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Lagos Govt Demolishes Structures In Banana Island For Violating Building Laws

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The Lagos State Enforcement Team has demolished some structures in Banana Island in Lagos state over the non-compliance to the state building laws and regulations.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who supervised the demolition, said the enforcement became necessary because the State Government felt there was a need to do something to halt the growing illegality.

Salako said the State Government has noticed that many residents are building without due recourse to state agencies for approval.

The five places visited by the Lagos State Enforcement Team led by Salako had earlier been served stop-work notice by the Lagos State Building Control Agency. Despite the stop-work notice, construction works were still ongoing in two while the other had fenced the land.

”At 102 Close, K Zone, a section of the lagoon has been reclaimed with just the provision of a narrow drainage for water to flow. As a result the concrete and perimetre fence erected facing the lagoon were pulled down while the building was sealed and the gate locked.

Also at 306 Close, three two-storey buildings under construction were pulled down for lack of approval to build as the development encroached on the state shorel

Apart from buildings and fences that were pulled down during the enforcement exercise, two people caught doing illegal dredging activities within the area visited were also arrested.” a statement from the Ministry read.

Salako said the Lagos State Government agencies will continue to monitor to ensure that building laws and regulations are complied with.

“The governor was here yesterday (Sunday) with the strong instruction that land reclaimed beyond what was approved should be demolished. We would continue to monitor to ensure that building laws and regulations are complied with and it should even be voluntary compliance.

“The gradual take over of the waterways is a problem. In our master plan, the regional highway ought to pass through a route but there is gradual encroachment on the way.

“In terms of climate change, gradual reduction in the capacity of the lagoon to flow freely and the consequence the state would be made to grapple with in the future. If there is heavy down pour today, residents in Parkview Estate, on the other side of the lagoon would be in crisis because their community would be flooded. This is because people built beyond what was approved.” he said

Speaking on why the two-storey buildings were pulled down, Salako said the enforcement exercise was carried out because the developer had been served stop-work notice three times but they refused to obey the directives.

“The buildings that were pulled down is a peculiar case because the owner and developer could not provide approval and clearance to reclaimed land he got from the State Land Bureau and Ministry of Waterfront.

“They blew up their survey. This means more land metres were taken than what was given approval for. And the 30 metres set back the developer was to observe was not adhered to. Also, the property is under an high tension wire. In all, the development has disobeyed all building laws in the state.”

Also speaking to journalists during the enforcement exercise, Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure and Development, Arc. Kabiru Ahmed Abdullahi, said the State Government cannot continue to fold its hands and watch the degradation of its environment.

“Enough is enough. We cannot continue to fold our arms and watch the degradation of the environment and continued blockage of the water channels on the waterfronts.
“We will clean it up and we will bring all the perpetrators of this act to book in line with the provisions of the laws.

“Banana Island has its own original boundaries. And those original boundaries are recognised and approved. So any development or reclamation beyond those original boundaries would not be allowed,” he said.

 

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Delta NMA Declares Blessing CEO’s Cancer Report Fraudulent

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The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Delta State branch, has officially debunked the cancer claims made by relationship influencer Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO.

In a statement on Tuesday, the association revealed that the document is an altered version of an original medical report belonging to a different patient diagnosed with breast cancer.

The statement, jointly signed by NMA Delta State Chairman, Dr. Israel Adaigho, and Secretary, Dr. Usamah Hannah, was sighted by The Nation on Tuesday.

According to the NMA, the viral report was purportedly issued by Xinus Medical Diagnostics and signed by consultant pathologist Dr. O.A. Odigwe.

However, Dr. Odigwe, who is the proprietor of the diagnostic centre, clarified that his facility never issued any report to Blessing Okoro.

The association explained that Xinus Medical Diagnostics is located in Asaba, Delta State not Enugu State as claimed in the circulating document.

The centre was contacted in May 2025 by a doctor from a private hospital in Asaba to conduct a confirmatory histology test for a patient identified as Mbara Deborah, who had a suspected case of breast cancer.

The test confirmed breast cancer, and the original result was issued to the referring doctor on May 9, 2025.

The NMA stated that the document currently being paraded online by the law firm Allen Juris Law is the original report bearing the name Mbara Deborah.

The version linked to Blessing CEO appears to be a doctored copy of this same report.

The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to an online histology report purportedly issued to one Blessing Okoro, aka Blessing CEO, by Xinus Medical Diagnostics allegedly located in Enugu State. The said histology report was also alleged to have been signed by Dr. O.A. Odigwe, a consultant pathologist.

“The proprietor of Xinus Medical Diagnostics, Dr. O.A. Odigwe, who is also a member of the Nigerian Medical Association, Delta State chapter, has reached us and offered the following clarification: that Xinus Medical Diagnostics is located in Asaba, Delta State and did not at any time issue any report to Blessing Okoro.

“The centre was contacted in May 2025 by a doctor from a private hospital in Asaba to do a confirmatory test on a possible case of breast cancer for a patient, Mbara Deborah. The test was done and the result issued to the referring doctor as a case of breast cancer on May 9, 2025.

“A copy of that result is the one currently being circulated online by the law firm, Allen Juris Law, with the name Mbara Deborah as the patient. That result from the law firm is the original version issued to the patient through her hospital.”

The NMA said the clarification became necessary because of the way the altered report was allegedly being used to solicit public sympathy and financial assistance.

It urged the public to be cautious and warned against actions that could tarnish the integrity of medical professionals.

The association also called on relevant security agencies to take appropriate steps to protect unsuspecting members of the public.

“The integrity of our association and its members is very paramount and should not therefore be taken for granted.

“We call on the authorities responsible for maintaining law and order to do the needful and save unsuspecting members of the public from being unduly taken advantage of,” it added.

Recall that Blessing CEO recently solicited financial help from the public for the treatment of what she claimed was stage four cancer.

Following widespread backlash and allegations that her medical report had been edited, she made a U-turn, stating in an interview: “I don’t have stage 4 cancer. That was a miscommunication.”

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Abuja Court Jails Boko Haram Food Supplier, Hamatu Modu For 40 Years

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Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Hamatu Modu, a major food supplier for Boko Haram terrorists, to 40 years imprisonment for his involvement in terrorism activities.

Modu, who confessed in the open court to supplying food items and information to terrorists, was put on trial by the federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

He was slammed with 4- count charges and instantly pleaded guilty to them.

The Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, led the prosecution.

In his judgment, Justice Nyako sentenced him to 10 years on each of the count but due to the plea of the defense counsel, the judge ordered that the 40 years imprisonment should run concurrently, giving the convict opportunity to spend only 10 years.

In another development, Isah Ali, another food supplier also in Borno, was jailed 10 years by Justice Nyako.

His jail term will, however, start three years ago when he was arrested and clamped into detention.

The convict confessed to committing the offence as charged.

Justice Nyako ordered that the convicts be made to undergo rehabilitation and radicalization at the end of their service of the jail terms.

The Federal Ministry of Interior was ordered to determine where the two men will serve their jail terms.

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Just In: Kebbi Assembly Speaker Muhammad Ankwai Passes Away

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The Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Usman Ankwai has passed away in the late hours of Monday, 6 April 2026.

Ankwai, who represented Zuru Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), was elected Speaker at the inauguration of the 10th Assembly on June 8, 2023.

Details surrounding the circumstances of his death were not immediately disclosed at the time of filing this report.

His death has, however, triggered an outpouring of condolences from fellow lawmakers, political associates, and residents across Kebbi State, many of whom have described him as a dedicated public servant who contributed to legislative development in the state.

Further announcements regarding burial arrangements are expected to be made by his family soon.

 

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