News

Lagos Train Crash Survivor Recounts Incident, how She Escaped Death

Published

3 years ago

March 11, 2023

Editor

A survivor of Thursday’s crash involving a train and a bus carrying staff of Lagos State government has narrated how leaving her favourite corner to seat with another colleague saved her life.

“Where I normally seat in the bus” she narrated, “was the point the train rammed into.”

Meanwhile, the driver of the Lagos State government staff bus, Oluwaseun Osinbajo, has begged for forgiveness, blaming the accident on a mechanical fault in the bus.

However, survivors said he had his earpiece on while driving and ignored the signalman at the rail line.

He’s undergone several tests, including psychiatric, and authorities have said he will be prosecuted.

‘How I survived’

“My survival a miracle,” the the civil servant, who wished to remain unnamed, said.

“I would have been one of those in the morgue.

“I boarded the bus at Ikotun and sat on the middle row, close to the window, a position that had become my permanent seat.

“But on that fateful day, a friend (names withheld) invited me to come sit with her on the third row in front.

“She said the person she reserved the seat for called to say she won’t be joining the staff bus.

“That was how I left my permanent seat, which happened to be the exact place the train hit.

“Any time I remember that, I would quickly dismiss the thought of death with a shrug.

“This can only be God and I am grateful.”

Another survivor who simply gave her name as Ope, said she woke up to shouts of ‘e ma lo, e duro’.

According to Ope, “The staff bus conveys every staff of the Lagos State government living in Ikotun/Isolo area, irrespective of the department or agency, as long as the staff is headed for the secretariat.

“I sat on a seat in the first three rows in front and slept off immediately in order to catch some sleep before reaching the office.

“But I was jostled from sleep by shouts of ‘e ma lo, e duro’ (don’t go, wait).

“I woke up to know what what happening but before I could raise my head, I heard a loud bang. The impact flung many of us from our seats.

“I hit my head on a hard object and passed out. By the time I opened my eyes, I found myself in an ambulance that brought me to Orile Agege General Hospital.”

Other survivors

Other survivors that were taken to Orile Agege General hospital on Thursday were Mr. Juwon Fagbohun , 27, from the Agency for Mass Education; Adesoji Ajibade of the Office of the Head of Service; Mariam Olayiwola,18, Ministry of Health and Eniola Fashoyin, 53, from the Office of the Head of Service, PSO Alausa.

Other were Mrs. Adejoke Banjo, 42, from the Office of the Head of Service; Olaide Alabi, 21, a student on Industrial Attachment with the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Empowerment; Sekinat Ogunremi, 24, from the Ministry of Justice; Aishat Gbadegeshin, 25, from the Ministry of Establishment and Training.

Ganiyat Raji, from the Ministry of Science and Technology and Mrs Oluwatoyin Abiodun, 46, a staff of the Ministry of Information and Strategy.
VANGUARD

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

2 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

2 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.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.