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Harsh Traffic Ushers in Xmas in Lagos

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By Edozie Obasi-Eze

 

Lagos and its environs succumbing to traffic gridlock, in what many term, forced announcement of the Yuletide season.

Several parts of Lagos and its environs have been on more than 24-hour traffic lockdown since November 30.

Ademola Adedayo, a commuter, who lives in the Mowe-Ibafon area of Ogun State, but works in Victoria Island, Lagos State, decries the harsh traffic gridlock, which he claims is forcing employers to deduct from employees’ salaries as punishment for late coming.

According to Adedayo, “Getting home from work yesterday was hellish because of the traffic situation. Waking up this morning was with extra effort, as I was tired from yesterday’s stress. Yet, I have been on the traffic for upwards of two hours this morning from Magboro to Berger Bus Stop.

“In spite of all these, my employer would be effecting deductions from workers’ salaries on the ground of lateness to the office. I pity them because some workers would find ways to recover the deductions.”

Biztellers reports that the traffic situation is compounded by lingering fuel scarcity which has led to long queues wherever any petrol station is selling.

It can be averred that while poverty, politicking and the ongoing FIFA World Cup, seem to have joined forces to stifle the Christmas season, all of them are hapless over traffic gridlock, which has Lagos and it’s environs by the jugular.

Other contributing factors include ongoing rehabilitation of BRT lanes on various corridors in Lagos State, including the entire stretch of Ikorodu road, and the endless occupation of the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway by Julius Berger.

Another commuter, Isaac Odiase, who spoke to Biztellers, opined that the major contributing factor is the docility of the Ogun State Government.

Odiase opined that, the stretch of road between the Otedola Bridge and Emergency has been completed and opened for use, whereas the shorter stretch between Long Bridge and OPIC has been abandoned by the supposed contractor, Julius Berger.

“Lagos State has shown interest in the rehabilitation of the part of the road in their state, hence Julius Berger hastening the work, but Ogun State cares less about the suffering of the masses, that’s why you can see that the same company has gone on Christmas holiday, with the job undone, while blocking part of the road,” he lamented.

NEWS

The Guardian’s Abuja GM Passes On

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Lady kidnapped in Abuja narrates experience

Chuks Nwanne, general manager of The Guardian’s Abuja operations and former Saturday editor of the newspaper, has passed on.

Eniola Daniel, a senior multimedia reporter at The Guardian, announced Nwanne’s death in an X post on Saturday.

It was gathered that Nwanne died on Saturday after a protracted illness.

Daniel described Nwanne as a “prolific entertainment writer” and his teacher, saying he would be deeply missed.

READ ALSO: Global Oil Market Gets Breather from G7 Oil Release

A native of Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nwanne joined The Guardian in 2008 as an entertainment reporter.

He later became an editorial assistant at The Guardian Life Magazine, the newspaper’s weekly lifestyle publication.

Nwanne also served as assistant editor, entertainment and lifestyle, while overseeing the youth, travel and tourism sections of The Guardian on Saturday.

He held a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, and a master’s degree in communication studies from Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos.

He attended several training programmes and conferences in Nigeria and abroad.

Beyond journalism, Nwanne was the founder and creative director of the Ogbunike Cave Carnival, an annual three-day cultural festival established to promote the Ogbunike Cave, a major tourist attraction in Nigeria.

He was married and had three children.

Daniel expressed condolences to Nwanne’s family, describing his death as a loss to Ogbunike, Anambra, the music and entertainment industry, and journalism.

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Petrol Tanker Fire Ravages Houses, Vehicles in Calabar

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Man Bravely drives Burning Truck out of Residential area in Delta

A road accident, involving a tanker truck conveying petroleum products opposite the Odukpani Local Government Secretariat, Cross River State, ignited a fire, leading to the destruction of several shops and affecting vehicles.

These transpired on Sunday, when the tanker accidentally overturned which led to the fire that spread to nearby shops and buildings.

Fortunately, the tanker driver was rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention.

Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command said that officers from the Odukpani Division were deployed to the scene to secure the area and prevent further harm.

The Command said the Fire Service had also been alerted and was expected to deploy personnel to contain and extinguish the fire.

READ ALSO: Musa Francis, Akanbi Aderonke win 2026 Abeokuta 10km Race

As of the time of filing this report, no death has been confirmed.

However, the police said a number of shops and vehicles had been affected by the inferno.

The Command urged residents and motorists to keep away from the immediate area and allow emergency responders unhindered access to the scene.

It also advised members of the public to exercise caution around the area because of the risk posed by the burning petroleum tanker.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said further updates would be released as verified information became available.

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Tinubu Gov’t Does Not Engage, Everybody Is Its Enemy — Ajaero

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Fuel Subsidy: NLC Sets February Date for Nationwide Unrest

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to meaningfully engage with organised labour, alleging that the government has remained aloof despite repeated attempts to open dialogue.

Ajaero made the remarks during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast, where he spoke about the relationship between the labour movement and the Federal Government over the past few years.

According to the NLC president, the government has not been engaging with labour and only responds when workers and other groups take steps to force its attention.

SEE ALSO: Spike in Petrol Price Moves NLC to Demands Emergency Palliatives

“For the past two, three years, you know, it’s not a government that is engaging. This government doesn’t engage,” Ajaero said.
He described the administration as “aloof”, stressing that meaningful engagement had been lacking between the government and organised labour.

Ajaero recalled that the NLC had, by December 17, 2025, announced plans to take its grievances to the streets after months of attempts to communicate with the President.

He said the labour movement had written to President Tinubu from June through December but received no response.

“Well, by December 17th, 2025, we pulled out that we are going to the streets. After writing a letter from May, sorry June, to December to Mr. President and there was no response,” he said.

According to him, the planned action eventually led to the intervention of some state governors, who facilitated an interface between labour and the government.

He said the intervention became necessary after other channels of communication, including the office of the Minister of Labour, had failed.

“Because the whole channel—whether through the Minister of Labour or any other office—failed, collapsed. So some governors met with us, and since that time we have talked once or twice,” Ajaero said.

However, the NLC president suggested that the situation had not significantly improved, alleging that the issues raised by labour since December had largely been left unresolved.

“And those issues… December last year to now, they’re just doing their business. Everybody is their enemy,” he added.

 

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