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N500 Petrol, Wage Award: Public Sector Workers Begin Warning Strike

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N500 Petrol, Wage Award: Public Sector Workers Begin Warning Strike

N500 Petrol, Wage Award: Public Sector Workers Begin Warning Strike

The three-day public sector warning strike declared over worsening economic hardship in Nigeria has begun on a shaky note, with mixed levels of compliance reported across the country.

The action, which commenced on October 2, followed the failure of the Federal Government and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) to reach an agreement on demands aimed at easing the pressure of rising living costs on workers.

Among the unions’ major demands are a reduction in the petrol price to N500 per litre, payment of an immediate wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.

The unions are also seeking the implementation of outstanding agreements with the government and additional measures to improve workers’ welfare amid rising food, transportation and energy costs.

However, the first day of the warning strike recorded varying levels of compliance across the country.

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In Abuja, several federal government offices remained open, with some workers reporting for duty, although attendance was reportedly lower in some locations.

The situation was different in some states, where significant compliance was recorded. Reports indicated substantial participation in Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ogun, while some northern states, including Gombe, recorded partial compliance.

Other locations recorded little or no disruption, underscoring the uneven nature of the industrial action on its first day.

The unions, however, disputed reports suggesting widespread non-compliance, claiming that participation was higher than figures being reported from some government offices. They put the level of compliance nationally at more than 65 per cent.

The warning strike is scheduled to run until October 4, unless the government reaches an agreement with the unions before then.

The industrial action comes against the backdrop of sustained concerns over cost of living, food prices, transportation expenses and the impact of higher petrol prices on household incomes.

For workers, the unions say the current economic conditions have significantly reduced purchasing power and require urgent intervention from the government.

The government’s response during the three-day action could determine whether the dispute is resolved through further negotiations or escalates into a more prolonged industrial confrontation.

For now, the public sector strike remains uneven across the country, with some government services continuing while workers in other areas have withdrawn their services in support of the unions’ demands.

N500 Petrol, Wage Award: Public Sector Workers Begin Warning Strike

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Plateau Highway Crash: 20 Killed, Five Injured in Multiple-Vehicle Accident

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Plateau Highway Crash: 20 Killed, Five Injured in Multiple-Vehicle Accident

Plateau Highway Crash: 20 Killed, Five Injured in Multiple-Vehicle Accident

At least 20 people have been killed and five others injured in a multiple-vehicle road crash along the Hawan Kibo–Jos route in Plateau State.

The fatal Plateau crash occurred at about 3:32pm on Friday, October 2, shortly after Sopp Water Falls, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The FRSC said preliminary findings indicated that brake failure and loss of control may have triggered the accident.

Four vehicles were involved in the crash: a Howo Sino truck, a Toyota Corolla, a Toyota Hummer bus operated by Yankari Express and a motorcycle whose registration details were not immediately available.

The road safety agency said 25 people were involved in the accident, comprising 23 males and two females. All 20 fatalities were male, while the five injured victims comprised three males and two females.

The injured victims were evacuated to Riyom General Hospital and Vom Christian Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of those who died were deposited at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) mortuary.

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According to the preliminary account, the heavy-duty truck was descending the Hawan Kibo section of the highway when it reportedly developed a brake problem and lost control before colliding with the other vehicles.

FRSC rescue personnel were deployed to the scene to evacuate victims, recover the bodies and clear the highway. The affected section was subsequently reopened to traffic.

Reacting to the tragedy, FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

He also directed the Corps’ crash investigation team to conduct a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident, particularly the reported mechanical failure and loss of control.

The FRSC urged motorists, especially operators of commercial vehicles and heavy-duty trucks, to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and properly maintained before embarking on journeys.

Drivers were also advised to exercise caution when navigating steep or descending sections of highways and to maintain speeds that allow them to respond safely to unexpected situations.

The latest incident has renewed concerns over road safety in Nigeria, particularly the dangers posed by vehicle defects, excessive speed and loss of control involving heavy-duty vehicles.

Authorities continue to advise motorists to conduct appropriate safety checks, observe traffic regulations and avoid taking vehicles with suspected mechanical faults onto highways.

The FRSC investigation is expected to provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the Plateau highway crash and determine the factors that led to the deaths and injuries.

Plateau Highway Crash: 20 Killed, Five Injured in Multiple-Vehicle Accident

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Police Arrest Woman Seen Threatening Officer With Knife Over Cannabis Arrest

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Police Arrest Woman Seen Threatening Officer With Knife Over Cannabis Arrest
Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Oluseyi Babaseyi

Police Arrest Woman Seen Threatening Officer With Knife Over Cannabis Arrest

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a woman who was seen in a viral video allegedly threatening a police officer with a knife during a confrontation over suspected cannabis sales in Ijebu-Igbo.

The incident occurred in Ijebu-Igbo, headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

In the video circulating online, the woman, dressed in a green gown, was seen inside a vehicle confronting police officers who had reportedly arrested her over alleged Indian hemp sales.

She questioned why the officers were targeting her and was heard asking why they were “troubling” her when other people were also allegedly involved in the sale of Indian hemp.

The woman later stepped out of the vehicle holding a knife and moved towards a female police officer who appeared to be recording the confrontation.

She also accused the officers of repeatedly harassing her and issued threats while speaking in Yoruba.

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The footage subsequently attracted widespread attention on social media, with users expressing concern over the alleged confrontation between the woman and the police.

The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the woman’s arrest and said an investigation had commenced.

Police spokesperson DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi said the suspect was taken into custody while investigators worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, also confirmed that the woman was expected to face legal proceedings.

However, authorities have not disclosed the quantity of cannabis allegedly recovered or provided full details of the circumstances that led to the woman’s initial arrest.

The incident has renewed attention on enforcement against the possession, sale and distribution of illicit drugs in Ogun State.

Law-enforcement agencies have continued operations against drug-related activities across the state, while authorities have urged residents to provide information that could assist investigations into suspected drug trafficking and sales.

The woman could face further legal action over the alleged drug-related offence and any offence arising from the confrontation with the police.

The allegations, however, remain subject to investigation and due process, and the suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court.

Police Arrest Woman Seen Threatening Officer With Knife Over Cannabis Arrest

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Amaechi: Tinubu’s Policies Made My Mother’s Drugs Unaffordable

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Amaechi: Tinubu’s Policies Made My Mother’s Drugs Unaffordable

Amaechi: Tinubu’s Policies Made My Mother’s Drugs Unaffordable

Former Rivers State governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has alleged that the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu contributed to the death of his mother, saying the rising cost of medicines made it difficult for him to afford her treatment.

Amaechi made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, October 2, 2026, while criticising the impact of the Federal Government’s economic reforms on Nigerians.

According to him, his mother was healthy before Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, but the increasing cost of drugs subsequently made it difficult for him to obtain the medication she needed.

Amaechi said, “Tinubu’s policies killed my mother. Before Tinubu came, my mother was healthy. After 2023, it was difficult for me to buy drugs for my mother.”

His mother, Ezinne Amaechi, died on July 16 at the age of 89.

Amaechi used his personal experience to highlight what he described as the broader effect of economic hardship and rising healthcare costs on Nigerian families.

He has been particularly critical of the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy has contributed to higher living costs without sufficient relief for citizens.

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The former governor also questioned the use of funds saved from subsidy removal and called for greater attention to the welfare of Nigerians struggling with food, transportation and medical expenses.

His comments came shortly after Tinubu, in his October 1 Independence Day address, defended his administration’s economic reforms, saying they were necessary to correct longstanding structural problems and that Nigeria was moving from reform towards prosperity.

The President acknowledged that millions of Nigerians were still struggling with food, school fees, medical bills and transportation costs, but argued that the difficulties had accumulated over decades.

Tinubu said the government was working to reduce the cost of living through measures targeting production, transportation, agriculture, healthcare and social support, while insisting that there would be no return to the old petrol subsidy regime.

Amaechi, however, maintained that the impact of the reforms should be measured by how they affect ordinary Nigerians.

He also linked the rising cost of medicines to Nigeria’s dependence on imported pharmaceutical products and called for stronger domestic production of drugs.

The former transportation minister has in recent weeks stepped up his criticism of the Tinubu administration, particularly over petrol prices, infrastructure and the cost of living.

During the same interview, Amaechi said he would withdraw as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate and campaign for Tinubu if petrol sold for N600 per litre.

Amaechi was announced as Atiku’s running mate on the ADC ticket in June 2026 ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The allegation concerning his mother’s death remains Amaechi’s account. There is no independent medical finding presented in the reports establishing a direct link between her death and any government policy.

The debate over the impact of Tinubu’s economic reforms continues, with the administration maintaining that the policies are intended to correct longstanding economic weaknesses and create conditions for sustained growth, while opposition figures have argued that the reforms have imposed significant hardship on households.

Amaechi: Tinubu’s Policies Made My Mother’s Drugs Unaffordable

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