Metro
Flood: Wike Orders Demolition of Houses Built on Waterways in Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has directed the FCT Department of Development Control to immediately demolish all structures built on water channels and right-of-way zones across the territory.
Wike, who gave the directive while briefing newsmen after inspecting the flood-affected areas on Tuesday in the high-brow Maitama District, Abuja, declared that “no big man or senator will be spared”.
Wike stated that the recent flooding in parts of the nation’s capital was heavily aggravated by man-made factors, particularly illegal developments blocking natural drainage channels.
“We have gone there, and we have seen how people have blocked channels where in the master plan, that is the right-of-way where water is supposed to be channeled.
“People, by their positions, have blocked it, believing that nothing will happen. I have told people this in life that nothing happened yesterday does not mean that something will not happen today.
“Now you have done your own by blocking the water channel, and nothing has happened. Thank God the flood has come and have drawn our attention to the place; now something will happen. I’m going to bring those houses down.
“Any house found on the water channel will go down. From today to Saturday, let the Development Control not find any excuse —they cannot,” Wike declared.
He noted that when the demolition commenced, people would complain that the timing was wrong because of campaigns for 2027 elections.
“The next thing you’ll hear is ‘oh, why is he doing this during the election period?’ ‘It’s politics. Let us finish the election.’ All those houses will go down.
“Some of the owners of those houses are senators, some of them are big men. Heaven will not fall; rather, heaven will be at peace that the right thing has been done,” he said.
The minister rejected attempts by critics to frame the administration’s response as a failure of governance or a political vendetta.
He emphasised that flooding is a global issue driven by climate change that affects even developed nations like the United States, England, and Dubai.
He also identified man-made causes through illegal developments, unauthorised conversion of public green areas into commercial parks and indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage manholes.
He equally pointed at people or government officials not carrying out their functions by desilting the drainages as another man-made problem.
“It is these man-made factors we have been trying to tackle, and we will continue to tackle. So, you cannot take all these factors as failures of government. No, it’s not correct,” he said.
He pointed out the illegal structures obstructing the waterways were not erected by the poor, but by high-net-worth individuals allowed by previous administrations that lacked the political courage to enforce the Abuja Master Plan.
Wike denied claims that the current administration allocated water channel pathways to developers, challenging accusers to produce verifiable evidence and building approvals.
He declined to engage the critics, stating that he would not waste energy replying to political commentators on television channels who aim to politicise natural disasters.
Addressing public comments made by Sen. Ireti Kingibe, representing FCT at the Senate, regarding synergy and administration oversight, Wike dismissed the remarks as political posturing.
He urged Kingibe to focus on introducing impactful legislation on the floor of the National Assembly rather than seeking media attention during crises.
The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to dial 112 during emergencies requiring urgent medical assistance, while releasing state emergency call centre numbers.
The National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), in an update on Wednesday, said 112 serves as a central contact for emergency medical assistance.
It said several states also had dedicated emergency call centre numbers to support faster responses to medical emergencies.
According to NEMSAS, the emergency response system provides fast response, professional care and life-saving services, with first responders available 24 hours daily.
The agency released emergency call centre numbers covering 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with most states using 112 alongside dedicated numbers.
For Abia, the listed emergency numbers are 112 and 08000000800, while Adamawa residents can call 112, 1755 or 07011111443.
Akwa Ibom residents can call 112, 08000022322 or 08000022422, while Anambra residents can use 112, 5111, 0800 220 0008 or 112.
For Bauchi, the listed numbers are 112 and 07038636433, while Bayelsa residents can call 112 or 0800 220 0223.
NEMSAS listed Benue’s emergency call centre as “Not Operational,” while Borno residents can call 112 or 08000000033.
Cross River has 112 as its listed emergency number, while Delta residents can call 112, 07041008130 or 07041008131.
For Ebonyi, the listed numbers are 112, 08086446891 and 08086445736, while Edo residents can call 112, 739 or 09037999871.
Ekiti residents can call 112, 08000606606, 08111111-22, -33, -44 or -55, while Enugu residents can use 112, 09074996090 or 07066466429.
Gombe residents can call 112 or 07033825646, while NEMSAS listed Imo’s emergency call centre as “Not Operational.”
Jigawa has 112 as its listed emergency number, while Kaduna residents can call 112 or 08064111599.
For Kano, the listed numbers are 112, 09019999920 and 09049999914, while Katsina and Kebbi each have 112 listed.
Kogi also has 112 as its listed emergency number, while Kwara residents can call 112, 09062010001 or 09062010002.
Lagos residents can call 112 or 767, while Nasarawa residents can use 112 or 08144911269 for emergency assistance.
For Niger, the listed numbers are 112, 0802 242 2953 and 0815 557 7513, while Osun residents can call 112, 08111110532 or 08111110561.
Ogun residents can call 112 or 08112000033, while Ondo residents can use 112 or 08055300300.
For Oyo, the listed emergency numbers are 112 and 615, while Plateau residents can call 112 or 09136982496.
Rivers residents can call 112, 09040222281, 09040222283 or 09040222285, while Sokoto residents can use 112, 07045963318 or 07071765080.
For Taraba, the listed numbers are 112, 07041122777 and 07041100777, while Yobe residents can call 112, 09169981792 or 08000090009.
Zamfara has 112 as its listed emergency number, while residents of the FCT can call 112, 09157892931 or 09157892932.
NEMSAS advised members of the public to save the emergency numbers and use them whenever urgent medical assistance was required.
The agency said its first responders were ready to provide quick response and professional care to help save lives during emergencies.
It urged Nigerians to dial 112 during emergencies, describing the service as available 24 hours daily, seven days weekly.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday awarded N20 million each to LASU’s best graduating students for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 sessions.
Sanwo-Olu announced the awards during Lagos State University’s 29th and 30th combined convocation ceremonies at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Ojo.
Ayilara Olawale, from the Department of Project Management, emerged overall best graduating student for 2024-2025.
Olawale recorded an impressive Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.96 to emerge top of the graduating cohort.
Similarly, Adebanjo Samuel, from the Department of Aerospace Engineering, emerged overall best graduating student for 2025-2026.
Adebanjo achieved a CGPA of 4.97, earning recognition as the university’s overall best graduating student for the academic session.
Sanwo-Olu congratulated the 20,604 graduands from both academic sessions, describing the cohort as the largest graduating class in LASU’s history.
He noted that the graduands included 494 First Class students, attributing their achievements to their parents, guardians, sponsors and lecturers.
“Your achievements reflect the commitment of your parents, guardians, sponsors and lecturers who supported you throughout your academic journey,” he said.
The governor also congratulated 3,383 postgraduate graduands, including Doctor of Philosophy graduates, urging them to expand knowledge and mentor younger scholars.
He said LASU had recorded remarkable growth since its establishment 43 years ago, describing the institution as a product of Lateef Jakande’s vision.
Sanwo-Olu said LASU had emerged as Nigeria’s most subscribed university for two consecutive years, attracting more than 84,000 first-choice applications.
He added that Times Higher Education ranked LASU Nigeria’s best state university and fourth-best university overall.
According to him, LASU was also rated West Africa’s best university for four consecutive years, from 2022 to 2025.
He noted that the recognition came through the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, further demonstrating the university’s growing international profile.
Sanwo-Olu said LASU’s selection as South-West host of the N3 billion TETFund Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cyber Sciences reinforced its rising profile.
The governor said his administration prioritised education and technology under the THEMES Plus agenda because both remained central to Lagos’ development.
He listed the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Library Complex, student union building, accommodation facilities, lecture theatres and other infrastructure among achievements recorded at LASU.
Describing the ceremony as his final convocation as Visitor, Sanwo-Olu urged graduands to represent Lagos and Nigeria with competence, character and courage.
“Use your education to serve humanity. Degrees open doors, but service builds lasting legacies,” the governor told the graduands.
He congratulated LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, on her final convocation and commended her contributions during her five-year tenure.
Sanwo-Olu said Olatunji-Bello had elevated LASU’s profile, adding that history would remember her contributions to the institution’s development.
He also congratulated LASU Chancellor, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, who presided over his first convocation after recently obtaining a Doctor of Business Administration degree.
Olatunji-Bello said LASU was graduating 20,604 students across diploma, first-degree and higher-degree programmes from the two academic sessions.
She described the ceremony as her fifth and final convocation as vice-chancellor and expressed gratitude to Sanwo-Olu for supporting her administration.
The vice-chancellor said LASU successfully elevated its standing among Nigerian and African universities despite challenges encountered during her five-year tenure.
The university conferred honorary doctorate degrees on Akin Kekere-Ekun, Bola Adesola and Aliko Dangote for contributions to national development, scholarship, business and humanity.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of LASU Governing Council, Babatunde Ogala, said the university would sustain partnerships, research and programmes aligned with Lagos’ strategic position.
He specifically highlighted aviation and maritime studies as areas requiring continued development because of their importance to Lagos’ economy and future.
Ogala announced a strategic partnership between LASU and the University of Illinois Chicago to promote collaboration among students, lecturers and researchers.
He urged the graduands to regard their degrees as a call to deeper intellectual engagement and greater responsibility to society.
The combined convocation marked a significant milestone for Sanwo-Olu and Olatunji-Bello as they prepare to leave their respective positions as Visitor and Vice-Chancellor, respectively.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has declared Thursday a work-free day in commemoration of Isese Day, a celebration of the African traditional religion.
This is contained in a memo by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof.
Musibau Babatunde, on Wednesday in Ibadan.In the memo, the governor extended his felicitations to adherents of African Traditional Religion across Oyo State, Nigeria, and beyond, wishing them a successful and spiritually enriching celebration.
Makinde reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fairness to all religions, expressing gratitude to traditional worshippers for their support to his government over the past seven years.
The governor said that the work-free day would enable workers and residents to fully participate in the celebration of the state’s cultural heritage and pray for the peace, unity, and stability of the state and the country in general.
Recall that Makinde introduced the Isese day celebration as part of his administration’s efforts to honour adherents of traditional religion.
Isese day was also introduced to harness cultural tourism as a driver of economic growth, emphasizing that cultural tourism remains one of the state’s greatest strengths.
2027: Reps Minority Caucus, G-100 Push for United Opposition
ShareThe Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has announced a partnership with G-100, to galvanise opposition political parties for...
Adeleke Receives Certificate of Return, Promises More Dividends of Democracy
ShareFrom Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke on Wednesday received his certificate of return at the Independent National...
C’River Info Commissioner Challenges Oppositions on State Policies
ShareFrom Ene Asuquo, Calabar The Commissioner for Information in Cross River State, Pastor Ekpenyong Ene Cobham, has challenged opposition politicians...
Let Campaigns Be Issue-based, Respectful, Says Diri
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has advised politicians to respect their opponents and ensure...
Tinubu’s 2027 Bid: APC Kicks off Adamawa Campaign, Vows Grassroots Victory
ShareFrom Yagana Ali, Yola The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State has formally kicked off its campaign for the...
Edo Assembly Dissolves Standing C’ttees, Constitutes Panel to Probe Ex-Speaker
ShareThe Edo House of Assembly on Tuesday dissolved all its standing committees and constituted an investigative panel to probe allegations...
2027: Ebonyi PDP Governorship Candidate Urges Peaceful, Lawful Conduct
ShareThe Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Ifeanyi -Chukwuma Odii, has urged Ebonyi people to remain law-abiding and committed...
Fintiri Inaugurates Presidential, National Assembly Campaigns in Adamawa
ShareAdamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri has inaugurated the presidential and National Assembly campaigns of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead...
Niger CP, NCCSALW DG Pledge Stronger Collaboration against Illicit Arms
ShareFrom Dan Amasingha, Minna The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, mnips, has assured the National Centre...
Senate Decries Nigeria Dwindling Football Fortunes, Holds Emergency Meeting with NFF, NSC
ShareBy Eze Okechukwu, Abuja The Senate, through its Committee on Sports has held an emergency meeting with both the Chairman...