The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says a fire outbreak occurred at the terminal one of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Monday.

FAAN, in a statement issued on the incident, said no casualty has been recorded so far, adding that its firefighting team is working to contain the situation.

“Our firefighting team is currently responding and working to contain the situation. No loss of life has been recorded,” the authority said.

The agency added that further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.

Details of the cause of the fire and the extent of damage were not immediately disclosed at the time of filing this report.

On April 25, 2024, flight operations at terminal one of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos had been diverted by the FAAN to the D Wing following a fire outbreak at the facility.

In March of the same year, FAAN said there was a minor wire spark in one of the units at MMIA.

The incident had reportedly led to travellers and workers being evacuated to a departure hall due to thick smoke billowing from a section of the facility.

Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, head of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, has appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to lift the embargo on the Awujale selection process and allow the kingmakers to complete their assignment.

Owoyemi disclosed that the royal family, which is next in line to produce the new Awujale of Ijebu land, as well as sons and daughters of Ijebu land at home and in the diaspora, are unhappy, frustrated, and saddened by the indefinite suspension of the selection process by the state government.

Speaking against the backdrop of the suspension, the former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) commended Governor Abiodun for his support so far but urged him not to allow distractions to hinder the completion of the selection process as soon as possible.

He noted that he had been inundated daily with calls from within and outside the country from indigenes seeking updates on the emergence of a new Awujale.

Owoyemi explained that the royal family appreciates the governor’s commitment but pleaded with him to allow the selection process to resume so that the kingmakers could carry out their responsibility of choosing the next Awujale.

“The royal family, and indeed every son and daughter of Ijebu land, will appreciate it if the governor can put all these distractions behind us,” Owoyemi said. “It has always been like this when people are contesting for a position. Ramadan has begun, and after it, we shall have our annual Ojude Oba during Eid-el-Kabir, a gathering of great religious and cultural significance.”

He added, “Everyone, both at home and in the diaspora, is waiting. Who will coordinate the preparation? The people are waiting for guidance. They want to have the new Awujale. We want this matter concluded as soon as possible.”
Owoyemi lamented that he receives calls daily from family members around the world seeking updates but has nothing to tell them. “We have also been appealing to the government, but we have received no response.”

“These are men of integrity and character who will not sell the Awujale’s throne for anything. The family is not happy with what is happening, and we are pleading with the government to lift the suspension and allow us to conclude the process,” he added.

“By now, the government should have had enough time to review whatever concerns it observed and lift the suspension. The people are expectant; they want a new Awujale as soon as possible.

“They have waited long enough. I receive calls from America, the UK, and across the country. The family is worried and unhappy with how everything has been left hanging,” Owoyemi said.

“The governor has tried, but it is time to conclude the process. This process must be completed, and someone must emerge. This is the plea of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House. We sincerely beg the governor to allow the kingmakers to finish their job.”

Ninety-five aspirants—comprising 94 princes and one princess from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House—emerged during the nomination meeting of the ruling house held last month at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode.

The kingmakers, led by the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Dr. Sunny Kuku, were about to commence the selection process when the government halted it, citing the influx of petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 20 suspects for sundry electoral offences, including alleged vote buying during Saturday’s area council elections held across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In a statement posted on its X handle on Sunday, EFCC said operatives also recovered more than N17 million from some of the suspects.

According to the statement, the suspects were arrested for various electoral offences, including vote buying and vote selling.

“One of the suspects was arrested with a sum of N13,500,000 (Thirteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) in a car parked beside a polling booth in the Kwali Local Government Area,” the statement reads.

“Two of the suspects were arrested in Abaji; nine in Gwagwalada; four in Kuje and the remaining four in Kwali.”

The EFCC added that the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

The FCT council polls recorded low voter turnout and drew allegations of electoral malpractice from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), whose candidates lost across several areas of the territory.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) secured a dominant victory in the elections by winning five out of six chairmanship positions. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in only Gwagwalada area council.