Good Morning. Here’s a recap of top trending news stories this morning.
1. President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, inaugurated the Wuye bridge interchange, which connects the Wuse and Wuye districts in the Federal Capital City (FCC). Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the President commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr Nyesom Wike, and his team for their unwavering efforts in completing this project, which had been initiated as far back as 2009.
2. A defective two-story building collapsed in Lagos State on Thursday, following a fire in Dosunmu Market on Lagos Island. The incident saw 10 individuals being rescued from the rubble, and they are currently receiving medical treatment. The collapsed building will be leveled to ground zero, while the adjacent building will undergo extensive testing to assess its integrity and the quality of materials used in its construction.
3. President Bola Tinubu has promised to hold his cabinet members accountable for their performance, pledging to dismiss any who do not meet the expectations of Nigerians. Speaking at a meeting with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Abuja, President Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to serving the country to the best of his abilities.
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4. The Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS) has announced that it will enforce payment of land use charges on all houses in the state, including ancestral homes, starting from June 1st, 2024. According to the ESIRS Chairman, Ekene Nnamani, this enforcement is aimed at helping the state achieve its N20 billion revenue target from land use charges this year.
5. President Bola Tinubu has made giant strides in enhancing the capability of the Nigerian Navy to protect the country’s blue economy. Marking the 68th anniversary of the Navy’s establishment, Tinubu commissioned three ships and two helicopters at a ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard in Victoria Island, Lagos.
6. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced a substantial increase in the yearly subventions for housing facilities and car refurbishment loans for civil servants in the state. The housing subvention has been increased by a massive 900% from ₦100 million to a whopping ₦1 billion, while the car refurbishment loan subvention has seen a similar increase from ₦100 million to ₦1 billion.
7. The Supreme Court, led by Justice Garba Lawal, has directed all 36 state governors to submit their respective defenses in a lawsuit filed by the federal government seeking full autonomy for local governments across Nigeria. In a preliminary hearing on Thursday in Abuja, the seven-member panel gave this directive, signaling the start of a high-stakes legal battle that could significantly impact Nigeria’s local governance structures.
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8. No fewer than 500 houses were affected following a windstorm that ravaged the Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
This is just as five people sustained varying degrees of injury in the incident which happened last Thursday. However, the National Emergency Management Agency disclosed that no casualty was recorded in the incident.
9. A yet-to-be-identified young man, attempting to steal an armoured cable from a transformer in the Mgboaba/NTA area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, was tragically electrocuted in the act. His attempt took place at 3 am near a popular church, during a blackout, but he was caught off guard when the power supply was restored.
10. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has suggested the implementation of a single document that will be accessible to all stakeholders in the cargo clearance process to prepare for the integration of the Port Community System (PCS) into the Single Window Project. This proposed document is aimed at removing the bottlenecks that hinder the efficient clearance of cargoes, ultimately promoting a seamless and efficient cargo clearance process.