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Flood: UN worried over situation at two Libyan dams as death toll hits 11,300 with 100,000 missing

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The United Nation has expressed worry over the situation at two Libyan dams.

The condition at the dams came following the devastating floods a week ago in Libya.

The UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Sunday said it was concerned about two more dams which were reportedly dealing with massive amounts of pressure.

The dams in question are the Jaza Dam – between the partly destroyed city of Darna and Benghazi – and the Qattara Dam near Benghazi, the OCHA said.

However, there have been “contradictory reports” over the dams’ stability, the UN agency said.

Both dams were in good condition and functioning, according to authorities.

Pumps were being installed at the Jaza Dam to relieve pressure on it, the OCHA cited authorities as saying.

Derna was badly hit after the severe storm last weekend, mainly due to the breach of two dams.

The storm killed thousands of people and thousands more are still missing.

The authorities do not yet have exact figures. The city had about 100,000 inhabitants before the disaster.

Confusion over the death toll continued on Sunday after the OCHA initially spoke of 11,300 dead and a further 10,100 missing.

Additionally, an estimated 170 other people had been killed elsewhere in eastern Libya, according to the UN agency.

The OCHA attributed the figures to the Libyan Red Crescent but a spokesman for the aid group voiced astonishment at the numbers and rejected them.

“The official numbers are issued by the agency authorised by the Libyan authorities,” Tawfiq al-Shukri said.

In a later version of its situation report, OCHA dropped those figures, instead citing the World Health Organisation (WHO) figure of 3,958 people dead and more than 9,000 still missing.

Late on Sunday Othman Abdel Jalil, the health minister in one of Libya’s rival governments, told a news conference that the number of people buried so far was 3,283.

The Libyan official reiterated his call to the media to follow the official numbers which are given daily by the Health Ministry.

“We regret that we saw a lot of statements being made by local officials and some came from international sides during which they gave numbers which can cause panic among the people,” the official said.

He added that he regretted to see that the UN on its site put the number of dead in eastern Libya at 11,300.

“I don’t know where they got this from,” he said. “When I got in touch with them they mentioned it was from the Red Crescent, but when I talked to the Red Crescent they said that did not talk to them.”

The minister said the UN based its report on information coming from a man who claimed to be speaking on behalf of the Red Crescent and that he lived outside Libya.

Conflicting accounts have emerged from Libya, which is divided between warring administrations in East and West.

Earlier in the week, the mayor of Derna had said it was possible up to 20,000 people had died there.

The WHO said nearly 4,000 people who were killed in the floods had been identified.

A group of Libyan data analysts and researchers also said there had been around 4,000 confirmed deaths in a count on Saturday.

A powerful storm dubbed Daniel hit Libya on Sept. 10 after earlier lashing Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey.

Two dams broke in the mountains above the port of Derna, washing away large areas of the city of around 100,000 people.

Al-Shukri of the Libyan Red Crescent said on Sunday that the search and rescue situation in Derna was “better” now with the engagement of several Libyan and foreign teams.

While he did say that survivors had been hauled up from under the rubble through Saturday, he declined to give specific figures.

Concerns are growing about water safety in Derna.

Detected cases of diarrhea totaled 150 in the city on Saturday due to contaminated drinking water.

But the director of Libya’s National Centre for Disease Control, Haider al-Sayeh, said Sunday that field teams from the centre managed to reduce the cases, and advised locals to avoid well water and use bottled water.

The head of the internationally recognized Tripoli-based government, Abdel-Hamid Dbeibeh, ordered the provision of drinking water to flood-affected areas, his administration said Sunday. His government does not have actual control over the eastern part of Libya.

Abdel Jalil said Sunday that a vaccination campaign has been launched to protect all those living in Derna and working in it, including military, medical staff and journalists.

The minister also announced that a “horrific traffic accident” took place on Sunday which led to the death of four Greek rescue workers who were on their way to Derna.

Abdel Jalil said 15 others were wounded in the accident, of which seven were in critical condition and eight were stable.

He said the Greek team had consisted of 19 rescue members.

In total, the accident killed seven people, as the aid workers’ vehicle crashed into a car carrying a Libyan family, according to Jalil.

The Greek military initially confirmed three deaths late on Sunday night.

Two other members of the rescue team were missing, it said in a statement on Facebook.

Three of the family of five died in the accident, while the other two were seriously injured.

Libya has been in turmoil since the overthrow of dictator Moamer Gaddafi in 2011.

Countless militias are still fighting for power and influence in the oil-rich country. The conflict is further fuelled by foreign states. All diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict peacefully have failed.

 

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Breaking: Elon Musk’s wealth surges back to trillion dollars

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Elon Musk’s wealth has again topped US$1 trillion as stocks of his companies SpaceX and Tesla surged.

Forbes estimated the world’s richest man’s net worth at $1 trillion on Monday, an increase of $30.6 billion from Friday last week, the last stock market trading day.

The gain reinforces Musk’s position as the world’s wealthiest person, far ahead of Bezos, who ranks second with a fortune of $371.5 billion. Google co-founder Larry Page followed with $284.3 billion, while Dell Technologies chairman Michael Dell ranked fourth with $272.2 billion.

`Musk became the world’s first trillionaire in June as SpaceX shares soared following its record-breaking initial public offering, but soon lost that status when the stock fell amid concerns about the company’s lofty valuation, according to Bloomberg.

His fortune has approached the trillion-dollar threshold again in recent days as both companies’ shares rallied. Tesla’s third-quarter deliveries exceeded analysts’ expectations last week, helping increase Musk’s wealth by $61 billion on Friday alone.

 

 

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Dangote makes case for domestic production at Abuja trade fair

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The Dangote Group has reaffirmed the critical role of domestic production in strengthening Nigeria’s economic resilience.

The Group stated this weekend through its Group General Manager, Mr. Abdullahi Bello Danmusa, who represented the Regional Director/Senior Adviser to the Dangote Group President/CE, Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, at the Dangote Special Day at the ongoing Abuja International Trade Fair.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s Trade Fair, “Resilience: Trade, Taxation and the Economy,” Mr. Danmusa said taxation remains a fundamental component of national development, stressing that Dangote Group takes its tax obligations seriously and contributes substantial revenues to government annually, while also supporting employment, enterprise and value creation across its operations.

He said trade could achieve greater economic impact when it is supported by strong domestic productive capacity.

“Trade becomes more meaningful when it is supported by production. No country can build lasting resilience by depending excessively on imports that it has the capacity to produce competitively at home.

“This is why Dangote Group continues to invest in manufacturing and industrial capacity across cement, sugar, salt and seasoning, packaging, fertiliser, petrochemicals and petroleum refining.

“The theme of this year’s Trade Fair, ‘Resilience: Trade, Taxation and the Economy,’ speaks directly to the realities of our time.

“Nigeria’s economic resilience will ultimately depend on a fundamental choice: to continue to import what we can produce, or build the capacity to produce, compete and export.”

Danmusa noted that strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity would help deepen economic activity, create jobs, support local enterprises and reduce excessive dependence on imported products.

He added that the Group’s investments across various sectors reflect its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation and contributing to the development of a more productive and resilient economy.

Also speaking at the Dangote Special Day, the First Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Prof. Adebisi Adesugba, commended Dangote Industries for its contribution to Nigeria’s economic development.

Adesugba, who represented the President of ACCI, Emeka Obegolu, SAN, said the longstanding partnership between Dangote and the Chamber demonstrates the important

He noted that Dangote’s strategic investments in sectors including cement, fertiliser, agriculture, refining and petrochemicals have contributed to strengthening domestic productive capacity, creating employment opportunities, reducing dependence on imports and supporting foreign exchange generation.

“ACCI recognises Dangote not only as an exhibitor and sponsor, but also as a strategic partner.”

He said the partnership between ACCI and Dangote has contributed to creating opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs while supporting trade, investment and sustainable economic development.

Adesugba further expressed the Chamber’s appreciation for Dangote’s longstanding relationship and partnership with ACCI, describing the collaboration as an important platform for strengthening the business community and advancing economic opportunities.

The Dangote Special Day brought together business leaders, government representatives, investors, exhibitors, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders as part of activities at the ongoing Abuja International Trade Fair.

Also speaking at the Dangote Special Day, the First Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Prof. Adebisi Adesugba, commended Dangote Industries for its contribution to Nigeria’s economic development.

Adesugba, who represented the President of ACCI, Emeka Obegolu, SAN, said the longstanding partnership between Dangote and the Chamber demonstrates the important role of responsible corporate participation in promoting commerce, investment and entrepreneurship in Nigeria and across the African sub-region.

He noted that Dangote’s strategic investments in sectors including cement, fertiliser, agriculture, refining and petrochemicals have contributed to strengthening domestic productive capacity, creating employment opportunities, reducing dependence on imports and supporting foreign exchange generation.

“ACCI recognises Dangote not only as an exhibitor and sponsor, but also as a strategic partner.”

He said the partnership between ACCI and Dangote has contributed to creating opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs while supporting trade, investment and sustainable economic development.

Adesugba further expressed the Chamber’s appreciation for Dangote’s longstanding relationship and partnership with ACCI, describing the collaboration as an important platform for strengthening the business community and advancing economic opportunities.

The Dangote Special Day brought together business leaders, government representatives, investors, exhibitors, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders as part of activities at the ongoing Abuja International Trade Fair.

The event provided an opportunity for stakeholders to engage on issues around taxation, trade, industrialisation, investment, domestic production and the broader prospects for Nigeria’s economic development.

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Police high command mobilise to rescue 20 NYSC members abducted in Imo

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The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations, Shehu Umar Nadada, to Imo State to provide operational leadership and strengthen ongoing efforts to rescue the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road at Umunoha on October 1, 2026.

Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed in a statement on Friday that DIG Nadada arrived Imo State alongside two Commissioners of Police and immediately carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation and the search-and-rescue operations being coordinated by the Imo State Police Command.

During the visit, the DIG reviewed operational strategies, personnel deployments, and the utilization of security assets. He also issued fresh directives aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the coordinated rescue mission.

The assessment was conducted in the company of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu Garba Bosso; the Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force, CP Nendel Joseph Gomwalk; other service commanders; and members of the Imo State Police Command management team.

According to Iniedu, the police have intensified the search operation, deploying additional tactical teams and operational resources to identified locations.

He said the operation was being reinforced through intelligence-led efforts to track the abductors, alongside coordinated operations with other security agencies.

Nadada, according to the statement, assured members of the public that the police would continue working to secure the safe release of those abducted.

“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to securing the safe rescue of the 20 abducted persons and will sustain the operation until the mission is successfully concluded,” Iniedu quoted Nadada as saying.

The DIG appealed to members of the public and the media to remain calm and vigilant, while urging anyone with credible information that could assist the rescue operation to report to the police or the nearest security formation.

“All information received will be treated with strict confidentiality,” he said.

The police said further information on the rescue operation would be made available as developments unfold.

 

 

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