Hamzat Clarifies Lagos Traffic ‘Lifestyle’ Remark After Backlash

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has clarified his controversial description of Lagos traffic as a “lifestyle”, saying the remark was taken out of context and was not intended as an endorsement of persistent gridlock.

Hamzat made the original comment while speaking at Podfest Naija 2026, where he discussed storytelling, the creative industry and how Lagos residents consume digital content during their daily journeys.

Using the experience of commuters on the Third Mainland Bridge as an example, Hamzat said traffic had become part of everyday life in Lagos. He also linked the long hours residents spend commuting to the growing consumption of podcasts, music, films and other digital content.

He specifically referred to journeys between Ojota and Obalende, suggesting that many Lagos residents listen to podcast episodes and consume other creative content while travelling through the city’s heavily congested roads.

The remarks generated criticism on social media, with some people interpreting the “lifestyle” description as an indication that the Lagos State Government considered traffic congestion a normal condition that residents should accept.

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Hamzat subsequently addressed the controversy, explaining that he was speaking about the relationship between Lagos traffic and the creative industry, rather than discussing the causes of congestion, road design or suggesting that traffic should be regarded as desirable.

He also questioned how his remarks had been connected to separate criticisms of the state’s traffic situation.

Hamzat said he decided to clarify the remarks after seeing how excerpts from his speech were interpreted on social media.

The controversy has nevertheless renewed discussion about the impact of Lagos traffic congestion on commuters, businesses and productivity.

Lagos remains one of Nigeria’s busiest urban centres, with long commuting times forming part of the daily experience for many residents, particularly along major routes during peak periods.

The deputy governor’s remarks also highlighted the opportunities created by the city’s large and diverse audience for podcasters, filmmakers, musicians, writers and other content creators.

His argument was that the time residents spend travelling has contributed to increased consumption of creative content, creating opportunities for the industry to reach audiences during daily commutes.

The Lagos State Government has continued to promote investments in rail transportation, waterways, road construction, junction improvements and intelligent traffic management as part of efforts to improve mobility across the state.

The debate has therefore shifted beyond the wording of Hamzat’s “lifestyle” remark to broader questions about Lagos traffic, urban mobility and the challenges faced by residents who spend significant time commuting.

Hamzat Clarifies Lagos Traffic ‘Lifestyle’ Remark After Backlash

Slovakia School Attack: 13-Year-Old Student Kills Teacher, Injures Two

A 13-year-old student has been detained after a knife attack at an elementary school in Slovakia left a 61-year-old teacher dead and two other people injured.

The attack occurred on Tuesday morning, September 29, 2026, at a school in Staškov, a town in northwestern Slovakia’s Čadca district.

Police said the student attacked teachers and pupils with a sharp object during the school day. The suspect was taken into custody, while authorities said the situation was brought under control and there was no continuing threat to the public.

The teacher who died was identified as a 61-year-old woman. Another female teacher and a pupil were also injured and taken to hospital.

The second teacher suffered a stab wound to the chest and was hospitalised with serious injuries. Officials later said her life was not in danger.

The injured pupil, reported to be a girl, was in critical condition and was transported by helicopter for further treatment.

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Emergency medical teams, including ambulances and rescue helicopters, were deployed to the school following the attack.

Slovak authorities detained the student and launched an investigation into the incident. Police had not publicly confirmed a motive for the attack at the time of reporting.

Slovakia’s Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok, Education Minister Tomáš Drucker and Health Minister Kamil Šaško travelled to Staškov following the incident.

Education authorities also offered assistance and professional support to the affected school, while officials appealed for respect for the privacy of the children, their families and school staff.

President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed condolences to the victims and their families following the Slovakia school attack.

The incident has renewed attention on school violence in Slovakia, following other serious attacks at schools in recent years.

In January 2025, an 18-year-old student was accused of fatally stabbing a deputy principal and another student at a secondary school in Spišská Stará Ves in eastern Slovakia. A separate school attack in 2020 also left a deputy principal dead and several others injured.

Police continued their investigation into Tuesday’s school stabbing in Staškov, while further details about the circumstances surrounding the attack remained under investigation.

School Attack: 13-Year-Old Student Kills Teacher, Injures Two

Edo Court Sentences Four to Death Over Kidnapping, Armed Robbery

Four men have been sentenced to death by the Edo State Special Criminal Court after being convicted on multiple charges arising from a kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and firearms case in Benin City.

Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the judgment on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in what was the court’s first reported judgment in a kidnapping case since it became operational.

The convicts were identified as Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.

The case arose from the June 14, 2026 abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market area along Airport Road in Benin City.

The victim was reportedly at the market with her husband and children when armed men abducted her. She was later released unharmed.

The incident prompted a police investigation that led to the arrest and prosecution of the four men.

Police reportedly recovered a Lexus RX 350, which investigators linked to the abduction, as well as a pump-action firearm, ammunition, a motorcycle and cash.

One alleged member of the group, identified as Precious, was reportedly killed during a security operation, while Marvellous Isaac was arrested on June 18 following an alleged exchange of gunfire with police operatives.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty during the trial.

After considering evidence presented by the prosecution and defence, the court convicted the defendants on the relevant counts.

According to the reported judgment, Marvellous Isaac received seven years’ imprisonment on Count 1, death sentences on Counts 2 to 9, 10 years’ imprisonment on Count 10 and life imprisonment on Count 11.

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Wisdom Michael was sentenced to seven years on Count 1 and death sentences on Counts 2 to 9.

Rufus Emete Michael received seven years on Count 1 and death sentences on Counts 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7.

Gift Raphael was sentenced to seven years on Count 1 and death sentences on Counts 2, 4, 6 and 8.

Earlier reports on the case had described the defendants as facing a 10-count charge, while the judgment reports refer to an additional Count 11. The available reports do not provide sufficient detail to independently assign every offence to each of the 11 counts, so the sentencing breakdown above follows the counts specifically reported in the judgment.

Justice Momodu said the court had no discretion over the punishment prescribed by law for the offences attracting the death penalty.

The court also ordered the confiscation of a JoJef pump-action firearm and four cartridges tendered as exhibits during the trial.

The firearm and ammunition were ordered to be handed over to the Edo State Police Armourer at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for destruction within 30 days.

The judgment marked the first kidnapping-related judgment delivered by the Edo State Special Criminal Court, a specialised court established to handle kidnapping, cultism and other serious violent-crime cases.

The court became operational on July 1, 2026, as part of efforts to accelerate the prosecution of serious criminal cases in Edo State.

The sentencing concludes the trial at the Special Criminal Court, but available reports do not indicate whether the four convicts have filed appeals against their convictions or sentences.

The death sentences are therefore sentences imposed by the trial court and should not be presented as final or carried out unless subsequent legal proceedings establish that position.

Edo Court Sentences Four to Death Over Kidnapping, Armed Robbery