NEWS
Fire: Only 2 Floors had Minimal Damage — WAEC HNO

The Head, National Office (HNO), West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mr Patrick Areghan, says only the second and third floors of the organisation’s Yaba office had minimal damage during Wednesday’s morning fire.
Areghan spoke with newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.
He also explained how got a call alerting him on the incident and rushed to the scene.
Areghan said it was just like any other day when most of the staff were preparing to set out for the day’s work.
“This morning I got a call that a part of WAEC office Yaba building was on fire . I quickly dashed down to the office and by the time I got there, the fire service people were there.
“Both the State and Federal levels and even the emergency safety people were all there. And I must say kudos to them.
“For WAEC too, we have sophisticated state-of-the-art firefighting equipment and they were able to deploy all that was needed to put out the fire in record time.
“To the glory of God, nobody was injured, no life affected and no substantial damage done to the building.
“You know it is a building of 12 floors and the fire started from the second floor, and it is only second and third floors that recorded some minimal damage,” he said.
Areghan said that with a building of that magnitude, it would be difficult to just have a clearance within a twinkle of an eye, because of the smoke that was billowing.
“That was why you saw smoke spreading to other parts of the building. The entire WAEC building was not on fire,’’ he said.
The HNO said that the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, but he was awaiting a technical report from the fire service team.
He reassured that certificates and other documents in its custody were not affected by the fire.
Areghan said that there was nothing to worry about, as the council had what it took to protect essential documents, capable of creating panic among key stakeholders and the public in general.
According to him, the fire did not reach the floor where the documents are kept, adding that even if it happened there, nothing would have gone wrong because of the council’s ability to respond swiftly.
“Nothing has gone wrong in any way. It is not easy to destroy WAEC documents under our custody.
“I am assuring the general public and my entire staff that all is well.
“There is actually nothing to worry about. There are other ways to protect our documents. So, everything is intact.
“We have put out a statement out there before now, assuring the general public of the safety of all our essential documents.
They are intact and that remains the truth of the matter,” he said.
Areghan said that if anyone was still in doubt concerning the availability and safety of their certificates, they could ask for it tomorrow and see if the council would be able to present it or not.
He said everything was now calm and under control at the premises.
“ If not that we just want to clear the smoke and the water used in putting out the fire, we would have been in our offices working now.
“We just need a little time to clear that so that people can settle down and get back to work,” he told reporters. (NAN)
Health
NAFDAC Clarifies Sachet Alcohol Ban Timeline

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has clarified its stance regarding the nationwide ban on sachet alcohol.
Mr Kenneth Azikiwe, Director of the FCT Directorate of the agency, in an interview on Monday in Abuja that the temporary lifting of the ban was only valid until Dec.
31, 2025.He emphasised that the recent ministerial lifting of the ban was not permanent and urged the public to disregard misinformation suggesting that the government had permanently lifted the restriction.
“There is a ministerial lifting on the ban of sachet alcohol, but it is only temporary and will be reviewed by Dec. 31, 2025.
“After this date, the full enforcement of the ban will commence.
“The minister granted this temporary relief to allow manufacturers and regulators time to collaborate and ensure a more structured and effective implementation of the ban,” Azikiwe stated.”
He highlighted NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to sensitise the public across the country, noting that awareness campaigns had reached every state.
“We have sensitised distributors, and we’ve emphasised that alcohol should not be sold to individuals under the age of 18, which is also clearly indicated on product labels,” he added.
Azikiwe also commended the Distillers and Beverages Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) for supporting the awareness drive.
He reassured the public that NAFDAC remained fully committed to regulating alcohol consumption and reiterated that sachet alcohol products containing less than 200 milliliters would be phased out after Dec. 2025.(NAN)
Foreign News
Terrorist attack: UN Chief Remembers Staff Killed In Iraq

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday said that the organisation would never forget the staff members killed in the Aug. 19, 2003, attack on its headquarters in Iraq.
Guterres was speaking during a wreath-laying ceremony at a memorial in Baghdad to honour the victims of the Canal Hotel bombing – the worst terrorist attack in UN history.
Twenty-two people were killed, including the then UN Special Representative for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
More than 100 others were injured, and several survivors attended the ceremony.Guterres told the audience that “22 years is a long time, but we will never forget the colleagues who were killed that day in the bombing at the Canal Hotel.
”These staff members “were sons, daughters, mothers, fathers and friends who are, to this day, mourned by those they knew and loved,” he said.
“We will always remember their leader, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was also killed in the attack. We will stand with the survivors whose lives were changed forever,” he added.
“And we will remember the courageous colleagues and others who rushed to help on that terrible day, and in the days and weeks after — showing us the very best of the humanitarian spirit.”
Guterres said the memorial stands as a tribute to their lives and their contributions to the people of Iraq. It also serves as a reminder of how far the country has come since 2003.
The UN chief noted that the women and men of the United Nations had worked tirelessly together with the brave and resilient people of Iraq to support their quest for stability, development and peace.
He stressed that above all, the memorial is “a clear reminder of the vital work that our organisation does around the world — and the dangers our people face in carrying out that work.”
This date “has been forever transformed from a day of unimaginable horror and tragedy here in Iraq into a global day of solemn remembrance for all humanitarians — inside and outside the organisation,” Guterres said.
“Their bravery, dedication, and belief that a better future is possible will always inspire us. And like those whose lives were lost on August 19, 2003, their sacrifices and contributions to our world — and to our vital cause of peace — will never be forgotten.”
The secretary-general was in Baghdad to attend the League of Arab States Summit. He also met with senior Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.
During talks on Sunday, they discussed developments in Iraq and the region, as well as the remaining period of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
The secretary-general reaffirmed that the UN remained fully committed to continuing to support the Government and people of Iraq following the mission’s departure.
UNAMI has been in the country since 2003 and is working to conclude its mandate by the end of 2025. (NAN)
Foreign News
17 Dead As Israel Presses New Gaza offensive

The Palestinian city of Khan Younis was targeted by intensive airstrikes overnight, as Israel pursued its ramped-up offensive across the Gaza Strip.
According to Palestinian news agency WAFA on Monday, 17 people were killed in the coastal territory during the night.
WAFA did not initially provide details on the identity of the victims.
According to medics in Gaza, at least six people were killed and dozens injured in airstrikes on Khan Younis.
Witnesses told dpa that there were about 30 airstrikes on the area.
The internet connection failed in large parts of the city.
Palestinian media reports by WAFA and others said that a special unit of the Israeli army had killed a commander of the al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades, which is allied with the Islamist movement Hamas.
The information could not initially be independently verified.
The Israeli military emphasised that it did all it can to avoid civilian casualties when attacking targets belonging to Hamas or other terrorist organizations.
This cannot be verified either as reporters has very limited access to the area.
The Israeli Air Force has been carrying out massive aerial attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip in recent days, and Israel announced an “extensive’’ new ground operation across the territory on Sunday.
Dozens of Palestinian deaths are being reported daily from the Gaza Strip. (dpa/NAN)