'Nigerian Muslims Also Victims’ — Vatican Cardinal Counters Christian Genocide Claim.

Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, has dismissed claims that Nigeria’s insecurity is rooted in religion, saying the violence is driven mainly by social and economic factors.

Speaking in Rome during the presentation of a report on religious freedom by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Parolin cited farmer-herder clashes in north-central Nigeria as an example of non-religious causes of conflict.

“Many Muslims in Nigeria are themselves victims of this same intolerance,” he said. “These are extremist groups that make no distinctions in pursuing their goals. They use violence against anyone they see as an opponent.”

At a parallel launch of the ACN report in the UK parliament, John Bakeni, Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, agreed that the causes of violence are complex pointing to poverty, climate change, and land competition but noted that some attacks clearly carry a religious tone, targeting churches, priests, and Christian symbols “with impunity.”

Their remarks come amid rising global concern and claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria an allegation the federal government continues to reject.

Following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Rome, Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to former US President Donald Trump, also dismissed the genocide narrative, stressing that terrorists are killing more Muslims than Christians. He said the US would continue to support Nigeria in tackling insecurity.

This is just three hours of rain, and everywhere is flooded - Residents.

According to a report by the Punch on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Lagos State faced severe disruption on Tuesday as torrential rainfall triggered extensive flooding across multiple areas of the metropolis, submerging major roads and residential neighborhoods. The flooding, which occurred just weeks after similar incidents caused substantial damage in the Ikorodu area, left motorists stranded and residents unable to access their homes and businesses.

From Ago Palace Way in Okota to Ikorodu, Akowonjo, and Lekki, floodwaters overtook streets and properties, creating chaotic conditions during the morning commute. The situation was particularly dire in the Akowonjo area, where one frustrated resident captured the severity of the situation, noting: "This is just three hours of rain, and everywhere is flooded." This sentiment echoed throughout affected communities as water levels rose rapidly despite the relatively short duration of rainfall.

The flooding created massive traffic gridlocks on several major highways, with vehicles moving at a crawl through waterlogged roads. In some areas, cars broke down completely, further exacerbating the transportation crisis. Residents of Osapa London in Lekki reported that even ride-sharing drivers were avoiding their area due to concerns about vehicle damage from the floodwaters.

The situation repeated a pattern seen in recent weeks, raising concerns about the adequacy of drainage infrastructure in Africa's most populous city. While state officials have acknowledged the challenges posed by Lagos's coastal location and climate change impacts, residents and commuters continue to call for more effective and permanent solutions to the recurring flooding problems that disrupt lives and damage property throughout the rainy season.

Osun Governor Orders Action On Ipetumodu Stool After Monarch’s US Fraud Conviction

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Dosu Babatunde, to take swift action on the Ipetumodu throne crisis following the jailing of the community’s monarch, Oba Joseph Oloyede, in the United States for COVID-19 loan fraud.

Oba Oloyede, the 27th Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, was convicted in Ohio for fraudulently accessing U.S. pandemic loan schemes between April 2020 and February 2022. He was sentenced to over four years in prison, ordered to forfeit assets, and pay $4.4 million in restitution.

His conviction has split the Ipetumodu community, with some insisting the stool remain vacant until his return, while others are demanding an immediate replacement. A recent meeting of princes reportedly ended in chaos after disagreement on whether to declare the throne vacant.

Governor Adeleke addressed the issue at Friday’s State Executive Council meeting, alongside other policy matters including ICT expansion, youth agropreneurship, sports development, and climate change initiatives.

#Osun #Ipetumodu #Adeleke

Emir Sanusi: Nigeria Still Debating Tribe, Religion While Others Discuss AI, Climate Change

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has criticized Nigeria’s political leadership and societal focus, saying the country remains stuck in divisive debates on tribe and religion while the rest of the world addresses pressing global issues such as artificial intelligence and climate change.

Speaking on Saturday at the second Kano International Poetry Festival (KAPFEST), organized by the Poetic Wednesdays Initiative, Sanusi said Nigeria has suffered from “lousy leadership” for decades.

“You rise and fall with the quality of your leadership and Nigeria has had lousy leadership for a long time,” the emir said. “While other countries are discussing climate change and artificial intelligence, we are still talking about Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, North, South, Muslim, Christian — the same conversations we had in the 1960s.”

He urged Nigerian youths to take charge of the nation’s future, insisting they have the power to retire the current political class. Sanusi also warned that reckless borrowing and wasteful spending by government would have dire consequences for the country’s economy.

The festival, themed “Poetry in a Time of Crisis,” was aimed at encouraging poets and artists to use creativity as a tool for peace and advocacy in Northern Nigeria.

#Sanusi #Nigeria #Leadership

Plans to fight climate change by manipulating the Arctic and Antarctic environment are dangerous, unlikely to work and could distract from the need to ditch fossil fuels, dozens of polar scientists have warned.

Shettima to Lead Conversations at CRMI’s Annual Conference

Vice President Kashim Shettima will headline discussions at the 24th Annual International Conference of the Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI), scheduled to hold in Lagos next week.

Themed “Global Risks, Local Solutions,” the two-day summit will bring together senior policymakers, regulators, CEOs, and risk experts to tackle challenges such as climate change, financial volatility, artificial intelligence, food security, and public health threats.

The conference also marks the first major outing of Kevin Ugwuoke as President and Chairman of CRMI’s Governing Council. Ugwuoke described the event as a “strategic gathering” focused on domestic risk mapping, AI-driven disruptions, investor protection, and sustainability.

CRMI noted the summit’s importance for Nigeria and Africa amid mounting pressures from unemployment, infrastructure gaps, and institutional weaknesses. The programme will feature high-level panels, interactive masterclasses, and the unveiling of new research tools designed to adapt global risk frameworks to local realities.

#CRMIConference #RiskManagement #Nigeria

Lagos Govt Urges Residents in Lekki, Ikorodu, Others to Relocate as Heavy Rains Persist.

The Lagos State Government has urged residents in flood-prone communities across parts of Lekki, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle to relocate to safer, elevated areas, warning that the state is at high risk of flooding due to continued heavy rainfall.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said residents in low-lying areas such as Ajegunle (Ajilete axis), Majidun in Ikorodu, and some parts of the Lekki corridor must move immediately to avoid disaster.

“Epe, Mushin, and Ikeja are safe,” Wahab clarified, but warned residents in Isheri (OPIC axis) to also stay alert, noting that Lagos, being a coastal city, remains highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. He revealed that predictions from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) indicate that Lagos will receive significantly more rainfall this year compared to 2024.

He emphasized the need for those living in flood-prone zones to temporarily move to higher grounds until the rainy season subsides.

On Monday, several communities across Lagos were flooded following prolonged rainfall that began Sunday night and lasted till evening the next day. Viral videos showed submerged streets, homes, and vehicles, as clogged drainage systems failed to manage the overflow, disrupting daily life and economic activities.

While assuring residents that the government is intensifying efforts to clear drainages and expand water channels, Wahab called for calm and responsibility among citizens. “We won’t deceive Lagosians. Flash floods will happen. But our job is to provide resilient infrastructure and reduce the impact,” he said. “When nature acts, we can only mitigate.”

Lagos Govt Urges Residents in Lekki, Ikorodu, Others to Relocate as Heavy Rains Persist.

The Lagos State Government has urged residents in flood-prone communities across parts of Lekki, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle to relocate to safer, elevated areas, warning that the state is at high risk of flooding due to continued heavy rainfall.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said residents in low-lying areas such as Ajegunle (Ajilete axis), Majidun in Ikorodu, and some parts of the Lekki corridor must move immediately to avoid disaster.

“Epe, Mushin, and Ikeja are safe,” Wahab clarified, but warned residents in Isheri (OPIC axis) to also stay alert, noting that Lagos, being a coastal city, remains highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. He revealed that predictions from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) indicate that Lagos will receive significantly more rainfall this year compared to 2024.

He emphasized the need for those living in flood-prone zones to temporarily move to higher grounds until the rainy season subsides.

On Monday, several communities across Lagos were flooded following prolonged rainfall that began Sunday night and lasted till evening the next day. Viral videos showed submerged streets, homes, and vehicles, as clogged drainage systems failed to manage the overflow, disrupting daily life and economic activities.

While assuring residents that the government is intensifying efforts to clear drainages and expand water channels, Wahab called for calm and responsibility among citizens. “We won’t deceive Lagosians. Flash floods will happen. But our job is to provide resilient infrastructure and reduce the impact,” he said. “When nature acts, we can only mitigate.”

Lagos Government Warns Residents in Low-Lying Areas to Relocate Amid Flood Risks

The Lagos State Government has urged residents in parts of Lekki, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle to move from lowlands to higher ground to avoid flooding. Environment Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab, speaking on Channels Television, identified areas such as Ajilete in Ajegunle, the coastline of Majidu in Ikorodu, and parts of the Lekki corridor as particularly at risk.

Wahab reassured residents of Epe, Mushin, and Ikeja that they are relatively safe but advised those in Isheri (OPIC) to stay alert. Citing climate change and increased rainfall predictions from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), he warned that Lagos, as a coastal city, is vulnerable to flash floods this year.

The warning follows severe flooding on Monday after heavy rainfall, which submerged streets and disrupted economic activities in the state. Wahab assured that the government is working to mitigate the impact by clearing drainage channels and expanding flood paths. He urged residents to remain calm and take personal responsibility for their safety.

No Going Back on Nuclear Test Ban in Nigeria – Shettima Reaffirms.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated Nigeria’s firm commitment to the global ban on nuclear weapons testing.

Speaking at the Presidential Villa during a meeting with a delegation from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), led by its Executive Secretary Dr. Robert Floyd, Shettima emphasized that Nigeria’s focus remains on tackling pressing socio-economic issues such as poverty and climate change, not on nuclear weapons development.

“Nuclear war has no winners,” Shettima said. “In sub-Saharan Africa, our f+ght is against poverty and the growing impact of climate change. We have no interest in nuclear weapons. Our priorities lie in improving the economy and protecting the environment.”

He praised the CTBTO for its global surveillance efforts, noting its network of 337 monitoring stations, which have successfully detected all seven nuclear tests conducted by North Korea.

Shettima also highlighted the organisation’s role in supporting civilian applications like tsunami and volcano monitoring, which contribute to global ecological stability. In response, Dr. Floyd commended Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Tinubu for supporting the global push against nuclear testing.

He described the relationship between Nigeria and the CTBTO as a “natural partnership” and lauded the country’s contributions to strengthening international norms against nuclear proliferation.

July flood alert: 20 states at risk despite N620bn intervention.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has issued a flood alert for the month of July, warning that states including Sokoto, Lagos, Edo, Benue, and 16 others are at risk of experiencing flash floods.

This came as the Africa Environmental Health Organisation, climate change adaptation researchers, and members of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, among others, lambasted state governments following the recent devastating floods that ravaged several states, calling for an intense scrutiny over the management of ecological funds allocated to affected regions.

Findings showed that despite receiving over N620bn in ecological funds, many states seem ill-prepared to mitigate the impact of such disasters, raising questions about the effectiveness of these funds in enhancing environmental resilience and disaster preparedness.

NiMet’s flash flood risk alert for July 2025, released on Monday by the agency, showed the states with varying probable risks of experiencing flash flooding events due to the onset of rainfall across the country.


The agency said, “Sokoto State has a high risk of experiencing flash floods. Other states with notable risk of flash flooding are Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Rivers and Akwa Ibom.”

The agency advised residents of the states to relocate if necessary, clear drainage systems, prepare emergency kits, turn off electricity and gas during flooding, strengthen mudslide prevention, and promote community awareness.

This came as residents of some Ondo communities affected by the flood that occurred last week have called on the state government on Monday to come to their aid following the destruction of their property.

The flood occurred as a result of a downpour on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, which has reportedly destroyed property worth millions of naira in communities in Owo, Okitipupa, Ilaje, and Ese Odo Local Government Areas of the state.

It was gathered that the flood destroyed buildings and submerged bridges in the affected communities of Uso, Ayeka, Ikoya, Igbodigo, Igodan, and Igbotako.

Tinubu arrives Brazil for BRICS Summit.

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to participate in the 17th Summit of Heads of State and Government for the Global South and Emerging Economic Bloc.

The block includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, also called the BRICS.

The President’s flight touched down at the Galeao Air Force Base tarmac at 8:45 pm local time on Friday, where the Galeao Air Force Base Commander coordinated the Guard of Honour.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Saturday titled ‘President Tinubu Arrives In Rio De Janeiro For BRICS Meeting’.

Brazil’s Deputy Minister for Africa and the Middle East, Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte, and the Deputy Minister for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture, received President Tinubu.

Tinubu is in Brazil at the invitation of President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva.

The Nigerian leader will attend a bilateral meeting hosted by President Lula on Saturday, July 5, ahead of the summit on June 6 and 7.

At the BRICS Summit, the President will participate in a plenary session and deliver an address on Nigeria’s ongoing reforms to reposition the economy for global competitiveness.

He will also meet with investors to capitalise on the country’s opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, healthcare, and alternative energy.


The summit’s theme is “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.”

Deliberations will centre on health, Artificial Intelligence, governance, and Climate Change issues.

Ahead of the Leaders’ Summit, the political negotiators of BRICS brainstormed over aligning more commitments to combat socially determined diseases, artificial intelligence governance, and climate finance.

Their focus was on providing concrete solutions to the structural challenges faced by the Global South.

State Governors participating in the summit with the President are Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger).

Flood Death Toll in Niger State Surpasses 100 After Devastating Rains

The death toll from flash floods in Mokwa, Niger State has climbed above 100, with officials warning the number could rise as search efforts continue. Torrential rains late Wednesday submerged and destroyed dozens of homes, sweeping many residents into the River Niger.

According to Ibrahim Audu Husseini from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, 115 bodies have been recovered so far. Many victims remain missing, including members of families separated by the flooding. Some bodies were pulled from collapsed buildings, and emergency teams say heavy equipment is needed to reach more trapped under rubble.

Earlier estimates placed the death toll at 88, but as recovery operations progress, that number has grown. Survivors described harrowing losses, with one man saying 15 people were lost from a single home.

Displaced residents, including children, were seen wading through floodwaters, raising fears of waterborne disease. Others, like fisherman Danjuma Shaba, have been left homeless and are sleeping outdoors.

Nigeria’s rainy season has just begun, and experts warn that worsening infrastructure, poor urban planning, and climate change are increasing the risk and severity of such disasters. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had already issued warnings for flash floods in multiple states, including Niger.

In 2024, over 1,200 people died and more than a million were displaced in what was one of Nigeria’s worst flood disasters in decades.

Tragedy in Central Nigeria: Flash Floods Claim 36 Lives — According to BSS

Devastation struck central Nigeria this week as torrential rains triggered flash floods, claiming the lives of at least 36 people, according to BSS News.

Entire communities have been overwhelmed, with homes, roads, and farmlands submerged under rising waters. Rescue operations are currently underway as emergency responders work tirelessly to locate missing persons and provide aid to displaced families.

Authorities are also assessing the full extent of the damage, which is expected to be substantial given the widespread impact of the floods. Environmental experts warn that climate change and poor drainage infrastructure may be contributing to the increased frequency and severity of such disasters in the region.

Local leaders are calling for urgent government intervention, improved disaster preparedness, and sustainable drainage systems to prevent future tragedies of this scale.

As Nigeria braces for more rainfall in the coming weeks, the tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for climate resilience and disaster management planning.

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#NigeriaFloods #CentralNigeria #FlashFloods #BSSNews #ClimateCrisis #DisasterRelief