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Three rescued as building collapses in Rivers

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Three people have been reportedly rescued from a collapsed building in Rumuodara, Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers state.

The building collapsed on Friday, July 5.

Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Isaac Umejuru, commissioner for physical planning and urban development, said the state government will hold the project engineer responsible for a “lack of approval for the structure”.

He said the engineer placed a second structure on an old building which led to the collapse.

The commissioner added that the site of the collapse has been cordoned off.

“The building was constructed without approval from the state government. It collapsed because a new structure was placed on the old one,” he said.

He said the three rescued individuals, including a two-year-old, are receiving medical attention.

“We are happy that they did not die as a result of the incident. They are currently receiving medical attention. We are hopeful that they will be fine,” he added.

Umejuru said the state government would investigate the cause of the collapse and prosecute anyone found culpable.

He warned property developers against constructing buildings without approvals from relevant authorities.

“We shall not hesitate to bring illegal property developers to book. It is only right to get approvals before construction begins,” he said.

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Buhari’s children affected as FCTA threatens to revoke land rights over unpaid dues

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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has threatened to revoke the certificates of occupancy (C of O) of the plots of land owned by prominent individuals and corporate organisations in Abuja.

This notice affects landowners in the Maitama district of Abuja, who have two weeks to settle outstanding payments for their C of O or risk losing their property rights.

The two-week notice titled “Demand notice for payment of Right of Occupancy bills for issuance of Certificates of Occupancy on all lands allocated at Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone, A10, Abuja” was issued to 3,273 allottees.

The administration cited infrastructural development within the district as the reason for the notice.

“The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), is carrying out infrastructural development in Maitama II (A10) District,” the notice reads.

“All allottees who have not paid their bills for the Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) are hereby advised to settle their bills in full within two (2) weeks from the date of this publication.

“All affected allottees are informed that failure to pay all outstanding land bills, rents, fees, and charges within the stipulated grace period will result in the withdrawal of the offers of Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) over the said plots of land by the honourable minister of the FCT, and reallocation of the lands.”

Some of the landowners affected include Yusuf Buhari and Zahra Buhari, children of former President Muhammadu Buhari; Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president; Abbas Tajudeen, speaker of the house of representatives; George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF); Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior; Bukola Saraki, former senate president; Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the house of representatives; and Ovie Omo-Agege, former deputy senate president.

John Eno, minister of sports; Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security; and Chris Nigige, former minister of labour and employment were also on the list.

Former governors on the list include Theodore Orji; Rochas Okorocha; Ibikunle Amosun; Tanko Al-Makura; Joshua Dariye; Gabriel Suswam; Ibrahim Shekarau; Okezie Ikpeazu; Jonah Jang; Seriake Dickson; Adamu Muazu; and Bukar Abba Ibrahim.

Serving and former lawmakers on the list are Dino Melaye, Kabiru Marafa, Stella Oduah, Danjuma Goje, Ben Bruce, David Umaru, Saliu Mustapha, Biodun Olujimi, Andy Uba, Sunday Karimi, Olumide Osoba, Nicholas Ossai, Emmanuel Bwacha, Osita Izunaso, and the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, Wole Oke and Kabiru Gaya.

Others are Beni Lar, Leo Ogor, Darlington Nwokocha, Petet Nwaoboshi, Oker Jev, Lynda Ikpeazu, Khadijat Ibrahim, Obinna Chidoka, Philip Aduda, Smart Adeyemi, Chukwuka Utazi, Timothy Golu, Edward Pwajok, Ali Ndume, Ben Obi, Binta Garba, and Teslim Folarin.

Others on the list are Adamu Abdullahi, former national chairman of the APC, and Ameh Ebute, third republic senate president.

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LG poll: Men in police uniform disrupt voting in Port Harcourt

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Officials of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and voters, on Saturday, ran for their lives as armed men dressed in police uniform arrived at Elekahia Primary School in Port Harcourt City Local Government shooting teargas and seizing election materials.

About 21 Hilux Patrol Vans with heavily armed men were spotted driving into the venue from Elekahia Road and immediately fired several tear gas.

RSIEC officials who had set up their stand to begin accreditation in Ward 19 which has 10 units scampered for safety as the operatives chased them out of the entrance.

One of the armed men harassed an INEC official saying, “Come here, remove that vest. What are you doing here?”

The armed men, some of whom were masked, also asked the officials to remove their vests and hand them to them as they ensured that they carted away all election materials and fired more teargas.

The armed men also shot tear gas canisters directly into the crowd of people who were running for their lives.

One of the armed men fired another teargas at bystanders at the entrance of Ibe Street in Elekahia, as residents and those who came out to cast their votes ran helter-skelter.

Many of the RSIEC officials, voters and residents of the community ran into Ibe and Boms Streets in the Elekahia community in a confused manner, thereby creating tension in the area, as several police patrol vans sped out of the area with many election materials.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was not aware of the incident.

“I’m not aware. You are just telling me now”, she stated tersely.

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Explosion rocks Rivers APC secretariat as LG poll holds

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Buildings and other property were shattered in the early hours of Saturday as explosives suspected to be dynamite shattered the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

The explosion brought down the gate of the secretariat while doors, windows and other property were destroyed.

This is the second time the Chief Tony Okocha-led APC would be experiencing such an attack at its secretariat this year.

This came as the local government elections is set to hold in the state today as the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission said on Friday that all sensitive materials have been distributed to the various local government areas.

A viral video of the incident scene seen by our correspondent showed some workers at the facilities going round to ascertain the extent of damage.

When contacted, the spokespetson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she had yet to get a report on it but promised to revert.

The party has yet to make a statement on the incident.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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