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BREAKING NEWS: Flood hits Abuja city, Katsina LG

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Many roads in Abuja, the nation’s capital, were flooded following a heavy downpour in the early hours of yesterday. Areas affected included Asokoro, Guzape, Jabi, Kado and Wuse.

Also, over 1,000 residents have been displaced and houses destroyed following devastating floods that swept through several communities in Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

In Abuja, many motorists, who spoke to Daily Trust, said they could access major roads in Abuja’s Asokoro and Guzape districts during the heavy downpour.

A video shared on Facebook by one Prince Adebisi Adetunji showed torrents of water covering parts of the road in Asokoro, leaving motorists and residents struggling to navigate the area.

The flood disrupted movement, with vehicles seen wading through deep waters.

Residents allege poor drainage

Residents in the area said the poor drainage system worsened the situation.

A motorist, Musa Ibrahim, told our reporter that many roads in the two districts were difficult to navigate, causing traffic jams.

Another driver, Emmanuel Peter, said he and others had to wait for a while before they could find a safer road the area.

“The FCT Administration needs to find a solution to the poor drainage system in the nation’s capital,” Peter said.

According to him, the issue is not limited to Asokoro or Guzape, but occurs in virtually all districts when it rains heavily.

“This also happens in Jabi, Wuse, and even the Central Business District every year.

“Something needs to be done by those managing the city to address the drainage issue,” he added.

A section of the Obafemi Awolowo Way in Jabi District was also flooded during the downpour.

Many motorists were seen navigating through the flooded section of the road.

Alhaji Nuhu Ademola said his car was stuck in the water at a junction close to Jabi Motor Park.

According to him, he spent close to 30 minutes before the water receded and was able to move out of his car.

Alhaji Ademola called on the FCT Administration to find a lasting solution to the poor drainage system within the nation’s capital.

‘’Of course, we don’t need to be telling them as they can also see it. How do you expect the nation’s capital to be built with a careful and well-planned drainage system,’’ he asked.

Another motorist, who also got stuck at the junction, Madam Evelyn Danjuma, said she had to park by the road side after seeing the volume of water on the main road.

She also attributed the incident to the poor drainage system and called on authorities to find ways of addressing the annual occurrence.

Mallam Awalu Dahiru, a driver who plies Kado to Airport Junction, said the road from the Kado roundabout was flooded during the road.

According to him, many vehicles were stuck under the bridge shortly after the roundabout at Kado.

‘’This happens on this road after every rain. We have been appealing to the FCT Administration to do something about this but nothing is being done,’’ he said.

Our correspondent reports that there was a similar flash flood at the Life Camp area of Abuja as well as at Wuse District.

Town planners speak

An Abuja-based town planner, Lami Ayuba, attributed the flash flood being experienced on major roads in Abuja to both natural and human factors.

She said towards the end of every rainy season, the intensity of the rain is so high that it is difficult for the ground to drain it, causing the water to overflow the drainages.

She also noted that improper waste disposal often leads to blockage of drainages.

She advised relevant FCT agencies responsible to waste evacuation to be alive to their responsibilities by promptly evacuating them.

She also called on such agencies to always ensure constant clearance of the drainages within the city centre.

She advocated deliberate sensitization programmes for residents on waste disposal.

This, she said, should be done alongside providing alternatives for disposing of their refuse.

Another town planner, Adeyemi Iyanda, also attributed the flash flood on major roads in Abuja to infractions to the masterplan of the city.

He cited illegal construction of structures on waterways, calling for immediate action from the FCT Development Control Department.

He also blamed residents for indiscriminate dumping of refuse on drainages.

He asked regulatory bodies to ensure that building laws are strictly adhered to.

He said people are now building on the waterways, leading to overflow whenever it rains.

According to him, the Development Control Department of the FCTA must intensify the monitoring and enforcement functions to check illegal buildings, especially those in flood prone areas.

The town planner also suggested regular clearing of debris from drains and ditches as well as cleaning downspouts and the gutters.

He charged the FCT Administration to educate the citizens on the need to stop indiscriminate buildings and refuse dumping on waterways.

FCTA removes structures on waterways

An official of the FCT Department of Development Control, who spoke to our reporter yesterday, said the FCT Administration had set up a special taskforce to clear illegal structures, especially those on waterways and in flood-prone areas.

According to the official, who craved anonymity, the Director of the Development Control Department, Muktar Galadima, is leading the taskforce.

He said the task force, which started removing some of those structures in Garki, Durumi and Wuse districts of the city.

He said the flash flood in the city could not be immediately or entirely stopped because of the long-time infractions to the masterplan.

He, however, noted that efforts would be made to address the situation.

A staff member of the FCT Emergency Management Department, who also wished to remain anonymous, said that aside from the poor drainage system, some residents also contribute to the problem.

1,000 people displaced, houses destroyed in Katsina

In Katsina, a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds on Tuesday has displaced over 1,000 people in Kankia Local Government Area, after the Kankia dam overflowed, destroying hundreds of houses.

Residents said the disaster, worsened by the dam’s poor state, reduced many homes to rubble. Some victims now squat with relatives, while others remain stranded.

Though no lives were lost, families were seen salvaging belongings and moving to safer areas.

One victim, Adahama Rabe of Kofar Yamma, said her house collapsed with over 20 people inside.

She appealed for urgent government intervention, stressing that dredging the dam would solve much of the problem.

The Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) pledged immediate support, including temporary resettlement and relief materials. Its Executive Secretary, Binta Dangani, urged residents to clear waterways and heed environmental warnings to avert future disasters.

The flood also submerged the 40-year-old JIBWIS Mosque in Layi quarters, forcing worshippers to relocate Friday prayers to an alternative mosque.

Similar flooding was reported in Shinkafi, Unguwar Alkali, Makudawa and parts of Kwado, where many residents lost homes and livelihoods, prompting calls for urgent government support.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Kaduna Operations Office, in collaboration with the Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Nigeria Red Cross, has launched a joint flood assessment to determine the full scale of the damage in Kankia LGA.

In a statement on Thursday, NEMA said many of the displaced residents have taken shelter at Tashan Lado Primary School near the Kankia Local Government Council Secretariat, with about 200 people currently living in a camp, temporarily provided by concerned authorities.

The statement also said the assessment team observed that hundreds of houses in the Sabon Duniya community were destroyed, with some completely collapsed, leaving many residents homeless.

“The assessment team is facing challenges accessing some severely affected communities as a result of an early-morning rainfall in the area, hindering efforts to determine the full extent of the damage.

“However, NEMA, SEMA, the Red Cross and delegated community elders are working round the clock to provide support for a hitch-free assessment of the incident. “Meanwhile, evacuations are ongoing, with many people already rescued and provided with temporary shelter,” the statement added.

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League of Imams and Alfas in Yoruba says Ramadan begins February 18

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The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland has officially announced that the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH will begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, marking the start of the annual period of fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection for Muslims across Southwest Nigeria.

In a communique released following a meeting in Bodija, Ibadan, on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh AbdulRasaq AbdulAzeez Ishola, declared the decision based on precise astronomical calculations and longstanding international Islamic resolutions on unifying the Hijri calendar.

The statement highlighted that the astronomical conjunction (new moon) for Ramadan will occur at 12:01 PM UTC on Tuesday, February 17, 2026—corresponding to 1:01 PM local Nigerian time—on the 29th of Sha’ban 1447 AH. This timing makes sighting the crescent moon impossible on the evening of February 17, confirming Wednesday, February 18, as the first day of fasting.

The announcement draws on key historical precedents, including resolutions from the Unified Hijri Calendar Committee session in Istanbul (November 27-30, 1978), the International Fiqh Council, scholarly symposia in Paris (2012), and the major International Conference on the Unification of the Hijri Calendar in Istanbul (2016), attended by representatives from over 90 countries.

Emphasising unity, the communique quoted the Qur’an (3:103): “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.” It urged Muslims to strengthen brotherhood, perfect their fasting, prayers, charity, and good deeds, and seek Allah’s acceptance of their worship during the blessed month.

The declaration aligns with several Nigerian media reports and astronomical expectations for the region, where Ramadan 2026 is widely anticipated to commence on February 18 (with Tarawih prayers potentially beginning the evening before). While national moon-sighting efforts led by the Sultan of Sokoto continue, the League’s methodology—combining science and established fiqh principles—provides clarity for Yoruba Muslim communities in states like Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti.

As the current date stands on February 6, 2026, preparations are intensifying: markets are stocking dates, prayer mats, and provisions; mosques are scheduling increased Taraweeh recitations; and families are renewing intentions for a month of mercy, forgiveness, and community support.

The League called on all Muslims to hold fast to faith and unity, praying that Allah makes this Ramadan a source of immense blessings. Insha Allah, the fast begins in just 12 days.

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Lagos to enforce mandatory waste sorting at source

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In a bold move to revolutionize waste management and harness the economic potential hidden in trash, the Lagos State Government has announced plans to make waste sorting at source compulsory for all residents and businesses.

This development was revealed by Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), during his appearance on “The Conversation,” a popular programme aired on Lagos Television (LTV) on Tuesday.

Dr. Gbadegesin emphasized that the initiative aligns with international best practices and will be reinforced by an ongoing review of the state’s legal framework. This review aims to establish robust regulations mandating the separation of waste right at the point of generation, transforming how Lagosians handle their refuse.

“No longer will waste be seen merely as a burden to dispose of; instead, it will be viewed as a valuable economic resource,” Dr. Gbadegesin stated. He highlighted the state’s commitment to advancing its waste-to-wealth agenda, with a strong focus on recycling and material recovery to drive a more efficient and sustainable system.

The policy shift supports Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of moving away from reliance on landfills towards a model centered on recovery and recycling. This is expected to ease the strain on existing landfills, foster circular economy principles, and attract private investments into recycling facilities across the state.

To bolster service delivery, the government is exploring ways to aid Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, including facilitating access to new compactor trucks. Recognizing the high capital demands of waste collection, this support is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency.

On the flip side, Dr. Gbadegesin warned of strict accountability measures. He disclosed that 22 underperforming PSP operators face sanctions after multiple warnings and performance evaluations. This comes on the heels of last year’s action where 27 operators were sacked for failing to meet standards.

As earlier reported by NaijaChoice News, LAWMA has been pushing for better waste practices, including calls for residents to avoid littering and adopt disciplined habits to keep Lagos clean. Dr. Gbadegesin reiterated that the success of this mandatory sorting hinges on effective regulations, upgraded infrastructure, active private sector involvement, and, most importantly, responsible behavior from citizens.

“Waste sorting at source is the cornerstone of building a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Lagos,” he added, urging Lagosians to embrace the change for the greater good.

Environmental experts have lauded the move, noting that proper waste segregation could significantly reduce environmental pollution, create jobs in the recycling sector, and contribute to Nigeria’s broader sustainability goals. With Lagos generating over 13,000 tons of waste daily, this policy could set a precedent for other states in the federation.

The Lagos State Government, through hashtags like #AGreaterLagosRising, continues to promote initiatives that enhance urban living and economic growth.

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