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Thousands flee as Los Angeles wildfires burn out of control
At least one firefighter was injured battling a blaze near the upmarket Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, US media said, with reports of several other people having suffered burns.
Vicious gusts fanned the flames, whipping red-hot embers hundreds of meters (yards), sparking new spot fires faster than helpless firefighters could quell them.
As dawn broke, a vast pall of smoke was visible over Los Angeles, with the acrid tang of burning in the air.
City mayor Karen Bass warned that the “windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning” in a post on X early Wednesday.
Some firefighters were facing water shortages at hydrants in the Palisades, the Los Angeles Times reported, in a fire that has so far consumed almost 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares).
At the 2,200-acre Eaton fire around Altadena, north of Los Angeles, an AFP journalist saw emergency workers rushing elderly patients in wheelchairs out of their care facility.
A third fire was burning around Santa Clarita.
The blaze at Pacific Palisades has already claimed dozens of homes in one of California’s most desirable spots, where Hollywood celebrities are among those who live in mutli-million dollar houses.
Emmy-award-winning actor James Woods posted a video showing flames engulfing trees and bushes near his home as he got ready to evacuate, and said all the fire alarms were going off.
“I couldn’t believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one,” Woods said.
Events throughout the area were canceled, including a Tuesday evening red-carpet premiere of Jennifer Lopez’s new film “Unstoppable,” while the Screen Actors Guild Award said Wednesday’s in-person nominations ceremony would be replaced with a press release.
President Joe Biden said late Tuesday that he was “being frequently briefed on the wildfires” and had offered federal aid if needed.
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) and the Kaduna State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) have paid condolence visits to Jacob Onjewu Dickson, an editor at New Nigerian Newspapers, following the passing of his elder sister, Roseline Dickson.
MBF spokesman Comrade Luka Binniyat, who led the delegation on Tuesday, described the loss as tragic, offering prayers for the repose of the deceased’s soul.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and pray that God grants them strength in this difficult time,” he said.
On the same day, the leadership of SWAN, led by Chairman Comrade Shehu Abdullahi and Vice Chairman Okpani Mike Odeh, also visited Dickson to express their sympathies. Addressing the gathering, Abdullahi reaffirmed the association’s solidarity.
“We are here to stand with Comrade Jacob Onjewu Dickson in this moment of grief. We know that God is faithful, and we pray for the peaceful repose of his sister’s soul,” he said.
Vice Chairman Odeh emphasized the emotional weight of losing a sibling, describing it as a painful experience. “She passed away at her prime, and we deeply feel the loss.
However, death is an inevitable part of life. Comrade Dickson should take solace in the fact that he is not alone; SWAN stands by him, offering all the necessary support,” he added.
Expressing his gratitude, Dickson said he was moved by the show of solidarity. “This visit has further strengthened me. I am truly grateful for this support. Tentatively, the burial will take place a week before Easter,” he said.
Among those present were SWAN Assistant Secretary Comrade Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Treasurer Juliet Ekwenugo, and Yakubu Obande. Amina Anebi Samuel was also in attendance.
Roseline Dickson, an Abuja-based businesswoman, passed away on March 22 at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi. Her burial is scheduled to take place at the family compound in Agboke-Oglewu, Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State next month.
The house of representatives has resolved to investigate the N1.1 trillion Sukuk road projects from 2017 to 2024.
The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during the plenary on Wednesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Gaza Gbefwi, a lawmaker from Nasarawa.
The investigation aims to uncover and identify “instances of diversion, inflation, or contractor non-compliance” in the execution of the road projects.
While moving the motion, Gbefwi said a report by the Debt Management Office (DMO) shows it raised over N1.1 trillion through six sovereign Sukuk issuances to finance 124 federal road projects spanning 5,820 kilometres across the six geopolitical zones.
The lawmaker highlighted the breakdown of Sukuk financing as follows: N100 billion in 2017, N100 billion in 2018, N162.557 billion in 2020, N250 billion in 2021, N130 billion in 2022, and N350 billion in 2023.
He said reports suggest that an additional N150 billion was issued in October 2023, bringing the cumulative total to approximately N1.242 trillion by the end of 2024.
“Despite this significant investment, Nigeria’s road infrastructure remains in a deplorable state, with over 70 percent of the country’s 200,000-kilometer road network still unpaved, as noted by S&P Global Ratings in January 2024,” he said.
“Without robust accountability mechanisms, the Sukuk programme risks becoming a conduit for mismanagement or corruption.”
The motion was adopted when it was subjected to a voice vote by Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker, who presided over the plenary.
Consequently, the house mandated the committee on works to conduct a “forensic probe” into the allocation, expenditure, and outcomes of the N1.242 trillion Sukuk fund.
The parliament also directed the federal ministry of works to provide detailed records of all Sukuk-funded projects, including financial disbursements, project statuses, and updated contractors’ performance.
The senate has called on the federal government to take urgent action to address the rising cost of data services in the country.
During Wednesday’s plenary, lawmakers debated a motion sponsored by Asuquo Ekpeyong, senator representing Cross River south, highlighting the financial strain caused by recent hike in data tariffs.
Ekpeyong warned that the surge in data costs was a major setback for young Nigerians who depend on the internet for their livelihoods.
He argued that many young people use digital platforms for freelancing, e-commerce, content creation, and software development, making affordable internet access crucial to their economic survival.
“Telecommunication providers in Nigeria have recently increased the cost of data services by as much as 200%. A move that has placed significant financial strain on millions of Nigerians, especially young people who rely on the internet for their livelihood,” he said.
“Young Nigerians have embraced the digital economy, leveraging the internet for various income-generating activities including freelancing and remote work, direct marketing and social media management, e-commerce, content creation on various platforms, online training, software development, web design, mobile app creation, content creation of various platforms, online education, etc.
“The senate notes that young Nigerians have embraced the digital economy, leveraging the internet for their livelihood, leaving them heavily dependent on mobile telecommunications companies for internet access, and that the sudden and substantial increase in data cost threatens their economic survival and limits access to critical digital services.
“The senate is further concerned that the reasons provided by telecom providers for the data price hike, including high operational costs of favourable exchanges, are untenable, and appears that instead of addressing the root causes of the high cost of doing business in Nigeria, the burden is being unfairly transferred to end-users.
“Senate is aware that the high cost of doing business in Nigeria is driven by multiple challenges, such as increased operational risk and insurance costs.
“The senate believes that urgent government intervention is required to ensure that affordable internet access remains available to all Nigerians, particularly to the young Nigerians who are at the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy.
“The senate accordingly resolves to urge the federal government to engage with telecommunication providers to review the recent increase in data costs and ensure the pricing remains fair and affordable for all Nigerians.”
The motion was seconded by Titus Zam, senator representing Benue north-west, and received the support of other lawmakers.
Victor Umeh, senator representing Anambra central, criticised not just the rising cost of data but also increases in telecom charges and Pay TV tariffs, accusing regulatory bodies of failing to protect Nigerians.
“If you buy airtime or data, within minutes, you are out of it. Nigerians are suffering so much, and we cannot turn a blind eye,” he said.
Sadiq Umar, senator representing Kwara North, warned that the price hike disproportionately affects young people, who form a significant part of Nigeria’s workforce.
“These service providers must make life easier for young Nigerians, not harder. The government needs to step in before this situation worsens,” he said.
Lawmakers urged the federal government to engage telecom providers to review and reduce the recent increase in data costs.
They also called on the ministry of communications, innovation, and digital economy to develop a policy framework for affordable internet access.
Lawmakers further recommended the creation of tech hubs across the country to provide free or subsidised internet for entrepreneurs, students, and innovators.
They also directed the senate committee on communications to investigate the factors driving high data costs and propose solutions to make the telecom sector more business-friendly.
Following the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the motion to a vote, and it was unanimously adopted.
Akpabio praised Ekpeyong for raising the issue, saying the intervention would support young entrepreneurs and ensure fair pricing in the digital economy.
“This motion, when implemented, will assist our young entrepreneurs, not only to remain in business but also to ensure that they have affordable pricing that allows them to generate profits,” he said.