Category Nigeria News

A powerful delegation from Ogun State, led by the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, made its way to Kano on Monday morning to express condolences to the state government and the victims’ families.

Governor Dapo Abiodun’s condolences were conveyed by Salako-Oyedele, and a $1 million donation was made as initial support for each of the victims’ families.

In these trying times, the governor is out of the state on Hajj, but we felt the need to be there to show our support for him, the government, and the people of Kano State, Salako-Oyedele said.

“This is a heartbreaking loss for Kano State, the athletics industry, and especially the families and friends of the people who were affected by this tragic incident,” said the statement. Our prayer is that Allah accepts the deceased’s return to Him, pardons their shortcomings, and grants them Aljanat Firdaus, she continued.

Tokunbo Talabi, the governor of Ogun, Wasiu Isiaka, the executive secretary of the Gateway Games LOC, Kweku Tandoh, the commissioner for sports development, Wasiu Isiaka, and other officials and athletes made up the Ogun delegation.

The Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo, who thanked the Ogun State Government for the kind gesture and solidarity, delivered the delegation’s thanks at the Government House in Kano.

“Governor Abiodun’s concern is unquestionable,” we said. Shortly after the incident, he called to express his thoughts to the Kano State government and the populace. Gwarzo said that this concern is being reinforced by the support shown today.

READ MORE: 22 Kano athletes die in a road accident after a sports festival

A Toyota Coaster Bus with the registration number KN041 A17 was involved in the accident, which took place on Saturday at 12:30 pm at Gadar Yankifi in the Garun Malam Local Government Area.

Ado Salisu, one of the crash’s survivors, had confirmed to journalists that the accident occurred just before the group’s scheduled arrival in Kano.

32 people were involved in the collision, according to a press release from the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kano Sector Command, 31 of whom were male and one female.

On Sunday, the Lagos State government made the announcement that the sanitation exercise would resume every month.

Following an inspection tour to Idi-Araba and Orile Iganmu, Alaba Rago, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the point that all residents must adopt good sanitation practices as a way of life.

The Lagos State Government has decided to begin the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, according to the commissioner, Kunle Adeshina, the spokesman for the ministry. A formal start date will soon be made public.

Wahab said at Alaba Rago Market that law enforcement officers would frequently visit the market and that the market had been shut down sometime last year. Wahab argued that it would be unfortunate if the market had to be closed once more because of unhygienic activities.

They have given them until tomorrow evening, “We’ll decide whether the market should or shouldn’t be sealed,” he said, “and they have extended the market, pushed it to the road, blocked all the median system, and they have dumped their waste.”

Read more about Mokwa Flood victims’ food shortages and the bleak conditions at camp.

The commissioner claimed that the market’s chairman has agreed that all infractions will be resolved and that the ministry will have no choice but to punish those who violate the regulations.

He issued a warning to traders selling on the road, drainage setback, and median at Alaba Rago Market, Badagry Expressway, and Ojo Local Government Area, to move their goods into the main market and conduct business there. He stated that if the unfavorable business practices persist, the government would lock the market by 6pm on Monday.

He argued that every state’s market should be aware that anyone trading illegally on the road or through the drainage channels should abstain from it because it does not permit that.

He urged people to support the government’s efforts to stop the unsanitary practice of disposing of illegal waste, arguing that it was preferable for everyone to take control of all the infrastructure the government provides.

All primary and secondary schools in the state are now taking a mid-term holiday to celebrate the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

Schools are scheduled to start taking a break on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, and are expected to resume academic work on Sunday, June 15, 2025, according to an official statement from the state’s education ministry.

According to the ministry, the directive applies to both day and boarding schools, with parents and guardians of boarding students being advised to arrive early on June 4 for their children.

The ministry stressed that the decision was in line with the 2024/2025 academic calendar, which remained unchanged despite the festive break, and that all academic and holiday schedules would be strictly adhered to.

READ ALSO: FG Declares June 6, 9, Holidays to Celebrate Eid-Ul-Adha.

The Commissioner of Education, Ali Makoda, urged parents to ensure that students resume after the holiday.

We also urge parents and guardians to make sure their children adhere to the school’s official resume date, according to Makoda.

Ayo Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, has advised Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, to remain steadfast in the Labour Party (LP), despite the wave of defections that the party is facing.

At Otti’s home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, Fayose gave the counsel on Sunday.

Fayose urged the governor to resist any pressure to leave, noting that Otti’s contributions and identity within the Labour Party had developed into a standalone institution.

You are a prisoner here, my governor, don’t leave. We’re referring to Nigeria’s multi-party system’s diversity. Even if everyone leaves, people don’t leave, according to them. Keep it that way. The former governor of Ekiti claimed that you are the country’s chairman.

Otti refuted rumors that he planned to leave LP and join the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling the claims “false, baseless, and unfounded” in April.

The governor recently stated that he will consult with God before making a decision as a result of discussions regarding a re-election bid in 2027.

Given Back Leadership

Following his visit, the Otti-led administration in Umuahia and Aba visited several important projects.

Fayose continued his praise for the Abia governor’s accomplishments during his two-year term by describing his impactful and person-focused policies, particularly in road infrastructure, healthcare delivery, and education.

“The typical Abian does such a good job for them, raising their standard of living and bringing them to civility. So what I saw made me more than impressed. Some of the community maternity health care facilities were recently renovated, while others were completely rebuilt.

“It’s quite impressive in every sector we have seen.” We can’t say less than good in two years, and I’m not given a pass for a governor who has shown such zeal for his people.

Fayose cited Port Harcourt Road in Aba as a case in point, noting that the once-impassable route had been transformed into a dual carriageway, restoring access and economic viability.

“We are now in Aba once more. In Aba, I saw more than eight roads. I was told that Port Harcourt Road has been uninhabited for 37 years. It is not maneuverable. Therefore, it has been put in place, and a dual carriageway like this is all that would be required for a business city like Aba.

He praised Otti’s introduction of smart schools and promised to spread the idea to his home state, Ekiti.

The smart school is “the one I love the most,” he says. According to Fayose, I was able to sit down and discuss these ideas with my governor (Ekiti State Governor), who will also learn from them.

According to what I’ve seen, the governor has resigned from his position of authority over the people who surround him and made their priorities the people of Abia. The governor has informed me that his table will be his place of worship. Therefore, starting is not a big deal for anyone; it is just finishing. I therefore want him to continue to perform well.

Labour Party Turmoil and Otti’s Rise

After a failed bid to become governor under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Otti resigned from the Labour Party (LP) in May 2022.

He defeated Okey Ahiwe, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, in the tumultuous 2023 elections. He became the first and only Labor Party governor in Nigeria after gaining a sizable following among the youth.

However, the LP has experienced internal disagreements since the upcoming 2023 general elections, which has resulted in a wave of defections. Four LP lawmakers left the ruling APC in December 2024, citing factional issues. Alfred Iliya Ajang of Plateau State followed them.

These exits have also tested the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 general elections, which have reduced LP’s strength in the House of Representatives from 34 to 26 and from eight to six in the Senate.

The party’s candidate for president in 2023, Peter Obi, has stated that he is open to alliances as long as they focus on enhancing the welfare of the citizens rather than gaining power.