News
Panic as truck filled with cement plunges into residential area, k!lls police officers, children in Anambra
Tragedy struck around the Area Command Bus Stop in the Nnewi community in Anambra State when a truck fully loaded with cement crashed into a residential building, killing a yet-to-be-disclosed number of persons, including about five members of a family.
Sources said the incident occurred late on Friday when residents of the community had gathered around their vicinity, and the family was also getting ready for dinner.
It was gathered that the truck suffered a brake failure, which caused the driver to lose control, leading to the collision with several buildings before finally crashing at the house situated not far from the main road.
An eyewitness said, “The incident happened late on Friday when most people were at their compound. The loud noise from the crash alerted the residents and other passers-by to the scene. It subsequently created a rowdy scene as residents and passers-by tried to remove some victims who got stuck
“The driver of the trailer carrying cement lost control at Ugwu-Akpati Ozu, Nnewi and crashed at Me Court Junction, near Nnewi Police Area Command Bus Stop. The truck cleared several structures and some persons before ramming into the residential building, killing about five children of a family.
“It was an unfortunate incident that occurred while some people gathered at their various compounds celebrating Valentine’s Day. The driver was also killed in the accident while several victims were still stuck under the truck.”
The mother of the affected children was also seen crying while residents consoled her. Some lifeless bodies were also seen on the crashed scene.
A senior police officer at Nnewi Area Command, who craved anonymity as he was not authorised to speak, confirmed the incident.
He said, “It’s only the PPRO that can speak officially, but what happened is that the driver of the truck failed to brake and rammed into a residential building, killing some victims.
“The police had commenced a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and assured the public that further details would be provided in due course.”
When contacted over the development on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps in Anambra, Margaret Onabe, who confirmed the incident, said the crash was recorded late on Friday while promising to reach out to the FRSC personnel on the ground for more details.
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has initiated a probe into unremitted funds owed to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and several oil firms.
The investigation, led by Sub-Committee Chairman, Rep. Akinlade Isiaq, arose from concerns highlighted in the Auditor General’s 2020–2021 reports regarding unsettled financial obligations by NNPC Ltd and other industry players.
Findings from the audit indicate that, as of December 2021, NNPC Ltd and oil companies owed the Federation roughly $1.6 billion in royalties due to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) under various agreements, including the Production Sharing Contract, Repayment Agreement, and Modified Carry Arrangement. Additionally, NNPCL’s outstanding claims against the Federation were estimated at N1.9 trillion.
Responding to these queries, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, represented by Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, stated that part of the funds had been directed toward government-designated Priority Projects (GPP) and fuel subsidy payments, which remained in effect until its removal in September 2024.
He explained that deductions were sourced from the Federation’s crude oil and gas entitlements, including royalties, and were allocated to projects based on the approved national budget. However, he clarified that no deductions were made for GPP in 2023 and 2024, as implementation was dependent on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Rep. Isiaq reaffirmed the committee’s dedication to professionalism and transparency, emphasizing the importance of accountability in managing Nigeria’s oil and gas resources.
“This hearing is a vital step in ensuring that our national resources are properly accounted for. We are committed to taking all necessary measures to recover these outstanding debts in the best interest of the Federation and its citizens,” he stated.
The committee has also summoned oil companies identified in the NUPRC report, which shows they owe the Federal Government a total of $929 million as of September 30, 2024.
To address financial discrepancies, key government agencies have been invited to provide clarity on the issue. These include the Accountant General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the Ministry of Finance, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Their input is expected to shed light on the legal and procedural factors behind the non-payment of these funds. This investigation aims to establish stronger accountability and financial transparency within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The outgoing South-South zonal executive of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has began the mobilisation of statutory delegates of the party for the election of a new zonal executive of the party.
A statement signed by the acting Zonal Secretary of the party, George Turnah M.O.N and made available to newsmen invited all those qualified to attend the zonal congress as specified in Section 28(1) of the party’s constitution to avail themselves for the congress holding in Calabar, Cross River State.
The statement read in part:
“The Zonal Executive Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) South-South Zone hereby notifies and invites qualified Party members as contained in the Party constitution 28(1) , to the 2025 elective Congress of the Party scheduled to hold on Saturday, 22nd of February 2025 at The Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, Cross River State.”
The zonal scribe while noting that the congress is being convened for the election of “new officers to the Zonal Working/Executive Committee and other matters connected thereto” added that the invitation for the congress is at the instance of “Chief Dan Osi Orbih, National Vice Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party South-South Zone, acting under the powers conferred upon him by Article 28(3) of the Party’s Constitution.”
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigerian Senate reacting to the alleged funding of terrorism in Nigeria by the United States Agency for International Development USAID, Wednesday invited Security Intelligence Chiefs for investigation and veracity of the allegation by Perry Scott of the United States parliament.
The resolution followed an Order of Urgent National Security through Order 41 by Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume.
Ndume urged the Senate to consider the revelation as too weighty to gloss over, given the devastation that terrorists have done to the country, particularly the Boko Haram fighters, stressing that the investigation would put paid to speculations on how the non-state actors have been surviving over the years.
The heads of security intelligence agencies summoned by the Senate are, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Directorate of Intelligence Agency, DIA, Department of State Services, DSS, and the National Security Adviser, NIA.
Senate President, Godswill in sustaining the resolution remarked that security issues should not be discussed in the market, noting that the head of security intelligence will offer the Senate better perspective in a close door meeting with them.
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