General
Group Raises Alarm of Looming Gas Explosion in Lagos [PHOTOS]

Barely a week after a gas explosion in Baruwa, Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos state that claimed no fewer than five lives, razed 25 buildings, 16 shops, and a private school building, another plant is currently being sited along the ever-busy Demurin/Alapere road, Ketu, part of Lagos.
A non-political, non-governmental organization in the state, the Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), has alerted the nation of a possible explosion in Alapere Ketu, area of Lagos state.
Speaking through a statement signed by Barrister Stanley Karo Emeluaha, the Group’s Executive Director (Legal) and made available to journalists in Lagos, SEJA described the gas plant located in a densely populated residential area as a disaster waiting to happen and wondered why any responsible and responsive government should allow such a development in the face of previous experiences in the state and the nation at large.
The details of the statement as issued by SEJA among other concerns noted that while the state is still mourning the huge human and material carnage in Baruwa, it is important to draw the attention of all men and women of goodwill, Kosefe local government area, Lagos state government and the federal government to the fact that another gas plant is currently being built along the ever-busy Demurin/Alapere road, Ketu, part of Lagos.
The construction of the gas station, aside enunciating the insensitivity and regulatory gaps, the group said it further paints a picture of a people that are not ready to draw a lesson from previous experiences, noting that there are key signals that point to a grim reality.
“Allowing a gas plant in a densely populated residential area such as the Demurin/Ketu axis is another time bomb waiting to explode,” the organisation said in the statement.
It was stated that very fundamental is the awareness that the plant shares a common fence with Globacom customer centre, reputed for not being customer free and a welding and fabrication company with high-pressure equipment.
This is in addition to the fact that just a stone throw from the plant is a 330KVA national grid line as well as a place of worship, Saint Michael Catholic Church, located around the new gas plant. It was gathered that the church is arguably the biggest in Ketu with over 6000 worshippers, who gain entrance to the church via the bus stop where this gas plant is located.
“As a people, we must also not fail to remember the March 2020 incident where about 23 people were killed and more than 50 houses destroyed at a massive explosion in the Abule Ado area of Lagos State,” SEJA said.
Among those who lost their lives in the avoidable incident were a family of four and Henrietta Alokha, an administrator at Bethlehem Girls High School, a Catholic-owned school where at least 60 students sustained injuries from the incident.
The group stressed that while it is imperative at this point to acknowledge that provision of security, the pursuit of the economic welfare of citizens and improving the life chances of the people are the constitutional responsibilities of the state which all leaders must achieve, every leader is expected to proactively perform this role at the most fundamental level.
“Against this backdrop, it becomes expedient that the Babajide Sanwoolu led administration in Lagos, and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPP) prove themselves both responsive and responsible by their swift intervention.
“Lagos can certainly not afford another needless human and material carnage arising from gas plant explosion,” SEJA said.
General
PenCom Targets 20 Million Pension Contributors by 2027

By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has said it hopes to achieve about 20 million pension contributors by the end of year 2027, as against the over 10.65 million it currently counts.
The Director-General of PenCom, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, said this over the weekend at the Pension Industry Leaders’ Retreat in Lagos.
According to her, the target would be achieved through the expansion of Personal Pension Plan (PPP) formerly known as Micro Pension Plan (MPP); constant engagements with stakeholders; enforcement of pension compliance certificates, especially by state governments amongst other initiatives.
She noted that the retreat has provided opportunities for the industry to adopt new strategies, stating that the resolutions reached will be fully implemented before the end of first quarter 2026.
On pension contributions, she said the industry expects a 50 per cent growth, stating that pension growth is essential for economic growth and development.
As of February 28, 2025 the pension fund assets was N23.27 trillion and Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders 10.65 million.
Recall that recently, the pension regulator announced the recovery of N1.58 billion from defaulting employers through enhanced enforcement efforts as total pension assets under management (AuM) surpassed N23 trillion as of February.
The DG also announced state remittances had also improved, reflecting a greater adoption of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Ms Oloworaran noted that in spite of these advancements, challenges remain, as only 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had enacted laws to implement the CPS.
“Six states operate hybrid schemes, while another six have bills at advanced legislative stages.
“Notable progress has been made in Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, and Abia states. However, full implementation of the CPS is currently limited to eight states,” she explained at the First Run 2025 Consultative Forum for States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) held in Kano in late April.
General
CBN Warns Against Fictitious Persons Offering Contracts, Grants

By Adedapo Adesanya
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again reacted to the activities of individuals and groups falsely claiming to represent or act on its behalf, warning Nigerians against falling for these schemes.
According to the Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the CBN, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, in a statement, these persons continue to circulate fictitious offers of contracts, loans, grants, intervention funds, and other financial benefits allegedly issued or endorsed by the CBN.
“Despite the public advisory issued on November 18, 2024, through the Bank’s official channels and news outlets, these misleading schemes have persisted, targeting unsuspecting members of the public with false and deceptive narratives,” the statement said.
“The CBN wishes to reiterate that it has not authorised, licensed, or appointed any individual, group, or organisation to act as an agent or intermediary in offering contracts, financial grants, or intervention funds to the public. The CBN also does not endorse or support such claims in any form.
“Members of the public are advised that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not award contracts or disburse funds through unsolicited communications such as emails, phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp, or any social media platform. It also does not request payment of fees in exchange for contracts, grants, or financial interventions, nor does it engage intermediaries or third parties to offer financial services or opportunities to the public.
“If you are approached by individuals or entities making such claims, we strongly advise that you do not engage with them. Instead, such incidents should be reported immediately to the relevant law enforcement agencies or the nearest CBN Branch.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria remains committed to safeguarding the financial interests of the Nigerian public and continues to work closely with security agencies to investigate and address fraudulent activities,” the statement said.
General
NIMASA Clarifies Use of Technology in Concession of Operations

By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that its resolve to embrace technology as a means of enhancing capacity to deliver on its regulatory mandate more effectively and generate additional revenue for the government is being misinterpreted in some quarters as concession of its operations.
NIMASA, in a statement, said a pivotal innovation in this regard is the Maritime Enhanced Monitoring System (MEMS).
“This system brings digital traceability to the core of Nigeria’s maritime operations. MEMS provides real-time visibility into vessel movements, operational logs, and regulatory interactions. Through automated alerts, smart invoicing, and centralized data integration, NIMASA can now detect, document, and respond to maritime activities with greater precision and efficiency—eliminating unnecessary bottlenecks while strengthening compliance,” it stated.
It listed additional recipients targeted as waste reception services, a routine operation for both domestic and international vessels have traditionally lacked proper tracking, resulting in unmonitored activities and significant revenue losses.
“With MEMS, each waste offload can be logged, time-stamped, and automatically billed, converting previously missed opportunities into a consistent revenue stream while ensuring environmental standards are met,” the statement said.
“Marine pollution control, another critical area of NIMASA’s mandate, has similarly been constrained by limited digital tools. In the absence of satellite tracking and automated reporting, pollution events often go unnoticed or are reported too late to mitigate their impact. With the integration of modern surveillance systems, digital logbooks, and real-time alerts, NIMASA can now respond swiftly to such incidents, recover environmental damages, and hold polluters accountable—both legally and financially.
“It is important to emphasize that past revenue shortfalls experienced by the Agency mainly stemmed from outdated manual processes, fragmented data systems, and insufficient digital enforcement mechanisms which allowed some external elements to capitalize on the loopholes for personal gains .
“The current reforms being implemented by NIMASA are focused squarely on overcoming these limitations. By investing in digital infrastructure and streamlining monitoring systems, the Agency is positioning itself to fulfill its statutory obligations with transparency, efficiency, and accountability,” it added.
NIMASA therefore called for the support of its transformation journey as it aligns with the broader national objectives of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“The Agency remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s maritime governance, ensuring environmental safety, and optimizing revenue for the nation,” the statement said.
“It is worthy of note that the Deep Blue Project of the Agency which now enjoys global recognition also witnessed such resistance at the initial stage,” it stated.
-
Feature/OPED5 years ago
Davos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism9 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz2 years ago
Estranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking7 years ago
Sort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy2 years ago
Subsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking2 years ago
First Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports2 years ago
Highest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn
-
Technology4 years ago
How To Link Your MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile Lines to NIN