The convoy of the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday was involved in a road accident in Abuja.
The development was confirmed in a statement released by the media aide to the Governor, Terver Akase.
According to Akase, no life was lost in the incident that happened in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He further stated that the convoy was involved in the accident while accompanying Ortom to the airport.
Akase said a golf car collided with one of the security vehicles near Karu Flyover in Nyanya.
The statement released by Akase read, “We have received numerous calls from concerned Nigerians regarding the accident which occurred today near Karu Flyover in Nyanya area of the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Governor’s convoy was on the way from Abuja to Makurdi after accompanying him to the airport for his trip to the United Kingdom when a golf car collided with one of the security vehicles.
“We thank God that no life was lost in the incident.
“Governor Ortom who has already arrived safely in the UK deeply appreciates all the calls and concerns from Benue people and other Nigerians.”
Eleven persons were burnt beyond recognition in an accident that occured at Ogere end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the Ogere Remo-North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps ,Ogun State Sector, Florence Okpe, who confirmed the incident on Sunday said the accident happened late Saturday night.
Okpe said three vehicles were involved in the crash which led to huge loss of lives on the busy road.
Okpe stated that two Mazda buses and one unknown vehicle had collided and caught fire near the Isara bridge and they went up in flames.
The FRSC spokesperson said, “A total of 18 persons were involved but only seven were rescued while 11 unidentified people were burnt beyond recognition.
“A total of seven persons were rescued with injuries, comprising five male adults, one female adult and one male child.”
“The injured victims were taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere for medical attention. One of the victims was rejected, but finally taken to Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan.
“The fire service in Sagamu was contacted and the impact of the crash is obstructing the Ibadan-Lagos bound of the expressway.
“Traffic has been diverted to the Lagos-Ibadan route and the crashed vehicles are still burning.
“Motorists are advised to drive cautiously, obey traffic rules and regulations and also cooperate with traffic managers managing the situation.”
Herdsmen have converted the Kwara State Complex Stadium Ilorin, into a fertile land for cattle pasture as weeds overtake a section of the facility.
This weekend, cattle were sighted grazing on grasses in parts of the complex.
Fresh and dried cow dung could also be seen on the asphalt within the complex.
The security officials manning the gate blamed the sports ministry for the deterioration in the condition of the stadium – and ‘for giving the herdsmen unhindered access’ to the 26,000-capacity sporting arena.
One of the security men described the presence of the herdsmen and their cattle at the stadium as “an embarrassment”, but noted that the security unit was helpless to stop them.
The Kwara State Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Ilorin, Kwara. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Kwara United F.C. and ABS F.C.
Nigeria’s main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, has rebuked the state government for increasing the fare for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) across various routes in the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu‘s led government had recently approved a flat rate increase for all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Standard routes to cushion the effect of the harsh operating environment, safeguard private partnership investment, and forestall the demise of formalized bus operations in the state.
A bus ride from Ikorodu – TBS will now cost N600 from N500, while Berger to Ajah is now N700, up from N600. Oshodi to Abule Egba will cost N450 from N350, and Abule-Egba-CMS-Obalende will attract a fare of N600.
The increase, according to the government, will be effective from Wednesday, 13 July 2022, stating that the increase is aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the BRT and standard route schemes.
The Governor further added that it would be providing support for the Bus Operating Companies in view of the continuous increase in fuel prices. This ensures that the increment to the passenger is kept at a minimum.
Reacting, PDP, in a statement released on Sunday through its State Publicity Secretary, Mr . Hakeem Amode, said the increase would add to the plight of the masses.
PDP said the incumbent government was not being considerate with the livelihood of the citizens who have suffered enough hardship already.
Amode stressed that the APC administration blaming the hike on the pump price of diesel from N187 to N830 and the unavailability of spare parts for the increase was not justifiable.
He said: “Sanwo-Olu-led APC administration has completely abdicated its responsibility to the people of the state and turned a blind eye to their predicament.
“The few ‘luxuries’ that the people benefit from the state are being taken away.
“Now is not the time for any form of increment, as the people of the state have suffered enough under this unsympathetic government.”
Amode urged the state government to immediately shelve the proposed increment on BRT fare so as not to worsen the citizens’ situation in the face of dilapidated infrastructure, insecurity, hunger, and a rise in crime, among other challenges being experienced by the people of the state.
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday droved a tricycle (keke) as part of his 85th birthday celebration.
The elder statesman rode through some roads in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun, to pick up passengers.
The former president caught the attention of residents of the community who cheered Obasanjo and took photos.
Obasanjo who offered rides to citizens, moved through Moshood Abiola, NNPC Mega Station, and Kuto Market, among others.
The elder statesman’s action was part of his Free Keke Programme of the Youth Development Centre of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
Obasanjo called on young Nigerians not to leave Nigeria to those messing it up.
He said youths in the country should take advantage of the available opportunities to make an impact.
Obasanjo said, “Things are not what they should be but youths, individually and collectively, must make contributions to make things the way they should be.
“If you leave things to those who are messing it up for you and who are saying you are the leaders of tomorrow, you will never have that tomorrow.
“God has given you the innate ability to be what He wants you to be. If you make up your mind, God will help you and provide people who would help you.”
Scores of children were allegedly found in an underground apartment of a church in the Valentino Area of Ondo town, Ondo State, on Friday evening.
It was gathered that the children were allegedly kidnapped and kept in the underground apartment of the church.
A source said victims were over 50 while the police had rescued them and arrested the pastor and some members of the church.
In a viral video, the children were seen in a patrol vehicle of the police who took them to the police station.
In the one minute, 40 seconds video, a voice was heard saying, “They are kidnapped children found in the underground cell of a church in the Valentino Area of Ondo. The pastor and some members of the church have been arrested and were also in the patrol van of the police.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, said the victims had been taken to the Akure headquarters of the command.
“I don’t have the details yet but they are bringing the victims to the headquarters. I will give you the details as soon as I get it from the DPO,” the PPRO stated.
Video of the rescued children from Church underground in Ondo town onboard buses with security escort to Ondo State Police Command in Akure Via Phanciey pic.twitter.com/1mr1JzeT7S
Few months after the demise of Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo, one of the late monarch’s wives, Olori Kafayat, has passed away.
Although details of the queen’s death are still sketchy, POLITICS NIGERIA learned that she breathed her last on Friday night.
Olori Kafayat Adeyemi, who was the fourth wive of the late Oba Adeyemi III, was the mother of Prince Adebayo Adeyemi (D’Gov), the present Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Pensions Board.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who died in April, lived his life to the fullest.
He was a boxer, gym enthusiast, a dandy dresser, quite energetic (he embarked on a three-hour road walk on his 82nd birthday) and boasted of some of the most beautiful queens in his harem.
That his light-skinned oloris, all 18 of them, could pass for beauty queens was never in doubt.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service has been ordered by a Federal High Court Abuja to provide the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the biodata information of David Nwamini Ukpo who was moved to the United Kingdom to serve as a kidney donor to one of Ike Ekweremadu’s children.
Ekweremadu, Nigeria’s former deputy Senate President, was arrested in UK for alleged organ harvesting of a “child”.
UK prosecutors allege that the child is 15 years but the Ekweremadus insisted he is 21.
Following the development, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, had on July 27 urged Justice Inyang Ekwo to order the release of certain official documents of Ukpo domiciled with NIMC, Nigeria Immigration Service and Stanbic-IBTC Bank for the purpose of effectively defending his client the UK.
The reliefs sought includes:
“An order directing the NIS C-G to supply the applicants with the documents and application form of David Nwamini Ukpo in the possession of the second respondent presented for the issuance of International passport No. BO0569974 for the purpose of assisting criminal investigation and tendering same before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court, UK until July 7 in the alleged criminal charge brought against the applicants.
“An order of court directing the Stanbic-IBTC Bank to supply the applicants with the Certified True Copy of mandate card and account opening package of account No. 0032551834 maintained by its customer, Ukpo, with Bank Verification Number 22509616391 in the custody of the bank, for the purpose of tendering same to establish the innocence of the applicants with respect to his age in the criminal charges filed against the applicants.
“An order of court directing UBA to supply the applicants with the Certified True Copy of mandate card and account opening package of account No. 2195739574 maintained by Ukpo with Bank Verification Number 22509616391 in the custody of the bank, for the purpose of tendering same to establish the innocence of the applicants.”
The judge granted the prayers sought by the counsel.
Residents of Ikorodu, Lagos State have lamented over the difficulties in processing and collecting their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).
During a constituency stakeholder meeting on Thursday themed: “2023 General Election: The Imperative of Permanent Voters Cards”, the residents appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate its Ikorodu office.
Speaking at the programme, Chairman, Ikorodu Community Development Committee(CDC) Lukman Shonibare, said the office was located at the edge of a corner, inside the Government Residential Area(GRA) with heavy security officials that restricted movement, making access to the office difficult.
According to Shonibare, the location of INEC office has discouraged some of the residents from processing their PVC.
He said: “We want to call on our lawmaker to help see to our plight because the distance of INEC office has discouraged lots of people.”
“Most times, you will spend all your energy walking before getting to their office. We need the office relocated to a place that will be easily accessible to all.”
Similarly, a resident Azeez Olushugbo, urged INEC to increase their staff strength as more residents were interested in participating in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
Olushugbo added that the officials should bring the registration closer to the people by moving around all the communities of the constituency, instead of staying in their offices.
Responding to the outcry, Ikorodu resident INEC officer Olutoyin Aiyeleso said their demands could only be possible if the community provided space to construct another office.
She added that members of staff do not have the capacity to move their office to another place.
“What you are requesting for can only be done if you provide space and construct another INEC office.”
“The office was built by INEC and we are just members of staff, so we don’t have the capacity to move our office to another place.”
The Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly and lawmaker representing Ikorodu constituency 1, Sanai Agunbiade in his response, assured them that all the challenges highlighted would be adequately addressed to ensure seamless processing and collection.
