News

JUST IN: Lagos govt bans night construction

Published

2 months ago

May 15, 2025

24 Views

The Lagos State Government has restricted construction activities across the state to between 7.00 am and 6.00 pm Mondays to Saturdays.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, announced the new directive in a statement on Thursday by the agency’s Director, Public Affairs, Mr Mukaila Sanusi.

Olumide said the measure became necessary to safeguard the environment, curb incidents of building collapse, and enhance the overall well-being of residents.

“This restriction must be strictly adhered to by all stakeholders in the construction sector.

“It is in the public interest and will be enforced by relevant government agencies.

”He added that while the state recognised the dynamic nature of building projects, any request to work beyond the stipulated hours must be made through a formal application and would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

“Concessions may be granted but only after due diligence and evaluation,” he said.

The commissioner also urged residents to be vigilant and proactive by reporting construction sites that flout the directive.

“We encourage the public to take ownership of their environment. If you observe construction activities going on outside the approved hours, please report them to the appropriate authorities,” Olumide said.

A construction worker at a site in the Agodo-Egbe area in Alimosho Local Government, who gave his name simply as Musa Tola, told NAN that while the policy might affect project timelines, it was a welcome development if it would help reduce hazards.

“Sometimes we work overnight to meet deadlines but safety is important. If the government is serious about this, we will have to adjust,” Tola said.

Similarly, Mrs Ifeoma Uche, a resident of Idimu, described the move as timely.

“Some sites work all night and the noise disturbs everyone. I think this will bring some sanity,” she said.

Crime

JUST IN: Court Frees 24 IPOB Members After Four Years of Detention

Published

4 hours ago

July 17, 2025

Charles Flames

17 Views

A high court in Ebonyi State has ordered the release of 24 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) after they were held in detention for four years.

The ruling on Thursday marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings involving the group.

The 24 IPOB members were discharged and acquitted by Justice I. P. Chima of Ebonyi State High Court.

It was gathered that they were among the last batch of the IPOB detainees out of the 36 held since May 4 2020.

Meanwhile, their lawyer and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, confirmed their freedom in a statement titled, “Justice Delayed, But Never Denied.”

According to him, the ruling followed the preliminary objection which highlighted the brazen violation of their fundamental rights: particularly the constitutionally guaranteed protection against double jeopardy, enshrined under Section 36(9) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Ejiofor said the sacred principle, “autrefois acquit”, stipulates that no person shall be tried again for an offence in respect of which they have previously been acquitted.

News

JUST IN: NIMASA closes two terminals in Lagos over ISPS Code violations

Published

6 hours ago

July 17, 2025

Charles Flames

25 Views

Lagos State officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, have sealed off ShellPlux and TMDK terminals, situated in the Ijegun-Egba area of the state, over repeated violations of the International Ship and Port Facility Security, ISPS, Code.

The action, announced on Thursday by NIMASA’s Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, stems from the agency’s responsibility as Nigeria’s designated authority for enforcing the ISPS Code, which was developed under the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, as part of amendments to the SOLAS Convention.

The code is designed to strengthen security protocols for ships and port facilities engaged in international commerce.

Edward stated that the shutdown followed consistent failure by the two terminals to comply with ISPS Code requirements, despite multiple formal warnings issued over time.

“This enforcement action is in line with global maritime security standards and conforms with Section 79(f) of the ISPS Code Implementation Regulations, 2014, which permits the closure of non-compliant facilities that remain in breach for more than three consecutive months,” he stated.

Commenting on the enforcement, NIMASA Director General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, noted that the agency resorted to the measure only after exhausting all other options.

“Our intervention is not punitive but necessary to protect Nigeria’s maritime assets.

As we work closely with the United States Coast Guard to improve Nigeria’s compliance status and remove existing conditions of entry for vessels, lapses like these cannot be ignored,” Mobereola said.

He emphasized that both facilities play vital roles in trade facilitation and would be reopened once they demonstrate full compliance with ISPS standards.

Mobereola also reiterated the commitment of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to ensuring the growth of a secure, efficient, and sustainable maritime environment that supports international trade.