant is the father of my child. He impregnated me, and the child is five months old.”
According to PUNCH, the victim, during cross-examination, gave testimony evidence that incriminate the defendant.
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In one instance, she disclosed that the defendant took her to a bar, gave her yogurt to drink, and after she drank it, she lost consciousness. She further disclosed that she woke up in a hotel room and realised that the defendant had non-consensual sex with her and told her to keep the incident a secret.
At the court proceeding on Tuesday, Justice Oshodi disclosed to the court that the prosecution counsel, B. E. Okeowo, had informed the court that the parties had entered a plea and sentence agreement dated and filed on November 25, 2024. The court then charged and convicted the defendant on the amended charge of indecent acts and sexual assault to which the defendant pleaded guilty.
Justice Ramon, in his judgment, stated that the prosecution had established beyond a reasonable doubt the charges brought against the defendant, and found the defendant guilty of indecent act and sexual assault.
“From the evidence presented by the prosecution, I am satisfied that the essential elements of indecent acts and sexual assault have been established. There is an abundance of evidence to support this conclusion. The defendant’s guilty plea further justifies his conviction for the offences contained in the amended information.
“Therefore, I find the defendant guilty and convict him under Sections 134 and 263 of the Criminal Law Supra”, he ruled.
When asked what he had to say, the defendant begged the court to temper justice with mercy.
“Temper justice with mercy so that I will take care of my responsibility,” he appealed.
It is gathered that the defendant’s father had paid the sum of N300,000 and had undertaken to sponsor the prosecutrix first degree and take full responsibility for the child until the child is eight years old.
The prosecution counsel in her final statement asked the court to convict the defendant according to the plea bargain.
“We ask that the convict be sentenced according to the plea bargain agreement starting from the day of remand, March 23, 2023, and this will pass a message to society that sexual offenders are not tolerated in our society.
“We also ask that the name of the convict be registered in the Sexual Offenders Register”, Okeowo said.
Justice Oshodi then found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to four years imprisonment.
Man gets four-year jail for sexually assaulting teenager in Lagos
metro
Lagos taskforce raids criminal hideout, arrests 53 drug peddlers
Lagos taskforce raids criminal hideout, arrests 53 drug peddlers
CSP Adetayo Akerele, Chairman of Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, announced the arrest of 53 suspected criminals in Gowon Estate.
Akerele said this operation aimed to boost safety, security, and environmental decorum in the area.
“The agency apprehended drug peddlers, addicts; miscreants; street urchins; illegal street traders and people of shady business dealings.
“We found various illicit drugs and narcotics, including Indian hemp, codeine syrup, and colorado,” Akerele said.
The operation brings relief to residents of Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Egbeda, Idimu, and surrounding areas affected by these criminals.
“Residents have endured trauma and safety risks due to these unauthorized squatters.
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The taskforce is committed to safeguarding residents and ridding the metropolis of individuals preying on law-abiding citizens,” Akerele said.
The agency will monitor other criminal hideouts, blackspots, and abandoned properties.
“This vigilance aims to deter individuals with sinister motives.
“These arrests demonstrate our determination to maintain a safe environment.
“We will hold every individual involved in these illegal practices accountable,” Akerele said.
The 53 suspects will face charges for narcotics-related offenses.
Residents are urged to report suspicious activities through the “See Something, Say Something” initiative.
Lagos taskforce raids criminal hideout, arrests 53 drug peddlers
metro
Nigeria Customs returns 21 stolen luxury vehicles to Canada
Nigeria Customs returns 21 stolen luxury vehicles to Canada
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has returned 21 luxury vehicles worth over N1.8 billion to Canada.
The cars were stolen and smuggled into Nigeria by some criminals.
Comptroller General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this at a press briefing on Tuesday in Lagos.
He expressed worry at the rise in stolen vehicles and its impact on Nigeria’s economy and security.
According to Adeniyi, Nigeria has become a significant hub for stolen vehicles in West Africa, with syndicates exploiting the country’s ports and borders to bring in stolen vehicles from regions such as Europe, North America, and South America.
He highlighted data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that only 54% of stolen vehicles were recovered between 2013 and 2015, illustrating the scale of the problem.
“This trend undermines our legitimate automotive market, strains our security infrastructure, and damages Nigeria’s international reputation,” Adeniyi said.
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He noted that the illegal trade was affecting President Tinubu’s economic reforms, aimed to position Nigeria as a trusted hub for international commerce.
To combat this challenge, Adeniyi disclosed that the NCS had launched Operation Hot Wheels, a collaborative initiative involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Canadian authorities, and international law enforcement agencies.
The operation focused on intelligence sharing, surveillance, and interdiction to disrupt vehicle trafficking networks.
Adeniyi disclosed that the operation uncovered sophisticated smuggling techniques, including false cargo declarations and containerized shipments used to conceal stolen vehicles.
During one operation, officers intercepted a container at Onne Port in Rivers State declared to contain used vehicles and spare parts.
A physical examination revealed three undeclared 2021 Toyota Highlanders, two of which were confirmed stolen from Canada.
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