NEWS
BLACK FRIDAY: Sanwo-Olu’s aide Sanyaolu, dies in lone auto crash
It was a black Friday as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu lost his Senior Special Assistant on Tertiary Education, Youths and Students Affairs, Omotayo Sanyaolu, in a lone auto crash at Maryland area of the state.
According to reports, the unfortunate accident occurred in the early hours on Friday, at about 4.01 AM, within the vicinity of Army Cantonment, Maryland, Ikeja
Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, Dr, Femi Oke-Osanyantolu, confirmed the sad accident.
According to Oke-Osanyintolu,”Upon arrival at the scene it was discovered that a black Toyota Camry with registration number LAGH 32, while on top speed rammed into the Keystone Bank ATM located close to the Army Cantonment, Ikeja.
“Unfortunately, an adult male, Sanyanolu, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle died on impact and his remains were immediately bagged upon arrival of emergency responders.
“These have been handed over to the cantonment officer on duty (Officer Musa)
The affected vehicle was recovered with the aid of LASEMA’s light towing vehicle to a layby.”
My last moment with Sanyanolu- Special Adviser on Education, Wahab
Describing the tragic death as “very sad”, the Special Adviser on Education, Barrister Tokunbo Wahab, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Special Adviser on Education, Management and the entire staff of Office of Special Adviser on Education, OSAE, regret to announce the sudden death of Sanyaolu.
“Mr. Sanyaolu and I worked till the late hours of today, Thursday, July 28, before he was involved in a ghastly motor accident on his way home, which claimed his life. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
APC mourns
Also, spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State chapter. Seye Oladejo, described the death as “painful.”
Oladejo, in a statement, read, “Lagos State APC regrets to announce the untimely passage of the former state youth leader, Omotayo Sanyaolu who was until his demise the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on tertiary education, youths and students affairs.
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Tayo was a committed party youth leader who proved himself as a great mobiliser and excelled in all his assignments.
“He will be sorely missed especially at a time like this by the entire party, family, friends and well-wishers. May his soul Rest In Peace.”
Reckless driver kills soldiers, civilian in Lagos auto-crash
Similarly, two male soldiers with the Nigerian Army and a female civilian have lost their lives in an auto-crash which occurred at Obadeyi, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos State, in the early hours of Friday.
The accident involved a truck and a Mitsubishi saloon car with registration number,RNG 396 AA.
According to an eyewitness, Mr Gbenga Osobu, the truck was driving carelessly when it rammed into the car with four occupants on board.
Osobu said he was heading for Lagos Island when he noticed that the victims were lying helplessly on the road, “the accident occurred newly when I drove passed the area but people were afraid to assist them for fear of the unknown.
“Fortunately, few minutes later, men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and the Nigeria Police were sighted approaching the scene, “he said.
It was learnt that the car driver was among the three fatalities but the fourth occupant survived the incident and was given a medical attention on the spot.
Confirming the incident, Oke-Osanyintolu, said, “The Agency responded to an accident that occurred between a truck and a Mitsubishi saloon car.
“Further investigation revealed that the truck was driving the wrong way and made a head on collision with a car.
“Unfortunately, out of the four occupants of the car, two males, soldiers and one female citizen lost their lives in the fatal clash, while the last male adult was treated by Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS and was later taken to the hospital.
“The fatalities have been bagged while waiting for military pick up and Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU).
“The vehicle has also been recovered from the road with the agency’s light tow truck and handed over to the Police at Meiran Station. Operations ongoing,”
NEWS
N1.7trn Loan: Atiku Blames NASS For Worsening Nigeria’s Debt Burden
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government’s plan to secure an additional N1.7 trillion loan through Eurobonds to cover a shortfall in the 2024 budget, describing the borrowing as unsustainable and harmful to Nigeria’s economy.
In a statement shared on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of burdening Nigerians with debt while failing to provide clear answers about the country’s fiscal challenges.
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He also faulted the National Assembly for enabling what he called a “voracious appetite” for loans.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed alarm over a recent World Bank report ranking Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), calling the development troubling.
“The recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning,” Atiku stated.
He raised further concerns about the government’s decision to benchmark the proposed loan at an exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate being over N1,600.
“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD,” he said.
Atiku questioned the need for additional borrowing, given the government’s earlier claims of record-high revenue collection.
“In July this year, Tinubu boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch had collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget. Why are they still borrowing?” he said
He accused the government of a lack of transparency, describing the borrowing spree as detrimental to Nigerians already struggling under economic hardship.
“There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.”
Atiku also referenced a report by BudgIT, a budget monitoring group, which criticized the 2024 budget for its inefficiencies.
He alleged that corruption, rather than infrastructure or development needs, was driving the government’s borrowing decisions.
“These loans are powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. This voracious appetite for humongous loans is deeply concerning,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s financial history, Atiku lamented the return to significant foreign indebtedness just years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration cleared the country’s debt.
“It is agonizing to see that just a few years after the Obasanjo administration took us out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum,” he stated.
He called for a more cautious approach to borrowing, urging the government to prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency to avoid worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.
International News
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants For Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Others
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.
In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
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The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.
The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.
NEWS
Edo State Governor Sets Up Committee To Recover Missing Gov’t Vehicles
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has inaugurated a 12-member committee tasked with recovering government vehicles reportedly in private hands.
The committee, led by Kelly Okungbowa, has been given a two-week mandate to retrieve the vehicles and ensure their return to the state government.
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Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo emphasized the importance of accountability in the management of public resources.
He urged the committee to carry out its assignment thoroughly and within the bounds of the law.
In his response, Okungbowa expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting the team with the assignment, vowing to deliver results within the stipulated timeframe.
“A lot of vehicles used by the past administration are missing, as those in custody of the vehicles have refused to return them,” Okungbowa said.
“The governor deemed it fit to inaugurate us today with a mandate to recover all government vehicles in private hands.”
The committee, which includes representatives from Edo’s three senatorial districts, is set to investigate and recover the vehicles based on credible intelligence already at their disposal.
“We already have vital information regarding some persons still holding government vehicles,” Okungbowa stated. “We will do the job according to the law, and both the government and the people will be satisfied with the outcome.”
He also called on members of the public to assist the committee by providing information about any government vehicles that may still be in private possession.
“We want to appeal to members of the public who might be aware of anyone still keeping government vehicles in their houses to please inform us to enable the committee to recover such for the Edo State Government,” Okungbowa said.
The committee’s vice chairman, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, will work alongside other members to ensure the success of the initiative. The public can reach the committee at 08110165121.