Lagos Plans Monthly Rental System to Redress Housing Accomodation Challenge – Gov. Sanwo-Olu
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has advocated for monthly rental system, which, he said, would be affordable to low- and middle-income earners who are pressured by yearly rent obligation.
He stated this at a forum held in Ikeja, Lagos State on the theme: “Housing Development as a Catalyst for Job Creation, Social Inclusion and Economic Development” which was attended by stakeholders including Commissioners for Housing and Urban Development across 36 States; Permanent Secretaries in the States’ Housing ministries; lawmakers on Housing Committees; Surveyors, Town Planners, Builders and others the building industry and real estate industry.
Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted positive developments and achievements of his administration in operating a Rent-to-Own programme of five per cent down payment and six per cent simple interest rate payable over a period of 10 years; raising the housing stock by commissioning at least ten housing schemes across the state with several others being worked on.
Former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, who was instrumental to reducing payment of multiple years rent to a statutory one year, agreed with Governor Sanwo-Olu. He said although monthly rental model may not translate to making all Nigerians home owners, but it would help reduce the number of citizens who lack decent shelters and live on the edge.
Divisional Police HQ in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, attacked by Gunmen
Amidst reports of an attack on a police unit at about 3:00a.m. on Sunday, the Ebonyi State Police Command Police confirmed an attack on Unwana Divisional Headquarters in Afikpo North Local Government Area of the State on Sunday.
According to the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Loveth Odah, the attackers, numbering over 35, stormed the station, shooting sporadically at policemen on duty, who immediately repelled them.
The PPRO in her press statement said:
“In the gun battle that ensued, one (1) of the hoodlums was killed and two AK47 rifles and other incriminating items were recovered while others escaped with bullet wound injuries. Regrettably, one Police Inspector attached to the Division was fatally wounded. The Police Facility/Operational vehicles are intact”. The statement added that the deceased suspect had been on the police wanted list for various attacks on police stations and one of the recovered AK-47 rifles was identified to be the rifle stolen from Ohaukwu Police Division early this month.
The police have blamed suspected members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) for the attack.
Rescind Telecomms Blockade on 14 LGAs in Sokoto – Governor Tambuwal to FG
After the recent attack on the Goronyo market by purported bandits, during which 43 people were reportedly killed, the Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal, has call for the rescinding of the blockade of telecommunications service (earlier imposed by the federal government) in fourteen local government areas of the state.
This may have become necessary because of alleged concerns expressed by security outfits in the state that the outage was affecting the smooth conduct of their operations.
To this end, the Sokoto State Government has formally written to the Federal Government by a letter to letter to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to review the blockade.
Governor Tambuwal announced this on Saturday when he received the North-East Governors Forum, represented by Governors of Borno and Gombe state, Professor Babagana Zulum and Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya respectively, who paid a condolence visit to the state over the bandits’ attack of last week.
Oyo State: Manhunt for Abolongo Jailbreak Fugitives and Outlaws
Following the armed attack on the Medium Security Custodial Centre on, Abolongo, Oyo State on Friday night, 262 inmates freed by the gunmen have been recaptured and a manhunt for 575 missing inmates has begun.
Unconfirmed reports alleged that 70 year old Iskili Wakilu alleged to have been involved in Fulani herder-farmers face-off around Ayete, Ibarapa North and earlier charged with six counts including conspiracy, murder, kidnapping and armed robbery may have been one of the escaped inmates from the attack and jail break.
Two security agents lost their lives during the attack – an official of Amotekun Corps and a soldier – while others sustained various injuries.
The state Governor, Seyi Makinde, confirmed this during a live broadcast on Saturday where he commiserated with the families of the security operatives who lost their lives and called for calm among residents, urging them to be on the alert adding that security agencies in the state had been put on high alert with a view to apprehending the fugitives and outlaws, and protecting lives and property in the state.
Anambra Polls: INEC State REC Expresses Concern
At the opening ceremony of the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) AMBER Zone Implementers Workshop held in Anambra, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji expressed fear that the week-long sit-at-home order declared by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ahead of the November 6 Anambra State governorship election may threaten INEC preparations for the poll, while also making reference to the May 23 attacks on INEC facilities in the state.
Dr. Orji announced that
the Commission had recruited and mobilised 25, 000 Ad hoc staff that would man 5, 720 polling units in the state in preparation for the polls.
He said barring disruptions of its activities in the future, the Commission would confidently be ready by Nov. 6 to conduct a free, fair and peaceful election.
He added that sensitive materials will go to the Central Bank of Nigeria branch in Awka and that the damaged structures at the INEC headquarters were being restored.
He gave assurance that in the process of preparing for the election, all that are needed would be on ground for a free, fair, credible, and successful election.
Bandits fleeing military onslaught in Zamfara & Kaduna take over farmsteads in Batsari, Katsina State.
Tukur Mu’azu Ruma, the district head of Batsari (Sarkin-Ruman) in Katsina State, has raised alarm that bandits fleeing military onslaught in Zamfara and Kaduna states are taking over farming communities in Batsari, Katsina State.
He said bandits dislodged by government security operations in Zamfara State were establishing new enclaves in communities bordering Runka forest and other adjoining forests in the area from where they come out daily to attack innocent citizens at the night, especially along Batsari-Jibia road.
This has prevented farmers in the local government from harvesting their
adding that in some areas, as a consequence of facing starvation as a result of determined military action against them by government forces, the bandits are the ones doing the harvesting instead.
According to the emir, the bandits had attacked the Yasore community killing 11 farmers, burning their silos and houses. After the attack, the bandits were alleged to have stopped those who survived the invasion from accessing their farms in order to harvest their crops.
