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Lagos to Launch State Driver’s License, Expand Rail Network

Published

3 months ago

May 12, 2026

Lagos to Launch State Driver’s License, Expand Rail Network

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to introduce a state-owned driver’s license in collaboration with the Federal Government as part of wider efforts to improve road safety, reduce delays in license issuance and strengthen transportation management across the state.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed this during the 2025 annual ministerial press briefing held at Alausa, Ikeja, where he highlighted key achievements and ongoing transportation projects under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

According to Osiyemi, the proposed Lagos State driver’s license will operate alongside the existing federal driver’s license system, giving motorists the option to choose between both platforms.

He explained that the initiative was designed to ensure sanity, accountability and improved safety on Lagos roads while also addressing persistent complaints about delays associated with the current licensing process.

“The project will ensure prompt issuance as against the usual delays being experienced with the existing process,” the commissioner stated.

Osiyemi disclosed that within the review period, the state processed a total of 56,876 driver’s licenses in partnership with the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The figure, according to him, included 27,067 fresh applications and 29,810 renewals, while an additional 1,158 international driver permits were also processed during the same period.

The commissioner noted that the new licensing initiative aligns with the state government’s broader transport reform agenda focused on digitisation, traffic management and enhanced service delivery.

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He added that discussions with federal authorities had reached advanced stages and the scheme is expected to commence after regulatory approvals and final operational frameworks are completed.

Blue Line Rail Expansion

On rail transportation, Osiyemi said the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line recorded over 3.5 million passengers in 2025, reflecting growing public acceptance of the rail system as an alternative to road transportation.

He disclosed that Phase Two of the Blue Line extension from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko would be completed in the first quarter of 2027, paving the way for full commercial operations on the corridor.

The Blue Line project, which currently runs from Marina to Mile 2, is one of the flagship rail projects aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving mass transit within Lagos.

The commissioner added that work on supporting infrastructure around rail stations and multimodal transport integration was ongoing to improve passenger convenience and accessibility.

Red Line Gets New Coaches

Osiyemi further revealed that the state government had procured 24 new train coaches for the Red Line corridor.

According to him, the coaches have been configured into three sets of eight-coach trains to strengthen operations, increase passenger capacity and improve commuting experience for residents using the corridor.

The Red Line rail system, which connects Agbado to Oyingbo, forms part of Lagos State’s integrated transportation master plan designed to reduce travel time and ease pressure on major roads.

Green Line Project Advances

The commissioner also disclosed that the government had intensified work on the proposed 68-kilometre Green Line Rail project expected to connect Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone through Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah and Sangotedo.

He said the Green Line would serve rapidly growing commercial and residential districts along the Lekki corridor and support economic activities linked to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Dangote Refinery and Free Trade Zone.

Osiyemi added that the state had already signed agreements with international partners and investors for the execution of the project, while feasibility studies and funding arrangements were progressing.

Transportation analysts say the expansion of rail infrastructure and reforms in road transportation management could significantly ease Lagos traffic challenges if fully implemented.

Lagos to Launch State Driver’s License, Expand Rail Network

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Asylum Seeker Who Posed as Teenager on Snapchat Jailed for Raping 13-Year-Old Girl

Published

2 hours ago

August 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Asylum Seeker Who Posed as Teenager on Snapchat Jailed for Raping 13-Year-Old Girl

An asylum seeker who masqueraded as a teenager on social media before grooming and raping a 13-year-old girl has been sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. Abdul Khan, believed to be 28, arrived in the UK hidden in the back of a lorry in 2015 and faces automatic deportation to Afghanistan after serving two thirds of his sentence, Nottingham Crown Court heard. Khan, currently residing at HMP Nottingham, is already serving a 23-month sentence for sexual communication with another child in the Derbyshire area. Last week, jurors found him guilty of two counts of rape, one count of sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following grooming, and perverting the course of justice.

The four-day trial heard how Khan communicated with his victim on Snapchat, pretending to be a 14-year-old boy, before meeting her at a nature reserve in the Clifton area of Nottingham. When the victim met Khan in person, it became apparent to her that he was older than 14, and he attempted to placate her by claiming to be 16, the court heard. After an initial encounter which jurors determined had been consensual, Khan raped the girl twice in May 2025. The court also heard that Khan had given at least four different dates of birth to various agencies, with the year he was born ranging from 1998 to 2009. He was prosecuted as being 28 years old.

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His victim was present in court on Monday, August 10, as prosecutor Dawn Pritchard read a personal statement from the victim to Judge Mark Watson, stating that the complainant “feels numb when she thinks back to how she felt at the time.” Summarising the statement, Miss Pritchard added: “She felt scared of the world after it happened and felt overwhelmed. When she has flashbacks she sees his face and what happened. She feels like she can’t trust anyone.” The victim also revealed she no longer wishes to wear her school uniform—which she was wearing during the abuse—and has suffered flashbacks and felt like self-harming. A victim impact statement indicated that the attack had left her unable to trust people.

Defence barrister Andrew Wesley stated that he was unable to provide any personal mitigation on behalf of Khan as he continues to dispute the identity and age under which he was prosecuted. Khan had been communicating through a Pashto interpreter throughout the proceedings. In sentencing, Judge Watson told Khan: “You deliberately concealed your true identity. She (the 13-year-old) thought she was communicating with a child of her own age. It was a lie you have persisted with throughout these proceedings.”

The judge, describing the defendant’s claims about his age and identity as “nonsensical” and doomed to fail, added: “The police were called by her father, after learning from her that she had been raped. She has on any view been profoundly affected, as her parents must also have been. Your sentence will mean automatic deportation.” Khan, who shielded his face with his hands as he left the dock, was also ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely. Detective Constable Madeleine Johnson of Nottinghamshire Police described Khan as an “opportunistic and predatory offender” who poses “a clear risk to teenage girls and other young women.” She added: “As his previous grooming conviction demonstrates, he was absolutely determined in his ambition to strike up sexual relationships with young girls… It is thanks to her bravery and the compelling evidence she was able to give that this man is now off our streets for good.”

Asylum Seeker Who Posed as Teenager on Snapchat Jailed for Raping 13-Year-Old Girl

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‘Don’t Let My Sick Daughter Die in Nigeria’ — Nigerian US Army Woman Begs Trump

Published

3 hours ago

August 11, 2026

Trends Admin

‘Don’t Let My Sick Daughter Die in Nigeria’ — Nigerian US Army Woman Begs Trump

A Nigerian-born woman serving in the United States Army has made an emotional public appeal to President Donald Trump, pleading for a humanitarian exception to visa restrictions so her critically ill 10-year-old daughter can join her in the US for urgent medical treatment. The soldier, identified as Uzoamaka (also spelled Uzamaka), broke down in tears in a TikTok video posted on Sunday, saying she has been separated from her daughter for about 10 years and fears she may lose the child before they can reunite. She said her daughter completed all required immigration processes but cannot travel because of current visa restrictions.

Uzoamaka, who said she is an American citizen and has taken an oath to serve the United States, described her appeal as a mother’s desperate fight to save her child’s life. “Please do not scroll. I’m at the verge of losing my daughter. They said social media is powerful, and this is my last resort,” she said in the video. She added: “I’m not just speaking as a soldier; I’m speaking as a mother whose heart is gradually breaking. I have been separated from my daughter for the past 10 years, and she remains in Nigeria.” According to the soldier, her daughter became critically ill while the family waited for the immigration process to be completed, and she is concerned that quality healthcare is difficult to access in Nigeria. “How can I be in a country that has quality healthcare and let my daughter die?” she asked.

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Uzoamaka said she has sought assistance through official channels, including her military commanders and US Senator Amy Klobuchar, who she said tried to intervene but was informed that the visa process was proceeding as planned. “Senator Amy Klobuchar, she tried her best. And they told her that everything is going as planned. But your visa process and policies are keeping my children from reuniting with me,” she said. She also said she contacted major American media organisations, including Fox News and CNN, to draw attention to her daughter’s situation but had not received a response. She has now turned to social media, urging users to share her video and tag the president.

Acknowledging the importance of US immigration laws and national security, Uzoamaka appealed for a humanitarian exception. “My plea now is not about politics but a humanitarian one, a compassionate one that you should review carefully and consider. I’m simply asking that there should be an exception for me and for people that fall into this category,” she said. She maintained that she possesses medical records documenting her daughter’s condition and insisted her appeal was solely to save her child’s life. She argued that her children do not pose a security threat: “My kids are barely minors that can’t pose a threat and are not coming here to be criminals.” Uzoamaka also said she cannot return to Nigeria because of security concerns and the US government’s security advisory regarding the country. She pleaded: “Dear Mr President, please help me reunite with my daughter. I never thought a day would come that I would be facing the camera and pleading.”

‘Don’t Let My Sick Daughter Die in Nigeria’ — Nigerian US Army Woman Begs Trump

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How Enugu Abduction Led to Recovery of 4 AK-47 Rifles, 133 Ammunition – Army

Published

3 hours ago

August 11, 2026

Trends Admin

How Enugu Abduction Led to Recovery of 4 AK-47 Rifles, 133 Ammunition – Army

An investigation into the August 2 abduction of two persons in Enugu State has led the Nigerian Army to a suspected kidnapping commander and a weapons cache containing four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of ammunition. The operation was carried out by troops of the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The Army said the suspected commander was arrested in the Gariki General Area of the state while allegedly attempting to flee Enugu. The Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, confirmed the development, stating that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the South-East. Troops, working with other security agencies, would continue to pursue criminals and deny them access to weapons and hideouts, he added.

The suspect’s arrest followed investigations into the abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area on August 2. The Army said troops had earlier killed one member of the syndicate and arrested another suspect during an operation. Information obtained from the arrested suspect reportedly led security operatives to the fleeing commander and helped them locate the gang’s hidden weapons. Acting on the intelligence, the troops launched a manhunt for the suspect and eventually intercepted him as he attempted to escape from the state. The Army said preliminary investigations linked the suspect to several kidnapping operations in parts of the South-East and North-Central regions. Items recovered from him included $1,000, N785,900 and other incriminating items.

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Following further interrogation, the troops reportedly moved to the Umuchingu Ujenike Forest, where the gang was said to have hidden its weapons. A search of the forest led to the recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines, and 133 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. The Army said the suspect remained in custody and was being interrogated to provide information that could lead to the arrest of other members of the syndicate and their alleged collaborators. It described the operation as another demonstration of the effectiveness of intelligence-led joint operations in disrupting organised criminal networks and denying them access to weapons and safe havens. Lt. Col. Ayeni said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the South-East. He also urged members of the public to continue providing security agencies with useful information to assist ongoing operations in the region.