Business
UPDATE: Gas station explodes in Ipaja, Lagos, claims 8 lives, razes 25 houses, 16 lock-up shops
Eight reportedly dead, many properties burned down in a gas explosion in Baruwa.
Another gas explosion has rocked Lagos, as a gas station exploded in Baruwa area of Ipaja, Lagos.
The explosion, which occured early on Thursday, has claimed eight lives, razed 25 houses (bungalows) and 16 lock-up shops, according to Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA).
READ: NNPC explains cause of Sunday’s deadly explosion in FESTAC area of Lagos
The explosion, according to Director General of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, occurred around 6am.
He said emergency responders have been mobilised to the explosion site.
READ: Shell to focus on Nigeria, Gulf of Mexico and others as it seeks to cut 40% of costs
But no fire services on ground according to reports as at the time this report was filed.
Oke-Osanyintolu said, “The explosion occurred and the agency activated a response plan. Initial disaster assessment is as follows: casualties still being assessed but eight fatalities have been identified so far. 25 houses that are mostly bungalows, 16 lock-up shops and one primary school have been affected.
“Firefighters and rescue workers are operating at the incident scene. The gas emission has been identified and curtailed. Damping down is ongoing.”
Explore Data on the Nairametrics Research Website
Initial disaster assessment is as follows:
Casualties still being assessed, 8 fatalities identified so far
25 houses (mostly bungalows)
16 lock up shops
1 Primary School
Updates will follow as firefighters and rescue workers continue to operate at the incident scene. https://t.co/MXj0YfjqhG— LRU #Call112 (@lasemasocial) October 8, 2020
READ: UPDATE: Massive explosion rocks FESTAC area of Lagos
Back story: Exactly two weeks ago, September 24, Nairametrics reported when a gas tanker explosion occurred at the Ifako-Ijaye area of Lagos with at least 50 people sustaining burn injuries.
According to a statement from LASEMA, an unidentified truck conveying gasoline had a lone accident and exploded.
It said that the impact of the explosion led to a fire outbreak on adjoining buildings with several vehicles burnt. It also pointed out that several persons were injured and have been taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.
Business
2021 Budget: Senate sets motion for budget defense, commences 2020 review
The National Assembly is set to commence a review of the 2020 budget implementation.
The two chambers of the National Assembly are set to postpone plenary to give room for its various committees to commence the review of the 2020 budget implementation.
As well as enable ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) defend their 2021 budget proposal. This is according to a disclosure by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
The disclosure is the sequel to the passing of the 2021 Appropriation Bill for second reading last week. In addition, the National Assembly is expected to commence debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which was recently forwarded to the house by President Muhammadu Buhari.
What they are saying
Commenting on both bills, Mr. Lawan said: “On Tuesday, we will be taking the debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). This will be the last function that we would do in the plenary.”
He remarked further: “We will suspend plenary on Tuesday for the budget defense processes to start immediately”.
On an optimistic note, Mr. Lawan stated that the PIB which had scaled the first reading last week will also be passed for second reading today after the debate.
(READ MORE:U.S. budget suffers a deficit of $3.1 trillion in 2020, as pandemic slams the economy)
What you should know
The National Assembly has fixed the deadline for the 2021 budget defense in the red chamber by MDAs to be the first week of November 2020.
In lieu of this fact, Mr. Lawan urged all ministers and heads of government agencies to ensure they comply with the directives within the stipulated timeframe.
Why this matters
The recent development is a big boost in returning the country’s budget cycle back to the January-December timeframe which will expedite effective implementation of the budget provisions as funds will be released on time to concerned ministries, enabling them to execute capital projects and meet their recurrent needs.
Business
#EndSARS: Human Rights Commission seeks prosecution of 35 indicted police officers
The National Human Rights Commission has demanded the prosecution of 35 indicted police officers.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) announced that it has submitted a report to the Presidential Investigation Panel on human rights abuse against the now-scrapped Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
As it seeks the prosecution of 35 indicted police personnel by the Attorney-General of the Federation. This was disclosed in a statement by the NHRC on Tuesday morning. The Commission said the report was submitted on Monday. The report contains names of all 35 indicted Policemen that served under the disbanded SARS and expects the AGF to consider their prosecution in accordance with the law.
NHRC SEEKS PROSECUTION OF 35 INDICTED POLICE PERSONNEL BY THE AGF pic.twitter.com/UdnQYGaFvp
— NHRC Nigeria tweets (@NhrcNigeria) October 20, 2020
Backstory
Recall Nairametrics also reported that the NHRC also constituted members of an independent investigation panel into the activities of the dissolved SARS, as the Federal Government finds a way to end the nationwide protests.
The AGF told the NHRC that the report will be implemented by the Federal Government and justice would be served to all parties involved. The NHRC said the report was conducted by listening to complaints of police brutality in the six geopolitical zones and “there were discoveries and all were encapsulated in the report.
“We have a mandate to establish a constitutional order,” the AGF said.
He added that the Police Act 2020 has provided solutions to some questions asked about the Police Force, including their operations and welfare captured in the Police Trust Fund.
Why it matters
The criminal prosecution of SARS personnel who have been involved in one form of abuse or the other has been a key demand of the #EndSARS protesters who have taken to the streets in the last two weeks to demonstrate against police brutality. They have declared that it is only in the transparent prosecution of these officers, amongst other demands that they will eventually call off their protests and vacate the streets.
Business
BREAKING : Lagos state imposes 24-hour curfew, as hoodlums hijack #EndSARS protest
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Lagos State.
The Lagos State Government has announced the imposition of a 24-hour curfew in all parts of the state, with effect from 4 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
This is due to the raging #ENDSARS protests and demonstrations in the state which has been hijacked by criminals and hoodlums with attacks on innocent citizens and destruction of properties.
The announcement was made by the State Governor via a tweet thread on his official Twitter handle today.
Sanwo-Olu, in his statement, said, ‘’I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society. Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our state.”
“As a government that is alive to its responsibility and has shown a commitment to the #EndSars movement, we will not watch and allow anarchy in our state.
“I, therefore, declare a 24-hour curfew in the state starting from 4 pm today, nobody except emergency responders and essential service providers should be found on the streets.’’
The governor said nobody, except essential service providers and first responders, must be found on the streets.
Dear Lagosians,
I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society. Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella
…— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) October 20, 2020
Details later…
2021 Budget: Senate sets motion for budget defense, commences 2020 review
#EndSARS: Human Rights Commission seeks prosecution of 35 indicted police officers
BREAKING : Lagos state imposes 24-hour curfew, as hoodlums hijack #EndSARS protest
#EndSARS: Hoodlums burn down police station in Lagos
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Anonymous
October 8, 2020 at 10:07 am
It is more than one person that died,, this information is not true
Anonymous
October 8, 2020 at 10:39 am
What is exactly happening in Lagos, nowadays?
The question should go to all the Safety and Task Force Organizations.
We should stopped pretending as if all these happenings in Lagos and Nigeria are mysteries. We should stop deceiving ourselves.
Anonymous
October 8, 2020 at 11:33 am
Pls confirm before you start sharing news. Alot of people died not just one
omotosho
October 8, 2020 at 6:36 pm
There are lots of these gas stations around us. Who approved or authorised their operations in the first place? We have them in market place in my community and within our estate. I’m envisaging what would happen should there be any explosion God forbid.
Leonard
October 9, 2020 at 2:12 am
Many years back, Buhari’s administration enacted a law to claimed certain setback space for high tension power lines in the country. The law forbade buildings under high tension and many structures were destroyed then.
Now back to gas pipelines explosions and petroleum products generally, I think its high time such a law were enacted and enforced with all fierceness and determination. I suggest 50m perimeter of the pipe lines and high tension power lines.
Certain types if catastrophes are really avoidable if governments have been proactive. Even the same law should be made and enforced and all structures within a certain distance from main roads should be destroyed. People should not build houses near or too close to high ways and motorable roads.
I dare say that our governments are all failures in safeguarding lives and properties. While should government agencies approve filling stations inside residential areas?
Anonymous
October 9, 2020 at 4:53 pm
Are there any relief funds available for the victims?! Any agencies or churches that can help?