News
Sanwo-Olu Sets To Replace Motorcycles, Tricycles With ‘Last-Mile Buses’
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has announced that the state will launch “last mile buses” next week to serve as alternatives to commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada.
In January 2020, the Lagos government banned commercial motorcyles and tricycles in 15 local councils of the state.
The government had said okada was not “part of our greater Lagos journey”, adding that it was “not an enduring trade”.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting on security in Lagos on Monday, Sanwo-Olu said the state will roll out the buses in phases.
The buses are expected to serve as an alternative means to get into streets that cannot be readily accessed by the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system.
The governor said despite the ban, many okada and tricycle operators have continued to flagrantly disobey the law and, in some cases, resist enforcement by engaging in organised attacks on law enforcement agencies.
“We are excited to announce that next week, we will be launching what we term the ‘last mile buses’ that will ply inner roads and safely get commercial passengers to their final destinations,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“We envisage deploying over 500 of these buses to alleviate the pain associated with the restriction of motorcycle and tricycle operations.
“We also envisage that this initiative will also generate employment opportunities for Lagosians, including the commercial motorcyclist operators, who will be employed as operators of the last mile buses.”
Noting that no society can make progress amid “such haughty display of lawlessness and criminality”, Sanwo-Olu said the government is committed to maintaining law and order in the state.
“Our mission of attaining a greater Lagos can only be achieved when we all resolve to live in an orderly manner,” he said.
News
MC Oluomo Retakes NURTW Secretariat In Abuja Following Clashes
Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has regained control of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) national secretariat in Abuja.
This follows a highly volatile 24-hour period marked by a leadership struggle between MC Oluomo and a rival faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa.
MC Oluomo returned to the secretariat to inspect damaged property following the takeover, according to a video shared by TVC on X.
The development followed an earlier move on Monday by a faction led by Tajudeen Baruwa, which occupied the secretariat, claiming that court rulings supported its action.
Baruwa, who addressed journalists after the occupation, maintained that his faction acted within the law and in line with court decisions.
“Their body language has not been encouraging despite repeated assurance that we are not going back to foment any trouble, as we are a law-abiding union whose only mission is to get back what belongs to us,” he said.
“But today, as you can see, we are taking over in a peaceful manner, and it is not a forceful takeover but just carrying out the court’s orders,” he added.
He said the police had been formally notified and provided with copies of the judgments but alleged that the response was not encouraging.
“Again, please be aware that our coming here after two years is to occupy our office, having obtained judgments at both the lower court and the Appeal Court, but they refused to obey court orders after waiting for about two years. We decided to resume at the office today without causing any violence, and here we are,” he said.
Baruwa also alleged that one of his members was attacked during the process.
“Although the other faction attacked one of our members, who is now in the hospital, the situation is under control. We are still open to reconciliation as we are a lawful organisation and not a troublemaker. No one is above the law,” Baruwa stated.
Reacting on Monday via his Instagram page, MC Oluomo described the development as a “forceful takeover” and insisted that legal proceedings were still ongoing.
He said he was not a defendant in the judgment cited by Baruwa and disclosed that the ruling had been appealed, with a stay of execution already secured.
“The National President wishes to inform members of the union and the general public that he was not a defendant in the purported judgment.
“The judgment has been appealed, and a stay of execution has been duly entered. He has not engaged with Mr Baruwa or any individual, aware that cases are pending in court.
“The situation is under the control of security agencies. Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya remains the National President of NURTW,” the statement read.
Akinsanya urged union members to remain calm and law-abiding as the leadership dispute continues.
Tribune Online reports that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Monday arrested Baruwa and six others following the incident.
News
El-Rufai Denied Immediate Release; Bail Hearing Set For March 31
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai will remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after a Federal High Court in Kaduna adjourned his bail application to March 31, 2026.
El-Rufai was brought before the court on Tuesday over charges bordering on conversion of public property and money laundering.
The charges were preferred against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
He was brought to court by security operatives at about 9:00 am in a Hilux vehicle and was held in the car for about 25 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom about 10 minutes later.
Security operatives were stationed in and around the court premises ahead of the hearing.
During the court proceedings, Ukpon Akpan, counsel to el-Rufai, asked the court to grant bail to his client to allow him prepare for his defense.
The argument was rejected by the prosecution counsel who argued that the bail could interfere with the commission’s investigation.
The former governor has been in the custody of the ICPC since February 19 after he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Since el-Rufai’s arrest, there have been several calls for his release or arraignment.
In ICPC custody, the former governor refused to respond to questions posed by investigators, citing his right to remain silent.
On March 5, the magistrate court extended the initial remand order for el-Rufai by another 14 days.
El-Rufai had filed a fundamental rights suit before the federal high court in Abuja over the search conducted on his residence by the ICPC and the remand order issued on February 19.
News
Nigeria Neglected As Tinubu Focuses On Lagos – Modibo Claims
A political analyst Dr. Ibrahim Modibo claimed that President Bola Tinubu has conquered Nigeria and is focusing development primarily on Lagos at the expense of other states.
Speaking in an interview on Trust TV on Monday, Modibo said almost all members of the Economic Team are from Lagos or the southwestern part of the country.
“So if they decide, they can just go and have a meeting, and they will be speaking Yoruba, taking minutes in Yoruba, implementing policy in Yoruba, and nobody can say anything, because as far as I’m concerned, Tinubu has conquered Nigeria.
“That’s why, right from the onset, I’ve stated unequivocally that we should not under any circumstances allow this thing to be happening like this.
“You see a lot of issues. You see Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN? Most of this has been dismantled from here and taken to Lagos. Customs has been dismantled and taken to Lagos. So many things have been under the cover of darkness been removed from Abuja back to Lagos.
“So I don’t know whether there is any agenda because if you look at what has been spent on Lagos alone under this administration, it is on trillions upon trillions of Naira, while other states of the Federation lack social amenities,” Modibo lamented.
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