General
Bamgbose-Martins Vows to Achieve Zero-Building Collapse
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The new Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos State, Mr Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, has promised to achieve zero-building collapse in the state, saying he has the mandate to meet this target from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Commissioner said this when he held a roundtable discussion with professionals and stakeholders in the built sector to proffer lasting solutions to incidents of building collapse in the state.
He acknowledged the need for the state government to collaborate with the built professionals to bring sanity to the sector and also expand the scope of the monitoring and inspection activities of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to all parts of the metropolis.
Mr Bamgbose-Martins further promised to implement recommendations made from the event tagged Round Table Discussion on the Roles of Professionals in Effective Monitoring and Stage Inspection – A Solution to Building Collapse.
He said to show his seriousness about the matter, the state government will suspend approval for additional floors on already existing buildings and amendments to approvals for additional floors, noting that this was to checkmate haphazard physical development and building collapse.
“For now, building approvals will henceforth be based on the number of floors applied for from the inception of that building.
“We are going to discourage giving approvals for additional floors different from the numbers of floors that had earlier been approved when the construction works started originally,” the Commissioner stated.
Responding to the concerns raised by the professional bodies on bringing to book individuals or organisations found culpable in incidents of building collapse, the Commissioner assured the stakeholders that nobody, including government officials, would be covered for wrongdoings, unprofessionalism or for any unethical conduct.
He pleaded for genuine attitudinal change on the part of government officials, building developers, professional bodies, members of the public and other relevant stakeholders, saying that with the appropriate attitude, incidents of building collapse would be reduced to the barest minimum.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on E-GIS and Planning Matters, Mr Olajide Babatunde, described the choice of the new Commissioner as a fair and well-thought-out decision by the Governor.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Abiola Kosegbe, emphasised the need to enforce adherence to laid down processes during construction works, saying “How do we ensure that developers who are desirous of maximising profits are following guidelines when the built professionals are not enforcing site inspection and compliance to designs”.
Rather than casting aspersions on the people in government, Mr Kosegbe opined that stakeholders should see the task of monitoring and ensuring that building designs are followed by developers as a joint responsibility that should not be left to the government alone.
Also contributing, the General Manager of LASBCA, Mr Gbolahan Oki, remarked that the present administration understands and recognises the importance of civic engagement in achieving its policy thrust which informed the stakeholders’ roundtable.
He implored all those involved in the building process to embrace genuine/positive attitudinal change as this will go a long way in nipping in the bud the incidences of building collapse in Lagos State.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its development partnership with Kano and Jigawa States, as part of its long-term commitment to development and reform in northern Nigeria.
The Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission Abuja, Ms Cynthia Rowe, recently completed high-level engagements with governors of both states as well as senior government officials and civil society leaders.
The discussions underscored the UK’s modern approach to development as a genuine partnership with Nigeria, which prioritises state-led ownership and sustainable development that delivers lasting impact through strengthening systems and partnerships grounded in investment, trade, climate financing, technical expertise and joint accountability.
According to a statement, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, via the British High Commission, said Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most significant development partners, adding that the engagements underlined the strength and ambition of the bilateral relationship reaffirmed during the recent UK-Nigeria State Visit.
In Kano, Ms Rowe met with Deputy Governor Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo and senior officials, including the newly confirmed Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the State Government. The visit recognised Kano’s progress on climate finance, health system reform and private sector investment supported through UK technical assistance.
In Jigawa, she met with Governor Umar Namadi and heads of key ministries, departments and agencies. The meeting celebrated more than 25 years of UK-Jigawa partnership, one of the most longstanding bilateral development relationships at the subnational level in Nigeria. Discussions covered the state’s continued progress on health systems reform, agriculture, and governance and the path forward under UK technical assistance.
Since 2022, PLANE has supported Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa to strengthen state-led education delivery systems, working through Ministries of Education, SUBEB and key agencies. Its RANA+ foundational learning packages have reached 1.4 million pupils across the three states, alongside wider system strengthening.
Speaking on this, Ms Rowe said, “For more than 25 years, we have worked side by side with state governments, including Jigawa and Kano states, their communities, and civil society to build stronger health systems, improve learning outcomes for millions of children, support farmers to grow their businesses, and help states attract the investment they need to thrive.
These visits have reinforced our confidence in what this partnership can achieve. We are working together to deliver lasting change, and deepening a relationship built on genuine mutual respect and shared ambition for Nigeria’s growth and development.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on data sharing to enhance economic productivity.
This was done at a meeting at CBN Head Office in Abuja, where the weather body led by its Director General, Mr Charles Anosike, on Wednesday, highlighted the importance of integrating weather and climate data into economic research, especially in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and transportation.
He noted that extreme weather events can reduce agricultural productivity and threaten food security.
He added that the collaboration aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises food security through major agricultural investment, including the cultivation of 10 million hectares of land and the distribution of mechanised equipment.
Mr Anosike cited a 2026 World Bank report that showed that extreme weather driven by climate change is significantly affecting global food security, with more than 87 million people facing hunger in East and Southern Africa and 52 million in West and Central Africa.
He also referenced the latest Berkeley Earth Report, which projects that 2026 is likely to be the fourth warmest year on record, a trend that continues to shape agricultural and energy market projections.
In his remarks, Mr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate of the CBN, said the signing of the MoU marked an important step in strengthening the partnership between two key national institutions whose mandates intersect in data, research, and policy support.
He emphasised that, in an increasingly complex and dynamic economic environment, timely and reliable data remain essential for effective policy decisions.
According to him, the Economic Policy Directorate relies heavily on timely and credible statistical information from NiMet, saying that such data are critical for inflation monitoring, agricultural sector assessment, and broader economic policy advisory functions.
He described the initiative as both timely and important, adding that strong institutional partnerships are essential for strengthening evidence-based policymaking and improving the robustness of national data systems.
At the close of the event, Mr Anosike and Mr Sani Abdullahi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Tunji Disu, has ordered an immediate nationwide ban prohibiting Point-of-Sale (POS) operators from running their businesses within a 200-metre radius of any police station, divisional headquarters, or police formation across Nigeria.
This directive, released via an internal police wireless message, addresses critical systemic challenges regarding extortion and corrupt financial practices within law enforcement facilities.
The order is to be strictly enforced nationwide, with senior officers overseeing various formations to be held accountable for any breach of the directive.
The Nigeria Police Force stated that the measure is intended to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the policing system.
The decision comes after an alarming proliferation of POS businesses near police facilities, with investigations and public complaints revealing that some operators were actively complicit in facilitating extortion, bribery, and illegal cash transfers forced upon civilians or suspects during police encounters.
Under the directive, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), State Commissioners of Police (CPs), and heads of formations will be held vicariously liable for any breach within their jurisdictions.
The IGP’s order states: “Any officer or POS merchant found flouting the 200-metre operational boundary or colluding in illicit transactions will face immediate disciplinary and criminal actions under extant laws.
“If you are a POS agent or looking into regulatory compliance for financial services in Nigeria, let me know. I can provide details on current Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) radius registration guidelines or share methods to report officer misconduct directly to the Force Headquarters.”
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