- 10 states battling flooding, 21 others at risk, FG warns
- Why we signed Samoa Agreement, by Fed Govt
- Labour wins UK general election, as Rishi Sunak congratulates Keir Starmer
We have highlighted the five most important developments in the news today, Friday, July 5, and present them below.
5 issues in the news that should matter to you today
1. 10 states battling flooding, 21 others at risk, FG warns: The Federal Government, on July 4, said no fewer than 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had either experienced various degrees of flooding or recorded casualties as rains intensified.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, said the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency released in April had predicted that 148 local government areas in 31 states fell within the high flood risk areas.
“The high flood risk states as predicted are Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the FCT,” Utsev stated.
He further stated that river flooding would begin this month, and would hit Ondo, Kaduna, Anambra, Benue, Adamawa and 12 other states.
2. 6,902 Lassa fever cases recorded in six months – NCDC: The number of suspected Lassa fever cases in the country has risen to 6,902, the latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday showed. The cases were recorded across 125 Local Government Areas in 28 states from January to June 23, 2024. The data also showed that confirmed cases were 920, and the fatality remained at 162, with a case fatality rate of 17.6 per cent since week 20 of the year.
3. Why we signed Samoa Agreement, by Federal Governmentt: The Samoa Agreement signed by Nigeria at the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium is in the country’s interest, the Federal Government declared.
Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris, who clarified Nigeria’s stand, said the agreement is about sustainable economic growth and development and other beneficial protocols. The minister’s clarification came against the backdrop of the controversy generated by the pact.
Idris said Nigeria made it clear that any provision that is inconsistent with the laws of Nigeria shall be invalid by ensuring that none of the 103 Articles and Provisions of the Agreement contravenes the 1999 Constitution as amended or laws of Nigeria and other extant laws.
The minister clarified that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not sign any agreement that is detrimental to the interest of the country. According to him, the government upholds the existing legislation enacted in 2014 against same-sex relationships in Nigeria.
4. Enyimba appoint Olanrewaju as permanent head coach: Yemi Olanrewaju has been appointed as a permanent head coach for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side, Enyimba International of Aba. He took charge of the two-time African champions on an interim basis after Finidi George left the post in May to take charge of Super Eagles.
Olanrewaju was offered the assistant coaching role by his former boss, Finidi, who is now in charge of Rivers United. However, the 32-year-old has turned down the offer and instead opted to remain at Enyimba. It is the first time Olanrewaju will be taking charge of a club as a full-time head coach in the Nigerian top flight.
5. Labour wins UK general election, as Rishi Sunak congratulates Keir Starmer: Labour has won a landslide victory in the UK general election, meaning Keir Starmer will be the new prime minister. Labour is expected to win 410 seats, with the Conservatives on 144.
Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak has accepted defeat, and said he called Starmer to congratulate him. On the election results, Sunak said it was a sobering verdict, adding, “I am sorry”. After winning his seat in Holborn and St Pancras, Starmer said, “the change begins right here…it is time for us to deliver.”