News
Eight Dead, Many Trapped in Freetown Building Collapse
At least eight people have tragically lost their lives after a seven-storey building collapsed in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital, on Monday.
The disaster has sparked an intense search-and-rescue operation, with teams continuing to sift through the rubble in hopes of finding more survivors.
Several people are still believed to be trapped beneath the debris, and rescue workers are racing against time to locate them.
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has confirmed that six individuals have been pulled from the wreckage so far, with some of the trapped victims managing to communicate their locations to rescuers.
Among the victims identified are three young children—two girls and a boy—each under the age of five.
The building, which housed both residential and commercial spaces, collapsed late in the morning, between 11:00 and 12:00 local time.
Rescue operations began immediately, with initial efforts involving rescuers using their hands and picks to clear the debris before two cranes were brought in to aid the mission.
Mohamed Camara, a resident, shared his heart-wrenching story with reporters, explaining that his wife and three children were among those still trapped beneath the building.
As emotions run high, the community remains anxiously hopeful that more survivors will be found in the coming hours.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the collapse, but the disaster has raised renewed concerns about the state of infrastructure in Sierra Leone.
Brima Sesay, the head of the NDMA, has called for increased public awareness regarding the dangers of hiring unqualified contractors and using substandard building materials.
He emphasized that addressing these issues is crucial to preventing future tragedies like this one.
“We need to conduct more vulnerability assessments to reduce the likelihood of building collapses in the future,” Sesay noted.
He added that Sierra Leone’s widespread poverty and inadequate building regulations contribute to the country’s frequent construction failures.
With infrastructure challenges already a major concern, incidents like this highlight the urgent need for improvements in building safety standards across the nation.
As the rescue efforts continue, the focus remains on finding those still trapped and understanding what led to this devastating collapse.
The tragedy has shaken the people of Freetown, underscoring the urgent need for action to ensure safer building practices in the future.
News
LeBron James Steps Away from Social Media, Cites Negativity in Sports Coverage
LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and Los Angeles Lakers star, has announced a temporary break from social media.
The 39-year-old made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram after sharing a post by Rich Kleiman, agent to NBA star Kevin Durant, criticizing the media’s focus on negativity.
Kleiman wrote, “With so much hate and negativity in the world today, it confuses me why some of the national sports media still think that the best way to cover sports is through negative takes… I, for one, find it all a waste of breath.” James shared the post, adding a simple comment: “AMEN!!”
In a follow-up post, James confirmed his social media hiatus, writing, “And with that said, I’ll holla at y’all! Getting off social media for the time being. Y’all take care.”
James, known for his strong presence on and off the court, is taking this break amidst ongoing discussions about the role of media in shaping public perceptions of athletes.
News
Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu Presents 3 Trillion Naira As Budget For 2025
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu presents 3 Trillion Naira as the budget for the proposed Appropriation Bill for 2025 to the house of assembly. The assembly meeting was led by Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. The budget is themed Budget of Sustainability and will be a blue print for the commitment to Lagosians.
The ceremony was held in the state house, Alausa, Lagos. With this proposed bill the state government is focusing on environment, education, technology, security and public safety.
News
Diezani Alison-Madueke Seeks Court Approval to Amend Lawsuit Against EFCC Asset Forfeiture
Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has filed a motion to amend her lawsuit challenging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) order for the final forfeiture of her seized assets.
At a Federal High Court hearing in Abuja presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, Alison-Madueke’s counsel confirmed filing the amendment motion and serving the EFCC. Notably, no EFCC representatives appeared in court.
The embattled ex-minister also sought an extension of time to contest the EFCC’s public notice regarding the sale of her confiscated properties, claiming she was denied a fair hearing during the forfeiture proceedings.
The EFCC, however, rejected Alison-Madueke’s allegations, maintaining that the forfeiture cases were lawfully adjudicated over time.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to February 17, 2025, to consider the motion to amend the originating process.
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