News
Two burnt to death, many vehicles razed in Lagos-Ibadan road tanker explosion
- Firefighters pull out as miscreants attack LASEMA rescue team
A fuel tanker exploded in the early hours of Saturday at the Kara end of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, claiming two lives and razing scores of vehicles.
Two people were said to have been burnt to death in the accident.
The tanker reportedly fell on its side and spilt its content which later sparked off the fire.
Spokesperson for the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the incident, said one other person that sustained injury had been taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, along with the remains of the two dead victims.
The fire caused a heavy traffic on both sides of the road as many people trying to make use of the road got stuck.
Desperate motorists heading towards Ibadan, approaching the Kara Bridge, resorted to driving against the traffic, and this reportedly compounded the traffic situation.
Firefighters, who arrived at the scene around 1.05am when many vehicles had been engulfed in the fire, had a difficult time trying to put out the fire.
The rescue team claimed they were attacked by hoodlums, vandalised their vehicles and had to pull out when they could no longer bear it.
Personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps also came to the accident scene to clear the debris away from the road.
There are fears that the frequency of accidents involving fuel tankers on the Kara bridge and other bridges on the Lagos-Ibadan road could affect the integrity of the bridges.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency claimed its men, who were on the accident scene around 01.05am to intervene, were attacked by miscreants.
It stated this via its Twitter handle, saying, “The agency responded to the incident at 0105hrs this morning according to the state emergency response plan.
“The joint team (agency + @LAG_FireService) was waylaid on arrival by a group of miscreants brandishing weapons, and was forced to seek extra police cover from the Isheri Police Station.
“The operation commenced with the police protection until the group of assailants grew larger and caused significant damage to vehicles and threats to lives of our personnel. The team was forced to suspend the recovery operation for safety reasons.
“It is of note that this attack is part of a very worrisome trend of first responders being attacked in the course of their duties.
“Lagosians are urged to refrain from endangering the lives of emergency responders.”
News
Three senior govt officials arrested over alleged illegal citizenship for foreigners
Three senior govt officials arrested over alleged illegal citizenship for foreigners
The Kano State government said three of its top civil servants have been apprehended for engaging in citizenship racket.
The indicted government officials were arrested by the State Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Agency.
According to the anti-graft agency, the three senior officials allegedly recommending Nigerian citizenship to illegal migrants.
Speaking to newsmen on Thursday in Kano, the chairman of the agency, Muhuyi Magaji, disclosed that the suspects collected bribes from the foreign nationals for the the illegal activity.
He alleged that the suspects planned to write letters of recommendation to the Federal ministry of internal affairs, using government letter-headed papers.
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He named the suspects as Kabiru Shehu of the ministry of information; Hassan Aminu from Office of the state Head of Service; and one AMusa Falgore, a retired staff of the information ministry.
“These are senior officials of Kano state government conniving to write fake letters recommending illegal aliens to secure Nigerian citizenship.
“We have arrested them. They are giving us useful information. We will keep interrogating them and at the end, if found wanting, they will be prosecuted.
“We will not tolerate this kind of unpatriotic action from senior government officials.
“This government abhors corruption, and we will do everything possible to ensure that anybody found neck-deep in corruption is exposed,” Mr Muhuyi said.
Three senior govt officials arrested over alleged illegal citizenship for foreigners
(NAN)
News
Group protests alleged imposition of Imam in Osun
Group protests alleged imposition of Imam in Osun
A Muslim group in Inisa, Odo-Otin Local Government area of Osun State, has threatened to embark on mass protest over alleged imposition of Imam on the community’s central mosque.
The mosque had been without leadership since the demise of the imam, his deputy, and third in command, within the space of two months, in 2020, following the crisis over succession plan.
However, in December 2023, Osun State governor, after observing Juma’at prayer in the mosque, adopted one Hakeem Jamiu as the imam.
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But a Muslim group in the town, Inisa Muslim Elites Association, IMEA, while addressing newsmen in Osogbo, yesterday, described the governor’s action as an affront on Islamic teachings and provided guidelines on the appointment of an imam.
Fielding questions from journalist, Imam Raji Oladejo said the Muslim Ummah in the town are ready to lay down their lives to the dictates of the religion on the matter and would not succumb to any imposition from any quarter.
His words: “We have called the attention of every stakeholder on this matter over the illegalities of those who imposed an imam on us in Inisa. We have repeatedly stressed the need to follow due process, and a case is still in court.”
Group protests alleged imposition of Imam in Osun
News
FG paid $500m to terminate Ajaokuta Steel contract – Minister
FG paid $500m to terminate Ajaokuta Steel contract – Minister
The Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Shuaib Abubakar on Thursday disclosed that the Federal Government paid the sum of $500 in order to terminate the concession agreement on Ajaokuta Steel Company.
The minister, who disclosed this during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development in Abuja said the government was working assiduously to find a solution to the Ajaokuta Steel imbroglio.
He said, “It is a problem that has persisted for 45 years. We have gone to China to come and invest in the steel company including setting up a new plant and we have gone to seek financing”.
According to him, the challenges had changed as new technology had come up and there had been innovations and there had been discussions around it but it had not been finalised.
“Funding is a big challenge to the Ministry of Steel Development. Steel industry will be the bed rock of industrialization if we have proper funding.
“I am still at a stage where to find a solution to the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
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On the $2 billion being requested to revive the moribund steel company, the minister said it was just a preliminary calculation, adding that the figure might not be up to that.
According to him, this is an estimate that may not be accurate at the last decimal point. It is just a process that will allow us to arrive at the right destination.
“The president has asked me to find a solution to Ajaokuta, so the figure will change pending the outcome of the technical audit.
“It’s clear to Nigeria that for this to happen we need funding and all the help we can get from the two chambers, this is why we need. I need all your support to make this a reality.”
Abubakar also disclosed that the nation spends $8 billion annually to import steel into the country, saying that it is in the best interest of Nigeria for the Ajaokuta Steel Company to work.
He noted that the revival of Ajaokuta Steel will cost money, and we have written a 10 year document for the revival. We will present the document to Mr President.
He said that it was in his own interest for Ajaokuta Steel to work, adding that he is from Kogi State and must push for such interest
Chairman, House Committee on Steel Development, Hon. Zainab Gimba, the urged the ministry to provide it with all the procurement process and other responses demanded by the committee
The committee said that Ajaokuta had remained a nightmare to many, adding that now that the minister had accepted to superintend over it, Nigeria expected more from him.
FG paid $500m to terminate Ajaokuta Steel contract – Minister
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