Popular “Afia Mgbede” in Nnewi Auto Spare Parts market in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria, has been razed by mysterious inferno.

The fire, we gathered, engulfed the popular market in the early hours of Tuesday, destroying goods and properties worth millions of naira.

A video clip of the unfortunate incident shows the market being burned without any presence of the Fire Service, both state and federal, as the crowd watched helplessly as the fire destroyed the market.

Although the exact cause of the inferno was yet to be investigated, a video clip shared on X by Leadership Newspapers showed the raging fire razed high-rise market buildings.

A voice was overheard in the video saying: “Afia Mgbede is on fire now. This is early Tuesday morning. Motor parts is on fire. All the Afia Mgbede motor parts market is completely burning. We don’t have Fire Service in Anambra State and it is very unfortunate.”

Meanwhile, when SaharaReporters reached out to the police in Anambra State for reaction, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said there was no such information before him.

He said, “There is no such report before me.”

Meanwhile, a resident of Nnewi, who gave his name as Sunday David, confirmed to SaharaReporters that the inferno started in the night and that no one knew the cause of the fire.

“It is not the entire Motor Spare Parts Market that got burnt but a market inside the Spare Parts Market called ‘Afia Mgbede market’.”

The National Assembly yesterday lamented the poor remittances of revenues generated in 2024 by ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government (MDAs) and some government-owned enterprises (GOEs) to the Federation Account.

The Chairman, Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, expressed the concern at an interactive session on the MDAs’ revenue projections for 2025.

The federal agencies and ministries whose accounting officers and Chief executive officers attended the meeting were the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

They also included the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC).

Sani said the National Assembly was not satisfied with the widening disparity between the substantial revenue accruals to the MDAs and their consistently low remittances to the federation account.

He added, “This trend undermines the government’s capacity to fund critical infrastructure and social services, calling to question issues of inefficiency, mismanagement and possible revenue leakages.”

The Committee Chairman explained that his committee’s mandate was to ensure transparency, accountability and efficiency in the financial operations of the agencies.

He said the committee would continue to scrutinise MDAs’ revenue projections, performance and adherence to statutory remittance obligations.

This, he said, was to identify systematic doubts and recommend actionable results to reverse the troubling patterns.

Musa sought the cooperation and understanding of all stakeholders at the interactive session.

He said it was imperative that accurate data, comprehensive records and open data were presented for the benefit of Nigerians.

He added, “Let us approach these tasks with a shared commitment to building a stronger, more accountable fiscal framework for Nigeria.

“I call on all of us to please be very open on all those areas that we know, even if they are not presented to us.”

He therefore directed all heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to appear in person for the defense of their 2025 budget proposals, instead of merely submitting documents.

Ecobank Nigeria has unveiled a new art installation, ‘Kong in a Cage,’ by artist, Toyeeb Ajayi.

According to a statement from the bank on Tuesday, the installation, made entirely from recycled materials, is now on display at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos.

Ecobank has been fostering sustainability in the country through some of its initiatives like the ‘Get Cash for Plastic Bottles’ campaign, which removed over four million plastic bottles from the streets and drains of Lagos. The bank is also actively involved in tree-planting efforts aimed at preserving and protecting the environment.

Commenting on the sustainable art installation, Managing Director/Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria,
Bolaji Lawal emphasised that the installation is part of the bank’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, environmental protection, and the promotion of Nigeria’s creative industries.

He added that the bank remains dedicated to offering a global platform for emerging Nigerian artists, especially in the fields of sustainability and the arts.

Lawal also pointed out that ‘Kong in a Cage’ aligns with Ecobank’s broader mission to promote the creative sector across Africa.

“Our aim is to highlight the incredible talent of Nigerian artists, providing them with opportunities to showcase their work both locally and internationally.

“The creative sector is an essential driver of economic growth, well-being, and global interconnectedness. At Ecobank, we are committed to investing in the future of our youth, helping to shape a brighter future for Nigeria,” he said.

The artist, Toyeeb Ajayi, revealed that ‘Kong in a Cage’ is a commentary on environmental sustainability, with the installation’s use of recycled materials reflecting this theme.

“By employing sustainable materials and practices, this installation does more than just entertain—it prompts a conversation about the intersection of art and environmental stewardship.

“’Kong in a Cage’ is not just an artwork; it’s a dialogue—a visual plea for accountability, responsibility, and a renewed respect for the fragile balance between humanity and nature.

“I encourage everyone to reflect on humanity’s impact on the environment, consider the potential of reclaimed materials, and rethink our relationship with the planet”, Ajayi said.

The work of art will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays.