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Lagos Tasks Residents on Safe Practices Amid Expected Heavy Downpour

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flooding red alert

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos State Government has advised residents to prioritise safety and avoid dangerous practices during the expected and intense rainfall this week.

Business Post reports that Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted three days of heavy downpours and thunderstorms across Nigeria from Monday, August 4, to Wednesday, August 6.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Environment in Lagos State, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, residents were warned to avoid practices like dumping refuses as well as ensuring safety, due to possible overwhelming of some drainage systems.

“Lagos has experienced intense rainfall, and more is expected in the coming days according to NiMET’s latest advisory. I urge all residents to remain calm. We have resilient systems in place to manage flash floods, but the sheer volume of rainfall may temporarily overwhelm some drainage channels,” he said.

He noted that as a coastal city, Lagos is vulnerable to tidal lock-up when rising water levels in the lagoon slow down the discharge of runoff, adding that this has worsened by climate change.

“We are closely monitoring areas near rivers and lagoons, which are at higher risk of flash floods with strong currents.

“Parents and guardians, please keep your children indoors during this holiday period. Swimming or playing in floodwater is extremely dangerous. I also appeal to motorists and pedestrians to avoid moving through flooded roads. Vehicles can be submerged, and lives can be lost,” he advised.

“Once again, I must stress, do not dump refuse into drains during rainfall. It clogs our drainage systems and worsens flooding. There are consequences for such actions, and enforcement will continue,” he added.

The commissioner noted that state teams will be working round the clock to clean and maintain drainages.

“[and] are expanding our network with concrete-lined channels to manage runoff more effectively. But in times of unusually heavy downpour like this, every resident must play their part,”

NiMet, in its weather outlook released on Sunday, August 3, in Abuja, had said early morning thunderstorms were expected yesterday with medium rains over parts of Sokoto, Adamawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, and Taraba states in the northern region.

‎It added that later in the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms with moderate rains would descend on the entire northern region.

“There is a high possibility of flood occurring over parts of Adamawa, Taraba and Bauchi states during the forecast period.

“In the central region, there are prospects of light rains over parts of Benue, the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kogi, and Nasarawa States during the morning hours,” NiMeT stated.

NiMet predicted that in the afternoon or evening hours of Monday, there would be light rains over parts of Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Benue.

There would also be cloudy skies with light rain in southern states, including parts of Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Abia, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Lagos, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa, said the organisation.

Light rains are also expected later in the day in parts of Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States.

The agency anticipated the high possibility of floods happening over parts of Edo, Ogun, Delta, and Oyo States during the forecast period. ‎

NiMet also predicted morning thunderstorms over the northern region on Tuesday with moderate rains over parts of Taraba, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Zamfara States.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Court to Rule on Malami’s Bail Application January 7

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Abubakar Malami Assets Recovery Campaign

By Adedapo Adesanya

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed January 7 to hear the bail application of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, over alleged money laundering.

Recall that the same court had ordered the remand of Mr Malami at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, his son, Abdulaziz, and one of his wives, Mrs Bashir Asabe, are standing trial predicated on a 16-count charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The trio, who are accused of laundering N8.7 billion, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were arraigned on December 29, 2025.

Following their plea of not guilty, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre till January 2, 2026, when their written bail application would be argued by his legal team.

In the charge, identified as FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the defendants were accused of conspiring to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from illegal activities.

The indictment claimed that they used multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions over nearly ten years to indirectly acquire the illicit funds.

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences took place between 2015 and 2025, primarily within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during Malami’s time as the country’s Attorney-General.

The EFCC alleged that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account from July 2022 to June 2025.

They were also accused of depositing an additional N600.01 million between September 2020 and February 2021.

The properties in question include a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, purchased for N500 million; a property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki, bought for N700 million; and another in Jabi District for N850 million.

Additional acquisitions include real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama (N430 million); in Asokoro District (N210 million and N325 million); and at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (N120 million).

The EFCC further alleges that Mr Malami used unlawful proceeds totaling N952 million to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023.

The acquisitions were allegedly made through proxies and corporate entities to obscure ownership.

The commission claimed that the alleged actions violate the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

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Train 7: Plant Operators Petition EFCC to Investigate Fraud, Tax Deductions

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Nigeria Association of Plant Operators

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Association of Plant Operators (NAPO) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate allegations of tax deduction and non-remittance fraud linked to the NLNG Train 7 project.

Train 7 is a major expansion project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) facility on Bonny Island, Rivers State, Nigeria. It involves building a seventh “train” (processing unit) at the LNG plant to significantly increase Nigeria’s LNG production capacity and strengthen the country’s role as a global supplier of cleaner energy.

NAPO’s President General, Mr Harold Benstowe, alongside four other officials, appeared at the EFCC Port Harcourt Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, to adopt a petition accusing Daewoo Engineering & Construction Nigeria and others of alleged unlawful tax deductions from workers on the multibillion-dollar NLNG Train 7 gas plant construction project.

According to NAPO, the EFCC received the delegation and guided them through the formal adoption of the petition, paving the way for what the union described as a “proper forensic investigation” into the alleged financial misconduct.

“The EFCC has assured the victims that it will conduct a thorough investigation to get to the root of the matter,” Mr Benstowe said, describing the development as a major step toward accountability in the construction segment of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

It also raised that the allegations strike at the heart of compliance risks surrounding one of Nigeria’s most strategic gas investments, with potential implications for contractors, regulators and investor confidence in large-scale energy projects.

Mr Benstowe called on workers involved in the NLNG Train 7 project to actively support the investigation by submitting documentary evidence, particularly payslips allegedly showing tax deductions by Daewoo E&C Nigeria.

“We encourage all affected workers to freely come forward with more evidence to assist the EFCC in carrying out a comprehensive investigation,” he said.

He also dismissed reports of intimidation, warning that the union would resist any attempts to suppress whistleblowers.

“All victims should ignore threats or discouragement from any quarters. This is no longer business as usual. We are prepared for a big showdown to ensure everyone involved is brought to book,” Mr Benstowe declared.

The NAPO leader framed the petition as part of a broader struggle for financial transparency and workers’ rights in Nigeria’s oil and gas construction value chain, stressing that the outcome would send a strong signal to contractors operating on high-value energy projects.

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FIRS Officially Transitions into NRS

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firs new logo

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has unveiled its institutional brand identity as it officially transition from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to the newly established revenue collection agency as gazetted.

The transition was marked with the unveiling of the agency’s new logo, according to a statement from Mr Dare Adekanmbi, special adviser to the chairman of NRS, Mr Zacch Adedeji.

Speaking at the unveiling event in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr Adedeji said the new identity represents a significant milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s revenue administration framework.

The taxman said the unveiling reflects a renewed commitment to a more unified, efficient, and service-oriented revenue system aligned with Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda and global best practices.

He said the new identity signals continuity of purpose, strengthened institutional capacity, and a forward-looking approach to supporting taxpayers and national development.

According to the statement, the NRS said it remains committed to transparency, partnership, and service excellence.

“The unveiling of this new identity represents not an end, but the beginning of a strengthened relationship between the revenue authority and the Nigerian public—built on trust, clarity, and shared prosperity,” the statement reads.

It was also stated that the service came into operation following the signing of its enabling law — the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025 — by President Bola Tinubu in June.

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