NEWS
No Fatalities Damage as Fire Guts CBN Makurdi Branch
From David Torough, Makurdi
The Makurdi branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in the early hours of yesterday was gutted by fire.
Those, who thronged the premises, including newsmen were denied access into the facility by security personnel.
The fire incident, which started around 7:AM, was quickly put off by men of the Federal Fire Service, who were alerted by security men on duty.
A source told DAILY ASSET that the fire started from the power section of the Bank, and did not affect other sections, saying that the fire could be a result of technical fault.
“The fire started from the power house and the security quickly called the fire fighters who came and put it off, it does not escalate to the main building,” the source said.
Staff of the Bank were seen discussing the incident at the time of filling this report.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) headquarter in Abuja, later issued a statement, saying, there were no fatalities in the fire incident, which started from the fuel dump behind the branch building.
The statement, which was signed by the CBN Director of Corporate Communication, Osita Nwanisobi, added that the prompt response of Bank’s security and facility management units, as well as support from the Benue State Fire Service helped fight the fire and prevented any damage the fire might have caused to the main office building.
“Fortunately, there were no fatalities and the affected site has been condoned off for further investigation. Normal work has also continued at the branch,” the statement added.
In an interview, the Director General, Benue Fire Service, Engr. Ikyaaza Donald explains: “I was not there anyway but from the information I have gathered, some called me that there was fire at the central bank so I quickly called my fire men. They came and quenched the fire but what I have gathered from the people in the central bank is that they told me that there was an explosion and nothing more than that.
“They came out and saw how it happened, it was a terrible one, in fact, there was a very serious fire and they had to put it off. When I got there, the tank was buried under the ground, the tank that stores diesel. To my thinking, it is the accumulated pressure in the tank that caused the explosion, probably the vent that supposed to ease the pressure was blocked somewhere along the pipe.
“Otherwise it is supposed to be releasing the pressure once in awhile otherwise if the pressure is too much, it explodes the tank. That is what I think caused the explosion otherwise tank can’t just explode like that, so there is built-up pressure inside the tank. He said.
On the allegation that it was the generator that caused the fire, that Director said, “it was not the generator, it was not near where the money was stored, it was just the area where they buried the tank under the ground. You know they buried the tank in the ground and put slaps on top, so when the explosion happened, it exploded and opened but it was just within the tank. All our fire vehicles were on ground”.
He appreciated Governor Samuel Ortom for providing fire fighting equipments for the service.
“We thank his Excellency for this work because if he is not doing it well, we wouldn’t have quenched this fire, all our vehicles were there before we were able to put off the fire, it was a very serious fight, it was a very tensed fire, it was not just an ordinary one,” he said
Engr. Ikyaaza advised people to always seek professional advice before carrying a project.
“Just as our custom, when we finish a project, we don’t care to go back to do some necessary inspections and repairs. If you are installing a tank in the ground, there is usually a vent/place where you release the pressure, so, if you observed that the pressure is not released, if there is a built up pressure, it is dangerous. Once in a while, inspect and make that you release the pressure from the tank because major explosion that happen sometimes is the built up pressure within if it is not released can cause serious explosion so people should learn to invite professionals to save cost,” he said.
When contacted, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Sewuese Anene said that the command received information about the incident from policemen on duty at the bank and swiftly deployed additional team to the scene to ensure orderliness, while fire fighters did their job.
Niger Government has established the state Price Control and Monitoring Board, approved by Gov. Umaru Bago to ensure fair pricing and consumer protection.
Alh. Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the Niger Government (SSG), inaugurated members of the board on Thursday in Minna.
The eight-member board has Alh.
Hussaini Ahmed, a former Permanent Secretary as the chairman.Usman noted that the inauguration of the board marked a significant step in the state’s commitment to ensuring fair pricing and consumer protection.
He said that the board was expected to control and stabilise prices of essential commodities and eradicate or reduce to the barest minimum, hoarding of essential commodities across the state.
He said that board would also handle issues that may arise as a result of enforcement and penalty for contravention of guidelines among several others.
“The board will be responsible for the distribution, monitoring and evaluation of essential commodities and keep price under continuous surveillance.
“They will also interpret price movement and relate them to other development in the State’s economy,” Usman said.
He said the board was expected to interface with relevant stakeholders such as local government chairmen, traditional institutions and councilors and well as market organisations to ensure the success of their mandate.
The SSG enjoined members of board to bring their wealth of experience and expertise in economics, consumer affairs and market dynamics to bear in their assignment.
He said that their appointment underscored the government’s dedication to maintaining economic stability and safeguarding the interests of both consumers and businesses in the state.
In his remarks, the board chairman, Ahmed, assured that the board would interface with relevant stakeholders within and outside the state in order to bring succour to the populace.
Other members of the board include Hamza Bello, Permanent Secretary, Investment, Aliyu Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Garba Abdullahi, from Ministry of Basic Education.
Also on the board are Adamu Maikasuwa, Ministry of Agriculture, DCP Aminu Garba, Nigeria Police, Niger Command, Aminu Ladan, Chairman, Chanchaga Local Government Area and Usman Liman, retired Statistician-General as Secretary of the Board. (NAN)
The Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), has shared N1.298 trillion among the Federal Government, states, and the Local Government Councils (LGCs) for September.
This is according to a communique issued at the end of FAAC meeting for October held on Thursday in Abuja.
The communiqué was made available to newsmen by Bawa Mokwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAGF).
According to the communiqué, N1.
298 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N124.716 billion, and distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N543.518 billion.It also comprised Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N18.
445 billion, Exchange Difference revenue of N462.191 billion and Augmentation of N150.000 billion.It said that a total revenue of N2.258 trillion was available in the month of September.
“Total deduction for cost of collection was N80.993 billion, while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N878.946 billion,” it said.
According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N1.043 trillion was received in September 2024, which was lower than the sum of N1.221 trillion received in August by N177.426 billion.
It said that gross revenue of N583.675 billion was available from VAT in September, higher than the N573.341 billion available in the month of August by N10.334 billion.
“From the N1.298 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N424.867 billion, and the state governments received a total sum of N453.724 billion.
“The LGCs received a total sum of N329.864 billion and a total sum of N90.415 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue,” it said.
On the N124.716 billion statutory revenue, the communiqué said that the Federal Government received N43.037 billion and the state governments received N21.829 billion, while the LGCs received N16.829 billion.
It said that the sum of N43.021 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue.
“From the N543.518 billion VAT revenue, the Federal Government received N81.528 billion, the state governments received N271.759 billion and the LGCs received N190.231 billion,” it said.
It said that in September, Oil and Gas Royalty, Excise Duty, EMTL and CET Levies increased considerably while VAT and Import Duty increased marginally.
It added that Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT) and others recorded significant decreases. (NAN)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has reiterated the importance of strict adherence to traffic laws, emphasising the prohibition of commercial motorcycles on highways and other restricted routes.
Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the General Manager, said this in a statement on Thursday, signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.
Bakare-Oki said that non-compliance with the regulations not only jeopardised the safety of the riders but also endangered the lives of other road users.
The statement came following the death of a motorcycle rider going against traffic on Carter Bridge, due to a collision with a fast-moving vehicle.
Bakare-Oki noted that the deceased, reportedly traveling from Ebute Ero, collided head-on with a fast-moving vehicle as it ascended Carter Bridge from Ilubirin.
“The forceful impact of the collision led to the immediate death of the motorcyclist while the vehicle driver ran away.
“Personnel from the LASTMA promptly arrived at the scene of the accident and swiftly alerted officers from the Central Police Station at Adeniji Adele and Shemo.
“Together, they coordinated efforts to retrieve the lifeless body of the rider, while LASTMA officials handed over the motorcycle to security authorities for further investigation,” he said.
The LASTMA boss extended his heartfelt sympathy to the family of the deceased.
“LASTMA remains committed to upholding public safety and is intensifying its efforts to minimise the occurrence of such tragic incidents on Lagos roads,” he said. (NAN)
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