News
UN Rep. Urges Priority for Accident Victims as Suberu Foundation, VIO Mayor Donate Relief”
By Ibironke Ariyo
Dr Yusuf Suberu, Representative of NGOs and CSOs, United Nations Decade Of Action on Injury Prevention has appealed to healthcare providers to prioritise the care of accident victims nationwide.
Suberu made the call when his foundation paid a courtesy visit to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) to donate relief items and cash gifts to the hospital and to accident victims on Monday in Abuja.
Dr Yusuf John-Suberu Foundation donated N500,000 cash to the hospital, gave items like Tissues, antiseptic products, soaps, hand washes, N20,000 cash gifts each to accident victims at the hospital among others.
Suberu, who doubled as the FCT Squadron leader, Directorates of Road Traffic Services (DRTS)
emphasised the critical need for immediate medical attention to accident victims, stressing that timely intervention was crucial to saving lives.
He said that the call had become necessary following concerns over hospitals denying emergency treatment to accident victims due to lack of police reports, resulting in unnecessary deaths.
He, however, commended FMC Abuja for their swift response to accident victims adding that such act was worthy of emulation by other governments and private hospitals across the nation.
“I want to go practical.I don’t even want to go with my speech. Personally. I have bring several accident victims to this hospital and no time was the accident victim rejected.
“That is on a personal basis. I didn’t wait for somebody to assess this hospital for me. And I said to myself, though at the moment the country is a little bit tight, but in the midst of it, we are still eating and accidents are still happening.
“So therefore, we said from the little God has made available for us, let us also reach out to not just the patient, but also to the hospital.
“This is because, I know in a critical moment like this, if you have to attend to patients, sometimes they may not have money at hand. And then definitely something has to be done in that regard.
“So we personally have a little sum for the hospital and then we have donation for the accident victims too.
“Now, this is my own way of contributing to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. Trying to say it is not just about what the nation can give to you, but what you can also offer, “he said
According to him, if stakeholders in the health sector are doing what they ought to do, patients will not suffer at the hospitals.
“This is a place to emulate. Imagine if all the other public and private hospitals are functioning the way this hospital is functioning, that means our health care will improve drastically.
“By prioritising accident victims’ care and working together, we can prevent unnecessary deaths and reduce the impact of accidents worldwide,”he said.
Suberu called on the government at all levels to support and to set up the necessary apparatus that would also help transform the health sectors in the country.
He called on commuters and pedestrians to be careful when driving or using the roads adding that ember months comes with increase in vehicular movement due to festivities attached to the month’s.
“This is ember month, I want to tell all the commuters and the pedestrians on the need to be careful.
“Drive as if everybody in Nigeria depends on you, know that somebody’s else safety is your own safety and please before you cross the road, look well.
“When you are driving, don’t make phone calls, that one second is very important, when there is fatigue, take time to rest and regain energy to be able to continue your journey,”he said.
Reacting, the Medical Director, FMC, Dr Saad Ahmed commended the foundation’s “impactful gesture towards the hospital and accident victims.
Ahmed, who was represented by the Head of clinical services, FMC, Dr Bioku Muftau said that the donation addressed challenges faced by accident victims, including anonymity, lack of access to relatives, phones, and even funds.
He also said that the generous gesture reinforced the importance of community support in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“Accident victims were vulnerable individuals who may be unknown, rich or poor, but require immediate care.
“This donation will provide basic resuscitative materials like IV fluids, bandages, and sutures and this foundation’s support sets an example for others to assist accident victims.
“We urge other organisations to follow suit, helping more victims access quality care. We also believe that timely intervention by doctors with these critical supplies will save lives, “he said.
Present at the event were representative of VIOs, members of NGOs and CSOs on road safety matters, relevant stakeholders among others.
By Abubakar Yunusa
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has slashed its ex-depot price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to N825.
Esan Sunday, head of media relations and branding communications at Dangote Group, announced the reduction in a statement on Wednesday.
The development comes more than three weeks after the refinery reduced petrol price from N950 per litre to N890.
The new price means that the refinery has significantly cut the ex-depot price by N125 from N950 per litre in January.
“This recent price reduction will also ensure that Nigerians pay between N860 and N865 per litre for petrol at the pump in Lagos,” the statement reads.
“This strategic price adjustment is designed to provide essential relief to Nigerians in celebration of the Ramadan season, while also supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic recovery policy by alleviating the financial burden on the Nigerian populace.
“It is important to note that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has consistently lowered the prices of petrol and other refined petroleum products to the benefit of Nigerians.
“This marks the second reduction of PMS prices in February 2025, following a previous decrease of N60 earlier in the month.
“Additionally, in December 2024, during the yuletide period, the refinery reduced the price of PMS by N70.50, from N970 to N899.50 per litre, as part of its commitment to easing the cost of living and providing relief to Nigerians during the holiday season.”
The oil firm refinery also said previous reductions have positively impacted the overall cost of living, benefiting various sectors of the economy.
Dangote refinery added that its high-quality products, which have become a favourite in both domestic and international markets, will remain available nationwide, particularly through its key partners — MRS Holdings, AP (Ardova Petroleum), and Heyden — at market-friendly rates.
The organisation assured the public of a consistent supply of petroleum products, with sufficient reserves to meet domestic demand and a surplus for export, thereby boosting the country’s foreign exchange (FX) earnings.
The refinery also called on marketers to support the initiative, ensuring that Nigerians remain the primary beneficiaries of its effort
Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the ruling party had a debt of N8.9 billion when he assumed office.
Ganduje took over from Abdullahi Adamu, who was the national chairman of the APC until his resignation in July 2023.
Speaking during the APC’s NEC meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Kano governor said the expenses were incurred during pre-election legal battles, election cases, and appeals for legislative, governorship, and presidential elections.
“The current NWC inherited debts and legal liabilities to the total tune of N8,987,874,663, arising from various legal engagements,” Ganduje said.
However, the APC chairman said Kareem Kana, the national legal adviser, has been working to reduce the debt burden.
“We still passionately appeal to the national executive committee to intervene accordingly,” he said.
Earlier today, the chairman said the party is making efforts to mend internal divisions and bring aggrieved members back into the fold.
Ganduje explained that the APC had initiated high-level discussions among party leaders and stakeholders to address lingering disagreements and strengthen party unity.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.