News
Lagos Govt Parleys Security Agencies on Curbing Incessant Road Accidents
Despite sustained crime prevention strategies that have ensured relative peace across Lagos State in the Yuletide season, a disturbing rise in horrific road accidents has triggered decisive action by the Lagos State Government, the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) can report.
This development led to an emergency multi-agency meeting, which was held on Tuesday, 23rd December, at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja. The Nigeria Police, as the lead internal security agency, coordinated the meeting, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.
The session brought together critical stakeholders responsible for road safety, traffic management, infrastructure and emergency response.
In attendance were Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF); Mr. Peter Gbejemede, Director of Operations representing the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki; DCC Adeyemi O. Bashina, Deputy Corps Commander (Operations), representing the Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), CC Kehinde Hamzat; Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service; and a representative of the Federal Controller of Works.
Senior police officers present includes the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC Operations, Lagos Command, DCP Lawal Adeshina Bamidele; Area Commander, Area F, ACP Paul Okafor Azuka; Area Commander, Area H, ACP Sholla Omilade; Area Commander, Area B, ACP Onyinye Onwuamaegbu; ACP Abayomi; CSP Shittu, Administrative Officer, Lagos Command; and SP Abimbola Adebisi, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos Command.
Speaking with the press, the Executive Secretary CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan at the meeting hinted that the Lagos State Government is worried about the ugly tide of gory road traffic accidents and is therefore proactive to stem the situation in which lives are lost needlessly. He noted that the government approved the meeting to ensure a coordinated, intelligence-driven and solution-oriented response by all agencies responsible for road safety and traffic management.
According to him, ‘the presence of the Police, FRSC, LASTMA, Fire and Rescue Service and other stakeholders underscored the seriousness with which the government views the matter, especially in this season of influx of local and foreign guests. Lagos, as a global city and economic nerve centre, must uphold the highest standards of safety on its roads.’
The LSSTF CEO assured stakeholders that the state government would continue to provide critical logistical and operational support to security and safety agencies to enhance enforcement, emergency response and public education.
Dr. Ogunsan called on transport unions, fleet operators and motorists to take collective responsibility, warning that the government would fully back strict enforcement against recklessness, overloading and violation of traffic laws. He added that preventing road accidents is not only a law enforcement duty but a shared civic obligation to protect lives and sustain Lagos’ economic vitality.
On his part, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh said the meeting was convened to confront the recent spike in fatal road crashes and restore order on Lagos roads. “The directive of Mr. Governor of Lagos State is that all agencies of both the federal and state government that have responsibility in ensuring security and safety on the highway should meet to look at the present situation of traffic and the recurring fatal motor accidents,”
“To the glory of God, we’ve been able to exemplify our operational activities to show that the Ember months can be crime-free months. From September to date, there have not been any major or serious concern of crime or criminality throughout the state, and in the fringes of Ogun State, to Epe, Ikorodu down to the waterside, we’ve ensured massive deployment. That’s to let you know the support that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun has been giving to the Command is very immense,” Jimoh said.
He stressed that while accidents were not necessarily alarming for a city of over 23 million people, reckless driving would no longer be tolerated. “Driving has rules, it has guidelines, and it’s a procedure that you need to follow in accordance with the Road Traffic Act.”
Jimoh announced that they will adopt a series of actions including inter-agency meetings, joint enforcement operations, increased policing of pedestrian bridges and stricter monitoring of articulated vehicles, particularly trucks and tankers operating beyond approved limits, and impoundment of erring vehicles. “Our joint enforcement team will be working on a regular basis to ensure that we promptly arrest and prosecute every driver in this regard.”
Representative of FRSC, DCC Adeyemi Bashina highlighted the Corps’ Safe to Load initiative. “If you go to all the tank farms where they load PMS in Lagos, we have our officials there with a checklist to ensure that any vehicle that wants to lift fuel satisfies standards,” which he said has brought about a sharp reduction in tanker explosions.
Also, LASTMA’s Mr. Peter Gbejemede said the collaboration would strengthen incident management and public compliance. “With the cooperation of the Police Command, the FRSC, and other security agencies, traffic accidents will reduce drastically,” he assured.
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Worry is a part of human emotion, and every living entity worry about some things, some times. It’s practically natural. People worry about life, finance, children, health, academics, career and even personal development or spiritual life. All these however, can distract and take away someone’s peace.
Worry is an unfortunate habit, which many people have erroneously believe they can live without, but the stark truth is that no one can live without worry. It’s inbuit. Even when we think we have everything, we discover that there’s something we are lacking. These could be what money can’t buy. It’s instructive to note here that nobody is perfect, and nobody has everything because everybody is limited.
To further buttress the limitation of man, imagine the human body; we have eyes, legs, mouth, tongue, nose, anus, hands among others, but none can say it is more superior than the other. If the leg, eyes or nose says it’s more important, the anus can decide to close, and the body system will be uncomfortable as it won’t be able to discharge waste products. The eyes can’t say it’s more important than the ears, neither can the nose say it’s more important than the legs or hands. Every one of them has different and definite functions.
So, when one of the body parts is not working well, it can make one worry. But the good news is that it is only a good attitude that can help us overcome challenges. It’s instructive to note that worry does not solve problems, rather it escalates the problem.
Problems do exist, I mean real life problems, do exist, some can be physical, spiritual, psychological, mental, spiritual, etc. When you have any of these problems, please don’t spend so much energy on the problems because it can escalate or create new ones
Although you can’t stop worrying entirely, there are steps you can take to better manage your anxious thoughts and reduce rumination.
1. Create a “worry period.” Choose a set time and place for worrying. It should be the same every day and early enough that it won’t make you anxious right before bedtime. During your worry period, you’re allowed to worry about whatever’s on your mind.
2. Write down your worries. If an anxious thought or worry comes into your head during the day, make a brief note of it and then continue about your day. Remind yourself that you’ll have time to think about it later, so there’s no need to worry about it right now.
3. Make a list of all the possible solutions you can think of. Focus on the things you have the power to change, rather than the circumstances or realities beyond your control.
4. After you’ve evaluated your options, make a plan of action. Once you have a plan and start doing something about the problem, you’ll feel much less anxious.
5. Get up and get moving. Exercise is a natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment because it releases endorphins which relieve tension and stress, boost energy, and enhance your sense of well-being. Even more importantly, by really focusing on how your body feels as you move, you can interrupt the constant flow of worries running through your head.
6. Meditate. Meditation works by switching your focus from worrying about the future or dwelling on the past to what’s happening right now. By being fully engaged in the present moment, you can interrupt the endless loop of negative thoughts and worries.
7. Speak to a Licensed Therapist: Acknowledge and observe your worries. Don’t try to ignore, fight, or control them like you usually would. Instead, simply observe them as if from an outsider’s perspective, without reacting or judging. Therapy has been shown to be extremely effective in helping people reduce worrying and manage anxiety.
8. Mindfulness: Mindfulness is a powerful practice for reducing worrying, by teaching us awareness and acceptance of our thoughts and emotions in the present moment.. Psychotherapy provides a structured environment for individuals to learn practical skills and gain insights into their worrying patterns, ultimately helping them worry less and feel better.
Mindfulness effectively reduces symptoms of anxiety by teaching you to observe your worries without getting too caught up in them. One way to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life is through mindful breathing and meditation. Whenever you notice worrying thoughts coming up, gently bring your attention back to your breath, over time, regular mindfulness practice can help rewire the brain to respond to stressors more calmly, which reduces the impact of worrying on your mental health.
9. Gratitude: Practicing gratitude is a powerful way to maintain a positive outlook and reduce worrying. Research has shown that gratitude may reduce stress and improve mental health. Gratitude activates regions in the brain associated with dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter, leading to increased feelings of contentment and decreased worry.
By focusing on what we’re grateful for, we shift our attention away from negative thoughts, which ultimately helps us worry less. Start by keeping a gratitude journal and try writing down 5 things each day that you’re thankful for, no matter how small.
In conclusion, resolve today to be so strong that nothing and nobody can disturb your peace of mind.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
As Ekiti State prepares for Saturday’s governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured voters of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, and credible poll.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, urged eligible voters to participate confidently in the electoral process, stressing that the commission remains committed to delivering a transparent and impartial election.
Reports quoted Omoseyindemi as saying that INEC had resolved all logistical challenges and put adequate measures in place to ensure the timely deployment of personnel and election materials across the state.
He also highlighted the close collaboration between INEC and security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), noting that the partnership is aimed at guaranteeing a peaceful and secure voting environment.
The REC further disclosed that the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) would be deployed during the election to enhance transparency by enabling real-time upload and public viewing of polling unit results.
Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society organisations monitoring the election under the European Union Support to democratic governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Election Observation Hub has expressed concern over reports of voter inducement, political intimidation and disinformation ahead of the poll.
At a pre-election press conference, the group alleged that incidents of vote-buying involving cash, food items, and the collection of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) and National Identification Number (NIN) details through pre-funded bank accounts had been reported in parts of Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ikole, Ikere, Ekiti East and Ekiti West local government areas.
The observers also raised concerns over the spread of misinformation on social media, including unverified claims regarding the use of cloned PVCs to manipulate election outcomes.
While describing the overall security situation in the State as largely peaceful, the coalition urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to refrain from vote-buying, intimidation and the dissemination of false information.
The group also called on security agencies to remain professional and neutral throughout the electoral process, while encouraging voters to exercise their democratic rights freely and without fear, coercion or inducement.
The 2026 Ekiti State governorship election will hold on Saturday, June 20, across the state’s 16 local government areas, with more than one million registered voters expected to decide whether Governor Biodun Oyebanji secures a second term or a new leader emerges.
According to INEC, a total of 1,059,360 registered voters are eligible to participate in the election, which will be conducted across 2,445 polling units located in 177 wards. Voting is scheduled to commence at 8:30 a.m.
Authorities have also announced a statewide restriction on vehicular movement from midnight until 6:00 p.m. on election day to facilitate the smooth conduct of the exercise.
Although 14 candidates are contesting the election, with Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), and Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the leading contenders.
INEC has confirmed the distribution of sensitive election materials to local government areas and assured voters of the readiness of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Security agencies have also deployed personnel and operational assets across the state, particularly in border communities and other strategic locations, to maintain law and order throughout the electoral process.
Civil society organisations monitoring the election have urged residents to participate peacefully and responsibly, emphasising the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the democratic process.
Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reacted to her acquittal by a London court after bribery charges brought against her were dismissed.
The Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday acquitted the former minister of all charges, including five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Reacting to the judgment, Alison-Madueke expressed relief and said she and her family had endured years of emotional distress over the case.
Speaking to News Central, she said she has remained in the United Kingdom since the legal proceedings began 11 years ago.
She said: “I’m just thankful to God, it’s been arduous, almost 11 years. It’s been traumatic not just for me but for my family, friends, my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt and for my son.
“It has been a hard journey, but I tell you this, God will always do as He will. God will be God and God is not a man that He should lie; when He promises you something, He will see it through.
“For almost 11 years I have been here. I did my job to the best of my ability.”
