Lagos Teenager Finally Gets Freedom After Four Years In Detention Over Slippers

    A Lagos teenager who was remanded in custody in 2022 after he was allegedly arrested over slippers similar to those worn by a complainant has regained his freedom after spending nearly four years behind bars.

The teenager, whose identity was not disclosed, was among two men whose cases were taken up by the non-governmental organisation, Citizens Gavel, after

its legal team discovered them during a visit to the Medium Security Correctional Centre in January 2024.

Citizens Gavel, in a post, stated that the teenager was arrested because he wore slippers similar to those of the complainant

but had never been taken to court despite spending months in custody.

The legal body noted that the discovery prompted its intervention to track the case.

“Their ordeal came to our attention in January 2024 during a visit to the Medium Security Correctional Centre, where our legal team in Lagos interviewed

them and discovered that, despite having been arrested since 2022, they had never been taken to court.”

“Immediately, our legal team took up their cases and began tracking the matter at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, eventually tracing

the case to the court of Justice Coker,” the post partly read.

 

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Citizens Gavel stated that it made its first appearance in the matter in March 2024 and subsequently appeared before Justice Coker more than seven times

for trial.

The organisation further stated that despite several adjournments, the prosecution failed to produce a single witness.

“From then on, we continued appearing before Justice Coker on more than seven occasions for trial and filed several applications urging the court to strike

out the case despite all the adjournments and the prosecution failing to produce a single witness,” it said.

The legal team, however, claimed that it was informed in early 2025 that Justice Coker was on official assignment and that the case would be transferred

to another court.

The statement noted that the Citizens Gavel again began the process of tracking the case and eventually discovered that it had been transferred to the

court of Justice Oshodi.

The organisation said it first appeared before Justice Oshodi in March 2025, when the charges were read to the two defendants, and they pleaded not guilty.

“At the close of the prosecution’s case, we filed a No Case Submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a case requiring the defendants

to answer,” the post read.

The matter was subsequently adjourned for ruling.

Delivering the ruling, the court reportedly upheld the No Case Submission and discharged and acquitted both defendants.

Citizens Gavel, however, described the outcome as significant.

“What makes this victory even more profound is that throughout this nearly four-year ordeal, not a single member of either defendant’s family appeared

in court. No other lawyer also represented them. They endured years in custody largely unseen and unheard. Today, they walk free,” the organisation said.

  

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How Two Police Officers Lost Their Lives At The Hands Of Hit-And-Run Drivers In Lagos

    A couple of days after Johnson Okediji, a police sergeant, was crushed by a car during stop-and-search operation at the Egbeda area, a female police inspector, Mercy Bassey, has died after she was reportedly knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while on route-lining duty ahead of the arrival of President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Tuesday.

Lagos Today Extra! gathered that Bassey was hit by a black Highlander Sport Utility Vehicle. According to eye-witnesses, the deceased officer, who was attached to the Ikotun Divisional Police Station, was crossing the Third Mainland Bridge at the Adekunle Intersection, inward Lagos Island, when the incident occurred.

A source who pleaded anonymity said the incident happened while Bassey was deployed for route-lining duty for the presidential movement.

The source added that the registration number of the SUV and the identity of its driver were unknown.

The source said, “At about 2:30pm, while on route lining for the Presidential movement, Inspector Mercy Bassey, attached to Ikotun Divisional Police Station, Lagos, was hit by a black Highlander SUV while crossing the Third Mainland Bridge at Adekunle Intersection, inward Lagos Island, Lagos.

 

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“The registration number of the vehicle and the driver are not yet known. The vehicle sped off after hitting the officer. The vehicle was chased by patrolmen on duty but escaped to an unknown destination.”

The source said the policewoman was rushed to the General Hospital, Ebute Metta, for treatment but reportedly died while awaiting treatment.

“The victim was rushed to General Hospital, Ebute Metta, but later died while awaiting treatment. The corpse will be moved to a morgue in Yaba for preservation,” the source added.

When contacted for a reaction, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident but declined to comment further.

“We don’t want to comment on the matter at the moment,” she said.

A few days earlier, Johnson Okediji, a police sergeant, was crushed by a car during stop-and-search operation at the Egbeda area of Lagos state.

The incident occurred along Olugbede street on September 26, 2026.

Speaking during a news conference on Monday, Fatai Tijani, the Lagos police commissioner, said on the day of the incident, officers on stop-and-search duty asked a Lexus ES 350 driven by Olusola Olumide, a 21-year-old phone seller, to pull over.

Tijani said Olumide initially brought the car to a halt but suddenly sped off as the sergeant approached the steering wheel.

The Lagos police commissioner said the sergeant was knocked down and his body dragged under the moving vehicle.

Tijani further relayed that the driver refused to stop the vehicle despite efforts from police officers and passersby.

“The driver was eventually chased and arrested. The officer sustained multiple fractures and serious head injuries,” the Lagos police commissioner said.

“He was taken to the nearby hospital and subsequently referred to LASUTH, where he was unfortunately pronounced dead on arrival.”

Tijani said the trend of drivers speeding off when asked to pull over during stop-and-search operations has become worrisome.

Narrating what transpired, Olumide said the car developed brake failure and that he could not stop the vehicle.

The driver said just days before the incident, he took the car to the mechanic to replace the brake pad.

“My car brake failed and I accidentally ran over the officer. I was about to park, but there was a slip and I hit the car in front of me. I couldn’t stop the car,” Olumide said.

“I took the car to the mechanic to change the brake pad, and he told me that he had changed it. The next day, I went to buy fuel before I saw the officers.”

Olumide added that police officers at the checkpoint knew him and were aware that he had not deliberately hit the deceased officer.

  

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Lagos Takes Health Campaign To Rural Communities

The Lagos State Government has launched a community-based health and sanitation campaign aimed at promoting healthy hygiene practices and preventing the spread of diseases at the grassroots.

The programme, launched in Oriade Local Council Development Area, is expected to extend across the five divisions of the state.

The initiative, organised by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, seeks to take health and sanitation education directly to communities through local government structures and community development associations.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Kikelomo Bolarinwa, said the campaign was designed to make basic health and sanitation practices part of residents’ daily routines.

She said a clean and healthy environment was central to the wellbeing and productivity of communities, urging community leaders, youths and residents to participate actively in the campaign.

Bolarinwa said the programme would “strengthen public awareness, encourage responsible sanitation practices, promote behavioural change and deepen community ownership of collective environmental health responsibilities.”

She said the campaign was focused on changing behaviour by taking health and hygiene advocacy beyond formal health facilities to neighbourhoods where residents made daily decisions about sanitation and personal healthcare.

 

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The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Government and Rural Development, Babatunde Durojaiye, said the campaign was prompted by the state government’s focus on healthcare, hygiene and living conditions under its development agenda.

He urged participants to pay attention to the health and hygiene information provided by the facilitators and apply it in their communities.

The Chairman of Oriade LCDA, Rasaq Olojede, said the council would continue to work with the state government to promote hygienic practices at the local level.

The Chairman of the Community Development Committee in Oriade, Victor Okunola, also pledged the cooperation of community development associations in extending the campaign across the LCDA.

The programme featured presentations on health and environmental hygiene by a professional from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Felicia Obisesan, and the Director of Health Education and Promotion Services in the Ministry of Health, Elizabeth Oguntona.

The government said the campaign would use community participation to strengthen awareness of preventive healthcare and sanitation practices.

  

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Eight Escape Death As Three Trucks Collide On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Eight occupants of three trucks escaped death on Thursday after the vehicles were involved in a multiple-vehicle crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, around the Sinoma outbound Lagos axis in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The accident, which occurred around 3:30 pm, involved eight male occupants, none of whom were injured or killed.

The incident was contained in a traffic and accident situation report issued by the Mowe-Ibafo Divisional Command of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps.

According to the report signed by the Divisional Commander, Ojo Olarinsoye, the vehicles involved were a white HOWO truck with registration number MDB-610XA, conveying wheat; a yellow DAF truck with registration number GME-33XA, conveying Vaseline cream; and a white MAN truck with a gas tanker, with registration number BDG-750YL.

 

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The report stated that preliminary findings indicated that the DAF truck rammed into the rear of the HOWO truck, reportedly due to impatience, with the impact subsequently affecting the MAN truck.

It read, “Preliminary information revealed that the Yellow DAF Truck rammed into the rear of the White HOWO Truck, reportedly due to impatience, and the impact subsequently affected the White MAN Truck with Gas Tanker.”

Despite the impact involving three trucks, the agency said none of the eight occupants sustained injuries or lost their lives.

The report stated that TRACE operatives arrived at the scene around 6:13 pm, shortly after the accident was reported.

The rescue and traffic management operation involved TRACE, Amotekun and the Police Motor Traffic Division, Sagamu.

The agency said its operatives, working with Amotekun and the police, controlled traffic and managed the situation while efforts were made to remove the affected vehicles from the carriageway.

It added that the Police MTD, Sagamu, was contacted and arranged towing services for the affected vehicles.

According to the report, the yellow DAF truck was towed to the custody of the Police MTD, Sagamu, while the white HOWO truck and the white MAN truck with a gas tanker were driven away from the carriageway by their respective drivers.

The agency noted that motorists experienced slow movement as the affected trucks occupied part of the carriageway during the evacuation process.

It, however, said the situation was brought under control after all the affected trucks were successfully evacuated and the carriageway cleared.

  

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NBA Backs Lagos Anti-Street Begging Bill, Demands Safeguards

The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has backed a proposed law to prohibit street begging and street urchins in the state, but urged the House of Assembly to strengthen its provisions and ensure enforcement does not criminalise poverty or violate the rights of vulnerable people.

The Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, Uchenna Akingbade, stated this at a public hearing on the proposed Street Begging and Street Urchins (Prohibition, Prevention and Rehabilitation) Bill 2026 at the Lagos State House of Assembly earlier this week.

The NBA said the legislation was necessary to address the use of children for begging, obstruction of public spaces and cases of violent or coercive solicitation, but called for clear safeguards around arrest, detention and rehabilitation.

Akingbade said the situation was particularly concerning along the Lekki-Epe corridor and called for urgent intervention, including the possibility of declaring a state of emergency in identified flashpoints.

He urged the lawmakers to remove ambiguity from the proposed offence of “loitering for the purpose of begging” and called for tougher penalties where people engaged in begging were found carrying dangerous weapons.

The NBA chairman also called for more rehabilitation centres, arguing that enforcement should be accompanied by measures to address the circumstances that leave vulnerable people on the streets.

The association stressed that children found begging should be treated as children in need of care and protection and handled separately from adult offenders under the Lagos State Child Rights Law.

It also called for stronger penalties against adults who exploit children for begging, alongside due process, court oversight and defined limits on detention and rehabilitation.

 

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The proposed law would establish a rehabilitation-centred enforcement regime. First-time offenders would be cautioned and taken to rehabilitation centres, while subsequent offences could attract a fine or imprisonment of up to three months. Serial offenders could face up to two years in prison.

The rehabilitation programme contemplated by the bill includes temporary care, vocational training, literacy programmes, psychological counselling, life-skills training and welfare support.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Abiodun Orekoya, said the Assembly recognised that street begging was not merely a question of public order.

He said the issue had security, socio-economic, developmental and child-protection dimensions, insisting that the legislative response must be “firm and humane”.

Orekoya said vulnerable children found on the streets should be protected rather than merely punished, adding that the proposed framework was intended to provide for their care, education, rehabilitation and possible reintegration into their families and communities.

He also stressed that enforcement must respect the fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, including protection against torture, inhuman or degrading treatment and unlawful detention.

Speaking on behalf of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, White Cap Chief Gbolahan Oki said arrests had failed to deter some offenders because they expected to regain their freedom shortly after being detained.

“The culprits don’t see arrest as anything because they know the police nets are filled up and they know they will be out soon,” Oki said.

He proposed a rehabilitation model based on productive work, referring to the traditional Itekule concept under which offenders could be made to contribute through activities such as bread production.

“What can curb the menace is to be subjected to two years of hard work,” he said.

The proposed law has also drawn calls for differentiated treatment of people whose presence on the streets may be linked to mental health conditions.

The Executive Director of Elixir Trust Foundation, Emmanuel Ikule, urged the Assembly to provide for people begging with mental health challenges to be referred to appropriate psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities.

Ikule cited Pen Cinema and Ojodu-Berger as areas where, he alleged, some people had used knives at night to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.

A counselling psychologist, Suliat Olaniran, also raised concerns about alleged cases in which dangerous weapons were used to compel people to give money at night.

The bill also seeks to prevent the exploitation of children by prohibiting parents, guardians and custodians from using or permitting children to engage in street begging or hawking.

Children apprehended under the proposed law would be dealt with under the Lagos State Child Rights Law and referred to child-welfare authorities.

The NBA, however, said the proposed law should target harmful conduct and exploitation rather than poverty, homelessness or disability.

It also called for the agency to be created under the legislation to have clearly defined responsibilities, adequate government funding, financial accountability and safeguards for the personal data of children and adults brought within the system.

The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, who represented the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, said the proposed law was not intended to deprive anyone of their rights and welcomed support from private organisations in tackling the problem.

The bill envisages collaboration among government agencies, the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, traditional institutions, religious organisations, families, communities, schools, civil society groups and the private sector.

  

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Why We Dumped APC For APM - Agege Aspirants, Say Mudasiru Obasa Has Nothing To Do With It

A former Chairman of the Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ganiyu Egunjobi, and a former aspirant in Agege Constituency II, Azeez Yusuf, have dismissed reports linking their defection from the All Progressives Congress to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa.

The duo said this in a statement they jointly signed and made available to Lagos Today Extra!,.

The duo, who contested the tickets of the All Progressives Congress for Agege Constituencies I and II respectively, emerged as candidates of the Allied Peoples Movement on Thursday.

Their defection came after an APC primary in which Egunjobi’s former Vice-Chairman, Glenga Abiola, was declared the winner of the Agege Constituency I ticket.

Likewise, Yusuf had lost the primary ticket to Sakiru Enimakure.

However, the former APC members who insisted on their victory at the primaries have clarified the misleading report that Obasa was behind their exit from the party.

They noted that the decision was carefully considered independently.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Obasa had no hand whatsoever in our decision to leave the APC and contest under the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The decision was entirely ours and was taken independently after careful consideration of our experiences within the party,” the statement partly read.

While stating that they showed loyalty to the APC structure in the Agege LGA, despite “political challenges,” they were later confronted with “grave injustice.”

 

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They maintained that party defections were typical in the Nigerian political space, saying the movement “from one political party to another was not unusual in Nigerian politics,” citing “former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, who is now Director-General of the governorship campaign of the APC candidate, Obafemi Hamzat,” as an example.

“What is the issue with our decision to leave? Obanikoro once left the party and was even openly critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We did not leave then. We remained, strengthened the party and contributed to its growth. We had never contemplated leaving until we were confronted with what we considered grave injustice,” they claimed.

The duo lamented their disappointment at the leadership of the APC as it “failed to initiate any meaningful reconciliation effort after the disputed primaries.”

The former APC aspirants “maintained that their decision to join the APM was, therefore, “a direct consequence of what they described as the denial of their mandates.”

According to the statement, Egunjobi and Yusuf made internal efforts within the APC by “submitting petitions and seeking redress, but were disappointed that the leadership did not invite them for reconciliation or provide a satisfactory resolution to their complaints.”

The statement noted that their “defection should, therefore, not be interpreted as a move engineered.” Rather, it was a decision they took “after considering their experience within the APC and the failure to resolve the dispute over the primary elections.”

  

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Sanwo-Olu, Fashola, Ambode Named In Lagos APC Campaign Council

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has released the structure of its campaign council ahead of the 2027 general elections, listing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode.

The Kadri Obafemi Hamzat Media Centre published the list on Thursday.

According to the list, Prince Tajudeen Olusi will serve as Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council, while Sanwo-Olu is listed as Advisory Council Chairman. Fashola and Ambode are named as Co-Chairmen.

 

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Other members of the advisory structure include the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; and former Minister of Health, Adeleke Mamora.

At the campaign council level, Sanwo-Olu is listed as Chairman, with his deputy, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, as Deputy Chairman.

The council also names Ojelabi Cornelius as Vice Chairman I, Obasa as Vice Chairman II and Damilola Sonayon James as Vice Chairman III.

Former Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is listed as Director-General, while Rasaq Ajala is named Deputy Director-General and Adekunle Olayinka as Campaign Secretary.

The council has various directorates and sub-committees covering areas including legal and compliance, party and inter-party affairs, administration and logistics, traditional institutions, diaspora engagement and residents’ associations.

The formal inauguration of the council members was held on Friday, September 18, at the APC Secretariat on ACME Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

  

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Boxers Gun For Fame As 'Battle Of The Ages' Hits Lagos September 26

Three boxing titles will be up for grabs when De Lads Boxing Promotion stages the 14th edition of its Battle of the Ages series, tagged ‘No Reconciliation’, at the NIS Gymnasium in Lagos on September 26.

The bill features seven professional bouts and one celebrity fight, all sanctioned by the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control.

The headline attraction is a rematch between Ridwan “Sojar Boy” Oyekola and Tosin “Scorpion” Osaigbovo for the WBA Africa Gold lightweight title over 10 rounds, while other title fights on the night include a WBA Africa lightweight clash between Idowu Rasheed and Ghana’s Benjamin Tetteh, and a national middleweight title bout pitting Damilare Arowolo against an unbeaten Azeem Bakare.

The undercard also features Ahmed Lawal against Sodiq Oyakojo for the national lightweight challenge, Saheed Abdullahi against Abdul-Afeez Oshoba for the national welterweight challenge, Rilwan Babatunde against Michael Ani for the national super-welterweight challenge, and Uzoukwu Cadet against Omejeh Chimaobi in a heavyweight contest. The celebrity fight will see Kelvin Power take on a bodybuilder known as Viper.

 

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Speaking at the fight’s press conference, President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Dr Rafiu Oladipo, said professional boxing had grown into one of the country’s top two sports over the last five years, having previously struggled for relevance.

“In the last five years, boxing has thrived and has become one of the top two sports in Nigeria. That is professional boxing,” he said.

Oladipo commended the De-Lads promotion for investing in young fighters and helping to keep them off the streets, urging the boxers on the card to take their profession seriously.

He added that he was looking forward to Nigeria producing Commonwealth and world champions. He also credited the board’s support for promoters for the steady rise in boxing events across the country.

“We did our bit, and now we see boxing events every week, and on occasions, two events took place in one day. That’s because the NBBofC have created a space of support for the promoters, and this has helped to secure the future of Nigeria, as the youths who box are the future of Nigeria,” he said, describing De-Lads as one of the promotions the board was committed to sustaining.

Promoter and CEO of De-Lads Boxing Promotion, Alhaji Waheed, said the event had continued to grow with each edition.

“As you can see, from every edition we are progressing and we are keeping the growth going. Although at every event, we try to correct the mistakes of the previous one,” he said, noting that additional agencies and bouncers had been engaged to address security breaches recorded at an earlier edition. He disclosed that the event would be streamed on at least three platforms, with more expected to be added before fight night.

Secretary-General of the NBBofC, Remi Aboderin, promised fight fans an entertaining night at the venue.

“The fans can look forward to an amazing time at the NIS Gymnasium. We also have arrangements made for the livestream. If you are not able to buy tickets, you can stream as well. It will be an electric night to remember with entertaining bouts,” he said.

Ahead of the bouts, several fighters traded words at the press conference. Lawal, popularly called ‘Small Tyson’, vowed the fight would not go the distance, insisting he would let his fists do the talking, while Oyakojo, known as ‘Golden Boy’, dismissed the threat and promised to show why he carries that nickname.

Abdullahi said he had the speed and strength to trouble the more experienced Oshoba, who countered that experience remained the best teacher. Babatunde, nicknamed ‘Babyface’, said he was a man of few words who preferred to let the ring do his talking, while his opponent, Ani, said he had travelled from Onitsha purely for business, not spectacle. Arowolo promised to go toe-to-toe with his unbeaten rival, Bakare, who in turn said he had no reason to fear the challenge.

The celebrity bout has also generated buzz, with Power alleging that Viper owed him N1.5m and had reneged on a promise to repay the debt depending on the fight’s outcome, claiming his rival had already skipped the pre-fight conference. In the Jollof derby, Rasheed took a swipe at his Ghanaian opponent, Tetteh, describing himself as a knockout fighter and warning him to be wary, while pointing to an earlier win over another Ghanaian boxer as proof of his credentials.

The event is sponsored by the Bet9ja Foundation, Fearless, LSSC, and other partners.

  

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Jide Kosoko, Eniola Badmus, Toyin Abraham, Other Celebrities Named In APC Lagos Campaign Council

Veteran actor Jide Kosoko, Fuji musicians Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, Abass Akande Obesere and Adewale Ayuba, and Nollywood stars Toyin Abraham, Eniola Badmus

and Bimbo Akintola are among dozens of entertainment industry figures named to the All Progressives Congress Lagos State Campaign Council’s Entertainment

and Creative Economy Directorate.

The directorate is contained in the full list of the campaign council released by the Kadri Obafemi Hamzat Media Centre on Thursday, ahead of the council’s

inauguration on Friday, September 18, at the APC Secretariat, ACME Road, Ikeja.

According to the list, Toke Benson-Awoyinka will serve as Director of the directorate, with Kosoko as Co-Director and actress Badmus as Deputy Director.

Akeem Alimi, popularly known as Ajala Jalingo, is listed as Secretary, and Dare Olateju as Assistant Secretary.

 

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Other members drawn from the Yoruba movie industry include veteran actor Oga Bello (Adebayo Salami), Saheed Balogun, Bukky Wright, Fathia Balogun, Yinka

Quadri and Tayo Sobola.

The Fuji music sector is also well represented, with Pasuma, Obesere, Ayuba, Sulaimon Alao Adekunle (Malaika), Akorede Babatunde Okunola (Osupa) and Temitope

Adekunle (Small Doctor) all listed as members.

The directorate is one of several structures under the campaign council, which lists Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as Chairman and Kadri Obafemi Hamzat as

Deputy Chairman.

  

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How 45,000-Litre Petrol Tanker Overturned In Epe

A tanker loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit overturned at Isimi, Epe, Lagos State, on Thursday, spilling its contents onto the roadway.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency disclosed this in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.

The agency said no life was lost and no injury was recorded in the incident.

According to the statement, the tanker, with registration number T-18212LA, was involved in an accident with a Ford pickup van, marked KJA-13FJ, which had developed a mechanical fault and was stationary along the carriageway.

LASEMA said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the tanker, while attempting to manoeuvre past the stationary Ford pickup van which had developed a mechanical fault along the carriageway, had one of its rear tyres slip into a pit, causing it to overturn and fall onto the pickup van, leading to spillage of its highly inflammable contents onto the roadway.”

The agency said it received a distress call at 10:19am and immediately activated its LRT Beta Whales Team stationed at Epe.

It said, “Upon arrival, responders observed a tanker laden with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, with registration number T-18212LA, which was involved in an accident with a Ford pickup van loaded with animal feed, with registration number KJA-13FJ.”

 

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LASEMA said it activated its multi-agency incident management protocol, with the LRT working alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force.

It said the agencies “promptly secured the incident perimeter, implemented traffic control and diversion measures, and deployed safety protocols to prevent a secondary incident.”

According to the agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service blanketed the fallen tanker and its immediate surroundings with chemical foam to mitigate the risk of a fire outbreak.

“The affected section of the road was temporarily closed to vehicular movement to ensure public safety,” the statement added.

LASEMA said the remaining PMS was successfully transferred from the damaged tanker to an empty tanker.

“Through seamless coordination and professional execution, the transloading of the remaining PMS from the accidented tanker to an empty tanker was successfully completed without incident,” it said.

The agency added that both vehicles were subsequently removed from the roadway with the aid of a private tow truck and taken to Ketu Police Station.

“The road has since been reopened and is now free for vehicular activities,” LASEMA said.

The agency said, “Fortunately, no loss of life or injury was recorded in the incident.”

Oke-Osanyintolu commended the emergency responders for their intervention, saying, “The swift response and synergy of all emergency responders whose professionalism averted what could have resulted in a major disaster.”

He also appealed to motorists, particularly heavy-duty vehicle and tanker drivers, to ensure their vehicles were in good mechanical condition and exercise caution on Lagos roads.

The statement said, “The Permanent Secretary appeals to motorists, particularly drivers of heavy-duty vehicles and tankers conveying combustible products, to ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition, adhere strictly to traffic regulations, and exercise utmost caution on Lagos roads.”

It urged members of the public to report emergencies and road incidents through the 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines.

  

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