NEWS
Lagos-Ibadan Road Gridlock: Illegal diversions’ll be shut – Official
The Acting Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs. Forosola Oloyede, said on Sunday that more law enforcement and traffic regulatory agencies had been deployed to manage traffic along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
She said this in a statement in Lagos, in which she gave an update on the traffic situation at the Berger/OPIC axis of the expressway, where construction works are ongoing.
Road users along the route have been facing hard times, spending long hours in gridlock resulting from the construction.
The situation in the last four days became so tough for road users that some people in the area staged a protest on Saturday, carrying placards calling for the federal government’s intervention.
The government responded by apologising and promising to review the traffic management in the axis, among other steps to ease the hardship.
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Oloyede said on Sunday that the police, as well as the Federal Road Safety Corps and Lagos StateTraffic Management Authority, had been engaged to improve traffic control on the route.
She also said that the contractor had also been instructed to block all illegal road diversions, especially between Magboro and OPIC.
“This is to prevent the illegal U-turn at OPIC which also exacerbates the traffic gridlock within that axis,” the official said.
Oloyede warned that any motorist caught removing any of the barriers used in blocking illegal diversions would be arrested and duly prosecuted.
She said that the congestion experienced between Friday and Saturday on the highway was due to impatience and reckless driving by some motorists.
According to her, such motorists drove against traffic, thereby causing hardship to other law abiding road users.
She advised road users and motorists to desist from this and avoid running foul of the law.
Oloyede said there was moving traffic along the axis occasioned by the reconstruction work.
She, therefore, urged motorists to always exercise patience around the construction zones as there were expected delays around those areas.
“However, the Ibadan-bound lane is now clear and there is a free flow of traffic, while the Lagos bound lane is expectedly slow but moving as a result of the ongoing works,” she said.
The acting federal controller thanked residents and road users for their understanding, patience, and cooperation.
Oloyede also thanked officials of the Lagos State Government for their input, and cooperation in addressing the gridlock.
She said the ongoing construction works on the axis were geared towards the timely completion of the project, in order to deliver a world class road infrastructure to Nigerians.
Oloyede urged motorists to maintain lane discipline and obey all stationed traffic control officers along the road.
She said this was in order to prevent future occurrences of such gridlock and allow the timely completion of the project.
The Kano State Police Command has refuted reports circulating on social media about an alleged attack on an 18-seater passenger bus in the state, calling the claims false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, dismissed the reports and urged the public to disregard them.
“The report is completely false and misleading. There was no such attack, and the public should not be misled by unverified information circulating online,” Kiyawa stated.
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He reassured residents of the police command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, ensuring public safety, and fostering peaceful coexistence among diverse communities.
To address the spread of misinformation, the police have launched an investigation to identify the source of the false report. Authorities warned that those responsible would face consequences.
“The command urges the public to refrain from spreading unverified information that can incite fear, panic, and unrest in society,” Kiyawa added.
The police also advised citizens to rely on credible sources for information and avoid sharing unverified claims that could cause unnecessary alarm.
Saudi Arabia has announced the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon, confirming that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
The announcement was made on Saturday via Haramain’s official Facebook page, stating, “The crescent moon for the month of Shawwal 1446 was sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday, March 30, 2025.”
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Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer, and is celebrated with communal prayers, festive meals, and acts of charity.
With Saudi Arabia’s confirmation, many countries that align their Islamic calendar with the kingdom are expected to follow suit, while others may conduct their own moon sightings to determine the date of the festival.
Muslims worldwide are preparing for the celebrations, which include special prayers, family gatherings, and the giving of alms, as part of Islamic tradition.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has named Tony Elumelu, Founder and Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, to its newly formed Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth.
The council, convened by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, is tasked with addressing regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship and shaping policies that foster innovation, resource allocation, and private sector-led economic expansion.
A statement confirming Elumelu’s appointment was released on Friday, highlighting his influence as a strong advocate for entrepreneurship in Africa.
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Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he has provided funding, mentorship, and training to over 25,000 African entrepreneurs since 2015, championing the belief that private sector investments can drive the continent’s economic transformation.
“Elumelu will be instrumental in ensuring that Africa’s entrepreneurial potential is central to global economic policymaking,” the statement noted.
The IMF Advisory Council comprises global leaders from business, finance, and academia, including: Marc Benioff, CEO and Co-Founder of Salesforce, Ana Botín, Executive Chair of Banco Santander, Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone Group, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group, Robert Smith, Founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, HRH Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., Federico Sturzenegger, Argentine Minister of Deregulation and Professor Ufuk Akcigit, Economist, University of Chicago.
At the council’s inaugural meeting on March 26, 2025, Georgieva emphasized the significance of entrepreneurship in economic growth.
“The Council brings together a group of leading thinkers and practitioners in business, finance, academia, and policymaking to share their views and experiences on how macroeconomic and financial policies can provide a supportive environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity—key ingredients for a thriving private sector and strong economic growth,” she stated.
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JUST IN: Shawwal Crescent Sighted, Eid al-Fitr Set For Sunday
