Former Everton player, Li Tie has been sentenced to life in prison for corruption in his home country of China.

In a televised confession on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Li said he had paid around £330,000 to manage the national football team.

He also revealed he had played a role in a match-fixing scandal to secure promotions with club teams he featured for in China.

Li was ‘suspected of accepting and offering bribes’ by the Chinese public prosecutor.

This is coming after he left his role as manager of his nation.

The 46-year-old managed the China national team between 2019 and 2021.

Li made 40 appearances across all competitions for Everton having spent four years at the Premier League club from 2002 to 2006.

He had a spell at Sheffield United as player in the past.

The former midfielder is now set to spend the rest of his life behind bars, amid a Chinese crackdown on corruption in football.

An NGO, Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigeria (CWEENS), has decried the spate of child trafficking in Plateau.

Ochanya Fatoki, the legal officer and programme manager of the organisation, said this in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Jos.

Mrs Fatoki, who described Plateau as a ‘transient hub’ for child trafficking in Nigeria, called for collaboration between the state, federal ministry of women affairs and other relevant stakeholders toward combating the menace.”

CWEENS recently noticed an increase in child trafficking, labour and prostitution in Plateau.”

This may not be unconnected with the current security challenges in the state because traffickers now go to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp to pick these young girls without any form of legal procedures.”

Poverty, ignorance of the law, parental negligence and bad parenting, and other reasons are contributing to this illegal activity.”

While we call on government to go into aggressive awareness against trafficking and its attendant consequences, stringent measures should be put in place, particularly the enforcement of laws and regulations against child trafficking,” she said.

The legal officer, who accused some parents of pushing their young daughters and sometimes boys into the illegal act, worried about the existence of a human trafficking syndicate in the state.

The legal officer said that these girls were usually pushed out by their parents in search of better life for the family.

“These parents tell these young girls that it’s their duty to rescue the family from financial difficulties.

“Some time ago, we handled the case of a young girl who was taken to Mali from Plateau.

“She said the agent told her that it cost him N1.5 million to bring her to Mali and she has to do prostitution to pay back,” she explained.

Mrs Fatoki, however, said that CWEENS would support in the fight against child trafficking, adding arrangements had been concluded for its human resource department to go to the hinterlands to create awareness against the illegal activity.

The Forward Operating Base, FOB, of the Nigerian Navy in Badagry, Lagos State, has intercepted 15,540 litres of petrol stored in a building along the creeks.

The Commanding Officer of the FOB, Navy Capt. B A Amakiri, said naval operatives intercepted 518 ×30 Jerry cans on Thursday, at about 11:00 am, at Agbojetho-Akorin Beach along Badagry-Seme Road.

According to him, the navy acted after receiving an intelligence tip-off about the activities of some suspected smugglers within the area.

“The intelligence indicated that several jerry cans suspected to contain petrol were stored in a building within Agbojetho-Akorin Beach along Badagry-Seme Road.

“Consequently, the Base Quick Response Team proceeded to the beach general area for investigation and possible arrest and seizure.

“The team conducted a cordon and search operation in the area and discovered 518 x 30 litres jerry cans of the suspected products,” he said.

Amakiri explained that the quantity of the petrol product translates to about 15,540litres, valued at N9,479,400 at the current rate of about N610 per litre.

“The perpetrators absconded on getting information about the approach of the team.

“It is suspected that the perpetrators had the intention of smuggling the products out of Nigeria to the Benin Republic.

“The adjoining communities were also searched, but no other products or suspects were found,” he said.

Amakiri restated the commitment of his officers to continue making smuggling unattractive, adding that the economic saboteurs would be frustrated until smuggling was suppressed to the barest minimum.

FCT minister Nyesom Wike has assured the Nigerian Law School management of maximum security at its Abuja campus in Bwari, Abuja.

Mr Wike made the pledge when a delegation of the school, led by its director-general, Isa Chiroma, visited him in Abuja on Thursday.

He explained that the FCT Administration has ensured heavy security in the Bwari council area, where the Abuja campus of the law school is located.

He said the security deployment was based on intelligence agencies’ intelligence reports to ensure residents’ safety, including private and public institutions in the area.

“We didn’t want to take any chances at all, knowing fully well the intelligence we were getting. So that is why there is so much security within the Bwari area council.

“This is because if anything happens, it will be a setback to the entire country and the FCT,” the minister said.

Mr Wike reiterated the administration’s support to the NLS and pledged to consider the institution’s request to construct staff quarters and provide vehicles.

He noted that it was important for agencies within the FCT to be given necessary support.

“Luckily, the legal profession is my own constituency, and so it will be out of place if they have problems, and I won’t be able to support them. You should take it for granted that the FCT will support you,” Mr Wike said.

He directed the FCTA’s general counsel to liaise with the school management to see how the request for the staff quarters would be captured in the FCTA’s 2024 statutory budget.

On the request for vehicles, the minister said that he would look at available vehicles and make some available for the school.

Earlier, Mr Chiroma appealed to the minister to construct staff quarters and provide vehicles for the school’s Abuja campus.

He also explained that the delegation was in Wike’s office to congratulate him on his appointment as minister of the FCT.

He added that the visit also informed Mr Wike that he is among the NLS’ awardees to be presented at its 60th anniversary.

The Federal High Court in Ilorin restrained journalists from entering the court premises to cover the trial of the immediate past governor of Kwara State, AbdulFatah Ahmed.

The former governor was brought to court on Friday for trial over N10 billion of the state fund he allegedly misappropriated.

He was brought into the Federal High Court at FATE Road in Ilorin by 8:50 am for the trial.

The police and court registrar prevented journalists from entering the court, saying they are acting on orders from above.

Speaking with newsmen outside the court premises, Wahab Oba, Chief Press Secretary to the ex-governor, lamented what he described as a secret trial of his principal, saying the trial was a political prosecution.

“The former governor Dr. Ahmed is supposed to be arraigned by the EFCC so we are here to witness the commencement of the trial. Ordinarily the court is an open place, our concern is that the trial should be transparent and open.

“We cannot understand why the police have denied journalists from covering the event,” Oba said.

As of press time, journalists were gathered on the street, awaiting the arrival of the judge, and the outcome of the trial.

Yemen’s armed Houthi group claimed responsibility for launching missile attacks against a British cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday.

The Palau-flagged, British-owned cargo ship was damaged, and a minor injury was reported in the Gulf of Aden after it was hit by two missiles launched by the Houthis, according to the U.S. military.

The Islander is continuing its voyage following the attack south-east of the Yemeni port city of Aden.

UK maritime authorities said the missiles caused a fire on board.A Houthi spokesman confirmed they had targeted the Islander and said they had also launched drones at a U.S. warship.

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran and control much of north-western Yemen, have been attacking merchant vessels in the region since November.

They say their attacks are a show of support for the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and have claimed – often falsely – that they are targeting ships only linked to Israel, the U.S. or the UK.

U.S. and British warships have been deployed as part of an international task force to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping in the critical waterway, which accounts for about 12 per cent of global seaborne trade.

U.S. forces, occasionally backed by British warplanes, have also been striking Houthi military targets in Yemen in response to the attacks since mid-January, but so far the Houthis have not been deterred.

The U.S. military’s Central Command said in a statement on Thursday that between 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. (01:30-02:30 GMT), U.S. aircraft and a coalition warship shot down six Houthi one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, in the Red Sea.

Later, between 8:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m., the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from southern Yemen into the Gulf of Aden, it added.

“The missiles impacted MV Islander, a Palau-flagged, UK-owned cargo carrier, causing one minor injury and damage. The ship is continuing its voyage,” it noted.

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that two missiles set ablaze a vessel – which it did not identify – about 70 nautical miles (130km) south-east of Aden.

It said the vessel and crew were safe and proceeding to their next port of call.According to maritime security firm Ambrey, the ship’s AIS transponder gave its destination as “Syrian crew on board,” but it appeared to be heading toward the Red Sea from Thailand.

The Israeli military meanwhile said its air defence system had successfully intercepted a “launch which was identified in the area of the Red Sea and was en route to Israel.”

The Houthi spokesman later confirmed they had launched missiles and drones at various targets in what it called the “south of occupied Palestine.”

In a televised speech on Thursday afternoon, the Houthis’ leader said a total of 48 ships had now been targeted and that 13 operations had been carried out in the past week because the U.S. and UK had “failed.”

“Operations in the Red and Arabian Seas, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden are continuing, escalating, and effective,” Abdul Malik al-Houthi declared.

He also announced that the Houthis had introduced “submarine weapons,” which he described as “worrying for the enemy.”

On Monday, the crew of a Belize-flagged, British-registered cargo vessel, Rubymar, had to abandon ship in the Bab al-Mandab Strait – which connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea – after it was hit by a Houthi missile and started letting in water.

Images of the ship from Wednesday, which were obtained by the BBC, showed the ship was down by the stern but had not sunk, as the Houthis initially claimed.

It is carrying 22 tonnes of a fertiliser classified as “very dangerous.”The Houthis also said they had attacked two U.S.-owned cargo ships in the Gulf of Aden on Monday.

The U.S. military confirmed that two missiles were fired at one of them – the Greek-flagged Sea Champion, which was able to continue its journey to Aden to deliver grain.

The U.S. State Department condemned the attacks as “reckless and indiscriminate,” warning that they had delayed deliveries of critical humanitarian aid to Yemen, Sudan, and Ethiopia.

It also said the U.S. and its allies would continue to take “appropriate action.”

The Nigeria Police Force has revealed plans to review its ban on tinted glass permits.

The ban was initiated in 2022 due to widespread concerns regarding the role of tinted glass in aiding heinous crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, the illegal transportation of firearms, and human trafficking.

In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the proposed lifting of the ban, stringent measures are being implemented to prevent abuse and ensure strict compliance with guidelines governing the issuance and use of tinted glass permits.

Adejobi said ICT analysts and Enforcement Officers nationwide will undergo a comprehensive training scheduled for the 29th of February, 2024, as a prequel to the reopening of tinted glass permit issuance.

He added that the training will equip ICT Analysts and Enforcement Officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to regulate the registration process, guide registrants on the use of the portal where required, attend to complaints from members of the public and enforce compliance effectively.

The statement reads, “The proposed tinted glass permit will incorporate distinctive features aimed at enhancing enforcement efficiency and security.

“It will focus on the intricacies of the new guidelines, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between public safety and individual freedoms while safeguarding national security.

“These include a QR code linked to a central database for real-time verification, unique serial numbers correlated with vehicle and owner details, as well as a digital hologram ensuring authenticity and integrity, among other measures”.

The PRO further stated that the Nigeria Police remained committed to providing updates to the general public on the implementation of the reviewed process of tinted glass permit issuance, ensuring transparency and accountability in its efforts to maintain internal security.

The Police in Lagos and Ogun States have commenced a joint patrol on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to improve security in the area.

The Lagos State Police spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a post he shared on his X handle @benHundeyin on Thursday.

There had been cases of kidnap incidents and other crimes on some parts of the expressway.

Hundeyin said the joint patrols would cover Kara Bridge to Sagamu Interchange.

“As part of efforts to enhance security on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Police Command in Lagos State and its Ogun State counterpart have commenced joint patrols of Kara Bridge to Sagamu Interchange.

“The patrol teams from the Lagos command will comprise mainly the Rapid Response Squad (RRS),” he said.

Hundeyin pleaded with motorists not to be scared by the heavy presence of police patrol on the road.

“Motorists are, therefore, enjoined not to panic at the sight of increased police patrols, particularly the RRS.

“This is a proactive measure to prevent crime and criminality on this stretch of the road, ” the image maker said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has determined May 29 as the date for this year’s national and provincial elections.

The president has consulted with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on the election date and convened a meeting with all nine provincial premiers to discuss the state of readiness for the general elections.

The presidency said in a statement that the 2024 elections coincide with South Africa’s celebration of 30 years of freedom and democracy.

Mr Ramaphosa calls on all eligible voters to fully participate in the important and historic milestone of the country’s democratic calendar.

“I call on all South Africans to exercise their democratic right to vote and for those who would be campaigning to do so peacefully, within the full observance of the law.

“We also urge unregistered voters to use the online registration platform to register,” said Mr Ramaphosa.

A team of medical experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO), specialising in leprosy, will arrive in Sri Lanka in March to help eliminate the disease.

The director of the Anti-Leprosy Campaign (ALC), Prasad Ranaweera, said this on Wednesday.

He said the number of leprosy patients found in Sri Lanka had significantly increased in 2023 following a drop in numbers in 2020 and 2021 due to the advent of the Coronavirus lockdowns.

Mr Ranaweera said more than 1,550 instances of leprosy were reported in 2023, and out of those, 173 were among schoolchildren.

Out of the total number of 1,550, the Western Province, the most populated province in Sri Lanka, recorded 599 cases, he said.

Mr Ranaweera said WHO experts would help them develop a roadmap to eliminate leprosy from Sri Lanka over the next decade.

Noah Sewakanu became the new chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ogun chapter, on Wednesday with a promise to uphold the union’s ethics.

Mr Sewakanu took office as the new state chairman following the retirement of his predecessor, Abiodun Akinola.

Speaking at his inauguration in Imeko, Ogun, Mr Sewakanu pledged an open-door administration, stating that he would be an impartial leader of the union.

According to him, all union members will be given the opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of the union.

He said his administration would strengthen the relationship between the union and all education agencies in the state through consultation and consolidation.

The new chairman said the agencies include the Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board, Teaching Service Commission, principals, and the headmaster’s general office.

“I make this solemn declaration between me and God to be an impartial leader and hold the ethics and ethos of the union high in spirit. I am poised to re-orientate, reorganise and build on the good legacies of the past leaders in the union activities.

“Our leadership will run an open-door policy, whereby we will give all members leverage to contribute to the growth and development of our great union,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Akinola advised union members to give the new chairman maximum support, noting that he could not do it alone.

He gave the assurance that though he was retiring as a headteacher, he would not get tired of the union.

The immediate past chairman said he would continue to ensure that Sewakanu had a successful tenure.

Also, the NUT president, Titus Amba, advised the new chairman to follow the good path of his predecessor, who had a meritorious service.

Mr Amba, represented by NUT’s national social secretary, Titilope Adebayo, urged the new chairman to always carry other members along in union activities.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has disclosed that each state governor has been allocated an extra N30 billion to address the challenges of food scarcity and hardships confronting Nigerians.

Akpabio said each state should properly utilize the money towards ensuring the availability of food.

Speaking on the floor of the senate, Akapbio said: “I must say that unverified report has it that each of the state government in the last few months received additional N30 billion from Federal Inland Revenue Service, outside their normal allocation from the federation account to assist them in ameliorating the food situation.

“We believe that every state government should utilise the funds so received towards ensuring that food is available.”

The current economic hardship has led to a hike in the prices of foodstuffs across the country.

The shortage of foodstuffs was also linked to the hoarding by some people and illegal smuggling to neighbouring countries.

Recall that Vice President Kashim Shettima had disclosed how security operatives discovered 32 illegal routes being used to smuggle foodstuffs and other items to neighbouring countries from Nigeria.

Shettima said security agents intercepted 45 trucks smuggling maize to neighbouring countries.

He noted that the price of “maize” came down by N10,000. The price of maize allegedly came down from N60,000 to N50,000″ when the trucks were intercepted.

Some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have raided offices of some Bureau de Change operators in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The EFCC, during the raid, arrested no fewer than twelve operators, with shops in the Sabo area.

Sabo is a community in Ward 6 in Ibadan North local government area and is dominated by northerners.

The source said, “They arrested 12 people. They came around 10-11 am”.Chairman of the Bureau de change operators, Aminu Ibrahim Babankande confirmed the development.

Babankande, in a telephone conversation with DAILY POST, Change Operators noted that he is still investigating the number of people arrested.

He said, “I don’t know the number now. We are still investigating.

“We are ready to cooperate with the government “.

The Nkwo market in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, LGA, of Anambra State was on Wednesday gutted by fire.

The inferno started about 1:20am as a result of a power surge.

According to eyewitnesses, goods worth millions, including household items and plastic materials were destroyed by the fire.

State Fire Chief, Dr Martin Agbili who confirmed the incident said there were no casualties.

According to him, “At about 0120hrs (1:20am) of Wednesday 21-02-2024, Anambra State Fire Service, received a distress call of fire outbreak at Nkwo Market, Umunze.

“Immediately, we deployed our fire truck and gallant firefighters to the fire scene. We fought, controlled and extinguished with the assistance of some traders and the public who came out at that incident time.

“The cause of the fire was unknown but suspected power surge. There was no casualty or lost of life during the fire incident but about four (4) shops were affected, mainly provision shops, plastic shop and attachments shop.

“Always remember to switch off your electrical and electronics appliances when they are not in use to avoid power surge.”

The Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria, NOGASA, has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on the country’s refineries if the economy must be stabilized.

The President of NOGASA, Benneth Korie, made the appeal on Tuesday at a news conference in Abuja, while assessing current developments in the oil and gas sector.

Korie said declaring a state of emergency on the nation’s refineries would help to retool the economy.

“It is very important that the Nigerian government declares a state of emergency on our refineries. It will help in stabilizing distribution price, not just halting importation,” he said.

The NOGASA boss said Tinubu’s administration should do whatever is possible to ensure the refineries work and also stabilize the naira against the dollar.

This, according to him, was part of the reasons the refineries were yet to work.

“Whatever it will take for the refineries to work, let them work.

“So, the answer to all these increments is for our refineries to start working optimally, and the products should be sold in naira to marketers,” he added.

He also called for the reintroduction of bridging claim payment to marketers since the subsidy removal was not yielding any positive result.

He wondered why the government’s projection in the 2024 budget would be N750 to a dollar, while the black market price had moved close to N2,000.

The British borders and immigration watchdog, David Neal, has been sacked after he “lost the confidence of the Home Secretary,” the Home Office said.

Mr Neal “breached” the terms of his appointment and was informed his time in post was being immediately terminated on Tuesday, according to the government department.

It comes after Mr Neal and the Home Office became embroiled in a public row about concerns he was raising over security checks at airports.

Britain’s opposition Labour Party branded the move “total Tory chaos on borders and immigrations.’’

A Home Office spokesman said in a statement, “We have terminated the appointment of David Neal, the independent chief inspector of Borders and Immigration, after he breached the terms of appointment and lost the confidence of the Home Secretary.

The planned recruitment process for the next independent chief inspector of Borders and Immigration is in progress.”

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said a series of Conservative home secretaries had “sought to bury uncomfortable truths revealed by the chief inspector about our broken borders, and shockingly they are still sitting on 15 unpublished reports – stretching back to April last year”, adding: “The Home Secretary must now publish those reports in full.

“The Conservatives have lost control of our borders, are seeking to hide the truth, and are putting border security at risk.”

Mr Neal, whose tenure was due to end on March 21, said it was too soon to comment on the decision when contacted by the PA news agency.

Earlier, Immigration Minister Tom Pursglove told the House of Commons the Home Office “categorically rejects” claims that hundreds of high-risk flights landed in the UK without security checks.

Pursglove disputed warnings made by Mr Neal, who the Daily Mail reported had received Home Office data showing UK Border Force failed to check the occupants of hundreds of private jets arriving at London City airport.

Responding to an urgent question from Labour in the Commons, Pursglove, who is the Home Office’s minister for legal migration, said, “When it comes to the questions that she raises around these flights at London City airport and the information that has been put in the public domain, the Home Office categorically rejects these claims by David Neal.”

Cooper said ministers had been “repeatedly warned about border security risks on private flights,” telling lawmakers: “The Prime Minister may just think it’s all his own mates, but there are real risks from organised crime, money laundering, drugs, weapons smuggling, trafficking and even terrorism.”

Pursglove insisted Border Force performed “checks on 100 per cent of scheduled passengers arriving in the UK and risk-based intelligence-led checks on general aviation,” adding: “It’s deeply disturbing that information which has no basis in fact was leaked by the independent chief inspector to a national newspaper before the Home Office had the chance to respond.

“We are urgently investigating this breach of confidential information in the normal way.”

He said Mr Neal’s report was submitted to the Home Office last week and underwent fact checking as was “standard practice”, adding: “Mr Neal was made aware of a specific issue in the recording of data at London City airport which meant that a large proportion of flights recorded as high-risk should have been reclassified as low-risk, and it’s disappointing that he’s chosen to put misleading data into the public domain.”

Pursglove also told lawmakers, “The security of the UK border is a top priority for me, for the Home Secretary and for the Home Office. Everything we do in this area is designed to reduce risks to this country and its citizens.”

The Home Office’s “priority is to deliver a safe and secure border, and we will never compromise on this,” he added.

The Body Shop is set to shut down nearly half of its 198 UK shops after the cosmetics chain fell into administration last week.

It will also cut around 270 head office jobs as part of a heavy restructuring.

Administrators for the business said seven of its shops will shut their doors for good on Tuesday.

It confirmed the closure of its stores at Surrey Quays London, Oxford Street London, Canary Wharf London, Cheapside London, Nuneaton, Ashford Town Centre Kent and Queens Road Bristol.

Administrators for FRP Advisory said in a statement: “After years of unprofitability and following a full evaluation of The Body Shop’s UK business, the joint administrators have concluded that the current store portfolio mix is no longer viable.

“This swift action will help re-energise The Body Shop’s iconic brand and provide it with the best platform to achieve its ambition to be a modern, dynamic beauty brand that is able to return to profitability and compete for the long term.”

The Nigeria Customs Service has disclosed that it will distribute seized food items to Nigerians to ease their insufferable situations.

According to a statement on Tuesday by customs spokesman Abdullahi Maiwada, the distribution will be done after all the food items have been certified fit for human consumption.

The plan by the comptroller general of customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the service to distribute the seized food items to Nigerians was in response to the ongoing critical challenges of food security and the soaring prices of food items in the country, said the statement.

It stated that the proposed move by Mr Adeniti was a reaffirmation of his commitment to advancing President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda, serving the best interests of Nigerians, and fostering economic stability and prosperity.

“Furthermore, to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians and improve access to essential food items, the Nigeria Customs Service will facilitate the direct disposal of food items forfeited to the federal government,” the statement explained.

“These items will be certified fit for consumption by relevant agencies and made available to ordinary Nigerians nationwide through equitable distribution in our areas of operations.”

It added, “The modalities for the disposal will be communicated through NCS formations nationwide, with a firm commitment to transparency, fairness, and public safety. It is our pledge that this exercise will be managed diligently to ensure that the benefits reach those most in need.

“The NCS remains resolute in its dedication to safeguarding the nation’s food security and advancing the economic well-being of all Nigerians. With the unwavering support and cooperation of the public, we will surmount these challenges and pave the way for a more prosperous future for our beloved nation.”

The Katsina Police Command has confirmed the killing of six persons by bandits in an attack on the Faskari Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s police public relations officer (PPRO), ASP Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed the killing in a statement on Tuesday.

He said 10 people were also injured in the attack in Nasarawa Village on Sunday.

“On February 19, at about 11:30 p.m., some suspected armed bandits in their numbers, armed with dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles, attacked Nasarawa village, Faskari Local Government Area.

“They shot and killed six persons, injured 10, and set ablaze three houses and about 10 vehicles,” he said.

Mr Abubakar added that the commissioner of police in the state, CP Aliyu Musa, had since deployed the command’s tactical, operational and intelligence operatives to the scene.

He said the operatives were combing the surrounding bushes for the possible arrest of the perpetrators.

The early morning flood on Tuesday in Command and Ipaja communities in Lagos impacted about 151 houses.

Ibrahim Farinloye, Lagos Territorial Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said this in a statement.

Farinloye said preliminary assessments in some communities affected by the rainfall showed that residents were evacuated from 23 houses at Oke Ishagun.

He said 35 houses were affected at Isale Aboru, 29 houses at Ikola Community and 15 houses at Olubodun Majiyagbe-Ajayi.

Also affected were 12 houses on Makinde Street, 16 houses on Olokowo Street, and 21 houses on Adeola Street, among others.

Farinloye, who said NEMA was working with appropriate state MDAs to ameliorate the effect of the flood on residents, added that Lagos State had promised to make the state safer for residents.

He said Tuesday’s excessive downpour is a strong signal of what to expect with the outset of 2024 rainfall.

He said it was important to imbibe disaster risk reduction strategies.

“We must begin to adhere to safety measures against flood disasters. Thanks be to God that no life was lost and no one was injured,” Farinloye said.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed, has appealed to Nigerians to start clearing their drainages and desilting them.

Ahmed urged Community Development Associations, CDAs, to be alive to their responsibility by coordinating the activities of neighbourhoods towards safer environments.

He appealed to local government authorities to sanction corporate organisations for blocking drainages around their offices.

He added that residents dumping refuse in drainages should be prosecuted for blockage of drainages, dumping of refuse in drainages as envisaged in environmental laws to save society.

The director-general expressed his support to the Lagos State government for its bold decision after the 2023 rainy season, when it pulled down structures obstructing drainages across the state.

He urged other state governments to emulate Lagos State by taking bold steps towards making the environment safer.