On its part, the United States in a statement by U.S. Consulate signed by Temitayo Famutimi, said: РІР‚СљWe look forward to the Lagos governmentРІР‚в„ўs response as part of a process that represents an important mechanism of accountability regarding the #EndSARS protests. The newspaper says that tragedy struck yesterday at Papa Ajao in Mushin Local Council of Lagos State, following explosion of industrial gas cylinders that killed five people. The deceased are three male adults, a woman and a male teenager. Eye witnesses said the incident occurred when the cylinders stocked at No 33/35, Ojekunle Street in Papa Ajao area of Mushin were being refilled from a cylinder when it ignited fire from a woman frying buns close to the cylinders. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Fire Service, Police Disaster Management Unit and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), immediately responded to the distress call and were able to contain the fire within an hour.Р”Р„ccording to a source, four of the victims died on the spot, while the teenager was pulled out of the scene but died on the way to the hospital.

The explosion also affected three houses opposite the scene, which LASEMA) officials said would undergo integrity test to determine their fitness for habitation. Speaking on the incident, the Managing Director of LASEMA, Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu said: РІР‚СљAt 7:50 a.m, we received a distressed call and we activated all our emergency responses. With a combined effort, we were able to put out the fire within an hour.

ThisDay reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday signed a five-year agreement worth $1.04 billion with the African ExportРІР‚вЂњImport Bank (Afreximbank), in a deal that has been described as the biggest so far at the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair in Durban, South Africa. This is just as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari yesterday predicted that crude oil prices may hit $100 per barrel mark in the coming months as global inventory tightens and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) continues to resist pressure to pump more oil into the market. In terms of the NNPC and Afreximbank deal, it was gathered that it did not involve exploration of crude oil, but mainly for trade financing and export of the crude produced by the national oil company, although details still remained sketchy last night.Р”Р„rise News Channel reported that the $1.04 billion would be repaid to the continental bank with about 25,000bpd of crude oil produced by the state oil company.

Judicial consent scene