Ambulance Conveying Pregnant Woman On Oxygen Support Crashes At Maryland

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has arrested a yet-to-be-identified ambulance driver who left a delivery motorcyclist with a limb fracture, during a traffic incident on the Odo Iya-Alaro Bridge inward Maryland along Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

This was disclosed today, in a Monday statement by Lagos State Traffic Management Agency spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq.

According to Taofiq, the accident was caused by lingering traffic disruptions from an earlier truck fire at the same location.

“Preliminary security investigations at the scene revealed that the unfortunate occurrence was catalyzed by the residual disruptions following a truck inferno earlier in the morning at the same location.

“The aftermath of the fire incident had engendered a severe slow traffic impasse along the entire Ikorodu Road axis,” the statement partly read.

The agency reported that the private ambulance involved was transporting a pregnant woman dependent on oxygen support when the accident occurred.

“Amid the protracted slow vehicular movements, a private ambulance (BED 508 EA) conveying a pregnant woman dependent on oxygen support recklessly elected to traverse against traffic (one-way) at an imprudent and perilous speed.

“This dangerous manoeuvre culminated in a forceful collision with a delivery motorcyclist legitimately navigating his designated lane, instantly inflicting a grave and excruciating fracture to his right knee,” the statement added.

Taofiq stated that emergency response teams acted swiftly to assist the victims.

“The pregnant woman, along with her life-support apparatus, was safely transloaded into one LASAMBUS ambulance, while the second conveyed the severely injured motorcyclist to the nearest medical facility for immediate treatment,” LASTMA confirmed.

It was stated that the driver of the private ambulance was apprehended at the scene and handed over to law enforcement for further investigation.

“The driver of the private ambulance was apprehended on-site by LASTMA Officials and subsequently handed over to operatives of the Ogudu Police Division for comprehensive interrogation and potential prosecution in accordance with extant laws,” the statement said.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, also reaffirmed the agency’s stance on traffic safety.

“LASTMA has an uncompromising zero-tolerance posture towards the dangerous and unlawful act of driving against traffic,” he said.

 

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Dawn Accidents At Otedola And Third Mainland Bridges Claim Two Lives

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has warned motorists against reckless driving after two separate accidents claimed two lives and left two others critically injured in the early hours of today, Monday, December 8, 2025.

According to a statement issued by the agency today, the first incident occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on Otedola Bridge inward Berger along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway when an unregistered vehicle carrying two occupants collided with a heavily laden trailer while travelling at high speed. Both occupants died instantly, while the trailer driver fled the scene with the vehicle.

LASTMA’s night-duty team responded to the incident, evacuating the bodies from the carriageway and removing the wrecked vehicle to prevent secondary accidents. Officers from the Isheri Police Division provided security support, while personnel from the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit moved the remains in line with official procedures.

A second accident occurred at about 5:00 a.m. on the Third Mainland Bridge, near the UNILAG waterfront inward Lagos Island.

The crash involved an empty tanker and a pure-water distribution van with registration number SMK 67 XH. Two persons sustained serious injuries. Emergency responders from the Lagos State Ambulance Service administered first aid before conveying the victims to a health facility for further treatment.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, extended condolences to the families of the deceased.

He stated that the accidents underscored the consequences of excessive speeding and disregard for traffic regulations. “The tragic loss of life was preventable,” he said, stressing the need for strict adherence to speed limits prescribed by the government.

Bakare-Oki also commended the LASTMA night teams for what he described as diligence and prompt response. He noted that the Agency would maintain its 24-hour monitoring and traffic management operations across Lagos into the new year, in line with the state government’s commitment to public safety and orderly movement.

operations would continue across the state. He said the Lagos State Government remained committed to public safety and orderly mobility.

The accidents have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations in Lagos, where authorities continue to battle the consequences of speeding and dangerous driving on major highways.

 

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Lagos Getting Set For "Detty December"

The hotels are booked, and final preparations for the festivals and concerts are underway, as Lagos prepares for “Detty December”, Nigeria’s end-of-year frenzy.

Nigerians and tourists alike, especially members of the country’s massive diaspora, descend on the megacity annually to visit family and friends and observe the holidays — and party.

Never mind the recent state of emergency declared by the government last month over mass kidnappings in the north and centre of the country, or the brutal inflation that has squeezed the country for two years: in Lagos, the anchor of southern Nigeria and the nation’s economic capital, the music will be bumping and the drinks flowing.

A cultural staple, it’s also a crucial cash cow, raking in millions of dollars for the tourism, restaurant, and hotel sectors.

“I’ll call it a cultural pilgrimage,” Deola Art Alade, an events organiser who, with her husband, trademarked the phrase “Detty December” in 2019 and put together an annual festival mixing concerts, food, and clubbing events.

“Detty”, in Nigerian Pidgin English, is derived from “dirty” — calling to mind the, at times, wild and non-stop festivities that arise as the city swells past its normal 20-million or so residents.

– Millions in revenue –

Amid the street parties and high-profile concerts, the government is trying to take advantage of the annual homecoming by partnering with the Art Alades’ festival.

“Together we are moving Detty December from a social trend to a structured national asset,” declared Culture Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa.

Last year, the Lagos state authorities estimated that the month’s various festivities brought in some $71.5 million in government revenue, including $44 million just from the hotel sector.

That sum was welcome amid the country’s biting economic crisis, which saw inflation topping 30 percent throughout 2024.

Buoyed by the end-of-year tradition’s growth, the government this year promoted a “101 Days in Lagos” culture and tourism initiative, which has seen the last three months filled with exhibitions, conventions and festivals leading up to a “Detty December” finale.

– ‘Africa’s real summer’ –

It’s “Africa’s real summer”, Deola Art Alade’s husband Darey told AFP, and there’s evidence its popularity is expanding internationally beyond the traditional diaspora.

“People are coming to see their families, they’re bringing their friends,” Darey said, describing a “Dirty December fever”.

“This year, we have a lot of Americans living in America, you know, Black Americans now looking at coming out here and paying for packages, just to have a different kind of experience,” Iyadunni Gbadebo, sales director for Eko Hotels & Suites, told AFP.

For the hotel — Lagos’s biggest, with some 825 rooms and nine restaurants and bars — December represents some 15 to 20 percent of annual revenues.

People start booking rooms as early as July, and the hotel fills up by November.

As expected in Lagos, awash in both oil wealth and informal slums, the prices can be eye-watering: weekly packages for a family of four can range between eight and 13 million naira — $5,500 to $9,000, depending on the room.

But the ultimate holiday gift each year is the concert line-up, with globe-trotting Afrobeats stars as keen as their countrymen to take part in the homecoming.

This year, Asake and Davido are set to perform on Christmas Eve and Christmas, respectively.

Tickets are about four times the monthly minimum wage of 70,000 naira ($50).

 

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RCCG Youth Province Spends N40 Million On Free Transportation For Lagosians

The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Youth Province 1, in partnership with other youth provinces across Lagos, has reportedly spent N40m on its free-bus-to-work initiative, which provided morning and evening transportation for commuters across the state.

Youth Province 1 disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that this year’s edition ran from November 24 to December 5.

According to the statement, the morning routes covered RCCG Jesus Palace (Festac) to CMS; Oworonshoki to CMS; Redemption City to 7UP; Redemption City to Sagamu; Redemption City to Trinity Towers (VI); Redemption City to Agege; and Ikorodu to Maryland. Free return trips were provided in the evenings.

The church explained that the programme, now in its second year, was introduced to cushion the effects of rising living costs and the strain of daily transportation on Nigerians.

The statement added, “Rising living costs without a commensurate increase in income have become the daily reality for many Nigerians.

“One such significant burden is transportation — a challenge that Youth Province 1 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in partnership with other youth provinces across Lagos, is addressing by providing free transportation to and from work.”

This year, about 10 long yellow buses were deployed, conveying hundreds of commuters daily.

Speaking on the initiative, the Pastor-in-Charge of Youth Province 1, Pastor Oluwagbemileke Adeboye, said the church embarked on the project to ease pressure on residents.

Adeboye said, “This initiative is our way of lending a hand to people. We did it last year and witnessed the massive relief it provided, so we decided to do it again this year in collaboration with Youth Provinces 2, 7, 14, 18 and 20 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

“We also find the journeys a meaningful way to start or wrap up the day, sharing God’s Word and praying as we set out or return from work. It is open to all, regardless of tribe or religion.

“Beyond the morning trips, the church also provided free return journeys in the evenings, expending about N40m on the initiative.”

He added that Youth Province 1, assisted by Pastor Martins Olusakin, Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of Province (CSR), and Pastor Abiodun Famojuro, Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of Province (Administration), is also preparing for the RCCG Holy Ghost Congress scheduled for the second week of December.

Olusakin said beneficiaries had continued to commend the gesture, with many taking to social media to express gratitude to the church.

“The gratitude of commuters is evident in their smiles and relieved sighs as the church continues to extend this support to many,” he added.

 

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With Cabaret, Lagos Nightlife Defies Economic Downturn

Nigeria might be going through its worst economic crisis in a generation, but in Lagos, the party hasn’t stopped.

Patrons at The Library, where fake banknotes rained down on the stage, were being treated to both dinner and a show as cabaret takes the mega-city by storm.

Clubs like The Library have been fully revamped to cash in on the trend, tapping into the best singers and dancers across the African cultural powerhouse, but also drawing talent from across the world.

Co-owner Wemo Edudu transformed the book-themed nightclub into a fine dining establishment two years ago, hoping to bring in a wider clientele but without sacrificing the late-night rambunctiousness and spectacle that Lagos, a city of around 20 million people, is known for.

“Sometimes I see a 65-year-old man having a nice meal, watching the show. I knew that that could have never happened two years ago,” Edudu told AFP.

– Ritz and glam –

Cabaret in its modern form traces its roots to 19th century France, but it has exploded in recent years across the ritzier parts of Lagos, Nigeria’s cultural and economic capital.

Rococo restaurant, on the upscale Victoria Island, sports a French influence of an earlier era: crystal chandeliers, baroque frescoes, and projections of Napoleon and his wife Marie-Louise, animated so they can rap along to the music.

The opulence extends to the menu: for those not swayed by the high-end Nigerian or Western dishes, there’s gold-flake covered foie gras, crocodile carpaccio or prawns thermidor.

“The show progresses as you move,” said Rococo boss Ghada Ghaith, describing patrons warming up with dinner and conversation until “a song attracts you or a show attracts you”.

Even amid the French throwbacks and modern excess, this is still Nigeria: a deeply religious country, where singers are often recruited from the churches where they originally honed their pipes.

The gold-plated menu meanwhile can cost multiples of the monthly minimum wage in a nation where inequality and poverty live side-by-side with massive oil wealth.

Two kilometres away, nightlife haunt Zaza sells the “Birkintini”, billed as “Africa’s most expensive cocktail”, for $20,000.

It comes with a Hermes Birkin handbag.

There’s enough of a party to go around to recruit international acts, like Blanka Munkacsi, a 21-year-old Hungarian acrobat.

– International talent –

“I’ve never seen this before,” the performer told AFP. “It’s like everything but in one place, and it’s really beautiful.”

“We have a night club, we have a show place, we have a restaurant, but it’s not really common to get those together” in Hungary, she said.

For Bobby Francis, creative director at Zaza, the goal is direct: “We literally try to bring Vegas to Nigeria!”

Zaza has been a Lagos nightlife staple for years, its tropical motif capped by wallpaper with fluorescent parrots and butterflies, and an army of waiters clad in zebra and leopard prints.

Bottle service orders prompt the usual parade of hostesses with glow sticks — and a server dressed as a giraffe.

“The idea of cabaret is really like to keep things alive from the moment you enter the room till you leave,” said Johnny Frangeh, the 24-year-old assistant general manager.

“Just like any other nightclub, people just go and drink and dance. And so here it’s another experience.”

– Growing pains –

But in a city known for its late-night clubbing, the shift to other kinds of entertainment can be difficult.

“They’re more into the party life” than arts, Rodrigo Adame, a circus performer from Mexico, said of some Lagosians.

“As an artist, sometimes you realise they’re not looking. It’s hard to get their attention.”

And one thing the original 19th century French cabaret performers didn’t have to compete with?

“The phones,” said the 45-year-old. “Everybody is living now through the cell phones.”

On a recent night at Zaza, which can hold around 700 patrons, there were probably just as many screens flashing through the darkened room.

But the booming music, while not great for conversation, did provide a nice background for taking repeated selfies.

 

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IHS Nigeria Empowers Male Students In Ipaja

IHS Nigeria has launched a values-driven outreach programme at Ifesowapo Aboru Secondary School in Ipaja as part of activities marking the 2024 International Men’s Day.

The initiative was designed to inspire students through conversations on leadership, respect, mental health, responsibility and gender equity.

Welcoming the team, the Director and Principal of the school, Giwa Muyideen, commended IHS Nigeria for its continued investment in young people.

“We are deeply honoured to have IHS Nigeria here to commemorate International Men’s Day with us. We thank them for what they have done, what they continue to do, and what they will yet do for our school and community,” he said in a statement.

He also urged students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, describing the fields as engines of innovation and national development.

Associate Director, Legal, IHS Nigeria, Gbenga Bello, said the company chose a school setting to engage boys at a formative stage on issues that shape character and personal growth.

“International Men’s Day reminds us of the role men and boys play in building stronger, more compassionate societies. At IHS Nigeria, we believe that empowering young minds, especially through education, mentorship and value-based conversations, is one of the most meaningful ways we can contribute to our community. We are here because the future we want begins with the boys we guide today,” he said.

The programme featured two sessions: an interactive discussion and a mentorship dialogue.

The interactive session, led by Morakinyo Fadipe, Associate Director, Human Resources, encouraged students to reflect on decision-making, responsibility and respect.

He told them that choices made at a young age often define future outcomes and that leadership begins with self-awareness, empathy and everyday actions.

A mentorship dialogue, handled by Adepoju Adebusayo, Senior Specialist, Human Resources, focused on resilience, good judgement and modelling positive behaviour. Drawing on personal experiences, he reminded students that obstacles are part of the growth process and noted that perseverance and consistent effort remain essential to achieving long-term goals.

The event ended with a vote of thanks from Principal Muyideen, who praised IHS Nigeria for its “reliable and consistent support” to the school. He said the institution values its partnership with the company and looks forward to deeper collaboration aimed at empowering students and improving the learning environment.

The outreach is one of several community development initiatives run by IHS Nigeria to support schools, promote gender balance and nurture leadership skills among young Nigerians.

 

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Carter Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge To Get Facelift From Deutsche Bank's Funding

Global lender Deutsche Bank has expressed interest in funding major rehabilitation and replacement works on two of Lagos’s most critical bridges, the Carter Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge, as the Federal Government intensifies its push to attract private capital for large-scale road infrastructure projects.

The bank’s delegation, led by its Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Structured Trade and Export Finance, Moritz Dornemann, and Chief Country Representative in Nigeria, Andreas Voss, met with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Abuja on Tuesday, where they also reaffirmed their appetite for further financing of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

A statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Orji Uchenna, said the visit was part of the government’s ongoing efforts to build sustainable partnerships with global financiers to accelerate funding for strategic national projects.

During the meeting, the Deutsche Bank team said the lender was impressed by the Federal Government’s resolve to upgrade ageing transport infrastructure and applauded President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to delivering large-scale road projects capable of boosting national productivity.

They specifically expressed interest in financing the replacement of the Carter Bridge, which is one of Lagos’s oldest and historically significant bridges, and the comprehensive rehabilitation of the underwater elements of the Third Mainland Bridge, Africa’s second-longest bridge.

The statement read, “As part of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria towards building partnerships to finance and expedite large-scale road infrastructure development, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, held a meeting with the officials of Deutsche Bank in his office, Federal Ministry of Works, Mabushi, Abuja, on 2 December 2025.

“In their mission statement, the team from Deutsche Bank, made up of the Managing Director, Global Co-Head of Structured Trade and Export Finance, Moritz Dornemann, and the bank’s Chief Country Representative for Nigeria, Andreas Voss, said they came to indicate interest in the funding of the replacement of Carter Bridge, Lagos, and the rehabilitation of Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.

“They commended the President for his commitment to the development of large-scale and quality road infrastructure across the nation, which they noted was critical in achieving sustainable economic growth and national prosperity.”

The bank also praised the quality of work being executed by Hitech Construction Ltd on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, noting that the project’s progress increased their confidence in Nigeria’s infrastructure delivery capacity and expanded their appetite to fund future phases.

Responding, Umahi commended the lender for its growing confidence in Nigeria’s infrastructure programme, revealing that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway had been “oversubscribed by over $100m” by investors.

He confirmed that Deutsche Bank had also indicated interest in evaluating the project cost, which he said the financiers considered undervalued, further strengthening their appetite for participation.

The minister disclosed that Carter Bridge had deteriorated so badly that replacement was now the only viable option, although remedial works were ongoing to preserve its structural integrity.

 

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