The Association of Igbo Town Unions, ASITU, has taken its grievances to the international stage, petitioning the United Nations Human Rights Council, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the ECOWAS Court of Justice over what it described as the “systematic demolition” of properties belonging to Igbo traders and investors in Lagos State.

Addressing journalists in Umuahia, Abia State, the National President of ASITU, Chief Emeka Diwe, decried the continued targeting of Igbo-owned businesses and structures, alleging that the actions amounted to “economic cleansing.”

Diwe lamented that Nigeria was “gradually dying from the cancer of ethnic discrimination and selective justice,” accusing government institutions of failing to uphold fairness and equality.

Flanked by members of ASITU’s national executive council drawn from various Igbo communities, Diwe explained that the petition followed multiple unsuccessful attempts to engage with relevant Nigerian authorities.

“We have not lost faith in Nigerian institutions, but they have consistently failed to respond to our documented complaints. That is why we have turned to regional and international bodies for intervention,” he stated.

The ASITU president faulted the Lagos State Government’s justification that the affected buildings were constructed on waterways, describing it as a misleading claim designed to mask deeper biases.

“These properties were lawfully acquired and duly approved by relevant agencies. Such demolitions send a disturbing message to investors, that property rights in Nigeria are insecure and that ethnicity may determine how justice is applied,” Diwe asserted.

He argued that the destruction of legitimate businesses not only discourages investment but also threatens job creation, economic stability, and Nigeria’s international image as a country governed by the rule of law.

According to ASITU, most of the demolition notices were served just days before enforcement, denying property owners the opportunity to seek legal remedy.

The group also accused officials of disregarding valid approval documents submitted by affected traders.

“Many of these buildings had valid permits issued by the same Lagos State Government that later tore them down. This is not law enforcement. It is the deliberate erasure of livelihoods and a violation of constitutional guarantees of equality and justice,” Diwe said.

While urging those affected to remain calm and law-abiding, ASITU called on the Igbo business community to rechannel part of their wealth into the South-East to foster economic independence.

“To our brothers and sisters in business, do not lose hope. Let us embrace the philosophy of Aku Ruo Ulo, let wealth return home,” Diwe advised. “When we invest in our homeland, we create jobs, security, and dignity for our people.”

He clarified that the association’s call for justice was not an agitation for secession but a demand for fairness, mutual respect, and equitable treatment of all ethnic groups in Nigeria.

The Lagos State Police Command says it has deployed officers across strategic locations to forestall any disruption of public peace following intelligence reports of a planned protest on the Third Mainland Bridge by some youths in the Oworonshoki area.

In a statement released in the early hours of Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the police assured residents that robust security measures have been put in place to maintain law and order throughout the state.

“The Command is aware of information circulating regarding a planned disruption on the Third Mainland Bridge by some youths in the Oworonshoki area,” the statement read.

According to Adebisi, officers have been fully mobilised to safeguard road users, prevent obstruction of vehicular movement, and ensure the safety of lives and property.

She urged residents to remain calm and go about their normal activities without fear, adding that police personnel have been strategically positioned to respond promptly to any potential security threat.

“Members of the public are therefore advised to go about their lawful activities without fear and to cooperate with security personnel carrying out their duties,” Adebisi stated.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property while ensuring the free flow of traffic across Lagos.

The lawmaker representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko, has said that the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, will bring peace to the Southeast.

This was as he said peace has continued to elude the Southeast geopolitical zone due to the perceived marginalisation of the region by successive governments.

Nwoko stated this in an interview on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television monitored by DAILY POST.

According to him, the Southeast has witnessed persistent unrest in recent years, following agitations by the separatist group, which has been calling for the creation of an independent state of Biafra.

He maintained that the creation of Anioma State and the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, will almost certainly bring lasting peace to the Southeast.

“The problem in the Southeast has to do with the perceived injustice by successive governments.

“So, what needs to be done, and it’s one of the reasons I am here today, is the creation of a new state to make up the number to six, and then the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

“By the time you do these two things, I am almost certain that peace will return to the Southeast,” he said.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted varying weather conditions, including dust haze and rainfall, across different parts of the country between Monday and Wednesday, urging residents to stay alert.

In its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet projected slight dust haze with good visibility over Borno, Zamfara, northern Kaduna, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina States on Monday.

The agency added that isolated thunderstorms with light rain were likely in parts of Taraba and Adamawa States during the afternoon or evening hours on Monday.

NiMet forecast sunny skies with patches of clouds over the central region, with prospects of isolated thunderstorms and light rain in the FCT, Nasarawa, and Kogi States later in the day.

The statement read, “Cloudy conditions are expected in the southern region on Monday morning, with isolated thunderstorms and light rains over parts of Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.

“Later in the afternoon and evening, thunderstorms with moderate rainfall are anticipated in Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Ondo, Osun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.

“On Tuesday, NiMet forecast continued slight dust haze in good visibility over northern states, while Taraba and Adamawa may experience isolated thunderstorms and light rain throughout the day.

“Sunny skies with intermittent clouds are predicted in the central region, alongside chances of early morning thunderstorms in Benue and later moderate rain across FCT, Nasarawa, and Kogi States.”

NiMet also projected cloudy skies across the southern states, with moderate rainfall over Rivers, Cross River, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom in the morning, intensifying later in the day.

The agency warned of possible flooding in parts of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River States, urging local authorities to activate emergency response measures where necessary.

For Wednesday, NiMet anticipated sunny skies across the northern region, with isolated thunderstorms and light rain expected later in the day, particularly over parts of Taraba State.

“The central region will experience sunny skies with patches of clouds, while isolated thunderstorms with light rain are likely over Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory.

“In the south, cloudy conditions are expected in the morning, followed by thunderstorms with moderate rains later in the afternoon and evening across Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, and Akwa Ibom,” it stated.

NiMet reiterated a high risk of flash floods, urging motorists to exercise caution when driving in rain and for authorities in vulnerable areas to implement flood response measures immediately.

The agency also advised individuals with asthma and respiratory conditions to limit outdoor exposure due to dust particles suspended in the atmosphere over the northern parts of the country.

Airline operators were urged to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for flight planning, while the public was encouraged to follow updates via the agency’s website and communication channels.

The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, has exonerated one of its staff members, Olukayode John Adetifa, of allegations of fraud that recently circulated on social media, but found him culpable of violating the agency’s “no cash” policy.

In a statement signed by Atinuke Dasilva, Head of Corporate Communications, LASAA stated that an internal investigation revealed that Adetifa, who serves in the agency’s Alimosho office, did not defraud the client, MJ Beauty Salon, as alleged, but mistakenly received payment into his personal account.

DAILY POST had reported that a viral social media post had accused Adetifa of collecting N45,000 via his personal Opay account while issuing a receipt of only N7,100.

However, LASAA clarified that a fact-finding panel discovered that the staff merely assisted the client, who was reportedly unwell, to complete an official online payment for signage registration amounting to N40,000.

According to the agency, the salon owner later corroborated this finding and tendered an apology for the misunderstanding, disowning the viral claim that sparked the controversy.

While noting that the investigation found no evidence of fraudulent intent, LASAA maintained that Adetifa’s conduct breached internal procedures and that he would be subjected to disciplinary action in line with Public Service Rules.

The agency reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability in service delivery, urging the public to strictly adhere to its “no cash” payment policy and to report any complaints through official communication channels.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has arrested six suspected members of a notorious “one-chance” robbery syndicate believed to be operating under the Ijora Bridge corridor in Lagos.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the operation was conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police, Lagos State Task Force, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, and the Nigerian Army.

The arrests, carried out on Thursday, October 23, 2025, were part of a joint enforcement operation aimed at clearing illegal garages, makeshift shanties, and criminal hideouts along Apapa Road, Costain, and Ijora under-bridge.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said the coordinated exercise demonstrates the government’s zero-tolerance stance on environmental violations and the unlawful occupation of public spaces.

“This operation is part of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s integrated effort to make Lagos safer, cleaner, and more habitable. Criminal elements and illegal occupants still operating beneath bridges and in unauthorized spaces are hereby warned to vacate immediately,” Giwa stated.

During the operation, enforcement teams recovered 77 mobile phones, two POS machines, several wristwatches, and other personal items believed to have been stolen from unsuspecting commuters and pedestrians. Authorities also confiscated multiple kegs of adulterated diesel and over 150 packs of expired plantain chips and cheese balls.

Giwa revealed that the Ijora under-bridge area had become a hub for criminal activities. “The location had evolved into a storage centre for stolen items and contraband. Today’s cleanup has successfully dismantled those hideouts and restored sanity to the corridor,” he said.

In addition to the arrests, more than 120 illegal shanties were demolished, including structures located around St. Peter’s Catholic Nursery and Primary School on Apapa Road.

“By reclaiming these public spaces, we are reinforcing urban discipline and ensuring that vital infrastructure is not converted into criminal shelters,” Giwa added.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, lauded the collaboration among security and enforcement agencies, describing it as a model of effective inter-agency synergy.

“LASTMA’s responsibility extends beyond traffic management. It includes ensuring public safety, protecting transport corridors, and preventing criminal encroachments on public infrastructure,” Bakare-Oki stated.

He urged Lagos residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to relevant authorities.

The six suspects; Adetunji Bashiru (28), Sulaiman Kada (35), Abubakar Bala (42), Abubakar Ahmed (28), Rasaq Gbadamosi (21), and Ibrahim Yakub (23), have been handed over to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution.

The Founder and President of Atiba University, Oyo State, James Ojebode, has condemned the alleged refusal of some federal universities to accept the recently released National Examinations Council results from admission seekers.

In a statement on Friday, Ojebode described the development as, “unjust, discriminatory, and inconsistent with the country’s commitment to inclusive and equitable education.”

He lamented that many candidates who applied for admission using ‘Awaiting Results’ were later denied entry after NECO released their results.

Ojebode also described the situation as “a denial of the fundamental right to education and a reflection of administrative insensitivity.”

The varsity founder urged the Federal Ministry of Education, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, and NECO to take immediate action to address the issue.