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Economy

FG Begins Demolition Of Structures Under Iddo Bridge In Lagos

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AMMC Under FCTA Orders Demolition

FG Begins Demolition Of Structures Under Iddo Bridge In Lagos

FG begins demolition of structures under Iddo bridge in Lagos. The contract for the rehabilitation of the Iddo Bridge was awarded in 2024 to Julius Berger Plc.

The federal government has begun evacuation and demolition of illegal structures beneath the Iddo Bridge in Lagos, citing serious safety concerns and risk of imminent collapse.

The minister of works, Dave Umahi, gave the order while inspecting the bridge alongside structural engineers and officials of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc., on Sunday.

Mr Umahi expressed concern over the condition of the bridge which, he said, had been severely compromised by illegal human activities. He said: “We are here with bridge experts to examine the Iddo Bridge, which was burnt down due to unlawful occupation and activities beneath it.

“People have converted the underpass into shops, warehouses, and even residential areas.

“These activities have caused significant damage, to the extent that Julius Berger has advised that the bridge must be completely demolished and reconstructed.” He said that the Cowry Bridge and the Independence Bridge had also been affected by similar activities.

According to the minister,  attempts by the federal government to engage with the illegal occupants have met resistance, with some of them saying that the matter is before the court.

“They have refused to vacate the premises. They wrote to us, claiming the matter is in court.

“It appears that what they are selling is more important to them than the lives of Lagosians, but we cannot allow that,” Mr Umahi said.

Mr Umahi directed the federal controller of works in Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, to ensure that all illegal structures beneath the bridge would be demolished before the close of business on Monday.

“This is about saving lives. We must act to prevent the collapse of the bridge.
“Beams have already been hit by vehicles, and some have been burnt. The structural integrity of the bridge is compromised,” he said. He also said that policemen should be deployed to the site to secure any valuables that might be found during the demolition.

“If we find even a pin, it should be recorded and returned but I can tell you that what I have seen so far are mostly iron doors and partitions.

“There are no significant goods inside,” Mr Umahi said.

The minister emphasised that there would be no going back on the decision to demolish and conduct a thorough examination of the bridge.

“We are not trying to punish anyone, we are trying to save lives. Every illegal structure under this bridge must go before Monday ends,” he said. The contract for the rehabilitation of the Iddo Bridge was awarded in 2024 to Julius Berger Plc.

In April, Mr Umahi explained that one of the major problems with the bridge was low headroom clearance.

AMMC Under FCTA Orders Demolition

Lagos State Government Demolishes Illegal Structures

He noted that a section of the bridge had a headroom of about 3.0 metres, far below the required minimum of 5.6 metres.

According to the minister,  the situation has resulted in frequent collisions by trucks, which hit the underside of the bridge deck and caused structural damage.

Mr Umahi also raised concerns about shops near the bridge which were selling chemicals, warning that such activities posed serious safety risks.

He noted that a chemical once caught fire near the bridge and caused extensive damage to the structure.

He said that the bridge’s structural elements had been significantly compromised and required urgent attention.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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