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Three passengers have been confirmed dead following the derailment of a train on the Warri–Itakpe Train Service.

The incident occurred on Monday.

While confirming the derailment, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said that emergency response teams and relevant authorities are currently at the scene attending to the situation and providing necessary assistance.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirms that an incident involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) occurred today.

“Emergency response teams and relevant authorities are currently at the scene attending to the situation and providing necessary assistance,” the statement signed by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kayode Opeifa, partly read.

The Corporation is closely monitoring developments and a detailed statement will be issued as soon as more information becomes available,” it added.

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Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the current calls for a probe of the military as unpatriotic, arguing that such a move would amount to a misplacement of priorities

The Senate has pledged to commence urgent deliberations on the establishment of state police this week as part of efforts to address the growing insecurity across the country.

Speaking at a media briefing with Senate correspondents, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, stated that the matter had gained priority among other issues in the ongoing constitutional review process.
According to him, the upper chamber is committed to supporting Nigerians’ demand for state policing and has already held a series of consultations with relevant stakeholders.
READ ALSO: State Police Constitutional Framework Near Completion, Presidency Says
‘We are standing with Nigerians on state police. That will come to fruition this week during plenary.
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“We have been holding a series of meetings with stakeholders and will fast-track deliberations so that the bill can proceed to the 36 state houses of assembly and eventually receive presidential assent,” he said.
The Senate Leader also described the current calls for a probe of the military as unpatriotic, arguing that such a move would amount to a misplacement of priorities given the country’s current security challenges.
On the controversy surrounding lawmakers’ remuneration, he asserts that the Senate would soon address public concerns by ensuring that details of senators’ salaries and allowances, as well as those of ministers and other public office holders are published.
He made the remarks while responding to recent court pronouncements that reportedly described the purchase of 110 billion SUVs and allowance scheme for lawmakers as illegal.
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Defending the acquisition, the Senate Leader again maintained that the vehicles were provided to facilitate constituency engagements and other official duties.
“Every vehicle given to us is meant for constituency work and other official assignments. Public office holders are entitled to such provisions. It is neither strange nor peculiar to lawmakers in Nigeria,” the senator said.
He added that the Senate was not surprised by the criticism, noting that the legislature’s oversight responsibilities often attract opposition and hostility.

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…TO INAUGURATE PROJECTS IN THE AREA COUNCILS

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will officially begin the commissioning of several high-impact legacy infrastructure projects across the nation’s capital on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, as part of his third anniversary celebrations.

Speaking with newsmen during a high-level site verification tour to assess final delivery arrangements and mobilization frameworks on Monday, June 8, 2026, the Minister stated that the President will commence with the commissioning of stage two of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) Main Carriageways, which he said was 100 percent complete.

Wike, who was visibly excited at the rapid engineering turnarounds achieved across multiple strategic arterial corridors within the territory during the visit, said, “Tomorrow, the President will start the commissioning of the OSEX road, which was the first place we visited this morning”.

The Minister further disclosed that the commissioning itinerary will extend through a packed multi-day calendar to celebrate the administration’s third anniversary, adding that the President will commission the strategic Arterial Road N5 in Life Camp on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, which will be followed on Thursday by the commissioning of the newly dualized Highway 105 (Airport-to-Kuje carriageway), providing critical economic links to outlying development zones.

“These three projects are one hundred percent complete and ready for commissioning. What is important to us is that we have been able to achieve the timeline, and I commend the various contractors that are involved for keeping to their promises”, the Minister remarked.

Beyond the city centre, Barr. Wike further confirmed that President Tinubu will also visit the satellite towns to personally inaugurate vital interventions within the Area Councils.

While specific targets remain confidential, the Minister disclosed that the spread is proof of the administration’s commitment to touching the lives of the rural dwellers.

He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his consistent support to the FCT Administration, which, he said, made the achievements possible.

“The credit must go to Mr. President, who has given that directive and support for us to go this far. I have always said that one of the things about leadership is the will to continue with projects that may not have been initiated by you, but you continue and complete those projects”, the Minister stated.

Responding to questions regarding completed FCT bus terminals that are yet to open for commercial operations, Wike urged residents to remain patient with the mandatory bureaucratic process. He clarified that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has already approved a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) lease structure, and the concessionaire is presently consolidating public transportation fleets to match modern requirements.

“For you to give a private individual to run a government facility, it has to pass through a procurement process”, Wike explained. “Government process is not easy; bureaucracy is involved, and once you have achieved that, be patient. We don’t want to commit ourselves to go and run that business because we know that it won’t work. The person going to manage the facility has pleaded with us that he is assembling the buses and the taxis to ensure that it takes off smoothly”.