Three power towers have collapsed in Ogun State, plunging Abeokuta and other Ogun communities into darkness.

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) said three towers on the Papalanto/Ojere 132KV double-circuit lines collapsed, leaving the State capital, Ayetoro, Imeko, Owode Egba and Mowe with no power supply for days.

In a statement signed by its Management on Wednesday, the IBEDC said the collapse of the towers adversely affected Abeokuta Transmission Sub-station (T/S), Ojere and New Abeokuta T/S at Kobape.

According to the statement shared on its social media handle, it was stated that all the 33KV feeders from the affected sub-stations will be out until the towers are reconstructed.

While no specific time was given for the reconstruction, residents of the entire Abeokuta metropolis, Ayetoro, Imeko Mowe and Owode Egba will continue to experience power outage, the IBEDC said.

The distribution company apologized to its consumers for the inconvenience, assuring them that power would be restored as soon as the towers are fixed.

The statement read;  “Dear esteemed customer, Kindly be informed of the collapse of three towers on the Papalanto/Ojere 132KV double-circuit lines. The incident adversely affected Abeokuta Transmission Sub-station (T/S), Ojere and New Abeokuta T/S at Kobape.

“All 33KV feeders from these two Sub-stations will be out until the towers are reconstructed. As such, the entire city of Abeokuta & environs, Ayetoro, Imeko, Owode Egba and Mowe will be experiencing power outage.

“Power supply will be restored to the affected communities as soon as the towers are reconstructed.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

The Nigeria’s Anti – drug agency National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has within the first quarter of 20/-22 convicted Six Hundred and Seventy Seven (677) drug traffickers and sentenced them to various jail terms between January and March 2022.

The agency has arrested three Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty Nine (3,359) and seized 65,915.891 kilograms of assorted drugs within the same period.

This is contained in a press statement by the Director Media and Advocacy NDLEA headquarters Abuja Mr Femi Babafemi.

The statement said, “No fewer than Two Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty Three (2,223) drug users were also counseled through brief interventions and rehabilitated in NDLEA facilities across the country in the first quarter of the year, figures that represent a fair balance between the Agency’s drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.”

The breakdown illustrates that, “Lagos has the highest figure of drug seizures with 22,192.62 kilograms of illicit substances recovered from parts of the state, followed by the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Command, Ikeja, also in Lagos, with 8,979.869kg of drugs seized between January and March, while Kano and Kaduna led the pack in the arrests of offenders with 194 arrests each within the same period.”

“While a total of 257 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed in forests across Ondo state, 14.869 hectares suffered same fate in Edo and an hectare destroyed in Bayelsa state within the same period.” The statement explained.

A further breakdown of the drugs seized within the first quarter of the year shows, “Cannabis leading the table in January with 8,205.75kg, followed by Codeine -414.281kg; Diazepam -192.459kg, Tramadol -135.067kg; Rophynol -43.062kg and Cocaine -24.32kg.”

In February, “Cannabis also topped the list of seizures with 20,538.79kg, Codeine -1,848.052kg; Tramadol -540.354kg; Diazepam -137.041kg, Rophynol -80.261kg; Cocaine -15.727kg, Methamphetamine – 6.207kg and Heroin – 4.006kg.”

The statement added that, “Cannabis also topped the list of seizures in March with 21,583.81kg; followed by Tramadol -8,965.319kg, Codeine -417.207kg, Diazepam -57.755kg; Cocaine -45.082kg, Methamphetamine -7.527kg, Rophynol -6.34kg and Heroin -1.497kg.”

While appreciating the commitment of officers and men of the Agency for a commendable performance in the first quarter of the year, the Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them not to rest on their oars.

He assured them that every outstanding performance would always attract commensurate commendation and reward.

Simon Harry, Nigeria’s Statistician General of the Federation has died.

Rumors of his death shook Abuja Wednesday morning, though details were still sketchy as at press time.

When contacted, NBS spokesperson Ichedi Joel confirmed the news.

“Yes,” he answered when asked if Simon was really dead.

“As at the time I left office last night, he was still alive, but let me get to the office first,” he told BusinessDay.

BusinessDay, just last weekend carried a story in which NBS authorities debunked Harry’s rumored death.

In a a statement, Ichedi had noted that the online publication which reported his death was wrong and that the Statistician General was slightly indisposed on Saturday and following medication, but was recuperating.

It was learnt that he died in an Abuja hospital, not mentioned and has been on life support,” an NBS staff who will not like to be mentioned told BusinessDay.