Headline

Car Crashes Into A Building In Lagos, four Hospitalized

Published

1 week ago

November 20, 2023

No fewer than four male adults have sustained severe injuries in an accident involving a Lexus car along Liasu Road in the Idimu area of Lagos State.

The incident happened on Sunday at about 5 am.

The vehicle was said to be moving at top speed when it lost control, swerved off the road and rammed into a shop opposite a Catholic church in the area.

The impact of the crash also damaged a building behind the shop thereby affecting some of its occupants who were still asleep.

Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the occupants sustained varying degrees of injury in the process.

An eyewitness, Sodiq Aderemi, said the injured victims were labourers who were employed to work in the building situated on the premises.

He said, “The vehicle was coming from the Council bus stop when it got to this point and crashed into the shop. It destroyed all the goods in the shop. The people living in the building behind the shop were labourers and they were close to 15. They work in an uncompleted building on the premises and sleep there at night. While four of them were seriously injured, two others fell unconscious. They were later resuscitated after a while. The bricks of the fence fell on them while they were still sleeping.”

Another resident who identified himself only as Abidemi said the car was stopped by an electric pole which was also damaged in the process.

He said, “The accident would have been fatal if not for an electric pole that stopped it. Thank God, it also happened in the daytime and not when the owner of the shop was in there. However, she was called this morning that her shop had been destroyed and she came around with her husband. They have gone to report the incident at the police station.

The injured victims were said to have been taken to the hospital where they are currently receiving treatment.

Although the driver escaped unhurt, he was nabbed by residents while trying to run away from the scene of the incident.

One of the residents, Adekunle Daisi, who stopped him from running away said, “The occupants of the car were three. Two of them escaped while one of them was caught. He was brought back to the point where the accident happened. Some aggrieved persons wanted to set the car on fire and also lynch him before they were later prevented from doing so. He was later forced to follow the injured victims to the hospital where he was told to pay for their hospital bills.”

Some of the victims who sustained minor injuries were also treated at the hospital and discharged immediately.

The police had yet to arrive as of the time our correspondent left the scene of the incident.

Headline

President Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval For Fresh $8.6billion, €100million Loans

Published

37 mins ago

November 28, 2023

Olakunle Adeniyi

The president made the request through a letter to the Senate, read during the plenary by the Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio, on Tuesday, noting that the fund was to execute critical projects in different sectors.

The President Bola Tinubu-led administration has sought the approval of the Nigerian Senate for $8.6billion and €100million borrowing plan.

The request was said to be part of the federal government 2022-2024 external borrowing plan approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, according to the letter.

Tinubu explained that the projects to be funded with the loan cuts across different sectors of the economy, and were selected based on economic evaluation and the expected contribution to the country’s development.

The letter reads in part;, “I write in respect of the above subject and to submit the attached the federal government 2022-2024 external borrowing plan for consideration and early approval of the National Assembly to ensure prompt implementation of the projects.

“The Senate may wish to note that the past administration approved a 2022-2024 borrowing plan by the federal executive council (FEC) held on May 15, 2023.

“The project cuts across all sectors, with specific emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, health, water supply, roads, security, and employment generation as well as financial management reforms.

“Consequently, the required approval is in the sum of $8,699,168,559 and €100 million.

“I would like to underscore the fact that the projects and programmes in the borrowing plan were selected based on economic evaluations as well as the expected contribution to the social economic development of the country, including employment generation, and skills acquisition.

“Given the nature of these facilities, and the need to return the country to normalcy it has become necessary for the Senate to consider and approve the 2022- 2024 external abridged borrowing plan to enable the government deliver its responsibility to Nigerians.”

In August, the National Assembly approved President Tinubu’s request for over $800 million loan to finance the National Social Safety Network Programme.

The National Assembly had also approved the 2022 Supplementary Appropriations Act of N819 million “for the provision of Palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal”.

Headline

Tinubu Should Review RECs Appointment – Ex-INEC Chairman, Jega

Published

10 hours ago

November 28, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, has called on President Bola Tinubu to review the appointments of the commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

Jega said Tinubu should review their appointments due to concerns that some of the RECs are partisan.

About a month ago, Tinubu had nominated 10 RECs, with the Senate confirming their appointments.

However, some of the RECs have been accused of being involved in partisan politics.

Reacting to the criticisms, Jega said the non-review of their appointment sends the wrong signal.

Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Jega said: “I think there is no doubt that if the President were listening, my advice would be to immediately review the appointment of the Resident Electoral Commissioners that was passed by the Senate recently.

“It’s very, very important because clearly, not only does it send a wrong signal about the government’s intention to improve the integrity of elections, it also suggests, you know, that there is indifference with regards to protecting the independence and impartiality of the election management body.

“I would want to believe that Mr President was either misinformed or is not really furnished with all the necessary details with regards to these appointments.”