News

Flooding: Bayelsa Govt Warns Against Building On Water Channel

Published

3 years ago

December 13, 2022

Editor

Bayelsa State government has warned property developers in the state against acquiring lands and developing structures in the natural water channels to curb future flood occurrence and further destruction of property as well as loss of human lives due to yearly flooding.

Governor Douye Diri gave the caution while declaring open a three-day Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Summit organized by the State Physical Planning and Development Board on Tuesday in Yenagoa.

The governor who decried the level of destruction in the state capital during the recent flooding urged the residents to support the government in curbing the future occurrence of such a disaster.

Represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Governor Diri also directed the formation of a Town Planning Committee in all the communities in the state to liaise with the board in acquiring lands and development of structures in the various communities in order to ensure that natural waterways are not obstructed.

Commenting on the theme of the summit, which was “Physical Planning and Development in Bayelsa State: The Way Forward”, the governor lamented that with the way people are building in the state, if there are fire incidents, the level of damage will be very enormous than the last flooding, because firefighters may not be able to access most areas for rescue.

He said: “So I want to encourage all of us who are developers not to buy our water bodies, this is where the physical planning board has to be very firm because right now if those water bodies are still there, water that comes from rain will go and settle there without overflowing to the residential areas.

“We need a special study of the Yenagoa environment because of its unique nature, when people sell land and even sell the road, that is no longer good.

“Each Community should now have a town planning committee, that will ensure that building of structures is being regulated in their respective communities, we have to free our water bodies for easy movement of water to get our state free of flooding.” He said.

Chairman, Bayelsa State Physical Planning And Development Board, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, said the board is afraid that when conscious efforts are not made to match rapid economic development with comprehensive planning and regulatory controls, there is bound to increase in traffic congestion, increased crime rate, squatter settlements, poor waste management and attendant flooding, environmental degradation and outbreak of epidemics among others.

According to him, the monster flood that recently visited the state and its attendant devastations are worrisome.

He said the board as an institution is statutorily empowered to provide the framework for deliberate spatial planning, and therefore, must brace up for the challenges by ensuring that all man-made causes of flooding are mitigated.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

49 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.