News

Abuja crash: FRSC demands fresh Dangote fleet certification

Published

9 months ago

August 2, 2024

Admin

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, has directed the immediate fresh inspection and certification of the Dangote fleet nationwide.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mohammed gave the order in a statement by the acting Corps Public Relations Officer, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, in Abuja, on Thursday.

He said the directives became necessary following a fatal road traffic crash involving a Dangote truck on Wednesday on the Nyanya-Maraba highway, which claimed five lives and injured 14 others.

He added that the crash, which occurred at 8:40 pm, involved 10 vehicles, including a Dangote truck.

“From the analysis concerning the cause of the crash, the Dangote trailer conveying a full load of cement had a brake failure.

“The driver lost control of the wheels while on a speed that was already against the prescribed legal speed limit on that road, before crashing into the vehicles,” he said.

The Corps Marshal also ordered the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Office of the Corps to ensure maximum compliance with safety standards.

The NAN reports that three injured victims were rescued and taken to Nyanya General Hospital, three to Asokoro General Hospital, and nine to the National Hospital, Abuja.

The dead victims were deposited in the Karu General Hospital Morgue after they were confirmed dead by doctors.

The 10 vehicles involved in the accident were a Toyota Corolla RSH-633-FB, a red Volkswagen Golf without a registration number, a black Volkswagen Golf 3 AF160-KAC and another red Volkswagen Golf 3 SML-199AA.

Others were a silver colour 406 Peugeot YAB-307AF, a green Volkswagen Golf ABC-846ZW, and three Bajaj Boxer unregistered motorcycles.

The corps said 19 victims (15 male adults and four female adults) were involved.

From the number, the corps said 14 male adults sustained various degrees of injuries, including cuts, fractures, bruises etc.

The corps also said five victims, comprising four males and one female, were killed.

News

Five suspected kidnappers eliminated by police in Delta

Published

2 minutes ago

April 27, 2025

ADMIN

Five alleged kidnappers have reportedly died after a fierce gun battle with operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team.

The suspects were confirmed dead in a hospital they were rushed to for medical attention.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe who confirmed the development in a statement, stated that the incident occurred on 21st April 2025.

The police image maker disclosed that operatives of the CP-Special Assignment team, acting on intelligence relating to kidnapping in Ubuluku, Isseluku, Issele-Asagba, and environs by one Bello Abubakar and his gang members, stormed one of their hideouts in Agu-Amawbia forest, Anambra State.

SP Edafe pointed out that during the raid of the suspects hideout in the forest, the operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle and one hundred and thirty-two rounds of live ammunition.

He further said the investigation was extended to another of their hideouts in a forest between Issele-Asagba and Utulu, where the said Bello Abubakar and his gang members were waiting in ambush.

According to the police image maker, the suspected kidnappers attacked the policemen in a fierce gun battle, but the team, who were aware of the battle ahead, reciprocated in like manner.

SP Edafe added that the manhunt for other injured fleeing suspects is ongoing.

News

Francophone Ambassadors, Nigeria Unite To Fight Against Climate Change

Published

5 hours ago

April 27, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Ambassador of Bulgaria to Nigeria and President of the Francophone Ambassadors Group, Amb. Yanko Yordanov has reaffirmed the commitment of French-speaking countries to work closely with Nigeria in promoting environmental protection, democracy, and cultural exchange.

Speaking during the 2025 Francophonie celebration in Abuja, the Ambassador explained that although the International Day of La Francophonie is usually marked in March, they decided to hold the event in April to accommodate broader participation.

“This is a gathering that encompasses the meaning of La Francophonie. In French-speaking countries, the Francophone countries, we are uniting together to celebrate the diversity, our values, our mission, and, of course, to celebrate together with Nigeria. Because we are partners, we share the same values, and we have the same concerns,” he said.

Addressing the theme of the event, which includes environmental preservation and afforestation, the ambassador stressed that climate change is a shared challenge that must be tackled together.

“I think that it is a very important theme and La Francophonie has a lot to say and a lot to do in cooperation with countries, our partners like Nigeria, which are really equally affected by the climate change. So we want to raise the awareness of the importance of fighting the climate change in a way that benefits all nations, that mitigates really the climate change effect and that benefits the lives of all the citizens of all the worlds on the planet,” he said.

Reflecting on his experience leading the Francophone ambassadors in Nigeria, he said he was proud of the progress made in deepening ties between Nigeria and the Francophone community.

“I have been honoured to chair the informal group of the Francophone ambassadors in Nigeria for the past two years and I am proud of what we have achieved together in terms of making La Francophonie much more popular, much more understandable and much more visible in Nigeria,” he said.

He explained that the group, made up of over 25 ambassadors, has not only promoted Francophone culture in Nigeria but has also worked to showcase Nigeria’s rich heritage across Francophone countries Their joint efforts also span areas like trade, investment, political relations, and cultural exchanges.

“I think that the success of our group, which is very visible, is based on the cooperation with Nigeria, which is our partner, which shares our values and our mission, including in the area of the fight against climate change, which affects not only the Francophones, but also all the others, including Nigeria,” he added.

He emphasized that the partnership between Francophone nations and Nigeria is built on shared principles of humanity, democracy, and the rule of law.

“So we are very happy to cooperate with Nigeria in many directions, including the visibility of these problems and the visibility of the decisions and successes that we can achieve together in this area. I would like to say that the Francophones and Nigeria have the same mission. It is humanity. It is the promotion of democracy, of the rule of law. So we are very, very happy and proud to be able to cooperate with Nigeria,” the envoy stated.

Every year, the celebration of “La Francophonie” is an opportunity to highlight the richness of French-speaking cultures and linguistic diversity. It also pro ides an opportunity to promote the French language as a tool for solidarity and cooperation in tackling major challenges such as sustainable development.

This year, the celebrations planned as part of the Month of La Francophonie in Nigeria showcased how the French-speaking countries work together in the service of energy transition, the protection of fauna and flora and the development of new ecosystems.

News

Gunmen abduct two senior LG workers, three others

Published

6 hours ago

April 27, 2025

ADMIN

Some senior officials of the Kwara State Local Government Service Commission have been kidnapped by gunmen along the Omu-Aran/Ilorin Road.
The victims were abducted on Friday evening.
Those kidnapped are: the Head of the Legal Department of Oke-Ero Local Government, Elizabeth Arinde, and the Head of Personnel Management of the council, whose name could not be immediately confirmed.

It was gathered on Saturday night that the two senior administrators were among seven individuals kidnapped at Corner Eleyin along the Omu-Aran/Ilorin Expressway while returning to Ilorin, the state capital, for the weekend on Friday, April 25, 2025.

The incident occurred at about 5:45pm where five gunmen ambushed the two private vehicles before leading the passengers into the bush.

The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the incident.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, on Saturday.
The statement added “The Kwara State Police Command confirms a kidnap incident reported at about 5:45 p.m. on Friday, 25th April 2025, at Eleyin village via Isanlu-Isin. It was reported that about five armed men blocked the highway, stopping two private vehicles, forcefully taking all occupants to an unknown location.

“Following the report, the command, in collaboration with the military and vigilantes, launched a swift operation, leading to the successful rescue of two victims, Ganiyu Ajayi and Kolawole Adeyemi.

“Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining five victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

“The command has intensified security measures across the area, including aggressive bush combing, strategic patrols, and intelligence-driven operations to prevent further occurrences”