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Alaba International Market Demolition, Lagos Govt gave reasons
The Lagos state government says recent demolition of distressed buildings in Alaba International Market in Ojo Local Council was neither a witch-hunt nor intended to acquire the land but done to protect lives .
The general manage Lagos State Building Control Agency, (LABSCA) Gbolahan Oki explained this on Saturday during an on-the-spot assessment of the demolition site.
Oki visited the market amid heavy downpour alongside his counterpart in Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authourityb (LASPPPA), Kehinde Osinaike, and the seven-man committee set up by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the aftermath of the demolition exercise.
They were led on the trip by Oluwole Sotire, permanent secretary of their parent parastatal, the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
It would be recalled that South-East traders in the market, led by Imo Governor, Hope Uzodimma, met with Mr Sanwo-Olu of Lagos to put to rest allegations of tribal bias behind the demolition exercise.
During the on-the-spot assessment, Mr Oki explained that the demolition was simply to enforce building regulations and laws, to prevent building collapse.
According to him, most of the demolished buildings were without permits, and necessary documentations needed by the state government were also ignored.
“All we are after is that the lives of traders and other Nigerians are extremely important to the Lagos State Government.
“I have seen people painting buildings that are delapidated, that are not good, it is not painting that makes a building new. Our lives are more important,” he said.
He urged owners of distressed buildings marked for demolition to remove them within two weeks, to prevent disaster, or else government would move in to take action.
“My mandate is to remove anything that is dilapidated, that is harmful to the people that even owns it,” he said.
He said Mr Sanwo-Olu set up the seven-man committee to look into the demolition without causing disaffection among the traders at Alaba International Market.
He said LASBCA officials were usually prevented from enforcing laws by people who failed to get building plan approvals or those who did illegal conversion of their properties.
The LASBCA boss waded through flash floods to issue stop work order on a
contractor on site from the Ojo Local Government, for amicable resolution of all issues.
He assured protesters carrying placards that government had their interests covered with the appointment of additional 17-man sub-committee compromising their market leadership, for quicker resolution of issues.
Oki explained why distressed buildings were being demolished and the need for some of the traders to do regularisation.
He said this was because of issues of land grabbers selling one land to several people as well as the need to correct haphazard development.
Earlier, the general manager and his team had a meeting with leadership of the Alaba International Market traders at LASBCA head office at Ikeja GRA, before they all embarked on the trip to the market.
During the meeting, the market leaders who are members of the seven-man technical committee set up to look into the issues of demolition in Alaba International Market discussed the way forward.
The LASBCA boss explained processes and procedures guiding laws on physical developments and what must be done to comply with regulation.
He said that there was no ethnic colouration to the decisions of government, whose only motive was to prevent building collapse, to ensure safety of lives of the traders and other Nigerians.
Chris Maduka, secretary to the seven-man technical committee on Alaba International demolition, commended action of the government to sanitise the market.
Mr Maduka said it had brought them closer and was in the best interest of everybody, to save traders from touts extorting them with various conflicting taxes and illegal levies.
During the on-the-spot assessment to the market, Maduka appealed for cooperation and understanding of the traders affected by the demolition exercise.
He said that taking to protest or violence would defeat the purpose for which Sanwo-Olu set up the Committee.
Some of the affected traders carrying placards with various inscriptions at the market pleaded with Mr Sanwo-Olu to fast track the assignment of the committee to restore thier means of livelihood.
News
We Don’t Have Enough Crude Oil For Dangote – Oyedele
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has said Nigeria does not currently have enough crude oil to supply the Dangote Petroleum Refinery with its daily requirement of 700,000 barrels.
Oyedele explained that the country was yet to reach a production level that would enable it to meet the refinery’s entire crude oil demand while also satisfying other domestic and export commitments.
“We (Nigeria) are still not at the point where we can give Dangote Refinery 700,000 barrels of crude oil; we don’t have enough to service Dangote Refinery,” he said.
The minister spoke on Friday while fielding questions on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
His comments come amid ongoing concerns over Nigeria’s crude oil production capacity and the supply of crude to the Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest single-train refinery, which has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.
The development also comes as the Federal Government has announced a 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) filling stations, a move aimed at providing temporary relief to motorists and other fuel consumers amid the high cost of petroleum products.
The government said the temporary discount would run for 30 days, raising questions about how the measure would affect pump prices and whether consumers would experience significant relief from the persistent rise in transportation and living costs.
The initiative has also drawn reactions from opposition figures, who have questioned its timing and sustainability, arguing that a short-term price reduction may not address the underlying challenges in the downstream petroleum sector.
News
Abducted Kogi Councillor Dies In Captivity
Suspected kidnappers have reportedly killed a councillor representing Ogugu Ward III in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Hon. Rosemary Adukwu, days after her abduction.
Hon. Adukwu was said to be on her way to Onitsha market on 30th September 2026, when the kidnappers intercepted the commercial vehicle she boarded around Oji River axis, between Enugu and Anambra states.
The assailants reportedly dragged the councillor out of the vehicle and whisked her to their hideout in the forest.
A week after the abduction, the Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government Area, Dr. Ameh Williams, announced her death in a statement on Friday.
The statement read, “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the sudden demise of our dear sister and colleague, Hon. Mrs. Rosemary Adukwu, the honourable councillor representing the good people of Ogugu Ward III in the eighth Olamaboro Legislative Council.”
The Chairman said the death was confirmed on Thursday while she was still in captivity.
However, the family of the deceased raised concerns over the circumstances of the incident, alleging that the kidnappers singled out the councillor, left other passengers untouched, and did not contact the family for ransom until her death was announced.
A family source said that it was while tracking the victim’s cellphone number that a receiver disclosed she had died in captivity.
The source said, “Hon. Rosemary Adukwu used to board this particular driver’s vehicle to Onitsha market to restock her business. On 30th September, she left for Onitsha after confirming from her usual driver that the market would hold on 1st October.
“At the boundary community between Enugu and Anambra states, precisely around Oji River, their vehicle ran into a barricade mounted by some people. Thereafter, the hoodlums dragged only her out of the vehicle and took her to an unknown destination. The other passengers continued their journey untouched.
“Her abductors did not contact the family for ransom for almost a week. Confused, the family contacted security operatives who tracked her cellphone . On Thursday, a voice announced while receiving the call that the owner of the phone is dead.”
According to the source, the driver of the vehicle and the person who received the victim’s cellphone call had been arrested and were assisting operatives with investigation.
Meanwhile, the President-General and the National Executive of Ogugu District Union (ODU), Deacon Samuel Ige Agada, condemned the “kidnapping and brutal killing” of the councillor, describing it as barbaric.
Agada said, “Hon. Adukwu was a dedicated grassroots leader, a hardworking businesswoman and a devoted mother and wife who was only striving to earn a living for her family. This is a painful loss not only to her family and Ogugu Ward III, but to UBELE District, Ogugu Chiefdom, Olamaboro LGA and Kogi State at large. We condemn this barbaric act in its totality.”
Reports indicated that Hon. Rosemary Adukwu was buried around 1 p.m. on Friday at her family compound in Ogugu Centre.
News
Gunmen Abduct 3 Staff At Cocoa Research Institute Ibadan
Three staff of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, in Ibadan, have been kidnapped.
The victims were reportedly snatched from a farm within the premises of the institute while inspecting crops.
Public Relations Officer of the Oyo Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade confirmed the abduction, noting investigations have already commenced.
He urged members of the public who have necessary information to assist the command in the rescue operation.
“The Oyo State Police Command confirms a kidnapping incident involving three staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), who were abducted while inspecting crops on a farm within the institute’s premises.
“Upon receiving the report, the command immediately commenced intensive efforts to secure the safe rescue of the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.”
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