The agency stated this while debunking the claims in an anonymous write up going round on WhatsApp platforms that a certain former Chairman/CEO of the Agency sold the building, leaving officers and men stranded.

The Agency wishes to state that buildings referred to in the circulating piece, which did not belong to it in the first place, served as its National Headquarters before its relocation to Abuja some years ago.

NDLEA disclosed that “A Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Federal Government Landed Properties took over the buildings following a government directive that all vacated or under-utilised government properties be taken over by the PIC, sold and proceeds paid to federal government coffers”.

Director of Media and Advocacy of the Agency said, “At the time of relocation, 70% of the Agency’s headquarters staff moved to Abuja while the remaining 30% are still in Shaw road office, Ikoyi.

“This remaining 30% will soon join the main headquarters in Abuja as soon as the new HQ building, recently bought by the federal government for the Agency is ready for occupation.

“Like other federal government agencies whose properties were taken over by the PIC, NDLEA has no hand in the sale of the mentioned properties and does not know who bought them and for how much, as the presidential committee solely handled the sale”.

“The challenge before the Agency at the moment is how to remove our officers and men who live within communities where they are exposed to dangers into secure barracks accommodation, a concern already being addressed by the federal government through budgetary provisions for the construction of such barracks across the country beginning from this year.

“Members of the public are therefore urged to disregard the anonymous write up, which is nothing but an embodiment of distortion and mischief.”

The bodies were brought out in body bags around 11 am and put inside a van of the Ministry of Health.

This brings to 21 the number of casualties in the unfortunate incident.

Sanwo-Olu visited the site of the tragedy around 1:00 am this morning, November 3, and encouraged all federal and state agencies involved in rescue operations.

He visited the site on Gerrard Road, alongside Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu.

Sanwo-Olu said: “If anyone is found to be indicted, he/she will definitely face the law. We are already conducting an internal probe to find out what went wrong and punish those indicted. My sincere condolences go to the families who have lost loved ones. May the souls of the departed Rest In Peace”

The governor confirmed that a help desk has been set up at the site for people seeking information about their relations involved in the incident.

He affirmed the earlier announcement that a panel to investigate and make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrences will be set up.

Deputy Controller and Passport Control Officer in charge of office, Mr Ibrahim Liman, confirmed the figure, NAN reports.

Liman said that the office had put calls to applicants whose passports were ready for collection.

NAN reports that to meet applicants demand, the passport office had extended its working days to include Saturdays and Sundays.

Liman, however, said the need for discreet investigation to determine the eligibility of applicants might delay the timely release of the passports.

“The Ikoyi Passport Office is fully committed to efficient service delivery and it will not relent in justifying its operational mandate.

“As the PCO of Ikoyi, I will always work with integrity. I don’t have anything to hide, the office operates an open-door policy,” he stated.

Liman warned racketeers to desist from their acts or face the consequences.

“NIS would not hesitate to discipline anyone found to be involved in defrauding or shortchanging any applicants.”

The Spokesperson of the NCoS, Mr Rotimi Oladokun, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

Oladokun said that the inmates would be adequately prepared for the examination, despite the attempted jail break on the facility in 2020.

NAN recalls that the inmates at the custodial during the 2020 “Endsars” protest, attempted to set the facility ablaze in order to escape.

However, the timely intervention of the military, Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) foiled the attempt.

Oladokun said that more inmates indicated interest to further their education, having gone through several reform programmes.

He said a 60-year-old inmate was among the 25 others, who participated in the 2020 UTME at the correctional centre.

He said that the new facility, where the inmates would write the examination, had reached 80 per cent completion and the computers and other items needed would be fixed soon.

“The inmates have equally shown determination and focus to excel.

“Some teachers have been slated to take them in various subjects as well as computer practice.

Oladokun commended the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, for the laudable improvements at NCoS.

He, however, appealed for more equipment to boost inmates’ interest in furthering their education.

“More equipment is needed in the facility, to enable us accommodate more of the inmates who are interested in furthering their education.’’