Headlines
Monday Morning Rain Wreaks Havoc in Lagos, Environs, Destroys Buildings, Others
A downpour that lasted about two hours, on Monday, wreaked havoc on different parts of Lagos and Ogun states, destroying property and telecommunications infrastructure, and uprooting trees.
Many residents of the two states could not go about their daily businesses as a result of flood that accompanied the heavy rainfall.
The downpour, which began around 9.30am, forced many residents to stay indoors, while others, who took the risk to leave their houses, got stuck in traffic and at various bus stops.
PUNCH Metro learnt that two buildings partially collapsed in the Abule Egba and Ladipo areas of Lagos, while trees fell on roads and vehicles in different parts of Lagos and Ogun states.
Our correspondents learnt that the roofs of several buildings, including those of two classrooms at a primary school in the Ayede area of Ogun State, were blown off by the rainstorm.
A source, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, stated that the incident destabilised the pupils.
She said, “The rain affected two classrooms in one of the buildings in the school and the pupils were unable to carry on with their studies, because the classrooms were flooded.
“The roof of the building was just fixed by the school management after several complaints to the state government. We reported the case last year when the roof was leaking, but the government did nothing until the management raised money to fix it and now the rain has spoilt it again. We hope that the incoming governor will help us to fix it and do more in the education sector.”
Another victim of the downpour, who identified himself simply as Johnson, stated, “The strong wind that accompanied the rain destroyed a billboard around the Sango tollgate area and blew off the roofs of six houses.
“The rain also destroyed some kiosks around the Singer bus stop, Ijako, Ogun State.
“There was traffic at the Iyana Ilogbo area of the state because of the water that filled the potholes, which Julius Berger refused to fix, and this caused drivers to drive slowly, which resulted in heavy traffic.
“Some electric poles fell in the Ifo area of the state, which will make some areas not to have power supply.”
A businessman in the Ikeja area of Lagos, Longimus Onye, who lamented the delay in displaying his wares because of the rain, expressed optimism of making a profit for the day.
“Because of the rain, I could not display my wares on time but I hope people will still come out and buy, but I want to urge the government to fill the potholes on the road from Agege to Ikeja in order to reduce the traffic problem,” he said.
The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Adesina Tiamiyu, confirmed the partial collapse of some buildings as well as trees being uprooted due to the rainfall.
He, however, noted that no life was lost.
Tiamiyu stated, “What we had around Lagos today (Monday) were the wreckages of the heavy rain and windstorm. We had trees falling all over the place in Ikoyi, Alausa, Ikeja GRA and some part of Agege Motor Road, and we sent out our team together with the Lagos State Parks and Gardens officials to cut them into pieces and pack them off the road.
“We also had records of accidents caused by low visibility, but no life was lost in all the occurrences.”
According to the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, Sanusi Abdulateef, the rainy season comes with a lot of emergencies similar to what happened on Monday, adding that officials of the agency were on top of the situation to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
He said, “We have been up and doing since morning, because we had envisaged this kind of problem, and what we did was to divide the state into six regions. Each region is being managed by an emergency team.
“If you look around now, 80 per cent of the trees have been removed from the roads to put an end to the gridlock. Where we have not been able to evacuate the trees, we have put them away from the roads.
“The rainy season is accompanied by windstorm and once there is windstorm, it comes with a lot of emergencies like fallen trees and slashing of tree branches. We are on top of the situation and we are still on the road monitoring the activities of our operators. We have done it in Ogba, Victoria Island, Ikoyi and other places; by noon tomorrow (Tuesday), everything must have been evacuated from the roads.”
The state government, in a statement jointly signed by the Permanent Secretaries, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Fola Adeyemi, and Ministry of the Environment, Abiodun Bamgboye, urged Lagos residents to remain calm, adding that Monday’s experience was as a result of climate change.
The statement read in part, “Sometimes when it rains, we are likely to have flash-floods on our roads as it sometimes happens in other parts of the world, but the relief here is that the flash-floods will disappear in a couple of hours.
“We want to assure Lagosians that relevant government agencies like the Drainage Services Department, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency have been put on red alert to adequately respond to any unforeseen occurrence during rain of high intensity as well as cart away fallen trees, electricity poles and confront other emergencies during the rain.
“Similarly, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation is already on the ground to clean the drainage channels, drainage setbacks and other road debris.”
The Punch
The Federal government has signed a $328.8 million contract with a Chinese firm – China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) – to rehabilitate and expand Nigeria’s electricity transmission network under Phase 1 of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
The agreement covers Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) for the development of 330kV and 132kV transmission lines across the country, aimed at improving grid reliability and reducing stranded generation capacity.
The project will be coordinated by FGN Power Company, a special purpose vehicle established by the federal government to oversee implementation of the PPI.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, speaking at the contract signing ceremony in Abuja, said the agreement would cover 544 kilometres of transmission lines with a load capacity of 7,140 megawatts, spanning both brownfield and greenfield sites.
He explained that these critical infrastructure projects would act as the main arteries for delivering increased power from midstream transmission directly to homes, businesses, and industries, helping to strengthen the country’s economy.
The minister described it as a vital step toward resolving persistent bottlenecks in Nigeria’s power value chain.
He emphasized that enhancing the transmission network is essential to ensure that generated electricity is delivered efficiently to end-users.
He noted that the signing of the agreement demonstrated the federal government’s commitment, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, to providing stable and reliable electricity to Nigerians.
The Managing Director of FGN Power Company, Kenny Anuwe, described the partnership with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) as a strategic move to develop a robust transmission network capable of supporting increased generation capacity.
He explained that CMEC’s involvement complements the ongoing collaboration with Siemens Energy, which focuses on generation and high-voltage transmission technologies.
The Vice President of SINOMACH, Li Xiaoyu, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian government for its trust in CMEC, adding that the project would play a significant role in improving electricity delivery across the country.
The Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas-led Rivers State Government has announced the appointment of Administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
The decision, approved by the Administrator also includes the reconstitution of some Boards of Agencies, Commissions, and Parastatals that had earlier been suspended.
According to the statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika, the appointments are to take effect from Monday, April 7, 2025.
The administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State include:
1. Mr Okroiyobi Animiete – Abua/Odual LGA
2. Mr Goodluck M. Ihenacho – Ahoada East LGA
3. Mr Promise Jacob – Ahoada West LGA
4. Dr Tamunotonye Peters – Akuku Toru LGA
5. Surveyor Atajit Francis – Andoni LGA
6. Barrister Ibiapuve Charles – Asari Toru LGA
7. Mr Kingsley N. Banigo – Bonny LGA
8. Dr Sokari Ibifuro Francis – Degema LGA
9. Dr Gloria Obo Dibiah – Eleme LGA
10. Barr Franklin P. Ajinwon – Emohua LGA
11. Dr Onyemachi S. Nwankwor – Etche LGA
12. Prof. Gospel G. Kpee – Gokana LGA
13. Mr Isaiah Christian Nobuawu – Ikwerre LGA
14. Dr Barinedum Nwibere – Khana LGA
15. Dr Clifford Ndu Walter – Obio Akpor LGA
16. Dr Chukwuma Aje – Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA
17. Eliel Owubokiri – Ogu/Bolo LGA
18. Mr Thompson Isodiki – Okrika LGA
19. Manager Ikechi Wala – Omuma LGA
20. Mr Fred Apiafi – Opobo /Nkoro LGA
21. Eletuuo Ihianacho – Oyigbo LGA
22. Dr Sam Kalagbor – Port Harcourt LGA
23. Mr Nuka O. S. Gbipah – Tai LGA
The following have also been appointed as Chairman and members of the Rivers State Electoral Commission:
1. Dr Micheal Ekpai Odey – Chairman
2. Mr Lezaasi Lenee Torbira – Member
3. Prof Author Nwafor – Member
4. Prof Godfrey Woke Mbgudiogha – Member
5. Prof Joyce Akaninwor – Member
6. Dr Olive A. Bruce – Member
7. .Prof Chidi Halliday – Member
This followed the judgment of the apex court, which declared the LG election conducted in the state on October 5, 2024, as invalid.
This development comes just hours after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt scheduled April 14, 2025, to hear a suit filed by human rights lawyer, Courage Nsirimovu of Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative.
Nsirimovu is seeking to halt the appointment of LG Administrators in the state.
Justice Adamu Mohammed, presiding over the matter did not issue an explicit restraining order, instead directed that the Administrator of Rivers State be put on notice to appear and show cause why the request to stop the appointments should not be granted.
“I am of the view that it will serve the interest of justice to order the application to put the respondent on notice to appear and show cause why the application (to stop the appointment administrators in the 23 LGAs) should not be granted,” the judge stated.
Channels TV
Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, has vowed that those who financed the attacks against Tesla will go to prison.
Last month, multiple Tesla vehicles were set ablaze in Las Vegas.
Musk condemned the act, calling it an “evil attack.”
Eventually, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced charges against three people responsible for setting Tesla properties on fire in Las Vegas.
Bondi described the violent attacks on Tesla property as “nothing short of domestic terrorism.”
However, several weeks after the incident, Musk revealed in a tweet on X that those who financed the attacks against Tesla will go to jail.
“Those who financed the attacks against Tesla will go to prison,” Musk tweeted on Tuesday.
