🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Lagos Ministry of Housing clarifies solar panel approval for government estates
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The Lagos State Ministry of Housing has reiterated that residents of government-owned housing estates must obtain official approval before installing solar panels or making any external alterations to their units. This clarification follows a viral video showing ministry officials confronting a resident at the Lagos State Millennium Housing Estate, Ibeshe, over an unapproved solar panel installation. Abdulhafis Toriola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, stated that the approval requirement is detailed in the Letter of Allocation and Allottees Guide. He explained that government estates are social housing schemes with shared infrastructure, and these guidelines protect other flat owners, ensure building insurance, and allocate roof space fairly. Toriola noted that the policy was implemented due to structural and safety problems, including leaking rooftops and fire outbreaks, caused by unapproved solar panel installations. The Ministry emphasized that these regulations stipulate guidelines for installation, material quality, and personnel expertise to minimize risks to the entire building structure. The Ministry clarified that this policy does not apply to private property owners in Lagos. The viral video, posted around April 21, 2026, showed a resident expressing frustration over the permit requirement, leading to widespread criticism from viewers who mistakenly believed the policy applied to all Lagos residents. The Ministry urged allottees to comply with the approval
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The Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC has announced it is welcoming members from other political parties across the nation, expressing confidence in winning Nigeria's 2027 general elections. Speaking in Owerri, Imo State, the party's National Vice Chairman, South East, Chief Teddy Obey, characterized the NDC as a "clean, uncompromised platform" for Nigerians seeking an alternative to "recycled promises." Obey highlighted the NDC's status as Nigeria's newest political party and its lack of ongoing litigation as key advantages. He noted that other parties are involved in legal disputes, while the NDC is focused on building its structure. Obey was in Imo State to address grievances and prevent any suspicion of compromise, aiming to demonstrate the party's distinct approach. He also announced interim appointments for the party in Imo State, including Reginald Uwakwe as Interim State Chairman and Fabian Onyekwulisi as Chairman of both the Contact and Mobilisation Committee and the Candidate Selection Processes Committee.
Must ReadThe US government has reclassified cannabis, making it easier for Americans to use the drug for medical reasons and enabling more research into its safety and efficacy. Marijuana has been reclassified as having moderate to low addiction potential, a move that acting attorney general Todd Blanche stated would expand patients' access to treatments and empower doctors to make better-informed healthcare decisions. Previously, cannabis was classified as "Schedule I," a category for drugs with "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse," which includes substances like heroin and methamphetamine, according to the US Drug Enforcement Agency. It has now been moved to the third rung of the five-level Drug Schedule. The Department of Justice indicated that Thursday's action followed President Donald Trump’s executive order in December concerning increased medical marijuana research.
The City Boy Movement in Abia State, coordinated by Don Igbokwe, has been successfully inaugurated across all wards, local government areas, and three zones in the state. The movement, described as the most organized pro-Tinubu group under the leadership of Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, aims to influence voters to support President Bola Tinubu for a second term. In a recent interview, Igbokwe stated that the chapter has established a strong and fully functional grassroots network following the inauguration of LGA coordinators, executives, and polling unit teams. He emphasized that the movement is non-violent and uses moral persuasion to encourage Abia youths to vote for the President, enabling him to complete his initiatives in the state and the South East. Igbokwe cited the establishment of the South East Development Commission, EEDC, as one of the President's achievements. He urged Abians to support the movement, asserting that their backing would position them at the center of Tinubu's government, leading to more development initiatives and benefits for the state's youth.
Must ReadPresident Bola Tinubu has requested the Senate's approval for an external loan of $516,333,070 from Deutsche Bank to fund sections of the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway. This 1,000-kilometer highway is a key infrastructure project under his administration, designed to connect Nigeria's North-West and South-West corridors. The project will traverse Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states, stretching from Illela to Badagry. It aims to enhance connectivity, economic integration, improve road safety, reduce logistics costs and travel time, facilitate trade, strengthen food security, and promote national integration by linking production zones to markets and ports. The financing structure includes a syndicated loan backed by a partial risk guarantee from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, with the Federal Government providing ₦265.5 billion for land acquisition, compensation, and related infrastructure. The loan has a nine-year term, including a grace period of up to three years, and an interest rate benchmarked at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange SOFR plus 5.3 percent per annum. The Federal Executive Council has already approved the financing arrangement. Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts for expeditious review, highlighting the project's economic significance and potential to reduce travel time between Sokoto and Lagos from approximately 13 hours to six h