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BUILDING COLLAPSE IN LAGOS: ONE DEAD, NINE RESCUED. RESCUE EFFORTS UNDERWAY

A multi-storey building under construction on Oremeta Street in the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos State collapsed on Saturday morning, trapping an unknown number of people beneath the rubble. The structure, which housed Equal Rights restaurant on its ground floor, caved in around 8 am. According to eyewitnesses, the building had shown visible signs of structural weakness. A regular patron of the restaurant said, “Many times, I had seen water drip from the decking of the building even when it was not raining. People raised the alarm when they started putting a third structure on the building, but nothing was done.” Emergency responders are working to clear the debris and rescue those trapped. Initially, five people were rescued, but the latest update reports that nine people have been rescued, and one person has been confirmed dead. A car parked inside the premises, along with its owner and his son, are believed to be trapped. Damilola Oke-Osanyitolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), assured journalists that emergency responders are committed to reaching the deepest part of the site. “We will get to ground zero to search for other victims still buried under the rubble,” he said. The rescue efforts are ongoing, with LASEMA and other agencies working to locate and rescue those trapped.

FORMER PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON DOYIN OKUPE PASSES AWAY AT 72

Doyin Okupe, a former presidential spokesperson, has died at the age of 72. His death was confirmed on Friday, March 7, 2025. According to sources close to the family, Dr. Okupe had been critically ill in the weeks leading up to his demise, battling cancer. Okupe had a history of prostate cancer, first diagnosed 16 years ago, and later battled sarcoma in his right shoulder. In October 2023, he was hospitalized with prostate cancer and was flown to Israel for treatment. However, his condition did not improve as he and his family had hoped. A close friend of the late physician, Akin Osuntokun, confirmed Okupe’s death to BusinessDay, saying he was “dead.” Okupe’s death has been linked to his long battle with cancer. Okupe was a senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and later served as the Director-General of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign. However, he was forced to step down from the role following a court conviction for money laundering. After the 2023 general election, Okupe resigned from the Labour Party and later became a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Peter Obi has since mourned Okupe’s death, urging his supporters to pray for the deceased. Okupe’s death marks the end of an era for a man who played a significant role in Nigeria’s politics. He will be remembered for his contributions to the country’s political landscape.