Sango Tollgate: Ogun Bans Street Trading, Demolishes Shanties Over Safety Concerns

The Ogun State Government has intensified its crackdown on street trading around the Sango Tollgate axis, demolishing shanties and temporary structures along the Ogun–Lagos border in a move aimed at reducing accidents, improving traffic flow, and enhancing public safety.

The enforcement exercise, carried out on Tuesday, specifically targeted illegal structures erected on road setbacks and beneath the bridge—areas officials say have become hotspots for traffic obstruction, environmental hazards, and avoidable fatalities.

Leading the operation, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Kafayat Lawal, explained that the action followed repeated warnings issued to traders occupying the affected locations. She said the government had provided an alternative trading space at Plaza Road in Sango to accommodate displaced traders and ensure continuity of legitimate commercial activities.

According to her, the decision to clear the area was driven by the need to prevent further loss of lives and injuries linked to street trading around the busy tollgate corridor. The Sango Tollgate axis, a major link between Lagos and Ogun States, experiences heavy vehicular and pedestrian movement daily, making unregulated trading activities particularly risky.

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Lawal emphasized that street trading under bridges and along road setbacks often exposes traders and commuters to dangers, including road accidents and emergency situations where escape routes are obstructed. She noted that the government could no longer allow such practices to persist given the associated safety concerns.

She further warned that the enforcement would be sustained, adding that anyone who returns to trade at the tollgate or under the bridge would face legal consequences in line with state regulations. Authorities also indicated that monitoring and compliance checks would continue to prevent a resurgence of illegal structures in the area.

The state government reiterated that the clearance exercise is part of its broader urban management and environmental sanitation strategy, which aims to decongest public spaces, enforce planning laws, and protect lives and property. Officials maintain that while economic activities are important, they must be conducted within designated and safe environments.

Reactions from residents and commuters have been mixed, with some praising the government for addressing long-standing safety concerns, while others called for sustained engagement and support for traders to help them transition smoothly to approved markets.

Sango Tollgate: Ogun Bans Street Trading, Demolishes Shanties Over Safety Concerns

FG Apologises Over Nationwide Blackouts, Promises Improvement Within Two Weeks

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has issued a public apology to Nigerians over the prolonged and severe electricity outages affecting various parts of the country, acknowledging the hardship faced by households, businesses, and critical sectors of the economy.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Adelabu admitted that the ongoing poor power supply has worsened living conditions, especially during the intense dry-season heat. He noted that the situation has disrupted daily activities across schools, industries, and commercial centres nationwide.

“I want to apologise to Nigerians… for this temporary issue that is leading to hardship being experienced,” the minister said, explaining that the challenges were due to factors largely beyond the immediate control of the government.

Adelabu attributed the electricity shortages largely to disruptions in gas supply to thermal power plants, which form the backbone of Nigeria’s power generation system. He also pointed to ongoing maintenance of gas pipelines and operational challenges affecting supply to generation companies. Nigeria relies heavily on gas-fired plants for electricity production, making the sector vulnerable to fluctuations in gas availability. According to the minister, repairs are currently ongoing on critical gas infrastructure, including facilities linked to operators such as Seplat Energy.

The minister further explained that the government has established a committee to monitor compliance with domestic gas supply obligations, ensuring that producers prioritise electricity generation needs. He added that improved coordination with gas suppliers is essential to restoring consistent supply to power plants and stabilising the national grid.

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Adelabu assured Nigerians that the situation would begin to improve within a short timeframe, citing coordinated interventions by the government and stakeholders in the energy sector. He stated that with the committee in place and commitments from gas suppliers, the country should begin to see noticeable improvements in electricity supply within two weeks.

He explained that the government is working closely with gas producers, regulators, and power generation companies to stabilise supply and restore more consistent electricity delivery across the national grid.

The minister acknowledged that Nigeria’s power sector challenges extend beyond gas supply, highlighting structural issues across generation, transmission, and distribution. These include ageing infrastructure, financial constraints, and inefficiencies within distribution networks that continue to affect overall performance.

Despite these challenges, Adelabu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reforms aimed at improving electricity reliability. He said efforts are ongoing to increase power generation capacity, strengthen the transmission network, and enhance distribution efficiency across the country.

“We are working on it 24/7… Power generation will improve, transmission will improve, distribution will improve,” he said, describing the current situation as a temporary setback within a broader reform agenda.

The persistent blackouts in Nigeria have forced many businesses to rely on costly alternatives such as generators and solar systems, increasing operational expenses and affecting productivity. Households have also been impacted, with many struggling to cope with inconsistent grid supply.

Adelabu acknowledged these difficulties and assured citizens that the current crisis is being treated as a priority. He expressed confidence that ongoing interventions across the gas supply chain, transmission upgrades, and regulatory improvements will gradually restore stability to the power sector in the coming weeks.

FG Apologises Over Nationwide Blackouts, Promises Improvement Within Two Weeks

Colleagues, Community Rally GoFundMe for Nigerian Nurse Killed in US Wrong-Way Crash

Colleagues, friends and members of the Nigerian community have launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family of Oluwalayomi Fadero, a US-based Nigerian graduate nurse who died in a wrong-way crash while fleeing a police chase in Nashville, Tennessee.

The fundraiser was created by her friend, Presley Ann Craig, to help cover funeral expenses and provide financial support for the bereaved family. As of the latest update, the campaign has raised $17,197 out of a $28,000 target, reflecting widespread support from colleagues, friends and well-wishers.

Ms. Fadero, 23, was killed on Friday when a stolen vehicle driven by 52-year-old Ray Eugene Padgett reportedly collided with her car. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, Padgett stole a Ford F-250 from a car lot in North Nashville around 9:30 a.m. before driving the wrong way at high speed on Murfreesboro Pike.

Police said the suspect, a parolee with an extensive criminal record, was attempting to evade law enforcement when he entered oncoming traffic and crashed into Ms. Fadero’s vehicle as she was turning into a subdivision near Hickory Drive. She was confirmed dead at the scene.

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Authorities further disclosed that Padgett, who reportedly has about 20 felony convictions across multiple Tennessee counties, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was later taken into custody. He is expected to face multiple charges, including criminally negligent homicide, vehicular homicide by recklessness, and driving on a revoked licence, with bail set at $805,000. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Ms. Fadero was a recent graduate of Fisk University and was reportedly pursuing an accelerated nursing programme at another institution at the time of her death. The university described her passing as devastating, expressing condolences to her family and offering counselling resources to students affected by the tragedy.

Tributes have continued to pour in from professors, classmates and friends who described her as compassionate, kind and dedicated to her studies and future career in healthcare. Former professor Janet Walsh described her as “one of the most compassionate and kindest” students she had taught, while classmates recalled her support during clinical rotations and her positive outlook on life.

Community members have also shared messages of grief and solidarity, highlighting both her personal impact and the broader loss felt within the Nigerian diaspora in the United States. Organisers of the GoFundMe campaign said the initiative aims to ease the financial burden on her family while honouring her memory and contributions.

The incident has also renewed conversations around road safety, police pursuits and accountability for reckless driving, particularly in cases involving stolen vehicles and high-speed chases in urban areas.

As the investigation continues, supporters are encouraging donations to the fundraiser and calling for justice, accountability, and measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Colleagues, Community Rally GoFundMe for Nigerian Nurse Killed in US Wrong-Way Crash