The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force in Lagos and Kainji, Niger State, to support counterterrorism operations.

The US Africa Command (AFRICOM), in a statement on its website on Thursday, said the equipment was delivered in September through a US Air Force C-17 aircraft.

According to the command, the delivery was part of a foreign military sales agreement between the United States and Nigerian militaries.

“The delivery furthers the strategic partnership between the two nations in order to enhance Nigerian-led efforts to counter terrorism in the region.

U.S. military support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria is by its invitation and rooted in respect for Nigerian sovereignty,” AFRICOM said.

The Federal Ministry of Education on Thursday announced the removal of data costs to allow millions of Nigerian students to access approved educational platforms without paying for internet data.

It also disclosed plans to regulate internet access for children below 16 years.

The initiatives were unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, under the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria.

The minister, who spoke at the launch of the initiative, said the initiative formed part of the digital transformation component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, being implemented through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative.

According to him, government was determined to ensure that the cost of internet connectivity no longer determined which Nigerian child could access quality educational resources.

He explained that the initiative was not merely about providing connectivity but about ensuring that learning remained within the reach of children who could otherwise be shut out because of the cost of data

Regarding the planned regulation of internet access for every child below 16 years, the minister cited growing concerns over cyberattacks and other threats associated with children’s increasing exposure to digital platforms.

“At some point, there would be regulated internet access for every child below the age of 16 years as part of measures to strengthen online child protection,” the minister said.

A two-storey building undergoing manual demolition partially collapsed in the early hours of Thursday in the Alimosho area of Lagos State, leaving one person dead and two others injured.

The incident occurred at No. 42, Governors Road, Aboru. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) received a distress call and immediately dispatched its Alpha Eagle Response Team from the Cappa, Oshodi unit at about 12:56 a.m.

First responders arrived promptly, cordoned off the scene and began search-and-rescue operations. Preliminary findings indicated the structure caved in while workers were carrying out the demolition, trapping several people under the debris.

In a coordinated effort involving LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), two adult males were successfully pulled alive from the rubble.

They received on-site first aid from LASAMBUS personnel before being transferred to a nearby health facility for further treatment.

Sadly, one adult male was recovered dead from beneath the collapsed structure.

LASEMA Permanent Secretary Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

He also reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to protecting lives and property, warning developers and property owners against compromising safety during construction or demolition works.

Further updates are expected as investigations continue into the exact cause of the collapse.