Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has ordered an immediate evacuation of waste from the streets across the state following the recent noticiable build-up of refuse in parts of the state.

According to the directive, key environmental agencies, including the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), and the Ministry of Environment, will be mobilised to intensify sanitation efforts across affected communities.

According to the governor, additional waste collection trucks and personnel have been deployed, with sanitation workers operating round the clock to restore cleanliness and normalise conditions.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed the development in a post on X, noting that Lagos generates more than 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, a volume that demands sustained coordination and continuous intervention to maintain environmental standards.

“Dear Lagosians, I have directed an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation across Lagos following the recent build-up of refuse in some parts of our state,” he wrote.

“LAWMA, LASEPA, and the Ministry of Environment are currently working around the clock. We have deployed extra trucks and personnel to clear the backlogs across all affected neighbourhoods. You should already see progress on the streets, and we will not stop until our city is completely clean again.

“As we continue this cleanup, I ask for your partnership. Please bag your waste properly and avoid dumping refuse in drainage channels or on the roads,” he added.

The governor assured residents that the government is fully committed to resolving the situation and maintaining environmental safety across the state.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has reportedly exempted Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the party, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from signing the party’s anti-defection oath, even as the requirement remains mandatory for all other candidates seeking elective offices on its platform.

The anti-defection policy, recently introduced by the party leadership, makes it mandatory for candidates to sign indemnity forms and sworn affidavits pledging not to defect to another political party after securing electoral victory.

According to the NDC, the measure is designed to strengthen party discipline, promote loyalty, and curb the wave of defections that has weakened several political parties in recent years.

The decision to exclude Obi and Kwankwaso from the requirement has attracted attention within political circles. While the party insists that the policy remains binding on candidates contesting governorship, legislative, and other elective positions under its banner, questions have emerged over the rationale for exempting the presidential ticket.

The development is expected to spark debate among party members and political observers, with some arguing that a policy aimed at ensuring commitment and loyalty should apply uniformly to all candidates, regardless of status.

The NDC’s anti-defection initiative comes amid growing concerns over the persistent trend of elected officials switching political allegiances after winning elections, a practice many stakeholders say undermines party ideology and voter trust.

The presidents of United States and Iran have signed a 14-point document deal aimed at ending the Middle East war, with a ceremony set for Friday in Switzerland that will mark the start of a 60-day negotiation period.

The memorandum of understanding aims to put an end to months of conflict initiated by US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, which wreaked chaos across the region and rattled the global economy.

Following the signing of the agreement, oil prices fell more than two percent on Thursday, extending the losses sustained since news of the deal broke at the weekend.

International benchmark Brent North Sea crude was down 2.1 percent to $77.87 a barrel as of 0525 GMT.

US President Donald Trump signed the memorandum of understanding on Wednesday after he attended the G7 summit in France, during a candlelit dinner at the Palace of Versailles, according to a video posted by a Trump aide.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, quoted by the state news agency IRNA, said the document “was finalised with the signatures of the presidents”.

Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said the deal represented a US “failure”.

The memorandum “shall enter into force with immediate effect and as a first step, Islamic Republic of Iran will instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the United States of America will immediately lift the naval blockade”, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X.

Sharif also confirmed that Pakistan, with Qatari support, would host a ceremony in Switzerland on Friday to “commemorate this landmark event and commence with the technical level talks”.

Tehran reiterated its plans to charge ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz after the 60-day period stipulated in the document had elapsed.

Iran’s chief negotiator Ghalibaf said in an interview aired on state television that the “Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war conditions”, adding: “Iran has the right to sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and of course we will receive a fee for services.”

The document says Tehran has agreed to dilute its enriched uranium stockpile under UN supervision, which one US official described as a “major, major win”.

Iran has repeatedly insisted that nuclear issues would only be discussed in subsequent talks after the initial deal is signed.

The agreement allows Tehran to resume oil sales, while all sanctions will be lifted if a final deal is reached after the 60-day negotiation period.

Iran could also get access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund, though officials said Washington was under no commitment to contribute.

Trump warned Iran on Wednesday that he was ready to resume military action if Tehran did not abide by its obligations.

“If they don’t behave, we’ll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head,” Trump said at the G7 summit.

The Israeli military announced on Thursday that one of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon the day before, in an incident that also wounded seven soldiers.

The US-Iran deal is supposed to halt the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

Nonetheless, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli forces would remain in Lebanon, where they are fighting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem has called the deal a “great victory” and has urged Lebanon to seize the moment to expel Israeli forces.