News

Ijora Fire Accident: No Casualty Recorded – LASG

Published

12 months ago

October 13, 2023

Eric

Lagos State Government has dispelled the widespread misinformation about casualties from the Thursday fire incident at Ijora area of the State.

The Commissioner for information and Strategy announced on Friday afternoon that there was zero death in the fire accident, which occurred at Orile/Ijora bridge inward Apapa on Wednesday night.

Eleven vehicles were razed by the fire, which broke out when a truck laden with fuel rolled back while climbing the bridge and hitting another truck in the process. The collision resulted in the huge balls of fire that engulfed the scene.

Omotoso told reporters during the visit of some State Cabinet members who visited scene on Friday afternoon, that there is no truth in the reports making the rounds that some lives were lost to the fire incident, adding that such reports were social media fake news. He urged people to stop posting misleading videos.

Other Cabinet members at the site of the accident on Friday include the Commissioner of Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi and his Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations counterpart, Gbenga Oyerinde as well as Special Adviser on Works Engr. Olayinka Adekunle

According to Omotoso, there was no loss of life or injuries as occupants of the razed vehicles escaped unhurt.

He said: “A truck was trying to climb the bridge and another one was close by and another was parked on the bridge, but the space for them to maneuver was not that large enough. The one that wanted to climb could not go up; it rolled back and hit the one behind it and there was a spark that led to the huge fire that we saw last night.

“I have seen some videos of fire from other places that people mischievously said was what happened here at Ijora and I have seen some reports that people died here, but I will like to announce to you that we haven’t lost anybody in this fire. About 11 vehicles were involved and now as you can see our people are trying to clear the place”.

Omotoso commended all the First Responders for their prompt response to the accident while also assuring residents that the site will soon be cleared completely of the burnt vehicles to ensure free flow of traffic in the axis.

Omotoso said: “After the incident on Otedola bridge, around 7:45pm this incident occurred. First, I would like to thank our first responders on the way they reacted to this accident; they made sure it wasn’t as bad as some people thought. They responded as fast as possible; firefighters, LASEMA were all here; they put in a yeoman’s job to put out the fire.

“About forty percent clearance of the scene of the accident has been done now. All of the vehicles you are seeing here are going to be moved away from here and taking to a safer place. Normalcy will return here in a matter of hours”.

The Commissioner corrected insinuations that the accident was as a result of a bad road, saying the State government had been carrying out palliative works on the road to ensure smooth transportation around the axis.

He said the government was not neglecting the road.

“Well, if you look at this road you will notice that it has been enjoying some palliatives for some time; it is not a road that has been left to deteriorate anyhow as you see the stones and pebbles that have been put in the pot holes that we have here. That shows the government is not neglecting this road even at the Federal level.

“In fact, as we speak, meetings are on-going on modalities to fix this and as matter of fact the contract to fix this road has been awarded,” Omotoso said.

Also present at the briefing were heads of Lagos State Fire Service and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.

News

Pensioners’ Welfare: Govenor Adeleke Approves N3.3bn for Retirees

Published

12 hours ago

October 4, 2024

Eric

The Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Senator Dr Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, has again approved a whopping sum of Three billion, Three hundred naira only (#3,300,000,000.00) for the payment of accrued rights (bond certificates) of a number of workers who retired under the Contributory Pension Scheme across the State, according to a statement esigned by the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina.

Of the said amount amount, N1.5 billion is for retirees at the State level comprising Ministries, Departments, Agencies, secondary schools and tertiary institutions while the sum of #1.8bn is for those who retired in the local government service, junior and primary schools across the State.

The statement noted that the approved fund is presently undergoing due process at the Bureau of Public Service Pension and the Local Government Staff Pension Board.

The approval, the statement further disclosed, is apart from the regular monthly payment of pension and gratuities to retired public servants under the old pension scheme across the whole gamut of the public service.

It will be recalled that workers and pensioners welfare top the 5- point Action Plan of Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration in the State.

Stakeholders admit that Governor Adeleke been keeping his promise since he came on board in November, 2022 going by his unhindered love for public servants and the entire citizens of the State.

News

We’re Winning War Against Bandits, Terrorists, Says Tinubu’s Minister

Published

13 hours ago

October 4, 2024

Eric

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; said on Thursday that Nigeria is winning the war against terror and banditry.

Idris made the claim during the opening ceremony of the 1st Annual International Lecture of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja

He said: “Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism.

“Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever.

“As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.

“Indeed, this quote from President Bola Tonibu has amplified the resolve and determination of this administration to address the security challenges confronting us.

“By understanding the root causes, evaluating the impact on our territorial integrity, and implementing strategic policy measures, we can effectively address the challenges posed by this crisis.”

The minister pointed out that the Federal government through intelligence gathering and other grassroots measures is tackling insecurity.

News

Court Releases Ex-Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku on N150m Bail

Published

1 day ago

October 3, 2024

Eric

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has granted a N150 million bail to a former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku.

Ishaku was arraigned on Monday alongside Bello Yero, former permanent secretary, bureau for local government and chieftaincy affairs.

Both men are being prosecuted on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds.

The defendants pleaded “not guilty” when all the charges were read to them.

At the court session on Thursday, the defendants’ respective counsels moved their bail applications.

Rotimi Jacobs, prosecution counsel, said he would not object since the defendants have been granted administrative bail.

Sylvanus Oriji, presiding judge, granted the bail application.

He held that the defendants must produce two sureties each in like sum. The two sureties must be responsible citizens of Nigeria and must be residents within the FCT, with verifiable office and residential addresses.

One of the sureties produced by each defendant must be a director in the civil service.

The defendants must not travel outside the country without the court’s permission and must deposit their travel documents to the court.

Ishaku, 70, was governor of Taraba from 2015 to 2023.

In July 2023, the EFCC invited the former governor over some financial transactions conducted during his spell in office. He was later released on bail.

On September 27, 2024, Ishaku and Yero were arrested and detained by the commission.