A fire outbreak has occurred at the mattress section of the Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ), Igbesa, on Sunday.

It was gathered that the fire was triggered by a gas explosion from a foam-producing company in the industrial park.

The incident has reportedly caused chaos and fear among students living around the Obanla axis of the area.

In a video obtained by our correspondent, students were seen running out of their hostels as the thick smoke covered the sky.

An eyewitness, Kuwhede Vincent, a student of the Ogun State Institute of Technology, OGITECH, Igbesa, disclosed that there was a loud noise followed by smoke and fire.

Vincent said, “ It started around 8 am in the morning, we first saw smoke then fire coming from the company.

“The company is very close to my hostel but I don’t think any hostel was affected. We just carried our bag because we don’t know what can happen next”.

He noted that the fire service were on ground to curtail the fire.

Reacting to the incident, President of the Student Union Government in OGITECH, Ilo Fadilu Temitope, in a statement signed by its secretary, Moses Josephine and PRO Segbetin Sunday, and made available to  called for calm among students, urging them to be vigilant, and adhere strictly to safety measures.

Part of the statement reads, “The attention of the Students’ Union Government has been drawn to information reaching us regarding a fire outbreak at the Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ), Igbesa, which is in close proximity to some student hostels around the Obanla axis.

“While relevant authorities are reportedly responding to the situation, the Students’ Union deems it necessary to prioritize the safety and well-being of all students.

“In view of this, students especially those residing around Obanla axis and its environs are hereby advised to remain calm but vigilant, and to strictly observe the following safety measures: Avoid unnecessary movement towards the affected area or fire scene, stay indoors where it is safe to do so and keep doors and windows closed if there is smoke in the environment, switch off electrical appliances and gas sources as a precaution.”

As of the time of filing this report, there has not been any official statement on the cause of the incident.

When contacted by our correspondent, the Commissioner of the State’s Ministry of Environment, Ola Oresanya said, “Thanks for the information, I will work on it immediately.”

Many houses affected as fire guts Ogun Free Trade Zone pic.twitter.com/pYIjbLwGhJ

— Temitope Hassan (@temihat) January 11, 2026

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About 15 communities in the Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State have called for the intervention of Governor Dapo Abiodun over alleged plot to demolish their villages and acquire their land.

The communities include Itori Mogan, Laaki, Jaguna, Ogunu, Paashi, Kumapayi, and Abule Odo of Ijemoland among others.

According to the villagers, the community which is over 300 years was excised by former governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s administration.

It was gathered that the state government, through the its Planning and Development Permit Authority, Abeokuta Metro Zonal Planning Office, served a demolition notice with service number 00047932 on the occupiers of Itori Mogan village on Friday, accusing them of contravening the Land Use Act of Ogun State for residing in Hillcrest Estate.

In the demolition notice dated January 9, 2026, the government gave the occupiers three days deadline to vacate the affected villages that fell within its acquisition.

Expressing their displeasure on Saturday, the Baale of Ogunro, Chief Olakunle Bodunde, speaking on behalf of the villages marked for demolition, lamented that the present administration is bent on taking the remaining part of the community for an estate development, while rendering members of the community homeless.

He noted that the matter was in court and despite several meetings with the government, a demolition notice was pasted on their buildings.

He said, “We have taken significant steps to address this issue. We had meetings with the government, and now the matter is in court.

“We have served them, and the government has been notified, but they are not showing up in court, and now they have come to paste demolition notices on our buildings.

“We want things to be done with due process. The court has not made a pronouncement yet.”

Also speaking, Chief Oludare Salako, the Baale of Itori Mogan, said the communities have different ancestral gods which according to him cannot be relocated, saying that forceful eviction could spell danger.

He appealed to the state governor to intervene, expressing the belief that he may not be aware of the incident.

“We want Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene, as we believe he may not be aware of these alleged land grabbers in his government. We want him to look critically into the matter and stop their actions,” Salako added.

The Aro of Egbaland and Oluwo of Ijemo, High Chief Oluyinka Kufile, urged the villagers to engage in dialogue with the government and be hopeful.

“If you have a right, no government will stop you from exercising your right. So my advice is to dialogue.

“We have signed pacts with the present government on some particular land and villages. Go there, visit the office, and make inquiries. Why again are they trying to take back the land,” he said.

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission to court over the alleged failure to account for ₦55.9 billion reportedly meant for the procurement of election materials for the 2019 general elections.

The allegations are contained in the latest annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation published on September 9, 2025.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/38/2026, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to compel the electoral body to explain the whereabouts of the funds.

Specifically, SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to account for the missing or diverted ₦55.9bn meant to buy smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets, and other election materials for the 2019 general elections.”

The organisation is also asking the court to compel the commission to make public the identities of all contractors allegedly paid from the funds.

It said the order should include “the names of all contractors paid the ₦55.9bn for the procurement of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets, and other election materials for the 2019 general elections, including the names of their directors and shareholders.”

SERAP argued that transparency and accountability were essential if the electoral body was to discharge its constitutional duties.

According to the rights group, “INEC must operate without corruption if the commission is to ensure free and fair elections in the country and uphold Nigerians’ right to participation.”

It added that the electoral umpire could not guarantee the credibility of future elections if the allegations were not addressed and those allegedly involved were not brought to justice.

“INEC cannot ensure impartial administration of future elections if these allegations are not satisfactorily addressed, perpetrators, including the contractors involved, are not prosecuted, and the proceeds of corruption are not fully recovered,” the organisation said.

SERAP further maintained that the allegations, if left unresolved, would undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

“INEC cannot properly carry out its constitutional and statutory responsibilities to conduct free and fair elections in the country if it continues to fail to uphold the basic principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law,” it stated.

The group also described the alleged diversion as an abuse of public office.

“These allegations also constitute abuse of public office and show the urgent need by INEC to commit to transparency, accountability, clean governance and the rule of law,” SERAP added.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: “These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and international anticorruption standards.”

“According to the recently published 2022 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ‘irregularly paid’ over ₦5.3 billion [₦5,312,238,499.39] ‘to a contractor for the supply of Smart Card Readers for the 2019 general elections.’”

“The contract was awarded without prior approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Federal Executive Council. The payment was also ‘made without any document. There was no evidence of supplies to the commission.’”

“INEC claimed approval was not sought because ‘the supply of smart card readers falls under national defence or national security and therefore exempted under the Procurement Act.’”

“But the Auditor-General rejected the claim as ‘alien to the Procurement Act’, and stated that ‘INEC ought to have received a Certificate of No Objection from the BPP for the contract.’” He is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“INEC also reportedly ‘paid over ₦4.5 billion [₦4,505,220,044.06] to six contractors for ballot papers/result sheets’, but ‘the payments were without any documentary evidence of supply from the contractors.’ There was ‘no evidence of advertisement, bid submission, bid evaluation, approvals and no Certificate of No Objection’.”

“There was also ‘no evidence of the contractors’ eligibility’, as ‘INEC failed to show the contractors’ Tax clearance certificate, pension clearance certificate, NSITF certificate, ITF certificate of compliance, and BPP registration.’”

“The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“INEC paid over ₦331 million [₦331,228,070.04] to ‘some contractors in doubtful circumstances as several payments had contradictory supporting documents.’”

“The contract ‘for the supply of 25 pieces of generating sets was dated 28 December 2019 but the receipt for the payment was issued 12 months before the contract.’ The contractors ‘were paid even before the award of the contracts.’”

“INEC claimed that these infractions are justified for the ‘Commission to ensure that the 2019 general elections were concluded and to avoid what would have been a deep constitutional crisis.’ But the Auditor-General considered the commission’s response ‘unsatisfactory.’”

“The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“INEC also failed ‘to deduct over ₦2.1 billion [₦2,193,484,804.06] of stamp duty from contractors between 2018 and 2019.’ There ‘were no justifiable reasons by the Commission for the failure to deduct and remit the stamp duty.’”

“INEC claimed it did not receive ‘any circular requesting it to deduct stamp duty from contract payments to contractors’, but the Auditor-General considered the commission’s response ‘unsatisfactory.’”

“The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“INEC also failed to ‘retire over ₦630 million [₦630,625,319.80] of cash advances granted to some officers of the Commission. Some officers ‘were granted multiple advances when the previous ones had not been retired.’ The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’

“The Commission also ‘awarded contracts of over ₦41 billion [₦41,312,066,801.00] for the printing of ballot papers, result sheets, and voting point result sheets for various elections’, but ‘without due process.’ According to the Auditor-General, ‘there was no evidence that the contractors were eligible to carry out such contracts.’”

“There ‘was also no evidence of previous work carried out by the contractors, as some of the contractors were Civil Engineering Constructions Company, Oil and Gas Company and Importer of Building Materials, among others.’”

“The contracts ‘were also awarded without the Federal Executive Council’s approval, and ‘No Objection’ approval from the BPP.’ The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“INEC also ‘irregularly awarded a contract for the supply of 4 Toyota Land Cruisers to the Commission for over ₦297 million [₦297,777,776.00].’ The ‘contract was awarded without the approval by the Federal Executive Council.’”

“The ‘market survey carried out showed that the price of Toyota Land Cruiser in 2019 was not above ₦50 million’, but the commission claimed it paid ₦74 million for each Toyota Land Cruiser.’”

“The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

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