News
Sanwo-Olu Vows To Prosecute Attackers Of LASTMA Officials
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, states that attackers of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, made this known at the second Lagos Traffic Conference in commemoration of LASTMA’s Silver Jubilee celebration on Tuesday.
The anniversary had the theme: ”Enhancing Traffic Efficiency and Safety on Lagos Roads: Challenges, Opportunities and Innovations.
“I want to specially recognise the men and women of LASTMA who have dedicated themselves, often under challenging and sometimes perilous circumstances, to the critical task of keeping Lagos moving.
“Your uniform represents the thin yellow line that stands firmly between order and chaos on our roads.
“Your commitment, resilience, and professionalism have been instrumental in transforming Lagos traffic management and ensuring the safety of millions of commuters every day. Thank you for your unwavering service and dedication,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also appreciated the many brave officers who had made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
He said LASTMA would be a technologically empowered agency, equipped to tackle the complex challenges of 21st-century urban mobility by tomorrow.
He added that the government would invest in intelligent transportation systems powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as automated number plate recognition and drone surveillance, to enhance traffic management and incident response.
Mr Sridhar Uttara, President, Infotran, a U.S. engineering consulting firm, in his keynote speech urged Lagos to build a Unified Mobility Control Centre and expand its Information Technology System on priority corridors.
“There is also the need to train traffic officers in Al and data tools, invest in smart mobility labs and pilot zones, ensure equity and safety in all projects and invest in research and development,” he said.
The Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, said the celebration was not for lofty literates but for solutions.
Officers of LASTMA are on the streets of the state, not only to clear bottlenecks but also to save lives during accidents, coordinate disaster response, and facilitate the seamless movement of goods and services.
“LASTMA is not bound to all hurdles before them, which include inadequate growth capacity in the face of urban population growth, driver indiscipline, which remains a key trigger of accidents and congestion, and the consistent right of way among commercial transport operators.
“The most concerning is public apathy towards uniform traffic personnel. These are structural, behavioural and systemic challenges.
“While they are not insurmountable, we still have opportunities, and they are also ongoing interventions under the forward looking leadership of Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu we have made significant stride,” he said.
In his goodwill message, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, said that local solutions to international issues make LASTMA unique.
According to Opeifa, LASTMA remains the masterstroke of public policy in Nigeria; they are designed to balance enforcement with people’s pride.
Opeifa decried the loss of some officers in the line of duty.
“I know some of the dead officers shown, this is when they were trying to make Apapa safe.
“That is the nature of what LASTMA is, you need to see these men work, suffering just to keep Lagos moving, they should be appreciated,” he said.
Earlier, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, while unveiling LASTMA’s 20-year policy compendium, said it would serve as the operational guidelines and mode of operation for the authority.
Bakare-Oki added that the guidelines were seriously scrutinised, worked upon by a committee within and outside the country.
“We carefully picked people that stood out in transportation and traffic management across the globe to work on this book,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlight of the celebration was the presentation of monetary gifts to winners of the Lagos State Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme.
The best primary, junior, and secondary school categories, along with the overall best students, each received an iPad.
Sister agencies present at the celebration include the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Lagos Neighbourhood Security Corp, and the Ogun State Traffic Management, among other dignitaries.
News
Panic In Ibadan As Rising Kidnap, Robbery Threats Trigger Official Red Alert
Residents of Ibadan, specifically in Bodija, Agbowo, Akobo, and the Agodi GRA, are currently on high alert after the Police and the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) issued an urgent warning regarding a recent surge in kidnappings and armed robberies in those areas.
According to the DAILY POST, the Bodija Housing Estate Police Division and its community partners have formally expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the area.
In a statement signed by Bodija Housing Estate Police Division PCRC and Community Policing Unit of the division, they noted that there is an increase in the rate of kidnapping and armed robberies in areas such as Akobo and Bodija.
The statement urged residents to take necessary safety measures amidst rising cases of kidnapping and other criminal activities in areas such as Akobo and Bodija.
In the statement tagged “Urgent Safety Measures Amid Rising Kidnapping and Armed Robbery Incidents in Areas Including Akobo and Bodija” the residents were alerted that the desire for quick wealth has driven some individuals to commit terrible acts.
Part of the statement reads, “In light of the recent increase in criminal activities such as kidnapping and armed robbery across our communities, it has become imperative to issue updated safety guidelines. The desire for quick wealth has driven some individuals to commit terrible acts, and we must all be vigilant.
“Please adhere strictly to the following precautions, and also note the additional measures outlined below:
“Remember: Your safety and that of your loved ones depend greatly on your level of awareness and willingness to take precautionary steps. Security is a collective responsibility.
“Report emergencies promptly to: Oyo State Police Command: control room:08081768614, 08081768574
Bodija Division: DPO +2348052046348; PCRC Helpline/ Chairman – 07068874553”.
JomogNews reports that some residents have been in a panic mood as a result of the notice.
A resident of Bodija Housing Estate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, explained that the recent happenings necessitated the notice.
“The recent happenings necessitated the move. Yes we have to be careful. People now think twice before they go out. We are more security conscious than before,” he said.
News
Rivers Assembly Formally Serves Impeachment Notice To Gov. Fubara
The Rivers State House of Assembly has formally served an impeachment notice to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu.
The move marks the third major attempt to remove the governor since 2023, following his return to office in September 2025 after a six-month state of emergency.
Recall that the assembly on Thursday during an emergency plenary, commenced the impeachment of the governor and his deputy.
26 members of the House accused the governor of misconduct, capable of undermining democracy in the state.
The notice which was addressed to the governor, contained the signature of at least 19 lawmakers.
The notice also contained about 8 alleged gross misconducts by the governor and his administration.
In a post on its official Facebook page,the assembly said, “The impeachment notice has been successfully served on the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara”.

News
NCC, CBN Set To Roll Out Refund Framework For Failed Airtime And Data Transactions
In line with the consumer-focused objectives of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the two regulators have drawn up a framework to address consumer complaints arising from unsuccessful airtime and data transactions during network downtimes, system glitches, or human input errors.
The framework is the outcome of several months of engagements involving the NCC, the CBN, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Value Added Service (VAS) providers, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), and other relevant stakeholders. These engagements were prompted by a rising incidence of failed airtime and data purchases, where subscribers were debited without receiving value and experienced delays in resolution.
The Framework represents a unified position by both the telecommunications and financial sectors on addressing such complaints. It identifies and tackles the root causes of failed airtime and data transactions, including instances where bank accounts are debited without successful delivery of services. It also prescribes an enforceable Service Level Agreement (SLA) for MNOs and DMBs, clearly outlining the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in the transaction and resolution process.
Under the new framework, where a purchaser is debited but fails to receive value for airtime or data—whether the failure occurs at the bank level or with an NCC licensee—the purchaser is entitled to a refund within 30 seconds, except in circumstances where the transaction remains pending, of which the refund can take up to 24 hours.
The framework further mandates operators to notify consumers via SMS of the success or failure of every transaction. It also addresses erroneous recharges to ported lines, incorrect airtime or data purchases, and instances where transactions are made to the wrong phone number.
Speaking on the development, the Director of Consumer Affairs at the NCC, Mrs. Freda Bruce-Bennett disclosed that the framework also establishes a Central Monitoring Dashboard to be jointly hosted by the NCC and the CBN. According to her, the dashboard will enable both regulators to monitor failures, the responsible party, refunds, and track SLA breaches in real time.
“Failed top-ups rank among the top three consumer complaints, and in line with our commitment to addressing these priority issues, we were determined to resolve it within the shortest possible time,” she said.
“We are grateful to all stakeholders—particularly the Central Bank of Nigeria and its leadership—for their tireless commitment to resolving this issue and arriving at this framework, and for ensuring that consumers of telecommunications services receive full value for their purchases.
“So far, pending the approval of management of both regulators on the framework, MNOs and banks have collectively made refunds of over N10 billion to customers for failed transactions.”
Mrs. Bruce-Bennett further noted that implementation of the framework is expected to commence on March 1, 2026, once the two regulators have made final approvals, and technical integration by all MNOs, VAS providers and DMBs is concluded.
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