Two women have lost their lives after being struck by lightning during the rain in the FESTAC area of Lagos State.

Police spokesman in the state, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known in a post he shared on his X handle – @benHundeyin, on Saturday.

Hundeyin said that the incident happened during the rain on Friday.

“Somewhere on First Avenue, FESTAC, two women remained indoors during the downpour yesterday.

“Lightning struck, electrocuting them instantly and causing a fire outbreak,” he said.

According to him, the victims live in a shanty built under high-voltage wires.

The spokesman sympathised with the deceased, and prayed that their souls rest in peace.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has given a matching order for the immediate reconstruction of Dogon Gada box culvert in Lokogoma village, Abuja.

Mr Felix Obuah, the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), made this known in Abuja on Tuesday, during the 2024 Flood Risk Assessment and Community Awareness Campaign.

The campaign was organised by the FCT Emergency Management Department in collaboration with emergency management stakeholders.

Reports says that the culvert was on the access road that linked over 3,000 residents of Lokogoma village, popularly known as Dogon Gada community to Ring Road II.

The FCT Emergency Management Department had on April 7, barricaded the box culvert, which had collapsed, to avert loss of lives.

The community loses their loved ones to flooding while trying to cross the culvert during the rainy season, due to its low elevation and prone to flooding.

Obuah said that the construction of the bridge would commence immediately after the engineering department concluded their structural designs and other technical requirements.

He assured the community that FEMD was taking necessary action to ensure that no life was lost to flooding in FCT throughout the 2024 rainy season.

“The minister has given a matching order that the construction of the bride should commence with immediate effect.

“As I speak to you, any moment from now work will commence. The engineering process has begun already for the speedy construction of the bridge,” he said.

The coordinator pointed out that human action has an impact on the environment, exposing it to varying degrees of flood risk.

He explained that the exercise was a preparedness and awareness campaign to sensitise residents against actions that would predispose communities to flood.

“I assured FCT residents that with the proactive measure being taken by FEMD and other stakeholders, no life will be lost in 2024 to flooding in 2024.

“We must, therefore, continue to strengthen our collaboration towards flood prevention and mitigation,” Obuah said.

Earlier, acting Director-General, FEMD, Mr Mohammed Sabo, said that the flood risk assessment and awareness campaign was part of strategies to strengthen disaster risk reduction.

Sabo said that other flood prone communities would also be sensitised to mobilise residents to take proactive steps towards preventing loss of lives to flood.

He added that the flood risk assessment would enable FEMD to assess interventions that worked and areas that need additional interventions to prevent flooding.

Also, Mr Florence Wenegieme, Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, said that the bridge had taken many lives over the years during the rainy season.

Wenegiene explained that the people were killed by the flood because they tried to cross the flooded bridge against warnings by FEMD and local divers stationed at the bridge.

Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council, thanked Wike for the prompt intervention to prevent more people from dying from flooding along the bridge.

He said that the distance from the community to Ring Road II was 800 metres, but the residents had to travel five to six kilometres through alternative routes to get to the ring road.

The leader of the community, Mr Irimiya Kanpani, who could not hide his excitement over the minister’s approval for the recommendation of the collapsed bridge described it as a huge relief,

“Now I can go to sleep knowing that the minister will fulfil his promise and my people will be safe. All I can say is thank you,” he said. (NAN)

The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Mariya Mamoud, has advised workers in FCT Administration to invest in intellectual development for improved productivity.

The minister gave the advice in Abuja on Monday, at the maiden edition of the FCTA’ maiden Book Exhibition, organised by the Department of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement (RC&SI).

Mahmoud, who was represented by Hajiya Asma’u Mukhtar, Permanent Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, FCTA, said that the move would translate to sustainable growth and development of the territory.

The minister identifying books as windows to the world, offering insights, knowledge, and perspectives that transcend boundaries and time, stressed the importance of continuous learning for self-development.

She called on the FCTA workers to equip themselves with the necessary tools and knowledge to enable them navigate complex challenges.

This, she said, would enhance FCA’s commitment to providing quality services to the residents of the territory.

“This book exhibition serves as a testament to our commitment to fostering a culture of learning and growth within our administrative framework.

“It is a reflection of our belief that investing in the intellectual development of our staff is not just a noble endeavour, but a strategic one.

“The diverse array of books on display covers a wide spectrum of subjects, ranging from public administration and governance to urban planning, sustainability, economics, and beyond.

“Each volume holds within its pages the potential to inspire, educate, and empower us to become better leaders, decision-makers, and agents of positive change,” she said.

In his remarks, the Head of Civil Service, FCTA, Dr Udo Attang, said that books have always been a cornerstone of knowledge and wisdom.

Attang, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCTA, Mr Adetoyi Kolawale, argued that reading books would help in shaping and reshaping workers’ minds and skills, and impact on their productivity.

The head of service said that the theme, “Enhancing Intellectual Capacity for Effective Service Delivery”, underscores the critical link between knowledge and performance.

“As public servants, educators, and community leaders, we understand that the quality of our service delivery is directly proportional to the depth of our understanding and the breadth of our skills.

“Intellectual capacity is not merely about acquiring information; it is about nurturing the ability to think critically, solve problems creatively, and make informed decisions that benefit our communities,” he said.

He thanked the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and Mahmoud for their tireless support towards building a productive workforce for the FCT.

Earlier, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, the acting Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvements, explained that the exhibition was organised to promote professionalism among workers.

Ahmadu said that the effort was in line with the 6th Pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025.

According to her, investing in the intellectual development of workers will not only enrich the workers, but also enhance their value as individuals and impact FCTA in the long run.

“By embracing life-long learning, we equip ourselves with the tools necessary to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead,” she said. (NAN)