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Senator Nwoko Seeks Enforcement Of Ban On Daytime Movement Of Heavy-Duty Vehicles—-Sen. Ned Nwoko, (PDP-Delta), has called on the Federal Government to enforce a nationwide ban on movement of heavy-duty vehicles during the daytime.

Nwoko said this was in view of the alarming surge in Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs), resulting in a staggering annual death toll exceeding 40,000 individuals as reported by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

He also said that the statistics revealed a concerning trend, with a 6.01 per cent increase in road traffic crashes in the fourth quarter of 2022, escalating further by 6.16 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2021, as documented by the FRSC.

He noted that the distressing figures persisted into the third quarter of 2023, with Nigeria recording 2,187 road accidents, as verified by the FRSC and substantiated by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in its latest NBS Road Transport Data for Q4 2023.

He further said that the FRSC had elucidated that articulated vehicles, tankers, and trailers were responsible for the deaths of 3,200 persons in road accidents between 2015 and 2018.

He added that the corps said that this was with Nigeria incurring a staggering loss exceeding N39 billion to tanker and trailer-related road crashes in 2018 alone.

The lawmaker said that with the staggering statistics, it was very imperative to enforce a nationwide ban on movement of heavy-duty vehicles during the daytime across the country, and the time to do that was now.

He disclosed that his motion on the subject matter, titled “Compelling Need to Enforce Nationwide Ban on Movement of Heavy-Duty Vehicles in Daytime” was already before the Senate.

He noted that states like Lagos and Abia, have implemented prohibitions on the daytime movement of trucks and trailers on state roads, confining their operations to nocturnal hours as a proactive measure to mitigate the escalating carnage on daytime roads, there is the need for others to do same.

He said that recent weeks have borne witness to a succession of tragic incidents involving fuel-laden tankers, trailers, and cement trucks, precipitating ghastly accidents with alarming casualty rates.

“ I was informed about the grievous incident that happened in Rivers on April 26, wherein a fuel-laden tanker erupted in flames, claiming the lives of four individuals and engulfing approximately 100 vehicles at the Eleme section of the East-West Road.

“This followed a collision with another vehicle, catalysing a catastrophic explosion that rapidly spread to adjacent tankers and vehicles ensnared in the ensuing traffic impasse.

“I was also informed about another harrowing incident that occurred at Okene Bypass on the Okene-Lokoja expressway in Kogi on April 28, involving a cement truck which tragically claimed the lives of no fewer than 19 individuals, epitomising the perils posed by heavy-duty vehicles.

“I am concerned that it has become all too commonplace to encounter fuel-laden tankers, heavily laden cement trucks, and articulated vehicles hauling perilous cargo jostling for space alongside passenger vehicles during daylight hours and early evenings.

“This exacerbate the risk of collisions and calamities on the nation’s roadways.

“I therefore call on tbe Federal Ministry of Transportation to collaborate with the FRSC to incorporate a nationwide ban on daytime movement of heavy-duty vehicles into its Safety Requirements/Guidelines for Articulated Lorries (Tankers/Trailers) Operations in Nigeria

“They should be permitted to carry out their operations only between the hours of 12 midnight and 6 am.

“I equally call upon the FRSC to exercise greater diligence in their operations, upgrade traffic and vehicle standard regulations where necessary, and ensure strict enforcement.”

Nwoko noted that failure to uniformly enforce such regulations nationwide portends a continuation of road accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles, characterised by an alarming fatality rate and the sustained hemorrhaging of billions of naira in economic losses.

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Mojisola Meranda Speaks On Resigning As Lagos Assembly Speaker Amid Crisis

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Meranda Speaks On Resigning As Lagos Assembly Speaker

Mojisola Meranda Speaks On Resigning As Lagos Assembly Speaker Amid Crisis—-Mojisola Meranda a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, has refuted claims of her resignation, dismissing the rumors amid the ongoing leadership crisis in the Assembly.

Speculation surged on Monday following a forceful invasion of the Assembly complex by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police.

According to reports, security forces stormed the premises in the early hours, sealing the offices of Speaker Meranda, her deputy, and the clerk.

Speaking to Punch, the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye, denounced the reports of her resignation as “a lie from the pit of hell.” He reaffirmed that Meranda remains committed to her role despite mounting pressure.

The crisis, which began with the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, intensified when security personnel occupied the Assembly on Monday, further escalating tensions among lawmakers and staff.

Reacting to the situation, Ajiboye stated, “It is a lie from the pit of hell. If she had resigned, would she come back to sit at the plenary today?”

Meanwhile, a member of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Muraina Taiwo, acknowledged that the crisis had spiraled beyond the council’s ability to manage, calling for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.

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BREAKING: Mudashiru Obasa Sues New Speaker Meranda And Lagos Assembly To Court

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Mudashiru Obasa Sues New Speaker Meranda

BREAKING: Mudashiru Obasa Sues New Speaker Meranda And Lagos Assembly To Court—-Impeached speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has filed a lawsuit at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, seeking an immediate order for his reinstatement as Speaker.

Court documents obtained by Lagos Reporters reveal that Obasa is challenging his removal on January 13, 2025, arguing that it was wrongful and unconstitutional. The lawsuit, filed on February 14, 2025, lists the current Speaker, Lasbat Mojisola Meranda, and the Lagos State House of Assembly as defendants.

The legal move comes after failed attempts to resolve the leadership dispute through political negotiations. Sources confirm that multiple high-level meetings, involving political figures from Lagos and Abuja, were held to mediate the crisis but ended in deadlock.

Some lawmakers reportedly fear that Obasa’s possible reinstatement could trigger political reprisals against those who backed his ouster.

With the case now in court, the battle for Lagos Assembly leadership shifts to the judiciary, as stakeholders await the ruling and its implications for the state’s legislative stability.

 

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