Category Nigeria News

The United Bank of Africa (UBA) has cleared the air over the safety of its staff members and customers during a fire that broke out in a building that houses one of its branches on Tuesday.

Panic gripped Broad Street, Lagos Island, when smoke from a basement fire scare forced the evacuation of trapped persons in a six-storey building.

While narrating the ordeal, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said that the fire originated in the inverter room located in Afriland Tower’s basement.

Deputy Controller General, Ogabi Olajide, said the service received a call at 13:38 hours before fire crews swiftly mobilised to the scene.

He, however, said firefighters from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu stations responded promptly, preventing the outbreak from escalating beyond smoke-filled floors.

In a statement posted on its X handle on Wednesday, UBA confirmed he fire, adding that both its customers and staff members are safe.

It also noted that the affected building was not its facility.

“We are aware of the fire incident at a building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, which incidentally houses one of our many branches.

“As against reports online and social media, the affected building is not the UBA House, Marina, the Bank’s head office.

“We have ensured the safety and well-being of our staff and customers in the branch,” the statement read.

Online videos had captured how the building occupants jumped down in fear, while onlookers rushed with ladders and foamy materials for support.

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Trapped workers smashed glass windows to breathe, while residents below stretched out their hands to catch them.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic moments, with screams echoing across Broad Street as smoke spread rapidly through the upper floors.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Adewole Adebayo, has described President Bola Tinubu as a well-known tax collector.

Adebayo, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, said that Tinubu did tax collection in Lagos as a governor and is doing it now in Abuja as the president.

He said, “Everybody knows that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a well-known tax collector. But that tax collection is an improvement over a disorganized system he met on ground.

“He did tax collection in Lagos and he came to do tax collection in Abuja. The problem is with Hon. Dogara’s speech is that he is overstating it. This reform is not the best but is far better than what we had.”

The opposition politician acknowledged that Tinubu has made progress in managing Nigeria’s economy.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Returns To Abuja After Vacation In Europe

According to him, Tinubu’s predecessor President Muhammadu Buhari managed the country’s economy poorly.

“It’s obvious that the economy that President Buhari left was a poorly managed economy, and was an emergency room patient. Like any emergency room patient, the road to recovery will be a good diagnosis by the doctor. So if the doctor is able to know what is the reason why you are ill, he will be able to put you on a solid path to recovery.

“What President Tinubu has done is to stabilise the patient, but I’m not sure that he has managed to know the ailment. So the patient is not going to die imminently, but he hasn’t found a cure,” he said.

Adebayo added, “He hasn’t been able to identify the problem, the ailment that is disturbing the patient, but as an emergency room doctor he is taking some steps, some of it actually aggravated the case of the patient, but over time, he appears to have one or two wins in two sectors, which is why it appears that they might be deceived into thinking that the patient is on his road to recovery.”

Governor Caleb Mutfwang has restated his firm support for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to tackle insecurity across Plateau State and Nigeria at large.

Speaking at the special court session marking the commencement of the 2025/2026 legal year in Jos, the governor emphasized that the time for state police has come.

“I believe that the time for the creation of state police is now. When we do have state police, I am sure we will be able to respond better and address many situations faster.”

The governor, who commended President Bola Tinubu for joining the call for state police, also urged the National Assembly not to relent in pushing the matter forward.

On strengthening local security, Governor Mutfwang disclosed that the state government will, within the next two weeks, recruit an additional 1,450 personnel into Operation Rainbow.

“Yes, the security challenge has looked us squarely in the face, but we are doing all we can. By God’s grace, we will be bringing in 1,450 fresh personnel to augment security in the state,” he said. “We are not shy of our responsibility to provide security for our citizens. We have not shirked this duty and we will not.”

The governor also called for greater collaboration between citizens and security agencies, particularly in the area of intelligence gathering.

READ ALSO: Troops Kill Three Boko Haram Commanders, Eight Others In Borno

“As a government, we cannot do much without credible intelligence. Members of the various communities are in a far better position to tell us what is happening. That is why we have created helplines across the state to respond quickly to distress calls,” he explained.

Beyond security, Governor Mutfwang used the occasion to commend the Plateau State judiciary for upholding integrity in the discharge of its duties, while pledging continued support for their welfare.

“I commend you for not allowing yourselves to become the subject of public opprobrium,” he said. “We will continue to improve the conditions of service for judicial officers and ensure that those who retire do not retire into misery and penury.”

He announced that directives had already been given for the payment of outstanding entitlements to retired judges and promised to address long-standing arrears of robe allowances.

The governor concluded with a charge to both the bar and the bench to remain guided by ethics, good conscience, and the fear of God in the new legal year.

The Kaduna State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the African Industries Group, based in Bucharest, Romania, to revolutionise irrigation farming in Gurara and establish a cutting-edge greenhouse project.

Governor Uba Sani, who disclosed this during a working visit to Bucharest, described the agreement as significant in the quest to unlock Kaduna’s vast agricultural potential.

In a statement, Governor Sani said the strategic alliance represented more than an investment but a bold leap toward making Kaduna a beacon of agro-industrial excellence.

According to him, “By harnessing the promise of our Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAP-Z) and the Africa Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC), we are equipping our farmers to become not just producers, but key players in a globally competitive agricultural economy.”

He added that the project would enhance food security, deepen rural prosperity, and lay the groundwork for Kaduna to emerge as an export-oriented agro hub, attracting world-class investments and generating jobs for the youth.

While describing Romania as a country renowned for agricultural expertise, fertile lands, and advanced technology, Governor Sani expressed optimism that the partnership would enable Kaduna to harness Romania’s European market connections and global agricultural heritage to strengthen its role in international trade.

“Kaduna’s evolution into one of Nigeria’s premier investment and agricultural destinations is no accident. It is the product of fertile land, industrious people, and a government that prioritises infrastructure, innovation, and investor confidence.

“We are building more than farms and factories; we are building a resilient economy that bridges local effort with global opportunity.

“This is the Kaduna we envision: a self-sustaining, globally connected state where prosperity is not a promise but a lived reality for every citizen.”

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday returned to Abuja after concluding his annual working vacation in Europe.

Tinubu arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and was received by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Also at the airport were his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the President’s return in a statement issued on Monday.

He said Tinubu concluded his work vacation ahead of schedule and would resume official duties on Tuesday.

READ ALSO: No Sign Tinubu Is Capable Of Addressing Hunger, Atiku Laments

The President departed Nigeria on September 4 for France, intending to split his annual holiday between France and the United Kingdom.

During his stay in Paris, Tinubu held a private luncheon with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace.

Both leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and pledged to strengthen partnerships for mutual prosperity and global stability.

Three commanders of the ISWAP terrorist group have been killed by troops of the Nigerian military during the terrorists’ attempted ambush in Cross-Kauwa, at the lake Chad region.

They were identified as Modu Dogo Munzir of Dogon Chukun, an unidentified Munzir, and one Abu Aisha, Qaid of Tumbun Mota.

Eight other terrorists were also neutralized in the foiled ambush which saw the terrorists detonate a command improvised explosive device on Monday.

According to Operation Hadin Kai Theater Command, troops of Sector 3 were on a scanning and picketing patrol along Baga-Cross Kauwa, a known supply route of the terrorists in Kukawa Local Government Area.

“In the first encounter on 15 September 2025, at about 8:00am, troops of Sector 3 on a scanning and picketing patrol along the Baga–Cross Kauwa Main Supply Route in Kukawa Local Government Area were ambushed by terrorists who detonated a Command Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and opened fire on the patrol team” a statement from the Theater Command reads.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Suspect For Supplying Arms To Bandits In Zamfara

It added that a gun battle ensued after the bomb blast, forcing the terrorists to flee with varying degrees of injuries leading to the recovery of 14 motorcycles, AK-47 rifles with magazines, rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, anti-aircraft, several blankets and other sundry items including drugs.

The Theater Command also stated that two gun trucks that could not be extricated due to terrain conditions were subsequently destroyed around Alargarno and Doro Naira, with additional terrorists neutralised by the Air Component of OPHK with precision guidance support from the Multi-National Joint TaskForce Intelligence Support Response platform.

The theater says no casualty was recorded in the operation on the part of the government troops.

Troops of Sector 1 along with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hunters conducted offensive operations at Umbo in Madagali LGA of Adamawa State at about the same time the ambush in Kukawa was taking place.

In the encounter, three other terrorists were neutralised, while several others fled with gunshot wounds.