Over 20 governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and several other party chieftains arrived at the Jos airport on Tuesday with over 30 private and chartered jets to witness the presidential campaign inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.

Data obtained from aviation authorities showed that the Yakubu Gowon Airport recorded over 95 aircraft arrivals and departures of private and commercial planes which conveyed the APC bigwigs, top government officials, and other Very Important Personalities in and out of the Plateau State capital.

While about 17 private jets and helicopters arrived at the airport for the august political gathering, over 15 regional jets and turboprops also touched down in the aerodrome.

According to the airport and airspace data obtained by our source, some of the luxury private jets which touched down at the airport are: Canadian-made Bombardier Challenger 601 operated by Air First Hospitality with an American registration number N320MK, Hawker Siddeley HS 125 operated by Trobell with registration number 5N-ALG, and Learjet 45 operated by Max Air with registration number 5N-BLW.

Others are Challenger 601 operated by West Link with registration number 5N-PDA, United Aviation’s HS125 with registration number 5N-AMM, Gyro Air’s HS125 with registration number 5N-AUB, and Global Aviation’s HS125 with registration number 5NBNM.

The list also includes Triaxell’s Gulfstream IV with registration number 5N-PZE, Nest Oil’s Gulfstream IV with registration number 5N-BYO, and Mounthill Aviation’s Learjet 45 with registration number 5N-BZS, IZY Air’s Challenger 601 with registration number 5N-1ZY, Dornier Aviation’s Beechcraft B190 with registration number 5N-BYW, and Dornier Aviation D328 with registration 5N-BYN

Some of the regional jets that landed in Jos also include Max Air Embraer E135 with registration 5N-BXK, Air Peace Embraer E145, Jet Support Embraer E135, and Aero Tak’s E135 with registration number 5NLRK.

Others are Jet support’s Embraer E145 with registration number 5N-BZT, KS R3 Global’s Embraer E145 with registration number 5N-LOS, Jaz Aviation’s Aviation’s Embraer 135 with registration number 5N-JLA, ValueJet’s Bombardier Challenger CRJ9 and Max Air’s Boeing 737 plane.

Others include Xejet’s Embraer E145 with registration 5N-BZN, Azman Air’s Boeing 737-300 with registration number 5N-AIS, Arik Air’s Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 with registration number 5N-BKW.

President Muhammadu Buhari was also at the event. Some of the aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet are PAF Boeing 737 with registration number 5N-FGT, PAF Nigerian Air Force helicopter with registration number HIPO04

Also, on the ground at the airport was PAF helicopter with registration number 5N-FGI, NAF aircraft F900 with registration number NGR961.

Findings show that the airport lacks adequate parking space for the high number of aircraft arriving in the state capital. As such, some of the aircraft were forced to fly to Abuja to park, which is just about 30 minutes flight from Plateau. It made it easier for the pilots of the VIP jets to return to pick up their passengers.

This was after an old and unused aircraft hangar at the airport was used for parking by some of the arriving aircraft.

However, Tinubu’s presidential inauguration recorded more private and charter jets than that of People’s Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar where about 15 private and chartered jets landed in Uyo airport, Akwa Ibom State, for the formal inauguration of the party’s presidential campaign.

Meanwhile, Tinubu’s presidential campaign was held inside Rwang Pam stadium with party chieftains expressing confidence that the party’s standard bearer would coast home to victory in the 2023 poll.

Our correspondent who was at the Jos airport observed the aircraft which brought dignitaries from different parts of the country to the state capital from where they were moved in motorcades to the Rwang Pam stadium, the venue of the campaign.

Prominent Nigerians at the rally included the Senate President, Ahmed Lawal; governors of Cross River, Ben Ayade; Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai; Yobe, Mai Buni; Imo, Hope Uzodimma; Plateau, Simon Lalong; Kogi, Yahaya Bello; Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Femi Hamzat.

Others were former Bauchi State governor, Mohammed Abubakar, former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Borno State, Modu Ali-Sheriff, and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

Also at the rally were the APC presidential candidate’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Hajiya Nana Shettima, wife of the vice-presidential candidate, who both addressed the crowd, and Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the wife of Governor Sanwoolu of Lagos, ministers, and members of the APC National Working Committee.

At the event, Buhari assisted by the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, handed over the APC flag to the presidential candidate, who in his speech promised to neutralise terrorists and recalibrate the nation’s security architecture.

The President equally promised to lead the party’s campaign for the 2023 presidential election.

Before going to the campaign venue, Buhari was driven to the palace of the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, in the company of the APC candidate, the Director-General, Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong, Chairman of the APC Abdullahi Adamu, among others.

Buhari, during his visit to the Gbong Gwom of Jos reiterated his commitment to ensuring that every vote counted while urging party members to march to deliver the APC candidates now that the party had decided.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari, said, “No election winner will be denied his mandate, irrespective of the party to which they belonged,” apparently in response to the Campaign Director-General, Governor Simon Lalong, who announced the intention to recreate the 1993 Moshood Abiola’s historic victory in 2023, in a campaign that took off in the same city 30 years ago. That election victory was annulled by the military.

Thousands of party faithful and supporters were also bused to the campaign venue.

Tinubu in his remarks said serving Nigeria is what he had always done and when elected, he would do more to build the economy, provide jobs, power, security, agricultural production and processing as well as the industrial revolution.

He stated, “We hereby reaffirm our commitment to progressive good governance and to the fruits that such governance can bring to this nation.   February 2023 is more than an election. It is a fight to define the soul of the nation and to determine our collective fate.

‘’Do we adhere to the ideals of broadly shared prosperity, competence, peace, justice and compassion toward all? Or do we toss these ideals away, lashing ourselves to the divisive politics of the past or to those whose ranting show they cannot distinguish between fact and fantasy?’’

“One party wants to take us back to a past that never should have been. Another party wants to take us to a past that resides only in its candidate’s head. Neither the old road nor the fantasy road is good enough. “Instead, we forge the wiser path toward our approved destination — an even better Nigeria. This is what the election is truly about,” he added.

To ensure overall energy security and resource mobilisation for the country, Tinubu promised to continue the ongoing exploration works in all frontier basins and especially speed up the development of the commercial oil find in Gombe/ Bauchi states.

He said, “Most importantly, I will give utmost priority to extinguishing terrorists and violent criminals. We shall augment our military, police and security personnel while providing them with better tactical communication and mobility. We will employ hi-tech aerial surveillance to track and attack these menaces.

“These evil forces seek to destroy our democratic way of life. I have news for them. We will defeat their destructive way of life. They shall be utterly defeated and vanquished from our soil.”

He thanked Lalong for leading the campaign as the director-general and hosting the flag-off which he described as successful.

 The APC national chairman said Tinubu’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate in a free and fair contest shows that he is an acceptable candidate to the party and Nigerians.

He, therefore, challenged the party members to work hard and ensure victory at all levels.

“Our victory is a done deal. We have no doubts that President Buhari will produce his successor. Let’s give democracy a chance”, he added, pointing out that Tinubu would build on the achievements of the President and ensure that Nigerians are provided with the best opportunities to thrive.

Former Governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye expressed confidence that Plateau and Nigerians would ensure APC and Tinubu’s victory at the poll.

Dariye stated, “In 2015 and 2019, what the people did to the APC, we will repeat it again in 2023.”

Cross River State Governor, Ayade said that Buhari had done well in the past years and that it was important for the APC to produce his successor in order to continue the good work.

Governor El-Rufai who spoke in Hausa urged the people to support the APC presidential candidate to enable him to succeed.

He accused the opposition party of using ethnicity and sometimes religion to drag down the APC’s name and its candidates.

According to him, some people from the North hinted that they would not vote for Tinubu because he is not a Northerner, but he noted that the North would support what is right.

He stated, ‘’They said Asiwaju is not a northerner, and they will not vote for him. The people of the North know what is right, they are friendly, and he worked in Lagos, treated our people in Lagos very well, and supported President Muhammadu Buhari to become president twice.

‘’The President has presented his candidate, Bola Tinubu. Those who are saying that Tinubu is not from the North, do they love the North more than the President? When they ruled the country what achievement did they bring? Do not be deceived, this election is between good and evil, between developments and retrogression.

‘’When you allow them into power the North will be dragged backward again, and there will be suffering. They have spent eight years out of power, so the moment they are given the chance they will be back to embezzling with or without what to embezzle, they will embezzle. Therefore, do not be deceived, both the youths and women.‘’

 In his remarks, Lalong said there is great excitement and expectation over the prospects of a Tinubu government which he said promises to serve the people and carry them along ‘’just as Mr. President has done over the years.’’

Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Shettima, Senate President Lawan, Progressives Governors Forum Chairman Atiku Bagudu and other governors in various goodwill messages assured that Tinubu and all the candidates of the APC would emerge victorious in the poll.

Addressing the rally, the Coordinator of the Tinubu Presidential Campaign, North-West, Governor Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa State stated, ‘’Today, God has beamed the light and the truth has been unveiled; the liars will begin to run. Seven years and a half back we promised you three things: to enhance security, revitalize the economy and fight corruption. These liars are just lying after destroying the country in the past 16 years and giving it to us.

 ‘’There was insecurity and God brought President Buhari. Out of about 16 local governments in Borno State in the hands of Boko Haram but they are now rescued. No government did what the president did in the area of security.’’

GOGAN TV

Several aviation workers unions have threatened to embark on strike in protest against the concession plan of the federal government of four international airports.

Employees under various unions in the aviation sector vowed to resist the moves by the government to sell off the Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano international airports.
 
The Federal Ministry of Aviation had announced Corporacion America Airports Consortium as the preferred bidder for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.Also, ENL Consortium was selected as the reserve bidder for NAIA.

GOGAN TV

A domestic passenger plane fell down into Lake Victoria in Tanzania early on Sunday due to bad weather shortly before landing in the northwestern city of Bukoba, police said, adding that rescue actions were underway.

“There was an accident involving a Precision Air plane which… crashed into water about 100 metres from the airport,” regional police commander William Mwampaghale told reporters at Bukoba airport.

No information was presently available on the number of passengers aboard the plane, but local media reports said around 49 people were on the aircraft from financial capital Dar es Salaam to the lakeside city.

“The situation is under control as security teams are working hard to rescue people,” Mwampaghale added.

Precision Air, which is Tanzania’s largest private airline, released a brief statement confirming the accident.

“The rescue team has been posted to the scene and more information will be released in 2 hours’ time,” the airline said.

The accident comes five years after 11 people died when a plane belonging to a safari company crashed in northern Tanzania.

GOGAN TV

Commuters may heave a sigh of relief on Monday if the proposed talks between the leadership of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria and the Lagos State Parks and Garages Management end on a positive note.

The state government, JDWAN members, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria and the parks management held a meeting at Alausa, Lagos, presided over by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa.

The meeting was to resolve the seven-day protest embarked upon by JDWAN members against alleged extortion, and harassment by officials of the parks and management formerly the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State chapter.

In a statement announcing the protest which ended today (Sunday), JDWAN national leader, Abiodun Akintade, stated that the affected members were drivers of mini-buses, coaster buses, Mazda buses, T4, LT, Ford, and cars. Our correspondent, who monitored the protest for four days, observed that normal activities took place in most of the motor parks.

In a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Saturday, Akintade stated that after the Friday tripartite meeting, the state government directed that a meeting should be held on Monday (tomorrow) between the JDWAN and the parks and garages management to amicably resolve the issue.

Akintade stated that JDWAN was an amalgamation of the drivers’ welfare association; a joint arm of individual registered transport welfare groups, noting that some of them had yet to register.

He added, “The meeting with the agberos will hold on Monday after which we will know the next line of action. We will give them a week to meet our demands. The JDWAN doesn’t have parks and part of our demands is for the agberos to return to their parks, collect only the acceptable N800 ticket assigned by the state government and desist from extortion on the roads. We cannot keep working like an elephant and eating like an ant. These are our simple demands.

“We concluded a meeting with the representatives of the state government on Friday and agreed to give them a week to deliberate on the issue. We will wait till November 13 for them to put their acts together and meet our demands. If that fails, we will embark on another protest. Our demands are not ambiguous; all we want is for them to obey the May 2022 court order released where our demands have been highlighted.”

The Lagos State Government and transportation stakeholders in January this year signed a Memorandum of Understanding for daily collection of levies from commercial drivers at parks and garages in the state. The Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, noted that the N800 levy covers money for the local government, clearing waste from motor parks paid to the Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State Waste Management Authority and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency.

For four days during the seven-day protest, our correspondent toured some of the parks and noticed that the protest lost steam after a few days. Commercial buses were seen loading passengers to different areas in the state. A lout (agbero) in charge of the Iyana-Ipaja area of the state was seen collecting levies from bus drivers before he allowed them to drive off with their passengers. Our correspondent spoke to the levy collector identified only as Sheriff who said he heard there was a protest by JDWAN members but it wasn’t observed in the area.

He said, “I have no idea why they didn’t observe it in this area but I heard it was ongoing in some areas especially the Badagry expressway. We have been working since Monday. I have no idea what the issue is about.’’

Our source earlier reported that some members of the parks and garages Management, aka agberos, mocked the protest, saying hunger would force the transport operators back to the roads.

One of the bus drivers at Iyana Ipaja motor park, Marvelous Olusola, was having a discussion with some of his colleagues on a sunny Thursday.

He told our source that the strike had not been called off, adding that some drivers defied the order to mitigate the hardship on commuters.

He said that the strike was tough at the Berger bus stop in the Badagry area of the state, explaining that the order was obeyed by some drivers in the Alimosho area of the state.

Olusola said, “The strike has not ended but I guess there are plans to resolve the issue soon. Our grievances should be looked into because staying at home to fight for our rights is not a waste of time. It is better than working for someone else. For instance, a driver working under the scorching sun makes N10,000 per day and someone who collects money from him rakes in about N8,000 daily. It’s not fair at all.

“This amounts to one working without any proceeds and one can barely feed well. Some of us got the bus on hire purchase and paying back in installments. These people don’t care about our welfare. All they want to do is take what they didn’t work for.”

He said that they paid multiple levies daily apart from the stipulated one at the park, adding, “If I convey passengers from Iyana Ipaja to Egbeda for instance, I will pay a levy at every bus stop where commuters alight before getting to my destination which shouldn’t be. If one doesn’t pay on time, they destroy one’s vehicle’s windscreens and other parts. We had to abide by the directive of our leadership. The day the strike commenced, many commuters suffered, waited under the sweltering sun, trekked long distances, and struggled to board the few available buses. Those who do not want our progress are the ones saying the protest will amount to nothing. We have to deprive ourselves of livelihoods for the few days to get positive results.”

Moreover, Mustapha Ibrahim, who plies between Iyana Ipaja and Ojodu Berger axis daily, said the protest was in their interest, noting that it positively affected their livelihoods. He added that the bone of contention was the government backing the louts because they were authorised government agents, wondering why touting should be allowed in a mega city like Lagos.

He said, “The effect of the strike will be on us because we do not have a government. The government doesn’t care about us. Ordinarily, in a sane clime, the strike should have yielded a positive result but it won’t because we have a failed government. We are suffering. It’s only God who can save us from the mess. If we sit at home, how do we feed our families? Those going to their workplaces got stranded too. Going on strike is not the solution because it will yield no positive result in the end.”

He noted that the parks and garages management was controlled by the government, stating that the agency would rather support the government than the drivers.

Another commercial bus driver who gave his name simply as Baba Wasiliu, said he was initially unaware of any protest, adding, “We have been working since Monday at Iyana Ipaja though some of the drivers joined the protest. I don’t know about the protest and I do not know why there is a protest in the first place.”

However, Akintade noted that low compliance by some drivers was expected, adding that most of the drivers refused to comply with the directive on the seven-day protest. He further said that if the drivers had complied, the state government would have addressed the matter and proffered a solution.

He stated, “That is why we have not been attended to yet. There is no cooperation between drivers.’’

Earlier, our source reported that the Chairman, Lagos State Parks and Garages Management, Musiliu Akinsanya, otherwise called MC Oluomo, debunked claims that bus drivers in the state were attacked and ordered the aggrieved commercial bus drivers to channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters. Also, Oluomo, through the Secretary, Parks and Garages Management (Operations), Olayiwola Lemboye, said the agency had a conflict resolution mechanism to address the grievances of bus drivers.

He said that the state secretariat of the agency was always open to address issues among its members, stating that they had yet to receive any complaint on the issue of extortion or harassment from anyone.

He stated that the government recognised two bodies – the suspended NURTW in Lagos State and the RTEAN, stating that JDWAN was unknown. However, he added that despite not being a recognised group, JDWAN was granted an audience but the group resorted to blackmail.

He said that the protest had a political undertone, cautioning the group against politicising the operations of commercial transportation in the state. But Akintade said that the drivers didn’t need to be a registered group to fight against extortion and harassment.

Reacting to the issue, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, noted that the JDWAN leadership held meetings with the state government at the state secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, but decided to take the case to court.

He said, “The government has listened to their grievances. We told JDWAN that those extorting from them are not licensed. These guys are mainly from Badagry. The police are aware and have been making arrests as such. Though they have resorted to going to court, the strike has not affected the movement of buses in the state. We are in talks with them to resolve the issue.”

GOGAN TV

A prominent member of the Zikist Movement and Nigeria’s first Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amechi is dead.

According to a statement released on Tuesday by Ezeana Tagbo Amaechi on behalf of the family, the nonagenarian died in the early hours of today, November 1, 2022.

Until his death, Amechi, who hailed from Amihe village in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was a nationalist, and one of the very few surviving member of the Zikist Movement led by first President of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Amechi was also a member of the Anambra Elders Forum, the highest State Advisory body that has Chief Emeka Anyaoku as the Chairman.

Meanwhile, Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, in a statement, described the deceased as an outstanding patriot and nationalist who served the nation diligently.

Read Soludo’s full statement: 

SOLUDO MOURNS THE PASSAGE OF ELDER STATESMAN, MBAZULIKE AMECHI

Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, has expressed sadness over the death of Elder Statesman and Nigeria’s First Republic Aviation Minister, Dara Mbazulike Amechi, who died at 93 years.

Dara Mbazulike Amechi died at the early hours of Tuesday, November 1st, 2022.

Governor Soludo described the late Mbazulike Amechi as an outstanding patriot and nationalist who served the nation diligently.

According to the Governor, the late elder statesman lived an impactful and exemplary life worthy of commendation

“He was a renowned Nationalist, an active and staunch voice in the zikist movement as well as an accomplished elder statesman”. Governor Soludo recalled

The Governor further stated that the death of Mbazulike Amechi was not just a loss to his community, Ukpor, in Nnewi South Local Government Area and to Anambra state but also a monumental loss to Ndigbo and the Nigerian Nation.

The Governor, therefore, on behalf of the Government and people of Anambra State commiserates with the Mbazulike family over the irreparable loss

Christian Aburime
Press Secretary to The Governor

November 1, 2022

GOGAN TV

The Federal Capital Development Authority and the Lagos State Government have so far crushed over 10,748 motorcycles in 2022.

Most of the motorcycles being used for commercial purposes were seized from restricted routes.

In a report, the Director of Public Affairs of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, Gbadeyanka Raheem, was quoted to have said a total of 7,548 bikes had been destroyed in the state in 2022.

In March 2022, the Federal Capital Territory Administration crushed over 1,500 seized motorcycles.

Also, no fewer than 1,700 were destroyed in July of the same year.

The National President of the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria, Samsudeen Apelogun, lamented that the confiscation and destruction of a large number of motorcycles by authorities have come at a huge loss to the riders, especially those who secured loans to purchase them.

Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, Apelogun said the association was worried about the destruction of motorcycles and had engaged with some governors on the danger of such actions.

He said, “It is an open discussion that our operations in a few states in Nigeria are being restricted, and riders’ motorcycles are confiscated and destroyed, which affects many innocent riders who took loans to buy their bikes.

“These include young graduates who have tried unsuccessfully to find gainful employment. The governments hinged their decisions fundamentally on two factors: accidents and insecurity.

“As an association, we have responded accordingly, presenting to the government the effects of that proposed policy.

“I admit that the safety and security of the citizens are a fundamental responsibility of the government. However, adequate attention must be paid to details so that more problems are not created to solve this issue.

“We have and will continue to appeal to the government at all levels to consider the interests of the generality of Nigerians, especially those at the lowest rung of the economic ladder when formulating and implementing these policies.”

GOGAN TV

On Sunday, October 23, 2022, at 1pm, the Third Mainland Bridge will close to vehicular traffic and undergo a traffic diversion, according to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.

The new development will help the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency recover the garbage truck that plunged into the lagoon on Tuesday.

The agency noted in a statement on Friday that only drivers traveling from Lagos Island to link to the mainland through Iyana Oworonshoki will be affected by the road closure and traffic diversion.

It was reported that drivers going from the mainland to Lagos Island would not be impacted by the recovery activity.

To avoid a delay, the agency advised motorists coming from Victoria Island/Ikoyi/ Lagos Island to make use of the Carter Bridge and connect “Ijora Olopa (by LAWMA Headquarters) to Eko Bridge to Funsho Williams Avenue (old Western Avenue) to Dorman-Long Bridge to Ikorodu Road through Fadeyi and connect the desired destination, or Carter Bridge to Iddo to Oyingbo to Herbert Macaulay Way to Jibowu to Ikorodu Road and connect the desired destination”.

“From Victoria Island/ Ikoyi/ Lagos Island to Mainland (Ebute-Mette), use Adekunla interchange to Herbert Macaulay Way to connect the desired destination,” it added.

 The traffic agency called for the cooperation and support of road users and motorists, stating that security and traffic management personnel would be deployed to all the alternative routes to ensure the free flow of traffic, safety, and security of all road users.

GOGAN TV

On Thursday morning, a tanker explosion near Araromi on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway resulted in the deaths of no less than 10 individuals.

The incident was reported to news reporters in Abeokuta by the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Ogun, Ahmed Umar.

According to Umar, the incident happened before the Sagamu Interchange in Araromi near Conoil.

He stated that the blazing inferno burned five cars.

According to him, the accident victims were completely burned beyond recognition.

He lists the following vehicles as being involved in the collision: a Mack truck bearing the registration number AKL 198 ZT; an unregistered Iveco truck; a Mazda bus bearing the number FFE 361 XB; an unmarked Howo truck; and the Mack tanker.

He attributed the cause of the accident to speeding by the driver of the Iveco truck.

“Driver of the Iveco truck, who was travelling on top speed lost control and rammed into the tanker, which resulted to fire outbreak due to leakage,”

He added that the Mazda bus was engulfed by the fire, saying that all those that died were in the bus.

“The suspected cause of the multiple crashes was excessive speed which led to the loss of control on the part of the Iveco truck and smashed the tanker body which resulted in a fire outbreak due to leakage. “The Mazda bus got engulfed in the spark of the fire,” Umar said.

He added that the deceased was taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu.

Umar, after visiting the scene of the accident, commiserated with the families of the victims.

He advised motorists to drive cautiously, obey traffic rules and regulations, and as well consider other road users while driving.

Earlier, FRSC had advised motorists and public to use alternative routes on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway due to a tanker explosion at Araromi Town before the Interchange.

Umar said: “The rescue operation is still on and people involved were yet to be confirmed because a bus is also involved.

“The crash scene was cordoned off to avoid a secondary crash as traffic has been diverted.

“Men of Fire Service have arrived at the scene and effort is being made to put out the fire. Traffic has been temporarily diverted at Lufuwape U-turn to ease the traffic situation,” he said.

The sector commander advised motorists to remain calm and cooperate with traffic managers controlling the situation,” he said.

GOGAN TV

For those impacted by the severe floods in Nigeria, the United States has pledged to offer $1 million in emergency humanitarian aid.

The U.S. said the $1 million, provided through USAID, will enable local partners on the ground to provide emergency shelter assistance, relief supplies, and hygiene kits to promote safe and healthy practices amid the ongoing cholera outbreak, as well as multipurpose cash assistance for people affected by the devastating floods.

The U.S. Consulate in Nigeria expressed sadness for the extremely high rains and subsequent flooding, which have affected almost 2.8 million people nationwide and caused thousands of homes to be damaged or destroyed, uprooting millions of people.

“We are filled with grief for the flood victims who have lost so much – livelihoods, homes, and even loved ones,” said U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard.

“The United States continues to stand with the people of Nigeria during this extremely difficult time,” Ambassador Leonard added.

The statement further read, “Floods have exacerbated an already critical humanitarian situation in Nigeria, where ongoing conflict, especially in the northern region, has driven millions of people from their homes. In the same region, more than 4 million people are projected to continue experiencing acute food insecurity amid the worsening global food crisis.”

“We are also concerned that standing floodwaters could increase the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, where cholera outbreaks were declared in August and September and at least 7,750 cases were recorded in 2022, 31 out of 36 states reported cholera cases.

“As experts expect heavy rainfall and flooding to continue through November, due in part to climate change and insufficient drainage infrastructure, USAID disaster experts will continue monitoring the situation in close coordination with humanitarian partners and the Government of Nigeria to assess needs and determine if additional assistance is required.

“The United States maintains a long history of providing humanitarian assistance across the country. In 2022, USAID provided more than $356 million in humanitarian assistance to people most affected by conflict and food insecurity in Nigeria. This life-saving assistance is in addition to USAID’s annual $539 million development budget for Nigeria that supports economic growth, health, democratic governance, and education.”

GOGAN TV