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Stop scooping fuel from crashed trucks – FRSC boss
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, gave this warning while addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja on its recently concluded Operation Zero Tolerance.
He expressed alarm over the rising number of collisions and fatalities, especially the rate of deaths during removal of petroleum products from crashed tankers.
Mohammed explained that fallen tankers were the reason for the rise in fatalities in 2024.
He said that the situation was worrisome, especially, in cases of fatalities as a result of scooping of petroleum products from crashed tankers in Niger and Jigawa states.
He identified conveyance of persons in haulage vehicles, overloading of persons, conveying petroleum products in passenger vehicles and fatigue as causes of three deaths and above per crash threshold.
According to him, five land mark crashes defined the number of road traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries recorded between Dec. 15, 2024 and Jan. 15.
“These were Jing, Shendam in Plateau State on Dec. 20, 2024 that killed 11 people, Bende-Ohafia route in Abia State on Dec. 22, 2024 that also killed 11 people.
“Another one was Dec. 25, 2024 on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway that killed eight passengers and that of Jebba, Kwara State, on Dec. 26, 2024 which claimed 30 lives as well as that of Owo-Ikare route before Ose bridge on Dec. 28, 2024 that led to the death of 13 passengers.
“These five land mark crashes were the most fatal crashes out of the 37 critical crashes that killed 3 persons or more; and, that accounted for seven per cent of the total crashes recorded during the period,” he said.
Mohammed said that the data indicated that those 37 crashes alone resulted in the death of 247 persons which constituted 39 per cent of the total deaths recorded within the period.
“The 2024 end of the year special patrol recorded fatalities is alarming and unacceptable. Therefore, it is obvious that the crashes were as a result of human errors,” he said.
The FRSC boss, however, maintained that the Corps was committed to achieving its mandate through compliance with the presidential directives.
He said the Corps would collaborate with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in sensitising the public on the dangers of scooping fuel from crashed tankers.
Mohammed stressed that the Corps would meet with stakeholders, particularly petroleum tanker unions, to proffer lasting solutions to the incessant crashes involving tanker drivers.
He, however, appealed to passengers to avoid boarding trailers and trucks meant for goods either during daytime or night trips due to the inherent dangers.
“In this beginning year 2025, I wish to caution motorists and travelers to avoid excessive speed and overloading as much as possible.
“Management will also continue to motivate staff through enhanced welfare packages.
“It is also expected that our effort at capacity building would provide the required skills and professionalism needed for enhanced productivity. (NAN)
Aides, Allies Disown Him, Say You’re a Traitor, We’re not Leaving PDP
Barely two weeks after his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), crisis has enveloped the political camp of a member of the House of Representatives for Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in Osun State, Oluwole Oke.
Indeed, these are not the best of times for him as his defection to the APC is eliciting rejection from his close circles and constituency.
His key allies who he groomed into politics and government positions have rejected his calls on them to join him to defect to the APC.
A source said that in the last few days, key aides and allies of the lawmaker have rejected his movement to the APC, describing it as a political tragedy.
“With the way he betrayed PDP, Oluwole Oke is like the proverbial Leopard that can never change the spots on its body. He will also betray the APC. We are staying back in PDP while severing political links with him”, one of his allies, Bamidele Johnson said.
Some of his allies were said to have openly declared that the defection marks a political waterloo for the 6th term legislator.
For instance, some of Oke’s allies in his Local Government scorned his move as “a decision borne out of greed and selfishness.”
One of them described him as “an ingrate who betrayed a party on whose platform he got married in life as a lawmaker and on whose platform he gained all his material riches.”
The Northern Youths Consultative Forum for Justice (NYCJ) has urged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State, citing a complete breakdown of governance, law, and order.
In a statement issued on Monday in Kano, NYCJ President Dr Sanusi Rano described the situation in Zamfara as “organised abandonment of duty” by elected officials.
“What we are witnessing in Zamfara is not governance. It is betrayal of the people,” Rano said, pointing to the absence of a functional state House of Assembly and allegations linking officials to criminal activities.
The group highlighted the suspension of 10 lawmakers who spoke out against the deteriorating security situation, arguing that their removal has left Zamfara without a legally recognised legislative body.
“This is a dictatorship of silence,” said Rano, adding that the lack of checks and balances has deepened the state’s crisis.
“The same hands that should protect Zamfara are profiting from its destruction,” Rano stated.
Calling for decisive action, the group demanded the appointment of a non-partisan administrator to rebuild the state’s institutions.
“If this is not done now, Zamfara risks becoming a permanent state of anarchy, which threatens our democracy,” Rano warned.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday, sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased ( his wife) on April 8, 2022.
The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022 by the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge .
The charge was on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.
In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively.
The prosecution also tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.
Shortly before sentencing, the defendant, counsel , Reginald Nwali, in his allocutus pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment.
Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.
The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment in Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7 respectively. (NAN)