*Human Rights lawyer, Femi Fala

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has faulted the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over threats to seal embassies and other properties in Abuja over unpaid ground rent.

He described the move as illegal and diplomatically dangerous.

Falana, during an appearance on Channels, said that any attempt to close embassies violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which guarantees the inviolability of diplomatic premises.

“As far as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is concerned, the premises of any embassy in Abuja are inviolable,” he said.

“By virtue of Article 22 of that convention, the premises of an embassy, their furnishings, and even their vehicles shall be immune from such requisition, attachment, or execution. No court of law can order that execution be levied on any embassy.”

The human rights lawyer said Nigeria, as a signatory to the Convention, must not violate international law, stressing that any such action by the FCTA could result in serious diplomatic consequences.

….Says his ministry is Committed to Protecting the State’s Coastline, Building Safer and Resilient Infrastructure

The Lagos State Government over the weekend has reiterated its commitment to protecting the State’s coastline, building a safer, resilient, environmentally friendly and more sustainable Lagos that it can bequeath to the next generation.

In a press release signed and sent to Ohibaba.com, the Director of Public Affairs, Kunle Adeshina, on June 9, said the commitment was made by the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab while representing the state at the ongoing United Nations Ocean conference in Nice, France.

According to him, Lagos as a coastal state faces severe climate risks such as rising sea levels, extreme rainfalls and excessive heat but is not sitting back and watching.

In his words: “Lagos as a coastal state, faces severe climate risks from rising sea levels, extreme rainfall and excessive heat. But we are not sitting back. We are building resilient infrastructure”.

“So as a state, we must face our realities and those realities are that we must build resilient infrastructure which is key and we must also take ownership of those infrastructure which is very key”.

He added that the state has also in the past two years invested in its drainage systems through an all year round clearing of all primary and secondary drains to reduce the possibilities of flash flooding.

“At the last count, in the past two years, we have as an administration done about 76 kilometers of trapezoidal drainage system statewide”.

Wahab informed that with over 13,000 tonnes of daily waste generation, Lagos is moving from a linear disposal system of “you pick and dump” to a circular model where waste becomes a resource for energy and recovery.

He stated that the state is also transforming the way it manages plastic waste by religiously following a trajectory that has already banned the use of styrofoam food containers and moving on to effect the enforcement of its ban on single use plastics from July 1 after 18 months moratorium to users and producers.

“In the last two years, we have chosen to categorize waste as a resource, so we have transitioned from a pick and dump system to a more sustainable climate friendly system where waste is now a resource for wealth, a resource for energy. Where waste is not just seen as a waste anymore”, Wahab stressed.

There was wide Jubilation in Oyo state as Firemen rescued a 68 year old resident of Molefalafia, Oke-Ado in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, who fell into a well at Mobolorunduro Mosque on Sunday.

Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Service Reform, Adebayo Akiinwande, in a statement, said the 68-year-old man was trying to recover his lost mobile phone from the well when he got trapped in it.

Mr Akinwande said, “The distressed call was reported at exactly 06:10hrs this morning, Sunday, June 8, 2025, through a telephone call of someone that fell into a well at Mobolorunduro Mosque, No.30 Ajeigbe Street, Molefalafia, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.

“The fire personnel led by ACFS Adedeji promptly deployed to the scene of the incident. On getting there, it was discovered to be a man of about 68 years of age trapped inside a deep well of Mobolorunduro Mosque while he was solely trying to recover his lost phone in the well.

“The firemen swiftly swung into action by tying all necessary knots and observing precautionary measures. The man was rescued alive and handed over to his family for proper care.”

Mr Akiinwande blamed the victim’s ignorance and lack of knowledge about the dangers associated with entering a well without being properly trained for the incident.

He urged the public to refrain from activities that could endanger their lives.