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AIT, Channels TV Apologize To DSS Over Lagos Assembly Crisis Report
Two of Nigeria’s leading television stations, Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television, have publicly apologized to the Department of State Services (DSS) over their reports on the agency’s involvement in the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis on February 17, 2025.
The apologies come after the DSS threatened legal action against both media houses, accusing them of publishing false and misleading reports about its presence at the Assembly complex.
READ MORE: Who Ordered DSS? Lagos Assembly Denies Requesting Security Takeover
The security agency had demanded a retraction and a public apology to be aired for three consecutive days.
AIT, during its News Hour program, clarified that its initial report was based on eyewitness accounts but admitted that the information was incomplete and misrepresented the DSS’s role.
“AIT News wishes to apologize to the DSS for the news item broadcast on Monday, 17th February 2025. Our reporting was based on eyewitness accounts obtained from sources at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“However, we recognize that the report may have been incomplete and unintentionally misrepresented the service. We regret any embarrassment this may have caused,” the station stated.
Channels Television also offered an apology during its political affairs program, Politics Today, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.
Okinbaloye acknowledged that the situation had been misinterpreted, as initial video footage suggested the DSS had stormed the Assembly uninvited, when in fact, its presence was requested by the Clerk of the House for security purposes.
“It came to light that the Clerk of the Lagos Assembly had formally requested the DSS’s presence at the House of Assembly. But if you look at the video, it was made to appear as though the lawmakers were fighting to get inside and were shocked that DSS was there,” he said.
“I think it’s right to apologize to the service to say the use of ‘invasion’ might not be the right word to use because it was portrayed as though the DSS invaded, they were not invited, but it came to light that there was no decency in how they carried out their work.”
“In the real sense of it, it happened that they invited the DSS. I think an apology is right to be placed on the doorstep of the DSS to say the use of ‘invasion’ is probably not the right word to use and not to demean the role and the effort of the DSS. That was not the right word to use,” he added.
The DSS had earlier refuted claims that its operatives engaged in any unlawful activities at the Assembly complex, insisting that their role was simply to support existing security forces.
Speaking on the issue, former DSS Assistant Director-General, Muhammed Ngoshe, who was a guest on Politics Today, welcomed the apologies but stressed the need for an official communication to the security agency.
The Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) in Rivers State have been thrown into a state of anxiety following a directive from the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), ordering them to submit reports detailing the activities of their councils over the past two years.
The directive, issued through a letter from Dame Dr. Itong Awani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, mandates that the reports be submitted by Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
The sudden call for accountability has unsettled many LGA heads, particularly given the political backdrop in Rivers State.
Following the Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the 2024 local government elections, suspended Governor Siminialayi Fubara had directed the HLGAs to take over local government administration.
READ MORE:Lawyer Petitions Court To Declare Rivers Sole Administrator’s Appointment Null
Now, the administrator’s demand for a comprehensive report has sparked speculation about potential changes in the councils’ leadership.
The letter, which only became public on Wednesday, outlined specific areas the reports must cover. According to the directive, HLGAs must provide: Introduction/Preamble, Functions of the Council, Number of Staff on Nominal Roll (categorized by cadre), Sources of Revenue Generation, Activities, Ongoing, and Completed Projects in the Past Two Years, Achievements of the Council, Challenges and Recommendations.
The letter emphasized the urgency of compliance, stating: “His Excellency, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State has directed that all Heads of Local Government Administration should submit the report of their councils to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs.
“I am also to inform you that all submissions using the format listed below should reach the office of the undersigned on or before Wednesday, 26th March, 2025, for onward transmission to the office of the Sole Administrator, Government House, Port Harcourt for further necessary action.”
Additionally, the directive instructs LGA heads to highlight the challenges faced by their councils and provide recommendations on how to address them.
A fire outbreak on Tuesday night severely damaged a two-storey commercial building on Iweka Road, near Ochanja Main Market in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Anambra State Fire Service said it received a distress call at around 9:35 p.m. and immediately dispatched firefighters to the location.
Fire Chief Chukwudi Chiketa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the cause of the fire was yet to be determined.
READ ALSO: Billions Lost As Fire Razes Kano Market, Recycling Hub
“We don’t know the exact cause of the fire, but we were called to respond, and we did,” he said.
He further disclosed that four shops, mainly dealing in furniture materials such as leather and foam, were affected.
“These shops contained furniture materials such as leather, foam, and other items,” he added.
The firefighting team worked tirelessly through the night, eventually withdrawing from the scene around 3:05 a.m.
In the aftermath, residents and traders gathered at the site, attempting to salvage whatever remained of their goods.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has declared a State of Emergency on public schools across the state.
This was contained in a government house statement in Benin City on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Fred Itua, who cited his principal as saying that “the schools are in very bad shapes”.
It was gathered that the Governor, made the declaration while on an inspection tour of some schools in Ikpoba-Okha and Egor Local Governments area of Edo South Senatorial District.
He lamented the sorry state of facilities in the schools located in urban areas and expressed displeasure over the state of the schools visited.
He said, “Edo children deserve a better schooling environment that will bring out the best in them.
Gov Okpebholo noted that while campaigning for the votes of the electorate, he promised to declare a State of Emergency on schools across Edo State that lack modern facilities and conducive environment for learning.
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He added that visiting Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area and Evbareke Secondary School in Egor Local Governments Area, he was not pleased with what he saw and had no choice but to begin his action from the schools.
“I feel very bad about the situation of the schools I inspected today. Look at the type of school that our children are attending; it is not acceptable at all.
“When I was campaigning, I told Edo people that I would declare a State of Emergency in our schools across the State. I will start from this school Evbareke secondary School in Egor Local Governments area and the previous one we inspected today, Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, both in Edo South.
“We stopped on the road on our way to the school because erosion has cut off the road. This is not good for our children as we want the best for them.
“From tomorrow, work will commence here as the school visited has no fence, and the road leading to Army Day Secondary School has been washed off by erosion. We must give Edo children quality education to set them for the future.
“The road leading to Army Day Secondary School is known as Boundary Road, off Lucky Way. The road leads to Temboga.”
On his part, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, said information got to the Ministry on the harsh conditions facing students of the school.
Iyamu said the Governor is visiting schools to see things for himself because he wants to feel the plight of the students and ensure that every Edo child has access to good structure and teachers in their schools.
“The Governor is here this morning to see for himself because he wants to feel the plight of the students of the average Edo child so that together we can all proffer solutions to the problem facing Edo schools. The Governor is here on practical governance to show Edo people they deserve the best.
“The Governor has given us the order to ensure that everybody in Edo State must have access to quality education whether they are able or physically challenged. The challenges are very obvious; dilapidated structures, with no chairs, in schools in urban areas. With the kind of governor Edo has, things will change,” Iyamu said.
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State Of Emergency Resonates In Edo State
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