A section of the Trademore estate market in Lugbe, Abuja, has been razed by fire.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday.

Manzo Ezekiel, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesperson, confirmed the incident to TheCable.

“I was awoken by calls as early as around 4am concerning the fire at the market, at the Trademore market,” the spokesperson said.

“I put calls across to our contacts. In fact, when I called our contact centre, they confirmed to me that they had received similar alerts.”

Ezekiel said personnel of the fire service have put out the conflagration.

“And we were trying to reach the fire service. So, thank God, we were able to mobilise and the fire service arrived at the spot and they have put out the fire,” he added.

“The incident happened this morning, I was alerted around 4-5, a few minutes to 5 o’clock.”

The NEMA spokesperson added that he cannot confirm if there were casualties, as he is currently out of Abuja on an assignment in Sokoto.

Reiterates Commitment to Waterways Safety and Swift Rescue Operations
 
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, deeply commiserates with the Government and people of Kogi State, particularly the families affected by the boat tragedy on the 29th of November, 2024.

The mishap, which occurred along the Dambo-Ebuchi waterways of the River Niger in Kupa Local Government Area, involved over 160 passengers, with 24 rescued and others still unaccounted for.
 
In response to this tragic incident, the IGP has directed the Force Marine Officer to lead a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the mishap.

The aim is to identify contributing factors and develop actionable strategies to prevent similar occurrences on the nation’s waterways.

This investigation will also provide insights into improving the overall safety and emergency response systems for water transport across the country.
 
The IGP further assures the people of Kogi State and Nigerians at large of the unwavering commitment of the Police Force in coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure the swift rescue of missing passengers. Resources and operational modalities have been activated to intensify search and rescue efforts.
 
Additionally, the IGP calls on waterway operators, boat owners, and other stakeholders to work closely with the Force Marine Department in adopting and enforcing critical safety measures to protect passengers and operators alike.
 
The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in enhancing safety on waterways, ensuring justice for victims, and mitigating future risks through strengthened collaborations and proactive measures.
 
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA.
 
30TH NOVEMBER 2024

The National Population Commission (NPC) says there is no plan to conduct the next census in 2025.

Nasir Kwarra, NPC chairman, reportedly announced 2025 as the next date for the upcoming census.

Kwarra spoke at the 2024 anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development held in Abuja.

“A major setback that we face is the delay in conducting a population and housing census. A reliable and accurate census is fundamental for good decision-making,” Kwarra was quoted as saying.

“But the government, at the highest level, is committed to conducting a census, and we believe it will take place next year.”

In a statement on Friday by Erelu Oloruntoba, NPC acting director of public affairs, he said the commission has not made any official announcement on the issue.

Oloruntoba explained that only the president has the power to make such proclamation, as NPC is only constitutionally mandated to conduct census.

He added that Kwarra’s remarks was “taken out of context by individuals seeking to mislead the public and drive traffic to their sites”.

Oloruntoba said the commission is in talks with the presidency to determine a new date, noting that preparations are underway regarding the timeline of the next census.

“The attention of National Population Commission (NPC) has been drawn to misleading reports circulating online, which falsely suggest that the Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, has announced that the next Population and Housing Census in Nigeria will take place in 2025,” the statement reads.

“We wish to clarify that no official announcement regarding the date of the upcoming census has been made. The Chairman’s remarks have been taken out of context by individuals seeking to mislead the public and drive traffic to their sites rather than provide accurate information.

“To put the record straight, during a media interaction at the 30th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Abuja, the NPC Chairman addressed the pressing issue of significant data gaps in Nigeria that impede the tailoring of reproductive health services and interventions to specific demographic groups.

“We urge the public to seek verified information from official NPC channels rather than relying on unsubstantiated claims.”