IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Iron Rod and Steel Distributors Employers Union of Nigeria (IRSDEUN) has urged the Federal Government to dissolve and restructure the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as a long-term solution to the frequent building collapses across the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Chief Gbenga Awoyale, National President of the Union, criticized SON’s decision to reverse the shutdown of 18 companies linked to the production of substandard building materials, particularly iron rods. He blamed alleged government interference for the decision, raising concerns about weak enforcement of quality standards in the construction sector.

Awoyale condemned the widespread use of inferior materials, which he said has led to multiple avoidable building collapses, including at least three incidents in January 2025 alone. Describing the situation as a national embarrassment, he urged the government to take bold steps to hold regulatory bodies accountable.

“The government must act decisively to prevent further loss of lives and property. Dissolving SON and restructuring its framework is the only way to ensure accountability and enforce standards,” he stated.

He also pointed out that despite SON’s legal mandate to prosecute manufacturers of substandard materials, enforcement has been hampered by corruption and collusion within the system.

“The law stipulates prosecution, yet corrupt officials allow violators to escape consequences, fueling this dangerous cycle,” Awoyale added.

The union had made a similar appeal in 2024, but no concrete action was taken, allowing unscrupulous manufacturers to continue flooding the market with inferior materials while exporting high-quality products to countries with stricter regulations.

Citing data from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, he revealed that Nigeria recorded 47 building collapses across 14 states in 2024, with Lagos State alone accounting for 56% of cases.

The House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development also raised alarms over rampant quality violations, exposing cases where iron rods were deliberately undersized, such as 7.56 mm rods being sold as 10 mm and 9.25 mm rods as 12 mm.

Calling for urgent reforms, Awoyale stressed that dissolving SON and replacing it with a stronger regulatory agency was not just a necessity but a moral obligation.

“The time for empty promises is over. The government must prioritize public safety over the interests of a few unscrupulous businesses,” he concluded. 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate, has arraigned Precious Uzondu before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly refusing to accept the Naira as a legal means of payment.

According to the EFCC, Uzondu violated Section 20 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by accepting $5,700 instead of Naira for the purchase of a Cartier diamond bracelet.

During the court proceedings, Uzondu pleaded not guilty. The prosecution requested a trial date, while his defense counsel applied for bail.

Justice A.O. Owoeye granted bail at N5 million with two sureties owning verified landed properties in Lagos. Until bail conditions are met, Uzondu will remain in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. The trial is set to begin on April 8, 2025. 

Heartland Queens will be up in arms in a do-or- die battle against two-season campaigners, Dannaz Ladies in Wednesday's NWFL Premiership matchday 5 game at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Imo state.

On Wednesday, it would be the third time the sides are meeting each other in the topflight, and the outcome in the past two clashes have been one win apiece. Before now, they were in the same trenches in the 2022 NWFL Championship promotion playoffs in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state and the Owerri side smiled home on that occasion and the latest nonleague meeting was the 2024 Sheroes Cup preseason in Abuja which ended one goal apiece.

Available facts showed that almost the same time in the immediate past season, the Owerri mainstreams were second on the eight-team log on eight points, three behind the then leaders, Confluence Queens but the scene is quite different at the moment with the Owerri side barely breathing on the seventh place on the eight-team Group A and without a win after four matches while the side from the 'Centre of Excellence' are on an improved sixth spot with four points on the log.

Prior to Wednesday's showdown, the home side were humbled 1-4 by Remo Stars Ladies in Ikenne, Ogun state while the visitors were too happy to share the spoils one goal apiece with the reigning champions, Edo Queens in Lagos.

The good thing going for the Owerri side is that the sweat merchant in all the matchups remains the same coach Obi Ogbala and is expected he will use his experience to conjure a potent lineup that will see his side overrun the visitors from the nation's centre of commerce, Lagos.

The Owerri side have been winless in all four matches, coach Ogbala knows that time is ripe to call a time on the poor runs and start on the winning note starting with the game against Dannaz Ladies .

With glaring deficiencies noted in some key players in the game at leaders, Remo Stars Ladies in Ikenne, coach Ogbala is most likely to come up with massive changes that will see new charges being thrown into the fray for the do-or-die clash.

Victory for the Owerri side will serve as a major boost in their season's campaign as well as the next matchday 6 crunch road trip at former champions, Nasarawa Amazons in Lafia.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday led a delegation to meet with his former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo at the hilltop residence of the former Nigerian leader in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The former vice president was accompanied by former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke; Senator Abdul Ningi; and Senator Aminu Tambuwal who is a former governor of Sokoto State.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday arrived with a delegation to meet with his former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo at the hilltop residence of the former Nigerian leader in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. 

The agenda of the meeting was not known as of press time but it comes amid plans by opposition politicians to map out strategies to trounce the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and win the 2027 presidential election. Atiku deputised Obasanjo from May 1999 to May 2007. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, came second after President Bola Tinubu of the APC who won the poll.

Atiku, 78, has been in the race to become Nigeria’s president for at least three decades. 

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) launched an enforcement operation on Monday at the popular Ogbo-Ogu Market in Bridge Head, Onitsha, Anambra State.

Led by the Director of NAFDAC’s South-East Zone, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, the operation resulted in the seizure of various adulterated, substandard, and expired drugs found in multiple shops.

Speaking to journalists, Iluyomade emphasized that the exercise aligns with NAFDAC’s mission to eliminate fake and banned products from circulation, protecting unsuspecting consumers. He revealed that intelligence gathering had uncovered large-scale repackaging of counterfeit drugs in the market.

“This enforcement aims to rid the market of falsified, substandard, and harmful medicinal products, as well as other unsafe regulated items,” he stated, adding that similar operations were being conducted simultaneously across South-East states.

Among the confiscated items were counterfeit antibiotics, antihypertensives, antimalarials, herbal remedies, and psychoactive drugs, along with banned substances like tramadol (above 100mg), codeine, and certain vaccines. Fake alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, chemicals, and food products were also discovered.

Iluyomade urged the public to purchase medicines only from licensed and registered outlets, assuring that NAFDAC, alongside security agencies and market stakeholders, would continue monitoring compliance. 

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, on Monday, questioned the jurisdiction of his alleged terrorism case when he re-appeared before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court for the resumed hearing of his protracted case.

Despite Kanu’s insistence that Justice Nyako has no jurisdiction over his case, the judge adjourned the matter indefinitely. Kanu was brought into Nigeria in June 2021 and has since been detained and tried for alleged terrorism. His trial was stalled after Justice Nyako recused herself from the case following an oral application by the defendant on September 24, 2024.

The IPOB leader had directly told the judge that he no longer had confidence in her handling of his trial. However, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, reverted the file to Nyako on the ground that Kanu’s application must be brought formally before the court through a motion on notice.

Consequently, in a letter dated December 5, 2024, addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Adegboyega Awomolo, the prosecution counsel, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of the trial.