Year: 2025

By: Kamal Yalwa – May 17, 2025 A tragic gas cylinder explosion on Friday rocked the Plumbing Market along Uga Street, near the bustling Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, leaving two persons dead and several others severely injured. The explosion occurred during working hours, causing chaos and panic as traders, customers, and pedestrians fled in all directions to avoid the blast. Eyewitnesses said the explosion was triggered while a welder was using carbide to work on a piece of metal, which led to the sudden detonation of a gas cylinder. Confirming the incident, a market leader, Uzomah Eke, said, “Two persons died yesterday (Friday) in our market at the plumbing section of Bridge Head Market, Onitsha, due to a cylinder explosion. A welder was working with carbide when the gas cylinder exploded, killing two people and injuring many others who were close by.” Eke added that the blast scattered body parts and left destruction in its wake. “Some goods and properties were also destroyed. People ran away, many without locking their shops. It was a moment of fear and confusion,” he said. While the Anambra State Fire Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, stated that he had not yet been briefed about the incident, the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the explosion. Ikenga noted that police operatives from the Onitsha Head Bridge Divisional Headquarters responded swiftly to complement rescue efforts. “On May 16, 2025, police officers assisted in the rescue of six victims following the gas cylinder explosion at a plumbing market on Uga Street, which unfortunately resulted in one confirmed fatality,” he said. “Preliminary investigations revealed that the welding gas cylinder exploded due to excessive heat exposure during a metal welding operation,” Ikenga added. The injured victims are currently receiving treatment in the hospital, while the deceased has been deposited at a local morgue. In response to the incident, Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, expressed concern and issued safety guidelines to prevent future occurrences. “These include regular inspection and maintenance of gas cylinder equipment, proper storage practices, and adherence to manufacturers’ safety guidelines,” he stated. Authorities have also taken steps to secure the area and prevent opportunistic crimes in the aftermath of the explosion.

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that at least 100 people were killed in a single day as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a new phase of its military campaign, dubbed Operation Gideon’s Chariots, in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. According to officials in Gaza, 2,985 people have been killed since March 18, when Israel resumed its offensive following a two-month ceasefire. This brings the total death toll since the conflict began in October 2023 to 53,119, amid growing international concern over the humanitarian situation. Israel Expands Military Push The IDF stated that the renewed military action represents the “initial stages” of a widening offensive aimed at achieving Israel’s war objectives: the destruction of Hamas and the release of hostages. “The operation is part of the expansion of the battle in the Gaza Strip, with the goal of achieving all the war’s objectives,” read a post from the IDF on Telegram. Over 150 “terror targets” were hit within 24 hours, the IDF confirmed, as Israeli troops mobilized to assert operational control over new areas of Gaza. Humanitarian Crisis Deepens The mass casualties from the latest strikes have intensified fears of a worsening humanitarian disaster. Aid groups and international organisations have warned of critical shortages of food, clean water, medicine, and fuel due to Israel’s continued blockade of aid corridors. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the offensive on Friday, warning that the attacks and blockade may amount to forcible displacement of the civilian population. “The scale and intensity of the renewed strikes, combined with the severe restrictions on aid, are pushing Gaza’s civilians to the brink,” the UN stated. Netanyahu Under Pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting international criticism and internal dissent over the ongoing war strategy, particularly the humanitarian implications of the blockade. Calls are growing for aid corridors to be reopened and for a renewed ceasefire to allow for civilian relief and evacuation. Conflict Timeline and Hostage Crisis The conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel that left 1,218 people dead, mostly civilians, and 251 hostages taken, according to AFP. Since then, Israel’s campaign has continued with intensity, even after a temporary truce. Of the hostages, 57 remain in captivity, and 34 are believed to have died, according to the Israeli military. As Operation Gideon’s Chariots unfolds, there is no indication of an imminent ceasefire, raising concerns that the humanitarian and security crises will escalate further in the coming days. Watch here:

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning to the Dangote Refinery and the Lagos State Government over the controversial recruitment of 89 unskilled labourers from Katsina State, describing the move as a violation of labour laws and a potential security risk to the Ibeju-Lekki host community. The Lagos chapter of the NLC, through its chairperson Comrade Funmi Sessi, strongly criticized the development, warning that it could spark a labour crisis if not swiftly addressed. Public Concerns and Police Clarification The controversy erupted after a viral video surfaced showing the 89 youths disembarking from a truck near the Dangote Refinery site. The clip triggered panic among residents, prompting police intervention. Responding to public anxiety, Lagos State Police Command spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the workers’ legitimacy, stating they were recruited as labourers by a vendor affiliated with the refinery. “Upon receipt of the information on May 14, 2025, officers were deployed to the scene. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 89 men had arrived from Katsina to work at the Dangote Refinery,” Hundeyin stated on X (formerly Twitter). Labour Union’s Position: “A Clear Aberration” Despite police assurances, Comrade Sessi remained adamant, calling the recruitment unethical and illegal. “This is an aberration. Labour rules are clear — 70% of unskilled jobs should go to locals, and only 30% to outsiders with proven expertise,” she said in an exclusive interview. She questioned the rationale behind importing unskilled labour when the Lekki area is home to thousands of unemployed youths. “What skills do these Katsina youths possess that locals don’t? What competence is lacking among Lagosians?” she asked. “Why not deploy them to Dangote’s northern-based companies instead?” Sessi also accused the company of a pattern of exclusion, alleging that Dangote frequently brings in Indians and other expatriates for jobs Nigerians can handle. Call to Action The NLC chair called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Federal Ministry of Labour to compel Dangote to return the workers to the north. “We’re calling him out. If he doesn’t reverse this, we will escalate it to NLC national leadership. We will not sit back while our youths are marginalized in their own land,” she warned. Dangote Refinery Responds In its defense, the Dangote Refinery distanced itself from the recruitment, claiming the workers were brought in by a third-party vendor. “We didn’t authorize their recruitment. One of our vendors brought them in. We are currently investigating the matter,” a spokesperson told Weekend Trust via text message. The Dangote Refinery, a $28 billion mega project, has previously faced criticism over its hiring practices, particularly regarding the underrepresentation of local labour. As investigations continue, tension remains high, with labour unions threatening action and the public demanding accountability.

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has revealed that the country needs at least $10 billion annually over the next 10 to 20 years to achieve a stable and reliable electricity supply. He attributed the persistent power crisis to decades of underinvestment, poor maintenance, and a deteriorating transmission infrastructure. Adelabu made the disclosure on Tuesday during the commissioning of a 2.5MW solar hybrid power plant at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna. He stressed that unless the issues of the past are addressed, current and future investments may not yield the desired results in the power sector. He also reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to reforming the sector, noting that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is determined to fix long-standing inefficiencies. According to him, the administration is prioritising investments that can significantly expand access and improve reliability across the national grid. The minister’s comments come as the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) launched the third phase of its Rural Electrification Fund (REF), aimed at delivering off-grid power solutions to underserved and unserved communities across Nigeria.