General
Lagos To Prosecute Water Sector Law Violators
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Lagos State Government said it has commenced implementation and enforcement of the State Water Sector Law enacted in 2004.
It also confirmed the establishment of the Lagos State Water Sector Court to prosecute offenders and illegal water service providers.
According to the Commissioner for Environment in the state, Mr Babatunde Adejare, stated this on Tuesday at a two-day retreat organised for officials of the water sector in Lagos State on the establishment of Lagos State Water Sector Court with the theme ‘Towards achieving a safe and sustainable water sector in Lagos State.’
Mr Adejare, who was represented at the retreat by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr Babatunde Hunpe, said that the water sector court became necessary considering the series of atrocities and illegal practices being committed by some members of the public, stressing the need to bring such illegal operators/ violators to book.
The Commissioner used the occasion to correct the erroneous perception presently filtering in some quarters that the State Government is privatizing the State owned Water Corporation.
He maintained that the position of the State Government subsists that the Government cannot do it alone; hence a public private partnership is essential in meeting the water needs of Lagosians within the shortest possible time.
“The truth is that the State government is not pleased with the present practice of giving bail outs to the Lagos Water Corporation because of non-payment of water bills by water consumers” the Commissioner stated.
Mr Adejare added that government will continue to regulate the water sector to make it attractive for private sector investment in order to lessen the burden of expenses being incurred by the State government while also giving quality services to the general public. This according to him should not be misinterpreted to mean that the Lagos Water Corporation is being privatised.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Lagos Water Corporation, Engr Muminu Badmos, decried the rate and adverse effects of activities of illegal water connections saying that the practice is hindering government’s drive to meet the water needs of residents of the State.
According to him, the damages caused by construction activities, illegal connections, water theft among others is becoming alarming, expressing the belief that the introduction of the water sector court would help curb the menace which had greatly affected the revenue generation of the State Government.
He warned residents of the State especially those involved in illegal water connection to desist from the act stressing that such illegal connection will not be tolerated and he maintained that only the State Water Corporation is certified to make such connections or disconnections.
The Executive Secretary of Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, Arch. Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi, bemoaned the increasing rate of waterborne diseases in hospitals in recent times, saying such development is epidemic and should be urgently addressed.
He said boreholes are also being constructed haphazardly without obtaining license from the government in line with prescribed standards provided by the Groundwater Quality Control Regulation.”
“Let me also clarify that the State Government will not tolerate illegal/ uncertified activities of water service providers who operate as quacks in the water sector as they pollute the water sources. Water abstraction, consumption and distribution must be carried out in line with the regulations,” he added.
He further explained that boreholes for domestic use in single tenement homes will not pay water rates but the boreholes will require a license before construction, while existing ones will be required to be regularised. Those who abstract water for sale and for industrial use will pay a surcharge for water consumption.
Speaking on the newly established Water Sector Court, Arch. Abdullahi said that the court will assist in the legal aspects and issues that may arise in the water sector.
The Water Sector Court according to him will among other functions prosecute individuals or companies that contravene the provisions of the State Water Sector Law of 2004 and he advised all those who are yet to comply with the licensing requirements to complete the process and obtain their relevant licenses from the Commission promptly.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the latest United States airstrikes on Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) targets in northwest Nigeria were conducted at the request of the Nigerian government.
According to reports, the US struck at ISWAP targets in Jabo, Sokoto State, on Christmas night.
The ministry described the operation as a product of established counterterrorism cooperation between both countries.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the Ministry said the strikes were “undertaken following formal engagement and with the full knowledge and coordination of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“The Government of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the airstrikes conducted by the United States against Islamic State elements in parts of northwest Nigeria were carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities and in line with existing bilateral security cooperation frameworks,” the statement said.
The Ministry stressed that Nigeria “remains firmly in control of all counterterrorism operations within its sovereign territory,” adding that international partners only provide support “where such assistance aligns with Nigeria’s national security objectives.”
According to the statement, the strikes form part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to “degrade terrorist capabilities, disrupt logistics networks, and protect civilian populations from violent extremist threats.”
The Foreign Ministry further emphasised that the federal government “will continue to work with trusted international partners to confront terrorism, banditry, and transnational criminal networks that threaten national and regional stability.”
Reacting to concerns around sovereignty, the Ministry said:
“At no time was Nigeria’s sovereignty compromised. All actions were conducted with due respect for Nigeria’s laws, institutions, and command structures.”
The statement also cautioned against mischaracterising Nigeria’s security challenges, noting that extremist violence “has affected communities across religious and ethnic lines and should not be framed in sectarian terms.”
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to a multi-layered response combining military operations, intelligence sharing, community engagement, and socio-economic interventions, adding that counterterrorism efforts remain focused on protecting lives and restoring stability.
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the strikes were carried out in Sokoto State and that multiple militants were killed.
US President Donald Trump described the strikes as “powerful and deadly,” saying they were directed at Islamic State militants responsible for violent attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has clearly denied that only Christians are affected by the killings, saying the terror spread across all faiths.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that “more to come” as part of sustained efforts against extremist groups.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The United States government gave some terrorists in Nigeria a Christmas gift that sent many of them to the great beyond.
On Thursday, December 25, 2025, the United States President, Mr Donald Trump, directed his country’s military to launch air strikes on camps of members of the dreaded Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Sokoto State.
According to Mr Trump, the military action, which he threatened to carry out a few weeks ago if the Nigerian government does not stop the killing of Christians in the country, occurred on Thursday night.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical islamic terrorism to prosper. May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
In a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Department of War of the United States posted the below video of the air strikes;
https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2004351717131903272
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The presidency has reacted to speculations that Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has been removed as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
It was alleged that Mr Gbajabiamila has been replaced with the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Mr Muri-Okunola went to Abuja to take up this role after leaving as the Head of Service of the Lagos State Civil Service.
Reacting to the reports on social media on the purported removal of Mr Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the presidency said no such change has been made.
In a statement signed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, members of the public were advised to disregard the report as “there is absolutely no truth to this story.”
“The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.
“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.
“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” the statement said.
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