News
Over 3000 Lagos Residents Rendered Homeless As Govt Officials, Policemen Demolish, Set Buildings On Fire
Residents of Ayetoro community in the Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have raised the alarm over the alleged demolition of their buildings by the Lagos State government officials, especially the Task Force and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
The demolition, which reportedly took place on Monday without prior notice, has left thousands of families homeless and in distress, SaharaReporters learnt.
One of the residents, Ajimuda Gbenga, told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that some policemen and LASEMA officials came and demolished their building.
Samuel Adebayo, a representative of the community, told SaharaReporters that he had spoken to several notable people about the incident but he was not sure who could come to their aid as soon as possible.
According to him, “This is a matter of urgency, and I trust SaharaReporters to bring attention to such issues.
“Our community existed long before the Oko-Baba Plant Market. However, due to the expansion of the plant market, there has been tension. Ayetoro, a neighbouring community, shares a boundary with the plant market.
“What is happening now is disturbing; the demolition began in the market, about 2 kilometers away from our community. I witnessed them using bulldozers to demolish houses. In areas they couldn’t reach, they resorted to setting homes on fire, leaving children and their mothers without shelter.
He said they extended the demolition towards the end of the plant market, crossing into their community.
“The boundary between the plant market and our community has been breached, and they are now setting homes in Ayetoro on fire. Over 3,000 residents are affected.
“We received information from one of their agents, who told us that the government’s directive was to demolish the community’s buildings.
I cannot understand why the plant market’s expansion is now affecting the community and its residents.
Adebayo explained that they have destroyed houses in the heart of their community, and even set some buildings ablaze.
According to him, “This act of inhumanity is unacceptable.”
“The only way forward is to ensure the safety of everyone, and that’s why we are calling on SaharaReporters to help amplify our voices. The situation is dire, and they are deliberately setting fire to people’s homes. We cannot sit back and watch.
When asked who is responsible for the demolitions, said, “I was told LASEMA and the state government are involved.”
When SaharaReporters contacted the Director-General of LASEMA, Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, he said, “How can an agency swear to protect the safety of people be so reckless?”
He said, “How can they set people’s properties on fire?
“As a medical doctor trained to save lives, I find it unimaginable that such an act could occur, I have dedicated nearly 30 years to protecting people and saving lives. How could we now be accused of setting homes on fire? Think about it.”
OluFemi Oke-Osanyintolu explained that the allegation was “painful and unjust.”
He reiterated that LASEMA does not engage in demolitions, he said they are a rescue agency, not a demolition crew.
“Every activity LASEMA conducts is transparent, with the press always informed, from the moment an incident happens, we release a preliminary report, and after the situation is resolved, a confirmatory report follows.”
OluFemi Oke-Osanyintolu added that it is a barbaric and baseless thought to suggest that the agency is involved in the demolitions.
Efforts to get a response from the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls nor respond to messages.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Thursday failed to beat Benin Republic in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifier as two West African neighbours settled for a 1-1 draw in Abidjan
With the results, Nigeria officially qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, securing a top-two finish in Group D,
Benin opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Mohamed Tijani capitalized on a corner delivery from Junior Olaïtan, heading the ball into the center of the net.
The Super Eagles found themselves trailing despite creating opportunities, with Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon both testing Benin’s defence.
In the second half, Nigeria intensified their attack and were rewarded in the 81st minute when Osimhen met Simon’s cross with a precise header to level the score.
Benin fought hard to reclaim the lead, but Nigeria’s defence held firm, preserving the draw.
Nigeria’s qualification for TotalEnergies CAF AFCON marks a relief for fans and sets the stage for their preparations for the tournament. Benin, meanwhile, remains in contention but will need positive results in their final game to have any chance of progressing.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has suspended, with immediate effect, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Agency, Shehu Hadi Ahmad, indefinitely.
This was made known in a statement by the Senior Special Adviser to the Minister of Public Communication and Social Media, Olalere Olayinka, on Thursday.
Circumstances leading to or surrounding the suspension of the secretary were, however, undisclosed as of the time of filing this report.
According to the statement, the suspended Executive Secretary has been consequently directed to hand over to the Director of Engineering Services in the FCDA.
United Bank for Africa Plc has issued 6,839,884,274 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N35 per share in a rights issue to raise N239.4bn in a bid to meet the fresh capital requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The rights issue which opened on Friday (today) allows existing shareholders to purchase one new ordinary share for every five existing ordinary shares held by shareholders as of November 05, 2024.
In late March, the CBN announced an upward review of the minimum capital requirement for banks in the country.
In a letter to the shareholders informing them of the rights issue, the Group Chairman of United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, noted that following the resolution of the Group’s shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held in May 2024, authorising the establishment of the N400bn Equity Shelf Programme, UBA will embark on a Rights Issue, as the first step in its broader capital raising programme.
“UBA’s Rights Issue aims to raise N239.4bn, through the issuance of new ordinary shares to our shareholders. The primary objective of this rights Issue is to further strengthen our capacity to take advantage of growth opportunities and sustain our leadership in the banking industry,” Elumelu said in the letter.
On the use of proceeds, Elumelu noted that, beyond regulatory compliance, the funds will expand the Group’s lending capacity, invest in digital infrastructure, support sustainable business practices, and expand the group’s African operations.
Elumelu also highlighted how UBA is driving economic growth across Africa, saying “Our historic partnership with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, where UBA pledged up to $6bn in financing over the next three years to support eligible SMEs across Africa underscores our commitment to fostering economic development.”
It was revealed that application for the provisional allotment of the Rights to the new ordinary Shares will be made exclusively through the NGX e-offer portal, during the offer period, while existing shareholders may also apply for additional shares above their provisional allotment as described in the Provisional Allotment Letter. Shareholders who are customers of the Bank are also encouraged to access their Rights through UBA’s internet banking and mobile banking channels.
At the end of the third quarter, the gross earnings of UBA appreciated by 83.2 per cent year-on-year to N2.39tn from N1.31tn in the same period of 2023. Its profit before tax went up by 20.2 per cent to N603.48bn from N502.09bn in Q3 2023, while profit after tax also rose by 16.9 per cent to N525.31bn from N449.26bn recorded a year earlier.
The lender’s total assets rose to N31.80tn, representing a 54.0 per cent increase over the N20.65tn recorded at the end of December 2023.
In the 2023/2024 report year, UBA won ‘Bank of the Year’ awards in eight of its subsidiaries – Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Republic of Congo; Sierra Leone; Tanzania, as well as the Regional Award for Africa and in 2024 has won World Best Frontier Markets Bank and Best SME Bank Africa.
UBA Plc offers banking services to more than 45 million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries.
AFCONQ 2025: Nigeria’s Super Eagles fail to beat Benin Republic in Abidjan
Wike suspends FCDA secretary indefinitely
UBA to raise N239bn via rights issue
Just in: Terrorists ambush military truck, kill all soldiers on board
Nigerian Dancer, Korra Obidi Attacked with acid, stabbed on stage In UK
Meet Rare Gem 16 Years Old Chiaza, CEO of ‘RUN MARKET PLACE’
-
News23 hours agoMikel Obi explains how Kai Havertz dishonoured Chelsea fans
-
News23 hours agoEniola Shokunbi: 12-yr-old Nigerian girl invents air filter, gets $11.5m funding
-
News23 hours agoAlleged scam: EFCC Impounds Okowa’s Passport
-
News22 hours agoOsimhen : No permanent move, Napoli tells Galatasaray
-
News23 hours agoBuilding houses for judges: It’s Tinubu’s policy for judicial independence, not mine-Wike explains
-
News21 hours agoSad! Body of COAS, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, ready to be airlifted to Abuja(Photos)
-
News21 hours agoConfusion as Chinese Tears Naira Notes in Protest During Lagos Govt Raid(Photos)
-
News12 hours agoSAD! Popular gospel film producer Baba Gbenro passes on