News

Ibadan Explosion: More Victims Recount Ordeal As Govt Unveils Donation Platform

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2024

Editor

More residents affected by the recent explosion that rocked the Bodija area of Ibadan in Oyo State have recounted their ordeals.

The PUNCH reports that five people died, 77 sustained varying degrees of injury and 58 houses were damaged during the explosion that rocked Dejo Oyelese street.

The state governor, Seyi Makinde, presented the preliminary report of the explosion to President Bola Tinubu at the weekend.

A resident, Olusegun Fashina, who spoke with our correspondent on Thursday narrated how buildings’ windows and doors were damaged.

“Mainly, it (the explosion) affected our glasses because we have a lot of glasses here. The windows are also affected, the doors and the ceilings,” he said.

Pictures of one of the apartments obtained by our correspondent showed damaged windows, glass particles and broken ceilings.

A student who spoke with our correspondent, Moyin Ezekiel, said his schoolmate at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, who lives in the Bodija area suffered memory loss.

“Two of them, females, are involved. One is having a memory loss. If not for the blast that affected them, they were supposed to do their seminar presentation today but they missed it,” Moyin said.

Speaking on government efforts, Fashina, however, noted that the government had opened an emergency centre nearby “and they have asked everybody that is affected to lodge complaint.”

Meanwhile, the state government on Thursday vowed that justice would be served.

In a statement on his X page on Thursday, Makinde reiterated the government’s “commitment to ensuring that the victims get justice. We are still collating details of those affected and we will announce comprehensive steps our government will take to support the victims to rebuild their lives.”

He disclosed that the government had set up a donation platform for the victims.

“We have also set up a platform for donations to victims. The money donated goes directly to the landlords/residents association’s bank account while our administration will work with them to ensure it is distributed to the right beneficiaries,” he added via @seyimakinde.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.